Business Women Orgs Unite

October 21, 2016

As more women join the advocacy to bring more women in the corporate C and B suites or to empower a microentrepreneur in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), six leading women’s groups in business recently formed an alliance called Philippine Women’s Economic Network or PHILWEN. Boots Garcia, former chair of BCDA and WomenBizPH was designated as Chairperson.

Six organizations comprise the Founding Members of PHILWEN. Lead Convenor is the Women’s Business Council of the Philippines or WomenbizPH with VP Atty. Dick Du-Baladad as representative and the other members are : Filipina CEO Circle (FCC) represented by Cristina Concepcion, and Racquel Cagurungan, Samahan ng Pilipina pars sa Reporma at Kaunlaran, (SPARK!) Philippines represented by Vicky Garchitorena and Mel Alonzo, Network for Enterprising Women (NEW) represented by Myren Garcia and Farah Alvarado, Women Corporate Directors, Philis. represented by Sharon Dayoan and Chit Juan; and Business and Professional Women (BPW) Makati represented by Jeannie Javelosa and Camille Escudero.

These women organizations advocating economic empowerment will be engaging various government agencies in the use of the Gender and Development (GAD) budgets of LGUs and NGAs and other government instrumentalities; represent Filipino business women in ASEAN and APEC meetings and global economic fora; improve the numbers of diverse corporate boards, and generally engage more women to have significant participation in industry and the corporate world, and in the MSME community.

The membership of PHILWEN Founding Members cover a wide spectrum from young entrepreneurs to seasoned executives, as well as middle management and young professionals. PHILWEN will best represent the policy advocacy efforts to include more women in business decisions, and enhance the implementation of a powerful legislation the Magna Carta of Women.

Women in business contributes a significant part of GDP and women are known to make 80% of purchase decisions, here and globally. The inclusion of women in the economy constitutes a major part of a country’s achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN.

In Photo:

Left to Right standing: Beatriz Lim (Managing Director, TeamAsia), Raquel Cagurungan (Filipina CEO Circle, Inc.), Farah Alvarado (Network for Enterprising Women), Evelyn Singson (Vice-Chairman of Philippine Hoteliers Inc. and Trustee, WomenBizPH), Chiqui Go (President, WomenBizPH), Atty. Dick Du-Baladad (VP, WomenBizPH), Mylene Abiva (Corporate Secretary, WomenBizPH), Jenny Lind Elmaco (Trustee & Executive Director, Spark! Philippines), Sharon Dayoan (Women Corporate Directors)

Left to right seated : Jeannie Javelosa (Chairperson, BPW Makati), Cristina Concepcion (President, Filipina CEO Circle, Inc.), Myren Garcia (Founding President, Network for Enterprising Women), Boots Garcia (Past Chair & Board Adviser, WomenBizPH), Vicky Garchitorena (Founder and Trustee, Spark! Philippines), Chit Juan (Co-Chair, Women Corporate Directors).