Message from the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN)
By Ms Aurora Boots Geotina-Garcia, Chairperson of the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN) and Co-Chairperson of the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE) at the joint launch of the ECOP-PhilWEN Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 12 August 2021, Manila, Philippines via Zoom
Good afternoon to all. Thank you for joining us today. We appreciate your effort in being here and we hope you are staying safe and healthy.
In September 2020, together with ECOP, ILO and Investing in Women, PhilWEN and PBCWE launched “The Business Case for Women in Business and Management in The Philippines” – a presentation on how greater gender diversity creates business benefits for enterprises, including higher profitability and productivity, increased ability to retain talent, and greater creativity. This event fostered a rich discussion on specific areas such as women in leadership, flexible work arrangements, and the link between gender-balanced boards and improved business outcomes. We have heard and shared impactful insights, success stories, long-term goals, and sustainability efforts to achieve thriving and enabling workplaces in the Philippines.
Diversity & inclusion is not exactly the easiest topic to discuss. It is a topic which is often put on the side, but in fact should be given more importance. As we know, the pandemic aggravated the need to establish and incorporate D&I as a core business strategy to build back and innovate. If there is anything that we need to emphasize and acknowledge, it is how the business sector plays a significant role in the women’s economic empowerment space, and how important it is to integrate gender data in responding and recovering. The old normal is a tough and cruel lesson for all of us, and this new normal is the only way forward.
Following the September 2020 event, ECOP, PhilWEN and PBCWE, as co-chair and technical partner, are proud to officially and formally launch the ECOP Diversity & Inclusion committee today. The committee strengthens and solidifies our commitment and common understanding of D&I across the workplace, home, and broader community. Through this launch (or relaunch), ECOP recognizes that D&I is a critical component of any recovery and sustainability plan given that many women, whether employees or entrepreneurs have been severely impacted by what initially started as a health crisis but has now become a severe economic crisis. Thus, it is timely that through this committee, ECOP will initiate programs to assist its members navigate the crisis facing their female employees and female entrepreneurs.
We extend our utmost appreciation and gratitude to our long-term and steadfast partners – the International Labor Organization for their generous support, as well as to Investing in Women, in pursuing the gender equality and diversity and inclusion advocacies in the country. I do hope that we will stay committed as we continuously look for innovative and creative ways of staying afloat and relevant in the business sector amidst the pandemic. May we find more allies, partners, like-minded organizations who would like to see a thriving gender equal workforce and entrepreneurial community.
Once again, on behalf of the organizing team, thank you and good day to all.
In September 2020, together with ECOP, ILO and Investing in Women, PhilWEN and PBCWE launched “The Business Case for Women in Business and Management in The Philippines” – a presentation on how greater gender diversity creates business benefits for enterprises, including higher profitability and productivity, increased ability to retain talent, and greater creativity. This event fostered a rich discussion on specific areas such as women in leadership, flexible work arrangements, and the link between gender-balanced boards and improved business outcomes. We have heard and shared impactful insights, success stories, long-term goals, and sustainability efforts to achieve thriving and enabling workplaces in the Philippines.
Diversity & inclusion is not exactly the easiest topic to discuss. It is a topic which is often put on the side, but in fact should be given more importance. As we know, the pandemic aggravated the need to establish and incorporate D&I as a core business strategy to build back and innovate. If there is anything that we need to emphasize and acknowledge, it is how the business sector plays a significant role in the women’s economic empowerment space, and how important it is to integrate gender data in responding and recovering. The old normal is a tough and cruel lesson for all of us, and this new normal is the only way forward.
Following the September 2020 event, ECOP, PhilWEN and PBCWE, as co-chair and technical partner, are proud to officially and formally launch the ECOP Diversity & Inclusion committee today. The committee strengthens and solidifies our commitment and common understanding of D&I across the workplace, home, and broader community. Through this launch (or relaunch), ECOP recognizes that D&I is a critical component of any recovery and sustainability plan given that many women, whether employees or entrepreneurs have been severely impacted by what initially started as a health crisis but has now become a severe economic crisis. Thus, it is timely that through this committee, ECOP will initiate programs to assist its members navigate the crisis facing their female employees and female entrepreneurs.
We extend our utmost appreciation and gratitude to our long-term and steadfast partners – the International Labor Organization for their generous support, as well as to Investing in Women, in pursuing the gender equality and diversity and inclusion advocacies in the country. I do hope that we will stay committed as we continuously look for innovative and creative ways of staying afloat and relevant in the business sector amidst the pandemic. May we find more allies, partners, like-minded organizations who would like to see a thriving gender equal workforce and entrepreneurial community.
Once again, on behalf of the organizing team, thank you and good day to all.