DILG culminates Women’s Month Celebration by honoring every day women heroes together with the Philippine Commission on Women and Coca-Cola
Tuesday, April 02, 2019
Coca-Cola Philippines sustainability manager Joy Munsayac, DILG undersecretary Marjorie Jalosjos, Coca-Cola Philippines public affairs and communications manager Sam Sanchez, along with relevant partners in government celebrate Women’s Month at a film screening last March 28.
The month-long
celebration of women aptly ended with the gathering of the Philippines’ women
agenda movement leaders –the Department of Interior and Local Government, the
Philippine Commission on Women, and the world’s biggest and most women-supportive
beverage brand, Coca-Cola Philippines.
The Company
recognizes the important role of women and their capabilities and potential as
engines for development. Based on numerous studies, when women are given the
opportunity to earn, they reinvest their income to the welfare of their
families. The 5by20 STAR Program aims to empower women and promote their
economic capabilities, and seize economic opportunities. We envision that
economically empowered women would form part in the solution in breaking the
cycle of poverty within families. We believe that women, given the right
support and confidence, can make a positive impact, and make all the difference
that the world needs.
During a special
film screening of a fictional heroine, the beverage brand featured a short clip
on the impact of their program, particularly the 5by20 Sari-Sari Store Training
and Access to Resources (STAR) Program. The video underscored how the women,
mostly mothers, became the heroes to their families by making ends meet with
additional sources of income while being able to manage the household. Women
reach their full potential when given a space that enables them to grow, women
reach their full potential.
“Coca-Cola
several years back acknowledged the fact that there wasn’t gender equality in
the world and in the workplace, and though of what can we do more to drive that
empowerment, and drive that mission. Not only did we talk about it, we actually
put a goal in place called the 5by20 initiative—5 million women empowered by
the year 2020,” said Winn Everhart, president and general manager of Coca-Cola
Philippines.
“What I can
proudly say that the Philippines has lead the way. This is the preeminent
market where Coca-Cola is invested in empowering women through our 5by20
program. We’re now turning over 150,000 women entrepreneurs in the Philippines,
and we’ll be hitting our goal of 200,000 by next year. We’re one of the global
leaders when it comes to women empowerment,” he added.
The film
screening was joined by top officials of the Philippine Commission on Women
Commissioner Sandra Montaño and
the Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Marjorie Jalosjos.
“Lagi ko pong
sinasabi, hindi madali ang maging babae. Para kang superhero
na kailangan magpalit-palit ng costume—minsan tindera, security guard, business
woman, doktora, engineer, barangay captain, congresswoman, assistant secretary,
kapatid, anak, nanay. We play very critical roles in society, so we keep our
hopes, raise our children, and nurture our families,” said Jalosjos.
“The real heroes
of today are the women farmers who till the land so we can have food to eat;
women fisher folk, women civil servants, women lawyers and judges, medical
experts, women entrepreneurs, scientists, our mothers, sisters, at
tayong mga maria, tayong mga Juana. The Philippine Commission on Women commend all
efforts from our partners in celebrating women, regardless of age, race,
ethnicity, economic status and religion. Truly, we can make change work not
only for women, but with women. Let us remember that championing the role of
women does not end every March. It is an everyday goal and aspiration that
women will not be left behind,” said Montaño.
“Women
micro-retailers or the sari-sari store and carinderia owners that we see in
every street, every corner, are our everyday superheroes. They are literally
the hands that extend our brand to communities. However, over and above their
role as a store manager, they also juggle the role of being moms, wives,
sisters, caregivers, and home managers. As we reach the summit of our Women’s
Month celebrations, may we see every day and appreciate the role of extraordinary
women in our lives,” said Coca-Cola Philippines sustainability manager Joy
Munsayac.
The beverage
giant also announced its support for the planned all-women led run for the
rehabilitation of Manila Bay during Earth Day in April. Spearheaded by DILG and
PCW, the run will create a venue for women to be able to express their support
for the rehabilitation and cleanup of the iconic waterfront.
The 5by20 STAR
Program has evolved to cater to several sectors including women in agriculture,
women in the Women Economic Empowerment Program of the Philippine Commission on
Women, distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through partnerships with
the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration of the Department of Labor and
Employment and the National Reintegration Commission of OFWs, beneficiaries of
the government conditional cash transfer program or PantawidPamilyang Pilipino
Program (4Ps) in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development – National Capital Region, Artisan Women of Tondo, and for women
who are in disaster stricken areas. The program also includes women
micro-entrepreneurs who will undergo mentoring, or the Kapatid Program
of the Department of Trade and industry and the civic group GoNegosyo.
Coca-Cola, with their
19 manufacturing facilities in the Philippines, and over 10,000-strong labor
force, is proactive in promoting women empowerment through the 5by20 initiative.
The 5by20 STAR
Program is part of a global initiative that aims to economically empower 5 million
women by 2020. The Philippines has a local target of empowering 200,000 women
since its launch in 2011.
The Coca-Cola
5by20 STAR Program is implemented in partnership with TESDA. The STAR Program
is designed for women micro entrepreneurs who own and manage sari-sari
stores or carinderias. The Program addresses the barriers these women
face and help them achieve business success. The STAR Program has three
components: access to training, access to resources, and access to peer
mentoring.
To
date, the STAR Program has 390 accredited facilitators teaching and training
women retailers to become better entrepreneurs. The STAR Program is being
implemented in over 47 locations nationwide and has reached more than 140,000
women.
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