CIDA-PEARL2 Gives Birth to BSO Network Philippines

In July 2005, 15 business support organizations and 4 investment promotion centers were invited to a workshop and became recipients of a program known as the Executive Directors' Series. Early in 2006 another batch graduated from this program creating a total of more than 30 business support organizations within the network. This program was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency or CIDA through its Private Enterprise Accelerated Resource Linkages Project Phase 2 or known more by its partners and stakeholders as PEARL2.

The goal of PEARL2 is to contribute to the reduction of poverty in the Philippines through equitable sustainable development.

The program has created a form of capacity building for executive directors of different business support organizations or BSOs and investment promotion centers or IPCs. With acquired capacity comes confidence to take on more challenges.

However outside this circle of executive directors or EDs, is a world less trusting, less optimistic brought about by economic uncertainties, ignorance, and fear, at least, before CIDA-PEARL2 started the ED Series.

It is not that hard to understand this human experience. Philippine society is a collage of many pictures of despair, misunderstanding, hopelessness, and the inability of people and organizations to adapt to challenges.

All of that simply because we can't communicate clearly, we can't sit together to work out solutions, and we cannot find a way to work as a community.

Even if all of us are EDs.

Until now!

We believe we can transcend this human experience. We can cross the borders of our fears if we simply start consulting each other and comparing notes--finding the common ground that enables us to work together... learning together.

Acquiring the strength by simply being together seeking the same dream, weaving the same vision, and agree to set a course for the same mission.

We believe that…

• Innovative business ideas can work for us and our organizations.
• The goals we have set to accomplish is worth the calculated risks we are bound to manage.
• Social capital demands appropriate social returns on investments.
• Products and services must deliver value not only to our stakeholders but also to the community where we thrive.

We believe in the discipline of deliberate and expeditious acquisition of knowledge and competence to adapt to the challenges of the times.

All of us believe that Social Entrepreneurship is a tactical approach to equitable sustainable development.

We believe that a network of dedicated, passionate and truly competent EDs can make a difference.

In December 5, 2006, the Business Support Organization Network Philippines Association, Incorporated, was born.

BSO Network Philippines Association is an association of Executive Directors of business support organizations (BSO) committed to promote social entrepreneurship.

Our mission is to strengthen, sustain, and expand the network created through the PEARL2 Executive Director Series by establishing a support system that will:

· Strengthen the orientation and application of social entrepreneurship among its members;

· Strengthen the linkages among BSOs;

· Establish strategic alliances with government and non-government institutions locally and internationally.

· Promote common advocacies.

The road to sustainable development is not easy but we will get there some how.

Social Entrepreneurship is the key!

"Achieving poverty liberation and prosperity through pragmatic, market-driven, and sustainable solutions."