Filipino Womenpreneurs Demand Gender-sensitive Policies for MSMEs

• Filipino women entrepreneurs called for more robust, gender-sensitive support to cultural MSMEs
• They enumerated concerns such as insufficient funding, digital divides, and uneven business opportunities

Filipino women business owners of cultural micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have urged more robust, gender-sensitive policies to counteract disadvantageous features like restricted access to capital, unbalanced engagement in business networks, and digital access gaps.

The call came with the launch of the "Policy Leadership Workshop Series" in Quezon City, where 25 women cultural entrepreneurs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were gathered.

Coordinated by the Philippine APEC Study Center Network (PASCN) of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) under the APEC–Canada Growing Business Partnership, the workshop will assist policymakers and institutions in designing inclusive programs for cultural MSMEs.

Members disclosed that juggling business management with caregiving and community obligations continues to be a top concern, especially for women cultural workers.

They advocated for gender-insensitive financing schemes, mentorship initiatives specifically designed for cultural entrepreneurs, digital creative spaces to bridge digital divides, and a coordinating council for cultural MSMEs.

PIDS president Philip Arnold Tuaño stressed that successful policies must be co-designed with contributions from the grassroots level.

DTI director Emma Asusano emphasized the cultural MSMEs' role in upholding Filipino culture and building stronger communities, while Asian Institute of Management's Eylla Gutierrez noted that gender discrimination and unequal access to resources still restrict the full economic participation of women.

DTI–Philippine Creative Industries Development Council acting deputy executive director Jo-Dann Darong emphasized the need for the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act to institutionalize assistance to creative and cultural enterprises.