Coca-Cola: partnerships enabling lasting change for women entrepreneurs

IN full recognition of the critical role that women play in society — in economic, social and community development — Coca-Cola set, over a decade ago, a global commitment to economically empower five million women entrepreneurs by 2020, called the 5by20 initiative.

To date, the company has led several public-private partnerships with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and various communitybased organizations meant to not only spread the programs nationwide, but also adopt a multisectoral approach to make real, impactful and lasting solutions.

Among said the programs are the STAR program targeted towards training sari-sari (variety) store and carinderia (eatery) owners; the Women Reach program that has, so far, trained 277 women OFWs into starting their own microenterprises; the OFW Rise program, an online training course on basic entrepreneurship, meant to benefit 10,000 OFWs; and the ReStart program, which has helped 20,000 sari-sari stores recover via financial assistance and safety kits.

“Coca-Cola Philippines is proud to be working with these organizations in helping make real and lasting change to the lives of Filipino women. Our ability to make dreams happen, to economically empower over 250,000 women has been made possible with the help of our government and nongovernment partners,” said Jonah de Lumen-Pernia, CocaCola Philippines Public Affairs and Sustainability director.

Coca-Cola Philippines continues to work with communities and organizations that extend support to women, especially during the pandemic.