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Univers ity of Luzon Dagupan City

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SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECTS OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF LUZON, DAGUPAN CITY:

THE TRIPLE BOTTOMLINE APPROACH

Abstract

The idea of business opportunity and entrepreneurial development

through social entrepreneurship has become the focus not only of

Governments but also of civil society, the private sector and even the

academic institutions like the University of Luzon attuned to the

promotion of the concept of corporate social responsibility.

This study probed into measuring the impact of its initiatives

concentrating on financial literacy and entrepreneurial development

consistent with the triple bottomline approach (TBL) focusing on people

(social), profit (economic) and planet (environmental) indices as a way to

gauge the quality of life and standards of living of the beneficiaries.

Selected social entrepreneurship projects were assessed on the

basis of a 5-element criterion. In addition, weaknesses were identified

alongside the implementation and the management of the said projects.

Findings were then made as reference for the formulation of set of

interventions for the better execution and quality of the projects.

Key words: Social Entrepreneurship, Triple Bottom Line Approach, UL


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Introduction

At the 2005 World Summit it was emphasized that sustainable

development requires the reconciliation of environment, social equity and

economic demands which constitute the three pillars of sustainability or

the so-called triple bottom line that serves as a common ground for

numerous standards and systems.

With the triple bottom line approach, sustainability is viewed as a

totality economic growth, human development and environmental

protection requiring the involvement not only of Governments but also of

civil society, the private sector and even the academic institutions and

repeatedly highlighted in global conferences, including the 1992 Earth

Summit and World Summit on Sustainable Development, with the end in

view of implementing integrative and participatory strategies attuned to

the achievement of the core of the Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs) which range from reducing poverty to improving health care

especially among children and women, increasing literacy levels and

ensuring environmental stewardship.

This perspective in development brought in the concept of Social

entrepreneurship which backs up the article of Clark (2010) in

http://content.undp.org to promote the economic recovery as a way to

achieve the MDGs.


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Indeed, social entrepreneurship has become very important in the

context of the race for globalization in the purview of poverty alleviation

in both developed and developing countries.

The idea of business opportunity and entrepreneurial development

through social entrepreneurship in meeting the challenges of the 21st

Century World has led to formation of organizations and redirection of

existing institutions. Be it non-government or government; school-based

or community-based; local, national, regional or international.

In keeping with the social entrepreneurship criterion “Considering

the relevant economic concepts and an entrepreneurial approach to

improve their quality of life and standard of living,“ the University of

Luzon SIFE (ULSIFE) made a phenomenal success in breaking new

grounds in the field of social entrepreneurship consistent with one its

core values – Social Responsibility, anchored upon business concepts of,

but not limited to, financial literacy and entrepreneurial development.

This expresses the commitment of the University to its philosophy of

perecias y valias (skills and values) to fulfilling its trifocal function:

instruction, research and community extension services.

Noting rigors and hardships of organizational management, project

implementation, monitoring and evaluation and most especially financial


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administration in the implementation of the social entrepreneurship

initiatives, the study concentrates on selected projects executed from

2010 to 2012 highlighting, among others, the Project WOW (Wealth on

Wonders) in Ifugao, Project SAVE+ (Sustainable Actions for Viable

Enviro-preneurship Plus), Project Intensified CARE (Community Actions

to Rescue the Earth) and Project WELL (Women Energizement towards

Life-long Livelihood) for the marginalized sectors in Pangasinan, in

particular, and the North Luzon Region, in general toward addressing

contemporary issues and concerns through the positive power of

business.

With these social entrepreneurship projects, UL did not only

assisted thousands of people but have upscaled in raising the level of

committed of the students, teaching and non-teaching personnel, the

administration and other stakeholders of the University in pursuit of

corporate social responsibility..

In view of the foregoing ratiocination, UL social entrepreneurship

projects were assessed along the five (5) evaluation elements of the single

criterion for social entrepreneurship ventures to offer a framework for

quality project management on alternative measures on economic

recovery for sustainable development.


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Relative to this end is the identification of the restrictions and

constraint that impedes project implementation essential to laying down

the strategies for the review and updating of financial literacy and

entrepreneurial development projects bringing diverse network of

students, professionals and industry leaders around the shared mission

of creating a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of

business. Hence, by appropriately gauging the SIFE projects, the results

of this study could be a reliable input for improving the quality of lives of

the people specifically the underprivileged, the underserved and the

depressed thus serving as a powerful tool for change in making a

difference in the communities and at the same time develop the skills

and competencies of the social entrepreneurs and transforming them

into socially responsible business leaders.

Conceptual Framework

Measuring the impact and sustainability of social entrepreneurship

projects is generally in terms of quality of life. The social, cultural and

emotional circumstances of an individual or target groups, non-material

aspects and standard of living; the physical, financial and environmental

circumstances of an individual or target group are to be considered.


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Beyond the foundation of measuring sustainability on three

fronts—people, planet and profits—the flexibility of the triple bottom line

(TBL) allows organizations to apply the concept in a manner suitable to

their specific needs.

Encompassing the aforementioned guides to evaluation of UL

financial literacy and entrepreneurial development initiatives is a

framework of gauging the level of sustainable framework goes beyond the

traditional measures of profits, returns in investment, and shareholder

value to include environmental and social dimensions. The TBL

dimensions are also commonly called the three Ps: people, planet and

profits that relates to economic, environmental and social measures.

Economic variables ought to be variables that deal with the bottom

line and the flow of money. It could look at income or expenditures,

taxes, business climate factors, employment, and business diversity

factors.

Environmental variables, on the other hand, should represent

measurements of natural resources and reflect potential influences to its

viability. It could incorporate air and water quality, energy consumption,

natural resources, solid and toxic waste, and land use/land cover.

Ideally, having long-range trends available for each of the environmental


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variables would help organizations identify the impacts a project or policy

would have on the area.

As for social variables, these refer to social dimensions of a

community or region and could include measurements of education,

equity and access to social resources, health and well-being, quality of

life, and social capital.

This framework is generic to the operation model of social

entrepreneurship and its evaluation criterion, i.e., “Considering the

relevant economic, social and environmental factors which social

entrepreneur must effectively empowered people in need by applying

business and economic concepts and an entrepreneurial approach to

improve their quality of life and standard of living.”

This criterion, per SIFE guidelines, was divided into evaluation

elements that are framed in question form as follows:

• What are “relevant economic, social and environmental

factors?”

• How are people “effectively empowered?”

• Who are “people in need?”

• What is “applying business and economic concepts and an

entrepreneurial approach?”

• What is considered “quality of life and standard of living?”


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Indicators can be quantitative or qualitative. They should be

meaningful, direct, useful, and practical to collect.

The foregoing concepts provide the frame in the conduct of the

study. It is a methodical scrutiny of the social entrepreneurship projects

of UL and is based on the systems approach, otherwise termed as the

Input-Process-Output model.

The input phase covers the measurement of the UL projects per

the triple bottom line approach criterion and its five (5) elements as:

Relevant economic, social and environmental factors considered; Target

audience(s) effectively empowered; People in need targeted; Business and

economic concepts and an entrepreneurial approach applied; and

Quality of life and standard of living for its project beneficiaries improved.

It also includes the identification of the weaknesses and constraints

encountered in the conduct of the social entrepreneurship projects by

UL.

The said inputs were then processed by appraising the projects

using the single criterion and problems identified alongside their

implementation.


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Figure 1 Paradigm of the Study

Feedback

Input Process Output

The social entrepreneurship projects of ULSIFE per the triple-bottom line approach criterion along the following elements as:

1.

2. Consideration of relevant economic, social and environmental factors; Effectiveness in the empowerment of its target audience(s); Targeting people in need; Application of business and economic concepts and an entrepreneurial approach; and

3. Improvement of the quality of life and standard of living for its project beneficiaries

4. Constraints and weaknesses are cited in the ULSIFE projects in the purview of the SIFE triple- bottom line approach criterion and its elements

Appraisal of the of the social entrepreneurship projects of the University of Luzon Students in Free Enterprise based on the triple bottom line approach criterion and the weaknesses and constraints in the implementation of said projects

Proposed Effective and Efficient Alternative Courses of Action to Ensure Quality and Sustainable UL-SIFE social entrepreneurship projects towards sustainable communities


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Output of this process are proposed alternative courses of actions

aimed at quality and relevant UL-SIFE social entrepreneurship projects

en route to sustainable communities.

To complete the process is a means to set in place a feedback

mechanism in the attempt to properly addressed the problem at hand.

Statement of the Problem

This empirical study probed into the selected social

entrepreneurship projects from 2010 to 2012 of the University of Luzon,

Dagupan City, in an attempt to determine the impact of these per

requisites of the triple bottom line approach thereby providing baseline

information on relevant and effective project management towards

sustainable communities.

Specifically, it is premised on the following questions:

1. How do the social entrepreneurship projects of UL meet the triple-

bottom line approach criterion along the following elements as:

a. Relevant economic, social and environmental factors

considered;

b. Target audience(s) effectively empowered;

c. People in need targeted;


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d. Business and economic concepts and an entrepreneurial

approach applied; and

e. Quality of life and standard of living for its project

beneficiaries improved?

2. What constraints and weaknesses are cited in the UL projects in

the purview of the triple- bottom line approach criterion and its

elements?

3. On the basis of the inadequacies identified of the UL projects, what

effective and efficient alternative courses of action can be initiated in

order to ensure quality and relevant social entrepreneurship projects

that meet the triple bottom line criterion?

Conceptual Literature

Hereunder are some salient discussions presented as part of the

review:

Sustaining Social Entrepreneurship Through the

Triple Bottom Line Approach

The concept of sustainability addresses all aspects of an

organization, including the research and development of new products

that do not emit toxins or use non-renewable materials; innovation and

creativity, where organizations figure out ways of using or minimizing


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waste; marketing and advertising that addresses or supports local issues

and social causes; and increased stakeholder engagement, creating

dialogue with community partners, suppliers, competitors customers and

representatives for the natural environment. Sustainability is quickly

becoming a fundamental market force ignited through customer,

shareholder, and stakeholder demands.

A framework to help operate within this sustainability lens is the

TBL, which “focuses organizations not just on the economic value they

add, but also on the environmental value and social value they add –

and destroy. The three lines represent society, the economy, and the

environment according to Elkington (2004). Society depends on the

economy, and the economy depends on the global ecosystem, whose

health represents the ultimate bottom line. The test of a sustainable

organization is the degree to which its operations can be continued

indefinitely without negatively altering the factors that foster the

existence and creation of healthy communities and the natural

environment. As with the implementation of any new program or

movement, leadership plays a key role in successfully bringing about

change. To understand the leadership landscape surrounding the TBL,

we queried executives attending our programs to learn more about their

attitudes and actions regarding the TBL. We hoped to better understand


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the level of awareness and degree of importance leaders place on the

TBL; the outcomes and advantages leaders connect to TBL efforts; how

TBL efforts are integrated into day-to-day operations; and how

organizational culture and systems support or hinder TBL efforts.

The development of the TBL as a framework through which

organizations can present an account of their performance has prompted

a flurry of research, funds and consultancy organizations all trying to

improve the tools and the process involved. The Global Reporting

Initiative was established to provide a central focus for this activity, and

to set some international standards for sustainability reporting, which

have recently been revised (Global Reporting Initiative, 2006). This

explosion of interest in TBL reporting has spread across to the public

sector, especially among local governments, as well as down to smaller

companies, especially those companies involved in natural resources

management.

The application of the TBL by social enterprise are motivated by

the principles of economic, environmental and social sustainability.

Proponents who have developed and applied this sustainability

assessment frameworks focus on how to make an index that is both

comprehensive and meaningful and how to identify suitable data for the

variables that compose the index.


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Measuring Impact of Social Entrepreneurship Projects

through the Triple Bottom Line Approach Criterion

Consistent with the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)- formulated

criterion for measuring impact of social entrepreneurship as appearing in

www.sife.org: “Considering the relevant economic, social and

environmental factors, which SIFE team most effectively empowered

people in need by applying business and economic concepts and an

entrepreneurial approach to improve their quality of life and standard of

living” the following elements are identified to aid in the assessment of

projects:

1. What are “relevant economic, social and environmental factors?”

These three factors are in reference to the triple line concept, (i.e.

profits, people, planet) and are meant to illustrate that for a project or

initiative to truly be effective and sustainable it must make sense

economically as well as socially and environmentally.

• Due consideration must be given to the three factors

although one or more may have greater relevance in

particular circumstances.


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• To the degree that any of the three factors are relevant to a

situation, they should be addressed in an integrated manner

as part of the project rather than as separate activities.

1. How are people “effectively empowered?”

• By equipping them with the knowledge, skills and/or

confidence to move from dependency to self-determination

and independence.

• By involving them in collaboration and focusing on long-term

capacity building.

2. Who are “people in need?”

• Broadly interpreted to represent any potential group so long

as they are clearly lacking in the particular focus area of the

team’s project.

• Audiences are not limited to simply the poor, disadvantaged,

marginalized in society, underprivileged, and/or

economically challenged.

• A key evaluation is the team’s ability to illustrate the need(s)

of the target group(s) they worked with and why they chose

to address those needs.

3. What is “applying business and economic concepts and an

entrepreneurial approach?”


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• “Business and economic concepts” is an integrated point

clarifying the broad range of activities that can be delivered

as project solutions.

• “Business and economic concepts” should result in the

creation of economic opportunities through the application of

a business mindset to the project process, content and

delivery.

• “Entrepreneurial approach” should result in the

demonstration of “creativity, innovation and an

entrepreneurial culture” through.

4. What is considered “quality of life and standard of living?”

• Quality of life refers to non-material aspects: the social,

cultural and emotional circumstances of an individual or

target group.

• Standard of Living refers to material aspects the physical,

financial and environmental circumstances of an individual

or target group.

• Improvement of status should be illustrated through the

team’s achievement of outcomes (not just outputs, plans or

aspirations) that resulted in benefit or betterment of the

target group(s). Beyond this, questions as to how many


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projects teams choose to do, which audiences they target

their outreach efforts toward, whether they design original

educational material or use predesigned material, etc., are

all left to the discretion of each team.

The foregoing criterion elements allow additional insight or

clarification on the full scope, depth and impact of the teams' projects.

Research Literature

This section presents review of the corpus research literature, local

and foreign, that aided the researcher in having frame of reference for the

method and themes of the present study.

Measuring Impact of Social Entrepreneurship

Triple Bottom Line Approach to Social Entrepreneurship

In the paper of Mitchell, et al (2009) it evaluated the usefulness of

the TBL concept drawing on experience with Murrumbidgee Irrigation

and a review of other case studies in the literature. It argued argue that

TBL reporting can enable organizations to better manage their response

to the sustainability challenge when TBL reporting is approached as an

iterative learning cycle.

Using the TBL to create categories for sustainability issues is part

of the way in which the CRC Irrigation Futures Sustainability Challenge


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project approached its work with Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI). This

approach was in turn adapted from that used to develop a sustainability

reporting framework for the Australian fisheries industry.

In view of the results and discussions, it was recommended that

focus on the process of TBL reporting as a way of enhancing capacity to

address the sustainability challenge. Drawing upon case studies related

to TBL reporting in the literature we have recently published a set of

criteria which can be used to evaluate TBL reporting with the expressed

aim of improving TBL outcomes. Key elements of this evaluation

framework are:

1. A set of criteria to promote the engagement of staff and external

stakeholders in the reporting process so that there is greater

collective ownership of the actions that emanate from the process;

2. a focus on identifying any unsustainable trends across the TBL

using understandable indicators and clearly presented trends with

a view to collaborating on finding solutions and in generating

debate about trade-offs across the TBL dimensions; and

3. an emphasis that the process evolves into an iterative learning

cycle with a preparedness to challenge business-as-usual

operations when they undermine efforts to enhance sustainability.


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By implementing an iterative learning cycle, organizational

planning can build on collaborative reflections of changes observed after

actions undertaken by the organization in the past. At the centre of this

process is the opportunity to allow stakeholder engagement in the

process, both internal and external. TBL reporting is one way to promote

reflection on this, and there is an increasing level of experience and

resources to support organizations undertake TBL reporting. Given some

of the inherent constraints with organizational-based TBL reporting, it is

clear that TBL reporting be seen as a long-term process of adaptive

management.

Measuring Impact of Social Entrepreneurship Project

In the study of Abdu and Johansson (2009), it examined social

entrepreneurship by scrutinizing the concept as per experience of the

Students in Free Enterprise. It brought a deeper understanding of the

phenomenon by describing the particular purpose, the case of Umea

University as a social entrepreneurship model. The study is a qualitative

case study using semi-structured interviews. Six respondents have been

interviewed from different levels of the University in order to reflect the

entire organization. Further, it employed the deductive approach by

establishing a theoretical framework that guided the interviews and has

been used in the analysis of the empirical data.


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The main conclusions in this study show that the SIFE’s work with

social entrepreneurship is mainly about socio-economic and personal

development. Another conclusion is that cooperation with partners from

different sectors of the society is an important fundament in their work.

Moreover, SIFE Umea University can be considered as hybrid of a

voluntary organization and social enterprise since it includes similarities

of both organization forms. In addition, the study shows that

entrepreneurial skills play an important role in the social

entrepreneurship work. In conclusion, SIFE Umea University’s work with

social entrepreneurship can be divided into six steps: target group,

job/life training, commercial enterprises, personal development, socio-

economic development and partnership network.

Another qualitative case study on SIFE projects was pioneered by

Kelly (2008) in the aftermath accounting and corporate scandals, such as

Enron and WorldCom in Europe that have tarnished the image of the

business and has made it difficult for those promoting and supporting

the free enterprise system as a means of improving the standard of living

for all humanity. A renewed emphasis on promoting the free enterprise

system, one that includes the necessary components of ethical behavior

and social responsibility was conducted at all educational and

occupational levels of society. Henceforth, student organizations, such as


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the Franciscan University of Steubenville Chapter of Students in Free

Enterprise (SIFE), promoted a revitalized definition of the free enterprise

system.

This qualitative case analysis involves interviewing post-

undergraduate students who participated in the Franciscan University of

Steubenville Chapter of SIFE Presentation Teams in order to determine

what impact, if any, the chapter had on post-graduate student's

professional careers and societal perceptions and to also better

understand the successes of the program at Franciscan. The qualitative

research conducted revealed that the SIFE program at Franciscan

University did have a positive impact on the professional careers and

societal perceptions of the participants interviewed. Additionally, the

results indicate that it would be beneficial for other colleges and

universities, regardless of whether or not they possess a religious

affiliation, to emulate the philosophies and activities of the Franciscan

University of Steubenville Chapter of SIFE.

On a larger scale, in an ongoing effort, Mueller, et al (2011) have

collected data from 214 university students who participated in a new

method of community-based business education in China, New Zealand,

USA, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Zimbabwe and the UK. This SIFE

(Students in Free Enterprise) program operates in 48 countries and at


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1800 universities. SIFE students are empowered through an elaborate

system of program design and personal involvement of business leaders,

to teach members of the community about free market principles,

enterprise and good governance. We have also surveyed 31 faculty

advisors in those countries. Faculty advisors, usually university staff

members, ‘manage’ the student teams in the universities and connect the

student effort with university administration.

Students report they are willing to give up considerable leisure

time to participate in SIFE, and in many cases work on multiple projects.

They indicate significant educational outcomes for the community

participants, and a boost for their personal careers (presumably from the

connection to business leaders and the reference to SIFE in their CVs).

Faculty members confirm substantial learning outcomes for the

students, with new skills generated. They rank ‘entrepreneurship’

generally as being of high importance to their countries and their

universities and compare the SIFE experience favorably with other

student activities, such as business plan competitions.

The reviews based on the studies of Fry and Jonsson uncovered

that there are several organizations who are focusing on nurturing social

enterprise and social entrepreneurs. Each organization has a different

approach and philosophy toward the definition of social enterprise and to


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the support that is offered to those who are involved in it. Due to the

more complex nature of social enterprises in comparison to common

business ventures, evaluation is challenging. At the most basic level,

business venture can be evaluated in financial terms, whereas a social

enterprise has a range of economic, social and environmental goals that

need to be taken into account.

Applying these learning inputs to the present study, these enabled

the researcher to devise a process in understanding the approaches to

studying social enterprise particularly in terms of the operation model of

the University of Luzon Student in Free Enterprise.

Further, the reviewed materials along the ‘triple bottom line’ (TBL)

concept which is increasingly being used by organizations to report on

how they are responding to sustainability issues under the headings of

environmental, social and economic performance enriched the

understanding of the researcher. Just like in the work of Mitchell,

through the development of sustainability-related objectives under these

headings and matching each objective with an appropriate indicator,

organizations are able to monitor and evaluate their actions thereby

improving their capacity to respond. However, the predominant way in

which the TBL concept is used has its problems. Just like in the case of

this study where part of the problem statement zeroed in on the


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identification of the weaknesses and constraints relative to the social

entrepreneurship projects of UL-SIFE that are anchored from the triple

bottom line approach of the SIFE criterion.

Finally, in terms of evaluating the social entrepreneurship projects

particularly that of the SIFE projects, three researches presented along

this theme highlighted economic concepts which are considered

important to sustainability. These concepts are scrutinized and analyzed.

There is a lot of emphasis on economic elements, which affects

sustainability in various ways. The three pillars of sustainability affect

the various factors of sustainability in regards to natural resources.

Economic drivers influence the over-exploitation of natural resources,

which are important in development, but on the other hand, extensive

exploitation degrades them. Various socio-economic factors affects

sustainability and how the issue of sustainability needs to be addressed.

Research Method Used

The study basically made use of the descriptive type of research

method. This typology according to Best as cited by Adanza (1995) is

concerned with the conditions or relation that exist, practices that

prevail, beliefs, points of view or attitudes that are held, processes that

are going on, effects that are being felt or trends that are developing.


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The method is arrived at as the study pertaining to the social

entrepreneurship projects of the UL involves, to a large extent, analysis

and interpretation of the meaning of what is being described. The only

elements that the researcher manipulates are his methods of description

and by the way in which he analyzed. Generally, it is qualitative in

nature.

In particular, consistent with the objectives of this study, the

researcher employed case analysis and used documents in exploring

causation in order to find underlying principles. To attain triangulation,

focus group discussions and unstructured interviews were carried out

among the UL social entrepreneurs comprised of faculty advisers,

projects leaders and members.

Further, documentary analysis was also resorted to complement

the case study mode. Various documents and records were reviewed to

attain the said purpose.

Locale of the Study

UL is the only higher educational institution (HEI) in Region I

vested by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with

autonomous status in 2008. It is as well recognized by the Philippine

Association of Colleges and Universities-Commission on Accreditation


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(PACU-COA) as the institution of higher learning with the highest

number of accredited programs in 2012 for several years in a row.

Strategically located at the heart of the City, UL is situated along

the central business district of Perez Boulevard (see Fig. 2 on the next

page), bounded in the east by the municipality of Mangaldan; in the west

by the Muncipality of Binmaley, in the north by the Municipality of San

Fabian, and on the south, by the Municipality of Calasiao.

Data-Gathering Procedure

An in-depth scrutiny of the written records constituted the main

part of the data-gathering process. Series of review were observed in

order to extract the most reliable data for the study.

The data generated were then validated with the observations and

responses the UL-SIFE advisers, project leaders and the members

gathered in the course of the focus group discussions and interviews.

Data Analysis and Interpretation

For a qualitative case study as in this study, textual presentation

of data was primarily observed. The data were analyzed using the

univariate type of analysis since this research on social entrepreneurship

projects of the UL involved one variable. The second and third levels of


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interpretation were devised where level 2 is on giving meaning or

implication and level 3 on cross referencing or corroboration.

Results and Discussion

The Social Entrepreneurship Projects

of the University of Luzon

Selected social entrepreneurship projects of the University of Luzon

implemented from 2010 to 2012 The were appraised along the five (5)

evaluation elements as: (1)Relevant economic, social and environmental

factors considered; (2)Target audience(s) effectively empowered; (3) People

in need targeted; (4)Business and economic concepts and an

entrepreneurial approach applied; and (5) Quality of life and standard of

living for its project beneficiaries improved.

Relevant Economic, Social and Environmental Factors Considered

The triple bottom line goes beyond corporate social responsibility

but is about integrating a sustainable approach into the core business

affecting the overall impact of the business. The triple bottom line

emphasizes three strong points: creating or increasing profits, improving

the lives of people and that of the planet. Further, this part of the

criterion revolves only on three factors such as economic, social, and

environmental.


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Project WOW Ifugao

WOW stands for “Wealth on Wonders” which represents an eco-

cultural initiative featuring the majestic sceneries of the Mayoyao Rice

Terraces in Ifugao. This world renowned natural beauty is capable of

becoming country’s one of the best tourist destination and is likely seen

to be calling global appreciation.

It aims to bring in local and international tourists, as well as

students to Mayoyao for them to experience actual planting and

harvesting in the rice terraces. With this action, Mayoyao villagers are no

longer forced to vacate their places and move to urban areas. This

strategy allows them to focus on improving the Rice Terraces thereby

protecting it from degradation. This is the only eco-tour project initiated

by the youth within the municipality.

Part of the roles and responsibilities of the latter group is to aid the

Pochon Youth Group to intensively promote the eco-cultural tour by

developing tour packages among selected travel agencies in Dagupan

City and nearby places and massive promotions over the internet

featuring the bountiful natural resources offered by the Mayoyao

community.


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With the intervention of UL through its promotional schemes and

business management lectures, the eco-cultural tour project posted a

remarkable success in terms of its earnings.

Table 1

Revenue of the Eco-Cultural Tours Project

Ecotourism

Activity Fee per Head No. of Tourists Revenue

1 Php 3,900.00 46 Php 179,400.00

2 3,900.00 48 187,200.00

3 3,900.00 50 195,000.00

4 3,900.00 52 202,800.00

5* 4,900.00 63 308,700.00

6* 4,900.00 65 318,500.00

Total 324 Php 1,391,600.00

*with the UL intervention

Reflected on the table above is the revenue results of the eco-

cultural tours. It is noteworthy to mention that the highlighted items,

which are ecotourism activities numbers 5 and 6, are the results of the

operation through the intervention of the UL in the intensified marketing

and promotional efforts of the team. Number of tourists shows a clear

increase from 46 to 65 tourists since the implementation of the project.


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The allocation of the revenues varies among the groups who, in one

way or another, benefited from the undertaking of the said activities. But

it is interesting to note the local tour guides, the IK holders, the caterers,

the lodge-owners, transport group, the cultural performers, gets their fair

share on the fees collected.

Taken from the aforementioned table, is an elaboration and

graphical presentation of the number of tourists who participated and

visited the Mayoyao community for the WOW Ifugao project.

Graph 1

Number of Tourists


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Based on the graph above, the number of tourists visiting

Mayoyao, Ifugao escalated from 46 to 65 individuals, this due to the

intervention of UL in terms of promotional schemes made over the

internet and select travel agencies in Dagupan City featuring the

wonders of natural resources in Mayoyao, Ifugao. Likewise, it can also be

seen on the graph that 11 additional tourists arrived totaling to 63

individuals in the ecotourism activity number 5 as compared with only

52 in ecotourism activity number 4.

Graph 2

Revenue from the Operations of WOW Ifugao Project


32

Depicted from the graph above is a clear graphical presentation of

the revenues earned from the ecotourism project.

Having the tourists being exposed to actual planting/harvesting

activities during the five day eco-tour, where farmers accepted their way

of planting, have saved much of their efforts. This also served as an

avenue to promote awareness among tourists about some ways to help

save our environment.

Project SAVE + SAVE+ stands for Sustainable Actions for Viable

Enviropreneurship Plus. “Enviropreneurship” is a word coined from the

words ‘environment’ and ‘entrepreneurship’ which brings to the fore the

idea of earning income and having business, at the same time,

addressing environmental hazards.

Project SAVE + has two objectives: (1) to lessen, if not to totally

annihilate, the environmental hazards brought about by the aforesaid

problems and (2) to provide alternative livelihood mechanisms.

It is noteworthy to mention, that the outputs of this project are the

results of the collaborative efforts of the City of Dagupan and UL. Hence,

UL directly and indirectly assisted the 800 displaced fisherfolk families in

the City of Dagupan. However, it is but proper to present the whole


33

number of fisherfolk families affected by the executive order as indirect

beneficiaries of the Project SAVE + to reflect the totality of partnership

sealed between the City Government of Dagupan and UL.

As shown in the succeeding financial statement, a total net income

of Php 285,944.12 was earned by the beneficiaries. This came from the

proceeds of vegetables, farm products and hollow blocks sales. It can be

observed that the larger portion of the revenue came from organic

farming comprising sales from vegetable and farm products.

Table 2

Consolidated Statement of Operations of Project SAVE+

June 30, 2012

Sales Revenue from sales of vegetable products Php 72,564.00 from farm products 312,900.00

from hollow blocks 190,330.00

Total Sales Php 575,794.00

Cost of Sales vegetable Php (29,934.00)

farm products (51,550.00)

hollow blocks (160,760.88)

Total Cost of Sales (242,244.88) Gross Profit 333,549.12

Delivery Expenses Php (11,605.00)

Other Expenses (36,000.00)

NET INCOME Php 285,944.12


34

This is because people are placing more consideration on organic

products as this would contribute to their healthy lifestyle. Likewise,

organic fertilizers are cheaper to use as compared to commercial

fertilizers hence, they were able to sell their outputs at a lower price.

Project iCARE

In its sixth year of organization, UL had intensified its actions in its

war waged against unmanaged solid wastes which poses peril threat on

the human race and to our only planet. This led to the idea of

introducing Project iCARE or Intensive Community Actions to Rescue the

Earth. This is an extension of the Project SAVE+ wherein the

biodegradable wastes collected from Project ICARE are used by the

beneficiaries as organic fertilizers and the non-biodegradable materials

such as plastic bottles are used for hollow blocks making. By products

are then sold to junk shops to serve as fund raising activity of the team.

Taken as a whole, this project is primarily intended to help our ailing

environment thus necessitating the action of all.

The ICARE project is concomitant with the Ecological Solid Waste

Management Act of 2000, Clean Air Act and Green Philippines Program

in the proper solid waste management and at the same time income

generation out of recyclable materials. Furthermore, innovative livelihood


35

recycling sessions were introduced to the community for them to see the

benefits and economic opportunities from solid wastes.

Part of the strategies to intensify the community participation

towards helping our environment is the conduct of series of lectures in

some barangays in Dagupan regarding proper waste segregation and

disposal. Speakers of such seminars came from the City Waste

Management.

Table 3

UL Project iCARE STATEMENT OF CASH RECEIPTS

Year Ended June 30, 2011

School Year Date Semester

Total First Second

2006-2007 July 20, 2006 Php 5,155.75 Php - Php 5,155.75

2007-2008 July 8, 2007

13,125.00

November 11, 2011

12,907.00

26,032.00

2008-2009 July 15, 2008

15,244.50

November 15, 2008

12,207.25

25,451.75

2009-2010 July 16, 2009

10,035.00

November 25, 2009

10,701.00

20,736.00

*2010-2011 July 23, 2010

10,600.00

September 27, 2010

34,153.50

December 22, 2010

21,959.00

January 23, 2011

5,640.00

72,352.50

TOTAL Php88,313.75 Php63,414.25 Php 151,728.00


36

Presented on the table are the proceeds of the intensified efforts of

ULSIFE team under this project for its six years of operation.

The amount presented is the accumulated earnings of ULSIFE

from its six (6) years of operation. However, the amount earned

exclusively for the SIFE Year 2011-2011 totaled for only Php 72,352.50.

This posted the highest earnings for the team due to the intensified

efforts made to promote environmental advocacy especially to the young

generation.

Graph 2

Cash Receipts from Sale of Scrap Materials

(Per Semester)


37

As shown in Graph 2, proceeds from selling of scrap materials

have increased dramatically in the school year 2010-2011 due to the

intensified advocacy of UL in teaching the young generation, specifically

the UL students, with their responsibilities towards helping the

environment through plastic bottles collection, among others. It can also

be seen that from year 2006 to 2011, larger income is earned during the

first semester, except for school year 2009-2010. This is basically due to

the fact that more students are involved in the collection process because

of the higher enrolment rate as compared to the second semester.

Graph 3

Cash Receipts from Sale of Scrap Materials

(Per School Year)


38

Graph 3 presents the graphical presentation of earnings from

scrap selling in terms of school year to reflect the proceeds of the Project

ICARE. It can be observed that amounts tend to fluctuate per year as

this was the result of price changes of scrap materials. However, greater

amount of earnings was noted in the school year 2010-2011 because of

the increased number of participants representing the various areas in

the province of Pangasinan.

Project WELL

WELL stands for Women Energizement towards Life-long

Livelihood is specifically intended to empower the women sector in the

city. The idea was to make housewives become productive and dignified

members of the family and to the whole society as they are commonly

ignored since they do not provide income to the family. Consequently, UL

thought of providing them with the skills and knowledge for them to earn

additional income such as innovative milkfish (bangus) products like

milkfish dimsum, milkfish chicharon and milkfish pulvoron. Likewise,

ULSIFE taught the beneficiaries on the production of other innovative

products such as yema, chocolate-coated pulvoron, among others.

According to Vaquilar-Romo (2009), skills development among

individuals is very necessary. Developing a high quality Filipino


39

workforce is very much needed to uplift the condition and have a strong

economic performance.

Presented subsequently is the information with regard to the

implementation of the project.

Graph 4 reflects the comparative analysis of the production of

milkfish innovation, one of the product innovations offered to the

community.

Graph 4

Comparative Analysis of Milkfish Innovation

Production Outputs

It can be gleaned the table that the production escalated from 5

percent to 17 percent which is tantamount to a 340% increase in its

Production


40

production. This means that little by little, the innovations on the

products of the beneficiaries and ULSIFE are gaining popularity due to

the increase in demand as reflected in its production.

Also presented on the following subsections is the elaboration of

the market analysis per distribution channel covering the period March

1-31, 2011.

Graph 5

Average Production of Milkfish Innovations

Based from the Distribution Channels


41

Specifically, Graph 5 shows the results of production of milkfish

innovation based on the demands posted from the five distribution

channels in Dagupan City and Lingayen. It can be seen that milkfish

innovations tend to mark almost similar demands as compared with the

normal milkfish commercials. This is due to the fact that people are

continuously looking for variety preparations for milkfish, while the third

classification, termed as ‘others’, represents other seafood products being

sold in the market.

Graph 6

Comparative Average Income of the Beneficiaries


42

The graph in the preceeding page shows the comparative average

income of the beneficiaries based on the operation of project SAVE+. As

seen on the graph, the project enabled the beneficiaries to earn Php

7,200 average monthly income during the year 2011 as compared from

Php 0 in year 2008, thereby indicating relative escalation in income.

Target Audience Effective Empowered

In essence, engaging target audience to a collaborative approach is

the first step in empowering.

Project WOW Ifugao

The ecotourism project is jointly implemented by the Pochon Youth

Group, the ULSIFE, the Mayoyao Tour guides, Trekkers, and Indigenous

Knowledge Holders Allied Organization (MATTIKHAO), the

AKHA’KHAEMEH Cultural Performing Group, the host community, the

transport group and the catering section, and the lodge-owners, with the

support of the Mayoyao Local Government Unit.

UL contributed to the betterment of the ecotourism activity

through the upliftment of business ideas and dynamics of the project.

The Pochon Youth Group provides the initiative and at the same time the

link to the target market of participants.


43

Similarly, UL introduced series of seminar-trainings to equip

community beneficiaries with the proper knowledge on cash

management, simple booking, and other financial management skills.

Project SAVE+

UL thought of having a project that will help them provide a steady

source of income through environmentally friendly endeavor – organic

farming and hollow blocks making.

After identifying the needs of those affected, UL started the project

by informing the communities (farmers and fisherfolks) on the benefits of

composting and partnered with the City Waste Management Division of

the City Government to orient the beneficiaries on proper waste

management and disposal.

UL introduced livelihood alternatives to the displaced fisherfolks.

The farmers from Barangay Lucao, Dagupan City and some portions in

San Carlos City received the technical know-hows about organic farming

which contributed to the increase in their harvest income. On the other

hand, the displaced fisherfolks in the City of Dagupan were likewise

ventured onto organic farming by way of utilizing idle lands in the City.

Another milestone of the UL is the introduction the production of hollow

blocks made out of oyster shell wastes and plastic bottles. This


44

technology is the result of the research and development efforts of the

University of Luzon SIFE team.

Furthermore, the beneficiaries were likewise trained on other

livelihood means such as yema making, among others.

To complete the process, ULSIFE educated the farmer fisherfolks

on finance and management techniques needed to run the organic

farming business and hollow blocks business.

Project iCARE

To increase the level of awareness of the people in Dagupan City

and nearby places, UL spearheaded various activities such as conducting

massive clean-up drives, in coastal and land areas.

Furthermore, the team also aided WMD in the information

dissemination campaign of the City on proper waste management and

disposal. Seminars were conducted to orient people regarding the

consequences of improper solid waste management and some possible

courses of actions to rescue the earth. Speakers on the said seminars

came from the Waste Management Division of Dagupan as this is a joint

undertaking of the City government and ULSIFE.


45

The intensified solid waste management system of garbage

collection and disposal includes home garbage segregation, home

garbage evacuation and finally recycling. As part of changing the

mindsets of the people, the City Waste Management Division is not

collecting the wastes which are not properly segregated. And to further

and ultimately ensure the success of this undertaking, the

Barangayshave been empowered to get their fair share on this noble

responsibility through the re-operationalization of their Material Recovery

Facilities as mandated by RA 9003 to facilitate solid waste management

activities.

Project WELL

UL also ventured in empowering the unemployed women by

coaching them on business dynamics such as on how to start a business

and the requisites of a successful entrepreneur..

Furthermore, UL is proud to have spurred the coaching of the

beneficiaries on various milkfish innovations such as milkfish siomai,

milkfish pulvoron, milkfish ‘chicharon’, among other milkfish

innovations. This creative productions are in consonance and in support

with the “one town, one product” advocacy of the Department of Trade

and Industry.


46

After the production, products are marketed which involves

partnership with private organizations like chain of malls or other

suitable venue to showcase the product. Finally, in able for the women

beneficiaries to monitor their undertaking, they received various lectures

on financial budget calculations, cost control, risk management, break-

even analysis, among others.

People in Need Targeted

The third part of the criterion talks about the people in need. This

clearly identifies who are and should be the beneficiaries of the project.

Project WOW Ifugao

The direct beneficiaries of the eco-cultural tours are the host

communities, the local tour guides, the cultural performers, the

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Holders and scholars who will be conducting

lecture-demo on native house construction, the transport group, the

caterers, lodge owners, and the tour participants themselves. The

indirect beneficiaries on the other hand include the PochonYouh Group,

University of Luzon and the Municipal and Barangay Government Units.

The host communities benefit from the tours by being able to save

from the expenses of the planting/harvesting activity due to the fact that


47

the tourists participate in the planting/harvesting activity. The local tour

guides were given their appropriate tour guiding fee for the assistance

they extend in guiding the participants on the trekking part of the

activity. The cultural performers and the IK holders are also paid their

fees for the performances they render. The transport group and the

caterers including the lodge-owners also get their respective fee for the

services they render. And the participants’ benefits come in the form of

unforgettable and authentic experiences during their stay in Mayoyao.

The conduct of this project resulted to impacting approximately

100 direct beneficiaries of the Mayoyao community, directly and

indirectly.

Project SAVE+

In coordination with the City Agriculture Office, ULSIFE conducted

a needs assessment survey to study the situation of the inhabitants of

Dagupan, particularly in the fishing villages.

In summary, in this project it attempted to provide solutions for

the environmental hazards and at the same time providing livelihood

mechanisms to the inhabitants of Pangasinan.


48

As part of the objectives of this project towards providing livelihood

mechanisms to the inhabitants of Pangasinan, especially the displaced

fisherfolks of the City of Dagupan due to the effectivity of the Executive

Order, ULSIFE targeted the fisherfolk families from various communities

in Dagupan City. Further, this project also catered the farmers of San

Carlos City.

The beneficiaries received series of coaching and training on

composting for organic farming and hollow blocks production made out

of pulverized oyster shells and ground/cut plastic bottles.

A total of 1,100 inhabitants in Panagsinan were covered by this

project in the province of Pangasinan.

Project iCARE

Project ICARE caters the inhabitants of the City of Dagupan and

its nearby towns via promoting proper solid waste management.

Particularly, in this project, the students of the University of Luzon were

directly involved into this undertaking bringing thousands of kilos of

salable materials such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and the like as

a way to awaken and increase the awareness of the people.

Approximately 4,500 individuals are said to be impacted by this

project, in any way, through the intensification of solid waste


49

management efforts of UL in partnership with the City Government of

Dagupan.

Project WELL

UL aims to increase the earning power of every family in

Pangasinan by way of energizing the mothers, who are actually

considered as unemployed, this presents 186 needy families in the

province particularly in Dagupan City.

The unemployed women were engaged on intensified technical

trainings about various income-generating activities, such as yema

making, pulvoron, peanut butter making, jam making, among others.

Beneficiaries were likewise grouped into self-help groups to

promote financial independence and self-reliance among women.

The project catered two groups or communities, each of which has

been offered to produce innovative products suitable to their market

environment and ability to make. These two groups are the unemployed

mothers in Saint John Child Care Center (SJCCC) and Barangay Pantal.

Connected with the over-all strategy of UL, each group of women was

engaged into organizational development by forming Self-Help Groups


50

which can aid them in building camaraderie and unity in their respective

business ventures.

Business and Economic Concepts and an

Entrepreneurial Approach Applied

Business and economic concepts should result in the creation of

economic opportunities through the application of a business mindset to

the project process, content and delivery. Entrepreneurial approach

speaks to the manner in which projects are developed and delivered.

Project WOW Ifugao

UL conducted series of seminars teaching the beneficiaries relative

to tour guiding techniques, simple bookkeeping and financial

management, among others. This will prepare them to be holistically

ready in facing new challenges in their lives such as becoming financially

independent. Likewise, UL helped the partner communities through

intensive marketing methodologies such as using the social media in the

internet to advertise the new tourist destination and entering

memorandum of agreement with select travel agencies in Dagupan City

to create new travel packages featuring the Mayayao community and the

rice terraces.


51

Project SAVE+

The project started form the idea of converting the negative

situation to a winning outcome. From those affected by the executive

order issued by the city government against the existence of illegal fish

pens and fish cages, UL intervened by introducing livelihood projects to

those affected by the order. UL thought of teaching people alternative

livelihood projects that will continuously provide family income in any

period of the year. The idea of organic farming is getting the excess of the

Material Recovery Facilities that are considered compostable and use it

as fertilizers. Simultaneous with the organic farming under the Project

SAVE Plus, is the strategy used by UL to convert the unprecedented

accumulation of oyster shells along the streets and the commonly thrown

plastic bottles, that serves as deterrent to the beautification of the city,

can be used to produce hollow blocks.

Project iCARE

The Project ICARE has two main thrusts: environmental advocacy

and entrepreneurship. Environmental advocacy means that we are all

accountable to our mother earth and that we are obligated to do

something, whether big or small, to help save our environment. This is


52

done by managing our wastes and practicing the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and

recycle scheme. The second is on the premise that we can earn profit out

of our responsibility to help our ailing environment. By collecting

trashes, we can convert it into useful products or just simply selling

them to earn income.

Project WELL

This is an innovate approach of empowering unemployed women to

become productive members of the society. In the past, housewives are

only seen spending their time to unproductive manners such as chatting,

gambling, etc. Through ULSIFE intervention this mothers were taught

about some innovative approaches in making and selling bangus

(milkfish) products, pulvoron, yema, among others, which can help them

augment their family expenses. The strategy was first to teach them

financial literacy such as the basics of business establishment and

management, simple bookkeeping, tax compliance, and values for

money. After which a demonstration was conducted to educate them on

the process of creating the product and the advantages of engaging into

this line of business. UL is operating under two project phases: micro-

enterprise and micro-finance. Monitoring is then conducted to supervise


53

the project developments and check quality controls and the necessary

corrective actions if needed.

Quality of Life and Standard of Living

Quality of life refers to non-material aspects such as the social,

cultural and emotional circumstances of an individual or target group

while standard of living refers to material aspects such as the physical,

financial and environmental circumstances of an individual or target

group.

Project WOW Ifugao

The Mayoyao people are considered part of the indigenous groups

in the country. Hence, their rights are often compromised and they are

not given equal treatment as compared to those living in the urban areas.

Through this project, the team empowered them to be competent and

capable in facing new challenges. With this, they were able to regain their

confidence and improve their communication abilities through some

lectures and training conducted that is useful in tour guiding operations.

Also, with the administration of this project, it was accounted that

there was an increase in the average number of tourists per season from


54

46 to 65 individuals thereby escalating ecotourism revenue to 178%. The

opening of these economic opportunities truly contributed to the

upliftment of in Mayoyao, Ifugao.

Project SAVE+

Through project, the beneficiaries were given alternative sources of

income such as organic farming and hollow blocks making. Aside from

that, through the project’s intervention, the city is spared from the

increasing volume of oyster shells and plastic bottles accumulation by 60

percent and reduced the incidence of indiscriminate burning by 70

percent. Likewise, organic farming uses biodegradable wastes to serve as

fertilizer which are usually the by-product of MRF in the barangays.

In a nutshell, ULSIFE opened 209 job opportunities for fisherfolks

in partnership with the City Government of Dagupan realizing an average

return on sales of 49.66 percent.

Project iCARE

This project generated fund amounting to Php 151,728.00 as

proceeds of materials collected from clean-up and waste collection

campaigns. The re-operationalization of 10 units of MRFs in Dagupan

City resulted to 90 percent decrease in unmanaged solid wastes thus


55

marking a decrease in solid wastes collection by 20 tons as referred by

the City Waste Management Division. Through the intensified campaign

made by the team and the city government, it can be accorded that 85

percent of business firms and 70 percent of households are now

practicing proper solid waste management as compared to the 10 percent

and 5 percent respectively in the past. Also, this paved the way to the

creation of 75 job opportunities.

Project WELL

The project successfully federated self-help groups which gave the

beneficiaries a sense of unity and camaraderie. Because of the project,

housewives were able to express their importance in the family as they

themselves contribute to the family income thereby adding more dignity

on their standing. The project posted a remarkable increase in income

from Php 0 to Php 7,200.00 for each beneficiary. Therefore, it uplifted the

household economy, in varying levels, of 186 needy women from

impoverished state.


56

Weaknesses and Constraints in the Conduct of UL-SIFE

Social Entrepreneurship Projects

The following are the identified constraints and weaknesses as

cited in the ULSIFE projects in the purview of the SIFE triple- bottom line

approach criterion and its elements:

Financial Constraint

The source of funding of UL comes from various fundraising

activities such as merchandising, solicitation, scraps-for-a-cause,

auction derby, trade fairs, and grants, among others.

Likewise, due to financial constraints, projects that are considered

necessary to address community needs are either partially implemented

or eliminated due to the limitations of funding. These are but some of the

constraints UL is facing in pursuit of sustaining its social

entrepreneurship projects.

Lack of Funds to Support More Relevant Trainings for the Members

UL social entreprenuers must be equipped with the proper

knowledge and skills to handle the various aspects of project

implementation. UL recognizes the fact that some activities slated for its

members are sacrificed to give way for the more important activities.


57

Such activities like high-end trainings which require relatively large

amount of investment are most often delayed or disregarded.

Lack of Community Awareness

UL projects are introduced to the community through partnerships

with the barangay or other organizations. It is clear that a project must

be a concerted effort of the implementers and the partner communities

hence, counterparts must be developed and tasks must be assigned.

However, some communities tend to expect that everything will be

provided by the team and thereby resulting to overreliance. For every

project undertaken by UL, a memorandum of agreement is established to

identify tasks and to clearly assign responsibilities and accountability of

each party. This activity is made known to the leader of the community

and the whole SIFE team. Certain projects were terminated prematurely

because of the lack of community awareness regarding the project

nature. The expected counterparts on the part of the partner-

communities such as the needed assistance from the barangay officials

or officers of the partner organizations, information dissemination, and

referrals were not actually made leading to its failure.

Lack of Sustainable Partnerships


58

Aside from the agreement entered into by ULSIFE with its partner

communities, the team also signs an agreement with government

agencies or private organizations in order to strengthen the

implementation of its projects. According to Gonzales (2001) as cited by

Vaquilar-Romo (2009), claimed that with various economic and social

problems confronting our people in the rural communities, there is a

need for some assistance from other professionals in order to move them

out from pit of ignorance and inadequacies to the land of knowledge.

Inadequate Manpower and Time Allocation in some Projects

The University has implemented several social entrepreneurships

to date.

Also part of the inherent constraints in the project implementation

is the fact that students implementing such projects are merely

volunteers which means that they are only to contribute their most

valuable time during their free hours.

Lack of More Detailed Project Monitoring and Evaluations Tools to

Measure Social, Economic, and Environmental Developments

The lack of more detailed monitoring and evaluation tools that is

applicable to specific unique projects will entail difficulty in measuring

project impact.


59

UL is using observation and interview to monitor and evaluate

project impact. This requires team members to frequently visit the

community to recognize developments or to perform corrective actions if

needed. However, some beneficiaries might give misleading or false

representations about the real status of the project. This collected data

are then used by the team as inputs for their evaluations which might

result to unreliable information outcome of the project. Also, sometimes

the team does not possess the expertise needed to measure project

developments. Hence, this resulted to miscalculations on the project

status and results.

Lack of Risk Management Techniques for Micro-Enterprise Projects

Micro-enterprise involves teaching the beneficiaries about the

basics of business establishment, values for money, and financial

management. This is done for them to become equipped and ready in

facing new challenges in managing their own business. However, the

team failed to discuss and impart some measure related to risk

management specifically strategies in handling threats and business

hurdles. This means that businesses established by the beneficiaries

might encounter internal or external threats in which they are not

capable of handling thereby affecting the sustainability of the project.


60

Alternative Courses of Action to Ensure Quality and Relevant

Social Entrepreneurship Projects of UL

On the basis of the inadequacies identified of the UL social

responsibility projects, the following are the effective and efficient

alternative courses of action can be initiated in order to ensure quality

and relevant social entrepreneurship projects that meet the triple bottom

line criterion

Goals for Revitalized Social Entrepreneurship Projects

Attuned with the triple-bottom line (e.g., social, economic, and

environmental) measurement of the SIFE criterion, UL is geared towards

implementing projects that aims to create financially independent and

self-sustaining communities. These projects are characterized to have

strong impact since this requires collaboration among key players in the

community.

Anchored on the preceding purpose, the following aims and

objectives were crafted with their corresponding indicators:

Over-arching Goal

Empower community people to become financially independent

and socially responsible members of the society through sustainable


61

project development and management that improves the quality of life

and standard of living for people in need.

Goal # 1: Establish livelihood project that will help increase their family

income.

• Provide intensified technical training on innovative product

development

• Conduct lecture on financial literacy (e.g., simple bookkeeping and

business establishment and management)

• Teach the beneficiaries about business ethics and values for

money

Goal # 2: Provide opportunities for social development

• Organization of Self-Help Groups

• Conduct trainings on leadership and group management

techniques

• Deepen understanding of beneficiaries on social mobilization

• Increase community participation

Goal # 3: Increase awareness on environmental issues and concerns

• Conduct awareness campaign on environmental status


62

• Offer eco-friendly projects to help save our environment

• Lessen environmental hazards

Goal # 4: Develop a mechanism for monitoring and evaluation

• Conduct continuous community visits

• Use appropriate evaluation methods to measure quality of life and

standard of living

• Encourage inter-visitation of communities for cooperative

sustainable development

Goal # 5: Intensify inter-agency partnership and collaboration

• Organize inter-organization support for project implementation

• Maintenance of “Self-Reliance/Self-Help” activities and projects,

a mode for Refinement Level in Development

Project Strategy

UL is committed on delivering holistic and sustainable community

projects which provides an avenue for social, economic, and

environmental development.

These projects are premised on the various needs of the

beneficiaries based on the needs assessment conducted. From here, the

team will have to devise projects aimed at addressing their problems.


63

These projects will be implemented based on the established detailed

plan of action relating to the two (2) project phases: Micro-enterprise and

Micro-finance. At this point, social mobilization and people empowerment

are the keys for success. Then monitoring and evaluation will be

conducted to measure project development and impact. This approach

will be adapted for every project implementation of UL.

The following are the effective and efficient alternative courses of

actions that can be initiated by UL in order to ensure quality and

sustainable social entrepreneurship projects:

Creative Fundraising Activities and Appropriate

Internal Control Policies

UL must undertake lecture-trainings on financial management

such as developing events for fundraising, proper money management,

and budgets so as to secure sustainable existence for the team. Likewise,

it is vital that UL must have records to show for its financial status.

These records include statement of fund operation and assets and

liabilities, and other relevant financial reports. It is advisable for the

team to use the standards applicable on accounting for non-profit

organization. Further, delegation of duties must be observed such that

there should be a definite person assigned to do the recording of each

activity. Hence proper segregation of duties must be observed to avoid


64

possible fraudulent activities, that is, the team must establish line of

positions which prevents incorporating incompatible functions to only

one person. Thru this, we can be able to attain strong internal control

with the organization.

Include learning programs in entrepreneurship teaching to

develop social entrepreneurs expertise and commitments

Community people must be oriented on the basics of

entrepreneurship. This will further help them in creating innovative

measures towards establishing and managing their own business. In

order to do this, project implementers must be equipped with the proper

knowledge and skills in teaching the beneficiaries.

Strong and Clear Partnerships with the Community

UL must see to it that the terms of agreement are clear and are

properly communicated with both parties. The success or failure of the

project lies on the ability of the parties to perform their job and act on

their own responsibilities. Hence, formal dialogue must be developed

between the two parties to iron out expectations. It shall also be clear to

the beneficiaries that the role of the implementers shall not encompass

the totality of the project. Counterparts must be developed to sustain the

ownership of the project. Thus, it is expected from the community to

assign people and devise marketing strategies for their products since


65

the realization of their projects reside on collaboration of both parties. In

order to do this, community officials must observe cooperation among

beneficiaries. According to Maslang (2000), some of the reasons why a

project fails is because of the lack of beneficiary participation in the

project. Because of this, beneficiaries will not develop the sense of project

ownership, thus, will lead to dole-out. Also, the second reason is the lack

of coordination between and among agencies or organizations operating

in the project site and the lack of effective referral network. Because the

individual organizations tended to focus on their respective performance

targets and were confronted with limited human and material resources

they were reluctant to share their time, expertise and resources with one

another. More often than not, this led to competition, duplication of

efforts and wastage of resources. All of this must be affirmed by both

parties so as not to encounter confusions among them which might give

way to the failure of the project.

Creating Project Partnership Criteria

It is proper for the team to further analyze the needs of the

community to serve as a basis for choosing the right partner. The team

must also investigate the background of the prospective partner

organization in order to warrant their commitment in the conduct of the

project. It is also important that both parties have laid down their job


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responsibilities and further agreed to iron out unexpected

miscommunications or wrongdoings that will hinder the success of the

project.

Creating Appropriate Monitoring and Evaluation Tools

in Measuring Project Developments

UL can use various mechanisms to gather relevant findings

regarding the project such as social performance management.

Social Performance Management (SPM) project is an innovative

approach of identifying the needs and achievements of the beneficiaries

and report on their social effect. A key part of SPM is a survey scorecard,

known as the ‘Progress Out of Poverty Index’, that asks clients 10 simple

questions. A range of additional indicator questions are also asked, on

access to health services, school attendance of children and other factors

associated with poverty. Such measurement can help UL to measure

project impact characterized by quality of life and standard of living.

Conclusion

The UL social entrepreneurship projects, that is, Project WOW

Ifugao, Project SAVE+, Project iCARE, and Project WELL have positively

complied with the triple bottom line approach criterion focusing on the 5

evaluation elements (1)Relevant economic, social and environmental


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factors considered; (2)Target audience(s) effectively empowered; (3) People

in need targeted; (4)Business and economic concepts and an

entrepreneurial approach applied; and (5) Quality of life and standard of

living for its project beneficiaries improved.

Weakness and constraints were determined and are appropriately

addressed with effective and efficient alternative courses of action in

pursuit of quality and relevant UL social entrepreneurship projects

towards sustainable communities in Dagupan City and its environs and

the Province of Pangasinan.

Recommendation

In view of the findings and conclusions drawn, the following

recommendations are hereby forwarded.

1. The University must establish a strong organizational structure

which will help standardize processes within the team such as

project implementation assignments, monitoring and evaluation,

and fund raising activities. Certainly, it will help the team to secure

sustainability among its projects.

2. A variety of evaluation tools must be developed to measure

qualitative and quantitative results of the different projects. This

would lead them to properly understand the outcome of the project


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such that they can be able to formulate corrective solutions if

needed.

3. Strengthen partnerships with other public agencies or private

organizations to increase the coverage of the project and to help

the team in the implementation of its projects such as the needed

expertise or financial assistance.

4. Furthermore, the researcher recommends the try-out of the

proposed alternative courses of action by ULSIFE team for its

project implementation.

5. It is also encouraged to future researchers to pioneer more studies

along social entrepreneurship and other aspects of operating social

entrepreneurship organizations particularly the higher education

institutions.


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Maslang, Editha

(2000) Program Planning, Implementation,

Monitoring and Evaluation Philippine Encyclopedia of Social Work. 2000 Edition Volume , Megabooks Company and the National Work Ediucation, Inc. (NASWEI)

Leones, Jeremias and Nilan Yu (2000)

Livelihood and Enterprise

Development Evaluation Philippine Encyclopedia of Social Work. 2000 Edition Volume 1, Megabooks Company and the National Work Ediucation, Inc. (NASWEI)

Researches

Abdu, Akrem & Erik Johansson 2009

“Social Entrepreneurship: A Case

Study of SIFE Umeå University” Jonsson, Jayne 2010

“Exploring the Role of Business Model

for Social Entrepreneurship in the Philippine Context”

Mitchell, Michael, et.al. 2009

“Can the ‘Triple Bottom Line’ Help

Organizations Respond to Sustainability Issues?”


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Mueller, J, et. al.

“Bridging from University to

Community: An Evaluation of the

Effect of Student Outreach Work

in Communities in Australia,

New Zealand, China, the United

States and Four Other

Countries”

Kelly, Tomas E.

2008

“A Qualitative Study of the Academic

Program Students in Free

Enterprise at Franciscan

University of Steubenville and its

Impact on the Professional

Careers and Social Perceptions of

Post-Undergraduate Students”

Vaquilar-Romo, NecyCasaria

2009

“Skills Training and Technology

Transfer in Ilocos Sur Provincial

Jail: An Assessment” (University

of Northern Philippines, Vigan

City, Ilocos Sur)


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Website

www.sife.org www.hks.harvard.edu www.globalurban.org http://content.undp.org www. socialedge.org www.sifeaction.com www.slideshare.net www.commerce .otago.ac.nz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Students_in_Free_Enterprise Periodicals Keh, Harvey S. 2009

Social Entrepreneurship in the Philippines, Philippine Daily Inquirer