Investing in women

ADEL TAMANO and Gilda Custodio-Maquilan, both representing Coca-Cola Philippines, were guests at Bulong Pulungan recently. They discussed the economics of women empowerment and why the company is investing in women to boost business.
To a lot of Filipino women, the sari-sari store has become a symbol of economic empowerment. Like carinderias, sari-sari stores are mostly owned and managed by women, making these microentrepreneurs pillars of their communities. However, they encounter barriers to growth, such as lack of training, entrepreneurial skills and resources.

Launched in 2011, the Coca-Cola Star program aims to provide an enabling environment that can help female entrepreneurs  overcome impediments to success.
It is implemented in 47 cities and provinces across the country, involving over 52,000 women. By the year 2020, the program intends to reach 200,000 women retailers.
Tamano shared, “The flagship program’s impact will be far-reaching because they invest their earnings back into the growth of their families.”