March 2026
Towards a Clearer Ecosystem for Social Enterprises in the Philippines: Identity, Certification, and Policy Implications
This paper probes the evolving landscape of social enterprises (SEs) in the Philippines by examining how practitioners define identity, legitimacy, resilience, and ecosystem support needs. Through key informant interviews with SEs affiliated with The Spark Project, grassroots perspectives on certification, government engagement, and the risks of "social washing" were explored.