GOVPH

To celebrate of Women's Month, the Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) launched Women-Helping-Women Innovating Social Enterprises (WHWise): The Search for Innovative Women Entrepreneurs in the Regions on 31 March 2023. 

Themed “Breaking Silos: Empowering Women Social Entrepreneurs Through Innovation,” the launch highlights the value of women in social entrepreneurship and the importance of partner DOST Regional Offices (ROs) in implementing the search and tapping their network of women-led social enterprises.

In addition to managing and running the regional competition, DOST ROs will also help in promoting the position by designing and organizing their call conferences, identifying candidates, assessing pitch submissions, and collaborating with DOST Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) to get candidates ready for the national competition.

DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit emphasized that WHWise is DOST's first initiative to support female entrepreneurs. The Women-Helping-Women program unites an impressive group of female incubator managers and partners to provide various services, including access to technologies, training, skills development, mentorship, and business incubation through the DOST's TBIs.

"Our partnership with the DOST Regional Office will expand our reach in providing support to women social entrepreneurs, the communities they empower by helping them become innovative through science and technology,” Paringit said.

The following regional offices will be running the WHWise Program:

1.  Implementing Region: Region I under Dr. Tersita A. Tabaog, Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Regional Director

Project Title: WHWise: PUSSH WOMEN (Providing Upgrading Support to Social Enterprises, Honing Women for Opportunities Mobilizing them Towards Nation-building) 

Project Leader:  Engr.  Jordan Abad

2. Implementing Region: MIMAROPA, under Regional Director Ma. Josefina P. Abilay

Project Title: WHWise: Innovating Social Enterprises (WHWise) in MIMAROPA

Project Leader: Ms. Jelyn Doctor

3. Implementing Region:  DOST-VIII, under Regional Director Engr. Ernesto M. Granada

Project Title:  WHWISE: Unlad Bayi: 2023 Eastern Visayas Search for Innovative Women Enterprises

Project Leader: ARD Marilyn O. Radam

4.  Implementing Region:  DOST-IX, under Regional Director Martin Wee

 Project Title: WHWISE: Shepherding More Innovative Women-led Enterprises Towards Success (WHWISe: Smile to Success)

Project Leader: Regional Director Martine Wee

5. Implementing Region: DOST-X, under Engr. Romela Ratilla, Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Regional Director

Project Title: WHWISE:  Babaye para sa Babaye: WHWISE Regional Search- Northern Mindanao

Project Leader: Engr. Jonathan Agbayani

6. Implementing Region: DOST-XI, under Regional Director Dr. Anthony C. Sales

Project Title: WHWISE Capacity Building of Women-led Enterprises in Region XI in Preparation for the 2023 WHWise National Innovation Challenge: Search for Innovative Women Entrepreneurs in the Regions

Project Leader: Dr. Anthony C. Sales

7. Implementing Region: DOST-CAR, under Dr. Nancy A. Bantog 

Project Title: WHWISE: Search for Women-led Innovative Enterprises in CAR

Project Leader:  Dr. Nancy A. Bantog

8.   Implementing Region: DOST-NCR, under Engr. Romelen, T. Tresvalles, Officer in Charge, Office of the Regional Director

Project Title: WHWISE: Fostering Innovation to Scale-Up Technopreneurship Operations of Women-Led Social Enterprises

Project Leader: Ms.  Jennifer Queddeng

9. Implementing Region: DOST-Caraga, under Regional Director Engr. Noel M. Aioc

Project Title:  WHWise:  Accelerating Innovation and Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Women in Caraga through WHWise Program

Project Leader:  Engr. Emman Lliam L. Prisco

DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. praised the launch as it provides opportunities for women social entrepreneurs in the regions that can spur development in the countryside.

“The WHWise Program can help address women entrepreneurs' barriers and contribute to a more inclusive and thriving startup ecosystem.  It is highly commendable, especially with the Regional Offices for answering our call to leave no one behind and ensuring that women entrepreneurs in the regions get the opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas and contribute to the country's economic growth,” he said.

DOST-PCIEERD launched the WHWise Initiative in 2021 to support women-led social enterprises and serve more communities. (Text and photos from DOST-PCIEERD)