Philippine Press Club Ontario (PPCO)
PRESS RELEASE
December 12, 2006

For reference:   Tenny Soriano (416) 754-9547, Butch Galicia (416) 264-7812

CESO gives RP SMEs big push

CESO Volunteer Adviser, David Helmer, (second from the left, in back), CESO Evaluator and Project Manager for the Philippines Bilateral, Liliya Volvik (third from the left, in front), CESO Regional Director, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, Pam Koch (fourth from the left), and CESO Public Engagement Officer, Patrick Lohier (5th from the left, in back) are pictured at the PPCO forum on December 9, 2006.

Pamela Koch, CESO regional director for Africa, Asia and the Americas, said CESO's volunteers have steered Filipino entrepreneurs to re-engineer -- at the lowest cost possible --- administrative, financial and production systems resulting in higher yields, improved services and world-quality products, more jobs, increased income and workers' safety and satisfaction.

In a Philippine Press Club Ontario (PPCO) forum on Dec. 9, Koch and CESO representatives Liliya Volovik, Patrick Lohier and David Helmer took turns to expound on CESO's wide range of mercantile advisory aid to SMEs in the Philippines, CESO's priority country next to Russia.

Koch said CESO had worked since 1968 on over 900 assignments in the Philippines, one of 16 nations in CESO's current business advisory roadmap.

CESO services have focused on SMEs involved in small manufacturing, tourism and agri-business, she added.

CESO's volunteerism is continuing with the Sweets and Delicacy Association of Pampanga, Quirino Fossilized Flower Producers Association, TLDC Tuguegarao, Hotel and Resort Operators of Northern Samar, Albay Food Processors Association, Sorsogon Producers Association, Sorsogon Pili Association, Añao Mango Growers Cooperative, Tita Lide’s Food Catering, Lenox Hotel, Davao Oriental Coco Husk Social Enterprise Inc.

Koch cited the need for more Filipino business professionals to join the ranks of CESO volunteers, saying the organization has only about 10 Filipino volunteers.

Philippine Consul General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera, in a country response, lauded CESO's work in the Philippines.

Mosquera said CESO volunteers have given added significance to the organization’s aim of reducing the incidence of poverty, generally around the world and specifically in areas of the Philippines where CESO's presence was most needed.

CESO is a Canadian, non-profit group drawing on senior executive and technical expertise to provide volunteer management, technical and policy development assistance around the world and in Canada.

CESO's aid includes institutional strengthening for civil society; economic policy; trade and investment promotion; public sector reform; government finance and taxation; data development; and support on SME management, production processes, marketing initiatives, and business planning.

Its work is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, multilateral agencies, and matching contributions

One of the more successful projects is CESO's collaboration with the Philippines Business for Social Progress to establish and support a sustainable Corporate Volunteers for Enterprise Development program piloted in Pampanga, Cebu, Bohol and Davao.