Researchers and staff of the Department of Labor and Employment DOLE’s policy research and advocacy have recently joined hands with Gawad Kalinga for its Social Enterprise Research Tour in Angat, Bulacan.

The GK Centre for Social Innovation in Angat, Bulacan or more popularly known as the GK Enchanted Farm is located at Barangay Encanto, Angat. Bulacan.

“We are exploring more sustainable livelihood alternatives that we can offer vulnerable workers.  We want to develop livelihood packages for vulnerable workers that are beyond dole-outs, and towards more sustainable enterprises that can provide not just for the short term, but for the long term,” said Executive Director Cynthia R. Cruz of the Institute for Labor Studies.

ILS Executive Director Cynthia Cruz met GK Founder Tony Meloto at the GK Enchanted Farm which showcases the GK social entrepreneurship efforts.

ILS is looking at how its research can inform policy and program managers on social enterprises that brings

“The DOLE develops sustainable livelihood and entrepreneurship opportunities for vulnerable workers,” emphasized Cruz.

The GK Enchanted Farm follows a template that fuses three different concepts:  a Village University for sustainable community development where classrooms are connected to communities; a Silicon Valley for social entrepreneurship where young entrepreneurs are provided a supportive business ecosystem and an enabling environment to help them launch Filipino brands; and third, a Disneyland for social tourism in which visitors from other parts of the Philippines and abroad can get a first-hand experience of the GK community, and gain insight to the social problems that face millions of Filipinos.

“We would like to identify opportunities in which we can use our products and services as well as our entrepreneurial skills to create a venture for social change.  Since GK has already set the tone for social entrepreneurship, we would like to explore the possibility of working with them to develop a community that could face a better future,” said Cruz.

GK works hand-in-hand with GK community residents, partners, and volunteers to develop innovative social and business enterprises that will tap and harness the resources available not only in local GK communities but also in the vast global GK network.

In the process, GK is able to build sustainable business enterprises that commit to either partner with a GK community, employ GK residents, include GK communities in their supply chain, and/or donate at least 10 percent of

The ILS was created in July 1987 by virtue of Executive Order No. 257. Since its creation the Institute has always been at the forefront of labor and employment policy research and advocacy providing strategic policy research for the Department of Labor and Employment.

Press Release
Linartes M. Viloria
Institute for Labor Studies, Department of Labor and Employment
Contact Nos.: (02) 5273490/5273452 / Fax: (02) 5273491