Trias Southeast Asia

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Trias Southeast Asia

Trias Philippines is the country program of the Belgian NGO Trias. Trias is a Belgian development organisation that believes in the power of people and groups.

We make it possible that family farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs in twelve countries fully participate in economic development. Trias builds the capacity of the membership organisations of family farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs to become open, autonomous and inclusive organisations, that improve their market participation and lobby for a more inclusive society.

28/07/2026

📢 We are pleased to launch our 2025 Southeast Asia Report, capturing a year of growth, partnership, and locally led impact across the region.

In 2025, Trias Southeast Asia and its partners reached 9,276 entrepreneurial members of member-based organizations (MBOs), 71% of them women and 13% youth. Membership grew by 92% from 2022 to 2025, while PHP60+ million was invested in 2025 in technical advisory services to strengthen MBOs and their services.

The results also point to deeper systemic change: 8,200 hectares of mangrove forests and farmlands reforested and protected, a 30% increase in savings, stronger outreach to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, and 53 networking activities that helped reinforce the MBO entrepreneurship ecosystem.

These achievements reflect what becomes possible when MBOs, communities, strategic partners, and financial supporters work together around a shared commitment to inclusive and sustainable development.

“For us, impact is not only measured by numbers, but by the growing confidence, voice, and agency of family entrepreneurs and their organizations to shape their own future.” — Felipe Ramiro, Regional Director, Trias Southeast Asia

👉Read the full report on our website: https://bit.ly/triassea2025AR

24/07/2026

🙌This National Disaster Resilience Month, Trias recognizes the role of cooperatives, and other MBOs in building communities that are matatag, makusog, and malig-on.

In the Philippines, disaster resilience is part of everyday life for farmers, fishers, and urban microentrepreneurs. It begins with communities that are prepared, organized, and able to protect their livelihoods before hazards become disasters.

Through its Building Resilience (BR) Tool, Trias supports its member-based organization partners (MBOs), including cooperatives, in facilitating practical DRR-CCA planning with farmers, fishers, and urban microentrepreneurs.

The BR tool helps communities identify hazards, assess vulnerabilities, understand climate-related impacts, and develop adaptation actions that are grounded in their livelihood realities. For farmers, this means looking at climate risks in farms, crops, soil, water, and production calendars. For fishers, this includes coastal hazards, marine resource management, sustainable fishing practices, and the role of healthy ecosystems in sustaining fisheries. For urban microentrepreneurs, this means preparing for flooding, heat stress, waste-related risks, water supply disruptions, and business interruptions through practical preparedness and livelihood continuity measures.

Cooperatives have an important role in this work. As member-owned and community-rooted organizations, they can translate risk awareness into collective action, member services, environmental practices, and local preparedness measures. This is also aligned with the Cooperative Development Authority’s guidance on sound environmental practices for cooperatives, which recognizes cooperatives’ role in food security, biodiversity conservation, prevent environmental degradation as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Trias’ Building Resilience Tool can support partners that want to facilitate practical DRR-CCA planning in their communities.

💪Let’s build resilience together. Send us a message or email to explore collaboration and technical support opportunities or visit https://bit.ly/triassea-drrcca

02/07/2026

Building partnerships for inclusive, climate-resilient development

Yesterday, the Joint Strategic Framework (JSF) Philippines engaged with H.E. Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in Belgium, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, and H.E. Vladislava Iordanova, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Manila.

Ahead of the dialogue, Trias Southeast Asia and its member-based organization partners, K- COOP and PATAMABA, shared how entrepreneurship can link climate action with stability and resilience.

PATAMABA showcased bags and accessories made by home-based workers from discarded fabrics and sold through its digital platform, Purple Market PH. K-COOP highlighted how microfinance and business development services help members grow their enterprises. Floricel Sanorjo, Women in Enterprise Development (WOMED) Award South 2024 grand winner, also presented furniture made from repurposed tires.

Together, these initiatives show how women micro-entrepreneurs can better adapt and recover in urban settings when they have the right skills, savings, microfinance, microinsurance, digital market access, and strong organizations behind them.

27/06/2026

Member-based organizations (MBOs) are key to scaling impact for MSMEs.

At Trias Southeast Asia, we work with MBOs like PATAMABA in the Philippines, which champions the rights of workers in the informal economy while empowering them through capacity building programs in skills development & upskilling, financial literacy, and facilitating market access and linkages to government & civil society.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when mobility restrictions disrupted livelihoods, PATAMABA members faced a critical challenge: how to continue selling their products. In response, Trias supported PATAMABA’s shift to digital by helping establish the Purple Market PH, a social media-driven platform that connects and promotes the products of more than 300 member entrepreneurs across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

This MSME Day, we celebrate not only microentrepreneurs, but also the organizations that help them thrive.

Watch the video to learn more about how PATAMABA supports workers in the informal economy, particularly women microentrepreneurs.

25/06/2026

Strengthening capacities through collaboration.

As part of Trias’ commitment to supporting member-based organization (MBO) partners, Trias facilitated the collaboration between Gubat St Anthony Cooperative - GSAC and strategic partner, Belgian Raiffeisen Foundation (BRS), to provide technical advisory support tailored to GSAC’s evolving organizational needs.

“Having the consultants from our Belgian partner, BRS, was an incredibly valuable experience. The team was exceptionally accommodating, taking the time to thoroughly answer all of our questions regarding the project we are leading. Their willingness to share real-life experiences directly related to our CSU project, paired with the practical solutions they offered, provided our team with immense clarity. Thanks to their insights, we now have a solid foundation and a clear direction for making our next strategic moves.”

- Ira Mateverde, Marketing Manager of GSAC

Together, we continue to build stronger, more resilient cooperatives through shared expertise and meaningful collaboration.

📷 Photo courtesy of GSAC.

24/06/2026

On Monday, Trias had the honor of introducing H.E. Vladislava Iordanova, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Manila, to our membership-based organization (MBO) partners in Metro Manila.

Our first stop was the K- COOP Satellite Office in Caloocan City, where we were joined by representatives from our strategic partner, Belgian Raiffeisen Foundation (BRS). K-COOP shared the journey of the cooperative and how it has helped women entrepreneur members grow their businesses through microfinance. BRS, meanwhile, highlighted its role in improving the microfinance operations of K-COOP through capacity-building activities for the management team of the cooperative.

The delegation then visited Rosana Santos, a member of K-COOP and one of the Top 3 finalists of the Women in Enterprise Development (WOMED) Award International 2026. Rosana recounted the humble beginnings of her enterprise, J-ANMOS Homemade Products, and how K-COOP's support enabled the business to grow.

Finally, we visited PATAMABA, where Ambassador Iordanova learned about how the organization advocates for rights of workers in the informal economy and promotes products of women entrepreneur members through the Purple Market PH. Women weavers proudly showcased how they use discarded fabric and transform them into functional items like bags and other fashion accessories. By adhering to circular economy principles, Purple Market products not only provide better income for women entrepreneurs but also reduce carbon emission caused by textile waste —an inspiring example of sustainable livelihood in action.

20/06/2026

As part of Trias’ commitment to strengthening member-based organization (MBO) partners, Trias facilitated the collaboration between Gubat St Anthony Cooperative - GSAC and strategic partner, Belgian Raiffeisen Foundation (BRS) , to provide technical advisory support tailored to GSAC’s evolving organizational needs.

Now in its third year, the partnership initially focused on enhancing GSAC’s credit and savings operations. The collaboration has evolved into a broader engagement aimed at strengthening organizational governance, institutional effectiveness, and member service delivery.

During a five-day technical mission in June, five BRS volunteer experts worked closely with the GSAC Board of Directors, management, and staff to assess the organization’s governance structure, including its subsidiary organizations—Triple 2 Agri-Industrial Corporation and GSAC General Hospital.

The mission also featured training on customer service, designed to enhance the competencies of GSAC’s customer service unit in effectively addressing members’ inquiries, feedback, and concerns. BRS also visited selected branches where they gained firsthand experience in frontline operations and insights to further improve customer service support across the organization. To conclude the visit, BRS presented key observations and recommendations to the GSAC Board of Management. These findings will serve as the basis for an action plan that GSAC will implement, with continued guidance and technical advisory support from BRS.

Trias believes that resilient and future-ready MBOs are made through meaningful partnerships, continuous learning, and access to high-quality technical expertise. Trias extends its sincere appreciation to MBO partner, GSAC, for its openness to learning and organizational improvement, and to BRS for generously sharing expertise and commitment to supporting stronger, more resilient MBOs.

19/06/2026

In Camarines Norte, smallholder farmers are proving that sustainable agriculture and climate action can go hand in hand. Rooted in Resilience, implemented by Trias’ MBO partner, Canofeco Camarines Norte , with the support of Irish Aid, aims to improve the livelihoods and climate resilience of small-scale farmers in the province, by promoting sustainable, organic rice farming, and empowering cooperatives to influence local policies that support organic farmers.

To date, 22 farmers have successfully adopted Organic Black Rice production across 29 hectares, yielding around 70,000kg of palay in their second year. Through training on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, provision of sprayers, and ongoing technical support, farmers are strengthening their capacity to improve productivity while adapting to climate risks.

Beyond the farms, the initiative is driving meaningful change at the community and policy levels. From climate resilience training and community action planning to the approval of a PHP 545,000 Organic Agriculture Ordinance in the Municipality of Labo, local stakeholders are leading the way toward a more sustainable future. Together with partners and communities, this work continues to advance organic agriculture, strengthen livelihoods, and build resilience from the ground up.

📸 Photos courtesy of CANOFECO.

08/06/2026

🌊Ocean protection is essential to sustaining biodiversity, fisheries productivity, food security, and the resilience of coastal communities.

In Gubat, Sorsogon, Trias’ MBO partner Gubat St Anthony Cooperative - GSAC works with their fisherfolk members, and other local stakeholders to support community-led coastal resource management. Their collective local actions contribute to the sustainable management of coastal and marine ecosystems.

During her April visit to Gubat, Sorsogon for the deployment of marker buoys to demarcate the boundaries of Ragnas Fish Sanctuary, H.E. Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Manila had a brief exchange with a Philippine Coast Guard officer on local coastal protection efforts, highlighting how Philippines–Belgium cooperation can help strengthen partnerships for ocean protection, sustainable livelihoods, and climate-resilient coastal communities.

On this year’s World Ocean Day, we recognize the communities and institutions working together to protect the ocean systems that sustain life, livelihoods, and resilience.

Support your local coastal communities, uplift their efforts, and stand with the people on the frontlines of marine protection.

🎥Video clips courtesy of GSAC.

30/05/2026

🧑‍🌾🚣‍♂️Ngayong Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month, nagbibigay‑pugay ang Trias sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda - mga organisadong tagapag‑alaga ng ating pagkain, kalikasan, at kinabukasan. Sa gitna ng maraming hamon tulad ng pagbabago ng klima, pagtaas ng production costs, isyu sa access at kontrol sa lupaing agrikultural at pamamahala sa mga pangingisdaang lugar, at mga lokal at pandaigdigang krisis sa ekonomiya, patuloy nilang ipinapakita ang kanilang matatag, malig-on, at makusog na kakayahang umangkop. Ipinagdiriwang natin ang kanilang sama‑samang pagkilos at pamumuno sa mga solusyong nagtataguyod ng just, inclusive and sustainable enterprises - at ang kanilang patuloy na pangunguna para sa seguridad sa pagkain at pangangalaga sa kalikasan para sa kinabukasan ng mga PIlipino.

📸Photos courtesy of Trias’ MBO partners.

AgriCOOPh Federation Canofeco Camarines Norte Coalition of Municipal Fisherfolks Association Gubat St Anthony Cooperative - GSAC FTPN Philippines Foundation for Agrarian Reform Cooperatives in Mindanao, Inc. Labo Progressive Multi Purpose Cooperative LPMPC K- COOP PATAMABA

Address

Unit 2B, Second Floor, G Place Building, 30 Maginhawa St. Diliman
Quezon City

Website

http://www.trias.ngo/, https://southeastasia.trias.ngo/en/

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