CEDAW/C/PHL/7-8 social According to the PDP, the poor accounted for 26.5% of the population in 2009 (in 2013, poverty incidence declined to 24.9% per latest MDG report). The goal is to reduce poverty to 16.6% in 2015 through the various go vernment plans and programs that seek, among others, to increase investment in human capital development and employment creation for both wage and self-employed. Investment in human capital focuses on qualitative development of human resources in terms of education, skills, health, etc., which increase the prospects of accessing productive employment, increasing productivity and income. Supporting women’s entrepreneurship 97. Improving the business environment and promoting the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is still one of the critical drivers of the economy. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) estimates that this sector contributes at least 60% of jobs created by all enterprises. MSMEs are often the only source of new employment and serve as a safety net, not only for the urban poor but also for rural women who have limited access to formal employment. About 4 of 10 Filipinos aged 18 to 64 years are engaged in business, and they constitute half of the Philippine labour force. 98. The Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of 2008 aims to promote entrepreneurship and support the development of MSMEs. To support women’s entrepreneurship, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development [MSMED] Plan 2011-2016 includes gender mainstreaming among its key themes to facilitate their access to productive resources for their enterprises. The Plan seeks to address some of the gender issues that hinder the growth of women’s business, such as limited access to resources and capacity to sustain and upscale their business. 99. Another measure to support entrepreneurship is the program of DOLE called Kabuhayan (livelihood) Program, a capacity building facility and entrepreneurial ventures for workers in the informal economy and vulnerable groups of workers such as women, youth, parents of child labourers, indigenous people, persons with disabilities. From 2009-2013, 413,513 workers in the informal economy have benefited from the program, 27% (112,026) of them women. Increasing employment opportunities 100. The State Party also implements programs to expand employment through employment facilitation for poor and marginalized unemployed and displaced workers in the rural areas across the regions, such as the Special P rogram for the Employment of Students (SPES), the conduct of job fairs, and employment facilitation services of Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs). 101. Job fairs are conducted all-year round, including the annual Labour Day Jobs Fairs. They bring jobseekers and domestic and overseas recruiters and employers under one roof at a specific time, date and place to reduce cost, time and effort of jobseekers. These also support the anti-illegal recruitment campaign by facilitating access to legitimate employers and licensed recruitment agencies. Employment information assistance such as training referrals, self-employment assistance as well as welfare services for Filipino migrant workers are also provided. 24/36 15-03079