I am proud to share that the Women’s Business Council Philippines (WomenBizPH) has been officially appointed by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) as the Country Focal Organization (CFO) for the ASEAN Women Entrepreneur Network (AWEN). This appointment reaffirms the Philippines’ strong commitment to advancing women entrepreneurship, deepening regional collaboration, and promoting inclusive economic development across Southeast Asia.
This recognition reflects nearly three decades of WomenBizPH’s leadership as a women-led organization dedicated to advancing women’s economic empowerment. It also highlights our continued contribution to strengthening entrepreneurship ecosystems in the Philippines and across the ASEAN region.
Since 2015, AWEN has worked to enhance the capacity of ASEAN women entrepreneurs and strengthen networking and development opportunities through regional initiatives. As part of its structure, AWEN designates one Country Focal Organization per ASEAN Member State to ensure continuity, accountability, effective representation, and efficient regional coordination. I am honored that WomenBizPH continues to serve in this important role for the Philippines.
Established by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 1997, WomenBizPH has consistently represented the Philippines in regional dialogues, policy consultations, international engagements, and collaborative initiatives that promote gender-inclusive entrepreneurship and women’s economic empowerment across ASEAN. As the country’s premier platform for women entrepreneurs and professionals, we have worked to strengthen women-led enterprises through leadership development, policy advocacy, research, innovation, strategic partnerships, and expanded market access. We also represent the Philippines in ASEAN, APEC, and other international high-level meetings involving women entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Over the years, WomenBizPH has served as a vital bridge connecting national women entrepreneur organizations with nano, micro, small, and medium enterprises (NMSMEs) across ASEAN Member States. Through these collaborations, we have promoted stronger regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, innovation, and inclusive economic growth for women-owned businesses.
A significant milestone in our journey was the renewal of our partnership with DTI through the signing of the Third Edition of our Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on June 8, 2026. This renewed partnership reinforces the Philippines’ commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs through coordinated national and regional initiatives.
We have also worked to elevate the visibility of ASEAN women entrepreneurs by creating platforms that recognize women leaders who are transforming businesses, industries, and communities.
Among our landmark contributions is the initiation and funding of the development and maintenance of the AWEN website, www.awenleaders.org, which provides ASEAN women entrepreneurs with a dedicated digital platform for collaboration, information sharing, and regional visibility. We also developed the AWEN Communications Terms of Reference (TOR), which established the communications framework for the organization’s website and social media platforms. These efforts have significantly strengthened AWEN’s digital presence and regional engagement.
As ASEAN continues to deepen regional economic integration and promote inclusive growth, I remain committed—together with WomenBizPH—to building stronger entrepreneurship ecosystems that enable women to thrive.
I believe that maintaining leadership continuity and institutional representation is especially important as the Philippines prepares for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026. During this period, WomenBizPH will serve as the lead organizer of the ASEAN Women Economic Summit (AWES) Philippines 2026 and the ASEAN Trade Expo 2026. These flagship ASEAN events will play a significant role in strengthening women entrepreneurship ecosystems, enhancing regional cooperation, and accelerating inclusive economic growth across the Philippines and ASEAN.
“The appointment of WomenBizPH as the Country Focal Organization is both an honor and a responsibility,” I shared. “It affirms our longstanding commitment to championing women entrepreneurs and professionals and positions the Philippines to play an even stronger leadership role in ASEAN. We will continue working with our partners to ensure that every woman entrepreneur has the opportunity to innovate, scale her business, access regional markets, and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable ASEAN economy.”
As the official voice of Filipino women entrepreneurs and professionals within AWEN, I remain committed—through WomenBizPH—to transforming opportunities into meaningful outcomes. We will continue working to ensure that women lead businesses, influence policy, drive innovation, and contribute to a more prosperous and resilient ASEAN community.
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