In my position as the presidential adviser for entrepreneurship, I have a unique role between the public and private sector. I have made it a mission to strengthen the partnership between public and private organizations in helping our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Supporting our MSMEs has been my advocacy for years.

President Duterte showed his utmost support for our MSMEs in his State of the Nation Address which I attended a few weeks ago. He recognized that the private sector must form an alliance with public offices to lift the Filipino people out of poverty.

I am very pleased to share with you that next week, we will finally launch the Pilipinas Angat Lahat alliance in Malacañang. We have been working vigorously for this very much anticipated alliance, which is composed of government institutions and private corporations that have programs geared towards poverty alleviation and job generation through MSME development.

Members of the alliance include our very own Go Negosyo, ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers Commerce Industry Inc., Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (Philippines) Inc., Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Franchise Association, Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc., Makati Business Club, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Bankers Association of the Philippines, IT & Business Process Association Philippines, People Management Association of the Philippines, Microfinance Council of the Philippines Inc., Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc., Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines, Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines, Philippine Women’s Economic Network, Women’s Business Council Philippines, Philippine Retailers Association, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines, Direct Selling Association of the Philippines, Philippine Institute for Certified Public Accountants, Philippine Marketing Association, European Chamber of Commerce Philippines, American Chamber of Commerce Philippines, Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines, Philippine Association of Local Service Contractors, and Anvil Business Club.

We have also partnered with the Departments of Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, Tourism, Science and Technology, Social Welfare and Development, Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council to be part of the biggest public-private partnership for the scaling up of MSMEs.

Through such an alliance, we aim to digitize our microentrepreneurs, particularly the sari-sari store owners, market vendors, and other nano preneurs. We also plan to develop an islands tourism roadmap to promote our natural resources in the Philippines. Also part of this framework is the development program for agribusinesses in the Philippines.

We have launched several programs in Go Negosyo that are anchored in the 3Ms model of entrepreneurship – money, market, and mentorship. These are the Kapatid Mentor ME, Kapatid Agri Mentor ME, Kapatid for Marawi and Sulu, Mentor Me on Wheels, Mentor Me Mobile App, and Mentor Me Online.

These programs were created in partnership with the members of the alliance and we have continued to roll out these initiatives nationwide. Aside from these, all members of the alliance, our Big Brothers, have their own programs that provide access to financial support, broader market reach, and guidance to our MSMEs.

As the ASEAN Business Advisory Council chair, I also envision to bring our advocacy within and across ASEAN member states. We have launched the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) to provide a platform where mentors can develop world-class teaching modules for MSMEs. We launched it during our ASEAN chairmanship in 2017 and continue to introduce AMEN to our dialogue partners including Australia and South Korea this year. This just shows that our efforts are paying off as our programs are being welcomed in other parts of the world.

Everyone in the alliance will continue to bring about programs that will be of great help to our MSMEs. I can assure you that all companies, entrepreneurs, and advocates will not stop in innovating and harnessing our efforts to create an enabling and sustainable environment for all the entrepreneurs.

Helping our brothers and sisters to navigate the digital economy through our programs will enable them to become competitive. With our intervention, we are sending them a message that we are one with them in boosting the economy so that, in turn, our MSMEs will be part of an inclusive growth and prosperity.

The Pilipinas Angat Lahat Alliance is a testament that we are showing our full support to President Duterte in realizing an inclusive economy for the Filipino people. I hope that through this alliance, we would be able to empower our brothers and sisters to promote an entrepreneurial Philippines. Let us be one with the President in helping the underserved so that people from all walks of life can truly prosper. Pilipinas Angat Lahat!