Philippines to champion farmers, MSMEs at 2026 ASEAN Summit

Empowering farmers and micro-entrepreneurs to rise from poverty and serve as drivers of regional economic growth will be the focal point of the Philippines when it assumes the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.

- By DEXTER BARRO II

Speaking before a gathering of regional peers and dialogue partners on Wednesday, Aug. 13, ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) Philippines Chairman Joey Concepcion tagged poverty as the "greatest challenge" for the 10-member bloc.

While poverty has long been an entrenched and insurmountable issue in the region, Concepcion said Manila's hosting of the ASEAN Summit in 2026 aims to address at least one facetfostering business growth.

"We know the biggest challenge here is poverty. And as you can see, the [ASEAN] Food Security Alliance (AFSA) is one of the programs that we must succeed in," said Concepcion, founder of Go Negosyo.