The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) provides advice on specific business sector priorities, responds when the various APEC fora request information about business-related issues or to provide the business perspective on specific areas of cooperation, and presents recommendations to APEC Leaders in an annual dialogue. Up to three ABAC members are appointed by their respective Leaders, and represent a range of business sectors, including small and medium enterprises. ABAC meets four times per year, and ABAC representatives also attend Senior Officials’ Meetings, the APEC Ministerial Meeting and the sectoral Ministerial Meetings.
MBC serves as the Secretariat for ABAC Philippines.
MBC is one of only three business organizations authorized by the Department of Foreign Affairs to endorse applicants for the APEC Business Travel Card to the DFA. Business people who meet the requirements and are issued an ABTC enjoy pre-cleared entry to participating APEC economies, multiple short-term entry to these economies, faster immigration processing on arrival, and access to special APEC lanes at major airports.
For inquiries on the APEC Business Travel Card, please call the MBC Secretariat at (+632) 751 1137 to 38 and look for Ms. Betty Legarza.
Addressing the Leaking Pipeline of the Philippines (ALPP) Project
It is an evidence based research and advocacy project funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through Philippine Women’s Economic Network, Inc. (PhilWEN) and Philippine Business Coalition for Women’s Empowerment (PBCWE). Primary data through one on one interviews, focus group discussions and surveys as well as related literature will be reviewed and used to present and analyze the baseline and real state of gender diversity in Philippine corporations. It hopes to raise awareness in the business community to begin conversations and introduce initiatives to address the decreasing number of women as they go up the C-Suite level roles and move towards a more gender equal,diverse and inclusive business in the country.
The recently revitalized Philippine Services Coalition (PSC) aims to unify the voice of the country’s dynamic services sector and represent the industry’s diverse interests in relevant trade in services and policy discussions. It provides a platform for the country’s service providers to advocate for meaningful reforms to strengthen the services sector and to advance the Philippine services agenda on the global stage. The PSC is one of the founding members and serves as the country’s official representative to the recently established Asia-Pacific Services Coalition.
MBC Trustee Ms. Doris Magsaysay-Ho and PCCI President Mr. George Barcelon serves as the co-chairs of this Coalition, with both MBC and PCCI servicing as PSC Secretariat.
The MBC is a founding and active member of the Coalition Against Corruption, an alliance of groups representing the academe, business sector, civil society, and the Church that have committed to fight corruption. Launched on 21 September 2004, the CAC’s goals are to strengthen public participation in governance and to ensure the proper use of public funds. Its mission is to implement and support counter-corruption projects in the area of procurement and the delivery of essential public services.
MBC is a member of the Corporate Network for Disaster Response, a network of business groups and associations that promotes corporate sector involvement in building the capacity of communities to effectively cope with disasters. Its specialization in business continuity planning aims to develop a business sector prepared to deal with disasters affecting businesses and the community at large.
Launched in 2012 through Philippine Ambassador to the United States and former MBC Trustee, Joey Cuisia, the Filipino-American Young Leaders Program (FYLPro) gathers 10 of the best Fil-Am young leaders and brings them to the Philippines for an intense week-long immersion with Philippine business, political, and civil society leaders, with the end-goal of having each of the delegates implement their own legacy projects for their respective communities in the US or in the Philippines.
MBC has been providing support to FYLPro by hosting a luncheon with the delegation, where they get to network and dialogue with the leaders of the local and foreign business communities in the Philippines.
MBC is engaged in a two-year initiative aimed at disseminating information and enabling constructive discussions focused on possible legislative, institutional and regulatory reforms to fulfil Philippines’ commitments in the ASEAN Economic Community and to further advance its eligibility to join Trans Pacific Partnership. MBC has outlined a set of deliverables with the objective of promoting the greater integration of the Philippine economy with the global economy. This project aims to contribute to the country’s pursuit for a sustainable, inclusive growth by supporting reform measures to advance the country’s full adherence to the AEC Blueprint, and achieving Philippine readiness to join the TPP and other free trade agreements.
The Integrity Initiative is a multisectoral campaign that seeks to institutionalize integrity standards in the country’s different sectors. Initiated by the MBC and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines in 2009, the campaign aims to help in diminishing, if not fully eradicating, the vicious cycle of corruption in the Philippines, which has not only exacerbated poverty but also obstructed the development of a competitive business environment that operates on a level playing field. Presently, the Integrity Initiative is focusing on the development of integrity standards in the business community.
Visit the Integrity Initiative website
Formally launched in 2011, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multilateral platform that aims to secure tangible commitments from government to promote transparency, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. The Philippines is one of the eight founding members of the OGP.
MBC has been working with OGP Philippines towards the implementation of two commitments in the country’s 2015-2017 Country Action Plan, particularly, the institutionalization of the Public-Private High-level Dialogues; and through the Integrity Initiative, increasing the number of Integrity Pledge signatories and the institutionalization of the Integrity Validation and Certification System.
THE PHILIPPINE BUSINESS GROUPS AND JOINT FOREIGN CHAMBERS (PBG-JFC)
Recognizing the need for greater coordination between the government and business community, and among the various business groups, MBC, along with 17 organizations, gathered together and established the Philippine Business Groups and Joint Foreign Chambers (PBG-JFC). The informal alliance aims to provide a forum where all major business groups can discuss pressing national issues, agree on common areas of concern, and by consensus, formulate recommendations that will be forwarded to the government for their consideration. MBC has actively participated in the initiative, often serving as the lead coordinator of meetings among the business groups and with government, as well as in the consolidation of positions and drafting of papers.
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, as a non-profit foundation, the World Economic Forum (WEF) engages the foremost political, business, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas. MBC has been the partner institute of the WEF in the Philippines since 1994, providing critical assistance in conducting the Executive Opinion Survey for the Global Competitiveness Report.