A defining moment for Asean

Last week, I spoke about how my father, Jose “Joecon” Concepcion Jr., advocated for a stronger role for the private sector in advancing the growth of the ASEAN economies. He believed the region must act as one if it is to boost regional competitiveness – and if every member-country is to grow in step with the others. To do that, each country must identify its economic strengths, align ASEAN’s collective efforts around those strengths and then build mutual support through trade and interdependence.

Through his work with the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Joecon planted the seeds of what would become the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC): a platform where the private sector can guide governments, engage with policymakers, advocate for economic cooperation and help advance ASEAN’s integration agenda. As the current chair of the ASEAN-BAC, I continue to be inspired by his work and legacy, and I strive to live up to the values he championed.

Last Friday, at the opening of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, President Marcos described 2026 as a “defining moment” for the region. Global conflicts, he said, are bringing disruption to the ASEAN economy. They are testing the region’s resilience. And I believe this moment makes it even more urgent for ASEAN to become a truly united and independent bloc – one that draws its strength from unity and interdependence, not only from geography, but from coordinated action.

These are different times. While corruption and conflict remain challenges, the world is more interconnected than ever. That interconnectedness is happening at a time when both ASEAN governments and the private sector face increasing uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions beyond the region. Conflicts in Europe and the Middle East may seem far away, but their effects move quickly through markets and supply chains. When those links are disturbed, the impact shows up in disruptions to production, changes in logistics costs, delayed deliveries and volatility in prices. Those shocks reverberate across economies, down to the daily lives of people.

Last week, I addressed ASEAN economic ministers and stressed that the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz is not just an energy issue, but also a food security issue. ASEAN depends on that route for key food inputs, including fertilizer. When the flow is disrupted, the entire system is hit: farms and factories, storage and transport. Before people even notice the initial disruption, energy shocks can become food price spikes.

Because of this, ASEAN-BAC is advocating for green lanes for food, feed, fertilizer and packaging. I also called for temperance in export restrictions, so that policies in one place do not unintentionally starve markets elsewhere. Energy for food-related industries must be prioritized, and regulations must be agile enough to respond quickly when conditions change. We also need public-private mechanisms that can monitor disruptions in real time and coordinate rapid responses across ASEAN. Finally, we must support SMEs and farmers through trade finance and liquidity, because when cash flow tightens, the small businesses are often the first to suffer and the last to recover.

This is precisely why I believe the emphasis on food security and SME development is timely. It is not only a response to current risks but also an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation and build independence. Food security and SME programs can help keep food moving, protect livelihoods and shield our people from rising costs. When we invest in these areas, we build capacity so that ASEAN can navigate the next disruption with greater confidence.

Our goal now must be to create more jobs and business opportunities for our citizens. We have already started to pursue this locally through Go Negosyo and its newest program, Trabaho at Negosyo. Just last Saturday, it held its first provincial run at SM Seaside City Cebu. The initial provincial and regional runs across the National Capital Region have shown what is possible when government and stakeholders coordinate effectively.

On the regional level, the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA) is becoming increasingly relevant. AFSA is the legacy project that the ASEAN-BAC Philippines plans to leave behind to mark its chairship in 2026. Our previous legacy project from the 2017 chairship – the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) – was a major success. It promoted mentorship and knowledge sharing among SMEs across the region. During the pandemic, AMEN helped small businesses cope with disruptions and adapt to changing conditions. That same lesson matters now as we confront energy and supply chain disruptions connected to conflict in the Gulf. With hope, the experience and know-how developed through AMEN will help carry forward the skills and networks needed to weather today’s uncertainties.

As I meet with the ASEAN-BAC council members this weekend, we will also welcome business leaders and experts from across the region. We invited former ASEAN-BAC council members as well to share insights from their own experiences. I am confident we have much to learn about how businesses and policymakers responded to earlier disruptions such as the energy crisis of the 1970s, the Asian Financial Crisis, the debt crisis and even the Covid pandemic. At the same time, we are also tapping the “brain trust” of experts in digital technologies that may yet help us respond better, faster and more effectively to disruption.

This is the way we continue to build: we look to the wisdom of the past, and we use the tools of the future to do things we never could before. Crisis has a way of revealing gaps, but it can also accelerate learning and innovation.

In my father’s time, he fought to protect the ballot and keep Philippine industries alive. But at the very core of it, he was fighting to keep hope alive. I think that is what we are fighting for right now. Jobs bring hope. I think this is the same thing we are fighting for right now. Jobs bring hope, entrepreneurship fuels dreams. These give people a fighting chance to withstand whatever comes their way.