WomenBizPH, a group of women entrepreneurs, has renewed for the third time its six-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to promote more women-owned and women-led entrepreneurial ventures in the country.
The MOA was signed by DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque and DTI Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, together with WomenBizPH President Rosemarie Bosch Ong and Chairperson Rhoda Castro Caliwara.
Under the agreement, the DTI will provide training programs, slots in trade exhibitions, opportunities for private-sector women’s organizations to participate in regional and international women-focused economic and business meetings, and access to loans through Negosyo Centers, among other initiatives.
During the signing ceremony, Secretary Roque highlighted the financial contribution of women in every household. She stressed that a woman entrepreneur can help double a family’s income.
“It makes a difference when two persons are earning for the family. At least if anything happens to one, another one will be able to provide for their needs. But if the two are still very strong and are earning, they will have a better life, better education, and they will have extra money,” she said.
The DTI chief added that women-led businesses and women’s empowerment are among the priorities of the Philippines’ chairmanship of this year’s ASEAN Summit.
On the part of WomenBizPH, Ong said the organization has maintained its partnership with the DTI since its establishment in 1997, or 29 years ago. She noted that WomenBizPH has since grown into a network of more than 700 members.
“We all know that the backbone of our economy is the small business so we want their businesses to scale, to grow and we equip them by giving them knowledge, giving them opportunities to network and then of course access to the market not just locally but globally,” she said.
Ong said partnerships with private entities are crucial in helping small entrepreneurs leverage technology and tap into growing online markets.
“It’s very relevant. It really helps because we have to equip them. They have to adapt with the times… With all these things happening, the digital transformation, especially when you want to scale up, when you want to grow your business, you can be more efficient if you have the system,” she added.
She added that the agreement goes beyond creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
“This MOA is simply not just about creating opportunities, it’s about building connections, building partnerships, building the systems, and the pathways that enable women to participate more fully and meaningfully in the economy, so we say that it recognizes also that women thrive in business communities prosper, families, you know, they became richer, they prosper also, and of course the economies becomes more resilient,” she said.
“This collaboration comes at a critical moment, because today’s women are no longer confined to traditional, you know, business roles. Today’s women, they are innovators, they are exporters, you know, they are digital entrepreneurs, sustainability champions, and social enterprise builders driving transformation across industries.”
For this year, WomenBizPH has lined up several activities in support of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship, including the ASEAN Women Economic Summit, the ASEAN Trade Expo, and the Amazing Weaves Distinction Award.
Ong also announced a new program aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs to better understand and use technology to help grow their businesses.
“As technology reshapes market and new economies emerge, women need access not only to capital, but also to knowledge, networks, mentorship, and of course regional opportunities,” she added.
