Held in partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Philippines and supported by advocacy partners BDO Unibank and Rödl Philippines, the forum also marked the launch of the Philippine Business Environment Report (PBER) 2026, which consolidates key insights and recommendations from GPCCI's policy and advocacy engagements with government agencies and the business community.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Christian Scheld, GPCCI President, emphasized that clear rules, effective implementation, institutional coordination, and trust are essential to creating an environment where businesses can invest and grow with confidence. This message was echoed by H.E. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Philippines, and Ms. Daniela Braun, Country Director of KAS Philippines, who highlighted the importance of good governance, strong institutions, and sustained public-private dialogue in fostering economic competitiveness and long-term growth.
In her keynote address, Hon. Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Quezon City Mayor and Lead Convenor of Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG), underscored the critical role of local governments in improving the business environment through transparency, digitalization, and efficient service delivery. She highlighted how streamlined processes and innovation can enhance competitiveness while emphasizing the need for stronger coordination between national and local government stakeholders.
A special message was delivered by H.E. Massimo Santoro, Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines, who highlighted the significance of reaching a substantial agreement on the EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement negotiations and the opportunities they present for expanding trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the Philippines and Europe. He emphasized that maximizing the benefits of the agreement will require a predictable and investor-friendly business environment.
A key highlight of the forum was the presentation of the Philippine Business Environment Report 2026 by Dr. Marian Norbert Majer, Chairperson of GPCCI's Policy and Advocacy Committee. Drawing from GPCCI's IMPACT Dialogue Series with eight government agencies, the report identifies four priorities for strengthening economic governance: complete digitalization of government processes, greater legal certainty and regulatory consistency, measurable service standards, and risk-based approaches to regulation. The report reinforces the importance of implementation and continuous dialogue between government and the private sector in advancing reform.
These themes were further explored during the panel discussion, “Strengthening Economic Governance for a Competitive Business Environment,” featuring Sec. Ernesto V. Perez, Director General of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA); Dr. Ma. Margarita S. Mejia, DPA, City Government Department Head III of the Business Permits and Licensing Department of the Quezon City Government; and Ms. Celeste Cervania, Managing Director of Bosch Philippines. Moderated by Dr. Jamil Paolo S. Francisco, Co-Executive Director of the Rizalino S. Navarro Center for Competitiveness at the Asian Institute of Management, the discussion highlighted the importance of regulatory consistency, digitalization, and continued public-private collaboration in delivering meaningful reforms.
The forum concluded with synthesis and closing remarks from Ms. Marie Antoniette Mariano, Vice Chair of GPCCI's Policy and Advocacy Committee, who emphasized that building a better business environment requires more than sound policies. It requires effective implementation, sustained cooperation, and a shared commitment among government, business, and development partners to turn dialogue into action.
Through the 2026 Doing Business Forum, GPCCI reaffirmed its commitment to advancing evidence-based policy dialogue and meaningful public-private collaboration. As highlighted throughout the discussions, strengthening the Philippines' competitiveness depends not only on policy reform, but also on strong institutions, consistent implementation, and collective action to deliver tangible results for businesses and citizens alike.
