Since 2016, the Stratbase ADR Institute has held its annual Pilipinas Conference to spark ideas and generate discussions on pressing issues of its time. Now on its seventh year, the Pilipinas Conference 2022 aimed to continue forwarding multi-sectoral collaboration and impacting policies on the most urgent social, political, and economic challenges that influence the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific region.

Moving forward from the 2022 Philippine national elections and keeping in mind the various crises the country faces, it is important to engage the new government on how it intends to set the course for the next six years. This conference served as a platform for the said engagement and will also be an avenue for thought leaders from the business sector, academe, and civil society to share their insights on this new administration’s agenda. It will be an event to tackle Philippine development today.

With the theme “Onward to New Beginnings: Sustaining and Improving Philippine Development”, this year’s Pilipinas Conference engaged the new administration across three key areas of development: governance, security, and the economy. The Conference will be held in a hybrid format on 21 & 22 November 2022 at the Ayala Museum, Makati City, and live-streamed via Zoom.

The morning session of the first day entitled, “Governance and the Private Sector: Carving Paths to Inclusive Development”, delved into government reforms and private sector initiatives to thresh out development challenges and opportunities. Key stakeholders, thought leaders, and reform leaders from government and business shared their expertise and experiences. In essence, this two-fold discussion projected and analyzed the political and economic opportunities in crafting sustainable development strategies under the Marcos Jr. Administration.

Entitled, “Leveraging Strategic Partnerships and Multilateral Cooperation in the Promotion of a Rules-Based International Order”, this two-part session in the afternoon of the first day sought to provide a platform for experts and scholars to come together and share their insights and recommendations on building a more responsive and strategic foreign and security policy for the Philippines. This was also an opportunity for important stakeholders including government officials and members of the diplomatic community to reiterate their mutual commitment in promoting a rules-based international order that will be beneficial to all states.

The second and final session, “Business Value Creation: Paving the Path for Inclusive Growth”, was a three-part discussion that served as a platform for the Philippine government’s economic managers, business groups, and industry thought leaders to share their insights on how meaningful partnerships between the new government and the private sector can promote inclusive growth and sustainable development in the years to come. This session was also the Institute’s fourth business roundtable discussion this year, a quarterly series gathering the country’s business community to spark discussions on the vital role of businesses in nation-building.

Through this Conference, the Institute aimed to raise awareness on key steps the government is taking to improve the country’s conditions as it builds back from the various crises it experienced in the last two years.

Governance and the Private Sector: Carving Paths to Inclusive Development

Opening Remarks for Pilipinas Conference 2022
Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit
President, Stratbase ADR Institute

Panel 1: Key Opportunities for Governance Reform

Keynote Address: Open Government and Digitization Efforts of the Department of Budget and Management
Hon. Amenah Pangandaman
Secretary, Department of Budget and Management (DBM)

The Value of e-Governance in Philippine Development
Dr. Francisco Magno
Trustee and Program Convenor, Stratbase ADR Institute

Areas for Citizen Participation and Engagement with Government
Dr. Philip Arnold Tuaño
Dean, Ateneo School of Government

Reforming Economic and Political Institutions
Mr. Andrew Masigan
Political and Economic Columnist, Philippine Star and BusinessWorld

Open Forum
Moderator:
Dr. Ronald Mendoza
Committee Member, United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA);
Former Dean, Ateneo School of Government

Panel 2: Bolstering Private Sector Initiatives: Promoting Investment-led, Sustainable, Resilient Economic Growth

Introduction
Dr. Carlos Primo “CP” David
Trustee and Program Convenor, Stratbase ADR Institute;
Convenor, Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST)

Keynote Address: Engaging the Private Sector in Managing the Country’s Environment and Natural Resources
Hon. Ma. Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga
Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Enhancing Better and Replicable Sustainable Urban Planning and Solutions for Philippine Cities
Mr. Guillermo “Bill” Luz
Chairperson, Liveable Cities Philippines

Adopting at Scale the Private Sector’s Best Practices for Climate Resilience and Adaptation
Mr. Rene “Butch” Meily
President, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF)

Advancing Sustainable Mining Practices to Meet Global Demand for Green Technologies
Mr. Gerard Brimo
Vice Chairman, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP)

Powering the Good Life: Driving Climate Action in the Energy Sector
Mr. Raymond Ravelo
First Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Meralco

Open Forum

Moderator:
Mr. Orlando Oxales
Deputy Managing Director, The Stratbase Group

Closing Remarks
Dr. Carlos Primo “CP” David
Trustee and Program Convenor, Stratbase ADR Institute;
Convenor, Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST)

Leveraging Strategic Partnerships and Multilateral Cooperation in the Promotion of a Rules-Based International Order

Opening Remarks
Mr. Richard Sisson
Acting Ambassador, Australian Embassy in the Philippines

Message
Hon. Jaime “Jimmy” Bautista
Secretary, Department of Transportation (DOTr)

Panel 1: Fostering Multilateral Cooperation in Addressing Maritime Security Challenges in the Indo-Pacific

Upholding Civilian Security in a Rules-Based International Order
Hon. Jesus Gary Domingo
Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs,
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) 

Confronting Transnational Crimes in Shared Borders
Coast Guard RADM Roy A. Echeverria
Commander, Maritime Security Law Enforcement,
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)

Threats of Gray Zone Operations to National Security
Dr. Charmaine Misalucha-Willoughby
Associate Professor, International Studies Department,
De La Salle University – Manila

Forming Alliances to Achieve Civil Maritime Security
Mr. Richard Heydarian
Non-Resident Fellow, Stratbase ADR Institute;
Senior Lecturer, University of the Philippines – Asian Center

Civil Maritime Strategies for Interagency Cooperation
Usec. Edmund Tayao
Executive Director, National Coast Watch Council Secretariat

Panel 2: The Future of the US-PH Alliance: Prospects for Peace and Security in the Indo-Pacific Region  

Pursuing Defense Cooperation with Like-Minded States in the Indo-Pacific
RADM Rommel Jude Ong (Ret.)
Professor of Praxis, Ateneo School of Government;
Trustee, Foundation for National Interest

Light Up the Gray Zone: Leveraging Publicly Available Data to Deter Intrusions into Philippine Waters

Col. Raymond Powell, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation (Project Myoushu), Stanford University, California, USA

Major Angela Smith
US Army Officer, Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation (Project Myoushu), Stanford University, California, USA

The Future of the US-PH Alliance under the Marcos Administration
Dr. Renato de Castro
Trustee and Program Convenor, Stratbase ADR Institute;
Professor, De La Salle University – Manila

Strengthening US-PH Economic Diplomacy through the IPEF
Amb. Laura del Rosario, MA, M.Ed.
President, Miriam College;
Former Diplomat and Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

Message

H.E. MaryKay Carlson
Ambassador, US Embassy in the Philippines

Amb. Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez
Philippine Ambassador to the US

Host & Moderator:
Dr. Chester Cabalza
President and Founder, International Development and Security Cooperation

Business Value Creation: Paving the Path for Inclusive Growth

Opening Remarks
Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit
President, Stratbase ADR Institute

Panel 1: Sustaining the Philippines’ Growth Momentum Amid Fiscal Challenges and Global Uncertainties

Keynote Address: Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to Rebuild the Philippine Economy
Hon. Benjamin Diokno
Secretary, Department of Finance (DOF)

The Philippines as an Investment Destination: A US Perspective
Mr. Ernest Bower
President & CEO, BowerGroupAsia (BGA);
Former President, US-ASEAN Business Council

Positioning Businesses as Proactive Catalyst of Growth and Development
Mr. George Barcelon
President, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)

Achieving Shared Prosperity Through a Competitive, Job Creating Economy
Mr. Edgar Chua
Chairman, Makati Business Club (MBC)

Strengthening Government and Private Sector Collaboration to Attain Economic Dynamism
Mr. Rogelio “Babes” Singson
President, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP)

Expanding Infrastructure Investments Through Public-Private
Partnerships (PPPs)
Mr. Vivencio “Vince” Dizon
Former Presidential Adviser on Flagship Programs and Projects

Sustaining the Philippines’ Growth Momentum Amid Fiscal Challenges and Global Uncertainties
Hon. Maria Cielo Magno
Undersecretary for Fiscal Policy and Monitoring Group (FPMG), Department of Finance

Open Forum
Moderator:
Mr. Ron Cruz
News Anchor and Host of “Top Story”, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC)

Panel 2: Balancing Recovery with Progressive Development Through Global Cooperation

Keynote Address: Opportunities for Increased Connectivity and Development
H.E. Luc Véron
Ambassador & Head, Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines

Pursuing a Sustainable Export-Led National Growth and Development
Mr. Senen Perlada
Executive Vice President – Chief Operating Officer,
Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT)

Advancing Market-Oriented Reforms and Good Governance for Sustainable Investment Growth
Mr. Michael Arcatomy Guarin
President, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX)

Attracting Investments for Inclusive Growth and a Resilient Economy
Atty. Anthony Abad
CEO, TradeAdvisors

Imperative and Practical Solutions for a Better Business Environment
Mr. Lars Wittig
President, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP)

Improving the Investment and Trading Conditions for Foreign Businesses
Mr. Chris Humphrey
Executive Director, EU-ASEAN Business Council

Insights on PH Trade Potential: An EU Perspective
Mr. Philipp Dupuis
Head of Trade and Economic Affairs,
Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines

Open Forum
Moderator:
Atty. Karen Jimeno
Host, “The Way Forward”, CNN Philippines;
Director and Chief Legal Counsel, SofCap Partners

Panel 3: Panel Discussion on Creating Long-Term Value for All Stakeholders

Mr. Cezar “Bong” Consing
President & CEO, Ayala Corporation

Ms. Cosette Canilao
President & CEO, Aboitiz InfraCapital

Mr. Alfredo Panlilio
President & CEO, PLDT, Inc.

Mr. Christian Razon Gonzalez
Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer & Chief Sustainability Officer, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI)

Ms. Rizalina Mantaring
Treasurer, Makati Business Club (MBC);
Former CEO & Country Head, Sun Life Financial Philippines

Ms. Ma. Aurora Geotina-Garcia
Founding Chair and President, Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN)

Moderator:
Atty. Michael Toledo
Head of Government Relations and Public Affairs, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC)

Closing Remarks
Hon. Alfredo Pascual
Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Host:
Ms. Joyce Ilas
Communications and Advocacy Manager, The Stratbase Group