As its member businessmen continue to express concerns about corruption in the government — identified as a critical issue that must be addressed for the economy to progress — the new president of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Alfredo ‘Al’ Panlilio, stated that resolving this issue would be his top priority for 2025.
“We will certainly address the following Top 7 concerns of MAP members for 2025, which were generated through a survey in the fourth quarter of last year: corruption, education, economy, ease of doing business, climate change, cybersecurity, and dealing with LGUs,” Panlilio said during his speech at the 77th MAP Inaugural Meeting and Induction of the MAP 2025 Board of Governors on Wednesday at Shangri-La The Fort, Taguig City.
“All your top seven concerns will be directly addressed by the four thrusts that I have explained. To address corruption and ease of doing business, we will continue to participate actively in the programs of the Anti-Red Tape Authority or ARTA,” he added.
In 2024, corruption emerged as the top concern for Filipino businessmen, according to former MAP president Rene Almendras. This was followed by concerns related to the ease of doing business, the overall economy, agriculture, cybersecurity, education, and climate change, as indicated by the same survey.
Panlilio, the current chairman of Maya Bank and director of PLDT Inc. under the MVP Group, outlined MAP's thrusts for 2025, which include member engagement, country competitiveness, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and shared prosperity, and investing in the youth.
To enhance the country’s competitiveness, Panlilio emphasized the importance of policy reforms through executive or legislative action. These reforms aim to eliminate corruption, improve the ease of doing business, ensure food security through agricultural productivity, and sustain an enabling business environment for local and foreign investors.
“The aspiration is to attract greater and more diverse job-creating investments for more Filipinos to be gainfully employed. On ESG and shared prosperity, we will continue advancing ESG principles and fostering shared prosperity as a key strategic thrust for the year," Panlilio explained.
"By integrating sustainable practices, promoting ethical leadership, and driving inclusive growth, we aim to create long-term value for MAP members and all other stakeholders. We will continue pushing for discourse and activities to champion responsible business, uplift communities, and contribute to a resilient and equitable future for the Philippines," he added.
For investing in the youth, Panlilio highlighted MAP’s ongoing efforts in the Campaign Against Malnutrition and Child Stunting and its advocacy for education, health, and wellness programs. These initiatives aim to equip the youth with competitive skills and capacities to ensure a progressive economy in the future.
“The objective is for the youth to become productive members of society, with competitive skills and capacity that will ensure a progressive economy of the future,” he said.
In closing, Panlilio assured that MAP would build on its ongoing activities to benefit its members and stakeholders, while continuing to adapt to developments in both domestic and global landscapes.
“While focusing on the four main thrusts, we will continue to pursue other advocacies and programs to adapt to developments in the domestic and global landscape," Panlilio concluded.