BALANGA CITY (PIA) — Bataan is being considered as a pilot province for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) initiative that aims to streamline business application processes for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), potentially improving ease of doing business and attracting investments.
The initiative also reflects efforts to strengthen regional cooperation under ASEAN 2026 by translating international partnerships into programs that can create more opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs and communities.
Bataan Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III said the provincial government met on May 18 with local and foreign investors to discuss a proposed project that seeks to establish a faster and more efficient business application system for MSMEs.
“We met with local and foreign investors to discuss the possibility of making Bataan an ASEAN pilot province for a project that will help establish a faster and more efficient business application process for MSMEs,” Garcia said.
Garcia said the proposed system aims to shorten processing time across government agencies and reduce repetitive documentary requirements for entrepreneurs.
He added that simplifying government transactions could encourage more individuals and businesses to establish enterprises in the province and help create more economic opportunities at the local level.
Representatives from the Asia Small Business Federation, ASEAN Accounting Firms, Plan A Ventures, International Digital Economies Association, and CRIF Asia participated in discussions on possible collaboration for the project.
The proposed initiative also aligns with the efforts of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to improve the country’s business environment, advance digital transformation, and strengthen international partnerships that can generate broader economic opportunities for Filipinos. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)
