Vientiane, Lao PDR — During a side meeting at the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos praised the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Philippines and the Kapatid Angat Lahat Program (KALAP) for their pivotal contributions to nation-building in the Philippines.
According to Philippines News Agency, the First Lady shared insights from her interaction with ASEAN-BAC Philippines and KALAP representatives at a dinner event. On her official Instagram account, Araneta-Marcos posted a photo with members of both groups, stating, “It was nice sharing a meal with the members of ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines and the Kapatid Angat Lahat Program. Their dedication to assisting Filipino entrepreneurs and their support for our ‘Lab for All’ program truly make them invaluable partners in nation-building.”
The ASEAN-BAC was created during the 7th ASEAN Summit in November 2001 in Brunei Darussalam, tasked with providing feedback and guidance from the business sector to enhance ASEAN’s economic integration efforts. KALAP, launched in 2016, operates as a public-private sector partnership initiative under Go Negosyo’s framework, aiming to facilitate inclusive economic growth by providing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) access to capital, markets, and mentorship.
The First Lady is accompanying President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who is participating in the ongoing ASEAN Summits, which formally commenced Wednesday morning. The summits focus on enhancing regional cooperation and development among ASEAN member states.