THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Women’s Business Council Philippines (WomenBizPH) on Monday renewed an agreement to expand Filipino women entrepreneurs’ access to trade centers and international economic forums.
The partnership — signed by Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and WomenBizPH chairman Rhoda Castro-Caliwara — was originally forged in 2021 and renewed in 2024.
“More than a renewal of an agreement, it is a reaffirmation of our shared mission to empower women entrepreneurs,” Caliwara said.
“Every time we sign an agreement that fuels entrepreneurship, it is music to our ears. I really believe in Filipino women and their talent,” Roque said. “We see [their] potential and support [their] dreams.”
Signing the agreement were Trade Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona and WomenBizPH president Rosemarie Bosch-Ong.
“This is simply not about creating opportunities [but also] about building connections, partnerships, systems, and pathways that enable women to participate more fully and meaningfully in the economy,” Ong said.
Data from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in 2025 showed that 66 percent of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and 62 percent of newly registered businesses were owned by women.
Under their agreement, DTI will continue to provide WomenBizPH space at its Makati office, endorse the group in business meetings, assist in grant-funded projects, collaborate on policy recommendations affecting women in business, invite the group in DTI-led trade missions, consultations, capacity-building activities, and government-sponsored fora, and support joint programs on market access, innovation, digitalization, and inclusive growth.
WomenBizPH, for its part, will send representatives in DTI regional offices to Negosyo Centers for mentorship of women-owned and women-led businesses; run a “Women Mentorship” hotline via digital and call-based channels; function as a partner-provider of digital advisory and learning services, and Pinay provider-aligned initiatives; offer expertise in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digitalization, market access, leadership, and inclusive business development; continue to act as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) ambassadors to promote economic integration and creating business to trade facilitation for Asean nations; and coordinate with DTI’s Small Business Corp. and others to advance the Women Enterprise Fund and improve loan readiness.
Founded in 1997, WomenBizPH is the country’s leading Filipino women advocacy group in commerce. It is the lead private sector partner of the government, particularly DTI and PCW, and represents the country in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Asean events.
