NINE FILIPINO businessmen, including tycoons John L. Gokongwei, Jr. and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, were among the top winners at this year’s ASEAN Business Awards.

Mr. Gokongwei, founder of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., was one of the recipients of the Legacy Award, which was given to an “iconic entrepreneur of each ASEAN Member State who sets the standard of excellence in doing business.”

Dennis A. Uy, founder and chairman of Udenna Corp., received the Young Entrepreneur Award. The Davao-based businessman also two listed companies, Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc.

Teodoro Ferrer, president of Erikagen, Inc. — the company behind Generika Drugstore, received the Inclusive Business Award. He was honored along with Mr. Zobel, chairman and CEO of Ayala Corp. whose AC Health acquired Erikagen in 2015.

Cecilio K. Pedro, president and CEO of Hapee toothpaste maker Lamoiyan Corp., won the SME Excellence Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Philippines grabbed four of the Priority Integration Sector Excellence Awards, namely Bernie H. Liu, chairman and CEO of Golden ABC, Inc. for Retail; Destileria Limtuaco & Co. President Olivia Limpe-Aw for Agri Food; Nature’s Legacy Eximport President and CEO Peter H. Delantar — for Wood-based; and Asian Marine Transport Corp. CEO and President Paul Rodriguez for Logistics.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte acknowledged the entrepreneurs’ contributions to the “growth and prosperity of the ASEAN Economic Community.”

“We have also challenged those who achieve success and wealth to embrace inclusivity by helping our MSMEs (micro small and medium enterprises). I now extend this call to other big businesses in the region. Embrace MSMEs in your supply chains, open your retail stores, and integrate these small entrepreneurs [into] the way you do business,” Mr. Duterte said in a speech at the awards ceremony at Solaire Resort & Casino Manila.

Joey Ma. A. Concepcion III, ASEAN Business Advisory Council chairman and Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship, urged more businesses to tap micro-entrepreneurs in their supply chain.

“[W]e call our awardees to […] accept this challenge: to embrace these micro-entrepreneurs into your own ecosystem. The fastest way towards inclusive growth is to embrace them as part of our supply chain,” Mr. Concepcion said.

Mr. Concepcion also asked the banks to “not to only lend and nourish corporations but this time to lend to our struggling entrepreneurs out there who may not have enough collateral.”

This year’s ASEAN Business Awards recognized 28 entrepreneurs across different categories. Other winners included Malaysia’s AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes — Priority Integration Sector Excellence Award for Tourism; Laos’ Sinouk Coffee founder Sirina Hervy — Women Entrepreneur Award; Singapore’s DeClout Limited Group CEO Kok Khun Wong — Priority Integration Sector Excellence Award for e-ASEAN. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR