GO Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said programs that incorporate overseas Filipinos and their families should be included in the pipeline as the Philippines prepares for its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Business Advisory Council in 2026. In latest episode of The Chairman’s Report, hosted by Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Secretary Dante Ang II, Concepcion discussed the Philippines’ hosting of Asean 2026 and how migrant empowerment can be a cornerstone of the country’s legacy projects. “Currently, Malaysia is the chair. And in a couple of weeks, they’ll be turning it over to the Philippines. And I think it is timely and that we have to prepare this early. Because in 2026, until the term of President Marcos ends, this is the only main and biggest international event,” Concepcion said, underscoring the importance of Asean 2026 as a platform for inclusive growth. Concepcion said that Go Negosyo would align its entrepreneurship programs with the country’s Asean hosting, focusing on poverty reduction and empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “We are also preparing our legacy projects because, as chair, you have to really come up with your legacy projects. And the idea at this time is to really focus on poverty. So MSMEs are the ones that are struggling. And we have a program that will be launched at that time,” he added. Concepcion said that part of this commitment was to continue supporting overseas Filipinos, particularly through mentorship programs that help them transition into entrepreneurship. “If you look at our overseas workers, they leave their family; they don’t see them for a year or even sometimes longer. So they’re there helping their family, getting the kids to better schools, and it’s a sacrifice for them. And that’s why we call them our heroes, in a sense, because they work so hard,” Concepcion said. “They remit money here. It helps the economy, and it helps their family. But we have to find a solution for them. That, eventually, when they come home, they have to realize what skill they have and how to turn that skill into a business,” he added. Ang highlighted how this advocacy complemented CFO’s mandate for long-term migrants and diaspora communities. “Now, the OFWs fall under the Department of Migrant Workers, but the CFO looks after permanent and long-term migrants.... Do you think they will also benefit from having this entrepreneurial mindset, knowing that they will be abroad permanently or long term?” he said. In response, Concepcion said that entrepreneurship was a universal mindset that could also empower migrants overseas. “Working for a company, we would like our employees to think like entrepreneurs. An entrepreneurial mindset is very important,” he said, adding that many Filipinos abroad have already proven their capacity by running businesses, opening stores, and franchising in their host countries. Ang also raised the possibility of bringing Go Negosyo’s youth programs into CFO’s global network of Philippine Schools Overseas. “The CFO looks after 34 Philippine schools overseas with the Department of Education, mostly in the Middle East. Learners there follow the Philippine curriculum, and I think the significant thing is that this may be part of the solution to the high social costs borne by OFWs due to separation,” Ang said. Concepcion said Go Negosyo was already tapping the youth in terms of entrepreneurial skills, which may be soon integrated. “We send mentors to the schools. And even at that young age, they’re already meeting top successful entrepreneurs, and that’s being rolled out. It’s one of the most successful programs that we have been doing,” he said. “We want this young generation to have a vision of themselves. Aim for the highest,” Concepcion added. With Asean 2026 on the horizon, both Concepcion and Ang see migrant empowerment as inseparable from the Philippines’ broader economic ambitions. By linking overseas Filipinos, youth, MSMEs, and Asean partners into one inclusive entrepreneurship agenda, they reaffirmed the role of the diaspora as both heroes of today and builders of the country’s future. The CFO, established under Batas Pambansa 79, is dedicated to the welfare and empowerment of Filipinos permanently residing abroad. It is distinct from the Department of Migrant Workers, which primarily addresses the needs of OFWs and other temporary migrants. CFO works to strengthen the social, economic and cultural ties of global Filipinos with their home country. Its primary constituents include Filipino permanent migrants, dual citizens, spouses and partners of foreign nationals, individuals in exchange visitor programs, au pair participants, and children of foreign nationals with Filipino roots.