Ayala Corp. chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel has called on Philippine businesses to look beyond competition and work together on national priorities, arguing that long-term corporate success depends on a healthier, better-educated and more inclusive society.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Makati Business Club’s (MBC) 45th anniversary celebration, Zobel said companies have responsibilities that extend beyond delivering products, services and profits, particularly in addressing gaps in education, healthcare and economic opportunity.
“We produce products and services, and compete, but there are times when we all have to come together to help bring the country upwards,” Zobel said.
“So whether it’s education or healthcare, we have a broader responsibility to work as a business community,” he added, pointing to MBC’s role in advancing shared national interests.
In his anniversary address, Zobel underscored the link between business performance and the country’s wider social and economic conditions.
“Business cannot thrive over the long term in a society that is itself not thriving,” he said.
He said private enterprises must contribute to development not only through capital investment, innovation and job creation, but also by building human capital, strengthening communities and widening pathways to upward mobility.
Zobel cited the Philippines’ young workforce, expanding digital economy and growing manufacturing capabilities as potential sources of competitive advantage. But he cautioned that these strengths alone would not ensure sustained prosperity.
Geopolitical tensions, technological disruption, climate change and persistent inequality pose challenges to converting the country’s economic potential into broadly shared gains, he said.
The remarks place renewed emphasis on the role of the private sector in addressing structural constraints to growth, including the quality of education, access to healthcare and the availability of a skilled workforce.
Zobel also highlighted the importance of strong institutions and a healthy, educated population in sustaining national competitiveness.
His message to the business community was that commercial success and public progress are closely connected: companies may compete for markets and investment, but cooperation on foundational national priorities remains essential to building an economy in which more Filipinos can participate and prosper.
