Our Story
About Us
Buklod Bayani or band of heroes is a business assistance platform designed to support enterprising organizations by making business processes more accessible, efficient, and transparent.
Rooted in the belief that a business-friendly and investor-ready environment increases the survival and success rates of enterprises—particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—Buklod Bayani is committed to giving enterprises a voice. MSMEs create around 62.4 % of the nation’s workforce, generating 36 % of its gross value added, and representing 25 % of the country’s total exports. We engage across key areas mainly in the pursuit of ease of doing business, fostering competitiveness, and in value chain development.
As a coalition of leading business associations and government agencies, Buklod Bayani brings together a tightly coordinated structure capable of creating an enabling environment for sustainable business growth. Our name reflects our mission: to inspire c Through these efforts, and guided by a deep love for the country, Buklod Bayani envisions a more inclusive, business-friendly, and investor-ready Philippines.
With a deep understanding of the Philippine business landscape and centuries of collective experience, Buklod aims to serve as a hub of insights, resources, networks, and a platform for strategically solving business problems. Our members’ first-hand experience as titans in the business industry allows us to identify gaps in the ecosystem and collaboratively create practical solutions that benefit both the Philippine economy and society. With your help, we hope to expand it within Southeast Asia.
How was Buklod Bayani formed?
1990
In the 1990s, Mr. Jose Pardo, one of the greatest names in the business industry, in his commitment to nation-building, founded the Foundation for Crime Prevention, Inc. (FCPI) which worked to mobilize and empower the private sector to contribute to crime reduction, safeguarding communities and preventing harm. Streetwatch became the foundation’s primary program. Later evolving into the reporting mechanism of the Hotline 117, providing an accessible lifeline for reporting crime. Mr. Pardo, together with friends in the industry, built the foundation in their hope for a safer nation.
2017
With the advent of new technologies and a whole lot of change in administration and implementation within industries, by 2017, many of Hotline 117’s functions had been absorbed by the newly established Emergency 911, leading to the decommissioning of Hotline 117.
2018 to 2020
From 2018 leading up to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, FCPI’s operations fell dormant.
February 2023
Despite the halt experienced, in February 2023, this bond of heroes in the business industry, at this time, gathered at the Bayanihan Stakeholders Forum. Business leaders, inspired by FCPI’s community-driven model, pledged to assist communities where they operate. They introduced a novel recognition framework—an award acknowledging three vital collaborators: businesses that mobilized resources, responders (government agency/unit or otherwise), and community who helped in implementation. The criteria was “distance traveled” (baseline to present status after intervention/collaboration). During this forum, remarkable synergy creating change happens when stakeholders open conversations with one another.
2023 (Quarter 2)
In the second quarter of 2023, this momentum gave birth to the Bayanihan Business Council (BBC). Its mission was redesigned to focus squarely on improving the ease of doing business (EODB) and fostering sustainable development through active business participation. In fortifying this vision, they engaged the following key partners: ARTA (Anti- Red Tape Authority) DILG (Department of Interior and Local Governance) DICT (Department of Information and Communication Technologies) DOLE (Department of Labor and EmploymentInternational collaboration with Raise SG (Singapore), led by Alfie Othman. Putting their vision to action, the band of heroes drafted an Executive Order to institutionalize the Buklod Bayani Coalition.
October 2023
October in the same year, the initiative giving birth to the coalition was treated as urgent by none other than the Executive Secretary Bersamin. He commended the draft executive order particularly its goal for advancing Ease of Doing Business in this country and its provisions for the engagement of the private sector.
January 2024
Beginning 2024, the creation of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investments and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA)—headed by Secretary Frederick Go—added governmental weight and advocacy to the cause.
March 2024
Soon after, secretaries from DICT and DOLE visited BBC at the PCCI, and a meeting in Malacañang with Secretaries Go and DTI’s Pascual solidified collaboration plans for EODB initiatives.
May 2024
To channel these efforts legally and effectively, Secretary Benhur Abalos of DILG recommended reviving and repurposing the dormant FCPI and Hotline 117. This strategy led to reconvening FCPI’s original Board of Trustees in May 2024 and restructuring its leadership. That same month, connections were made with the United Nations – Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), expanding international engagement.
October 24
Come October 2024, at the 50th Philippine Business Conference, Secretary Go once again publicly expressed strong support for Buklod Bayani Coalition’s mission in creating a business-friendly and a business-ready Philippines.
May 2025
By 2025, momentum grew to officially transition FCPI into a rebranded, modern entity through the Buklod Bayani Coalition and eventually, as its legal identity -EASE PH also known as the PEODBFI (Philippine Ease of Doing Business Foundation, Inc.)
The Legal Identity
BBC recognized the practical need for an operational legal entity, thus, this tight-knit stakeholder network decided to register a new organization that could eventually merge with FCPI (Foundation for Crime Prevention, Inc. (FCPI) after turnover. Within 3 to 4 months of hard work in complying, answering, and submitting requirements to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Philippine Ease of Doing Business Foundation, Inc. / EASE PH received its stamp of approval through the Certificate of Incorporation by the SEC:
This move also empowered the coalition to gradually roll out its operations and plans, and became a main driver for efficiency and identity of the coalition.
Visit the EASE PH website here
Connect with us!
As a Business Entity
- Champion Sustainable Practices through the Buklod Bayani Impact Seal
As a Government Agency
- Become a Reform Champion and be recognized through the Buklod Bayani Awards
As an Individual, Community, or Civil Society
- Establish or Join Local Chapters
- Nominate and Celebrate Champions for the Buklod Bayani Awards
- Partner with us or be a volunteer
Together, for a business-friendly Philippines
info@buklodbayani.org | (+63)918 921 9392
Buklod Bayani
