Village Connect
HWONFEX ASEAN Handshake: (Center) Wanda Tulfo Teo, Former DOT Secretary and Wellness Tourism Advocate; Macky Beltran-Soriano, Managing Director of HWONFEX; (L-R) Jerome Tumambing, Officer-In-Charge, Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC); Dr. Hernando Delizo, Director for Health and Wellness of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Clinica Manila; Catherine Turvill, Chair for Health and Wellness of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and President of Nurture Wellness Village; Dr. Prem Jagyasi, Internationally acclaimed consultant, speaker, and global authority on medical tourism, wellness resorts, and healthcare marketing; Dr. Honey Carandang, National Scientist and Founder of MLAC Institute for Psychosocial Services, Inc.; Ebb Hinchliffe, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham Philippines); Brigadier General Fatima Claire S. Navarro, Surgeon General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); Dr. Janice A. Saraza, MD, Officer-in-Charge of the Health Services and Wellness Department of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR); Dr. Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr., President and CEO of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT)
Southeast Asia’s growing health and wellness sector took center stage in Manila as government officials, business leaders, investors, diplomats, and healthcare experts gathered for the ASEAN Health Tourism & Wellness Economy Summit on September 4, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center Manila.
Held as an Official ASEAN Side Event under the theme “Go Explore, Grow Communities, and Glow Together,” the summit sought to strengthen cooperation across health tourism, preventive care, traditional medicine, technology, agriculture, and investment. The event was co-presented by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and endorsed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Discussions focused on how ASEAN economies can move beyond traditional healthcare models and develop a broader longevity economy—one that combines preventive wellness, medical tourism, digital healthcare, community-based programs, and sustainable local industries.
Government and industry representatives tackled policies that could make the Philippines more competitive as a regional health and wellness destination. Dr. Paulo Benito S. Tugbang, Department of Tourism Director for Health and Wellness Tourism, joined other officials and business leaders in outlining opportunities for stronger ASEAN cooperation.
Investment was another major theme. Philippine Retirement Authority General Manager and CEO Roberto Z. Zozobrado discussed policies related to the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa and opportunities presented by the growing international retirement market. Philippine Economic Zone Authority Deputy Director General Emmanuel Cortero, meanwhile, highlighted incentives that could encourage investments in health facilities, wellness developments, and related infrastructure.
Former Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Nora Terrado presented a roadmap for strengthening the Philippines’ position as a digital health and global capability hub, reflecting the increasing role of technology in modern healthcare delivery.
The summit also examined the connection between wellness and local economic development. Representatives from the Board of Investments, Department of Agriculture, and Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care discussed opportunities to connect medical tourism with agriculture, traditional medicine, and community-based wellness industries.
International experts from South Korea and Japan added a technology perspective, discussing healthcare big data, predictive monitoring, and remote patient care as tools that could support future longevity programs across the region.
DSWD Secretary Rexlon Ting Gatchalian emphasized that preventive health should also be viewed as an important part of social protection. He said stronger communities and economies depend on protecting human capital through proactive approaches to health, nutrition, and well-being.
Beyond policy discussions, the summit created opportunities for commercial partnerships through B2B business-matching sessions connecting international buyers, investors, and regional suppliers.
Public participation was also encouraged through HilomX, the Philippine Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine exposition, along with the main trade exhibition, which provided free public access.
By bringing policymakers, investors, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and wellness advocates together, the Manila gathering highlighted an emerging regional direction: health and wellness are increasingly becoming not only healthcare priorities, but also important drivers of tourism, investment, employment, technology, and sustainable economic growth across ASEAN.
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