A new study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies suggests a pathway for boosting US investments in the Philippines.
CSIS Southeast Asia Program research fellow Japhet Quitzon shared in a forum recommendations for more impactful economic collaboration. He advocated for a unified data platform and diversified investment in emerging regions like Cebu and Davao.
Quitzon cited the need for transparent and accessible investment data and called for close partnerships to streamline data across the Philippines’ economic zones.
“The United States should work with the private sector and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive database,” Quitzon said.
He said the database would track US investments in the Philippines, detailing the benefits such as job creation and sector-specific economic impacts.
The report emphasized the need for the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and the Philippine Statistics Authority to integrate data across the country’s many economic zones, which are currently dispersed in over 400 special zones with varying reporting methods.
