PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday made a fresh pitch for global investors to look at the Philippines, highlighting sweeping reforms and digital transformation efforts designed to build “a connected, resilient, and opportunity-driven Asia-Pacific.”
At the same time, Marcos urged Asia-Pacific economies to push for the full restoration of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism and Appellate Body, warning that smaller nations risk being neglected without a functioning global trade referee.
Speaking before top executives and policymakers at the APEC CEO Summit here, Marcos said his administration is positioning the Philippines as an innovation-driven economy through infrastructure modernization, artificial intelligence, and education reforms that prepare the workforce for the digital age.
“The Philippines is open, ready, and eager to do business with all of you,” he told the APEC leaders.
“We bring a dynamic workforce, a thriving innovation ecosystem, and an unwavering commitment to sustainable and inclusive prosperity,” he added.
The President’s keynote address came as he met with fellow APEC leaders to chart the region’s economic priorities and investment course.
Marcos said digital infrastructure and connectivity are at the core of the Philippines’ development agenda, citing government initiatives to expand broadband access to underserved areas and to equip micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with e-commerce and digital marketing skills.
“We are ensuring that no Filipino is left behind in the digital economy,” he said, noting that more than one million entrepreneurs have been empowered through the digitalization of MSMEs program.
He also said the government has strengthened data governance and cyber resilience to build trust in the country’s growing digital systems.
The President touted recent laws aimed at making the Philippines more attractive to investors, including the CREATE MORE Act, which reduces corporate income taxes and extends investment incentives for up to 40 years, and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, which streamlines approvals for major projects.
He likewise cited Republic Acts (RA) 12252 and 12289, which liberalize land leases and speed up government acquisition for infrastructure, and RA 12253, which sets a stable fiscal regime for large-scale mining.
“Our actions are focused on delivering deep, institutional, and business-friendly reforms that unlock private capital and sustain competitiveness,” Marcos said.
He also pointed to the government’s “green force” – a technical working group on sustainable finance – which aims to channel investments toward climate-resilient and environmentally sound projects.
Marcos used his speech to preview the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship in 2026, saying Manila will lead efforts to roll out the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which is expected to unlock a USD2 trillion regional digital market by 2030.
“As the Philippines takes on the ASEAN chairship in 2026, we stand ready to build a more connected, competitive, and sustainable regional economy,” he said.
Marcos called on the APEC-member economies to invest more strategically in women and youth, emphasizing that closing gender gaps is key to achieving long-term economic stability and inclusive growth.
“To be truly connected and resilient, we must also strategically invest in our people, especially in women and youth, who are important players in ensuring social and economic stability,” President Marcos said during a session of the 32nd APEC Summit in South Korea.
He said empowering women to participate fully in the economy is not only a matter of fairness but also of sound economics, citing global estimates showing that gender equality could boost worldwide GDP by as much as $28 trillion.
“Empowering women to participate fully in the economy could add as much as $28 trillion to global GDP, making this the most critical investment for sustained growth,” the President said.
He urged APEC economies to take concrete measures to close gender pay gaps and remove barriers to women’s participation in business, trade, and innovation.
The Philippines, he noted, has consistently ranked among the top countries in gender equality in Asia, with women playing leading roles in business, government, and civil society.
The President’s statement aligns with APEC’s broader agenda to strengthen inclusive growth and address inequalities across the region.
This year’s APEC Summit has focused on rebuilding economies through digital transformation, sustainability, and social inclusion.
“The Philippines calls on economies to prioritize the full restoration of the dispute settlement mechanism and the Appellate Body at the WTO,” Marcos said at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting here.
“Without a functioning dispute settlement mechanism, small economies would be at a disadvantage. For small economies; rules are a potent equalizer,” he said.
The WTO’s Appellate Body, the final court for trade disputes, has been unable to hear appeals since late 2019 due to a lack of a quorum of members, a situation caused by the blocking of new appointments.
Marcos said restoring the mechanism is vital to upholding fairness, transparency, and openness in the global trading system.
He also called for new, forward-looking rules that address modern trade realities, such as e-commerce, digital trade, and investment facilitation.
“We encourage economies to continue supporting discussions on e-commerce, investment facilitation for development, and services domestic regulation,” Marcos said, adding that these reforms would make trade more inclusive and responsive to rapid technological change.
The Philippines, he added, continues to support negotiations on agriculture and fisheries to strengthen sustainability and food security across the region.
“Through deeper regional economic integration, we can help each one of us—large or small—adapt, innovate, and prosper together,” he said.
