The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), announced on Thursday that it will champion the Philippine Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) during the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Retreat.
In a press briefing, DTI Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty said that the Philippines will endorse during the AEM Retreat the “Leaders’ Declaration on Strategic Trade Management for Secure Regional Trade.”
“This Declaration will pave the way for all ASEAN Member States to adopt and implement laws and regulations to regulate trade involving sensitive goods and technologies that can be used for commercial purposes and weapons, such as biological weapons and weapons of mass destruction,” Gepty said.
Given the current economic situation, the theme of the Philippines’ Chairship of ASEAN 2026, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” is timely and symbolic, Gepty said. “ASEAN Economic Ministers came together to ensure that our region continues to move forward with unity, resilience, and stability. After all, in the words of our President, ‘ASEAN is our ship’.”
Gepty said the AEM Retreat presents a good opportunity for the Philippines to reaffirm its steadfast commitment to advancing a more resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered ASEAN.
The Philippines’ Chairship allows the country to set priorities, advance initiatives aligned with national interests, and enhance the country’s visibility and influence in discussions with ASEAN and its development partners, creating opportunities to strengthen trade, investment, and economic cooperation, Gepty said.
The Philippines sees the endorsement of the PEDs as the highlight of the Retreat.
The PEDs cover a diverse range of areas of trade, such as energy, agriculture, strategic trade management, MSMEs, and artificial intelligence, as well as ASEAN’s efforts to advance the sustainable and green agenda, Gepty said.
As ASEAN recognizes the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility, Gepty said the Philippines will advocate the PED on “Greener Future – Implementation of the Regional Investment Promotion Action Plan 2025-2030.”
“This will help position ASEAN as a single investment destination for sustainable investment, while accelerating the region’s green transition and inclusive economic growth. This is well aligned with the country’s positioning to become a prime destination for foreign investments, especially in climate change and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives in the region,” Gepty said.
Calling the PED on ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) a “crucial deliverable,” Gepty said the framework agreement is “envisioned as the most comprehensive regional agreement in ASEAN covering the digital economy and e-commerce.”
DEFA aims to create a digital environment that is open, secure, interoperable, competitive, and inclusive.
Banking on the region’s strength in semiconductors and electronics, the Philippines will promote the PED on ASEAN Semiconductor Roadmap: Enabling Pathways for Strategic Investment, Gepty said.
The ASEAN semiconductor roadmap paves the way for ASEAN to become a globally competitive hub for semiconductor investment, positions each ASEAN Member State to participate effectively in the supply chain, strengthens value chain integration and regional complementarities in design, fabrication, testing, and packaging, and advances workforce development.
The PED on the Establishment of the ASEAN Center of Excellence for Creative Industries (ACE–CI), which will serve as a regional coordination and convergence platform for cultural and creative industries development initiatives, Gepty said.
The ACE–CI will be designed to advance ASEAN’s creative industries and foster inclusive, innovation-driven growth throughout the region, and will be complemented by the Intellectual Property Valuation Manual for ASEAN.
As the champion of Micro, Smal, and Medium-Enterprises (MSME) integration in the Global Value Chain (GVC), the Philippines will push for the PED on the Establishment of the ASEAN Center of Excellence for MSMEs (ACE-MSMEs).
With energy security translating to regional security, the Philippines will back the PED on Advancing ASEAN Energy Interconnectivity through the Operationalization of the Enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on ASEAN Power Grid (APG), Gepty said.
This particular PED will not only help address pressing energy security challenges but also drive ASEAN closer to its vision of having a fully interconnected, modernized, and sustainable energy landscape, Gepty said.
“We must work together to maintain stability in the region’s energy supply by strengthening cooperation across our energy networks, improving connectivity across supply chains, and ensuring the continued openness of maritime routes that are vital to global trade and energy flows,” Gepty said.
On the Leaders’ Declaration on Strategic Trade Management for Secure Regional Trade, Gepty said this will ensure that sensitive goods and technologies will not fall into the wrong hands. A robust Strategic Trade Management increases the trust of foreign investors and companies, secures access to strategic technologies, and protects high-value sectors of the country, Gepty added.
“This Retreat involves substantive and important discussions that are timely and urgent given recent developments. ASEAN remains central to these developments, and plays a vital role in shaping the global economy. Thus, showing our united resolve as we navigate our future is a strength in itself,” Gepty said.
