American investors in the Philippines cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s focus on competitiveness, energy security, investment reforms, and economic growth, noting that many of the priorities closely align with the Joint Foreign Chambers’ (JFC) recommendations submitted to Malacañang ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“We are encouraged to see that many of the priorities raised by the JFC, including stronger energy security, improved ease of doing business, digital transformation, infrastructure development, workforce competitiveness, anti-corruption initiatives, and greater integration into the global economy, were reflected in the President’s SONA. This demonstrates the value of sustained dialogue and collaboration between government and the private sector in advancing reforms that strengthen the Philippine economy,” said the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham).
AmCham particularly welcomed the President’s call for the immediate passage of the EPIRA amendments, continued investments in energy (including nuclear energy), infrastructure, agriculture and food security, expansion of free trade agreements, and support for the Pax Silica Industrial Hub and Luzon Economic Corridor.
These initiatives have the potential to enhance the country’s competitiveness, attract high-quality investments, create more jobs, and strengthen the Philippines’ integration into global value chains, AmCham stated.
While commending the administration’s overall economic agenda, AmCham also emphasized that sustained reforms remain essential to further improve the investment climate.
The Chamber called for continued progress on priority measures, including cybersecurity, the Digital Economy, the National Single Window System, and the effective implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Act, CREATE MORE, and the Ease of Paying Taxes Act, alongside continued stakeholder consultations to ensure practical, science-based, and investment-friendly regulations.
“We remain committed to working with the administration, Congress, and our partner government agencies to translate these priorities into concrete policies, effective implementation, and measurable improvements in the Philippine business environment,” the group said.
