The Philippines’ reform-driven, execution-focused agenda took center stage at the ASEAN Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum on February 24, 2026, underscoring its push to turn regional opportunity into measurable economic gains as ASEAN Chair.
Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go, in his keynote address, underscored that ASEAN remains one of the world’s most dynamic growth regions, supported by strong demographics, expanding trade corridors, and deepening regional integration.
As Chair, he said, the Philippines is advancing shared regional priorities of stability, connectivity, and inclusive growth anchored on peace and security, prosperity corridors, and people empowerment.
“The Philippines aims not only to benefit from ASEAN investment flows, but to serve as a working model for how sound policy, investment facilitation, and strong public–private partnership can translate into measurable outcomes, competitive returns, and long-term profitability,” Secretary Go said.
He stressed that in today’s highly competitive investment landscape, execution capacity matters more than policy announcements, noting that speed, predictability, and follow-through are critical to attracting and retaining quality investments.
“That is why we pushed for big, bold reforms, making the Philippines the most open and investment-ready it has ever been,” he added.
Secretary Go highlighted major reforms undertaken by the administration, including the CREATE MORE Act, the establishment of green lanes for strategic investments, the strengthened Public-Private Partnership Code, extended lease terms for investors, and accelerated right-of-way processes to reduce infrastructure bottlenecks.
These measures, he said, reinforce the country’s position as an investment-ready gateway within ASEAN’s fast-growing regional bloc.
“Our message to investors is framed within ASEAN’s broader growth story: the Philippines is not only open for business — it is prepared for long-term partnership within a fast-growing regional bloc,” Secretary Go said.
He also underscored the country’s advantages, including its geostrategic location between Southeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific, rich reserves of critical minerals vital to clean energy technologies, young and skilled workforce, and large domestic consumer market.
Concluding his remarks, Secretary Go said the Philippines, as ASEAN Chair, will work to strengthen regional economic cooperation, deepen prosperity corridors, and raise investor confidence across member states.
“Together, we can ensure that regional cooperation delivers concrete growth and that opportunity translates into shared prosperity,” he added.
