Mr. Jose T. Pardo, Chairman of the Philippine Stock Exchange; Mr. Ramon S. Monzon, President and CEO of the PSE; fellow workers in government; friends and partners in the private sector: good morning.

It is an honor to open the first-ever InvestPH conference to showcase what the Philippines brings to the table.

The fact is, there has never been a better time to do business with us. And today, I will tell you exactly why investing in the Philippines is the smartest decision you can make right now.

It all boils down to three things: You are at the right time, in the right place, and with the right people.

As they say, timing is everything.

And right now, the Philippines is at its most promising economic momentum, backed by its on-track fiscal consolidation and game-changing investment reforms that are finally in place.

We are one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific—not just when times are good, but even in the face of tough global challenges such as trade wars and high inflation and high interest rates.

Since President Marcos, Jr. took office in 2022, we have grown by an average of 6%. And international organizations continue to project above 6% growth in the coming years.

Our fiscal consolidation is advancing very well, with revenue collections exceeding targets. This brought our revenue effort to 16.7% last year—the highest in the last 27 years.

Our credit ratings have been upgraded. And other credit rating agencies will likely upgrade the Philippines to an A-rating before the end of the Marcos, Jr. administration.

We have dismantled barriers to ease of doing business, introduced green lanes to fast-track approvals, and allowed full foreign ownership in high-impact sectors. These include renewable energy, telecommunications, toll roads, airports, and shipping.

We finally delivered the Public-Private Partnership Code—a long-awaited reform that makes private sector investments in infrastructure seamless and efficient.

And here’s the proof of our speed: Since its enactment, we have successfully awarded three PPP airport projects, including the modernization of NAIA—our country’s main gateway.

NAIA was greenlit by the government in just six weeks—the fastest-approved PPP proposal in Philippine history. This is a clear demonstration of how fast the Philippine government acts on investments.

Our Build, Better, More program consisting of 186 flagship infrastructure projects is also in full swing. This includes the Philippines’ first-ever subway system and a marine bridge set to be one of the longest in the world.

Of the total, 8 projects have been successfully completed, with about 80 more set for completion within the Marcos Jr. administration’s term.

These consist of major railway systems, airports and seaports, roads and expressways, bridges, digital infrastructure projects, and many more across the archipelago.

And I’d like to point out that 43 out of the 186 flagship projects are primed for PPPs. So I invite you to submit unsolicited proposals for these projects, respond to solicited proposals, or enter into joint venture agreements.

And among the much-anticipated reforms we made into reality is the CREATE MORE Act—which makes the Philippines’ Trump 2.0 ready.

CREATE MORE signals to the world that the Philippines means business. We are ready to compete. We are a dependable economic ally. And we offer stability amid uncertainty.

Among the exciting features of the law is a more competitive and generous incentive package that awaits strategic and highly desirable investments.

We give investors 4 to 7 years of income tax holiday depending on the type of investment and location.

Meanwhile, the Special Corporate Income Tax and Enhanced Deductions Regime are now extended to a period of up to 10 or 20 years.

Labor-intensive projects will be allowed to apply for an extension of another 5 or 10 years.

An additional 100% deductions on power expenses and an additional 50% reinvestment allowance await those in the manufacturing and tourism sectors.

To address investors’ pain points, export-oriented enterprises’ local purchases are zero-rated while importations are VAT-exempt.

And for projects with investment capital of at least 50 billion pesos or direct local employment generation of at least 10,000 workers, incentives could be tailored or bespoke for up to 40 years.

CREATE MORE is the golden ticket to fast-track your entry to the Luzon Economic Corridor, which is the future logistics and manufacturing mega hub of the Philippines and Asia.

Priority investment areas in this corridor include mining, power, semiconductors, food services, tourism, ICT, BPO, data centers, and infrastructure.

Simply put, CREATE MORE is designed to bring you in, help you grow, keep you here, and give every reason for you to place your trust in the Philippines. Again and again.

And we have more similar reforms to come. For investors keeping an eye on our vast mineral wealth, the rationalization of our mining fiscal regime is in the works. This will provide fiscal stability and certainty to current and potential mining investments.

We are likewise making the Philippine capital markets more inclusive, efficient, and competitive.

And some of the good news we have had since the start of the year is the removal of the Philippines from the greylist of the Financial Action Task Force.

This seal of good housekeeping strengthens public confidence in our financial system and leads to more businesses flourishing in the country.

This positive momentum bodes well for the expected passage of the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act. This is designed to simplify taxation, lower transaction costs, and improve financial access for both institutional and retail investors.

For instance, we will reduce the Stock Transaction Tax from 0.6% to 0.1% to align the Philippines with regional markets and make investing in the Philippine Stock Exchange more cost-competitive.

We are likewise amending the charters of our state banks to enable them to access private capital by offering a portion of their shares to the public.

And soon, it will be easier for participants of the PSE securities borrowing and lending program to avail of conditional tax-free status for their borrowing and lending transactions.

For the Bureau of Internal Revenue will be streamlining the documentary requirements for registration of a Master Securities Lending Agreement.

I understand that SBL and short selling are long-awaited in this market, and I hope this initative will finally put these facilities to good use.

Additionally, we are working together with the BSP on the inclusion of peso-denominated government bonds into JP Morgan’s Bond Index to boost foreign investor participation in local securities.

And when I say that you are in the right place, it simply means that the Philippines is one of the best safe havens for investors in today’s volatile world.

We are strategically positioned as the gateway to the ASEAN, the most dynamic and fastest-growing region in the world.

But our defining edge is our strong and large consumer market. Unlike others, we are a domestic-driven economy. Consumer demand comprises 72 percent of our economy. We are not overly dependent on exports, making us more resilient to trade wars.

By 2030, we are projected to rise from the 20th to the 13th largest consumer market in the world.

Helping fuel this demand is the reliable stream of remittances from overseas Filipinos, hefty tourism receipts, and increasing business process outsourcing revenues.

Our low-inflation environment boosts consumer purchasing power and economic growth. This positioned us as the first in ASEAN to ease policy rates last year, with a total reduction of 75 basis points.

And above all, we are a peace-loving and friendly nation. The Marcos, Jr. administration has always been advocating for peace and prosperity through diplomacy, dialogue, and cooperation. Thus, we have strong diplomatic ties and free trade agreements with countries across the globe.

But what truly sets the Philippines apart is our people.

With a median age of just 25 years old, we have the youngest, most dynamic, and highly skilled workforce—not just in ASEAN, but in the world. This makes us the best demographic partner for long-term success.

Our labor market is more vibrant than ever, with unemployment at a record low of 3.8 percent last year. We also have a strong and growing middle class.

Between 2025 and 2035, our working-age population is projected to expand by 15%—the fastest in ASEAN.

Filipinos are globally sought-after professionals, because of our high English proficiency, strong educational foundation, and rapidly developing AI-related skills.
Through our Artificial Intelligence Strategy Roadmap, we are continuously upskilling our workforce to power the industries of the future. For we are not just keeping pace with global trends—we are ready to lead them.

So, let me ask you one more time: What more could you ask for?
You’re already here in the Philippines.
At the right place.
At the right time.
With the right partners you need to make your success happen.

Clearly, there’s only one thing left to do—and that is for us to get down to business now.
Thank you very much, and Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!