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The Philippines now has 23 free trade deals – including those in force and under active negotiations – as it pursues strategic and emerging industries that position the country in the global value-chain, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said in his 5th State of the Nation Address
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Marcos noted the country’s growing exports, “reflecting high productivity and the increasing competitiveness of our products and services in the international trade market”
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Over the past three years, more than P6 trillion in investments have been facilitated through the Green Lanes initiative, creating an estimated over 400,000 jobs for Filipinos
The Philippines now has 23 free trade deals – including those in force and under active negotiations – as it pursues strategic and emerging industries that position the country in the global value-chain, such as in the fields of pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, luxury goods, technology, and logistics, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said in his 5th state of the nation address on July 27.
“We continue to strive for bigger and greater things, venturing into areas heretofore unimaginable,” Marcos said, noting that the country’s “vigilant trade facilitation efforts have resulted in integrating our country into the international free trade network that is the widest and most active one that we have ever had in our history.”
In July alone, the Philippines sealed comprehensive partnerships with New Zealand and Chile.
In January, the Philippines and United Arab Emirates signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which will reduce tariffs and unnecessary barriers to trade, boost bilateral investment flows, and create opportunities in vital sectors such as electrical equipment, financial services, agriculture, and precious metals.
Aside from trade agreements, Marcos noted the country’s growing exports, “reflecting high productivity and the increasing competitiveness of our products and services in the international trade market.”
READ: PH exports up 7.6% in May 2026, marking 17th month of growth
“It now behooves us to reinforce our strengths, enhance our comparative advantage, and diversify our portfolio,” he said.
On this principle, Marcos said the country has maintained its competitiveness in supplying critical components to top technology companies in the world, as well for indigenous farm products, such as ube, coconut, bananas, and other tropical fruits.
READ: DA assembles ube stakeholders for industry-led export strategy
“And we have now ventured into new and viable ones, like enoki mushrooms,” he noted.
Foreign investments also continue to pour in “because of our beneficial policies, especially those promoting ease of doing business and accelerating digital transformation that curb red tape and corruption”, Marcos said.
Over the past three years, more than P6 trillion in investments have been facilitated through the Green Lanes. These are estimated to create over 400,000 jobs for Filipinos.
READ: DKSH Philippines gets Super Green Lane accreditation from BOC
Established under Executive Order No. 18, the Green Lane for Strategic Investments streamlines the approval process by providing investors with a single entry point through the One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments.
READ: PH 2026 investment priority plan covers logistics, shipbuilding
Marcos said the country’s productive economic zones lay down “the fertile groundwork that brings these investments into actual fruition, posting consistent growth rates over the past three years.”
New economic zones extending beyond Metro Manila have also been proclaimed, such as in Dumaguete and Misamis Oriental, becoming “promising new areas.”
Additionally, the Pax Silica Industrial Hub, a product of the 23-member and United States-led Pax Silica Initiative, “will create an eco-system that will have AI at its core”, Marcos said, adding that this will bring quality jobs to Filipinos, accelerate the country’s industrial competitiveness, and revitalize our economy.
The Philippines early this year joined the Pax Silica Initiative, a flagship effort on AI and supply chain security, advancing a new economic security consensus among allies and trusted partners.
Following its entry to the initiative, the Philippines and the U.S. announced a plan to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub in Luzon to increase the production for inputs vital to U.S. supply chains.
Marcos said as a strategic component of the Luzon Economic Corridor, the hub will be an advanced manufacturing and logistics center in the global AI and technology value chain.
READ: BCDA, SBMA to position Subic as Pax Silica maritime gateway
