
SPEAKER AT WEF
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has underscored the Philippines’ dedication to fostering a truly business-friendly climate through sustained legislative and regulatory reforms.
He gave the assurance in his remarks during the breakfast interaction of the Philippine delegation to the 2025 World Economic Forum with top business executives in Davos, Switzerland.
“I wish to emphasize that a key objective of our engagement is to seek the private sector’s counsel and listen to your concerns,” Romualdez said.
“Our desire is to stimulate national development that will build durable partnerships and attract foreign investment, particularly through continued legislative and regulatory reform,” he added.
He cited the CREATE MORE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy) law, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in November last year, as part of the administration’s reform agenda.
The Speaker explained that the CREATE MORE law is meant to accelerate investment momentum by offering enhanced tax incentives, streamlining the investment approval process, simplifying VAT rules, and providing targeted incentives for strategic investments.
“The CREATE MORE law is a clear manifestation of a positive feedback loop, where the current administration has committed to significantly rationalize the investment framework and create a truly business-friendly investment climate,” Romualdez said.
He said this initiative exemplifies the Philippines’ approach to economic policy—inclusive, adaptive, and anchored on strong collaboration between the government and the private sector.
The House leader said that unlike other inward-looking economies, the Philippines is trying to advance a brand of nationalism that remains open and responsive to the global community.
The Speaker also showcased the Philippines’ robust economic trajectory, including a 5.5 percent GDP growth in 2023 and 5.8 percent growth for the first nine months of 2024—the second fastest in the ASEAN region.
Additionally, he noted that inflation has been successfully moderated to 3.2 percent in 2024, reflecting the government’s commitment to macroeconomic stability.
Romualdez also cited the establishment of the Maharlika Investment Corporation, the country’s first sovereign wealth fund, as a transformative step in catalyzing development and securing strategic investments in critical sectors such as energy security, digital infrastructure, agro-urbanism, and tourism infrastructure.
“We are cognizant that we cannot go it alone, so for this reason, an important objective for the Fund’s future is to pursue co-investments with the private sector, including foreign investors,” Romualdez said.
He said that sustainability remains a cornerstone of the Philippines’ economic agenda, noting that since the government’s decision in 2022 to allow full foreign ownership of renewable energy projects, the Philippines has approved 141 renewable energy projects valued at USD 70 billion.
Speaker Romualdez said these projects have been granted green lane access, further positioning the country as a leader in energy transition and investment.
As the Philippines prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, Speaker Romualdez expressed optimism about the nation’s future.
“Manila was once the fulcrum of global commerce through the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade, and in 2026, we hope to continue to be a ‘BRIDGE’ in Building Resilient, Inclusive, Digital, Green Economies for all our partners,” he said.