Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ferdinand Ferrer warned that political distractions and uncertainty could slow investment inflows into the Philippines, saying stability and adherence to the rule of law remain critical to sustaining investor confidence.
Ferrer said authorities must ensure that investigations and governance issues are handled “within the boundaries of the law” to demonstrate to both Filipinos and foreign investors that the country continues to uphold justice, accountability and due process.
“Nobody is above the law,” he said, stressing the importance of proving that “the law of the land still exists” and that established legal processes remain intact.
While interest from foreign companies looking to expand or relocate operations to the Philippines remains strong, Ferrer said prolonged political noise and uncertainty could delay actual investment decisions.
He noted that many multinational firms are currently reassessing global supply chains and identifying stable markets as geopolitical tensions continue to reshape trade and manufacturing networks.
“We don’t want any more noise. We don’t want any more distraction,” Ferrer said, emphasizing that political stability is essential for the country to remain competitive against neighboring economies vying for foreign capital.
Despite the risks, Ferrer said the Philippines continues to have strong opportunities in the electronics and semiconductor industries, which are benefiting from rising global demand driven by artificial intelligence, automation and advanced technologies.
He said the country should focus on attracting higher-value manufacturing projects and more sophisticated technology investments over the next three to five years.
“For me, the more advanced technology products should come to the Philippines,” Ferrer said, expressing optimism about the country’s long-term investment prospects.
