Foreign business groups welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address, saying it reflected many of the private sector’s long-standing policy recommendations, while urging the government to shift its focus from announcing reforms to delivering measurable results.
The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) said key priorities advanced by the Joint Foreign Chambers, including energy security, ease of doing business, digital transformation, infrastructure, workforce development, anti-corruption, and deeper global economic integration, were prominently featured in the President’s address.
“We are encouraged to see that many of the priorities raised by the JFC were reflected in the President’s SONA. This demonstrates the value of sustained dialogue and collaboration between government and the private sector in advancing reforms that strengthen the Philippine economy,” AmCham said.
The chamber welcomed the administration’s push to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, expand energy investments including nuclear power, strengthen agriculture and food security, pursue more free trade agreements, and advance strategic projects such as the Pax Silica Industrial Hub and the Luzon Economic Corridor.
But AmCham said policy announcements must now be matched by faster implementation. It cited cybersecurity, the digital economy, the National Single Window System, and the rollout of the Ease of Doing Business Act, CREATE MORE, and the Ease of Paying Taxes Act as areas where sustained execution remains critical.
The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines echoed that view, saying the administration has set the right direction but now faces the harder task of maintaining policy consistency.
“What will make the difference over the next two years is steady implementation, predictable rules, and continued consultation between the government and the private sector,” ECCP President Dr. Diana Edralin said.
ECCP Executive Director Florian Gottein said members are encouraged by progress on right-of-way reforms, energy development and digital government services.
The business groups’ message was clear: investors are increasingly looking beyond reform announcements and toward consistent execution. For the Philippines, converting policy momentum into investment, jobs and stronger competitiveness will depend less on new promises than on delivering those already on the table.
