The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) have signed a partnership to promote capital market participation among overseas Filipinos (OFs), an event with both commercial and development implications for the country’s equities market.
Formalized on 17 June, coinciding with the CFO’s 45th anniversary, the agreement paves the way for joint programs focused on investor education and awareness. The initiative aims to convert the remittance-heavy OF demographic into long-term equity investors, according to a statement released by the PSE.
PSE president and CEO Ramon S. Monzon emphasized the untapped potential of overseas Filipinos, noting that fewer than 1 percent currently hold stock market accounts. “By partnering with CFO, PSE will now be able to reach Filipinos who have migrated overseas, specifically those who are permanent residents abroad, including their immediate family members,” Monzon said at the signing ceremony.
The collaboration marks a strategic move to widen the local investor base, a key goal for the PSE amid efforts to deepen market liquidity and diversify retail participation. Overseas Filipinos, who remit billions of pesos annually, represent a largely underleveraged investor segment.
As part of the agreement, the PSE will conduct learning sessions and run information campaigns through the CFO’s channels. It will also promote the use of its digital tools—including the PSE Academy, market data platforms, and mobile-based IPO subscription systems—in these sessions.
“I hope PSE and CFO can amplify the shared mission of promoting the well-being, in this case their economic or financial well-being, of Filipinos across the globe,” Monzon added.
For the CFO, the partnership supports its mandate of ensuring the welfare of Filipinos overseas, with a stronger focus on economic empowerment.
Industry analysts say the move could boost financial inclusion while also improving capital formation in the long run, particularly if investor conversion rates improve.
