The Philippines’ rise to 47th out of 70 economies in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook marks a notable step forward, but sustaining the momentum will depend on deeper structural reforms, stronger institutions, and accelerated digitalization of government services, according to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has extended to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) the Silver Award representing the highest rating of 92.8 percent or “Very Satisfactory”, among 50 government agencies in the agency’s Report Card Survey (RCS) 2.0.
ATN Holdings Inc. has secured regulatory approval to collapse its Class A and Class B common shares into a single class, removing a distinction in its capital structure while leaving its authorized capital unchanged.
The government’s Green Lane for Strategic Investments has cut actual permit processing time by nearly 60 percent, offering a concrete measure of faster approvals as a much larger investment pipeline moves through development stages.
The Philippines has reinforced its position as a leading regional dive destination, securing Asia’s Leading Dive Destination title for an eighth consecutive year as the government looks to turn international recognition into broader gains for the country’s marine tourism sector.
Filipino investors are increasingly looking beyond domestic markets as inflation, peso weakness and market volatility fuel demand for broader diversification, with offshore assets now accounting for about 15 percent to 20 percent of BPI Wealth’s assets under management (AUM).