By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

“The Philippines is ready. Let us turn confidence into firm commitments, commitments into enduring partnerships, and partnerships into progress that our people can see and feel.”

This sentence effectively captures the essence of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s attendance at the 2026 Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) Investment Forum held in Taguig City on Thursday.

In his speech, the President addressed the Philippines’ international partners and investors by championing healthy bilateral and trade relations to generate further investments into the LEC, which aims to establish an interlinked hub between key areas in Central Luzon, NCR, and Region IV-A (Calabarzon).

“Subic Bay is a strategic maritime and industrial gateway. Clark is emerging as a center for aviation, logistics, technology, and urban development. Metro Manila remains the country’s commercial and financial center. Batangas is a major base for manufacturing, energy, and international trade.”

He likewise noted that the creation of LEC will provide a platform for boosting growth not just in Luzon, but also in the entire country.

The President shared, “We offer a growing domestic market, access to major trade routes, a young and talented population, and strong economic relationships across the world.”

Progress updates

President Marcos Jr. went on to discuss notable steps being undertaken to better position the Philippines as a premier destination for investments, owing to its strategic location and long-stranding relations with like-minded nations.

These include the following:

• Improving the movement of people and goods across the Corridor
• Expanding energy capacity to meet the needs of industries and communities
• Developing renewable resources to strengthen grid sustainability
• Expanding secure connectivity and advanced computing infrastructure
• Strengthening cybersecurity and establishing safeguards for responsible use of AI
• Enabling digitally-capable workers to move up the chain and become involved with new technologies

He also shared that the Southeast Asian nation has made strides in design, research, engineering, and other high-value activities, as well as progress in bolstering the domestic maritime industry and developing the critical minerals sector.

Open for collaboration

The President, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to encourage investors and foreign partners to invest in the Philippines’ workforce and resources by expressing the desire for the development of Filipino talent and enterprises into competitive assets that can capture a greater share of value created in the country.

In this regard, he shared various regulatory reforms and reinvented processes such as the CREATE MORE Act, public-private partnership, and the Green Lane system, among various changes being made to whet the appetite of those who want to make long-term investments in the country.

President Marcos Jr. also shared that this all-of-nation effort involves a whole-of-government approach that brings together all concerned agencies to work together for the common good.

The Chief Executive concluded, “To the investors and business leaders here today, I invite you: Build with us. Build your next enterprise here in the Philippines. Bring your capital, technology, your expertise. Develop Filipino talent and local suppliers. Form lasting partnerships with our businesses and our communities. You can place your trust in the Philippines.”

The LEC initiative was first conceived in a trilateral summit with the United States and Japan in August 2024, and has since drawn wider support from partner countries such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

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