By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter
SECRETARY Frederick D. Go said the US tariff picture is clearing up sufficiently to make it worthwhile to resume investment roadshows promoting the Philippines.
“Right now, the legality of the unilateral tariffs has been put in question in front of the US courts. And I think the dust is more or less settling,” according to Mr. Go, who heads the cabinet-level Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA).
Speaking before the Anvil Business Summit 2025 on Monday, he said that the Philippine investment team will be ready to hit the road again soon.
“We have to go on a roadshow… We are still planning it out. This year we hope to get back on track on our roadshows kasi we were not able to in the first half,” he added.
He said the US tariff announcements starting April had been “an obstacle in the way of us going out and promoting the Philippines.”
Mr. Go said he hopes the Philippines will exceed the P1.9 trillion in investment pledges that were approved last year.
“Last year we recorded an all-time high of P1.9 trillion in registered approved investments,” Mr. Go said at the Anvil Business Summit 2025 on Monday.
“These record numbers are a great achievement, but they also raise the bar. They now set the benchmark that we must now surpass,” he added.
Last year’s investment approvals reflected an over 29% increase from 2023.
Asked about the elements of the roadshow team’s pitch to investors, he cited the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act.
He called on Anvil members “to continue investing and inspiring others to believe in the limitless promise of our country.”
“I am totally committed to improving the economy and getting things done, improving the ease of doing business, reducing the cost of doing business, and improving the predictability of doing business,” he added.
Christopher C. Yae, president of Anvil Business Club, Inc. (Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs), said business owners remain positive that the government will tackle corruption.
“We are always very hopeful about what the government is doing. I think if we are negative about it, I think mas walang mangyayari sa atin (nothing will come of it),” he said.
He said that 520 business owners attended the summit, which reflects “the optimism of the business community.”
Mr. Yae also said digitalization brings the Philippines closer to where business owners want it to go.
Asked about what other regulatory reforms businesses want to see, he said the government needs to devote more resources to building up local industries.
He called for master plans “for each sector” and more consultation of the business community to discover their needs.
