The Philippine government is banking on policy reforms to attract a new generation of foreign manufacturers. The ASEAN Investment Report 2025 highlights the CREATE MORE Act and the Green Lane for Strategic Projects as two major initiatives intended to simplify investment procedures and accelerate project approvals.
These measures are particularly focused on electronics, automotive, and renewable-energy industries. The report notes that multinational semiconductor firms have already expressed interest in expanding operations under these programs.
However, the ASEAN Secretariat warned that strong incentives must be matched by improvements in infrastructure, logistics, and workforce skills. Without these complementary measures, the benefits of the new industrial policy may be limited.
The report concludes that the Philippines is moving in the right direction by aligning incentives with industrial strategy. Success will depend on implementation speed and the government’s ability to translate policy intent into real-world competitiveness.