Marcos urges int'l businesses to 'invest in the Filipino, PH agriculture'

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Monday vowed to stir growth in the manufacturing and agriculture industries, calling on international businesses to invest in these sectors.

“Palalaguin natin ang mga industriya-mga pabrika ng sasakyan, hulmahan, at electronics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, critical  minerals, telang Pinoy, Halal, construction, at mga planta ng kuryente. Ngunit nananawagan pa rin ako sa ating mga negosyante: Mamuhunan kayo sa ating agrikultura,” Marcos, Jr. said during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

(We will grow our manufacturing industry of vehicles, electronics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, crucial minerals textile, Halal food, construction and power plants. And to the business community: I call on you to invest in our agriculture industry.)

“And my singular resounding message to the international business community is this: The Philippines is ready. Invest in the Filipino," added Marcos.

"Our cavalcade of dependable and hardworking Filipinos, innately skilled, adaptable, and possessed with a heart for service, are here, ready to work and to succeed with you,” the President emphasized.

Back in November 2024, Marcos signed the CREATE More law which increased the investment capital approval threshold for the country’s Investment Promotion Agencies from P1 billion to P15 billion pesos.

Likewise, the law seeks to exempt certain goods and services such as janitorial, security, financial consultancy, marketing, and human resources from value-added tax to make the country more investment-friendly. —VAL, GMA Integrated News