DTI cites Marcos admin's trade push in PH upper-middle income rise

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Sunday credited the Marcos administration’s economic policies, particularly its aggressive pursuit of free trade agreements (FTAs), for helping the Philippines achieve upper-middle-income status.

In a statement, the DTI said the government’s expanded network of 23 free trade agreements and international partnerships played a crucial role in boosting the country’s trade performance.

“Crucial to this trade breakthrough is the Marcos Jr. administration’s aggressive pursuit of expanded free trade agreements and international partnerships,” the department said.

“By systematically lowering trade barriers and broadening market access, this extensive network of trade pacts has permanently enhanced the global price competitiveness of Filipino exporters, positioning President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to go down in history with the most number of free trade agreements sealed,” it added.

The recognition came after the World Bank confirmed the Philippines’ status as an upper-middle-income country (UMIC), following an increase in its gross national income (GNI) per capita beyond the UMIC threshold, according to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).

In its latest July income assessment, the World Bank said the Philippines’ GNI per capita reached US$4,850 (about P273,760), surpassing the US$4,636 (around P261,680) threshold for upper-middle-income economies.

The DTI said the country’s transition to upper-middle-income status was driven by strong economic performance across trade and investment sectors in 2025.

It noted that the Board of Investments approved P1.56 trillion worth of investments in 2025, the second-highest in its 58-year history.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority approved P260.89 billion across 314 new and expansion projects, exceeding its annual target and marking a 21.91% increase from 2024 — the agency’s highest investment growth since 2016.

The DTI also highlighted a strong export performance, saying export revenues rose by a record 15.2% year-on-year in 2025.

The growth continued into 2026, with exports increasing 7.9% in January, 8% in February, 20.4% in March, 6.3% in April, and 7.6% in May.

“This significant milestone is proof of the strong leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in pushing for economic reforms that enhance the country’s global competitiveness and resilience,” Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said.—MCG, GMA News