YEARENDER: Top laws enacted in 2025

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed several laws in 2025, including Anti-POGO, government optimization, and the Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act.

Here's a rundown of the key measures signed by the President this year:

Anti-POGO law

In July 2024, Marcos made a bold statement about banning all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the country due to its links to various crimes such as scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and even murder.

This was realized through the enactment of Republic Act No. 12312, which formally banned and declared as illegal the POGO operations in the Philippines in October this year.

Under the new law, prohibited acts include the establishment, operation, or conduct of offshore gaming in the Philippines, as well as the acceptance of any form of betting for offshore gaming operations.

The Anti-POGO Act of 2025 also prohibits the creation and operation of a POGO hub or POGO site in the Philippines, as well as the introduction, use, or possession of POGO gaming equipment or POGO gaming paraphernalia in the Philippines. 

Registering companies used to conceal offshore gaming operations is likewise not allowed. 

Violators would face imprisonment of up to 12 years and fines of up to P50 million under the law. Foreign offenders will also be deported after serving their sentence and permanently banned from re-entering the country.

This was a welcome development for several lawmakers, as well as the Bureau of Immigration, who described it as a victory for law enforcement and Filipinos.

Department of Economy, Planning, and Development

In April, Marcos signed a law reorganizing the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the government’s socioeconomic planning body, into a full-blown executive department: the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev).

The new law mandates DepDev to ensure the alignment of institutionalized national and regional plans, the integration of long-term strategies into the budgeting process, and the pursuit of proactive approaches toward addressing emerging challenges. It also tasks DepDev to strengthen the capacities of national and local government agencies in planning and policymaking to ensure equitable access to economic opportunities.

"The establishment of the DEPDev contributes to sound economic governance by bridging past and future development strategies, ultimately ensuring our upward development trajectory and that economic progress is sustained, remains resilient, and is beneficial to all Filipinos," said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act

In May, Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12199 or the“Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act which seeks to enhance early education, nutrition, and caregiving support for young children.

The new law amends Republic Act No. 10410, or the Early Years Act of 2013 and was among the priority recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) to help reform the Philippine education system.

Under the measure, the ECCD Council is designated to focus on children aged zero to four, while the Department of Education (DepEd) will take charge of those aged five to eight, in accordance with the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.

In addition, the law outlines key goals, including reducing child mortality, promoting all aspects of child development, preparing young learners for formal education, and providing early intervention for children with special needs.

Konektadong Pinoy law

In August, the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, which allows new data transmission players to operate without a legislative franchise or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, also lapsed into law.

This means the President did not act on the enrolled bill of the measure approved by Congress.

While the measure got explicit opposition from telecommunication operators, the Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT) threw its full support for the new law, saying it would not allow deregulation at the expense of security or public interest.

“It modernizes and strengthens NTC’s mandate to respond faster and more effectively to digital-age challenges—including the ability to issue compliance directives on cybersecurity, quality of service, and fair competition under streamlined frameworks,” DICT said.

Under the law, foreign entities looking to enter the data transmission industry will be subject to existing Philippine laws, including the Foreign Investments Act of 1991 and the Public Service Act, which provide that foreign participation can be reviewed for potential national security implications.

Accelerated and Reformed Right of Way (ARROW) Act

In September, the President signed the Accelerated and Reformed Right of Way (ARROW) Act which seeks to institute reforms in the acquisition of right-of-way for infrastructure projects by the national government and by public service providers.

This new law, which is among the priority measures of the Marcos administration, authorizes priority government infrastructure projects to proceed at depths of up to 18 meters below ground—on par with regional standards—clearing the way for long-awaited subway systems. 

The measure also guarantees fair compensation for owners of subsurface structures that cannot be avoided.

The law covers all infrastructure projects of the national government and its public service facilities, engineering works, and service contracts.

Government Optimization Act

In August, the President also inked the Republic Act 12231 or the Government Optimization Act, which primarily aims to optimize the national government to ensure efficient delivery of public services.

The law provides that government operations should be simplified so that the agencies can focus on the performance of their core functions and the implementation of programs and projects.

In addition, the law mandates that government systems and processes should be streamlined and modernized to facilitate the delivery and upgrade the quality of frontline services, improve policy formulation, planning, and performance evaluation, and raise the overall productivity of the public sector. 

The law covers all agencies of the Executive Branch, including departments, bureaus, offices, commissions, boards, councils, and all other entities attached to or under their administrative supervision, and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) not covered by Republic Act 10149 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011.

Virology and Vaccine Institute

In September, Marcos signed into law a measure establishing the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP).  

The law under Republic Act No. 12290 provides that the VIP will serve as a national research center focused on studies of viruses, pathogens, and vaccine development that will strengthen the country’s health security.

The creation of the VIP is viewed as a landmark move to enhance the country’s capacity to respond to future pandemics and other public health threats. 

Under the new law, the VIP is also tasked to conduct vaccine research, from discovery to pre-clinical phases, and develop diagnostics and therapeutics for emerging and reemerging infectious diseases.

It will also carry out discovery programs in virology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, while building partnerships with local and international research institutions.

Natural gas

Marcos opened 2025 by signing the bill promoting development of the Philippine natural gas industry into law, or Republic Act No. 12120, in January.

The bill mandates promotion of natural gas as a safe, efficient, and cost-effective source of energy and an indispensable contributor to energy security by establishing the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry for the benefit of all segments of the nation's populations.

This aims to develop natural gas as a reliable fuel for power plants, which will later help ensure the country's energy security.

The new law will also promote the conversion of the existing fossil-fuel operated equipment and facilities to natural gas use provided, that the conversion is technically and financially feasible. 

Digitization

In September, President Marcos signed into law a measure that digitalizes court processes for Filipino Muslims under Republic Act No. 12304.

The newly signed law mandates the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology, in coordination with the Supreme Court, to establish a digital platform for the filing of pleadings and other court documents. 

“The Commission shall facilitate the paperless filing of pleadings and other court submissions. The Commission shall respect the right to privacy of the parties concerned and shall not retain any copy of the digital documents referred to herein,” the new law read. 

Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act 

In April, President Marcos signed into law a measure prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons under Republic Act 12174 or the Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act. 

Specifically, the law prohibits the following:

• To develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain, use, or transfer domestically or by cross-border movement, any chemical weapon;
• To finance the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, use or transfer of chemical weapons;
• To possess or transfer domestically or by cross-border movement, directly or indirectly, precursors and scheduled chemicals without the necessary license or permit; 
• To engage in any military preparation with the use of a chemical weapon;
• To assist, encourage, or induce a person to engage in any activity that is prohibited for State Party under the Convention;
• To use a riot control agent as a method of warfare;
• To export and import Schedule 1 chemicals to or from a State not a Party to the Convention, including transit through such State; and
• To engage in any other activity prohibited for a State Party under the Convention.

Under the new law, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) is hereby designated as the Philippine national authority on the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The new law also tasks the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) as the Philippine national authority on the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The ATC, acting as national authority, is also mandated to articulate the country's policy on the non-proliferation of chemical weapons in coordination with the Philippine Permanent Representative to the  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. —VAL, GMA Integrated News