DECLARATION ON THE PROVISIONAL APPLICATION OF THE SECOND PROTOCOL TO AMEND THE ASEAN TRADE IN GOODS AGREEMENT

The Governments of Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam;

RECALLING the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement done at Cha-am, Thailand on 26 February 2009, as amended by the First Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement done at Ha Noi, Viet Nam on 22 January 2019;

RECALLING FURTHER the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement done at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 1 December 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the “Second Protocol”);

NOTING the decision of the Special ASEAN Economic Council Meeting on the Middle East Crisis held on 30 April 2026 that emphasised the need to deepen intra-ASEAN trade and called on Member States to explore the early ratification of the Second Protocol within this year;

NOTING FURTHER the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Response to the Middle East Crisis on 8 May 2026 to swiftly ratify and ensure the timely entry into force of the Second Protocol within this year, where possible; and

DESIRING to facilitate the earlier entry into force and application of the Second Protocol among Member States that are ready to do so to expedite its implementation, prior to its entry into force,

HEREBY DECIDE THAT:
1. Member States may, on a voluntary and reciprocal basis, apply the Second Protocol provisionally among themselves pending its entry into force on 1 June 2027.

2. Such provisional application shall apply only between those Member States that have notified the Secretary-General of ASEAN in accordance with paragraph 4 of their agreement to provisionally apply the Second Protocol.

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, Member States agree that the provisions of the Second Protocol set out in the Annex shall not be provisionally applied among them, but shall enter into force on 1 June 2027.

4. Any Member State intending to provisionally apply the Second Protocol shall submit its confirmation or acceptance in writing through a formal notification to the Secretary-General of ASEAN either:

(a) at the time of notifying in writing, or depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, or approval with the Secretary-General of ASEAN upon completion of its internal procedures; or

(b) at any time prior to the entry into force of the Second Protocol on 1 June 2027.

5. The provisional application of the Second Protocol shall commence on the date as specified in the Member States’ notification, and terminate on 1 June 2027, the date of entry into force of the Second Protocol.

ADOPTED at Manila, Philippines, this Nineteenth Day of September in the Year Two Thousand and Twenty-Six.

PH partners with India’s NPCI to upgrade digital payments

The Philippine government is tapping India’s NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to modernize the country’s digital payments infrastructure, accelerate sovereign Government-to-Person (G2P) benefit payments and establish cross-border digital payment connectivity.

This was discussed during a business meeting on September 12 among President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick D. Go, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina A. Roque, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda, and NIPL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ritesh Shukla.

The meeting centered on leveraging India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) technology stack to upgrade the Philippines' digital payment ecosystem. A key priority of the discussion was deploying UPI capabilities to enhance sovereign G2P transfers through the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), to improve the speed, transparency, and efficiency of government benefit disbursements. 

“During our meeting with President Marcos Jr. and NPCI International, we agreed to bring India's UPI technology to the Philippines. This will allow LandBank to distribute government financial aid much faster and make daily digital transactions easier and cheaper for ordinary Filipinos,” Secretary Roque said.

“By bringing India’s UPI technology to the Philippines, we will also directly empower our MSMEs by making cross-border payments seamless and digital transactions cheaper and more accessible. Connecting this system with QR Ph will enable our local enterprises to easily accept payments from foreign tourists and international buyers, driving sales and expanding their reach in the global digital economy,” Secretary Roque added.

“Following LANDBANK’s pioneering efforts to waive P2G fees and take the lead in reducing the cost of digital transfers, we continue to look for ways to make digital payments more affordable, efficient, and accessible. Through a potential partnership with NPCI International and by exploring proven payment technologies, we aim to lower the cost of delivering government services and make them faster, more secure, and more responsive to the needs of the Filipino people,” LANDBANK Chair and Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said.

Discussions also covered modernizing the national clearing network via the newly m4rged Payments Network of the Philippines, Inc. (PNPI/ BancNet) and linking India’s UPI with the Philippines’ QR Ph network, building on ongoing engagements with InstaPay ACH and Gcash.

To facilitate NIPL's strategic entry and operational integration, the Philippine government highlighted key institutional support mechanisms, including Green Lane expedited processing under Executive Order No. 18 for strategic digital infrastructure projects. Additionally, potential long-term fiscal incentive options were outlined under the CREATE MORE Act (R.A. 12066) and the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) for qualified fintech and IT investments.

Joining President Marcos Jr. and Cabinet officials at the meeting were Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Francisco Ignacio, PTIC-New Delhi Commercial Counsellor Rudolph Jay Velasco, Senior Representatives from NPCI International, LandBank President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and LandBank Senior Vice President Grace Ofelia Lovely V. Dayo.

The DTI, together with the DOF and PTIC-New Delhi, reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating inter-agency coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), LandBank and PNPI/BancNet to execute non-disclosure agreements and fast-track technical implementation. 

DTI 2026 COCONUTPhilippines Trade Fair generates P309.57M in sales

Proving that trade exhibitions offer far more than simple product exposure, the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) 2026 COCONUTPhilippines Trade Fair generated P309.57 million in total sales.

The impressive figure marks a major milestone for Filipino coconut enterprises following the event held from August 26 to 30 at the SMX Convention Center Manila.

This year’s fair brought together 300 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from across the Philippines. The sales performance represents a massive leap from the P96.9 million generated by 213 participating businesses during last year’s event.

Participating “cocopreneurs” showcased a wide variety of value-added products across food and beverage, health and wellness, personal care, home and lifestyle items, craft, and sustainable non-food materials. The strong turnout highlights both an expanding local coconut industry and the growing capacity of domestic businesses to meet diverse consumer and commercial demands.

Held in conjunction with National Coconut Week, the fair demonstrated a collaborative, whole-of-government approach. DTI’s market development strategies in tandem with programs led by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and partner agencies under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).

As the lead implementing agency, the PCA coordinates targeted initiatives designed to strengthen the coconut sector and raise incomes for local forming communities.

The wider CFIDP ecosystem also supports total industry growth—funding farmer assistance, cooperative training, research, technology adoption, product innovation and enterprise building.

The event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque alongside key PCA leadership. 

Highlights of the opening included the release of the CFIDP Coffee Table Book, the launch of the 2022–2025 CFIDP Terminal Report documenting key milestones and beneficiary stories, and the

debut of the official CFIDP website to streamline public access to industry resources.

To maximize commercial opportunities, the event featured a dedicated Buyers Lounge. Here, coconut MSMEs met directly with corporate and institutional buyers to pitch product lines, discuss sourcing requirements and secure long-term

business partnerships.

Ultimately, the success of the 2026 COCONUTPhilippines Trade Fair reinforces how research, technology and market development can align under unified government leadership to create sustainable, high-value economic opportunities for Filipino coconut farmers. 

Padday na Lima drives P15M sales for Region 2 MSMEs

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Cagayan Valley generated over P15 million in direct sales, booked orders and pending negotiations during the 20th Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair, according to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2.

Held from August 24 to 30 at Festival Mall, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, the event featured more than 100 MSMEs from Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. Operating under the theme, “20 Years of Vibrant Hands: Crafting a Sustainable Legacy of Culture and Community,” the milestone exhibition recorded P15,142,401 in total sales and market opportunities.

To support long-term commercial growth, DTI Region 2 connected participants with institutional buyers, retail clients and business partners through business-to-business matching sessions and digital selling channels.

The agency also relaunched the Padday na Lima Webshop 2.0, providing local entrepreneurs with a permanent e-commerce platform to showcase and sell their products beyond the physical event.

DTI Region 2 Regional Director Ma. Sofia Narag noted that two decades of trade exposure have helped regional businesses adapt to changing market conditions by embracing digital tools and refining their product development based on customer feedback.

“They’ve learned their lessons for every trade fair that we do. They keep on improving,” Narag said, emphasizing that the commercial gains extend beyond individual business owners to benefit their local communities.

For many participants, the annual fair provides crucial access to major urban markets. Healthy Foods & Gifts Enterprises owner Dolores Gandia Casem of Nueva Vizcaya, shared that participating in DTI trade fairs since 2015 has allowed her herbal tea business build a strong customer base outside their home province.

Similarly, Tesoro’s Bamboo Manufacturing Products owner Joseph Tesoro, credited DTI’s ongoing support with helping his enterprise recover from zero sales during the pandemic. Today, the business manufactures and distributes handcrafted lampshades, hats, flower vases and home decor to a growing national market.

The exhibit also serves as a launching pad for community-based social enterprises. Gomez Ethnic Women’s Weaving Association president Evangeline Ayao-ao leveraged the platform to bring traditional indigenous textiles to a wider consumer audience. With DTI’s guidance, what started as a small local initiative has expanded into a structured association that employs and trains local weavers, while also integrating zero-waste practices by upcycling textile scraps into modern fashion designs.

Throughout the week-long fair, visitors engaged with Cagayan Valley’s rich heritage through interactive cultural showcases, artisan craft demonstrations, regional food and wine tastings, a live fashion show and provincial trade pavilions featuring sustainable products made from local bamboo, abaca, coconut and handwoven fabrics.

Now on its 20th year, Padday na Lima remains a vital growth engine for Northern Luzon’s local economy—helping entrepreneurs digitize operations, establish broader distribution channels, and scale their businesses while preserving the region’s traditional craftsmanship. 

DTI: iSON Group expands operations in PH with $375M investments in digital infra, agrotech, healthcare and BPO

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed iSON Group’s growing investments in the Philippines, spanning digital infrastructure, modern agriculture, healthcare, and business process outsourcing (BPO).

The company’s operations and new expansion initiatives were presented during a business meeting on September 12 with President Marcos Jr., DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque, Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick D. Go, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda and iSON Group leadership led by Founder and Chairman Vivek Gupta.

Secretary Roque highlighted how iSON Group's multi-sector projects align with the country's economic goals.

“iSON Group’s expansion shows that our investment reforms are working and that global companies trust the Philippines. They are expanding here because of our strong economic growth, steady business environment, and talented workforce. Their investment in telecom, agriculture, healthcare, and BPO bring in capital and technology that will bring better connectivity, strengthen our local industries, and create quality jobs for Filipinos,” Secretary Roque said.

iSON Group’s digital infrastructure arm, iSON Tower Ltd. Inc.—backed by US private equity firm TPG Peppertree Capital, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Security Bank—has already deployed $65 million to construct 450 telecom towers across NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao under the DICT Common Tower Policy, employing over 120 direct staff.

Over the next 10 years, iSON Tower plans to invest up to $300 million to scale its network to 3,000 towers, building 300 to 400 towers annually, creating over 100 additional direct jobs and expanding its contractor network to 1,000 workers.

In addition to its telecommunication infrastructure rollout, iSON Group highlighted $75 million in new and expanded investments across strategic growth sectors:

iSON Agrotech ($50 Million New Investment): A landmark Agro-Solar project combining 50 hectares of modern protected agriculture (greenhouse and polyhouse systems) with a 40 MWp renewable solar PV facility in New Clark City, executed under a Joint Venture with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). Initial cultivation will focus on capsicum, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers before expanding to 20–25 crop varieties.

iSON Health ($15 Million Expansion Investment): Expansion of digital healthcare services including 24/7 bilingual (Tagalog/English) teleconsultation, access to second medical opinions through a network of over 300 global partner hospitals, and full-service medical tourism services for critical care.

BPO Expansion ($10 Million Expansion Investment): Investment in expanded contact center operations servicing major domestic telecommunications providers, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications, prior to integrating global offshoring workloads from South Africa, Egypt, and India.

Investment czar Secretary Frederick Go said “iSON Group’s continued expansion across multiple strategic sectors demonstrates the success of the administration’s investment reforms and that the Philippines is becoming a destination of choice for global investors. These investments bring in capital, technology, and innovation while creating quality jobs and opening new opportunities for Filipinos.”

To support iSON Group’s operations in the country, Secretary Roque reassured company executives of the Philippine government’s key investment facilitation measures including:

CREATE MORE Act: Under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP), qualifying projects may access extended fiscal incentives for 14 to 26 years, including a reduced 20% Corporate Income Tax rate or flexible Income Tax Holidays.

Green Lane Expedited Processing (E.O. 18): Managed through the One-Stop-Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSAC-SI), Green Lane designation streamlines regulatory approvals and permit processing across national and local government agencies.

Joining President Marcos Jr., Secretary Roque, Secretary Go, and Secretary Aguda at the meeting were Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Francisco Ignacio and Commercial Counsellor Rudolph Jay Velasco. Representing iSON Group were Chairman Vivek Gupta, CEO Rahul Chaudhary, Vice President for Corporate Strategy Sudhir Loomba, General Manager for Strategy and Investments Sarthak Gupta, and Country Manager Rahul Singh. 

GMR eyes building and operating Sangley Point International Airport

New Delhi, India—The Philippine government reaffirmed its strong support for the GMR Group's increasing investments in the country’s aviation infrastructure, particularly its interest in building and operating the Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) in partnership with Cavitex Holdings Inc.

 

The expansion plans were discussed during a business meeting on September 12 with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick D. Go, DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque, and GMR Group Chairman Srinivas Bommidala at Taj Mahal hotel in India.

 

The meeting centered on GMR’s ongoing and planned investments in Philippine aviation and transport infrastructure in support of the government’s Build Better More program.

 

During the meeting, the Philippine delegation highlighted the significant economic potential of the SPIA development, which is projected to drive over P150 billion in direct investment and generate P500 billion in indirect economic impact.

 

Positioned as a crucial new gateway to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and transform the Greater Capital Region, the project is expected to yield $300 to $500 million in government revenues and create 10,000 to 15,000 jobs.

 

Secretary Roque welcomed GMR's continued confidence in the country. Since 2014, GMR has invested over P36 billion to develop landmark, award-winning airport infrastructure in Cebu and Clark.

 

Secretary Frederick Go likewise underscored the importance of continued investments in Philippine aviation infrastructure to expand the country’s capacity for growth and create more opportunities.

 

Beyond Sangley, GMR is also exploring opportunities to upgrade regional airport clusters in Bacolod, Tacloban, Busuanga and Laoag to boost local trade, tourism and regional development. The company is also actively participating in Clark Airport projects, including bids for logistics facilities that will support global cargo operators.

 

To facilitate these large-scale infrastructure investments, Secretary Roque assured GMR of the government's end-to-end support through key initiatives such as the CREATE MORE Act and Green Lane Expedited Processing (E.O. 18). The DTI remains ready to serve as the dedicated focal point in realizing these strategic developments.

 

Joining President Marcos Jr., Secretary Go, and Secretary Roque were Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Department of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez, Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Francisco Ignacio, and Cavitex Holdings Inc. Chairman Luis Juan Virata. 

Indian tech and manufacturing expansion to bring up to $66.8M in investments, 7,500 jobs to PH

The Philippine government, led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina A. Roque, and Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick D. Go engaged senior Indian business executives in a high-level roundtable discussion to secure and expand an estimated $66.78 million in potential new and expansion investments.

The executive roundtable, held on September 12, served as a strategic platform to follow up on commitments made during the August 2025 Presidential Visit to India. The participating Indian companies represent a combined market capitalization of approximately $65.55 billion and an existing Philippine investment footprint of $84.7 million.

The discussions focused on accelerating investments in Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, digital engineering and electronics manufacturing services (EMS).

"We are making it easier and faster for Indian companies to set up and scale here in the Philippines," DTI Secretary Roque said.

"Through the CREATE MORE Act, we have cut through red tape, improved tax incentives, and used our Green Lanes to fast-track approvals. As Indian tech and manufacturing leaders bring thousands of high-value jobs to Clark, Subic, Tarlac, and Cagayan de Oro, the DTI is making sure they have full support to grow their business operations and tap our world-class Filipino workforce.

During the meeting, executives from key Indian companies outlined their respective local operations and strategic expansion plans:

Cognizant: Plans to expand beyond its existing operations in the Philippines by introducing high-value tech services, including AI, cybersecurity, digital engineering, and Global Capability Centers (GCC). The expansion is projected to generate 3,000 to 5,000 additional jobs over the next three years, with prospective site evaluations in Tarlac, Clark, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete and Urdaneta.

HCLTech: Continues to expand its technology and digital services operations in the Philippines, supporting over 70 global clients. The company plans to maintain investments of around $10 million, while strengthening workforce training in AI and cybersecurity and exploring expansion opportunities in the regions.

VVDN Technologies: Finalizing plans to establish a manufacturing facility for electronics assembly and testing in the Philippines. The proposed project, with an estimated investment of $10 million to $50 million, is expected to create around 500 manufacturing jobs and may be located in Subic, First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), or Laguna.

Hinduja Group: Outlined an estimated $6 million investment plan through Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) to set up digitally enabled Staffing Solutions Centers in Metro Manila, creating 1,200 skilled jobs. Additionally, its automotive arm, Ashok Leyland, highlighted a breakthrough commercial vehicle assembly project to supply units for the Metropolitan Cebu Water District.

“India’s leading technology and manufacturing companies are recognizing the Philippines as a competitive destination for high-value investments. The interest we are seeing is a strong indication that our investment reforms are working and that companies are looking to the Philippines not only as a market, but as a strategic base for their regional operations,” Investment Czar Secretary Frederick Go said.

Joining President Marcos Jr., DTI Secretary Roque, and DOF Secretary Go at the roundtable were Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Francisco Ignacio, and Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-New Delhi Commercial Counsellor Rudolph Jay Velasco.

Indian business delegates present included Cognizant VP & Head of Government Affairs (India & APAC) Gaurav Hazra; HCLTech CFO Shiv Waila; VVDN Technologies CEO Puneet Agarwal and Senior Executive Himmat Singh Sidhu; and Hinduja Group Resident Director Amb. Ajit Kumar and Group President Dr. Sunil K. Chadda.