Ceremonial Hall, Malacañan Palace
March 13, 2025
“Today, we celebrate the spirit of collaboration that achieves synergy – and synergy for our service to the public. These values fuel our collective pursuit of equitable development. This milestone reaffirms a fundamental truth: Progress is never the work of one. It is the result of diverse sectors moving as one — aligned in purpose, determined in execution,” said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as he led the first-ever ‘Gawad Bayanihan sa Pamumuhunan Milestone Event: Making It Happen with a Whole-of-Nation Strategy’ at the Ceremonial Hall in Malacañan Palace.
Speaking before the awardees from the national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs), President Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing the country’s global competitiveness and positioning the Philippines as the next investment destination hub. “The road to a more dynamic investment climate and more globally competitive Bagong Pilipinas is paved with our shared commitment to ensuring that every investment translates into real, tangible benefits for our people,” he stated.
The Chief Executive also highlighted efforts to improve the Ease of Doing Business through the successful implementation of Executive Order (E.O) No. 18 in 2023, which reduces the processing time for permits and licenses to 12 days under the Green Lanes for Strategic Investments — a fast lane for big, high-impact projects in the Philippines. “The goal is simple: less red tape, more action, more results, more success, more quickly. We want investments to come in, projects to break ground faster, [and] jobs to reach our people sooner. Because when businesses move quickly, progress follows just as fast,” he said, commending the support of the LGUs in fostering a favorable business climate for both local and foreign investors.
“Hindi po magiging buo ang tagumpay ng ating mga reporma kung wala ang taos-pusong suporta ng mga lokal na pamahalaan. Sila po ang ating mga kaagapay sa pagtutok at pagpapadali ng pagnenegosyo sa ating bansa,” he added.
According to the President, nearly 187 strategic investments have been certified to benefit key sectors: renewable energy, digital infrastructure, food security and manufacturing — amounting to a total investment value of over PhP4.65 trillion. These include the key infrastructures such as the 159.033 megawatt-peak Laoag Solar Power Project and the 94.717 megawatt-peak Cayanga-Bugallon Solar Power Project, both in Pangasinan. Other major projects include the EDC-Project Charlie Hyperscale Data Center in New Clark City, Tarlac.
“But beyond these numbers, what do they mean? What do these reforms truly mean for our people? Trabaho at serbisyo. Inaasahan po na makakalikha ang investments na ito ng halos tatlong daang libong trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan. Hindi lamang po ito trabaho, kundi makabuluhang oportunidad para sa mas maayos at mas maginhawang buhay,” he emphasized.
“Makakatulong din po ang dumaraming investments upang mapababa ang presyo ng mga serbisyo at bilihin dahil sa kumpetisyon. Kasama na po rito ang mas maayos na transportasyon, enerhiya, at komunikasyon dulot ng makabagong teknolohiya mula sa mga namumuhunan,” he continued.
Concluding his remarks, the President rallied the NGAs and LGUs for their continued support and contributions and urged them to align their organizational goals with the Administration’s national priorities to usher in greater economic transformation. “Simula pa lamang po ito ng tuloy-tuloy na pagbabago ng ating sistema. Bilang Bagong Pilipino, palalawigin pa natin ang saklaw ng green lanes upang mas mapadali ang pag-usad ng mga proyektong may malaking ambag sa ating ekonomiya,” he said.
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