Infrastructure is the cornerstone of development, and accelerating infrastructure activity is essential for the country to maintain its fast pace of economic growth. Under the ambitious Build Better More programme, the government is ramping up public works and transport-related projects, and pushing for more private sector participation in these projects. A big part of this programme is focused on renewable energy, and a regulatory framework has been established and is being fine-tuned to provide a favourable condition for investors in this sector.

• What is the status of the public-private partnership programme in the country?
• What are the challenges of investing in the Philippines through PPPs? Are there enough incentives for foreign companies to want to enter into PPPs with the government?
• Energy security is a priority. How is the government fast-tracking energy projects to address current and future needs?

The Philippines’ rapid economic growth has not translated into a broadening of the capital markets which remain small relative to those of some of its Asean neighbours. The government is implementing plans to improve liquidity and to broaden the investor base. Green, social, and sustainability bonds are also a growing segment to finance new projects.  The ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is an opportunity to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs). However, recent delistings have dampened sentiment while other funding instruments such as real estate investment trusts (Reits) have not taken off. How will regulators encourage more companies to go public? 

• How are policymakers strengthening and promoting the capital markets? 
• What are the reasons for companies to go private?
• How can SMEs secure better access to funding?

Digital technology is improving access to financial services, democratizing finance, and opening new opportunities. The Philippines is the perfect testbed for digital banking with its young, tech-savvy population, always keen to try new ways of doing things. But a whole range of opportunities remains untapped: from better SME lending to fully integrating the vast Overseas Filipino Workers market that could do better with cheaper, faster money transfers. A budding fintech sector is focused on mobile payments. Meanwhile, regulators are laying the groundwork to foster innovation in financial services. But cybersecurity issues are holding back some of these developments. The country is ripe for a digital banking revolution, but questions remain.

• How is the financial sector responding to the opportunities digital technologies offer?
• What new areas of finance – from SME to consumer lending – are being tapped with the help of technology?
• How is the country’s fintech sector evolving and what are the challenges it is facing?