Legislative Updates

House Approves Anti-Dynasty Bill on Third Reading

The House approved the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill on third reading, marking the furthest progress of such a measure at the national level. While supporters hail it as a landmark reform, critics argue its limited scope leaves loopholes that could allow political dynasties to persist.

House Approves Anti-Political Dynasty Bill on Second Reading, Critics Note Its Limitations

The passage of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill (HB 8389) on second reading marks a historic legislative step, but its narrow restriction to the second degree of consanguinity leaves significant legal loopholes, allowing entrenched networks to bypass restrictions via the party-list system.

House Approves Bill Granting Presidential Powers for Fuel Excise Tax Cut, Other Legislative Measures to Respond to High Fuel Prices

The House passed a bill granting the President emergency powers to cut fuel excise taxes for six months due to Middle East conflict price spikes. Diesel and gasoline prices are surging toward 100 pesos and 90 pesos per liter, prompting a push for a National Contingency Plan.

New 21 LEDAC Priority Measures Announced, Bringing Total Priority Measures to 52

President Marcos approved 21 new legislative priorities, including the Anti-Political Dynasty Law and BARMM election reforms. While aimed for June 2026 passage, progress may be slowed by impeachment complaints against the Vice President and a busy congressional calendar.

ANALYSIS: A Deeper Look Into the 2026 National Budget

President Marcos Jr. signed the 2026 national budget, which features a massive cut to the DPWH and a significant increase for education. Despite efforts at transparency, the budget remains controversial due to remaining unprogrammed funds, sparking petitions for judicial review.

President Marcos Approves PHP 6.793-Trillion 2026 National Budget

President Marcos signed the PHP 6.793 trillion 2026 budget after delays caused by disagreements over infrastructure allocations. The final law includes reallocations prompted by ongoing corruption probes, signaling continued legislative scrutiny of public spending.

Assessment on Legislative Developments

Congress is prioritizing economic governance and land use policies in 2026. However, corruption probes and early preparations for the 2028 elections may slow the enactment of these key administration priority bills.

2026 General Appropriations Bill To be Ratified by Congress by December 29

Congress plans to ratify the PHP 6.8 trillion General Appropriations Bill on December 29. The tight schedule gives President Ferdinand Marcos minimal review time, risking a delayed approval and a reenacted budget that could disrupt early 2026 business operations.

President Marcos Requests Congress to Prioritize Anti-Dynasty Bill, Three Others

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the Congress to prioritize four bills addressing political dynasties, electoral reform, infrastructure corruption, and budget transparency. Without formal urgent certification, these measures risk delays amid legislative resistance.

What Does the Konektadong Pinoy Act Say About Data Localization

The newly released implementing rules for the Konektadong Pinoy Act lack an explicit data localization mandate. However, the department's directive to safeguard local data leaves room for future executive orders that could enforce strict domestic data storage regulations.

POGO Ban Turned into Law

President Ferdinand Marcos, Junior signed a law permanently banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and related support services, penalizing non-compliant corporate leaders. Enterprises must note that displaced illegal entities are shifting underground disguised as legitimate businesses.

A Look Into The House-Approved General Appropriations Bill 2026

The House of Representatives approved the 2026 budget, increasing funds for education, health, and national security while cutting public works amid corruption probes. Disputes over unprogrammed funds threaten to delay final approval, risking a reenacted budget.

New Committee Leaderships in the Senate Following Senator Sotto’s Election as Senate President

Konektadong Pinoy Bill Lapses into Law

Republic Act No. 12234, the Konektadong Pinoy Act, has lapsed into law. The legislation eliminates the requirement for a congressional franchise to build networks, opening the data transmission sector to greater market competition and streamlining registration rules for network providers.

America First for Call Centers: What Does This Mean for the Philippine IT-BPM Industry

The proposed United States Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 seeks to restrict federal benefits for companies offshoring customer services. While the bill has a low passage likelihood, Philippine trade officials are monitoring it due to potential disruptions to the local outsourcing sector.

Congress Receives 2026 National Expenditure Program, Proposes Transparent Legislative Process on Budget

Congress received the fiscal year 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) proposing a PHP 6.79 trillion budget. Enterprises should monitor the subsequent legislative process and parallel transparency reforms, as the final law will shape public sector funding.

Congress Elects its Committee Chairpersons for the 20th Congress

The Duterte power bloc captured 24 Senate committee chairperson positions, cementing its legislative influence. Enterprises should monitor this structural shift as committee leaderships and personal business interests shape policy directions and priority bills.

ANALYSIS: Highlights of the 2025 State of the Nation Address

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address prioritized socio-economic and public works reviews over industry policy. Enterprises should monitor upcoming 2026 budget deliberations to verify funding allocations for critical energy, infrastructure, and labor development initiatives.

Updates on Policy and Legislation

The 19th Congress closed after passing 25 priority bills, leaving several key measures for refiling in the twentieth Congress. Enterprises should monitor upcoming committee leadership elections and potential budget delays driven by political proceedings.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Signs Law Turning NEDA into the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. established the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, shifting policy leadership away from the Department of Finance. Enterprises should monitor this transition for changes in economic governance and long-term regulatory priorities.

President Marcos Jr. Signs Law Deferring Bangsamoro Elections from May 12 to October 14 this Year

President Ferdinand Marcos Junior signed Republic Act No. 12123 postponing the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections to October 2025. Enterprises should monitor unresolved issues like the exclusion of Sulu province and budget shortfalls that could impact regional security.

IRR for CREATE MORE ACT Released

The Fiscal Incentives Review Board released the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Republic Act No. 12066. It outlines procedures and penalties, while clarifying work-from-home arrangements for Philippine Economic Zone Authority and Board of Investments locators.

NEDA Department Bill Ratified by Bicameral Conference Committee

Congress ratified a bill to elevate the National Economic and Development Authority into the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development. While intended to strengthen socioeconomic planning, critics warn it may conflict with ongoing government right-sizing efforts.

Vice President Sara Duterte No Longer Part of National Security Council

Executive Order No. 81 removed Vice President Sara Duterte from the National Security Council amid her rift with President Marcos. While this highlights severe political polarization, the military’s explicit loyalty to the chain of command preserves institutional stability for enterprises.

PAGCOR Revokes POGO Licenses Two Weeks Before Total Ban

The total ban on POGOs via Executive Order No. 74 saw all operational licenses revoked. While localized areas face revenue drops and job displacements, the nationwide economic impact remains minimal at under 0.2% of GDP. Authorities are now focused on countering underground "guerilla" operations.

President Marcos Orders ‘Immediate Ban’ on POGOs and Unlicensed Offshore Gaming in the Philippines, Including Those in Special Economic Zones

Executive Order No. 74 imposes an immediate, total ban on all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and Internet Gaming Licenses by December 31, 2024. The Department of Justice clarified that the shutdown uniformly applies across all special economic zones without exception.

House Approves PHP6.352-Trillion National Budget Proposal for 2025

The House approved the PHP 6.352 trillion 2025 National Budget, cutting intelligence funds by 16% and slashing the OVP budget to PHP 733 million. The bill now heads to the Senate, where some lawmakers have indicated they will address the fund adjustments out of institutional tradition.

eTravel System Now Permanent for Travelers to the Philippines

The Philippine government institutionalized the Electronic Travel system (eTravel) as the central platform for border security, health surveillance, and tourism data. This digital centralization alters entry protocols, highlighting regulatory compliance and mobility risks for commercial enterprises.

Congress Approves Reconciled Maritime Zones Bill

Congress approved the Philippine Maritime Zones Act to formalize legal rights over the West Philippine Sea. While clarifying the regulatory framework for offshore operations, accompanying geopolitical tensions elevate supply chain and stability risks for commercial enterprises.

President Marcos Jr. Signs Law to Establish Negros Island Region

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Negros Island Region Act, unifying three provinces into one administrative zone. This consolidation streamlines local bureaucracy and centralizes governance, reducing operational friction and optimizing strategic planning for commercial enterprises.

What to Expect as New Captain Steers the Senate Ship

The transition to Francis Escudero as Senate President maintains legislative continuity within the supermajority. This preservation of the status quo minimizes near-term policy volatility and regulatory disruption for commercial enterprises.

President Marcos Jr. Approves Administrative Order Establishing Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination; Stakeholders Provide Varied Responses

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. established the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination to sustain international rights initiatives. This regulatory oversight body signals alignment with global governance standards, maintaining compliance stability for commercial enterprises.