Investment Policy Monitor
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UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitors and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2024, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2012 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for sustainable development.
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The UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor database include official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting FDI (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures with a clear impact on foreign investment (FDI-related). The measures are either reported directly to UNCTAD by Member States through annual surveys or identified by UNCTAD researchers through publicly accessible sources (such as government websites and specialized policy databases). The classification of measures as more or less favourable is based solely on their potential impact on investors.
Note: Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
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- Philippines - Allows 100 per cent foreign ownership of public services
Philippines
Allows 100 per cent foreign ownership of public services
15 Dec 2021On 15 December 2021, the Philippines Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 2094, which amends the Public Service Act by enabling the 100 percent foreign ownership of public services, such as telecommunications, airlines, shipping, and railways.
SB 2094 makes a clear distinction between the definition of public services and public utilities since under the 1987 Constitution, only firms that are at least 60 per cent owned by Filipinos are given the authorization, certificate, and franchise to operate as a public utility.
SB 2094 narrows public utilities to just the following: Electricity distribution; Electricity transmission; Airports; Seaports; Water pipeline distribution and sewerage; Tollways and expressways; and Public utility vehicles.
This means that there will be no restriction on foreign ownership for industrial undertakings not classified as public utilities. However, to protect national security, SB 2094 contains safeguards that prohibit foreign state-owned enterprises from owning capital in a public service classified as critical infrastructure. The government’s National Security Council will be undertaking a review of such foreign investments.
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Type:
- Entry and establishment (Ownership and control)
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Industry:
- Manufacturing (Manufacture of transport equipment, Other manufacturing)
- Services (Telecommunications)
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Sources:
- thailand-business-news, Philippines to Allow 100 Percent Foreign Ownership of Public Services, https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/87268-philippines-to-allow-100-percent-foreign-ownership-of-public-services.html, 13 Jan 2022
- aseanbriefing, Philippines Senate Passes Bill Allowing 100 Percent Foreign Ownership of Public Services, https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/philippines-senate-passes-bill-allowing-100-percent-foreign-ownership-of-public-services/, 07 Jan 2022
- thediplomat, The Philippines Readies Public Services for 100 Percent Foreign Ownership, https://thediplomat.com/2021/12/the-philippines-readies-public-services-for-100-percent-foreign-ownership/, 29 Dec 2021
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UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitors and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2024, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2012 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for sustainable development.
-
The UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor database include official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting FDI (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures with a clear impact on foreign investment (FDI-related). The measures are either reported directly to UNCTAD by Member States through annual surveys or identified by UNCTAD researchers through publicly accessible sources (such as government websites and specialized policy databases). The classification of measures as more or less favourable is based solely on their potential impact on investors.
Note: Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
Share





Latest publications
