Main Sectors of Industry

The Philippines' economy is based on food processing; production of cement, iron, and steel; and telecommunications, among others. According to the latest rates by the World Bank, the agricultural sector contributes to 10.1% of GDP and employs 22.9% of the labour force. The Philippines is the second largest producer of coconuts in the world. However, the agricultural sector suffers from low productivity, weak economies of scale and inadequate infrastructure. Still, the government is working on restructuring and modernising the sector, and have been implementing policies such as converting government lands to agriculture use. As for mining, the Philippines are one of the richest countries of the world in terms of minerals with an unexploited mineral wealth estimated at more than USD 840 billion (Inquirer). The Philippines reserves of copper, gold and zinc are also among the largest in the world. In 2021, Typhoon Odette hit the country, damaging hundreds of metric tons of rice crops and, despite efforts to improve production in 2022, the sector was still deeply affected by the lasting impacts of the typhoon.

The industry sector contributes 28.9% of GDP and employs 19.1% of the workforce. Industrial food processing is one of the Philippines' main manufacturing activities. The big industries are dominated by production of cement, glass, chemicals products and fertilisers, iron, steel and refined oil products. While the sector's growth was halted in the initial stages of the pandemic, as response measures impeded manufacturing activity and reduced the global demand for industrial products, he Filipino industry showed a gradual recovery in the past few years. The logistics industry was particularly dynamic, driven by recovery in both local and global demand in e-commerce, domestic manufacturing and the export sectors.

The tertiary sector - which represents 61% of GDP and employs 58% of the country’s workforce - has developed substantially, particularly in telecommunications, call centres and finance. Government goals for the sector include attracting investments in human resource development, design, R&D, finance, and infrastructure; bolstering manufacturing-derived services; and establishing new ecosystems linked with manufacturing (Department of Trade and Industry and Board of Investments). Although the services sector was hit the hardest during the pandemic, it showed a steady recovery in 2022, mainly driven by the wholesale, retail trade, information and communication, accommodation and food service activities, and human health and social work activities.

Source: World Bank - Latest available data.

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Ferdinand "Bongbong" MARCOS, Jr (since 30 June 2022)
Vice-President: Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (since 30 June 2022)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: May 2028
Senate: May 2025
House of Representatives: May 2025

Current Political Context

In May 2022, Filipinos went to the polls to cast their votes for the country's new president. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, the son of a former long-serving president,  Rodrigo Duterte, won the elections and succeeded him in office, while Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, became vice-president. As an ideological ally of former President Duterte, President Marcos is expected to continue the policy course pursued by the Duterte administration.
Among his government's notable policies that should continue with the new administration, are the country's intense campaign against drug crime, the distancing from the U.S. to strengthen relations with China (even though some tensions linger with relation to territorial disputes in the South China Sea), and closer ties with neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia. Combating maritime piracy and terrorist groups were other priorities, as well as the introduction of universal health-care (currently 93%) and free education from pre-school up to a basic university degree level, and boost the Filipino economy. Furthermore, Marcos intends to go on with his father's “Build, Build, Build” programme, a centrepiece of the Duterte administration, which aims to usher the “Golden age of  infrastructure” in the Philippines and boost economic development in the country. To do so, the government aims to further develop their relationship with China, as investments from the country have been a paramount for the success of the programme.

Main Political Parties

The Philippines has a multi-party system and political parties usually have diverse ideologies. As a result, parties generally work together to form coalition governments. The largest political parties in the country are:

- Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban): centre-left, democratic socialism, populism
- Nationalist Party (NP): centre-right, conservatism, populism. Oldest party in the country and historically dominated the political arena
- Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC): centre-right, social and liberal conservatism
- Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD): centre to centre-right, conservative political party with religious overtones
- Liberal Party (LP): centre to centre-left, liberal, endeavours to tackle poverty and promote economic growth
- United Nationalist Alliance (UNA): centre-right, Filipino nationalism, conservatism

Other notable parties include:
National Unity Party (NUP), Aksyon Demokratiko (Democratic Action), Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Filipino Masses PMP), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement KBL), Lapiang Manggagawa (Philippine Labour and Peasant Party).

Executive Power

The President is both the Head of State and of Government, and is directly elected by a popular vote to serve a single six-year term without the possibility of re-election, even if non-consecutive. He or she presides over and appoints the cabinet members, and is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The President holds the executive powers which include the implementation of the law in the country and running the day-to-day affairs. If the President resigns, is impeached or dies, the Vice President assumes the presidency.

Legislative Power

The legislature in the Philippines is bicameral. The parliament, called the Congress, consists of: the Senate (the upper house) having 24 seats with its members elected mostly by popular vote to serve (renewable) six-year terms, and the House of Representatives (the lower house) having 316 seats, with its members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms - with a limit of three consecutive terms. The President has the power to veto acts of the legislature, and in turn a supermajority (generally two-thirds) of legislators may act to override his veto. The people of the Philippines enjoy considerable political rights.