THE Philippines’ investment and export targets could be revised due to the war in the Middle East, a Cabinet official said.
“We will have a meeting on that,” Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters late on Monday.
Merchandise exports were up 8.3 percent at $14.47 billion as of end-February, based on latest data. Investment approvals by the Board of Investments (BOI), meanwhile, surged by 338 percent to 47 billion in the first two months of the year.
Export targets were lowered last year due to tariff uncertainties, with that for 2026 trimmed to $116-$120.2 billion from the previous goal of $186.7 billion.
The BOI, meanwhile, which is just one of the government’s investment promotion agencies, has set a P1-trillion approval target for this year, lower than the P1.56 trillion recorded in 2025.
Despite these gains, Roque warned that investment growth could slow following the escalation of the US-Israeli war in Iran that began on Feb. 28.
“Definitely we’ll be affected. Because, I mean, now it’s crisis all over, so everything will be [at a] standstill until at least this is over,” she said.
To cushion the impact, Roque said the government was implementing support measures, including loan programs for key sectors such as micro, small and medium enterprises, exporters and overseas Filipino workers.
As for the supply and prices of basic necessities and prime commodities, the Trade chief said keeping costs stable was the “main priority.”
Roque last month said the prices would not increase “until April 15” following an agreement with manufacturers.
Announcements regarding possible price hikes will be made before the 16th, she added.