The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is seeking to increase its proposed budget for next year by as much as ₱2 billion to enhance the country’s investment promotion programs and attract more foreign investments amid ongoing trade tensions.

Under the National Expenditure Program (NEP), which outlines the government’s budget for the next year, the DTI and its attached agencies have been allocated ₱9.9 billion.

The DTI’s Exports and Investments Development Program will receive ₱962 million next year, compared to this year’s ₱853.7 million.

The additional funding is seen to “support key strategies that advance trade facilitation, export competitiveness, and investor confidence in the Philippines,” according to the NEP.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque stated that the proposed funding for the program next year will not be sufficient to meet the government’s target of ₱1 trillion in foreign investments.

Roque said securing additional budget could help the Philippines stand out amid growing competition to draw foreign investors within Southeast Asia.

“How can we get foreign investors to come in if they don't know what the programs that we have or what we can offer?” she said in an interview last week.

The proposed increase would help fund international trade shows, overseas business trips, and marketing activities aimed at promoting the Philippines as an attractive investment destination.

Roque, who chairs the Board of Investments (BOI), earlier stated that the country’s lead investment promotion agency will adhere to its ₱1.75-trillion investment approvals target for this year.

From January to June, the BOI approved ₱382.24 billion in investments, equivalent to around 22 percent of the full-year target.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that total investments approved by investment promotion agencies, including the BOI, decreased by 64 percent to ₱67.38 billion in the second quarter, compared to ₱189.50 billion during the same period the previous year.

In a report, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) stated that global trade tensions, such as those imposed by United States (US) President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, are likely to dampen investor confidence this year.

With the recent imposition of 19% tariffs on Philippine goods, Roque said they are taking proactive steps to cushion the impact on domestic industries, enabling firms to expand market access beyond the US.

The DTI is also eyeing additional funding to expand the government’s support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The agency’s MSME Development Program is expected to have a budget of ₱944 million next year.

Roque said additional funds are essential for the sector, noting that MSMEs make up more than 99% of all businesses in the country.

Furthermore, the DTI aims to increase the budget for the creative industry from ₱50 million to ₱450 million, with the goal of further promoting trade and tourism in the country.

Another key program that is being proposed for more funding is on consumer protection, which has been earmarked with ₱639 million for next year.

“We need to modernize our equipment, especially in the office. And get more people to actually work on monitoring and enforcing,” said Roque.

She said this program is particularly relevant given the need to evaluate the quality of products sold on e-commerce platforms, which she admitted have become “too many” to handle.