The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) is urging the Marcos administration to adopt an independent foreign policy and other reforms to unlock economic growth and enhance investor confidence in the country.

With the new year, FFCCCII President Victor Lim said the economy remains constrained by headwinds such as geopolitical conflicts, governance weaknesses, and a volatile global financial environment.

Lim said these external pressures “magnify the cost of inaction at home and underscore the urgency of decisive structural reform.”

“The year ahead calls not for complacent optimism, but for disciplined, coordinated, and reform-driven action across government, business, and civil society,” he said in a statement.

To help reach the country’s full economic potential this year, FFCCCII is calling for an economics-driven approach to state management.

“In an increasingly polarized global environment, Philippine foreign policy must remain principled, consistent, and firmly anchored in national economic interest,” the group said.

FFCCCII, which comprises over 170 business and trade associations, said the country’s foreign policy must be independent and pragmatic.

The group noted that the government should prioritize increasing trade, expanding foreign direct investment, reviving tourism, and establishing strategic cooperation with all major economies.

“Diplomatic coherence and policy predictability are vital economic assets—particularly in 2026, when the Philippines will host the ASEAN Summit and high-level engagements with the world’s leading economies,” said FFCCCII.

“Stability, openness, and balance in international relations directly translate into investor confidence and long-term growth,” it added.

In addition, FFCCCII is pushing for the establishment of a “genuinely independent” anti-corruption body modeled on those in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Over the recent weeks, business groups have been calling on the administration to certify as urgent legislative measures that seek to expand the functions of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) by granting it full investigative and prosecutorial powers.

They argued that the ICI, tasked with investigating the flood control scandal, is essentially functioning only as an advisory body rather than fulfilling its supposed mandate to curb corruption.

FFCCCII said such a reform should be complemented by the full implementation of Freedom of Information (FOI) and the adoption of advanced digital platforms to enhance transparency in auditing and infrastructure oversight.

“Every public peso must be demonstrably accounted for and directed toward measurable national outcomes,” it said.

To strengthen domestic industry, the business group is calling for strict implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Act across all local government units (LGUs) to restore predictability in compliance costs and end regulatory uncertainties, a major concern for investors.

Coupled with new measures similar to the CREATE MORE Act, it advocates enforcing anti-smuggling and anti-dumping laws to enable local companies to compete with their foreign counterparts.

Through these reforms, FFCCCII believes the country could transform “recurring crises into defining reforms that strengthen confidence, competitiveness, and inclusion.”

“The Filipino people’s resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit are beyond question. What remains imperative is the political and institutional will to translate these strengths into durable progress,” it said.