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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider AmCham says 90% work-from-home boosts investor confidence

AmCham says 90% work-from-home boosts investor confidence

Published Apr 13, 2026 03:55 pm
High-rise buildings in the Ortigas Business Center are seen on Wednesday, Nov. 5. In a report by Bloomberg, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index has dropped 20 percent over the past decade, ranking as the worst performer among major global benchmarks. In contrast, Asia-Pacific stocks climbed 72 percent, while Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index soared 82 percent. Photo by Santi San Juan | MB
High-rise buildings in the Ortigas Business Center are seen on Wednesday, Nov. 5. In a report by Bloomberg, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index has dropped 20 percent over the past decade, ranking as the worst performer among major global benchmarks. In contrast, Asia-Pacific stocks climbed 72 percent, while Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index soared 82 percent. Photo by Santi San Juan | MB

The government’s move to expand the work-from-home (WFH) limit for companies based in ecozones to as much as 90 percent further strengthens foreign companies’ confidence that the Philippines will safeguard their investments amid global turbulence, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) said.

In a statement on Monday, April 13, AmCham welcomed the Fiscal Incentives Review Board’s (FIRB) approval of raising the WFH limit from 50 percent to 90 percent as a necessary response to the ongoing energy emergency.

“The decision allows companies to adjust to current conditions without disrupting existing investment arrangements, reinforcing a stable and predictable business environment,” the business group said.

Under Resolution No. 005-2026, FIRB granted investment promotion agencies (IPAs) the authority to adopt up to a 90-percent WFH arrangement for RBEs with registered projects or activities.

This means that RBEs will continue to enjoy the incentives provided by their respective IPAs, helping them remain resilient in light of higher operating costs amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.

AmCham said providing businesses with much-needed operational flexibility is important in sustaining the confidence of foreign investors across a wide range of industries.

The group noted that policies that enable flexibility, rather than impose one-size-fits-all mandates, are critical in addressing varying business needs and operating models.

“Empowering firms to determine the most appropriate work arrangements based on their operational realities supports continuity, productivity, and long-term competitiveness,” said AmCham.

“At the same time, incentive-based approaches—particularly those that reward compliance, innovation, and investment—offer a constructive path forward that aligns policy objectives with business needs,” it added.

AmCham, however, wants the government to ensure that the WFH policy remains inclusive and adaptable to the requirements of all RBEs.

The group said businesses that are well-positioned to maximize remote work arrangements include those under the information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) sector, shared services, and other digitally enabled industries.

“Moving forward, AmCham looks to continue policy clarity and consistency, including early guidance on the duration of these measures and any transition arrangements,” the group said.

“Ongoing dialogue between government and the private sector will be essential to ensure effective, transparent, and predictable implementation,” it said.

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