The Board of Investments (BOI) has introduced an interactive online guide designed to help investors navigate regulatory requirements, permits, and government procedures in the Philippines.
Developed with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and PwC Philippines, the Digital Investor’s Guidebook initially covers the renewable energy and digital infrastructure sectors.
The platform converts the BOI’s downloadable investor guidebooks into an online resource that can be regularly updated as government requirements and procedures change. It consolidates information on documentary requirements, responsible agencies, and the steps investors must complete.
Department of Finance secretary Frederick Go said the platform could reduce uncertainty and repeated transactions with government agencies.
“With this digital guidebook, we reinforce confidence, minimize unnecessary back-and-forth, and give investors a clearer path toward doing business in the Philippines. And when we make it easier to invest, we create more opportunities for businesses to grow and more jobs for our people,” Go said.
The initiative supports Executive Order No. 18, issued in 2023, which established green lanes for strategic investments and directed the BOI to regularly develop and update investor guidebooks for priority sectors.
The guidebooks were developed under the ADB’s Business Environment Strengthening with Technology Policy-Based Loan Program through the collaboration of the BOI, Anti-Red Tape Authority, ADB, and PwC Philippines. Government agencies, local governments, and private-sector stakeholders also provided inputs.
Following the platform’s turnover, the BOI’s One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments will oversee its operation and further development. The agency plans to expand its coverage to other strategic sectors, including critical minerals and agriculture.
ADB country director Andrew Jeffries said the platform builds on the earlier sector-specific downloadable guidebooks by making the information more accessible and easier to maintain.
PwC Philippines managing partner Mary Jade Roxas-Divinagracia said the guidebooks do not alter existing regulatory processes but seek to explain the requirements, agencies involved, and major steps investors must follow.
Department of Trade and Industry undersecretary and BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said the project should go beyond merely converting government documents into an online format.
“Digitalization is not simply putting documents online. It is about making government easier to understand, navigate, and easier for investors to add on. Ultimately, the goal is not the platform itself. The goal is what comes after it: the investments that move forward, the projects that get built, the businesses that open, and the opportunities created for Filipinos,” Rodolfo said.
