President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines and Singapore further strengthened bilateral ties and expanded cooperation in key areas including trade, investment, artificial intelligence, digital technology, healthcare, and education during his two-day working visit to Singapore from July 14 to 16, 2026.

In his post-visit statement issued Thursday, Marcos said his meetings with Singapore Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, Singaporean business executives, investors, and regional business leaders reaffirmed the enduring strength of Philippines-Singapore relations amid global shocks and conflicts.

“During my courtesy call on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, we affirmed the strength of our bilateral relations amidst global shocks and conflicts,” the President said.

The President said he and Wong discussed advancing cooperation in trade and investment, AI, education, the environment, healthcare, and people-to-people exchanges, while reaffirming their shared commitment to a stronger and more unified ASEAN as the Philippines and Singapore hold successive ASEAN Chairships.

During meetings with leading Singaporean companies and investors, the President highlighted the Philippines’ commitment to digital transformation, critical infrastructure development, and expanded access to quality healthcare.

The President said discussions with Singtel Group and ABC Impact focused on their continuing investments and expansion plans in the Philippines, with Singtel reaffirming its long-term commitment through the expansion of NCS Philippines and the continued development of ST Telemedia Global Data Centres’ facilities.

These investments are expected to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and AI capabilities, while ABC Impact reaffirmed its support for the nationwide expansion of AC Health, which is expected to improve access to healthcare services and create thousands of jobs for Filipinos.

“The discussions focused on deepening cooperation in digital technology, telecommunications, data centers, AI, and healthcare—key sectors that will enhance the country’s innovation ecosystem, improve essential services, and support long-term, inclusive economic growth,” President Marcos said.

The Chief Executive also presented investment opportunities in the Philippines during a Milken Institute roundtable discussion with regional business leaders, highlighting the Luzon Economic Corridor, the new Public-Private Partnership Code, and Green Lanes for Strategic Investments as initiatives aimed at speeding up approvals and removing regulatory bottlenecks.

The Philippines’ designation as a newly upper-middle-income country, along with its solid macroeconomic fundamentals, growing digital economy, skilled workforce, and continuing reforms, President Marcos said, makes it a secure, transparent, and stable investment destination in Southeast Asia.

“This visit demonstrates the enduring strength of Philippines-Singapore relations, our shared commitment to ASEAN Centrality, and the Philippines’ readiness to serve as a reliable partner in driving growth and innovation across the region,” the President said. Presidential News Desk