Bengaluru— President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. held a series of high-level one-on-one meetings with top Indian business leaders on Thursday, aimed at deepening strategic investments in the Philippines and strengthening bilateral economic cooperation in key sectors such as digital infrastructure, healthcare, renewable energy, and information technology.

At the Taj West End hotel in Bengaluru, President Marcos met separately with executives from ISON Tower, NephroPlus, Hinduja Group, and Tata Consultancy Services as part of his broader agenda to attract innovation-driven partnerships and position the Philippines as a trusted hub for sustainable and inclusive growth in the Indo-Pacific region.

The President discussed sector-specific investment plans—ranging from telecom and IT-BPM to healthcare and green energy—underscoring the Philippines’ strong fundamentals and growing appeal as a reliable business destination.

President Marcos met with ISON Tower Chairman Vivek Gupta to discuss the company’s plans to invest in Philippine digital infrastructure.

Gupta conveyed ISON’s commitment to channel significant international investments into the Philippines and outlined plans to support growth in healthcare, BPO, renewable energy, and insurance—initiatives aligned with President Marcos’ long-term development goals of job creation, innovation, and sustainability.

The President also held a meeting with NephroPlus Group CEO Rohit Singh to explore deeper collaboration in advancing universal health care in the Philippines.

With 39 dialysis centers already operating in the Philippines, NephroPlus reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to high-quality, patient-centric renal care.

President Marcos also met with Hinduja Group executive Shom Hinduja and senior company officials who reaffirmed the conglomerate’s long-standing commitment to the Philippines and sought to explore new areas of cooperation. Hinduja Global Solutions, which has been operating in the Philippines for 22 years, is a pioneer in the country’s IT-BPM sector.

The meeting also touched on Hinduja’s other ventures in the Philippines, such as Ashok Leyland and Gulf Oil, and identified new strategic areas for investment aligned with the administration’s innovation and growth agenda.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a member of the Tata Group, reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippines as a strategic digital partner during a meeting with President Marcos.

With over 6,000 employees in the Philippines since its entry in 2008, TCS supports clients across telecom, banking, finance, real estate, and airline sectors.

The company expressed strong interest in expanding its operations to support the Philippines’ digital transformation, highlighting synergies in innovation, sustainability, and workforce development that align with the country’s goals for a future-ready digital economy. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday extended his greetings to the peoples of Southeast Asia on the 58th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to the bloc’s principles of peace, inclusivity, and regional cooperation.

“On behalf of the Philippines and the Filipino people, I extend warm greetings to all ASEAN citizens on the occasion of the 58th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,” President Marcos said in a video message posted on his official Facebook account.

“We will uphold ASEAN principles and continue the region’s legacy of lasting peace and shared progress as we navigate our future together,” President Marcos added.

The President said the Philippines takes pride in being one of the five founding nations of ASEAN in 1967, “when we laid the foundation for a region anchored on peace, cooperation, shared progress, and prosperity.”

ASEAN’s 58th founding anniversary marks over five decades of advancing peace, mutual prosperity, and regional integration across Southeast Asia.

President Marcos noted that under the guidance of the purpose and principles of ASEAN and Sharia and its Charter, “we have stood together in navigating evolving regional and global challenges over the years.”

“Through solidarity and dialogue, we have also fostered mutually beneficial partnerships and we have advanced initiatives that uplift the lives of people and communities,” said the President.

Under Malaysia’s Chairship this year, ASEAN is steered by the themes of inclusivity and sustainability, President Marcos said.

“As the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairship in 2026, we will build on ASEAN’s achievements in responding to the region’s evolving priorities and in facing emerging challenges,” the President committed.

The ASEAN was founded on August 8, 1967 by five original member states—the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand—through the ASEAN Declaration in Bangkok.

Established to promote political and economic cooperation and regional stability, ASEAN has since grown to 10 member states. | PND

BENGALURU— President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday witnessed the ceremonial presentation of 18 business agreements between Philippine and Indian companies, marking a significant step forward in the two countries’ economic cooperation and shared commitment to innovation-led growth.

During the Philippine-India Business Forum held at the Taj West End hotel in Bengaluru, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque said the wide-ranging deals were tangible outcomes of strengthened cooperation between the Philippines and India, a key highlight of President Marcos’ five-day State Visit to India.

“These agreements cover a wide range of strategic sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure, healthcare, education, information technology and business process management, digital services, and manufacturing,” Roque said.

“They are tangible outcomes of our collaborative efforts and will serve as the foundation for ongoing and future business engagements between our two nations,” Roque added.

The agreements—composed of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Letters of Intent (LOIs)—highlight India’s growing interest in expanding operations in the Philippines and signal confidence in the country’s skilled workforce, robust investment climate, and strategic location in the region.

A flagship MOU was signed for the development of a waste-to-energy facility involving Philippine and Indian entities in infrastructure and clean energy development.

The IT-BPM sector featured prominently, with several LOIs outlining plans to establish digital academies and expand operations in healthcare outsourcing and business process management, and artificial intelligence training.

Other agreements included projects for telecommunications tower construction, expansion of precision sheet metal manufacturing, and a copper smelting and refining venture.

Three separate MOUs were also signed in the areas of digital finance, commercial real estate development, and sustainable last-mile logistics.

Additional LOIs were presented for the expansion of dialysis centers, clinical outsourcing services, and fuel cell technology ventures. The event concluded with an agreement to boost digital collaboration between Philippine and Indian technology partners.

The Philippine-India Business Forum concluded with optimism for deeper Philippines–India economic ties anchored on innovation, sustainability, and shared prosperity. | PND

BENGALURU—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday identified key industries where the Philippines is actively seeking strategic investments and partnerships with Indian companies under his administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” vision.

“We have identified six priority sectors for long-term collaboration. These include electric vehicles, fast electronics, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, healthcare, and cybersecurity,” President Marcos said during the Philippines-India Business Forum held at the West End Court in Taj West End Hotel here.

“In each of these sectors, we envision joint ventures and technical collaborations that build enduring industrial capabilities,” the President added.

President Marcos pointed out that each of these industries indicated “strong alignment with Indian industry’s global footprint and a tremendous potential for shared success.”

“So as we strengthen and deepen our investment linkages, we are also looking to deepen our trade framework. The Philippines is ready to begin formal discussions on the Philippines-India Preferential Trade Agreement, a crucial tool that we believe can enhance two-way trade, encourage product diversification and support modern supply chain integration,” President Marcos said.

During the Philippines-India Business Forum, President Marcos emphasized the Philippines and India’s complementary strengths and shared vision for inclusive, innovation-driven growth in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Together, we can share and then shape regional norms, deepen supply chain resilience and lead in inclusive innovation. We are also opening new avenues for investment in areas where India is demonstrating global leadership and where the Philippines is strategically positioned to contribute,” the President said in his speech.

Business leaders from both the Philippines and India warmly welcomed President Marcos and his delegates, including Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque, Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, and Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda.

President Marcos is in Bengaluru as part of a State Visit to India from Aug. 4 to 8, wherein the Philippines and India elevated bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government has taken steps to convene a multi-sectoral conference aimed at developing a comprehensive policy on online gambling.

In the latest episode of the BBM Podcast aired on Thursday, the President said the issue of online gambling was not included in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) due to the ongoing policy formulation.

“We still have to form the policy on what we are going to do about online gambling. And to this end, I have already started to organize, to convene a conference of all the stakeholders,” President Marcos said.

The conference will include the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), church and religious groups, and parents, among others.

The President said the primary focus will be the effective regulation of online gambling.

“The first effect of banning it fully is to put it underground, and then we have no control. ‘Yan talagang wala na tayong regulation,” President Marcos explained.

The President said a comprehensive policy will address the social problems associated with online gambling, such as addiction, debt, and exposing young persons to gambling.

“These are the things that we are going to examine, and we will come up with a plan to make sure that we address the problem,” President Marcos said.

“The problem is not online gambling. The problem(s) are the social effects on our children and those who are addicted to gambling,” the President added. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said his administration is working to improve public transportation in Metro Manila to reduce one-way commute time to less than one hour.

“Ang usually sa planning dapat ang commute… going to work at saka pag-uwi, ‘yung one way should not, hindi dapat lumagpas sa isang oras. That’s the goal,” President Marcos said in the BBM Podcast Episode 3 which aired on Thursday.

The President said improving the public transport system would address the traffic congestion caused by an overabundance of private vehicles on the streets.

“We’ve seen the examples around the world. ‘Yung mga lugar na talagang sumobra na ang traffic dahil lahat ng tao walang public transport, walang bus, walang tren, walang subway,” President Marcos said.

“Siyempre lahat kailangan bumili ng sasakyan. Bibili ng motor, bibili ng auto. Kaya nagkaka-traffic nang husto. So, that’s why we are continuing to make (the public transportation system) more efficient,” the President added.

Aside from building new train lines, the administration is also adding trains to existing lines to boost passenger capacity.

President Marcos was referring to the refurbished ‘Dalian trains’–named after the city in China where the trains were manufactured–that were recently added to the MRT-3 line after being mothballed for a decade.

“Yung pag-rehabilitate nung tinatawag na Dalian cars na hindi nagamit ng gaano katagal mula noong nabili. Ten years old already, hindi pa nagamit. Ngayon pa lamang nagagamit,” the President said.

“Inayos-ayos, puwede naman pa lang i-modify para magamit dito sa Pilipinas. So, that will be added capacity,” added the President.

The Chief Executive also highlighted the Metro Manila Subway project, which would connect Valenzuela City to Pasay City.

“These are solutions so that life will be a little easier, so that life will be more convenient, you know, going to work,” said the President. | PND

NEW DELHI — Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said his office hopes to learn from India’s public healthcare system as the Philippines seeks to improve its own.

Herbosa made the remark after Indian Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda paid a courtesy call on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The DOH chief and other Cabinet members were also present during the courtesy call.

Nadda also chairs the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—the world’s largest political party and the ruling party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Herbosa noted that India’s healthcare system provides about 600 million people coverage for maternal care, hypertension checks, as well as screenings for breast, oral, and cervical cancer.

“Napakaganda. Nakakapag-provide sila,” Herbosa said, noting India’s utilization of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in helping citizens access healthcare services.

“It’s a model we can use, and then may telemedicine sila,” Herbosa said, likening ASHA members to the Philippines’ barangay health workers.

Herbosa also handed over the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the National Institute of Ayurveda Medicine and the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), reinforcing shared goals in alternative medicine.

Herbosa said he and Nadda also discussed the status of Indian medical students who have been coming to the Philippines to study affordable but high-quality liver transplantation procedures done by Filipino doctors.

“I’m very happy we have a strategic partnership with India. They are leaders in the world. Kung tayo sikat sa mga nurses, sila sikat ang mga doktor. I remember when I trained in Chicago, ang kasama ko doon—ang pinakamarami—ay mga Indian doctors. Kasama ko sila, lahat matatalino din,” Herbosa said.

“Sana makakuha tayo ng maraming lessons from them to improve the health system of the Philippines,” Herbosa added. | PND

New Delhi– President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led a roundtable here with Filipino and Indian captains of industry to strengthen two-way trade and investment, as well as promote the Philippines as a dynamic and open destination for strategic partnerships.

The roundtable with chief executive officers (CEOs), part of President Marcos’ five-day State Visit to India, was organized by the Department of Trade and Industry.

It gathered business leaders from various key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, healthcare, digital services, and manufacturing.

Leading Indian firms with active or planned investments in the Philippines and Filipino enterprises with a growing presence in India participated.

The roundtable also served as a platform for advancing the proposed Philippines-India Preferential Trade Agreement and deepening economic collaboration anchored on sustainability, innovation, and inclusive growth.

Discussions focused on deepening bilateral cooperation in automotive and electric vehicles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, healthcare, IT-BPM and digital services, and renewable energy.

President Marcos affirmed the Philippines’ readiness to support Indian investors through a more responsive business environment and closer government-to-business collaboration. The roundtable marks a key milestone in strengthening PH-India business ties and advancing mutual economic prosperity.

Also part of the President’s State Visit are one-on-one meetings with Indian business leaders and executives to explore new investment opportunities in the Philippines.

While in New Delhi, President Marcos met with top executives of GMR Group. The multinational conglomerate expressed strong interest in participating in the “Build Better More” program, especially in airport and energy projects.

GMR Group is particularly interested in the project to develop the Sangley Airport in Cavite. Joining the project would see it partner with Cavitex Holdings Inc. and House of Investments.

GMR Group is also eyeing bids for regional airports that may be opened by year end, as well as other infrastructure projects.

GMR already has a presence in the Philippines, with its infrastructure company co-operating the Mactan-Cebu International Airport with Megawide Construction Corporation. | PND

New Delhi–President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. described his State Visit to India as most productive and constructive, expressing optimism about the “multitude of possibilities” uncovered during his engagements with the leaders of the world’s fourth-largest economy.

Speaking at a state banquet hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday night, President Marcos said he looked forward to bringing home the gains from the visit and implementing the initiatives agreed upon under the newly launched Plan of Action between the Philippines and India.

“Your Excellency, thank you for this very gracious and elegant welcome that you have prepared for me and for my delegation. Like my father before me, I will always cherish this state visit as living proof of our shared desire to draw closer to each other,” the President said.

Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. visited India in 1976, the first Philippine head of state to visit India.

“I am much inspired by our meetings that we held today. I look forward to bringing home the gains from our engagements and carry forward the plans and initiatives that both sides have agreed to and to pursue through the Plan of Action,” President Marcos continued.

The President also expressed confidence that “the roots of friendship” between the Philippines and India would continue to deepen.

After the second day of his five-day State Visit from August 4 to 8, President Marcos said the bilateral engagements have covered much ground.

“I have to say that we did not expect to cover much ground because we had very little time that we have had here. But I am happy to be able to report that that was certainly not the case,” said the President.

“This has been one of my most productive and constructive visits that I have ever had, and I attribute this to the enduring closeness between the Philippines and India. And in the time that we have had here, short as it was, we have discovered a multitude of possibilities and areas of potential,” the President noted.

President Marcos vowed, “And we are going to work very, very hard, together with our counterparts in the Indian government and leadership to make all of these come to fruition, to the benefit of all our peoples, both Indian and Filipino.” | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his commitment to investing in the future of Filipinos as he emphasized that a well-trained workforce is the Philippines’ biggest “asset” while managing the national debt.

In the BBM Podcast Episode 3, which aired on Wednesday, President Marcos also said that his administration’s anti-corruption campaign would contribute to managing the public debt, which stood at PhP17.27 trillion as of June.

The President likened running the government to operating a business that incurs debts alongside earnings in order to invest in expansion.

“‘Yung utang na ‘yun, ginagamit pang-invest para palakihin ang negosyo, para pagandahin. Huwag natin tinitingnan ‘yun lang trillion,” the Chief Executive said.

“It’s not an absolute number. Like any corporation, may balance sheet ‘yan. The balance sheet has assets and liabilities. ‘Pag tinitingnan lamang ‘yung utang, tinitingnan lang ‘yung liabilities, tingnan ninyo ‘yung asset,” the President continued.

“Nadadagdagan ‘yung asset natin. Ako, pinakamalaking asset natin ‘yung Pilipino, ‘yung manggagawang Pilipino,” President Marcos stressed.

Investing in training will help Filipino workers secure not only ordinary jobs but more competitive positions, the Chief Executive said.

President Marcos also said that his administration’s anti-corruption campaign will aid in managing the national debt by ensuring funds will finance vital projects.

“Basta’t ‘yung pera ng Pilipinas ay ginagamit sa tamang paraan… ‘Pag talagang mahigpit tayo at tama ang gamit nung ating pondo, mayroon tayo,” the President said.

Last Friday, Malacañang commended the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for generating PhP 84.5 billion in revenues, which is PhP140 million more than its target of PhP 84.4 billion for July. | PND