Looking Back: 2025 and Gazing Into: 2026
Looking Back: 2025
In 2025, the Philippines focused on strengthening its global position by amending and supplementing existing laws and regulations to address contemporary challenges and developments. The Philippines signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime to combat cybercrime, enhance international cooperation, and protect victims of online abuse. The Anti-Money Laundering Council re-evaluated and proposed revisions to the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 to comply with updated Financial Action Task Force Standards and other international benchmarks, and maintain the Philippines’ exclusion from FATF’s “grey list”. In the areas of Securities, Competition, and Labour, the relevant regulatory agencies issued guidelines and amendments that reinforce existing laws and implement state policy. Lastly, the Philippines entered into partnerships which aimed to strengthen data privacy laws.
Gazing Into: 2026
The Philippines continues to enhance its legal standards and procedures. To combat money-laundering, Philippine legislators seek to amend the Foreign Currency Deposit Act to allow government authorities to examine foreign currency deposit accounts in exceptional circumstances. They also propose to pass a comprehensive Taxpayer Bill of Rights promoting government transparency and accountability, to amend the Philippine Competition Act and adopt a hybrid notification regime, and to enable the use of cryptocurrency in retail commerce. Lastly, the Philippines is preparing to host the ASEAN Summit in 2026 to strengthen cybersecurity in the country.
Full Report
Click on the link below for the full report which provides summaries of the key legal developments related to the above areas.
- Regional Round-Up 2025: Philippines
Please note that whilst the information in this Update is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief at the time of writing, it is only intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be treated as a substitute for specific professional advice
