BSP, SEC, PSA strengthen FDI data sharing

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Philippine Statistics Authority signed an agreement July 20, 2026, to strengthen the collection and sharing of foreign direct investment data.

The memorandum of agreement seeks to close gaps between information reported by banks and enterprise-level records held by government agencies, improving the completeness, accuracy, and reliability of official FDI statistics.

More dependable data can help policymakers determine where foreign capital is being invested and whether it is supporting productive businesses, employment, and broader economic development.

It can also reduce the risk of government policies and investment decisions being based on incomplete information, particularly when some foreign-invested companies are not captured through traditional reporting channels.

“Comprehensive and reliable data are essential to sound economic policymaking. Through this partnership, the BSP, SEC, and PSA are strengthening the quality of FDI statistics, enabling us to better understand where foreign investments come from, where they go, and how they contribute to the Philippine economy,” BSP Deputy Governor Zeno Ronald R. Abenoja said.

The agreement will give the agencies greater access to corporate records that can help identify foreign-invested enterprises not covered by existing data sources.

These records include financial statements, ownership information, and registration documents.

Under the agreement, the BSP will compile the country’s official FDI statistics using corporate-level information shared by the SEC.

The PSA will serve as the central repository for FDI-related information collected under the partnership.

The agencies will exchange data through digital platforms and agreed protocols designed to comply with government requirements on data privacy, security, and governance.

FDI covers investments made by foreigners in Philippine enterprises, including equity investments, reinvested earnings, and intercompany loans, in accordance with international balance of payments standards.

The BSP’s statistics measure actual investment inflows and differ from the PSA’s data on approved foreign investments, which represent investment commitments that may not be fully realized within the reporting period.

BSP data showed that net FDI inflows reached USD 1.968 billion from January to April 2026, compared with USD 2.675 billion during the same four-month period in 2025.

Net inflows stood at USD 250 million in April 2026, down from USD 607 million in April 2025.

The BSP said the agreement forms part of its continuing efforts to improve statistical reports used by policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders.

More accurate information on the sources, destinations, and forms of foreign investment could also improve public scrutiny of whether investment policies are delivering measurable benefits to the Philippine economy.