President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday declared that the Philippines is ready to move into upper middle-income country status, calling for stronger collaboration with development partners to ensure that economic gains translate into inclusive and sustained growth.
Speaking at the 2025 Philippine Development Forum (PDF) held at EDSA Shangri-La in Mandaluyong City, President Marcos emphasized that the nation’s progress must be anchored on accountability, alignment, and national ownership.
“This Forum also marks our readiness for the next step: our transition to upper middle-income country status,” he said.
The President noted that achieving this milestone requires deeper partnerships founded on shared goals, enhanced coordination, and closer cooperation between the government, development partners, and the private sector.
Marcos also expressed appreciation to the country’s international partners for their continued trust and support in helping the Philippines pursue its development goals.
“Your continued trust, expertise, and support help transform our vision into tangible outcomes,” he said.
He urged government agencies and stakeholders to turn the Forum’s discussions into concrete actions that promote a fair, resilient, and future-ready Bagong Pilipinas.
“As we conclude this Forum with a Joint Declaration, we must remember: declarations by themselves do not create results—they set the direction for our collective actions. So long as we work together and our visions are aligned, we will succeed,” the President said.
