Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has called on the Philippines to diversify its export, investment, and tourism markets amid changing geopolitical conditions and tensions involving China.
He said the country should strengthen economic ties with Southeast Asian nations, Japan, South Korea, and Europe to reduce reliance on traditional trading partners.
Gatchalian acknowledged that shifting away from China would be challenging because of its large consumer market and geographic proximity to the Philippines.
However, he stressed that exploring alternative markets would help the country respond more effectively to potential economic disruptions.
His proposal comes ahead of the ASEAN Summit scheduled in the Philippines in November, where regional economic cooperation is expected to be a key concern.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 20, 2026
