The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) are making a strong appeal to Filipino migrants and their families: now is the perfect time to invest in the Philippines.
With the country’s recently lowered stock transaction tax (STT)—from a hefty 0.6% to just 0.1%, the lowest in Southeast Asia—the doors are wide open for overseas Filipinos to grow their wealth while supporting national development.
“This is more than just an economic opportunity. It’s a chance for the Filipino diaspora to take an active role in shaping the future of the Philippines,” said CFO Chairperson Dante “Klink” Ang II, during a ceremony marking the new partnership between CFO and the PSE.
The announcement was made official during a Special Bell-Ringing Ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange, attended by no less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The event celebrated the implementation of the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA), a new law aimed at enhancing participation in the capital markets by making stock investing more accessible and affordable.
Building bridges with PESO sense
At the heart of this push is PESO Sense—a flagship financial literacy campaign launched by the CFO to educate and empower overseas Filipinos and their families. With over 3.9 million followers on Facebook and a monthly reach of 7 million users, PESO Sense has become a leading online platform for promoting smart saving, investing, and long-term financial planning.
The campaign aims to turn remittances into real economic contributions—by transforming hard-earned money into investments that yield growth not only for individuals, but for the entire country.
PSE Academy goes global
To help make investing easier for Filipinos abroad, the PSE is bringing its digital resources directly to the diaspora. PSE President and CEO Ramon Monzon revealed that under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with the CFO, the stock exchange will offer its PSE Academy platform, mobile apps, and investment tools through webinars and online training sessions for migrants and their families.
“These are resources designed to demystify the stock market,” said Monzon. “We want to empower more Filipinos to invest wisely—rather than spend on non-essentials or worse, lose money to online gambling.”
A broader mission: Beyond remittances
The new partnership will also integrate the PSE into CFO’s BaLinkBayan Project—an online portal that connects overseas Filipinos with opportunities to give back to the country. Through BaLinkBayan, users can access information on business ventures, charitable efforts, and essential government services tailored for Filipinos living abroad.
“This is about more than just sending money home,” Ang stressed. “It’s about giving Filipinos abroad the tools to become stakeholders in the nation’s progress.”
Investing in the future
With the STT now at a historic low, officials believe the time is ripe for global Filipinos to explore stock investing as a viable, long-term financial strategy.
“It’s a step toward democratizing investment and giving more Filipinos the power to shape their financial futures,” Monzon said.
Whether you’re living in New York, Dubai, or Tokyo, the message is clear: invest in the Philippines—because the future of the country includes you.