Latest news with #MaharlikaInvestmentFund
GMA Network
24-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
A look back at Maharlika Fund two years later
Once hailed as a key economic priority of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) was a key point in his 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA), only to be noticeably missing in his 2024 speech, raising questions about its progress. The Philippines' first sovereign wealth fund was signed into law in July 2023 through Republic Act No. 11954, establishing the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC)—the state-run entity tasked with managing the fund and investing government assets to generate additional public revenue. 'For strategic financing, some of the nation's high-priority projects can now look to the newly established Maharlika Investment Fund, without the added debt burden,' Marcos said in his SONA in 2023. 'In pooling a small fraction of the considerable but underutilized government funds, the Fund shall be used to make high-impact and profitable investments, such as the Build-Better-More program. The gains from the Fund shall be reinvested into the country's economic well-being,' he added. Under the law, the MIC was granted an authorized capital stock of P500 billion, with P375 billion in common shares available for subscription by the national government, its agencies or instrumentalities, government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and government financial institutions (GFIs). In November 2023, Rafael Consing — former executive director of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Investment and Economic Affairs — was appointed as MIC president and chief executive officer. First moves After being skipped in the 2024 SONA, the MIC has made a handful of developments. With just days before the President makes a report to the nation next Monday, July 28, GMA News Online looked at what the MIC has accomplished so far. In January 2025, the MIC made its first investment by acquiring a 20% stake in Synergy Grid and Development Philippines Inc. (SGP), gaining two board seats in the company and another two in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). A month later the MIC signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group Co. Ltd. (CP Group) that would provide for the establishment of a private equity fund with a capital target of up to $1 billion. 'This partnership will lay the groundwork for a multi-sectoral investment initiative that will drive long-term economic growth while reinforcing the Philippines' position as a premier investment destination,' Consing said in February. Under the agreement, a steering committee would drive project selection, fund structuring, and investor engagement, with the first capital close expected within the next nine to 12 months. Key investment areas include agri-food modernization, digital and e-commerce expansion, and sustainable energy and infrastructure. That same month, the MIC inked another agreement — a $76.4-million bridge loan facility to Makilala Mining Company Inc. (MMCI), the Philippine affiliate of Australia-based Celsius Resources Limited that operates copper and gold projects in the country. 'Our investment decision reflects a shared commitment to the sustainable, inclusive, and regenerative development of the MCB Project,' Consing said. The loan is intended to finance early-stage development works for the Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog Copper-Gold Project (MCB) in Kalinga. This includes updating MMCI's front-end engineering design (FEED), constructing a main access road in collaboration with the Kalinga Provincial Government, and funding skills-based training for the indigenous community. Under the agreement, the facility will be split into two tranches — the first will be available nine months from signing, and the second subject to the completion of the FEED and an updated feasibility study, up to 24 months from signing. The loan carries a 12.5% fixed interest rate compounded quarterly, and gives MIC a right of first offer on any sale or transfer of MMCI's assets and/or shares. In May, the MIC then said it was in preliminary talks with Dubai Ports World to pursue logistics development projects in the Philippines, with an internal study underway to determine how much investments are needed for local port development. Most recently, this July, the MIC signed an MOU with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to invest in 'critical digital infrastructure projects' aimed at delivering long-term returns and supporting inclusive growth across geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). 'By prioritizing digital infrastructure today, we are not only enabling inclusive growth and innovation but also securing opportunities for future generations of Filipinos. Maharlika is proud to play a key role in shaping a more connected, future-ready Philippines,' Consing said. While these developments mark a starting point for the MIC, the agency has yet to announce additional deals. Investment process According to the MIC, its due diligence process to evaluate and select investments includes economic assessment on the broader economic impact and alignment with strategic goals, along with financial assessment on the viability and potential returns of the investment. It also takes into account operational assessment of the feasibility and management capabilities of the investment, sustainability assessment on the environmental and social impact, and legal assessment on compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Investment proposals are initially reviewed by the Investment Committee, before being presented to the Board for final approval. At the helm of these decisions is the MIC Board, composed of representatives from both the government and the private sector. It is currently chaired by Finance Secretary Ralph Rector and vice-chaired by MIC president and CEO Consing. It counts as members Land Bank of the Philippines president and CEO Ma. Lynette Ortiz, Development Bank of the Philippines president and CEO Michael de Jesus, and independent directors Stephen Anthony CuUnjieng, German Lichauco II, and Roman Felipe Reyes. Moving forward, investors and stakeholders are awaiting whether it will reclaim a spot in Marcos' SONA on July 28, or continue to operate in the background.—BM/LDF/NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Maharlika Fund chief Consing submits courtesy resignation
The top honcho of the country's first and only sovereign wealth fund, the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), on Thursday confirmed he has tendered his courtesy resignation, as the Marcos administration's ongoing executive overhaul was also extended to heads of state-run firms. 'We at the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) fully support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive for courtesy resignations among GOCC (government-owned and -controlled corporations) leaders. We view this as an important and standard measure to uphold accountability and further strengthen public service,' MIC president and CEO Rafael Consing said in a statement. 'In line with this, I have submitted my unqualified courtesy resignation,' Consing said. This came after the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) directed state-run firms' non ex-officio chairpersons, chief executive officers (CEOs), and all appointive directors/trustees/members of their respective GOCCs' governing boards to immediately submit their courtesy resignations to the President through the Office of the Executive Secretary. 'The entire MIC Board of Directors also promptly complied, submitting their courtesy resignations immediately upon receiving the relevant memorandum from the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG),' Consing said. 'We will all continue to diligently perform our respective duties and responsibilities until advised otherwise,' he added. The state-run firm's Board of Directors include GOCC-representatives Land Bank of the Philippines president Lynette Ortiz and Development Bank of the Philippines president Michael de Jesus as directors; regular director Vicky Castillo Tan; and independent directors Andrew Jerome Gan, German Lichauco II, and Roman Felipe Reyes. While top executives of GOCCs were ordered to resign, the GCG said that until any action is taken by the Office of the President on their courtesy resignations, 'they shall continue to report for work and perform their usual duties and functions…' The MIC was created through Republic Act No. 11954 or the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act of 2023, signed by Marcos in July 2023, with the aim to tap state assets for investment ventures to generate additional public funds. The MIC manages the MIF—a pool of funds initially sourced from state-run financial institutions that will be invested in foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and high-impact infrastructure projects. Under the law, the MIC has an authorized capital stock of P500 billion, P375 billion of which shall have corresponding common shares available for subscription by the national government, its agencies or instrumentalities, government-owned and controlled corporations or GFIs, and government financial institutions. Its initial capitalization is sourced from the national government and the country's two largest state-run banks. The Landbank transferred P50 billion and the DBP P25 billion to the Maharlika Fund. The national government will contribute P50 billion from the following sources: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' total declared dividends; National government's share from the income of PAGCOR Properties, real and personal identified by the DOF-Privatization and Management Office; Other sources such as royalties and/or special assessments In January, MIC made its first investment activity by acquiring a 20% stake in Synergy Grid and Development Philippines Inc. (SGP) —giving it two board seats in the company and another two in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). The NGCP is 60% owned by SGP, while State Grid Corporation of China has 40%. MIC had expressed intent in acquiring shares of the State Grid Corporation of China in the Philippines' power grid. Last week, Marcos directed the courtesy resignations of Cabinet secretaries to "recalibrate" his administration after the 2025 national and local elections. The President had lamented that results of the May 2025 midterm polls showed that the people are "tired of politics and they are disappointed with the government." —AOL, GMA Integrated News
AllAfrica
02-05-2025
- Politics
- AllAfrica
Duterte surges as Marcos flags ahead of crucial midterm polls
As the Philippines heads toward pivotal midterm elections on May 12, a dramatic political shift is underway. Once considered the crown prince of dynastic restoration, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr is now floundering, with his public approval rating plummeting from 42% in February to 25% in March, according to a Pulse Asia Research poll. Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of the now-detained former strongman leader Rodrigo Duterte, is rising in the electorate's eye, up from 52% in February to 59% in March, the same poll showed. The arrest and extradition of Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague earlier this year on charges of crimes against humanity during his bloody war on drugs was a seismic moment in Philippine politics. While many in the international community lauded the move as a step toward accountability for thousands of unpunished extrajudicial killings, its domestic reception has been mixed. For many Filipinos, particularly in Mindanao and Duterte strongholds across the Visayas, the spectacle of a former president being tried abroad rather than at home has stirred nationalist resentment. So far, it appears this Western international intervention, aided and abetted by Marcos Jr's government, has bolstered, not weakened, Sara Duterte's political standing. She has deftly positioned herself as the inheritor of her father's political mantle while avoiding his excesses. And the symbolism of her defending national sovereignty—by implication, if not explicitly—has endeared her to a Filipino public weary of foreign moralizing and elite Manila politics. This puts the Marcos Jr administration in a bind. What was likely intended as a triumphant moment of legal reckoning has, in practice, sparked a backlash. In the eyes of many, the Hague trial is less about Rodrigo Duterte and more about a state that is increasingly perceived as unstable and externally manipulated. The many reasons for Marcos Jr's fading popularity are empirical and deeply felt on the ground. First, a cost-of-living crisis continues to batter ordinary Filipinos, with Rice, sugar, and basic utility prices all surging. Despite lofty promises of ushering in a 'golden age of agriculture,' Marcos—who controversially appointed himself as agriculture secretary—has wholly failed to tame inflation, curb smuggling cartels or ensure food security. His symbolic decision to consolidate executive and agricultural power, once seen as bold, now looks like a lost gamble. Second, critics say the Marcos administration's governance has become a masterclass in inertia. They argue Cabinet factionalism, elite-level indecision and growing policy contradictions have crippled the state's response to mounting multiple crises. The rollout of the Maharlika Investment Fund—touted as a vehicle for national development—has been derailed by concerns over corruption and political patronage. It has become emblematic of how the Marcos administration speaks of modernization while practicing corrupt old patterns. Third, the Marcos family itself is showing signs of internal disarray. Senator Imee Marcos, the president's sister, has publicly distanced herself from Marcos Jr's key policies, including Maharlika and his overt foreign military alignment with the US over China. Their family split has not gone unnoticed by provincial power brokers. More damaging, the narrative of Marcos exceptionalism—revived during the 2022 campaign—has begun to crumble under the weight of unmet expectations and unresolved historical grievances. This loss of confidence is not confined to Metro Manila's chattering classes. Across the Ilocos Region—once a Marcos bastion—local leaders are beginning to hedge their bets, with some quietly aligning with emerging camps loyal to Vice President Sara Duterte. Her 58% approval rating, twice as high as Marcos Jr's, is no fluke. While she shares the Duterte name, Sara has managed to distance herself from her father's cruder populism, carving out a more pragmatic executive image rooted in her Davao mayoral years. Unlike Marcos, Sara Duterte has avoided symbolic overreach. Her performance as Education Secretary—though criticized early on—has stabilized, with targeted investments in rural schools and curriculum reforms drawing quiet praise. Her strength lies not just in competence but in emotional resonance. While Marcos projects elitism and nostalgia, Duterte offers something closer to everyday resolve. Her Davao background and Mindanao base give her authenticity in a political landscape where central Luzon and Metro Manila elites often appear tone-deaf to provincial problems and struggles, especially among the poor. The 2028 presidential election looms large over this month's midterms. The Duterte camp is already positioning Sara as the natural successor to Marcos Jr, with a growing coalition of governors, mayors and legislators rallying to her side. By law, Marcos Jr is limited to one six-year term. If her allies perform well in the midterms, Sara Duterte will not only control Congress but also command the political narrative heading into the next presidential race. In contrast, the Marcos Jr camp increasingly appears bereft of an overarching strategy. Rumors of an Imee Marcos candidacy, which could be credibly crafted as different from her brother's now floundering government, are already beginning to surface, with some suggesting a Marcos versus Duterte presidential duel is nearly inevitable in 2028. If not, there is still a large clan of Marcoses to choose from if Imee doesn't get the nod from her family. This Marcos versus Duterte blood feud is more than personal: it is regional and ideological. The Marcos clan's strength is concentrated in the north, especially Ilocos and parts of Luzon. The Dutertes, on the other hand, command the south, with deep support in Mindanao and the Visayas. The two dynasties embody competing narratives of national identity and governance – one rooted in aristocratic restoration, the other in populist pragmatism. And herein lies the simmering political tension. Unlike previous political rivalries that eventually gave way to fragile coalitions, the Marcos-Duterte conflict shows no signs of accommodation. Their core constituencies are regionally insulated, emotionally committed and mutually distrustful. The rivalry is not merely electoral—it is generational, and possibly even existential. Foreign actors, namely the US and China, are no longer peripheral, despite assumptions to the contrary. In early April, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, General Romeo Brawner, publicly warned of alleged Chinese political interference. Though specifics are lacking, the warning signaled a growing belief within the Philippine security establishment that the country's internal divisions may be exploited by foreign powers—not least at this month's mid-term elections. Marcos Jr is viewed as strongly aligned with the US and West, while the Dutertes lean toward China. As such, the May 12 midterm elections will serve not only as a referendum on Marcos's leadership but as a test of national resilience against both domestic fragmentation and foreign entanglement. If Sara Duterte's allies capture a majority in Congress and the Senate, the Marcos presidency could become a lame duck with a full three years to go. If the Marcos camp suffers heavy electoral losses, it will mark not just a political miscalculation but perhaps the collapse of a dynasty's dream of full rehabilitation. The stakes couldn't be higher at the upcoming polls, where family, memory and vengeance will all factor in a crucial vote.
