Try GOLD - Free
PH's APEC edge: Demographic dividend and digital advantage
Manila Bulletin
|November 4, 2025
When the APEC Economic Leaders gathered in South Korea last week, they did more than simply review trade and investment flows.
-
Through the newly-adopted 2025 APEC Leaders' Gyeongju Declaration, the 21-member economies signaled a regional shift: from conventional trade-led growth to one oriented around technology, connectivity, and demographic vitality. For the Philippines, this moment offers a dual opportunity: to harness technology as a lever of inclusive growth, and to capitalize on our demographic advantage, while aligning our strategy with the region's evolving priorities.
Firstly, the Gyeongju Declaration places digital transformation and frontier technologies at the heart of its vision. It calls for preparing the region “for the digital and Al transformation” and for building “the world’s most dynamic and interconnected regional economy.” This signals that the future growth of the Asia-Pacific will pivot not just on goods and trade corridors, but on how well economies adopt, adapt, and govern new technologies—and crucially, how citizens benefit from them.
This story is from the November 4, 2025 edition of Manila Bulletin.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Manila Bulletin
Manila Bulletin
More interest rate cuts expected until 2026
Japanese financial giant MUFG Bank Ltd. expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to lower its key interest rate to 4.25 percent by the middle of next year, as monetary authorities seek to address intensifying economic growth headwinds alongside expectations of a weaker peso.
1 mins
November 5, 2025
Manila Bulletin
PH export momentum seen losing steam
Despite a strong export performance in the first nine months of 2025, Singapore-based Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd. (OCBC) expects sales of Philippine-made goods overseas to weaken moving forward.
2 mins
November 5, 2025
Manila Bulletin
Marcos orders early release of ₱72-B bonus for gov't employees
President Marcos has ordered the release of the yearend bonus and cash gift for government employees this month, Malacañang announced on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
1 mins
November 5, 2025
Manila Bulletin
DOJ to expedite preliminary probe on anomalous flood control projects
The Department of Justice (DOJ) will expedite the conduct of preliminary investigations on charges involving the \"anomalous\" flood control projects of the government.
5 mins
November 5, 2025
Manila Bulletin
BSP: Economy to stay resilient
The Philippines' domestic-oriented economy is expected to shield the country from the full impact of global slowdowns, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Zeno Ronald R. Abenoja said.
2 mins
November 5, 2025
Manila Bulletin
Justice in digital age 'does not lose its soul' - CJ Gesmundo
Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo reminded that a judiciary which harnesses technology wisely is one that listens, adapts, and remains sensitive to the evolving needs of the people it serves.
1 mins
November 5, 2025
Manila Bulletin
Tuesday Vargas on life and pain
Long before the world knew Tuesday Vargas as one of the funniest women in Philippine entertainment, I already saw it — that spark, that rare blend of wit and depth.
2 mins
November 5, 2025
Manila Bulletin
Rizal's bust in Paris missing—DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has disclosed that Dr. Jose Rizal's bust in Paris, France has disappeared.
1 mins
November 5, 2025
Manila Bulletin
How can I help someone who is depressed?
Understanding how to help someone experiencing depression
4 mins
November 5, 2025
Manila Bulletin
Gov't cyber teams, cops gear up for threat of web, app attacks
All government cyber teams must be vigilant and prepared for the possible Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) cyberattack on Wednesday, Nov. 5, President Marcos said.
2 mins
November 5, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size