Regulated Sectors · May 19, 2026
The Philippines' Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) reaches well beyond companies with a Manila office. If you collect, process, or store personal data of people in the Philippines, you need to know how the law applies to you. This guide covers RA 10173's scope and extraterritorial reach, the obligations of personal information controllers and processors, data subject rights, Data Protection Officer registration, the 72-hour breach notification rule, cross-border transfers, the National Privacy Commission's 2024–2026 issuances on AI systems (NPC Advisory No. 2024-04) and data scraping (NPC Advisory No. 2026-01), the SEC's beneficial ownership rules, and the criminal and administrative penalties at stake — with a practical compliance checklist for foreign companies.
Jose Ben Campos
Regulated Sectors · May 12, 2026
Republic Act No. 10667 reaches foreign companies that do business in the Philippines — and foreign deals that affect Philippine markets. This guide covers what you need to know: the per se ban on price-fixing and bid rigging, the rules on abuse of dominant position, the PCC's investigative and penalty powers, and the compulsory merger notification regime, including the thresholds effective March 1, 2026 of PHP 9.1 billion (Size of Party) and PHP 3.8 billion (Size of Transaction), the 30-day filing deadline, the Phase 1 and Phase 2 review timeline, and the gun-jumping rules that can void a transaction.
Daniel John Fordan
Regulated Sectors · April 4, 2026
Foreign companies operating in the Philippines must navigate a complex web of environmental laws — from the Environmental Compliance Certificate under PD 1586 to discharge permits under the Clean Water Act and emission permits under the Clean Air Act. This guide covers every environmental permit, compliance obligation, and penalty that foreign investors need to know.
Jose Ben Campos
Regulated Sectors · April 2, 2026
The Philippines now allows 100% foreign ownership in solar, wind, hydro, and ocean energy projects. This guide covers the legal basis under DOJ Opinion No. 21, DOE Circular No. DC2022-11-0034, the Revised Omnibus Guidelines, RA 9513 fiscal incentives, service contract requirements, and step-by-step entry strategies for foreign renewable energy investors.
Joren Lex Tan
Regulated Sectors · March 1, 2026
An in-depth legal analysis of the Philippines' free trade agreements — including RCEP, ATIGA, PJEPA, the PH-Korea FTA, and ASEAN dialogue partner agreements — and how foreign investors can leverage preferential tariffs, investment protections, and market access provisions to maximize their Philippine operations.
Sarah Camille Francisco
Regulated Sectors · February 25, 2026
A detailed legal guide to Philippine import and export regulations for foreign businesses — covering the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863), Bureau of Customs accreditation via the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS), tariff classification, import duties and VAT, restricted and prohibited goods, export requirements, ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) preferential tariffs, PEZA and freeport zone benefits, and compliance strategies for foreign investors.
Garreth-Daniel Tungol
Regulated Sectors · February 21, 2026
A legal guide to protecting intellectual property and registering trademarks in the Philippines as a foreign company — covering the IP Code (RA 8293 as amended by RA 10372), the Madrid Protocol, IPOPHL registration procedures, patent and copyright protections, trade secret safeguards, enforcement mechanisms, and practical strategies for foreign businesses securing their IP rights in the Philippine market.
Jose Ben Campos
Setting Up & Structuring · February 19, 2026
A legal guide to Philippine franchise regulations for foreign brands — covering the regulatory framework, IP Code technology transfer rules, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, intellectual property protection, withholding tax on royalties, corporate structuring options, and practical compliance steps for international franchisors expanding into the Philippine market.
Daniel John Fordan
