President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expects hundreds of thousands of jobs to be ushered in with the entry of trillions-worth of strategic investments across industries. 

The president said that as of February, a total of 187 strategic investments in the sectors of renewable energy, digital infrastructure, food security, and manufacturing were certified amounting to P4.6 trillion.

"Inaasahan po na makakalikha ang investment na ito ng halos 300,000 trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan.  Hindi lamang po ito trabaho, kundi makabuluhang oportunidad para sa mas maayos at mas maginhawang buhay," Marcos Jr. said in his speech at the Gawad Bayanihan sa Pamumuhunan Awarding Ceremony on Thursday, March 13.

He attributed this to Executive Order No. 18 that created Green Lanes for Strategic Investments which he described as "a fast lane for big, high-impact projects for the Philippines". 

Some of the key projects that the president cited include the 159 megawatt-peak Laoag Solar Power Project and the 94 megawatt-peak Cayanga-Bugallon Solar Power Project located both in Pangasinan, and the inaugurated EDC-Project Charlie Hyperscale Data Center in New Clark City, Tarlac.

"The goal is simple: less red tape, more action, more results, more success, more quickly. We want investments to come in, projects to break ground faster, [and] jobs to reach our people sooner. Because when businesses move quickly, progress follows just as fast," the chief executive added.

Marcos Jr. also noted that growing investments would help lower costs.

"Makakatulong din po ang dumaraming investment upang mapababa ang presyo ng mga serbisyo at bilihin dahil sa kumpetisyon. Kasama na po diyan ang mas maayos na transportasyon, enerhiya, [at] komunikasyon dulot ng mga makabagong teknolohiya mula sa namumuhunan," he stated.

He further called on government agencies and local government units to "support reforms that will attract even more high-impact and sustainable investments".