The ASEAN Economic Community and the Philippines: Implementation, Outcomes, Impacts, and Ways Forward

As 2015 draws near, assessing ASEAN`s progress toward the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) as defined by the AEC Blueprint is necessary and instructive. This paper constitutes the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the AEC Blueprint for the Philippines. The Philippines Country Report presents the results of surveys related to the MTR on trade liberalization and facilitation, services and investment liberalization, labor mobility, and agriculture. In assessing the progress of the implementation of the country`s commitments under the AEC, a scorecard mechanism is applied. The report also covers two case studies as well as discussions on the role of the private sector and small and medium enterprises, and concludes with recommendations to raise the implementation rate of AEC measures in the country.