Led by British Ambassador to the Philippines Sarah Hulton OBE and DENR Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, the dialogue highlighted shared priorities in strategic partnerships, science-informed resilience, biodiversity protection, and mobilizing finance for a just energy transition. The discussions coincided with the UK’s fifth year as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner and the 80th anniversary of UK–Philippines diplomatic relations.

The dialogue builds on milestones from 2025, including the localization of the Philippines’ National Adaptation Plan, support for sustainable mining, and a new partnership on marine ecosystems.

Ambassador Hulton emphasized the value of collaboration. “Our partnership with the Philippines reflects our shared commitment to tackling climate challenges. Today’s discussions lay the groundwork for transformative action, expanding access to climate and nature finance while ensuring growth and environmental stewardship go hand in hand,” she said.

Both countries agreed to institutionalize the Adaptation Investment Learning Course and launch the Adaptation Investment Platform, aiming to mobilize £250 million for adaptation projects in food and water sectors.

The dialogue also addressed boosting the blue economy through Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Blue Economy Frameworks. These initiatives will support fisheries and aquaculture, advance offshore wind development, and explore new renewable energy opportunities, including tidal and wave energy.

Undersecretary Rebuelta-Teh, speaking for incoming DENR Acting Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, noted: “Our partnership is a strategic driver for mobilizing catalytic capital. The £250 million Adaptation Investment Platform bridges the financing gap for the Philippine National Adaptation Plan. By institutionalizing frameworks for the blue economy and offshore wind, we are shaping a resilient, net-zero future that protects our environment and people.”

The event also highlighted the role of capital markets in climate finance. Past successes, such as UK investment in the IPO of Citicore Renewables, show how strategic financing can attract institutional investors and scale nature-positive initiatives.

The United Kingdom and the Philippines marked a major milestone in their climate collaboration with the official launch of the Philippines Country Fund under the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) programme in Manila. The initiative aims to accelerate the country’s renewable energy and clean energy transition through technical assistance, capacity-building, and policy support.

In its first year, the Philippines-UK PACT Country Fund has prioritized the energy sector, supporting the Philippines’ goal to reduce and avoid 75% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The Fund also aligns with the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050, which targets a 35% renewable energy share in power generation by 2030, 50% by 2040, and renewable energy dominating the energy mix by 2050. Key early interventions include improving offshore wind pricing models, assessing infrastructure readiness, strengthening marine spatial planning for sustainable offshore wind, developing an electric power system cost simulation tool, and expanding microgrid deployment to underserved communities to drive inclusive economic growth.

The launch and workshop brought together government agencies, development partners, academia, civil society, and the private sector to align on programme goals, share technical expertise, and explore collaboration opportunities.

Meanwhile, British Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excellency Sarah Hulton, OBE, highlighted the UK’s commitment to supporting the Philippines’ clean energy transition. Ambassador Hulton emphasized that the initiative is rooted in shared values and a joint responsibility to build a greener, resilient, and secure future while balancing growth with sustainability and affordability. Drawing on the UK’s experience transitioning from coal to renewable energy, Hulton outlined that UK PACT will support the Philippines in delivering large-scale clean energy projects, particularly offshore wind, expanding microgrid deployment through enhanced data and demand analysis, assisting the Energy Regulatory Commission in developing evidence-based pricing and cost simulation tools, integrating offshore energy solutions with economic activities and biodiversity protection, and building confidence in carbon markets to accelerate decarbonization. She reaffirmed that UK PACT will continue into the next financial year to deepen technical assistance, policy support, and bilateral cooperation.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla highlighted the importance of integrating climate considerations into energy planning: “Our partnership with the UK under UK PACT helps validate marine spatial planning tools, integrate biodiversity and social considerations, and support a mitigation framework that links environmental sensitivity to actionable decisions. Energy security and environmental protection can and must go hand in hand.”

Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Francis Saturnino C. Juan praised the transfer of UK expertise to Filipino engineers: “Through the UK PACT programme, the UK is sharing its institutional knowledge on offshore wind, helping our young engineers bridge the gap between ambition and the hard-won wisdom of a mature market.”

Paolo G. Fondevilla, DOE Director of IT and Management Services, on behalf of Secretary Sharon Garin, added: “It is encouraging to see our countries jointly commit to national energy security while sourcing it from clean and sustainable energy.”

As the Philippines-UK PACT Country Fund advances, the partnership aims to strengthen institutions, accelerate renewable energy deployment, and build technical foundations for a just, reliable, and future-ready energy system, turning shared ambition into lasting impact for a cleaner, more resilient, and inclusive energy future.

In its annual media appreciation luncheon, the Chamber projects increased bilateral trade volumes, particularly in key sectors such as agriculture, technology, and financial services.

The Chamber said it expects significant growth in British pork and beef exports as reduced tariffs remain in place until 2028. This move is expected to boost British pork and beef exports, reinforcing the Philippines’ position as the UK’s second-largest pork export market after China. In 2023, UK exports of meat and meat preparations to the Philippines reached £39.1 million.

The Chamber continues its close collaboration with the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the Philippine Departments of Agriculture and Trade and Industry, the Bureau of Customs, and the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) to strengthen trade ties.

On the digital front, the Chamber envisions legislative advancements such as the passage of the Cybersecurity Act, E-Governance Act, and Konektadong Pinoy Act, which would accelerate digital transformation and connectivity across the country.

As the year draws to a close, the Chamber marks significant legislative wins with the passage of its priority bills, including the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act and the Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act (AFASA).

It said that the passage of AFASA fortifies the financial sector against cybercrimes by enabling the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to coordinate more effectively with law enforcement agencies. This measure enhances consumer and investor confidence, paving the way for greater economic stability.

The Chamber also underscores the urgent need for the Cybersecurity Act, highlighting the UK’s global expertise in this domain. Backed by the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure Group and endorsed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the measure is poised for consideration in the 20th Congress.

The proposed E-Governance Act promises to simplify business processes and lower trade barriers. The Chamber, officially recognized as an ARTA Champion, advocates for its passage to further streamline government services and improve the ease of doing business.

Additionally, the Open Access in Data Transmission Act remains a key priority, aimed at modernizing the Philippines’ internet infrastructure and fostering a competitive telecommunications sector.

Chris Nelson, the Chamber’s executive director and trustee, said: “The British Chamber will remain at the forefront of supporting key legislation to continue opening up the economy while promoting multiple areas of cooperation…The press performs a critical role in helping us raise awareness and make the Philippines an investment destination in the region.”

From a lively pub quiz to West End musical renditions and the iconic fish and chips, the Great British Festival (GBF) 2024 held in BGC, Taguig offered a weekend filled with quintessentially British experiences.

United Kingdom Ambassador Laure Beaufils described the Great British Festival as “fun, innovative, creative, dynamic, and bigger”—a true testament to the growing 78 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Ambassador Beaufils said the festival seeks to raise awareness and interest, promote UK’s high-quality education and people-to-people connection, and strengthen partnerships in business and trade.

The envoy shared that there will also be a UK Alumni Gathering on October 24 (Thursday) and the visit of the UK Minister for Asia-Pacific next week.

“We’re also working increasingly on cyber, maritime security, [and] on those really important cutting-edge issues. So, I would say our relationship is modernizing incredibly fast,” Ambassador Beaufils told THEPHILBIZNEWS.

Meanwhile, British Council-Philippines’ Country Director Lotus Postrado said this year’s GBF marks a significant milestone in having an education pavilion.

“For the longest time, we haven’t done any education fair for the UK universities. The Great British Festival is such a strong indication of the increasing interest of the Filipinos to study in the UK, as well as the UK universities responding to that interest,” said Postrado.

She said the British Council’s efforts extend beyond educational exchanges, as it also facilitates people-to-people, institutional, and government-to-government programs that strengthen the bonds between the two countries.

Chris Nelson, Executive Director/Trustee of the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP), said the growing relationship between UK and the Philippines is manifest in the £2.7 billion total trade in goods and services between the two countries as of October 18.

“The existing trading agreements such as RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership  and DCTS (Developing Countries Trading Scheme) prove the importance of trade between the two countries where businesses can take advantage of the zero or lowered tariffs,” Nelson said, citing BCCP’s key efforts with ARTA and regulatory reform projects under the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme (EIP).

Nelson said 56 companies participated in #GBF2024, a significant increase from last year’s 38.

Beyond business interests, he noted that the festival also featured British literature shows, relating how British literary characters capture the hearts and minds of Filipinos.

Moreover, Ambassador Beaufils expressed her gratitude to the BCCP, British Council, and BGC authorities for their shared partnership, showcasing optimism about making the GBF an annual event.

“That’s our ambition, something we want to continue and do as a celebration of our friendship,” the British envoy said.

Since 2000, the UK-Philippine Friendship Day has been celebrated in October. This annual celebration of the UK-PH friendship showcases the depth and diversity of the bilateral relationship, highlighting key areas of cooperation such as education, culture, trade, and people-to-people exchanges.

Hosted by the British Embassy Manila, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP), and British Council, the festival welcomes attendees, who can engage in a day filled with exciting activities and performances.

The festival’s theme will highlight British literature admired by Filipinos of all ages, including James Bond, Alice in Wonderland, Winnie-the-Pooh, Paddington Bear, and many more.

Cultural performances will feature adaptations of classic tales, creating a vibrant atmosphere that celebrates the rich influence of British literature in the Philippines.

“The UK-Philippine trade is the highest it has ever been and the Great British Festival is one of the many ways that we can showcase that. This only shows the growing British business community and the opportunities that await more UK companies in the Philippines,” BCCP Executive Director and Trustee Chris Nelson said.

Coinciding with the UK-Philippine Friendship Day, this annual event will gather British companies and the Filipino-British community to foster stronger collaboration in various sectors including business, education, technology, and cultural affairs.

The celebration will feature key event partners PruLife UK, Shell, Pandiman, BPI, Unilever, Corio Generation, HSBC, SSI Marks & Spencer, VFS Global, PGA Cars-Bentley, BSI, Inchcape, BDO, Standard Chartered, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Radical Motors, Union Jack Tavern, Yummy Organics Food Corporation, Tao Corporation, The Borough Pizza Pub, Gridiron Shawarma x Sausage, Ginebra San Miguel, Vogue Concepts-Charles Tyrwhitt, Nord Anglia International School Manila and Drake International, McDonald’s, Philippine Airlines, and Estate Wines.

In 2023, a total of 38 companies within the financial, food and beverage, retail auto show, general business and education sectors participated, showing the increasing presence of the British business community in the country.

As travel boom continues, Filipinos’ ardent desire to travel abroad remains strong and VFS Global believes the need for them to respond to this unprecedented demand through innovative and personalized services and ensure that visa applicants from the Philippines will be able to experience hassle-free visa application that suits their needs.

According to VFS Global, the visa application volume across all visa categories from the Philippines in 2023 surpassed the pre-pandemic levels by 35% (2019). Kaushik Ghosh, Head of VFS Global Australasia expressed his optimism on the continuous travel momentum in 2024.

“This healthy rise in visa applications from the Philippines last year indicates that travelers’ confidence has been restored, and people are ready to explore their favorite global destinations again,” said Ghosh.

As international travel and visa applications have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, one of the trends includes the uptick of Premium services like Premium Lounge and Prime Time, providing personalized assistance and flexible application times, which have seen increased adoption, catering to evolving traveler preferences. 

Expansion of personal services for more convenience

Compared with 2022, visa application volume from the Philippines grew by 48% in 2023, marking a robust recovery in the travel industry. Some popular international destinations last year include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland.

• Visa At Your Doorstep
• Premium Lounge
• Form-filling Assistance 
• Prime Time Service 

The Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) has more than doubled since 2019 which proves a strong trend towards a more convenient and efficient application process for travelers. 

Mobile Visa Application Centre, on the other hand, offers enhanced customer convenience, security features, and network reach. This includes service available for 11 client government ins in Manila — Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Switzerland, and the UK. 

Customized services serve as a strong demand factor in 2023 that lead to increasing visa applications. One of these is VFS Global’s personalized service – Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) which empowers applicants to complete their entire visa application submission process from the comfort of their homes or any other location of their choice. Through this premium service, customers can submit applications, enroll for biometrics, and also get their passports couriered back to their own choice of location. 

Currently, VFS Global offers VAYD services for 11 countries in the Philippines — Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Switzerland, and the UK. 

Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Ghosh mentioned that there will be more countries to expect in VAYD services with countries like Australia and Saudi Arabia very soon. He also gave a sneak peek of VFS Global’s offers moving forward. “We will have a premium visa center soon… in a five-star hotel,” Ghosh said.

Furthermore, Ghosh highlighted the healthy adoption of contactless and personalized services due to post-pandemic travelers and health considerations.  “These services enhance the overall visa application experience for applicants by avoiding the need for them to stand in a queue,” Ghosh added. 

Indeed, these personal services will continue to provide enhanced customer convenience, and security features, and expand network reach.

VFS Global eyes more partner countries for visa application processing

With its current partner countries, VFS Global sees more countries will avail of their visa processing service given their track record and growing clients.

The country’s top and reliable visa processing service center caters to 29 sovereign governments in the Philippines namely Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, UAE (Dubai), Finland, Italy, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Ukraine, and USA.

The VFS Global official also said that with the upward trajectory of visa applications in the Philippines which are currently being processed in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, the service company provider is already looking into expanding to other key provincial cities in the Philippines that will be able to process the visa applications.

When asked about how VFS Global ensures that the data of visa applicants are protected given the number of visa applicants, Ghosh said, “We have our technology in place that assures all the data of the visa applicants are protected. VFS Global’s role in the visa application process is limited to front-end administrative tasks only, which include collecting visa application forms, required documentation as per the checklist, and enrolling biometrics, if applicable.” 

“The VFS Global has no role in the decision-making process of granting or refusing a visa,” he clarified.

With over 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United Kingdom, the 3rd Economic Dialogue is the first manifestation of the new Enhanced Partnership agreed by Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. and UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in November 2021. 

The Dialogue witnessed the shared commitment of both countries to build back better from the pandemic and pursue mutual prosperity in key areas including economic reform, green infrastructure, human development, and digital economy, as well as to deepen cooperation in priority sectors such as manufacturing and innovation. 

Further recognizing shared efforts towards boosting bilateral trade and investment, both sides agreed to continue coordination on trade policy, regional trade interests, and multilateral engagement, in addition to a regular dialogue on market access issues and investment opportunities. “The United Kingdom is a key trade, investment, and cooperation partner of the Philippines. Given the importance of international collaboration especially in global health response and economic recovery efforts in view of the pandemic, we acknowledge the complementarities that both our countries can capitalize on towards this end,” Undersecretary Rodolfo remarked. 

Ambassador Beaufils also underscored the UK’s commitment to deepen inclusive and sustainable economic development ties with the Philippines as well as to explore opportunities for regional opportunities in light of the United Kingdom’s conferment as ASEAN Dialogue Partner and the Philippines’ role as ASEAN Economic Coordinator for the UK. “The Philippines is a very important and valued partner for us. We are committed to pursuing deeper collaboration with the Philippines and enabling great integration in the ASEAN region. We will do this in areas of common interest, and deliver tangible results to the benefits of both of our countries and their citizens”. 

Both countries reaffirm the outcomes of the 3rd Economic Dialogue through a Joint Partnership Statement that highlights their commitment to continue working with each other to promote the mutual development of the Philippines and the United Kingdom in various areas and sectors towards post-pandemic economic recovery. These include support for key economic reforms that enable strong bilateral and regional linkages, capacity building, and sharing of expertise and best practices between both countries, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Philippine Development Plan.