President Bongbong Marcos has ordered all relevant government agencies to take part in drafting the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism and Proliferation Financing Strategy 2026 to 2030, signaling a renewed push to protect the country’s financial system from illicit flows. The directive, contained in Memorandum Circular 113 dated February 12 and published in the Official Gazette, requires close coordination as the Philippines prepares for another global review of its financial safeguards.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council has been tasked to provide “technical and administrative support, issue timelines, and monitor compliance” in crafting the updated strategy. National agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, and local government units are instructed to align their programs and resources with the national framework. The strategy covers money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing, all closely scrutinized by international regulators and banks.
The new framework will build on the Third National Risk Assessment for 2021 to 2024, which identified vulnerabilities in banking, remittances, and other financial services. Authorities are also conducting a gap analysis against standards set by the Financial Action Task Force to determine where laws, supervision, and enforcement need strengthening before the next evaluation.
The Philippines will undergo its Fourth Mutual Evaluation by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering in 2027. The review will measure compliance with the FATF’s 40 recommendations and assess how effectively the country investigates and prosecutes financial crimes. The results affect how foreign banks and investors view Philippine institutions.
The move follows the country’s removal from the FATF grey list in 2025 after years of enhanced monitoring. Staying off the list is vital for investor confidence, smoother cross-border transactions, and lower costs for businesses and overseas Filipino workers sending money home. By starting early on the 2026 to 2030 strategy, the administration signals that compliance is a continuing policy priority.
