BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC / Commission) of the Philippines participated in the third round of negotiations for the Philippines-European Union Free Trade Agreement (PH-EU FTA), specifically on the Chapter on Services and Investment, held from 16 to 20 June 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. A consultation meeting was convened on 15 June 2025, bringing together representatives from the PRC, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Filipino legal experts to exchange views on the PH-EU FTA as well as opportunities for the Filipino professionals in the EU.

The PH-EU FTA aims to enhance market access for goods, services, and investments as well as to further facilitate trade, to improve the business environment, and to expand commercial exchanges among the business sectors. It also aims to offer a vital opportunity to showcase the expertise and global competitiveness of Filipino professionals. Key discussions in which the PRC is involved focused on professional qualifications and the movement of natural persons.

Represented by Atty. Melisa Jane Comafay Yeachana, Director of the PRC’s International Affairs Office (IAO), the Commission has actively participated in all three rounds of negotiations. Trade in Services is being led by Mr. Jan Dela Vega, Division Chief at the DTI-Bureau of International Trade Relations. Meanwhile, key movement of businesspersons-related provisions is being led by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Labor Arbiter and OIC-Assistant Secretary Atty. Ma. Consuelo S. Bacay, ensuring that the Philippine position reflects the interests of both professional and businesspersons in the FTA negotiations.

As talks move forward, the PRC remains fully committed to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the final agreement delivers meaningful and lasting benefits for Filipino professionals and enhances their mobility and opportunities in the global arena.

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