Philippines seeks bigger trade gains with New Zealand, Thailand
The Philippines is stepping up efforts to expand trade and investment with New Zealand and Thailand, using new bilateral mechanisms to widen market access, address trade barriers, and develop new commercial opportunities.
Domestic trade volume plunges as fuel costs surge
The Philippines’ domestic trade volume plunged 38 percent year on year to 10.57 million tons in the second quarter of 2026, as higher logistics costs amid the Middle East conflict likely weighed on commodity movements.
DA makes ‘Be RICEponsible’ year-round: Cut rice waste, boost food security
The Department of Agriculture, led by PhilRice, has expanded its Be RICEponsible drive to a year-round call to action, urging Filipinos to avoid rice wastage, buy local produce, and choose healthier rice to strengthen national food security and support farmers.
BSP adds time deposits to PERA eligible products, expanding low-risk retirement savings options
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has expanded the list of qualified investments under the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) to include time deposits, giving Filipinos another accessible option to build long-term retirement savings, per new guidelines issued August 20, 2026.
PhilHealth eyes upfront funding for hospitals
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) plans to pilot a global-budget payment system that could give hospitals funding upfront, as it expands no-balance-billing options and seeks to cut patients’ out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
