Economy

The Philippine job market is about to get a digital jolt. 

The newly installed head of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is placing digitalization at the core of his agenda, arguing that stronger connectivity and smarter systems could unlock growth for millions of small businesses—and improve the country’s overall investment appeal.

Following the veto of the budget for fiscal support to the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) underscored the need for sustained government backing to ensure the country’s competitiveness in the automotive manufacturing sector.

The Makati Business Club (MBC) on Monday welcomed the signing of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), saying the new budget marks a clear step up from recent fiscal plans, particularly in its focus on education, agriculture, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Headline inflation accelerated to 1.8 percent in December 2025, its fastest pace since March last year, as higher food prices and quicker increases in clothing and footwear pushed overall prices up, government data showed. The latest figure marked a rebound from November’s slower pace but remained well below December 2024’s 2.9 percent, highlighting easing price pressures over the year.