Economy

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has reinforced its standing as one of the government's top-performing state corporations, remitting P1.44 billion in dividends to the National Government for fiscal year 2025 and posting its third straight billion-peso payout.

International Trade Centre (ITC) programs have generated more than USD200 million in business and investment leads for Philippine micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), highlighting how targeted trade assistance is helping local firms break into global markets despite an increasingly uncertain trading environment.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cut its growth forecasts for the Philippines, warning that the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict is dampening investments, squeezing consumer spending, and stoking inflation, even as the country remains one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies.

The government has lowered its medium-term economic and fiscal targets, adopting a more cautious outlook as global uncertainty, persistent inflation, and climate risks weigh on the Philippine economy, while reaffirming its commitment to long-term growth and fiscal stability.

The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is urging ASEAN to expand its next generation of ports and industrial hubs along the Pacific coast, saying the shift would strengthen regional supply chains, improve trade connectivity, and reduce reliance on traditional maritime chokepoints.