Economy

The Philippines has quietly pulled off a big leap on the global innovation stage — and the business world should take notice. The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has rocketed to third place in the World Trademark Review’s (WTR) 2026 IP Office Innovation Ranking, jumping from 13th in the previous edition and outperforming many far larger economies.

Higher US tariffs and stubbornly high production costs are tightening the vise on Philippine garment exporters, even as shipments are estimated to have topped USD1 billion in 2025.

The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) is calling for an urgent reset of Philippine tourism policy, warning that the country is being left behind as ASEAN neighbors surge ahead in post-pandemic recovery.

The government is considering a higher tax incentive ceiling for socialized and economic housing, a move seen as a bid to keep affordable homebuilding viable as construction costs continue to climb.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is stepping up scrutiny of last-mile delivery practices as complaints mount over parcels being prematurely tagged as “delivered” or “returned to sender,” leaving online shoppers empty-handed and out of pocket.