Economy

Prolonged congestion at major Asian container ports could constrain shipping capacity for months, raising the risk of longer transit times, disrupted vessel schedules and tighter logistics capacity for Philippine importers and exporters reliant on regional transshipment hubs.

The Philippines and Singapore have concluded negotiations to modernize their nearly five-decade-old tax treaty, potentially giving businesses greater certainty on cross-border transactions as economic ties between the two countries deepen.

NQX Philippines (formerly Quantrics) and Naga City Leni Robredo have reaffirmed public‑private collaboration as key to workforce development, community growth, and regional progress during a recent courtesy call at Naga City Hall.

Philippine manufacturers shifted into “retrenchment mode” in September, cutting jobs, purchases and inventories as weak demand, high oil prices and international competition pushed the sector back into contraction, S&P Global Market Intelligence said.

A proposed tobacco-specific anti-illicit trade law could give Philippine authorities additional tools to pursue smaller shipments and target the machinery, raw materials and distribution networks used in illegal cigarette production, industry representatives said.