Economy

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) expects business conditions to remain subdued through the fourth quarter of 2026, with limited prospects for a consumer-led rebound before yearend, even as it sees a stronger recovery taking shape in 2027.

Philippine exporters left an estimated £92 million, or about P7.7 billion, worth of eligible shipments to the United Kingdom without claiming preferential tariff treatment in 2025, highlighting a potentially costly gap in the use of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing a package of economic reforms aimed at reviving investment, creating jobs, cutting power costs, and easing regulatory bottlenecks, including the creation of a Senate panel to coordinate the measures.

Arangkada Philippines is pressing the government to clarify tax rules on cross-border services, warning that uncertainty in implementation could complicate business decisions and undermine the Philippines’ pitch as an investment destination.

Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries is exploring a potential industrial park investment in Clark as the Philippines seeks to strengthen its position as a regional hub for export manufacturing and supply-chain operations.