Economy

The Philippines and the European Union have reached a “substantial agreement” in negotiations for a long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA), putting the deal on track for formal conclusion in the coming months.

The Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC) has cleared a P2.48-billion project to upgrade the Philippines’ National ID System, moving the proposed digital infrastructure partnership toward procurement later this year.

About 100 textile MSMEs, weavers, artisans and designers will converge in Makati next month to tap new markets for Philippine-made fabrics and products, as the local weaving industry seeks to turn traditional crafts into scalable businesses.

Filipino youth are showing strong confidence in their ability to navigate a changing workplace, with entrepreneurship, adaptability and education emerging as key strengths as artificial intelligence reshapes jobs across the region.

Intellectual property filings in the Philippines are continuing to grow year-on-year even as seizures of counterfeit goods decline, suggesting a shift in the country’s enforcement landscape as physical markets lose prominence and online platforms face tighter scrutiny.