Economy

The Philippine economy ended 2025 on a softer note, with gross domestic product growing 3.0 percent year on year in the fourth quarter, bringing full-year growth to 4.4 percent, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. The figures point to an economy that is still expanding—but unevenly, with clear winners and laggards.

The Philippines is accelerating its trade diplomacy to counter a widening goods deficit and tougher global conditions, officials said at the Industry-Trade Policy Dialogue on January 26. The push centers on expanding market access, shoring up exports, and diversifying partners as protectionism rises.

The Philippine information technology–business process management (IT-BPM) industry is not losing sleep over global rivals. Its bigger headaches are closer to home: the ease of doing business and a persistent shortage of employable talent.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) opened 2026 with solid investment momentum, approving 18 new projects worth P12.86 billion during its first Board meeting of the year.

The Philippine economy grew slightly less than initially reported in the third quarter of 2025, after official data revisions shaved a tenth of a percentage point off headline growth.