Economy

Manulife Investments Philippines sees opportunities for investors to lock in elevated yields while preparing portfolios for an eventual shift in the country’s monetary cycle, favoring income, diversification, and flexibility over aggressive bets on an imminent rate cut.

The Anti-Red Tape Authority is moving to help clear regulatory bottlenecks for the proposed Pax Silica Innovation Ecosystem in New Clark City, while insisting that faster government approvals will not mean weaker legal, environmental, or social safeguards.

The US is reviewing new Philippine safeguards against forced-labor imports as negotiations continue over Washington’s 12.5-percent tariff, while the Department of Trade and Industry said only about 30 percent of Philippine exports to the US are covered by the levy.

Investment approvals by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority more than doubled in the first eight months of 2026, putting the agency within reach of its P300-billion full-year target with four months remaining.

The Philippines is stepping up efforts to expand trade and investment with New Zealand and Thailand, using new bilateral mechanisms to widen market access, address trade barriers, and develop new commercial opportunities.