Economy

A private consortium is ramping up rural electrification with a P2.1-billion investment to deploy one of the Philippines’ largest portfolios of off-grid microgrids, targeting underserved island communities.

The Philippines’ debut as an exhibitor at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) 2026 in Toronto is proving to be more than symbolic, generating a strong pipeline of prospective Canadian investments across mining, manufacturing, and high-value services.

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is calling for reforms in the implementation of non-tariff measures (NTMs) in the livestock and poultry subsectors, warning that inefficiencies could drive up meat prices and constrain supply.

CALABARZON emerged as the country’s unemployment hotspot in 2025, underscoring a mismatch between labor participation and job creation in one of the Philippines’ most industrialized corridors, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The peso is likely to stay under pressure after breaking the 60:$1 mark, with volatility risks skewed to the upside, according to analyst Michael Ricafort. The currency closed at a record P60.10 on March 19 as renewed Middle East tensions drove oil prices higher—fueling inflation concerns and widening the country’s trade gap.