The Philippines is betting on a wider export playbook to keep its trade momentum alive, with the government turning to free trade agreements (FTAs), new product discoveries and stronger support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to fuel the next growth wave.
The US is tying regional security to economic resilience in Southeast Asia, using the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference in Manila to reaffirm its Indo-Pacific commitment while linking Middle East stability to the protection of global trade routes.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is setting aside P1 billion to help young Filipinos turn business ideas into viable enterprises through a new financing program that removes one of the biggest barriers facing first-time entrepreneurs, access to capital.
Construction activity lost momentum in May as fewer projects secured permits, signaling a softer pipeline for the property and infrastructure sector despite resilient spending on residential developments.