Economy

The Philippine cement industry is expected to post flat to slightly lower growth this year as slower government infrastructure spending continues to weigh on demand, according to the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP).

The Philippines’ envoy to Japan expressed hope that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Tokyo will further strengthen bilateral ties, emphasizing decades of close cooperation between the two nations.

The government is stepping up its digital reform drive to make tax compliance faster, simpler, and less burdensome for the country’s biggest taxpayers, with the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) launching a centralized Taxpayer Portal for firms under the Large Taxpayers Service (LTS).

The Philippines’ drive to strengthen its domestic manufacturing base gained fresh momentum after Chinese steel giant Panhua Group Co., Ltd. expanded its planned investment in the country to USD3.5 billion, signaling rising foreign investor confidence in the local industrial sector.

The Philippine manufacturing sector is set for a major boost with the launch of Philippine Manufacturing Week 2026, a unified B2B platform combining two major industry gatherings: the Auto Parts and Vehicles Expo Philippines (APVE Expo 2026) and the Philippine Die and Mould Machineries and Equipment Exhibition (PDMEX 2026).