Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya and his wife, Akiko, attended the fashion show “Thread of Dreams,” co-hosted by BENCH/ and the Japan Foundation, Manila.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported Monday that Fitch Ratings has affirmed the country’s “BBB” investment-grade rating but sharply revised its outlook from stable to negative, signaling rising economic risks.
The Philippines recorded a $2.6 billion balance of payments (BOP) deficit in March 2026, pushing the total shortfall for the first quarter to $5.3 billion, signaling that more money flowed out of the country than came in during the period.
A substantial rollback in fuel prices will take effect next week, delivering much-needed relief to consumers, with diesel expected to fall by more than P24 per liter, gasoline by P3.41, and kerosene by P2, according to government estimates.
Food prices have remained broadly stable despite rising fuel costs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said, suggesting that adequate supply is helping cushion the impact of higher logistics expenses.