Senior Philippine defense officials and representatives from 22 foreign missions gathered Friday to mark the 10th anniversary of the landmark arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea, underscoring sustained international support for a rules-based maritime order amid continuing regional tensions.
Electricity prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) surged by 22.7 percent in June, driven primarily by a dip in available power supply and frequent grid alerts.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cut its growth forecasts for the Philippines, warning that the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict is dampening investments, squeezing consumer spending, and stoking inflation, even as the country remains one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies.
The government has lowered its medium-term economic and fiscal targets, adopting a more cautious outlook as global uncertainty, persistent inflation, and climate risks weigh on the Philippine economy, while reaffirming its commitment to long-term growth and fiscal stability.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said more Filipino workers could receive higher minimum wages in the coming months as regional wage boards move closer to completing reviews that could lead to additional pay increases across the country.