The Philippines’ rise to 47th out of 70 economies in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook marks a notable step forward, but sustaining the momentum will depend on deeper structural reforms, stronger institutions, and accelerated digitalization of government services, according to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has extended to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) the Silver Award representing the highest rating of 92.8 percent or “Very Satisfactory”, among 50 government agencies in the agency’s Report Card Survey (RCS) 2.0.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) conducted simultaneous enforcement operations on 11 cockpit arenas on August 8, 2026, and found 297 betting machines, computerized betting units, servers, and other devices without the required Permit to Use (PTU) and not appearing in BIR records. These were sealed or confiscated, as warranted under existing rules.
The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority is positioning its sprawling economic zone in Casiguran, Aurora as a potential defense-industrial hub as the Philippines strengthens strategic infrastructure along its Pacific seaboard.
The Department of Trade and Industry is targeting more than P1 billion in sales from national trade fairs this year as it expands government-led marketplaces designed to connect Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises with domestic and international buyers.
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has set aside nearly ₱4.4 billion in emergency loan assistance for 166,789 active members as well as old-age and disability pensioners across nine areas in Luzon reeling from recent typhoons and the southwest monsoon.