As this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines will steer a round of financial talks, setting the tone for deeper regional cooperation to boost economic activity and expand financial inclusion across Southeast Asia.
The Philippine peso is back under pressure as surging oil prices and geopolitical strains jolt global markets, sharpening the policy dilemma for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that the Philippines’ outstanding external debt edged lower in the fourth quarter of 2025, offering a modest improvement in debt manageability as global investors trimmed their exposure to Philippine securities.
Average yields on Philippine treasury bills fell at Monday’s auction, reflecting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ recent quarter-point cut to its benchmark interest rate. The move signals easing borrowing costs for both the government and private sector amid a supportive macroeconomic backdrop.
Anticipation of further monetary easing later this week kept Treasury bill yields on a downward path at Monday’s auction, as investors piled into short-dated government debt.
Former finance secretary and Philippine Stock Exchange chairman Jose T. Pardo called on the private sector Wednesday to keep investing and hiring, even amid rising inflation, warning that economic recovery cannot wait.
Thousands of Lalamove partner drivers in Metro Manila have started receiving ₱5,000 each in government financial aid as part of a massive, three-day distribution drive led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Construction has officially commenced along the East Service Road near Arca South in Taguig City, signaling the start of preparatory infrastructure works designed to support major transport projects shaping southern Metro Manila.
The Philippine economy is entering 2026 on uneven footing, with growth expected to slow slightly and risks looming large, economist Jonathan Ravelas said on Wednesday.