The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is pushing to close a persistent financing gap for micro, small and medium enterprises, with bank loans to the sector reaching more than P580 billion but accounting for only about 6 percent of total business lending.
Treasury bill yields rose across all maturities at Monday’s auction as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ recent rate hike pushed borrowing costs higher and investors braced for the possibility of further monetary tightening.
Philippine inflation eased to a five-month low of 6.1 percent in August, offering some relief after prices accelerated sharply earlier this year, but the reading remained elevated enough to underscore the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ decision to raise interest rates last week.
Treasury bill yields rose across all tenors at Monday’s auction as investors priced in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ recent rate hike and the possibility of further monetary tightening.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Thursday delivered a preemptive 25-basis-point rate hike and left the door open to further tightening as stubborn inflationary pressures threaten to keep prices above the central bank’s target range.
The national government has approved $1‑million in assistance to cover advisory work for planned changes to the concession deal governing operations and maintenance of the LRT‑1 Extension project, a move officials say aims to put the light rail line on firmer financial footing for hundreds of thousands of daily commuters.
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has ordered the immediate suspension of safety certificates for two vessels following separate maritime incidents off Cagayan and Bohol last 31 October 2026, a move signalling tighter sea‑safety checks for passengers and sea travellers nationwide.
For Philippine manufacturers, the next factory may require more than retained earnings and a friendly bank. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is urging them to look beyond traditional financing and prepare to tap the capital markets as they scale up.