The Philippines’ gross international reserves (GIR) fell to USD103.3 billion at the end of July from USD104.7 billion a month earlier, while the country posted a USD1.5-billion balance of payments (BOP) deficit, reflecting continued pressure from external transactions.
Digital payments accounted for nearly two-thirds of retail transactions in the Philippines last year, putting the country within its national target range and underscoring how quickly electronic payments are replacing cash in everyday commerce.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) is among the first banks to join Direct Debit PH, a new automated recurring payment facility championed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to modernize the country’s payments system and accelerate the shift toward a cash-lite economy.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects inflation to remain elevated in 2027, with the government adopting a 4 percent to 5 percent inflation assumption in crafting the proposed national budget amid continued global and domestic price risks.
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. is strengthening its digital banking defenses with new security features designed to give customers greater control over their money as fraudsters become more adept at exploiting stolen credentials and human error.
The compounded pharmacy market in the Philippines is seen growing 1.8 percent higher this year to around P212 billion from its level in 2025, personalities at the PRIMA ASEAN Congress in Taguig City said.
The National Food Authority is ramping up rice procurement, distribution, and facility upgrades as it marks 54 years, with Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. affirming the agency’s vital role in steady, affordable rice supply for Filipinos.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has launched enforcement proceedings against the country’s three major mobile network operators, imposing daily fines of P100,000 each over persistently poor mobile broadband performance in parts of Metro Manila.