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.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slid 1.3 percent to 6,384.58, extending profit-taking for a second session after touching seven- to nine-month highs. Even so, the benchmark remains comfortably above the 6,000 mark, keeping the broader uptrend intact and suggesting the pullback is more consolidation than reversal.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday to present an agenda centered on lowering household costs, strengthening energy security and accelerating infrastructure, signaling a renewed focus on economic resilience as global uncertainties persist.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted major energy reforms during his State of the Nation Address, focusing on adopting nuclear energy and removing system loss charges from electricity bills.
ACEN Corporation is developing Zambales into one of the country’s largest renewable energy hubs, with nearly one gigawatt of solar and battery storage capacity. Once fully operational, these projects will generate enough clean power for 340,000 households and cut fossil fuel dependence. Around 450 megawatts are already running, with the rest set to be finished by 2027, alongside new battery systems to ensure steady power supply and grid stability.
Members of the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II) have voiced strong support for a proposed partnership with IGNITE Power aimed at upgrading power services across the region, officials confirmed.