Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman of Ayala Corp., struck a cautiously optimistic tone on the Philippines’ economic outlook, projecting a rebound as near-term risks begin to ease and structural strengths remain intact.
The Philippines faces a markedly weaker growth trajectory after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its 2026 expansion forecast to 4.1 percent, citing intensifying global shocks and a softer domestic backdrop.
Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the looming effects of El Niño are emerging as twin headwinds to Philippine growth, with remittances and inflation pressures forming a potentially volatile mix.
Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan cautioned lawmakers that a prolonged Middle East conflict could trigger a severe economic shock in the Philippines, with surging oil prices threatening to reverse gains in poverty reduction.
Treasury bill yields continued to ease at Monday’s auction as investors positioned for a possible shift toward monetary easing by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) amid weakening economic momentum.
New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has remitted P78 billion to the national government and poured P6.8 billion into rehabilitation and modernization works at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) since taking over operations of the country’s main gateway on September 14, 2024, marking substantial early progress under the public-private partnership (PPP) framework.
Manulife president and chief executive officer Phil Witherington visited Manila recently to meet with Chinabank’s executive leadership, highlighting the deepening long-standing bancassurance partnership between the two firms through Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corporation (MCBL).
Ayala Corp. is bringing artificial intelligence into Philippine tax administration through a six-month partnership with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to develop an AI-powered assistant designed to help revenue personnel find and verify tax rules faster.
Allianz PNB Life (AZPNBL) nearly doubled new business in the first half of 2026, lifting the insurer to third place in the Philippine life insurance industry as it marked its 10th year of operations.