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.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) formalized a five-year partnership Tuesday to deploy Earth observation, geospatial tools, and AI for strengthening agriculture, fisheries, disaster response, and climate resilience. The collaboration uses satellite data to speed up damage detection, improve irrigation planning, and shield food production from floods, droughts, and other risks.
Media giant ABS-CBN Corp. is set to lay off approximately 200 employees, representing roughly 7 percent of its total workforce, as it continues to grapple with persistent challenges in the content and advertising sectors.
The Department of Energy has formally certified that the one-month average price of Dubai crude oil has surpassed the $80-per-barrel threshold set by Republic Act 12316, triggering the process to consider suspending or reducing fuel excise taxes. From August 13 to September 11, 2026, the benchmark averaged $99.41 per barrel.
Mynt Inc., the fintech giant behind the widely used GCash app, is set to launch a historic initial public offering expected to reach roughly ₱92 billion. If finalized, the transaction will mark the largest fundraising event in the history of the Philippine Stock Exchange.