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.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will push to conclude a Philippines-Canada free trade agreement during his Manila visit this month, advancing a deal Ottawa expects to triple bilateral trade by 2035 and open wider market access for exporters and businesses in both countries.
Listed mining firm OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. (OGPI) reported a 95.1 percent rise in its net income for the first nine months of 2026, reaching $95.6 million from just $49 million in the same period last year.
Aboitiz Power Corp.’s retail electricity arm, AdventEnergy, has signed up new customers following the recent expansion of the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) program, making competitive power options available to far more businesses across the country.
Ayala Land Inc. expects leasing to become its main growth engine in 2027 as new malls and hotels mature, betting on recurring income and P55 billion in capital recycling to finance expansion without adding debt.