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.
Philippine equities held their footing above the 6,000 level as caution continued to dominate trading, with analysts balancing global headwinds against pockets of domestic resilience.
The Philippines has emerged as ASEAN’s top tourism economy, leading the region in tourism’s contribution to gross domestic product and ranking among the strongest job creators, according to the 2025 World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Economic Impact Report.
Commuters on the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) can now leave both cash and stored-value cards at home as the government rolls out a digital fare payment system that allows passengers to pay with contactless bank cards, mobile wallets and QR codes, marking another step toward a fully cashless public transport network.
The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) has backed Executive Secretary Ralph Recto's call for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to enhance benefit packages for direct contributors, saying workers and employers who consistently pay into the national health insurance system deserve better value and more meaningful protection.
Fresh from her breakthrough run at Wimbledon, the 21-year-old tennis star stepped into Malacañang on Monday, where President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. traded Centre Court for the Palace and presented her with a Presidential Citation, recognizing a young athlete who has become one of the Philippines' brightest sporting ambassadors.
The Angat Dam’s water level remains below ideal marks even after heavy rains hit Luzon over the past week, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) confirmed on Monday. Speaking at the Bagong Pilipinas public briefing, NWRB executive director Dr. Sevillo David Jr. noted the level rose slightly to 156.07 meters thanks to the southwest monsoon, but this is still the lowest reading recorded at the dam since 2010. He said the dam has yet to hit the 160-meter critical level, and ideally needs to reach the 180-meter minimum operating level, adding the agency is counting on more rainfall in Bulacan in the coming days to boost supplies. Angat Dam provides most of the raw water used by Metro Manila and nearby provinces, distributed by concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water.