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 Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 teams discovered on Friday that sometimes the basket simply refuses to cooperate. Both squads lost their final games at the Asian Games in Japan, with the women salvaging silver while the men were denied a place on the podium.
For millions of Filipinos, the biggest health threat does not arrive with the dramatic suddenness of a typhoon or an infectious outbreak. Instead, it creeps in quietly, day by day, making ischaemic heart disease the undisputed leading cause of death in the country.
The Philippines has notched a notable jump in global tourism competitiveness, but structural hurdles continue to keep the country trailing its Southeast Asian neighbors.