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.
The Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. has pushed back against allegations that Philippine exports are linked to forced labor, warning that a proposed US tariff increase could unfairly penalize compliant businesses and workers.
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is ramping up efforts to strengthen data protection and govern emerging technologies, unveiling plans to expand its regional presence and deepen oversight of artificial intelligence as it marked its 10th anniversary during National Data Privacy Awareness Week 2026.
The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday (DA) said that the construction of major farm‑to‑market roads (FMR) under its program is set to begin by August this year, with bidding activities scheduled from June to July. In a briefing in Quezon City, DA assistant secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa, who also chairs the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for large FMR projects, said preparations are already underway, including a pre‑procurement conference scheduled soon.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will hold a public hearing on June 24, 2026 for Energy Development Corporation’s proposed P25-billion expansion and upgrade of the Southern Negros Geothermal Project steam field in Valencia, Negros Oriental.