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 is fast-tracking the Clark National Food Hub with the full backing of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., moving the project from planning to construction.
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and San Miguel Corp. are fast-tracking negotiations to consolidate their tollway operations into a single giant infrastructure platform, targeting to finalize the landmark deal within the year.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Bohol Airport Corporation (ABAC) will invest P4.53 billion to modernize and expand the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) under a 30-year public-private partnership (PPP) concession agreement, aimed at boosting capacity and supporting the province’s fast-growing tourism sector.
Globe Telecom is supporting national and local government efforts to create a single, unified policy for underground conduit infrastructure, aiming to curb rampant fiber cable theft that frequently disrupts internet and mobile services across the country.