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.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has more than doubled the Philippines’ minimum access volume (MAV) for corn to 500,000 metric tons (MT) in 2026, allowing additional imports in a bid to ease feed costs and limit potential increases in pork and poultry prices.
Ayala Corporation’s healthcare arm AC Health and US-based healthcare operator Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) are planning a flagship hospital campus in Pasig City, a proposed investment that could help keep more Filipinos’ healthcare spending in the country by expanding access to advanced medical treatments locally.
Metro Manila’s condominium market continues to grapple with persistent oversupply as buyers withdraw from purchases when monthly payments jump sharply upon transitioning from developer financing to bank loans.
Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) has expanded its pickup truck lineup with the launch of the D-MAX LS 4x2 AT, offering the new variant at an introductory price of P1.549 million until December 31, 2026.