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 Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and its power generation arm Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) are moving forward in their pursuit of nuclear energy, launching a comprehensive feasibility study for small modular reactors (SMRs) that could reshape the country’s power supply for both the industry and consumers.
Metro Pacific Water (MPW) plans to invest up to P23 billion over the next five years to upgrade and expand water services across the Philippines and Vietnam, the firm announced Tuesday.
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has locked in the most competitive bids for its 600-megawatt power supply requirement under the government-mandated Competitive Selection Process (CSP), marking a key milestone in securing long-term, cost-effective electricity for its customers.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) confirmed Tuesday that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) reached unhealthy levels at every monitoring station in Metro Manila, driven by smoke and haze from ongoing forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia carried here by prevailing winds.