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.
Gilas Pilipinas Men’s 3x3 team wasted little time making its presence felt at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, winning twice Monday and putting itself within touching distance of the quarterfinals.
Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. has expanded its investment in Ayala Corp. through a share purchase valued at roughly P44.5 billion, lifting its economic ownership from 4.7 percent to 15 percent and its voting interest to 20 percent, at an agreed price of P650 per common share.
Major fuel firms are rolling out another round of steep price rises, marking the third consecutive week of big adjustments and prompting companies to split the increases across two days to soften immediate impact.
The Philippine government launched the milk component of the 2026 School-Based Feeding Program at Quirino Elementary School in Quezon City on Monday, bringing locally produced milk to about 4.6 million learners nationwide while building a reliable market for Filipino dairy farmers.