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.
COREnergy, the energy retail subsidiary of listed firm Vivant Corp., has secured a contract to supply 0.6 megawatts of electricity to JEG Tower in Cebu City, marking a key expansion of its commercial client base and advancing its parent group’s broader energy investment and growth targets.
Only 21 out of 548 electricity pilferage cases recorded since 2022 have resulted in convictions, data presented at the Senate Committee on Energy hearing on August 18 showed, revealing severe enforcement gaps under Republic Act 7832 or the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.
Agricultural losses from the enhanced monsoon and storms Luis, Maymay, and TD Neneng rose to P1.73B, the DA said in its Aug. 20, 7 a.m. advisory — up from P1.42B on Aug. 17 before Neneng’s effects were tallied.
Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI), part of the Gokongwei Group, is set to end its tenure as a publicly listed company at the end of August, after the Philippine Stock Exchange approved its petition for voluntary delisting.