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.
Subic EnerZone Corp., the AboitizPower-led electricity distributor at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, is preparing network upgrades to accommodate rising power demand as the economic hub expands, following a 25-year extension of its partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
The Department of Agriculture encourages overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to look into agribusiness as a practical alternative source of income and sustainable livelihood for when they come back home to the Philippines.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to use the government’s available foreign exchange reserves and policy tools to defend the peso against further depreciation, while acknowledging that surging oil prices and supply-side constraints continue to fuel inflation.
The Palawan Group of Companies (PGC) and Radiowealth Finance Company (RFC) are expanding their partnership to simplify loan disbursements and repayments, combining branch-based services with digital payments to reach more Filipino borrowers.