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.
OceanaGold Philippines Inc. (OGPI) has allocated P768.43 million under its Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan (FMRDP) for the Didipio gold and copper mine that spans Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces. In a statement released Sunday, the listed mining firm confirmed that P551.4 million has already been placed in a trust fund. The company said the fund will keep growing in line with required annual contributions as it moves forward with rehabilitation and closure preparations while the mine remains active.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has granted the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) provisional authority to collect a higher Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FIT-All) rate starting this month. The rate will rise to P0.3359 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) from the existing P0.2011 per kWh, marking an increase of P0.1348 per kWh. This adjustment covers the approved working capital allowance (WCA) rate update.
Listed Manila Electric Co., the country’s largest power distributor and better known as Meralco, on Sunday said it will immediately comply with the Energy Regulatory Commission's (ERC) directive to refund about P9.5 billion to customers, backing the government's push to deliver quicker and more transparent electricity bill relief.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said the government's plan to scrap systems loss charges and the value-added tax (VAT) on electricity bills should serve as a springboard for broader reforms aimed at lowering power costs and improving the country's investment competitiveness.