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.
Thailand’s Gunkul Engineering has partnered with local developer SunAsia Energy for a $1-billion floating solar project at Laguna Lake, set to deliver 1,000 MW capacity as Southeast Asia’s biggest of its kind.
The Department of Energy (DOE) is moving forward with plans to bring electricity to more than 100,000 currently unenergized households across the Philippines, through an upcoming competitive bidding process for microgrid services.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is leading a major drive to expand the palm oil industry, aiming to cut the country’s heavy reliance on imports and build a local supply base that can also serve as feedstock for cleaner fuels.
The National Dairy Authority (NDA) and Central Philippines State University (CPSU) have partnered to develop a 50-hectare dairy stock farm in Barangay Camingawan here, aiming to strengthen production, breeding, research and training across the Negros Island Region.