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.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in 2025 cleared a key regulatory path for Apple Pay by classifying it as a technology service provider rather than an operator of payment systems. Because the platform processes payment credentials through contactless technology without directly handling, settling, or holding customer funds, the central bank confirmed it does not need to register as a payment system operator. Central bank officials noted that once this regulatory distinction was established, the decision on when to roll out the service rested entirely on the readiness of local financial institutions.
Student safety today goes far beyond school grounds, covering physical security, mental health, and responsible online behavior as one closely linked system.
The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) has cautioned regional wage boards against automatically following Metro Manila's latest minimum wage increase, arguing that wage adjustments should reflect local economic realities rather than establish a nationwide template.
The Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources are taking steps to save a key tool used against illegal fishing after a recent Supreme Court ruling. The high court recently declared Fisheries Administrative Order No. 266 unconstitutional, effectively striking down the requirement for commercial fishing vessels to install tracking devices and submit electronic catch reports.