The Philippines’ trade deficit widened sharply in July as imports continued to outpace exports, with the country’s merchandise trade gap expanding by nearly 35 percent from a year earlier, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines successfully gathered tourism stakeholders, industry buyers, and the public for the 18th Regional Travel Fair (RTF) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), held August 14–16, 2026, at the Alnor Hotel and Convention Center here.
Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co. Ltd. (SMFL) is expanding its Philippine footprint after completing the acquisition of a 30 percent stake in RCBC Leasing & Finance Corp. (RLFC), positioning the Japanese financial services group to tap growing demand for leasing and asset financing.
A University of the Philippines study is urging the government to consider using the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) to finance a dedicated semiconductor development fund that could help the Philippines move into higher-value segments of the global chip industry.