The Philippines is heading into 2026 with economic resilience that continues to impress global observers—but experts warn that sustaining momentum will demand sharper reforms and more agile policymaking.
The Philippines made a confident entrance at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World 2025 in Dubai, its first-ever participation in one of the industry’s most influential gatherings.
Philippine exports to the US—supercharged for months by aggressive front-loading—are expected to return to more typical levels soon as tariff pressures ease and the trade environment settles, according to Export Marketing Bureau Director Bianca Sykimte.
Pervasive corruption—both in government offices and private boardrooms—along with slow and opaque bureaucracy, high logistics costs, and congested infrastructure continue to undermine the Philippines’ ability to attract foreign investment and sustain economic growth, according to the latest assessment from the US State Department.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects solid growth for the Philippines through next year, with its ability to navigate rough global waters underscored in the slight downward revision of its 2026 outlook.
PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications are strengthening efforts to stop cable and equipment theft by working more closely with barangays, local governments, police, and communities across the country.
Tanduay, one of the Philippines’ most awarded rum brands, is expanding its European footprint with a new distribution partnership in Denmark, strengthening its push into premium spirits markets across the region.
The Manila Electric Co., the country’s largest power distribution better known as Meralco, and the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) are ramping up efforts to accelerate electric vehicle adoption, reaffirming a partnership seen as critical to building a sustainable transport future.
Philippine vehicle sales slipped 1 percent in the first 11 months of 2025, but industry leaders are betting on a strong December finish to push the market closer to record territory.