The Philippine economy grew slightly less than initially reported in the third quarter of 2025, after official data revisions shaved a tenth of a percentage point off headline growth.
The integration of the National ID system with financial and public service platforms is gaining momentum, promising faster transactions, tighter security, and broader financial inclusion across the Philippines.
Construction activity in the Philippines continued to weaken in November 2025, with approved building permits pointing to a sustained slowdown as developers adopt a more cautious stance.
Farmgate prices of palay improved in December from November, buoyed by the government’s decision to extend the rice import ban until the end of the year, offering temporary relief to local farmers after months of weak prices.
Headline inflation accelerated to 1.8 percent in December 2025, its fastest pace since March last year, as higher food prices and quicker increases in clothing and footwear pushed overall prices up, government data showed. The latest figure marked a rebound from November’s slower pace but remained well below December 2024’s 2.9 percent, highlighting easing price pressures over the year.
The Philippines is accelerating negotiations for several free trade agreements (FTAs), with officials aiming to conclude key deals by mid-2026 to widen market access for local exporters.
The Philippine government is inviting foreign investors to take over a high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) nickel processing facility in Palawan that could cease operations by 2027, as officials move to preserve the country’s role in the global battery minerals supply chain.
Renewable energy developer SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) expects to complete 56 megawatts (MW) of new battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity in 2026, increasing its total capacity to 729 MW from the current 673 MW.