The Philippine government is moving to translate the World Bank’s Public Finance Review into concrete fiscal reforms, with economic officials stressing that better tax collection and spending will matter only if recommendations result in measurable improvements for citizens.
The Philippine government said it will act on recommendations from the World Bank’s latest Public Finance Review, putting a sharper focus on broadening the tax base, improving revenue collection and ensuring that public spending translates into measurable gains for Filipinos.
Accelerating power sector reforms could slash electricity prices, create more than 161,000 jobs and lift about 730,000 Filipinos out of poverty by 2030, with the World Bank arguing that lower energy costs may be one of the country's biggest catalysts for faster and more inclusive economic growth.
The World Bank Group has approved a USD268.6-million, or about P15.6-billion, water and sanitation project for the Philippines that is expected to create up to 46,500 jobs over the next 25 years while improving climate resilience in three island provinces.
Foreign business groups welcomed the Philippines' elevation to upper middle-income economy status as a strong endorsement of the country's economic progress, while urging the government to accelerate reforms needed to convert the milestone into sustained investment and long-term growth.
Nestlé Philippines and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are expanding efforts to strengthen climate-resilient coffee production in Northern Mindanao, seeking to protect farmers from El Niño while reducing the country’s reliance on imported beans.
Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (metrobank) has been named Best Asset Manager and Best Client Services in the Philippines at the Citywire ASEAN Awards 2025/26, adding to a string of industry recognitions for its wealth management and investment operations.
The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is courting American and Canadian investors for defense-related industries, clean energy and data center projects at its 12,923-hectare ecozone in Casiguran, Aurora, as the Philippines seeks to expand investment links across the Indo-Pacific.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking a 10-year, P10-billion funding commitment for the Philippine coffee industry, as the government steps up efforts to raise production, improve bean quality and strengthen farmers’ incomes.