The Philippine economy is headed for a sharper slowdown in 2026 as elevated energy costs, weak public investment and subdued business confidence weigh on domestic demand, the World Bank said, while lowering its growth outlook for next year.
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.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will push to conclude a Philippines-Canada free trade agreement during his Manila visit this month, advancing a deal Ottawa expects to triple bilateral trade by 2035 and open wider market access for exporters and businesses in both countries.
Listed mining firm OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. (OGPI) reported a 95.1 percent rise in its net income for the first nine months of 2026, reaching $95.6 million from just $49 million in the same period last year.
Aboitiz Power Corp.’s retail electricity arm, AdventEnergy, has signed up new customers following the recent expansion of the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) program, making competitive power options available to far more businesses across the country.
Ayala Land Inc. expects leasing to become its main growth engine in 2027 as new malls and hotels mature, betting on recurring income and P55 billion in capital recycling to finance expansion without adding debt.