The Philippines landed at 53rd out of 101 economies in the World Bank Group’s 2025 Business-Ready (B-READY) Report, placing the country squarely at the midpoint of an expanded global ranking and signaling steady reform momentum.
The World Bank and the Philippine government are moving forward with a landmark agreement that could reshape the country’s agriculture sector. At a recent meeting, agriculture secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and World Bank country director Zafer Mustafaoglu reviewed the progress of the Philippine Sustainable Agricultural Transformation (PSAT) loan program, with the goal of finalizing the USD1 billion loan agreement in July.
The International Finance Corp. (IFC), the private investment arm of the World Bank, has appointed Riccardo Puliti as its new Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific.
For more than a decade, the South China Sea has been ASEAN's diplomatic traffic jam. Everyone knows there is a problem. Everyone agrees it matters. Yet the moment the conversation turns to China, the convoy grinds to a halt.
The Philippines' recognition as the world's top retirement destination for 2026 is more than a feel-good accolade. It could become a powerful boost for the country's long-stay tourism ambitions and a source of sustained economic activity that extends far beyond traditional vacation spending.
The Philippines is betting on its indigenous healing traditions, homegrown beauty brands, and distinctly Filipino approach to well-being to capture a bigger share of the fast-growing global wellness tourism market.
As concerns over youth online safety intensify, Meta is rolling out stronger protections for teenage users in the Philippines, placing safety features and parental oversight at the center of its social media platforms.