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.
The Philippine National Bank (PNB) recorded a net income of ₱21.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, marking a 15 percent increase from ₱18.5 billion during the same period last year. The performance underscores the bank’s disciplined execution, expanding core operations, and strengthening capital base as it drives long-term value creation.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has declared Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa an “armed and dangerous” fugitive and announced a P15-million bounty for his arrest, intensifying the government’s pursuit of the senator.
International passenger traffic at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) rose 2.6 percent year-on-year to 19.93 million from Jan. 1 to Oct. 22, 2026, as demand held firm despite disruptions to global aviation from the Middle East conflict.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing to roll out a P2.9-billion fund intended to help agricultural cooperatives expand production and improve their competitiveness, with the agency initially targeting about 12 applicants.