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.
Japanese Special Envoy Mr. Kishida Fumio, representing Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, visited the Philippines for high-level talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin. The visit highlights Japan’s growing focus on enhancing regional energy security, economic growth, and decarbonization through the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC).
On Labor Day, the Makati Business Club (MBC) sounded the alarm on mounting pressures confronting both Filipino workers and employers, as surging fuel and food prices continue to erode real wages and squeeze business margins amid a volatile global backdrop.
Most banks in the Philippines plan to keep their lending standards unchanged in the second quarter of 2026, suggesting continued credit support for the economy despite global uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict.
Asurion Philippines is scaling up its customer solutions business as it broadens its footprint beyond its long-standing manufacturing and repair operations.