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.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is pursuing at least USD50 million in initial investment from a European aircraft maintenance company, alongside a separate US aerospace manufacturing proposal, as it seeks to expand Clark’s role in the aviation industry.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is tightening checks on project details and rolling out system-wide improvements after discrepancies were found in coordinates submitted for farm-to-market road (FMR) projects.
A P14.8-billion water supply and wastewater project proposed by Maynilad Water Services Inc. and South Korea’s K-Water for New Clark City has cleared a key hurdle after attracting no competing bid, putting the consortium closer to securing the contract.
BPI Foundation, the social development arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, is broadening its nationwide push to boost financial literacy and digital learning, reaching thousands of students and teachers in underserved communities.