The Philippines’ tourism rebound is still stuck in economy class, slowed by the weak return of China and South Korea—once the twin engines of foreign arrivals. Latest Department of Tourism (DOT) data show 5.606 million international visitors as of December 20, with arrivals from January to November slipping 2.16 percent year on year to 5.35 million.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has surpassed its 2025 investment target, approving P260.89 billion worth of projects and beating its P250-billion goal, while posting a 21.91 percent increase from the P214 billion recorded in 2024.p

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday that strong interest from San Miguel Corp. and major local and international firms in the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) operations and maintenance (O&M) contract is “very encouraging.”