The slight cooling of headline inflation to 6.1 percent in August from 6.2 percent in July provides a welcome breathing room, but it remains far from a signal for the central bank to ease its stance. Lower meat and vegetable prices helped pull down overall food inflation, though the decline was largely muted by accelerating rice costs and expensive transport amid persistent global oil strength. According to Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) lead economist Emilio S. Neri, Jr., this temporary easing is unlikely to alter the trajectory of monetary policy. He says that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will likely stay on a tightening path, potentially raising the policy rate by 25 basis points in each of its final two meetings this year to hit 5.50 percent.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines Corp.’s (SEMPHIL) P50.7-billion expansion is starting to draw interest from its Korean supply chain, with about 30 Tier 1 suppliers of parent Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. Ltd. (SEMCO) expected to come to the Philippines in October to assess potential local investments.

ACMobility has launched a nationwide electric vehicle safety education program covering EV technology, charging, ownership, and vehicle safety as electric vehicles become more common in the Philippine market.