Economy

The number of employed Filipinos rose to 50.1 million in August 2025, up from 46.05 million in July, according to the latest Labor Force Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority. National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the employment rate stood at 96.1 percent, with the services sector accounting for 61.5 percent of total jobs, followed by agriculture (20.4 percent) and …

The construction materials wholesale price index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) dropped by 0.2 percent in September, slightly slower than the 0.5 percent decline recorded in August, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported recently. The PSA said the slower decrease was mainly due to higher prices in the heavily weighted index of concrete products, which rose by 0.2 …

The national government’s debt stock slightly eased to ₱17.47 trillion as of end-August 2025, down 0.5 percent from ₱17.56 trillion in July, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported Tuesday. The decline was attributed mainly to the government’s full repayment of its largest local bond for the year, worth ₱516.34 billion, as well as the peso’s appreciation, which lowered the …

Investor jitters over alleged anomalies in government flood control projects dragged the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) lower for a fifth straight day Friday, while the peso closed flat against the US dollar. The PSEi slipped 0.25% to 6,027.12, while the broader All Shares index shed 0.24% to 3,644.80. Property (-1.55%), Services (-0.88%), and Holding Firms (-0.12%) pulled the market …

The Board of Investments (BOI) is targeting to release the updated 2025–2028 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) before the year ends, a senior official said Friday. BOI Investment Promotions Services Executive Director Evariste Cagatan said the refined version, which will require approval from the BOI Board and the Office of the President, will expand the list of sectors eligible for …

Residential real estate prices in the Philippines rose by 7.5% in the second quarter of 2025, slightly slower than the 7.6% increase recorded in the first quarter, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Friday. Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR) drove the growth with an 11.5% increase, while prices in Metro Manila rose by 2.4%. By housing type, …

The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has partnered with medical device distributor Freya to equip and train personnel for its ₱16.83-million Super Health Center in Casiguran, Aurora, which is expected to open this December. APECO president and CEO Gil Taway IV and Freya managing director Emmanuel Cueto formalized the agreement in Parañaque City on Thursday. Taway said …

The Philippines and Singapore have started negotiations to update their nearly five-decade-old Double Taxation Agreement (DTA), the Department of Finance (DOF) announced Thursday. The first round of talks was held in Manila from Sept. 2 to 4, covering measures to eliminate double taxation on income and prevent tax evasion and avoidance. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the review is long …

The country’s ocean-based industries breached the ₱1 trillion mark in 2024, contributing nearly 4 percent to the national economy, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). PSA data showed the ocean economy expanded by 4.7 percent to ₱1.01 trillion from ₱962.49 billion in 2023, accounting for 3.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices. Sectors that posted the …

Let’s be real. Most people don’t have an emergency fund. We live with a “come what may” mindset. The problem is, when trouble comes, it usually comes with a bill attached. Here’s the painful truth: one hospital trip, one job layoff, one broken appliance, and suddenly your wallet is in the ICU. Instead of savings, we resort to borrowing. And …