Economy

The Philippine peso recovered slightly on Thursday, closing at ₱58.69 against the US dollar after touching a record low of ₱59.13 the other week. The local currency strengthened by 44 centavos from its previous level of ₱59.26 to $1. Analysts said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which earlier signaled tolerance for a weaker peso, may have intervened in the …

The Swedish government has extended a 12 million Swedish krona (about ₱74 million) grant to support the feasibility study for the Luzon Economic Corridor’s (LEC) flagship Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) railway project. The Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) said the grant agreement between Sweden, through Swedfund International, and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) …

Communities hosting energy resources and power-generating facilities will receive a major funding boost starting January 2026, as the Department of Energy (DOE) triples the financial benefits under the Energy Regulation (ER) Program No. 1-94. Currently, host communities receive ₱0.50 per kilowatt hour (kWh) under the program, but this will increase to ₱2.50/kWh next year.  The financial benefit derived from electricity …

A top official of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said recently that the country’s young and dynamic workforce could help cushion the impact of the 19-percent tariff currently imposed by the United States on Philippine exports. PCCI Innovation Committee Chair and EMS Group of Companies CEO Perry Ferrer said the Philippines’ demographic advantage remains a strong asset …

Collaboration among the government, academe, and the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector is driving the Philippines’ sustained dominance in the global business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. Inkee Hidalgo, vice president for learning and development at global digital business services provider TP, said the country’s two decades of experience in managing the BPO space form a strong foundation for continued …

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto on Thursday said the country’s tax revenues must increase by at least 10.2 percent annually from 2025 to 2028 to keep government programs adequately funded and ensure fiscal stability. Recto said the steady growth would push total revenues to nearly ₱6 trillion by the end of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s term and breach ₱7 trillion …

Electricity consumers can expect slightly lower power transmission charges this October after the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced a 1.23 percent decrease in overall transmission rates. NGCP Assistant Vice President and Regulatory Management head Julius Ryan Datingaling said the average transmission rate dropped to ₱1.3998 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) from ₱1.4171/kWh in the previous billing period, mainly due …

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will impose a safeguard duty of ₱14 per 40-kilogram bag of imported cement over the next three years, following the recommendation of the Tariff Commission. DTI Secretary Cristina Roque said the measure covers Ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 and Blended Cement and is meant to “level the playing field between domestic manufacturers and …

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has ordered the creation of a multi-sectoral working group that will develop digital solutions to address tax and non-tax concerns and help strengthen the country’s investment climate. The Department of Finance (DOF) said the group, which will include private sector partners, aims to boost investor confidence and generate more jobs for Filipinos. The directive was issued …

Businesses in the Taguig City People’s Market are selling goods within or below the government’s suggested retail prices (SRPs), Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said on Thursday. Roque made the statement after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) jointly conducted a price monitoring activity to ensure that prices of basic necessities and prime commodities …