Economy

The Philippines under the Marcos administration has maintained its secure status as among the lowest-ranked economies in the Asia-Pacific region. This was according to the IMD World Competitive Center (WCC) which also reported a miniscule four-spot improvement for the country in its yearly survey. In the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, the Philippines ranked 47th  out of 70 economies with …

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to give the Philippines  a $210-million loan to help the country improve energy efficiency in the education and health sectors. The package will support the Government Energy Management Programme (GEMP), which requires government agencies to reduce monthly electricity consumption in public buildings by at least 10%. “This requirement is being enforced under the Philippines …

In an attempt to stave off the runaway inflation, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has decided to increase the policy rate which guides lending costs of banks to 4.75 percent. This is the BSP’s second rate hike this year. Many economists have correctly  predicted the quarter-point hike. “Inflationary pressures remain strong. Global oil and fertilizer prices remain elevated and …

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reported that food security food security in the Philippines can be undermined as food prices rise due to higher costs of fuel, freight, and fertilizer. The problem is blamed by the international agency to the effects of the war in West Asia, particularly the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The country, and …

We are becoming a nation of borrowers. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced that new borrowings by the National Government and the private sector led to an increase in the country’s external debt in the first quarter of the year. The data says the country’s outstanding external debt increased by 0.42 percent to $147.35 billion as of the end …

The Philippines’ outstanding external debt declined to US$147.35 billion at end-March 2026 from US$147.65 billion a quarter earlier and remained manageable. Key debt indicators remained sound. External debt as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) improved slightly to 30.0 percent from 30.3 percent in the previous quarter, despite slower economic growth. Liquidity conditions also strengthened. Short-term external debt based …

REPRESENTATIVES from the Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC), the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) visited Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) – the Port of Melbourne terminal of International Container Terminal Services, Inc., as part of activities marking the 80 th  anniversary of diplomatic …

Inflation was monitored by the government at 6.8 percent in May 2026 on the back of slower annual increases in the costs of transport, food, housing, water, electricity, and gas, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday. It was slower than the 7.2 percent inflation recorded in April but faster than the 1.3 percent inflation seen in May 2025. …

The United States is again threatening to weaponize its tariffs, this time against 54 economies including the Philippines, that have allegedly failed to effectively enforce policies against forced labor. The Philippines could soon face additional duties of up to 12.5 percent on some of its exports to the US as a result of its failure to enforce measures banning the …

While admitting that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may already be “behind the curve,” Governor Eli Remolona Jr. and the Monetary Board, these overpaid officials who control our monetary system, are thinking of acting now or waiting until their next regular meeting. They are still considering an off-cycle hike in interest rate, Remolona said. Meanwhile, the Filipinos are reeling …