Economy

The Department of Finance (DOF) stressed that exercising fiscal discipline will be critical heading into 2026 as the Philippines continues to recover from the flood control corruption scandal. Finance Secretary Frederick Go said agencies should prioritize spending on projects with the highest economic returns. “The key to that fiscal discipline is that all the agencies take a very good look …

The Philippines’ balance of payments (BOP) registered a modest deficit of US$225 million in November 2025. For January to November 2025, the BOP recorded an overall deficit of US$4.8 billion. Gross international reserves (GIR) increased to US$111.3 billion as of end-November 2025, showing adequate external liquidity buffer, equivalent to 7.4 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services …

The unemployment rate has just clinched a new record — the highest in 3 months. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the number of jobless Filipinos surged in October, with rates hitting a three-month high. The country’s unemployment rate was recorded at 5.0 percent, markedly up from 3.8 percent and 3.9 percent a year earlier.. This is the highest unemployment …

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Accountability Of Public Officers and Investigation (Blue Ribbon) together with Sen. Erwin Tulfo conducted an investigation into the alleged misuse and weaponization of Letters of Authority (LOAs) by personnel of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as a money-making scheme, and other systematic abuses. Photo shows  the two …

By DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN WHO says that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.  is all parties, parries, and politics?   The President finds time to do real work, such as when he met with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona last Wednesday to review the October 2025 monetary policy decision in the light of recent financial and social indicators, and …

THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Wednesday elected Cecile L. Ang as its nonbroker director representing investors, and Jaime J. Bautista as an independent director following recent resignations from both posts. Ms. Ang, daughter of San Miguel Corp. Chairman Ramon S. Ang, was nominated by the San Miguel Corp. Retirement Plan. She will fill the vacancy left by Ferdinand K. …

Consumer loan growth is expected to lose some momentum next year as softer economic activity, global uncertainties and shifting borrower sentiment weigh on demand, Bank of the Philippine Islands executives said. BPI head of consumer banking Maria Cristina Go said weaker consumer confidence could temper loan expansion in 2026 even as interest rates continue to ease. “We will be cautiously …

Two finance officials, speaking at different venues, expressed hope this week that the current political and social turmoil over corruption scandals in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) do not affect the nation’s economic performance. Finance Secretary Frederick Go plans to meet with his counterparts in the various departments such as tourism, agriculture, transportation, energy and public works …

By DAISY C. ILAGAN Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, who made a name in business selling T-shirts and other garment lines, created quite a ruckus recently when she claimed that for 500 pesos, a regular Filipino family can partake of decent food during the coming Noche Buena. Noche Buena, that long-running tradition of Filipino families sharing the Christmas eve meal together, …

Philippine trade deficit decreased in October as exports surged and imports contracted, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday. The $3.83-billion deficit was markedly lower than the year-earlier $5.81 billion, plunging by 34.2 percent, and also fell from $4.67 billion in September. China and Hong Kong, with a total of $1.832 billion goods bought, are the biggest …