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The Philippines faces economic headwinds in the first half of 2016 despite the start of the campaign period for the national elections when consumer spending related to the polls are expected to surge, the United kingdom-based Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) said in a report. Still, SCB said the overall outlook is good in the second half.

By Luis Leoncio Business confidence rose to its highest level for the past two years as the economy maintained a healthy momentum coupled by an expected pickup in consumer spending in the runup to the elections next year.The closely watched overall confidence index (CI) grew to 51.3 percent in the third quarter of thre year, from 41.4 percent a year …

By Luis Leoncio The 6-percent economic growth in the third quarter that the gov­ernment trumpeted as “among the fastest in Asia” failed to impress the market, which was, in fact, disappoint­ed by the lower-than-expected figure.

By Riza Lozada The approval of next year’s budget before the end of the year has become a certainty, with the Senate practically railroading it—members of the chamber approved the budget proposal on second and third readings on the same day—despite many questions raised by several experts and even some senators themselves.

The tax-cut measure pending in the Congress is dead in the water, for all intents and purposes.

By Bullit Marquez / The Associated Press Clark air base—The Philippines on Saturday took delivery of two Korean-made fighter jets — the country’s first supersonic combat aircraft in a decade — as it strengthens its underfunded military amid an escalating territorial feud with China.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has started spread­ing holiday cheer to thou­sands of less privileged Fili­pinos through its traditional Pamaskong Handog gift-giv­ing project this year. Pagcor allocated P21 million for it. The state-run agency’s 12 days of gift-giving started November 27 and will run up December 17. It is expected to benefit 10,000 less fortu­nate Filipinos under the …

By Riza Lozada  Land, building and property developers remain upbeat on the economy, and three of them planning initial public offerings (IPOs) that aim to raise a total of P23.77 billion before the end of the year. 

By Luis Leoncio  Is President Benigno Aquino III,prepared to endorse Charter change and risk alienating some of his most influential allies at this time when he needs their support for his candidates in the coming elections? 

Kuala Lumpur—Southeast Asian leaders on Saturday opened a weekend summit that will bear the fruits of eight years of labor—the formal launch of a unified economic community in a diverse region far larger than the European Union or North America, with hopes of competing with China and India.