Inflation quickens to 2.5% in November
Inflation sped up to 2.5 percent in November, from 2.3 percent in the preceding month, on back of higher food prices following the onslaught of powerful typhoons late in the season.

Unemployment, underemployment rates climb in October
The Philippines posted higher unemployment and underemployment rates in October compared to September, the Philippine Statistics Authority said. PSA Undersecretary and National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the jobless rate was at 3.9 percent in October.

Marcos says PH aiming to be leading global investment hub
The administration has been “trying very hard” to make the Philippines a leading investment hub in the world, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.

NG debt reaches record P16 trillion
The National Government’s (NG) outstanding debt inched up to a fresh high of P16.02 trillion as of end-October amid the peso’s depreciation against the US dollar, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.

BOI-approved investments surged 44% to P1.58T in 11 months
The government’s lead investment promotions agency approved P1.58 trillion in planned investments from January to November 2024, with the value surging by 44 percent from P1.1 trillion in the same period a year ago, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Angara eyes 2 programs to address classroom shortage
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said he is eyeing PPP sand Adopt-a-School Program to address the perennial problem of classroom shortage in the country’s public schools. Last October, Angara appealed to the private sector for help to solve the crisis in basic education when he spoke before the ECCP.

DTI: Ecozones should be integrated with domestic economy to reap gains
Economic zones should be integrated with the domestic economy to benefit from the “spillover effects” arising from new investments, according to an official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Marcos bullish about PH’s exit from financial watchdog’s ‘gray’ list
President Marcos on Wednesday vowed to end the country’s struggle to comply with international laws on money laundering and terrorist financing. “I know that it’s not spoken about a great deal in the public domain,” Marcos said during the 33rd Anti-Terrorism Council meeting and year-end celebration in Malacañang.

3% of cyber threats in region target PHL firms — study
Threats targeting local companies continued to increase in the first half of the year, according to global cybersecurity company Kaspersky, with the Philippines accounting for about 3% of the online attacks recorded in Southeast Asia.

ADB approves $2.85-M package to support PHL energy transition
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a combined $2.85-million package for the Philippines to address climate change and expand access to renewable energy. The package was approved on Nov. 28, the bank said on its website on Tuesday.

‘Green lane’ bill seen making EO reforms more permanent
The Board of Investments (BoI) said the bill that will turn the “green lane” scheme for expediting approvals of strategic projects into a law will give the reforms continuity across administrations. Ernesto C. Delos Reyes, director of the BoI Investment Assistance Service and One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSACSI), said the agency welcomes the unanimous approval on Monday by the House Ways and Means Committee of House Bill (HB) 8039.

Clark airport hailed 'Airport of the Year'
Clark International Airport in Pampanga received the International Airport of the Year - Philippines title at this year's TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards - Asia. The premier awards program in the Asia-Pacific region organized by Travel Daily Media recognizes achievements in the travel and tourism industry, highlighting the best in class and setting benchmarks for excellence.

Philippine workers top study on pay satisfaction
Employees in the Philippines topped a global survey of workers who consider themselves “fairly paid,” according to WorkL’s Global Workplace Report, with 79% of them expressing satisfaction with their compensation. The pay workers receive monthly is not the only factor, the company added. Others include flexibility, home/hybrid work, travel and childcare.

Sprout launches AI-powered time and billing solution for PHL firms
Business solutions provider Sprout Solutions has launched an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform that streamlines key administrative processes for Philippine businesses. It automates administrative tasks to boost efficiency and productivity in businesses that are part of industries like accounting, consulting, law, and architecture.

AI-driven ad fraud worries Asia-Pacific marketers
Over 50% of marketers in Asia-Pacific (APAC) are worried about the harmful effects of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven fraud on advertising, according to a report. The rising adoption of AI technologies in the Philippines has resulted in more sophisticated AI-driven fraud schemes that target high-value media environments, said Tinee Cruz, senior sales director of DV Philippines.

US economist says high tobacco tax incentivizes illicit trade in PH
Excessive tax rate increase on tobacco products can incentivize illicit trade, resulting in lower government revenues, according to a noted American economist. He mentioned that the Philippines’ tobacco excise tax rate reached a “prohibitive range” as tax rates have exceeded the revenue-maximizing rate.

BSP, FIs complete test for Project Agila, the central bank’s own digital currency
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and participating financial institutions (FIs) have completed the testing for Project Agila, the proof of concept for the central bank’s digital currency. In a statement, BSP said the testing was conducted to see if FIs will be able to transfer funds to each other even during off-business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Phivolcs equipment adequate, expansion needed–DOST chief 
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) head Renato Solidum, Jr. said on Wednesday that the current equipment of Philvolcs to monitor volcanic, earthquake, and tsunami activities need to be improved.

WTO urges PHL: Tap into $50-M fund for women exporters in digital economy
World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has urged the Philippines to apply to be an in-country partner for the $50-million Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, which aims to help grow the businesses of women-led enterprises.

PHL, EU eye loans to stir up ‘green’ economy investment
The Philippine government and the European Union (EU) are looking into loan financing with EU grants and guarantees to spur investments in the “green economy,” according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

PH's Apo Reef, 2 others named ASEAN’s newest heritage parks
Three prominent nature destinations in the Philippines— the Apo Reef, Turtle Islands, and Balinsasayao Twin Lakes— have been listed among ASEAN’s five newest heritage parks.

DOST launches PROPEL commercialization initiative
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched on Thursday what they call the PROPEL program, aiming to fast-track the commercialization of startups and enterprises' innovations. The program seeks to leverage digital platforms to open up remote collaboration and market access for Filipino businesses to showcase their products to global audiences.

Asia-Pacific airlines ride wave of e-commerce boom
Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region are seeing busier cargo operations as they deliver more packages of online shoppers across the borders, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Local rice stockpile up 24% but corn supply down 21%
Local rice inventory has climbed by nearly a quarter this year, bolstered by higher stocks of the commercial sector and the National Food Authority (NFA), while corn stocks declined.