Philippines Q4 GDP grows by 5.2%
The Philippine economy expanded an annual 5.2% in fourth quarter from a year earlier, official data showed on Thursday, missing the median forecast of 5.4% growth in a Reuters poll of economists.

Mining groups back Senate Bill 2826’s fiscal provisions but reject raw ore export ban, citing economic concerns 
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) and the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) expressed their support behind the fiscal provisions of Senate Bill 2826, which passed on second reading on Tuesday.

ECCP opens 2025 with annual New Year's reception
The European-Philippine business community kicked off 2025 at a New Year’s reception hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) on Jan. 23 at Dusit Thani Manila. Drawing over 300 attendees, including government officials and foreign diplomats, the annual event fostered reconnections and meaningful discussions.

PHL fails to meet 2024 growth goal
The Philippine economy expanded by a weaker-than-expected 5.2% in the fourth quarter, bringing the full-year growth to below the government’s target amid subdued consumption and lower farm output.

PHL on track to exit ‘gray list’ by February 
The Philippines is so far on track to achieve its target of exiting the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “gray list” by next month, the central bank’s top official said.

DTI banks on new incentives scheme to sell PH to the world
Foreign investors have cities four unique reasons why they choose to invest in the Philippines: incentives, ease of doing business, availability of English-speaking talent and the natural beauty of the country, according to Secretary Cristina Roque of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Recovery in consumption seen to fuel PHL growth
A recovery in household consumption could drive Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth to the 6% range this year, HSBC Global Research said.

ADB approves $500M loan for Philippine labor market reforms
The Philippines has secured a $500M policy-based loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that will fund the government’s labor market programs and reforms aimed at boosting job creation.

Mining permit process to be streamlined—DENR
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it will streamline the process for obtaining mining exploration permits, mineral agreements, and financial or technical assistance agreements (FTAA).

Food security emergency likely to be declared within two days
The Philippine government would likely declare a food security emergency within two days to enable the local rice agency to release buffer stocks amid stubbornly high rice prices, a Trade official told a House of Representative committee on Tuesday.

Peso could overshoot DBCC assumptions until 2026 – BSP
The peso-dollar exchange rate could breach the government’s assumptions from this year to 2026 amid slower rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said. “The exchange rate could settle slightly above the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) assumptions for 2025 and 2026,” it said in its latest monetary report.

2024 farm output shrinks 2.2%
The Philippines’ agricultural output contracted by a record 2.2% in 2024, as farm production continued to decline in the fourth quarter

Peso inches lower before Feb meeting
The Peso slipped against the dollar on Tuesday at the US Federal Reserve was set to begin its two-day policy meeting overning.

Inflation likely within target until ‘26
Private sector economists expect inflation to remain within the central bank’s 2-4% target from this year to 2026, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

Speaker orders House to fast-track wage bills 
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday ordered the House of Representatives to fast-track hearings on a proposed legislated wage hike, which has been stalled at the labor committee for eight months.

BSP’s term deposits fetch lower yields on easing bets, GDP data
Term deposit yields inched lower on Thursday on expectations of further rate cuts by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) following slower-than-expected Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2024.

ADB approves $500-M PHL loan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $500-million policy-based loan for the Philippines to boost disaster resilience and response.

BIR estimates 2024 tobacco revenue at $7.3B
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. on Tuesday gave a preliminary estimate for Philippine tobacco revenue at $7.3 billion in 2024.

Crowdfunding generates P2.2 billion for MSMEs 
Crowdfunding as an accessible and viable capital-raising option for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country is gaining traction, generating over P2 billion in fresh funds for small businesses.

Maharlika interested in Chinese stake in NGCP
Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) is interested in acquiring State Grid Corp. of China’s (SGCC) stake in the sole operator of the Philippines’ power grid.

Gov’t fully awards dual-tranche bond offer amid heavy demand 
The government made a full award of its dual-tranche Treasury bond (T-bond) offer on Tuesday as both tenors’ rates were below secondary market levels amid strong market interest, a decline in US yields, and expectations of a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) cut next month.

House approves tobacco tracking bill on 2nd reading 
The House of Representatives approved on second reading a measure that will introduce a track-and-trace system for tobacco products, a proposal seen deterring smuggled cigarettes.

Senate approves measure that will raise gov’t share in mining profits
The Philippine Senate on Tuesday evening approved on second reading a bill that seeks to set up a five-tier margin-based royalty and windfall profit system for the mining industry, which is expected to raise the government’s share in mining profits.

House OKs DBP charter on final reading 
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third reading a bill that will replace the current charter of state-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to raise its authorized capital stock and allow it to conduct an initial public offering.

6 airports lined up for privatization this year 
Six airports are lined up for privatization under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme and three more airports will be night rated this year, according to state-run Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Senate bill extending Meralco Franchise OK'd on 2nd reading
The Senate on Tuesday approved on second reading a bill that seeks to extend Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) franchise for another 25 years.

Slight infra delays expected as poll spending ban looms
Some public works projects are expected to experience minor delays due to the spending ban leading up to the midterm elections in May, government contractors said.

Low rates not enough to boost lending—study 
Rate cuts do not necessarily boost credit activity even as monetary policy is seen to influence bank lending, a study by researchers from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

PAL's 15-B share listing may attract value investors – analysts
The listing of over 15 billion shares by flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), operated by PAL Holdings, Inc. on the stock exchange may spur investor interest as it is expected to improve the country’s market visibility, according to analysts.

16 companies on SEC, PSE radar for IPO
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is tracking 16 potential companies that may go public, according to its chairman. “As for public listing, we currently have 16 leads, which we are still monitoring together with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE),” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said during his keynote message at the last leg of its Roadshow on Capital Formation for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups in Makati City on Tuesday.

BSP weighs risks from inflation in 2025, 2026
IF oil prices shoot up to $90 to $100 per barrel, the country’s inflation rate could breach the government target this year and next year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Based on the Monetary Policy Report (MPR), the BSP estimated that should oil prices reach $90 per barrel, inflation could reach 4.1 percent this year and 4.4 percent next year.

2024 fisheries output dips by 5%, lowest in 2 decades
FISHERIES output fell by 5 percent to 4.05 million metric tons (MMT) in 2024, the lowest in two decades, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Preliminary data from the PSA showed that the total volume of fisheries production last year was lower than the 4.26 MMT in 2023. PSA figures also showed that the 2024 volume was the lowest since the 3.93 MMT recorded in 2004.

P200 wage hike floated after House, labor meet 
Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed on Wednesday that the House of Representatives would speed up deliberations on a bill raising the daily minimum wage, saying it should strike a balance between the workers’ needs and employers’ interests.