ECCP at Work

Inflation may have sped up to 1.5% in June, poll shows
Consumer prices may have increased at a faster pace in June after the war in the Middle East triggered an oil price shock while some key food items got costlier.

Trade uncertainty dampens PHL business sentiment
Business sentiment in the Philippines declined in Q2 2025, with the BSP’s confidence index falling to 28.8% amid concerns over U.S. tariffs, post-election slowdown, and weaker demand, while consumer confidence also dipped due to inflation and lower income but showed signs of improvement for Q3.

DTI issues rules on digital badges
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has issued the rules for the implementation of the e-commerce trustmark aimed at promoting safety in online transactions.

NCR workers get P50 daily wage hike
Minimum wage earners in Metro Manila are getting a P50 daily wage increase — the highest pay hike ever granted by the National Wages and Productivity Commission — starting July 18, the Labor department said on Monday.

DTI eyes launch of Tatak Pinoy Strategy before SONA
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is aiming to launch the multi-year Tatak Pinoy Strategy before President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in late July. According to the Trade chief, the goal is for the Tatak Pinoy Strategy to help drive growth for local industries.

DOE readies blueprint for first Philippine nuclear plant
The Department of Energy (DOE) is laying the policy groundwork for the country’s first commercial nuclear power plant (NPP), aiming to attract investors and deliver cheaper power to Filipinos.

T-bill, bond rates may be mixed
Government bond and T-bill rates may move mixed this week amid Middle East tensions and U.S. Fed signals, while the BTr plans to borrow P690 billion domestically in Q3, slightly lower than the previous quarter.

DoF slashes this year’s privatization goal to P5B
The Department of Finance (DoF) slashed its privatization goal this year to just P5 billion, amid “slight delays” in selling government properties. It was aligned to changes to the medium fiscal term fiscal framework (MTFF) approved by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on June 26.

PHL’s trade gap reaches three-month low in May
The Philippines’ trade deficit in goods further slimmed to a three-month low in May as exports grew while imports continued to fall, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday. The trade deficit in May was the narrowest in three months or since the $2.97-billion gap recorded in February.

Central bank revises BoP forecasts for 2025, 2026
In a statement, the BSP said the overall BoP position is projected to end 2025 at a $6.3-billion deficit or -1.3% of gross domestic product (GDP), wider than the previous forecast of a $4-billion deficit or -0.8% of GDP.

21 renewable projects forwarded to NGCP for grid impact studies
The Department of Energy (DoE) endorsed 21 energy projects in May for system impact studies (SIS) by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

Rice-processing system expected to benefit 6,000 Nueva Ecija farmers
The system, which was funded through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, consists of two recirculating dryers and a multi-stage mill that can handle 2-3 metric tons of palay (unmilled rice) per hour, the DA said in a statement

Los Baños laboratory upgraded to increase high-yield planting materials output
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it rehabilitated a tissue culture laboratory in Los Baños, which specializes in high-yielding planting materials. The upgraded lab houses cultures of banana, ube, garlic, white potato, and other high-value crops, the DA said in a statement.

Japan private-sector rice imports soar in May
Japan’s private-sector rice imports rocketed higher in May as the country grapples with supply shortages that have become a major headache for both consumers and policymakers.