Press Releases

Makati City, Philippines – 04 December 2025 — The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) successfully held the 2026 Philippine Economic Outlook at the Dusit Thani, Makati City, bringing together key policymakers, economists, and business leaders to assess the country’s economic performance and outlook for the year ahead. 

The forum convened leaders from the European and Philippine business communities to discuss macroeconomic trends, growth projections, and investment opportunities amid persistent global uncertainties and domestic challenges. Against a backdrop of global trade tensions, tariff developments, and climate-related risks, the discussions underscored the Philippines’ continued resilience and strong growth fundamentals heading into 2026. 

In his Welcome Remarks, ECCP President Mr. Paulo Duarte emphasized the importance of taking an honest look at the numbers and the narratives shaping the Philippine economy in 2026. He stated that “[While] the Philippines is projected to remain one of Southeast Asia’s faster-growing economies, supported by a young and dynamic workforce, resilient remittances, and continued investments in infrastructure and social services, we cannot overlook the challenges and uncertainties looming as we transition into the coming year.” Highlighting that by only addressing the challenges, is the Philippines going to unlock its true potential economically. 

The program featured Business and Investment Perspectives from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), delivered by SEC Chairman Hon. Francis Edralin Lim, followed by a fireside chat that explored recent regulatory developments and their implications for capital market growth and investor confidence in the Philippines. In his presentation, Chairman Lim mentioned that the economy has growing momentum, and followed it by saying that “Momentum alone is not enough. Investors—especially foreign investors—need a regulatory environment that is clear, efficient, and trustworthy. And at this moment, as the nation confronts the flood control scandal, the SEC chooses not to retreat.” Stating further that “Our goal is to make the SEC a beacon of certainty and trust—one of the brightest forces powering our economy and new investments. A reliable regulatory environment remains essential for foreign investors expanding into the Philippines.” 

Providing the monetary policy outlook, Mr. Dennis D. Lapid, Managing Director of the Department of Economic Research of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), presented the BSP’s assessment of inflation, growth, and financial stability for 2026. He shared his main key takeaways, saying “The benign inflation outlook provides room for calibrated monetary policy easing, even as business and consumer sentiment have softened, weighing on domestic demand and signaling a possible moderation in near-term growth momentum. Nevertheless, adequate external buffers and a resilient banking system continue to provide strong support for domestic economic activity. In this context, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas remains committed to safeguarding the economy’s resilience against both global and domestic headwinds.” 

On regional and development perspectives, Mr. Andrew Jeffries, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Philippines, discussed the country’s growth prospects and development priorities. He emphasized the crucial role of infrastructure investment, climate resilience, and human capital development in sustaining long-term, inclusive growth and strengthening the Philippines’ position in the regional economy. 

From the banking and investor standpoint, Mr. Jun Palanca, Managing Director and Country Manager of ING Bank N.V., shared insights on investment opportunities for 2026, highlighting the bottomline, saying “Despite slower-than-expected economic growth in the third quarter of 2025, the Philippines remains well-positioned for medium-term expansion, supported by strong demographics, ongoing structural reforms, and accelerating digitalization that continue to unlock demand across key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, food and beverage, agriculture, and technology. The country’s economic fundamentals remain sound, as evidenced by S&P’s affirmation of the Philippines’ BBB+ sovereign credit rating with a positive outlook. While execution risks and supply-side constraints persist, sustained investment momentum and improving policy frameworks across priority sectors—including Energy, TMT, Infrastructure, and FB&A—present a compelling case for long-term capital participation in the country’s growth cycle. That said, political risks remain, and continued growth will largely depend on the government’s ability to address concerns over corruption and ensure the effective execution of economic reforms.” 

The event also featured the launch of the 2025 ECCP Business Sentiment Survey. The survey captured the collective outlook of ECCP members across 24 sector committees, reflecting business confidence, investment plans, and key policy concerns for the year ahead. These results will help inform ECCP’s policy advocacy and engagement with government stakeholders. 

A high-level panel discussion followed, featuring Mr. Stephen Sieh of Deloitte Philippines, Mr. Dennis D. Lapid of the BSP, Mr. Andrew Jeffries of ADB, and Mr. Jun Palanca of ING, and was moderated by Atty. Richie Avigale Ramos-Pilares, Senior Partner of DivinaLaw. Panelists shared cross-sector perspectives on economic risks, growth drivers, trade and investment dynamics, and the strategic outlook for businesses operating in the Philippines in 2026. 

The forum underscored the shared optimism of the public and private sectors for the Philippine economy, while also emphasizing the need for prudent policymaking, sustained reforms, and adaptive business strategies in an evolving global environment. Through the 2026 Philippine Economic Outlook, the ECCP reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a more competitive, resilient, and investment-ready Philippine business environment.