ECCP at Work

S&P cuts PHL outlook to ‘stable’ on Middle East risks

S&P Global Ratings revised the Philippines’ credit outlook to “stable” from “positive,” citing risks to the country’s external and fiscal position from surging energy prices due to the Middle East conflict and a slowdown in infrastructure spending.

Gov’t eyes P60-billion EV incentives

The Philippine government is looking to earmark P60 billion to support the local manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs), with the Department of Trade and Industry citing rising fuel costs and the need to reduce reliance on gasoline-powered vehicles.

BSP flags rising inflation risks

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) signaled growing concern over inflation risks after March price growth breached its forecast range, prompting analysts to reassess the central bank’s next move, with some now seeing a rate hike as early as this month.

Diesel price rollback seen possible if MidEast truce holds this week

Diesel prices may finally post their first rollback since December 23 last year if easing tensions in the Middle East continue to soften global fuel benchmarks through the end of trading this week, a local fuel retailer said on Thursday.

Talent index puts PHL at top of outsourcing workforce

The Philippines remains home to the world’s top outsourcing workforce, according to global outsourcing firm Ataraxis.

Philippine meat imports up nearly 50% in February

For the second straight month, the Philippines ramped up meat imports by almost 50 percent in February, fueled by stronger demand from food manufacturers and restaurants.

WORLD BANK CUTS PH 2026 GROWTH FORECAST TO 3.7% ON WAR SHOCK

The World Bank said it has cut its 2026 growth forecast for the Philippines to 3.7 percent from 5.3 percent it projected in January, citing the country’s heavy exposure to the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict through energy and fertilizer imports, as well as remittances from Filipinos in the Gulf.

New SIPP expected by next SONA in July

The Board of Investments (BoI) said it is planning to release the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) 2025-2028 before the President delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.

Malacañang assures business of help in addressing fuel, logistics pressures

Malacañang assured the business sector it is moving to address rising logistics costs, port congestion and other supply-chain pressures as the government works to cushion the domestic fallout from the Middle East conflict.

DTI cuts back on overseas investment missions amid crisis

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has begun scaling back its international investment promotion activities to manage costs, as the Middle East war drives up fuel prices and clouds the agency’s outlook for 2026.

PHL 2025 GDP growth left unrevised at 4.4%

Economic growth in 2025 was left unrevised at 4.4%, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Wednesday. It said the gross domestic product (GDP) was as initially reported on Jan. 29.

Foreign chambers bat for cloud-computing investment to facilitate e-government 

The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines called for increased investment in cloud computing  to further streamline the delivery of public services. In a statement on Wednesday, the groups said they support the shift to e-governance to modernize public administration and boost the Philippine competitiveness.