ECCP at Work

Philippines lags ASEAN neighbors in FDI Confidence Index

The Philippines dropped two spots to 18th out of 25 emerging markets in the 2026 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index by global management consulting firm Kearney. 

Excise tax on LPG, kerosene suspended

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday said he approved the suspension of excise taxes on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene to soften the impact of rising fuel costs on households, while leaving levies on gasoline and diesel unchanged.

DOE cites 3 fuel price trajectories, all difficult

The Department of Energy on Monday laid out three possible fuel price trajectories on Monday, warning that global pump prices remain highly sensitive to developments following a two-week ceasefire in a key Middle East conflict.

Amro: Philippines’ debt burden to ease in 2026

The Philippines’ debt burden is expected to ease modestly this year, but its fiscal position remains constrained by one of the weakest revenue performances in the region, the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (Amro) said.

DEPDev calls for capital cuts to help fund govt response to MidEast crisis fallout

Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on Monday urged lawmakers to work within the approved 2026 budget and, if necessary, trim capital outlays to help finance the government’s response to the economic impact of the Middle East conflict.

NG gross borrowings jump over 40% in Feb.

The National Government’s (NG) gross borrowings grew by over 40% in February amid a surge in domestic borrowings, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.

Prolonged-war scenario seen cutting PHL growth to 3.79%

Philippine growth could slow to 3.79% in 2026 if the war in the Middle East is prolonged and becomes a routine feature of the economy, De La Salle University (DLSU) said in a report.

Asean energy meetings shift to online as oil crisis lingers

The remaining ASEAN energy meetings will proceed virtually this year as the ongoing global oil crisis prompts the Philippines to adopt more cost-efficient and energy-conscious approaches.

BSP eyes lower capital charge to boost green home financing

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is proposing to sharply cut the credit risk weight on sustainable housing loans to 20 percent from the current 50 percent, in a bid to encourage banks to expand financing for climate-resilient homes.

Gov’t to repay CARS participants by 2027

The government is expected to repay car manufacturers participating in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program by next year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.