ECCP at Work

GDP growth further skids to 2.3 percent in second quarter

The Philippine economy grew 2.3 percent in the second quarter, the slowest since the pandemic, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Friday. This was slower than the 2.8 percent clip seen in the first quarter, and much slower than the 5.4 percent growth booked in the second quarter of 2025. The Department of Economy, Planning and Development said economic expansion was weighed down by subdued domestic demand and declining public construction.

Philippines, Canada to hold next FTA talks in September

The Philippines and Canada, which are set to hold the next round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks next month, are on track to conclude negotiations within the year. Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty told reporters on the sidelines of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines’ forum, that the next round of FTA talks between the Philippines and Canada is scheduled next month.

WB sees room to hike revenue without raising statutory rates

While the Marcos administration is considering higher taxes to offset its proposed tax relief package, the World Bank said the government still has room to raise revenues by improving collection efficiency without increasing existing statutory rates. On Monday, the Department of Finance (DOF) said it would seek congressional approval for higher levies on sweetened beverages, tobacco and alcohol, single-use plastics and wealth to compensate for an estimated P326.92 billion in revenues that could be lost from proposed personal and corporate income tax relief.

Philippine exports seen resilient despite 12.5% US tariff

The Philippines’ merchandise exports are expected to weather the United States’ 12.5% tariff as exemptions for key products, particularly electronics and agricultural goods, help cushion the impact, analysts said.

Hot money swings to $4 billion net outflow in H1

Foreign investors pulled more money out of the Philippines than they brought in during the first half as global uncertainty, elevated oil prices and geopolitical risks drove investors toward safer dollar assets. Preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that foreign portfolio investments registered through authorized agent banks swung to a net outflow of $4.01 billion in the first half, reversing the $1.54-billion net inflow recorded a year ago.

July inflation eases to 6.2%; transport costs drive slowdown

Philippine inflation eased for the first time in four months to 6.2 percent in July from 6.4 percent in June, as transport costs rose at a slower pace, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Wednesday. The July reading brought average inflation in the first seven months of 2026 to 5 percent, National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa told reporters in a briefing.

First-quarter GDP growth unchanged at 2.8%

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday said it kept the country’s first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate unchanged at 2.8%. Meanwhile, gross national income growth — which measures GDP plus net primary income from the rest of the world — was revised downward to 2.9% from the 3% initially reported.

Factory output growth accelerates in June

Results of the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) released Thursday showed that the value of production index (VaPI) went up by 13.5 percent, faster than the 12.5 percent recorded expansion in May.

Electricity spot market prices decline in July

Wholesale electricity prices in the spot market went down in July due to lower demand, with an official of the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) expressing hope that this will continue.

Jobless rate rises to 4.9% in June

The unemployment rate climbed to 4.9 percent in June as the number of jobless Filipinos rose to 2.59 million, despite a month-on-month increase in total employment, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported Thursday.

Shares drop anew as investors cash in

The local stock market declined for the second straight session as investors opted to take profits late in the session. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slipped by 0.16 percent or 10.33 points to close at 6,286.31.

Japan lends Philippines P11.54 billion for health care

Japan is lending the Philippines P11.54 billion to help finance the next phase of the country's Universal Health Care program, as Manila works to turn its six-year-old health law into more accessible and reliable services. The loan will fund the Build Universal Health Care Program Subprogram 3-Emergency Support, or BUHC3, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday, August 4.

7 listed Philippines companies join Forbes’ Best Under $1 billion list

Seven publicly listed Philippine firms entered Forbes’ list of best Asian companies with sales of under $1 billion, showcasing their capability to sustain growth in a pressured environment.

In this year’s edition of Forbes Asia’s Best Under a Billion, seven listed Philippine companies joined a group of 200 small and mid-sized businesses that delivered notable financial performances in the face of economic and geopolitical challenges.

Philippine farm output growth slows in Q2

The Philippines’ agricultural sector posted slower growth of 2.9% in the second quarter, down from 6% a year earlier, despite improved output across all subsectors, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

BFAR to appeal SC ruling on vessel monitoring policy

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is determined to preserve one of its key enforcement tools against illegal fishing after the Supreme Court (SC) declared as unconstitutional the BFAR’s vessel monitoring regulation. The BFAR, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) tasked to implement the Fisheries Code of 1998, said it would ask the high tribunal to reevaluate the issues presented by both parties.

‘Philippines most vulnerable in ASEAN to El Niño’

The Philippines is likely to be the Southeast Asian economy hardest hit by an emerging strong El Niño, with Bank of America (BofA) expecting inflation to average 6.7 percent this year, the highest among major economies in the region.

Climate-resilient infrastructure

The current El Niño weather pattern has also played a part in keeping Mega Manila relatively dry so far this year. Unfortunately, Typhoon Carina in 2025, which was not predicted to be as strong as Ondoy, unluckily was aggravated by the southwest monsoon, bringing more rain that resulted in another unexpected flooding that matched the level of flooding caused by Ondoy.