ECCP at Work

PHL lands its biggest FTA yet with EU

AFTER nearly a decade of on-and-off negotiations, the Philippines and the European Union (EU) have reached a substantial agreement on a free trade pact that is set to become the country’s biggest and most comprehensive trade deal.

PH Intellectual property body says ready to protect EU brands' IP rights 

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is ready to protect European brands and products as part of the Philippines - European Union Free Trade Agreement. Beyond just the elimination of tariffs, the FTA also covers the assurance to protect intellectual property rights on both sides.

ECCP Hosts ASEAN Transportation Forum 2026 to Advance Safety and Sustainability in Philippine Air, Land Mobility 

This year’s agenda will focus on three main pillars: Integrated Transport Safety & Management, Innovation and Smart Infrastructure in Transportation, and The Green Transition & Biofuels.

Asean-China trade seen hitting new highs in 2026

TRADE between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations  is expected to hit another historical high this year as economic ties between the two sides continue to expand despite growing uncertainty in global trade, Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said on Monday.

BCDA sees investments hitting over P100 billion on Pax Silica

INVESTMENT APPROVALS of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) are expected to exceed P100 billion this year, fueled by growing investor interest in New Clark City and upcoming projects under the US-led Pax Silica initiative.

Australia’s P2-billion program to focus on energy, infrastructure in the Philippines

THE Philippines and Australia are eyeing renewable energy, carbon markets, offshore wind and infrastructure as priority areas under Australia’s P2-billion (A$45-million) economic development program for the country.

ADB, S&P slash PH GDP growth forecasts for 2026

Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) and global debt watcher S&P Global Ratings sharply cut their growth forecasts for the Philippines this year, citing the fallout from the prolonged Middle East conflict, weak government spending and climate-related shocks.

BSP seen to extend tightening cycle until yearend

THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) may extend its tightening cycle until the end of 2026 if the looming minimum wage hike and the US Federal Reserve’s recent tightening amplify inflationary pressures, analysts said. 

BSP may deliver final 25-bp hike as inflation, peso risks linger — ANZ

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may end its tightening cycle with one final quarter-point hike to contain risks lingering from elevated inflation and a weak peso, New Zealand-based ANZ Research said.

BOC, BI develop proposed joint SOP for coordinated border operations

The proposed SOP lays out specific protocols covering intelligence sharing, coordinated screening, inter-agency handover, and coordinated secondary inspection, among other mechanisms designed to improve operational efficiency and information exchange between BOC and BI personnel, BOC said.

Renewed price pressures likely capped disinflation trend in September

RENEWED price pressures from fuel and food in September may have ended four straight months of easing inflation in the Philippines, raising the prospect of further central bank tightening, according to analysts.

ADB opens $1.5-B lifeline for PH 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday approved $1.5 billion in financing to help the Philippine government cushion the economy from the fallout of the Middle East crisis and bridge its widening fiscal gap.

Flood control scandal stalls public investment, weighs on Philippine growth—Barclays

Infrastructure spending remains in decline, indicating that the national government (NG) is grappling with restarting public investments after the fiscal injury from the high-profile flood control corruption in 2025, British banking giant Barclays said.

Philippine IT-BPM industry bullish on hitting $50-B revenues by 2028

THE PHILIPPINE information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) industry is optimistic it can generate as much as $50 billion in revenues by 2028, driven by the expansion of global capability centers (GCCs) and a shift toward higher-value roles, the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said.

BIR pilots digital document tracking system to boost accountability, cut delays

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has launched a pilot run of a digital tracking platform designed to monitor the movement of official records across its offices to boost internal transparency and shorten processing times for taxpayers.

Physical Intelligence registers with PEZA, plans to build ‘data factory’

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it registered artificial intelligence (AI) research firm Physical Intelligence, Inc. (PII) as a new ecozone information technology (IT) enterprise.

Philippines faces heightened instability as food, fuel shock hits region

A looming, record-breaking El Niño, compounded by pressure on oil supplies, threatens food security across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, with the potential to fuel social unrest and political instability.

DBM seeks 7-fold boost in 2027 EV program budget to P229 million

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is asking Congress for an almost P229-million budget for the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Program (EVIDP) for 2027 as the country further reduces its dependence on imported fossil fuel and transitions to cleaner transportation.

Long weekend! Marcos declares November 16 to 18 as special non-working days in Metro Manila

President Marcos has declared Nov. 16 to 18 as special non-working days in the National Capital Region (NCR) to accommodate the country's hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Cebu Pacific says AI speeds up internal workflows

Cebu Pacific said artificial intelligence (AI) tools have shortened processing times in several internal workflows, including legal contract reviews, project intake, and engineering reference searches.