ECCP at Work

‘Moderately free’ Philippines improves in economic freedom

The Philippines improved five spots to 77th out of 176 countries as its economy remains “moderately free,” according to a global index on economic freedom by The Heritage Foundation.

Cash remittances jump by 3.5% in January

Money sent home by Filipinos abroad climbed by 3.5% year on year in January as a weak peso boosted foreign exchange gains, preliminary Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data showed.

Marcos pushes urgent biofuels law amendment

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has certified as urgent a measure amending the biofuels law amid soaring gas prices caused by the Israel-Iran war. 

DA eyes P1-B boost from agrifood investment forum

The Department of Agriculture (DA) hopes to clinch some P1 billion in investment deals from the inaugural Philippine edition of the global agrifood investment forum scheduled next month.

To push regional growth, DepDev pushes more PPP’s

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) is seeking stronger collaboration with the private sector through public-private partnerships (PPPs) to accelerate regional growth.

ADB to cut PHL growth projection

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is looking to cut its growth forecast for the Philippines amid risks from the escalating war in the Middle East and the lingering effects of the flood control graft mess last year.

Philippines’ current account gap narrows to $16.3B in 2025

Strong exports growth and remittance inflows led the Philippines’ current account deficit to narrow at end-2025, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.

Foreign debt slips to $147.65 billion in Q4

The country’s foreign debt edged lower in the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting net sales of Philippine debt securities by non-residents and favorable currency movements, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

DOF secures $800-M World Bank loan for investments, job creation 

The Marcos administration has secured from the World Bank Group an $800-million development loan to strengthen public spending and boost job creation.

PHL floats ‘Asean Geoeconomic Group’ concept

Southeast Asian economies may soon have a more formal platform to navigate global economic shifts, as the Philippines proposed elevating the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) geoeconomics task force into a permanent regional body.

DOTr orders cut in airport charges, navigation fees amid higher jet fuel prices

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), together with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), is set to implement measures to ease the burden on airlines and passengers,  following the sharp increase in global jet fuel prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.

Australia, EU signal progress in trade negotiations

Australia and the European Union reported renewed momentum in trade negotiations, with officials expressing confidence that a long-delayed agreement could soon be reached despite past disputes over agriculture and market access.