ECCP at Work

Fiscal gap shrinks as spending slows

The Philippines’ budget deficit narrowed in September, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said on Thursday, as corruption probes into flood control projects slowed government spending.

Flood control scandal could weigh on PHL growth — BMI

The Philippines’ economic growth outlook for 2025 and 2026 could weaken as a widening flood control corruption probe erodes business confidence and dampens infrastructure spending, Fitch Solutions unit BMI said.

ERC to lift capacity cap on new plants

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is looking to remove the capacity limit on prospective power plants, allowing developers to build larger-scale projects.

Gibo warning: Military meddling may lead to int’l economic sanctions

Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr yesterday warned of possible international economic sanctions against the Philippines if the military intervenes amid allegations of corruption in government’s flood control and other projects.

DENR to offer 50 idle mining assets for competitive bidding

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will open at least 50 mining assets with expired or canceled contracts for public bidding as early as November, signaling a shift toward transparent, competitive allocation of mineral projects.

EV maker in initial talks to make cars in PHL

An electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has sent feelers to the government about the possibility of building EVs in the Philippines, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) said.

CAB keeps fuel surcharge steady in November

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) kept the airline fuel surcharge steady for the fourth month in a row in November, allowing travelers to book flights without worrying about extra cost.

‘Half of cars on roads by 2040 to be e-vehicles’

The Philippine Electric Vehicle industry is targeting to make electric vehicles account for at least 50 percent of all vehicles plying the country’s roads by 2040.

₱3B sought from government for coffee programs

The government should allocate P3 billion from the competitiveness enhancement measures fund (CEMF) to bankroll programs for the local coffee sector in 2026, according to industry leaders.

SEC to tighten rules on beneficial ownership

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to introduce reforms for greater transparency in corporations’ beneficial ownership.

Non-renewable energy resources valuation falls 13.2% to P285.73B

The Philippine Statistics Authority said the value of the country’s non-renewable energy resources fell 13.2% to P285.73 billion in 2024 due to dwindling reserves of coal, oil, natural gas, and condensate. Non-renewable energy resources accounted for only 0.16% of gross domestic product in 2024, it added.

DoF sees digitalization deterring misuse of taxes

The Department of Finance (DoF) said digital reforms will mitigate corruption and rebuild trust in tax administration, as the government faces questions about corruption in flood control projects.

DICT working to obtain loan for middle-mile fiber project 

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it is working to obtain foreign loans to finance the middle-mile fiber component of the national broadband plan.

Marcos unveils unified toll collection system

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday unveiled a unified toll collection system that will let motorists use a single radio frequency identification (RFID) sticker across all expressways in Luzon, a measure aimed at easing congestion, cutting travel time and advancing the government’s digital transport modernization drive.

Typhoons could slow PHL growth — IMF

The Philippine economy could face stronger inflationary pressures and slower growth as increasingly frequent and severe typhoons disrupt supply chains and farm production, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said.

PHL now a cybersecurity ‘hotspot’ in Southeast Asia

The Philippines has emerged as a cybersecurity “hotspot” in Southeast Asia, ranking among the region’s “most at risk” countries for industrial cyberattacks—with nearly one in five Industrial Control System (ICS) computers encountering malicious activity in the second quarter of 2025, according to the latest data from cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.

Construction permits down in August

New construction projects declined in August as the number of approved building permits went down by two percent from a year ago amid rising costs of materials and unfavorable weather conditions.