ECCP at Work

Marcos to ‘safeguard economic stability’

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.  has vowed that his government will create the necessary conditions that will enable the economy to grow faster.

S&P affirms Philippines’ investment grade credit rating

S&P Global Ratings on Thursday affirmed the Philippines’ investment grade credit rating with a “positive” outlook, noting that its growth prospects remain strong even as the corruption scandal weighs on the economy this year.

Philippines jumps to 75th in talent competitiveness index

The Philippines jumped nine spots in an annual ranking of countries’ ability to attract and retain talent, according to a report by business school Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) and the  Portulans Institute.

Philippine trade deficit down 34% in Oct on strong exports, sluggish imports

The country’s trade deficit narrowed by more than a third in October as exports posted a double-digit growth while imports contracted, latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.

European chamber, local manufacturers support standard tax audit reforms

The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said Thursday they strongly support the actions of Finance Secretary Frederick Go and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza to fix systemic tax administration issues and protect taxpayer rights.

PhilATOM law IRR expected early next year

The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the law establishing the nuclear regulator are expected to be released early next year, according to the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).

956 MW in new power capacity, 160 MW storage added to grid

Some 956 megawatts (MW) of new capacity was added to the power grid so far this year, as well as 160 MW in new energy storage systems, the Department of Energy (DoE) said.

ERC hopes to complete NGCP rate reset in 2026

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said it hopes to resolve the rate review of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) for the fifth regulatory period (5RP) by early next year.

New AI-powered advisory tool for farmers launched

The country’s rice research agency has rolled out the first artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem for agricultural information, starting with a multilingual chatbot designed to give farmers round-the-clock guidance on crop management.

Philippines’ GDP growth projected to stay stuck near 4%

The widening corruption scandal—already eroding business confidence and prompting a shake-up in the administration—threatens to keep economic growth stuck in the 4-percent range for the next two to three quarters, complicating President Marcos’s bid to meet his own ambitious targets.

IAEA to aid PHL in nuclear energy transition; PBBM’s technical knowledge seen as key to advancing SMR cooperation

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to deepen its cooperation with the Philippines to support the country’s transition toward nuclear energy, with discussions centering on the adaptability of small modular reactors (SMRs) to local conditions.

PHL digital economy on track to hit $36B in 2025

The Philippines’ digital economy is set to hit $36 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) this year, supported by rapid adoption of e-commerce, transport and delivery services, digital finance and artificial intelligence (AI), according to a report by Google, Temasek Holdings and Bain & Company.

Offshore wind auction now set for next year

The Department of Energy (DoE) said it moved the auction for the fifth green energy auction (GEA-5) round to next year. GEA-5, the first auction dedicated solely to offshore wind projects, is now expected to take place within the first half of 2026, or 190 days after the delayed release of the notice of auction on Tuesday.

PHL semiconductor exports set for 5% growth next year

The Philippines’ semiconductor and electronics sector is poised for a modest rebound next year, with exports projected to rise 5% as demand for advanced technologies continues to climb, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) said.

DA readies public reporting platform amid concerns over farm road abuses

The government is preparing to launch a crowdsourced monitoring system for farm-to-market roads (FMRs) as concerns persist over incomplete, substandard or irregularly implemented rural infrastructure.

New guidelines on pork imports out next week

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will release new rules next week on the volume of pork that can be imported at reduced tariffs, a move aimed at stabilizing domestic pork prices and ensuring fairer access for local processors.