ECCP at Work

ADB likely to cut PHL growth outlook anew

Growth projections for the Philippines are likely to be revised downward again as the prolonged conflict in the Middle East continues to weigh on economic activity, according to Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries.

Philippine financial system resources climb in Q1

The Philippine financial system’s total resources rose to P37.45 trillion in the first quarter of 2026 as the sector’s assets ballooned despite headwinds stemming from the Middle East war, preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

Sparse charging stations slowing Filipinos’ shift to EV

Although the war-driven rise in fuel prices has stoked greater interest in electric vehicles (EVs) in the Philippines, the country’s still-limited charging infrastructure risks slowing that transition, according to a study by global advisory firm Deloitte.

House passes WTE bill

The House of Representatives has endorsed for Senate approval a measure seeking to address the country’s worsening garbage problem and recurring flooding through waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies.

DOH’s proposed nutrient profile seen to hike food production costs

The government’s proposed nutrient profile model may drive up food manufacturing costs and affect the country’s agricultural exports, according to the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI).

ADB urges PHL to maximize PPPs

The Philippine government should maximize public-private partnerships (PPP) to help narrow the country’s infrastructure gap while easing fiscal pressure from rising debt levels, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

New rules make closing business easier – BIR

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued new guidelines simplifying the closure of businesses and cancellation of tax registrations, including faster tax clearance releases and the prevention of further penalty buildup.

New DBM chief: Never again a flood scandal

Newly-appointed Budget Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon pledged to hasten government spending and safeguard public funds so as not to repeat controversies from the past and accelerate economic growth.

ERC not suspending FIT-All collection despite rising costs

Despite rising electricity costs, the government has no plans to suspend the collection of the feed-in tariff allowance (FIT-All), a charge imposed on consumers to support renewable energy (RE) projects.

Prices of basic goods may inch up as manufacturers cite rising costs — DTI

Filipino consumers may soon experience slight increases in the prices of some basic goods as manufacturers continue to deal with rising fuel and logistics costs brought about by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

‘Education is a right’: Marcos vows gov’t support for students

Speaking before presidential scholars at the Obando Central School in Bulacan, Marcos highlighted the government’s responsibility to ensure that young Filipinos who want to pursue education have access to schools, learning opportunities, and financial support.

PH dairy sector seeks lift-off amid 99% import dependence

The Philippine dairy industry remains heavily dependent on imports, but its low local production base also points to a major growth opportunity for farmers, processors, investors, and food industry players, National Dairy Authority (NDA) Administrator and CEO Atty. Marcus T. Andaya told stakeholders at a recent European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) dialogue.

BoP deficit narrows to $2.1B in April

Steady inflows from remittances and the services sector despite emerging external pressures helped narrow the Philippines’ balance of payments (BoP) gap to a three-month low in April, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data showed.

Philippines will perform better in Q2 – Marcos

President Marcos is optimistic that the Philippine economy will perform better in the second quarter, but is wary about a possible stagflation – slow growth accompanied by rising inflation – as oil prices remain volatile because of the Middle East conflict.

BSP gives small banks relief on new credit exposure reporting rules

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is giving rural and cooperative banks more time to adjust to a new reporting system for their credit and equity exposures, offering temporary relief from penalties and longer grace periods for lenders that complied early during the maiden submission period.

Report: Green investments facing deployment risks

More than one-third of Southeast Asia’s announced green investments face deployment risk as weak power grids, permitting delays and policy bottlenecks slow the region’s energy transition, according to a report released by Bain & Company and Standard Chartered.

Government moves to restore confidence in Metro Rail PPP

The government is moving to rebuild private-sector confidence in rail public-private partnerships, drawing strong investor interest for the planned MRT-3 privatization while taking out a P3.6-billion loan to settle part of its obligations to the private operator of LRT-1.