ECCP at Work

PHL healthcare has an accessibility problem, ECCP says

The Philippine healthcare industry needs faster regulatory processes and increased public health financing to boost access to affordable and specialized healthcare, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said.

Weak primary care system drives high out-of-pocket health costs in Philippines, experts say

Filipinos continue to shoulder high out-of-pocket medical expenses due to gaps in primary care and fragmented service delivery, speakers said at the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) Healthcare Forum on June 18 in Makati City.

Government sets 3.5–4.5% growth target for 2026

The government is now expecting the country’s economy to grow between 3.5 percent and 4.5 percent this year due to the impact of the Middle East conflict and the lingering effect of the flood control controversy, according to the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev). 

Philippines eyes $1.5 billion ADB financing for ME crisis response

The government is seeking up to $1.5 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support state programs aiming to cushion the economic shock from the Middle East crisis, Finance Secretary Frederick Go said.

Marcos gives ‘high priority’ to luring semicon, AI investors

President Marcos has directed agencies to offer perks that will attract semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) investors, describing as a “high national priority” the luring of high-impact industries to the country.

Business groups support Philippines’ QDMTT push

Business groups expressed support for the Philippine government’s planned implementation of the Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax (QDMTT), saying the measure would strengthen the country’s taxing rights but require careful execution to avoid discouraging investment.

Diana Edralin bridges business, health, nations

Diana Edralin operates at the intersection of business and healthcare with a rare fluency that turns policy rooms into working tables and competing interests into shared agendas.

Balance of payments back to surplus in May

The balance of payments (BOP) position returned to a surplus in May, snapping six straight months of deficits, as oil price rollbacks and steady dollar inflows eased pressure on the country’s external accounts. 

Government seeks private help in P18 billion offshore wind push

It will require up to P18 billion to construct the country’s first three offshore wind terminals, so the government is turning to the private sector for help in building the projects.

PH foreign reserves stay adequate at $104B

The Philippines’ gross international reserves (GIR) remained adequate at $104.0 billion as of end-May, giving the country enough foreign currency buffer to cover imports, service external debt, and cushion the economy against external shocks, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said. 

Infrastructure spending fell nearly 52% in April, says DBM

In its latest National Government (NG) disbursement report, the DBM said infrastructure and capital outlays fell by 51.7% or P44.4 billion to P41.5 billion in April from P85.8 billion in the same month in 2025. Month on month, infrastructure spending declined by 29.8% from P59.1 billion in March.

EU to diversify away from China without launching new trade war

The Group of Seven industrial nations this week pledged an ambitious target to diversify away from China, adding momentum to the European Union’s own push to counter a growing trade imbalance with the world’s biggest export engine.

Digital content creation last of Pinoys’ 5 ICT skills

Communication and collaboration emerged as the most common information and communications technology (ICT) skill among Filipinos aged 15 to 64 in 2024, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

PH Pushes for stronger climate finance commitments at UNFCCC event 

Delivering the country’s closing statement, Climate Change Commission (CCC) Commissioner and Head of Delegation Atty. Rachel Anne Herrera underscored the need for climate commitments to translate into concrete action and resilience, particularly for countries vulnerable to the climate crisis.

DA backs immediate transition to 5% coco-biodiesel blend 

The shift toward higher biofuel blends was mandated under Republic Act 9367, or the Biofuels Act of 2006, which promotes the blending of Coconut Methyl Ester (CME) into petroleum products to revitalize the domestic coconut industry, enhance energy security, and advance environmental sustainability.

AirAsia Philippines to replace old fleet

AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Bo Lingam announced in Kuala Lumpur that the new Airbus A220 aircraft will be deployed to the Philippines in 2027 and will be completed by the first quarter of 2028.

PH set to launch ‘Discover More to Love’ to boost domestic travel

In an interview over the weekend, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the campaign would not replace but instead complement the DOT’s primary tourism branding “Love the Philippines,” with the intention of allowing tourists to define their travel experience in their “own personal way.