ECCP at Work

Philippines’ FDI outlook remains weak for rest of 2026

THE PHILIPPINES might continue to struggle to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) for the remainder of 2026 as lingering geopolitical risks and domestic governance concerns keep investors cautious, analysts said. 

‘Philippines portfolio outflows among heaviest in Asia’

The Philippines has suffered some of the heaviest portfolio outflows in Asia as its dependence on imported energy leaves local financial markets vulnerable to the continuing Middle East conflict, according to Moody’s Ratings. 

BIR, BoC upbeat on revenue targets

The Philippine government’s main revenue-generating agencies are confident of meeting their revised full-year targets, after posting higher collections in the first half of the year. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza said faster economic growth in the second half of the year will boost tax collection.

DOE keeps close watch on $5-B EDC takeover bid

Indonesian conglomerate Barito Group’s $5-billion bid for the Philippines’ largest geothermal company is set to face government scrutiny over its potential impact on power supply. “So we are looking at what the impact of that would be. I just have to check what their deal is,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said, referring to the proposed takeover of Energy Development Corp. (EDC).

DoE says Philippine electricity rates highest in Southeast Asia in June

THE PHILIPPINES recorded the highest electricity rate among its Southeast Asian peers in June, as the country relied on more expensive power plants to offset supply gaps caused by plant shutdowns in the Visayas, according to the Department of Energy (DoE).

Renewed Middle East conflict revives fuel excise tax suspension debate

Renewed upward pressure on global oil prices has revived calls for the Philippine government to suspend excise taxes on petroleum products, although experts remain divided on whether such a move would be effective.

Government seeks P9 billion funding for new LRT-2 trains

Commuters may see their waiting time at the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) cut to under six minutes, that is, if the government finds P9 billion to fund the purchase of new train sets. The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) is reviving efforts to secure additional train sets for the LRT-2 to enhance service efficiency and reduce wait times for commuters.

Salary hikes projected to average 5.1% next year

The country is expected to see slightly higher salary hikes in 2027 amid competition for talent and rising costs, according to global advisory, broking and solutions firm WTW. The Salary Budget Planning Report released by WTW yesterday showed that companies in the Philippines are projecting moderate salary increases of 5.1 percent in 2027, slightly higher than the five percent increase this year.

DICT, Landbank to help MSMEs secure financing using AI tools

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Land Bank of the Philippines have partnered to develop artificial intelligence tools that could help micro, small and medium enterprises prepare loan applications, improve their creditworthiness and gain wider access to financing. 

DA: Better farm data collection leads to higher agriculture production

Fragmented data has long plagued the country’s agriculture sector, leaving farmers, policymakers and traders to navigate scattered figures that blur the true state of the country’s farm sector. In an effort to provide more accurate farming data, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is strengthening its collaboration with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).

Fish, vegetables keep food costs elevated despite rice price easing

Retail prices of regular milled rice eased slightly in early July, but higher prices of fish and vegetables continued to keep food costs elevated, limiting any relief for Filipino households, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. 

DBM releases 90% of 2026 national budget

The government has released 89.9 percent of the P6.793-trillion 2026 national budget as of end-June, though the pace remains slower than last year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said. Latest data from the DBM showed that about P6.11 trillion has already been released in the first half, leaving P684.64 billion still to be disbursed.