Renewed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are seen aggravating oil price- and supply-driven inflation pressures in the Philippines stemming from the ongoing war in the Middle East. “While the direct effect of renewed strikes on shipping in the Red Sea on aggregate world trade is likely to be limited,...
Multilateral lenders including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank Group (WBG) are moving to provide immediate financing and coordinated support to countries reeling from the economic fallout of the Middle East war. In a statement on...
Singapore-based United Overseas Bank Ltd. (UOB) expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep key interest rates unchanged this year, despite rising risks to growth and inflation from the ongoing war in the Middle East. “Amid persistent uncertainty over the Middle East conflict, we expect...
Local banking sector showed signs of resilience in February as lending growth by major lenders accelerated, snapping the cooling trend that had sent credit expansion to a near two-year low the previous month. According to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), bank lending...
In many Filipino households, parenting is often associated with structure, expectations, and the desire to set children up for success. But what happens when we shift the focus—from outcomes to growth, from pressure to presence? Manila Bulletin Lifestyle asked three moms to share how they guide...
The national government nearly doubled its gross borrowings to ₱408.2 billion in January as the Marcos administration front-loaded its financing requirements to take advantage of favorable market conditions. According to the latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), gross borrowings...
Central banks in emerging markets (EMs), including the Philippines, are seen hiking interest rates to temper weakening currencies and higher capital outflows, according to think tank Capital Economics. Shilan Shah, deputy chief EM economist at Capital Economics, said in a March 30 report that they...
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is facing mounting pressure to abandon its steady policy stance as domestic and foreign lenders warn that persistent supply shocks are beginning to seep into the broader economy. A growing chorus of economists expects the BSP to raise its benchmark interest...
Two of the country’s major teachers’ organizations have called on the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to provide stronger, more compassionate, and more direct financial assistance to government workers and educators severely affected by recent disasters, particularly Typhoons Tino...
The International Criminal Court (ICC) appeals judges have disqualified chief prosecutor Karim Khan from the crimes against humanity charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte because of conflict of interest. This was according to several media agencies which cited a Reuters exclusive story,...
Pervasive corruption in the Philippines is preventing the country from realizing its full economic potential, despite President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. making “steady progress” on his reform agenda, according to the think tank Capital Economics. In its Asia Economic Outlook report for the...
Two global banking giants have flagged political and fiscal challenges posing near-term risks to the Philippine economy, especially in the aftermath of a corruption scandal involving massive public spending on ineffective flood control projects in recent years. While “there is a strong pipeline...
