The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to receive a technical assistance grant from the World Bank that will support programs aligned with the forthcoming $1-billion program loan from the Washington-based multilateral lender. In a concept document published on July 7, the World Bank said its...
While loans from big banks or universal and commercial banks, excluding investments in the central bank’s reverse repurchase (RRP), expanded at a slightly faster rate of 11.3 percent from April’s 11.2 percent, it remains relatively slower than March’s 11.8-percent expansion rate. In a...
President Marcos is in favor of a bill mandating government officials to waive their bank secrecy rights, Malacañang said. Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos agrees with the proposal and believes that accountability and transparency must be upheld....
Germany-based Deutsche Bank stated that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) cumulative 1.25-percent interest rate reductions have been unable to lift lending growth, as lower borrowing costs were not enough to outweigh persistent economic uncertainty. This follows BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona...
After the successful bidding to privatize the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydroelectric power plants, the government and private-sector players may next look forward to another public-private partnership (PPP) in rehabilitating the decades-old Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex in Mindanao. Power...
With the return of United States (US) President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the horizon, the Philippine peso may be advantaged by the economy’s relatively less exposure to global trade, according to Japanese financial giant MUFG Bank Ltd. “We are most positive on the currencies of...
Private-sector economists believe the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has room for two more cuts in key borrowing rates, following four straight months of inflation staying below the government’s target band of two to four percent, and amid continued risks of economic underperformance. “Given...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to receive a loan financing from the Washington-based multilateral lender World Bank next year for a project aimed at supporting small agri-businesses. A June 26 document published on Thursday, July 3, showed that the DA is seeking an investment project...
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero renewed his push for greater transparency and accountability in government by refiling the measure mandating all public officials and employees to waive their rights under Republic Act No. 1405 or the Law on the Secrecy of Bank Deposits and Republic Act...
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) push for personal equity and retirement accounts (PERA) is expected to promote the wider adoption of open finance in the Philippines, according to the Tokyo-based think tank Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). “The BSP remains committed to advancing...
With limited time remaining before its loan financing for the long-delayed Cebu bus rapid transit (BRT) expires, the World Bank has recommended downscaling the project under the watch of the newly elected provincial and city officials. “The pace of project implementation has slowed down...
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s chief economic manager said that achieving upper-middle-income country (UMIC) status is definitely attainable by the end of 2025 or 2026, citing the still expansionary national budget planned for next year to stimulate the economy. “Surely, we will attain UMIC...
