A move is underway in the Senate to lower the value-added tax (VAT) imposed on purchased goods and services. Under Senate Bill No. 1552 filed by Senator Erwin Tulfo, Section 106 of the National Internal Revenue Code would be amended to bring down the current 12 percent VAT to 10 percent. The...
Due to lingering global trade uncertainty, coupled with the Philippines’ weaker competitiveness, the Marcos administration’s economic team has cautioned that the country’s goods exports could face significant pressure this year. “Philippine goods exports face significant risks in 2025 from...
Despite recent pronouncements by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) that one more policy rate cut before year-end would maintain the “Goldilocks” level, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) still forecasts two more reductions at each of the two remaining Monetary Board (MB) interest rate...
The government has programmed ₱419.9 billion in infrastructure spending for the third quarter, the biggest quarterly infra disbursement for 2025, at a time when allegedly fraudulent flood control projects are taking the spotlight amid concerns about some wasteful and corruption-laden public...
Asian exports, including those from the Philippines, are seen remaining resilient in the second half of the year, contrary to earlier expectations that regional shipments would slump once front-loading ahead of United States (US) tariffs wane, according to the think tank Capital Economics....
Tempered household consumption, still reeling from the pandemic-induced recession, is weighing on the Philippine growth outlook, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). With private consumption—which accounts for more than 70 percent of the local economy—showing “weak momentum,”...
Even with the weaker-than-expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth figures last year and in recent quarters, the Department of Finance (DOF) argued that the Philippine economy grew at an average rate of 5.9 percent—among the fastest-growing Asian economies—since President Ferdinand Marcos...
Central banks in Southeast Asia, where economies like the Philippines export a wide array of goods to the United States (US), are expected to cut interest rates some more as tariffs take effect next month, according to the think tank Capital Economics. In a July 23 report, Capital Economics senior...
While the Philippine economy has already been recovering from its deep recession during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, hitting its growth potential of six percent would be challenging given the global uncertainties spilling over domestically, according to the Department of Finance (DOF)....
Fifteen years from now, the Philippine economy could accelerate by 6.8 percent yearly if the country continues to improve regional connectivity, productivity, and resource allocation, the Washington-based World Bank stated. According to the multilateral lender’s latest report on Philippine growth...
The Philippines’ plan to temper spending on public goods and services in a bid to narrow its budget deficit to pre-pandemic levels may slow economic growth, according to the think tank Capital Economics. “Monetary easing across the region should support consumption and investment, but tighter...
Despite limited resources, the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) has approved a record-high national budget for next year at ₱6.79 trillion, with a focus on social services. Next year’s record-high budget would support sustained delivery of public goods and services...
