The country’s chief economist expressed a less optimistic outlook for third-quarter growth, noting that both domestic—including the flood control corruption scandal—and external economic conditions may have influenced the possibly dismal performance. “I am not as optimistic as I used to, or...
Young Filipinos are helping change the way sexual and reproductive health is talked about by using social media to empower peers and challenge stigma. The “Adolescent Peer Champions for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)” initiative, supported by the United Nations Population Fund...
As the country reconsiders nuclear energy, the Department of Energy (DOE) is set to explore financing options in coordination with the Department of Finance (DOF), the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev), and the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), among other agencies. In a...
The Marcos administration is confronting corruption head-on, according to Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, the government’s chief economist. Balisacan told Manila Bulletin on Monday, Sept. 22, that the government is seeking public support to...
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will focus on completing ongoing flood control projects flagged for irregularities before adopting a science-based flood planning approach. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon emphasized that ensuring the proper implementation of projects already under way...
The government is considering seasonal tariffs on rice to shield local farmers during harvest, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said. Balisacan also emphasized on Tuesday, Sept. 2, that tariffs are used as a policy tool to address various...
The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) welcomed the enactment of the Konektadong Pinoy (KP) Act, which it said aims to bridge the digital divide and accelerate the country’s digital transformation, in line with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028. In a...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking ₱3.5 trillion in total investments—including support from the private sector—to transform the country’s agriculture sector into a more robust, economically viable contributor to national food and economic security. During the launch of the...
Despite global challenges, the Philippines is projected to sustain relatively strong economic growth and emerge as one of the region’s standout performers, according to the government’s chief economist. “The Philippines would remain among Asia’s fastest-growing economies, outpacing several...
Coupled with an increase in unpaid workers, the number of jobless Filipinos swelled by more than 300,000 to 1.95 million in June from 1.62 million a year ago, with the online gambling sector partly contributing to the pool of unemployed. Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority...
Rice prices dropped at their fastest pace since 1995, bringing consumer price increases to below one percent in July, partly supported by the current administration’s ₱20-per-kilo rice program. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Undersecretary and National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa...
Six out of 45 projects flagged as problematic in 2023 by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) have been removed from the list of critical-stage projects, a top official said. This, as DEPDev’s 2024 Official Development Assistance (ODA) Portfolio Review Report released on...
