During intense deliberations that preceded the 2005 enactment of the Expanded Value Added Tax (E-VAT) Law, which also covered oil and electricity, lawmakers defended the measure as a treasury-tightening mechanism; an unpopular but calculated imposition designed to raise massive revenues so it could...
The World Bank has canceled part of the loans for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) while as project scope was pared down with only five months left before its financing closes. A May 8 restructuring paper seen by Manila Bulletin showed that the Washington-based multilateral lender, effective Jan....
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Philippine government have launched a technical cooperation project aimed at strengthening sustainable finance and climate-related transparency frameworks in the country. In a statement on Saturday, May 9, JICA Philippines said that it signed...
President Marcos’ chief economic manager brushed off concerns over the country’s fiscal position, assuring markets that the government remains financially stable and still has room to borrow further if needed to cushion the economy from energy shocks. This comes against the backdrop of...
The Department of Finance (DOF) is moving to overhaul the country’s real estate taxation, targeting 2028 for the full rollout of a market value-based property valuation system. In a statement, the DOF said the initiative aims to replace the long-standing and currently suspended zonal value...
The Philippines faces mounting economic and financial risks from climate change, with projected losses reaching as much as 13 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2040 unless the country urgently scales up climate financing and aligns adaptation and mitigation efforts, according to state-run...
The Philippines and the United States (US) have moved to accelerate the 2026 development agenda for the Luzon Economic Corridor, signaling a deepening of trilateral ties to transform Manila’s industrial heartland into a premier investment destination. Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go met with...
The Philippine government is stepping up efforts to attract high-impact foreign investments, positioning the country as a stable destination amid global uncertainty. Speaking at the Philippine Executive Forum on April 20, Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go outlined the country’s economic case to a...
The United States (US) and the Philippines have selected New Clark City in Tarlac as the site for a 4,000-acre technology economic zone in efforts to rewire global supply chains away from Chinese dominance. Frederick D. Go, who also serves as the country’s investment czar, told Manila Bulletin on...
President Marcos’ chief economic manager is pressing global financial institutions for enhanced budgetary support and emergency financing, warning that escalating Middle East tensions and climate-driven crises are severely narrowing the fiscal maneuvering room for emerging economies. Speaking at...
The Department of Finance (DOF)-led People’s Survival Fund (PSF) has expanded its commitment to local climate action, approving a combined ₱127.3 million in grants for four major adaptation projects across the Philippines. These initiatives, approved during the recent PSF board meeting,...
Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go has called for stronger ties between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) to expand financing access for small businesses across the region. “Given the EU’s expertise in digital and sustainable finance, Go called for...
