As inflation slid to its lowest level in four years, the Philippines' chief economist is looking forward to more Filipinos lifted out of poverty. "With inflation dropping from its high levels last year and early this year, together with the continuing robust labor market, we expect poverty to...
By Derco Rosal Amid consensus expectations that inflation slid in September, the majority of economists polled by Manila Bulletin are looking forward to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) decision to further reduce interest rates during its upcoming monetary policy meeting on Oct 16. Following...
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) can afford to lower its members' mandatory contribution thanks to the huge chunk of unutilized funds that it has accumulated over the years. Citing figures from the Department of Finance (DOF)...
As Filipino consumers are continually stricken with the sting of outdated and expensive electricity rates, a lawmaker is pushing for a comprehensive investigation on the cause of delays on the rate reset or the warranted tariff adjustments of regulated entities as anchored on performance-based...
The rate of increase in consumer prices likely slowed to its lowest level since October 2020, with forecasts indicating a decline to 2.5 percent for September, from 3.3 percent in August. Stefan Angrick, Moody’s Analytics senior economist, explained that the significant decrease in inflation is...
Inflation likely further slid to 2.9 percent in September as oil and rice price hikes eased, according to Dutch financial giant ING. "The Philippines' small decline in rice prices in September and lower transport fuel prices will have been offset by increases in fruits and vegetables and some other...
On his first day of office, newly designated Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) officer-in-charge Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres immediately hit the ground running, while also giving commitment that he will uphold “fair, fast and transparent” processes in rule-making as well as in tackling the...
Inflation in the Philippines is expected by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to further ease as reduced import tariffs on staple rice and other food products spill over to domestic retail prices, boosting consumption and overall economic growth. The Manila-based ADB's Asian Development Outlook...
Citing current trends in Southeast Asia, President Marcos expressed optimism that rice prices in the country would ease further. President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of Malacañang) Malacañang said Marcos made the statement during a sectoral meeting on managing food and...
President Marcos' chief economic manager expects further appreciation of the peso against the US dollar, driven by increased remittance inflows during the upcoming holiday season. In a briefing on Tuesday, Sept. 24, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto explained that the local currency typically...
Beyond the potential for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to ease monetary policy further, what are the broader implications of the US Federal Reserve's substantial 50 basis points interest rate cut? What effects could this have on the Philippine peso, exports (especially if the peso...
Easy monetary policy supportive of economic growth across the Asia-Pacific region would follow the US Federal Reserve's cut in interest rates by an aggressive 50 basis points (bps), according to the top economist of the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB). "I think it's good for the region...
