ECCP at Work

Philippine growth slumps to 4.4% in 2025, slowest in 5 years

Philippine economic growth sharply slowed to a post-pandemic low in the fourth quarter of 2025 as the flood control scandal continued to weigh on government spending, investments and consumer spending, dragging full-year expansion below target for the third straight year.

Balisacan still confident PHL can achieve upper middle-class status this year

The Philippines remains on track to graduate to upper middle-income country (UMIC) status this year, despite a sharp growth slowdown in 2025, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said.

Government sets 2026 as rally point to hasten development, restore public trust

The Economy and Development (ED) Council chaired by President Marcos has set 2026 as a rally point to fast-track the implementation of its overall development blueprint and to restore public confidence.

Record exports drive DTI’s wider market access push

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is ramping up efforts to open new markets for Filipino exporters following strong export growth in the final quarter of 2025.

DICT: Dialogue with telecom stakeholders on review of common tower policy a ‘success’

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), through its National ICT Planning, Policy, and Standards Bureau (NIPPSB), has reviewed the proposed amendments to the common tower policy, with industry stakeholders, in line with the implementation of Republic Act No. 12234, or the Konektadong Pinoy Act.

Farm sector grows 2.6% in 2025, highest in 5 years

The value of the country’s agricultural output (at constant 2018 prices) rose by 2.6 percent on an annual basis to almost P1.8 trillion, the highest in five years, on the back of expansions in the crops and poultry subsectors.

IT-BPM revenues breach $40 billion mark

Revenues of the country’s information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) sector reached over $40 billion in 2025, surpassing the industry’s baseline target, driven by growth in the global capability centers and the banking and health care sectors.

Peza-approved investments fell by 57% in January

The value of investments approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) fell by more than half in the first month of 2026.

DOE amends auction TOR for offshore wind in GEA-5

To ensure timely project execution, the Department of Energy (DOE) has tweaked the terms of reference for the Fifth Round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA-5) for fixed-bottom offshore wind (OSW).

ASEAN foreign ministers converge in Cebu as PHL opens chairship

Southeast Asia’s top diplomats are arriving in this southern hub as the Philippines formally opens its ASEAN chairship with the Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, set to begin Wednesday, January 28, at the NuStar Hotel.

Asean Plus 3 tourism officials gather in Cebu

Senior tourism officials from Southeast and Northeast Asia gathered in Cebu City Tuesday to reinforce regional cooperation, even as they continue to vie for overlapping source markets. The meeting comes on the heels of strong post-pandemic rebounds, with both regions recording significant gains in tourist arrivals.

BIR cuts assessment units, launches LOA verifier

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is pursuing a series of reforms including dissolving redundant units and mounting a verifier platform to improve the transparency of its tax audits.

Philippines revises Q3 GDP down to 3.9% from 4.0%

The Philippines statistics agency has revised third quarter economic growth downwards to 3.9% from 4.0%, reflecting changes in the contributions made by sectors like real estate, electricity and food service activities, it said Wednesday.

Philippine agriculture output up 0.5% in Q4 2025

The country’s farm output slightly increased in the fourth quarter of 2025 despite increases in livestock, poultry and fisheries, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

EDCOM II proposes education spending of at least 5.5% of GDP

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) is pushing for a 10-year education development plan that will set minimum education spending at 5.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035.