ECCP at Work

ECCP forum: AI transforms work in PH, but people shape its future

“The future of work demands collaboration across sectors,” said Albert Perez, ECCP treasurer and Human Capital Committee co-chairman. “It requires [the] government creating an enabling policy environment, educational institutions preparing learners for emerging industries, businesses investing in continuous learning and international partners sharing global best practices and innovative solutions.”

DTI chief affirms gov't support for MSME AI push, global trade

The government is intensifying efforts to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) leverage technological innovation to scale operations and access global markets.

Gov’t lowers 2027 infra spending program

The Marcos administration slashed its infrastructure disbursement program for 2027 by about 20.8 percent to P1.34 trillion from the P1.691 trillion initially programmed by the Development Budget Coordination Committee, the latest fiscal program data showed.

INSIGHT IN FOCUS: Why the Q2 slump is a crisis of bureaucratic confidence

The true anchor dragging down national output was not a sudden evaporation of consumer demand or an external trade drought. It was a severe contraction in public and private capital formation, punctuated by a staggering 32.4 percent collapse in public construction.

Retailers bet on second-half rebound as brand exits reshape Philippine market

Retailers are betting on a stronger second half of the year as the Philippine market absorbs the exit and closure of some brands, with the Christmas season expected to test whether consumer spending can recover after a difficult first half.

P860B eyed from VAT, sales tax in ’27

The 2027 Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing (BESF) showed that the VAT and related sales tax collections are expected to increase to P860.03 billion next year from the P762.42-billion program for 2026.

Deutsche Bank cuts Philippine growth forecast to 3.5% after weaker Q2

Deutsche Bank Research cut its Philippine growth forecast for 2026, saying the economy might only reach the lower end of the government’s target even as activity is expected to recover in the second half.

Philippines to borrow P1.7 trillion next year to finance projected budget gap

Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said that the government plans to disburse P6.9 trillion out of the planned P7.2 trillion 2027 budget. With revenues projected to reach only P5.2 trillion, the government plans to borrow more money from creditors to bridge the budget gap.

PH gov’t debt seen surging to record high P21.5T in ’27

The national government’s outstanding debt is projected to climb to a record P21.479 trillion by end-2027 amid the peso’s depreciation and a slower pace of fiscal consolidation, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

PAL Holdings swings to P6.12-B Q2 loss as flying costs surge

PAL Holdings, Inc., operator of Philippine Airlines (PAL), swung to an attributable net loss of P6.12 billion in the second quarter from a P3.33-billion attributable net income a year earlier, as expenses rose faster than revenue amid a surge in flying operations costs.

SSS investment income hits P27.16 billion in first semester

The Social Security System (SSS) recorded P27.16 billion in investment income for the first half of the year as it continued to invest in the Philippines’ capital market.

Foreign investments surge 68% to P115 billion

Foreign investment commitments approved by investment promotion agencies (IPAs) jumped by 68 percent in the second quarter from a year ago, with the bulk to go to manufacturing activities, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Senate urged to assess Pax Silica impact

Senate Resolution No. 571 was filed by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, who urged the upper chamber to determine whether the existing laws and policies in the country are enough to regulate Pax Silica.

ASEAN beefs up digital trade, regional supply chains at Manila meet

A central focus of the negotiations was the proposed ASEAN Semiconductor Roadmap, an initiative aimed at expanding and securing the region’s position in the global technology value chain.