This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in the Philippines and about the Philippines in the international press.
It endeavours to highlight the narratives currently shaping the country’s economic, financial, and business news landscape.
Ed’s note: I’m always looking for new sources with unique insights. If you have anything to share, reach out: mark.barnes@the-shiv.com
MBC warns risk to Pax Silica on infrastructure delays
The Inquirer is reporting that the Makati Business Club has warned the Philippines could miss investment from the US-led Pax Silica initiative unless the government moves faster on supporting infrastructure and regulations.
Chair Edgar Chua said investment could begin flowing by late 2026 or early 2027 if the country demonstrates readiness for large-scale projects.
Chua called for clearer planning around power, water, and targeted industries. View source→
Calls for higher prices geothermal
The Inquirer is reporting that geothermal developers are calling for higher prices in government green energy auctions.
National Geothermal Association of the Philippines President Jaime Jemuel Austria Jr. said only 30 megawatts of 100 megawatts offered in the third auction were taken, saying existing pricing failed to account for some development costs and differences between individual geothermal projects. View source→
Farmer support typhoons
The Inquirer is reporting that the government has earmarked PHP 187 million (US$3 million) in insurance payments for farmers affected by recent typhoons, flooding and the southwest monsoon.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation said payments will cover 24,987 farmers across eight regions for losses incurred between August 1 and 26. View source→
Rice import tariff collection falls
Philstar is reporting that the Philippines’ rice tariff collections are expected to fall well short of the PHP 30 billion (US$480 million) guaranteed annually for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.
Rice tariff collections fell to PHP 13.71 billion (US$220 million) in 2025 after tariffs were cut to 15 percent and imports were temporarily suspended. View source→
Stock market expectations
Philstar is reporting that shares are expected to trade sideways this week with a downward bias as peso volatility and weak investor confidence continue to weigh on the market.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index nevertheless gained 2.25 percent last week to 6,090.60. View source→
EV association zero import tariff extension push
Philstar is reporting that the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines is pushing to extend zero import tariffs on electric vehicles until 2040, beyond their scheduled expiry in 2028.
Vice President Carla Buencamino said maintaining incentives would support electric vehicle adoption as the government considers raising its 2040 penetration target to 60 percent. View source→
Business confidence down
The Manila Bulletin is reporting that business confidence collapsed in July, with the central bank’s confidence index falling to negative 20.3 percent from neutral in June.
Businesses cited renewed Middle East tensions, higher oil prices, fuel supply disruptions, and persistent inflation as the main reasons for deteriorating sentiment. View source→
New peso low
The Manila Bulletin is reporting that the peso fell to another record low on September 4, closing at PHP 62.59 per US dollar.
The currency weakened from PHP 62.52 the previous day and has repeatedly hit record lows since breaching PHP 62 in late August. View source→
Tax treaty Oman
The Manila Standard is reporting that the Philippines aims to conclude negotiations for a double taxation agreement with Oman this year.
Finance Assistant Secretary Euvimil Nina Asuncion said preliminary discussions could allow the two countries to complete technical negotiations in a single formal round. View source→
Longpoint nickel mine expansion exploration
The Manila Standard is reporting that DMCI Mining is expanding exploration at its newly launched Longpoint nickel mine in Palawan.
President Tulsi Das Reyes said the company believes the 2,000-hectare property could become one of the Philippines’ most profitable mine sites with only a fraction of Longpoint explored so far.
The company is targeting initial production of one million wet metric tonnes of nickel ore from Longpoint in 2026, the article notes. View source→
Wholesale price growth
Business World Online is reporting that Philippine wholesale price growth accelerated to 2.4 percent year-on-year in July from 2.3 percent in June, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The agency attributed the acceleration mainly to food prices, which rose 4.9 percent after increasing 4.6 percent in June. View source→