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#economic-confidence — Public Fediverse posts

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  1. Online Sellers of Fake and Unregulated Products in the Philippines Targeted by Police

    If you have been purchasing a lot of products online here in the Philippines, was there a time when a seller cheated you or scammed you over a transaction? A lot of online sellers have been involved in the distribution of fake and unregulated products, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) is actively searching for them, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

    The Philippine National Police has strengthened its intelligence and enforcement efforts against online sellers and networks involved in the distribution of fake and unregulated products that may endanger consumers.

    PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said they are now working with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other partner agencies to identify those behind the illegal trade and build cases for prosecution.

    “The PNP backs efforts to strengthen the crackdown against counterfeit goods online. We will continue to coordinate with our partner agencies to identify those behind the illegal trade and ensure that appropriate charges are filed,” Nartatez said.

    Nartatez ‘statement was issued amid a call from consumer advocacy group Malayang Konsyumer for an immediate and sustained government crackdown on counterfeit products being sold through e-commerce platforms.

    The group warned that fake medicines, vitamins, health supplements and beauty products may contain toxic chemicals, while counterfeit clothing, footwear, toys and perfumes as products that could expose consumers to hidden health risks.

    It also raised concerns over substandard electronics that may cause fires or electrocution and fake household adhesives, sealants and building materials that may pose structural and health hazards.

    “We will not allow online platforms to become a safe haven for counterfeiters. The PNP will strengthen intelligence gathering and enforcement operations against individuals and networks engaged in the sale and distribution of fake and unregulated products,” Nartatez said.

    “Counterfeit goods are not only an intellectual property concern. They are also health and safety matters in most cases that need immediate and aggressive law enforcement response,” he added.

    The PNP’s planned action will build on its existing campaign against smuggling and other economic crimes.

    From January to June 2026, police conducted 8,986 anti-smuggling operations, resulting in the arrest of 2,560 individuals and the seizure of about P8.6 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes and equipment.

    The campaign has also extended to other illegal goods as the PNP confiscated P628 million worth of smuggled goods, counterfeit products, and other illegal articles in nationwide operations in July.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Has any online seller released to you a counterfeit product? Do you believe that online shopping platforms like Shopee and Lazada have a lot of scammers and abusive online sellers?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #commerce #counterfeit #counterfeiters #crime #crimeNews #DepartmentOfTradeAndIndustryDTI #economicConfidence #economics #economy #EconomyOfPhilippines #equipment #Facebook #Fediverse #finance #food #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #Instagram #IntellectualPropertyOfficeOfThePhilippinesIPOPHL #Investagrams #jobs #manufacturing #Mastodon #medicine #merchants #money #multiculturalism #news #onlineSellers #onlineSelling #onlineShopping #PhilippineNationalPolicePNP #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #PNP #police #PoliceDepartment #policeForce #publicService #scam #scammers #scamming #sellers #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #technology #trade #traders #trading #Twitter #WordPress #WordPressCom
  2. Philippines GDP Growth Unlikely To Reach 6% In Medium Term

    Several economic factors and the continued vulnerability to climate-driven shocks make it unlikely for the Philippines to achieve gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6% in the medium term, according to a news report by BusinessWorld citing Moody’s Ratings.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

    MOODY’S RATINGS said the Philippines’ medium-term growth outlook seems bleak as its slow  investment recovery and vulnerability to climate-driven shocks may derail its economic rebound.

    In a statement following its latest rating action on the Philippines, the debt watcher said the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to hover below its pre-pandemic level of around 6% over the medium term.

    “The Philippines’ medium-term growth will continue to be underpinned by favorable demographics, resilient remittances and service exports, and a gradual strengthening of investment as confidence recovers, with electronics and other goods exports providing a more marginal offset,” Moody’s Ratings said late on Monday.

    “Even so, we expect medium-term potential to settle somewhat below the near-6% pace recorded before the pandemic, as investment recovers only gradually and the economy remains exposed to recurrent natural disasters and climate-related shocks,” it added.

    Moody’s slashed its Philippine GDP growth forecast for this year to 3.6% from 5.5%. This falls near the bottom end of the government’s 3.5%-4.5% target for the year.

    In the second quarter, GDP growth tumbled to a new post-pandemic low of 2.3%, bringing average growth to 2.6% in the first half.

    The fourth consecutive quarter of slowing growth came as investments continued to reel from last year’s flood control corruption scandal, while rising prices amid the Middle East war squeezed household spending.

    Moody’s Ratings noted that the Middle East war shocks and investment slump are “largely cyclical,” with an investment-driven recovery expected later this year.

    “The recovery from the second half of 2026 should be led by a rebound in public investment as the government resumes stalled disbursements and normalizes spending execution,” it said.

    Moody’s Ratings said that local investments should focus on public infrastructure and public-private partnerships, especially in renewable energy “as the country diversifies its energy mix in response to the recent shock.”

    The government’s recent reforms should also eventually boost investment and productivity as their benefits are realized, the debt watcher said.

    These include the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy Act, foreign investment liberalization, and allowing more private and foreign participation in sectors such as renewable energy.

    By 2027, Moody’s Ratings expects GDP to expand by 5.3%, although still slower than its previous estimate of 5.6%.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you convinced that the economy of the Philippines really does not have enough strength to achieve 6% GDP growth anytime soon? Do you think the current economic managers know what they are doing? Do you think there will absolutely be no economic gains from the Philippines’ hosting of the 2026 ASEAN Summit?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #business #businessConfidence #businessNews #BusinessWorld #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #economicConfidence #economicDynamism #economicGrowth #economics #economy #Facebook #Fediverse #finance #foreignInvestors #GDPGrowth #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #grossDomesticProductGDP #growth #Instagram #Investagrams #investment #investors #jobs #manufacturing #Mastodon #money #MoodyS #MoodySRatings #multiculturalism #news #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #publicService #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #technology #Twitter #WordPress #WordPressCom
  3. Philippines 2026 Foreign Tourist Arrivals Reach 4.11 Million as of August, U.S. and South Korea Remain Top Markets

    With the Peso performing terribly in the global currency market, weakening economic growth, high inflation and fears of an economic recession growing, 2026 has not been good for the Philippines. There is a bright spot in tourism, however, as the Philippines saw its 2026 foreign tourist arrivals reach 4.11 million in the January-August period and the United States and South Korea combined for more than 1.5 million tourist arrivals, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

    The Philippines has recorded 4.11 million foreign arrivals from January to August, higher by 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Tuesday.

    The United States posted the highest number of share at 818,318, followed by South Korea at 727,379, Japan at 350,191, China at 310,088, and Australia at 234,156.

    Also making it in the top 10 source markets are Canada with 231,972, Taiwan with 154,957, the United Kingdom with 132,370, Singapore with 126,812, and India with 77,883.

    Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines targets to surpass its 2025 arrival figures to reach between 6.4 million and 6.8 million, or at least 7 million, by the end of 2026.

    To achieve this, she said the DOT is intensifying its branding and promotions to reach more tourists in its key source markets.

    The DOT is also in active talks with airlines to open up and establish more chartered flights between the Philippines and secondary cities of Korea and China.

    DOT Assistant Secretary Ren Sapitan said the agency is also set to sign a contract with a creative agency in November to broaden the country’s marketing efforts and make the Philippines more visible worldwide.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will be able to exceed the 2025 foreign tourist arrivals number by the end of this year? Do you think the DOT is doing a good job to strengthen the Philippines’ attraction of foreign tourists? Considering the Top 10 markets of foreign tourists the Philippines attracted so far, are you convinced that the nation’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit did not create any positive tourism results?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #AirTravel #America #ASEAN #ASEANSummit #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Australia #Australian #Bing #British #business #businessNews #Canada #Canadians #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #China #Chinese #CommunistChina #DepartmentOfTourismDOT #economicConfidence #economicDynamism #economicGrowth #economics #economy #England #English #Facebook #Fediverse #feminism #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #GDPGrowth #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #grossDomesticProductGDP #growth #holiday #India #Indians #Instagram #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #Irish #Japanese #jobs #Korea #Koreans #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #manufacturing #Mastodon #money #multiculturalism #news #overseasTravel #PhilippineNewsAgencyPNA #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #PNAGovPh #publicService #recession #Scottish #Singapore #Singaporeans #socialMedia #SouthKorea #SoutheastAsia #Taiwan #Taiwanese #technology #tourism #tourismBlog #tourismIndustry #tourist #touristArrivals #touristBlog #touristDestinations #touristSpots #touristVisa #travel #travelBlog #Twitter #UnitedKingdomUK #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #USA #vacation #woke #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  4. Moody’s Analytics Cuts Philippines 2026 GDP Growth Forecast to 3%

    By citing key factors like weak consumption, Middle East oil shock and the collapse in private investment, Moody’s Analytics officially slashed its 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 3%, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

    MOODY’S ANALYTICS slashed its 2026 growth forecast for the Philippines, amid weak consumption and a collapse in private investment.

    In its latest Asia-Pacific Outlook report dated Aug. 24, the analytics firm said it now sees Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) expanding by 3% this year, slower than its 4% projection in June.

    “We lowered our 2026 GDP growth forecast to 3% from 4% in the June vintage after incorporating the second-quarter GDP result, which was far weaker than expected,” Moody’s Analytics Assistant Director and Economist Sarah Tan said in an e-mailed reply to questions.

    The Philippine economy slumped to its worst post-pandemic growth of 2.3% in the April-to-June period, as investments and public construction continued to reel from last year’s flood control corruption scandal. Rising prices from the Middle East war-driven oil shock also strained household spending.

    “The economy expanded by just 2.3% year on year, with private consumption showing notable weakness and private investment collapsing,” Ms. Tan noted. “This points to softer underlying domestic demand than we had previously anticipated.”

    As of the first half of 2026, the country’s GDP growth averaged 2.6%, well below the government’s 3.5%-4.5% full-year target.

    If Moody’s Analytics’ forecast holds true, the government will miss its growth target for a fourth year in a row. The economy would also further soften from last year’s post-pandemic low growth of 4.4%.

    Economists earlier said that reaching even the bottom end of the government’s target entails a steep climb, as it means the economy must grow by at least 4.4% in the second half.

    Moody’s Analytics sees growth recovering over the next two years to 4.6% in 2027 and 5.1% in 2028. The government wants full-year expansion to be between 5% and 6% from 2027 to 2030.

    Meanwhile, GlobalSource Partners Country Analyst Diwa C. Guinigundo noted that the Philippines could face a more complicated path toward fiscal consolidation if growth remains below potential.

    “Slower growth would make fiscal consolidation and debt reduction more difficult,” he said in a Viber message. “The issue is not simply that government revenues would grow more slowly; a weaker economy also means a smaller denominator for the debt-to-GDP ratio.”

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think 2026 will end up as a very disappointing year of economic growth for the Philippines? Do you think the economy of the Philippines could still fall into a recession in 2027 or in the first half of 2028? Are you convinced that the Philippines has nothing to gain economically from hosting the ASEAN Summit?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #ASEANSummit #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #business #businessNews #BusinessWorld #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #economic #economicConfidence #economicDynamism #economicForecast #economicGrowth #economicRecession #economicRecovery #economicSlowdown #economics #economy #Facebook #Fediverse #finance #GDP #GDPGrowth #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #grossDomesticProductGDP #growth #Instagram #Investagrams #jobs #manufacturing #Mastodon #money #MoodyS #MoodySAnalytics #multiculturalism #news #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #publicService #recession #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #technology #Twitter #WordPress #WordPressCom
  5. Beyond MSCI: Why November matters for Türkiye

    Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) has shown that its concerns about Türkiye are serious. On Aug. 12, it…
    #EuropeSays #Turkiye #Türkiye #economicconfidence #FTSE #MSCI #spk #Turkisheconomy
    europesays.com/turkiye/45309/

  6. Türkiye’s economic confidence rises above key threshold in August

    Türkiye’s economic confidence index rose above the 100-point threshold in August, official data showed Friday. The index increased…
    #EuropeSays #Turkiye #Türkiye #construction #consumers #economicconfidence #economy #realsector #retail #services #Turkisheconomy
    europesays.com/turkiye/44797/

  7. Türkiye’s economic confidence rises above key threshold in August

    Türkiye’s economic confidence index rose above the 100-point threshold in August, official data showed Friday. The index increased…
    #NewsBeep #News #Economy #AU #Australia #Business #Construction #Consumers #economicconfidence #realsector #Retail #services #Turkisheconomy #türkiye
    newsbeep.com/au/872576/

  8. BCDA To Ensure Philippines Will Benefit A Lot From Pax Silica

    The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) recently announced that it will ensure the Philippines will benefit a lot from the ambitious Pax Silica project as they negotiate with the United States on the final framework, according to a GMA News report.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

    The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Wednesday said it will ensure that the Philippine side, negotiating with the US on the final framework agreement to hit the ground running for the Pax Silica project in New Clark City, Tarlac, will push for a deal that would be most beneficial for the country.

    At the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, BCDA President and CEO Joshua “Jake” Bingcang said that the government is eyeing to sign the comprehensive framework agreement for the Pax Silica initiative with the US by November.

    However, Bingcang admitted that “negotiations can always take longer,” noting that the target signing “is not cast in stone as long as the two [parties] will come up with mutually agreed arrangement.”

    Nevertheless, the BCDA chief said the Philippines is pushing for terms that would “most beneficial sa’tin (to us)” as negotiations for the framework deal are ongoing.

    “It’s a business contract, normally it is favorable to the host country,” he said.

    Bingcang said the government has also made clear that the project will operate under the BCDA’s governing legal framework and applicable investment laws.

    “It would be covered by two Philippine laws —the BCDA law and CREATE MORE so the incentives provided will be covered by these two laws,” he said.

    “Never in that initial arrangement that we are going to adopt anything other than the two laws,” he added.

    Pax Silica is the US Department of State’s flagship initiative on artificial intelligence and supply chain security, aimed at advancing a new economic security framework among allies and trusted partners.

    The Philippines in April officially joined the Pax Silica initiative, cementing its place among other 23 global signatories, including the European Union, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

    As part of the initiative, Manila and Washington are working to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub that is envisioned as a new model for AI-focused investment within the Luzon Economic Corridor.

    The BCDA chief earlier clarified that the Pax Silica hub is not envisioned as a cluster of hyperscale data centers but as an industrial hub that would include the manufacturing of semiconductors and microchips used in computers, laptops, electric vehicles, and other technologies.

    Bingcang said that through Pax Silica, the Philippines and its partners see an opportunity to process raw materials domestically instead of exporting them in unprocessed form.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that the BCDA will be able to secure an agreement with the Americans to ensure the Philippines will benefit from Pax Silica economically? Do you realize Pax Silica’s potential to boost manufacturing jobs and the processing of raw of materials in the Philippines?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #America #ArtificialIntelligenceAI #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #BasesConversionAndDevelopmentAuthorityBCDA #Bing #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #construction #DonaldJTrump #DonaldTrump #economicConfidence #economicDynamism #economicGrowth #economics #economy #EuropeanUnion #export #exports #Facebook #Fediverse #finance #foreignInvestment #foreignInvestors #geek #GMANetwork #GMANews #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #India #industry #Instagram #Investagrams #investing #investment #investors #Israel #Japan #jobs #LuzonEconomicCorridor #ManilaHotel #manufacturers #manufacturing #Mastodon #money #multiculturalism #NewClarkCity #news #Nippon #PaxSilica #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #PresidentTrump #publicService #semiconductors #Singapore #socialMedia #SouthKorea #SoutheastAsia #Tarlac #technology #Trump #Twitter #UnitedKingdomUK #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #USA #WordPress #WordPressCom
  9. Philippines Electricity The Most Expensive In ASEAN

    Due to the low supply of electricity and the high demand recorded this past June, the Philippines had the most expensive electricity rates among member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to a news report by GMA News.

    Be reminded that the Philippines is experiencing weak economic growth, high inflation, and has been weak when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment. Could imagine how foreign investors would react to the expensive electricity here in the Philippines?

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…

    The Philippines had the most expensive electricity rates among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in June due to low supply and high demand recorded during the month, the Department of Energy (DOE) reported Monday.

    According to DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara, the country reported an average rate of P12.43 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in June, surpassing that of Singapore by P0.093 per kilowatt-hour.

    “Sa Visayas, siya talaga ‘yung pinakamahal dahil talagang may kakulangan tayo sa supply doon. Meron tayong 21 plants na naka-forced outage and therefore, dependent siya talaga sa Luzon at sa Mindanao for imported power,” she said in a virtual briefing.

    (Visayas was really the most expensive because there was really a lack of supply there. There are 21 plants on forced outage, and therefore, it is really dependent on imported power from Luzon and Mindanao.)

    “Alam niyo naman, naka-yellow alert sila palagi (As you know, they have been on yellow alert regularly) since May 13, and that is the one that is driving the price high for Visayas,” she added.

    The Visayas grid has been on yellow alert — indicating that the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement — for several days in June, due to the continued forced outage of major coal plants in the region.

    Among the outages recorded were Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI) units 1 and 2 and Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC).

    “For the rest… Meron kasi din tayong mga matataas na demand during the summer months, and therefore we have to operate the more expensive power plants. Imbes na mag-blackout, paandarin na lang ‘yung mga medyo mahal na plant,” Guevara said.

    (For the rest… Demand was also high during the summer months, and therefore, we have to operate the more expensive power plants. Instead of blackouts, we ran more expensive plants.)

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? What do you think must be done to ensure abundant electricity for the Filipinos? Are you convinced now is the time for the government of the Philippines to go all-in on nuclear power? How much was your electric bill this past June?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AsiaPacific #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #BongbongMarcos #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #DepartmentOfEnergyDOE #economicConfidence #economicDynamism #economicGrowth #economics #economy #EconomyOfThePhilippines #electricity #energy #Facebook #finance #GDPGrowth #geek #GMANetwork #GMANews #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #grossDomesticProductGDP #Instagram #Investagrams #Marcos #money #news #nuclear #nuclearEnergy #nuclearPower #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #power #PresidentMarcos #publicService #Singapore #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #technology #Twitter #WordPress #WordPressCom
  10. Philippines Attracts 2.9 Million Foreign Tourists In First Half Of 2026

    For the first half of this year, the Philippines attracted 2.9 million foreign tourists and 1.13 million of that came from the United States and South Korea combined, according to a news report by Business Mirror. The figure does not include the 260,717 overseas Filipinos or balikbayan.

    When compared to its Asian neighbors’ first-half foreign tourist numbers, the Philippines is still way behind Vietnam which attracted 12.3 million and Japan which attracted 21 million.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Business Mirror report. Some parts in boldface…

    MORE relaxed visa entry requirements have enabled the Philippines to attract an increasing number of foreign tourists, lifting total visitor arrivals by 5.41 percent in the first half of the year.

    Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed 3.16 million inbound tourists from January to June 2026, of which 2.9 million were foreign nationals and 260,717 were overseas Filipinos. The latter are described as Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad. This year’s arrivals are 76.5 percent of the 4.13 million total in the first half of prepandemic 2019.

    The DOT stressed that the data are based on e-travel records provided by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and are not final until Bureau of Immigration records are taken into account. E-travel registration is mandatory for those arriving in the Philippines except foreign diplomats, dignitaries, foreign government officials and their delegation, visiting business executives and students  sponsored by the Philippine  government or international organizations, and their immediate family members (9e visa).

    Of the total foreign nationals, which were up 6.3 percent from the 2.73 million year on year (yoy), tourists from China and India were the most improved by 64.54 percent and 43 percent, respectively. Residents from both countries have been allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free for tourism purposes for 14 days.

    The top 12 source markets of visitors for the Philippines all recorded increases, except for South Korea, with long-haul markets like Germany even showing monthly increases yoy, despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which had jacked up jet fuel prices.

    S. Korea plunges 13.7% – The United States continues to be the top source market for the Philippines with arrivals at 581,565 in the first half of the year, an increase of some 6.9 percent from the same period in 2025. Most of the market continues to be composed of Americans of Filipino decent, or Filipino immigrants, who visit the Philippines usually during the holiday season in December and January.

    Some 300 Filipino-Americans are currently in the country as part of government’s long-running Very Important Pinoy (VIP) tour, and visiting destinations other than Metro Manila such as Cebu, Dumaguete, and Siquijor.

    In second place are tourists from South Korea at 552,860, slumping by 13.7 percent, yoy. This was followed by Japan at 581,565 (+6.87 percent); China at 219,796 (+64.54 percent); Australia at 174,257 (+12.3 percent); and Canada at 156,763 (+15.6 percent), another haven of Filipino immigrants. Air Canada began offering direct flights from Vancouver to Manila in April last year, while flag carrier Philippine Airlines offers nonstop flights between Manila and Vancouver, and Toronto.

    Tourists from Taiwan were in seventh place at 111,134, an increase of 11.85 percent; folowed by the United Kingdom at 92,829 (+1.7 percent); Singapore at 78,069 (0.35 percent); India at 60,583 (43.03 percent); Malaysia at 53,437 (+11.5 percent); and Germany at 48,657 (+6.9 percent).

    Under the General Appropriations Act of 2026, the DOT committed to attract 6.7 million foreign tourists this year.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will be able to attract 6.7 million foreign tourists by the end of this year? What do you think are the three most serious problems the Philippines has when it comes to attracting foreign tourists?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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  11. Philippines Among The Weakest In ASEAN In Credit Card Penetration

    When it comes to credit card penetration within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines is still among the weakest as the number of adult Filipinos who own credit cards remains very low, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

    Be reminded that the Philippines is experiencing weak economic growth, high inflation, and has been weak when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

    Only three percent of adult Filipinos own credit cards, placing the country among the laggards in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the gap most pronounced compared to advanced Asia-Pacific economies.

    In Asian emerging markets (EMs), the Philippines trails only Cambodia’s one percent and Bangladesh’s two percent, Visa Business and Economic Insights noted in a report last Tuesday, July 14, citing the 2024 update of the World Bank’s Global Findex Survey.

    Meanwhile, the country was outpaced by seven other Asian EMs, including India (five percent), Indonesia and Vietnam (both six percent), Sri Lanka and Thailand (both eight percent), Malaysia (13 percent), and China (46 percent).

    This low penetration drives Filipinos to rely heavily on informal and unregulated lending alternatives, which do not help build formal credit histories.

    “Across markets such as India, the Philippines, and Indonesia, borrowing from family, moneylenders, or gold-backed loans is widespread due to ease of access and familiarity,” read the report authored by Visa principal Asia-Pacific economist Simon Baptist and Asia-Pacific economist Minakshi Barman.

    Meanwhile, advanced Asia-Pacific economies have mature financial systems, with credit card penetration rates reaching nearly three-fourths of adults aged 15 and above. Hong Kong had the highest penetration rate at 72 percent, followed by Japan at 70 percent, South Korea at 68 percent, Taiwan at 64 percent, New Zealand at 57 percent, Australia at 51 percent, and Singapore at 42 percent.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you know anyone in your local community who successfully secured credit cards over the past six months? Do you have friends who already applied for credit cards? What do you think Filipinos are most afraid of when it comes to using credit cards? Do you think the weakening economic growth of the Philippines will discourage Filipinos from applying for credit cards?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

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  12. Philippines Remains Vulnerable To Effects Of US-Iran War And Is One Of The Least Resilient In The Asia Pacific Region

    When it comes to resilience to the effects of the war between the United States and the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran, the Philippines remains not only vulnerable but also one of the laggards of the Asia Pacific region as a whole, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

    Be reminded that the Philippines is experiencing weak economic growth, high inflation, and has been weak when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment. Already S&P Global slashed GDP growth forecast for the Philippines.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

    Asia-Pacific’s (APAC) relative insulation from the Middle East conflict has singled out the Philippines and Indonesia as laggards as external headwinds are exacerbated by domestic turmoil, according to Allianz Research.

    Allianz Research said in its half-time outlook report published last week that despite emerging as one of the regions most exposed to the United States (US)-Iran conflict, APAC is still seen as relatively resilient, with average growth of 4.3 percent this year.

    This resilience is attributed to the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, which is “doing the heavy lifting that geopolitics and fiscal policy cannot.”

    “However, gains are far from evenly shared, with a group of winners emerging, including countries such as Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea, while countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia lag as domestic turmoil compounds exposure to the conflict,” Allianz said.

    Apart from the technology surge, the report also pointed to Asia’s role as a global engine of commerce. “In 2026, 80 percent of global trade volume growth in goods and services is driven by Asia and the US,” the report said.

    However, this dominance faces fresh challenges from shifting American trade policies. Allianz warned that the shift in US policies “is expected to negatively affect Asian countries in particular,” as the US effective tariff rate is projected to rise from eight percent to 13 percent.

    According to Allianz, the region’s resilience hinges on the booming technology sector. It said the AI boom, which has been driving nearly two-thirds of Asia’s export growth, is helping “cushion” the global economy from the impact of the Middle East crisis.

    This AI boom is broadening Asia’s recovery beyond traditional manufacturing, with major semiconductor firms in Taiwan and South Korea leading regional market gains.

    By contrast, the Philippines and Indonesia are struggling with the lingering consequences of energy shocks.

    “Despite recent developments toward normalization in the Gulf, we expect inflation to remain elevated in the near term as second-round effects from elevated fuel, energy and fertilizer prices keep weighing on the region,” Allianz said.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? What do you think the Philippines should do in order to become more resilient to the effects of the war between America and the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran? Do you think the national government has been working to improve oil storage capacity, attract more foreign investors and rely less on the Middle East for importing oil? Do you think the Philippines will reach out to the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran to make an economic deal?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  13. Philippines’ Net FDI Inflows Fall Down Sharply In April 2026

    This past April, the net inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Philippines reached only $250 million which counts as a 10-year low and a 59% fall compared with March 2026, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…

    Net inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the Philippines plunged to a near 10-year low of $250 million in April, as heightened global uncertainty dented investor sentiment, preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

    Based on central bank data released on Friday, FDI net inflows declined by 58.8% to $250 million in April from $607 million in the same month last year.

    April saw the lowest monthly level seen since the $244 million in June 2016, and the steepest year on year drop since the 76.1% in December 2022.

    Month on month, FDI net inflows slumped by 59.1% from the $611 million in March.

    “The sharp decline in FDI net inflows to $250 million in April likely reflects a combination of weaker intercompany borrowings, slower reinvestment activity, and continued investor caution amid an uncertain global environment,” Union Bank of the Philippines Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said via Viber.

    The latest FDI level was dragged by the 91.7% drop in net investments in debt instruments to $44 million in April from $522 million a year ago.

    Reinvestment of earnings likewise slipped by 1.9% to $80 million from $81 million in April 2025.

    Meanwhile, investments in equity and investment fund shares more than doubled (143.5%) to P207 million in April from $85 million the prior year.

    Foreign net investments in equity capital other than reinvestment of earnings also ballooned (3,041%) annually to $127 million from $4 million previously.

    Equity placements jumped by 21.4% to $136 million from $112 million a year earlier, while withdrawals plunged by 91.7% to $9 million from $108 million.

    For Mr. Asuncion, the softer FDI inflows in April likely came as firms and investors deferred investments amid highly uncertain global conditions compounded by weak domestic growth.

    “At the same time, heightened global uncertainty stemming from trade tensions, lingering geopolitical risks, and episodes of financial market volatility may have prompted multinational firms to defer expansion plans and adopt a more conservative stance toward capital deployment,” he said.

    “Domestically, relatively subdued economic growth in the early part of the year may have also tempered investment decisions,” he added.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you convinced that foreign investors have weak trust in the Philippines no matter what the current administration is doing? Do you think weak economic growth in the Philippines will continue until the end of 2028?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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  14. Philippines Supreme Court Upholds Law Granting VAT Refund To Foreign Tourists

    Remember the law granting value-added tax refund (VAT refund) to foreign tourists signed a few years ago? That law was challenged and recently the Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 12079 (the act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists), according to a news report by GMA News.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

    The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the constitutionality of a law that grants value-added tax (VAT) refunds on select local purchases by non-resident foreign tourists.

    In a 30-page decision, the SC En Banc dismissed a petition challenging the validity of Republic Act 12079, or an act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists, adding Section 112-A to the National Internal Revenue Code.

    “Granting VAT refund to foreign tourists was not arbitrarily done. It is a policy decision based on legitimate state interests, i.e. the need to remain competitive as a global tourist destination,” the SC said.

    “In fine, foreign tourists may be granted privileges and benefits that are not extended to Filipino citizens, so as long as these distinctions are based on reasonable and justifiable classifications, as in here,” it added.

    According to the SC, the VAT refund applies to goods brought from duly accredited stores and taken out of the country within 60 days from purchase. The goods must be priced at least P3,000 per transaction.

    Meanwhile, the SC said Section 5 of the law’s implementing rules and regulations limit the refund to retail and tangible goods, including clothing, apparel, electronics, gadgets, jewelry, accessories, souvenirs, food or non-food consumables, and other items intended for personal use.

    The petitioner, however, argued that the law violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection as it excludes Filipino citizens.

    For its part, the SC said equal protection does not require identical treatment for all persons.

    It said the act also distinguishes foreign tourists from Filipino citizens.

    According to the SC, the VAT refund system follows the basic rule of VAT that goods are taxed where they are consumed. If the goods are consumed in the Philippines, they remain subject to Philippine VAT.

    Meanwhile, the SC added that VAT refund for foreign tourists is a well-established international practice.

    “The Philippines is among the last few countries in Asia to adopt such a system. Our Asian neighbors, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan have long implemented this VAT refund mechanism for foreign tourists,” it said.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s decision on the law about VAT refund for foreign tourists? Apart from the VAT refund for foreign tourists, what problems that plagued the Philippine tourism industry should the government solve this year?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  15. BPI Customers Can Withdraw And Deposit Cash At Grocery, Convenience Stores And Other Commercial Joints

    Customers of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) are able to withdraw and deposit cash at grocery, convenience stores and other commercial joints thanks to the a newly launched campaign between the bank and over a thousand partner stores, according to a news report by GMA News.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

    The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) on Wednesday launched its “Himala” campaign, allowing customers to withdraw and deposit cash at 1,369 partner stores, including grocery and convenience stores.

    The service effectively turns participating outlets into “mini BPI branches,” enabling customers to complete cash transactions without visiting a physical bank branch.

    The partner network includes Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI) stores such as Robinsons Easymart, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise, The Marketplace, Robinsons Department Store, Toys “R” Us, and Uncle John’s.

    The service is also available at non-RRHI outlets, including Amesco, Fitmart GenSan, CVM Pawnshop, Falcor Marketing, Prince Retail, Prince Warehouse, Rodamel Drugstore, Savers Depot, Tacurong Fit Mart Inc., and Tambunting Pawnshop.

    Customers can generate a barcode through the BPI app for cash deposits and withdrawals, then present it at any participating store for processing. They may also send the barcode to another person, who can use it to deposit or withdraw cash at a partner outlet.

    Customers may deposit or withdraw a minimum of P100 through the partner network. Deposits are limited to P10,000 per barcode and P50,000 per day, while withdrawals are capped at P10,000.

    Select services, including account opening and applications for BPI products, are also available through the bank’s network of 8,000 retail partners, which includes pharmacies and gas stations nationwide.

    According to BPI Agency Banking head Rally Jereza, the Ayala-led lender is in talks to onboard more partner stores, with the goal of expanding the network to 10,000 outlets within the year.

    “For now, I’m satisfied with 8,000 because we want to encourage people to use [the service]. But in terms of expanding, with existing BPI clients, corporate clients… it’s easy to expand. Right now, we just want to be able to maximize all of those footprints,” he said.

    Jereza said the initiative also supports BPI’s “May BPI Dito” campaign, which aims to make the bank’s services available in as many locations as possible.

    “What began in 2023 as product application points has evolved into a fully integrated banking ecosystem. Every phase—from enabling transactions on tablets to barcode withdrawals and now barcode deposits—was built to ensure safety, simplicity, and trust,” he said.

    “This is not just expansion; it is a redefinition of what a bank can be in the digital age,” he added.

    BPI said it has onboarded more than one million new-to-bank customers through its agency banking network and aims to increase the figure to 10 million.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a BPI customer, have you experience the convenience of doing important transactions at the grocery or at the convenience store lately?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  16. New Philippines Domestic Tourism Program Launched With Over 3,000 Travel Deals

    In what is clearly a serious attempt by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to boost domestic tourism a lot, the new program Discover More To Love was recently launched with more than three thousand travel deals from varied hotels, tour operators and airlines, according to a news report by the Manila Standard.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the Manila Standard. Some parts in boldface…

    The Department of Tourism (DOT) launched a new campaign offering more than 3,000 travel deals from hotels, tour operators, and airlines to boost domestic travel during off-peak months and support local businesses.

    The campaign, named “Discover More to Love,” runs from July to November 2026 to stimulate year-round travel, sustain bookings, preserve jobs, and strengthen local economies during the industry’s traditional lean period.

    The initiative serves as an extension of the country’s official tourism brand, “Love the Philippines,” rather than a replacement.

    Travelers can access discounts of up to 70 percent from more than 70 hotels and resorts through the Hotels Sales and Marketing Association. The campaign also features more than 250 nationwide travel packages alongside discounted fares from carriers Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Philippines, and Sunlight Air.

    Online platforms AirAsia MOVE and Klook are providing exclusive deals, while Mastercard offers special payment privileges for cardholders. Travelers can access the promotional room packages, staycation deals, dining credits, and flexible booking options directly through the department’s enhanced website at http://www.tourism.gov.ph.

    Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the agency wants to evolve the initiative through feedback from travelers and industry partners.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you support the DOT’s renewed focus on domestic tourism?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  17. Philippines At Risk Of Losing Ground In Global Supply Chain

    If the Philippines fails to address the high costs of energy and the ongoing corruption connected with infrastructure projects, it could lose ground in global supply chains, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

    THE PHILIPPINES risks losing ground in global supply chains unless it addresses high energy costs and unresolved corruption issues surrounding infrastructure projects, which continue to weigh on investor sentiment, according to UK-based risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.

    “The Philippines’ biggest infrastructure challenge is its relatively high cost of energy, which has been exacerbated by the Hormuz crisis,” Laura Schwartz, a senior Asia analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, said in an e-mailed reply to BusinessWorld.

    “Following the onset of the crisis, there was some movement in fast-tracking renewable energy projects, but more will be needed,” she added.

    The Philippines, which sources at least 90% of its oil supply from the Middle East, has been one of the most affected by the global oil crisis.

    Ms. Schwartz also said last year’s corruption scandal — which linked state officials and contractors in substandard or nonexistent flood control projects — may deter companies that are seeking to diversify their supply chains from investing in the Philippines.

    “High-profile governance issues, particularly the widespread public works corruption allegations and political jockeying, are one of the top factors leading to investor hesitation in the near term,” she said.

    In its 2026 Supply Chain Risk Outlook, Verisk Maplecroft identified the Philippines, Thailand, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay as “rising stars” in the global supply chain.

    “Relative to the established hubs, these ‘rising stars’ offer different mixes of sector capability, market openness, regulatory strengths, and labor-risk trajectories for organizations looking to realign their supply chains,” it said in the report released on June 23.

    “The businesses that move first — screening these markets now, building supplier relationships before demand spikes, and stress-testing entry strategies against external risk data — will find themselves better positioned to act when faced with disruptive geopolitical realignment, trade restrictions, or conflict outbreaks,” Verisk Maplecroft said.

    A third of the world’s busiest ports and airports are vulnerable to disruption amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts, environmental challenges, and domestic security threats, the firm noted.

    The closing of the Strait of Hormuz has created near-term headwinds for the Philippines and Thailand, Verisk Maplecroft said.

    Despite this, “procurement teams willing to take a longer-term view will find these markets worth their attention,” the company added.

    The report cited the Philippines’ strong potential in the global supply chain due to improvements in its market openness, its competitive labor costs, and its young, English-fluent workforce.

    “The Philippines performs second-best across the Southeast Asian economies analyzed due to significant improvement in our market openness pillar,” it said.

    “Despite lower infrastructure quality and governance challenges, including recent corruption scandals, the Philippines shows notable opportunities in sectors like electronics, auto parts, and food manufacturing,” Verisk Maplecroft said.

    Other Southeast Asian economies assessed in the report were Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the government of the Philippines has the will to resolve high energy costs and the ongoing corruption on infrastructure projects? Do you think the Philippines could get more affordable oil from places other than the Middle East?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  18. Economy Of The Philippines Expected To Rebound In 2nd Half Of 2026

    While the economists of a particular university predict slower economic growth for the Philippines this year, the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) see the national economy growing stronger in the 2nd half of this year, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld report. Some parts in boldface…

    THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY could grow by around 5% in the second half of the year, driven by base effects and an expected acceleration in government infrastructure spending, according to the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).

    “Growth could recover to around 5% in the second half on base effects and a ramp-up in National Government infrastructure spending,” UA&P said in its The Market Call report this month.

    Government officials earlier signaled a pickup in disbursements and project implementation as agencies roll out catch-up programs.

    UA&P cautioned, however, that growth will remain subdued in the first half amid unresolved issues surrounding last year’s flood control scandal and elevated oil prices.

    “Weak gross domestic product growth and faster inflation will weigh on the economy in the first half amid the unresolved flood control scandal and high oil prices from the Middle East conflict,” it said.

    “Flip-flopping US-Iran talks may keep fuel prices elevated, hitting the Philippines harder than its ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) peers,” it added.

    The Philippine economy expanded by a slower-than-expected 2.8% in the first quarter. This was below the government’s target range of 5-6% for the year.

    For the entire year of 2026, UA&P said growth will be slow “but pose some resilience in the face of near-term global and local headwinds that will likely moderate activity in the first half of the year.”

    “While cautious business sentiment and lingering geopolitical uncertainties may weigh on household and investment spending, the domestic economy continues to benefit from strong structural drivers such as steady household consumption, a healthy labor market, and sustained remittance inflows,” it added.

    Meanwhile, UA&P said that it expects inflation to accelerate further amid second-round effects from the oil shock, “but likely not to (reach) double digits year on year.”

    Inflation accelerated to 7.2% in April, marking the second consecutive month that it settled above the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2%-4% target. It also breached the BSP’s 5.6%-6.4% forecast for the month.

    “The BSP took on a more hawkish tone because of above-estimate inflation, raising rates and its inflation forecast to 6.3% for 2026,” it said.

    “We likewise see above-target inflation for the rest of 2026, with the possibility of double-digit inflation rates due to base and second-round effects creeping into succeeding readings,” it added.

    As inflation is expected to settle above the target for the rest of the year, UA&P expects the BSP to further tighten.

    “Our outlook pencils in 75 basis points (bps) more of rate hikes for this year, bringing the policy rate to 5.25%, especially as the April inflation reading trumped even the BSP’s upper inflation bound,” it said.

    The central bank last month raised rates for the first time in nearly two years by 25 bps to 4.5%, with BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. saying the Monetary Board remains open to extending the tightening cycle to anchor inflation expectations.

    NO STAGFLATION – Despite weaker growth and high inflation, UA&P said the country is not experiencing stagflation.

    “Despite inflation negative commentary from some analysts, the Philippine economy is not in stagflation mode,” it said.

    “Inflation, while elevated, will continually trek downwards after a peace deal gets signed, and growth will return when infrastructure spending resumes along with consumer and business confidence,” it added.

    Meanwhile, the peso remains under pressure as crude oil prices surge.

    “The peso-dollar rate remained under pressure amid the rebound in crude oil prices (i.e., close to $100/barrel for West Texas Intermediate, and $110/barrel for Brent) in April,” it said.

    On Tuesday, the local currency closed P61.56 versus the greenback, weakening by 9.5 centavos from its P61.465 finish on Monday.

    UA&P said it expects bonds with longer tenors to deliver higher returns amid elevated interest rates, after investors cautiously returned to the local bond market in April.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines will truly rebound in the 2nd half of this year? What do you think will help boost the national economy apart from foreign investments?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

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  19. America’s Pax Silica Prompts P7 Billion Power Expansion In New Clark City

    Pax Silica – the United States’ Pax Silica flagship effort on artificial intelligence (AI) and supply chain security that includes the Philippines – prompted the P7 billion investment of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to ensure a stable power supply for New Clark City in Tarlac province, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

    The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) plans to invest nearly ₱7 billion in a dedicated substation to guarantee a stable power supply for New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, anticipating a surge in demand from a planned artificial intelligence (AI) industrial hub.

    Joshua Bingcang, president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), said the investment promotion agency is currently in talks with NGCP to finalize the project’s details. The grid operator is drafting the alignment plan for the substation, which Bingcang noted should be finalized “soon.”

    “Our target with them is by [the] end of 2028, the dedicated power connection should be already installed in New Clark City,” he told reporters last week.

    Bingcang added that the BCDA initially offered to fund the project to jump-start construction, with NGCP reimbursing the agency later. However, NGCP declined the offer because the substation is already integrated into its capital expenditures.

    Under its Transmission Development Plan 2024 to 2050, NGCP outlined plans to construct the Capas 230-kilovolt (kV) substation to meet the growing power needs of the emerging metropolis. According to the plan, NGCP will allocate ₱6.95 billion to develop the facility.

    To facilitate the project, Bingcang said the BCDA is offering land along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) to ensure an unimpeded route for the transmission line into New Clark City. Once operational, the substation is expected to give locators in the AI hub the confidence to manufacture high-value inputs without risking operational pauses due to power shortages.

    The AI hub will span more than 1,600 hectares within New Clark City as part of the United States-led Pax Silica partnership, which aims to encourage investment among member countries to bolster the global AI supply chain.

    To meet the site’s massive energy requirements, Bingcang said the BCDA expects a foreign investor to build a solar energy project capable of generating up to 500 megawatts. Furthermore, the agency is drafting plans for an embedded power plant to secure baseload power and enhance the hub’s overall energy reliability.

    In a separate interview with Business 360, Bingcang disclosed that the BCDA is also negotiating with US investors to construct a dedicated pipeline to transport jet fuel from Subic Bay to Clark International Airport, supporting the logistics needs of companies within the AI hub. The agency is also exploring a separate pipeline along SCTEX to deliver fuel or liquefied natural gas.

    Additionally, the BCDA is advancing a public-private partnership (PPP) project for New Clark City’s information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure. According to a bid bulletin published by the PPP Center, the agency aims to conclude the procurement process for a joint venture partner to lay fiber-optic cables across the city by August.

    Bingcang noted that all of these infrastructure projects were requested by the US during preliminary talks for the AI hub. Following a visit to the 1,600-hectare site last week, the US will send engineering personnel next month to conduct a site assessment and design a concept plan for the industrial zone.

    “Parallel to these technical studies, we will also finalize the commercial arrangement and contractual framework for the project. Within the year, we will be announcing a definitive contract arrangement [with the US],” Bingcang said.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think Pax Silica will prompt further infrastructure and energy developments related with New Clark City as the initiative develops further? Do you think there is room for nuclear power to considered in the years to come?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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  20. Economic Warning Signs In The Philippines Grow

    With weak economic growth and high inflation already happening, the future is looking dark for the economy of the Philippines and there are warning signs growing, according to a news report by Malaya Business Insight.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Malaya Business Insight report. Some parts in boldface…

    The Philippines is not yet in stagflation, economists said, but slowing growth, high inflation, weak public spending, and the Middle East oil shock are pushing parts of the economy closer to danger.

    Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said some weaker sectors may already be feeling near-stagflation conditions.

    “Near stagflation conditions for some vulnerable, already weak industries. But stronger ones are more insulated,” Ricafort said.

    His comment followed President Marcos Jr.’s statement that potential stagflation is among the concerns keeping the government “awake at night” as officials try to contain prices of basic goods and keep the economy running.

    Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., said the country is still not in stagflation, although the risks are rising.

    “There are potential stagflation risks, but we’re not yet there,” Ravelas said at the weekly Pandesal Forum in Quezon City on Wednesday.

    He said unemployment remains below its long-term average, while the economy continues to post positive growth despite the slowdown.

    “If we talk about the average unemployment rate in the Philippines since the 1960s, it’s 7.5 percent. Right now, our numbers are between 5 percent and 5.3 percent,” Ravelas said.

    Inflation, however, remains a major threat. Ravelas said consumer prices could climb to 8 percent to 9 percent toward the end of the year, with households likely to feel the sharpest impact from higher fuel, food, and transport costs.

    He said the stagflation concern recalls the oil shocks of the 1970s, when energy disruptions pushed prices sharply higher while economic activity weakened.

    Ravelas said the more immediate challenge is reviving spending, particularly government spending, to keep growth from losing further momentum.

    He said the economy is still feeling the effects of last year’s flood-control scandal, which disrupted public works and slowed disbursements, while the inflationary impact of the US-Iran conflict has added pressure.

    Restraining spending now, he said, would be like “shooting ourselves on our foot” because it would further weaken recovery.

    “We need to be able to work on improving consumption,” Ravelas said.

    He also said the government must convince the public that it is acting decisively to stabilize prices.

    “When it comes to fighting inflation, we need to show our countrymen, from a government perspective, that prices are stable. That would be a good opportunity so that they will believe the government is doing something,” he said.

    Ravelas noted the country should also invest in upskilling workers to improve employment prospects.

    Given the inflation pressure, he said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is likely to take a defensive policy stance and raise interest rates by 50 to 75 basis points, although it must balance inflation control with the need to support growth.

    A separate report from the De La Salle University Carlos L. Tiu School of Economics said inflation is being driven mainly by fuel, as higher energy costs feed into transport, logistics, and production.

    “Fuel costs have more than doubled since the war began, pushing inflation sharply higher from May through August 2026. We expect inflation to peak at around 8 percent in August,” economists Jesus Felipe, Mariel Monica Sauler, Gerome Vedeja, political scientist Susan Kurdli, and research assistant Seth Paolo Paden said in the school’s May economic report.

    They said the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has also cut off roughly a third of global fertilizer supply, keeping inflation elevated through the end of 2026.

    By early 2027, the report said, energy and fertilizer pressures are expected to ease, with inflation likely to return to the BSP’s 2 percent to 4 percent target band by April 2027 and settle at around 2.8 percent in 2028.

    The DLSU economists said the current inflation surge is a supply shock caused by war-related disruptions in global energy and food markets, making interest rate increases an imperfect response.

    “Higher interest rates will neither bring oil prices down nor reopen the Strait of Hormuz. What they will do is make borrowing more expensive, slow investment, and constrict household spending,” they said.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines will eventually fall into a state of stagflation this year? How are you dealing with the higher costs of living nowadays?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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  21. University Economists Say Philippine Economic Growth Could Slow Down To 3.1% This Year

    Could the economy of the Philippines be weakening a lot right now? As far as the economists of De La Salle University (DLSU) are concerned, economic growth will be 3.1% this year and they pointed to the effects of the Middle East conflict, rising inflation and other factors, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

    De La Salle University (DLSU) economists slashed their 2026 Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 3.11 percent from 3.79 percent previously, warning that the economy is facing mounting pressure from the Middle East conflict, elevated inflation, and lingering domestic vulnerabilities.

    If realized, the revised forecast would mark the country’s weakest annual economic growth post-pandemic, worse than the 4.4 percent recorded in 2025 in the aftermath of the flood-control corruption scandal and below the government’s downscaled five- to six-percent target.

    In their report on the Philippine economy for May 2026, published on Monday, May 18, DLSU economists Jesus Felipe, Mariel Monica Sauler, Gerome Vedeja, and Seth Paolo Paden, together with political science professor Susan Kurdli, said the downgrade reflected “three converging pressures on the economy.”

    These include the Middle East conflict disrupting oil supply and pushing energy prices higher, the risk of tighter monetary policy should inflation persist, and the emerging pass-through of higher fertilizer costs to food prices.

    “The combination of all three explains why the growth outlook has deteriorated more sharply than previously expected,” the report read.

    The economists noted that the economy had already slowed sharply to 2.81 percent in the first quarter, which they described as “the last reading to reflect pre-shock normalcy” before the full impact of the Middle East conflict filtered through fuel prices, inflation, and fertilizer supply disruptions.

    DLSU expects growth to slow further to 2.8 percent in the second quarter and 2.3 percent in the third quarter before recovering to 4.53 percent in the fourth quarter on the back of government catch-up spending, overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) remittances, and an eventual recovery in investments should geopolitical pressures ease.

    The report warned that the war had exposed the Philippines’ structural vulnerabilities, particularly its heavy dependence on imported petroleum, fertilizer-sensitive food production, and a fragile investment environment already weighed down by domestic political issues even before the external shock emerged.

    Medium-term growth is projected to recover to 3.93 percent in 2027 and 5.71 percent in 2028, driven by easing energy prices, the expected shift toward monetary accommodation, election-related spending, and the ramp-up of the Pax Silica semiconductor industrial hub. Still, both projections remain below the government’s downgraded growth targets.

    For 2026, DLSU expects private consumption growth at 4.93 percent, government expenditure at 4.89 percent, exports at 4.51 percent, and imports at 5.62 percent. Gross fixed capital formation, however, is forecast to contract by 1.99 percent, reflecting weak investor confidence, slowing bank lending, and elevated geopolitical risks.

    On the supply side, agriculture, forestry, and fishing are projected to grow just 0.2 percent this year, while industry is expected to expand 1.24 percent and services 4.38 percent.

    The economists also warned that inflation would remain “elevated through the end of 2026” as higher fuel costs spill over into transport, logistics, and food prices. The report expects inflation to peak at around eight percent by August before easing back within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) two- to four-percent target band by April 2027.

    DLSU also expects the peso to weaken further this year, projecting the currency to hit around ₱63.5 against the United States (US) dollar by August due to rising oil import costs and negative real interest rates before recovering in succeeding years.

    The economists argued that peso depreciation may provide limited support to the economy because most Philippine exports and imports are priced in US dollars under the dominant currency pricing system.

    “The short-run effect of depreciation tends to be: stronger on import prices; weaker on export volumes; more inflationary; [and] less expansionary for net exports than the textbook case,” the report said.

    The report explained that because Philippine exports—particularly electronics and global value chain-related products—contain substantial imported inputs, peso depreciation could raise production costs while delivering only limited gains to export volumes.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines has no room left to find ways to boost economic growth this year? What do you think the national government should do to stimulate the economy?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  22. Philippines Counting On Stronger Cooperation With Japan On Investment And Energy Security

    As it is already struggling with weak economic growth and high inflation, the Philippines is looking forward to Japan for stronger cooperation on investment and energy security, according to a news report by Malaya Business Insight.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Malaya Business Insight report. Some parts in boldface…

    President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines is counting on stronger cooperation with Japan on investment, energy security, and defense as his administration seeks to keep the economy moving despite high inflation, slower growth, and pressure from the Middle East crisis.

    Speaking to Japanese media in Malacañang ahead of his May 26 to 29 state visit to Japan, Marcos said the government remains confident the economy can recover from the recent slowdown, citing continued investor interest and policy measures meant to cushion consumers and businesses.

    The economy grew 2.8 percent in the first quarter, slower than 3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, while inflation surged to 7.2 percent in April from 4.1 percent in March.

    Marcos said the government was trying to keep the “economic machine running” despite “elements of fear” arising from global uncertainty.

    “Luckily, I suppose, or at least as I said, we are still continuing to see marked interest in investment in the Philippines,” Marcos said.

    “And perhaps this is why. This is because of the policies that we adopted, the incentives that we put out for investors. And so slowly we can see the way through this. Where we will recover through this,” he added.

    Marcos said the risk of stagflation, or weak economic growth combined with rising inflation, remains a major concern.

    He said the government has rolled out fuel subsidies, cash aid for the transport sector, a price cap on imported rice, and the P20-per-kilo rice program to help contain inflation and ease the burden on consumers.

    “We want to keep the system, the economic system, continuing to function. We have done all these measures to keep inflation down,” Marcos said.

    The President said his talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are expected to focus on energy security and defense cooperation, including tensions in the South China Sea and East China Sea.

    Marcos said both countries have faced coercive actions and “gray zone” tactics, making adherence to international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea central to the discussions.

    He said he would also push for the full implementation of the Reciprocal Access Agreement signed in July 2024 and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement signed in January.

    Marcos said Japan’s participation in this year’s Balikatan exercises marked a significant step in strengthening interoperability among allied forces.

    He also said the Philippines expects to benefit from Japan’s easing of restrictions on defense exports, including support for radar systems, aircraft, vessels, information technology sharing, and personnel training.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines cannot grow stronger without the involvement of Japan and its investors? Do you think the Philippines will proceed to acquire anti-ship missile systems from Japan to enhance national defense?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  23. Filinvest Development Corporation’s Net Income Reaches P3.9 Billion In 1st Quarter Of 2026

    As there are lots of signs of a weakening Philippine economy connected with higher fuel prices and accelerating inflation, Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) achieved growth in the first quarter this year with its net income reaching P3.9 billion, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

    Filinvest Development Corp., the holding company of the Gotianun family, reported an eight percent increase in attributable net income to ₱3.9 billion for the first quarter, as robust performances in its banking and real estate divisions mitigated the sharp downturn in its power business.

    The firm reported to the Philippine Stock Exchange that its consolidated net income grew by seven percent to ₱4.8 billion from ₱4.5 billion in the first quarter of 2025.

    Total revenues and other income for the first quarter of 2026 rose by five percent versus the same period in 2025 to ₱30.8 billion.

    The increases in revenues and other income by business segment were: Banking, 12 percent to ₱15.6 billion; Real estate, 16 percent to ₱7.9 billion; and Hospitality, 0.8 percent to ₱1.2 billion. Power declined by 28 percent to ₱3.6 billion.

    “Business results were mixed: Real Estate and Hospitality showed resilience against macroeconomic pressure while for others, profits were flat or experienced decreases versus a year ago,” said FDC President and CEO Rhoda A. Huang.

    She noted that, “We are facing the challenges with resolve to achieve revenue and profit growth in 2026, despite increasing inflation and weakening GDP growth, through astute strategies and persistence of our organization.”

    Banking unit EastWest Bank’s (EW) top-line growth was driven by increased loan volumes and effective management of funding costs, resulting in a 20 percent rise in net interest income (NII) to ₱11.1 billion.

    Non-interest income was affected by trading performance amid volatile market conditions, but this was partially offset by an eight percent growth in fee-based income.

    FDC’s Real Estate business, composed of Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), Filinvest Alabang, Inc. (FAI), and Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT), recorded a 16 percent revenue increase to ₱7.9 billion due to stronger residential and commercial lot sales.

    Residential sales increased by 28 percent, driven by sustained sales of ready-for-occupancy units and a higher percentage of completion for various residential projects. Mall and rental revenues remained steady with slight gains in occupancy and foot traffic.

    The Power subsidiary, FDC Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI), reported total revenues and other income of ₱3.6 billion for the first quarter of 2025 due to a notable decrease in spot market sales and lower coal cost passthrough rates. This was mitigated by reduced costs resulting from lower sales volume.

    Revenues from hotel operations under Filinvest Hospitality Corporation (FHC) remained consistent with the previous year’s level, supported by higher average room rates and enhanced contributions from the Food and Beverage (F&B) segment across its portfolio.

    The Banking segment was the largest contributor to revenue and other income for the first quarter of 2026, representing 51 percent of the conglomerate’s total.

    Real Estate and Power followed with contributions of 26 percent and 12 percent, respectively. The Hospitality segment accounted for four percent of revenues, while the remainder was attributed to other business units.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Considering the current state of the economy of the Philippines today, how do you think Filinvest Development Corporation will be able to perform financially in this current quarter and the next quarter?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  24. Pickup Coffee Targets Around 800 Stores By The End Of 2026

    Pickup Coffee, the popular homegrown coffee chain, is aiming to have around eight hundred stores by the end of 2026, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Pickup Coffee first opened in 2022 and it now has roughly five hundred branches. It continues to attract customers who love coffee.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

    Banking on Filipinos’ love for coffee along with more affordable offerings, an official of grab-and-go coffee chain Pickup Coffee expressed confidence for continued expansion amidst the current economic challenges.

    To date, the brand has around 500 coffee kiosks around the country, mostly in Metro Manila, and about a hundred stores in Mexico City.

    The goal is to have around 800 stores by end-2026, Diego Lorenzo, Pickup Coffee chief executive officer and cofounder said in an interview Tuesday night.

    A branch of Pickup Coffee inside Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

    The company is now open to franchising, with an initial investment of PHP2 million for the coffee truck’s stock, equipment and construction.

    Lorenzo said they plan to open as many as 200 more company-owned stores nationwide this year, with the focus on Northern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

    He said they cater to people from all walks of life, from those who can afford high-end brands but are open to cheaper options with quality offerings, to those in the C and D levels.

    “The more accessible you are, the faster you will grow,” he said.

    The brand has received capital from venture capitalists and Lorenzo said this is a sign of the brand’s potential to post stronger growth going forward.

    Rami Chahwan, president of Pickup Coffee, said franchising will complement the existing branches, citing lessons learned over the last 48 months.

    He said they have piloted 10 franchise stores over the last three months to ensure they can efficiently cater to more units once this bid is in full bloom.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the quality of drinks and services of Pickup Coffee will be well maintained as the franchising of their business happens? Do you think Pickup Coffee will be able to grow even as the economy of the Philippines slows down? Do you think only a recession would stop Pickup Coffee’s growth? If you consumed coffee from Pickup Coffee, what can you say about the taste and quality of what was served to you?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

    #Alabang #AlabangTownCenterATC #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #beverage #Bing #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #coffee #commerce #drinks #economicConfidence #economicDynamism #economicGrowth #economics #economy #EconomyOfThePhilippines #Facebook #food #franchising #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #Instagram #Investagrams #Luzon #MetroManila #Mindanao #MuntinlupaCity #news #PhilippineNewsAgencyPNA #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #PickupCoffee #Pinoy #PNA #PNAGovPh #publicService #socialMedia #SouthMetroManila #SoutheastAsia #technology #Twitter #Visayas #WordPress #WordPressCom
  25. China’s Property Crisis Just Got Worse–And Vanke Is Sounding the Alarm

    China’s property market is sinking againand fast. New-home prices across 70 cities dropped 0.27% in June, the sharpest…
    #NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Economy #BloombergIntelligence #Business #China #economicconfidence #PropertyMarket #Residentialsales
    newsbeep.com/us/12892/

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