jobs – Page 2 – Author Carlo Carrasco

2025 Subic Bay Freeport Zone Workforce Surpasses 170,000

March 13, 2026March 7, 2026carlocarrasco

For decades, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone has been a hot spot of commerce, tourism and varied types of businesses which resulted in the creation of new jobs. Recently, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officially confirmed that the Freeport workforce exceeded 170,000 in 2025 which is an improvement of over 4% compared with 2024.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement of the SBMA. Some parts in boldface…

The workforce in the country’s premier Freeport totaled 171,653 in 2025, according to the annual report by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

According to a report from the SBMA Labor Department, this figure reflects a 4.4 percent increase from last year’s 164,400 recorded in 2024.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said that the increase in the number of workers here results from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s mandate to provide more employment opportunities for Filipinos.

He said that Olongapo City remains the biggest source of manpower, with 70,769 residents working here. He added that this was followed by Zambales with 31,621; Bataan with 22,897; National Capital Region with 7,077; Pampanga with 5,492; Tarlac with 2,199; and the remaining 31,598 from other parts of the country, including foreign workers.

Around 70.60 percent of workers, or 121,187, are male, while the remaining 29.40 percent, or 50,466 workers, are female, and employed by 4,744 Subic companies. Despite the disparity, female workers outnumbered male workers in the manufacturing sector, with 18,951 females and 18,242 males employed across 111 manufacturing companies in Subic.

Meanwhile, the Subic Bay Freeport’s services sector remains the biggest employer, which clocked at 67.32 percent of the workforce, with the manufacturing sector making up 21.67 percent. These are followed by the construction sector with 7.36 percent, and shipbuilding/marine-related services with 3.64 percent.

Aliño added that the services sector also has the biggest number of companies, with 4,129, followed by the construction sector with 356 companies, then shipbuilding/ marine-related services with 148 companies, and lastly the manufacturing sector with 111 companies.

He further said that more companies are still looking for employees, thru the SBMA Labor Department’s regular conduct of job fairs and posting job openings via online portals and bulletin boards at their offices near the Subic Bay Gym.

“Jobseekers can click on the SBMA Career Portal, where we provide an official list of vacancies from various Freeport locators. We encourage applicants to check the Subic Gym bulletin board for scheduled examinations and interviews,” he said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are managing a business, have you thought about expanding and setting up a place inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone? What is your current impression about the business and work environment inside Subic Bay right now?

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 @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Japan Moves With Establishing Pre-Entry Immigration Checks And Higher Residency Fees

March 12, 2026March 10, 2026carlocarrasco

The establishment of online pre-entry immigration checks and much higher residency fees could become a reality as the Japanese government approved a bill to amend the immigration control law, according to a Kyodo News report.

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

The Japanese government on Tuesday approved a bill to amend the immigration control law to establish an online pre-entry screening system for overseas arrivals and significantly increase residence status application fees for foreigners.

The Cabinet-endorsed bill will be submitted to the current Diet session, and if enacted, the government aims to implement the entry eligibility screening system called the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or JESTA, in fiscal 2028.

The amendment includes raising the upper limit for visa application and renewal fees from 10,000 yen ($63) to 300,000 yen, marking the first increase since 1982.

The introduction of JESTA aims to prevent terrorism and illegal employment, according to the Immigration Services Agency. It would target the current 74 countries and regions whose citizens are exempt from obtaining short-stay visas.

Several days before traveling to Japan, applicants would be required to provide information online, including their name, the purpose of their stay, and the locations they intend to visit. Those suspected of traveling for illegal employment or other violations would be denied boarding on aircraft and ships.

Fees are currently set at 10,000 yen for application for permanent residency and 6,000 yen for residence period renewals.

It has been pointed out that these fees, which cover only actual costs and are also allocated to coexistence measures, are significantly lower than those in Western countries.

The number of foreign residents in Japan at the end of 2025 stood at approximately 4.13 million, a record high.

The government would aim to use the increased cap to cover system costs for efficient visa screening and the establishment of consultation services.

The amendment sets the cap at 300,000 yen for permanent residency applications and 100,000 yen for visa extensions and similar procedures.

The limits have been set in anticipation of future inflation. Going forward, the specific amounts for each fee would be determined by government ordinance with the aim of applying them within fiscal 2026.

According to sources, the permanent residency application fee is being considered at around 200,000 yen, while other fees would range from 10,000 yen to 70,000 yen depending on the intended period of stay.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the proposed changes will make a tremendous impact on immigration in Japan? Do you expect the bill to be approved this year? How far do you think Japan should go with reforming their immigration system?

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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Cases Of Foreign Tourists Getting Overcharged In Vietnam Increase

March 12, 2026March 5, 2026carlocarrasco

Having traveled to many destinations around the world, I am always mindful about how much money I carry, how much do products and services cost, and what exactly should I pay for. Vietnam, which attracted a record 21.2 million foreign tourists last year, has a disturbing trend of foreign tourists getting overcharged for services and products, according to a VnExpress news article.

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

Gouging tourists is giving Vietnam a bad name despite its sustained promotional efforts, insiders warn.

They want the authorities to hike fines manifold and deploy technology-based monitoring systems to prevent the insidious practice.

Chi Mai, 35, a Hanoi-based tour guide whose family has lived in the capital for three generations, says incidents of overcharging have become so common that they no longer surprise locals.

“Even residents buying 200 grams of pickled fruit in the Old Quarter without first checking the price can be charged double. It’s not surprising that foreign tourists are asked to pay four or five times.”

The repeated reports of such instances leave her disheartened, she says.

“If authorities fail to tackle this issue in a decisive manner, Vietnam’s international tourism promotion efforts will prove ineffective.”

On Feb. 24 an American tourist was charged VND1 million (US$38) for a seven-kilometer trip, 14 times the usual fare, by a motorbike-taxi driver in Hanoi. The driver admitted to the violation, apologized to the tourist and promised not to repeat the act.

Earlier cases also drew attention. In January Hanoi authorities fined a street vendor for charging two foreign tourists nearly four times the normal price of a conical hat.

In July 2025 a group of Filipino tourists were charged VND1.4 million ($53) for a taxi ride of less than 1 km, 50 times the normal fare.

Two months later an Australian family reportedly paid VND1.2 million for a cyclo trip, three times the regulated rate.

Overcharging and aggressive solicitation are not confined to Hanoi and have been reported across other tourist hubs such as Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

Nguyen Tien Dat, CEO of Hanoi-based tour operator AZA Travel, says overcharging tends to occur more frequently in destinations with large numbers of international visitors.

He recounts a personal experience in Da Nang where a taxi driver took a longer route from the airport while Dat was on a phone call. Only after he protested strongly did the driver adjust the fare.

“Even veteran tourism professionals such as tour guides and travel agency executives can fall victim to such practices, and international visitors are even more exposed,” Mai says, adding she has frequently intervened to help tourists resolve pricing disputes.

Tran Trung Hieu, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, acknowledges that gouging remains an issue, particularly in areas such as the Old Quarter and during major festivals.

Failure to publicly display prices and forcing customers to make purchases are fraudulent practices, he says.

The department has established a tourist hotline and increased security presence on pedestrian streets during weekends, he says.

“Price gouging, at worst, discourages visitors from returning.“

In Da Nang, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has formed a rapid response team to address complaints and conducts regular inspections of tourism service providers.

There are task forces to monitor commercial fraud, counterfeit goods and non-compliance with pricing regulations.

Authorities on Phu Quoc Island recently established a tourism rapid response team to protect visitors and address service-related concerns amid a tourism boom.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you were able to travel overseas over the past twelve months, were you excessively charged for a service or for a product you purchased? Does the trend of overcharging tourists in Vietnam discourage you from visiting the country? Do you think the authorities in Vietnam will be able to solve the problems?

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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Philippines Economic Growth May Slow Down To 4.2% This Year

March 10, 2026March 3, 2026carlocarrasco

In the view of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), the growth of the economy of the Philippines may slow down a bit further this year to 4.2%, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC growth may likely be even slower this year, amid uncertainty over a “meaningful” recovery, the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said.

In its February The Market Call, UA&P cut its full-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 4.2% from the “above 5%” forecast previously.

If realized, this will be even slower than the post-pandemic low of 4.4% GDP growth in 2025 when the flood control scandal dampened government spending and investments.

However, UA&P expects first-quarter GDP growth to pick up to 3.3% from 3% in the fourth quarter of 2025. If realized, it will be slower than 5.4% in the first quarter of 2025.

“More indicators revealed the impact of the flood control scandal, hurting economic growth in 2025 as sentiment points to a ‘muddling through’ scenario for 2026,” it said. UA&P said the government needs to ramp up spending to drive faster growth this year.

“While uncertainty over a meaningful economic recovery remains, we see some bits of light emerging,” it said.

“With inflation remaining in the lowest quarter of BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) target range, policy and interest rates declining, and the peso depreciating, consumer spending, residential property sales, car sales, equipment leasing and other interest-sensitive spending should provide better consumption expenditures in Q1,” it added.

Headline inflation picked up to 2% in January from 1.8% in December and 2.9% in the same month last year.

“A more optimistic PMI in January, along with expected increases in exports and remittances from overseas Filipinos, should be supported by the peso’s depreciation,” UA&P said.

The S&P Global Philippines Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to a nine-month high of 52.9 in January due to fresh export orders.

Last year, merchandise exports reached $84.4 billion, reflecting a 15.2% increase amid “holiday demand, US agricultural exemptions, and a weaker peso.”

Cash remittances coursed through banks hit an all-time high in December at $3.5 billion, bringing the full-year tally to a record $35.6 billion.

Meanwhile, the UA&P said that it expects further weakening of the peso after the BSP cut its policy rate by 25 basis points (bps) in February.

The Monetary Board lowered the target reverse repurchase rate by 25 bps to 4.25%, the lowest in over three years. This brought the BSP’s total reductions to 225 bps since it began monetary policy easing in August 2024.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you find the latest economic outlook of UA&P believable and precise? Do you think the fallout from the flood control corruption scandal still is dragging down the economic growth of the nation? Do you think the national government will be able to increase its spending 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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2.26 Million Filipinos Jobless in December 2025, Unemployment Rate Lands At 4.4%

February 15, 2026February 9, 2026carlocarrasco

Over two million Filipinos were reported jobless for the month of December 2025 with the unemployment rate landing at 4.4%, according to a business news report by the Manila Bulletin.

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

The country’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent in December 2025 from the previous month, but underlying labor market data pointed to emerging softness as the number of jobless Filipinos continued to rise.

The latest preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released Friday, Feb. 6, showed that around 2.26 million Filipinos were unemployed in December, up sharply from 1.63 million during the same month in 2024 and slightly higher than the 2.25 million recorded in November.

The increase came alongside a labor force participation rate of 64.4 percent, translating to about 51.69 million Filipinos aged 15 and above who were either employed or actively seeking work.

The employment rate settled at 95.6 percent for the month, down from 96.9 percent in December 2024, while the underemployment rate fell to a single-digit eight percent in December—the lowest on record, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa noted at a press briefing. The last time that underemployment reached a single-digit rate was in May 2024, when it stood at 9.9 percent.

For full-year 2025, the employment rate slipped to 95.8 percent from 96.2 percent in 2024, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent from 3.8 percent. Underemployment held steady at 11.9 percent, the same level recorded in 2024.

Mapa attributed the year-on-year increase in unemployment primarily to the construction sector, which reportedly shed 550,000 jobs.

He noted that weak growth in construction—particularly public construction—was the main driver of the rise in unemployment. The sector further declined in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the third quarter.

Reductions in employment were also observed in transportation and storage (258,000), fishing and aquaculture (258,000), and manufacturing (255,000), but Mapa emphasized that construction accounted for the largest impact.

While employment grew by around 172,000 in 2025 compared with 2024, Mapa said this was the lowest annual increase in the past three years, excluding the pandemic years.

He noted that employment had risen by 1.29 million in 2023 compared with 2022 and by 664,000 in 2024 compared with 2023, highlighting a clear downward trend.

The slowdown was largely due to the construction sector contributing fewer workers compared with previous years, as reduced public construction activity translated into lower employment.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think unemployment all over the Philippines will gradually get worse over the next twelve months? If the economic growth of the Philippines weakens further, do you think job opportunities will be reduced?

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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Indonesia Attracts 15.39 Million Foreign Visitors In 2025

February 14, 2026February 10, 2026carlocarrasco

Indonesia, the 2^nd largest economy of Southeast Asia, successfully attracted 15.39 million foreign visitors in 2025 and it is already looking forward to attracting even more this year, according to a news report by VnExpress.

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

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, welcomed 15.39 million foreign visitors in 2025, exceeding its target of 14-15 million arrivals.

“We have exceeded our target and performed better than our previous projections,” Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said at a meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, as quoted by Antara News Agency.

Government figures show that average spending per foreign visitor reached US$1,267 in 2025, surpassing the target of $1,220.

Malaysia remained the biggest contributor to Indonesia’s tourism revenue, while the United Arab Emirates posted the fastest growth in visitor numbers.

Arrivals from China rose sharply, reaching 1.34 million in 2025, the highest level in six years, according to Xinhua News Agency. The data indicates that travel from China to Indonesia has not only recovered but has also exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

By doing the math of the numbers revealed in the above news report, US$1,267 multiplied with 15.39 foreign tourists is equal to roughly US$19.5 billion in foreign tourism revenue. That is a huge economic boost for Indonesia.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you ever toured Indonesia? If you have visited Indonesia, what did you enjoy the most while touring there?

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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Vietnam Attracts 2.5 Million Foreign Tourists In January 2026

February 12, 2026February 7, 2026carlocarrasco

Vietnam, which is already one of the leading players of Southeast Asia on foreign tourism, is off to a powerful start as it successfully attracted 2.5 million foreign tourists in January 2026 alone, according to a news report by VnExpress. The relaxed visa policies and enhanced tourism campaigns were factors behind the early success.

For insight, Vietnam attracted 21.2 million foreign tourists in 2025. It is expected to attract more from Israel as its ties with the Jewish state are getting stronger. Also, a lot of Filipino travelers searched for accommodations in Vietnam online in 2025. These are only a few of many factors highlighting the tourism boom in Vietnam.

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

Vietnam received 2.5 million foreign visitors in January, its highest monthly number ever, thanks to relaxed visa policies and increased tourism campaigns.

It represents an increase of more than 21% from the previous month, data released Tuesday by the General Statistics Office shows.

The composition of Vietnam’s top source markets changed during the month. South Korea overtook mainland China to become the top market with nearly 490,000 visitors, and China was next with 460,000.

Cambodia emerged as the most notable mover with more than 223,000 arrivals to rise to third place overtaking Taiwan. The rest of top 10 comprised Taiwan, Japan, the U.S, Australia, Russia, India, and Malaysia.

Industry insiders attribute the jump to ground-breaking visa policies, strong innovation in tourism promotion and marketing, greater product diversification, and improved service quality.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you ever toured Vietnam? With the strong start, do you think Vietnam will be able to attract more than 30 million foreign tourists this year? What is the first thing that comes to your mind when it comes to tourism in Vietnam?

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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ADB Says Philippine Economy Could Grow Around 6% In 2027

February 7, 2026February 2, 2026carlocarrasco

In its latest economic analysis, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) says that the economy of the Philippines could grow by about 6% in 2027 provided that investments – both public and private – would regain strength, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY could return to around 6% growth by 2027 if public and private investments rebound, according to Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries.

“I think (the drivers are a) kind of a little of everything, but return to high investment, public and private, I think would be, to me, the key driver,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Jan. 23.

Last December, the ADB slashed its Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 5% for 2025, from 5.6% previously. For 2026, the ADB trimmed its GDP projection to 5.3% from 5.7% previously.

This comes after a corruption scandal dampened government spending, household consumption, investor confidence and economic activity last year.

The ADB will release its updated economic outlook in April, which will include a 2027 growth forecast.

Mr. Jeffries warned that the cut in Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget this year, could trigger a “big slowdown” in locally funded projects.

“I guess the main variable for 2026 was how fast does the public investment recover? We were thinking maybe two quarters, so it’ll start reviving,” he said.

In a meeting with Public Works Secretary Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon in December, Mr. Jeffries said they raised concerns about “paralysis,” where key projects risked getting stuck.

“What we’ve heard is they’re trying to make sure the priority projects are not stuck and keep moving forward quickly. I think it’s a twofold exercise,” he said. “It’s cleaning up the problem while full steam ahead on some of the other projects that weren’t a problem.”

Mr. Dizon earlier said the DPWH aims to boost spending while ensuring funds are used wisely and focus on prioritizing the “basics” such as road and bridge maintenance and unfinished projects. The agency’s target spend is set between P200 billion and P250 billion for the first quarter, he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jeffries said the Philippines must raise the share of exports in the economy to support long-term growth, as well as diversify its base, and boost resilience.

“It’s not something that happens overnight. It’ll be a combination of policies and attracting investment and improving the business environment and all of those things combined,” Mr. Jeffries said. “But neighbors have done it and the Philippines can do that.”

He noted the Philippines was shielded from external shocks, largely because exports remain a relatively small part of the economy.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the ADB’s analysis for the Philippines is correct? Do you think the economy of the Philippines has enough strength to grow by at least 6% in 2027?

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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Philippines 2025 GDP Growth Lands At 4.4%

January 30, 2026January 29, 2026carlocarrasco

After much anticipation, the full gross domestic product (GDP) growth of the Philippines registered final pace of 4.4% for the whole year of 2025, according to a Manila Standard business news report.

For insight, the 4.4% 2025 GDP growth is even lower than what others anticipated (click here and here). It should be recalled that GDP growth in the 3^rd and 4^th quarters of last year showed clear signs of economic weakness. The said weakness is connected with the flood control corruption scandal that rocked the nation.

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

The Philippine economy expanded 4.4 percent in 2025 as a sharp slowdown in the final three months of the year dragged down the annual performance, government data showed on Thursday.

The gross domestic product grew 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter, marking the weakest quarterly expansion in five years. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the industrial sector contracted by 0.9 percent during the period, while gross capital formation, a measure of investment, tumbled 10.9 percent.

Wholesale and retail trade, financial activities and public administration remained the primary drivers of growth during the October to December period.

Public administration and defense led the gains with a 7.9 percent increase, followed by financial and insurance activities at 5.6 percent and trade at 4.6 percent.

For the full year, the services sector led the economy with a 5.9-percent expansion, while agriculture, forestry and fishing grew 3.1 percent. The industrial sector recorded a modest 1.5 percent increase for all of 2025.

Consumer spending, which traditionally anchors the Philippine economy, rose 3.8 percent in the fourth quarter and 4.6 percent for the full year. Government spending saw a significant annual jump of 9.1 percent despite the year-end cooling.

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 be able to bounce back strongly this year and achieve 5% growth later? Do you think the reforms being implemented by the national government will create positive economic results soon? Are you convinced that the flood control corruption scandal turned off a lot of foreign investors?

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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IMF Trims Philippines Economic Growth Projections For 2026 And 2027

January 27, 2026January 20, 2026carlocarrasco

As far as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is concerned, issues of corruption and climate disruptions are enough to convince them to project economic growth of the Philippines at a slower pace not just for this year but also for next year, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Washington-based multilateral lender International Monetary Fund (IMF) has tweaked downwards its economic growth projections for the Philippines this year and the next, following its more somber outlook for 2025 amid corruption allegations and climate disruptions.

According to the IMF’s updated World Economic Outlook (WEO), Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) is now seen expanding at a slower 5.1 percent, down from its earlier forecast of 5.4 percent—both of which fall short of the country’s already lowered target of at least 5.5 percent.

Despite the cut, the IMF’s forecast remains slightly more optimistic than the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) assumption of a 4.6 percent growth rate, which the central bank has attributed to a loss of confidence tied to governance concerns.

For 2026 and 2027, the IMF also trimmed its growth forecasts to 5.6 percent from a previous 5.8 percent, and to 5.8 percent from 6.1 percent, respectively. The central bank’s projection of 5.4 percent for 2026 stands lower than the IMF’s forecast, while its 6.2 percent forecast for 2027 is higher.

These projections still fall within the revised targets, based on National Socioeconomic Planner Arsenio M. Baliscan’s lower growth assumptions. Baliscan expects growth to clock in at five to six percent in 2026, and 5.5 to 6.5 percent in 2027—both lowered from the earlier goals of six to seven percent.

According to the IMF, the downward adjustment for 2026 and 2027 “reflects the carryover impact from a downward revision in the IMF’s growth forecast for 2025—from 5.4 to 5.1 percent—and a slower pace of capital accumulation.”

It noted that the slashed GDP growth forecast for 2025 reflects the output slump in the third quarter of 2025 “amid recent corruption allegations and climate shocks impacting economic activity in the second half of the year.”

To recall, the Philippine economy expanded by four percent in the third quarter of 2025—the weakest in four and a half years.

Looking ahead, output expansion could accelerate slower than expected mainly due to the potential “escalation of trade restrictions and prolonged uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and disruptive financial market corrections.”

“On the upside, accelerated implementation of structural and governance reforms can boost investment and foreign direct investments (FDI), increase fiscal multipliers and boost potential growth,” the lender said.

What would drive the economy in the medium term is robust private consumption and higher investment, the IMF said, “supported by monetary policy easing and the authorities’ recent policy initiatives to support private investment.”

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 can somehow grow faster than what the IMF projected for 2026 and 2027? Do you think foreign investors have been turned off by the flood control corruption scandals?

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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