Weak or strong peso
Weak or strong peso“The economics doesn’t warrant defending the peso,” BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said last Thursday. A weaker peso raises the peso value of OFW remittances and will boost consumer demand in our consumer driven economy. But there is always strong pressure for a strong peso from politicians who mistakenly think a strong peso shows a strong economy. Sectors of the economic elite who thrive on imports also want a strong peso. Either tighten standards for rural bank digital transformations, or make the digital bank licensing pathway more attractive.”Interesting times.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:36 UTC
Lacson: Imee had P2.5 billion ‘allocables’ in 2025 budget
Lacson: Imee had P2.5 billion ‘allocables’ in 2025 budgetMANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos has no moral ascendancy to denounce the 2026 national budget as being “tadtad ng pork” (filled with pork barrel) when she herself had billions of pesos in “allocable” funds reflected in the “Cabral files,” Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said on Saturday. Lacson said Marcos’ name appeared in the Cabral files with an allocable amount of around P2.5 billion at the NEP level, even before insertions were finalized. She said minced pork, that there is pork barrel in the 2026 budget,” Lacson told radio dzBB. “Perhaps she wants to apply as the ‘meow meow of the Senate’? We don’t want a meow meow in the Senate, but someone seems interested to apply,” Lacson said, referencing suspended Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga, who is known for his “meow meow” antics during House sessions.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:36 UTC
PSE targets more capital raising, IPOs in 2026
PSE targets more capital raising, IPOs in 2026PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon has set the exchange’s capital raising goal for the year between P170 billion and P175 billion. PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon has set the exchange’s capital raising goal for the year between P170 billion and P175 billion. In 2025, the PSE registered a 75-percent surge in total capital raised from the sale of primary and secondary shares and warrants to P144.14 billion from P82.37 billion raised in the previous year. The PSE was originally projecting only P120 billion for capital-raising activities in 2025, but later on raised its target to P185 billion. Monzon said the PSE is also working with the SEC on reducing the public float for an IPO.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:36 UTC
Palace dismisses plan to impeach President Marcos
Palace dismisses plan to impeach President MarcosMANILA, Philippines — The supposed plan to file an impeachment complaint against President Marcos is mere “political maneuvering,” Malacañang said yesterday even as it gave assurance that the Chief Executive would respect constitutional processes. Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice disclosed during a radio interview yesterday the alleged plan of some congressmen to file an impeachment case against Marcos next month, with betrayal of public trust as one of the grounds. Castro said the President remains committed to leading and producing results for the Filipino people. Erice said discussions among members of the House of Representatives, whom he did not name, are not limited to the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, Marcos’ former ally. The one-year bar rule for filing an impeachment complaint against Duterte will lapse on Feb. 6.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:36 UTC
‘Growth at risk from slump in public construction works’
‘Growth at risk from slump in public construction works’MANILA, Philippines — Private construction growth in the Philippines is being driven largely by residential projects and concentrated among big developers, while credit is increasingly flowing to consumption rather than productive investment, prompting economists to warn about the weakening quality and sustainability of growth. Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed private construction expanding by 13.9 percent even as public construction collapsed by 26.2 percent. While private construction can continue in the near term due to existing pipelines, Asuncion warned that “sustaining growth will be difficult if public construction continues to contract,” noting that “public infrastructure tends to crowd in private investment by improving connectivity and boosting demand.”“A prolonged slump raises downside risks for the sector,” he said. Over the longer term, he said private construction cannot thrive without public infrastructure. “Investment is weak, public construction has contracted sharply, and consumption is increasingly credit-driven.”
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:36 UTC
Illegal logs seized at former Sayyaf camp
Illegal logs seized at former Sayyaf campHandout photo provided by the provincial government of Basilan shows members of the military and police loading a log onto a truck. ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A joint team of the police and the military seized a pile of illegally cut logs at a former camp of the Abu Sayyaf group in Sumisip, Basilan on Saturday. “Sagip Kalikasan” intends to save and protect the forest around the Sampinit Complex against illegal loggers. The area served as a camp of Abu Sayyaf bandits, but is now a haven for trekkers and mountaineers. Mujiv Hataman ordered the implementation of “Sagip Kalikasan” to protect the province’s forests, rivers and coastlines, while also creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:36 UTC
More BSP rate cuts seen as price pressures curbed
More BSP rate cuts seen as price pressures curbedMANILA, Philippines — Inflation may have surprised on the upside in December, but economists said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) still has room to continue easing this year, with some even seeing deeper rate cuts ahead as growth risks mount and price pressures remain largely contained. If realized, this could bring the country’s key policy rate down to four percent from 4.50 percent currently and raise the total easing since August 2024 to 250 basis points from 200 bps. “Our forecast is underpinned by our more cautious view on the growth outlook, which is the overriding policy consideration for BSP. “We see the scope for additional rate cuts from the BSP in the coming months given the favorable inflation outlook, with two cuts in the first half of 2026,” Neri said. Taken together, economists said December’s inflation bump does little to change the broader picture: price pressures remain manageable, growth risks are rising and monetary policy is still likely to stay supportive in the months ahead.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:36 UTC
Philippines, South Korea reaffirm naval defense cooperation
Philippines, South Korea reaffirm naval defense cooperationMANILA, Philippines — South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has reaffirmed the strong and growing naval defense cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. Discussions also touched on prospective areas of collaboration, including shipbuilding and maintenance, workforce development, training and the strengthening of local supply chains in the Philippines. Fernandez emphasized that beyond platform acquisition, opportunities exist to advance workforce development, supply-chain localization and ODA-supported industrial cooperation, noting that these elements are essential to building a resilient and sustainable Philippine defense and maritime industry. Both sides underscored the importance of sustained government and industry engagement in advancing naval defense cooperation and contributing to the long-term development of the Philippine maritime and shipbuilding sector. The embassy reiterated its commitment to supporting initiatives that deepen the Philippines-Korea strategic partnership and promote mutually beneficial defense and industrial cooperation.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:34 UTC
ICI effectively a dead body – Drilon
ICI effectively a dead body – DrilonMANILA, Philippines — Former Senate president Franklin Drilon has declared the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) effectively a “dead body,” asserting that it has ceased to exist for all practical purposes following the resignation of its members. It’s a dead body, it cannot function,” he said. Beyond the leadership vacuum, Drilon questioned the necessity of maintaining the ICI, arguing that its functions are merely duplicative of existing constitutional bodies that possess actual prosecutorial powers. Talks of the ICI’s disbandment surfaced following the resignation of its commissioners and other members last year. Last week, Sen. Imee Marcos said the ICI will be dissolved by Feb. 1, but this was not confirmed by the body nor by Malacañang.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:34 UTC
‘Retrofitting traditional jeeps more feasible than buying new units’
MANILA, Philippines — To make the jeepney modernization program work, local manufacturer Sarao Motors views retrofitting traditional jeepneys as a more cost-effective option for drivers than buying a brand-new unit. However, a modern jeepney built from the ground up costs P2.8 million per unit. It retained the design of a traditional jeepney after its first modern jeepney prototype, launched in 2017, prompted mixed reactions for looking more like a bus. Meanwhile, the new modern jeepney is a collaboration between Sarao Motors and Netherlands-based firm Tembo. In comparison, drivers only spend up to P120,000 for a second-hand engine used in traditional jeepneys.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:34 UTC
FDA urged: Probe recall of Nestlé milk products
FDA urged: Probe recall of Nestlé milk productsIn a statement on Saturday, Gatchalian urged the FDA to look into the recall of Nan Optipro and Nankid Optipro, noting that several parents had trusted these milk products. MANILA, Philippines — Amid concerns over child health and consumer safety, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should investigate Nestlé Philippines’ recall of batches of infant and growing up milk formula products, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. In a statement on Saturday, Gatchalian urged the FDA to look into the recall of Nan Optipro and Nankid Optipro, noting that several parents had trusted these milk products. “I am urging the FDA to probe the recall of Nan Optipro and Nankid Optipro, which are part of its line of infant and growing up milk formulas,” Gatchalian said. Nestlé Philippines had announced a voluntary recall of limited batches of Nan Optipro and Nankid Optipro products due to a possible contamination risk.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:11 UTC
Reject donations from gambling firms, Sinulog organizers told
Reject donations from gambling firms, Sinulog organizers toldColorful buntings adorn the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño as Cebu City gears up for the Fiesta Señor, set for the third Sunday of January. In a post on social media, Uy reminded Sinulog organizers that accepting donations from gambling companies would send conflicting messages. “For this reason, I hope that organizers of the Sinulog Festival will refrain from accepting sponsorships from gambling establishments. Receiving donations from gambling sources is contradictory to the values taught by the Santo Niño, who symbolizes innocence, purity and trust in God, Uy said. He said that accepting donations from such companies would create a moral inconsistency as gambling is a destructive habit.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:11 UTC
Guidelines issued to prevent overpricing in infrastructure projects
Guidelines issued to prevent overpricing in infrastructure projectsConstruction workers are seen at a site in Manila on April 28, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — To bust the alleged “built-in” overprice of infrastructure works and deter ghost and substandard projects, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has issued guidelines to ensure the recomputation of all infrastructure project costs and budget estimates based on lowered construction materials price data (CMPD). The public works chief also ordered a recalculation of unit costs in the Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA) of all affected pay items, especially those with material cost components. The recalculation of the unit costs should cover the material component, the material price, labor and equipment component, labor and equipment unit cost, the application of indirect cost mark-up and the application of value added tax. “Upon updating all unit costs in the DUPA using the latest CMPD and other prevailing cost references, the revised unit costs shall be duly consolidated in an updated POW,” Dizon ordered.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:06 UTC
‘Verify Madriaga’s claims vs VP Sara’
‘Verify Madriaga’s claims vs VP Sara’Vice President Sara Duterte attends the House Committee on Appropriations' deliberation on the Office of the Vice President's (OVP's) proposed 2026 budget on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Can the sworn affidavit of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged bagman be used as a ground to impeach her a second time? The one-year bar on filing impeachment cases against Duterte will be lifted on Feb. 6. A formal House inquiry, according to the lawmaker, is thus necessary for verification of the contents of the Madriaga affidavit. According to Ridon, impeachment proceedings are currently in a holding pattern as Congress awaits the Supreme Court’s ruling on the motion for reconsideration it earlier filed.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:06 UTC
Senate flood control probe resumes January 19
Senate flood control probe resumes January 19Pedestrians cross on a makeshift pathway along P. Burgos Street in Manila as gutter-deep floodwaters cover the road following a heavy downpour on September 6, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will resume its flood control hearings next week to address alleged witness retractions, enforce attendance through subpoenas and begin scrutinizing public works documents known as the “Cabral files,” its chairman Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said Saturday. “I already informed colleagues in the majority through our chat group and I already asked Senate President (Tito) Sotto for permission to have a quorum on Jan. 19 at 1 p.m.,” Lacson told radio dzBB. “We will issue them a subpoena, and if they still refuse to appear, we will recommend to the Senate President that they be issued warrants of arrest,” he said. On the so-called Cabral files, Lacson said the committee is preparing to verify documents allegedly detailing allocations for flood control and other infrastructure projects.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2026 16:06 UTC