The country’s economic managers pushed for policy reforms and transparent fiscal management to drive faster economic growth and strengthen resilience amid headwinds during the 2026 Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Economic Forum.
Held on August 14, 2026, at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Assembly Hall, the forum featured the theme ‘Strengthening Economic Resilience in an Era of Uncertainty.’
Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said that the government remains focused on its objectives and pursuing reforms.
Reforms to encourage investments in the country include the Public-Private Partnership Code, CREATE MORE Act, Investors’ Lease Act, Accelerated and Reformed Right of Way Act, the Enhanced Mining Fiscal Regime Act, Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act and the Green Lane Initiative.
‘This administration has moved from setting the stage to execution, turning policy into investment and investment into jobs and opportunities for the people,’ Go said.
Following the Philippines’ transition to upper-middle income status, Department of Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said that the country needs to diversify its growth drivers by going beyond consumption and services to sustain growth and become a high-income economy.
He said the economy needs to generate more investments, strengthen exports and revitalize agriculture and industry.
‘The next two years for us are really about speeding up the implementation of programs and projects, and the completion, especially, of strategic programs and projects. And of course, keeping inflation in check is a very high priority,’ Balisacan said.
While external supply shocks that have pushed inflation are beyond the government’s control, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said that the central bank is mitigating second-round effects.
‘With the growth numbers and the inflation numbers, I think we need a more convincing downward trend for inflation before we can relax. Of course, the weaker growth that we’re seeing means we can be less aggressive in trying to tame inflation. But in the face of an unpredictable opponent – oil prices, for example – we need to keep our eye on the ball,’ Remolona said.
Department of Budget and Management Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in every stage of the budget process to support growth.
‘Behind every peso is a person. Behind every allocation is a choice. And behind every budget decision should be a better life for a Filipino,’ De Leon said.
Private sector representatives from the fintech and manufacturing sectors stressed the importance of public-private sector alignment in implementing reforms.
Michelle S. Fernandez, vice president and head of corporate sustainability and communications at GCash, said digital finance is becoming an important economic infrastructure, particularly in disbursing aid during shocks.
‘The real test of digital social protection is not whether a transfer can be sent in seconds. It’s when support arrives, not in a vacuum, but into an ecosystem where it can immediately improve a life,’ Fernandez said.
Maya Philippines Head of Corporate Affairs Kristoffer M. Rada advocated for shared standards and open competition to ensure digital financial access leads to productive results.
‘The Philippines has already built much of the infrastructure for digital financial access. Our next task is to make sure that access is economically meaningful,’ Rada said, adding that this requires the government and the private sector to agree on common infrastructure, common standards and strong safeguards.
JTI Philippines Fiscal and Regulatory Affairs Director Mario T. Zinampan noted that economic resilience requires resistance against illicit trade.
‘A resilient economy resists illicit trade, and the Philippines is not starting from zero. The destination principle is already embedded in various Philippine laws and regulations,’ Zinampan said.
The 2026 EJAP Economic Forum was supported by gold sponsors Maya Philippines Inc., GCash and JTI Philippines and silver sponsor BDO Unibank Inc.
SM Investments Corp., Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., Filinvest Development Corp., Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Philippine National Bank, Security Bank Corp., EastWest Banking Corp. and Asialink Finance Corp. were bronze sponsors.
EJAP is the country’s premier organization of business and economic reporters dedicated to promoting excellence in journalism and fostering professional development among its members.