Category: Business Mirror

THE Philippine economy may once again fall short of the Marcos administration’s growth ambitions, as two international organizations cut their 2026 forecasts amid weaker investment and household spending.

SandP Global Ratings on Wednesday lowered its 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 2.9 percent from 4.1 percent previously, a 1.2-percentage-point downgrade.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), meanwhile, trimmed its growth forecast to 3.3 percent from 3.8 percent, or a 0.5-percentage-point reduction.

If either forecast materializes, the Philippines would miss the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) annual growth target for the fourth consecutive year since President Marcos Jr. took office.

‘We have lowered our growth forecast for 2026, reflecting the weaker-than-expected first-half growth and a more gradual recovery trajectory,’ SandP Global economist Vishrut Rana told the BusinessMirror in an email interview.

The Philippine economy grew by just 2.6 percent in the first half of 2026, sharply slower than the 5.4 percent expansion recorded in the same period last year.

According to SandP, the Philippines was a ‘notable exception’ to the resilience in domestic demand seen across Asia and the Pacific, pointing to continued weakness in investment.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that gross capital formation, which measures investment in the economy, contracted by 9.2 percent in the second quarter of 2026.

This marked another quarter of contraction after gross capital formation shrank by 2 percent in the third quarter of 2025, 9.4 percent in the fourth quarter, and 3.1 percent in the first quarter of 2026.

Fixed investment also contracted by 13.7 percent in the second quarter, widening from the 2.5 percent decline in the first quarter. Construction likewise contracted by 14.8 percent, compared with a 4.3 percent contraction in the previous quarter.

Rana said the recovery in investment would take time, with public capital expenditure expected to gradually normalize as infrastructure projects resume.

‘Given strong reforms in the space to increase transparency and efficiency, it will take time for disbursements to ramp up,’ he added.

Data from the Department of Budget and Management showed that infrastructure and capital outlays, a measure of government capital spending, fell to P367.14 billion in the first half of 2026, down 40.8 percent from P620.2 billion in the same period last year.

The DBM earlier said infrastructure disbursements by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were affected by tighter payment validation, audit and documentary requirements aimed at ensuring that releases are made only for properly documented and verified projects that comply with government rules.

Meanwhile, ADB Philippines Senior Economist Teresa Mendoza also identified weaker household spending amid elevated inflation and weak consumer confidence as another drag on growth this year.

‘The impacts increasingly spread to the broader economy, including a slowdown in several services subsectors,’ Mendoza said during a briefing.

PSA data showed household consumption grew by just 2.8 percent in the second quarter, the slowest since the pandemic-induced first quarter of 2021, when household spending contracted by 4.8 percent.

Excluding the pandemic period, household spending growth was the weakest since the third quarter of 2010, when it expanded by 2.6 percent.

El Niño poses risk to inflation

Although the ADB expects Philippine growth to recover in 2027, it warned that the outlook remains vulnerable to the effects of a potentially strong El Niño from late this year through 2027.

‘Key risks stem from worsening of geopolitical tensions and extreme weather shocks, including worse than expected El Nino impacts, which could intensify further inflationary pressures,’ ADB Philippines Senior Economist Teresa Mendoza said.

The ADB expects growth to rebound to 5.1 percent in 2027, although this is slightly lower than its previous forecast of 5.3 percent.

On inflation, the bank retained its 5.9 percent forecast for 2026, while raising its 2027 projection to 4.4 percent as food prices, particularly rice, are expected to remain elevated amid El Niño.

SandP Global also expects the Philippines’s growth to recover next year, although it trimmed its 2027 forecast to 5.4 percent from 5.8 percent previously.

‘Elevated energy and food prices, together with the resulting tighter monetary policy, will continue to weigh on domestic demand. Amid these factors, we have also lowered our 2027 growth projection modestly,’ Rana said.

SandP Global expects Philippine inflation to average 5.5 percent this year before easing to 3.6 percent in 2027.

Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of a 60 percent or higher reduction in average monthly rainfall in some areas through the end of the year.

The government also reactivated the Task Force El Niño in June to coordinate measures aimed at mitigating the phenomenon’s impact on agriculture and vulnerable communities.

Cebuana Lhuillier strengthened its position as a financial services provider after earning multiple awards at the MARKETECH APAC Next Awards Philippines 2026 for campaigns that make financial solutions more accessible, relevant, and engaging for Filipinos.

The achievement was led by Emirosco Michael Sena, First Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, who earned Gold for Marketing Leader of the Year. The Cebuana Lhuillier Integrated Marketing and Communications Group also secured Silver for Marketing Team of the Year, reflecting the impact of its collaborative work across the organization.

Working closely with various business units, the marketing team translates customer insights and business priorities into initiatives that address everyday financial needs. This approach supports Cebuana Lhuillier’s goal of becoming a lifelong financial partner while making its services easier to understand and access.

For Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, the awards affirm the marketing team’s role in advancing the company’s transformation and bringing its financial services closer to more Filipinos. ‘I commend Mike and the entire marketing team for turning insights into campaigns that resonate with Filipinos and help make financial solutions within reach. These awards are a testament to their creativity, dedication, and the positive difference they continue to make,’ he shared.

Sena’s latest marketing distinction reflects his role in reshaping Cebuana Lhuillier beyond its traditional pawnshop identity and advancing its vision as an integrated financial ecosystem. By connecting pawning, loans, remittance, savings, insurance, business support and investment, he helped position the company as a financial partner that supports Filipinos wherever they are in their financial journey.

This vision was further realized through the CebuanaAmazing All-In campaign, which earned Silver for Most Innovative Brand Awareness Campaign by showcasing the company’s broad range of financial services and their role in Filipinos’ everyday financial journeys.

‘Marketing in the financial sector is fundamentally about creating real value and accessibility, and this award belongs to our entire team for crafting campaigns that connect and empower millions of Filipinos,’ Sena said.

The team’s other award-winning campaigns further demonstrate this approach. Cebuana Lhuillier received Gold for Most Innovative B2B Campaign for its business support solutions, helping micro, small, and medium enterprises access relevant resources and financial services.

The Cebuana Lhuillier Easy Loan campaign received Silver for Most Innovative Social Media Campaign. Built around the Filipino experience of being ‘bitin’ or facing shortfalls, the campaign captured everyday financial gaps and positioned the partnership as a relevant solution for short-term needs.

The award-winning financial education platform Money Guro secured Bronze for Most Innovative Content Marketing Campaign for making financial literacy more accessible through practical, relatable, and bite-sized content. Its digital learning experiences help Filipinos build confidence in managing their finances.

24K Rewards earned Bronze for Most Innovative Loyalty Marketing Campaign by making loyalty simple, transparent, and rewarding. Through the 24K Rewards Branch Raid, routine branch visits became memorable experiences featuring surprise rewards, partner offers, and interactive activities.

Together, the awards highlight how Cebuana Lhuillier turns customer insights into campaigns that deliver business value and social impact. As the company continues to evolve as a financial partner, its marketing efforts remain focused on helping Filipinos access relevant solutions, make informed decisions, and move forward with greater confidence.

HONOR’s latest smartphone brings key experiences from the HONOR 600 Series to a wider audience, with AI-powered creativity, 5G connectivity, and long-lasting battery life.

Following the success of the HONOR 600 Series, global AI devices provider HONOR Philippines has officially confirmed the arrival of the HONOR 600S, coming to the Philippines on October 1, 2026.

As a more accessible addition to the HONOR 600 Series, the HONOR 600S is designed to bring the experiences that users value from the series to a wider audience. Built for young professionals, creators, and digital-savvy users, it combines entertainment, content creation, work, business, and connectivity in a smartphone made for everyday life.

The HONOR 600S is set to bring more of the HONOR 600 Series experience to a wider audience, with a combination of entertainment, creativity, connectivity, and everyday performance. Among its highlights is HONOR AI Image to Video 2.0, giving users a glimpse of the creative experiences they can expect from the new device.

It also comes with 5G connectivity, allowing users to stay connected and enjoy their digital experiences wherever the day takes them. It is built to keep up with users who are always on the go, featuring a massive 8,100mAh battery designed to provide the power needed for long days of streaming, scrolling, creating, and getting things done.

‘Following the strong response to the HONOR 600 Series, we wanted to continue giving our consumers more of the experiences they value while making them accessible to even more users,’ said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines. ‘The HONOR 600S carries forward the AI-powered creativity and connectivity that our consumers enjoy, while offering an option that fits the needs of a wider audience. We’re excited to officially introduce it to the Philippines this October.’

The HONOR 600S officially launches in the Philippines on October 1, 2026. More details, including pricing, availability, and other launch offers, will be revealed soon. Watch the live launch here: https://bit.ly/H600S_GrandLaunch_PR.

THE administration of President Marcos is preparing a new round of fuel assistance under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (Uplift) to provide relief to vulnerable sectors as the benchmark Brent oil hit $100 per barrel on September 9, the first time since July amid renewed US-Iran tension.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said farmers and fishermen are the initial targets of the fresh Uplift assistance.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez at the same time said the administration is continuously looking for ways to mitigate the local impact of the increase in oil prices in the global market, which affects the public transport sector and commuters.

Lopez said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is seriously studying to include other modes of public transport in the fuel subsidy now enjoyed by PUJs and UV express. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is also holding consultations on fare-increase petitions.

In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas’ Rise and Shine program, de Mesa said, ‘Sa ngayon inihahanda na natin ang fuel assistance under the UPLIFT program natin. Ito ay direktang mapapakinabangan ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda.’

He said a big chunk of the expense of farmers and fishermen goes to fuel for their palay harvesters and motorized bancas.

The government is also considering restoring toll waivers for vehicles transporting agricultural products from Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon to Metro Manila.

‘Pag nagkaroon ng pagtaas ang presyo ng petrolyo ang unang naaapektuhan sa sektor ng agrikultura ay iyong dagdag na gastusin sa movement or transportation costs na ipinapasa sa ating mga consumers,’ de Mesa added.

‘Naging epektibo dati iyong pagbibigay ng libreng toll doon sa ating mga viajero. Isa iyan sa magandang pangyayari sa mga nakalipas na pagtaas ng [presyo] ng produktong petrolyo,’ de Mesa said.

On the private sector hog industry association’s proposal to raise pork tariffs, de Mesa said the government is carefully studying how to mitigate the potential impact on pork prices and the subsequent rise in processed pork products such as hotdogs and luncheon meat, which Filipinos consume daily.

In a separate interview, Lopez said, ‘Sa ating mga bus operators at drivers, una po, kami po, ako po ay personal na humihingi ng inyong pasensya, paumanhin at konsiderasyon. At makaaasa naman po kayo na ang gobyerno gumagawa ng mga iba’t ibang mga inisyatibo para po matulungan kayo and in the meantime, matulungan din natin ang ating mga commuters.’

On the petition for fare hike, Lopez said the LTFRB is thoroughly considering the issues and concerns of the operators, drivers, and commuters.

‘Pagdating po sa fare hike, this is what I have been saying that at this point in time, we are squeezing the government on what initiative of subsidy it can still give. Tulad po ng fuel discount, alam po namin iyan na from P10 naging P12 at limitado po ang transport modes na makikinabang diyan, iyong jeepney at tsaka mga UV Express. We are thinking of how to extend the subsidy to other transport modes,’ Lopez said.

President Marcos formed UPLIFT to provide assistance to the most vulnerable sectors as part of the whole-of-government approach to mitigate the impact of the lingering Middle East crisis. With Samuel P. Medenilla

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is exploring millet as an alternative feedstuff for corn in its bid to slash production costs and minimize exposure of feed supplies to weather-driven disruptions.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he examined millet and other feed ingredients during his recent trip to India whose experience with the drought-tolerant crop could provide lessons for Philippine livestock producers.

The DA explained that millet is a group of small-seeded cereal grasses used for food and animal feed.

It can grow under relatively dry conditions, requiring less water than corn, thus making it a potential alternative when drought affects conventional feed crops.

For livestock producers, the DA said the economic consideration is just as important.

Since corn is a major feed ingredient, any disruptin in production will translate into higher input costs.

‘Developing other feed sources could give farmers and feed manufacturers more flexibility, although commercial adoption would still depend on yield, nutritional value, processing requirements and cost.’

Meanwhile, the DA noted that feed initiative forms part of the agency’s efforts to broaden the domestic carabao and dairy industries.

Tiu Laurel said building domestic capacity for feed production and processing is key to strengthening the livestock industry.

‘When communities can grow, process, and mill their own feed, we lower costs, raise productivity, and make our food system more resilient,’ he said.

The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) recently launched a P237.9-million facility housing, dubbed the world’s first laboratory dedicated exclusively to sex-sorting buffalo semen.

Using flow cytometry, the laboratory separates sperm carrying X and Y chromosomes with about 90 percent accuracy.

With this, breeders can target female offspring for dairy production or males for meat and draught work.’The sorted semen is cryogenically preserved for artificial insemination programs nationwide.’

The PCC said it aims to produce about 170,000 sex-sorted semen straws annually, particularly to increase female offspring and expand the local dairy herd.

The agency said this initiative comes against a significant deficit in domestic output.

At present, Philippine milk production only meets less than 5 percent of national demand, leaving the country reliant on imported dairy products and breeding stock.

Local production of sex-sorted semen could then lower procurement costs, reduce exposure to livestock disease risks associated with foreign sourcing, and provide breeding material better adapted to Philippine conditions.

‘Taken together, the millet and buffalo breeding initiatives point to a broader DA strategy of addressing livestock costs from both ends, by improving what animals eat and expanding the domestic herd that produces milk and meat.’

THE North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) is moving closer to the start of passenger operations on its first segment, with additional trainsets arriving in the Philippines to support testing and commissioning activities ahead of the planned opening of the Valenzuela-Malolos line in December 2027.

In a statement, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently received the project’s third trainset at the Malanday Depot in Valenzuela City, while a fourth trainset has arrived in the country and is undergoing customs clearance and unloading.

JICA said seven trainsets are expected to be in the Philippines by September 2027 to support operational readiness activities for the railway’s initial service between Valenzuela City and Malolos, Bulacan.

The trainsets form part of the rolling stock package for the NSCR, one of the country’s largest railway infrastructure projects.

A total of 13 trainsets, each composed of eight cars, are being manufactured and supplied by the Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC)-Sumitomo Joint Venture.

Each trainset can carry up to 2,288 passengers and is designed to provide safe, reliable and comfortable transport for commuters traveling within Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

The NSCR is a 147-kilometer electrified railway network that will connect Clark, Pampanga, Metro Manila and Calamba, Laguna.

The government has identified the Valenzuela-Malolos section as the first segment scheduled to begin operations, with the Malolos-Clark portion targeted to follow in 2028.

Once fully operational, currently targeted by 2033, the railway is expected to serve about 800,000 passengers daily and significantly expand the country’s public transportation capacity.

JICA said the project will substantially reduce travel times, with trips between Clark and Makati projected to take less than an hour. It is also expected to help decongest major roads, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable urban development.

As a key component of the Luzon Economic Corridor, the railway is expected to improve access to employment, education, healthcare and other essential services while promoting investments and economic activity in communities along the route.

JICA said the project also highlights the continuing infrastructure partnership between the Philippines and Japan as the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.

MYNT President and CEO Martha Sazon brought the Philippines’ digital financial inclusion experience to the global stage Wednesday, highlighting the rise in formal financial account ownership from 29% before the pandemic to 50% of Filipino adults today, while GCash has extended credit access to more than 11 million borrowers, largely from underserved communities.

Sazon delivered the keynote ‘Rethinking Credit: From Invisible to Empowered’ during the plenary session on ‘Capital and Markets as System Levers’ at the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York, where global business and financial leaders examined how capital can be used to build more inclusive markets.

Her presentation put the Philippine experience at the center of the discussion, focusing on how digital technology can help address long-standing gaps not only in access to financial services but also in access to formal credit.

Sazon said the Philippines, despite its large and young population, has historically had a significant portion of Filipinos outside the formal financial system, with formal borrowing penetration at only 12%, among the lowest levels in Southeast Asia cited in her presentation.

The credit gap is particularly significant for Filipinos who lack the documentation or collateral traditionally required by financial institutions, leaving many dependent on informal sources of financing when faced with medical expenses, tuition, household bills and other urgent needs.

Sazon cited data showing that 40% of Filipinos borrow from informal lenders, with borrowers often turning to family, friends or, when these options are unavailable, loan sharks and predatory online lenders.

She said the growth of digital finance provides an opportunity to address this gap by making financial services more accessible and relevant to ordinary Filipinos, noting that mobile wallets have contributed significantly to the expansion of formal financial account ownership.

At the heart of GCash’s approach is GScore, its proprietary AI-powered credit scoring system that uses customers’ digital financial behavior to help assess creditworthiness, providing an alternative to conventional credit assessment based heavily on collateral and other traditional requirements.

Sazon said eligible customers with a good GScore can be pre-approved for loans without additional requirements, allowing GCash to offer what she described as right-sized credit based on how Filipinos actually live and manage their finances.

She illustrated the impact through the story of Atty. Sheila, who turned to GCash for a loan to finance her bar review after falling short in her first attempt at the bar examination and eventually passed. For Sazon, the loan represented not simply another financial transaction but another opportunity to pursue a personal goal.

Sazon also pointed to smaller, everyday financial needs, saying GCash offers ‘sachet-sized’ loans of as little as ?100, which can help cover basic necessities or short-term expenses during the days before payday.

She stressed, however, that financial inclusion goes beyond simply providing access to money, saying Filipinos must also be seen, treated fairly and allowed to borrow with dignity. GCash, she said, has extended this approach to more than 11 million borrowers, largely among those at the bottom of the economic pyramid, with women accounting for half of the borrowers.

Sazon linked this broader access to the Philippine economy, noting that women play a central role in managing household expenses and that the impact of credit can extend beyond an individual borrower to help sustain households, grow businesses and keep the economy moving.

She ended her presentation by underscoring that the work of financial inclusion remains unfinished, saying GCash would continue innovating to bring more Filipinos into the financial system through lending and other services.

‘When people are seen, they can be trusted. And when they are trusted, they can be empowered,’ Sazon said, encapsulating the message of her presentation.

She described the broader objective as ‘Finance for All,’ with the ultimate goal of transforming the nation ‘one Filipino, one story at a time.’

THE central bank has issued capital and other requirements to ensure that thrift, rural, and cooperative banks shifting to digital bank business operate in a ‘safe and sound’ manner. Under Circular 1240 dated September 21, 2026, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said existing thrift, rural and cooperative banks determined by the BSP to be operating under a business model similar to that of a digital bank must meet the P1-billion minimum capital requirement applicable to digital banks, among other requirements.

‘They have six months to comply with these prudential requirements from receipt of the BSP’s notice,’ the central bank said in a statement it issued last Wednesday.

Similarly, when a proposed acquisition is intended to transform a thrift, rural, or cooperative bank into a technology-driven business model, the BSP shall require P1-billion minimum capital requirement at the time of application.

The BSP said the bank must also comply with prudential standards applicable to digital banks.

Additional requirements, including enhanced supervisory reporting, restrictions on certain activities or new digital products and services and strengthened risk management and control systems may also be imposed, the central bank added.

The BSP explained the requirements will cover thrift, rural and coop banks that fall under two conditions.

First, they operate under a business model similar to that of a digital bank or their risk management systems and capital are no longer commensurate with their official business model and risk profile.

Second, they use digital platforms to deliver services and record significant growth in loan or deposit balances.

‘The requirements aim to ensure that these banks can adequately manage risks arising from the nature, scale, complexity, and risk profile of their operations,’ the central bank noted. Andrea E. San Juan

The circular also allows the BSP to issue additional digital bank licenses, including through the conversion of existing thrift, rural and coop banks.

Corn was moderately lower Tuesday as traders waited to see if China will buy any US grain during this week’s summit in Washington while drier weather conditions should allow farmers to ramp up harvest activity.

Futures fell as much as 1.4 percent in Chicago. Prices had risen sharply in the previous session, in part on optimism China will start chipping away at a pledge outlined by the White House for $17 billion in agriculture purchases beyond an earlier deal for soybeans.

China as recently as 2022 imported over $5 billion worth of American corn, raising expectations that any program aimed at fulfilling a buying target would need to include the most widely grown US crop. So far, there are few indications of China purchases ahead of Thursday’s summit other than recently passing the halfway mark on a 25-million-ton soy target.

‘Corn would likely be a large portion of these import targets based on historical Chinese import data,’ StoneX risk management consultant Matt Campbell said in an email. However, he pointed out that China’s domestic corn prices are relatively cheaper than US supplies, making purchases uneconomical.

‘The US is not competitive price-wise today,’ he said.

Prices for corn and other crops are hovering near the highest levels in years after hot summer weather squeezed yields while fighting between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea disrupts grain exports and the US-Iran war keeps oil prices elevated.

Uncertainty surrounding the summit is limiting further gains for now. That’s as harvests of both corn and soybeans advanced more than analysts expected while US farmers also caught up on winter-wheat planting, according to US Department of Agriculture data released late Monday.

Conditions are expected to remain relatively dry in the eastern half of the US Midwestern crop belt, though wetter weather is seen in the northwestern part of the region.

Meanwhile, a joint report published Tuesday by the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association said that farmers remain under ongoing economic pressure even with the recent gains in prices. Many farmers have been receiving less for their crops than the costs for equipment, seed, fertilizer, fuel, chemicals and land necessary to produce them.

‘Many growers are still managing financial pressure that has built over multiple crop cycles,’ said Krista Swanson, chief economist at the NCGA and an Illinois farmer.

The situation has been exacerbated by the war in Iran, which has sent diesel prices to record highs just as farmers are using heavy machinery to bring in their fall crops.

Millions of Filipinos are living with interconnected heart, kidney and metabolic conditions, often without knowing they have a disease until it has already progressed.

These conditions, collectively referred to as cardio-renal-metabolic (CRM) diseases, share common risk factors and frequently occur together, creating a growing health and economic burden for patients, families and the healthcare system.

The need for a more integrated approach to prevent and manage these diseases was highlighted at a recent Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Policy Roundtable convened by ACCESS Health International (AHI), together with the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), with support from Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines.

The forum brought together representatives from government, healthcare organizations, patient groups, academia and the private sector, including the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI), the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO) and the Ateneo Policy Center.

Participants discussed policy opportunities to strengthen prevention, early detection, patient access and coordinated long-term care for people with interconnected chronic conditions.

‘Because these conditions do not exist in isolation, protecting our citizens requires investing in early primary care. PhilHealth stands firm in its commitment to expanding financial risk protection, strengthening primary care financing, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of chronic disease management,’ said Atty. Eli Dino D. Santos, executive vice president and chief operating officer of PhilHealth.

A growing health and economic burden

In the Philippines, about one in five people aged 15 and older lives with at least one chronic condition, including hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

The economic impact is also significant. CKD alone was estimated to cost P593.7 billion in 2023, equivalent to 41 percent of the country’s total healthcare expenditure, according to data presented during the roundtable.

Because CKD frequently occurs alongside other CRM conditions, the combined burden can further strain patients and the healthcare system, underscoring the need for stronger prevention, earlier diagnosis and coordinated care.

‘The burden of chronic kidney disease extends beyond direct healthcare costs. It affects patients’ ability to work, creates productivity losses, and impacts families and the healthcare system,’ said Dr. Anthony Russell Villanueva, consultant nephrologist at NKTI.

‘Understanding these costs can help inform interventions and policies that support earlier detection, prevent disease progression, and improve patient outcomes,’ he added.

The roundtable also highlighted the need to strengthen health information systems and disease registries, develop sustainable financing mechanisms and better integrate CRM priorities into national health policies and programs.

The Department of Health (DOH) highlighted its ongoing efforts to address gaps in chronic kidney disease care and expand access to services, while PhilHealth reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening financial protection for sustainable chronic disease management.

From dialogue to action

AHI presented an assessment of CRM policy gaps and opportunities in the Philippines, while representatives from NKTI, PAPO and the Ateneo Policy Center shared insights on the economic burden of CKD and policy recommendations.

Boehringer Ingelheim also provided regional perspectives on integrated CRM care across Asia-Pacific.

For AHI, the discussions should lead to concrete action rather than remain a policy dialogue.

‘No single institution can advance integrated cardio-renal-metabolic care alone. The next step is translating evidence into action by identifying shared priorities, defining responsibilities, and sustaining collaboration across sectors,’ said Dr. Rohini Omkar Prasad, regional director and director for research and advisory at AHI.

‘Through this dialogue, we hope to build consensus on practical steps that can help advance integrated CRM care in the Philippines,’ she added.

The roundtable reflects a growing recognition that heart, kidney and metabolic diseases cannot always be addressed separately. Coordinating prevention, early detection, financing and long-term management could help reduce the burden of these interconnected conditions on Filipino patients and the country’s healthcare system.