Industry Monitor - September 21, 2026

September 21, 2026

An overview of significant news and developments from September 15 to 21, 2026, highlighting key events, trends, and advancements across various sectors.

Must See Stories

BoP gap shrinks to $596M in August

Katherine K. Chan, BusinessWorld, September 21, 2026

The Philippines’ balance of payments (BoP) deficit narrowed in August as sustained dollar inflows partly offset a higher import bill driven by elevated global oil prices, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

Reference Link: https://bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/09/21/778685/bop-gap-shrinks-to-596m-in-august/

DoF open to imposing direct tax on Philippines’ richest

Justine Irish D. Tabile , BusinessWorld, September 21, 2026

The Department of Finance (DoF) is open to proposals to impose a direct tax on wealthy individuals, as long as the measure can be effectively implemented.

Reference Link: https://bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/09/21/778684/dof-open-to-imposing-direct-tax-on-philippines-richest/

Peso may be rangebound as war keeps market cautious

Aaron Michael C. Sy, BusinessWorld, September 21, 2026

The peso is expected to continue moving within a narrow range against the dollar this week as the market stays cautious amid volatile developments in the Middle East.

Reference Link: https://bworldonline.com/banking-finance/2026/09/21/778564/peso-may-be-rangebound-as-war-keeps-market-cautious/

PSA Intelligence: Regional Reporting Capabilities

Our fast-paced intelligence pipeline is driven by a dedicated team of Manila-based security analysts that monitor the Philippine landscape every day. We bring together on-the-ground local insight with large scale data monitoring and cut through the noise to deliver the concise, actionable intelligence that our clients rely on to navigate their risks.

Regular Briefs & Industry Monitors

We provide a weekly digest of key political, economic, and security developments and analysis of their short and long-term impact on the local and regional business environment. Our Industry Monitors deliver regular summaries of key developments in manufacturing, energy, mining, and tourism.

Our Cyber Risks Briefs detail emerging cyberthreats, digital security vulnerabilities, and regulatory shifts, while our Economic Briefs provide macroeconomic snapshots covering inflation, trade markers, and fiscal policy. We also publish Health Risks Briefs tracking local disease statistics and healthcare capacities.

Targeted Crime & Kidnapping Reports

Our teams produce continuous updates and analysis on developing crime and safety trends targeting corporates and staff, ranging from opportunistic petty crime to syndicated criminal activity. This includes deep dives on known modus operandi, suspect profiles, and sociopolitical environments.

Additionally, we monitor Kidnapping Related Incidents in the Philippines, tracking publicly-known abduction cases, motives, victim profiles, and the broader regional developments that influence these threat vectors.

Insurgency, Terrorism, and Civil Unrest

We conduct ongoing analysis of activities of Communist insurgents in the Philippines, including their estimated operational capabilities, regional hotspots, and the progress of government peace processes.

Our coverage extends to Islamist Insurgency and Terrorism in Mindanao, assessing activities not limited to terrorism-related motivations but also criminal, personal, and cultural factors. We provide continuous assessments of political stability, strikes, protests, and broader civil unrest dynamics affecting operational continuity.