Industry Monitor - September 28, 2026

September 28, 2026

An overview of significant news and developments from September 22 to 28, 2026, highlighting key events, trends, and advancements across various sectors.

Must See Stories

Philippine firms turn less pessimistic in August

Justine Irish D. Tabile, BusinessWorld, September 27, 2026

Philippine business sentiment turned less pessimistic in August, even as firms worried about bad weather and elevated inflation that pushed up operating costs, a survey by the central bank showed.

Reference link: https://bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/09/27/782213/philippine-firms-turn-less-pessimistic-in-august/

Philippines’ gross borrowings plunge in August

Katherin K. Chan, BusinessWorld, September 27, 2026

The National Government’s (NG) gross borrowings plunged by 72.2% in August, as domestic borrowings fell sharply from a high base, offsetting a rise in foreign borrowings.

Reference link: https://bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/09/27/782212/philippines-gross-borrowings-plunge-in-august/

IMF warns Philippines against suspending excise tax on gasoline

Katherin K. Chan, BusinessWorld, September 28, 2026

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the Philippine government’s move to suspend the excise tax on kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is appropriate but warned against extending the tax relief to gasoline despite mounting calls to do so.

Reference link: https://bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/09/28/782459/imf-warns-philippines-against-suspending-excise-tax-on-gasoline/

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.