- Philippine financial markets weakened on Friday with the peso depreciating for the seventh straight day to hit its weakest performance in over five weeks, as market players continued to take in the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
- The Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday projected that the price of diesel may exceed eighty pesos per liter this month if there are no staggered price adjustments amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
- The number of international patents filed last year for digital communications technology and semiconductors grew strongly, reflecting the surge in artificial intelligence investments, the United Nations said Friday.
- The Department of Energy (DOE) is working with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify monitoring against possible hoarding and profiteering in the sale of petroleum products amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
- P7 gas, P15 diesel pump price hike seen next week
- PH manufacturing growth slower in January
- The government is working to mitigate the impact of the armed conflict in the Middle East on price hikes by providing subsidies for public transport operators and farmers and fisherfolk, and possibly rolling out free bus rides.
- Inflation continued to accelerate in February to hit the fastest pace in 13 months due mainly to higher prices of food and non-alcholic beverages, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday showed.
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that an increase in President Donald Trump's new temporary global import tariff to 15% from 10% was likely to be implemented sometime this week.
- Philippine government debt climbed further to P18.13 trillion in January as the administration frontloaded issuances to secure concessional financing terms ahead of global uncertainties, but the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said levels remain sustainable.