Derco Rosal

While the Philippines has high acceptance of online gaming, S&P Global has flagged the looming contraction in the industry’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2026, due in part to the regulatory squeeze, including the ban on e-gaming linkages with e-wallets. According to the global debt watcher’s growth forecasts for Asia-Pacific (APAC) gaming markets, the Philippine gaming industry’s revenues are expected to shrink by seven percent in 2026, from actual growth of six percent in 2025.

Four out of five Filipinos feel anxious about their ability to pay for care as they grow older—a stress level significantly higher than that of their Asian peers, driven largely by the heavy expectation of caring for their families. According to the Asia Care Survey 2026 released in July, Manulife Philippines reported that 82 percent of local respondents are “worried about their ability to pay for future care needs in their older years”.

Philippine entities have until the end of September this year to submit their foreign borrowing plans for the fourth quarter, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reminded. “Submission is required for resident entities planning to obtain medium- and long-term foreign loans or borrowings from non-residents, including through offshore debt issuances, as well as those planning to issue onshore debt instruments payable in foreign currency,” the BSP said in a statement on July 28.