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Saturday, February 28, 2026 Vol. 21 No. 139
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BSP PROJECTS INFLATION AT 2.3-3.1% IN FEB
TIDES OF INFLATION Fishermen tow a banca at
Sabang port in Camarines Sur, keeping daily life afloat amid rising fish prices. As seafood and staple costs climb, February 2026 inflation quickened, showing how higher prices directly affect both the livelihoods of producers and the pockets of consumers. BERNARD TESTA
H
By Andrea E. San Juan
IGHER prices of rice and fish alongside “elevated” domestic petroleum prices and increased electricity charges likely led to faster inflation in February 2026, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
In a statement on Friday, the central bank said it projects February 2026 inflation to be within the range of 2.3 to 3.1 percent. In January 2026, prices of commodities went up by an average of 2 percent. The January 2026 reading was also the highest in 11 months, or since the 2.1 percent recorded in February 2025. Continued on A2
BSP’S BUSINESS EXPECTATIONS SURVEY SHIFTS TO MONTHLY
B
USINESS sentiment in the first quarter of 2026 is seen to improve compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 on the back of stronger consumer demand, better domestic economic conditions, and improved investment prospects supported by “recovering” government spending, according to the latest Business Expectations Survey Report released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The central bank said this on
Friday as it launched the monthly business expectations survey to track business confidence “more closely.” “The shift from a quarterly to a monthly survey will allow the BSP to monitor business confidence more closely and respond more effectively to rapidly changing domestic and external developments,” BSP said in a statement. The survey showed that the January 2026 round continued to indicate that more businesses are
optimistic about the economy than pessimistic, as the Confidence Index (CI) remained positive at 0.9 percent. BSP said, however, that this was lower than the 29.7 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025. Nonetheless, business sentiment showed signs of recovery as the three-month-ahead and the year-ahead CIs rose to 33.3 percent and 38.6 percent, respectively. Continued on A2
PAG-IBIG CEO Marilene C. Acosta delivers a speech during the 2025 Chairman’s Report, highlighting record dividends, robust member savings, and expanded housing loans. BERNARD TESTA
Pag-IBIG members’ returns up again; MP2 rate is 7.12%
W
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
ITH unprecedented dividend payouts in 2025, Home Development Mutual Fund, commonly known as Pag-IBIG Fund, raised higher returns for its members, as yields for the Regular Savings and MP2 Savings increased.
During the Chairman’s Report 2025 on Friday, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secre-
tary Jose Ramon P. Aliling announced that dividend rates for the Regular Savings grew to 6.62 percent, while the MP2 Savings
rate rose to 7.12 percent. “Pag-IBIG Fund has once again marked 2025 as one of its best-performing years, as we declared the highest amount of dividends in our 45-year history,” Aliling, who chairs the 11-member PagIBIG Board of Trustees, said. Dividend payouts reached P64.34 billion in 2025—the highest ever—which increased by 15.61 percent from P55.65 billion in 2024. The record dividends reflect Pag-IBIG’s sound fiscal management and its commitment to deliver strong and sustainable earnings to Continued on A2
South Korean President marking 77 yrs of ties with PHL in Manila
By Malou TalosigBartolome
S
OUTH Korean President Lee Jae-myung will embark on a four-day state visit to Singapore and the Philippines from March 1 to 4, a tour timed to highlight the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Manila.
The trip underscores Lee’s push to advance his administration’s “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” (CSP) vision, positioning South Korea as a leading partner in ASEAN’s evolving regional diplomacy.
“Code 3377”: A golden opportunity
SOUTH Korean Ambassador Lee
Sang-hwa, in a recent luncheon with Manila-based journalists, underscored the symbolism of the March 3 summit with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “If there’s one common headline to take away, it’s that our two nations will celebrate the 77th anniversary of bilateral relations next week, on March 3rd,” the en-
voy said. “So I call it, personally I call it, Code 3377—double three, double seven. March 3rd, 77 years.” With the Philippines serving as Asean Chair this year, Ambassador Lee described the visit as a “golden opportunity” to elevate ties through trade, investment, and infrastructure cooperation—envisioning the region as a “prosperity corridor.”
Master of “Selfie Diplomacy”
SINCE assuming office in June 2025, President Lee has gained global attention for his “rhythm and trust” approach to foreign relations. His informal, highly visual style—dubbed “selfie diplomacy”—has amplified South Korea’s soft power. Continued on A2
SOUTH Korean President Lee Jae-myung celebrates 77 years of diplomatic ties with the Philippines during his Manila visit. His “selfie diplomacy” includes a drum duet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and candid snapshots with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni—visual gestures highlighting Seoul’s push for stronger trade, defense, and regional cooperation in ASEAN. THE BLUE HOUSE / CHEONG WA DAE
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 57.5540 n JAPAN 0.3687 n UK 77.6001 n HK 7.3570 n CHINA 8.4020 n SINGAPORE 45.5477 n AUSTRALIA 40.8864 n EU 67.9022 n KOREA 0.0402 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.3465 Source: BSP (February 27, 2026)