Although the Philippine economy showed modest growth in early 2025, a combination of a governance crisis affecting public spending, weaker investment and capital formation, softer consumption, climate shocks, and external headwinds pulled growth below expectations, resulting in one of the slowest expansions in recent history and a failure to reach the growth target of the government.
Nevertheless, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona, Jr. points to early signs that business confidence is beginning to rebound, albeit slower than expected. “So, it looks like it’s beginning to come back, not as fast as we would like, but it’s coming back,” Gov. Remolona says. “In our projections, we think that we will be back to normal by the second half of 2026.”
Following up on our briefing last October 28, 2025, we shall discuss the possibility of pulling off an economic rebound in 2026.
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀: 𝗗𝗿. 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗙. 𝗗𝘂𝗺𝗹𝗮𝗼 will examine price, employment, and income trends in the economy. He will also discuss the current state of public and international finance. He will share the usual economic forecasts for 2026 and beyond.
𝗗𝗿. 𝗦𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗞. 𝗣𝗲ñ𝗮-𝗥𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 will discuss the critical role of governance and accountability in boosting economic performance. He shall review the main mechanisms through which corruption operates and distorts the economy; the short-run and long-run economic costs of corruption on growth, inequality, and development; and the policy and institutional reforms needed to improve governance and accountability.
𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿: Mr. Cesar V. Purisima Former Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima will expand on the ideas presented in his Philippine Star op-ed, “From Drift to Direction: Ten Shifts for the Philippines to Regain Momentum,” which examines why the Philippines—once among Asia’s most promising economies—fell behind its regional peers and what it will take to regain its trajectory. Drawing on decades of experience in government, finance, and international policy, Purisima will unpack the structural forces that have shaped the country’s economic drift, from missed industrialization opportunities and fragmented governance to chronic infrastructure and human capital gaps, and outline a practical reform agenda to help the Philippines reposition itself in a rapidly shifting global economy.
The session will explore how the country can translate potential into sustained growth through a series of strategic “gear shifts”: building new economic engines such as tourism and industrial ecosystems, strengthening enabling systems like infrastructure, digital government, and skills development, and embedding reforms in institutions that outlast political cycles. Drawing on lessons from what worked in other countries and insights from his broader policy work on fiscal resilience, tax administration reform, and sectoral transformation, Purisima will reflect on how the Philippines can move from reactive policymaking towards a more coherent national development strategy.
𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
Date: May 14, 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Venue: Amphitheatre, Ateneo Rockwell Campus,
20 Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City
𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀:
Super Early Eagle Rate: Php 2,500.00 (valid until March 26)
Early Eagle Rate: Php 3,500.00 (valid until April 30)
Special Rate for Ateneo community and alumni: Php 2,900.00
(Please submit a valid ID or document for validation purposes.)
Regular Rate: Php 4,500.00
𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘄:
https://forms.gle/e8QZPcQazcGA1DNo8
For more details, contact AA Agabao at (+63) 2 88302040 / (+63) 945 590 3728 or email aagabao@ateneo.edu / sales.cce@ateneo.edu