THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said that it expects the economy to regain momentum in the first quarter, after falling short of growth targets last year.
“The 3% growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2025 was an aftereffect of the corruption scandal,” PCCI President Ferdinand A. Ferrer said in a statement on Thursday.
“It was expected because the government reduced or even stopped public spending,” he added.
He said gross domestic product (GDP) had been running at a 5.5% pace prior to the corruption scandal engulfing flood control and other infrastructure projects.
“Recovery is now imperative. We must focus on corrective and preventive measures to ensure that this kind of disruption will not happen again,” he said.
In particular, he said that the government should adopt blockchain technology in the 2026 national budget to ensure that every peso is accounted for.
On the other hand, Makati Business Club (MBC) Executive Director Rafael ASG Ongpin called for reforms in transparency, governance, and ease of doing business (EoDB).
“MBC believes that key legislation, like the Freedom of Information bill, amendments to the Bank Secrecy law, and institutionalizing a budget process more open to public scrutiny, are important to economic development,” he said.
“The government should also make sure that EoDB practices are well implemented while LGU-level and agency-level digitalization initiatives (such as one-window portals) are ramped up,” he added.
Federation of Philippine Industries Director for Policy Roberto F. Batungbacal said that though the manufacturers posted a record of P4.29 trillion in gross value added, the “composition of growth points to a continuing structural gap.”
“(Manufacturing) expansion slowed to 3.6% and remained concentrated in food, while many capital-intensive industries lagged overall manufacturing growth,” he said via Viber.
“From an industry policy perspective, this highlights the need to deepen the manufacturing base beyond consumption-led segments,” he added.
He cited the need for a well-sequenced, state-backed industrial strategy to help reduce import dependence, strengthen domestic supply chains, and support more resilient long-term growth. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
