OVERVIEW
The Philippine economy enters 2026 with cautious optimism as the government pursues reforms to boost long-term growth amid global and domestic risks. The country targets 6–7% annual GDP growth through 2028, but forecasts are more modest: IMF at 5.9%, World Bank at 5.4%, and ADB at 5.8%, all downgraded from earlier projections.
Weaker global demand, policy uncertainty, and pandemic-era debt continue to weigh on growth. Rising interest payments limit fiscal space, while emerging markets like the Philippines struggle to attract investment and create jobs.
Still, officials remain focused on reforms to strengthen competitiveness— expanding manufacturing, improving exports, advancing digital adoption, and investing in education, food security, and infrastructure. A growing working- age population until 2035 offers potential, but only if job creation and productivity gains are realized.
With the nation’s narrative still unfolding, Forecast 2026 seeks to shed light on what the Philippines has to brace for from the global landscape, sift through the country’s prospects in the midst of headwinds, and identify priorities and strategies to thrive amid clouded outlooks.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Seizing New Growth Opportunities Amid Disruptions
9:20 A.M. – 9:40 A.M.
The risks are familiar. As always, the challenges lie in execution. Public infrastructure projects and the volatility of foreign capital remain pressing concerns, especially with news about corruption and misappropriation of government funds dominate headlines. However, for those businesses that are able to align with these opportunities while mitigating the risks, the disruptions of recent years can prove to be quite lucrative indeed.
PANEL DISCUSSION 1
The Macro-Economic Compass:
Charting The Path Amid Global Headwinds
9:40 A.M. – 10:40 A.M.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS 2
New Growth Opportunities 2026 and Beyond
9:20 A.M. – 9:40 A.M.
The risks are familiar. As always, the challenges lie in execution. Public infrastructure projects and the volatility of foreign capital remain pressing concerns, especially with news about corruption and misappropriation of government funds dominate headlines. However, for those businesses that are able to align with these opportunities while mitigating the risks, the disruptions of recent years can prove to be quite lucrative indeed.
NEIL ADRIAN CABILES
Assistant Secretary
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
ANDREW JEFFRIES
Country Director
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
EDUARDO FRANCISCO
President
BDO CAPITAL
NICHOLAS MAPA
Chief Economist and
Market Strategist
METROBANK
PANEL DISCUSSION 2
AI Unleashed: Moving From Adoption to Integration
10:40 P.M. – 11:40 P.M.
CONG. BRIAN POE LLAMANZARES
Chairman
GLOBAL AI COUNCIL
MARCO DE LA ROSA
Sr. Partner &
Philippines Country Head
A.T. KEARNEY
AMBE TIERRO
Country Managing Director ACCENTURE PHILIPPINES
FIRESIDE CHAT 1
Legal Landscape 2026: Legal Reforms As Catalyst Of Growth
11:40 A.M. – 12:10 P.M.
EXCLUSIVE PRESENTATION
Project Alphabet: Decoding Filipinos Across Generation
1:30 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
PANEL DISCUSSION 3
The Future of Work: Managing a Multigenerational Workforce
2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
ENRIQUE ANTONIO REYES
Vice President and Head of Strategic Business Partnering
CONVERGE ICT SOLUTIONS INC.
STEPH NAVAL
Founder and CEO
EMPATH
ROBERT GONZALES
Chief People Officer
MYNT
PANEL DISCUSSION 4
Navigating New Normal In Trade:
How Philippines Is Faring In The New Global Trade Order
4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
DAN LACHICA
President
THE SEMICONDUCTOR AND
ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES IN THE
PHILIPPINES FOUNDATION, INC. (SEIPI)
JOHN REINIER DIZON
President
FEDERATION OF PHILIPPINE
INDUSTRIES, INC
VICTOR ANDRES “DINDO”
C. MANHIT
President
STRATBASE INSTITUTE
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PROGRAM SUMMARY
8:00 A.M. – 8:45 A.M.
Registration
Networking / AM Snacks
8:45 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.
Opening Ceremonies
Welcome Remarks
Host:
DR. DANIE LAUREL
News Anchor
CIGNALTV
Speaker:
MIGUEL G. BELMONTE
President & CEO
BUSINESSWORLD
9:00 A.M. – 9:20 A.M.
9:20 A.M. – 9:40 A.M.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Seizing New Growth Opportunities Amid Disruptions
Speaker:
AMANDO TETANGCO JR.
Chairman & Independent Director of the Board
SM INVESTMENTS CORPORATION
9:40 A.M. – 10:40 A.M.
PANEL DISCUSSION 1
The Macro-Economic Compass:
Charting The Path Amid Global Headwinds
Speaker:
NEIL ADRIAN CABILES
Assistant Secretary
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
ANDREW JEFFRIES
Country Director
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
EDUARDO FRANCISCO
President
BDO CAPITAL
NICHOLAS MAPA
Chief Economist and
Market Strategist
METROBANK
10:40 A.M. – 11:40 A.M.
PANEL DISCUSSION 2
AI Unleashed:
Moving From Adoption to Integration
Speaker:
CONG. BRIAN POE LLAMANZARES
Chairman
GLOBAL AI COUNCIL
MARCO DE LA ROSA
Sr. Partner & Philippines Country Head
A.T. KEARNEY
AMBE TIERRO
Country Managing Director
ACCENTURE PHILIPPINES
11:40 A.M. – 12:10 P.M.
FIRESIDE CHAT 1
Legal Landscape 2026:
Legal Reforms As Catalyst Of Growth
Speaker:
ATTY. NILO T. DIVINA
Founder & Managing Partner
DIVINA LAW
12:10 P.M. – 1:30 P.M.
Networking Lunch
1:30 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
EXCLUSIVE PRESENTATION
Project Alphabet:
Decoding Filipinos Across Generation
Speaker:
PAULINE FERMIN
President and CEO
ACUMEN
2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
PANEL DISCUSSION 3
The Future of Work:
Managing a Multi-generational Workforce
Speaker:
ENRIQUE ANTONIO REYES
Vice President and Head of Strategic Business Partnering
CONVERGE ICT SOLUTIONS INC.
STEPH NAVAL
Founder and CEO
EMPATH
ROBERT GONZALES
Chief People Officer
MYNT
3:45 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Coffee Break
4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
PANEL DISCUSSION 4
Navigating New Normal In Trade: How Philippines is Faring
in the New Global Trade Order
Speaker:
DAN LACHICA
President
THE SEMICONDUCTOR AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES IN THE PHILIPPINES FOUNDATION, INC. (SEIPI)
JOHN REINIER DIZON
President
THE FEDERATION OF PHILIPPINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
VICTOR ANDRES “DINDO” C. MANHIT
President
STRATBASE INSTITUTE
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