23K views · 538 reactions | WATCH: Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo Rivera explains that if poorly timed, abolishing VAT could be inflationary. Particularly, he said that this will undermine the BSP’s easing cycle and tend to be destructive, affecting inflation expectations and even investor sentiment. Watch the video for more details. | Department of Finance | Facebook

Master's Development Studies | Institute of Development Studies

What kind of economic structure helps the Philippines grow? In this clip, Dr. Jose Ramon “Toots” Albert, Senior Research Fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, discusses competing views on what kind of economic structure can best drive growth, distinguishing between manufacturing-led development and a more service-driven economy, and what these choices mean for jobs, productivity, and long-term development outcomes. This excerpt is from a longer conversation hosted by INCITE

EMBASSY ATTENDS MALAYSIA’S FIDE FORUM ON ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2026 KUALA LUMPUR - Ambassador Maria Angela Abrera Ponce and Consul General Roussel Reyes attended the Forum for Independent Directors of Malaysia (FIDE) Forum on "Economic Outlook 2026" at Asia School of Business. The forum featured keynote insights from Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, Chairman of Georgetown Institute of Open and Advance Studies, who presented an in-depth analysis of global economic trends amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and h