Philippines

An aftershock of 4.9-magnitude hit Sarangani, Davao Occidental on 14 Jun

China announced sanctions against the Defence Secretary of the Philippines for “repeated irresponsible remarks” undermining China’s interests and damaging bilateral relations. The Defence Secretary and his family will be banned from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macao. The Defence Secretary responded by saying “That is their right” and he will continue doing his duty to the country. He is one of the most outspoken critics of China’s action in the South China Sea

The latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shows that 55 people have died, 1,120 injured, and 31 missing, due to the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in southern Mindanao as of 12 Jun. Search and rescue operations are continuing in the hardest-hit communities

The Australia-Philippines Business Council (APBC) held a meeting with Filipino Journalists to highlight their efforts to bring more tourists and food security strategies to the Philippines. APBC is working with the Department of Agriculture and an Australian Engineer to improve farm-to-table methods and build mobile cold chain storage facilities in the Philippines

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will make a 10.74 billion PHP-worth public-private partnership project to upgrade border security at 11 major airports, 1 international seaport, and 6 border stations. They will introduce contactless corridors, biometric facial recognition, automated immigration kiosks, and advanced passenger pre-screening systems

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced they recorded 1.358 million arrivals in Apr 2026 (vs 1.337 million in Apr 2025) and 1.309 million in May 2026 (vs 1.299 million in May 2025). The top source markets are South Korea, the US, Canada, Japan, and China

The Governor of Cebu says funds have not been allocated for the “Festival of Festivals” as part of Cebu Province’s founding anniversary celebration. She adds that the plan for the event may be revised or even shelved based on the final costs. Officials are assessing the cost of the event, and Cebu City is likely to host it if they decide to proceed

The Department of Tourism has advised visitors to monitor advisories before proceeding with their travel plans in the areas affected by the 8 Jun earthquake in Mindanao. The DOT said all tourism-related activities in Davao Region have been suspended as a precautionary step. They have asked the travellers to coordinate with hotels and tour operators on cancellations, rebooking options, and operational status

Ayala Land will reopen the Mandarin Oriental Manila in Dec 2026 with 275 guestrooms and suites, over 10 years since the original property closed in 2014

The Philippines welcomed 2,741,117 visitors from Jan-May 2026, +7.51% YoY, including 2.53 million foreign tourists (+8.34% YoY) and 217,627 overseas Filipinos (-1.44% YoY). The top markets are: South Korea, 499,944 visitors (-9.58% YoY) The US at 480,813 (8.5%) Japan at 204,726 (+7.9%) China at 186,860 (+63.2%) Australia at 153,098 (+13.4%) Canada at 141,557 (+18.9%) Taiwan at 93,727 (+12%) The UK at 82,533 (+2.6%) Singapore at 64,754 (+1.54%) India at 52,077 (+47.43%) France at 46,369 (+12.5%) Malaysia at 45,821 (+16.23%) The Philippines targets 6.7 million visitors in 2026

The Presidential Palace stated they are optimistic about sustaining the slowdown in the unemployment rate, which dropped to 4.7% in Apr 2026 (equivalent to 2.41 million people) vs 5% in Mar 2026 (2.58 million), based on data from the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA). However, this data is still high compared to 4.1% in Apr 2025 (2.06 million)

Cebu hosted its 5th Cebu Food & Wine Festival (CFWF), in partnership with the Cebu provincial government, local farmers, hospitality stakeholders, and international industry groups, to highlight culinary tourism

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported more than 1,100 aftershocks as of 8am on 9 Jun following the earthquake off Sarangani, ranging from magnitude 1.3 to 6.7. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Maasim, Sarangani, Mindanao, on 8 Jun, triggering tsunami waves and causing infrastructure damage. Aftershocks are projected to continue for over a month

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has named new undersecretaries, including former Philippine Airlines Chief, Stanley Ng, for the Halal Tourism and Muslim Concerns office; Maria Victoria Jasmin for the Tourism Regulation, Coordination, and Resource Generation office; and Rivera-Guilermo for Administration and Finance

Panama Ambassador met with the Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary to discuss tourism initiatives and negotiate the MoU on Tourism Cooperation on 3 Jun. The MoU is expected to be signed in Jul 2026, during the Panama Foreign Minister’s official visit

The 37th Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) will be held from 4-6 Sep at the SMX Convention Centre at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, organised by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) under the theme "Nurturing the NextGen Tourism"

The Cebu Provincial Government is developing an online booking platform for 1.9 million PHP to connect tourists with accredited operators and reduce the risk of fraudulent transactions. The Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) is handling the project, and they hope this will solve problems with online scams. The platform will be integrated into PTO’s website – which is currently being developed – and will initially be piloted in Alegria, Samboan, Ginatilan, Oslob, and Malabuyoc

The Philippines could expect up to 2 tropical cyclones in Jun, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)

The Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines reported that there are ongoing discussions between the Philippines and China on visa-free entry to Boracay and Bohol. He noted that if these arrangements were in place, it would be easier to encourage charter flights. He also noted a 63% increase in Chinese travellers since the Jan 2026 implementation of visa free entry. He also announced a new flight that will connect Manila-Haikou

The Bureau of Immigration reported that South Korea is the top source of arrivals, followed by the US, Canada, Japan and China, and that numbers are picking up in Jun 2026

The World Bank warned that the Philippines is likely to miss its goal to reduce poverty to single-digit levels by 2028. This was the President’s important commitment to reduce the poverty incidence rate below 9%. The World Bank projects poverty incidence to reach 12.3% by 2028

The Philippines Statistics Agency reported that annual inflation reached 6.8% in May, vs 7.2% in Apr. Core inflation reached 4.1% in May vs 3.9% in Apr

Jetti Petroleum President forecasts that gasoline prices will decrease by 1.00 - 1.50 PHP per litre, whilst diesel prices will increase by 4.00-4.50 PHP per litre next week

The Department of Energy warns the Visayas grid’s supply issue could last for the next 1 to 2 years due to a rise in demand. DOE Secretary Sharon stated they are looking to secure a temporary supply for the Visayas grid, after repeated yellow and red alerts in recent weeks. He added that the Visayas has 45% of renewable energy share, 45% compared to the national average of 25%, but the region needs more steady power sources. The DOE is looking at power barges, diesel power barges, modular gensets, and battery energy storage systems to stabilise the power supply

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) stated the Philippines is expected to record its weakest growth years since the pandemic recovery due to the Middle East conflict, which has increased fuel costs and reduced household spending. The OECD cut its GDP growth projection for the Philippines in 2026 to 3.2% from 5.1% of its forecast in Feb

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasted 10 areas to experience a dangerous heat index on 4 Jun, reaching between 42°C and 51°C. Infanta, Quezon is expected to reach 49°C, the highest heat index on 4 Jun

Former Philippine Airlines’ CEO Captain Stanley K. Ng has been appointed as Undersecretary at the Department of Tourism (DOT). He will replace Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, who was Undersecretary of Halal Tourism and Muslim Concern. The new DOT Secretary has asked courtesy resignation from officials who were loyal to her predecessors including Undersecretary for Special Projects, Assistant Secretary for Tourism Development Planning, Assistant Secretary for Protocol and Engagement, Director for Product Development and of Golf Tourism and Special Projects, and Director for Special Concerns and concurrent officer-in-charge for Statistics, Economic Analysis, and Information Management, as well as Tourism Development Planning

The Chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section (CLIMPS) told the House Committee on Agriculture that there is a 92% probability of El Nino emerging soon, which has a higher chance of strengthening by Oct to Dec. El Nino is expected to bring prolonged dry conditions and a drop in rainfall 

Electric Vehicle (EV) sales in the Philippines increased by 36% YoY in Q1 2026 to 14,000 EVs, following an increase in fuel costs. Despite the popularity, there are issues such as limited supply and inadequate charging networks across the country. In 2025, the Philippines recorded 32,000 units of EVs sold based on the Department of Energy (DOE) data. The Philippines is expected to install over 7,000 charging stations by 2028. Currently, there are about 900 operational charging stations

Mount Apo Natural Park will be closed to visitors until 31 Aug to facilitate rehabilitation, disaster prevention, and biodiversity conservation efforts

Mastercard launched its new regional campaign called “Phone. Passport. Mastercard.” to promote and streamline travel across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Mastercard will offer more than 300 deals on dining, shopping, accommodation, transport, and experience, for short-haul travellers within the ASEAN region. The campaign will run from May to Dec 2026

The Central Bank (BSP), alongside other bank economists in the Philippines, expects inflation to reach between 7.1% to 7.9% in May 2026, the highest rate in 39 months, due to an increase in rice and other major food items, and the depreciation of the PHP. BSP added the recent drop in domestic fuel prices and slightly lower electricity rates will partially offset the prevailing upside price pressures

The Department of Tourism (DOT) expects 63,000 international cruise passengers from 129 scheduled cruise calls in 2026, up from 25,000 passengers across 136 cruise calls in 2025. As of 27 Mar 2026, the leading port-call destinations were Puerto Princesa, Coron, Boracay, Manila, and Salomague. The DOT is pursuing the completion of the Siargao Cruise Terminal, a dedicated international cruise terminal in Manila, and improved road connectivity in Siargao, Boracay, and Metro Manila. In May, the Philippine Ports Authority announced a 5 billion PHP cruise terminal project in PAGCOR Entertainment City with a capacity to accommodate four cruise ships simultaneously. The PPA also reported 26 nationwide cruise calls from Jan-Apr 2026, with passengers arriving from China, Europe, and the US, especially in Manila. Besides that, additional cruise ports are being developed in Coron, Alegria in Buruanga in Aklan, Catagbacan in Loon in Bohol, and Balbagon in Mamajao in Camiguin

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and Mastercard are working together to drive digital and experiential initiatives to support MSMEs in the Philippines under a 3-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement. Through the partnership, they have so far successfully generated over 6.3 million PHP in sales. The DOT will leverage Mastercard’s “Destinations by SpendingPulse” platform to analyse spending and track real-time tourist behaviour

Baguio issued an advisory for residents to store water ahead of a Super El Nino, which could bring severe dry spells despite rains from Jun to Sep. The city has had a water rationing policy since the early 1990s due to an overstressed aquifer in a high-density mountain city, with 368,426 people as of 2024. During the daytime hours, the population increases to over 700,000 due to students, workers, and tourists. The prolonged dry spell in December, which coincides with Baguio’s peak tourism season, will place additional pressure on the water supply as more visitors arrive

The Business Expectations Survey (BES) by the Central Bank highlighted the decreasing confidence of local businesses to -35.8% confidence index (CI) in Apr 2026, vs -24.3% CI in Mar 2026. A negative CI indicated that more respondents were pessimistic than optimistic, for the second time in a row

The Philippines is set to host the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships featuring 500 athletes from 31 countries at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on 23-28 Jun. The Philippine Sports Commission will present the event

Agoda and the Department of Tourism will work together to promote the Philippines, support development, sustainability initiatives, and data-driven tourism strategies

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) denied that they have cancelled the Boracay Bridge project as announced by Aklan Governor. SMC said they will conduct more consultation to listen from local stakeholders to decide on the project’s next step

The anti-graft watchdog has arrested and charged Senator Jinggoy Estrada for his alleged involvement in a multibillion-peso corruption scheme involving flood infrastructure. He denied the charges

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that the tourism sector’s contribution to the Philippine economy slowed in 2025 to 8.1% of GDP vs 8.7% of GDP in 2024. The Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) dropped to 2.27 trillion PHP in 2025, -1.4% YoY vs 2.3 trillion PHP in 2024. This is attributed to a drop in foreign tourists’ expenditure to 698.46 billion PHP in 2025, -6.4% YoY vs 745.99 billion PHP in 2024. Domestic tourism expenditure increased to 3.26 trillion PHP in 2025, +3% YoY vs 3.16 trillion PHP in 2024. Outbound tourism expenditure recorded the fastest growth among tourism expenditure, reaching 357.93 billion, +3.5% YoY. Internal tourism expenditure, combining inbound and domestic tourism spending, reached 3.96 trillion in 2025, +1.2% YoY vs 3.91 trillion in 2024. There were 7.7 million people employed across tourism industries, +2.5% YoY vs 7.51 million in 2024. This accounts for 15.7% of total employment in the Philippines in 2025, vs 15.4% in 2024

AirAsia MOVE data shows the overall Southeast Asia tourism market in 2026 will continue to grow despite the uncertainty of the global economy and geopolitics. AirAsia MOVE Head for Thailand said Q1 2026 travel insights show that: More than 89% of all bookings in MOVE are within the ASEAN region The highest booking volumes on the platform are for Malaysia and Thailand The average booking window is 14-30 days Due to economic uncertainty and volatile travel costs, tourists are monitoring the situation before purchasing tickets. They also look at promotions, oil prices, and safety before deciding The top 3 destinations in ASEAN are Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Bali Outside ASEAN, Kunming, China; Tokyo, Japan; and New Delhi, India, are popular destinations European and American travellers continue to show interest in travelling to ASEAN, especially Thailand and Bali The report also shows in the Philippines: The users are primarily Millennials, 40% and Gen X, 35%, with family travel accounting for 55% Filipinos book the longest trips in the region, with an average stay of 6.8 days, and they book 35 days in advance on average They also focus heavily on the quality of their travel experience, spending significantly on mid-range to upper-tier hotels

There is no clarity over the supposed cancellation of the 7.8 billion PHP bridge connecting Boracay with the Aklan mainland despite an announcement from the Aklan Governor. The Governor stated he and other Aklan local government officials met with the SMHC Chairman to express their opposition to the project. The Chairman reportedly assured them that they would drop the project. However, in a conflicting report from GMA News, the Chairman has denied dropping the project. A formal announcement is expected to be made by the Department of Public Works and Highways

Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) issued an advisory on 27 May that limited electricity supply in certain areas could increase electric costs in the next billing cycle. They assured the public that they are actively monitoring dry conditions and implementing measures to secure power volumes efficiently

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has officially recognised 67 Muslim-friendly Accommodation Establishments (MFAEs) across the Philippines. Megaworld Hotels & Resorts has become the first hotel chain in the country to achieve 100% MFAE recognition for its properties. DOT estimated that 3,000 tourism frontliners and stakeholders have received specialised training on the fundamentals of halal and understanding Muslim travellers and guests’ needs and customs. The DOT is engaging with important Muslim travel markets, including the Middle East, Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia

The Philippines and Myanmar held their fifth Foreign Policy Consultations in Manila, the first once since 2021, with discussions focused on combating transnational crime

Department of Tourism (DOT) Director for Health and Wellness Tourism said Medical Tourism accounted for 23% of 75.6 billion PHP revenue recorded by the health and wellness sector’s revenue. This makes the Philippines the 3rd top destination for Medical Tourism in Southeast Asia and 20th in the world. Medical Tourism is projected to earn $4 billion to $5 billion USD by the year 2034, with a projected 200,000 international visitors. The top medical tourism procedure is cosmetic surgery with 35%, followed by cardiology and oncology, while in-vitro fertilisation is the fastest-growing procedure

Robinsons Hotels and Resorts broke ground for the luxury Grand Summit Bohol hotel in Barangay Doljo, Panglao, on 20 May

A danger level heat index of 43-44 degrees Celsius is forecast in Metro Manila on 24 May, with temperatures rising to 46 degrees Celsius in other areas of the country

The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) will organise the 37th Philippine Travel Mart (PTM), highlighting domestic travel and the future-ready tourism industry under the theme "Nurturing the NextGen Tourism". The PTM will be held from 4-6 Sep at SMX Convention Centre, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City

During a cleanup activity organised by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region VII, around 355kg of garbage, including 250kg of waste in Panglao, was collected. 307 volunteers from 61 partners organisation removed waste from coastal and marine areas

A new sealink between Cebu, Dumaguete City and Siquijor has been established, with greater tourism linkages between the 3 being pushed

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will deploy officers in Siargao to monitor and respond to complaints of law violations by immigrants and tourists. The BI Commissioner acknowledged complaints raised by the local government unit (LGU) and residents about overstaying foreigners, illegal work, disorderly conduct, and environmental violations

The 33rd International Travel Tour Expo VisMin Edition 2026 was held from 5-7 Jun at the SMX Convention Centre of SM Lanang Premier in Davao City. The event is organised by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), in partnership with the Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA). Over 80 exhibitors and participants took part in the event, including international and domestic airlines, travel agencies, foreign tour operators, and tourism industry sponsors. Among the companies that took part in the expo were Philippine Airlines and STARLUX Airlines, representing the airline and Cruise Professionals Inc., and Princess Cruises, representing the cruise and shipping sector

The Philippines National Police (PNP) in Camiguin has increased security measures as more tourists are visiting the province. PNP has asked the tourists to cooperate with security personnel and follow local laws when visiting the province

The President declared 27 May a national holiday for the Eid al-Adha celebration

The Philippine Embassy in Jordan repatriated the last 2 Filipino tourists from Jordan, bringing the total number repatriated from the country to 115. They were supposed to return home on 7 Mar, but their flights were abruptly cancelled

The Philippine Supreme Court said they won’t grant interim relief from an arrest warrant to Senator Ronald dela Rosa issued by the International Criminal Court. The senator was the chief enforcer of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs that claimed thousands of lives

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will offer free Intramuros guided tours and access to two heritage sites, Fort Santiago and Centro de Turismo Intramuros, for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families from 25-31 May, ahead of the Migrant Workers’ Day

The Director for Product Development at the Department of Tourism stated that the Philippines welcomed 24,855 cruise passengers from 136 port calls in 2025. He added they project 75,000 passengers, +300% YoY, and 128 port calls in 2026

Megaworld is looking to add 6 hotels with nearly 2,000 rooms by 2029. The hotels are ArcoVia Hotel in Pasig City; Savoy Capital Town in San Fernando, Pampanga; The Hamptons Hotel in Cavinti, Laguna; Paragua Sands Hotel and Savoy Hotel Palawan in San Vicente, Palawan; and The Kingsford in Bacolod City. They aim to operate 20 hotels with 9,000 rooms when they celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary within the next 3 years. Megaworld reported 1.5 billion PHP in hospitality revenues in Q1 2026, +8% YoY

The Visayas grid issued another yellow alert on 19 May due to high electricity demand and the shutdown of large coal-powered plants. This was the 7th yellow alert issued in the Visayas within 8 days, bringing the total to 9 in 2026. There was 3 red alerts in Visayas. The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines issued the alert when the power reserves are low. NGCP said the peak demand reached 2,594 megawatts, while the capacity is just around 2,691 MW

The Embassy of Angola in Manila informed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that Angola has announced tourist visa exemption for Filipinos up to 30 days per visit and a total of 90 days per year

The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is increasing promotional activities to attract more foreign tourists. DOT CAR is taking part in major local travel fairs organised by the DOT and private tour operators across the Philippines. The top visitors to Cordillera are American tourists, followed by the French, Koreans, Canadians, Japanese, British, Chinese, Australians, Germans, and Israelis. The region recorded 1,572,655 domestic and 53,948 foreign tourists in 2025, as well as 6.7 million excursionists, mostly to Baguio City

The Philippines is hosting various events in May across towns and provinces, such as harvest festivals and religious celebrations. Thousands of visitors visit parts of the Philippines to take part in the event. Quezon Province will host the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, popular for its colourful house decorations made from agricultural harvests and the iconic kiping, as well as the Agawan Festival in Sariaya and the Mayohan Festival in Tayabas City

Samar government launched “Pamatron” fiesta-stay program to allow visitors to immerse themselves in the province’s cultural traditions. Visitors can stay from three days to up to a week under the program. The visitors can experience community preparations and traditional cooking; religious and cultural celebrations; and heritage tours, local crafts, and nature-based activities

17 colleges and universities received 19.25 million PHP in grants for innovative tourism projects on 12 May during the Tourism Start-up Challenge award ceremony, hosted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Quezon City. Top participants received 5 million PHP in a grant, while 14 regional awardees received 250,000 PHP each

PHP dropped to a record low of 61.75 against USD on 18 May

Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook survey shows that 69% of Indonesians are choosing family travel as the top choice, higher than Asia’s average of 52%, followed by Vietnam (61%), Malaysia (59%), Taiwan (58%) the Philippines (55%), Thailand (50%), South Korea (50%), India (40%), and Japan (32%)

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) stated that the government has repatriated 9,732 Filipinos, including 7,635 overseas Filipino workers (OFW), 1,736 of their dependents, and 361 tourists from the Middle East as of 17 May. The latest batch of 34 OFWs and 1 dependent returned from Qatar on 16 May. The DMW Secretary said this data does not include those who were stranded in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and other countries while waiting to transit to the UAE. The DMW expects more OFWs to be repatriated this week from Kuwait. DMW has been using funds from various sources, including the Aksyon Fund in 2025 (1.2 billion PHP), Aksyon Fund 2026 (2 billion PHP), the Emergency Repatriation Program (1.762 billion PHP), and Alagang Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (143 million PHP). DMW and OWWA requested an additional 22 billion PHP in Apr for the repatriation efforts of 2.4% of 2.4 million Filipinos in the region in the “worst case scenario”. OWWA has already used 55% of its 1.2 billion emergency funds under the 2026 General Appropriations Act

Matnog Town, Sorsogon, recorded 221,760 PHP in tourism revenue on 16 May, its highest single-day tourism revenue. The town mayor said they recorded 199 boat trips during the day with 1,765 tourists, including two foreign tourists. The town is popular for Subic Beach on Calintaan Island, and other activities such as island-hopping, snorkelling, and swimming activities

Students from Lyceum of the Philippines University in Cavite proposed an eco-tourism development plan for the Pugad Baboy mangrove forest in Kawit as part of their entry for the 2025 Tourism Start-Up Challenge organised by the Department of Tourism in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Their plan highlights sustainable infrastructure, tourism innovation, and community-based management. Their proposal was declared the regional winner for the CALABARZON region, receiving a grant of 250,000 PHP at an award ceremony held at Seda Vertis North, Quezon City, on 12 May

The Department of Tourism (DOT) MIMAROPA is looking to strengthen tourism promotion efforts in Palawan amid a 7.92% drop in visitors to the region in Q1 2026, especially due to a drop in domestic tourists. DOT MIMAROPA is increasing promotional campaigns by taking part in international expos, travel markets, B2B meetings with travel agencies, cruise tourism promotions, and dive tourism marketing initiatives. A luxury cruise yacht from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection made its first stop in Coron, El Nido, and Puerto Princesa City, and is expected to return in 2027. DOT also highlighted MICE Tourism after Puerto Princesa City hosted Asian Development Bank board delegates for an international meeting. DOT is promoting sea travel with GO Travel and other land-based travel routes connecting Puerto Princesa to El Nido, as an alternative to expensive air travel

The new Catholic bishop of Kalibo expressed opposition to the proposed bridge connecting Boracay Island to mainland Aklan, warning the project could damage fragile marine ecosystems, disrupt coral reefs, strain the carrying capacity of Boracay Island, and marginalise the indigenous community

The Luzon power grid returned to normal on 16 May, after days of red and yellow alerts with warnings of possible power cuts of up to 7 hours in the Visayas and hour-long outages in 9 Luzon areas, including Metro Manila

The Mayor of Baguio has said that tourism arrivals to Baguio have started to recover over the past 2 weeks, but that the numbers are “still far below normal levels‘, around 35-40% vs previous years, with hotels reporting low occupancy levels. The low numbers has been attributed to high fuel prices

Guimaras Provincial Government is looking to generate over 105 million in tourism receipts for the 2026 Manggahan Festival, similar to the revenue from the 2025 event. The event, which will be held until 23 May, includes all-you-can-eat mangoes, a music festival, Miss Guimaras beauty pageant, a celebration of the 34th provincehood of Guimaras, and a cultural festival. Provincial Economic Development Officer said they recorded 40,154 guests in 2025, with the highest revenue contribution coming from the agri-eco trade fair (14.3 million PHP) and food-related events (10.35 million PHP)

Cebu is looking to position itself as a hub for MICE Tourism and education tourism destinations. The Governor of Cebu raised the tourism priorities directly to the Tourism Secretary on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. The discussion also focused on strengthening Cebu’s competitiveness through community-based tourism initiatives, English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, and the expansion of MICE tourism. Cebu MICE Alliance announced their plan to bid to host the 2027 Philippine MICE Conference (MICECON) in Cebu, aiming to bring the conference back to Cebu for the first time since 2011

Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, recorded 250,000 tourists from Jan-Apr 2026, including 58,000 visitors in Apr, both exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The Vice Mayor attributed this to infrastructure projects funded by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), tourism promotions, major events, better accessibility, and stronger collaboration between the local government and tourism players

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is prepared to extend $1.75 billion USD in additional financing for the Philippines to help face growing financial pressure

The Philippine peso hit a new low of 61.72 PHP per dollar on 15 May

Power cuts across the Philippines hit millions of people, with rolling one-hour power outages across Luzon due to “major grid disruptions”

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) organised the Regional Travel Fair (RTF) from 15 to 17 May in Baguio City, Cordillera Administrative Region. There will be B2B and B2C sessions during the event