Philippines

The Capiz Archbishop and the Romblon Bishop issued a joint statement on 8 Oct 2026 opposing casino operations on Boracay, joining the Kalibo Bishop and the Diocese of Kalibo, which has opposed gambling on the island for more than 2 decades. The statements followed the opening of a hotel-casino at Station 0 in Barangay Yapak in Malay. The bishops cited social harms they said may accompany gambling, including crime and illegal drug abuse, and argued that tourism development should not pursue revenue without considering human and social costs

Malaysia's inflation was 1.9% in Aug 2026, below Thailand (2.5%), Indonesia (3.2%), Vietnam (4.9%) and the Philippines (6.1%), according to the World Bank. It expects headline inflation of 2% in 2026, but warned that producer price inflation of almost 11% in Aug 2026 could become a risk later in the year

The peso closed at a record low of 62.90 PHP to the US dollar on 8 Oct 2026, from 62.75 PHP on 7 Oct 2026, according to the Bankers Association of the Philippines. Gross international reserves fell to $99.997 billion USD, the lowest since Sep 2023, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The Union Bank of the Philippines Chief Economist expects the peso to remain volatile and biased towards weakness

Metro Cebu's air quality index reached 165, in the “very unhealthy” range, at 7am on 9 Oct 2026, up from 140-146 on 5 Oct 2026, according to the Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas. The bureau attributed it to local vehicle and industrial emissions and weather conditions that trap pollutants, not haze from Indonesian fires

Citizens of 46 African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania, can enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 30 days, alongside travellers from the US, UK, Canada and Japan, provided they hold a passport valid for at least 6 months and a return or onward ticket. China and India fall under separate visa-free rules with shorter stays. Visa-free stays can be extended by 29 days, to 59 days in total

The House Committee on Tourism approved 7 bills declaring sites in Romblon as tourism destinations, tourism development areas, or ecotourism and heritage sites. They cover Concepcion, Banton, Romblon town and Calatrava, and the Blue Hole Underwater Park, the Cotta ruins and Gorda Point Lighthouse in San Agustin. The bills are also included proposals related to tourism capitals, tourist protection, and safety

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Cordillera expects heat in late 2026 and H1 2027 to drive more visitors to Baguio, the Philippines’ coolest mountain city. The city is promoting destinations beyond Baguio, in La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Tublay and Atok, to ease traffic and protect Baguio's water supply, according to the DOT Cordillera Regional Director

Visa applications from the Philippines rose +20% YoY in Jan-Aug 2026, according to VFS Global, with non-Schengen applications +28% YoY, led by Australia, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the UK, whilst Schengen demand was stable. Its Visa At Your Doorstep service grew 58%

Inflation rose to 7.2% YoY in Sep 2026 from 6.1% in Aug 2026, the highest since Mar 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. 11 of 13 commodity groups recorded faster inflation, including restaurants and accommodation. Transport inflation reached 14.6%. Core inflation rose to 4.7%, the highest since Oct 2023

The Energy Secretary stated that El Niño could raise electricity rates and cause more power outages, as heat affects hydro, coal and solar output, and urged the public to cut demand by 10-20%. A state of calamity has been declared in 106 cities and municipalities over El Niño, mostly in Cagayan, Caraga and Bicol, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. A total of 388,375 individuals or 104,149 families have been affected so far

The Philippine President made a working visit to Singapore on 7-11 Oct 2026 at the invitation of the Singapore Prime Minister. He was due to attend the Singapore Grand Prix, a Forbes Global CEO Conference dialogue, a visit to the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute, and discuss coordination ahead of Singapore's 2027 ASEAN chairmanship

Malaysia's inflation was 1.9% in Aug 2026, below Thailand (2.5%), Indonesia (3.2%), Vietnam (4.9%) and the Philippines (6.1%), according to the World Bank. It expects headline inflation of 2% in 2026, but warned that producer price inflation of almost 11% in Aug 2026 could become a risk later in the year

Camiguin projects annual arrivals to more than double to 824,000 from 2028, from 397,818 in 2025, and is targeting foreign visitors at 15% of arrivals, up from 6%, under its Tourism Action Plan 2025-2028, according to the Camiguin Governor. He added the plan is based on “more value, less pressure, stronger stewardship” principles. The airport runway is being expanded, and the province has 170 tourism establishments with 1,312 rooms

The DOT and the Ambaguio local government unit (LGU) are developing a Skyport paragliding facility in Nueva Vizcaya, to be implemented through TIEZA, funded by the 20 million PHP won from the DOT's Tourism Champions Challenge and an additional 5 million PHP from the Office of the President, according to the DOT Region 2 Regional Director. The province is also rehabilitating Bagabag Airport and identifying potential sites for activities like kayaking and tubing on the Matuno River, off-road motorcycle riding, downhill biking, trekking, and other outdoor sports. The province is also promoting its Indigenous Peoples’ cultural practices and traditions through festivals across its 15 municipalities and the annual Ammungan Festival

Cebu province recorded 1,080,809 tourist arrivals in Jan-Aug 2026 (+12.78% YoY), including 242,108 foreign arrivals (+27.28% YoY) and 838,575 domestic arrivals (+9.19% YoY), according to the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office. South Korea was the top foreign market (60,518), followed by the US (22,866) and Japan (22,223). Cordova (171,552), Santa Fe (120,197) and Daanbantayan (59,435) were the top destinations

All provinces in the Philippines are expected to experience drought by the end of Mar 2027 because of El Niño, the Science and Technology Secretary stated

Oil firms raised gasoline prices by 1.90-1.93 PHP/l and kerosene by 3.30 PHP/l, and cut diesel by 1.30 PHP/l, from 6am on 6 Oct 2026

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has proposed a 5.47 billion PHP budget for 2027, including 1 billion PHP for its global branding campaign and 1.37 billion PHP for the Tourism Promotions Board, according to the Tourism Secretary. She added that the DOT will allocate its marketing resources to Japan and South Korea to revive visitor arrivals. The DOT is also developing visa-free entry for Chinese travellers through Kalibo, Caticlan, Tagbilaran, Clark, Puerto Princesa and Davao with the Department of Foreign Affairs, and working to strengthen air connectivity

The Central Visayas Regional Development Council asked the Office of the President to declare a State of Power Emergency in the region because of recurring rotational brownouts affecting the Visayas Grid

The House Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee approved restoring a 15.2 million PHP allocation for the DOT's Dive Destination Development, Promotion and Sustainability programme in the 2027 budget, after it received no allocation in the National Expenditure Program

The Lind Hotels will open The Lind Coron in Palawan in 2027, the Filipino brand's first property in the destination. It will have 91 rooms and villas, a spa, a dive centre and a range of event venues, including an indoor space for up to 200 guests

ASEAN tourism ministers agreed to direct more marketing investment towards second- and third-tier destinations to encourage intra-ASEAN travel and cushion the sector against any fall in long-haul arrivals driven by higher fuel prices, according to a joint statement released after the Second ASEAN Tourism Ministers Retreat in Manila on 29 Sep 2026. They also agreed to update the ASEAN Tourism Agreement to reflect digitalisation, sustainability, connectivity and changing traveller expectations, and welcomed a Philippine initiative to set up an ASEAN Tourism Intelligence system for sharing regional tourism data. The Asian Development Bank is supporting the development of an ASEAN Sustainable and Resilient Tourism Investment Outlook to help destinations prepare investment-ready projects

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas projected Sep 2026 inflation at 6.4%-7.4%, driven by weather-related increases in food prices, higher fuel prices and a weaker peso. The upper end of the range would be the fastest pace since Mar 2023, after inflation eased from 7.2% in Apr 2026 to 6.1% in Aug 2026. The peso fell to record lows past 62 PHP to the US dollar in late Aug-early Sep 2026

The President directed government agencies on 1 Oct 2026 to consolidate the country's tourism system, so that tourists can arrange hotels, flights, drivers and tour guides through a more integrated structure, after meeting the Private Sector Advisory Council Tourism Sector. He cited Thailand as having a more organised structure for tourists, and tasked the Department of Tourism with exploring sports development, where facilities need to be improved, and food tourism, which he called “largely untapped”

APO Production Unit, the Philippine passport printer, told a Senate finance subcommittee that it had not requested a passport fee increase from 950 PHP to 1,500 PHP. It said it was instead seeking a government subsidy in the Department of Foreign Affairs budget to offset printing costs. The passport fee had been unchanged since 2016. The agency’s President said raw material, logistics and foreign exchange costs had risen with the recent war in Iran

Zamboanga del Sur launched an official tourism website, the first in Zamboanga Peninsula, and activated its provincial Tourist Police Unit on 29 Sep 2026. The provincial government, the Department of Tourism Region 9 and the Police Regional Office 9 signed an MoU to activate the unit, to strengthen security measures and support services for travellers

The Philippines ranked 7th among the fastest improvers in the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, with its score rising 5.5% since 2024 to 4.08 points, and a 9.6% rise since 2019. The top 7 improvers were Albania (+7% to 4.14), Vietnam (+6.3% to 4.15), Laos (+6.1% to 3.69), Qatar (+6% to 4.23), Malaysia (+5.8% to 4.5), Thailand (+5.6% to 4.35) and the Philippines

The Department of Tourism (DOT) supported legislation to make "Love the Philippines" a permanent national tourism brand and proposed a National Tourism Safety and Security Council, headed by the Tourism Secretary, to coordinate agencies and local governments on tourist safety. The DOT is also building a tourist-incident database from police records to separate crime and security cases from accidents, so that it can respond more effectively to foreign travel advisories

The 4th Mindanao Tourism Expo will be held in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, from 2-5 Oct 2026, hosted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Soccsksargen and the Sultan Kudarat provincial government under the theme "One Mindanao, Endless Wonders". It will feature a travel and trade exhibit on 2-4 Oct 2026 with Mindanao regions, local government units, airlines and MSMEs, and B2B meetings on 3 Oct between Mindanao sellers and buyers from Luzon and the Visayas. DOT Soccsksargen stated that the expo aims to position Soccsksargen as a destination for eco-adventure, cultural tourism and MICE

Petron and Jetti Petroleum cut diesel prices by 7.60 PHP/l and gasoline prices by 0.30 PHP/l from 6am on 29 Sep 2026, following a drop in global oil prices. Petron also cut kerosene by 5.90 PHP/l

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) asked for a transition period before the travel tax is abolished, saying the levy funds 94-95% of its operations. TIEZA's Chief Operating Officer told a Senate finance subcommittee hearing that around 4.03 billion PHP, half of the travel tax collected, funds TIEZA projects, including for addressing water quality in El Nido, constructing a sewage plant in Coron, and the rehabilitation of 10 domestic airports and the sewage treatment plant in Baguio. TIEZA is also responsible for restoring at least four historical hotels and landmark properties, and revitalising the Club Intramuros Golf Course and Zamboanga Golf Course. TIEZA said it does not object to abolition, but asked for a budget allocation, noting that the Department of Budget and Management allocated no funding for TIEZA’s projects in FY 2027

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) registered 4.63 billion PHP in tourism investments from Jan-Aug 2026, already 80.6% of the 5.74 billion PHP registered in FY 2025. The investments are projected to create 522 jobs and are mainly in hotels, alongside wellness establishments, an events centre, farm tourism sites and recreational facilities. TIEZA is processing 8 further applications worth about 2.56 billion PHP and 569 potential jobs, of which 5 target opening in 2026 (1.07 billion PHP, 256 jobs) and 3 target opening in 2027 (1.49 billion PHP, 313 jobs)

Transport group MANIBELA began a 3-day strike on 28 Sep 2026 over rising fuel prices, running to 30 Sep 2026, with its Chairperson expecting 20,000-25,000 jeepney drivers in Metro Manila to take part. Transport group PISTON planned a nationwide strike on 29-30 Sep 2026, which its President estimated could involve 70,000-100,000 drivers and operators

The Department of Tourism is shifting from a focus on visitor arrivals to an investment-driven and people-centred strategy aimed at generating higher tourism revenues, the Tourism Secretary said. About 70% of DOT’s marketing budget will go to digital marketing and media placements, with larger shares for Japan and South Korea and increased allocations for the US, Canada, Australia and ASEAN markets. It will also sustain a 50 million PHP localised campaign in South Korea. P-pop groups BINI and SB19 will remain tourism ambassadors, with expanded campaigns planned for 2027. The DOT has formed a Japan Tourism Investment and Business Development Team and is developing accreditation rules for campgrounds and domestic cruise ships. International tourists stay an average of 5 days and spend about 125,000 PHP ($2,000 USD), according to the DOT

The IMF trimmed its 2026 growth forecast for the Philippines to 3.4%, down from 3.9%, citing weaker domestic investment, delayed public infrastructure spending and the Middle East war's impact on the country's oil and gas import costs. The IMF projected growth to recover to 5.1% in 2027, revised down from 5.5%, and forecast headline inflation to average 5.6% in 2026 before easing to 4.1% in 2027

The Philippines was named among the 10 largest non-high-income travel and tourism economies driving global growth, per the World Economic Forum's 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI). The group, which also includes China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkiye, Mexico and Brazil, accounts for more than 28% of global direct travel and tourism GDP, a share projected to rise to 35% by 2035. Since 2019, the group's average TTDI score rose 4.7%, ahead of the 2.9% global average and the 1.9% growth among the top 20 leading economies. The Philippines and its peers outperformed the top 20 economies in price competitiveness, natural resources, demand sustainability and cultural resources

Klook and Visa signed an MoU covering Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, with joint marketing and promotional initiatives and Klook becoming a partner on Visa Destinations, Visa’s travel platform. The companies will also build a creator framework across Southeast Asia, hosting affiliate links from Visa creators on Klook’s Kreator Shops storefronts. Visa’s 2026 Global Travel Intentions study found 37% of Asia-Pacific respondents planned trips around local experiences, against a global average of 29%, and Klook’s Travel Pulse 2026 found more than half of Asia-Pacific travellers surveyed did not begin planning with a fixed destination, with 23% starting from a particular activity

S&P Global Ratings cut its 2026 GDP growth forecast for the Philippines to 2.9% from 4.1% and the Asian Development Bank cut its forecast to 3.3% from 3.8%, after the economy grew 2.6% in H1 2026 against 5.4% a year earlier. S&P pointed to continued weakness in investment, with gross capital formation contracting 9.2% and fixed investment contracting 13.7% in Q2 2026. The ADB pointed to weaker household spending amid elevated inflation, with household consumption growing 2.8% in Q2 2026, and warned the outlook remains vulnerable to a potentially strong El Niño from late 2026 through 2027, raising its 2027 inflation projection to 4.4% as rice prices stay elevated

Researchers at Bohol Island State University have built Lifework Andragogy for Advanced Guides (LAAG) Bohol, a web application that lets tourists book accredited guides, operators and transport providers online whilst giving the provincial government a running record of visitor data for planning. Only providers accredited and registered with the appropriate government offices will be listed. The application posts price ranges rather than fixed service fees, carries training and learning resources for guides, and maintains a data bank on visitor experience and needs that the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office can draw on for policy and planning. The university’s Vice President for Research, Innovation and Extension said the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development funded development with counterpart funding from the university, and that the application is in final beta testing before public release

The Department of Foreign Affairs has proposed deferring a passport fee increase to Jun 2028, when it plans to begin issuing next-generation Philippine passports. The government passport printer APO Production Unit had requested a rise of passport fee from 950 PHP to 1,500 PHP from Jan 2027. The Foreign Affairs Secretary told a Senate budget hearing on 18 Sep 2026 that the next-generation passport uses different paper and asked APO to wait until mid-2028. The next-generation passports will be fully compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and carry enhanced security features and additional pages

The Tourism Promotions Board is concentrating on travel tradeshows, business missions and joint promotions in key international markets. Actual bookings reported by Philippine sellers participating alongside the board reached 4.3 billion PHP in 2025 across all tradeshows it attended, excluding standalone sales missions abroad, up from more than 3.7 billion PHP ($59 million USD) in 2024. Its COO said a business mission to Japan yielded a pipeline of potential sales leads totalling 1 billion PHP, and recent missions to China generated 500 million PHP in leads alongside about 30 million PHP in actual bookings. She said direct financial subsidies for the business events industry during crises are no longer feasible, with the board’s budget for next year reduced to 1.1 billion PHP from a proposed 1.3 billion PHP, and pointed to support available under the MICE Plus incentive programme

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said a very strong El Niño is likely to emerge between Sep and Dec 2026 and may continue until H1 2027, with its Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief saying the impact could mean hotter temperatures and a significant reduction in rainfall. As of 21 Sep 2026, drought affected Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Quirino, Negros Oriental, Samar and Siquijor, with dry spells across Biliran, Bohol, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte and much of Mindanao. Rainfall deficits were observed in 45 provinces as of September 2026

The Philippines may not achieve full electrification until 2033, 5 years later than the government’s target, a Camarines Sur representative told the House of Representatives, saying connecting remote rural areas could cost up to 67 billion PHP and that budget shortfalls could delay the National Electrification Administration’s rollout. About 3 million households remain without electricity across more than 7,000 islands. The agency received 5.63 billion PHP under its national rural electrification programme for 2027

The President will not lift the suspension on the fare increase approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Mar 2026, with the Palace Press Officer calling a fare rise a last resort as fuel prices increased for a third consecutive week. Transport group Piston will hold a nationwide strike on 29-30 Sep 2026, with 70,000 to 100,000 jeepney drivers and operators in Bulacan, Pampanga, Baguio, Rizal, Naga City and Sorsogon expected to join. Oil companies increased fuel prices for this week by 8.82 PHP/l for diesel, 4.88 PHP/l for gasoline and 6.47 PHP/l for kerosene. The Department of Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau Director said prices could fall next week after Saudi Arabia released about 14 million barrels of crude, with industry estimates pointing to a drop of 7.98 PHP/l for diesel and 86 centavos for gasoline. The Department of Transportation is continuing fuel discounts and free tolls for buses

The Department of Tourism revised its inbound arrivals data, with 4.42 million international tourist arrivals from Jan-Aug 2026, including 355,757 overseas Filipinos, an adjustment against previously released figures of 4.11 million foreign visitors, including 361,458 overseas Filipinos. The revision follows a reworking of data collection that now draws on both electronic travel records from the Department of Information and Communications Technology and Bureau of Immigration records, capturing arrivals such as diplomats and visiting foreign officials who are exempt from e-travel forms. The top source market was the US with 926,575 (+2.75% YoY), followed by South Korea with 744,732 (-21.75% YoY), Japan 321,545 (-1.95% YoY); China 303,567 (+93.45% YoY), Canada 237,989 (+9.07% YoY), Australia 237,849 (+5.73% YoY), Taiwan 153,700 (+7.9% YoY), the UK 151,574 (-3.41% YoY), India 82,692 (+31.6% YoY), and Singapore 74,704 (-1.66% YoY)

Provincial and city bus operators asked the President to lift the suspension of the fare increase approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Mar 2026, saying regulated revenue is now below operating costs and that rising costs have disrupted dispatches, forced layoffs and delayed loan payments. The suspended adjustments would raise the traditional jeepney minimum fare from 13 PHP to 14 PHP, the modern jeepney minimum from 15 PHP to 17 PHP, the Metro Manila and city ordinary bus minimum for the first 5km from 13 PHP to 15 PHP, the air-conditioned city bus minimum to 18 PHP, transport network vehicle service base fares by 20 PHP plus a 15 PHP pick-up fee, and the airport taxi flag-down rate from 75 PHP to 115 PHP, a 19% increase across all regions. The operators said fuel accounts for 45-60% of operating costs and that, unlike airlines and sea transport operators, buses cannot impose a fuel surcharge. The government is also weighing a suspension or reduction of excise taxes on petroleum products after the Department of Energy certified that crude had breached $80 USD a barrel

Cebu City Hall implemented a 4-day compressed workweek from 21 Sep 2026, with most city government employees working 10 hours a day from Monday to Thursday and Friday becoming the regular weekday break, under an executive order issued by the Mayor. The Human Resource Development Office cited recurring rotational power interruptions and rising fuel and transport costs. Offices covering essential, emergency, frontline, health, public safety and security functions must keep adequate staffing, so services may continue on Fridays depending on the office

El Nido Resorts Lagen Island in Palawan and Raffles Makati became the first Philippine hotels to earn Two Michelin Keys in the 2026 selection, with Raffles Makati promoted from One Key. Four properties received their first One Michelin Key: NUSTAR Hotel Cebu, El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island in Palawan, Hotel Okura Manila at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City, and Manami Resort in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental. Nay Palad Hideaway in Siargao, Fairmont Makati and Amanpulo in Palawan retained their One Key distinctions, taking the Philippines to 9 Michelin Key hotels. The Tourism Secretary said the recognition is an opportunity to position the Philippines as a destination for exceptional stays

The Intramuros Administration held its first Intramuros Night Tour on 19 Sep 2026, a 2-hour guided evening tour of the Walled City combining storytelling, live historical reenactment, and site activations at Centro de Turismo Intramuros, Casa Manila Museum and Fort Santiago. Tickets are 1,000 PHP, or 800 PHP for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and students. The tour was organised with Renacimiento Manila, Historia Viviente Manila, Republica Filipino Reenactment Group and Wartime Heritage Guild-Philippines

Bohol welcomed 637,288 tourists in H1 2026, a nearly 22% drop from 816,000 in H1 2025, according to the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office. Foreign tourists made up 45.1% of the total arrivals and domestic visitors 54.9%, including several hundred returning overseas Filipino workers. C9 Hotelworks’ Managing Director said fuel costs had hit airlift into Cebu, the larger gateway for Bohol, as well as ferry fares and direct flights to Bohol, and that Cebu faced the same problem. He said South Korean and Philippine low-cost carriers had sharply cut routes, and that higher 4- and 5-star hotel prices in the Philippines compared with Vietnam had redirected demand to Phu Quoc and Danang. The Bohol Alliance of Travel and Tour Operators President said Bohol was working with partners to reach more diverse markets beyond South Korea and China, and recorded a significant increase from Europe and the US during the Nov-Feb high season

A project submitted to the Global Environment Facility proposes integrating biodiversity conservation into the economic plans of Ifugao ancestral domains to protect the 280 plant species and 93 animal species found in still-functional terrace farms. The Ifugao Rice Terraces were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1995. The project is a joint undertaking of the UN Development Programme, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the provincial government of Ifugao, and proposes helping Ifugao clans integrate ecosystem management into their Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plans. Traditional rice production fell 83.7% between 2015 and 2020, from 26,070.25 tonnes to 4,239.9 tonnes, representing the abandonment of more than 6,800 hectares of terrace habitat. 77.4% of farmers earn 20,000 PHP or less annually, and only 4.8% earn more than 40,000 PHP. In 2024, Ifugao and the rest of the Cordillera region hosted 1,983,511 tourists who spent an estimated 10.72 billion PHP on accommodation, food and transport

The Cebu Provincial Board approved a resolution on 14 Sep 2026 directing power distributors and electric cooperatives to submit contingency measures to the Office of the Governor ahead of the Cebu Energy Summit on 7 Oct 2026. The measures sought include arrangements to reduce the frequency and duration of rotational brownouts, priority lists for critical facilities including hospitals, water pumping stations and emergency services, and alternative power supply arrangements. Rotational brownouts have affected parts of Cebu as Therma Visayas Unit 1, Panay Energy Development Corporation Unit 3 and other generating units remain unavailable. The province is looking at battery storage projects and a proposed 170 MW solar farm in Bantayan

The Department of Transportation will offer another round of financial assistance to drivers affected by oil price increases, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation programme. A proposed fare adjustment for public utility vehicles was discussed at a Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport Committee meeting on 17 Sep 2026. Jetti Petroleum said diesel prices could rise by 10-10.50 PHP/l that week. Toll exemptions for provincial buses and the waiving of terminal fees at the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange will continue

The Philippine Consulate General in Guam launched the 2027 Very Important Pinoy Tour: Winter Escapade on 19 Sep 2026, combining the US VIP Tour with Canada’s Winter Escapade programme for the first time. The tour runs 7-17 Feb 2027, beginning in Manila before participants choose one of 5 pocket destinations, Leyte, Legazpi-Naga, Siargao, Camiguin or Bohol, then continue to either El Nido or Iloilo and Bacolod

Air quality in Mindanao returned to unhealthy levels because of continuing forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Soccsksargen was "very unhealthy" and most of Northern Mindanao "acutely unhealthy" on 18 Sep 2026, while the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Davao Region were at "unhealthy to sensitive groups" levels. The rest of the country registered "good" levels except Central Luzon and parts of Bicol, at "unhealthy to sensitive groups"

The Philippines is addressing its trade concerns with the US through bilateral negotiations rather than the broader ASEAN-US dialogue while it awaits Washington’s assessment of measures it has adopted on forced labour, the Trade Undersecretary said at a briefing on the 58th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Pasay City. He cited the Joint Administrative Order issued in Jul 2026 by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Labour and Employment and the Department of Finance on the importation of products resulting from forced labour. Preparatory meetings for the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting began on 17 Sep 2026, and the ministerial meetings were held from 19-22 Sep 2026, with more than 20 meetings and consultations involving representatives from all 11 ASEAN member states and 13 dialogue partners

The Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2026 concluded on 9 Sep 2026 with 594,712,138.50 PHP in sales leads, a partial figure 20.12% higher than the 495.09 million PHP recorded in 2025. The event gathered 102 Philippine sellers, including destination management companies, tour operators and travel agencies, and 76 foreign buyers from 24 countries. 11 countries represented emerging markets, including Denmark, France, Indonesia, Italy, Macao, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, Turkiye, the UAE, and Vietnam. Post-event fam tours covered Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, and Davao

The Discovery Hospitality Group will spend at least 1.2 billion PHP to open 3 new resorts in 2027, including 600 million PHP for the 34-room Kip&Kin in Siargao and 600 million PHP for the 117-room Kip&Kin in El Nido, Palawan. The third property, as yet unnamed, will be managed rather than owned and has fewer than 20 units. Discovery Hospitality Corp’s Senior Vice President and Head of Sales and Operations said the group is focusing on secondary and tertiary cities and opened the mid-range Kip&Kin brand aimed at millennials, adding that Discovery cannot open its premium brand in those cities until they draw global guests at a premium price level. She pointed to the Visayas and Mindanao as potential areas for hotel investment. The parent company of DHC, the Tiu-led Discovery World Hospitality, posted a nearly 30 million PHP net loss in H1 2026, an improvement from 82.4 million PHP loss recorded in H1 2025

Vigan celebrated the World Heritage Cities Solidarity and Cultural Celebration and Tourism Week 2026 with a cultural and heritage exhibit at Balay Bigueno along Calle Crisologo, open from 8-14 Sep 2026. The exhibit featured works by 25 finalists in the Vigan Heritage Painting Competition, alongside traditional burnay pottery, abel weaving and the Vigan City Homeowner’s Manual

The Philippine Accommodation Pipeline 2026 Report, published by the Philippine Hotel Owners Association with Leechiu Property Consultants. The report shows that: • 387 billion PHP is being invested in the Philippine hotel industry from 2026-2032, representing about 45,884 keys and directly creating 64,000 hotel jobs • The National Capital Region will receive 11,130 keys, followed by Cebu province (8,482 keys in 29 properties), Boracay Island (3,678 keys in 14 properties), Panglao Island in Bohol (3,299 keys in 14 properties) and Clark in Pampanga (2,377 keys in 5 properties) • 8,437 keys open in 2026, including Mandarin Oriental Manila in Makati, Hotel101 Cebu Mactan, I’Msignia Resort Boracay and Plaza de Zamboanga-Dusit Collection, and 8,647 keys open in 2027, with The Ascott Limited accounting for 24% of international keys • Investment in Baguio City rose 78% following the settlement of ownership issues around Camp John Hay, and Mindanao saw a 30% increase in committed hotel rooms, including Cagayan de Oro, Siargao, Zamboanga and Samal • One-fourth of the planned hotel supply was cancelled due to financial failures and changing market feasibility, as well as failure to meet residential presale targets required to begin construction phases • LPC’s Director for Hotels, Tourism and Leisure stated that most new hotels are being built around Ninoy Aquino, Mactan-Cebu, Panglao and Clark international airports, which suggests the country needs more gateways to open up additional investment destinations • 71% of the pipeline is hotels at 32,666 keys, and the remaining 11,218 keys are condotels

The Department of Tourism launched the Philippine Tourism Data Dashboard on 16 Sep 2026, providing visitor arrival data from 2010, outbound traveller figures from 2023-2025, Tourism Direct Gross Value Added data from the Philippine Statistics Authority and tourism employment figures. Users can view arrivals by month and year, compare figures across periods, see the leading source markets and monthly arrivals from the top 20 countries of origin, and download the datasets and a data dictionary. The Tourism Secretary said making the information public gives local government units, tourism businesses and ordinary Filipinos the tools to understand how the industry is doing and where the opportunities are. The dashboard was launched as part of the DOT’s Philippine Tourist Promotion Month activities

Philippine hotel occupancy is stable at 61%, level with Indonesia and Malaysia but behind Singapore and Japan at close to 80%, according to the Philippine Hospitality Outlook 2026 presented by STR and CoStar's Director of Sales for South and Southeast Asia. The national average daily rate is $93 USD, alongside Cambodia and Indonesia, and regional rates sit above pre-pandemic levels even as occupancy stays below 2019 levels. Philippine RevPAR rose 5.8%, against 21.6% in Vietnam and 13.4% in Indonesia, with upscale and upper-midscale properties up 7.5% as they capture cost-conscious corporate travellers. Metro Manila faced early-2026 headwinds from energy costs, higher transport fares and new room supply in the Bay Area, with Quezon City the standout submarket. Luxury resorts in Cebu face softer occupancy from a cautious South Korean source market and rising transit costs but have pushed rates to preserve yield. Manila's supply wave is tapering off whilst Cebu's peak additions are still ahead

Aklan expects 16 cruise ship arrivals in 2026, according to the provincial government's Cruise Ship In-charge, with maiden calls still to come, including Costa Serena in Oct 2026 and MS The World returning on 23 Nov 2026. A typical cruise ship brings 1,000 to 1,500 passengers plus crew, who spend around 8 hours in the destination and an estimated $100 to $150 USD each on tours, transport, food, souvenirs and local products. The province is developing shore excursions beyond Boracay, including the Motag Living Museum in Malay and expedition-type excursions in Ibajay. Ships currently anchor offshore with passengers tendered ashore, and the provincial government has identified a berthing facility in Caticlan, supported by the Department of Transportation, as a priority

Tourists and other visitors have been advised to postpone travel to 7 barangays in Tinglayan, Kalinga, amid tensions linked to a longstanding tribal dispute between the Butbut and Tulgao tribes. The restricted areas are Tulgao East, Tulgao West, Loccong, Ngibat, Proper Butbut, Bugnay and Buscalan. Municipal officials and security forces restricted movement as a precaution while tribal elders, local government units and law enforcement agencies mediate the disagreement over ancestral boundaries. Tribal leaders from the two tribes established a formal ceasefire on 30 Jul 2026, but authorities said the underlying territorial issues remain unresolved

Bohol’s Governor called for fair pricing, better service and sustainable development after a viral post about a 1,650 PHP pompano dish served at a resort in Panglao prompted renewed public discussion of tourism prices in the province. He said the province’s tourism strategy is anchored on quality tourism, fair pricing, good service and sustainable development, and that income and opportunities from tourism should reach local businesses, farmers, fishermen, drivers, guides, artisans and families. He stated that complaints should not be dismissed because they help the province identify where it needs to improve

Domestic travel is anchoring Philippine tourism as foreign arrivals soften, with strong public turnout at the Philippine Tour Operators Association’s Philippine Travel Mart despite heavy thunderstorms. Philtoa’s Vice President said emerging destinations such as Quezon Province and General Santos City in Mindanao have crafted experiential moments in a more personal way that domestic tourists now want. PHILTOA’s President said Filipinos have not stopped travelling but have become more discerning and are seeking authentic and meaningful experiences. Rajah Tours’ Chief said domestic travel will always be strong but is price-sensitive, and rates must be more affordable given the economic state of the country. Rajah Travel’s President and CEO said the Discover More To Love the Philippines campaign cannot be done by one entity alone and would be louder and free if spread for use by everyone with brand standards and terms of use. Domestic trips exceeded 100 million in 2025

The Ilocos Sur Tourism Festival 2026 was held on 9 Sep 2026, bringing together local communities, tourism workers, farmers, entrepreneurs and product makers to showcase the province's heritage, food, skills and locally made products. Provincial officials said the aim is for tourism income to reach sectors beyond the traditional tourism industry

The Department of Tourism will host the ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Retreat in Manila on 29 Sep 2026, an informal platform for tourism ministers to discuss emerging challenges and strategic directions for regional tourism, alongside an ASEAN Tourism Investment Showcase connecting ASEAN member states with investors, financing institutions and development partners. Its outcomes will feed into the 49th ASEAN Summit in Nov 2026

The Philippine peso dropped to a new record low of 62.69 PHP vs the USD, surpassing 8 Sep’s low of 62.625 PHP

The death toll from the passenger ferry MV June Aster grew to 76, with 13 unaccounted for