MANILA ( June 14) – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that the country’s external debt remained manageable, slightly declining to USD147.35 billion in the first quarter from USD147.65 billion.
The BSP attributed the drop to reduced foreign holdings of Philippine debt securities amid cautious investor sentiment and tighter global financing conditions.
Key indicators remained strong, with external debt-to-GDP improving to 30 percent and gross international reserves staying robust at USD106.64 billion—enough to cover over four times short-term external obligations.
Despite a slight year-on-year increase due to new borrowings, the BSP said the country’s external debt profile remains resilient and capable of supporting economic growth.
