‘STABLE ECONOMY’: W.Visayas poised for strong 2025 finish amid seasonal upswing – DEPDev

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor 

Western Visayas is set to close 2025 on a strong note, with opportunities to capitalize on holiday-driven gains in tourism, retail, and logistics, according to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Region 6 (DEPDev-6).

The DEPDev-6, in its regional economic situationer for the third quarter of this year noted that Western Visayas ended the third quarter of 2025 with improvements in price stability, sectoral performance, and investment activity, creating a favorable backdrop for the final quarter of the year.

They also stated that the region is projected to sustain its momentum in information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) and renewable energy.

“Vigilant price management, strategic workforce deployment, and coordinated investment facilitation will be key to ensuring a strong finish to the year,” DEPDev-6 said.

The socioeconomic planning body stressed that  the region enters the last quarter of the year with a “generally stable macroeconomic environment.”

Inflation is expected to remain low, although holiday demand may trigger slight price increases, particularly in discretionary items such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and household furnishings.

Food and transport costs have largely normalized, and the peso’s purchasing power is projected to remain steady, even as service-sector costs in urban centers like Iloilo City continue to pressure household budgets.

DEPDev-6 added that the labor market is also poised for seasonal improvement following adjustment after peak agricultural and tourism activity.

“Holiday retail, logistics, and hospitality hiring, coupled with ongoing IT-BPM recruitment, should help absorb labor supply and reduce underemployment,” it continued.

To meet workforce demand, the policy body said short-cycle upskilling programs focused on customer service, e-commerce operations, and digital roles will be critical.

DEPDev-6 highlighted that agriculture remains a bright spot, with strong rebounds in palay and corn production.

However, it emphasized the need for robust post-harvest handling to protect gains against typhoon risks.

Livestock and poultry production are also expected to benefit from holiday consumption, while fisheries will require support to offset earlier declines.

Tourism continues to generate substantial receipts despite a year-on-year drop in arrivals, with the last quarter set to benefit from peak travel season and new international charter flights to Kalibo, the agency added.

The IT-BPM sector is projected to maintain growth, particularly in Iloilo, through site expansions, talent development programs, and recruitment for AI-enabled roles and digital freelancing positions.

DEPDev-6 also pointed out that large-scale renewable energy investments approved in the third quarter, particularly solar projects in Ajuy and Barotac Viejo, will require coordinated action to advance permitting, workforce preparation, and supplier engagement.

In Ajuy, Jin Navitas Solaris Inc. will be developing the Ajuy-1 Solar Power Project with a capacity of 64 megawatts (MW), while a 175-MW solar power project will be built Magallanes Solar Energy Corp. in Barotac Viejo.

Meanwhile, external trade and logistics are expected to remain resilient, building on third quarter’s export growth and improved containerization at an “Iloilo port”.

The report did not provide a specific port, but Iloilo City only has one port receiving containers, the publicly-owned and privately-operated Visayas Container Terminal in Lapuz district.

DEPDev-6 outlined key priorities for the final quarter: intensified price monitoring for essential commodities, proactive stockpiling and contingency planning for typhoons, targeted job fairs for seasonal and IT-BPM roles, among others.