Global energy shock tests Philippine lenders’ resilience
They are switching to a defensive stance as new central bank relief measures begin to bite
Add BT as a preferred source
[MANILA] After posting a strong start to 2026, the Philippines’ top lenders are bracing for a potential earnings hit as analysts warn that new energy crisis relief measures from the central bank could weigh on interest income.
The scenario reveals a shared vulnerability across Asean, where soaring energy costs are increasingly viewed as a driver of credit risk.
The first-quarter results of the country’s largest banks by assets – BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Metrobank – highlight deep capital reserves, but the impact of energy price shocks precipitated by geopolitical tension in the Middle East threatens to erode the margins that fuelled their record growth.
TRENDING NOW
Qatari LNG ship struck in Strait of Hormuz, testing US talks
DBS, OCBC and UOB shares hit all-time highs as sentiment improves
‘Baptism of fire’: Andre Khor on leading Singapore refiner Aster through an energy crisis
Singapore retains top spot as most expensive city for HNWIs, with five Apac cities in global top 10
