MANILA — The Philippine government’s total debt surged to P18.13 trillion in January, reflecting proactive borrowing measures taken in response to global financial uncertainties. The Bureau of the Treasury reported that this represents a 2.41 percent increase from December and an 11.15 percent jump from the same month last year.
Domestic debt increased to P12.32 trillion, while external debt climbed to P5.81 trillion. Officials noted that the rise is part of a deliberate strategy to front-load both domestic and foreign borrowings, ensuring access to concessional financing and keeping the country’s debt within the 2026 limit of P19.06 trillion.
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