
11/07/2025
📈 PH External Debt Hits $146.74B in Q1 2025 ‼️
🇵🇭 As of March 2025, the Philippines’ external debt—money owed to foreign creditors—climbed by 6.6% quarter-on-quarter, marking a 14% surge year-on-year, now standing at $146.74 billion.
🧾 This increase was mainly driven by:
✔️ $7.83B bond issuances by the national government
✔️ $6.14B in new bank borrowings
✔️ Short-term debt hit $32.67B
💡 External debt-to-GDP ratio also rose to 31.5%, up from 29.8% in the previous quarter — a key indicator closely watched by economists and investors.
📊 While borrowing supports national programs, it raises concerns over debt sustainability, especially amid global interest rate pressures and currency volatility.
📌 CCTO: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
📅 Published: June 12, 2025