New housing-finance options lead today’s briefing, alongside Batangas expansion plans, flood-management reporting and a government-housing audit. Green planning and improving economic forecasts offer reasons to look ahead, while affordability and actual occupancy remain the practical tests.

8. PAGCOR Targets Casino Exit In 2027

PAGCOR is targeting an exit from casino operations in the third or fourth quarter of 2027. Its latest timetable could open opportunities for private operators to acquire existing Casino Filipino businesses.

The agency expects to raise ₱20 billion to ₱30 billion, although the final valuation is still pending. Its network includes 12 wholly operated casinos and 23 under revenue-sharing arrangements. A government recommendation is expected this month, followed by presidential consideration; investors should distinguish business-operation sales from any separate ownership of the underlying land and buildings. philstar.com

7. BSP Narrows Dollar Deficit Forecasts

The BSP has reduced its forecast for the country’s dollar shortfall this year and next. Fuel costs and global uncertainty nevertheless remain pressures on the peso and import-dependent businesses.

The balance-of-payments deficit is now projected at $9.2 billion in 2026 and $8.5 billion in 2027, down from $10.7 billion and $11 billion. Cash-remittance forecasts remain $36.6 billion and $37.7 billion, respectively. For OFWs funding property purchases, exchange-rate movements can change peso buying power, while developers still face exposure to imported equipment and materials. philstar.com

6. Vermosa Earns Green District Recognition

Ayala Land announced that Vermosa has earned a five-star rating under the BERDE Districts sustainability framework. The recognition adds an environmental-planning credential to the growing Cavite estate.

Vermosa covers 752 hectares across Imus and Dasmariñas, combining homes, business areas and recreation. Its master plan incorporates walkability, cycling infrastructure, water-efficiency measures and green spaces. Buyers should examine how these plans translate into completed facilities and maintenance costs; certification alone does not establish a particular property’s rental return. abante.com

5. Pampanga River Works Get Fresh Update

Fresh reporting details around 20 kilometers of river dredging and widening undertaken by NLEX Corp. in Pampanga. The work aims to reduce flooding that disrupts communities and traffic on the expressway.

The update covers the Tulaoc and Pankiyari rivers in San Simon and the Pau River in Santo Tomas, with work underway since September. NLEX officials briefed provincial leaders on October 12, according to the October 13 report. Improved drainage can support access, but individual properties still require checks on elevation, local drainage and flood history. inquirer.net

4. Haus Talk Plans Batangas Expansion

Haus Talk is planning two Batangas land acquisitions that could add more than 1,500 homes to its development pipeline. The proposed expansion targets economic and mid-market housing demand in Southern Luzon.

The sites cover about 16 hectares: 9.93 hectares in Barangay San Roque, Santo Tomas, and nearly six hectares in Barangay San Rafael, Malvar. Construction is targeted to start within three to five years, rather than immediately. As our earlier guide to buying property in the Philippines explains, buyers should compare location, financing and turnover commitments before choosing a development. context.ph

3. IMF Sees Uneven Philippine Recovery

The IMF’s latest outlook keeps Philippine growth at 3.4 percent this year before a projected recovery to 5.1 percent in 2027. Its new assessment ties the rebound to stronger investment and easing energy-shock effects.

The forecasts remain below the country’s growth potential, with delayed infrastructure spending, high food and energy prices, and weak investor confidence among the risks. A recovery could improve business activity and property demand, but it is a forecast rather than a guaranteed outcome. Buyers assessing property investment in Metro Manila should still test actual rents, vacancies and financing costs, as our earlier guide discusses. businessmirror.com.ph

2. Audit Flags Vacant Government Homes

New reporting on the NHA’s 2025 audit highlights 47,139 vacant housing units alongside major accounting weaknesses. It shows why completed construction and successful housing delivery are different milestones.

COA flagged ₱68.92 billion in receivables whose reliability was undermined by missing accounting policies, plus ₱2.95 billion in property-and-equipment deficiencies. More than a quarter of completed Yolanda housing remained unoccupied, according to the report. These findings warrant attention to occupancy and asset management; the accounting amounts should not automatically be treated as money lost. bworldonline.com

1. Rockwell Opens Pag-IBIG Financing Options

Rockwell Land signed a partnership with Pag-IBIG Fund on October 13 to expand housing choices under the government’s 4PH program. Qualified members can access selected projects with preferential prices, incentives and financing assistance.

The initial accredited developments are Stonewell Acacia Homes and Stonewell Mahogany Homes in Santo Tomas, Batangas. Other projects remain under accreditation review, so participation is not yet universal across Rockwell’s portfolio. Promotional rates of 4.5 percent and 5.75 percent apply to eligible loan bands and are fixed for the first three years, with offers available through December 31; buyers should check later repricing and total monthly costs. businessmirror.com.ph

The One-Two Combination

Sports: Eala Ends Wuhan Doubles Campaign

Alex Eala and Turkish partner Zeynep Sonmez lost their opening doubles match at the Wuhan Open on Tuesday. Ukrainian pair Anhelina Kalinina and Dayana Yastremska won 6–2, 6–3.

Eala and Sonmez fell behind 0–4 in the first set and could not complete a second-set recovery. The result ended Eala’s Wuhan campaign after her earlier singles defeat. The pair had previously teamed up at the Madrid Open earlier this year. gmanetwork.com

Lifestyle: Viber Connects Travelers With Operators

Rakuten Viber is partnering with the Department of Tourism to make accredited local tour operators easier to reach. The arrangement gives travelers another channel for finding tourism services.

Operators will be accessible through business accounts on the messaging application. Accreditation offers a useful starting point, but travelers should still confirm the operator’s identity, compare complete prices and obtain written booking terms before paying. bworldonline.com

Pow’s Watchlist: Rockwell Project Accreditation

Following the October 13 agreement, monitor accreditation of Stonewell Molave Homes and Terreno South in Lipa, plus other proposed participating projects. The next useful signals are confirmed eligible units, complete loan terms and offers presented at the October 19–20 National Housing Expo. Confirm each property’s status directly before assuming the new partnership applies to it. businessmirror.com.ph

Pow’s Property Play

Today’s housing stories show that wider financing choices and more planned supply need to be matched by affordable payments, useful locations and occupied homes. Compare the full cost after introductory loan rates expire, and give more weight to delivered facilities than projections. A greener estate or improving economy can strengthen a purchase case, but neither replaces a sound household budget.

Pow Salud | Property Playmaker

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