28/08/2026
π HISTORIC LOW β Peso at β±62.05 per US Dollar
- Dr. Tony Leachon
On Friday, August 28, 2026, the peso opened at β±62.05 per US dollar, after closing at β±61.888 the day before β the lowest in Philippine history.
This is not just a statistic. It is a mirror of our nationβs fragility.
π Causes
β’ Escalating import burdens as oil and food prices surge globally
β’ Strong US dollar drawing capital away from emerging markets
β’ Weak domestic fundamentals: high inflation, ballooning debt, policy inertia
β’ Political instability eroding investor confidence
π§βπ€βπ§ Impact on Filipinos
β’ Higher fuel, food, and medicine prices
β’ Shrinking purchasing power for families already struggling
β’ Overseas Filipino workersβ remittances worth more in pesos, but offset by rising costs at home
β’ Middle class squeezed, poor pushed deeper into hardship
πΌ Economy
β’ Investor confidence shaken, capital flight worsens
β’ Businesses face higher import costs, reducing competitiveness
β’ Government debt servicing more expensive in dollar terms
β’ Fragile growth prospects ahead of SONA, exposing leadership gaps
π₯ Inflation
β’ Already elevated, now worsened by weak currency
β’ Imported goods β rice, fuel, medicines β become more costly
β’ Inflationary spiral threatens stability of households and industries
βοΈ Reflection
Each dip in the peso is a blow to the dignity of ordinary Filipinos. It is a call for credible leadership, sound economic management, and moral courage.
The pesoβs collapse is not just about numbers. It is about lives, families, and futures.
Tony Leachon
