BUSINESS
Advocates Philippines
OFW Remittances Rise To USD3.02B In January As Dollar Flows Stay Strong
FILE
Cash remittances sent home by overseas Filipino workers climbed to $3.02 billion in January, up 3.5 percent from $2.92 billion in the same period last year, according to preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
The United States remained the top source of remittances, followed by key contributors such as Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates—showing how widely spread Filipino workers are across the globe.
It’s not just cash transfers seeing an increase.
Personal remittances, which include money sent through both formal and informal channels as well as goods sent back home, also grew by 3.5 percent. These reached $3.36 billion in January 2026, up from $3.24 billion a year ago.
For economists, the numbers point to one thing—resilience.
According to Jonathan Ravelas of Reyes Tacandong & Co., OFW income continues to hold steady despite global uncertainties. He noted that a weaker peso and stable overseas employment are helping keep remittance flows strong.
Still, there are risks on the horizon.
Ravelas said tensions in the Middle East could lead to short-term fluctuations in remittance levels. But unless the situation escalates into widespread job losses or payment disruptions, he expects overall growth for the year to remain positive.
His advice to families back home is simple but crucial. Use remittances wisely.
That means rebuilding savings, cutting down on debt, and staying cautious with spending as global uncertainties continue to linger.
For now, though, the steady flow of dollars from abroad remains a bright spot for the Philippine economy.
The United States remained the top source of remittances, followed by key contributors such as Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates—showing how widely spread Filipino workers are across the globe.
It’s not just cash transfers seeing an increase.
Personal remittances, which include money sent through both formal and informal channels as well as goods sent back home, also grew by 3.5 percent. These reached $3.36 billion in January 2026, up from $3.24 billion a year ago.
For economists, the numbers point to one thing—resilience.
According to Jonathan Ravelas of Reyes Tacandong & Co., OFW income continues to hold steady despite global uncertainties. He noted that a weaker peso and stable overseas employment are helping keep remittance flows strong.
Still, there are risks on the horizon.
Ravelas said tensions in the Middle East could lead to short-term fluctuations in remittance levels. But unless the situation escalates into widespread job losses or payment disruptions, he expects overall growth for the year to remain positive.
His advice to families back home is simple but crucial. Use remittances wisely.
That means rebuilding savings, cutting down on debt, and staying cautious with spending as global uncertainties continue to linger.
For now, though, the steady flow of dollars from abroad remains a bright spot for the Philippine economy.
Mar 16, 2026
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