FILINVEST Development Corp. is maintaining its growth target of at least 20 percent for 2026 and has no plans to reset its goals despite a more challenging macroeconomic environment this year.
“It’s a target. Let’s remain ambitious. I know that the macro environment may push this down, but why not aim for something better?,” President and CEO Rhoda Huang told reporters.
She said the company saw the current challenges not as a reason for a recalibration but rather as a test of discipline and execution.
“The task is clear: build on what is working, address what needs strengthening, and continue laying the foundations for sustained and relevant growth over the long term,” Huang said.
Asked if recent developments could prompt a shift in direction, she said the group would hold its ground. “Let’s set the pace, and what I wouldn’t want to see is trying to look at something self-fulfilling in terms of bringing it down,” she said.
Huang said challenging conditions could also create opportunities for the group, drawing from her experience in investment banking. “Challenging environments bring out a lot of opportunities ... [opportunity] thrives in crisis,” she said.
She noted, however, that the real estate segment remained under pressure, particularly amid slower economic growth and elevated inventory levels across the industry.
From 2024 to 2025, when actual economic growth fell short of government targets, this was “felt primarily in real estate,” she noted, adding that many developers were currently grappling with large volumes of unsold inventory.
Given this backdrop, she said Filinvest was tightening spending and prioritizing efficiency measures, including cost containment, energy conservation and a more selective approach to capital expenditures while also focusing on managing its existing inventory, particularly in the real estate business.
For its power business, Huang said the group’s fuel mix remained predominantly coal-based, sourced from a blend of imported supply and domestic producers such as Semirara Mining and Power Corp.
“We’ve just started our solar base, but in terms of the fuel mix, it’s still predominantly coal,” she said.
Looking ahead, Huang identified workforce readiness and productivity as key challenges, particularly as companies adapt to rapid technological changes and evolving work arrangements.
She said the group was ramping up investments in digital tools and artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency and support employees.
“We’re trying to equip the workforce with better tools ... not just automation, but AI,” Huang said, noting that the company has been building governance frameworks for these technologies since last year.
She added that preparations included enabling flexibility in work arrangements, including likely remote work setups, while ensuring productivity was maintained.
“We’ve been very focused ... in terms of preparing the workforce for anything that happens.”
Huang said it was too early in the year to temper expectations, emphasizing the need to stay focused on long-term goals.
Filinvest shares on Friday slipped P0.02, or 0.44 percent, to close at P4.50 each.
