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Agriculture
Nueva Ecija farmer cuts fertilizer costs, doubles rice yield
A farmer in Nueva Ecija has developed a rice-growing method that lowers fertilizer costs while nearly doubling harvests.
Sugar group seeks urgent cloud seeding, opposes tax hike in Negros
The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) has called on the government to immediately carry out cloud seeding operations as dry conditions linked to a possible El Niño begin to affect crops.
MSMEs key to raising farm incomes, creating jobs – DA
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are at the forefront of efforts to raise farm incomes and generate jobs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.
Tamban oversupply in Sorsogon resolved after Holy Week plant closures
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the recent spoilage of tamban (sardines) in Bulan, Sorsogon has been resolved after fish processing plants resumed operations.
Corporate
BDO Pay offers cash rewards for referrals
Customers using BDO Pay can now earn extra cash by inviting friends and family to join the app, as part of its ongoing “Refer a Friend” promo running until June 30, 2026.
RFM declares P300M cash dividend, flags muted 2026 outlook
RFM Corp., the food production arm of the Concepcion Group, has declared a fresh P300 million cash dividend, reinforcing its record of steady shareholder returns even as it braces for a more challenging year ahead.
Foreign investors show strong interest in mWell, Metro Pacific Health app
Metro Pacific Health Tech Corp., owner of the health app mWell, is attracting attention from numerous investors, even separate from Metro Pacific Hospitals, its parent company.
SEC proposes umbrella mutual fund, tighter rules for online lenders
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is pushing for the creation of an “umbrella mutual fund” to make investing easier and help grow the country’s capital markets.
Corporate Bulletins
BDO Pay offers cash rewards for referrals
Customers using BDO Pay can now earn extra cash by inviting friends and family to join the app, as part of its ongoing “Refer a Friend” promo running until June 30, 2026.
GCNP elects new officers for 2026–2027, eyes stronger sustainability push
The Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP), the local arm of the United Nations Global Compact, has elected a new set of officers for 2026–2027.
Aboitiz pushes Mindanao growth through airport partnerships
Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. is strengthening its push for infrastructure development in Mindanao through deeper public-private partnerships, highlighting the role of regional airports in driving economic expansion.
SM boosts communication with online platform
SM Investments Corporation is strengthening how it communicates with stakeholders through its online platform, SM In Focus, which has gained over 137,000 subscribers and more than 2.5 million views since launching in late 2024.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
SM Offices makes every drop of water work harder
SM Prime Holdings Inc. is proving that in real estate, even water can deliver returns, if managed well enough.
OceanaGold Philippines boosts community spending to P569M
OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. is raising its social investments to a combined P569 million in 2026, marking a significant increase following strong operational and financial performance in 2025 and reinforcing its push for community-centered mining.
Hands that once erred now create hope
Through the Baking Behind Bars program, persons deprived of liberty are discovering that their hands, once tied to past mistakes, can now measure, knead, shape, and create. The same hands that once led them astray are now turning flour and water into something meaningful.
SMC cleanup of Alabang River improves flood control in Muntinlupa
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has cleared a key section of the Alabang River, helping improve water flow and reduce flood risk in nearby communities, roads, and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
Markets
Fake rider delivery scam exploits trust, urgency
Scam Watch Pilipinas warns the public about a “fake rider” scheme abusing Lalamove bookings after an attempted incident involving co-founder Art Samaniego.
IPOPHL expands anti-counterfeit drive to online markets
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines is intensifying its campaign against counterfeit goods, broadening enforcement to digital platforms and local communities as it pursues a “zero counterfeit” goal.
loilo City welcomes “bolanteros” to sell in newly revamped public markets
Iloilo City is making room for a little extra hustle and bustle for various retailers each Tuesday, which is designated market day.
Volatility to persist as PSEi tests support
Philippine financial markets are expected to remain fragile this week, with investors bracing for continued volatility as risk aversion dominates sentiment and the benchmark index struggles to regain footing above key levels.
Energy
Meralco raises electricity rates in April
Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Friday announced an increase of P0.5335 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in electricity rates this April. The overall rate for a typical household is now P14.3496 per kWh, up from P13.8161 per kWh in March.
Alternergy secures green share approval amid expansion push
Alternergy Holdings Corp., a listed renewable energy firm, has secured unanimous shareholder approval to raise fresh capital through a planned issuance of green perpetual preferred shares, positioning the company for its next phase of expansion as energy security concerns intensify.
Levanta awards EPC contract for 166 MW Iloilo solar project
A foreign renewable energy developer, Levanta Renewables, has awarded an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to China Energy Engineering Group for a solar power project in Iloilo.
BOI mulls coal incentives amid Semirara uncertainty
The Board of Investments (BOI) is considering whether coal mining and production should be added to the list of activities eligible for fiscal perks under the upcoming Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP), a move that could benefit Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC), the country’s largest coal producer.
Property
COA orders review of developers’ housing dues
The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered a sweeping review of developers’ compliance with the government’s balanced housing mandate, flagging possible underpayments tied to how the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) computed obligations.
SM Offices makes every drop of water work harder
SM Prime Holdings Inc. is proving that in real estate, even water can deliver returns, if managed well enough.
Megaworld expands lead in green office developments
Megaworld Corp., the property development arm of tycoon Andrew Tan, has strengthened its position as the country’s leading developer of green office spaces after securing another sustainability certification for its growing portfolio.
Managed office operators gain traction amid cautious expansion
Managed facility operators are gaining ground as companies rethink office leasing strategies in response to tighter capital conditions and elevated uncertainty, according to Mikko Barranda, director for commercial leasing at Leechiu Property Consultants.
Technology
Alibaba launches new AI video and image tools for creators
Alibaba has introduced Wan2.7-Video, a new AI model designed to help creators produce complete videos with higher quality and efficiency.
PSAC backs AI upskilling, faster job matching drive
The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) is pushing a coordinated set of measures to protect jobs and speed up workforce transformation as global economic uncertainty weighs on employment prospects.
Telco assures uninterrupted service amid Middle East tensions
Eastern Communications said Thursday its services remain fully operational with no expected disruptions despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Velox Networks expands to PH amid telecom reforms
Velox Networks, a Singapore-based cloud telephony provider, has announced its expansion into the Philippines, marking its third Southeast Asian market after Singapore and Malaysia.
Opinion
The Days Ahead
Several things have changed over the past month. The global economy is now poised to face another severe slowdown and rising inflation as a result of the Middle East conflict. While the impact on countries may differ in magnitude, the oil supply shock will squeeze economic activity and raise prices significantly.
Fuel crisis or policy gap?
Airline executives were caught off guard when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned that Philippine carriers may be forced to cut flights—or even ground planes—due to a possible jet fuel shortage tied to the escalating U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Choked Hormuz puts global food supply at risk
Food, not fuel, may prove the first and most immediate casualty of the Middle East conflict as disruption grips the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea lane with an outsized role in feeding the world.
Eala storms toward WTA’s elite circle
The desert—both in Dubai and Indian Wells—has been kind to Alex Eala.
Exclusive
Sunlight Air chooses precision over size aloft
In an aviation industry often driven by scale and speed, Sunlight Air is taking a more measured route. The boutique carrier is building its business around efficiency, discipline, and destination depth, convinced that smarter operations can deliver both commercial returns and environmental gains.
PSAC urges stronger funding for Philippines startups
The Private Sector Advisory Council is raising a clear warning. In a recent meeting with the Department of Trade and Industry, PSAC said the Philippine startup scene is slipping behind Southeast Asian peers, not for lack of ideas but for lack of capital that actually moves.
Tariffs rattle, AI thrives: Gruppo EMS builds ahead
Amid escalating US-China trade tensions and renewed tariff uncertainty from Washington, EMS Group of Companies is expanding production, accelerating its push into artificial intelligence hardware, and positioning the Philippines as an increasingly strategic alternative manufacturing base for global electronics firms.
Aboitiz focus on industry, townships follow jobs
For three decades, the Aboitiz Group has been quietly building a real estate portfolio that spans homes, offices, and commercial spaces. But in recent years, it has made a deliberate pivot away from crowded residential battlegrounds toward a less glamorous, far more strategic corner of the market: industrial development. The bet is simple but bold—build where factories, logistics, and infrastructure go first, and let communities grow organically around them.
