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Agriculture
Special safeguard duty imposed to protect local producers from import surges
To shield domestic livestock producers from market disruption caused by foreign supply spikes, the Department of Agriculture has activated special safeguard duties on select imported meat products. Issued under Department Order No. 24, series of 2026, by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the directive establishes temporary protective tariffs after government monitoring confirmed that incoming import volumes crossed official safety thresholds.
DA pushes local enoki mushroom production to cut imports, boost food security and exports
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is advancing import substitution efforts by supporting Basic Necessity Inc., a Filipino-owned firm building a state-of-the-art enoki mushroom facility in Silang, Cavite. This fully private-sector-funded venture aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goals: localize key industries, grow agro-industry, create jobs, and ensure steady access to affordable, nutritious food.
Beyond purple: UPLB researchers identify top ube varieties to power global success
Ube has captured the world’s imagination—once a familiar backyard crop in Filipino homes, this purple yam now appears in cheesecakes in New York, croissants in Paris, and lattes in Sydney. But to turn viral popularity into lasting success, the Philippines needs more than buzz; it needs better ube. That is exactly what scientists at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) set out to find.
Climate-ready rice fights floods, salt threats
Rice has long been a symbol of resilience on the Filipino plate. Now, scientists are working to make the grain itself more resilient in the field.
Corporate
Globe rolls out Starlink Mobile with global tech partners, connecting remote Filipinos
Globe is expanding Starlink Mobile coverage with leading tech firms and device makers, bringing satellite-to-mobile service to remote areas beyond traditional cell tower reach.
Ayala launches ACX Retail for global brands
Ayala Corp. is sharpening its push into Philippine retail with the launch of ACX Retail, a new platform designed to bring international consumer brands into the country and build them into long-term businesses.
Jollibee wins 11 Marketing Excellence Awards
Jollibee strengthened its standing as one of the Philippines’ leading consumer brands after winning 11 awards at the 2026 Marketing Excellence Awards, led by a Gold award for Marketing Team of the Year.
ACEN net income surges 411% to P3.9B in H1 2026
ACEN Corp. posted a 411 percent jump in consolidated net income to P3.9 billion in the first half of 2026, from P763 million a year earlier, the Ayala Group energy firm said Tuesday.
Corporate Bulletins
Globe rolls out Starlink Mobile with global tech partners, connecting remote Filipinos
Globe is expanding Starlink Mobile coverage with leading tech firms and device makers, bringing satellite-to-mobile service to remote areas beyond traditional cell tower reach.
Jollibee wins 11 Marketing Excellence Awards
Jollibee strengthened its standing as one of the Philippines’ leading consumer brands after winning 11 awards at the 2026 Marketing Excellence Awards, led by a Gold award for Marketing Team of the Year.
BPI AIA names Melissa Henson as new CEO
BPI AIA Life Assurance Corp. has appointed Melissa Henson as its new chief executive officer, putting an executive with nearly two decades of banking and insurance experience at the helm as the bancassurance company enters its next phase of growth.
P&A Grant Thornton, PEZA team up for capability building, knowledge sharing
P&A Grant Thornton (Punongbayan and Araullo) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to boost knowledge-sharing and capability-building programs for PEZA staff, registered firms, and ecozone industry stakeholders.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
San Miguel’s Backyard Bukid expands to 9 sites, reaches Visayas
San Miguel Corp. has grown its Backyard Bukid initiative to nine sites nationwide, marking its first presence in the Visayas as the project shifts from urban farming to boost community food security and livelihoods.
Pax Silica hub targets USD 200B exports
The planned Pax Silica industrial hub in New Clark City is targeting its first 10 to 20 locators within five years of construction, with an ambitious goal of generating as much as USD200 billion in exports over a 30-year development period.
Ayala Land earns national honors for PWD accessibility
Accessibility is often measured in inches and angles, in ramps, elevators, doorways, and pathways. But its real measure is simpler. It is whether a place allows people to move through it with dignity, independence, and ease.
BDO partners with foundations to bring solar energy to indigenous communities in Quezon
Living without electricity or paved roads has been a lifelong reality for Liezel Sarmiento, a barangay councilor and member of the Dumagat-Remontado tribe in Sitio Cablao, Quezon.
Markets
Peso, stocks brace for volatility as rate bets fade
Philippine markets may stay on edge as investors juggle Middle East risks, oil prices and the next move by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, but fading rate-hike bets are giving both the peso and stocks some breathing room.
AI transforms retail but fundamentals still drive growth
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping Philippine retail, but technology alone will not determine which businesses succeed, according to venture capital firm Kickstart Ventures, which says disciplined execution and sound business fundamentals remain the strongest drivers of sustainable growth.
Retailers see modest growth amid rising costs, online rivals
Philippine retailers are bracing for another challenging year, with industry growth expected to remain in the single digits as higher operating costs, cautious consumers, and intensifying competition from online sellers continue to squeeze margins, according to the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA).
Retailers told to embrace AI without losing human touch
The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) on Thursday urged businesses to accelerate their adoption of artificial intelligence while ensuring that technology complements, rather than replaces, the human connections that underpin customer loyalty.
Energy
Meralco boosts reliability with new Bulacan substation
Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Co., better known as Meralco, has energized a new substation in Bulacan, expanding system capacity and strengthening power reliability in one of Central Luzon's fast-growing provinces.
Apex Mining profit surges as gold prices soar
Apex Mining Co. Inc. posted a sharp jump in first-half profit as surging gold and silver prices more than offset lower production volumes, underscoring how precious-metal prices are reshaping the economics of mining operations.
Gov’t pushes to strip systems loss charges from power bills, balancing consumer relief and utility risks
Energy policy craftsmen are actively working to fulfill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to eliminate system loss charges from monthly electricity bills, pursuing a sustained policy push aimed at lowering energy costs across the country. The initiative targets both technical losses inherent in power distribution and non-technical losses caused by electricity theft, alongside the value-added tax (VAT) currently applied to these unconsumed kilowatt-hours.
Meralco crews work around clock after Habagat
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) crews are working around the clock to restore power in communities affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon, with about 18,000 customers still without electricity as of 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Property
Megaworld profit rises as provincial demand gains
Megaworld Corp. raised its first-half net income by 5 percent to P12.7 billion, with recurring businesses and strong provincial housing demand providing a cushion against a softer property market and pointing to pockets of opportunity for the country’s biggest developers.
Cebu office demand tightens as firms plan expansions early
Cebu’s office market is tightening as outsourcing firms and other occupiers move to secure expansion space earlier, with limited availability in the city’s established business districts pushing some tenants to consider emerging locations.
DHSUD orders housing loan moratorium in calamity-hit areas
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has ordered a moratorium on housing loan payments for qualified beneficiaries affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon, Tropical Storm Luis, and Typhoon Maymay.
Ayala Land raises 2026 capex to P60B
Ayala Land Inc. is raising its 2026 capital spending plan to P60 billion from P50 billion, signaling stronger confidence in its project pipeline even as residential demand remains selective.
Technology
Maya’s AI-first workforce approach wins global recognition
Maya, the country’s leading digital financial services platform, uses AI to improve recruitment, branding, onboarding, and employee engagement—not to replace human judgment, but to cut friction and build better experiences.
Converge eyes Pax Silica role as AI infrastructure expands
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is positioning itself to support the Philippines’ emerging artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced manufacturing ecosystem, as the proposed Pax Silica Industrial Hub creates potential demand for connectivity and computing infrastructure.
Converge backs DTI push to accelerate MSME digitalization
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is strengthening its push to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) adopt digital technologies as it partners with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to expand access to connectivity, digital tools, and artificial intelligence.
ASEAN data breach costs hit record $4.12M
Organizations across ASEAN faced an average USD4.12 million cost...
Opinion
Alex Eala’s sweetest revenge spoke louder than cheers
Some victories earn ranking points.
Others settle unfinished conversations.
Alex Eala's...
Private prosecutor steals spotlight in VP impeachment trial
Courtroom dramas are supposed to be solemn affairs. Then Atty. Lorna Kapunan walked to the lectern and reminded everyone that wit can be just as effective as a legal citation.
Supreme Court ruling reels in Philippine seafood export risks
The Supreme Court's decision striking down Fisheries Administrative Order No. 266 has cast a wide net over the Philippines' fisheries sector, raising questions that reach well beyond the country's waters.
Exclusive
Vivant Water sees 2026 as launchpad for bigger growth
Vivant Water is treating 2026 as a pivotal year as it moves from building its presence across the water industry to scaling operations, investments, and its project pipeline.
Visayas roots, Singapore routes: Top Line redraws its map
Singapore is no longer just a distant dot on Top Line Business Development Corp.’s growth chart. It has become a very literal marker of how far the company has travelled in 12 years, from a Visayas-based real estate developer to an emerging energy player now thinking in global supply routes.
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.
