Thursday, 25 December 2025, 2:17 am

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    PEZA smashes 2025 target with record growth

    The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has surpassed its 2025 investment target, approving P260.89 billion worth of projects and beating its P250-billion goal, while posting a 21.91 percent increase from the P214 billion recorded in 2024.p

    News Dispatch

    Agriculture

    Audit spurs DA review of ill-funded goat breeding drive 

    Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered a comprehensive review of an ambitious goat breeding program launched under the Duterte administration but left chronically underfunded, after state auditors flagged widespread animal deaths linked to poor care. 

    Gov’t reviews plan to sell state-owned coconut chemicals plant

    The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the government is reviewing whether to proceed with the planned sale of United Coconut Chemicals Inc. (Cocochem), a state-owned coconut chemicals facility in Batangas, as global demand for coconut-based products rises.

    Sugar import ban to stay another year

    The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the ban on sugar imports will remain in place until December 2026, clarifying that it will not end in September 2026 when the current crop year ends.

    Budget boost paves way for more farm-to-market roads in 2026 

    Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. welcomed Congress’ decision to more than double funding for farm-to-market roads (FMRs), calling it a “game-changing investment” for farmers, food supply chains, and rural economies as lawmakers finalize the 2026 national budget.

    Corporate

    Binalot eyes overseas comeback, provincial expansion

    Binalot Foods Corp., the fast-casual brand famed for meals wrapped in banana leaves, is sharpening its growth playbook as it deepens its Philippine footprint and eyes a return to overseas markets.

    Toyota Philippines accelerates electrification with multi-pathway gains

    Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) posted a strong 45-percent surge in electrified vehicle (xEV) sales from January to November 2025, signaling growing acceptance of its multi-pathway approach to cleaner mobility. 

    SEC issues new rules on beneficial ownership

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released new rules to improve how companies report their beneficial owners, aiming to prevent the misuse of corporations for illegal activities.

    A. Brown cleans house, refocuses core bets

    A. Brown Co. Inc. is cleaning up its portfolio, with its board approving one-time, non-cash impairment provisions on non-core investments and assets as the investment holding firm sharpens its focus on profitable core businesses.

    Banking & Insurance

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    Corporate Bulletins

    Globe AT HOME 5G WiFi now available on Shopee, Lazada, and GrabMart

    Globe AT HOME has launched its 5G Home Prepaid WiFi on major e-commerce platforms Shopee, Lazada, and GrabMart, making fast, fiber-like internet easier to buy and set up at home.

    Globe, Taguig City hold digital safety workshop for students

    Globe partnered with the Taguig City government to hold a Children’s Digital Safety Workshop in November, at the CDRRMO Training Plaza in Barangay Central Signal, aiming to help protect young people online.

    Home Credit to expand fun run in 2026

    Home Credit Philippines will hold a bigger edition of its Takbo Para sa Life fun run in 2026, following the strong turnout of its first event in February 2025.

    Converge donates computers to Pampanga orphanage

    Converge ICT Solutions Inc. shared the spirit of Christmas by donating three desktop computers to the Children’s Home of Eucharistic Love and Kindness (CHELK), an orphanage in Pampanga.

    Social Responsibility & Sustainability

    Foundever Philippines brings solar power to Aeta school in Zambales

    Foundever® in the Philippines donated solar panels and essential supplies to Judd Hendricks Memorial Aeta Integrated School in Zambales, supporting education and sustainability in an indigenous community.

    Toyota drives health access with Mobi-Care program

    Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) Foundation is blending mobility and healthcare with the launch of Mobi-Care, a community initiative designed to strengthen basic health service delivery in Santa Rosa City and Batangas City.

    Lender scales up education, livelihood and sustainability initiatives

    Lender scales up education, livelihood and sustainability initiatives CSR Security Bank said it expanded its community, education, and sustainability programs across the country in 2025, reaching thousands of Filipinos through livelihood support, disaster response, education, culture, and green financing. The bank supported livelihoods by providing cacao seedlings and poultry kits to 40 farmers and solo parents in Aklan, mentoring 980 families in Cebu on small business and financial skills, and assisting 661 families affected by disasters in Cebu through food relief. Solar-powered streetlights were also installed in a remote community in Pampanga to improve safety and access to clean energy. Education remained a major focus. With the Security Bank Foundation, the bank donated 901 classrooms to 153 public schools nationwide, trained school leaders and teachers, supported more than 300 scholars, and provided free eye checkups and eyeglasses to 1,170 students. Security Bank also promoted culture and inclusion by supporting women leaders through the Bravo Empowered Women Awards, backing heritage events, and launching its first Paint for the Planet art competition, which drew more than 300 Filipino artists. On the environment, bank employees and partners planted 940 mangrove seedlings in La Union as part of a long-term goal to plant 10,000 mangroves to help protect coastal communities from climate risks. In sustainable finance, Security Bank exceeded its 2025 target by disbursing ₱99.4 billion in green and social loans. These funds helped provide clean water to 500,000 households, expand healthcare facilities with 544 beds and clinic rooms, and create livelihood opportunities for more than 400,000 people, mostly women. Security Bank said these milestones reflect its commitment to inclusive growth, environmental protection, and long-term community development across the Philippines.

    Solaris turns over first community support for rooftop solar host in Cavite

    JinNavitas Solaris Inc. (Solaris), the renewable energy unit of...

    Markets

    DTI extends trustmark voluntary phase deadline

    Online sellers received a boost after the Department of Trade and Industry announced it will defer mandatory registration under the Philippine Trustmark program, extending the voluntary phase until December 31, 2026, from the earlier 2025 deadline.

    Patience pays off in smart trading

    Smartrade is trying to change the way Filipinos approach trading. Instead of chasing quick wins, the learning firm pushes beginners to study, practice, and respect the market.

    Nike finds its footing amid pressures

    NIKE Inc. posted mixed results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, reporting revenues of USD12.4 billion and diluted earnings per share of USD0.53, as the sportswear giant pushed forward with its turnaround amid margin pressure and uneven demand.

    US inflation surprise spurs Wall Street rally

    U.S. stocks jumped Thursday after a long-delayed inflation report delivered a clear upside surprise, snapping Wall Street out of a four-session slide and reigniting hopes for interest-rate cuts.

    Travel

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    Energy

    Dyna Drug taps geothermal power through First Gen partnership

    Dyna Drug Corp. has partnered with First Gen Corp. to run its warehouse operations on renewable energy, marking a shift toward more sustainable business practices.

    DOE opens Maibarara geothermal visitor center in Batangas

    The Department of Energy (DOE) formally opened the Maibarara Geothermal Inc. (MGI) Visitor Center at the Maibarara Geothermal Power Facility in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, led by DOE Secretary Sharon S. Garin.

    Fuel prices roll back today

    Fuel prices are coming down today, giving motorists some relief during Christmas week.

    DOE, UK sign deal to support offshore wind, microgrid projects

    The Department of Energy (DOE) and the British government have signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation on offshore wind and microgrid development in the Philippines.

    Transport & Communications

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    Property

    LFM buys Makati land for P1.1 billion

    LFM Properties Corp. said it has bought a 918-square meter parcel of land in Salcedo Village, Makati, for P1.1 billion, excluding value-added tax.

    Rockwell buys majority stake in Alabang Town Center for P21.6 billion

    Rockwell Land Corp., led by the Lopez group, has acquired a majority controlling stake in Alabang Town Center (ATC) for P21.6 billion.

    Megaworld raises P1.86B from stakes sale

    Megaworld Corp. cashed in on two portfolio investments, raising a combined P1.86 billion and boosting fresh capital for the listed property arm of billionaire Andrew Tan.

    DM Wenceslao tower gains PEZA status

    DM Wenceslao & Associates Inc.’s 8912 Asean Avenue has secured a major regulatory boost after the government declared the property a Philippine Economic Zone Authority–registered Information Technology Center, strengthening Aseana City’s appeal to global IT and business process management locators.

    Environment

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    Technology

    Kaspersky warns of rising online scams during holiday season

    Kaspersky has warned Filipinos to be on alert for online scams as digital shopping and cashless payments increase during the holiday season in the Philippines.

    Executives look beyond traditional ERP in push for AI-driven investments

    Rimini Street said a new global survey shows senior business leaders are rethinking how they invest in technology, with a growing focus on artificial intelligence, automation and resilience.

    Couchbase launches AI services to help enterprises deploy agentic AI at scale

    Couchbase, Inc. has announced the general availability of Couchbase AI Services, a new set of tools designed to help enterprises build, deploy and manage agentic AI applications in production environments.

    EMSA awards Airbus €30m contract for maritime surveillance drones

    The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has selected Airbus to provide maritime surveillance services using its Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system under a €30 million framework contract.

    Health & Science

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    Opinion

    Metals mania signals rate cut, USD doubts

    Metals are having a moment. And it is loud, shiny, and unapologetically macro. 

    Slow trading is radical in fast-money times

    The trading world has turned impatience into a business model. Scroll any social feed and you’ll see promises of instant wins, luxury lifestyles, and financial freedom on demand. Charts blink, testimonials shout, urgency sells—but thought rarely does. In this culture, patience is often seen as a liability rather than a virtue.

    All revved up, nowhere to go

    There is a familiar sound in Philippine policymaking: an engine idling in neutral. It is neither progress nor collapse, just the quiet waste of momentum. This is where the government’s automotive incentive programs now stand. RACE and CARS were meant to strengthen local vehicle assembly, yet both remain stalled by delays, budget constraints, and unpaid commitments.

    Thousands lose jobs in brutal anti-graft war

    President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s anti-corruption blitz in flood-control and public-works agencies was meant to clean house. Instead, it is triggering political, economic, and social tremors that now overshadow its stated purpose. The irony is hard to ignore: a campaign launched to restore trust is increasingly viewed as deepening uncertainty.

    Sports & Entertainment

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    Exclusive

    Boeing deepens strategy cuts as operations take center-stage – sources

    Boeing Co has embarked on deeper-than-expected cuts in its strategy ranks, halving the number of planners working within key divisions as it refocuses energies on tackling industrial pressures, people familiar with the matter said.

    Maynilad may consider sourcing water from Manila Bay if desalination cost eases to affordable levels

    Maynilad Water Services Inc., the water utility of Metro Pacific Investment Corp., may consider Manila Bay as source of potable water for its concession area in Metropolitan Manila and nearby towns if the cost of desalination comes down or large consumers such as factories start extracting water from the salt-water bay for their needs.

    Converge mulls sale-leaseback deal for fiber network, plans dividend payout

    With the aggressive fiber network rollout behind it, Converge...

    Converge’s Dennis Anthony Uy Plans $1 Billion “Silicon Valley” Project In Pampanga

    Dennis Anthony Uy, co-founder of publicly listed Converge ICT,...