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Agriculture
Palay, corn output seen falling in third quarter
Palay and corn production may decline sharply in the third quarter, with the latest estimates from the Philippine Statistics Authority pointing to smaller harvest areas for both crops and weaker corn yields.
DA, PhilSA ink 5-year satellite tech deal for agriculture
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) formalized a five-year partnership Tuesday to deploy Earth observation, geospatial tools, and AI for strengthening agriculture, fisheries, disaster response, and climate resilience. The collaboration uses satellite data to speed up damage detection, improve irrigation planning, and shield food production from floods, droughts, and other risks.
Palay farmgate prices jump 30% in August
Farmgate prices of dry palay rose nearly 30 percent year-on-year in August, extending the gains seen earlier in 2026 and providing stronger returns for rice farmers despite a slight monthly decline.
DA, DPWH seal P71.5M Tarlac farm-to-market road deal
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are moving P71.52 million worth of farm-to-market road projects in Concepcion, Tarlac to the bidding stage, strengthening transport links between farming communities and markets.
Corporate
GCash still in early growth cycle, eyes banking expansion
GCash, the fintech platform used by 49 million Filipinos or 42% of the population, remains in the early stages of development with significant room to expand into banking and other financial services, according to a senior business adviser.
SEC greenlignts ACE Medical’s direct public offering
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted regulatory approval for two key transactions: the direct public offering (DPO) of Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center - Pateros Inc. and the rental pool program of Arthaland Corp., a leading property developer.
P14B needed to fix San Jose del Monte water crisis
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, Bulacan— About P14 billion may be needed to fully address the city’s chronic water supply problems, underscoring the scale of infrastructure investment required to deliver reliable service across the rapidly growing Bulacan city.
NDC names Robert James Samson as new GM
The National Development Co. (NDC) has appointed Robert James M. Samson as its new general manager, as the state-owned investment firm seeks to maximize its assets and expand its role in strategic industries.
Corporate Bulletins
Converge ICT, AmCham Visayas ally to advance central PH digital transformation
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. and AmCham Visayas have formed a strategic alliance to drive digital transformation across the Visayas, boosting economic growth and enterprise resilience. Through Converge Global Business, their partnership was highlighted at the recent “Digital Transformation in Action” forum at Bai Hotel Cebu, attended by executives, officials, and industry leaders who recognized robust digital infrastructure as key to innovation and modernization.
Manulife Philippines names Santos operations chief
Manulife Philippines has appointed Erica Jurilla Santos as chief operations officer, effective Sept. 15, as the insurer moves to strengthen operational capabilities and accelerate business transformation.
EastWest powers Philippine Travel Mart 2026 as official credit card partner
EastWest wrapped up a successful run as the official credit card partner for the 2026 Philippine Travel Mart (PTM), delivering exclusive deals and flexible payment solutions to attendees throughout the three-day event. Held from September 4 to 6 at SMX Convention Center Manila, the country’s longest-running travel trade exhibition drew over 20,000 visitors and nearly 300 exhibitors featuring destinations, accommodations, tours, and travel experiences from across the Philippines.
Smart launches P99 Home WiFi SIM for affordable, flexible connectivity
Smart Communications has introduced the Smart Home WiFi SIM 99, a dedicated card designed to work with open-line home WiFi routers, as well as compatible Smart and PLDT Home WiFi devices with expired or inactive SIMs. Priced at just P99, the package includes 2GB of non-expiring data, creating an accessible option for households seeking reliable internet access.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
Hamilo Coast deepens marine conservation partnership
Costa Del Hamilo Inc. (CDHI) and WWF-Philippines are renewing a nearly two-decade sustainability partnership, expanding marine conservation and environmental monitoring as tourism and property development continue to grow in Philippine coastal destinations.
GBF marks 34th year with classroom donations
The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) launched 10 new classrooms in Calasiao, Pangasinan and Bacolod City for its 34th anniversary, benefiting four public schools. Two classrooms each go to Nalsian-Bacayao, Bued, and San Miguel Elementary Schools; four to Emiliano Lizares Elementary.
BPI’s Barangay PeraWise Caravan expands financial education in Caloocan
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is expanding community financial education via its six-leg Barangay PeraWise Caravan to boost money skills and household well-being.
Globe extends monsoon relief to Central Luzon families
Globe is providing relief assistance to 700 families in Pampanga, Bulacan, and Bataan still recovering from the Southwest Monsoon, in partnership with Ayala Foundation Inc. Covered areas include Pampanga’s Masantol, Macabebe, Apalit, Candaba, Bulacan’s Calumpit, and Bataan’s Hermosa and Dinalupihan, building on earlier Alagang Globe support as recovery proceeds. The company confirms full restoration of mobile and broadband services previously disrupted across parts of Metro Manila and Rizal province.
Markets
Hawkish Fed, $100 oil keep peso, PSEi under pressure
The Philippine peso and stocks could remain volatile this week as a hawkish US Federal Reserve, crude oil prices above USD100 a barrel and heightened Middle East tensions keep investors cautious.
PSEi tests 6,100 as peso volatility clouds momentum
The PSEi is knocking on 6,100—but whether it can break higher may depend on how the peso holds up as geopolitical tensions, dollar demand and shifting rate expectations add to market uncertainty.
Global gold demand hits record US$193-B in 1Q 2026; EastWest delivers expert insight under new partnership
Global gold demand stayed resilient amid market volatility, reflecting strong long-term investor confidence in the metal as a reliable way to preserve wealth. In the first quarter of 2026, total global demand hit 1,231 tons - valued at a record US$193 billion. This strength held even though gold prices dropped 15.4 percent in the second quarter, driven by expectations of higher interest rates.
7-Eleven targets 5,000 stores, shrugs off discounters
Philippine Seven Corp., operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores, is pressing ahead with aggressive expansion despite the rapid growth of hard-discounters, confident that its convenience-store format remains sufficiently differentiated to withstand the new competition.
Energy
DOE maps out power boost for Panay and Visayas
The Department of Energy (DOE) is advancing new generation assets and a key transmission link to secure Panay Island’s power supply and support Western Visayas’ growth.
DOE clears way for fuel tax suspension amid sharp price spikes, assures supply sufficiency
The Department of Energy has formally certified that the one-month average price of Dubai crude oil has surpassed the $80-per-barrel threshold set by Republic Act 12316, triggering the process to consider suspending or reducing fuel excise taxes. From August 13 to September 11, 2026, the benchmark averaged $99.41 per barrel.
Dominion shareholders clear merger for Tampakan control
Dominion Holdings Inc. (DHI) shareholders approved the company’s merger with Indophil Resources Phils. Inc. and Sonar Holdings Inc., clearing a major corporate hurdle in its bid to gain control of the Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato.
MGEN says Terra Solar 2 project remains preliminary
Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) said its proposed Terra Solar 2 project remains in the early stages of evaluation, tempering earlier reports of a potential expansion of its large-scale renewable energy portfolio.
Property
Ayala Land Premier starts Gardencourt unit turnover
Ayala Land Premier has begun turning over units at Gardencourt Residences in Arca South, Taguig, as parent Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) focuses on accelerating project completion and home deliveries across its residential pipeline.
Filinvest joins growing roster of developers backing Expanded 4PH
Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) has joined a growing roster of major property developers supporting the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH), widening the housing inventory and financing options available to qualified homebuyers.
Federal Land maps new projects as property downturn persists
Federal Land Inc. Chairman Alfred Ty remains optimistic about the Philippine property market, saying developers are positioned to weather the current downturn as the sector works through elevated inventory and prepares for a gradual recovery.
Philippine hotel pipeline hits P387B, 45,000 rooms through 2032
The Philippine hotel industry has lined up P387 billion in committed investments for more than 45,000 new rooms through 2032, signaling sustained developer confidence in tourism despite sharply higher construction and financing costs.
Technology
Rural Filipino consumers highly connected but deliberate, trust-driven—study
Rural Filipino consumers are increasingly digitally connected but remain highly deliberate in spending, with trust, family needs and financial security playing a bigger role in purchasing decisions than simple exposure to brands, a new study by WPP Media, Ogilvy and Fifty5Blue found.
Lenovo & Motorola Qira expands to more devices, apps and markets
Lenovo & Motorola Qira, the cross-device personal AI, is expanding its reach at IFA 2026 following an initial rollout to over 20 Lenovo devices starting in March. It now supports eligible Lenovo PCs with 16GB memory, expanding beyond high-end configurations, and will come to select Motorola edge, signature and razr models with the Android 17 upgrade. It also debuts on moto watch ultra, its first wearable, and connects with Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Outlook and more via a new Workato partnership.
PEZA to approve first IT center in Manila
Manila is poised to get its first Philippine Economic Zone Authority-accredited information technology center as developers move to tap renewed demand for IT-BPM and technology facilities in Metro Manila.
PH broadens AI industrial strategy beyond Clark
The Philippines is pursuing a more distributed artificial intelligence-driven industrial strategy that could spread advanced manufacturing, chip design, critical-mineral processing, and computing infrastructure across the country rather than concentrate the emerging technology ecosystem in New Clark City.
Opinion
When expertise becomes inconvenient, listen first
When judges and lawyers can sometimes get the law wrong, why should non-lawyers presume they know better?
The math behind Duterte’s impeachment vote
The math, more than politics, may hold the key to Vice President Sara Duterte’s political future. And the numbers could be settled within the next two weeks, when the Senate, sitting as an impeachment tribunal, decides which denominator should be used in determining the votes needed for conviction or acquittal.
Sid Consunji plots a scholarship fund with staying power
A scholarship can cover tuition. It cannot necessarily cover lunch, the commute to school, or the other daily expenses that can make staying in college a financial juggling act.
Exclusive
iPeople targets 200,000 students with global expansion push
iPeople, the listed Yuchengco-Ayala education joint venture, is pursuing an expansion strategy built around international partnerships, new campuses and facilities, sustainability-focused programs, and deeper artificial intelligence integration as it aims to nearly triple its student population to 200,000.
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.
