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.

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.

Potato farmers in Benguet are testing seven new varieties alongside the familiar Granola in a bid to raise productivity, widen planting options and strengthen the commercial viability of one of the Cordillera’s key vegetable crops.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has indefinitely suspended exports of fresh purple yam, or ube, to shore up scarce planting material as the Philippines seeks to expand domestic production and turn the crop into a bigger export earner.

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 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 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.

Century Pacific Food, Inc. (PSE:CNPF) has earned FinanceAsia’s 2026 Gold Award for Best Managed Consumer Staples Company in the Philippines.

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.

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 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.

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Philippines’ BACK-to-BAKuna program has been named the 2026 Outstanding CSR Project for Health, recognizing an approach that helped improve childhood vaccination completion by addressing behavioral and logistical barriers faced by caregivers.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.