Trending Now
Agriculture
DA sees boost to agriculture with higher 2026 budget
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is optimistic that a higher budget allocation for the agriculture sector under the 2026 national budget will strengthen local food production, rural development, and long-term food security.
DA bets on more sili to cool price spikes
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. is zeroing in on one of the most volatile items in the Filipino kitchen: chilli pepper or sili. With prices swinging sharply during the rainy season, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing a plan to ramp up production, harden farms against extreme weather, and bring more predictability to supply and prices.
Fair palay price, road projects, P20 rice expansion seen as biggest test for 2026
Keeping palay prices fair, expanding P20-per-kilo rice and fast-tracking farm-to-market roads will be the toughest test of the Department of Agriculture heading into 2026, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
P20 rice expansion accelerates as gov’t commits P23B for 2026
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will expand its P20-per-kilo rice program, starting with a province-wide rollout in Pangasinan this January, as part of the government’s goal to reach 15 million households by the end of 2026.
Corporate
BDO named most valuable brand; ranks among top ASEAN banking brands
BDO has been named the Philippines’ most valuable brand and is the only Philippine bank included in the top 10 most valuable banking brands in ASEAN, according to Brand Finance, a global brand valuation consultancy.
Condiments maker levels up with SAP Cloud ERP
NutriAsia has begun the next stage of its digital transformation by rolling out SAP Cloud ERP Private across its operations, following the completion of its cloud migration under the RISE with SAP program. Working with delaware Philippines, a global SAP Platinum Partner, the company aims to standardize and improve its business processes to support long-term growth.
Del Monte cashes In on Sundrop
Del Monte Pacific Ltd. (DMPL) has completed the first phase of its planned exit from Indian food company Sundrop Brands Ltd., locking in fresh proceeds while advancing a broader portfolio rationalization strategy.
Globe, NCS seal APAC tech push
Globe Telecom Inc. has completed its joint venture with Singapore-based technology services firm NCS Pte. Ltd., strengthening its push to scale advanced ICT capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region.
Corporate Bulletins
BDO named most valuable brand; ranks among top ASEAN banking brands
BDO has been named the Philippines’ most valuable brand and is the only Philippine bank included in the top 10 most valuable banking brands in ASEAN, according to Brand Finance, a global brand valuation consultancy.
Condiments maker levels up with SAP Cloud ERP
NutriAsia has begun the next stage of its digital transformation by rolling out SAP Cloud ERP Private across its operations, following the completion of its cloud migration under the RISE with SAP program. Working with delaware Philippines, a global SAP Platinum Partner, the company aims to standardize and improve its business processes to support long-term growth.
Globe partners with The Binary Holdings to upgrade GlobeOne rewards
Globe Telecom Inc. has partnered with The Binary Holdings (TBH) to bring OneWave into the GlobeOne app, giving users a new kind of loyalty program that rewards activity, not just spending.
Light Fuels wins DOE Retail Award
Light Fuels Corp., the retail fuel subsidiary of listed Top Line Business Development Corp. (TOP), has been recognized as an Outstanding Liquid Fuels Retail Outlet by the Department of Energy Visayas Field Office, highlighting the company’s consistent compliance with regulatory standards covering product quality, safety protocols, operational discipline, and customer service.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
Aboitiz Foods ends year 2025 on a confident note
Aboitiz Foods didn’t close the year with grandstanding. Instead, the regional agribusiness player wrapped it up with steady, on-the-ground action—rolling out community initiatives across the Philippines and China that underscored a quieter point: sustainably feeding Asia’s growth also means investing in the people behind the food.
ICTSI’s Tecon Suape wins Ocean Friend seal
Tecon Suape S.A. (TSSA), the Pernambuco-based container terminal of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), has reinforced its green credentials after earning the 2025 Ocean Friend seal, one of Brazil’s key recognitions for environmental responsibility in port operations.
SEC adopts new sustainability reporting rules
The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards (PFRS) on sustainability disclosures, aligning local reporting with international standards.
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.
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.
Energy
Meralco warns public vs power cable theft
Meralco on Monday renewed its warning to the public about the dangers of stealing power cables after an incident in Quezon City early Sunday disrupted electricity to nearly 8,000 customers.
Vivant locks 15-year Siquijor power deal
Vivant Energy, the power arm of Cebu-based conglomerate Vivant Corp., has secured a 15-year Power Supply Agreement to deliver a dependable new electricity source for Siquijor as the island’s energy demand accelerates.
Light Fuels wins DOE Retail Award
Light Fuels Corp., the retail fuel subsidiary of listed Top Line Business Development Corp. (TOP), has been recognized as an Outstanding Liquid Fuels Retail Outlet by the Department of Energy Visayas Field Office, highlighting the company’s consistent compliance with regulatory standards covering product quality, safety protocols, operational discipline, and customer service.
Meralco places crews on 24/7 alert ahead of New Year celebrations
Manila Electric Company (Meralco) reminded the public to observe electrical safety as New Year celebrations draw near, warning that careless use of fireworks and overloaded electrical connections could lead to accidents and power interruptions.
Property
Human Settlements fast-tracks approvals to jumpstart housing
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is starting 2026 with a clear message to developers: if your papers are complete, expect faster approvals.
Housing shortfall widens as supply lags
Data from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development show the national housing backlog reached 10.65 million units in 2024, highlighting decades of unmet demand that continue to weigh on affordability and urban planning.
Human Settlements expands rentals, targets 10 projects in 2026
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said at least 10 additional rental housing projects are set to be launched in the first quarter of 2026, reinforcing rental housing as a core modality under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, according to the agency’s yearend report.
Human Settlements, BOI eye tax breaks for housing
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development is weighing a joint policy study with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Board of Investments to determine whether economic housing can be classified as corporate income tax-exempt mass housing under Batas Pambansa Bilang 220.
Technology
Dado Banatao, 79, built Silicon Valley bridges
Diosdado “Dado” Banatao, the Filipino visionary whose intellect and determination left an indelible mark on Silicon Valley, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2025, at the age of 79, on the campus of his alma mater, Stanford University, surrounded by family and friends.
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.
Opinion
Farmers’ Almanac meets print’s harsh math
The Farmers’ Almanac did not so much die as it was politely forced into early retirement. After 208 years of forecasting frost and fortune, this venerable annual faced the same forces now battering legacy media everywhere: rising costs, collapsing print economics, and a digital world that rewards clicks over contemplation.
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.
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,...
