A new assessment by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) reveals that the Philippines’ ube, or purple yam, value chain holds significant growth opportunities, yet requires coordinated action to address critical structural and operational challenges.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) will upgrade the country’s grain quality testing system through a P184.2-million project funded jointly by the Philippine and Japan.

The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) has welcomed new guidelines from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) that closes a regulatory loophole affecting imports of sugar-based feedstocks for bioethanol production.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is stepping up efforts to protect the Ifugao Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from threats including climate change, aging infrastructure, and shifting farming practices. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led an assessment visit to Banaue and Batad Rice Terraces over the weekend to review conditions and consult with local farmers and officials.

Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has placed the new Osorio (Conchu) Substation into operation. This project adds 83 megavolt amperes of capacity and upgrades key equipment to improve power reliability in Trece Martires City and General Trias.

LG Electronics Philippines recently held a two-day event in partnership with WSI, Subic Freeport Chamber of Commerce, and Subic Hotel Association at Lighthouse Hotel Subic on April 23–24.

Maya has begun rolling out cards made from recycled plastic (rPVC) and plans to transition all newly produced prepaid cards to recycled materials by the end of the year as part of its sustainability commitment.

East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) has expanded its network with the opening of a new branch at The Outlets at LIMA Estate in Lipa City, Batangas.

As the new school year approaches, McDonald's Philippines, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Philippines and Megawide Foundation have renewed their commitment to early childhood education with the reopening of the refurbished Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit Learning Center in Barangay Mambog IV, Bacoor City.

GCash's sustainability platform GForest and climate technology developer Wovoka Philippines have launched a five-year initiative to plant more than one million native trees and mangroves, tapping digital finance to accelerate ecosystem restoration while creating green jobs in climate-vulnerable communities.

Vietnamese companies VinFast, V-Green, VinEnergo, and Green GSM have committed more than P50 million in emergency assistance for communities affected by the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8, 2026, signaling both humanitarian support and deepening regional investment ties with the Philippines.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), through its foundation arm, is advancing financial inclusion by rolling out financial education initiatives in communities near ACEN’s renewable energy project sites. The partnership covers areas in Quezon, Laguna, and Zambales provinces, targeting around 3,000 direct beneficiaries.

Philippine shares could finally catch their breath this week.

Tanduay, the Philippine rum brand owned by tycoon Lucio Tan, has kept its title as the world’s best-selling rum for nine consecutive years, according to Drinks International Magazine.

Philippine financial markets are heading into the week on a cautious footing as renewed threats by Iran to potentially close the Strait of Hormuz inject fresh volatility into global oil supply expectations and inflation outlooks, according to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort.

The planned initial public offer of Mynt, the company behind GCash, could do more than raise fresh capital. It may provide the Philippine stock market with the kind of growth story it has been missing.

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.

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.

Amid escalating US-China trade tensions and renewed tariff uncertainty from Washington, EMS Group of Companies is expanding production, accelerating its push into artificial intelligence hardware, and positioning the Philippines as an increasingly strategic alternative manufacturing base for global electronics firms.