Friday, 20 February 2026, 3:50 pm

    Just in

    Top News

    ICI chief building AI-aided graft hunter

    Independent Commission for Infrastructure chairman Andres Reyes Jr., the former Court of Appeals presiding justice once known for slicing through case backlogs with quiet efficiency, is now helping build a new kind of remedy for bureaucratic gridlock. 

    News Dispatch

    Agriculture

    Vitarich buys breeder to boost output

    Vitarich Corp. is strengthening its grip on the poultry value chain with a P280 million acquisition that is set to raise its breeder capacity by about 8 percent, a move aimed at stabilizing chick supply and trimming production costs in a volatile market.

    PhilFIDA eyes banana fiber to boost PH textile industry

    The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) is exploring new ways to get more value from bananas—not just as food, but as a source of fiber for textiles and other products.

    DA orders fresh probe into farm subsidy program amid irregularity claims

    The Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered a new and broader investigation into alleged irregularities in the procurement and distribution of subsidized farm inputs and machinery, following complaints from farmers’ groups.

    Bataan resident feedback sought in P500-M poultry farm project

    Residents of Abucay in Bataan will get a first look at a proposed P500-million poultry farm as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through the Environmental Management Bureau, opens a public scoping on February 24, 2026.

    Corporate

    Ayala Land profit jumps 38% on ATC sale

    Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) reported a 38 percent increase in net income to P39.1 billion in 2025, up from P28.23 billion a year earlier, largely driven by gains from the sale of Alabang Town Center (ATC) and steady expansion of its leasing and hospitality businesses.

    Jollibee subsidiary acquires Korea’s leading hot pot chain

    Jollibee Foods Corporation’s subsidiary, Jolli‑K Co., Ltd., will fully acquire All Day Fresh Co., Ltd., the operator of South Korea’s top hot pot brand, Shabu All Day, in a deal valued at around US$87 million.

    Manulife launches normal shares repurchase

    Manulife has secured approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange for a normal course issuer bid, allowing the insurance company to buy back and cancel up to 42 million of its common shares. Outside Canada and the U.S., Manulife said it may undertake similar buybacks in other markets where it is listed, such as the Philippine Stock Exchange, in compliance with local regulations.

    Vitarich buys breeder to boost output

    Vitarich Corp. is strengthening its grip on the poultry value chain with a P280 million acquisition that is set to raise its breeder capacity by about 8 percent, a move aimed at stabilizing chick supply and trimming production costs in a volatile market.

    Banking & Insurance

    spot_img

    Corporate Bulletins

    ACEN lands TIME’s elite list

    ACEN has secured a coveted spot in TIME and Statista’s Asia-Pacific’s Best Companies 2026, joining 500 top-performing firms recognized for shaping the region’s business landscape.

    Globe delivers consistency, not just coverage in PH internet race

    Globe has claimed the top spot in Ookla®’s 2025 Speedtest Verified rankings, earning recognition as the Most Consistent Mobile Network, Most Consistent Fixed Network, and the provider with the Widest 5G Coverage in the Philippines.

    Practical gifting at the heart of Hanabishi promo

    Hanabishi Appliances has launched a Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year campaign encouraging shoppers to celebrate love and new beginnings through practical gifts.

    WTCMM wins ASEAN award for exhibition excellence

    World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) has been honored with the ASEAN MICE Venue Award in the Exhibition Venue Category at the 2026 ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards. The accolade was presented during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026 at Nustar Resort, Cebu.

    Social Responsibility & Sustainability

    PLDT, Smart expand alliance vs child online predators

    PLDT and Smart Communications have strengthened their campaign against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) by recruiting more educators, community workers, and child rights advocates as partners.

    P400-M gift aims to fight college dropouts, support PHINMA scholars

    Business leader Magdaleno B. Albarracin Jr., vice chairman of PHINMA Corporation, and his wife Trinidad M. Albarracin have pledged P400 million to PHINMA Foundation Inc. to help students complete their college education.

    SteelAsia earns region’s top green mark from Moody’s

    SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. has secured a “very good” SQS2 rating from Moody’s, earning what the agency described as the strongest and only Sustainable Finance Framework of its kind in the region to fully link financing with measurable decarbonization outcomes.

    Jollibee Group shift Philippine facilities to 99% renewable

    The Jollibee Group has transitioned its commissaries and logistics facilities in the Philippines to 99 percent renewable energy, marking a major step in its sustainability efforts.

    Markets

    Manulife launches normal shares repurchase

    Manulife has secured approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange for a normal course issuer bid, allowing the insurance company to buy back and cancel up to 42 million of its common shares. Outside Canada and the U.S., Manulife said it may undertake similar buybacks in other markets where it is listed, such as the Philippine Stock Exchange, in compliance with local regulations.

    No cheers for shares of Cheerios maker 

    Shares of General Mills tumbled 7 percent Tuesday after the Cheerios maker slashed its full-year sales and profit outlook, blaming stubborn inflation and a “challenging” consumer backdrop for squeezing volumes.

    Profit-taking weighs down stocks; peso finish higher

    The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slid 1.3 percent to 6,384.58, extending profit-taking for a second session after touching seven- to nine-month highs. Even so, the benchmark remains comfortably above the 6,000 mark, keeping the broader uptrend intact and suggesting the pullback is more consolidation than reversal.

    Barbie’s holiday hangover hits Mattel

    Barbie wasn’t in the mood to celebrate — even if Ken showed up with Hot Wheels and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Investors weren’t feeling festive either.

    Travel

    spot_img

    Energy

    MPower expands retail aggregation deal with Mr. Freeze

    MPower, the retail electricity supplier of Manila Electric Company (Meralco), has expanded its partnership with Mr. Freeze Tube Ice Inc. by enrolling four more ice plants under the Retail Aggregation Program (RAP).

    Eastern Communications shifts to geothermal power with First Gen

    Eastern Communications Philippines, Inc. has signed a power supply agreement with First Gen Corporation to run its headquarters and technical operations centers on renewable energy.

    TOP Fires Up Northern Cebu

    Top Line Business Development Corp. has completed the renovation and rebranding of the first cluster of stations from its acquired fuel retail network, rolling out eight sites in Northern Cebu under its Light Fuels Express banner.

    DOE opens 18 coal blocks to private bidders 

    The Department of Energy (DOE) will open at least 18 coal blocks across the country to private investors as part of a competitive bidding round set to begin on February 27, 2026.

    Transport & Communications

    spot_img

    Property

    Ayala Land profit jumps 38% on ATC sale

    Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) reported a 38 percent increase in net income to P39.1 billion in 2025, up from P28.23 billion a year earlier, largely driven by gains from the sale of Alabang Town Center (ATC) and steady expansion of its leasing and hospitality businesses.

    BGC focuses on subway-driven urban growth

    The redevelopment of the former Fort Strip along 5th Avenue marks a strategic shift for Bonifacio Global City as the Metro Manila Subway Project advances.

    AREIT earnings climb on asset surge

    AREIT Inc., the listed real estate investment trust of the Ayala Group, posted a 28 percent growth in 2025 net profit to P9.4 billion, excluding fair value changes in investment properties, as newly acquired malls, offices and hotels began delivering steady rental income while its existing portfolio remained almost fully leased. 

    Filipinos chase Dubai property gains

    Filipino investors are turning to Dubai real estate as...

    Environment

    spot_img

    Technology

    IT-BPM flags competitive risks at Senate hearing

    The Philippines’ information technology and business process outsourcing sector sounded the alarm at the Senate this week, warning that rising cybersecurity threats, mounting tax compliance pressures, and a widening digital skills gap are beginning to strain one of the country’s most dependable growth engines.

    Globe Telecom pushes reliable, affordable connectivity at The Blueprint 2026

    Globe Telecom on Thursday opened the year with a strong message: internet service should be reliable, affordable, and easy to access — not just fast.

    Hawaii event spotlights Philippines as rising digital hub

    The debut of the Data Center Operators of the Philippines (DCPH) at the Pacific Telecommunications Council 2026 conference in Hawaii signaled the country’s push to become a leading digital destination in Southeast Asia.

    Prime Media taps legal heavyweight to take reins

    Prime Media Holdings Inc. has a new man at the helm, and he comes armed with case law, courtroom polish, and close to three decades of corporate savvy.

    Health & Science

    spot_img

    Opinion

    Smoke Without Fire, Markets Without Rules

    When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discards its own scientific “endangerment finding,” it does more than revise a memo from 2009. It performs a kind of regulatory alchemy: turning greenhouse gases from legally recognized threats into political inconveniences.

    Philippine bond market: Confidence, stability, lower borrowing costs

    The Philippine government bond market may sound like a tangle of numbers and acronyms, but it matters to everyone. 

    Philippine paradox: Doing right, paying wrong

    Even when the government acts with moral clarity, ordinary Filipinos often end up holding the short end of the stick. 

    Airport knife shooting thrusts security governance into spotlight

    A knife-related shooting at Iloilo International Airport has forced an uncomfortable reckoning inside aviation security circles: what happens when systems meant to stop danger at the door allow it to fester into a crowded terminal.

    Sports & Entertainment

    spot_img

    Exclusive

    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.

    PSAC urges stronger funding for Philippines startups 

    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.

    Tariffs rattle, AI thrives: Gruppo EMS builds ahead 

    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.

    Aboitiz focus on industry, townships follow jobs

    For three decades, the Aboitiz Group has been quietly building a real estate portfolio that spans homes, offices, and commercial spaces. But in recent years, it has made a deliberate pivot away from crowded residential battlegrounds toward a less glamorous, far more strategic corner of the market: industrial development. The bet is simple but bold—build where factories, logistics, and infrastructure go first, and let communities grow organically around them.