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Agriculture
Philippine farm output posts 2.9% growth in Q2
Philippine agriculture gathered momentum in the second quarter as all four major farm subsectors expanded, signaling a broader recovery that could bolster food supply and help temper inflation despite persistent climate and animal disease risks.
Private sector urged to boost meat industry resilience
CEBU CITY — Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. called on private businesses to take a bigger role in strengthening the country’s meat sector, saying government and industry must work together to secure food supplies, stabilize prices, and protect public health.
Davao durian shipped to Oman in new trial export
The Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that 56 boxes of Davao durian, weighing 1.08 metric tons and worth around P183,000 ($3,000), have been sent to Oman. The shipment from Engseng Food Products of Davao City is bound for Jeel Almaaly International in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate.
DA rules out rice import ban to secure buffer stocks amid El Nino threat
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will not ban rice imports for the rest of the year, choosing instead to build up emergency food reserves ahead of expected El Niño weather disruptions.
Corporate
Security Bank, Pays0 partner to streamline digital business payments
Security Bank has teamed up with licensed Electronic Money Issuer Pays0 Inc. to help businesses move funds quickly and reliably. The partnership was formalized in a July 28 agreement signed at Security Bank Centre in Makati City.
DICT, Globe mark major progess in Bayanihan SIM rollout
The Department of Information and Communications Technology and Globe continue to push forward with the Bayanihan SIM Project, hitting a key milestone in the government’s flagship drive to close the digital divide.
AIA Philippines, BPI AIA bag 4 Insurance Asia Awards 2026
AIA Philippines and its bancassurance arm BPI AIA won four honors at the 2026 Insurance Asia Awards in Singapore, recognizing work to expand insurance access, improve healthcare, and develop talent.
Jollibee’s Pistachio Kunafa Sundae shows local innovation drives global growth
What began as a response to a major dessert trend in the UAE has become a model for Jollibee’s success across 16 countries. The Pistachio Kunafa Sundae turned a viral premium treat into an affordable Jollibee favorite, proving the brand can spot trends early and create products that boost interest and sales.
Corporate Bulletins
Security Bank, Pays0 partner to streamline digital business payments
Security Bank has teamed up with licensed Electronic Money Issuer Pays0 Inc. to help businesses move funds quickly and reliably. The partnership was formalized in a July 28 agreement signed at Security Bank Centre in Makati City.
DICT, Globe mark major progess in Bayanihan SIM rollout
The Department of Information and Communications Technology and Globe continue to push forward with the Bayanihan SIM Project, hitting a key milestone in the government’s flagship drive to close the digital divide.
AIA Philippines, BPI AIA bag 4 Insurance Asia Awards 2026
AIA Philippines and its bancassurance arm BPI AIA won four honors at the 2026 Insurance Asia Awards in Singapore, recognizing work to expand insurance access, improve healthcare, and develop talent.
Jollibee’s Pistachio Kunafa Sundae shows local innovation drives global growth
What began as a response to a major dessert trend in the UAE has become a model for Jollibee’s success across 16 countries. The Pistachio Kunafa Sundae turned a viral premium treat into an affordable Jollibee favorite, proving the brand can spot trends early and create products that boost interest and sales.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
BDO partners with foundations to bring solar energy to indigenous communities in Quezon
Living without electricity or paved roads has been a lifelong reality for Liezel Sarmiento, a barangay councilor and member of the Dumagat-Remontado tribe in Sitio Cablao, Quezon.
Aboitiz Foundation expands Cebu community forest restoration work
Aboitiz Foundation is growing its partnerships with local groups across Cebu to boost community-led forest restoration under its CarbonPH climate initiative. Working with officials in Danao City and Balamban, the foundation is providing training and resources to help residents restore forests while building sustainable livelihoods.
BDO Foundation, ADDU launch scholarship and career program for needy students
More deserving young Filipinos from low-income families will get better access to higher education and stable jobs under a new partnership between BDO Foundation and Ateneo de Davao University.
Jollibee Group Foundation’s farmer-led agri-tech initiative wins top CSR recognition
The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) has been conferred the Outstanding CSR Project in Enterprise Development award at the 2026 League of Corporate Foundations CSR Guild Awards for its Agri-Tech Facilitators (ATF) Program, an initiative centered on the principle that agricultural innovation delivers lasting impact when driven by farmers themselves.
Markets
Retailers told to embrace AI without losing human touch
The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) on Thursday urged businesses to accelerate their adoption of artificial intelligence while ensuring that technology complements, rather than replaces, the human connections that underpin customer loyalty.
DTI, DA tighten market checks to keep food prices fair
The Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Agriculture (DA) have intensified joint market inspections to keep rice and other essential goods fairly priced, signaling closer government oversight as authorities seek to contain food inflation and protect consumers' purchasing power.
Markets await key data amid cautious investor outlook
Philippine financial markets are entering a pivotal week as investors weigh a heavy lineup of economic data, corporate earnings, and global developments that could shape sentiment and expectations for monetary policy.
Shopee, Iloilo forge MSME digital commerce program
Shopee Philippines and the Iloilo City government are shifting from one-off entrepreneurship training to continuous digital business development, launching a year-round program designed to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) build sustainable online businesses.
Energy
Gold rally powers OceanaGold, doubling profits
OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. more than doubled second-quarter profit as soaring gold prices more than compensated for lower production, highlighting how a buoyant bullion market continues to shield miners from operational headwinds.
Philippine energy grid plan targets lower power costs
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is urging the government to pursue a nationwide energy grid linking the country's major islands, saying the decades-long project could lower electricity costs, strengthen energy security, and unlock more balanced economic growth across the archipelago.
Semirara profit climbs as power offsets weaker coal business
Integrated energy company Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) posted higher second-quarter earnings as a strong rebound in its power business more than compensated for weaker coal production, highlighting the benefits of its integrated business model amid volatile energy markets.
Meralco steps up smart metering upgrades to fortify distribution network
Manila Electric Company (Meralco), headed by Manuel V. Pangilinan, is pushing ahead with improvements to its Elevated Metering Transformation (EMX) as part of ongoing efforts to modernize its power distribution system.
Property
DMCI expands into offices with Makati mixed-use project
DMCI Project Developers Inc. (DMCI-PDI) is entering the commercial office market with its first office tower in Makati, broadening its property portfolio as demand increasingly shifts toward transit-oriented, sustainable workplaces despite a still-elevated vacancy environment.
Metro Manila office recovery favors early movers, green buildings
Metro Manila's office market is showing signs of resilience despite slower leasing activity, with Colliers Philippines saying companies and landlords that move early on lease renewals, embrace flexible workspaces, and invest in sustainability will be best positioned as demand gradually recovers.
PH1 World tops off first expanded 4PH housing tower
PH1 World Developers has completed the first major construction milestone for its flagship project under the government's Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, signaling accelerating private sector participation in efforts to narrow the country's housing backlog.
Park Inn Bacolod turns sustainability into advantage
Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod is making sustainability and community engagement central to its growth strategy, five years after opening at the height of the pandemic.
Technology
DICT seeks P18-B 2027 budget to expand digital services and infrastructure
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is asking Congress for an P18-billion budget for 2027 to boost the country’s digital services and infrastructure.
AI could add $50.7B to PH economy by 2030
Artificial intelligence is projected to unlock US$50.7 billion in economic value for Philippine businesses by 2030, driving growth and competitiveness. While most firms have started using AI, 65 percent remain stuck in pilot stages due to gaps in infrastructure, system integration, and skilled talent.
Smart rolls out Apple Pay for load and bill payments starting Aug. 4
Smart Communications has launched Apple Pay for its subscribers, offering a fast, secure way to buy load and settle bills beginning August 4.
PCCI calls AI hub Philippines’ chance to reshape economy
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has endorsed the proposed Pax Silica AI hub, calling it a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity for the country to secure a foothold in one of the world's fastest-growing industries and move up the global technology value chain.
Opinion
Private prosecutor steals spotlight in VP impeachment trial
Courtroom dramas are supposed to be solemn affairs. Then Atty. Lorna Kapunan walked to the lectern and reminded everyone that wit can be just as effective as a legal citation.
Supreme Court ruling reels in Philippine seafood export risks
The Supreme Court's decision striking down Fisheries Administrative Order No. 266 has cast a wide net over the Philippines' fisheries sector, raising questions that reach well beyond the country's waters.
MPBL game-fixing ban to reignite online betting debate
The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League has done what every sports league eventually must when confronted with game-fixing allegations: make an example of someone.
Eala stuns Zheng, handshake steals spotlight online
For all the breathtaking rallies Alex Eala and Zheng Qinwen produced in Washington, the most replayed moment lasted about two seconds. It wasn't Eala's fearless comeback. It wasn't Zheng's unraveling. It was...the handshake.
Exclusive
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.
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.
