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Agriculture
Updated farmland conversion policy expected next month
The Department of Agriculture is set to release a refined set of rules governing farmland conversion within the coming weeks, a measure aimed at balancing national development with food security.
Importers may need to fund local rice facilities to get import permits under proposed law
The Department of Agriculture is pushing for a policy requiring rice importers to invest in local rice infrastructure before they can bring in foreign shipments, a measure being included in the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment Act or RICE Act.
DA restricts frozen fish imports to closed season to protect local market and safeguard prices
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has clarified that a plan to allow up to 250,000 metric tons of imported frozen fish will only take effect during the country’s closed fishing season, which typically runs from November to January depending on the region. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that this condition is vital to prevent imported stock from driving down prices for local fishers while ensuring market stability during off-peak harvesting periods and potential supply shocks from El Niño.
Low-cost rice program drives P4.4B Kadiwa sales over four years
Agriculture’s flaghip P20 per kilogram rice program has pushed total sales for the Kadiwa ng Pangulo rolling stores past the P4.4 billion mark over a four-year period.
Corporate
EastWest investment banking unit wins top industry awards
EastWest Bank’s investment banking team has earned two major recognitions for its work in the Philippine capital market.
BIR files P22.71-B tax evasion case against Sunwest Inc., top officers before DOJ
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed criminal complaints on July 24, 2026, before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Sunwest, Inc., its President Aderma Angelie Descarga Alcazar, and Treasurer Cesar Zacarias Buenaventura for tax evasion involving an estimated P22.71 billion deficiency income tax liability.
Figaro clears key hurdle for Angel’s Pizza spin-off
Listed food company Figaro Culinary Group Inc. has moved a step closer to carving out its fast-growing Angel's Pizza business after securing a key regulatory approval for its planned corporate restructuring.
ICTSI pays $130M to sustain Brazil expansion
International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) is paying USD130 million to expand deeper into Brazil, bullish on the prospect that the South American country's booming agricultural exports will fuel its next phase of growth.
Corporate Bulletins
EastWest investment banking unit wins top industry awards
EastWest Bank’s investment banking team has earned two major recognitions for its work in the Philippine capital market.
Taal Vista Hotel taps veteran hotelier for growth
A heritage hotel is getting a new hand at the helm.
Meralco Networks Group retains ISO quality certification with zero non-confirmities
The Networks Group of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, has kept its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification after passing its second surveillance audit with no issues found.
Clark Water rolls out El Niño plan boosting water security in Clark Freeport
Clark Water has put in place a comprehensive El Niño Mitigation Plan to secure steady water supply across the Clark Freeport Zone amid prolonged dry weather.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
Food banking seen boosting Philippines’ disaster preparedness, resilience
As stronger typhoons and other climate-related disasters threaten food security, Rise Against Hunger Philippines (RAHP) is pushing for a stronger nationwide food banking system, saying it can help communities recover faster while reducing hunger and food waste.
Converge launches youth tech program to close digital skills gap
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has launched a new initiative to equip underserved Filipino youth with technology skills, as the country pushes forward with digital transformation.
Jollibee Danao plant earns landmark green building certification
The Jollibee Group has set a new benchmark for sustainable manufacturing after its Danao Commissary in Cebu became the first manufacturing facility in the Philippines to receive LEED certification for Interior Design and Construction (ID+C), signaling that industrial plants can pursue ambitious environmental goals without sacrificing operational efficiency.
Palawan children to get better early learning support under new partnership program
More than 1,500 young children in El Nido will benefit from a new early education initiative called CENTEX Early Grades, launched through cooperation between the El Nido local government, DepEd Palawan, Palawan State University, and Ayala Foundation.
Markets
PSEi rally gains steam as stable peso lifts outlook
The stock market could be entering a stronger recovery phase after the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) broke through key resistance levels, with a stable peso adding to optimism that local equities can sustain their recent gains despite inflation concerns and geopolitical risks.
Netflix stocks slide after weak revenue outlook spooks
Netflix shares tumbled 7.3 percent on Friday after the streaming giant issued a third-quarter revenue forecast that fell short of Wall Street expectations, overshadowing another quarter of solid earnings and steady subscriber engagement.
Philippine IPO revival hinges on reforms, blockbuster listings
The Philippine initial public offering (IPO) market remained on the sidelines in the first half of 2026, but upcoming regulatory reforms and a pipeline of marquee listings could set the stage for a long-awaited rebound in the country's capital markets.
Earnings season tests market amid rate concerns
Philippine shares are expected to trade cautiously in the coming weeks as the second-quarter earnings season begins, shifting investors' focus from recent market gains to whether corporate profits can withstand persistent inflation, the prospect of further monetary tightening, and rising geopolitical risks.
Energy
SM stays on track for 2040 emissions goal
SM Investments Corp. said it remains on course to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2040, betting that investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable finance will strengthen both its environmental performance and long-term business resilience.
Meralco explains power hike amid fuel price pressures
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said the recent increase in electricity bills was driven primarily by higher generation charges, pointing to soaring global fuel prices, a weaker peso, and the country's reliance on natural gas to maintain grid stability rather than any increase in its own distribution rates.
DOE welcomes start-up of Cotabato solar power plant
The Department of Energy has announced the first phase of the Tantangan solar project in South Cotabato is now energized.
Sectors push for policy reforms amid record-high power costs
Various groups and industry stakeholders are calling for policy changes that help bring down electricity rates at the hearing convened by the Senate Committee on Energy on Thursday. The Department of Energy confirmed earlier this week that power rates average P12.43 per kilowatt-hour in June, the highest across all 11 ASEAN member states, and slightly higher than Singapore’s for the same month.
Property
Big developers prioritize malls as retail thrives
The Philippines’ biggest property developers are placing greater emphasis on malls as retail continues to outperform other real estate segments, supported by resilient consumer spending and the appeal of stable recurring rental income.
SM Prime lines up over 20 events at New SM Seaside Cebu Arena
SM Prime Holdings Inc. announced on Thursday that its newly opened SM Seaside Cebu Arena will host more than 20 shows this year, as the property developer seeks to tap into the growing demand for live events in the Visayas region.
Havitas moves into wellness real eatate
Boutique developer Havitas Properties Inc. has entered the fast-growing wellness real estate sector, and unveiled the second phase of its Aya Hills resort villa community in Talisay, Batangas, overlooking Taal Lake.
Manila emerges as world’s second prime housing market
Manila has emerged as the world’s second-fastest growing prime residential market, underscoring the Philippine property sector’s resilience despite geopolitical tensions, elevated inflation and a slowdown in new project launches.
Technology
Fortinet upgrades FortiEndpoint platform to secure AI adoption and streamline endpoint security
Global cybersecurity leader Fortinet, listed on the NASDAQ as FTNT, has rolled out new features for its unified endpoint platform FortiEndpoint, designed to help organizations adopt artificial intelligence safely, protect sensitive information, and lower overall security risk.
LG unveils dual flagship TV lineup, ending long-time home theater tech compromise
For years, anyone setting up a premium home entertainment system had to choose between the deep contrast of OLED displays and the large size and vivid output of high-end LCD screens.
PSAC backs One Canal Policy for faster digital growth
The Private Sector Advisory Council–Digital Infrastructure Sector (PSAC-Digital Infra) is backing the proposed One Canal Policy, saying shared infrastructure could accelerate fiber deployment, reduce costs, and expand high-speed internet access nationwide as the Philippines pushes deeper into the digital economy.
Pax Silica hub targets USD70B investments, jobs
The Philippines’ planned high-technology hub under Pax Silica in New Clark City is emerging as a major investment magnet, with the project expected to attract up to USD70 billion in investments, create as many as 190,000 direct jobs, and accelerate the country’s push into advanced manufacturing.
Opinion
Elon Musk learns trillion-dollar fortunes can wobble
Elon Musk has just misplaced about USD260 billion. Before anyone starts a crowdfunding campaign, though, he's still worth an estimated USD745 billion—comfortably enough to remain the world's richest person.
Trust ratings aren’t get-out-of-jail cards
If trust ratings could acquit public officials, we might as well save everyone the trouble.
VP Duterte impeachment keeps Senate cards hidden
Monday's biggest vote in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte turned out to be the one the public never saw.
Philippine sports thrive when benefactors build champions
Every championship has its stars. Some also have a benefactor—the godfather who reaches for a checkbook instead of a spotlight.
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.
