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ADB cuts Asia growth forecast, sees higher inflation amid Middle East crisis

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday lowered its economic growth outlook for developing Asia and the Pacific, warning that ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing deeper and longer-lasting disruptions than expected.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

DA prepares early for El Niño impact on agriculture

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out a nationwide plan to prepare farmers and protect food production from a possible El Niño later this year.

DA strikes major deals to modernize farms, boost food security

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has signed two separate agreements aimed at modernizing the farm sector, increasing farmers’ incomes, and improving food security.

Philippines warns of food security risks amid Middle East tensions

The Philippines has called for stronger regional cooperation to protect food security in the Asia-Pacific, citing rising risks from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

DA seeks up to $500M loan to boost PH bamboo industry

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is aiming to secure between US$300 million and US$500 million in loans next year to develop the country’s bamboo industry, according to spokesperson Arnel De Mesa.

Corporate

Visa, BPI launch real-time global money transfer service

Global payments company Visa Inc. has partnered with Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to introduce Visa Direct in the Philippines, a service that allows customers to send money abroad in real time.

SM Investments says retail business to help drive growth amid challenges

SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) said its retail segment is expected to help sustain the company as it navigates a challenging economic environment.

SM Investments leans on discipline to ride volatility  

SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) is leaning on financial discipline, diversification, and ready access to capital to navigate persistent geopolitical and market volatility, Chairman Amando M. Tetangco Jr. told stockholders on Wednesday.

AEV income nearly doubles in Q1 2026

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) reported that its net income almost doubled in the first quarter of 2026, reaching P6.3 billion from P3.2 billion a year earlier. The figure includes P43 million in non-recurring gains.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

Visa, BPI launch real-time global money transfer service

Global payments company Visa Inc. has partnered with Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to introduce Visa Direct in the Philippines, a service that allows customers to send money abroad in real time.

LG highlights summer travel spots for music-filled getaways

LG is promoting its portable speaker, the LG xboom Stage 301, as a travel companion for summer trips where music is part of the experience. The speaker is built for outdoor use with up to 12 hours of battery life, IPX4 water resistance, and features like Space Calibration for sound tuning, Wireless Party Link for shared listening, and DJ and karaoke effects via an app.

Grocery spending turns into big win as Laguna VA wins BYD Seagull in bank-supermarket promo

Everyday grocery shopping and credit card use paid off for one lucky customer after a joint promo by East West Banking Corporation and Puregold Price Club awarded a brand-new BYD Seagull to its grand prize winner.

PHINMA names new VPs to boost leadership

PHINMA Corp. has promoted three senior officials to vice president positions as part of efforts to strengthen its leadership team and support business growth.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

Parañaque fishers get financial training support

Fisherfolk in Barangay La Huerta are getting help to better manage their income through a new financial education program led by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Parañaque city government, and BDO Foundation.

Ilocos Norte, ACEN roll out solar access program

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte has launched a first-of-its-kind campaign to bring rooftop solar to households, partnering with ACEN and GCash to make clean energy more accessible and affordable.

Ayala Land affiliate donates land for Laguna civic hub

An affiliate of Ayala Land Inc. has formalized plans for a new civic hub in Laguna, advancing efforts to expand institutional infrastructure in southern Luzon’s fast-growing corridor.

Ozamiz Hospital boosts critical care with new ventilator partnership

A new partnership has been formed to improve respiratory care services at Mayor Hilario A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center (MHARSMC), the largest government-run hospital in the city.

Markets

Peso slides, stocks stall as caution builds

Philippine financial markets are in a consolidation phase, with the peso and equities under pressure as tighter monetary conditions and inflation concerns weigh on sentiment.

Women entrepreneurs drive economy but need more support to scale

Filipina entrepreneurs—many of them mothers—play a major role in the Philippine economy, owning 66 percent of existing businesses and 62 percent of newly registered enterprises. Despite this strong presence, many women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) struggle to grow due to limited access to funding, low digital adoption, and the challenge of balancing business and family responsibilities.

Peso stalls, stocks drift amid global uncertainty

The Philippine peso edged weaker last week, pausing after two consecutive weeks of gains as the dollar-peso pair settled into a narrow trading band.

Markets signal calm despite Middle East conflict risks

Global equities pushed higher Thursday as investors shrugged off ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with volatility signals suggesting markets see limited risk of further escalation.

Travel

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Energy

EvoEnergi to supply power to 224 McDonald’s PH stores

Local electricity supplier EvoEnergi has been chosen to provide 22 megawatts of power to 224 McDonald’s stores in Luzon, the companies announced Wednesday.

Fuel prices seen to rise after UAE exit from OPEC

Fuel prices in the Philippines may increase next week following the United Arab Emirates’ exit from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, according to a local fuel retailer.

Lawson taps ACEN RES to power Philippine store operations

Lawson Philippines is shifting part of its operations to renewable energy after signing a retail electricity supply agreement with ACEN RES, marking a step toward greener and potentially lower-cost store operations.

Ilocos Norte, ACEN roll out solar access program

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte has launched a first-of-its-kind campaign to bring rooftop solar to households, partnering with ACEN and GCash to make clean energy more accessible and affordable.

Transport & Communications

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Property

Aboitiz Estates offers locators integrated operations platform

Aboitiz Estates is focusing on integrated industrial platforms as global supply chain realignments drive rising demand for resilient, multi-country operations, according to company leadership.

SM Offices expands warehousing, eyes logistics upside

SM Offices, the commercial property arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc., is ramping up its logistics footprint as it positions warehousing as a key growth driver within its Commercial Properties Group (CPG) portfolio.

Ayala Malls nears full renewable energy transition

Ayala Malls is accelerating its shift to clean energy, with renewable sources now powering nearly its entire portfolio as the company deepens sustainability efforts while managing costs and growth.

Belle earnings rise on gaming, real estate gains

Belle Corp., the leisure and gaming arm of the Sy Group, posted a consolidated net income of P524 million for the first quarter of 2026, up 13 percent from P462 million a year earlier, driven by steady gains across its gaming and property businesses.

Environment

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Technology

Globe upgrades loan services for prepaid users

Telecom company Globe Telecom has improved its load and promo loan services for Globe Prepaid and TM users, making it easier for Filipinos to stay connected even without mobile balance.

Oracle NetSuite launches AI tools to speed up app development

Oracle NetSuite, the leading AI cloud ERP, has introduced new AI-focused tools designed to help developers build and customize applications more quickly and securely on its platform.

Spain unveils new fighter pilot training system to replace F-5 fleet

Spain has presented a new advanced training system for its fighter pilots, led by Airbus and supported by local companies. The program, called the Integrated Combat Training System (ITS-C), will replace the country’s aging F-5 aircraft and involve about 60 percent participation from Spanish industry.

Global report: Combining technologies, not single breakthroughs, will drive advantage

A new report from the World Economic Forum, produced with Capgemini, says the next wave of competitive advantage will come from combining multiple technologies at scale, rather than relying on single breakthroughs.

Health & Science

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Opinion

A house divided: Lopez family rift tests corporate governance

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every house divided against itself will not stand.” In the Lopez corporate universe, the verse now reads less like scripture and more like a live governance case file—complete with injunctions, contested boardrooms, and competing versions of who nearly switched off the lights.

The Days Ahead

Several things have changed over the past month. The global economy is now poised to face another severe slowdown and rising inflation as a result of the Middle East conflict. While the impact on countries may differ in magnitude, the oil supply shock will squeeze economic activity and raise prices significantly.

Fuel crisis or policy gap?

Airline executives were caught off guard when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned that Philippine carriers may be forced to cut flights—or even ground planes—due to a possible jet fuel shortage tied to the escalating U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Choked Hormuz puts global food supply at risk

Food, not fuel, may prove the first and most immediate casualty of the Middle East conflict as disruption grips the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea lane with an outsized role in feeding the world.

Sports & Entertainment

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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.