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BIR collections beat target by P13.5B in July

The Bureau of Internal Revenue collected P13.53 billion more than its target in the first seven months of 2026, giving the government a stronger revenue base as it pushes reforms to improve tax compliance and enforcement.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

Heirloom seeds offer old-school resilience for farmers 

In agriculture, the future may sometimes look surprisingly like the past. And some of the Philippines’ best climate insurance may be sitting quietly in an heirloom seed.

First commercial shipment of Philippine fermented cacao beans heads to New Zealand

The Philippines has opened a new export market for its local cacao sector, with the first-ever commercial batch of fermented cacao beans sent to New Zealand, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Wednesday.

Agri damage from Habagat, Luis, Maymay hits P197M

Combined agriculture losses from the enhanced monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay reached P197 million as of August 11 — up from P135.3 million — the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Wednesday. Rice accounts for P143 million of the total, with vegetables and irrigation facilities making up the rest.

Special safeguard duty imposed to protect local producers from import surges 

To shield domestic livestock producers from market disruption caused by foreign supply spikes, the Department of Agriculture has activated special safeguard duties on select imported meat products. Issued under Department Order No. 24, series of 2026, by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the directive establishes temporary protective tariffs after government monitoring confirmed that incoming import volumes crossed official safety thresholds.

Corporate

Manila Water’s East Bay project to add 200 MLD water supply capacity

Manila Water is set to boost water security for customers in its East Zone, with the ₱7.84-billion East Bay Phase 2 Water Supply System Project scheduled for completion this September.

PLDT upbeat on 2026 second-half profit despite lower first-half results 

PLDT Inc. remains optimistic about its 2026 second-half profit outlook despite a dip in first-half earnings, the firm said Thursday.

PAL 1H 2026 revenue up 5.9% but fuel cost surge drives net loss

Philippine Airlines (PAL) reported a 5.9 percent rise in first-half 2026 earnings, though a steep jump in fuel expenses pushed the country’s flag carrier to a net loss for the period.

Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures posts 12% 1H 2026 sales growth amid headwinds

Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures (PSE:PIZZA | SPAVI) recorded 12 percent year-on-year growth in system-wide sales to ₱13.0 billion for the first half of 2026, with consolidated revenues up 9 percent to ₱8.2 billion. Performance faced pressure from inflation and reduced consumer spending, with second-quarter same-store sales dipping one percent year-on-year though rising 4 percent sequentially.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

Manila Water’s East Bay project to add 200 MLD water supply capacity

Manila Water is set to boost water security for customers in its East Zone, with the ₱7.84-billion East Bay Phase 2 Water Supply System Project scheduled for completion this September.

URC launches Malvar mega plant on its 70th year

Universal Robina Corporation (URC) has inaugurated its Malvar Mega Plant in Batangas, a major step in its growth strategy and a commitment to stronger Philippine manufacturing, as the company marks its 70th anniversary.

Globe secures broadened ISO 27001:2022 info security certification

Data entrusted to digital providers needs robust governance and processes beyond just technology. Globe has earned ISO 27001:2022 recognition, expanding scope from core data centers to include corporate governance and information security management.

PDIC recognized for strengthening Philippine banking industry

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) has been recognized by the Bankers Institute of the Philippines (BAIPHIL) as one of its most active member institutions, underscoring the deposit insurer’s support for professional development and a stronger Philippine banking industry.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

SM: Sustainability is sound business strategy, not just social responsibility 

For years, many businesses have treated sustainability as separate from core operations. SM Investments takes a different view: sustainable practices are simply smart business decisions.

San Miguel’s Backyard Bukid expands to 9 sites, reaches Visayas

San Miguel Corp. has grown its Backyard Bukid initiative to nine sites nationwide, marking its first presence in the Visayas as the project shifts from urban farming to boost community food security and livelihoods.

Pax Silica hub targets USD 200B exports

The planned Pax Silica industrial hub in New Clark City is targeting its first 10 to 20 locators within five years of construction, with an ambitious goal of generating as much as USD200 billion in exports over a 30-year development period.

Ayala Land earns national honors for PWD accessibility

Accessibility is often measured in inches and angles, in ramps, elevators, doorways, and pathways. But its real measure is simpler. It is whether a place allows people to move through it with dignity, independence, and ease.

Markets

Peso, stocks brace for volatility as rate bets fade

Philippine markets may stay on edge as investors juggle Middle East risks, oil prices and the next move by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, but fading rate-hike bets are giving both the peso and stocks some breathing room.

AI transforms retail but fundamentals still drive growth

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping Philippine retail, but technology alone will not determine which businesses succeed, according to venture capital firm Kickstart Ventures, which says disciplined execution and sound business fundamentals remain the strongest drivers of sustainable growth.

Retailers see modest growth amid rising costs, online rivals

Philippine retailers are bracing for another challenging year, with industry growth expected to remain in the single digits as higher operating costs, cautious consumers, and intensifying competition from online sellers continue to squeeze margins, according to the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA).

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.

Travel

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Energy

SMIC bets on renewables, 2GO to drive growth

SM Investments Corp. is looking to renewable energy and logistics to become bigger engines of portfolio growth as the conglomerate prepares for a possible decline in the segment’s contribution after Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. is transferred to another listed SM entity.

Shell Energy taps two firms for Bataan battery project’s building and operations 

Shell Energy Philippines (SEPH) has selected two companies to deliver works and run the proposed 30-megawatt / 60-megawatt hour Hermosa Battery Energy Storage System in Bataan.

ACEN signs P1-billion loan deal with unit; completes Ilocos Norte wind farm upgrade

ACEN Corp., the energy investment arm of the Ayala Group, has entered into a short-term loan agreement of up to P1 billion with its fully owned subsidiary Giga Ace 6 Inc.

SMIC plans mining exit, Atlas stake transfer

SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) is preparing to exit the mining business, with plans to transfer its roughly 34-percent stake in listed Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. to another listed company within the group next year.

Transport & Communications

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Property

BCDA, Double 11 put P200M into Clark mobility hub 

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority and Double 11 Properties Corp. are investing P200 million to build a mixed-use commercial and mobility hub in New Clark City, adding another private-sector bet on the emerging Central Luzon growth center.

Highlands, Hamilo Coast hold up amid property slowdown 

SM Leisure Resort Residences is leaning on the resilience of its established leisure estates, Tagaytay Highlands and Hamilo Coast, as buyers continue to take a long-term view of vacation and second-home properties despite softer conditions in the broader real estate market.

DMW profit holds firm as leasing cushions property

D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc. (DMW) posted net income of P865 million in the first half of 2026, with its leasing business providing a sturdy cushion as geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty weighed on property demand.

Ayala homes eye special rates under Pag-IBIG tie-up

The residential businesses of Ayala Land Inc., Avida Land Corp. and Amaia Land Corp., are looking to make more homes accessible to Filipino workers through special financing rates under a new partnership with Pag-IBIG Fund.

Environment

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Technology

ABS-CBN raises P6B to fund media reboot

ABS-CBN Corp. is raising P6 billion in fresh equity as the media giant looks to shore up its balance sheet and accelerate a business reset built around content, intellectual property, and entertainment.

iSON’s $300M Philippine investment broadens digital push 

Global technology and infrastructure company iSON is moving ahead...

PLDT to provide digital infrastructure for historic BARMM parliamentary elections

The government has partnered with PLDT Inc. to deliver connectivity and digital infrastructure for the first regular Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Parliamentary Elections, aiming to ensure a transparent and credible process.

Maya’s AI-first workforce approach wins global recognition

Maya, the country’s leading digital financial services platform, uses AI to improve recruitment, branding, onboarding, and employee engagement—not to replace human judgment, but to cut friction and build better experiences.

Health & Science

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Opinion

Lawyers still owe decency in impeachment trial

Impeachment may be political. It may be bruising, theatrical, and occasionally combustible. But it is still a legal proceeding, and lawyers do not get a temporary exemption from good manners simply because the stakes are high.

When the cleanup starts costing growth

Even the best intentions can backfire.

Alex Eala’s sweetest revenge spoke louder than cheers

Some victories earn ranking points. Others settle unfinished conversations. Alex Eala's...

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.

Sports & Entertainment

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Exclusive

Vivant Water sees 2026 as launchpad for bigger growth 

Vivant Water is treating 2026 as a pivotal year as it moves from building its presence across the water industry to scaling operations, investments, and its project pipeline.

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.