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Central bank warning drives DA to review food policies to protect consumers from price spikes

The Department of Agriculture is sharpening its strategy against the potential return of the El Niño weather phenomenon, responding directly to alerts from central bank officials that future droughts could trigger a new wave of inflation. Monetary authorities have emphasized that farm output and market prices are deeply linked, making agriculture policy a primary front in the country’s fight against rising living costs. For everyday consumers, any drop in farm production quickly turns into higher prices for kitchen staples, directly impacting household budgets.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

Agriculture damage from bad weather rises to P2.84 billion, more losses expected

Damage to the agriculture sector from the enhanced southwest monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng has climbed to P2.84 billion, up from P2.32 billion just five days prior, the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed in its latest morning advisory on September 1

Geofencing farmland: balancing renewable energy and food security

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Energy (DOE) are crafting new safeguards to protect critical farmland from being overtaken by solar energy projects, aiming to advance renewable energy goals without compromising food security.

DA, DOE target cheaper feedstock to boost local bioethanol, cut fuel import reliance

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Energy (DOE) are exploring lower-cost, more varied raw materials to expand domestic bioethanol production, make local fuel competitive with imports, and safeguard farmers and related industries, officials confirmed.

Central bank warning drives DA to review food policies to protect consumers from price spikes

The Department of Agriculture is sharpening its strategy against the potential return of the El Niño weather phenomenon, responding directly to alerts from central bank officials that future droughts could trigger a new wave of inflation. Monetary authorities have emphasized that farm output and market prices are deeply linked, making agriculture policy a primary front in the country’s fight against rising living costs. For everyday consumers, any drop in farm production quickly turns into higher prices for kitchen staples, directly impacting household budgets.

Corporate

Metro Pacific Water to pour P23 billion into PH, Vietnam projects over 5 years

Metro Pacific Water (MPW) plans to invest up to P23 billion over the next five years to upgrade and expand water services across the Philippines and Vietnam, the firm announced Tuesday.

Jollibee to spin off international operations, list unit in Hong Kong

Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC), the Philippines’ largest fast-food chain, announced Tuesday it will spin off its entire overseas business and list the new entity on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

ACMobility wins international honors for people management

ACMobility, the Ayala Group’s end-to-end mobility provider, has picked up multiple international awards for people management, extending a strong run of workplace recognition for its employee programs and leadership.

Airbus to launch A220 training hub in Singapore, Q4 2027

Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC), a joint venture of Airbus and Singapore Airlines, will install an A220 full-flight simulator (FFS) at its Singapore campus, serving the entire Asia Pacific region. Operations start Q4 2027.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

ACMobility wins international honors for people management

ACMobility, the Ayala Group’s end-to-end mobility provider, has picked up multiple international awards for people management, extending a strong run of workplace recognition for its employee programs and leadership.

Airbus to launch A220 training hub in Singapore, Q4 2027

Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC), a joint venture of Airbus and Singapore Airlines, will install an A220 full-flight simulator (FFS) at its Singapore campus, serving the entire Asia Pacific region. Operations start Q4 2027.

NBA and Salmon announce multi-year collaboration to deepen fan engagement in the Philippines

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Salmon, a fast-growing financial technology company in the Philippines, today announced a multi-year marketing partnership that makes Salmon an Official Partner of the NBA in the Philippines.

Meralco bags 9 Quill Awards, reaffirms comms leadership

Meralco, led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, took home nine Excellence and Merit trophies at the 22nd Philippine Quill Awards, marking another strong showing in the country’s top business communication honors.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

Jollibee Group Foundation, UPLB partner to boost smallholder farmers’ productivity, sustainability

The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) have formalized a partnership to combine research, innovation and agricultural expertise in support of smallholder farmers. Under a Memorandum of Understanding, the two institutions will collaborate on farmer training, knowledge sharing, technology transfer and capacity building to lift productivity, strengthen farm enterprises and advance sustainable practices nationwide.

Aboitiz Foundation deepens ties with LMP and TESDA to scale community development and employment pathways

Aboitiz Foundation is deepening partnerships with the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to expand education, livelihood, and sustainability programs nationwide.

Ayala Land takes big leap in sustainability ranking

Ayala Land Inc. is moving up the global sustainability scoreboard, and it is not a small step.

Security Bank turns employee entrepreneurship into scholarship support for 75th anniversary

Security Bank marked its 75th anniversary by channeling employee business spirit into community good, with proceeds from the annual People's Fair Marketplace going directly to the Security Bank Foundation's Regalo Mo, Kinabukasan Ko Scholarship Program.

Markets

Inflation, oil risks keep markets cautious September

Philippine markets enter September with little room for complacency, as investors weigh the appeal of battered stock valuations against inflation, oil and currency risks that could keep sentiment fragile.

Global snacking shift meets the mindful, community-centric Filipino palate

Snacking is no longer just a quick fix between meals; it has transformed into an essential part of modern daily life.

PSEi rangebound as peso awaits BSP rate decision

Philippine financial markets are likely to remain cautious on Monday, with the PSEi expected to trade sideways as investors await the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Aug. 27 policy decision and assess persistent inflation, currency, and growth risks.

Harbor Star leads PSE weekly gainers, Swift Foods slides

Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. led the Philippine Stock Exchange’s (PSE) weekly price gainers, while Swift Foods Inc. posted the steepest decline, according to the latest PSE market data.

Travel

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Energy

Meralco advances nuclear push with SMR feasibility study, partnering global and local experts

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and its power generation arm Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) are moving forward in their pursuit of nuclear energy, launching a comprehensive feasibility study for small modular reactors (SMRs) that could reshape the country’s power supply for both the industry and consumers.

Meralco secures lowest bids for 600MW supply; three power firms win capacity shares

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has locked in the most competitive bids for its 600-megawatt power supply requirement under the government-mandated Competitive Selection Process (CSP), marking a key milestone in securing long-term, cost-effective electricity for its customers.

MGEN puts corporate culture into daily practice

Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) is taking its corporate values off the wall and into the workplace, embedding them in everything from office layouts and employee benefits to leadership engagement and wellness programs.

PetroGreen gets green light for Pangasinan solar plant

PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC) is set to begin commercial operations of its 25-megawatt-peak Bugallon Solar Power Plant in Pangasinan after securing regulatory approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Transport & Communications

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Property

SM reshapes malls as shoppers seek value, experiences

SM Supermalls is reworking its mall strategy as inflation and economic uncertainty make Filipino consumers more deliberate about where they spend both their money and their time.

Dominguez joins Megaworld board as lead independent

Former Finance Secretary Carlos “Sonny” G. Dominguez has joined the board of property giant Megaworld Corp. as lead independent director, bringing more than four decades of experience spanning government, finance, and corporate leadership.

Torre Lorenzo expands student housing near universities

Torre Lorenzo Development Corp. is expanding its residential portfolio around major universities, betting on a persistent shortage of purpose-built student housing despite sustained demand from renters and property investors.

DMCI develops socialized housing to meet gov’t mandate 

DMCI Project Developers Inc., the real estate arm of Consunji-led DMCI Holdings Inc., is rolling out its first socialized housing project to comply with national regulations requiring real estate developers to provide affordable homes for the public.

Environment

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Technology

22nd Philippine Quill Awards and 12th Philippine Student Quill Awards Honor Excellence in Communication

The 22nd Philippine Quill Awards and the 12th Philippine Student Quill Awards recognized outstanding communication work, organizations, and emerging communicators, highlighting the breadth of communication excellence across the professional and academic communities.

Child Rights Network rejects blanket under-16 social media ban

The Child Rights Network (CRN), the Philippines’ broadest coalition of child-focused organizations, has opposed a proposed blanket ban on social media use by children under 16, arguing that the answer to online harm is safer digital spaces, not simply excluding children from them.

Telecom investments surge past $2B, set to boost national connectivity and digital access 

The country’s telecommunications sector is on track to pour at least $2.21 billion in capital investments this year alone, already surpassing the $2-billion milestone even before accounting for additional spending from major players, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed Tuesday.

Globe ramps up 5G rollout, 1H capital spending up 39% to P26.3B

Globe Telecom Inc. is accelerating its nationwide 5G expansion, boosting infrastructure spending this year to keep up with growing demand for fast, reliable digital connectivity.

Health & Science

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Opinion

No story is worth a reporter’s life

It was drilled into generations of journalists that no story is worth your life. Tell the story. Do not become the story.

Senate finally remembers it is an impeachment court

Eight weeks into the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the Senate impeachment court has rediscovered a useful legal principle. People involved in a trial should probably stop trying the case everywhere except the courtroom.

Philippine poverty is falling, no time for victory laps

Poverty is not just an empty wallet. It can be a family scrambling to keep a child in school, relatives walking farther to fetch clean water, or a household wrestling with a stubborn internet signal while the rest of the world moves on.

Violent games are no simple school-shooting trigger

Every generation gets its villain. In 1979, it was Voltes V and other Japanese robot cartoons. Today, as the Philippines confronts fresh school shootings, the finger is pointing at Roblox.

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.