Exclusive
Boeing deepens strategy cuts as operations take center-stage – sources
Boeing Co has embarked on deeper-than-expected cuts in its strategy ranks, halving the number of planners working within key divisions as it refocuses energies on tackling industrial pressures, people familiar with the matter said.
Maynilad may consider sourcing water from Manila Bay if desalination cost eases to affordable levels
Maynilad Water Services Inc., the water utility of Metro Pacific Investment Corp., may consider Manila Bay as source of potable water for its concession area in Metropolitan Manila and nearby towns if the cost of desalination comes down or large consumers such as factories start extracting water from the salt-water bay for their needs.
Converge mulls sale-leaseback deal for fiber network, plans dividend payout
With the aggressive fiber network rollout behind it, Converge...
Converge’s Dennis Anthony Uy Plans $1 Billion “Silicon Valley” Project In Pampanga
Dennis Anthony Uy, co-founder of publicly listed Converge ICT,...
Agriculture
DA expands P20 rice program to more KADIWA centers
The Department of Agriculture (DA) expanded the P20-per-kilo rice program to more KADIWA ng Pangulo centers on Thursday, fulfilling President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s promise to make affordable food accessible to a larger number of Filipinos.
Palay prices continued decline in April
Palay prices declined further in April as the harvest season reached its peak and global rice prices remained lower compared to last year.
DA suspends pork price cap amid low compliance, supply issues
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily lifted the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork to reassess its effectiveness, citing low market compliance and supply-demand imbalances.
Strong chicken pricing, new revenue streams send Vitarich Corp. 1Q net income soaring
Vitarich Corp., a major feed and poultry producer, reported an increase in first-quarter net income to P241.6 million, soaring 389 times from P6.22 million in the same period last year. The surge highlights the company’s resilience and strategic agility amid market supply disruptions.
Corporate
GT Capital banking, auto units boost Q1 profit
GT Capital Holdings, Inc., the Ty Group’s listed investment holding company, reported a consolidated net income of Ph9.14 billion for the first quarter, a 29 percent increase from the same period last year. The growth was largely driven by the strong performances of its core banking and automotive businesses.
Diversification lifts Megawide earnings in Q1
Megawide Construction Corp. (Megawide) posted a net income of P210 million in the first quarter of 2025, a 14 percent increase from the same period last year.
Mega Sardines earns superfood status from US wellness group
Mega Sardines, the flagship product of Mega Prime Foods Inc. (MPFI) and the country's top-selling sardine brand, has been officially endorsed as a “superfood” by the US-based Medical Wellness Association (MWA), an historic first for both the country and the global sardine industry.
Payoneer powers ahead in 1Q with strong SMB growth
Payoneer Global Inc. reported robust financial results for the first quarter of 2025, underscoring its growing influence in the global small and medium business (SMB) fintech sector.
Markets
EU steps forward as U.S. reassesses global trade role
The 55th WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF), hosted jointly by the World Trade Centers Association and WTC Marseille Provence, ignited critical discussion on global trade dynamics, with the European Union’s evolving role taking center stage amid shifting U.S. trade policy.
US markets plunge amid rising China trade tensions
U.S. shares tumbled on Thursday as mounting trade tensions with China overshadowed initial relief from President Donald Trump’s earlier decision to delay higher tariffs on America’s trading partners.
Economy shows resilience amid global trade shifts
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto on Thursday highlighted the Philippine economy's resilience amid global trade disruptions, emphasizing the government's efforts to attract more investors through the CREATE MORE Act.
Trade tensions, investor caution push gold prices to record high
Gold prices surged to a new record high of USD3,164 per ounce, driven by heightened risk aversion following President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement.
Energy
Higher electricity sales power 8% profit rise for CREC
Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) reported an 8 percent increase in net income for the first quarter of 2025, rising to ₱230 million from ₱213 million last year, buoyed by a sharp uptick in electricity sales.
DOE urges fair insurance premium for transitioning coal plants
The Department of Energy (DOE) is calling on insurance providers to offer more reasonable premium rates for coal-fired power plants, warning that disproportionate insurance costs threaten the operational stability of power sources crucial to the national energy mix.
ERC cracks down on 37 gencos over fuel data gaps
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued 40 show cause orders (SCOs) to 37 power generation companies (gencos), for failing to submit complete fuel data for the 2022 audit period—raising serious implications for transparency, cost recovery, and regulatory compliance in the domestic power sector.
PSALM remits ₱377.5M to host communities in 2024
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) remitted P377.51 million to communities hosting its power facilities in 2024, delivering vital support through government-mandated benefit programs.
Property
Vista Land unit secures USD150M syndicated loan
Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., the Villar Group’s listed property arm, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, VLL International Inc., has secured a USD150 million syndicated term loan facility with a fixed annual interest rate of 6.40509 percent.
SM Prime eyes completing Manila Bay land reclamation in 2025
SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property development arm of the Sy family’s business empire, announced it will complete the land reclamation portion of its 360-hectare Manila Bay project by the end of 2024, marking a major milestone in one of the country’s most ambitious urban infrastructure projects.
Slovenia opens first Southeast Asian Embassy at RCBC Plaza in Makati
The Republic of Slovenia officially inaugurated its first embassy in Southeast Asia at RCBC Plaza, a premier business address in Metro Manila, signaling a significant diplomatic and economic milestone in its relations with the Philippines and the broader region.
Filinvest’s City di Mare: Cebu’s rising business and lifestyle powerhouse
Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC), one of the country's most diversified conglomerates, is making a bold commercial statement in the Visayas with City di Mare (CDM)—a 50-hectare township development in South Road Properties (SRP), now positioned as Cebu’s next major business and lifestyle hub.
Technology
Report ties cybersecurity innovation to climate action and shareholder value
Fortinet®, a global leader in cybersecurity, has released its 2024 Sustainability Report, highlighting substantial strides in environmental responsibility, cybersecurity innovation, and workforce development—underscoring the business and commercial importance of sustainable digital security.
Appdome unveils industry’s most advanced mobile bot defense
At RSAC 2025, Appdome launched its AI-native MobileBOT™ Defense profile, setting a new standard in mobile bot protection by delivering over 400 attack vector defenses in a single profile.
Surge in USB-borne malware threatens SEA businesses’ security and operations
A new report from cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reveals a significant rise in targeted, on-device malware attacks against businesses in Southeast Asia (SEA), with nearly 50 million incidents blocked in 2024 alone—up 15 percent from 2023.
Scam Watch to Meta: Keep FB from being ‘scammers’ playground’
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has...
Opinion
A Promise the Nation Can’t Comprehend
For years, the Philippines has looked ahead with optimism, banking on its so-called “demographic sweet spot.” With around two-thirds of the population between the ages of 15 and 65, the country seemed poised for rapid economic growth—a young, able-bodied workforce ready to fuel productivity and progress.
Vote smart or pay the price
You can feel it in the air, even if no one says it out loud. The world is tilting, and tension is building between countries that no longer trust each other. The US and China—two giants locked in a stare-down—are turning tariffs into weapons. Everyone knows what comes next: slower global growth, just when the world is finally getting back on its feet after the pandemic.
The Duterte Arrest: A Complicated Affair of Sovereignty and Justice
Here we are again, watching the political drama unfold with the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. It’s strange how something that’s supposed to be about justice often turns into a series of complex, tangled arguments, full of political posturing and personal pride.
Ayuda: A lifeline for struggling Filipinos
The latest surveys are in, and they’ve made something pointedly clear: Filipinos are firmly standing behind the government’s social assistance programs.
