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Metro Manila minimum wage jumps by record P85

More than 1.1 million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila will receive a record P85 daily wage increase in two tranches starting July 19, giving workers an immediate pay boost while allowing employers more time to adjust to higher labor costs.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

Philippine ube sector holds growth potential but faces development gaps – USDA

A new assessment by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) reveals that the Philippines’ ube, or purple yam, value chain holds significant growth opportunities, yet requires coordinated action to address critical structural and operational challenges.

PH-Japan project upgrades grains quality testing system

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) will upgrade the country’s grain quality testing system through a P184.2-million project funded jointly by the Philippine and Japan.

Sugar industry welcomes closure of bioethanol import loophole

The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) has welcomed new guidelines from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) that closes a regulatory loophole affecting imports of sugar-based feedstocks for bioethanol production.

DA allocates funds and launches programs to preserve Ifugao rice terraces

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is stepping up efforts to protect the Ifugao Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from threats including climate change, aging infrastructure, and shifting farming practices. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led an assessment visit to Banaue and Batad Rice Terraces over the weekend to review conditions and consult with local farmers and officials.

Corporate

RCBC earns FinanceAsia citation for digital banking push

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), the country’s 6th largest lender by assets, has earned regional recognition for its digital banking strategy, underscoring how lenders are increasingly competing on technology and financial inclusion as digital adoption accelerates across the Philippines.

Meralco recognized for leading Luzon’s consumer choice programs

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has received recognition from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for registering the highest number of participants in customer choice programs across Luzon.

Meralco leads Luzon in consumer power programs

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest power distributor by sales, has emerged as the leading distribution utility in advancing consumer choice after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) recognized it for having the largest number of participants in customer choice programs across Luzon.

McDonald’s, Megawide expand partnership for early learning programs

As the new school year approaches, McDonald's Philippines, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Philippines and Megawide Foundation have renewed their commitment to early childhood education with the reopening of the refurbished Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit Learning Center in Barangay Mambog IV, Bacoor City.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

RCBC earns FinanceAsia citation for digital banking push

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), the country’s 6th largest lender by assets, has earned regional recognition for its digital banking strategy, underscoring how lenders are increasingly competing on technology and financial inclusion as digital adoption accelerates across the Philippines.

Meralco recognized for leading Luzon’s consumer choice programs

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has received recognition from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for registering the highest number of participants in customer choice programs across Luzon.

Meralco leads Luzon in consumer power programs

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest power distributor by sales, has emerged as the leading distribution utility in advancing consumer choice after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) recognized it for having the largest number of participants in customer choice programs across Luzon.

Meralco energizes new substation in Cavite

Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has placed the new Osorio (Conchu) Substation into operation. This project adds 83 megavolt amperes of capacity and upgrades key equipment to improve power reliability in Trece Martires City and General Trias.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

McDonald’s, Megawide expand partnership for early learning programs

As the new school year approaches, McDonald's Philippines, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Philippines and Megawide Foundation have renewed their commitment to early childhood education with the reopening of the refurbished Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit Learning Center in Barangay Mambog IV, Bacoor City.

GCash, Wovoka launch million-tree drive for climate, livelihood 

GCash's sustainability platform GForest and climate technology developer Wovoka Philippines have launched a five-year initiative to plant more than one million native trees and mangroves, tapping digital finance to accelerate ecosystem restoration while creating green jobs in climate-vulnerable communities.

Vietnam firms pledge P50M aid for Mindanao quake relief

Vietnamese companies VinFast, V-Green, VinEnergo, and Green GSM have committed more than P50 million in emergency assistance for communities affected by the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8, 2026, signaling both humanitarian support and deepening regional investment ties with the Philippines.

Ayala units expand financial literacy programs to community areas across Luzon

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), through its foundation arm, is advancing financial inclusion by rolling out financial education initiatives in communities near ACEN’s renewable energy project sites. The partnership covers areas in Quezon, Laguna, and Zambales provinces, targeting around 3,000 direct beneficiaries.

Markets

Lazada deepens MSME drive via digital skills partnership

Lazada Philippines is stepping up its support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), expanding partnerships with government agencies and relaunching its LazGrow Together program to help more Filipino entrepreneurs compete in the country's fast-growing digital economy.

Calmer oil, cheaper fuel buoy local equities

Philippine shares could finally catch their breath this week.

Tanduay retains World’s Top Rum spot for 9th straight year

Tanduay, the Philippine rum brand owned by tycoon Lucio Tan, has kept its title as the world’s best-selling rum for nine consecutive years, according to Drinks International Magazine.

Hormuz risk keeps peso, PSEi on edge

Philippine financial markets are heading into the week on a cautious footing as renewed threats by Iran to potentially close the Strait of Hormuz inject fresh volatility into global oil supply expectations and inflation outlooks, according to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort.

Travel

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Energy

Meralco targets new income record; eyes gas-fired plants in VisMin

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is confident it can exceed last year’s record net income of ₱50.57 billion, citing rising electricity demand and stronger business performance.

Cement industry charts lower-carbon future, sustainable growth

The Philippine cement industry has unveiled a long-term roadmap to sharply reduce carbon emissions by 2050, seeking to reconcile the country's growing demand for cement with mounting pressure to decarbonize one of its most emissions-intensive industries.

EvoEnergi signs first residential aggregation groups in QC, San Juan; also supplies McDonald’s Luzon stores

Local retail electricity provider EvoEnergi has become the supplier for the Philippines’ first two residential groups under the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) program.

ERC extends pause on GEA-All collection until August

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved extending the temporary suspension of the Green Energy Auction Allowance (GEA-All) collection for billing months July and August 2026, to help lower electricity expenses amid current economic conditions.

Transport & Communications

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Property

Megaworld lease renewals jump as office demand holds

Property giant Megaworld Corp. booked a surge in office lease renewals in the first half of 2026, signaling that demand for well-located, integrated workspaces remains robust even as companies continue to recalibrate their workplace strategies.

Century Properties raises P3B to fund expansion plan

Century Properties Group Inc. (CPG) has tapped the domestic debt market to bolster its expansion plans, raising P3 billion through five-year fixed-rate corporate notes as it positions itself for long-term growth amid resilient demand for housing.

Ayala Land expands Lio Estate as long-stay demand grows

Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is stepping up investments in its 320-hectare Lio Estate in El Nido, Palawan, betting that the next wave of tourism growth will be driven less by short vacations and more by long-stay living, remote work and integrated island communities.

Global real estate shifts into recovery and balancing fears – Colliers

Global commercial real estate markets are entering a period of recovery and rebalancing, backed by steady capital flows and new opportunities driven by changing work habits and global supply chain adjustments, according to insights shared by Colliers executives at the recent 56th WTCA Global Business Forum in Philadelphia.

Environment

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Technology

iGaming fraud shifts to post-onboarding, AI-driven threats rise

Sumsub, a global identity verification provider, has released its 2026 iGaming Fraud Report, drawing on data from more than 3 million verification attempts collected over 2024 to early 2026.

Globe powers seamless connectivity for Baragatan sa Palawan 2026

Globe delivered reliable and enhanced network support throughout Baragatan sa Palawan 2026, the province’s largest annual celebration, keeping residents, visitors, vendors, and local government units connected.

AI adoption requires stronger cybersecurity, Palo Alto says 

As Philippine companies accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence,...

DOTr, LTFRB partner with GCash for faster, secure fuel subsidy payouts

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and LTFRB have selected GCash to deliver fuel subsidies digitally to eligible public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators across the country. The move comes amid rising global oil prices fueled by tensions in the Middle East, which have squeezed the daily earnings and livelihoods of transport workers.

Health & Science

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Opinion

The great fork heist and other national priorities

At long last, the public can sleep soundly. The National Capital Region Police Office has announced the arrest of a 43-year-old man accused of attempting to make off with 26 forks and seven silver spoons from a Manila hotel—the estimated value of the alleged loot is P12,658.14.

Reframing the South China Sea conversation 

For more than a decade, the South China Sea has been ASEAN's diplomatic traffic jam. Everyone knows there is a problem. Everyone agrees it matters. Yet the moment the conversation turns to China, the convoy grinds to a halt.

Ghosts of 1949 haunt today’s Senate

The Philippine Senate has a remarkable talent for proving that history never really leaves the chamber. It merely changes surnames.

Silent senators forfeit democracy’s mantle

The Senate has been regarded as the last bastion of democratic dissent—a chamber where statesmen stood their ground, challenged power, and refused to let their voices be drowned out by political pressure or executive overreach. It was where difficult questions were asked, unpopular truths were spoken, and silence was treated not as a virtue but as a surrender.

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.