Saturday, 19 July 2025, 6:29 am

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    Airfares set to rise in August as CAB hikes fuel surcharge

    Travelers should brace for higher airfares in August following the Civil Aeronautics Board’s (CAB) announcement Friday raising fuel surcharges to Level 4 for both domestic and international flights.

    News Dispatch

    Agriculture

    Palay production costs expose Visayas, country divide

    The cost of producing palay—the unmilled form of rice, the Philippines’ national food staple—exposes deep regional disparities that mirror the effects of geography, infrastructure, and urban sprawl on the country’s agriculture. 

    Rice prices drop in Baguio, La Union; DA cuts imported rice cap to P43/kg

    The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expanded its P20 per kilogram subsidized rice program to La Union and Baguio City, aiming to ease food costs for low-income consumers.

    Nearly 30K agrarian beneficiaries to receive loan relief, land titles

    The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will condone over P1.135 billion in unpaid loans under foreign-assisted financing programs, benefiting 29,948 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Panay and Guimaras.

    DA halts mackerel, scad imports over permit misuse

    The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily suspended the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC ) for the importation of mackerel and torpedo scad species following reports of import permit misuse that could destabilize the market.

    Corporate

    Top Line turbocharges growth with bold moves

    Top Line Business Development Corp. has thrown the brakes off its expansion, shifting into overdrive on a growth strategy that was originally set to unfold over three years. 

    Filinvest Development gets SEC nod on P8B offering

    Filinvest Development Corp., the investment holding company of the...

    Paterno elevated to PSC chairman

    Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC), the exclusive licensee of 7-Eleven in the Philippines, has named Jose Victor Paterno as chairman of the board, marking a significant leadership shift with both corporate and strategic implications.

    Ayala Land ups mall redevelopment budget to ₱17.5B

    Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) has raised its mall redevelopment budget from ₱13 billion to ₱17.5 billion, signaling a stronger push to transform its retail properties into integrated lifestyle destinations.

    Banking & Insurance

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    Corporate Bulletins

    SCCI expands fleet with P129M equipment boost

    Scheirman Construction Consolidated Inc. (SCCI), one of the country's leading construction firms, has deployed P129 million worth of new heavy equipment to accelerate project delivery and expand its nationwide footprint.

    GSIS, Dragonpay seal deal expand digital payment access for members

    The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has partnered with leading digital payment solutions provider Dragonpay to expand electronic payment options for its members and pensioners, formalized through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed on Wednesday.

    Lenovo rises in Gartner’s Top 25 Supply Chains ranking

    Lenovo has climbed to 8th place in the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2025, advancing two spots from last year and reaffirming its leadership among global giants across industries such as pharmaceuticals, automotive, FMCG, and technology.

    EastWest Bank named Mid-Sized Retail Bank of the Year

    EastWest Bank has been named Mid-Sized Retail Bank of the Year (Philippines) at the Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) Retail Banking Awards 2025, underscoring its growing prominence in the country’s consumer banking sector.

    Social Responsibility & Sustainability

    Call grows for wider use of financial literacy tools in schools

    Education and financial leaders are calling for broader integration of financial literacy tools in classrooms nationwide, emphasizing their significance in shaping a financially responsible generation.

    Ayala welcomes 100 global interns for 2025 Summer Program

    The Ayala Group has launched its 2025 Summer Internship Program (AGSIP), welcoming 100 students from 20 schools across the Philippines, the UK, the US, and Canada for a six-week immersion designed to equip them with real-world experience and instill a values-driven approach to leadership.

    Shop & Share: Uplifting lives together

    The SM Store’s flagship advocacy program, Shop & Share, continues to strengthen its role in uplifting communities across the Philippines, reaching nearly 90,000 individuals—including students, women, farmers, and children—with essential retail items tailored to their needs.

    BDO launches P5B green bonds, strengthens funding

    BDO Unibank, Inc. is launching a peso‑denominated Fixed‑Rate Sustainability Bond offering with a minimum issue size of P5 billion, the fourth such issuance of the country’s largest lender by assets controlled by the Sy Group. 

    Markets

    8990 Holdings files for voluntary delisting, cites market undervaluation

    Mass housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. has filed for voluntary delisting from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), citing the market’s failure to fully reflect the company’s intrinsic value. This marks the second delisting on the PSE this year, following Keppel Philippines Holdings Inc.

    AMD, Nvidia shares up on China sales reboot

    Shares of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Nvidia climbed...

    BDO closes green bond offer early on strong demand

    BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender by assets, said Tuesday it has cut short the offer period for its fourth peso-denominated ASEAN Sustainability Bond due to strong investor demand.

    Tanduay’s journey from local distillery to World’s No. 1 Rum Brand

    From the sugarcane fields of the Philippines to the global stage, Tanduay has evolved into an internationally acclaimed rum powerhouse.

    Travel

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    Energy

    PLDT Group taps Meralco’s MPower for greener telecom network

    PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. have tapped MPower, the retail electricity supply arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), to power 144 cell sites and nine facilities under the Department of Energy’s Retail Aggregation Program (RAP), the companies announced Thursday.

    Energy sector cheers Marcos Jr.’s prompt ERC appointments

    The energy sector has expressed optimism following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s swift move to resolve the leadership gap at the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), a critical regulatory body overseeing electricity pricing and industry practices.

    Fourth GEA iteration draws 230+ bids for 10,653 MW in renewable projects

    A total of 142 renewable energy (RE) companies have qualified under the fourth iteration of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Green Energy Auction (GEA4), submitting over 230 project bids targeting 10,653 MW of capacity.

    Caltex imposes another fuel price hike this week

    Caltex will raise pump prices again starting 6:01 a.m. Thursday, 17 July, marking its second fuel price hike this week. Gasoline and kerosene will go up by P0.20 per liter, while diesel will rise by P0.35, the company announced.

    Transport & Communications

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    Property

    P9.2-B premium project launches at Cebu IT Park

    Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI), in partnership with Japan’s NTT Urban Development Asia, has launched The Wave Towers, a P9.2-billion premium residential development in Cebu IT Park, marking a major milestone in the city’s high-end urban living segment.

    Megaworld expands Chinatown mall with new wing

    Megaworld Corp. is pushing forward with its commercial expansion strategy through the Imperial Wing of Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila—an important addition that reinforces the developer’s role in revitalizing one of the capital’s historic business districts.

    CLI to debut Luzon project in Pasig, eyes CALABARZON expansion

    Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) is set to launch its first Luzon development in Pasig City by late 2026, marking a significant milestone for the Visayas-Mindanao-based developer as it enters the Metro Manila market.

    CLI posts record revenue amid headwinds; adds two board members

    Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) posted a record-high revenue of P19.5 billion in 2024, a strong performance despite persistent market headwinds. 

    Environment

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    Technology

    Smart opens pre-orders for Samsung Galaxy Z7 Series

    Smart Communications has opened pre-orders for the newly launched Samsung Galaxy Z7 Series—comprising the Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, and Z Flip7 FE—from 9 to 31 July, giving Filipino users early access to Samsung’s latest foldable innovations following their global debut at Galaxy Unpacked in Brooklyn, New York.

    Phishing evolves into institutional threat, warns Kaspersky

    Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky is urging financial institutions in the Philippines to treat phishing as a strategic threat, not just a consumer nuisance. As digital banking grows across Southeast Asia, the rise in financial phishing is now directly impacting banks' credibility and operational integrity.

    Smarter parcels, faster routes, fewer errors

    The way your favorite shampoo or snack bar gets from the factory to your nearby shelf is changing—and fast. 

    Cisco study: AI driving urgent network overhaul globally

    A global shift in enterprise network architecture is underway as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and real-time data reshape the demands placed on corporate IT infrastructure, according to a new study released Thursday by networking giant Cisco.

    Health & Science

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    Opinion

    Duty, drugs, dismissal

    It was a sight to behold: billions of pesos worth of seized drugs, sealed in plastic, and under heavy security fed into a roaring industrial incinerator. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stood by, face mask on, watching calmly, almost dispassionately.

    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.

    Sports & Entertainment

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    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,...