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Agriculture
Imported rice prices may be capped soon, pending Malacanang order
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said a presidential executive order is required to implement a proposed price cap on imported rice.
Gov’t invests P168-M in Isabela farms to lower costs, lift incomes
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected key farm facilities and a new road project in Isabela aimed at improving food supply and increasing farmers’ earnings.
Gov’t moves to tamp rice prices with P50 per kilo ceiling
The National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) has approved a proposal from the Department of Agriculture to set a temporary price ceiling of ₱50 per kilogram on imported rice (5 percent broken).
DA turns over P67.63M rice processing system to boost income of 5,500 Narra farmers
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has stepped up its push for regional food security with the turnover of a P67.63-million rice processing system to the municipal government, a move seen to reinforce the role of Palawan not just as a premier tourist destination but as a critical food-producing hub.
Corporate
Security Bank opens new branches in Zambales and Batangas
Security Bank Corporation has opened new branches in Iba and Tanauan to expand its services in growing provincial areas.
Rising oil, war fallout push PH packaging costs higher
The Philippine packaging industry is expected to face higher costs as the ongoing conflict involving Iran pushes up global oil prices and disrupts supply chains. These challenges could also lead to more expensive consumer goods.
New Honda chief shifts gears toward value
Honda Cars Philippines Inc. is changing drivers—but not its destination—as it taps Hidekazu Arai as president starting April 1, steering the company toward a sharper focus on value-led growth.
Filinvest boosts spending to P27.6B, focuses on power and real estate
Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) plans to increase its capital spending this year by 11 percent to P27.6 billion, up from P24.8 billion in 2024, mainly to fund power and real estate projects.
Corporate Bulletins
Security Bank opens new branches in Zambales and Batangas
Security Bank Corporation has opened new branches in Iba and Tanauan to expand its services in growing provincial areas.
New Honda chief shifts gears toward value
Honda Cars Philippines Inc. is changing drivers—but not its destination—as it taps Hidekazu Arai as president starting April 1, steering the company toward a sharper focus on value-led growth.
Telco rolls out AI-powered ‘For you Po’ for personalized promos
TNT, the budget-friendly brand of Smart Communications, has introduced a new feature called “For You Po” to help users easily find mobile promos that fit their needs.
Monde Nissin cited for plastic, circular gains
Monde Nissin Corp. has received a Special Citation for Obliged Enterprises at the 2026 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Recognition Program, highlighting its progress in cutting plastic use and advancing circular packaging.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
SMC cleanup of Alabang River improves flood control in Muntinlupa
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has cleared a key section of the Alabang River, helping improve water flow and reduce flood risk in nearby communities, roads, and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
ILO trains youth for green construction jobs
An initiative backed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) is equipping young Filipinos with green and digital construction skills, as the industry undergoes rapid transformation driven by sustainability and technology.
Unilever, General Trias roll out livelihood push
Unilever Philippines has deepened its engagement with General Trias through “GentriAsenso,” a community-based livelihood and skills program aimed at widening income opportunities for residents.
Jollibee Group expands jobs for seniors, PWDs in Baguio
The Jollibee Group has expanded its employment program for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) through a new partnership with the Baguio City Government.
Markets
East Coast Vulcan plans restructuring, fundraising moves
East Coast Vulcan Mining Corporation said its board has approved a series of corporate actions aimed at cleaning up its balance sheet and positioning the company for potential capital raising.
RRHI exits No Brand outlets, refocuses portfolio strategy
Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI) said it will shut down all standalone No Brand stores in the Philippines, marking a strategic shift as the retailer streamlines its portfolio toward higher-performing formats.
Filipinos browse fashion, buy essentials in online sale event
Online retailer Shopee reported a 19 percent increase in orders during its 3.3 sale, based on newly released consumer data showing how Filipinos shop online.
FINEX urges deeper markets to sustain growth
The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines is calling for faster development of the country’s capital markets, warning that sustaining economic growth will require broader, more reliable sources of long-term funding.
Energy
SP New Energy seeks rebrand, ticker change to MGENR
SP New Energy Corporation said it is moving forward with a corporate rebranding that will see it adopt the name “MGEN Renewables Inc.” and change its stock symbol to MGENR, replacing its current ticker SPNEC.
Alsons revenues climb as power demand strengthens
Alsons Consolidated Resources (ACR) posted strong revenue growth last year, buoyed by rising electricity demand, expanded retail supply operations, and the contribution of a new power plant, even as earnings were weighed down by asset impairments.
Vivant earnings grow on energy, water expansion
Vivant Corp. posted double-digit earnings growth last year on the back of strong power generation and early gains from its expanding water business, even as softer energy volumes and higher costs tempered momentum.
Nickel sector seeks incentives, zones for competitiveness
Industry leaders are pressing the government to roll out stronger fiscal incentives and establish dedicated industrial zones to accelerate the Philippines’ shift into value-added nickel processing and close the gap with regional competitors.
Property
SMHCC bets big on Cebu MICE hub
SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) is ramping up efforts to position the Philippines as a stronger player in the global meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) market, anchored on the upcoming launch of SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu.
CREIT posts steady earnings on long leases
Citicore Energy REIT Corp. (CREIT) delivered stable earnings in 2025, underscoring the resilience of its long-term lease model amid broader market volatility.
SM malls to shorten amid oil shock
SM Supermalls will open later on weekdays nationwide starting March 30, shifting mall hours to 11:00 a.m. from Monday to Friday as part of efforts to conserve electricity during the ongoing National Energy Emergency. On Saturdays and Sundays, the malls open 10 a.m. Closing hours on all days will be at 9 p.m.
Biz Hub at LIMA emerges as central business district
Aboitiz Economic Estates is positioning Biz Hub at LIMA Estate as the central business district (CBD) within a fully operational industrial ecosystem, as commercial activity accelerates alongside a growing base of locators.
Technology
New open-source tool lets enterprises see inside AI decision making
Dataiku, the enterprise AI platform, has introduced Kiji Inspector™, an open-source tool designed to make AI agent decisions understandable and auditable. The release, through Dataiku’s 575 Lab, is aimed at organizations using AI in high-stakes or regulated environments where transparency is critical.
Airbus tests digital system to improve forest firefighting aircraft
Airbus has completed a first-of-its-kind trial using digital technology to improve how forest fires are fought.
Alliance Select reports cyber incident, contains risks
Alliance Select Foods International Inc. disclosed a cybersecurity incident affecting certain information technology systems at its General Santos facility, prompting containment measures and an ongoing investigation.
Globe activates emergency plan to keep network running nationwide
Telecommunications company Globe Telecom assured customers that its services will remain stable following the government’s declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency.
Opinion
Fuel crisis or policy gap?
Airline executives were caught off guard when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned that Philippine carriers may be forced to cut flights—or even ground planes—due to a possible jet fuel shortage tied to the escalating U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Choked Hormuz puts global food supply at risk
Food, not fuel, may prove the first and most immediate casualty of the Middle East conflict as disruption grips the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea lane with an outsized role in feeding the world.
Eala storms toward WTA’s elite circle
The desert—both in Dubai and Indian Wells—has been kind to Alex Eala.
Luzviminda’s daughters: Steel, silk, sovereignty, spotlight
If you want to understand the Philippines, resist the temptation to start with its strongmen and their statues. Begin instead with its women, the quiet architects of its revolutions, the steady hands at the tiller when storms arrive.
Exclusive
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.
Aboitiz focus on industry, townships follow jobs
For three decades, the Aboitiz Group has been quietly building a real estate portfolio that spans homes, offices, and commercial spaces. But in recent years, it has made a deliberate pivot away from crowded residential battlegrounds toward a less glamorous, far more strategic corner of the market: industrial development. The bet is simple but bold—build where factories, logistics, and infrastructure go first, and let communities grow organically around them.
