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Agriculture
DA centralizes farm reform programs under single office
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has created a single project management office (PMO) to oversee two major reform programs funded by the World Bank. The move aims to improve coordination, speed up implementation, and strengthen oversight.
Central Luzon anchors regional farm output in 2025
The Philippine Statistics Authority said the country’s agriculture and fisheries sector produced goods worth P1.79 trillion in 2025 at constant 2018 prices, with Central Luzon emerging as the top contributor.
Possible endemic goby species found in CamSur lake — DA
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said researchers have identified a small goby fish in Lake Bato, Camarines Sur that may be endemic, or found only in that area.
DA formalizes UK poultry imports from bird flu-free zones
The Philippine government has officially allowed poultry imports from areas in the United Kingdom that are free from bird flu, under a new policy issued by the Department of Agriculture.
Corporate
Globe trims hybrid debt, strengthens balance sheet
Globe Telecom Inc. has completed a significant step in its capital management strategy after concluding a tender offer for its USD600 million 4.2 percent Senior Perpetual Capital Securities, resulting in the repurchase of a large portion of the outstanding debt instrument.
EastWest charts cautious growth with digital drive
EastWest Bank is doubling down on prudent expansion, sharpening its focus on wealth management, hyper-local growth, and digitalization as it navigates a more uncertain economic landscape.
Wave 4 portfolio bolster MREIT profit momentum
MREIT Inc., the real estate investment trust arm of Megaworld Corp., posted its strongest quarterly performance to date in the first quarter, as a recently completed acquisition and improved operating efficiency combined to drive broad based growth in earnings, revenues, and margins.
Chinabank profit rise on strong core growth
China Banking Corp., the country’s 5th largest lender by assets, sustained its growth momentum in the first quarter, posting a net income of P6.8 billion, up 4 percent year on year, as lending and deposit activities continued to drive performance despite a still evolving interest rate environment.
Corporate Bulletins
Lenovo reshapes Asia-Pacific leadership with new commercial chief
Lenovo has appointed Sumir Bhatia as its first chief commercial officer for the Asia Pacific region.
Awards-season films and LG OLED77G5 viewing guide
The awards season is encouraging many viewers to catch up on this year’s Oscar-winning films, often building weekend watchlists around the most talked-about titles.
Meralco brings energy lecture series to Mindanao students
The Meralco Power Academy (MPA), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, held its PowerConvos lecture series in Mindanao on April 15, 2026, as part of efforts to support innovation and talent development in the energy sector.
Globe expands prepaid fiber service as home internet demand rises
With more Filipinos staying indoors due to rising fuel costs and energy pressures, demand for dependable home internet is accelerating—prompting Globe Telecom to expand its prepaid fiber offerings.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
Park Inn Bacolod powers circular economy with biodiesel
Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod, operated under SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC), has deepened its circular economy program with the donation of 200 liters of biodiesel to residents of Barangay Singcang, Bacolod City, further advancing its waste-to-energy advocacy.
Clean energy firm, online grocer partner with Nueva Ecija farmers
Clean energy company First Gen Corporation and online grocery platform SukiGrocer have partnered with four farmer and fisherfolk groups to help improve livelihoods in Pantabangan.
SM Supermalls leads nationwide coastal cleanups for World Water Day
In observance of World Water Day, SM Supermalls, through its corporate social responsibility arm SM Cares, conducted coastal cleanup drives across six locations involving seven malls nationwide.
MPIF commits P12-M to protect Tubbataha Reefs over next fiur years
The Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) has committed ₱12 million to support the protection of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park over the next four years.
Markets
Peso stalls, stocks drift amid global uncertainty
The Philippine peso edged weaker last week, pausing after two consecutive weeks of gains as the dollar-peso pair settled into a narrow trading band.
Markets signal calm despite Middle East conflict risks
Global equities pushed higher Thursday as investors shrugged off ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with volatility signals suggesting markets see limited risk of further escalation.
Peso holds ground as USD tests technical ceilings
The peso is quietly reclaiming its footing, with the USD/PHP pair slipping for a second week (-0.3 percent) after a brisk four-week climb.
Fake rider delivery scam exploits trust, urgency
Scam Watch Pilipinas warns the public about a “fake rider” scheme abusing Lalamove bookings after an attempted incident involving co-founder Art Samaniego.
Energy
FDC Green solar project cleared for operations
DC Green Energy Corp. (FDC Green), a wholly owned subsidiary of Filinvest Group’s utility arm FDC Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI), has secured a Certificate of Compliance (COC) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for its 20.774-megawatt peak (MWp) ground-mounted solar facility at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate, signaling readiness to supply power to the grid.
DOE assures stable power supply in Catanduanes
The Department of Energy (DOE) said the government is taking immediate steps to ensure a steady power supply in Catanduanes amid ongoing challenges faced by local power provider Sunwest Water and Electric Co. (Suweco).
ERC orders Meralco to speed up P14.17B refund to customers
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued a final decision directing Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to fast-track the refund of P14.17 billion to its customers.
PCCI back pragmatic review of coal moratorium
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Wednesday threw its support behind a government review of the country’s moratorium on new coal-fired power plants, calling the move a “pragmatic” response to intensifying energy security risks.
Property
Wave 4 portfolio bolster MREIT profit momentum
MREIT Inc., the real estate investment trust arm of Megaworld Corp., posted its strongest quarterly performance to date in the first quarter, as a recently completed acquisition and improved operating efficiency combined to drive broad based growth in earnings, revenues, and margins.
BCDA, K-Water eye smart village in Clark
State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has partnered with South Korea’s Korea Water Resources Corp. to explore building a “smart village” in New Clark City, marking a fresh push to develop climate-resilient, technology-driven communities in the Philippines.
Villa Escudero enters retail and commercial development with new mixed-use hub in Quezon
Villa Escudero Corp., the company behind the well-known tourist destination in Tiaong, Quezon, has started building its first major commercial and retail project as it expands into property development.
DHSUD pauses housing loans amid fuel surge
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has ordered a three-month moratorium on housing loan payments for qualified borrowers of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC), as the government moves to blunt the impact of surging fuel costs tied to tensions in the Middle East.
Technology
Alibaba Cloud leads Asia Pacific cloud market, report says
Alibaba Cloud remains the top cloud infrastructure provider in Asia Pacific, according to a new report by Gartner.
Saviynt names Tim Wedande as APJ field CTO
Saviynt has appointed Tim Wedande as field chief technology officer (CTO) for Asia Pacific and Japan.
PLDT launches AI assistant to boost enterprise customer service
PLDT Inc. has introduced a new AI-powered assistant called KAI to help its enterprise teams respond faster and more effectively to customers.
Tesla profit up even as AI push intensifies
Tesla, Inc., the U.S.-based electric vehicle and clean energy company led by billionaire Elon Musk, reported higher first quarter earnings, as gains from its core auto business were partly offset by aggressive spending on artificial intelligence, robotics, and factory expansion.
Opinion
A house divided: Lopez family rift tests corporate governance
“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every house divided against itself will not stand.” In the Lopez corporate universe, the verse now reads less like scripture and more like a live governance case file—complete with injunctions, contested boardrooms, and competing versions of who nearly switched off the lights.
The Days Ahead
Several things have changed over the past month. The global economy is now poised to face another severe slowdown and rising inflation as a result of the Middle East conflict. While the impact on countries may differ in magnitude, the oil supply shock will squeeze economic activity and raise prices significantly.
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.
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.
