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ADB downgrades Philippine growth outlook amid global risks

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has trimmed its growth forecast for the Philippines, underscoring mounting global uncertainty driven largely by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

Nueva Ecija farmer cuts fertilizer costs, doubles rice yield

A farmer in Nueva Ecija has developed a rice-growing method that lowers fertilizer costs while nearly doubling harvests.

Sugar group seeks urgent cloud seeding, opposes tax hike in Negros

The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) has called on the government to immediately carry out cloud seeding operations as dry conditions linked to a possible El Niño begin to affect crops.

MSMEs key to raising farm incomes, creating jobs – DA

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are at the forefront of efforts to raise farm incomes and generate jobs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

Tamban oversupply in Sorsogon resolved after Holy Week plant closures

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the recent spoilage of tamban (sardines) in Bulan, Sorsogon has been resolved after fish processing plants resumed operations.

Corporate

FPIP exec elected to key post in PCCI Tanauan

The First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), represented by Ricky Carandang, has been elected external vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – Tanauan City Chapter.

Home Credit offers early access, flexible payments for new MacBook Neo

Home Credit Philippines has launched an exclusive nationwide pre-order for the new MacBook Neo, aiming to make high-performance laptops more accessible to Filipinos through affordable installment plans.

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.

SMX Clark bags top TRES Awards 2025 honors

SMX Convention Center Clark, a flagship venue of SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation, emerged as a top winner at the Tourism Recognition for Enterprises and Stakeholders (TRES) Awards 2025, organized by the Department of Tourism Region III.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

FPIP exec elected to key post in PCCI Tanauan

The First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), represented by Ricky Carandang, has been elected external vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – Tanauan City Chapter.

Home Credit offers early access, flexible payments for new MacBook Neo

Home Credit Philippines has launched an exclusive nationwide pre-order for the new MacBook Neo, aiming to make high-performance laptops more accessible to Filipinos through affordable installment plans.

SMX Clark bags top TRES Awards 2025 honors

SMX Convention Center Clark, a flagship venue of SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation, emerged as a top winner at the Tourism Recognition for Enterprises and Stakeholders (TRES) Awards 2025, organized by the Department of Tourism Region III.

Filinvest launches promo to make home buying easier

Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) has rolled out its Kaya-Sulit Ready-for-Occupancy (RFO) Promo to make buying homes more affordable and easier for Filipinos. The program is offered in partnership with EastWest Bank and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

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.

IGF, Silid Aralan partner to boost fundraising

Initiate Global Foundation Inc. (IGF) and Silid Aralan Inc. have formalized a partnership aimed at strengthening nonprofit fundraising through digital platforms, as organizations seek more sustainable funding sources in an increasingly competitive donor landscape.

SM Offices makes every drop of water work harder

SM Prime Holdings Inc. is proving that in real estate, even water can deliver returns, if managed well enough.

OceanaGold Philippines boosts community spending to P569M

OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. is raising its social investments to a combined P569 million in 2026, marking a significant increase following strong operational and financial performance in 2025 and reinforcing its push for community-centered mining.

Markets

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.

IPOPHL expands anti-counterfeit drive to online markets

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines is intensifying its campaign against counterfeit goods, broadening enforcement to digital platforms and local communities as it pursues a “zero counterfeit” goal.

loilo City welcomes “bolanteros” to sell in newly revamped public markets

Iloilo City is making room for a little extra hustle and bustle for various retailers each Tuesday, which is designated market day.

Volatility to persist as PSEi tests support

Philippine financial markets are expected to remain fragile this week, with investors bracing for continued volatility as risk aversion dominates sentiment and the benchmark index struggles to regain footing above key levels.

Travel

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Energy

Government orders probe of fuel stations nationwide

The government has stepped up its crackdown on alleged fuel hoarding and profiteering, issuing show-cause orders to nearly 100 gasoline stations following reports of irregular pricing nationwide, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

PCC tightens watch on oil, fuel markets 

Amid mounting volatility in global oil markets, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said it is intensifying oversight of the domestic fuel sector to guard against anti-competitive practices that could disadvantage consumers.

Meralco raises electricity rates in April

Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Friday announced an increase of P0.5335 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in electricity rates this April. The overall rate for a typical household is now P14.3496 per kWh, up from P13.8161 per kWh in March.

Alternergy secures green share approval amid expansion push

Alternergy Holdings Corp., a listed renewable energy firm, has secured unanimous shareholder approval to raise fresh capital through a planned issuance of green perpetual preferred shares, positioning the company for its next phase of expansion as energy security concerns intensify.

Transport & Communications

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Property

Expanded work-from-home rule eases pressure on IT-BPM firms

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) welcomed the government’s approval of expanded work-from-home flexibility for registered business enterprises, saying the move offers immediate operational relief to companies and workers grappling with rising costs.

Cebu Landmasters expands to Cavite with new township project

Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) has acquired a 70-hectare property in Dasmariñas, marking its entry into Luzon’s fast-growing areas.

COA orders review of developers’ housing dues

The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered a sweeping review of developers’ compliance with the government’s balanced housing mandate, flagging possible underpayments tied to how the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) computed obligations.

SM Offices makes every drop of water work harder

SM Prime Holdings Inc. is proving that in real estate, even water can deliver returns, if managed well enough.

Environment

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Technology

Expanded work-from-home rule eases pressure on IT-BPM firms

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) welcomed the government’s approval of expanded work-from-home flexibility for registered business enterprises, saying the move offers immediate operational relief to companies and workers grappling with rising costs.

AI-Driven identity attacks surge worldwide, new report warns

A new report from biometric identity verification solutions provider iProov says cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to carry out identity-based attacks at a much larger scale, raising risks for businesses and digital platforms.

Globe launches new postpaid features for modern users

Globe Telecom has unveiled a major upgrade to its postpaid services, introducing a wide range of new features aimed at meeting the fast-changing needs of Filipino consumers.

Philippines nears full rollout of advanced 911 system

The Philippines is moving closer to the nationwide deployment of its Unified 911 Emergency Response System, a major modernization effort that aims to position the country among Asia’s most technologically advanced emergency response networks.

Health & Science

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Opinion

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.

Eala storms toward WTA’s elite circle

The desert—both in Dubai and Indian Wells—has been kind to Alex Eala.

Sports & Entertainment

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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.