The Department of Agriculture (DA) has signed two separate agreements aimed at modernizing the farm sector, increasing farmers’ incomes, and improving food security.

The Philippines has called for stronger regional cooperation to protect food security in the Asia-Pacific, citing rising risks from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is aiming to secure between US$300 million and US$500 million in loans next year to develop the country’s bamboo industry, according to spokesperson Arnel De Mesa.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said global agriculture is under heavy pressure from a combination of climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and disease outbreaks, making it harder for governments to manage food systems.

LG is promoting its portable speaker, the LG xboom Stage 301, as a travel companion for summer trips where music is part of the experience. The speaker is built for outdoor use with up to 12 hours of battery life, IPX4 water resistance, and features like Space Calibration for sound tuning, Wireless Party Link for shared listening, and DJ and karaoke effects via an app.

Everyday grocery shopping and credit card use paid off for one lucky customer after a joint promo by East West Banking Corporation and Puregold Price Club awarded a brand-new BYD Seagull to its grand prize winner.

PHINMA Corp. has promoted three senior officials to vice president positions as part of efforts to strengthen its leadership team and support business growth.

Manulife Philippines has appointed Joy Ann Concepcion as its new chief marketing officer, effective Monday.

Fisherfolk in Barangay La Huerta are getting help to better manage their income through a new financial education program led by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Parañaque city government, and BDO Foundation.

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte has launched a first-of-its-kind campaign to bring rooftop solar to households, partnering with ACEN and GCash to make clean energy more accessible and affordable.

An affiliate of Ayala Land Inc. has formalized plans for a new civic hub in Laguna, advancing efforts to expand institutional infrastructure in southern Luzon’s fast-growing corridor.

A new partnership has been formed to improve respiratory care services at Mayor Hilario A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center (MHARSMC), the largest government-run hospital in the city.

Philippine financial markets are in a consolidation phase, with the peso and equities under pressure as tighter monetary conditions and inflation concerns weigh on sentiment.

Filipina entrepreneurs—many of them mothers—play a major role in the Philippine economy, owning 66 percent of existing businesses and 62 percent of newly registered enterprises. Despite this strong presence, many women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) struggle to grow due to limited access to funding, low digital adoption, and the challenge of balancing business and family responsibilities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.