Philippine retail stock broker COL Financial Inc. said on Monday the country’s main stock index may still reach 7,500 points by the end of the year — a level higher than before the Middle East conflict started earlier this year.

McDonald's Philippines marked its 45th anniversary with a clean sweep at the 20th Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards, highlighting how corporate success is increasingly measured not only by financial results but also by long-term contributions to society.

The Jollibee Group has set a new benchmark for sustainable manufacturing after its Danao Commissary in Cebu became the first manufacturing facility in the Philippines to receive LEED certification for Interior Design and Construction (ID+C), signaling that industrial plants can pursue ambitious environmental goals without sacrificing operational efficiency.

More than 1,500 young children in El Nido will benefit from a new early education initiative called CENTEX Early Grades, launched through cooperation between the El Nido local government, DepEd Palawan, Palawan State University, and Ayala Foundation.

Renergy firm NKS Solar One Inc. has received official approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to develop and own dedicated transmission infrastructure worth P1.38 billion, which will connect its 250-megawatt floating solar power project on Laguna Lake to the main Luzon power grid.

Gov’t manages impact of major fuel price hikes Energy The Department of Energy announced that local fuel companies will implement significant across-the-board price hikes this week, driven by rising global tensions. Expected per-liter increases could reach as high as ₱3.65 for gasoline, ₱10.68 for diesel, and ₱11.77 for kerosene. This sharp upward adjustment follows a week of mixed price changes and stems directly from the breakdown of the US-Iran truce and recent tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, both of which have disrupted global supply chains and renewed concerns over Middle East petroleum shipments. Despite the steep increases, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin assured the public that the government remains on top of the situation and is taking all legally permissible steps to cushion the impact. Garin emphasized that while the Philippines cannot control international market forces, local fuel inventories remain sufficient and adequate for normal operations. Furthermore, because the country remains under a National Energy Emergency, the energy department is actively coordinating with local government units to prevent illegal activities like hoarding, ensuring that Filipinos can continue their daily routines with confidence.

The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is intensifying talks with local and foreign energy firms as it races to secure the reliable, clean electricity needed to unlock billions of pesos in investments in data centers, advanced manufacturing and logistics.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is set to complete ten major infrastructure projects worth a combined P30.89 billion during the second half of 2026. Details shared by the firm include key undertakings such as the relocation of steel poles along the Hermosa-Duhat 230 kilovolt transmission line, the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay transmission line, and the Luzon Voltage Improvement Project 3.

The opening of Parklinks Mall in 2027 is set to accelerate the next phase of growth for Parklinks, the 35-hectare mixed-use estate jointly developed by Ayala Land Inc. and Eton Properties that spans Pasig and Quezon City.

Ayala Land Premier is responding to changing preferences in Manila's high-end residential market, where affluent buyers are placing greater value on integrated communities that combine homes with hospitality, wellness, retail and culture.

Century Properties Group Inc. (CPG) is standing by its commitment to reward shareholders, declaring a P554.89-million cash dividend for 2026 while maintaining the higher 20 percent payout policy it adopted last year despite an uncertain business environment.

The government has raised P1 billion from the sale of state-owned condominium units and parking slots in Makati, giving a fresh boost to its privatization program as it looks to unlock more value from idle assets and generate additional non-tax revenues.

The country's largest electronics industry group is calling for closer coordination between government and the private sector to address recurring power disruptions in the Visayas, warning that unreliable electricity could erode the Philippines' competitiveness in the global semiconductor supply chain.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has signed a deal with Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) to develop AI-powered digital solutions for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This partnership supports the ASEAN Priority Economic Deliverable on AI-Powered MSME Growth, as the Philippines chairs this year’s ASEAN Summit. The two agencies will build on the DICT’s mobile-first AI Tech Stack, which helps businesses prepare business plans, meet requirements, and find funding, with support in Filipino, English, and other local languages. Officials said the initiative will make AI accessible to more small firms, improve their credit standing, and boost their competitiveness across the country and the region.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) are positioning the Port of Subic Bay as a strategic logistics hub for the country's growing artificial intelligence and semiconductor ambitions, a move aimed at strengthening the Philippines' role in high-value global supply chains.

The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) has urged China Daily to remove an AI-generated video that it said portrayed the Philippines in a derogatory manner, warning that such content risks damaging goodwill and business ties between the two countries.

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