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Agriculture
DA steps up onion purchases in Mindoro to shield farmers and consumers against price swings
The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its state-run Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), has launched a major intervention in Occidental Mindoro, ramping up purchases of onions to stabilize farm prices and avert supply shocks.
Mega Prime, CPF build bigger basket for more eggs
Mega Prime Foods Inc., known for Mega Sardines, is stepping decisively beyond seafood, partnering with Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) in a move that signals a broader pivot in the Philippines’ food production strategy.
Price Council backs DA-proposed temporary price cap on imported rice
The National Price Coordinating Council NPCC has endorsed the imposition of a P50 per kilo price ceiling on imported rice as surging global oil prices driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to push up food costs in the Philippines.
DA chief assures farmers, fishers can buy fuel in containers amid energy emergency
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said that the Department of Energy (DOE) has assured him that farmers and fisherfolk are allowed to buy petroleum products in portable containers, as long as they comply with rules designed to prevent hoarding and ensure equitable fuel distribution during the national energy emergency.
Corporate
CREC profit rises 14% on refinancing gains
Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC) posted a 14 percent increase in net income to P1.15 billion in 2025, driven by lower financing costs, rising service revenues, and steady electricity sales, highlighting improved profitability as the company expands its renewable portfolio.
ABS-CBN rejects anew alleged audit claims
ABS-CBN Corp., once the country’s largest broadcast network, on Monday dismissed anew claims of unresolved audit issues and firmly rejected reports that a proposed P2-billion capital infusion would be used for directors’ payouts, seeking to distance itself from a boardroom dispute within Lopez Inc., the company owned by its major shareholders.
Brother Philippines plans to stay long-term, expands product offerings
Brother International Philippines Corp., known for its printing machines, said it plans to continue operating in the Philippines as the local printing industry evolves.
Wilcon’s net income drops despite higher sales
Wilcon Depot Inc., the home improvement retailer, reported a 3 percent drop in net income last year, falling to ₱2.44 billion from ₱2.52 billion in 2024, even as total sales rose.
Corporate Bulletins
Popular smartphone brand now easier to own as Home Credit rolls out big discounts, 0% plans
Home Credit Philippines has launched a nationwide promotion making the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series more affordable for Filipino consumers.
Women powering infrastructure, building futures together
Aboitiz InfraCapital is not just building airports, water systems, and digital backbones. It is building them better by putting women firmly in the driver’s seat.
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.
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
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.
Robinsons Retail exits bourse after years of undervaluation
A dozen years after its market debut, Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (RRHI) is heading for an exit from the Philippine Stock Exchange, as its board backs a voluntary tender offer by controlling shareholder JE Holdings, Inc.
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.
Energy
CREC profit rises 14% on refinancing gains
Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC) posted a 14 percent increase in net income to P1.15 billion in 2025, driven by lower financing costs, rising service revenues, and steady electricity sales, highlighting improved profitability as the company expands its renewable portfolio.
BIR fast-tracks PNOC fuel imports amid crisis
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has expedited the emergency importation of petroleum products by PNOC Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC), issuing a special permit through its Large Taxpayers Service (LTS) to accelerate the transaction under a declared energy emergency.
Fuel prices surge again; diesel jumps over P12, gas hikes continue
Fuel prices will increase again on Tuesday, March 31, as global oil costs remain high under the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
OGP says Didipio mine life extended to 2037
OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. (OGP) said its updated technical reports show that the Didipio gold and copper mine will operate until 2037.
Property
Women redefine property development in Cebu Landmasters
In the Queen City of the South, the skyline may still rise in steel and glass, but the real shift is happening behind closed doors. The blueprint is being redrawn, and this time, more women are holding the pens.
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.
Technology
Globe highlights AI push, digital inclusion at MWC 2026
At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz said the company is accelerating its shift to artificial intelligence (AI) to improve services and expand digital access for Filipinos.
APECO, InfiniVAN pact targets data center hub
The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has signed a memorandum of understanding with InfiniVAN Inc. to accelerate digital infrastructure development, a move officials say could position the ecozone as a competitive destination for data center investments.
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.
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.
