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Nickel Asia unit secues P9.36B loan for Leyte solar project

A renewable energy unit of Nickel Asia Corporation has secured ₱9.36 billion in financing for a solar power project in Leyte.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

DA sets up Food Security Task Force to counter global supply threats

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will formally launch a Food Security Task Force on Monday, April 6, in a decisive move to shield the country’s food supply from the impact of escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Fuel price hike hits Benguet farmers; DA rolls out aid

Rising fuel costs are putting pressure on vegetable farmers in Benguet and nearby provinces, increasing transport expenses and threatening incomes and supply, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

DA expands P20 rice program in Samar, Leyte

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expanded its ₱20-per-kilo rice program, “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, in Leyte and Samar to help more low-income families access affordable food.

P50/kilo price cap on imported rice set

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Tuesday that he will...

Corporate

Consunji Group confident in bid for Semirara coal mine

The Consunji group, which operates Semirara Mining and Power Corp., is confident it will win the bidding to continue operating the country’s largest coal mine on Semirara Island.

KKR delays sale of stake in Metro Pacific hospitals

Global investment firm KKR & Co. Inc. has postponed plans to sell its stake in Metro Pacific Health Corp. (MPH), the Philippines’ largest hospital group, due to uncertainties caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.

First Gen affirms strong governance, compliance amid court reference

First Gen Corporation on Sunday that a press release dated March 31, 2026, mentioned the company in relation to a case currently pending before the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court.

Nestlé Philippines accelerates plastic waste recovery, packaging efforts

Nestlé Philippines is stepping up efforts to tackle plastic waste, expanding recovery programs and advancing packaging innovations as it seeks to balance product accessibility with environmental responsibility.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

SM boosts communication with online platform

SM Investments Corporation is strengthening how it communicates with stakeholders through its online platform, SM In Focus, which has gained over 137,000 subscribers and more than 2.5 million views since launching in late 2024.

Manila Water assures steady supply during Holy Week

Manila Water Company said customers in the East Zone will continue to receive reliable water service throughout Holy Week, even as demand rises due to the summer season.

DMW secures 4th year in ATRAM SDG Fund

D.M. Wenceslao & Associates, Inc. (DMW) has been selected anew as an investee of the ATRAM Philippine Sustainable Development and Growth Fund for 2026, marking its fourth consecutive year in the sustainability-focused portfolio.

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.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

Hands that once erred now create hope

Through the Baking Behind Bars program, persons deprived of liberty are discovering that their hands, once tied to past mistakes, can now measure, knead, shape, and create. The same hands that once led them astray are now turning flour and water into something meaningful.

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.

Markets

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.

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.

Travel

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Energy

Fuel prices to rise again despite assured supply — DOE

Fuel prices in the country are expected to increase again this week, driven by global oil market pressures linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Nickel Asia unit secues P9.36B loan for Leyte solar project

A renewable energy unit of Nickel Asia Corporation has secured ₱9.36 billion in financing for a solar power project in Leyte.

IEA urges action to curb oil demand

Governments, businesses, and households must act quickly to reduce oil consumption as markets remain under strain, the International Energy Agency said, outlining a set of urgent measures to ease pressure on supply and prices.

Hormuz access deal secures supply, not prices

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the Philippines has secured “safe and preferential access” through the Strait of Hormuz, a move aimed at reducing supply risks amid rising global tensions, but one that will not immediately lower pump prices.

Transport & Communications

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Property

4PH housing drive reaches thousands, set to accelerate

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) reported that its Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program delivered housing assistance to thousands of beneficiaries in the first quarter of 2026, as the agency prepares to speed up implementation nationwide.

GT Capital buys 20%  of property firm

GT Capital Holdings, Inc., the listed investment arm of the Ty Group, has acquired a 20 percent direct stake in Federal Land NRE Global Inc. (FNG), strengthening its foothold in the country’s property sector.

Better commutes key to Metro Manila growth

Metro Manila’s real estate future may depend less on skyline ambition and more on a simpler question of how easily people can get to work.

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.

Environment

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Technology

Globe joins global tech giants in massive Asia cable project

Globe Telecom has partnered with a group of international firms to develop the Candle Cable System, a major undersea network aimed at improving internet connectivity across Southeast and East Asia.

Converge boosts internet speeds nationwide amid fuel crisis

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has announced a temporary nationwide speed increase for its FiberX internet plans to help customers cope with rising fuel costs and their impact on daily expenses and mobility.

Aboitiz unit upgrades Laguindingan airport airside facilities

Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) has completed a series of upgrades to the airside facilities of Laguindingan International Airport to improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of operations.

Aboitiz Airports highlights AI’s growing role in operations

Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports or AIC Airports focused on artificial intelligence as a key driver of the industry’s future during its participation in Aviation Festival Asia 2026 in Singapore, placing the technology at the center of its evolving airport operations strategy.

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.