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Prolonged Middle East conflict threatens Asia growth outlook

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) warned that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could shave up to 1.3 percentage points off economic growth in developing Asia and the Pacific over 2026–2027, while pushing inflation higher by as much as 3.2 percentage points if energy disruptions persist for more than a year.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

Imported rice prices may be capped soon, pending Malacanang order

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said a presidential executive order is required to implement a proposed price cap on imported rice.

Gov’t invests P168-M in Isabela farms to lower costs, lift incomes

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected key farm facilities and a new road project in Isabela aimed at improving food supply and increasing farmers’ earnings.

Gov’t moves to tamp rice prices with P50 per kilo ceiling

The National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) has approved a proposal from the Department of Agriculture to set a temporary price ceiling of ₱50 per kilogram on imported rice (5 percent broken).

DA turns over P67.63M rice processing system to boost income of 5,500 Narra farmers

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has stepped up its push for regional food security with the turnover of a P67.63-million rice processing system to the municipal government, a move seen to reinforce the role of Palawan not just as a premier tourist destination but as a critical food-producing hub.

Corporate

Filinvest boosts spending to P27.6B, focuses on power and real estate

Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) plans to increase its capital spending this year by 11 percent to P27.6 billion, up from P24.8 billion in 2024, mainly to fund power and real estate projects.

DigiPlus taps Manny Pacquiao for new game lineup and brand partnership

Online gaming company DigiPlus Interactive Corp. has partnered with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao to launch a series of branded games and make him the company’s new face.

 Monde Nissin P7.5B capex targets expansion

 Monde Nissin Corp. is set to allocate P7.5 billion in capital expenditures in 2026, focusing on expanding its Asia-Pacific food and beverage operations while maintaining caution amid global uncertainties.

Telco rolls out AI-powered ‘For you Po’ for personalized promos

TNT, the budget-friendly brand of Smart Communications, has introduced a new feature called “For You Po” to help users easily find mobile promos that fit their needs.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

Telco rolls out AI-powered ‘For you Po’ for personalized promos

TNT, the budget-friendly brand of Smart Communications, has introduced a new feature called “For You Po” to help users easily find mobile promos that fit their needs.

Monde Nissin cited for plastic, circular gains

Monde Nissin Corp. has received a Special Citation for Obliged Enterprises at the 2026 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Recognition Program, highlighting its progress in cutting plastic use and advancing circular packaging.

First Gen marks 50 years of geothermal energy development in PH

First Gen Corporation celebrated the 50th anniversary of its subsidiary, Energy Development Corporation (EDC), highlighting a major milestone in the country’s renewable energy sector.

LG Electronics brings cutting-edge digital art to smart TVs with Sedetion partnership

LG Electronics has teamed up with Sedition, the pioneering digital art platform, to transform living rooms into immersive contemporary art spaces. Through LG Gallery+, the company’s premium visual service for LG Smart TVs, users can now access more than 300 curated digital artworks, including video-based pieces, bringing museum-quality experiences directly into the home. This partnership underscores LG’s commitment to redefining home entertainment by merging technology, art, and personal expression.

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

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.

Filipinos browse fashion, buy essentials in online sale event

Online retailer Shopee reported a 19 percent increase in orders during its 3.3 sale, based on newly released consumer data showing how Filipinos shop online.

FINEX urges deeper markets to sustain growth

The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines is calling for faster development of the country’s capital markets, warning that sustaining economic growth will require broader, more reliable sources of long-term funding.

Travel

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Energy

Prime Energy confirms major gas boost from Malampaya expansion

Prime Energy said it is on track to deliver additional natural gas from the Malampaya field by the fourth quarter of 2026.

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.

Gov’t steps in to curb looming power rate spike amid global fuel turmoil

The government and energy sector players are rolling out emergency measures to protect electricity supply and limit price increases as global fuel markets remain unstable amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Fuel shortage threatens Philippine nickel operations

Nickel mining operations in the Philippines could grind to a halt within 15 to 30 days if fuel supply disruptions persist, industry leaders warned, raising concerns over output and export stability.

Transport & Communications

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Property

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.

Biz Hub at LIMA emerges as central business district

Aboitiz Economic Estates is positioning Biz Hub at LIMA Estate as the central business district (CBD) within a fully operational industrial ecosystem, as commercial activity accelerates alongside a growing base of locators.

South Korean firm to build Clark luxury project

South Korea’s Luxia Corp. is set to invest P4.4 billion in a high-end mixed-use development featuring a hotel and serviced apartments in Clark Freeport.

Ayala appoints new urban estates head, expands health chief role

Ayala Corporation has appointed a new leader at Ayala Land Inc., adding another member of the Zobel family to its property business.

Environment

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Technology

PLDT Enterprise renews partnership with First Philippine Industrial Park

PLDT Enterprise has renewed its partnership with First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) to provide stronger connectivity and digital solutions for businesses operating the industrial park.

Unified 911 boosts abuse reporting across Philippines 

Domestic abuse in the Philippines remains a persistent crisis, affecting women and children through violence, exploitation, and coercion. 

Leaders urge long-term cybersecurity strategies for Philippines 

Long-term, comprehensive cybersecurity strategies took center stage at Filipinnovation, a summit hosted by Concentrix, as industry leaders warned of increasingly complex digital threats facing the Philippines.

Globe expands 5G network across Rizal province

Telecommunications company Globe Telecom has expanded its 5G network and upgraded mobile infrastructure across Rizal Province to improve connectivity for residents, businesses, and tourists.

Health & Science

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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.

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.