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Agriculture
PH lands $27M durian export deals with China, opening bigger markets for Davao farmers
The Philippines has locked in major agreements worth a combined $27 million—roughly ₱1.7 billion8—with Chinese firm Somago (Tianjin) Cross-border E-commerce Co. Ltd., opening significant new market opportunities for durian producers in Davao, the Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday. Signed during the China International Import Expo 2026, the deals cover both strategic cooperation and frozen durian procurement, strengthening commercial links between Philippine suppliers and Chinese consumers.
DA lifts poultry import ban on Germany
The Department of Agriculture has lifted its temporary ban on poultry imports from Germany, effective November 4, after confirming the country is free from highly pathogenic avian influenza. The World Organization for Animal Health has also recognized Germany as disease-free, with DA assessing import-related risk as negligible. Resuming trade will ease local supply constraints, though all biosecurity and quarantine rules remain in effect.
Temporary pork import ban may extend beyond 60 days if needed
The Department of Agriculture announced Monday that its new 60-day temporary restriction on pork imports could be extended beyond the initial period if conditions warrant, stressing that the government must balance the interests of local producers, consumers, and meat processors. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed the possibility of extending the measure, drawing parallels with last year’s rice import ban, while noting that careful consideration is needed to avoid undue impact on meat prices and supply ahead of the Christmas season.
DTI, IFAD explore RAPID extension to complete rural investments
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are considering extending the RAPID Growth Project to complete outstanding investments and strengthen rural enterprises before the initiative’s scheduled closure in mid-2027.
Corporate
Jollibee 9-month income down 6%; Q3 performance picks up
Jollibee Foods Corp. reported Tuesday its attributable net income fell 6 percent to P8.12 billion in the first nine months, from P8.65 billion a year earlier. System-wide sales rose over 13 percent to P377.69 billion, while revenue grew 11 percent to P250.2 billion.
SM Investments bags Great Place to Work certification anew
SM Investments Corporation has earned its Great Place to Work® certification for 2026, making it two years in a row for the SM Group parent firm. Survey results show 92% of employees agree management runs the business competently, signaling strong trust in company leadership.
SEC pushes Q3 financial statement deadline to Nov. 24
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has moved the deadline for submitting third-quarter financial statements to November 24, 2026, taking into account both a weekend and special holidays for the 49th ASEAN Summit.
Manila Water readies reservoirs for El Niño
Manila Water has fully inspected and prepared its 33 reservoirs across the East Zone to ensure steady water service as strong El Niño brings dry conditions expected to last until mid-2027. The reservoirs hold a combined 557 million liters, helping store water and keep supply balanced amid rising demand and lower rainfall.
Corporate Bulletins
SM Investments bags Great Place to Work certification anew
SM Investments Corporation has earned its Great Place to Work® certification for 2026, making it two years in a row for the SM Group parent firm. Survey results show 92% of employees agree management runs the business competently, signaling strong trust in company leadership.
EastWest leader honored as PMAP People Manager Exemplar
Lawyer Juan Alfonso “Alfie” D. Suarez, Chief People, Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of EastWest, has been named a People Manager Exemplar by the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP). The award celebrates his more than three decades of championing people-centered growth, building strong leadership pipelines, and creating positive workplace cultures.
Equinix bets on Go-Catane to expand Philippine business
As demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence reshapes the digital infrastructure market, Equinix is turning to a seasoned technology executive to steer its next phase of growth in the Philippines.
Business journalism gains importance as public trust erodes, JAZA says
With only three in every 10 Filipinos trusting news most of the time and more than half avoiding it when they can, Ayala Corp. Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala has urged businesses and media to work together to restore public confidence in institutions, stressing the importance of independent journalism in shaping economic decisions and holding powerful players accountable.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
Gab Mejia brings Filipino storytelling to Muhammad Ali honors
A camera can do more than capture a beautiful landscape. In the hands of Filipino photographer Gab Mejia, it can also turn the world’s uncomfortable truths into images difficult to ignore.
Mindanao farmers get FarmTech boost, bridging digital gap in agriculture
Farmers belonging to the LIBADATATAMA Irrigators Association in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental, now have easier access to modern farming knowledge and digital solutions through the FarmTech package recently turned over by the Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Training Institute Region 10. The initiative falls under the wider Digital Farmers Program, a partnership between DA-ATI, PLDT, and Smart Communications designed to bring digital inclusion to farming communities across the country.
BSP’s Project Shoebox Plus reaches Bacolod students, adds financial literacy support
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Employees Association, Inc. (BSPEAI) brought its community outreach initiative Project Shoebox Plus to Bata Elementary School 1 here on October 24, distributing school bags and learning materials to 100 students.
P&G, Red Cross expand disaster relief kit program nationwide
P&G Philippines and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) are preparing 90,000 health and hygiene relief kits for disaster-prone communities, extending a partnership aimed at keeping essential supplies accessible when emergencies disrupt daily life.
Markets
Kris Aquino brings star power to Shopee’s 11.11 shopping spectacle
Shopee is adding a familiar dose of star power to its 11.11 shopping campaign, tapping Kris Aquino to headline a two-day livestream showcase packed with celebrity appearances, product launches, and shopping deals ahead of Christmas.
“Leadership readiness, stewardship key to sustaining family businesses”
Family-owned enterprises grow strong not just through finances, but by preparing the next generation to lead and uphold core values while keeping pace with change — this was the shared message from Metrobank’s NextGen Leadership Circle, a forum nurturing future business leaders since 2019.
GDP, inflation cloud Philippine stocks and peso outlook
Philippine stocks and the peso face another testing week as investors weigh the third-quarter economic growth figures against stubborn inflation, with both developments likely to reinforce expectations of another interest rate hike before year-end.
National credit perception hits all-time highs
The Philippines has recorded its highest-ever credit perception score, reaching 75 out of 100 and up by 2 points from the previous year, according to the latest survey by TransUnion Information Solutions Inc.
Energy
EcoSolar’s 22.5MW Capiz battery storage facility starts testing, to boost Visayas power supply
Yuchengco-led EcoSolar Energy Corp. (ESEC) announced that its 22.5 megawatt / 45 megawatt-hour Panitan Energy Storage Project in Capiz began testing and commissioning as a generation facility last week.
Apex Mining net income rises 40% to ₱7.61 billion in first nine months
Apex Mining Co. Inc. reported a 40 percent rise in its consolidated net income for the first nine months of 2026, reaching ₱7.61 billion from the ₱5.45 billion posted in the same period last year, the company announced Tuesday.
Meralco ensures steady power supply for 49th ASEAN Summit
Manila Electric Company (Meralco), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, has put in place full preparations to guarantee reliable electricity service as the Philippines hosts the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits. The power distributor has placed crews and personnel on round-the-clock standby across its entire franchise area to address any service issues that may arise during the high-level gathering.
OceanaGold tests wireless blasting technology at Didipio mine
OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. has become the first mining operation in the Philippines to test a wireless blasting system underground, adopting technology designed to reduce workers’ exposure to hazardous areas while improving mining efficiency.
Property
Marcos expands LIMA ecozone for new industrial investments
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the addition of nearly eight hectares to the LIMA Technology Center in Batangas, expanding industrial space for new factories and existing companies looking to increase capacity.
Megaworld earnings rise 6% as rental income grows
Stronger hotel, mall, and office leasing revenues lifted Megaworld Corp.’s net income by 6 percent to P19 billion in the first nine months of 2026, cushioning modest growth in residential sales and consolidated revenues.
SM Prime earnings fall 5% as housing slump hits sales
Weak residential demand, high borrowing costs, elevated inflation, and cautious buyers, dragged down SM Prime Holdings Inc.’s earnings by 5 percent to P35.4 billion in the first nine months, offsetting stronger rental income and growth in its mall and hospitality businesses.
SM Prime caps 2027 spending at P100B, freezes new office projects
SM Prime Holdings Inc. will keep its 2027 capital...
Technology
Pax Silica hub agreement still targeted for yearend signing
The Philippines remains hopeful of signing the master agreement for the proposed Pax Silica advanced manufacturing hub before yearend, with negotiations progressing and no major substantive issues threatening a deal, Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said.
10 Philippine government agencies report data breaches to NPC
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is assessing data breach reports from 10 government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as it examines the potential risks to individuals whose personal information may have been compromised.
Smart first relco to integrate national ID verification in SIM registration
Smart Communications, the wireless arm of PLDT Inc., is the first Philippine mobile operator to integrate the PSA’s National ID Authentication Services into SIM registration, making the process faster and more secure for Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers. Through the PSA’s eVerify platform, subscriber information is checked against the official National ID registry, improving record accuracy and supporting the SIM Registration Act in preventing scams and fraud.
Rising AI doxing risks: Protect your personal data online
AI offers broad benefits but also empowers cybercriminals, with doxing emerging as a serious threat.
Opinion
The water doesn’t read the rankings
The trouble with seemingly nondescript sporting events is that somebody often has to explain why we should care. There are rankings to memorize, rivalries to understand, and statistics we pretend to have been following since childhood. Surfing has an efficient solution to this problem. Put the athletes in the water and let the ocean decide who deserves our attention. It has no interest in press releases, world rankings, or the opinions of people sitting comfortably on dry land.
Tuesday na naman: My wallet needs a rollback
I have had Tuesday volatility exhaustion for quite a while now. It’s a disease borne out of an alphanumeric that reads RA 8479, which, in plain language, is merely the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998. “Merely,” of course, is doing a heroic amount of work.
The showroom is now in your pocket
Buying a car in the Philippines has traditionally involved three things: a dealership, a salesperson who calls you “Sir” or “Ma’am” with enthusiasm, and a calculator poised to reveal how much of your future salary you need to commit. There may also be coffee, a test drive, and a discussion about whether the free tint is really worth installing.
Food security is not a rice-growing contest
Filipinos have long treated food security and food self-sufficiency as though they were the same, as if a country that grows all the food it eats automatically has a well-fed population.
Exclusive
FAST Logistics plots next leg beyond the truck
For FAST Logistics Group, the next leg of growth is not necessarily about moving more boxes faster. It is about making the entire journey work better.
The discipline behind SM’s 68 years in business
Building a business that lasts takes more than expanding into new markets. It requires sound decisions, careful management of risks, and the financial strength to withstand difficult periods.
iPeople targets 200,000 students with global expansion push
iPeople, the listed Yuchengco-Ayala education joint venture, is pursuing an expansion strategy built around international partnerships, new campuses and facilities, sustainability-focused programs, and deeper artificial intelligence integration as it aims to nearly triple its student population to 200,000.
Vivant Water sees 2026 as launchpad for bigger growth
Vivant Water is treating 2026 as a pivotal year as it moves from building its presence across the water industry to scaling operations, investments, and its project pipeline.
