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2027 budget targets recovery as economy slows

The government is betting on an economic rebound in 2027, building its proposed P7.2-trillion national budget around faster growth, easing inflation, and a gradual recovery in investment after a bruising year.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

Special safeguard duty imposed to protect local producers from import surges 

To shield domestic livestock producers from market disruption caused by foreign supply spikes, the Department of Agriculture has activated special safeguard duties on select imported meat products. Issued under Department Order No. 24, series of 2026, by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the directive establishes temporary protective tariffs after government monitoring confirmed that incoming import volumes crossed official safety thresholds.

DA pushes local enoki mushroom production to cut imports, boost food security and exports

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is advancing import substitution efforts by supporting Basic Necessity Inc., a Filipino-owned firm building a state-of-the-art enoki mushroom facility in Silang, Cavite. This fully private-sector-funded venture aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goals: localize key industries, grow agro-industry, create jobs, and ensure steady access to affordable, nutritious food.

Beyond purple: UPLB researchers identify top ube varieties to power global success

Ube has captured the world’s imagination—once a familiar backyard crop in Filipino homes, this purple yam now appears in cheesecakes in New York, croissants in Paris, and lattes in Sydney. But to turn viral popularity into lasting success, the Philippines needs more than buzz; it needs better ube. That is exactly what scientists at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) set out to find.

Climate-ready rice fights floods, salt threats

Rice has long been a symbol of resilience on the Filipino plate. Now, scientists are working to make the grain itself more resilient in the field.

Corporate

Jollibee first-half net income drops 17% despite strong 2Q rebound

Jollibee Foods Corp. reported a 17 percent decline in first-semester net income this year, falling to P4.92 billion from P5.91 billion in the same period last year, even as a solid second-quarter performance could not offset earlier pressures.

PhilWeb returns to profitability in first half 2026

PhilWeb Corp. announced Tuesday it has returned to profitability in the first half of the year, posting net income of P60.96 million — a turnaround from the P41.76 million loss recorded in the same period last year.

BPI AIA names Melissa Henson as new CEO

BPI AIA Life Assurance Corp. has appointed Melissa Henson as its new chief executive officer, putting an executive with nearly two decades of banking and insurance experience at the helm as the bancassurance company enters its next phase of growth.

Wilcon Depot net income rises 3% in first half, business stabilizes

Wilcon Depot Inc. reported on Tuesday that its net income for the first half of the year increased by 3 percent to P1.2 billion, up from P1.16 billion a year earlier, reflecting signs of stabilized operations.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

BPI AIA names Melissa Henson as new CEO

BPI AIA Life Assurance Corp. has appointed Melissa Henson as its new chief executive officer, putting an executive with nearly two decades of banking and insurance experience at the helm as the bancassurance company enters its next phase of growth.

P&A Grant Thornton, PEZA team up for capability building, knowledge sharing

P&A Grant Thornton (Punongbayan and Araullo) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to boost knowledge-sharing and capability-building programs for PEZA staff, registered firms, and ecozone industry stakeholders.

BSP holds procurement session to boost fair bidding and supplier participation

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently hosted an immersive learning session to help suppliers better understand its procurement process, encouraging more participation and ensuring fair competition. Held on July 22 and 23, 2026, the event gathered over 170 participants who took part in simulation exercises to get familiar with bidding procedures and compliance rules.

BSP honors 14 top insttutional partners at 2026 appreciation ceremony

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday recognized 14 outstanding institutional partners from its Head Office during the 2026 Outstanding BSP Stakeholders Appreciation Ceremony. The awardees were honored for their key contributions to financial inclusion, financial literacy promotion, and wider access to retirement savings via the Personal Equity Retirement Account (PERA). They also helped advance digital payments through the QR PH system and the introduction of tap-to-pay turnstiles for MRT‑3 commuters.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

San Miguel’s Backyard Bukid expands to 9 sites, reaches Visayas

San Miguel Corp. has grown its Backyard Bukid initiative to nine sites nationwide, marking its first presence in the Visayas as the project shifts from urban farming to boost community food security and livelihoods.

Pax Silica hub targets USD 200B exports

The planned Pax Silica industrial hub in New Clark City is targeting its first 10 to 20 locators within five years of construction, with an ambitious goal of generating as much as USD200 billion in exports over a 30-year development period.

Ayala Land earns national honors for PWD accessibility

Accessibility is often measured in inches and angles, in ramps, elevators, doorways, and pathways. But its real measure is simpler. It is whether a place allows people to move through it with dignity, independence, and ease.

BDO partners with foundations to bring solar energy to indigenous communities in Quezon

Living without electricity or paved roads has been a lifelong reality for Liezel Sarmiento, a barangay councilor and member of the Dumagat-Remontado tribe in Sitio Cablao, Quezon.

Markets

Peso, stocks brace for volatility as rate bets fade

Philippine markets may stay on edge as investors juggle Middle East risks, oil prices and the next move by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, but fading rate-hike bets are giving both the peso and stocks some breathing room.

AI transforms retail but fundamentals still drive growth

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping Philippine retail, but technology alone will not determine which businesses succeed, according to venture capital firm Kickstart Ventures, which says disciplined execution and sound business fundamentals remain the strongest drivers of sustainable growth.

Retailers see modest growth amid rising costs, online rivals

Philippine retailers are bracing for another challenging year, with industry growth expected to remain in the single digits as higher operating costs, cautious consumers, and intensifying competition from online sellers continue to squeeze margins, according to the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA).

Retailers told to embrace AI without losing human touch

The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) on Thursday urged businesses to accelerate their adoption of artificial intelligence while ensuring that technology complements, rather than replaces, the human connections that underpin customer loyalty.

Travel

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Energy

Meralco crews work around clock after Habagat

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) crews are working around the clock to restore power in communities affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon, with about 18,000 customers still without electricity as of 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Raslag solar farm resumes operation after flash flood

Raslag Corp. said its largest solar farm, the 36.6-megawatt-peak RASLAG 4 in Pampanga, has partially resumed operations after flash flooding forced it off the grid, highlighting the growing weather risks facing the country’s renewable-energy infrastructure.

Fuel prices drop over P4 per liter this week

The Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed fuel companies will roll back pump prices sharply this week, with cuts exceeding P4 per liter across all major products.

StB GigaFactory, BCDA explore clean energy projects

StB GigaFactory Inc. is expanding its clean-energy ambitions in the Philippines, partnering with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority to explore renewable power, battery storage, and electric mobility projects that could support the growth of next-generation industries.

Transport & Communications

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Property

DHSUD orders housing loan moratorium in calamity-hit areas 

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has ordered a moratorium on housing loan payments for qualified beneficiaries affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon, Tropical Storm Luis, and Typhoon Maymay.

Ayala Land raises 2026 capex to P60B

Ayala Land Inc. is raising its 2026 capital spending plan to P60 billion from P50 billion, signaling stronger confidence in its project pipeline even as residential demand remains selective.

Leasing, AREIT expansion bolster Ayala Land income

Ayala Land Inc. is leaning harder on malls, offices, hotels, and other recurring-income businesses as softer property development demand pushes the real estate giant to rebalance its growth engine.

RPVARA deferment gives housing sector breathing room

The deferment of the Real Property Valuation and Assessment...

Environment

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Technology

Converge backs DTI push to accelerate MSME digitalization 

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is strengthening its push to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) adopt digital technologies as it partners with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to expand access to connectivity, digital tools, and artificial intelligence.

ASEAN data breach costs hit record $4.12M 

Organizations across ASEAN faced an average USD4.12 million cost...

SEIPI seeks reforms to make Pax Silica competitive 

The proposed Pax Silica initiative could give the Philippines...

StB GigaFactory, BCDA explore clean energy projects

StB GigaFactory Inc. is expanding its clean-energy ambitions in the Philippines, partnering with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority to explore renewable power, battery storage, and electric mobility projects that could support the growth of next-generation industries.

Health & Science

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Opinion

When the cleanup starts costing growth

Even the best intentions can backfire.

Alex Eala’s sweetest revenge spoke louder than cheers

Some victories earn ranking points. Others settle unfinished conversations. Alex Eala's...

Private prosecutor steals spotlight in VP impeachment trial

Courtroom dramas are supposed to be solemn affairs. Then Atty. Lorna Kapunan walked to the lectern and reminded everyone that wit can be just as effective as a legal citation.

Supreme Court ruling reels in Philippine seafood export risks

The Supreme Court's decision striking down Fisheries Administrative Order No. 266 has cast a wide net over the Philippines' fisheries sector, raising questions that reach well beyond the country's waters. 

Sports & Entertainment

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Exclusive

Visayas roots, Singapore routes: Top Line redraws its map

Singapore is no longer just a distant dot on Top Line Business Development Corp.’s growth chart. It has become a very literal marker of how far the company has travelled in 12 years, from a Visayas-based real estate developer to an emerging energy player now thinking in global supply routes.

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.