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Majority of Filipino adults now have financial accounts – BSP

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) shows 58 percent of Filipino adults owned formal financial accounts in the first quarter of 2026 — up from 5 percent in 2025 and 48 percent in early 2025.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

Nueva Ecija pig farm expansion up for public review; project targets 50,000-head capacity

A contact grower piggery farm in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, will hold a public scoping on June 4, 2026, as part of requirements for its planned expansion, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB).

BFAR steps up help for local salt farmers as imports dominate market

Government fisheries authorities are pushing for more support and safeguards for Filipino salt makers, as most of the salt used in the country comes from abroad.

DA expands P20-per-Kg rice program in Kalinga, rolls out ₱285-M farm support

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expanded its P20 per kilogram rice program in Kalinga province, while releasing about ₱285 million in additional agricultural aid for local farmers this year. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the launch activities in Tabuk City, which included facility inspections, farmer dialogues, and distribution of support covering rice, corn, livestock, high-value crops, and local development projects.

Hog output rebounds in Q1 as prices soften

Hog production posted a strong recovery in the first quarter, signaling improving industry conditions after two straight years of contraction, although falling farmgate prices suggest supply pressures and cautious consumer demand continue to weigh on the sector.

Corporate

RCBC bags global honors for digital banking

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), the country’s sixth-largest lender by assets, has strengthened its standing as a global digital banking innovator after securing two major wins at the Digital CX Awards 2026, organized by The Digital Banker.

Manila Water’s Upper Wawa Dam named Global Water Project of the Year

East Zone concessionaire Manila Water announced its Upper Wawa Dam has won Water Project of the Year at the 2026 Global Water Awards, held in Madrid, Spain alongside the Global Water Summit.

GCash unveils all-in-one travel protection and connectivity for groups

Summer trips often begin with a simple invitation in a group chat, but excitement can quickly fade due to common travel issues such as flight delays, lost baggage, or medical emergencies.

Home Credit boosts employee financial welness amid resilience gap

While financial literacy among Filipino adults rose to 74 percent in 2025 (up from 69 percent in 2021), only 30 percent have enough savings for emergencies, per the latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas survey.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

RCBC bags global honors for digital banking

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), the country’s sixth-largest lender by assets, has strengthened its standing as a global digital banking innovator after securing two major wins at the Digital CX Awards 2026, organized by The Digital Banker.

Manila Water’s Upper Wawa Dam named Global Water Project of the Year

East Zone concessionaire Manila Water announced its Upper Wawa Dam has won Water Project of the Year at the 2026 Global Water Awards, held in Madrid, Spain alongside the Global Water Summit.

GCash unveils all-in-one travel protection and connectivity for groups

Summer trips often begin with a simple invitation in a group chat, but excitement can quickly fade due to common travel issues such as flight delays, lost baggage, or medical emergencies.

BPI Foundation, Knowledge Channel team up to bring financial literacy to public schools

In a major move to equip young Filipinos with vital money management skills, BPI Foundation, Inc. (BPIF) has partnered with Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) to deliver specialized financial education content and learning materials to public schools across the country.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

Home Credit boosts employee financial welness amid resilience gap

While financial literacy among Filipino adults rose to 74 percent in 2025 (up from 69 percent in 2021), only 30 percent have enough savings for emergencies, per the latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas survey.

 Ayala Land hits the brakes on cars, not fun

Ayala Land, Inc. is bringing its popular Car-Free Sundays to Davao and Negros, giving residents a rare chance to reclaim city streets for people instead of traffic. 

foodpanda Philippines distributes P62M rider incentives

foodpanda Philippines has distributed over P62 million in incentives to its Ka-panda delivery partners from March to May 2026 through nationwide add-on incentive quests aimed at boosting rider earnings and engagement.

MPIF assesing Tubbataha Reefs health in exploration dive

Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) is holding the Shore It Up! Tubbataha Exploration Dive until May 27, 2026, by bringing together experts to assess the health of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park — a critical Philippine marine sanctuary and global biodiversity site in the Sulu Sea.

Markets

Filipinos shift toward affordable, convenience-led retail

The Philippine retail landscape is undergoing a clear shift as consumers increasingly prioritize affordability and convenience, driving a rebound for neighborhood sari-sari stores while traditional supermarkets continue to lose ground.

 Senator Aquino wars new ad rules burden MSMEs

Senator Bam Aquino has once again criticized the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), raising concerns that a proposed regulation requiring permits for advertisements and promotional campaigns could create an additional bureaucratic burden for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and online sellers.

Peso near lows as markets turn defensive

The Philippine peso is again nearing record lows as persistent inflation, geopolitical tensions, and strong US dollar demand continue to pressure local markets. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the peso could retest historic weakness after falling 1.8% this week and approaching the April 30 intraday low of P61.75 against the dollar.

Blue chips signal medium-term PSEi opportunity 

The Philippine stock market remains cautiously constructive as investors weigh short-term macro headwinds against improving medium-term earnings visibility.

Travel

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Energy

Filinvest launches P1-B solar plant in Misamis Oriental, a first-of-its-kind project in PH

The Filinvest Group has launched its first large-scale solar power facility — a 20.774-megawatt installation in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental — with over P1 billion in investment. Developed by subsidiary FDC Green Energy Corp., the ground-mounted plant sits inside the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate, a key economic zone with ideal terrain and access to power infrastructure.

PNOC checks Batangas facilities ahead of state-procures LPG arrival

The Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) inspected LPG storage and port facilities in Calaca, Batangas over the weekend to confirm they are ready to receive, store, and safely handle 21,000 metric tons of government-procured LPG. This supply, sourced from the United States and transiting through Singapore, is due to arrive by the end of May.

New rules, auction rolled out to draw waste-to-energy investments

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have introduced new terms and an upcoming special auction to attract more investments in waste-to-energy (WTE) projects under the Green Energy Auction (GEA) program, aiming to boost clean power supply and improve national waste management.

Fuel prices set to rise again this week

Local fuel prices are poised to increase once more, with gasoline expected to go up by P0.80 to P1.00 per liter and diesel by P0.40 to P0.60 per liter this week, according to an anonymous local fuel retailer. The projection is based on five-day average global trading rates, full-week Platts Singapore price benchmarks, peso-dollar exchange shifts, and changes in cargo premiums.

Transport & Communications

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Property

RL Commercial REIT remains open to third-party buys, prioritizes quality

RL Commercial REIT Inc. (RCR), the Gokongwei group’s real estate investment trust, is still open to acquiring properties from outside parties—though deals will depend on price, asset quality, management standards, and tenant mix, according to president and CEO Jericho P. Go.

Major developers explore future Bilibid township project 

Some of the country’s largest property developers are signaling early interest in what could emerge as one of Metro Manila’s biggest urban redevelopment projects: the transformation of portions of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) reservation in Muntinlupa into a mixed-use commercial and residential district.

Filinvest Land sees strong residential sales momentum

Filinvest Land Inc., the property development arm of the Gotianun Group, reported a 62 percent surge in March sales reservations to P2.7 billion, compared to the same month last year. 

Megawide posts strong Q1 earnings amid crisis

Megawide Construction Corp. posted a consolidated net income of P265 million in the first three months of 2026, an increase of 26 percent from the year-earlier period amid the onset of the Middle East crisis.

Environment

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Technology

Smart blocks over 955M scam text in 1Q 2026, steps up fight vs mobile fraud

Smart Communications, Inc. announced having blocked more than 955 million scam and phishing text messages and blacklisted nearly 200,000 numbers linked to fraud in the first three months of 2026, marking a major move to protect users from rising mobile-based crimes.

 Aboitiz launches nationwide digits skills program

The Aboitiz Foundation is expanding its digital workforce development efforts with AIDA Plus, a new skills-to-employment platform designed to prepare more Filipinos for opportunities in the growing digital economy.

GMA Network rises to No. 13 in  global digital ranking

GMA Network climbed 11 spots to rank 13th in the Tubular Worldwide Leadership Ranking for April 2026, up from 24th place previously. Its digital content earned a total of 11.18 billion views across major platforms: 5 billion on Instagram, 3.06 billion on Facebook, 2.40 billion on TikTok, and 719 million on YouTube.

PLDT pushes sustainable growth beyond connectivity services

PLDT Inc. is accelerating its transformation from a telecommunications provider into a technology-driven company, betting on artificial intelligence, network resilience, and sustainability initiatives to drive long-term growth while balancing profitability with environmental and social commitments.

Health & Science

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Opinion

Senate power shift risks Estrada-style backlash

The sudden leadership shake-up in the Senate ahead of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Dutertel may yet prove a poisoned chalice—a glittering prize that offers control today but threatens political liability tomorrow.

A house divided: Lopez family rift tests corporate governance

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every house divided against itself will not stand.” In the Lopez corporate universe, the verse now reads less like scripture and more like a live governance case file—complete with injunctions, contested boardrooms, and competing versions of who nearly switched off the lights.

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.

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.