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Electricity spot market rates jump 38% in May

Electricity prices across the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) rose by 38.5 percent in May, according to data released Wednesday by the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP).

News Dispatch

Agriculture

DA lifts Argentina poultry ban after bird fly clearance

The Department of Agriculture has reopened poultry trade with Argentina, ending a temporary ban imposed earlier this year due to highly pathogenic avian influenza.

DA pushes unified govt action to protect Laguna Lake

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is calling for coordinated efforts across agencies to safeguard Laguna Lake, ensuring it supports livelihoods, food supply, water security, and flood control.

Export surge in April narrows farm trade gap to 5-year low

The Philippines' agricultural trade deficit narrowed sharply in April to its lowest level in more than five years, as exports surged to a record high while imports eased, signaling improving competitiveness in parts of the country's farm sector. 

Nine advance in first review of PH offshore wind auction

The Department of Energy (DOE) has confirmed that nine companies have passed the initial evaluation for offshore wind projects under the fifth Green Energy Auction (GEA5), down from more than 20 original applicants.

Corporate

Digiplus inks deal boosting digital gaming at LaVie Casino

Digiplus Interactive Corp. has entered into a cooperation agreement with New Coast Leisure Inc. and Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc. to operate digital gaming services at LaVie Resort and Casino Manila. The non-exclusive arrangement covers technical support, content integration, and management of approved online games. LaVie is owned by International Entertainment Corp., which Digiplus is in the process of acquiring.

SEC opens second comment period for revised online lending rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released draft guidelines for a second round of public feedback, aiming to end the current moratorium on registering new online lending platforms while tightening rules to strengthen oversight and better protect borrowers.

Corporate gifts thrive despite rise of AI

Artificial intelligence may be transforming marketing, but corporate gifting continues to prove its value as a powerful tool for building brand loyalty and strengthening business relationships.

Razon group extends aid to quake-hit areas in Mindanao

Companies under the Razon Group have mobilized relief efforts in Mindanao following the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the region on Monday, bringing much-needed assistance to communities heavily affected by the disaster.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

MUFG, Security Bank hold forum on sustainable growth, mark 10‑year partnership

MUFG Bank and Security Bank hosted the third annual MUFG NOW Manila 2026, bringing together government, finance, and industry leaders to discuss sustainable development, energy security, and investment.

Meralco sends aid, power support to quake-hit Southern Mindanao

Manila Electric Company (Meralco), through its One Meralco Foundation (OMF), has launched relief operations after a strong earthquake hit Southern Mindanao.

Pepsi Philippines earns DOLE recognition for over 8 million accident-free hours

Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) North Luzon operations has received an award from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region I for recording more than eight million hours without a work-related accident.

Former PAL chief joins DOT leadership team

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has bolstered its leadership ranks with the appointment of three new undersecretaries, including former Philippine Airlines (PAL) president Stanley K. Ng, as the agency intensifies efforts to strengthen the country’s tourism competitiveness and accelerate industry growth.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

Razon group extends aid to quake-hit areas in Mindanao

Companies under the Razon Group have mobilized relief efforts in Mindanao following the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the region on Monday, bringing much-needed assistance to communities heavily affected by the disaster.

St. Peter offers free funeral aid after Mindanao quake

St. Peter Life Plan and Chapels announced immediate help for families hit by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck southern Mindanao on June 8, 2026.

Foundation draws work-ready scholars from Bacolod university

In Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Tubig Pilipinas Foundation Inc. (TPFI) has officially partnered with National University (NU) Bacolod through Project KINABUKASAN, an initiative created to help qualified students from host communities earn college degrees and build careers within their home region. Under this agreement, two scholars from Barangays Abo-Abo and Caliban in Murcia, Negros Occidental will receive full tuition coverage, education allowances, and academic support for courses linked to community and national development, such as Civil Engineering, Architecture, Accountancy, and Computer Science.

Biñan school get safe water upgrade from Manila Water

Laguna Water, a subsidiary of Manila Water Non-East Zone, has given refrigerated drinking fountains to six public schools in Biñan, Laguna, in time for the 2026–2027 school year opening and this year’s Brigada Eskwela.

Markets

Easing inflation gives markets room to breath

After months of relentless pressure, Philippine financial markets may finally be getting some breathing space.

SEC centralizes SBL admin functions with PSE to speed up processing, cut costs

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has streamlined the country’s securities borrowing and lending framework by assigning all administrative functions to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), aiming to create a more efficient and integrated short selling market.

Rookie PH opens new stores, unveils school deals

Rookie PH is accelerating its expansion in Metro Manila, opening two new stores and rolling out back-to-school promotions as it seeks to bring global kids’ fashion brands closer to Filipino families ahead of the new school year.

SEC director arrested in NBI extortion sting

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Wednesday that one of its directors has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in an entrapment operation over the alleged extortion of a private corporation.

Travel

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Energy

German firm secures P12.6B funding for Surigao solar-battery project

German renewable energy developer ib vogt has secured up...

DOE drafts fuel transition plan to cut reliance on imported fuel

The Department of Energy (DOE) has developed a new mechanism designed to reduce the country’s heavy dependence on imported fuel and petroleum products. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin explained that while the draft is complete, it will first undergo consultations with other government agencies and industry stakeholders before being finalized.

Nickel Asia secures right to operate two Zambales nickel sites

Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) on Wednesday said that its subsidiary Samar Nickel Mining Resources has signed an operating agreement with San Juanico Resources Corp. The deal gives Samar Nickel the right to manage mineral claims covering roughly 3,432 hectares in Candelaria and Sta. Cruz, Zambales, under MPSA No. 265-2008-III. It remains subject to approval by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

PCC, IEMOP forge pact to tighten power market oversight

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines Inc. (IEMOP) have signed an agreement to strengthen oversight of the country's electricity sector through the regular sharing of market data and intelligence.

Transport & Communications

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Property

Ayala Malls brings first IKEA store to Visayas

Ayala Malls is deepening its presence in the Visayas with the launch of Ayala Malls Gatewalk in Mandaue City, a major retail and lifestyle development that will host the first IKEA store in Cebu and the wider Visayas region.

Batangas investment pays off as IDC expands

Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC) is accelerating its Luzon expansion after its flagship Batangas project, Miramonti Green Residences, neared a sellout just weeks after its formal launch, validating the developer’s strategy of investing early in fast-rising provincial growth centers.

DHSUD grants housing loan reprieve, deploys shelter aid after Mindanao quake

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has ordered a moratorium on housing loan payments and mobilized emergency shelter assistance in areas devastated by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao, as the government intensifies relief efforts for affected families.

₱630-M Pampanga industrial park spurs growth

A new P630-million industrial park in Pampanga is set to bolster Central Luzon’s rise as a manufacturing and logistics powerhouse, with developer Fortunetown Properties Corp. preparing to open a 24-hectare facility in Mexico, Pampanga this month.

Environment

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Technology

Clark renews digital backbone deal with PLDT unit

The Clark Development Corp. (CDC) has renewed its partnership with PLDT Clarktel Inc., reinforcing the digital infrastructure that supports one of the country's fastest-growing investment hubs as competition among economic zones increasingly hinges on technology and connectivity.

Globe deploys Starlink satellite service after Mindanao quake

Globe Telecom, with Elon Musk’s Starlink, has launched satellite-to-mobile service in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. Approved quickly by the NTC, it is Globe’s first use of this tech for emergency response in the country.

PLDT eyes REIT listing for data center unit VITRO

PLDT Inc. announced Tuesday its board approved plans to potentially list its data center assets under subsidiary VITRO Inc. as a real estate investment trust (REIT).

Philippine creative sector hits growth, IP hurdles

The Philippines’ creative economy is booming, contributing over 7 percent of gross domestic products in 2025 and gaining traction as a competitive player in the global market. 

Health & Science

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Opinion

Ghosts of 1949 haunt today’s Senate

The Philippine Senate has a remarkable talent for proving that history never really leaves the chamber. It merely changes surnames.

Silent senators forfeit democracy’s mantle

The Senate has been regarded as the last bastion of democratic dissent—a chamber where statesmen stood their ground, challenged power, and refused to let their voices be drowned out by political pressure or executive overreach. It was where difficult questions were asked, unpopular truths were spoken, and silence was treated not as a virtue but as a surrender.

Senate descends to institutional absurdity

If anyone still believed the Philippine Senate had reached rock bottom, the May 25 session suggested there was, in fact, a trapdoor beneath the floor.

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.

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.