Monday, 02 March 2026, 4:14 am

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    Top News

    SEC to reopen online lending market April 1

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will lift its three-year moratorium on new online lending platforms starting April 1, signaling a major policy shift aimed at expanding competition while tightening oversight of the fast-growing digital lending sector.

    News Dispatch

    Agriculture

    DA halts fertilizer delivery in Mindoro over registration violations

    The Department of Agriculture (DA) has stopped the distribution and use of 11,353 bags of fertilizer in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro after regulators found violations of product registration rules.

    Affordable rice at P20/kilo reaches more Baguio households 

    The Department of Agriculture (DA) has intensified the rollout of its P20 “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” Rice Project in Baguio City, bringing affordable rice directly to hundreds of families during the vibrant celebration of the Panagbenga Festival.

    DA seeks bigger budget to expand palm oil in Mindanao

    The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing to expand oil palm production in Mindanao, saying it can cut imports, raise farmer incomes, and secure the country’s cooking oil supply.

    Searca and TFNet launch collaborative growth program

    The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) and the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) have signed a partnership to strengthen tropical fruit production in the region. The agreement, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on February 12, aims to promote research, education, innovation, and capacity-building across Southeast Asia and other tropical fruit-producing areas.

    Corporate

    Ayala Group opens applications for 2026 summer internship program 

    The Ayala Group has opened applications for the 2026 Ayala Group Summer Internship Program (AGSIP), starting February 27.

    FFCCCII aims big with ASEAN Summit

    The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) is accelerating efforts to attract Chinese investments as it gears up to host the ASEAN-Chinese Business Leaders Summit in Metro Manila from October 18–20, 2026.

    Pag-IBIG boosts dividends anew

    State-run Pag-IBIG Fund has declared higher dividend rates for 2025, signaling robust financial health and reaffirming its commitment to maximizing members’ savings.

    SMX expands Luzon footprint boldly

    SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. is set to broaden its presence in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector with three new SMX Trade Halls slated to open across Luzon by fourth quarter of 2026.

    Banking & Insurance

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    Corporate Bulletins

    Ayala Group opens applications for 2026 summer internship program 

    The Ayala Group has opened applications for the 2026 Ayala Group Summer Internship Program (AGSIP), starting February 27.

    Elaine Katindoy named education committee head of PLIA

    Pru Life UK announced that Elaine Katindoy, vice president for PRUAcademy, has been appointed as the education committee head of the Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA). The role highlights her dedication to advancing financial literacy and professional development in the life insurance sector.

    URC brands win big at Malaysia’s 2025 Putra Awards

    Universal Robina Corp. (URC) has earned national recognition in Malaysia after two of its leading brands won honors at the 2025 Putra Brand Awards, highlighting strong consumer trust and growing corporate momentum in the country’s competitive snack market.

    Jollibee ranks 5th among world’s strongest restaurant brands in 2026

    Philippine fast-food giant Jollibee has climbed to fifth place in the 2026 ranking of the world’s strongest restaurant brands, up from ninth last year. The rise reflects stronger consumer recognition, preference, and loyalty across international markets, according to the company’s Brand Strength Index.

    Social Responsibility & Sustainability

    CIAC seals deals protecting heritage, secure food supply

    The Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) has signed two agreements aimed at protecting heritage, improving food security, and boosting economic growth in Central Luzon and beyond.

    Vivant hands over solar system to Palawan school

    Vivant Corp., through its Vivant Foundation, has turned over an 18.7-kilowatt solar power system to Canipo Integrated School in Coron.

    AEV emerges as ESG leader in 2025 S&P Global rankings

    Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) ranked among the top three Philippine conglomerates in the 2025 ESG Ratings of S&P Global, highlighting the company’s strong governance practices and people-focused programs.

    Globe, CANVAS champion safer internet for Filipino families

    In line with Safer Internet Day 2026, Globe Telecom partnered with Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) to hold an interactive learning session on artificial intelligence (AI) and online safety for families.

    Markets

    Ayala Land completes P3.7B AREIT sale

    Ayala Land Inc., the flagship real estate developer of the Ayala Group, has successfully sold 88 million common shares of AREIT, Inc. at P42 per share, raising P3.7 billion before fees and taxes. 

    Nvidia shatters earnings records as AI boom accelerates

    NVIDIA, the world’s most valuable publicly-traded company and the dominant supplier of chips powering the artificial intelligence revolution, capped a landmark year with blockbuster fourth quarter results, a bullish revenue outlook, and fresh momentum in its stock. 

    SEC rewriting IPO public float playbook

    The Securities and Exchange Commission is redrawing the rulebook for companies eyeing a stock market debut, proposing a tiered minimum public ownership (MPO) framework that could make it easier—especially for large firms—to list on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

    Trust takes lead in mega sale

    Lazada Philippines is putting brand power and buyer confidence front and center as it rolls out its upcoming 3.3 Pasabog Sale, signaling a strategic pivot from flash-sale frenzy to credibility-driven commerce.

    Travel

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    Energy

    Fuel prices seen rising again amid Middle East tensions

    Local fuel prices are expected to increase again this week, with possible further spikes due to worsening tensions in the Middle East.

    First Gen to power Alabang properties with geothermal energy

    Leading renewable energy provider First Gen Corporation has signed a deal to supply geothermal power to two major properties in Filinvest City, Alabang.

    OPEC+ considers hiking daily oil output

    The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is reportedly weighing a significantly larger oil production increase at its meeting Sunday, as escalating military conflict in the Middle East rattles global energy markets.

    Movem, Rockwell power up Makati

    Movem, the e-mobility arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), has teamed up with Rockwell Property Management Corp. to launch five electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at Edades Tower and Edades Suites in Rockwell Center.

    Transport & Communications

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    Property

    Movem, Rockwell power up Makati

    Movem, the e-mobility arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), has teamed up with Rockwell Property Management Corp. to launch five electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at Edades Tower and Edades Suites in Rockwell Center.

    Pag-IBIG income hits P65.3B high

    State-run Pag-IBIG Fund posted a record P65.28 billion in...

    Radisson accelerates PH expansion with 18 hotels in pipeline

    Radisson Hotel Group is expanding rapidly in the Philippines, with the country now making up 35 percent of its total growth in Southeast Asia-Pacific. The move highlights the company’s strong confidence in the Philippines’ long-term tourism potential and its importance to the group’s regional strategy.

    New cross-bank auto-debit service debuts for property owners, tenants

    The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) have rolled out the country’s first interoperable direct debit facility, allowing property buyers and tenants to automatically pay recurring obligations from any participating bank account.

    Environment

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    Technology

    Public-private alliance steps up battle vs online scams hitting OFWs

    The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has partnered with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) to protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families from the growing threat of online scams.

    Pag-IBIG income hits P65.3B high

    State-run Pag-IBIG Fund posted a record P65.28 billion in...

    PLDT ramps up security to keep customers protected

    PLDT Inc. announced on Friday that it is expanding community partnerships this year to strengthen the protection of its telecommunications infrastructure.

    Globe strengthens innovation drive, connects startups to real world enterprise needs   

    The Globe Group is stepping up its push to make innovation a core part of its corporate strategy by directly linking startups with real business environments.

    Health & Science

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    Opinion

    NAIA Terminal shakeup tests airlines nerves

    At Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the runway is not the only thing shifting. Airlines are now studying a government proposal to redraw the airport map itself, clustering carriers by business model in a sweeping terminal realignment. 

    When safety grounds flights, bills soar

    Gilbert had barely settled into his seat on a Friday evening flight bound for Manila, pleased to be heading home after several days of meetings in Mindanao. An hour later, the single-aisle jet remained parked on the tarmac at Francisco Bangoy International Airport, engines silent, cabin restless.

    Smoke Without Fire, Markets Without Rules

    When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discards its own scientific “endangerment finding,” it does more than revise a memo from 2009. It performs a kind of regulatory alchemy: turning greenhouse gases from legally recognized threats into political inconveniences.

    Philippine bond market: Confidence, stability, lower borrowing costs

    The Philippine government bond market may sound like a tangle of numbers and acronyms, but it matters to everyone. 

    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.