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ADB downgrades Philippine growth outlook amid global risks

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has trimmed its growth forecast for the Philippines, underscoring mounting global uncertainty driven largely by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

Nueva Ecija farmer cuts fertilizer costs, doubles rice yield

A farmer in Nueva Ecija has developed a rice-growing method that lowers fertilizer costs while nearly doubling harvests.

Sugar group seeks urgent cloud seeding, opposes tax hike in Negros

The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) has called on the government to immediately carry out cloud seeding operations as dry conditions linked to a possible El Niño begin to affect crops.

MSMEs key to raising farm incomes, creating jobs – DA

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are at the forefront of efforts to raise farm incomes and generate jobs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

Tamban oversupply in Sorsogon resolved after Holy Week plant closures

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the recent spoilage of tamban (sardines) in Bulan, Sorsogon has been resolved after fish processing plants resumed operations.

Corporate

PCPPI ramps up tech-driven push to empower sari-sari stores nationwide

Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) is intensifying its efforts to support sari-sari stores, rolling out a technology-enabled distribution strategy aimed at directly empowering millions of Filipino micro-entrepreneurs.

Filinvest launches promo to make home buying easier

Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) has rolled out its Kaya-Sulit Ready-for-Occupancy (RFO) Promo to make buying homes more affordable and easier for Filipinos. The program is offered in partnership with EastWest Bank and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

BDO Pay offers cash rewards for referrals

Customers using BDO Pay can now earn extra cash by inviting friends and family to join the app, as part of its ongoing “Refer a Friend” promo running until June 30, 2026.

RFM declares P300M cash dividend, flags muted 2026 outlook

RFM Corp., the food production arm of the Concepcion Group, has declared a fresh P300 million cash dividend, reinforcing its record of steady shareholder returns even as it braces for a more challenging year ahead.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

Filinvest launches promo to make home buying easier

Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) has rolled out its Kaya-Sulit Ready-for-Occupancy (RFO) Promo to make buying homes more affordable and easier for Filipinos. The program is offered in partnership with EastWest Bank and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

BDO Pay offers cash rewards for referrals

Customers using BDO Pay can now earn extra cash by inviting friends and family to join the app, as part of its ongoing “Refer a Friend” promo running until June 30, 2026.

GCNP elects new officers for 2026–2027, eyes stronger sustainability push

The Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP), the local arm of the United Nations Global Compact, has elected a new set of officers for 2026–2027.

Aboitiz pushes Mindanao growth through airport partnerships

Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. is strengthening its push for infrastructure development in Mindanao through deeper public-private partnerships, highlighting the role of regional airports in driving economic expansion.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

SM Offices makes every drop of water work harder

SM Prime Holdings Inc. is proving that in real estate, even water can deliver returns, if managed well enough.

OceanaGold Philippines boosts community spending to P569M

OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. is raising its social investments to a combined P569 million in 2026, marking a significant increase following strong operational and financial performance in 2025 and reinforcing its push for community-centered mining.

Hands that once erred now create hope

Through the Baking Behind Bars program, persons deprived of liberty are discovering that their hands, once tied to past mistakes, can now measure, knead, shape, and create. The same hands that once led them astray are now turning flour and water into something meaningful.

SMC cleanup of Alabang River improves flood control in Muntinlupa

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has cleared a key section of the Alabang River, helping improve water flow and reduce flood risk in nearby communities, roads, and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

Markets

Fake rider delivery scam exploits trust, urgency

Scam Watch Pilipinas warns the public about a “fake rider” scheme abusing Lalamove bookings after an attempted incident involving co-founder Art Samaniego.

IPOPHL expands anti-counterfeit drive to online markets

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines is intensifying its campaign against counterfeit goods, broadening enforcement to digital platforms and local communities as it pursues a “zero counterfeit” goal.

loilo City welcomes “bolanteros” to sell in newly revamped public markets

Iloilo City is making room for a little extra hustle and bustle for various retailers each Tuesday, which is designated market day.

Volatility to persist as PSEi tests support

Philippine financial markets are expected to remain fragile this week, with investors bracing for continued volatility as risk aversion dominates sentiment and the benchmark index struggles to regain footing above key levels.

Travel

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Energy

Government orders probe of fuel stations nationwide

The government has stepped up its crackdown on alleged fuel hoarding and profiteering, issuing show-cause orders to nearly 100 gasoline stations following reports of irregular pricing nationwide, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

PCC tightens watch on oil, fuel markets 

Amid mounting volatility in global oil markets, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said it is intensifying oversight of the domestic fuel sector to guard against anti-competitive practices that could disadvantage consumers.

Meralco raises electricity rates in April

Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Friday announced an increase of P0.5335 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in electricity rates this April. The overall rate for a typical household is now P14.3496 per kWh, up from P13.8161 per kWh in March.

Alternergy secures green share approval amid expansion push

Alternergy Holdings Corp., a listed renewable energy firm, has secured unanimous shareholder approval to raise fresh capital through a planned issuance of green perpetual preferred shares, positioning the company for its next phase of expansion as energy security concerns intensify.

Transport & Communications

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Property

Cebu Landmasters expands to Cavite with new township project

Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) has acquired a 70-hectare property in Dasmariñas, marking its entry into Luzon’s fast-growing areas.

COA orders review of developers’ housing dues

The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered a sweeping review of developers’ compliance with the government’s balanced housing mandate, flagging possible underpayments tied to how the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) computed obligations.

SM Offices makes every drop of water work harder

SM Prime Holdings Inc. is proving that in real estate, even water can deliver returns, if managed well enough.

Megaworld expands lead in green office developments

Megaworld Corp., the property development arm of tycoon Andrew Tan, has strengthened its position as the country’s leading developer of green office spaces after securing another sustainability certification for its growing portfolio.

Environment

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Technology

Alibaba launches new AI video and image tools for creators

Alibaba has introduced Wan2.7-Video, a new AI model designed to help creators produce complete videos with higher quality and efficiency.

PSAC backs AI upskilling, faster job matching drive 

The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) is pushing a coordinated set of measures to protect jobs and speed up workforce transformation as global economic uncertainty weighs on employment prospects.

Telco assures uninterrupted service amid Middle East tensions

Eastern Communications said Thursday its services remain fully operational with no expected disruptions despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Velox Networks expands to PH amid telecom reforms

Velox Networks, a Singapore-based cloud telephony provider, has announced its expansion into the Philippines, marking its third Southeast Asian market after Singapore and Malaysia.

Health & Science

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Opinion

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.

Choked Hormuz puts global food supply at risk

Food, not fuel, may prove the first and most immediate casualty of the Middle East conflict as disruption grips the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea lane with an outsized role in feeding the world.

Eala storms toward WTA’s elite circle

The desert—both in Dubai and Indian Wells—has been kind to Alex Eala.

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.