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Agriculture
Rice imports rise 20% over six months; DA vows measures to protect local farmers
The Philippines imported 2.75 million metric tons of rice in the first six months of 2026, a 20.1 percent increase from the 2.29 million MT recorded in the same period last year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Wednesday in Quezon City.
Subic flour miller bares P2.4 billion expansion plan
Mabuhay Interflour Mill Inc. (MIMI) is planning a P2.4 billion upgrade of its flour milling facility at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone with a public consultation scheduled to be held on July 15, 2026.
NGO urges greater government support for GM crops
The non-profit International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) is calling on the government to strengthen support for genetically modified (GM) crops, saying this will boost harvests and crop quality across the country.
Cheaper rice helps case for extending price cap, DA chief says
Lower food prices, particularly rice, helped cool inflation in June, prompting Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. to push for the extension of the government's price cap on imported rice while sustaining efforts to keep food supplies ample and markets stable.
Corporate
SEC approves San Miguel’s P30 billion preferred share offering
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given the green light to San Miguel Corporation’s follow-on offering of preferred shares, valued at up to P30 billion.
SEC lifts ban on new online lending platforms starting August 1
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will lift the moratorium on new online lending platforms on August 1, 2026, bringing an end to the restriction first imposed on November 5, 2021, after over four years. Alongside this, the SEC is implementing strict new standards safeguarding consumers and curbing unfair lending practices. The guidelines are outlined in Memorandum Circular No. 20, Series of 2026, and apply to all existing, newly registered, and prospective financing and lending companies that use mobile apps, websites, or other digital systems to extend credit to the public.
Lenovo hits record 7th in 2026 Gartner Supply Chain ranking
Lenovo climbed to 7th place globally in the 2026 Gartner Supply Chain Top 25—its highest rank ever, up from 8th in 2025.
PAL raises $300M in landmark inaugural global bonds
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has secured $300 million through its first-ever international bond offering, with proceeds earmarked for fleet modernization and long-term expansion.
Corporate Bulletins
Lenovo hits record 7th in 2026 Gartner Supply Chain ranking
Lenovo climbed to 7th place globally in the 2026 Gartner Supply Chain Top 25—its highest rank ever, up from 8th in 2025.
Jollibee Group leads PH Sustainability Rankings again
Jollibee Group has ranked first among Philippine companies in the Brand Finance Sustainability Perceptions Index for the second year running, leading across all environmental, social and governance categories.
Tanduay: For Gen Z’s casual, creative drinking style
Gen Z prefers relaxed, authentic get-togethers over rigid plans—choosing home visits over fancy bars, and enjoying creative, unconventional drinks that feel true to their taste.
Globe named one of World’s Most Sustainable Companies for 2nd year
Globe is the only Philippine telco and one of just two local firms included in TIME and Statista’s 2026 World’s Most Sustainable Companies list. This marks its second straight year on the ranking.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
Skills, not just steaks, on Pilmico’s cutting board
In business, the sharpest investment isn't always a new production line or gleaming machinery. Sometimes, it is handing someone a knife—after the proper training, of course.
AIA, BPI AIA launch new health plans, support Kythe Foundation
AIA Philippines and BPI AIA have introduced two new health insurance products—AIA Critical Protect Plus and BPI AIA MultiCare Protect—while donating to the Kythe Foundation to help children with cancer.
McDonald’s Philippines joins Brigada Eskwela, deploys 10,000 volunteers
McDonald's Philippines has partnered once more with the Department of Education's Brigada Eskwela ahead of the new school year, sending over 10,000 staff volunteers to support more than 700 public schools nationwide.
Julie’s Bakeshop powers sustainability via smarter energy strategy
Julie’s Bakeshop is taking a bigger bite out of its energy costs after tapping Vivant Energy Corp.'s retail electricity arm, COREnergy, to power its commissary operations, underscoring how energy procurement is becoming a competitive advantage for Philippine manufacturers.
Markets
SAMA debut gives Filipino brands regional growth springboard
The launch of the Strategic Asia Marketing Alliance (SAMA) Philippines is opening a new gateway for Filipino brands seeking to expand across Southeast Asia, giving businesses access to a regional network of independent marketing agencies through a single local partner.
Peso holds ground while politics tests market confidence
The peso appears to have found its footing, but investors know that calm currencies do not always guarantee calm markets.
Lazada deepens MSME drive via digital skills partnership
Lazada Philippines is stepping up its support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), expanding partnerships with government agencies and relaunching its LazGrow Together program to help more Filipino entrepreneurs compete in the country's fast-growing digital economy.
Calmer oil, cheaper fuel buoy local equities
Philippine shares could finally catch their breath this week.
Energy
P10.07B risk-mitigating fund set to reenergize geothermal sector
The National Geothermal Association of the Philippines (NGAP) expressed strong optimism for the future of local renewable energy following the approval of the ₱10.07 billion Philippine Geothermal Resource De-Risking Facility (PGRDF) by the Economy and Development Council. The landmark fund specifically targets high upfront exploration and initial drilling costs, which have historically acted as barrier to greenfield geothermal projects. By absorbing a portion of the financial uncertainties, the facility targets unlocking vital indigenous baseload energy, reduce the country's reliance on imported fuels, and bolster long-term energy security.
Aboitiz Power unit supplies 2 MW renewable energy to China Bank in Mega Manila
Aboitiz Power Corporation’s retail electricity supply arm AdventEnergy has secured a deal with China Banking Corporation to provide clean power to over 30 percent of the bank’s branch network across Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Metro Manila.
Meralco on standby for power issues amid super typhoon threat
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has assured customers its teams are fully prepared to respond to any power outages caused by Super Typhoon Inday (international name Bavi) and the intensified southwest monsoon.
Berde locks in solar, battery deal to power expansion
Green energy developer Berde Renewables is ramping up its clean energy expansion with a major equipment supply agreement that secures 200 megawatts of solar capacity and 500 megawatt-hours of battery storage, strengthening its pipeline of commercial and industrial projects in the Philippines and Thailand.
Property
Pag-IBIG cuts housing loan rates, raises borrowing cap
The government is making homeownership more affordable after the...
North property boom builds on Pax Silica optimism
Residential property demand is gathering pace north of Metro Manila, with land values in key Central Luzon growth corridors climbing far faster than in the more established southern market as infrastructure upgrades and industrial investments reshape the country's next housing hotspots.
Filinvest Land turns over Bicutan lot to DOTr for key railway hub
Property developer Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) has formally handed...
Filinvest Land turns over land for Bicutan transport hub
Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) has turned over a 6,000-square-meter property in Bicutan to the Department of Transportation, paving the way for the construction of the Bicutan Station, a key interchange that will link two of the country's biggest railway projects and reshape commuting across Metro Manila and Southern Luzon.
Technology
AWS eyes up to $5B Philippine cloud investment
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is exploring the establishment of an AWS Region in the Philippines, a project that could bring up to USD5 billion in investments over the next 15 years and significantly strengthen the country's digital infrastructure and technology ecosystem.
Philippines makes WIPO debut, leads in software investment growth
The Philippines has become the first Southeast Asian economy to be featured in the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Intangible Investment Highlights 2026, underscoring the country's growing shift toward an innovation-driven economy built on technology, software, brands, data, and intellectual property.
Philippines ranks second in ASEAN for AI job exposure
The Philippines has emerged as the second most AI-exposed labor market in Southeast Asia, highlighting both the country's growing digital competitiveness and the urgent need to prepare workers for a workplace increasingly shaped by generative artificial intelligence (GenAI).
Smart, Nokia launch Southeast Asia’s first local roaming tech trial
Smart Communications and partner Nokia have completed the first live demonstration of local breakout roaming technology in Southeast Asia, delivering faster and smoother data use for Filipinos traveling abroad.
Opinion
Upper-middle income, yet many Filipinos still feel left behind
The Philippines has earned an economic promotion. The World Bank now classifies it as an upper-middle-income economy, a milestone reached after years of growth and a steady post-pandemic recovery under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The great fork heist and other national priorities
At long last, the public can sleep soundly. The National Capital Region Police Office has announced the arrest of a 43-year-old man accused of attempting to make off with 26 forks and seven silver spoons from a Manila hotel—the estimated value of the alleged loot is P12,658.14.
Reframing the South China Sea conversation
For more than a decade, the South China Sea has been ASEAN's diplomatic traffic jam. Everyone knows there is a problem. Everyone agrees it matters. Yet the moment the conversation turns to China, the convoy grinds to a halt.
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.
