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Agriculture
DA targets August start for new FMR projects
The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday (DA) said that the construction of major farm‑to‑market roads (FMR) under its program is set to begin by August this year, with bidding activities scheduled from June to July. In a briefing in Quezon City, DA assistant secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa, who also chairs the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for large FMR projects, said preparations are already underway, including a pre‑procurement conference scheduled soon.
Compliance with imported rice price cap hits 47% amid stricter DA checks
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expanded market monitoring nationwide to strictly enforce the P50 per kilogram price ceiling for imported rice with 5 percent broken grains. In a statement Tuesday, the agency reported that compliance has steadily improved since the measure took effect, reaching 47.42 percent in the latest round of simultaneous inspections across Metro Manila and other regions. The increase is credited to more frequent checks and stronger presence of law enforcement in public markets.
JTI PH steps in with extra tobacco purchases as oversupply hits local farmers
JTI Philippines has committed to purchase an additional 3.32 million kilograms of local green weight tobacco leaf to absorb excess supply caused by overproduction in major growing areas. The move supports farmers amid weaker global demand that drove down prices from last year’s highs.
Amid risks, gov’t assures farmers of support, fair palay prices
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging rice farmers to continue planting this wet season, assuring production remains viable and profitable despite threats from severe El Niño and rising input costs driven by global oil market shifts.
Corporate
Courts back SJDM in water service takeover; search for new operator begins
Two Regional Trial Courts—one in Bulacan and another in Las Piñas—have dismissed separate requests from PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. for a temporary restraining order and injunction against the San Jose del Monte (SJDM) city government.
Healthcare distributors get financing from Security Bank, AC Health units
Security Bank has partnered with AC Health subsidiaries I.E. Medica and MedEthix to offer financing support to their nationwide dealer and distributor network via the bank’s dealer financing program. Accredited partners gain access to short-term credit lines and inventory financing, helping them manage working capital, raise purchasing power, and improve cash flow. This support is designed to strengthen the country’s healthcare supply chain by enabling better inventory management and faster response to demand.
Globe launches affordable cloud storage service
As more Filipinos create and store digital content, limited phone space has become a common issue, often forcing users to delete precious files. To address this, Globe has introduced Globe Cloud, a secure and accessible storage solution unveiled during The Blueprint by Globe event. Designed for everyday users, the service lets customers back up photos, videos, and documents to free up device memory while keeping data safe and accessible anywhere.
SGV adds 3 partners to bolster assurance, tax teams
SGV & Co., the country’s largest professional services firm, has admitted three new partners effective July 1, as it strengthens leadership across its assurance and tax practices amid growing demand for specialized advisory and compliance services.
Corporate Bulletins
Healthcare distributors get financing from Security Bank, AC Health units
Security Bank has partnered with AC Health subsidiaries I.E. Medica and MedEthix to offer financing support to their nationwide dealer and distributor network via the bank’s dealer financing program. Accredited partners gain access to short-term credit lines and inventory financing, helping them manage working capital, raise purchasing power, and improve cash flow. This support is designed to strengthen the country’s healthcare supply chain by enabling better inventory management and faster response to demand.
Globe launches affordable cloud storage service
As more Filipinos create and store digital content, limited phone space has become a common issue, often forcing users to delete precious files. To address this, Globe has introduced Globe Cloud, a secure and accessible storage solution unveiled during The Blueprint by Globe event. Designed for everyday users, the service lets customers back up photos, videos, and documents to free up device memory while keeping data safe and accessible anywhere.
SGV adds 3 partners to bolster assurance, tax teams
SGV & Co., the country’s largest professional services firm, has admitted three new partners effective July 1, as it strengthens leadership across its assurance and tax practices amid growing demand for specialized advisory and compliance services.
NKC PH taps First Gen for 1.84-MWp rooftop solar project in Cebu
NKC Manufacturing Philippines Corporation, a local unit of Japan’s Nakanishi Metal Works Group, has partnered with First Gen Group to build and run a rooftop solar power plant at its factory inside the Mactan Economic Zone.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
BPI’s Best Life Run returns June 7, unites over 100 firms for wellness
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) will hold its 3rd Best Life Run on June 7, gathering more than 100 companies to promote workplace wellness as it marks its 175th anniversary. Launched internally in 2023 as an employee activity, the event opened to corporate partners and the public in 2024, growing from a simple fitness drive into a platform that encourages well-being across industries.
Gokongwei Foundation’s ‘Iskolar ni Juan’ techvoc program opens career paths for young Filipinos
The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), in partnership with food and beverage industry leader Universal Robina Corp. (URC), operates the Iskolar ni Juan scholarship program to provide young Filipinos—especially those unable to afford college education—with a clear alternative pathway toward stable employment.
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.
Markets
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.
Investors seek shelter as risks crowd horizon
A growing list of economic and geopolitical concerns is pushing investors into defensive mode, with the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) struggling to regain momentum after slipping below a key support level.
Inflation jitters weigh on Philippine peso, stocks
The peso and Philippine equities continued to face mounting pressure as investors grappled with persistent inflation concerns, global market volatility, and cautious sentiment over the domestic outlook.
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.
Energy
EDC seeks nod for upgrade of P25-B Negros geothermal facility
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will hold a public hearing on June 24, 2026 for Energy Development Corporation’s proposed P25-billion expansion and upgrade of the Southern Negros Geothermal Project steam field in Valencia, Negros Oriental.
DOE transfers power sector function to BARMM-MENRE under new transition deal
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the BARMM’s Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE) have signed two key agreements: a Transition Agreement (TA) on power and electrification, and a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on energy efficiency.
Saudi energy giant ACWA Power invests in Clark
Saudi Arabia-based ACWA Power has signed a lease agreement with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for a 500-hectare site in New Clark City, paving the way for a utility-scale solar and battery storage project that could attract up to USD200 million in investments and supply clean power to emerging industries in Central Luzon.
DTI plans mandatory certification for solar products
The Department of Trade and Industry is moving to require mandatory certification for solar energy products sold in the country, seeking to protect consumers from substandard equipment as demand for renewable energy solutions accelerates.
Property
SM Prime hits pause on P18B bond sale
SM Prime Holdings Inc. has put the brakes on a planned bond offering of up to P18 billion, opting to wait for more favorable market conditions as it seeks funding for an ambitious expansion and redevelopment program across the country.
Bond bonanza gives Filinvest fresh firepower
Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) has secured fresh ammunition for its expansion plans after raising P9 billion from a retail bond offering that drew overwhelming investor demand, underscoring confidence in the property developer's ability to navigate a challenging real estate market.
Keen & Worth eyes 2027 turnover for Ongpin Tower
Keen & Worth Property Developers Inc. is gearing up for the 2027 completion of its flagship project, Ongpin Tower, as it seeks to establish itself as a new player in the country’s high-end residential market.
Fisher Mall expands beyond retail with government services
Fisher Mall is strengthening its position as a one-stop destination by expanding access to government services, retail essentials, wellness offerings, and entertainment facilities under one roof.
Technology
NPC expands AI oversight as privacy risks grow
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is ramping up efforts to strengthen data protection and govern emerging technologies, unveiling plans to expand its regional presence and deepen oversight of artificial intelligence as it marked its 10th anniversary during National Data Privacy Awareness Week 2026.
Puregold, GCash push digital shift for stores
Puregold Price Club, Inc. and GCash are expanding digital payment and financial management tools for sari-sari stores, a move aimed at accelerating financial inclusion and helping thousands of small retailers modernize their operations.
Oracle’s surge bolsters fortune of Larry Ellison
Oracle shares surged nearly 8 percent on Monday as investors doubled down on a powerful Wall Street wager that the artificial intelligence boom will require vast amounts of cloud capacity and computing power.
Smart bets on personalized plans and 5G to counter slowdown
PLDT Inc. said Tuesday its wireless unit, Smart Communications Inc., will rely on tailored data solutions and faster 5G adoption to drive growth amid a broader industry slowdown. Moving away from standard packages, Smart now uses advanced analytics to create customized plans matched to each user’s needs and budget. Smart co-OIC Lloyd Manaloto noted this approach lets them deliver the right service at the right time, while PLDT COO Menardo G. Jimenez highlighted how targeted offers help counter slower growth.
Opinion
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.
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.
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.
