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Group urges DOE to fully implement VAT exemption on local natural gas to lower power bills

A consumer advocacy group is calling on the Department of Energy (DOE) to quickly issue clear rules to enforce a new tax exemption that could help reduce electricity costs for consumers.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

Possible endemic goby species found in CamSur lake — DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said researchers have identified a small goby fish in Lake Bato, Camarines Sur that may be endemic, or found only in that area.

DA formalizes UK poultry imports from bird flu-free zones

The Philippine government has officially allowed poultry imports from areas in the United Kingdom that are free from bird flu, under a new policy issued by the Department of Agriculture.

DA urges more agri truckers to sign up for free toll program

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is calling on more agricultural transporters to register for its free tollway program, aimed at keeping food supply steady and prices low during the ongoing national energy emergency.

PH seeks fertilizer supply deal with ASEAN, studies local plant amid price surge

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is taking steps to secure a stable fertilizer supply as prices continue to rise.

Corporate

ACEN studying options to raise funds for renewable energy expansion

Energy company ACEN Corp. said it is considering several ways to raise additional capital within the next 6 to 12 months to support its renewable energy (RE) projects.

SEC, PSE urged to intervene on Lopez power

A deepening corporate power struggle inside one of the Philippines’ most influential business families has escalated into a regulatory flashpoint, with the controlling shareholders of Lopez Inc. calling for an official probe into alleged disclosure lapses tied to major energy transactions and so-called "poison pill" provisions.

Lenovo reshapes Asia-Pacific leadership with new commercial chief

Lenovo has appointed Sumir Bhatia as its first chief commercial officer for the Asia Pacific region.

Highlands Coffee drives strong growth for Jollibee Group

Jollibee Foods Corporation said Wednesday its coffee brand Highlands Coffee continues to perform strongly, boosting the group’s Coffee & Tea business.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

Lenovo reshapes Asia-Pacific leadership with new commercial chief

Lenovo has appointed Sumir Bhatia as its first chief commercial officer for the Asia Pacific region.

Awards-season films and LG OLED77G5 viewing guide

The awards season is encouraging many viewers to catch up on this year’s Oscar-winning films, often building weekend watchlists around the most talked-about titles.

Meralco brings energy lecture series to Mindanao students

The Meralco Power Academy (MPA), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, held its PowerConvos lecture series in Mindanao on April 15, 2026, as part of efforts to support innovation and talent development in the energy sector.

Globe expands prepaid fiber service as home internet demand rises

With more Filipinos staying indoors due to rising fuel costs and energy pressures, demand for dependable home internet is accelerating—prompting Globe Telecom to expand its prepaid fiber offerings.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

Park Inn Bacolod powers circular economy with biodiesel

Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod, operated under SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC), has deepened its circular economy program with the donation of 200 liters of biodiesel to residents of Barangay Singcang, Bacolod City, further advancing its waste-to-energy advocacy.

Clean energy firm, online grocer partner with Nueva Ecija farmers

Clean energy company First Gen Corporation and online grocery platform SukiGrocer have partnered with four farmer and fisherfolk groups to help improve livelihoods in Pantabangan.

SM Supermalls leads nationwide coastal cleanups for World Water Day

In observance of World Water Day, SM Supermalls, through its corporate social responsibility arm SM Cares, conducted coastal cleanup drives across six locations involving seven malls nationwide.

MPIF commits P12-M to protect Tubbataha Reefs over next fiur years

The Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) has committed ₱12 million to support the protection of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park over the next four years.

Markets

Peso stalls, stocks drift amid global uncertainty

The Philippine peso edged weaker last week, pausing after two consecutive weeks of gains as the dollar-peso pair settled into a narrow trading band.

Markets signal calm despite Middle East conflict risks

Global equities pushed higher Thursday as investors shrugged off ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with volatility signals suggesting markets see limited risk of further escalation.

Peso holds ground as USD tests technical ceilings

The peso is quietly reclaiming its footing, with the USD/PHP pair slipping for a second week (-0.3 percent) after a brisk four-week climb. 

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.

Travel

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Energy

DOE assures stable power supply in Catanduanes

The Department of Energy (DOE) said the government is taking immediate steps to ensure a steady power supply in Catanduanes amid ongoing challenges faced by local power provider Sunwest Water and Electric Co. (Suweco).

ERC orders Meralco to speed up P14.17B refund to customers

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued a final decision directing Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to fast-track the refund of P14.17 billion to its customers.

PCCI back pragmatic review of coal moratorium

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Wednesday threw its support behind a government review of the country’s moratorium on new coal-fired power plants, calling the move a “pragmatic” response to intensifying energy security risks.

Ortigas Land, AUSI partner for solar power at GH Mall

Ortigas Land Corporation has partnered with Advent Upgrade Solar Inc. (AUSI), a joint venture of Aboitiz Power Distributed Renewables, Inc. and Upgrade Energy Philippines, to install a 1,587.20 kilowatt-peak solar power system for GH Mall.

Transport & Communications

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Property

BCDA, K-Water eye smart village in Clark

State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has partnered with South Korea’s Korea Water Resources Corp. to explore building a “smart village” in New Clark City, marking a fresh push to develop climate-resilient, technology-driven communities in the Philippines.

Villa Escudero enters retail and commercial development with new mixed-use hub in Quezon

Villa Escudero Corp., the company behind the well-known tourist destination in Tiaong, Quezon, has started building its first major commercial and retail project as it expands into property development.

DHSUD pauses housing loans amid fuel surge

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has ordered a three-month moratorium on housing loan payments for qualified borrowers of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC), as the government moves to blunt the impact of surging fuel costs tied to tensions in the Middle East.

Megaworld to turn over P21B properties in 2026

Megaworld Corp., the listed property development arm of tycoon Andrew Tan, said it is set to turn over about P21 billion worth of major properties this year as it accelerates development across its township portfolio nationwide.

Environment

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Technology

Philippines shows strong AI interest but struggles to scale – study

A new study by ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) finds that companies in the Philippines are eager to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) but face major challenges in expanding its use.

SM Supermalls upgrades customer outreach with Infobip

Infobip Ltd. has expanded its partnership with SM Supermalls to improve how shoppers are engaged across both physical malls and digital platforms.

DITO says AI assistant now handles 98% of customer queries

DITO Telecommunity Corp. said its in-house artificial intelligence assistant, KAi, is now resolving 98 percent of customer inquiries without human help, delivering instant responses across its digital platforms.

onsemi plans Philippines expansion via brownfield investment

Power semiconductor firm onsemi is looking to deepen its footprint in the Philippines, signaling fresh investment through a brownfield expansion strategy that prioritizes scaling operations in existing facilities.

Health & Science

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Opinion

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.

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.

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.