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Banks likely to maintain lending standards in Q2 2026

Most banks in the Philippines plan to keep their lending standards unchanged in the second quarter of 2026, suggesting continued credit support for the economy despite global uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict.

News Dispatch

Agriculture

Stronger dry-season rice harvest expected as palay prices recover

The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects a stronger rice harvest this dry season, helped by the recent increase in palay (unmilled rice) prices.

Typhoons drag down Q1 rice, corn output

Rice and corn production declined in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting lingering damage from late 2025 typhoons that disrupted planting schedules and destroyed standing crops across key farming regions.

DA prepares early for El Niño impact on agriculture

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out a nationwide plan to prepare farmers and protect food production from a possible El Niño later this year.

DA strikes major deals to modernize farms, boost food security

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has signed two separate agreements aimed at modernizing the farm sector, increasing farmers’ incomes, and improving food security.

Corporate

Tanduay rums win top awards at international spirits competition

Rum maker Tanduay earned multiple awards at the International Spirits Competition by Enthusiast Report, highlighting its continued focus on quality and global standards.

Security Bank unveils mural in Makati to mark 10-year partnership with MUFG

Security Bank has unveiled a new public mural at the Paseo de Roxas underpass to celebrate its 10-year partnership with MUFG Bank.

Jollibee tops Southeast Asia chicken fast-food rankings

Jollibee has been named the No. 1 chicken quick service restaurant in Southeast Asia based on 2025 sales, according to Euromonitor International.

Ayala Land cuts spending as profits drop

Ayala Land Inc. said it will reduce its capital spending this year to P50 billion, down by more than a third from its earlier plan of P70 billion to P80 billion, as earnings declined.

Banking & Insurance

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Corporate Bulletins

Tanduay rums win top awards at international spirits competition

Rum maker Tanduay earned multiple awards at the International Spirits Competition by Enthusiast Report, highlighting its continued focus on quality and global standards.

Security Bank unveils mural in Makati to mark 10-year partnership with MUFG

Security Bank has unveiled a new public mural at the Paseo de Roxas underpass to celebrate its 10-year partnership with MUFG Bank.

Jollibee tops Southeast Asia chicken fast-food rankings

Jollibee has been named the No. 1 chicken quick service restaurant in Southeast Asia based on 2025 sales, according to Euromonitor International.

S.P. Madrid taps PLDT Enterprise for nationwide push

Credit recovery and financial services firm S.P. Madrid Corporation is expanding its operations nationwide through a partnership with PLDT Enterprise to improve connectivity and data security.

Social Responsibility & Sustainability

Manila Water strengthens heat safety measures for workers amid rising temperatures

Manila Water has rolled out additional safety measures to protect its workers and contractors from heat-related illnesses as high temperatures continue across Metro Manila’s East Zone and Rizal Province.

Parañaque fishers get financial training support

Fisherfolk in Barangay La Huerta are getting help to better manage their income through a new financial education program led by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Parañaque city government, and BDO Foundation.

Ilocos Norte, ACEN roll out solar access program

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte has launched a first-of-its-kind campaign to bring rooftop solar to households, partnering with ACEN and GCash to make clean energy more accessible and affordable.

Ayala Land affiliate donates land for Laguna civic hub

An affiliate of Ayala Land Inc. has formalized plans for a new civic hub in Laguna, advancing efforts to expand institutional infrastructure in southern Luzon’s fast-growing corridor.

Markets

Peso slides, stocks stall as caution builds

Philippine financial markets are in a consolidation phase, with the peso and equities under pressure as tighter monetary conditions and inflation concerns weigh on sentiment.

Women entrepreneurs drive economy but need more support to scale

Filipina entrepreneurs—many of them mothers—play a major role in the Philippine economy, owning 66 percent of existing businesses and 62 percent of newly registered enterprises. Despite this strong presence, many women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) struggle to grow due to limited access to funding, low digital adoption, and the challenge of balancing business and family responsibilities.

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.

Travel

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Energy

TotalEnergies, Nextnorth start construction of 440 MW solar plant in Isabela

TotalEnergies and its partner Nextnorth have reached financial close and begun construction of a 440-megawatt peak (MWp) solar power plant in Ilagan City, Isabela.

OceanaGold Philippines boosts government share to P2.14B

OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. has sharply increased its contribution to the national treasury, remitting P2.14 billion in Additional Government Share (AGS) for fiscal year 2025. 

Fuel prices seen rising again next week

A local fuel retailer said gasoline and diesel prices iare likely to increase again next week due to ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran.

ASEAN ramps up grid, fuel pact cooperation

Southeast Asian economic ministers are accelerating regional energy cooperation, fast-tracking the ASEAN Power Grid and the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA) to cushion the bloc against mounting fuel and power risks.

Transport & Communications

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Property

SMHCC taps Lucas to lead SMX, launch SMXCITE

SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) has named industry veteran Sherwin Lucas as general manager of SMX Convention Center Manila, entrusting him as well with leading the rollout of SMXCITE (SMX Center for International Trade and Exhibitions), the company’s flagship venue slated to rise within the Mall of Asia Complex by 2027.

Ayala Land leans on recurring income growth 

Ayala Land Inc., one of the country’s largest property developer, reported first-quarter 2026 net income of P5.4 billion on revenues of P37.5 billion, as the property giant sharpened its focus on recurring income streams and disciplined capital deployment amid a more cautious operating environment.

PEZA office shortage squeezes Metro Manila options

The supply of Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-accredited office space in Metro Manila is tightening, particularly in major central business districts, raising concerns over limited expansion options for key occupiers.

One South Drive elevates Baguio luxury living supply

A new boutique residential project is set to reshape one of Baguio City’s most tightly held addresses, as Dacon Corp. launches One South Drive, with project management and marketing led by DMCI Homes, the property arm of DMCI Holdings, Inc..

Environment

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Technology

Featherless.ai raises $20M to expand open-source AI platform

Featherless.ai, a fast-growing platform focused on running open-source artificial intelligence (AI), has secured $20 million in Series A funding. The round was co-led by AMD Ventures and Airbus Ventures, with support from Kickstart Ventures, BMW i Ventures, Panache Ventures, and Wavemaker Ventures.

Asurion PH expands services beyond core operations 

Asurion Philippines is scaling up its customer solutions business as it broadens its footprint beyond its long-standing manufacturing and repair operations.

Converge deploys high-speed fiber backbone support for ASEAN venues in Manila

The country’s hosting of key Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings is being supported by high-speed internet from fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc., which has been named the official connectivity partner of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Ayala Land leans on recurring income growth 

Ayala Land Inc., one of the country’s largest property developer, reported first-quarter 2026 net income of P5.4 billion on revenues of P37.5 billion, as the property giant sharpened its focus on recurring income streams and disciplined capital deployment amid a more cautious operating environment.

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

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.