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Agriculture
Agri group urges rejection of proposed nutrient model over food security fears
The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) is asking President Marcos Jr. to reject the 2026 Philippine Nutrient Profile Model (PNPM) proposed by the Department of Health.
DA files complaint over P94M ‘ghost’ road projects in Davao Occidental
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has filed formal complaints with the Ombudsman against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and private contractors over eight alleged "ghost" Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) projects in Davao Occidental worth around P94 million. These projects, meant to help farmers, were reportedly paid in full but never built.
DAR turns over P200M bridges in Nueva Ecija, benefits over 3,500 residents
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has completed and handed over two bridge projects worth nearly P200 million in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, enabling safer travel and faster transport of farm goods for local communities.
FPA sanctions fertilizer firms for rule breaches
The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has suspended five fertilizer companies for violating fertilizer laws and policies, including selling counterfeit or substandard products, mislabeling goods, blocking official inspections, and moving items under regulatory hold. Some of these firms previously took part in government procurement and subsidy programs.
Corporate
BPI expands sustainability push beyond green finance
Bank of the Philippine Islands is widening its sustainability agenda beyond environmental initiatives, ramping up support for underserved sectors, small businesses, and financial inclusion programs nationwide.
BPI Foundation, Knowledge Channel team up to bring financial literacy to public schools
In a major move to equip young Filipinos with vital money management skills, BPI Foundation, Inc. (BPIF) has partnered with Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) to deliver specialized financial education content and learning materials to public schools across the country.
SEC sets 10-year term limit for broker-directors at PSE
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has established a 10-year cumulative service limit for broker directors at the Philippine Stock Exchange and similar exchanges, aiming to boost governance, ensure fair representation, and match global regulatory standards.
Jollibee opens new Manhattan store, grows North America presence
Jollibee has opened its third store in Manhattan, New York, located at 14 East 42nd Street near Grand Central Station. Launching last March 31, 2026, the outlet serves customers daily from 9:00 AM to midnight, offering dine-in, take-out, online orders, and catering services.
Corporate Bulletins
BPI Foundation, Knowledge Channel team up to bring financial literacy to public schools
In a major move to equip young Filipinos with vital money management skills, BPI Foundation, Inc. (BPIF) has partnered with Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) to deliver specialized financial education content and learning materials to public schools across the country.
Jollibee opens new Manhattan store, grows North America presence
Jollibee has opened its third store in Manhattan, New York, located at 14 East 42nd Street near Grand Central Station. Launching last March 31, 2026, the outlet serves customers daily from 9:00 AM to midnight, offering dine-in, take-out, online orders, and catering services.
IABC Philippines names new leadership team for 2026–2028
IABC Philippines has officially announced its new Board of Trustees for the 2026–2028 term, approved by its members to lead and advance the business communication profession in the country.
Kits Pinga takes helm at Pico de Loro
SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) has appointed Kits Pinga as the new club general manager of Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club, signaling a renewed commitment to operational excellence and enriched member experiences across its leisure portfolio.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
BPI expands sustainability push beyond green finance
Bank of the Philippine Islands is widening its sustainability agenda beyond environmental initiatives, ramping up support for underserved sectors, small businesses, and financial inclusion programs nationwide.
Moms turns side hustles into thriving businesses
Filipino mothers are increasingly becoming “mompreneurs,” turning home-based side hustles into sustainable businesses with the help of digital technology and online communities.
Baguio boosts smart city push with AI partnership
Baguio City is stepping up its digital transformation efforts after partnering with PLDT and Smart to launch “AI-in-a-Box,” a program designed to help local governments use artificial intelligence to improve public services.
SBMA launched expanded relief package for stakeholders
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is rolling out a new set of relief measures aimed at easing economic pressures on stakeholders in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). The announcement follows a public consultation held on May 11, 2026, at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC).
Markets
Peso near lows as markets turn defensive
The Philippine peso is again nearing record lows as persistent inflation, geopolitical tensions, and strong US dollar demand continue to pressure local markets. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the peso could retest historic weakness after falling 1.8% this week and approaching the April 30 intraday low of P61.75 against the dollar.
Blue chips signal medium-term PSEi opportunity
The Philippine stock market remains cautiously constructive as investors weigh short-term macro headwinds against improving medium-term earnings visibility.
PSEi faces volatility amid foreign selling pressure
The Philippine stock market is navigating a mixed outlook as the PSEi contends with renewed foreign selling, offset partially by improving domestic investor sentiment and anticipated foreign inflows into the local bond market.
PSEi range-bound amid global risks, weak peso
The Philippine stock market is expected to stay under pressure in the near term, as global uncertainties and a weak peso continue to dampen investor sentiment, according to 2TradeAsia.com.
Energy
Caltex widens network, reaches 600 Philippines stations
Chevron Philippines is accelerating the expansion of its retail fuel network as Caltex reached the 600-station mark nationwide following the opening of six new service stations in the first quarter of the year.
Vivant invests big, eyes resilient growth amid uncertainty
Vivant Corp. is cautiously optimistic about its long-term growth, committing roughly P67 billion to expand energy and water operations through 2030, reinforcing its role in nationwide infrastructure development.
AdventEnergy expands in Mindanao with new power deal for cold storage
AdventEnergy, the retail arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation, has secured an 896-kilowatt power supply contract with Viking Cold Storage Inc., strengthening its presence in Mindanao’s fast-growing cold chain industry.
Global Ferronickel profits surge amid nickel tightness
Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. posted sharply higher first-quarter earnings as stronger nickel ore prices and increased shipment volumes boosted profitability despite rising operating costs.
Property
Major developers explore future Bilibid township project
Some of the country’s largest property developers are signaling early interest in what could emerge as one of Metro Manila’s biggest urban redevelopment projects: the transformation of portions of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) reservation in Muntinlupa into a mixed-use commercial and residential district.
Filinvest Land sees strong residential sales momentum
Filinvest Land Inc., the property development arm of the Gotianun Group, reported a 62 percent surge in March sales reservations to P2.7 billion, compared to the same month last year.
Megawide posts strong Q1 earnings amid crisis
Megawide Construction Corp. posted a consolidated net income of P265 million in the first three months of 2026, an increase of 26 percent from the year-earlier period amid the onset of the Middle East crisis.
SM Offices says Clark Tech Hub hits full occupancy
SM Offices, the commercial leasing arm of SM Prime Holdings, has achieved full occupancy across its 10-tower, 100,000 square meter Clark Tech Hub in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Technology
Manulife Philippines taps Manish Sangal to drive AI
Manulife Philippines has appointed Manish Sangal as deputy chief executive officer as the insurer strengthens its leadership team and accelerates its digital transformation strategy in the Philippine market.
PLDT expands solar use at cell sites to cut costs, boost network resilience
PLDT Inc. is speeding up the installation of solar power systems at its cell sites, aiming to handle rising electricity expenses and strengthen its network amid global inflation and geopolitical uncertainties.
PLDT secures indigenous approval for Palawan undersea cable project
Telecom giant PLDT Inc. has officially secured the backing of the Tagbanua Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC) for its new undersea fiber-optic project, clearing a major path to boost internet reliability across Palawan.
Converge tops PH broadband speed rankings; DITO leads mobile internet in latest report
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has ranked first in the Philippines’ SpeedGeo Broadband Internet Speed Ranking for the first quarter of the year, based on hundreds of thousands of user tests nationwide.
Opinion
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.
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.
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.
