Trending Now
Agriculture
DA acquires rice quality analyzer to boost standards, enforcement and market governance
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has secured a rice quality analyzer (RQA) for the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), a key policy move to enforce national rice standards, build a reliable grains database, and fully implement the amended Agricultural Tariffication Law.
Chicken output rises in Q1, farmgate prices weaken
Philippine chicken production expanded in the first quarter of 2026 as poultry growers ramped up output to meet steady consumer demand. However, softer farmgate prices signaled improving supply conditions and tighter margins for producers.
Nueva Ecija pig farm expansion up for public review; project targets 50,000-head capacity
A contact grower piggery farm in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, will hold a public scoping on June 4, 2026, as part of requirements for its planned expansion, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB).
BFAR steps up help for local salt farmers as imports dominate market
Government fisheries authorities are pushing for more support and safeguards for Filipino salt makers, as most of the salt used in the country comes from abroad.
Corporate
STI 9-month net income steady at P1.6B; Q3 earnings drop on accounting shift
STI Education Systems Holdings Inc. reported flat net income of P1.6 billion for the first nine months of its fiscal year ending March, unchanged from the same period a year earlier.
Financial literacy push gains urgency amid rising costs
As economic uncertainty and rising living expenses continue to pressure Filipino households, efforts promoting responsible lending, consumer protection, and financial literacy are becoming increasingly critical in helping families maintain financial stability.
PhilEnergy 2026 targets Philippines’ pressing energy challenges
As the Philippines grapples with rising electricity prices, volatile oil costs, and mounting pressure to transition to cleaner energy, industry leaders are positioning the 4th edition of PhilEnergy Expo 2026 as a critical platform for shaping the country’s energy future.
GSIS names new trustee, honors outgoing member’s service
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has welcomed Rolando Toledo to its board of trustees, while commending outgoing trustee Beatriz Torno for her long-standing public service. This move supports the state pension fund’s goal to strengthen governance and improve services for members and retirees.
Corporate Bulletins
PhilEnergy 2026 targets Philippines’ pressing energy challenges
As the Philippines grapples with rising electricity prices, volatile oil costs, and mounting pressure to transition to cleaner energy, industry leaders are positioning the 4th edition of PhilEnergy Expo 2026 as a critical platform for shaping the country’s energy future.
GSIS names new trustee, honors outgoing member’s service
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has welcomed Rolando Toledo to its board of trustees, while commending outgoing trustee Beatriz Torno for her long-standing public service. This move supports the state pension fund’s goal to strengthen governance and improve services for members and retirees.
Security Bank, MUFG mark 10 years of partnership linking PH to global capital
Security Bank Corp. and MUFG Bank, Ltd. are celebrating a decade of their strategic alliance, first launched in 2016. As the first equity partnership between a Philippine bank and a major Japanese global bank, this collaboration has connected local businesses to international capital, expanded regional reach, and driven sustainable growth.
RCBC bags global honors for digital banking
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), the country’s sixth-largest lender by assets, has strengthened its standing as a global digital banking innovator after securing two major wins at the Digital CX Awards 2026, organized by The Digital Banker.
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
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.
foodpanda Philippines distributes P62M rider incentives
foodpanda Philippines has distributed over P62 million in incentives to its Ka-panda delivery partners from March to May 2026 through nationwide add-on incentive quests aimed at boosting rider earnings and engagement.
MPIF assesing Tubbataha Reefs health in exploration dive
Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) is holding the Shore It Up! Tubbataha Exploration Dive until May 27, 2026, by bringing together experts to assess the health of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park — a critical Philippine marine sanctuary and global biodiversity site in the Sulu Sea.
Markets
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.
Senator Aquino wars new ad rules burden MSMEs
Senator Bam Aquino has once again criticized the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), raising concerns that a proposed regulation requiring permits for advertisements and promotional campaigns could create an additional bureaucratic burden for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and online sellers.
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.
Energy
Fuel prices to rise across all variants this week
Prices of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene will increase nationwide this week, the Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed on Monday.
JNEC to supply power to Manila Ocean Park, eyes expansion to other sites
Local power company Jin Navitas Electric Corp. (JNEC) will serve as the official retail electricity supplier of Manila Ocean Park under a two-year agreement, with an option to extend.
Dupinga Hydro Plant cleared for commercial operations
Dupinga Mini Hydro Corp. (DMHC) has secured a Certificate of Compliance (COC) from the Energy Regulatory Commission for its 5-megawatt Dupinga Run-of-River (ROR) Power Plant, paving the way for the facility’s commercial operations.
ADB energy forum tackles Asia’s mounting power challenges
The Asian Development Bank and the Korea Energy Agency will convene regional policymakers, investors, and energy experts in Mandaluyong City next month as rising geopolitical tensions and surging electricity demand intensify pressure on Asia’s energy systems.
Property
Filreit adds Gatestone as new tenant in Alabang office hub
Filinvest REIT Corp. (Filreit) has welcomed Gatestone and Co., a global customer experience and digital transformation company, as its newest international tenant.
Filinvest boosts liquidity through aggressive inventory sales
Filinvest Land, Inc. strengthened its balance sheet in the first quarter of 2026 after cutting unsold residential inventory by P4.1 billion, highlighting the company’s push to improve capital efficiency amid a more selective property market.
RL Commercial REIT remains open to third-party buys, prioritizes quality
RL Commercial REIT Inc. (RCR), the Gokongwei group’s real estate investment trust, is still open to acquiring properties from outside parties—though deals will depend on price, asset quality, management standards, and tenant mix, according to president and CEO Jericho P. Go.
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.
Technology
EMS Group ramps up for AI boom
Philippine electronics manufacturer EMS Group is accelerating capacity expansion as global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure fuels a surge in orders for power supply components and circuit boards used in high-performance computing systems.
Smart blocks over 955M scam text in 1Q 2026, steps up fight vs mobile fraud
Smart Communications, Inc. announced having blocked more than 955 million scam and phishing text messages and blacklisted nearly 200,000 numbers linked to fraud in the first three months of 2026, marking a major move to protect users from rising mobile-based crimes.
Aboitiz launches nationwide digits skills program
The Aboitiz Foundation is expanding its digital workforce development efforts with AIDA Plus, a new skills-to-employment platform designed to prepare more Filipinos for opportunities in the growing digital economy.
GMA Network rises to No. 13 in global digital ranking
GMA Network climbed 11 spots to rank 13th in the Tubular Worldwide Leadership Ranking for April 2026, up from 24th place previously. Its digital content earned a total of 11.18 billion views across major platforms: 5 billion on Instagram, 3.06 billion on Facebook, 2.40 billion on TikTok, and 719 million on YouTube.
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.
