Nearly 1M ‘vulnerable’ Filipinos buy P20 rice in September
Nearly 1 million Filipinos benefited from the Marcos administration’s Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! program in September, the highest monthly turnout since the affordable rice initiative was launched in May last year, as the government seeks to ease food costs for households struggling to make ends meet.
Business mood stays down in September, but firms see brighter quarters ahead
Business sentiment stayed pessimistic in September 2026, according to the latest Business Expectations Survey released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, although confidence readings for the near‑term and year‑ahead outlook remained positive. The current‑month confidence index improved slightly to ‑8.4 percent from ‑10.9 percent in August, still signaling more firms were downbeat about present conditions.
EastWest posts ₱5‑billion nine‑month net income amid tougher macro backdrop
East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) turned in a ₱5.0‑billion net income for the first nine months of 2026, delivering solid profitability even as broader economic conditions grew more challenging, a performance that signals resilient core operations for investors and market watchers.
Medical center teams up with Singapore partners to boost geriatric care in Southern Luzon
The Mary Mediatrix Medical Center (MMMC) has forged a partnership with Inspire Healthcare Singapore and the Singapore Nurses Association (SNA) to advance its Geriatric Unit, as the hospital moves to address the rising healthcare demand from older adults across Southern Luzon.
Idle bamboo land offers opening for Philippine firms in $73B global market
The Philippines has plenty of bamboo-growing land. What it lacks is enough businesses turning the fast-growing grass into products worth considerably more than garden stakes and handicrafts.
