The Philippines reported total external debt climbing to $154.93 billion as of end-June 2026, marking a notable jump from the $147.35 billion recorded just three months earlier. The increase brings the country's foreign obligations to 31.6 percent of its gross domestic product, up from 30.0 percent in the previous quarter, as borrowing outpaced overall economic growth during the period.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is pushing to close a persistent financing gap for micro, small and medium enterprises, with bank loans to the sector reaching more than P580 billion but accounting for only about 6 percent of total business lending.
Smart Communications, the country’s first telco with GSMA Open Gateway-certified Number Verification API, has secured GSMA certification for its SIM swap and device swap APIs.
Grab Philippines is tightening halal food verification on its platform through a pilot partnership with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Region XI, seeking to make certified halal options easier to identify for consumers in Davao City.
Potato farmers across Benguet’s vegetable-growing highlands have begun harvesting crops planted just months ago, with this year’s harvest bringing new promise alongside familiar yields.
Business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan returned to his hometown of Apalit, Pampanga to personally distribute relief packs to families displaced by severe flooding caused by days of heavy Habagat rains.
Millions of Filipinos suffer persistent heartburn and regurgitation that disrupts meals and sleep—problems that often continue despite daily medication, a condition called Refractory GERD.
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) is growing its beverage range with the expanded Lipton Soda line—a sparkling tea that blends the well-known taste of Lipton iced tea with the light fizz of soda for a fun, refreshing experience.
PLDT Home has expanded its fiber network to Camotes Island, delivering reliable broadband to communities across San Francisco, Poro and Tudela. Known as the “Lost Horizon of the South,” the island is a popular tourist spot famed for its beaches and natural scenery.