President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expanded the government's Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program to cover 7.5 million households as it moves to cushion families from higher fuel and living costs triggered by tensions in the Middle East. The new financial assistance will cost at least P25 billion until the end of 2026. The expanded package provides a one-time P2,000 cash aid to 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Walang Gutom program, a P2,000 monthly subsidy from July to December for 1.5 million low-income Social Security System members, and extended assistance to 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified under the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System. The administration is also seeking the swift passage of the proposed UPLIFT law.
Cebu Pacific, the budget carrier brand of the Gokongwei Group’s listed unit Cebu Air Inc., has signed a wet lease agreement with Vietnam Airlines as the Philippine carrier looks to generate more revenue from its growing fleet.
The Philippines made progress in reducing child labor in 2025, but the gains came with a troubling twist. More Filipino children entered the workforce even as the number trapped in hazardous or exploitative work remained stubbornly high.
Bank of the Philippine Islands, the banking unit of the Ayala Group, kept its earnings largely intact in the first half of 2026 as solid loan growth and stronger fee income offset a sharp rise in provisions for potential credit losses.
The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunication Operators (PCTO) has expressed serious concerns over recent sanctions handed down by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) against major telecommunications firms, citing issues with fairness, clarity of standards, and potential impact on service improvements.
Yuchengco-led PetroWind Energy Inc. has signed a Renewable Energy Payment Agreement (REPA) with state-run National Transmission Corp. (TransCo), locking in guaranteed pricing for its 13.56-megawatt Nabas Wind Power Project Phase 2 in Aklan. This follows the project securing its Green Energy Auction tariff in 2022, plus a provisional operating permit from the Energy Regulatory Commission in May 2026 and a formal tariff endorsement from the Department of Energy in July 2026.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) confirmed Wednesday that the North-South Commuter Railway Extension (NSCR-Ex) remains on schedule to launch partial operations on the first 28-kilometer stretch from Valenzuela to Malolos by the end of 2027. The update came as Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, and Assistant Secretary for Right of Way Acquisition Irish Calaguas inspected the project on September 29, 2026.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is bringing all existing rules for foundations together into one complete set of guidelines, designed to make compliance simpler and strengthen supervision across the sector. Issued as a draft memorandum circular, this omnibus framework addresses longstanding challenges where requirements were scattered across separate laws, orders, and agency issuances, making them hard to track and follow. The new unified set will serve as one up-to-date reference covering everything from organization setup to regular reporting and ongoing compliance, including all necessary forms, templates, instructions, and procedures.