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The Philippine National Police (PNP) is tightening its grip on illicit tobacco trade, reporting major enforcement gains in the first half of 2026 as intelligence-led operations and stronger coordination with prosecutors begin to translate seizures into court cases.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has officially opened Phase 1 of the Mindanao Integrated Government Network, part of the larger National Fiber Backbone project. This initiative advances the country’s digital transformation goals to build a more connected Philippines.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) reported a 20 percent increase in port-related revenues in the first quarter of 2026, generating P389 million compared with P324 million a year earlier. The performance highlights the port's growing role as a strategic trade gateway and an increasingly attractive alternative to the heavily utilized Port of Manila.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has praised the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for its efforts to promote financial planning, savings, microinsurance, and the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) among private-sector employers and workers.

Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)’s wealth management arm, BPI Wealth, has introduced peso-denominated share classes for two of its established global investment funds. This development removes the need for investors to hold foreign currency to access international markets, making global investing more accessible to Filipino investors.