Economy
Philippine Manufacturing Week 2026 unites key industries
The Philippine manufacturing sector is set for a major boost with the launch of Philippine Manufacturing Week 2026, a unified B2B platform combining two major industry gatherings: the Auto Parts and Vehicles Expo Philippines (APVE Expo 2026) and the Philippine Die and Mould Machineries and Equipment Exhibition (PDMEX 2026).
British Chamber backs pork import reforms, lower tariffs
The British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines said the government’s decision to maintain lower tariffs on pork imports and revisit the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) system could strengthen agricultural trade between the United Kingdom and the Philippines while helping stabilize domestic food prices.
Philippine domestic trade expands amid regional imbalances
Domestic trade in the Philippines continued to expand in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting sustained movement of goods across the country despite persistent regional trade imbalances driven by uneven production and consumption patterns.
PCC flags rice trade data-sharing risks amid cap
The Philippine Competition Commission has warned rice importers against sharing sensitive trade information as it monitors compliance with the government’s temporary rice price cap, stressing that businesses must make independent market decisions to preserve fair competition.
Ex-Senator Tolentino named acting Labor Secretary
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed former senator Francis Tolentino as acting secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), following the vacancy created by the departure of outgoing Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
