Economy

Four major manufacturers have extended a voluntary price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) beyond the April 16 deadline, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Monday, reinforcing efforts to cushion consumers from rising production costs.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas signaled its openness to deeper cooperation with Switzerland following a recent meeting between its chief and a top Swiss diplomat.

The Philippines is pressing for a calibrated overhaul of global trade rules as the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference opened on March 26 in Yaoundé, with Manila advocating reforms that preserve the core principles of the multilateral trading system.

Filipino dessert brand Avocadoria has stepped up its international push, opening its first outlet in Thailand and marking its third overseas market after Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. The expansion signals growing traction for homegrown food concepts abroad.

Romanian companies are increasingly eyeing the Philippines as a strategic investment and sourcing destination, following the inaugural Philippine Economic and Business Briefing held in Bucharest on March 17, 2026, according to the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC).