Economy
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.
Marcos, Takaichi eye stronger Philippine-Japan alliance
Defense, maritime security, energy resilience, and economic cooperation will take center stage as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a high-level summit in Japan this week, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
