Economy

The Philippine iron and steel industry is pressing regulators to fast-track the implementation of tougher construction standards, arguing that recent tragedies have underscored the urgent need for earthquake-resistant building materials in one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

The Philippines and India have taken another step toward a possible free trade agreement, using a high-level bilateral trade meeting to advance discussions on deeper economic integration and broaden cooperation in sectors ranging from renewable energy to artificial intelligence.

The government is ramping up its push to bring more Philippine food products to Asian consumers, with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) rolling out a coordinated export drive in South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand to widen market access and elevate the profile of Filipino food brands abroad.

The expansion of the West Cebu Industrial Park–Special Economic Zone (WCE–SEZ) in Balamban, Cebu is expected to accelerate job creation, attract fresh investments, and strengthen regional supply chains, further cementing the estate’s role as one of the country’s key industrial hubs.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expanded the West Cebu Industrial Park–Special Economic Zone (WCIP-SEZ) by 64.7 hectares, a move expected to strengthen Cebu's position as a major industrial hub and support thousands of new jobs in the Visayas.