Top News
Fed raises rates, defying Trump’s call for cuts
The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates Wednesday for the first time since 2023, lifting its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 3.75 percent to 4 percent as policymakers moved to counter persistent inflation.
VAT relief on power system loss charges begins November
Consumers will start seeing savings from the lifted value-added tax (VAT) on allowable system loss charges in their November electricity bills, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) announced Wednesday.
Cotabato residents turn over wildlife to DENR, marking progress in community-led protection
Public awareness and stricter enforcement around wildlife protection are taking root in Barangay Sinkatulan, Makilala, Cotabato as local residents voluntarily surrendered 12 wildlife specimens to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-PENRO) on September 10. The move reflects growing public compliance with Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
Cash remittances hit $3.24 billion in July, sustaining consumption and growth
Cash sent home by overseas Filipino workers rose to 3.24 billion U.S. dollars in July 2026, marking a 1.9 percent growth compared to the 3.18 billion U.S. dollars recorded in the same month last year. The increase reflects a steady, upward trend that continued through the first seven months of the year, signaling enduring financial support from overseas workers despite global economic uncertainties.
BIR removes VAT on electricity system loss charges
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has removed value-added tax (VAT) from allowable electricity system loss charges, giving consumers another potential reduction in their power bills as the government moves to ease electricity costs through administrative measures.
