The National Food Authority (NFA) is struggling to meet the government’s 15-day rice buffer stock requirement as stagnant funding, limited storage and inadequate logistics constrain its ability to buy more palay from Filipino farmers.

The Philippines’ tourism ambitions face a major hurdle as inadequate healthcare in popular destinations and high operating costs discourage investment in medical facilities.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to provide the Philippines with up to USD500 million in emergency financing to help address disasters, including the potential impact of a severe El Niño episode, although the government has yet to request additional assistance.

From a once-contested solution to Metro Manila’s provincial bus congestion, PITX is positioning itself for a bigger role in the country’s transport system as passenger traffic approaches its design capacity.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has confirmed accepting the resignation of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda, while ruling out for now the possible transfer of Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon back to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Philippine equities are likely to remain volatile this week as accelerating inflation, peso weakness and mounting expectations of monetary tightening weigh on sentiment, tempering optimism over corporate earnings and potential new stock market listings.

Singapore-based Vena Energy is committing an additional P52 billion in equity investments to expand its Philippine renewable energy portfolio by 1.29 gigawatts (GW) over the next two years, strengthening its presence in a power market seeking to diversify supply and reduce reliance on conventional energy sources.

McDonald’s Philippines is expanding its Korean-inspired offerings as the popularity of Korean food, music and entertainment continues to shape Filipino consumer tastes, highlighting how global pop-culture trends are creating new opportunities for food and beverage brands.

The government is expanding its flagship housing program by bringing more private developers on board and offering subsidized financing, as it seeks to make homeownership more attainable for Filipino families amid varying budgets and property prices.