Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has backed a proposal to declare a state of calamity to mobilize government resources against the worsening effects of El Niño, saying authorities must act quickly as forecasts point to a potentially severe climate event.

Prime Midstream expects demand for natural gas to remain strong as the Philippines faces growing electricity needs, volatile fuel prices and the challenge of balancing renewable energy growth with reliable power supply.

Japanese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Ono Sho attended the 82nd Anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landings recently at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park, framing his presence as a gesture of friendship spanning the political, defense, economic, and diplomatic spheres.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has received recognition from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for importing nearly USD370 million worth of American agricultural products in 2026, highlighting the Philippines’ importance as a market for US farm exports.

Pag-IBIG Fund nearly tripled its financing for socialized housing in the first nine months of 2026, as subsidized interest rates under the government’s Expanded 4PH Program helped expand access to homeownership for low-income Filipino families.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has joined forces with the Philippine Eagle Foundation and several Czech institutions to expand bilateral cooperation on biodiversity conservation.

Woke up this morning hoping for a reset, with my circadian rhythm hopefully back on track after weeks of near-sleeplessness, due in part to bodily changes occasioned by advancing age and to the ayuda economy, which has gone from bad to worse to overdrive. I cannot believe what has recently been printed in both legacy news outlets and portals like the one where I currently work, or the level of absurdity that has pervaded the country. When I ask any reasonable person what ails the Philippines, with its rich resources and poor economic performance, the retort and the discussion that follow quickly turn absurd. The survey firms Pulse Asia and OCTA have a four-word answer: the cost of living. Two-thirds of the country say the most urgent issue is inflation, and that “public sentiment . . . is being shaped primarily by economic strain and the rising cost of living.”

Subic EnerZone Corporation, a power distribution utility of Aboitiz Power Corporation, has officially renewed its partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to continue managing and operating the Subic Bay Freeport Zone’s electrical distribution system for another 25 years.

The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) has proposed allowing licensed pharmacists to remotely supervise multiple community pharmacies, a move that could expand access to essential medicines in underserved Philippine communities while easing staffing constraints.