Singapore is no longer just a distant dot on Top Line Business Development Corp.’s growth chart. It has become a very literal marker of how far the company has travelled in 12 years, from a Visayas-based real estate developer to an emerging energy player now thinking in global supply routes.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced Tuesday that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has reached an agreement with rice industry stakeholders to set a suggested retail price (SRP) of P53 per kilo for local rice, striking a balance between farmers’ profits and consumers’ budgets.

The Philippine peso is again nearing record lows as persistent inflation, geopolitical tensions, and strong US dollar demand continue to pressure local markets. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the peso could retest historic weakness after falling 1.8% this week and approaching the April 30 intraday low of P61.75 against the dollar.