Top News

Banks likely to maintain lending standards in Q2 2026

Most banks in the Philippines plan to keep their lending standards unchanged in the second quarter of 2026, suggesting continued credit support for the economy despite global uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict.

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Context Dispatch

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Visayas roots, Singapore routes: Top Line redraws its map

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

DA steps in as palay prices drop in some areas

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is taking action to stabilize palay (unhusked rice) prices after declines were reported in several major rice-producing provinces.

Corporate

Arthaland Corp. says projects on track as costs rise

Property developer Arthaland Corp. said it has not delayed any of its project launches despite rising construction costs, as it had already secured prices for some materials in advance.

Banking & Insurance

Banks likely to maintain lending standards in Q2 2026

Most banks in the Philippines plan to keep their lending standards unchanged in the second quarter of 2026, suggesting continued credit support for the economy despite global uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict.
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Markets

Peso slides, stocks stall as caution builds

Philippine financial markets are in a consolidation phase, with the peso and equities under pressure as tighter monetary conditions and inflation concerns weigh on sentiment.

Travel

Air China route boosts China tourism rebound

The Philippines is stepping up its push to revive Chinese arrivals, welcoming Air China’s inaugural Chongqing–Manila (CKG–MNL) flight on May 2 as a key milestone in rebuilding one of its most vital tourism markets.
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Energy

TotalEnergies, Nextnorth start construction of 440 MW solar plant in Isabela

TotalEnergies and its partner Nextnorth have reached financial close and begun construction of a 440-megawatt peak (MWp) solar power plant in Ilagan City, Isabela.

Transport & Communications

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Property

Affordable housing fuels Metro Manila condo recovery

Metro Manila’s residential condominium market is beginning to show signs of recovery, largely fueled by sustained demand for affordable housing—even as vacancy rates remain elevated, according to Colliers Philippines.

Environment

Philippines’ climate budgeting system gains regional traction

The Philippines’ Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) system is emerging as a regional benchmark as Southeast Asian governments move to treat climate risks as fiscal shocks and hardwire resilience into national budgets.
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Technology

Health & Science

Philippine bamboo holds ground, but bugs still bite

In a country increasingly dependent on non-wood forest products as timber supplies tighten, bamboo has become a practical stand-in for everything from furniture and handicrafts to panels and housing materials. It grows quickly, is widely available, and supports rural livelihoods. 
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Opinion

A house divided: Lopez family rift tests corporate governance

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every house divided against itself will not stand.” In the Lopez corporate universe, the verse now reads less like scripture and more like a live governance case file—complete with injunctions, contested boardrooms, and competing versions of who nearly switched off the lights.

The Days Ahead

Several things have changed over the past month. The global economy is now poised to face another severe slowdown and rising inflation as a result of the Middle East conflict. While the impact on countries may differ in magnitude, the oil supply shock will squeeze economic activity and raise prices significantly.

Fuel crisis or policy gap?

Airline executives were caught off guard when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned that Philippine carriers may be forced to cut flights—or even ground planes—due to a possible jet fuel shortage tied to the escalating U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Choked Hormuz puts global food supply at risk

Food, not fuel, may prove the first and most immediate casualty of the Middle East conflict as disruption grips the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea lane with an outsized role in feeding the world.