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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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

Stronger dry-season rice harvest expected as palay prices recover

The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects a stronger rice harvest this dry season, helped by the recent increase in palay (unmilled rice) prices.

Corporate

Ayala Land cuts spending as profits drop

Ayala Land Inc. said it will reduce its capital spending this year to P50 billion, down by more than a third from its earlier plan of P70 billion to P80 billion, as earnings declined.

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

DOT sharpens tourism strategy to boost visitor value

The Department of Tourism is tightening its playbook, shifting from volume to value as it targets markets and segments that can deliver higher spending and longer stays.
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Energy

Fuel prices seen rising again next week

A local fuel retailer said gasoline and diesel prices iare likely to increase again next week due to ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran.

Transport & Communications

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Property

Ayala Land leans on recurring income growth 

Ayala Land Inc., one of the country’s largest property developer, reported first-quarter 2026 net income of P5.4 billion on revenues of P37.5 billion, as the property giant sharpened its focus on recurring income streams and disciplined capital deployment amid a more cautious operating environment.

Environment

Cebu authorities partially lifts CDO vs Cebu landfill project

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau Region 7 (DENR-EMB 7) announced today that it has partially lifted the cease and desist order (CDO) on Prime Integrated Waste Management Inc. for its Binaliw Sanitary Landfill Project. The decision comes after the company fulfilled key remediation and operational commitments.
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Technology

Featherless.ai raises $20M to expand open-source AI platform

Featherless.ai, a fast-growing platform focused on running open-source artificial intelligence (AI), has secured $20 million in Series A funding. The round was co-led by AMD Ventures and Airbus Ventures, with support from Kickstart Ventures, BMW i Ventures, Panache Ventures, and Wavemaker Ventures.

Health & Science

PhilCare launches HeyPhil 3.0, bringing 24/7 healthcare access via mobile app

PhilCare has launched HeyPhil 3.0, a major update to its health app designed to give Filipinos faster and easier access to medical services.
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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.