Top News

Rice harvests seen to drop by  million metric tons amid weather and cost pressures 

The Philippines is bracing for a decline in local palay production this year, with output expected to drop by at least 1 million metric tons due to severe weather patterns and soaring input costs, according to the Department of Agriculture.

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iPeople targets 200,000 students with global expansion push

iPeople, the listed Yuchengco-Ayala education joint venture, is pursuing an expansion strategy built around international partnerships, new campuses and facilities, sustainability-focused programs, and deeper artificial intelligence integration as it aims to nearly triple its student population to 200,000.

Agriculture

PH ships 32,000 young coconuts to Liberia, opening new African markets

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Davao-based Abante Agri-Products Philippines Inc. have shipped 32,000 fresh young coconuts (buko) to Monrovia, Liberia, marking a milestone that could unlock new West African export opportunities for Philippine agriculture.

Corporate

New water systems bring clean water and relief to remote Sarangani barangay

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has completed three community water supply systems in Barangay Datal Anggas, providing over 1,000 households across three sitios with direct access to clean, potable water.

Banking & Insurance

Citi sees record ASEAN banking year as deals surge 30%

Citi expects 2026 to mark a record year for investment banking across Southeast Asia, as accelerating mergers and acquisitions (M&A), artificial intelligence-related financing and capital-market fundraising drive deal activity, with the Philippines among markets accessing international debt investors.
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Markets

Landmark GCash debut ignites mass retail stock market participation

In a historic milestone for the Philippine financial sector, Mynt, the operating entity behind the country's leading fintech platform GCash, successfully staged the nation's largest initial public offering to date, raising 60.9 billion pesos. The maiden share sale marked a defining moment for domestic capital markets, demonstrating how digital ecosystems can democratize investing and activate a new generation of retail investors.

Travel

Duty Free Philippines expands retail presence at Bohol-Panglao airport

Duty Free Philippines has opened a store at Bohol-Panglao International Airport, expanding retail options for eligible international travelers as the airport operator seeks to strengthen commercial services and support the province’s tourism industry.
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Energy

Pampanga hospital inks landmark renewable energy deal with First Gen

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Medical Center (MTCMC) has signed a renewable energy supply agreement with First Gen, becoming the first hospital in Pampanga to switch to clean power under the government’s Retail Aggregation Program.

Transport & Communications

New dining and retail spaces open at NAIA Terminal 2 departure area

Passengers traveling through Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 can now access expanded food and shopping choices following the official launch of new establishments at the North Wing departure airside. The addition provides travelers with more places to eat, rest, and make last-minute purchases after passing through security.
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Property

Hotel101 breaks into Africa with $102M Egypt deal

DoubleDragon Corp.’s Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp. is taking its Filipino hotel brand to Africa, signing a countrywide development agreement in Egypt anchored by a planned 750-room property in Cairo worth an estimated USD102.1 million.

Environment

ADB warns Philippine farms, infrastructure face rising coastal flood risks

The Philippines faces mounting risks to agricultural production, infrastructure and economic activity as coastal flooding intensifies, underscoring the need to integrate climate resilience into development planning and investment decisions, according to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Asia–Pacific Climate Report 2026.
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Technology

Transparency key to PH digital gains — Converge chief

Converge ICT CEO Dennis Anthony Uy is calling for stronger transparency and accountability, saying good governance is essential to turn the Philippines’ digital ambitions into real economic progress.

Health & Science

Tobacco control groups urge probe on alleged nicotine products promos

Ten public health and tobacco control organizations have urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to strengthen enforcement of restrictions on nicotine product promotions, alleging repeated violations involving IQOS and ZYN sponsorships of entertainment and cultural events.
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Opinion

SC reminds Congress that budgeting has bounds

Congress has been reminded that the national budget is not a wish list, a political buffet, or an ATM where lawmakers can increase the withdrawal limit simply because the money looks lonely.

When the game becomes a bet

There was a time when watching a basketball game largely meant arguing about the referee, questioning the coach’s substitutions, and insisting that the player who missed three free throws should have been benched in the second quarter. These remain perfectly respectable ways to ruin a Sunday afternoon. Of late, however, there is increasingly another reason to get worked up over a game: money.

Haay naku! The fine art of being charged for breathing near your bank account

Quite a lot of us have had the experience. We open our banking app to send P500 to a godson for his birthday, and the screen politely informs us that this act of generosity will cost us P25. Nakagulat. Five percent of our kindness, gone—not to our godson, not to charity, but to a fee whose only visible purpose is to exist. Haay naku.

Put down the pitchforks; let Alex play

Apparently, the moment Alex Eala cracked the WTA top 20, she also signed an imaginary contract to win every match.