Top News

Foreign reserves stay strong at $104.3 billion despite April payments gap

The country’s foreign currency reserves remained strong at the end of April 2026, even as the country recorded a wider gap between money flowing in and out of the economy.

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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

New dairy law drives NDA digital reforms 

The National Dairy Authority is accelerating digitalization and science-based regulation as it ramps up implementation of Republic Act No. 12308, a sweeping reform measure...

Corporate

Globe bolsters Philippine ASEAN 2026 hosting with major connectivity push

The Philippines successfully hosted the first quarter of the 2026 ASEAN-related events backed by a massive digital infrastructure push from telecom giant Globe, marking a significant milestone in public-private collaboration for national development. Working in tight coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission, and the ASEAN National Organizing Council, Globe proactively deployed free mobile signal enhancements, optimized network capacities, and rolled out targeted 5G coverage across key venues in Metro Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, and Boracay. This nationwide initiative ensured that international delegates, organizers, and media experienced seamless, high-speed communication throughout the high-profile regional summits.

Banking & Insurance

Most Filipinos lack emergency savings despite rising financial literacy

A stark divide has emerged between what Filipinos know about money and how much they have actually saved, prompting proactive workplace interventions. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 2025 Consumer Finance and Inclusion Survey, basic financial literacy among Filipino adults has risen to 74 percent, up from 69 percent in 2021. However, this knowledge has not yet translated into financial security, as a worrying 30 percent of Filipinos report having enough savings to weather an emergency or sudden income loss, and fewer than half are satisfied with their current financial state.
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Markets

Peso near lows as markets turn defensive

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.

Travel

TPB secures ₱339.76 million in tourism leads from India roadshow

The Philippines generated ₱339.76 million in sales leads after a three-city tourism sales mission in India following its participation in the Outbound Travel Market (OTM) 2026 in Mumbai.
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Energy

Tarlac Enerzone boosts Central Luzon manufacturing expansion

Central Luzon is gaining momentum as the country’s next major manufacturing hub, with industrial investors increasingly drawn to locations backed by reliable power infrastructure and integrated utilities.

Transport & Communications

Gov’t roll out ₱150-million cash aid for 30,000 Lalamove drivers

Thousands of Lalamove partner drivers in Metro Manila have started receiving ₱5,000 each in government financial aid as part of a massive, three-day distribution drive led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
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Property

SM Offices says Clark Tech Hub hits full occupancy 

SM Offices, the commercial leasing arm of SM Prime Holdings, has achieved full occupancy across its 10-tower, 100,000 square meter Clark Tech Hub in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Environment

Potable wayer reaches remote Butbut tribe in Kalinga

A new water system project has finally brought potable water closer to families in Barangay Butbut Proper, easing the long-standing burden of collecting water from distant sources.
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Technology

PLDT secure indigenous approval for Palawan undersea cable project

Telecom giant PLDT Inc. has officially secured the backing of the Tagbanua Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC) for its new undersea fiber-optic project, clearing a major path to boost internet reliability across Palawan.

Health & Science

FEU allots P734M for growth, expansion projects

Far Eastern University (FEU) said that its board of trustees has approved setting aside P733.7 million from retained earnings to fund capital expenditures and expansion initiatives.
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Opinion

Senate power shift risks Estrada-style backlash

The sudden leadership shake-up in the Senate ahead of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Dutertel may yet prove a poisoned chalice—a glittering prize that offers control today but threatens political liability tomorrow.

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.