BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.—the largest, second and fourth largest lenders by assets, according to a central bank report—also reported improvements in their nonperforming loan ratios on the growth of the loan portfolio and the steady or lower nonperforming loans.
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.
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna visited an evacuation site on May 1 at Obando National High School, where around 120 families are staying after being displaced by heavy smoke from a landfill fire in Navotas.
The Philippines’ digital economy expanded to PhP 2.74 trillion in 2025, accounting for 9.8 percent of the country’s GDP, according to preliminary data. The figure marks a 5.4 percent increase from the P2.59 trillion recorded in 2024, signaling continued—though moderating—growth in the sector.
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.