Philippine agriculture started the economy on a stronger footing in the first quarter, growing 1.9 percent, with better weather conditions and intensified government interventions helping the sector recover from a full-year contraction in 2024.
Palay production in the first quarter of 2025 is expected to reach 4.72 million metric tons, with higher yields offsetting a decrease in rice planting area, according to the latest estimate of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is reinforcing its commitment to empowering Filipinos by enhancing accessibility to its services. Through its suite of retail loan products, BPI is helping make vehicle, home, and motorcycle ownership more achievable while offering special anniversary rates, waived fees, and exclusive partner discounts.
AllHome Corp., the retail and wholesale arm of the Villar Group, reported a steep decline in profit for the first half of the year, citing soft demand for construction and furnishing products amid a sluggish real estate market.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled Friday that the U.S. central bank may cut interest rates at its next policy meeting in September, citing growing risks to the labor market and ongoing inflation pressures.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has instructed the Rice Industry Development Office (RIDO), led by Undersecretary Christopher Morales, to closely examine the apparent shift in Filipino rice preferences, as demand for imported rice—particularly Vietnamese varieties—continues to grow.