Universal Robina Corp., the listed food unit of the Gokongwei Group, posted modest revenue growth last year but saw profits ease as unusually high coffee input costs squeezed margins, highlighting how volatile commodity prices continue to challenge food manufacturers.
Economic ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Friday called for urgent de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, warning that prolonged conflict could ripple across global energy markets and threaten Southeast Asia’s fragile economic recovery.
Cebu Pacific, the budget carrier unit of the Gokongwei Group, is bracing for potential turbulence from rising global fuel prices, even as the Philippines’ largest budget airline continues to post steady passenger growth early this year.
The World Bank has approved an USD800-million financing package for the Philippines aimed at strengthening fiscal resilience, improving the business climate and equipping Filipino workers with skills needed for higher-quality jobs.