The Philippines landed at 53rd out of 101 economies in the World Bank Group’s 2025 Business-Ready (B-READY) Report, placing the country squarely at the midpoint of an expanded global ranking and signaling steady reform momentum.
The World Bank and the Philippine government are moving forward with a landmark agreement that could reshape the country’s agriculture sector. At a recent meeting, agriculture secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and World Bank country director Zafer Mustafaoglu reviewed the progress of the Philippine Sustainable Agricultural Transformation (PSAT) loan program, with the goal of finalizing the USD1 billion loan agreement in July.
The International Finance Corp. (IFC), the private investment arm of the World Bank, has appointed Riccardo Puliti as its new Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific.
Data from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in June shows that Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) holding the largest share of the power generation market at 24.30 percent, equivalent to 6.85 million kilowatts.
The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) has welcomed new guidelines from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) that closes a regulatory loophole affecting imports of sugar-based feedstocks for bioethanol production.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is stepping up efforts to protect the Ifugao Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from threats including climate change, aging infrastructure, and shifting farming practices. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led an assessment visit to Banaue and Batad Rice Terraces over the weekend to review conditions and consult with local farmers and officials.