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.
LG Electronics Philippines (LGEPH) marked Earth Day 2026 with an employee-led e-waste collection drive, gathering about 1,200 kilograms of discarded electronic items from March 31 to April 21.
Filipina entrepreneurs—many of them mothers—play a major role in the Philippine economy, owning 66 percent of existing businesses and 62 percent of newly registered enterprises. Despite this strong presence, many women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) struggle to grow due to limited access to funding, low digital adoption, and the challenge of balancing business and family responsibilities.
Travelers grappling with rising fuel costs and volatile airfares are getting a timely alternative: book early and secure steep discounts. The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) has shifted its annual Summer Online Sale (SOS) to an earlier April–May window, positioning the campaign as a practical hedge against mounting travel expenses.