Tag: WR Advisory Group

Mindanao is emerging as the Philippines’ most credit-receptive region, with 54 percent of consumers planning to borrow or use credit for purchases in the coming months, even as more respondents identify as lower-income, according to TransUnion’s 2026 Credit Perception Index.

The major mining associations have raised concerns over newly issued joint rules from the Department of Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, warning key provisions could create investment uncertainty and undermine existing legal rights. In a joint statement on Thursday, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines and Philippine Nickel Industry Association said they back the government's goal of responsible resource development, but said Joint Administrative Order 2026-01 carries provisions that may conflict with existing laws, create uneven competition, and raise long-term investment risks. Their concerns include requirements that could force existing operators to surrender privately owned assets when contracts end, bidding rules that weigh closure costs against current operators unequally, and evaluation criteria that appear to downplay established operational experience and environmental performance. The groups emphasized policy consistency and respect for existing agreements remain essential to keeping the mining sector an economic driver and meeting the country's ease-of-doing-business goals, caution that unclear rules could also hurt ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment in critical minerals such as silica. Semirara Mining and Power Corporation has also raised separate concerns, noting the draft bidding framework would require it to hand over heavy equipment and facilities as a condition to bid on its own operating area, while new entrants face no such requirement and selection appears based primarily on bid price. The Department of Energy has acknowledged concerns, temporarily pausing bidding for several coal blocks in Antique, Cagayan and Isabela to revise evaluation standards, though it expects the process to resume by November or December this year. The department has yet to release final revised rules, with Semirara Mining's current contract set to expire in July 2027.

The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) suffered a setback in its privatization drive after the bidding for its prime 39,698-square-meter Diliman property in Quezon City failed when none of the three interested firms submitted bids or paid participation fees. Holding a minimum price tag of P11.09 billion, the prime real estate asset represents a major financial opportunity for the state-run entity as it works to liquidate government power assets. PSALM now plans a second attempt next year, requiring a revised marketing strategy and new auction guidelines.

Clark International Airport is seeking a larger share of high-value healthcare and manufacturing cargo as United Parcel Service (UPS) expands its logistics infrastructure, adding specialized cold-chain facilities and automated sorting capacity to the Philippine gateway.