The Philippine Carabao Center-National Institute for Animal Sciences is moving forward with the second phase of its heat-tolerant carabao development project, funded by the Department of Agriculture Biotechnology Program, as the country braces for a strong El Niño expected to worsen by late 2026. The initiative builds on the existing Genetic Improvement Program, now adding thermotolerance as a key trait in selecting breeding stock to identify males and females that can pass on heat-resilient characteristics to their offspring.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has more than doubled the Philippines’ minimum access volume (MAV) for corn to 500,000 metric tons (MT) in 2026, allowing additional imports in a bid to ease feed costs and limit potential increases in pork and poultry prices.

Ayala Corporation’s healthcare arm AC Health and US-based healthcare operator Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) are planning a flagship hospital campus in Pasig City, a proposed investment that could help keep more Filipinos’ healthcare spending in the country by expanding access to advanced medical treatments locally.