The Philippines’ envoy to Japan expressed hope that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Tokyo will further strengthen bilateral ties, emphasizing decades of close cooperation between the two nations.

The government is stepping up its digital reform drive to make tax compliance faster, simpler, and less burdensome for the country’s biggest taxpayers, with the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) launching a centralized Taxpayer Portal for firms under the Large Taxpayers Service (LTS).

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is pushing for critical updates to Philippine power market rules and systems, aiming to fix current gaps and adapt to modern energy needs. The proposed changes carry major policy weight, as they seek to make power supply more reliable, affordable, and responsive to changing conditions.