Can the Philippines Grow Its Way to Coffee Self-Sufficiency?
The Philippines imports roughly 60% of its coffee, leaving the market vulnerable to global price swings. Nestlé Philippines, which generates $3.2 billion annually, sources only 20% of its Nescafé beans locally and is spearheading a push for self‑sufficiency. Domestic green‑bean output rose 11.5% to 35,650 metric tons in 2025, driven by regenerative‑agriculture training that has tripled yields on some farms. The Department of Agriculture has launched a Coffee Industry Development Office to address infrastructure and farmer‑age challenges, aiming to close the supply gap.
She Built the Page
The Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Property section honors the women whose columns have defined its tone for over a decade. Writers like Tessa Prieto, Isabel Berenguer Asuncion, and Dr. Chat Fores infused design with social nuance, while attorneys Ma. Soledad Deriquito...
Sugar Sector Complains of Too Much Imports
The Philippines' Sugar Regulatory Administration imported 424,000 metric tons of sugar, far exceeding the industry‑recommended 150,000 tons, creating a massive oversupply. The glut drove cane prices down 38% and molasses prices down 56%, pushing farm‑gate rates below production costs. The...
Regulators Monitor Rising Debt; Banking System Holds Firm
The Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC) affirmed that the Philippine banking system remains resilient, backed by strong capital and liquidity. However, the council warned that rising corporate debt, expanding consumer credit, and growing exposure to large conglomerates could heighten systemic...
Converge Launches P5-B Data Center in Pampanga
Converge ICT Solutions opened a P5‑billion, 12‑megawatt data center in Angeles City, its largest facility to date. The Tier III‑certified site occupies 5,000 sq m and can scale to 36 MW as demand grows. It already serves banks, logistics firms, local governments and several...
Nordeco Urged to Block Davao Light’s Takeover of Assets
Nordeco, a long‑standing electric cooperative in Davao, retains franchise rights until 2028 on the mainland and 2033 on Samal Island, giving it legal standing to challenge Davao Light’s asset takeover. A recent court ruling granted Davao Light temporary possession of...
ROSSANA FAJARDO: Topnotch Auditor, Accountability Champ
Rossana Fajardo, SGV’s country‑managing partner, was tapped in September 2025 to lead the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) probing alleged flood‑control project irregularities. During its brief six‑month existence, the commission held 32 hearings, summoned 36 witnesses and produced a 1,100‑page...
AILEEN JUDAN-JIAO: Breaking Barriers at IBM Philippines
Aileen Judan‑Jiao became IBM Philippines’ first homegrown Filipina president and country general manager in 2018, overseeing an 89‑year‑old operation. Her three‑decade IBM career progressed from systems engineer to executive, now steering cloud, AI and security services for clients undergoing rapid...
SEC Clears PNB Holdings Listing on PSE
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission has cleared PNB Holdings Corp. (PHC) for listing on the Philippine Stock Exchange. The registration covers up to 46.93 billion common shares with an initial price of P1.20, valuing the offering at roughly P56.32 billion. PHC...
Mounting Interest Costs Pushed Debt Service Bill to P2.1 Trillion
The Philippines’ debt service bill surged to P2.1 trillion in 2025, a 4 percent increase over the previous year and 2.44 percent above the government’s P2.05‑trillion target. Interest payments jumped 11.8 percent to P854.1 billion, representing 19.4 percent of total revenues and 14.3 percent of expenditures. Domestic...
BSP Seen Unlikely to Rush Into Hawkish Action
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is unlikely to raise interest rates immediately despite oil prices breaching $100 per barrel. Inflation remains modest at 2.4%, within the central bank’s 2‑4% target, and the BSP recently cut its policy rate to 4.25%...
War and Summer–A Double Whammy for Energy Markets
The escalation of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has driven Brent crude above $100 per barrel, creating a global energy shock. Simultaneously, the Philippines faces a summer heat‑index surge that will require roughly 3,340 MW of additional peaking capacity to keep the grid...
The High Cost of Low Trust in Your Inner Circle
Tom Oliver warns that low trust among family‑business leaders creates a hidden tax that erodes value and slows decision‑making. When inner‑circle members withhold information or avoid conflict, CEOs receive filtered data, leading to costly mistakes. The article outlines how mistrust...
Philippines-Chile FTA Talks Seen Wrapping up in April
The Philippines is poised to finalize a free‑trade agreement with Chile by April 2026, after a series of negotiations that left only a few items unresolved. Bilateral trade last year totaled $334 million, with exports of $43.3 million and imports of $290.8 million,...
BSP on Guard as Digital Banks Face Profit Strain
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reports that most of the six licensed digital banks are still unprofitable, with only Maya Bank and OF Bank posting net income. Despite early losses, the sector shows strong asset growth, with deposits reaching...
DOF Secures $800-M World Bank Loan for Investments, Job Creation
The Philippines' Department of Finance secured an $800 million development loan from the World Bank under the Growth and Jobs Development Policy Loan. The financing targets three pillars: stronger fiscal management, enhanced private investment, and expanded labor‑force capabilities. By focusing on...
For Kidney Failure Patients, Hope Springs Local in Batangas
On World Kidney Day, the Renal and Transplant Institute (RTI) in Batangas highlighted kidney transplantation as a viable alternative to dialysis for stage‑5 chronic kidney disease patients. The Philippine Society of Nephrology reports that one Filipino develops chronic renal failure...
PSEi Slips as Middle East Concerns Intensify
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 0.73% to 6,113.58 as oil prices surged to $100 per barrel amid heightened Middle East tensions. Analysts warned that oil could climb to $200, stoking inflation concerns and prompting expectations of a Bangko Sentral...
Middle East War Fallout: Sub-5% Philippine Growth May Persist This Year
Philippine planners warn that the Middle East conflict‑driven oil price surge could keep growth under 5% this year. DEPDev modeled two price scenarios—$100/barrel in March rising above $80 through May, and $140/barrel staying above $80 until September—each shaving 0.2‑0.3 percentage...
BSP Feted for ‘Modern Approach’ to Managing Foreign Reserves
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) received a Central Banking Publications award for its modern approach to foreign‑reserve management. The accolade recognizes the bank’s recent overhaul of its reserve‑management framework, featuring a refreshed strategic asset allocation, active risk‑management techniques, and...
Unilab Center for Health Policy and Naga City Partner to Pioneer Primary Healthcare Innovation
The Unilab Center for Health Policy (UCHP) and Naga City signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a collaborative research and implementation agenda aimed at strengthening primary health care. The partnership will develop digital tools, conduct a comprehensive health system...
Phinma Weighed Down by Construction, Property Businesses
Phinma Corp reported a P308.83 million net loss for 2025 despite a revenue increase to P22.84 billion, driven by strong performance in its education arm. The education segment posted P7.19 billion in revenue and a P1.61 billion profit, buoyed by record enrollments in the...
SEC Simplifies Process for Early Stockholders Meetings
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that companies can now hold their annual stockholders’ meetings (ASM) earlier than the date set in their bylaws without prior SEC approval. Firms must submit a written notice at least 32 business...
Bank Lending Growth Eased to Near 2-Year Low in January ’26
Bank lending in the Philippines slowed to its weakest pace in nearly two years in January 2026, expanding only 9.3% year‑on‑year to P14.2 trillion. The dip follows a high‑profile corruption scandal that dented business confidence despite the central bank’s aggressive rate...
BOC Digitizes Car Import Process
The Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) has rolled out the Electronic Certificate of Payment (e‑CP) System, a real‑time digital platform that automates duty and tax validation for imported vehicles. The system links BOC directly with the Land Transportation Office (LTO),...
Converge Defies Telco Slump with 9.6% Profit Growth
Converge ICT Solutions posted a 9.6% rise in net profit to P11.9 billion for 2025, driven by strong residential fiber growth and a 20.3% surge in enterprise revenue. Consolidated revenue climbed 10.2% to P44.8 billion, while the subscriber base expanded to 2.98 million...
ACEN Earnings Down 60% on Softer Energy Prices
ACEN Corp reported a 60% plunge in 2025 net income to P3.8 billion, driven by softer domestic power prices and temporary shutdowns of wind assets in Northern Luzon. Revenue fell 14% to P32 billion, with domestic sales down 7% after a 28%...
Meralco Taps Korean Firms for Nuclear Energy
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and the Export‑Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) to chart technical and financial pathways for nuclear power projects in the Philippines. The agreement includes...
Prosperity without Worries: Welcoming the Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year 2026 brings festive spending to the Philippines, but household debt has surged to $60.9 billion, pushing the debt‑to‑GDP ratio to 12.8%. Average credit‑card balances now sit at ₱54,000 across 20 million accounts, highlighting the risk of a debt trap....
Ayala’s IMI Posts $13.5-M Profit in 2025
Ayala’s Integrated Micro‑Electronics Inc. (IMI) posted a $13.5 million net profit for 2025, marking its return to profitability after a multi‑year restructuring. Revenue reached $996 million and core gross margin rose to 9.6%, up from 7.3% the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA jumped...
Bloomberry Swings to Full-Year Net Loss
Bloomberry Resorts Corp reported a P2.6 billion net loss for 2025, reversing the same amount of profit recorded in 2024. Consolidated EBITDA dropped 39 percent to P10.2 billion, driven by a 23 percent decline in GGR at its flagship Solaire Resort Entertainment City. Overall...
Aboitiz Equity Ventures Net Income up 1% in 2025
Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) posted a modest 1 percent rise in net income for 2025, reaching P18.3 billion, while its consolidated core net income held steady at P25.5 billion. The conglomerate’s diversified portfolio—power, banking and food & beverage—delivered solid earnings, with AboitizPower EBITDA...
STI June to December 2025 Earnings up 18%
STI Education Systems Holdings Inc. reported net income of P1.08 billion for the July‑December 2025 period, an 18% increase over the same half‑year in 2024. Gross revenues rose 8% to P2.83 billion. Total student enrollment slipped to 132,941, driven by lower public...
ICTSI Profit Surges 23% in 2025 on Larger Cargo Volumes
International Container Terminal Services Inc. reported a 23% jump in net income to $1.05 billion for 2025, driven by an 11% rise in cargo volumes to 14.5 million TEUs. Gross revenues climbed 18% to $3.23 billion, while EBITDA increased 21% to $2.14 billion and...
Oil Price Rise Might Push Peso Back to 59:$1
Rising crude prices, driven by the Iran‑Israel conflict, could push the Philippine peso past the 59 per‑dollar threshold. MUFG forecasts the PHP trading between 58.5 and 59.5 if oil steadies around $90 a barrel, while JP Morgan sees a modest global...
T-Bill Yields Climb After 7-Week Slide
Philippine Treasury bill yields rose for the first time in seven weeks as investors priced in higher inflation expectations and geopolitical tension. The Bureau of the Treasury auctioned P27 billion of T‑bills, well below the typical P37.8 billion raised earlier this year....
PSEi Falls 2.79% as Middle East Tensions Spark Sell-Off
Philippine stocks tumbled on Monday as the PSEi slipped 2.79% to 6,426.83 points, driven by heightened US‑Iran tensions and fears of rising oil prices. The sell‑off was broad‑based, with the services sector falling 4.11% and foreign investors exiting with net...
Globe Raises P25B From Preferred Shares Sale
Globe Telecom, led by Ayala, raised PHP 25 billion through an oversubscribed non‑voting perpetual preferred‑share offering. The company issued 12.5 million shares at PHP 2,000 each, achieving 2.4‑times oversubscription and exercising a PHP 10 billion oversubscription option for an extra 5 million shares. Dividend rates were set...
UnionBank Profit Dropped to P10B in 2025
UnionBank of the Philippines reported a 17% drop in net income for 2025, posting P10 billion versus P12 billion the prior year. Despite the profit dip, net revenues climbed to P83.2 billion, driven by robust loan growth and higher transaction volumes. The bank’s...
LT Group Books 4th Straight Record Earnings in 2025 at P31B
LT Group Inc. reported a record P30.98 billion net income for 2025, a 7 percent increase over 2024, marking its fourth consecutive year of record earnings. Philippine National Bank drove nearly half of the profit, contributing P14.26 billion as its net income rose...
Power Generation Lifts Meralco’s 2025 Profit by 12%
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) posted a record 2025, with consolidated core net income rising 12% to P50.57 billion, surpassing its P50 billion profit target. The boost came primarily from its power‑generation arm, which grew its share of profit to 33% and contributed...
Jollibee Breaks Into World’s Top 5 Restaurant Brands
Jollibee Foods Corp. has entered the top five strongest restaurant brands worldwide, according to Brand Finance’s Restaurants 25 2026 ranking. The Filipino fast‑food giant rose to fifth place, up from ninth in the previous year’s list. The climb reflects robust...
Philex 2025 Income Climbs to P929.69M on Record Metal Prices
Philex Mining Corp posted a net income of P929.69 million in 2025, a 14.7% rise year‑over‑year, driven by record‑high gold and copper prices and a favorable peso exchange rate. Revenues climbed 8.2% to P8.85 billion, while core net income surged 43.6% to...
SEC Revises IPO Float Rules to Revive Listings
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission issued Memorandum Circular No. 11, Series of 2026, revising public‑ownership requirements for IPOs. The new tiered framework reduces the minimum float to 33 percent for firms under P500 million and as low as 15 percent for companies above P50 billion, with a...
Maynilad 2025 Profit Jumps 19% to P15.2B
Maynilad Water Services, Inc. reported a 19% jump in consolidated net income for 2025, reaching P15.2 billion versus P12.8 billion a year earlier. The growth stemmed from stronger revenue streams and notable gains in operating efficiency. The utility highlighted double‑digit income growth,...
Asian Stocks Rally After Trump’s Supreme Court Tariffs Blow
The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated most of President Trump’s tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, delivering a sharp policy reversal. Asian equity markets responded positively, with technology and e‑commerce stocks leading gains and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng up...
PSEi Climbs to 6,488 as Earnings Lift Market Sentiment
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose to 6,488.51, gaining 0.36% as earnings releases spurred buying in industrial, mining and oil stocks. Turnover hovered around P6.12 billion, reflecting measured participation despite subdued volume from global tariff worries. Market breadth stayed positive with...
Philippine Banks Deliver Another Banner Year
Philippine banks posted a record P403.1 billion net profit in 2025, up 3% year‑over‑year and the highest since 2008. Strong net interest income, which jumped 11% to P1.15 trillion, and a 10% rise in non‑interest income drove the earnings surge, despite a...
Ayala Land ’26 Capex at P 70B-P 80B
Ayala Land Inc. announced a 2026 capital‑expenditure budget of PHP 70‑80 billion. Roughly 38 % of the funds will be directed toward leasing assets such as malls, offices and hotels, while the balance will support residential projects and land acquisition. The allocation highlights...
Landbank Raises P50B via Sustainability Bonds
State‑owned Land Bank of the Philippines successfully raised P50 billion through its new Agriculture, Sustainability, Environment, and Socioeconomic Development (ASENSO) sustainability bonds. The issuance, listed on PDEx on Feb 16, surpassed the original P30 billion goal, prompting an early close after attracting 7,000...