Daughter of Ifugao Rises to Lead Major Gold Miner
Joan Adaci‑Cattiling, an indigenous Ifugao descendant, became president of OceanaGold Philippines (OGP) in 2024, leading the country’s second‑largest gold and copper producer. Under her guidance, OGP has deepened community ties through a 1% revenue Community Development Fund and a 0.5% Provincial Development Fund, while launching an Indigenous Peoples revitalization program. The company’s 2025 share price surged 129.7% as gold prices hit record highs, and OGP now targets 85,000‑105,000 ounces of gold and 13,000‑15,000 tons of copper at a cost of $975‑$1,100 per ounce. Women now represent 24% of OGP’s 800‑plus workforce, including underground roles.
SEC Extends Fee Discounts to Boost MSME Growth
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended fee discounts for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to promote growth and lower compliance costs. Under Memorandum Circular No. 13, Series of 2026, a 20% discount on corporate registration fees will...
DBP Lends P2B for Kabankalan City Flood Control Projects
The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has approved a roughly $36 million loan to Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental for flood‑control infrastructure. The financing is divided into three tranches—a 15‑year $30 million loan, a 10‑year $5.7 million loan, and a five‑year $0.02 million...
Naia Holy Week Traffic Seen Tempered by Middle East War Disruptions
Passenger traffic at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport is projected to reach 1.35 million travelers between March 28 and April 5, a modest rise over last year’s 1.33 million. Daily volumes are expected to exceed 143,000, with April 5 slated as the peak day at roughly...
Philippines Secures Supply Deals for 1M Barrels of Diesel
The Philippine Department of Energy has signed contracts to import 1 million barrels (≈165.7 million liters) of diesel, enough for five days of national consumption. The deals, brokered through the Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corp., are part of a P20 billion ($360 million)...
Piki vs Gabby: New Lopez Leadership Squabble Erupts
Federico “Piki” Lopez has sued his cousins led by Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III over his removal as president of Lopez Inc., the family’s private holding company. A Mandaluyong court issued a preliminary injunction on March 26 halting the board’s February...
Oil Climbs, Stocks Fall as Markets See No End to War
Oil prices surged after the United States and Israel struck Iranian nuclear sites, with Brent climbing 4.2% to $112.57 a barrel and WTI jumping 5.5% to $99.64. At the same time, equity markets slipped, the S&P 500 closing 1.7% lower and...
Electricity Spot Market Also Reels From Price Shock
The Philippines' Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) will be suspended as spot power prices are projected to hit P9 per kilowatt‑hour (about $0.16), more than double February's average of P3.50 ($0.06). The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered the shutdown to...
Spike in LPG Prices May Hit Record High of P30/Kg
The LPG market in the Philippines is set to see a record price jump, with the industry association warning that per‑kilogram rates could rise by P30 (about $0.55) as early as March 28, followed by an additional P10 ($0.18) on April 1....
Prime Energy Eyes First Gas From New Malampaya Wells by Q4
Prime Energy Resources Development BV, part of the Razon group, plans to deliver its first gas from the new Malampaya Phase 4 wells by the fourth quarter of 2026. The Camago‑3 well in offshore Palawan has completed drilling, completion and flow testing,...
Stronger Output Boosts Benguet Corp.’s Profit to P760M in 2025
Benguet Corp. posted a 74% jump in net income for 2025, reaching ₱760 million (about $13.8 million). Revenue climbed 38% to ₱3.31 billion (~$60 million), driven by stronger gold and nickel output and higher commodity prices. The company also reported basic earnings per share...
ACEN Secures P4.8-B Loan for India Wind Power Project
ACEN Corp., the Ayala Group’s energy arm, secured a roughly $86 million (P4.8 billion) loan from Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui to fund Phase 1 of its Bijapur wind project in India. The greenfield financing will support 100 MW of capacity slated for commercial operation in...
First Gen Bullish on 2026 Amid Geothermal Energy Push
First Gen Corp., the Philippines‑based Lopez Group utility, posted an 8% profit increase in 2025, with attributable recurring net income rising to $264 million and revenue climbing 6% to $906 million. The company now operates 1,700 MW across hydro, geothermal, solar and wind...
JG Summit Profit Slides After Quitting Petrochemical Business
JG Summit Holdings reported a 7% decline in net income to about $650 million for 2025, as one‑off gains vanished and the petrochemical exit triggered a $1.6 billion loss. Recurring profit rose 3% to $574 million, powered by strong travel, leisure and consumer...
SM Prime Partners with Government to Ease Metro Manila Commute
SM Prime Holdings is partnering with Philippine government agencies to turn its malls into transport hubs, easing Metro Manila commuting. The company will invest roughly P300 million (about $5.5 million) in a covered pedestrian bridge linking LRT‑2 Antipolo Station to SM City Masinag,...
SM’s Geothermal Energy Arm Revs up Expansion
Philippine Geothermal Production Co. (PGPC), the geothermal arm of SM Investments, announced a P3 billion (~$54 million) funding round to explore six new steamfields across Luzon. Drilling has already started at Mt. Labo and Mt. Malinao, with projects expected to take five...
DigiPlus Backs Further Tightening of Gaming Regulations
DigiPlus Interactive Corp. announced its support for a tighter regulatory framework for the Philippines’ digital entertainment sector, joining a technical working group to draft new legislation. The proposed rules would tighten payment‑channel oversight and impose stricter marketing restrictions to boost...
Winter Is Coming. Are We Ready?
Henry Ong revisits the Kondratieff long‑wave theory, warning that the Philippines may be entering the “winter” phase of the multi‑decade cycle. He highlights that corporate debt relative to market value has climbed from about 12% in 2007 to roughly 51%...
ADB Preps Support for Asia Amid Middle East Conflict
The Asian Development Bank announced a rapid assistance package for its developing member countries to cushion the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict. The plan combines fast‑disbursing budget support through its Counter‑cyclical Support Facility and a Trade and Supply...
Metrobank Closes Sustainability Bond Offer
Metrobank closed its public offer for the Series F ASEAN Sustainability peso‑denominated bonds a week early, citing strong investor demand. The 1.5‑year bonds carry a fixed 5.4727% coupon and will be listed on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. on April 14....
PXP Energy Turns P561-M Debt Into Forum Shares
PXP Energy Corp. will exchange roughly ₱561 million (≈ $10 million) of loans for 561 million new common shares in its subsidiary Forum Exploration, Inc., raising Forum Energy Philippines’ ownership to 91.65% from 66.67%. The conversion is intended to shore up Forum Exploration’s balance...
SEC, Gov’t Agencies Boost Crackdown on Abusive Lending Practices
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, together with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Privacy Commission, issued a joint advisory tightening compliance for online lending platforms. The directive reinforces the Data Privacy Act and consumer‑protection rules,...
Japanese Telco Bags Lease for Poro Point Cable Station
Japanese telecom operator InfiniVAN has signed a long‑term lease to develop the Poro Point Cable Landing Station in La Union as an open gateway for international subsea cables. The station, part of the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure—a 240‑km fiber corridor linking Baler to...
Digital Payments via InstaPay, PESONet Surged 43% in January ’26
Philippines’ central bank reported a 43% year‑on‑year jump in digital payments through InstaPay and PESONet, reaching a combined value of roughly $47 billion in January 2026. Transaction volume surged to 688 million, more than triple the previous year’s level. InstaPay alone grew...
Cebu Pacific Scales Back Int’l Flights as MidEast War Lifts Fuel Costs
Cebu Pacific announced a temporary scaling back of its international network as the Middle East conflict drives jet‑fuel prices to more than double 2025 levels. The airline will suspend Davao‑Bangkok, Iloilo‑Bangkok, Iloilo‑Singapore and Clark‑Hanoi routes through October and trim frequencies...
Global Economy Under ‘Major Threat’ From Strait of Hormuz Crisis: IEA Chief
International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned that the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis poses a "major threat" to the global economy. The US‑Iran confrontation has nearly halted traffic through the waterway, which carries about 20% of world oil and...
PSEi May Retest 6,000 as Global Risks Dampen Sentiment
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped to 6,018.62, down 0.67%, as global geopolitical tensions and a hawkish Federal Reserve pause dampen sentiment. Technical analysis shows support at 6,000 and resistance at 6,150, with the index trading below key exponential moving...
Robinsons Land Charts Next Phase of Growth with 2026 Pipeline
Robinsons Land Corporation unveiled a 2026 development pipeline that spans malls, offices, hospitality and logistics across Dumaguete, Bacolod, Davao, Pangasinan and Calamba. The plan adds over 57,000 sq m of gross leasable area in mall expansions, introduces new Cybergate office towers, launches...
Leadership From the Ground Up
Ana Aluyen, the first female president of Chowking, emphasizes a ground‑up leadership style by regularly working in kitchens and stores to grasp operational realities. Her consumer‑obsessed mindset previously reshaped Panda Express in the Philippines, launching the Everyday Bowl, which now...
Rethinking Leadership: The Cost of Ego in the Boardroom
Leaders with fragile egos often react defensively to dissent, creating a toxic boardroom culture. The article outlines cognitive errors—reactivity, automatic thinking, overconfidence, and authority bias—that stifle open dialogue and lead to misdiagnosed problems. It quantifies the business cost: loss of...
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...
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...