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 analysis, and create a UHC‑aligned service delivery framework. Naga, already designated a Universal Health Care Integration Site in 2025, will use the initiative to streamline referral networks and integrate PhilHealth data. A Joint Steering Committee and Technical Working Group will oversee implementation and generate scalable learning tools for other local governments.
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...
Semirara Hopes to Win Coal Mine Bidding
Semirara Mining and Power Corp is urging that its long‑standing technical expertise will help it retain the coal‑mining concession that expires in 2027, even as the Philippine government prepares an auction. The announcement triggered a 21.39% drop in Semirara’s share...
SM Prime Net Income Rose 7% to P48.8B in 2025
SM Prime Holdings reported a 7% rise in net income to P48.8 billion for 2025, driven by stronger commercial‑property revenues and disciplined cost control. Consolidated revenue edged up to P141.1 billion, with malls contributing P85.1 billion, while total expenses fell 4% to P69.4 billion....
Semirara, DMCI Shares Drop Amid Non-Renewal of Coal Contract
Semirara Mining and Power Corp (SMPC) and its parent DMCI Holdings saw their shares tumble after the Philippine government rejected a request to extend SMPC's coal mine contract by 13 years. At 1:20 p.m., SMPC’s stock slid 21.23% to PHP 26.15, while...
Oil Price Hike of up to P1.20/liter Set for Feb. 17
Motorists in the Philippines will face a gasoline price increase of up to P1.20 per liter starting February 17, as announced by Seaoil. This marks the sixth consecutive weekly hike in fuel costs. The rise reflects ongoing pressure from global...
Asia United Bank Posts Record P12.7-B Profit in 2025
Asia United Bank (AUB) posted a record net income of P12.7 billion for 2025, a 12% rise from the prior year. The profit surge was anchored by a 13% expansion in its commercial loan portfolio, reflecting strong demand for corporate financing....
Globe Offers up to 6.7631% Dividend Rate for Preferred Shares
Globe Telecom, led by Ayala, announced the final terms for its perpetual preferred share offering, featuring a dividend rate of up to 6.7631%. The base tranche consists of 7.5 million non‑voting shares priced at ₱2,000 each, raising up to ₱15 billion, with...
Philippine Recovery Clouded by Graft Probe, Weak Infrastructure Investment – ANZ
ANZ’s chief economist Sanjay Mathur warns that the Philippines’ economic recovery is at risk due to a lingering graft investigation that has sapped confidence and a continued shortfall in public spending. The slowdown is compounded by historically weak infrastructure investment,...
Metrobank Sees Private Wealth Investors Turning Choosier in 2026
Metrobank reports private wealth investors in the Philippines becoming more selective in 2026, focusing on disciplined, opportunity‑driven allocation. High‑net‑worth clients favor Asian and emerging‑market equities, especially AI‑linked semiconductor stocks, while keeping equities overweight versus fixed income. Fixed‑income exposure is added...
Critical Minerals Deal Benefit Goes Beyond Mining
The Philippines and the United States have signed a critical minerals agreement that goes beyond raw‑material extraction, targeting downstream processing, power generation, logistics and chemical handling. The Department of Trade and Industry says the pact adopts a whole‑of‑government approach to...
PSEi Climbs 1.98% on Peso Strength, Wall Street Cues
Philippine stocks rebounded on Tuesday as the PSEi jumped 1.98% to 6,474.60, driven by a stronger peso and upbeat cues from Wall Street. The rally snapped a brief stretch of weakness, though overall trading remained muted amid lingering investor caution....
Bank Lending Slows in December 2025 Despite Rate Cuts
Bank lending in the Philippines slowed in December 2025, with big‑bank loan balances rising 9.2% year‑on‑year to P14.3 trillion. Despite aggressive rate cuts by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, new loan growth lagged behind expectations. The slowdown reflects a confidence crisis...
Tokyo Stocks Strike Record High After Japanese Premier Wins Vote
Japanese stocks surged to a record high on Monday after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a decisive victory in a snap parliamentary election. The Nikkei 225 broke its previous peak, reflecting renewed confidence in political stability and potential fiscal stimulus....
BSP Unlikely to Tolerate Peso Fall Past 60:$1
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is signaling readiness to intervene if the Philippine peso slides past the 60‑to‑1 dollar threshold, according to BMI Research. The central bank’s potential action aims to curb excessive weakness that could exacerbate inflation and...
SEC Upholds Fines vs NOW over Disclosure Violation
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission affirmed PHP1 million fines for NOW Corp. and its chair Mel Velarde after finding their November 2021 market disclosure misleading. The regulator rejected NOW’s appeal, labeling the statement a "half‑truth" that misled investors about a alleged...
GCash Parent Mynt Keeps IPO Option Open
Mynt, the parent of GCash, is keeping an IPO on the table while accelerating its payments, lending and wealth‑management services. The fintech arm delivered P6.1 billion in attributable equity earnings in 2025, a 64% jump year‑on‑year, and its lending subsidiary Fuse...