PNB Bankrolls P3 Billion for Isabela Solar Project
Philippine National Bank (PNB) is extending a roughly $54 million project‑finance facility to Linglingay Power Corp. for an 82‑MW‑peak solar farm in Isabela’s Barangay Linglingay. The ground‑mounted plant, slated for commercial operation by December, will supply electricity to an estimated 25,000‑35,000 households. The financing reflects PNB’s broader push into renewable‑energy lending as the Philippines accelerates its clean‑energy transition. Hexa Philippines, the parent of Linglingay Power, aims to exceed one gigawatt of renewable capacity nationwide, with this project contributing to its near‑600 MW pipeline.
Government Revives RACE Program
The Philippine government announced the revival of the Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) program, reinstating incentives for internal‑combustion‑engine (ICE) vehicle production. Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the move complements the upcoming Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS), which...
JFC Mulls Options for Listing of International Business
Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) is reassessing how to list its international business, weighing a U.S. exchange against a potential Hong Kong debut. The company previously announced a spinoff plan in January, citing market conditions and regulatory approvals. Executives say the move...
Moody’s: Strong Dollar to Test some Philippines Corporates
Moody’s reports that the Philippine peso has depreciated 10.5% against the dollar over the past year, one of the steepest falls in South and Southeast Asia. While most rated firms in the region have sufficient buffers, only seven of 41...
AboitizPower Prepares for Wider RCOA Market
The Philippine government will lower the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) threshold from 500 kW to 100 kW, widening the pool of consumers who can shop for electricity suppliers. Aboitiz Power Corp., which owns the country’s second‑largest Visayan Electric and third‑largest...
Digital, Financial Inclusion Take Center Stage at Caloocan’s Maypajo Public Market
Globe At Home, together with GCash, launched GFiber Prepaid free Wi‑Fi at Caloocan’s Maypajo Public Market, the first Metro Manila market to receive the service. The rollout equips roughly 400 vendors and 96,000 nearby residents with up to 100 Mbps connectivity,...
Greater Flexibility, Diversity in Philippine Energy
The Philippines faced six rotating brownouts in mid‑May as solar output fell while demand peaked, exposing a flexibility gap in the power grid. Energy regulators and industry leaders convened at the EJAP forum to discuss a more diversified, dispatchable mix....
Much-Needed Regulation
The Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is proposing mandatory certification for solar‑energy components, requiring a Philippine Standards (PS) safety mark for locally made items and an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker for imports. Certification fees range from about...
BancNet Eyes Future-Ready Network
BancNet reported a surge in digital payments, processing 5.67 billion transactions in 2025—more than double 2024’s volume—and handling roughly $288 billion in transaction value. InstaPay accounted for 82% of the traffic, with QR Ph dominating merchant payments. Financially, gross revenue rose 42.8% to...
PLDT Pursues Buyout of Broadband Unit
Philippine telco PLDT Inc. has signed a share purchase agreement to buy the remaining 65.1% stake in Radius Telecoms Inc. for roughly $53 million, completing its acquisition of the broadband unit. The deal, valued at P2.94 billion, will give PLDT 100% ownership of...
GoTyme, Wise Launch Money Transfer Service
GoTyme Bank, backed by the Gokongwei group, has launched an in‑app international money‑transfer feature called Send Money Abroad, powered by Wise. The service lets customers move funds to over 170 countries in eight major currencies and shows fees, exchange rates...
SM’s PGPC Bags Leyte Geothermal Contract
Philippine Geothermal Production Co. (PGPC), a unit of SM Investments Corp., secured a Department of Energy contract to develop a 25‑megawatt geothermal project in Southern Leyte. The award, announced on June 1, makes PGPC the highest‑ranked bidder in the DOE’s fifth...
Meta Lashes Australia's Bid to Make Tech Giants Pay for News
Australia is drafting a law that would impose a 2.25% levy on Meta, Google and TikTok’s Australian revenue if they do not reach voluntary news‑content deals with local publishers. Meta denounces the measure as a discriminatory tax and threatens to...
Security Bank, AC Health Team up for Health Care Financing
Security Bank Corp. has partnered with AC Health subsidiaries I.E. Medica and MedEthix to launch a Dealer Financing Program for health‑care dealers and distributors across the Philippines. The program provides short‑term revolving credit lines and inventory financing to improve liquidity and...
Metro Retail Opens 83rd Store, Deepens Eastern Visayas Presence
Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. opened its 83rd store, Metro Naval, in Biliran province, marking its 12th outlet in Eastern Visayas. The new location combines a supermarket, department store and home‑lifestyle offerings, extending modern retail to a previously underserved area....