‘Philippines Fintech Infrastructure Still Weak Despite Widespread Usage’
A new Kaya Founders report finds that despite over 70 million Filipino e‑wallet users, the Philippines’ fintech infrastructure remains fragmented and costly. Transaction fees range from $0.18 to $0.90 per payment, far above the near‑free rates of India’s UPI and Brazil’s Pix. Bank account ownership fell to 34% of adults in 2024, limiting the translation of digital activity into formal credit. The high costs and weak coordination curb network effects, keeping the ecosystem functional but not transformative.
Metrobank Raises P35 Billion via Asean Bonds
Metrobank listed P35 billion (about $625 million) of ASEAN Sustainability Bonds, its largest peso‑denominated issuance. The 1.5‑year Series F bonds carry a 5.4727% fixed coupon and attracted orders roughly seven times the P5 billion base amount, prompting an early close of the offer. Proceeds...
Despite Middle East Crisis, 7-Eleven on Track with 5,000th Store
Philippine Seven Corp., the exclusive 7‑Eleven licensee in the Philippines, is on track to open more than 500 new stores in 2026, positioning the chain to reach its 5,000‑store milestone by year‑end. The network grew to 4,491 locations at the...
Price Tracker: Oil, Fuel Monitor for Apr. 13
The Philippine Department of Energy announced a sharp rollback of retail fuel prices for the week of April 14‑20, 2026. Diesel is set to fall by ₱20.89 per litre (about $0.38), gasoline by ₱4.43 ($0.08) and kerosene by ₱8.50 ($0.15)....
From Mountains to Cities, More Pinoys Shift to Solar
Filipino families are increasingly turning to solar power to curb soaring electricity bills and mitigate frequent blackouts caused by severe weather. In the remote barangay of Laiban, Rizal, the elementary school now runs entirely on solar, enabling uninterrupted classes and...
Reytech Raises Standards in Philippines Construction with Top ISO Marks
Reytech Construction & Development Corp. secured three international ISO certifications—ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety, and ISO 14001 for environmental management—following rigorous audits in 2025. The certifications were granted by Europe‑based A Cube TIC, underscoring Reytech’s adherence to global...
House Reso Filed as State Economist Flags 'Excessive' Oil Margins
Philippines’ Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan warned that oil‑industry margins appear excessive amid a global price shock, prompting a House probe. House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima filed Resolution 914 to task the Energy Committee with investigating diesel and...
How Philippines Compares with ASEAN Neighbors During Oil Shocks
The Philippines is markedly more exposed to global oil price spikes than its ASEAN peers because it imports virtually all of its crude and lacks significant refining capacity. Neighboring economies such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam each have...
SM Offices Saves More Water in 2025 Through Recycling Initiatives
SM Offices, the leasing arm of SM Prime Holdings, reported saving over 185,000 cubic meters of water in 2025 through expanded recycled‑water systems. The company reclaimed 57,190 m³ from stand‑alone offices and 128,700 m³ from mall‑integrated sites, enough to supply 775 average...
Putting People’s Money to Good Use
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) completed Phase 1 of the 23.8‑km EDSA rehabilitation two months ahead of schedule, finishing the vehicle‑lane work by April 6. By using targeted re‑blocking, night‑time shifts and high‑grade stone‑mastic asphalt, the project cost fell...
BSP to Wait for Clearer Signals Before Acting
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will adopt a wait‑and‑see approach ahead of its April 23 policy meeting, citing the need for clearer evidence of second‑round inflation from the current global oil shock. March inflation accelerated to 4.1 percent, overshooting the central...
FDI Inflows Drop to Four-Month Low
Foreign direct investment into the Philippines plunged 39.2% in January, reaching $443 million – the lowest level in four months. All major FDI components posted year‑on‑year declines, with equity and fund shares down 41.1% and reinvested earnings falling 56.6%. Japan topped...
PSE Chief Confident of Market Recovery From Mideast Woes
Philippine Stock Exchange chief Ramon Monzon said the market will rebound despite the Middle East conflict, citing stronger reserves and a manageable debt profile. He highlighted that the Philippines now holds enough foreign reserves to cover seven months of exports,...
ADB Trims 2026 Philippines Growth Outlook to 4.4 Percent
The Asian Development Bank’s April 2026 outlook lowered its Philippines GDP growth projection to 4.4% for the current year, down from the 5.3% forecast made in December. The downgrade is driven by uncertainty from the Middle East conflict and higher...
Up to P25.6 Billion Seen to Be Saved From Cut in Non-Essential Expenses
The Philippine Department of Budget and Management (DBM) projects up to PHP 25.6 billion (≈ $460 million) in savings by slashing non‑essential maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) from March to December 2026. The cuts, mandated by Circular 114 and Executive Order 110, are intended to...
Lasting Economic Costs of War
The International Monetary Fund warned that wars inflict deep, lasting economic damage, with output in conflict zones falling about 3% at the start and accumulating roughly 7% losses over five years—exceeding the impact of financial crises or natural disasters. Rising...
Government Eyes P60 Billion Fiscal Support for EVs
The Philippine government is drafting a P60 billion (≈$1.1 billion) fiscal incentive package under the new Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS), slated for an executive order before the July State of the Nation Address. EVIS will allocate four slots, each offering P15 billion...
PAL Resumes Flights to Riyadh
Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced today that it will resume daily nonstop flights between Manila and Riyadh, becoming the first Philippine carrier to restore service to the Middle East after a weeks‑long suspension triggered by the Feb. 28 US‑Israel attacks on Iran....
Sun Life Philippines Leadership Transition Marks Continuity, Growth and People-First Future
Sun Life Philippines announced a leadership change, appointing JJ Moreno as CEO and country head effective April 1, while former chief Benedict Sison will stay on as strategic advisor until the end of 2026. The insurer highlighted its continued dominance...
2.66 Million Filipinos Jobless in February 2026
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported 2.66 million unemployed Filipinos in February 2026, lowering the unemployment rate to 5.1 % from 5.8 % in January. Employment rose to 49.43 million, while under‑employment remained at 11.8 % (5.84 million workers seeking more hours). The services sector continued to dominate,...
Maharlika Has P68 Billion in Investible Funds – Consing
Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) reports it retains roughly $1.2 billion in deployable capital after deploying about $180 million from its initial funding. The fund’s interest income jumped to $50 million in 2024, and it paid $26 million in dividends, reflecting strong earnings from its...
Megawide Commits to Put up PITX-Like Baguio Bus Terminal
Megawide Construction Corp. will invest roughly $21 million to build the Baguio City Integrated Terminal (BCIT), a five‑hectare, PITX‑style bus hub slated for completion in the second half of 2028. The project targets decongesting downtown traffic by relocating bus arrivals from...
When Rules Meet Reality: How Recent BIR Issuances Are Reshaping Tax Audit Administration
The Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue issued Revenue Memorandum Order 6‑2026 and Revenue Memorandum Circular 14‑2026 to clarify and operationalize the Single‑Instance Audit Framework. The circular confirms that replacement letters of authority do not create new audit powers or expand the audit...
Lopez Majority Lambasts Piki’s Business Decisions
The Lopez family, holding 71% of Lopez Inc., publicly rebuked Federico “Piki” Lopez for selling a 60% stake in First Gen’s natural‑gas assets to Prime Infrastructure for roughly $900 million and then cutting his 40% minority interest in Prime’s hydropower business to...
St. Luke’s Stays on Track with Massive Expansion
St. Luke's Medical Center announced it will proceed with a massive expansion despite rising costs from the Middle East crisis. The group plans to break ground on a new 500‑bed Aseana hospital in Parañaque costing about P18 billion (≈$324 million) with an...
Why Internal Customers Are Important than External
The article argues that internal customers—employees who receive work from other departments—are more critical than external patrons because they shape the quality of the final product. Drawing on Kaizen and Lean principles, it stresses the "next process" concept, where each...
DMCI Bags P16 Billion Contract to Build NAIA Subway Line
Infrastructure giant D.M. Consunji Inc. (DMCI) and Japan's Taisei Corp. secured a P16.06 billion (≈ $287 million) contract to build the NAIA spur line of the Metro Manila Subway, adding $20.2 million and ¥7.03 billion (≈ $45 million) in foreign‑denominated payments. The award follows a two‑year bidding...
Urban Redevelopment
Ayala Land Premier will begin demolition of the 33‑year‑old Somerset Olympia Building in Makati after the remaining tenants vacate in July 2026. The developer plans to replace it with a 51‑storey, 45‑unit Park Villas tower that spans 610 sqm and overlooks...
KKR Postpones Sale of Majority Interest in MPIC Hospital Group
KKR & Co. and Singapore sovereign‑wealth fund GIC have postponed the sale of their 80% stake in Metro Pacific Health, the Philippines’ largest private hospital group. The delay stems from an inability to achieve the valuation the investors seek, a...
Telco Chief Champions AI-Enabled Customer Innovation, Organizational Transformation
Globe, one of the Philippines' largest telcos, announced a sweeping AI‑driven transformation at Mobile World Congress 2026. It became the first Philippine operator to create a Chief AI Officer role and launched an AI Innovation Hub aligned with the GSMA...
When Global Uncertainty Meets the Shopping Cart
Global geopolitical tensions and volatile oil markets are tightening consumer budgets, prompting shoppers to scrutinize prices and prioritize stability. At the same time, sustainability is shedding its niche image and becoming a practical, cost‑saving consideration for everyday purchases. Large Philippine...
Consumers Save More than P4 Billion via Retail Power
Philippine consumers saved roughly $77 million in 2025 by buying electricity through the competitive retail market, where rates hovered between $0.096 and $0.104 per kilowatt‑hour, undercutting utility prices of $0.101‑$0.108. Industrial users accounted for about 62% of the savings, while commercial customers...
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Southeast Asia saw sharp fuel price hikes in early 2026, with the Philippines posting a 54.2% increase, second only to Myanmar’s 55.4% surge. Thailand kept pump prices low by draining its Oil Fuel Fund at roughly $70 million per day, while...
Best Western Plus Sets P600-M Subic Hotel Expansion
Best Western Plus Hotel Subic announced a P600‑million (≈$10.8 million USD) expansion to add a new building. The project will add 120 rooms, commercial spaces, a three‑floor parking garage, restaurants and parks, extending the existing five‑storey, 94‑room property. Construction is slated...
Rice Imports Seen to Rise 15.9%, as Output Grows 0.4% – USDA
The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service projects Philippines rice production to rise modestly 0.4% to 19.68 million metric tons in marketing year 2026‑27. Despite this slight gain, imports are expected to jump 15.9% to 5.10 MMT as the country lifts a four‑month import...
Jollibee Group Earns Highest Workplace Honor From Gallup
Jollibee Group has been awarded the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Awards with Distinction, the highest honor Gallup bestows for employee engagement and culture. The company also secured its fifth consecutive Gallup Engagement Award, underscoring a sustained people‑first approach. It is the...
Positioning the Phl in Asia’s Growth Story
At the Boao Forum for Asia’s 25th conference, leaders reaffirmed Asia’s role as the world’s primary growth engine, with its share of global GDP projected to reach 49.7% in 2026. The Philippines, positioned at the heart of Southeast Asia, is...
BSP Widens BOP Deficit Outlook
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has lifted its 2026 balance of payments (BOP) deficit forecast to $7.8 billion, or 1.5% of GDP, up from the earlier $5.9 billion estimate. The current‑account gap also widened to $20.3 billion, representing about 4% of GDP,...
BankCom Profit Hits All-Time High in 2025
BankCom posted a record net profit of PHP3.54 billion (≈$64 million) in 2025, a 17% jump from the previous year and nearly double its IPO‑year earnings. Gross revenues climbed 17% to PHP12.61 billion (≈$227 million), while net interest income rose 18% to PHP10.78 billion (≈$194 million)....
PLDT Ready to Block Roblox if Ordered
Philippine telecom giant PLDT, together with its wireless unit Smart Communications, announced it will block access to the online game Roblox if ordered by regulators. The move follows a request from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, which flagged Roblox...
Large US Agricultural Delegation to Explore Philippines Prospects
The United States is sending a record agricultural delegation of 58 firms and industry groups to the Philippines from April 13‑16, aiming to convert the 2024 Trump‑era trade agreement into real export growth. The Philippines, the 10th‑largest market for U.S....
Philippines External Position Improves as Net Liability Narrows in 2025
The Philippines narrowed its net external liability to $50.8 billion, or 10.4% of GDP, by the end of 2025, improving from $52.1 billion three months earlier. External assets grew 1% quarter‑on‑quarter, outpacing a 0.4% rise in liabilities, driven by higher reserve assets...
We Never Learn
The article reflects on the Israel‑U.S.‑led war in the Middle East and its ripple effects on the global economy, especially energy markets. It argues that the conflict’s resource‑driven motives are exposing a worldwide vulnerability to oil price shocks. The author...
Robotics Out to Revolutionize Construction Industry in Philippines
Magis X is launching robotic construction systems in the Philippines, teaming up with Danish 3D‑printing leader COBOD and global partners such as PERI, Holcim and General Electric. The technology uses robotic concrete extrusion guided by digital models to build structural...
BSP to Expand Credit Exposure Reporting
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced plans to broaden its Comprehensive Credit and Equity Exposures Report (COCREE) to cover non‑bank financial institutions, including savings‑loan associations, credit‑card firms, and government‑linked lenders. Reporting for the newly covered entities will begin for...
MTerra Solar Delivers 250-MW Power to Luzon
MTerra Solar, owned by Manuel V. Pangilinan, began delivering 250 MW of solar power to Luzon's grid, easing the Philippines' current energy emergency. The project also activated its first battery energy storage system tranche, providing up to 450 MWh of clean night‑time...
Cebu Pacific Eyes P368 Million From Sale of 2 ATR Aircraft
Philippine low‑cost carrier Cebu Pacific plans to sell two ATR‑72‑500 turboprops for at least PHP368 million (about $6.7 million), classifying them as assets held for sale. The aircraft, deemed inefficient for major hubs like Manila’s NAIA, will be disposed of before the...
Robinsons Land Expands Renewable Energy Use Across Office Portfolio
Robinsons Land has transitioned 15 of its office buildings in Metro Manila to 100% renewable energy, covering roughly 650,000 square meters of gross leasable space. The shift, completed through a partnership with MPower, a Meralco retail electricity provider, began in...
Geopolitical Tensions to Recalibrate Property Market Behavior
The ongoing Middle East conflict is adding inflationary pressure to the Philippines, a net oil‑importing economy, by raising transport, construction and utility costs. Analysts say the shock will make developers and occupiers more cost‑sensitive, especially in the mid‑end residential segment...
DA Digital Lending Push Aims to Unlock Rural Credit
The Philippine Department of Agriculture is overhauling farm financing with a digital lending system led by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council. The new Credit Fund Line channels money faster to rural banks, cooperatives and NGOs, while the Agri‑Credit E‑Portal 2.0 digitizes...