SMC Core Profit Soars to P79.6 Billion in 2025
San Miguel Corp (SMC) posted a 52% jump in core net income to P79.6 billion in 2025, driving total reported earnings to P94.7 billion. Revenue reached P1.5 trillion, buoyed by strong performance in food, spirits and infrastructure while power assets were de‑consolidated. San Miguel Food and Beverage saw a 13% rise in net income, and Global Power’s profit surged 290% despite a 23% revenue decline. The results underscore the resilience of SMC’s diversified portfolio amid volatile commodity markets.
From Data to Decisions
RCBC, a leading Philippine bank, has partnered with Huawei, Keyrus and Microgenesis to launch Asia Pacific’s first hybrid‑cloud enterprise data platform for banking. The platform unifies transactional, behavioral and credit data, enabling real‑time fraud detection, predictive risk modeling and AI‑driven...
Keeping the Lights From Flickering
SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) operates four hydro plants totalling over 600 MW in Luzon, providing ancillary services that stabilize the Philippine grid. The company’s flexible, fast‑response hydropower supports frequency regulation, contingency reserves, and dispatchable power during peak demand. SNAP is expanding...
Wars Go High-Tech
The United States has begun field‑testing high‑energy laser weapons and leveraging space‑ and cyber‑based operations in its conflict with Iran, aiming to cut the astronomical costs of traditional missile interceptors. In the first week of hostilities, the Pentagon spent roughly...
Current Account Deficit Narrows to $16 Billion in 2025
The Philippines’ current‑account deficit shrank by 12.3% in 2025, falling to $16.3 billion or 3.3% of GDP, down from $18.6 billion in 2024. Strong export growth of 15.2%, led by electronics, machinery and minerals, offset a 5% rise in imports. Record remittances...
Maharlika Sticks to Investment Strategy Amid US-Iran Conflict
Maharlika Investment Corp (MIC) is keeping its investment strategy unchanged despite the escalating US‑Iran conflict, positioning the local mining sector as a hard‑currency buffer to protect the Philippine peso. The fund continues to pursue partnerships, including a renewable‑energy MoU with...
‘Natural Gas to Bring Down Power Costs’
The Petroleum Association of the Philippines urged greater use of indigenous natural gas to curb rising electricity costs amid a global oil crisis. PAP chair Donnabel Kuizon Cruz highlighted that power generated from the Malampaya gas field costs roughly P4.80...
DMCI Homes to Undertake Acacia Estates Upscaling
DMCI Homes announced a major upscaling of its Acacia Estates township in Taguig, targeting full implementation by 2028. The 130‑hectare development, with 66 hectares already built, currently hosts 14 residential projects, more than 10,000 units and roughly 25,000 residents. The plan...
The Quest for the Simple Life
Morgan Housel’s new book, *The Art of Spending Money*, shifts focus from wealth accumulation to the psychology behind how we spend. He illustrates that money often fails to deliver identity, contentment, or security, highlighting the role of expectations and social...
Wider Consultations Urged on Mobile Data Rollover Bills
CitizenWatch Philippines urges lawmakers to broaden consultations on pending mobile data rollover bills, supporting the consumer‑protection goal but warning that rules designed for fixed monthly plans may not fit the country’s promo‑driven prepaid market. They highlight risks such as loss...
Time to Take Stock and Prepare
The escalating Middle East conflict is pushing crude oil toward $200 a barrel, straining global markets. The Philippines’ strategic reserves only cover about 45 days, leaving the nation exposed to price shocks. A newly mandated four‑day work week will shift...
SEC Issues Guidelines for New Online Lending Platforms
The Philippine SEC released draft guidelines to end the 2021 moratorium on registering new online lending platforms (OLPs). The proposal outlines prudential, disclosure and market‑conduct standards, a single entity‑level certificate of authority, and a graduated asset‑based licensing fee effective 2027....
Record Q4 Performance Sets up Jollibee for Sustained Expansion
Jollibee Foods Corp. posted a record fourth‑quarter operating income, up 41.9% year‑on‑year, and full‑year revenue of P305.11 billion, a 13% increase. Net income rose 5.4% to P10.87 billion, while system‑wide sales grew 16.6% for 2025. The company opened a historic 1,126 new...
Crisis Leadership
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. warned that monetary policy has reached the limit of its effectiveness as the Philippine economy faces deep‑seated structural problems, not just liquidity shortages. Simultaneous shocks from oil prices above $100 per barrel...
Philippines to Import 250K MT Fish to Boost Stocks, Stabilize Prices
The Philippines Department of Agriculture approved a 250,000‑metric‑ton fish import program set to begin in August 2026, aiming to fill domestic supply gaps and keep prices stable. The plan reserves 10,000 MT for the government‑run Kadiwa program, allocates 80% to commercial...
A More Prudent Approach in Apportioning Input VAT Attributable to Zero-Rated Sales
The Philippine Supreme Court in G.R. 215159 clarified how input VAT attributable to zero‑rated sales must be apportioned. It ruled that the declared input VAT, not the substantiated amount, should serve as the allocation basis, limiting refunds to the lower of...
Global Disruptions Seen to Open Trade Opportunities for Asean – DTI
The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry says ongoing global disruptions – from the Middle East conflict to the US‑China trade war – are creating fresh trade openings for ASEAN. At the pre‑ASEAN Business Environment Forum (ABEF), DTI executive director...
Business Name Registrations Increase 6% in 2 Months
The Department of Trade and Industry reported a 6% year‑over‑year increase in business name registrations for January‑February 2026, reaching 367,757 filings versus 345,903 a year earlier. New filings comprised 299,921 of the total, with wholesale and retail trade representing 59%...
Megaworld Raises P945 Miilion From Sale of MREIT Shares
Megaworld Corp. raised P945 million by selling 70 million MREIT shares at P13.50 each, adding to prior REIT fundraises of P1.32 billion in December and P2.24 billion in September 2025. The proceeds support a P65 billion capital‑expenditure plan focused on provincial township expansion. MREIT posted...
Can You Apply Kaizen at Home?
The article argues that Kaizen, traditionally a workplace continuous‑improvement methodology, can be effectively applied to household routines. It offers concrete examples such as hanging towels horizontally to halve drying time and reorganizing a fridge to eliminate inventory waste. The author...
Philippine Factory Output Growth Slows in January
Philippine manufacturing output grew 1.2% in January, a slowdown from the 2% rise in December and the 3.2% gain a year earlier. The deceleration was driven by declines in food products, non‑metallic mineral products and transport equipment. Capacity utilization edged...
Gaisanos Taking over Keppel Philippines Properties
The Gaisano family, through Forward Synergy Group Inc., is acquiring an 86.83% stake in Keppel Philippines Properties for roughly P472.7 million. The deal includes a mandatory tender offer for the remaining 13.17% of shares at P1.8526 each, running from early March to March 31,...
Tanco Invests P1.04 Billion More in DigiPlus
Tycoon Eusebio Tanco invested an additional P1.04 billion in DigiPlus Interactive Corp., buying 63.12 million shares (1.4% of outstanding equity) at P16.40 per share. The purchase raises his direct holdings to 10.43 million shares and indirect holdings to 712.62 million shares, underscoring strong confidence...
BofA: Slowing Demand to Hit Philippines Growth
Bank of America projects Philippine GDP growth at 4.6% in 2026 and 5.0% in 2027, falling short of the economy’s 5.5‑6.5% sustainable range. The slowdown is driven by weak household consumption, softer private investment and a tapering of government disbursements...
BSP Flags Faster Inflation in February
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) projects February inflation to rise to between 2.3% and 3.1%, up from January’s 2% rate. Higher rice and fish prices, elevated petroleum costs and increased Meralco electricity charges are the main upward pressures, while...
Robinsons Retail Earns 6% More in 2025
Robinsons Retail Holdings posted a 6% rise in core net earnings to P6.7 billion in 2025, driven by 5.7% net‑sales growth that pushed revenue to P210.4 billion. Net income to equity holders fell 44% because the prior year’s one‑time merger gain inflated...
Megaworld Profit Hits All-Time High in 2025
Megaworld Corp. posted a record P24 billion net income in 2025, an 11% increase from 2024. Revenue climbed to nearly P86 billion, driven by an 11% rise in leasing revenues and strong residential sales. Office leasing, especially through Megaworld Premier Offices, contributed...
SPNEC ‘Re-IPO’ Eyed by 2027
SP New Energy Corp (SPNEC) plans a re‑IPO by 2027 after merging its assets with Meralco’s renewable arm MGreen. The move follows the successful energisation of the MTerra Solar project, a 3,500‑MW solar farm paired with a 4,500‑MWh battery system....
British Chamber Welcomes Easing of Interest Rates
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas trimmed its policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.25%, marking a cumulative 225‑basis‑point reduction since August 2024. The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines welcomed the move, arguing it will help revive economic growth and...
AREIT Delivers Strong Profit Growth in 2025
AREIT Inc. posted a net income of P9.4 billion in 2025, up 28% year‑over‑year, while revenue rose 26% to P13 billion. The growth was driven by income from recent acquisitions in Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, adding to stable earnings from its existing...
First Gen Powers Lyceum Satellite Campuses
First Gen Corp. will supply over 1,150 kW of geothermal electricity to Lyceum of the Philippines University’s satellite campuses in Batangas and Laguna. The deal, enabled by the retail aggregation program, lets the campuses pool demand to meet the 500‑kW threshold...
Exporters Upbeat on Growth This Year
The Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport) is confident that export growth will accelerate this year, buoyed by the active Philippines‑South Korea free‑trade agreement and several pending deals. Preliminary data show 2025 merchandise exports reached $84.41 billion, a 15.2% increase over 2024 and...
CLI Teams up with Japan’s NTT Group Anew for Luzon Expansion
Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) has signed a new joint‑venture agreement with NTT UD Asia Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan’s NTT Group, to develop a Japanese‑inspired mixed‑use condominium in Pasig. The venture, operating as CLI Luzon Ventures Inc., will launch the...
Philippines to Shift to More Sustainable Growth
The Philippines has largely won the fight to tame inflation.
Philippines, Indonesian Nickel Miners Forge Cooperation Agreement
The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) and Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI) have signed a cooperation agreement to align investment confidence, policy dialogue, and responsible mining across the nickel value chain. The pact outlines five collaboration pillars—data sharing, industry dialogue...
SteelAsia’s Finance Framework Rated Best in Region
SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. earned Moody’s SQS2 rating, the highest sustainable‑finance grade in the region, confirming its low‑carbon strategy. The framework, designed with ING’s guidance, integrates renewable energy, modern equipment and rain‑water recycling across its operations. SteelAsia is expanding green‑steel capacity...
Former ALI Exec Named ICCP Chair/CEO
Augusto Bengzon, former chief finance officer of Ayala Land Inc., has been appointed chairman and chief executive officer of Investment and Capital Corp. of the Philippines (ICCP). Bengzon brings 18 years of financial‑services experience, including 16 years at Citibank across...
Maynilad, Apex Mining Added to MSCI Philippines Small Cap Index
Maynilad Water Services and Apex Mining have been added to the MSCI Philippines Small Cap Index following the February 2026 index review. Maynilad debuted on the Philippine Stock Exchange last November after raising P34.3 billion, the second‑largest IPO in PSE history....