The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to appoint a tourism secretary with a strong business track record, who will be able to convert demand into actual visitor arrivals. MAP said candidates for tourism secretary should have “hands-on business competencies from actually running enterprises,” stressing that tourism operates within a “big business ecosystem.” “It is …

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) rolled out the Online Reservation Assistance System (ORAS), a digital application designed to eliminate perennial ticketing bottlenecks and ensure a seamless travel experience at the nation’s major ports. Developed in response to passenger feedback, ORAS aims to streamline the reservation process and prevent congestion especially during peak travel seasons. By allowing travelers to secure their …

By DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN Two days before the United States and Israel released the first missiles that assassinated Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini, his top generals and family members, along with some 170 schoolgirls in an elementary school in Tehran, Filipino businessman Manny V. Pangilinan gave an interview with Bloomberg about oil and gas exploration in the disputed South …

The Philippines reported a wider trade deficit in February from a year ago as the growth of imports outpaced exports. The gap eased to its lowest level in nine months. Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the country’s trade-in-goods deficit widened by 23.1 percent to $3.68 billion year-on-year. This reversed the decreases recorded in previous months. …

Prime Energy Resources Development B.V., the operator of the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project, said it is on track to start producing gas by the first quarter this year following the completed drilling of one of the wells. Prime Energy said it had a successful drilling, completion, and flow test of the Camago-3 well in offshore Palawan. According to the …

Philippine Airlines is temporarily suspending flights on five more routes — two international and three domestic — as the Middle East conflict continues to rattle the aviation sector. The flag carrier announced on March 26, that it will suspend its Cebu-Guam flights starting April 16 and Cebu-Ho Chi Minh City service beginning April 19, both until further notice. The Ho …

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) marks its 31st anniversary with renewed optimism, highlighting its enduring role as a cornerstone of the country’s investment strategy and economic resilience. Established in 1995, PEZA has grown into one of the Philippines’ most effective investment promotion agencies, credited for attracting billions of dollars in foreign direct investments and generating millions of jobs across export-oriented industries. From its …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) kept its policy rate at 4.25 percent following an off-cycle Monetary Board meeting on Thursday to assess the impact of the Middle East conflict on inflation and growth. BSP Governor and Monetary Board Chairperson Eli Remolona Jr. said the rare meeting was called due to the “fast-changing and uncertain environment” caused by the ongoing …

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it is prepared to provide rapid financial and technical support to developing member countries (DMCs) affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “ADB will deliver rapid, flexible, and scalable assistance to help countries manage immediate pressures and strengthen long-term resilience, notably fast-disbursing budget support and trade and supply chain finance to secure …

Banks in the Philippines are showing stronger adherence to Agri-Agra lending requirements, driven in part by the government’s push for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies, a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas official said. BSP Assistant Governor Pia Roman-Tayag noted that more financial institutions are now meeting lending mandates and integrating ESG principles to manage governance and operational risks. “More banks …