The Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), the flagship facility of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) and the Philippines’ leading international trade gateway, handled a record three million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025—the first time the terminal has reached that level in a single year. The record container was handled on December 22, when the terminal serviced the container …

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a revised regulatory framework shoring up its regulatory function and improving the accuracy, timeliness and truth about beneficial ownership (BO) disclosures of firms. In a statement released Tursday, the SEC said it issued Memorandum Circular No. 15, Series of 2025 on Dec. 22 that paves the way for the issuance of revised …

Vital public services are expected to be negatively affected with the government’s policy or propensity to scale down its subsidies to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs). Data from the Bureau of Treasury showed that these subsidies fell 38.91% year on year in November. Budgetary support to state-run firms totaled P7.47 billion in November. Month on month, GOCC subsidies fell 16.23%. In …

Starting on Sunday, January 4, 2026, foreign businessmen and corporations may henceforth lease land in the Philippines for 99 years, almost negating the stringent land ownership limits enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. Last Thursday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board of Investments (BOI) jointly announced the signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Republic …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) wants the public to know more about the foreign exchange market (FX), especially investors and financial business stakeholders. This is the rationale for the BSP’s current move to engage in a  nationwide information drive for a more investor-friendly FX environment. BSP Director Jodeth Niña R. Yeung has been conducting lectures in key regional centers including …

The Department of Finance (DOF) stressed that exercising fiscal discipline will be critical heading into 2026 as the Philippines continues to recover from the flood control corruption scandal. Finance Secretary Frederick Go said agencies should prioritize spending on projects with the highest economic returns. “The key to that fiscal discipline is that all the agencies take a very good look …

The Philippines’ balance of payments (BOP) registered a modest deficit of US$225 million in November 2025. For January to November 2025, the BOP recorded an overall deficit of US$4.8 billion. Gross international reserves (GIR) increased to US$111.3 billion as of end-November 2025, showing adequate external liquidity buffer, equivalent to 7.4 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services …

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco led the blessing and inauguration of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. (PMAAAI) Center for Leadership and Excellence at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig last December 16. The completion of the mid-rise, multi-purpose facility, worth P600 million, marked a key milestone for the country’s premier military …

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said land development works for the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project in Bulacan continue to advance in line with international best practices, noting the continued engagement of Boskalis Westminster, one of the world’s leading dredging and marine infrastructure companies. “Boskalis continues to support the NMIA development and remains engaged with SMC in our technical and …

Manila Water is assuring its more than 7.8 million customers across the East Zone of Metro Manila and Rizal that they will continue to enjoy uninterrupted water service throughout the Christmas and New Year holidays. The company strengthened its operational readiness to support the expected increase in household consumption as families prepare for gatherings, celebrations and out-of-town travel this festive …