Business

By DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN The first quarter of 2026 saw an increase in international visitor arrivals to the Philippines, notching a 10.43 percent uptick, totaling 1.83 million from 1.66 million a year earlier, it was disclosed by the Department of Tourism (DOT). There were fewer arrivals from South Korea, but this was more than compensated with the influx of Chinese …

From 1.4% one year ago to a likely 6.4% in April, 2026 — that’s a full 5-percent increase, and that’s the estimate of many officials, including those from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The official inflation rate for last month is scheduled to be announced tomorrow, May 5. The BSP said the higher expectations for inflation are driven by …

Concepcion Industrial Corp. (CIC), the Philippines’ leading provider of home and enterprise solutions, officially returns as the “Powered By” sponsor for the 2026 Philippine Franchise Expo, held from April 24 to 26 at the SMX Convention Center. Highlighted in this year’s participation is “The Carrier Air Authority Center,” the country’s first and only retail air conditioning (AC) franchise by Concepcion-Carrier …

TotalEnergies, together with its partner Nextnorth, a Philippines-based renewable energy developer, announced that they reached financial close and started the construction of a 440 MWp solar power plant. Located in the City of Ilagan, Province of Isabela, the project owned by TotalEnergies (65%) and Nextnorth (35%), will be operational by the end of 2027. Once operational, it will produce 13.5 …

MANILA, Philippines — SM Foundation has been recognized for its communications and reporting excellence at the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, held in Macao, earning one Gold and one Bronze distinction. The Foundation received a Gold Stevie® Award for its SM Foundation Social Good Report, under the category Innovation in Non-Profit/NGO Publications. The report was cited for presenting impact in a clear, engaging, and forward-looking format, reflecting the organization’s commitment to …

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on Tuesday, April 28, donated 12 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to various local government units (LGUs) and an Army division at the PAGCOR Corporate Office in Pasay City. The beneficiaries include the cities of La Carlota in Negros Occidental; the provinces of Northern Samar and Ilocos Norte; the municipalities of Roxas, Culion, San …

IDfy has officially appointed Raghuraman “Raghu” Chandrashekhar as the new Country Head for the Philippines. This strategic move is part of the company’s broader expansion across Southeast Asia and comes at a time when the country is seeing a rapid shift toward mobile-first banking and digital onboarding. With his extensive regional experience and deep understanding of the local regulatory environment, Chandrashekhar is tasked …

Malacañang has underscored that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) remains the key institution responsible for managing peso stability, as the local currency continues to weaken against the US dollar and hit record-low levels. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government views the peso’s depreciation as largely driven by external pressures rather than domestic economic weaknesses. She pointed to …

The Land Bank of the Philippines is rolling out a wider set of financial support measures to help cushion the impact of rising fuel prices, aligning its programs with the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT). Land Bank of the Philippines President and CEO Lynette Ortiz said the bank is working closely with the Department of …

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) successfully raised ₱25 billion from a dual-tranche issuance of Treasury bonds on Tuesday, reflecting continued investor demand for government securities despite elevated interest rates. The Bureau of the Treasury sold reissued bonds across two tenors, including a four-year-and-two-month paper and a 10-year benchmark bond. The reissued four-year T-bond fetched an average rate of 6.741 …