Companies

The oversupply of residential condominium units, partly caused by the exit of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), has dampened gains from rental properties, according to Leechiu Property Consultants. Roy Golez, the firm’s director for research and consultancy, said the sharpest drop in rental rates compared to pre-pandemic levels was recorded in the Manila Bay area, which covers Parañaque and Pasay …

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has upgraded its Ginhawa Max Loan Buyout program to help members free themselves from high-interest loans and predatory lenders. GSIS President and General Manager Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso said the enhanced program enables government workers to consolidate and buy out expensive loans with GSIS, offering lower rates and more flexible terms. “The Ginhawa Max Loan …

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday cautioned the public against persons and groups offering supposed assistance to scam victims through social media platforms, warning that such schemes are meant to defraud them a second time. In a statement, the SEC said these offers circulate via Facebook pages, online groups, and other platforms, and typically involve promises to recover …

The wholesale price index of construction materials in the National Capital Region (NCR) slipped by 0.2 percent in September, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Friday. The decline was slower than the -0.5 percent recorded in August, mainly due to an uptick in the heavily weighted index of concrete products, which rose by 0.2 percent from a 0.6 percent drop …

The Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (SEIAC), chaired by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA), has mapped out a five-year action plan to build a skilled workforce and strengthen the country’s position in the global semiconductor and electronics industry. The plan was presented during the council’s second meeting, where discussions …

The Department of Energy (DOE) said last week that while power supply remains sufficient to support the growing data center industry, it needs the sector’s long-term roadmap to properly assess its impact on the energy market. Speaking at the ABS-CBN News Channel forum “The Clean Energy Shift: Powering a Green Economy with Renewable Energy” in Quezon City, DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara …

Foreign investments approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) surged by 33.5 percent in the first nine months of 2025, reaching around ₱154.7 billion from nearly ₱115.9 billion in the same period last year. In a statement last week, PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said the approvals, covering 215 projects, highlight “enduring investor confidence in the Philippines” and keep …

Starbucks announced Thursday that it will slash nearly 900 non-retail jobs and close dozens of stores in North America as part of a restructuring plan to curb costs. The US-based coffee giant said its company-operated store count in the region will shrink by about 1% in fiscal year 2025, bringing the total to nearly 18,300 outlets across the US and …

Two subsidiaries of D&L Industries, Inc. have secured a two-year extension of their Income Tax Holiday (ITH) for their manufacturing facilities in Tanauan, Batangas. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday, D&L said the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) granted Pioneer Status to D&L Premium Foods Corp. (DLPF) and Natural Aeropack Corporation (NAC), moving their ITH expiry …

Warehouse club chain Makro is set to return to the Philippines after Ayala Corporation sealed a partnership with Thailand’s CP AXTRA, a leading wholesale and retail operator in Southeast Asia. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange last week, Ayala said it has formed M&Co Corporation, a joint venture between its unit AXC Holdings Corp. and CP AXTRA subsidiary …