Companies

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued a final reminder that today, June 16, 2025, is the last day for taxpayers to avail of the estate tax amnesty. In a tax advisory released last week, the BIR reiterated that all estate tax amnesty applications must be filed, approved, and paid by the end of the day. “This is to …

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have joined forces to help accelerate the Philippines’ clean energy transition through a three-year technical cooperation project focused on hydropower development. In a statement released last week, the DOE announced that outgoing Secretary Raphael Lotilla and JICA Chief Representative Baba Takashi formalized the partnership by signing the Records …

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has partnered with LIMA Infrastructure Inc. to enhance investor services and fast-track ecozone development, formalizing the collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed recently. PEZA Director General Tereso Panga and Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates President Rafael Fernandez de Mesa led the signing, marking LIMA’s designation as the latest Investment Promotion Partner (IPP). LIMA …

DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 returns on AM radio with a new round-the-clock programming lineup, simulcast on DZMM Teleradyo on pay TV and online starting June 2. While celebrating its rebirth, DZMM also celebrates the return of two of the most iconic voices on Philippine radio, Noli de Castro and Charo Santos. DZMM’s “Kabayan,” the flagship public affairs program of veteran …

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has achieved a major milestone in its digital transformation, announcing that over 99% of its transactions—including those under the Digital GINHAWA program—were processed online during the first half of 2025. GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso proudly reported that from January to June, nearly all services—such as loan applications, member information …

The Philippine manufacturing sector experienced a significant slowdown in May 2025 as output declined and new orders weakened, according to the latest data from S&P Global Philippines. This came despite inflation remaining relatively stable. The sector’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropped to 50.1 in May from 53.0 in April, barely hovering above the 50.0 mark that separates expansion from contraction. …

Headline inflation in the Philippines dropped to 1.3% in May 2025, down from 1.4% in April, marking the lowest level since November 2019, when it was at 1.2%, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). In a briefing last week, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the year-to-date average inflation now stands at 1.9%, at the lower end of the government’s …

The Philippine economy is expected to sustain stable growth over the next two years, mainly driven by robust consumer spending, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In a virtual briefing last week, Cyrille Schwellnus, head of the OECD’s Indonesia and Philippines desk, said the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow by 5.6% in …

The Commission on Audit (COA) has recognized the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) for showing “a shift from past inaction” and laying the groundwork for sustained development through the completion of long-overdue infrastructure projects. In its 2024 Audit Observation Memorandum, COA cited APECO’s infrastructure initiatives as critical steps in transforming the ecozone into an investment-ready hub. According …

Global tech and services giant Concentrix has invested nearly P1.02 billion to establish its second site in Bacolod City—marking a major boost for the city’s IT-BPO industry. The new facility, named Concentrix Bacolod AIU, spans four floors and over 8,200 square meters at the AIU Centre in Barangay Mandalagan. It is expected to house around 1,800 employees—referred to by the …