Companies

“Ka-CEO” Program empowers 850 micro-entrepreneurs

In support of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Plan 2023–2028, CVM Pawnshop and Money Changer Corporation (CVM Pawnshop) empowered 850 Filipino micro-entrepreneurs through the “Ka-CEO” Program, equipping them with fresh insights, new opportunities, and practical strategies to strengthen and scale their businesses. The “Ka-CEO” Program provides a wide range of tools, strategies …

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Policy stability: Essential in attracting long-term capital

Policy stability is among the most critical factors in attracting long-term capital, according to Valentino S. Bagatsing, chairman and chief executive officer of Investment and Capital Corporation of the Philippines (ICCP), one of the leading independent investment houses in the country. Bagatsing stressed risk is part of any business endeavor, but what investors have trouble with is policy uncertainty, especially …

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Hacked NDRP not a list of addicted gamblers – PAGCOR

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation clarified that its National Database of Restricted Persons or NDRP is not a list of gambling addicts but a compilation of names of people who are not allowed to gamble such as government officials. The state gaming regulator said the hacked list did not come from the PAGCOR website but was likely obtained from …

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Manila Water upgrades Balara facility for disaster resilience

Manila Water is reinforcing its commitment to safety, security, and service reliability through key infrastructure projects in the Balara Compound, designed to withstand the impacts of natural disasters and ensure uninterrupted operations. These initiatives, for completion in 2025, address urgent repair needs and bolster the company’s ability to deliver essential services even in times of crisis. One of the priority …

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Phl trade deficit narrows in July as exports surge 17%

The country’s trade deficit narrowed in July 2025 as exports posted double-digit growth, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. The balance of trade in goods declined by 17 percent to USD 4.05 billion in July from USD 4.8 billion in the same month last year. Export sales jumped 17.3 percent to USD 7.3 billion from USD 6.2 billion …

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Industry group backs Marcos probe of flood control projects

The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) on Friday expressed support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to investigate alleged anomalies in flood control projects, saying the move will strengthen accountability and safeguard the public. “Corruption and negligence in flood control projects are not just wastes of taxpayer money—they endanger lives and undermine confidence in government programs,” FPI said in …

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SSS sees net income surpassing P100 billion in 2025

The Social Security System (SSS) expects its net income to exceed P100 billion this year on the back of higher investment earnings and improved collection efficiency. “So definitely, we’ll reach the P100 billion mark in net income for 2025. We estimate that in terms of percentage growth of net income, it will range from about 38 to about 43 percent …

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HMO benefits, claims up 19% in first half – IC

Total healthcare benefits and claims paid out by health maintenance organizations (HMOs) rose by 19 percent to P36.29 billion in the first half of the year, the Insurance Commission (IC) reported last week. The figure was higher than the P30.33 billion in benefits and claims paid in the same period last year. Total expenses, including income tax, also grew by …

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PhilRatings gives DoubleDragon bond offer top rating

Philippine Rating Services (PhilRatings) has assigned its highest rating of PRS Aaa to the planned bond issuance of up to P10.9 billion by DoubleDragon Corp. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Tuesday, DoubleDragon said the bonds will carry a fixed interest rate of 7.7 percent with tenors of 3.5 years and 5.5 years. The offering is …

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SEC reminds listed firms of disclosure duty after Global Ferronickel chair’s arrest

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week reminded publicly listed companies of their obligation to disclose material information to investors following the arrest of Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. chairman Joseph Sy at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Aug. 21 over alleged misrepresentation of citizenship. “Given Mr. Sy’s role as chairman of a publicly listed company, the SEC is …

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