Business

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—With the surge in outbound travel demand from The Philippines, visa applications submitted for various countries are at volumes higher than ever before. With this increased demand for visa application appointments, scammers pose as employees or associates of the organisation; or agents and intermediaries who sell appointments, issue fake appointment letters, or claim to influence positive visa decision, etc. …

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) achieved P931.046 billion in revenues in 2024, marking an increase of P40 billion from the previous year’s total of P890.446 billion. During the BOC’s 123rd-anniversary event on Friday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. highlighted this success and underscored the importance of effective revenue collection. He pointed out that these funds help fuel vital national development …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expressed his support for Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC)’s PhP7-billion investment plan in the Philippines, which is expected to generate more employment opportunities for Filipinos over the next five years. MMC President and CEO Takao Kato met with the President in Malacañang last week to present the company’s plans, which include introducing a new vehicle …

Factory output in the Philippines showed improvement in December 2024, rebounding from a contraction in November, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The PSA’s Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) revealed that the value of production index (VaPI) increased by 0.4 percent in December, reversing the -3.5 percent decline in November 2024. However, this growth was slower compared …

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently published its updated suggested retail price (SRP) bulletin for basic necessities and prime commodities, marking the first release in over a year since January 12, 2023. According to DTI data, 77 out of the 191 shelf-keeping units (SKUs) listed in the SRP update, or approximately 40 percent, have experienced price hikes. Among …

The National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) has significantly stepped up its efforts to combat counterfeit goods in the Philippine market, with seizures reaching a record P40.99 billion in 2024. The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) reported Thursday that the total value of confiscated fake products last year surpassed the previous record of P26.99 billion in 2023, …

Century Properties Group is expanding Azure North in San Fernando, Pampanga with the launch of Mykonos Tower, a 12-story mid-rise residential building offering 374 units. Buyers can choose from studio (26-28 sqm) and one-bedroom (44 sqm) units, all delivered bare for customization. The building features 24/7 security, concierge services, and a fire safety system. This phase also introduces the Azure …

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), through its social development arm, the BPI Foundation (BPIF), has teamed up with Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (MMCM) to launch a financial literacy initiative aimed at equipping students and local communities with essential financial skills. The project is part of BPIF’s flagship financial education program, “FinEd Unboxed,” and includes a financial management application …

Headline inflation in January 2025 remained unchanged at 2.9 percent year-on-year, matching the rate recorded in the previous month. This figure aligns with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) forecast and stays within the government’s target range of 2-4 percent for the year. On a month-on-month seasonally adjusted basis, inflation showed a slight decline of 0.1 percent in January, compared …

The steady inflation rate will allow the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to further reduce interest rates to boost consumer spending and economic growth, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported last week that the country’s headline inflation remained at 2.9 percent. Core inflation, which excludes selected volatile food and energy items, also eased to 2.6 percent …