Business

The Secretariat of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has said that structural challenges continue to weigh on the country’s competitiveness, particularly high logistics expenses and regulatory bottlenecks. This, as the WTO recognized that the Philippines made progress in lowering trade barriers and attracting investments over the past several years, but sustaining those gains will require deeper reforms to reduce logistics …

Filipino consumers will have the freedom to choose their own electricity supplier as the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has lowered the minimum required consumption to 100 kilowatts (kW) from 500 kW. In a statement, the commission said the lowering of the threshold under the retail competition and open access (RCOA) and the retail aggregation program (RAP) took effect on June …

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed changes to debt securities rules that would simplify bond issuances, lower compliance costs and give companies faster access to long-term funding while maintaining investor protection standards. “Over the years, our public offering framework has largely evolved around equity issuances,” SEC Chairman Francisco Ed. Lim said in a statement. “While this approach responded …

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced that the government of The Netherlands is keen on investing in the Luzon Economic Corridor, the AI and microchips hub planned by the US State Department and the Philippines in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. The Second Philippines-Netherlands Coordinating Authorities’ Meeting in The Hague, the DTI’s Bureau of International Trade Relations …

The BSP notes Fitch’s assessment and continues to closely monitor risks to credit quality, profitability, liquidity, and capital adequacy. Philippine banks remain well positioned to withstand potential shocks, supported by ample liquidity, adequate capital buffers, and manageable asset quality. While some pressure may emerge in specific borrower segments, risks remain contained, with no evidence of broad-based deterioration. The BSP expects …

Alibaba Cloud has been recognized as a leader in the “Omdia Market Radar: Agentic AI Cloud Titans in Asia & Oceania, 2026” report, achieving the highest ranking across six out of nine evaluative dimensions. The report highlights Alibaba Cloud as a true full-stack AI service provider that owns every critical layer of the agentic AI cloud stack, spanning infrastructure, development …

In celebration of World Environment Day 2026, Manila Water Foundation and La Mesa Ecopark hosted a youth-led environmental gathering under this year’s theme, #NowForClimate. The event kicked off with a special screening of the documentary “The Foresters: A Story of Climate Keepers” in partnership with MAD Travel, which inspired participants to write down their personal #ECOmmitments to responsible environmental stewardship. …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has issued a memorandum granting temporary regulatory relief to banks and quasi-banks to cushion the impact of market volatility linked to the Middle East conflict. Under Memorandum 2026-027, financial institutions may temporarily exclude certain unrealized losses—or “paper losses”—on peso government securities from the computation of their regulatory capital. Unrealized losses refer to declines in …

More overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are preparing for life after working abroad by exploring ways to save, invest, and create sustainable income sources. At the OFW Kabuhayan Expo 2026, BDO Unibank, together with its partner Xoom, joined other organizations in promoting financial preparedness among migrant workers. “We want to help OFWs make the most of every remittance—not only to support …

Nearly 500 solo parents in Naga City now have a secure, cash-lite way to receive government assistance through newly opened LANDBANK PISO (Perang Inimpok Savings Option) accounts. The initiative, formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement on April 29, 2026, between Naga City Mayor Atty. Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo and LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz, integrates beneficiaries into …