Business

Cheaper housing loans mean more Filipinos would be able to construct their homes and the government may finally close the housing gap. The Pag-Ibig Fund has cut housing loan rates to as low as 4.5 percent for homes priced above the socialized housing ceiling, offering qualified borrowers cheaper financing until the end of 2026. Pag-Ibig Fund said in a statement …

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and BDO Unibank are strengthening efforts to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) prepare for life after employment abroad, focusing on financial literacy, skills development, and entrepreneurship as part of long-term reintegration programs. OFWs continue to leave the country in search of higher-paying jobs overseas, enabling them to support their families’ basic needs, education, and …

The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Thursday raised its key policy interest rates by 25 basis points, citing continued inflationary pressures driven by elevated global oil and fertilizer prices. The latest adjustment brings the BSP’s target reverse repurchase (RRP) rate to 4.75 percent. Correspondingly, the overnight deposit facility rate was increased to 4.25 percent, while …

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) obtained EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification for 11 of its branches in 2024, bringing the total number of branches awarded with the green building recognition to 22. This milestone further underscores BPI’s leadership in sustainability and responsible operations, as EDGE certification—developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a division of …

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the public offering of up to ₱5 billion in fixed-rate bonds by listed real estate developer A Brown Company, Inc. (ABCI), paving the way for the firm’s fundraising activity under its shelf registration program. In a statement last week, the SEC said its Commission En Banc, in a meeting held Tuesday, “resolved …

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reported that food security food security in the Philippines can be undermined as food prices rise due to higher costs of fuel, freight, and fertilizer. The problem is blamed by the international agency to the effects of the war in West Asia, particularly the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The country, and …

We are becoming a nation of borrowers. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced that new borrowings by the National Government and the private sector led to an increase in the country’s external debt in the first quarter of the year. The data says the country’s outstanding external debt increased by 0.42 percent to $147.35 billion as of the end …

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) expects its merger with San Miguel Corp. to be completed by the third quarter, with negotiations moving into the valuation stage and San Miguel likely to emerge with a majority stake in the combined tollway business. “We are at the valuation stage, but we know we will really land 45:55 in their favor,” MPTC Chairman …

The gloomy economic lay of the land in the Philippines has just been confirmed and validated by the World Bank. It was announced this week that the World Bank Group (WBG) has lowered its 2026 growth forecast for the Philippines to 3.7 percent, still because of the global uncertainties caused by the war in West Asia. In its June 2026 …

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) welcomed Atty. Ricardo R. Blancaflor as the new chairperson of its Board of Trustees on June 10, 2026, succeeding Rodney Del Rosario Jr. “The GSIS looks forward to working closely with Chairperson Blancaflor as we continue to strengthen the Fund, expand benefits for our members and pensioners, and pursue innovations that improve public service,” …