Business

By HERMAN TIU LAUREL China has concluded its annual Central Economic Work Conference in Beijing, held from December 10, setting the economic direction for 2026—the opening year of the People’s Republic of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). After 75 years of sustained development, China’s economic planning remains consequential not only for itself but also for developing economies across Asia, Africa, …

THE Social Security System (SSS) announced last Saturday that it has set various programs up for implementation in 2026 primarily aimed at benefiting its millions of members nationwide. By September next year, the System will carry out the second to the last tranche of the Pension Reform Program for another round of pension increase. This was announced by SSS President …

The bid to ensure the availability of clean and sustainable power gained traction this year as the Department of Energy (DOE) pursued programs that encourage more investments into renewable energy (RE). The share of RE to the total energy mix is already around 32 percent, near the 35 percent goal by 2030. The target is to further increase this to …

The Philippines posted an improvement on its International Investment Position (IIP) as of end-September 2025 after net external liability declined to USD58.2 billion. Data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Monday night showed that the latest IIP of the Philippines is a 13.2 percent improvement from the USD67 billion at the end of the first half of this …

Manila Water said on Friday it continues to meet government wastewater standards across all its sewage treatment plants, posting 100-percent compliance in November 2025 and consistently surpassing the 95-percent regulatory target. This achievement underscores its commitment to safeguarding rivers and communities through responsible wastewater management, the company said in a statement. The standards cover key indicators such as biochemical oxygen …

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) has released the names of 16 financial institutions that it recognizes as Primary Dealers (PDs) of government securities for the year 2026. In a memorandum dated December 23, 2025, signed by National Treasurer Sharon Almanza, the BTr announced the list of qualified Government Securities Eligible Dealers (GSEDs) under the PD System. The designation grants …

Bigger and more established banks cannot do this: offer eight percent interest on time deposit. But Salmon Bank (Rural Bank) Inc. is offering this product under its “Bank on Eight” promo. Salmon’s “Bank on Eight” promo promises a promotional interest rate of 8 percent per annum available to clients with Time Deposit placements of at least P1 million for a …

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) ended 2025 on the red, reversing its rise for the last three sessions, but the Philippine peso finished sideways against the United States dollar. it was reported by the state-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA). The local bourse’s main index shed 0.21 percent to 6,052.92 points, but the broader All Shares rose 0.25 percent to …

PalawanPay renewed its commitment to the UP Fighting Maroons, highlighting partnership and shared purpose in their pursuit of excellence. PalawanPay, the e-wallet arm of the Palawan Group of Companies, proudly renewed its commitment to the UP Fighting Maroons, reinforcing its role as a steadfast partner in the team’s continued journey toward victory and growth. This renewed alliance reflects PalawanPay’s deep …

Tecon Suape S.A. (TSSA), International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) business unit in Pernambuco, Brazil, is once again recognized as one of the country’s leading environmentally responsible port facilities after receiving the 2025 Ocean Friend seal. The award underscores the company’s commitment to sustainability and ocean protection. The award was presented at Suape Conecta, an event organized by the Suape Port Industrial …