Business

The Philippine government has welcomed the inclusion of peso-denominated government bonds in a major global benchmark, a move officials say underscores growing investor confidence in the country’s economic fundamentals. In a joint statement, the Department of Finance (DOF), Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas confirmed that J.P. Morgan will add Philippine government bonds to its Government …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Thursday raised its key policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.5 percent, citing worsening inflation pressures driven by rising global oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict. In its latest move, the Monetary Board also adjusted the overnight lending and deposit facility rates to 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively. It was …

The Philippines secured over $6 billion in financing and co-financing support from the Asian Development Bank last year, underscoring continued multilateral backing for key infrastructure, social protection, and resilience programs. According to the ADB’s Annual Report 2025 released Thursday, the country received $4.1 billion in loans and grants from the Manila-based lender, alongside $2.6 billion in co-financing arrangements. Major allocations …

Insured deposits in the Philippine banking system surged to ₱5.2 trillion last year, reflecting stronger depositor protection and growing confidence in the financial sector, the state deposit insurer said. The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation reported that the total rose by 40.9 percent from ₱3.7 trillion in 2024, marking a significant expansion of the country’s financial safety net. A key driver …

The Philippine banking system posted stronger asset growth in February, reflecting continued expansion in lending activity and steady investor confidence, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Latest figures showed total banking assets reached ₱29.19 trillion in February, up 8.3 percent from ₱26.95 trillion a year earlier. The total was also slightly higher than the ₱29.11 trillion recorded …

By DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN TWO business-related developments coming from the United States government dominated the headlines in local media over the weekend—the first about the US Department of War’s plan to develop an oil storage facility in the Davao Region and second, the construction of a sprawling industrial hub in Central Luzon to secure Artificial Intelligence (AI) and semiconductor supply …

“Go easy on helping the poor.  Make your ayuda program only temporary, you do not have much money.” This was— in layman’s language— what Krishna Srinivasan, director for the Asia and Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), advised the Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other similarly situated states in Southeast Asia, in the face of …

Users of electricity within the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) franchise will face higher electricity rates starting in September after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved the recovery of more than P4 billion in costs tied to a major gas plant owned by its affiliate. In an order promulgated on April 14, the ERC gave Meralco the go signal to recover …

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to apply space technology in improving irrigation systems and water resource management across the Philippines. The agreement, signed by PhilSA Ad Interim Director General Gay Jane P. Perez and NIA Administrator Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, sets the stage for using satellite data …

The Philippines is a finalist for International Mollusc of the Year, and representing our country is one of the strangest and rarest species in the world. The antingaw is the first known shipworm that lives within and eats through rock. Closely related to the tamilok and ugaong, it is unique in the shipworm family because it bores through limestone rather …