THE Land Bank of the Philippines and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) have formalized a strategic partnership aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and financial inclusion for farmers in irrigated areas. Signed last June 11 by LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and NIA Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) aligns critical financing and irrigation …
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SHELL Pilipinas Corporation has secured multiple accolades at the Asian Management Excellence Awards 2026 and the 2026 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, recognizing its impactful initiatives in employee well-being, sustainability, digital transformation, stakeholder engagement, and business innovation. At the Asian Management Excellence Awards, the company won two top titles in the Oil & Gas sector for its Be Well program, which promotes …
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SAN Miguel Corporation (SMC) has expanded its long-running Better Rivers PH program to Cebu by launching the Butuanon River cleanup in Mandaue City, directly supporting the government’s Oplan Kontra Baha initiative. The project targets a heavily silted four-kilometer section from the river’s mouth, which previously overflowed during Typhoon Tino in November 2025 and caused widespread local flooding. Funded entirely by …
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The Philippines under the Marcos administration has maintained its secure status as among the lowest-ranked economies in the Asia-Pacific region. This was according to the IMD World Competitive Center (WCC) which also reported a miniscule four-spot improvement for the country in its yearly survey. In the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, the Philippines ranked 47th out of 70 economies with …
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CLARK FREEPORT ZONE — The ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative (ACDI MPC) has announced the arrival of its newly acquired Cessna 408 SkyCourier last June 11 at the Clark International Airport, marking its strategic expansion into the aviation industry through its subsidiary, Leading Edge Air Services Corp. (LEASCOR). ACDI MPC, the largest cooperative in the Philippines, is owned by active and former …
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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to give the Philippines a $210-million loan to help the country improve energy efficiency in the education and health sectors. The package will support the Government Energy Management Programme (GEMP), which requires government agencies to reduce monthly electricity consumption in public buildings by at least 10%. “This requirement is being enforced under the Philippines …
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In an attempt to stave off the runaway inflation, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has decided to increase the policy rate which guides lending costs of banks to 4.75 percent. This is the BSP’s second rate hike this year. Many economists have correctly predicted the quarter-point hike. “Inflationary pressures remain strong. Global oil and fertilizer prices remain elevated and …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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