The Economy and Development (ED) Council has approved the recommendation of the Tariff and Related Matters Committee (TRMC) to maintain the current 15 percent Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rate on rice imports until the end of 2025. The decision, which covers both in-quota and out-quota imports, was announced by the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) after Tuesday’s …
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The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the amended rules on the implementation of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) by distribution utilities (DUs), in a move seen to accelerate the digital transformation of the country’s power distribution sector. AMI integrates smart meters, communication platforms, and data management systems that allow both consumers and DUs to access real-time data on power consumption, …
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Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) posted a record net income of ₱37.3 billion in the first nine months of 2025, up 4 percent year-on-year, driven by strong loan expansion and higher trading income. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) last week, the bank reported a 12.1 percent annual increase in pre-provision operating profit to ₱59.2 billion. …
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Most Philippine banks are expected to maintain their credit standards for both businesses and households in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Results of the BSP’s latest Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS) released last week showed that a larger percentage of banks anticipate keeping their lending rules—covering interest rates, collateral requirements, loan …
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LANDBANK achieved a significant 42% jump in net income to ₱35.65 billion as of the third quarter of 2025, already surpassing its full-year earnings of ₱35.36 billion in 2024, and underscoring the Bank’s robust financial trajectory and performance above historical averages. Total assets expanded to a record ₱3.45 trillion, supported by growth in loan and investment portfolios. This solidifies LANDBANK’s …
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An international group of audit practitioners has named a senior executive of state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) as “Chief Audit Executive of the Year”, citing his contributions in elevating the internal audit function in the government service. Senior Vice President Ryan R. Gabinete, head of DBP’s internal audit group, was recently conferred the honor by the Institute of …
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NorthPort, the Philippines’ lead gateway for domestic cargo operated by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), takes a significant step toward more sustainable operations with the conversion of its rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes into hybrids. The conversion enables the RTGs to operate more efficiently while reducing the terminal’s carbon footprint. Six RTGs were converted into hybrids by replacing their diesel …
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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has imposed a ₱1-million fine on Surity Cash Lending Investors Corporation for engaging in unfair debt collection practices through its mobile lending platform. In a decision dated September 16, 2025, and approved by the Commission En Banc, the SEC found Surity Cash guilty of three counts of violating SEC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 18, …
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The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) inaugurated last week a new socio-civic center in Barangay San Gregorio, Laurel, Batangas — a facility designed to serve as both an evacuation site during disasters and a venue for community activities. In a statement, PAGCOR said the two-story, ₱50 million building features multipurpose halls, kitchens, restrooms, and other disaster-resilient amenities to ensure …
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The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has entered into a tripartite agreement with South Korea’s Yooshin Engineering Corporation and the Philippines’ Lordsbridge Resources Corporation to develop the Casiguran International New Port in Aurora. The memorandum of agreement was signed Tuesday by APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil Taway IV, Yooshin Director and Philippine Regional Representative Jin Ho …
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The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business