Business

Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), the Australian cargo handling operation of International Container Terminal Services, Inc., signed a new enterprise agreement with local unions covering all of its operations until March 2029. The agreement, which was secured without any disruption to operations, reflects the strong relationship between VICT and its workforce, providing a solid platform for the future. “This outcome …

In support of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Plan 2023–2028, CVM Pawnshop and Money Changer Corporation (CVM Pawnshop) empowered 850 Filipino micro-entrepreneurs through the “Ka-CEO” Program, equipping them with fresh insights, new opportunities, and practical strategies to strengthen and scale their businesses. The “Ka-CEO” Program provides a wide range of tools, strategies …

Policy stability is among the most critical factors in attracting long-term capital, according to Valentino S. Bagatsing, chairman and chief executive officer of Investment and Capital Corporation of the Philippines (ICCP), one of the leading independent investment houses in the country. Bagatsing stressed risk is part of any business endeavor, but what investors have trouble with is policy uncertainty, especially …

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation clarified that its National Database of Restricted Persons or NDRP is not a list of gambling addicts but a compilation of names of people who are not allowed to gamble such as government officials. The state gaming regulator said the hacked list did not come from the PAGCOR website but was likely obtained from …

Manila Water is reinforcing its commitment to safety, security, and service reliability through key infrastructure projects in the Balara Compound, designed to withstand the impacts of natural disasters and ensure uninterrupted operations. These initiatives, for completion in 2025, address urgent repair needs and bolster the company’s ability to deliver essential services even in times of crisis. One of the priority …

HOUSE OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM By Chinkee Tan You’d think doubling your income would automatically make you wealthier. For most people, it doesn’t. I’ve seen it countless times as a wealth coach: salary goes up, lifestyle follows, and savings stay flat. This is called the income trap: expenses grow as fast as, or faster than, income. One of my clients experienced …

The country’s trade deficit narrowed in July 2025 as exports posted double-digit growth, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. The balance of trade in goods declined by 17 percent to USD 4.05 billion in July from USD 4.8 billion in the same month last year. Export sales jumped 17.3 percent to USD 7.3 billion from USD 6.2 billion …

The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) on Friday expressed support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to investigate alleged anomalies in flood control projects, saying the move will strengthen accountability and safeguard the public. “Corruption and negligence in flood control projects are not just wastes of taxpayer money—they endanger lives and undermine confidence in government programs,” FPI said in …

The Social Security System (SSS) expects its net income to exceed P100 billion this year on the back of higher investment earnings and improved collection efficiency. “So definitely, we’ll reach the P100 billion mark in net income for 2025. We estimate that in terms of percentage growth of net income, it will range from about 38 to about 43 percent …

Total healthcare benefits and claims paid out by health maintenance organizations (HMOs) rose by 19 percent to P36.29 billion in the first half of the year, the Insurance Commission (IC) reported last week. The figure was higher than the P30.33 billion in benefits and claims paid in the same period last year. Total expenses, including income tax, also grew by …