Business

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is gearing up to launch tough new rules aimed at shielding Filipinos from the growing risks of online gambling. In a statement on Thursday, the central bank revealed that the new framework will enforce strict identity verification measures — including facial recognition — to ensure that only eligible users can access gambling-related services using …

The Philippines’ foreign currency stash dipped slightly in July — but the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) assures it remains more than enough to shield the country from external economic shocks. Data released Thursday showed the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) stood at USD105.7 billion last month, a marginal decrease from the USD106 billion recorded at the end of June. …

Philippine National Bank (PSE: PNB) has teamed up with Japan’s Digital Wallet Corporation (DWC) — the brains behind the popular Smiles mobile remittance platform — to strengthen its international money transfer services for Filipinos worldwide. The strategic partnership, formalized on July 3, 2025, aims to make remittances faster, more affordable, and more accessible, especially for overseas Filipinos in Japan. “At …

In a move that advances inclusive education and social responsibility, LANDBANK and the University of the Philippines (UP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on August 1, 2025, to roll out employee-funded scholarships, faculty development grants, and digital banking services across UP campuses. At the heart of the partnership is LANDBANK’s support for UP’s LINGAP-ISKOLAR Program, which will provide scholarships …

By Tracy Cabrera In a renewed push to boost the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque is urging lawmakers to approve a higher budget for government loan programs designed to provide accessible, low-interest capital for small businesses. Roque’s call comes on the heels of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s recent State of the Nation …

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) continues to prove its resilience and efficiency, reporting a record-breaking collection of ₱85.459 billion in July 2025—exceeding its monthly target by ₱1.094 billion or 1.3%. Based on a preliminary report, this marks the BOC’s highest monthly collection for the year, reflecting a 6.4% increase from ₱80.355 billion in July 2024 and a notable rise from …

Toyota Motor has once again claimed the crown as the world’s best-selling automaker, marking its sixth consecutive year at the top with a staggering 5.5 million vehicles sold globally from January to June 2025. The Japanese automotive giant posted a 7.4% increase in global sales compared to the same period last year, achieving its highest-ever half-year sales. Backed by strong …

Global coffee giant Starbucks reported a sharper-than-expected 2% decline in comparable store sales worldwide for the April to June 2025 quarter, highlighting growing challenges in its key markets. Sales in North America, which includes its largest market, also dropped 2%, marking the company’s sixth consecutive quarterly decline in same-store sales in the United States. Internationally, sales were flat, while China—its …

State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) reported a solid 14% revenue growth in the first half of 2025, hitting ₱59 billion, up from ₱51.8 billion in the same period last year. In a statement last week, PAGCOR said the bulk of its revenues—₱53.4 billion—came from gaming operations and license fee shares, while ₱5.7 billion was generated from other services …

The Philippines’ trade deficit shrank by 8.8% in June 2025 as exports surged with double-digit growth, according to preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released last week. The country posted a USD3.95 billion trade deficit, down from USD4.33 billion in June last year. This improvement came as export sales jumped by 26.1% to USD7.02 billion, up from USD5.57 …