Business

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 …

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is charging full speed ahead with its digital transformation, introducing a suite of modernization programs aimed at streamlining taxpayer services, boosting compliance, and enhancing transparency—while riding high on a strong first-half performance. “We’ve been ramping up all these e-services so people no longer have to go to our offices or banks. You can now …

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is riding high on the momentum of strong consumer lending in the first half of 2025, fueling optimism for sustained income growth through year-end. BPI reported a 7.8 percent increase in net income, reaching P33 billion, driven largely by rising consumer loan demand and higher net interest income. In a media briefing on …

In a major boost to the country’s disaster preparedness, the World Bank is lending $700 million to help strengthen the climate and disaster resilience of 18 million Filipino households through a community-driven project that puts vulnerable communities at the forefront of risk planning and response. The funding is part of the $874.35 million Philippines Community Resilience Project, a joint undertaking …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its 2026 economic growth forecast for the Philippines, signaling continued confidence in the country’s resilience and reform-driven momentum. In its latest World Economic Outlook report, the IMF now expects the Philippine economy to grow by 5.9 percent in 2026, slightly higher than its previous forecast of 5.8 percent.  For 2025, the country’s gross …

For years, many Filipino farmers have been unable to break the cycle of debt and dependency that often accompanies farming. But through SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farming Program, the beneficiaries are now finding ways to generate a reliable income from agriculture. Among those whose lives have changed is Connie Flores, a mother of six and a 2023 graduate …

Filipinos can now invest in government securities using their GCash mobile wallets, thanks to a new platform launched by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) in partnership with GCash, PDAX, and Bonds.ph. The platform, called GBonds, allows users to purchase Treasury bills (T-bills) for as low as P500, with no fees for top-ups and withdrawals and standard rates for buying …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) have joined forces to reinforce the safety and resilience of the country’s key financial market systems. Through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed at the BSP office, the two institutions committed to safeguarding interconnected platforms such as the BSP’s Peso real-time gross settlement system (PhilPaSSplus) and the …

BDO Unibank Inc. reaffirmed its support for foreign investors by welcoming members of the Kyoto Employers Association (KEA) during their first official business mission to the Philippines. Held at BDO’s Makati headquarters, the visit was organized in partnership with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Osaka. The Japanese delegation, composed of KEA’s next-generation leaders aged 50 and below, represented …