Business

THE Philippines and Morocco celebrate  50 years of diplomatic relations with a joint commemorative stamps issuance featuring the Philippines’ Mactan-Cebu and Morocco’ Marrakech-Menara Airport. According to Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos, “This stamp is more than just a symbol — it is a bridge that connects both countries’ innovation and connectivity in the aviation sector”. The PHLPost stamp features the …

Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. (MRSGI) achieved P39.62 billion in net sales for 2024, a 3.5 percent  increase compared to P38.27 billion in 2023, reflecting positive contributions from the company’s ongoing expansion efforts and a solid 4.9% upswing in the food retail business. The same-store sales grew modestly by 0.5% compared to 2023, primarily influenced by scaling down low-margin wholesale …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last week commended the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for spearheading initiatives that drive digital innovation and promote inclusive economic growth, particularly through its Bagong Pilipinas Marketplace. Designed as a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform, the Bagong Pilipinas Marketplace puts a spotlight on “Proudly Filipino” products and services. It aims to support advancements in product …

Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Frederick Go will travel to the United States to negotiate the 17-percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration on certain Philippine goods entering the American market. Speaking to Palace reporters, Go shared that the Philippine government had received a “positive response” from the US Trade Representative (USTR) regarding its …

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is ramping up enforcement operations targeting both emerging and long-standing sources of tax evasion, particularly within the vape and tobacco industries. In a news release on Thursday, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. emphasized that this initiative is part of the Marcos administration’s comprehensive effort to tackle illicit trade, prevent revenue loss, and address public …

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday spearheaded the inspection of 14 seized 20-foot container vans loaded with misdeclared refined sugar from Vietnam, with an estimated market value of P28.72 million. Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio led the inspection of the intercepted agricultural shipment, which was flagged for violating customs regulations and other applicable laws, according to a BOC press release. …

By Tracy Cabrera In an effort to boost the Philippines’ competitiveness as an investment hub, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has forged a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. (BDO) to help accelerate foreign direct investments and drive national economic progress. The agreement was formalized by PEZA Director General Tereso Panga and BDO Executive Vice …

The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) resumed its easing cycle on Thursday, cutting interest rates by another 25 basis points amid decelerating inflation. The latest cut brings the BSP’s target reverse repurchase (RRP) rate to 5.50 percent, a reduction of 25 basis points. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also adjusted …

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has retained its 2025 economic growth forecast for the Philippines at 6 percent for gross domestic product (GDP) while lowering its inflation projection. In its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2025, the ADB kept its GDP forecast unchanged from the December 2024 report, which was higher than the 5.6 percent growth recorded in 2024. However, …

GUAGUA, Pampanga –  The Philippine   Amusement  and Gaming  Corporation   (PAGCOR)  joined the Provincial Government of Pampanga last Friday,   April 11, for the inauguration  of the   new   Pampanga   Provincial  Dialysis Center in a major boost for accessible healthcare in the province. PAGCOR  donated  over P90-million   for the project to procure 40 dialysis   machines …