Philippines Business News

Philippine farm output growth slows in Q2

THE PHILIPPINES’ agricultural sector posted slower growth of 2.9% in the second quarter, down from 6% a year earlier, despite improved output across all subsectors, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

Jobless rate hits 3-month high in June as more Filipinos join workforce

PHILIPPINE jobless rate hit a three-month high in June, signaling weaker labor market conditions that could weigh on household spending and complicate the government’s efforts to sustain economic growth. The unemployment rate rose to 4.9% from 3.7% a year earlier, with 2.59 million Filipinos out of work, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday. […]

More BSP rate hikes likely on sticky core inflation

HEADLINE INFLATION may have peaked but core inflation still shows signs of persistent underlying pressures, which could keep the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on its tightening path, analysts said.

MTRCB does not support ban on violent movies, TV

IN LIGHT of suggestions to ban violent movies and television shows because of several recent incidents involving minors, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has said that it does not support that option. Instead, it is encouraging increased supervision of children by their parents and schools. The MTRCB “believes that banning movies […]

Navotas music festival shines a light on new hub

IT HAS BEEN the dream of homegrown entrepreneurs of Navotas for their city to be known for something more than their fish ports — and a music festival to be held at their commercial hub is set to kick that off. Under the banner of OPM, prominent artists like Cup of Joe, Maki, Mayonnaise, and […]

Chinabank’s net income climbs 11% to P14.5 billion in first half

CHINA BANKING CORP.’S (Chinabank) net income climbed 11% to P14.5 billion in the first six months of the year, backed by strong loan growth. “Bottom-line expansion was driven by the surge in core lending, strong balance sheet growth, and the optimization of risk cushions given the health of the bank’s loan book,” the bank said […]

PDIC eyes return of P107-B remittance to augment its deposit insurance fund

THE PHILIPPINE Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) is working to recover the P107.23 billion in funds it remitted to the government in 2025 under a special provision under the 2024 budget that was already struck down by the Supreme Court to expand its deposit insurance fund. “We’re working with the pertinent agencies to try to recover […]

BSP wants banks to use National ID authentication in KYC processes

THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) wants its supervised financial institutions to integrate the National ID Authentication Services (NIDAS) into their customer due diligence (CDD) protocols. According to a draft memorandum, the regulator plans to require banks and other BSP-supervised institutions (BSIs) to use the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) NIDAS for verifying clients to enhance […]

Peso weakens before Q2 GDP data

THE PESO weakened anew against the dollar on Thursday as sentiment turned cautious before the release of second-quarter Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) and US labor data. The currency dropped by 6.4 centavos to close at P60.815 versus the greenback from its P60.751 finish on Wednesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines’ website […]

Trump orders leak probe over reports on depleted munitions, WSJ reports

EastWest Bank partners with Luna, DragonFi to expand PERA access

EAST WEST Banking Corp. (EastWest Bank) has partnered with DragonFi Securities, Inc. and Luna Securities, Inc. to expand access to its Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) products. Under the partnership, customers of DragonFi Securities and Luna Securities can access EastWest PERA products directly via their digital channels. EastWest PERA products are available to both […]

The Pax Silica gamble

The Pax Silica debate has rapidly become one of the most divisive conversations in the country. Supporters view it as a rare chance for the Philippines to enter the global race for artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. Critics warn of foreign influence, environmental costs, resource depletion and the prospect of the country once […]

Banks, e-wallets to be required to link to national ID, says BSP

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is proposing to require banks, digital lenders and other regulated financial institutions to connect their customer verification systems to the government’s National ID database.

Chinabank profit rises 11% to P14.5 billion in H1

China Banking Corp. booked an 11-percent increase in net income in the first half as robust lending activity, a wider interest margin and continued balance sheet expansion strengthened its core banking operations.

Doing it the Gokong-way: RLC execs build on the Gokongwei legacy

They are no Gokongweis, but they are leading property giant Robinsons Land Corp. the Gokong-way.

Farm sector posts 2.9% growth in Q2

The country’s agricultural output grew by 2.9 percent in the second quarter, driven by broader gains from the crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries sectors, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Further rate tightening seen as inflation stays elevated

Inflation is expected to remain elevated in the coming months despite easing for a third straight month in July, keeping pressure on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to further raise interest rates, economists said.

Hotel101-Madrid gears up for higher occupancy levels

DoubleDragon Corp. is gearing up for an even higher occupancy level at its first operational international property in the coming months after reaching a new milestone.

Is ERC up to the job?

The incompetence of our government in regulating the power industry is a significant cause of our woes. While the current leadership of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has been trying hard to clean up the inherited mess, sins of the past will hurt us for some time.

Jobless rate rises to 4.9% in June

Unemployment went up in June as more Filipinos entered the workforce, but not enough jobs were available to absorb them, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. In a press conference, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said results of the PSA’s Labor Force Survey showed the unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.9 percent in June from the previous month’s 4.8 percent and 3.7 percent in the same month last year.

Mailbox: Octogenarian benefit program

You July 15, 2026 issue told about Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan, a senior citizen reaching the age of 80 and had already received P10,000 at “Pinambili na ng birthday cake” as mentioned in your newspaper.

Orchestra of the Filipino Youth sets fundraising concert

Orchestra of the Filipino Youth proudly announces its major fundraising concert, “Music for a Regenerative Future.”

PSEi slips ahead of Q2 growth data

The Philippine Stock Exchange index finished slightly lower yesterday with investors opting to stay on the sidelines ahead of the release of the country’s second quater economic growth data. The PSEi eased by 0.13 percent, or 8.36 points, to settle at 6,277.95, extending its losing streak to three days in a row.

Q1 GDP growth maintained at 2.8%

The country’s economic growth rate was kept at 2.8 percent in the first quarter, but upward revisions were made in some sectors, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).