Philippines Business News

Sales of xEVs more than double, close in on passenger cars in H1

While total car sales in the first half fell by 11 percent year-on-year, demand for electrified vehicles (xEVs) more than doubled during the period, industry data showed.

Shares rebound on bargain hunting

Investors went on bargain-hunting mode yesterday to power the local stock market to a win after a two-day decline.

Villars open to donating land for LRT-1 extension

The Villars are open to donating a parcel of their land in Las Piñas City to the government so that the final leg of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension can be finished soon.

U.S. imposes tariffs tied to forced labor on top 60 trade partners

DoE signals possible delay in nuclear program to 2035

THE PHILIPPINES could end up producing power from nuclear plants by 2035 at the earliest, a three-year delay from the original target, due to the extensive regulatory and safety approvals, according to the Department of Energy (DoE).

Rice importers could be required to establish own post-harvest facilities

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the implementing rules and regulations of the Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act could require rice importers to set up post-harvest facilities to qualify for quotas. Mr. Laurel told reporters the proposed facilities that would make importers eligible to ship in rice include mills, drying systems, […]

Farmland conversion rules to be released in August

REVISED GUIDELINES governing farmland conversion are expected to be released in August, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said on Thursday. Speaking on the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines’ Food Security Forum, Mr. Laurel said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has been ordered to make further revisions to the draft, which […]

PHL travelers adapting to Middle East war by shifting to intra-regional destinations — DoT

PHILIPPINE TRAVELERS have responded to the Middle East war by prioritizing intra-regional travel, keeping the industry resilient despite the challenges posed by the deteriorating security situation along the Persian Gulf, the Department of Tourism (DoT) said. Tourism Undersecretary Verna Esmeralda C. Buensuceso said the fighting in the Middle East has affected tourism by diverting travel […]

Gov’t panel established to probe use of forced labor in making imported goods

THE GOVERNMENT has created an inter-agency committee to investigate and disallow imports that were made with forced labor. The committee will be chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry, with the Department of Labor and Employment as vice-chair, with the involvement of the Department of Finance (DoF), according to a joint administrative order (JAO) […]

Business organizations flag refunds, audits, cross-border taxation as their top tax concerns

BUSINESS GROUPS expect a partnership with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to generate more practical tax rules and concrete administrative reforms, particularly concerning tax refunds, audits and cross-border taxation.

DoTr launches P253-M air traffic control simulator

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it launched a P253-million system of simulators to better train air traffic control personnel. Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said that the aviation industry stands to benefit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ (CAAP) new aerodrome, en-route and approach simulators. “We need to have a modern […]

48 power distributors found to charge above-average rates — ICSC

POWER CONSUMERS served by 48 distribution utilities (DUs) paid higher electricity prices than the national average in June, according to the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC). In its latest analysis, ICSC, a think tank, said these DUs serving on-grid areas recorded residential electricity rates above the national average of P12.43 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) […]

Budget utilization hits 96.9% at end of June

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES posted a budget utilization rate of 96.9% at the end of June, running behind the year-earlier pace of 99%, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said. According to its Notice of Cash Allocations (NCAs) Utilization Report, the DBM said the National Government, local governments, and government-owned companies had used P2.65 trillion of […]

WB readying $1-B disaster readiness loan for PHL

THE World Bank (WB) is preparing a $1-billion contingent financing facility for the Philippines to strengthen disaster preparedness, protect critical infrastructure and accelerate the release of public funds following major disasters. The proposed Philippines Sixth Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO) is provisionally scheduled for World Bank […]

Stocks inch higher on bargain hunting after slump

PHILIPPINE SHARES edged higher on Thursday to halt a two-day slump as players picked up cheap issues after the market’s recent losses despite lingering geopolitical concerns. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went up by 0.24% or 15.27 points to close at 6,283.12, while the broader all shares index rose by 0.16% or 5.72 points […]

VP Duterte leads 2028 presidential race in inaugural Momentum Research poll

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio emerged as the top pick for president in the 2028 elections, according to nonpartisan public opinion research firm Momentum Research, although it noted that the country’s top post remains wide open amid her ongoing impeachment trial and a sizable bloc of independent voters. In its inaugural National Momentum Survey released on […]

China water cannons PHL vessel as Marcos seeks ‘reset’ of China ties

THE China Coast Guard (CCG) fired a water cannon at a Philippine fishery vessel and carried out dangerous maneuvers against another during a fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Thursday, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. sought what Malacañang described as a “reset” in relations with […]

Australia backs ruling vs China, ASEAN security

AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday reaffirmed support for the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling on the South China Sea, saying adherence to international law is critical to safeguarding regional security and protecting trade with Southeast Asia. Speaking at a forum at De La Salle University in Manila, Ms. Wong underscored the importance of the […]

Gatchalian seeks staggered power hikes, fuel audits

SENATE President Sherwin T. Gatchalian on Thursday urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to stagger electricity price increases and boost fuel audits of power producers to cushion consumers from rising energy costs. During a Senate Energy Committee hearing on proposed changes to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act’s lifeline rate provisions, Mr. Gatchalian said households […]

House prosecutors rebut neutrality call

HOUSE PROSECUTORS on Thursday defended their role in Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial, saying they are expected to advocate for the articles of impeachment, while neutrality is the responsibility of the senator-judges who will decide the case. At an online briefing, Party-list Rep. James Mark Terry L. Ridon and Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao […]

Bomb maker nabbed in Maguindanao

POLICE and military forces arrested an alleged Dawlah Islamiya bomb maker in Maguindanao del Sur, authorities said on Thursday. Police identified the suspect as Muslimin Sangila Amilil, who is wanted for multiple offenses, including the March ambush that killed five policemen in Shariff Aguak. Authorities said he was trained by slain Malaysian militant Zulkifli bin […]

Unified 911 tops 12.8M calls

THE government’s Unified 911 hotline has handled more than 12.78 million calls since its 2025 launch, prompting the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to expand its public awareness campaign. The DILG said it partnered with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. to display Unified 911 materials on digital billboards and cinema screens nationwide. Interior […]

BSP cites 500 scam cases

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the Philippine National Police has filed more than 500 cases under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act since the law took effect last year. Police alone filed more than 500 cases, BSP General Counsel Roberto L. Figueroa told reporters. The BSP expects more cases after signing an information-sharing agreement […]

Floods top SONA concerns

FLOOD CONTROL, the rising cost of living and government accountability are the issues Filipinos most want President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to address in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), according to a Capstone Intel Corp. study. Flood control generated the highest online engagement, accounting for 43.8% of SONA-related discussions monitored over the past […]