Campaign period for 41K local bets in May polls starts Friday
More than 41,000 candidates for local positions in the May 12 elections are set to start campaigning on Friday.

Philippines-Clark International Airport positioned as the future incubation hub
The Aviation Summit Workshop in Clark, the first in a series of pre-event workshops leading to the 2025 Philippine Aviation Summit, was spearheaded by Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) on March 12, in collaboration with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP). The workshop brought together key industry leaders to explore distinct opportunities in Clark and the city’s critical role in shaping the future of Philippine aviation.

Marcos sees PH digital transformation under new DICT chief
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday swore in former UnionDigital Bank president and chief executive officer Henry Rhoel Aguda as the new Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

PH among fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia – economist
The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia this year, an economist from Moody's Analytics said Wednesday.

VAT refund for foreign tourists seen to boost countryside growth
The launch of the value-added tax (VAT) refund mechanism for foreign tourists is a crucial step in positioning the Philippines as a premier travel destination in the region, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Tuesday.

DTI confident PHL will not be affected by US tariffs
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque on Thursday expressed confidence the Philippines will not be affected by reciprocal tariffs to be imposed by US President Donald J. Trump.

Gov’t cuts imported rice max suggested retail price to P45
The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Wednesday the lowering of the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice to P45 from P49 a kilo effective March 31.

BCDA, MIAA sign lease, sale agreement for NAIA terminal 3 property
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has signed a new lease and sale agreement with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) governing the 61-hectare Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 property.

Dizon to resolve PUV modernization issues – Palace
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon will review the current numbers of drivers and operators consolidated under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) to resolve any issues properly, a Palace official said.

Government e-wallets to launch P500 million MSME loan program
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is teaming up with state-run Development Bank of the Philippines and mobile wallet players GCash and Maya for a P500 million lending program for micro enterprises, particularly sari-sari stores and market vendors.

New order on vehicle manufacturing perks released next month
The government is looking to release the joint administrative order (JAO) for its vehicle manufacturing incentives program in April, later than initially scheduled.

LRT-1 weekday operations extended
To ensure the convenience of commuters, the operator of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 is extending LRT-1 services during weekdays. The Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) said the operating hours of LRT-1 would be extended by 30 minutes beginning today.

NFA vows to buy palay from local farmers – Palace
The National Food Authority (NFA) has pledged to buy the palay (unhusked rice) of local farmers, Malacañang said Tuesday amid reports that the grains agency has been unable to purchase larger quantities because of limited budget.

Aboitiz unit advances work on BESS project in Benguet
Aboitiz-backed SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP) has started the development of another battery energy storage system (BESS), this time a 40-megawatt (MW) facility in Itogon, Benguet.

CALAX completion to help lower food prices, Palace says
The completion of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) is expected to help reduce food prices by improving transportation efficiency.

Siargao airport terminal targeted for expansion to 700-seat capacity
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it ordered the expansion of the Siargao’s Sayak Airport terminal to 700 seats from 200 in the face of growing passenger demand.

New Clark control tower 91.27% complete
The new air traffic control tower at the Clark International Airport, which will be the tallest of its kind in the country is almost complete, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said on Wednesday.

NGCP: Grid ready to integrate 10,260 MW of new power capacity
The national grid has an available transmission capacity of 10,260 megawatts (MW) for integrating new power generation assets, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

New auto revival strategy to offer up to P3B in perks
A new auto industry revival program due next month will offer up to P3 billion in incentives for each participant in a bid to continue the momentum of a previous plan encouraging domestic manufacturing, the Board of Investments (BoI) said.

Another LEDAC meeting eyed after midterm polls
The executive branch of the government and lawmakers are eyeing to convene after the May 2025 midterm elections for another Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting.

Cyber losses hit P5.82 billion in 2024 — BSP
Financial institutions supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) lost P5.82 billion from cyberattacks in 2024, up 2.6% from the previous year, according to an official.

DOH aims to vaccinate 400,000 kids vs measles
The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing to immunize over 400,000 children in Metro Manila against measles.

Hog industry roadmap seeks return to pre-ASF herd size
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday that its plan for a hog industry revival will seek to restore the herd size of 14 million animals before the 2019 outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), from 8 million currently.

Edsa rehab plan being finalized – DOTr
The planned rehabilitation of Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) is still being finalized, while consultations with concerned local government units are ongoing, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said on Thursday.

DoTr won’t close EDSA bus lane
The EDSA Carousel bus lane will remain operational despite the upcoming rehabilitation of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), which is set to begin in April, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said on Thursday.

Labor department clarifies pay rules for April holidays
The Department of Labor and Employment has issued an advisory detailing the pay guidelines for regular and special nonworking holidays in April. The advisory, signed by Labor secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, covers Eid’l Fitr (1 April), Day of Valor (9 April), Maundy Thursday (17 April), Good Friday (18 April), and Black Saturday (19 April).

Gov’t sets P735-billion local borrowing in Q2
The national government is looking to borrow P735 billion from the domestic market in the second quarter, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said on Thursday.

BSP projects wider BoP, current account deficits
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects the country’s balance of payment (BoP) position to swing to a deficit this year, as well as post a wider current account deficit, largely due to global trade volatilities.

BSP says intervening less in peso, sees rate cut
The Philippine central bank has been intervening less in the currency market recently, and it appears on track to resume rate cuts in April, Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said Tuesday.

BSP may resume easing cycle in April
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) could resume its easing cycle at its next policy review in April as inflation settles within target and risks to price stability remain moderate, its governor said.

BSP: Financial stability risks rising
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has warned of growing risks to financial stability as global trade pressures, geopolitical tensions and domestic debt concerns continue to weigh on the economy.

PH financial system resilient amid global headwinds – FSCC
The country's financial system continued to be resilient and stable despite global headwinds driven by geopolitical tensions and policy shifts, the Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC) said.

DPWH projects aim to boost safety, connectivity in Masbate, Iloilo
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed two key infrastructure projects that aim to improve the safety and accessibility of flood-prone and remote areas in Masbate and Illoilo.

DOST seeks to revive salt industry in Misamis Oriental
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Northern Mindanao is revitalizing Misamis Oriental’s salt industry through innovative technologies.

Coin deposit machine collections reach P1.37-B
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said PHP1.372 billion worth of coins have been deposited through its coin deposit machines (CoDM) as of March 17.

IC proposes insurance coverage rates for MC taxi passengers
The Insurance Commission (IC) has come up with its proposed premium and benefit rates for the passenger personal accident insurance (PPAI) of motorcycle (MC) taxis, with the coverage amount set at as much as ₱400,000 per person.

DAR programs push for gender equality in agriculture
In recognizing the vital role of women farmers in ensuring food security and rural development, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) reinforced its commitment to gender equality in agriculture, ensuring that they receive equal land ownership rights and access to livelihood opportunities.

Philippines to downgrade export targets next month
The Export Development Council (EDC) is looking to release next month its downgraded export targets for this year until the end of the Marcos administration amid domestic and external challenges.

Qantas mulls new Jetstar flights from Manila, Cebu to Perth, Brisbane
Australian low-cost airline Jetstar is planning new flights to Manila and Cebu beginning November this year.

BSP chief sees ‘good chances’ of quarter-point rate cut in April
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said there was a “good chance” of a quarter-point interest rate cut in April, as inflation continues to ease while the peso becomes less of a problem for monetary authorities.

Cebu Pacific beefs up ground support equipment
Ahead of the seasonal travel pickup during summer, Cebu Pacific is beefing up its ground support equipment across Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and other domestic hubs to improve operations.

Rice tariff cut to blame for drop in palay prices, says farmers’ group
A farmers group on Wednesday said that the low import tariffs should be blamed for the decline in palay prices during the dry season harvest.

Research program to help bridge healthcare financing gaps
Launched by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, the Department of Health, and PhilHealth, the Health Economics and Finance Program (HEFP) aims to tackle issues hindering the realization of universal healthcare in the Philippines.

DTI, architecture schools group partner to raise industry standards
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Architecture Schools Association Inc. (Philasa) have forged an agreement to integrate industry construction standards into architecture curriculum with the aim to elevate professionalism in the construction sector.

NFA set to rent warehouses to store more local palay
Malacañang said the National Food Authority (NFA) is ready to rent warehouses so it can buy more rice from farmers during the ongoing harvest season. “If the warehouse will have insufficient capacity, NFA will rent [it],” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a news briefing on Tuesday.

Malacañang backs stronger NFA market powers
Malacañang on Wednesday expressed support for the restoration of the National Food Authority’s (NFA) power to directly import rice to strengthen its market capability.

LTFRB mandates equal fare discount-sharing between ride-hailing apps, operators
Starting April 7, drivers of transport network vehicle service (TNVS) operators and ride-hailing platforms will no longer bear the cost of fare discounts for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Strong data security a must for firms adopting open-source AI
Philippine companies looking to adopt open-source artificial intelligence (AI) solutions like DeepSeek must fortify their data handling policies and infrastructure, analysts said.

Trump announces 25% tariffs on foreign-built vehicles
US President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on auto imports Wednesday, in a move set to fuel tensions with trading partners ahead of further promised levies next week.

Strong growth to support Philippine banking sector – Fitch Ratings
The Philippine banking system’s credit profile will likely remain stable on the back of the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals, Fitch Ratings said. “Fitch Ratings believes the Philippines’ resilient medium-term economic potential and favorable banking business prospects reinforce banks’ standalone credit profiles,” it said in a peer credit analysis on Wednesday.

BMI trims PHL growth forecast
Fitch Solutions unit BMI cut its gross domestic product growth forecast for the Philippines this year to 6.2%, amid a general tempering of growth expectations across the region in the face of a looming trade war.

Imported rice MSRP declining to ₱45 per kilo at end of March 
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday it will reduce the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice to ₱45 per kilo on March 31, citing declining global rice prices.

Power firms not compliant with listing requirement at 54% — ERC
Power companies that have not complied with an industry-wide listing requirement represent 54% of all such firms and account for nearly 14,000 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said.

DSWD: Walang Gutom nutrition education sessions boost fight vs. hunger
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Thursday the nutrition education sessions being attended by beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) boosts the country's fight against hunger and malnutrition.

DBM OKs more than 1,200 new positions for PGH
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved another 1,224 positions for the University of the Philippines’ (UP) Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila.

Crackdown looms for improperly documented PWD transactions
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reminded businesses granting discounts to persons with disabilities (PWDs) of the requirement to record the information of customers presenting their cards. “BIR will strictly implement existing laws and regulations to ensure compliance. Businesses must follow the prescribed guidelines, including checking the physical PWD IDs and recording the information before granting discounts,” it said via Viber on March 21.

PAGASA declares dry season onset
The Philippine weather bureau on Wednesday announced the start of the dry season with the termination of the northeastern monsoon (amihan) over most parts of the country.

PHL financial system remains resilient but faces 'moderate' risks
The country’s financial sector is seen to remain robust and is well-positioned to absorb shocks, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said, but noted external headwinds that pose risk to the sector.

Gov't sets ₱375-billion local borrowing in Q2
The National Government is looking to borrow ₱735 billion from the domestic market in the second quarter, the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) said on Thursday.