Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has launched the country’s first payroll account opening solution that requires no more manual intervention, cutting turnaround time to 24 hours from the industry norm of two weeks. “With Zero-Touch Onboarding, we’ve reimagined one of the...
With the annual Congress holiday break just around the corner, it seems that several individuals who were cited in contempt during previous hearings could remain in detention at the Senate during Christmas and the New Year--perhaps even longer. This was according to Senate President Vicente "Tito"...
We all look forward to celebrating Christmas and the holidays in December. But for some, it’s a mixed feeling—especially those who have revenue targets to meet, reports to complete, and taxes to comply with. And December often carries the highest financial budget for most companies. Businesses...
Ten years ago, my graduate school research proposal aimed to assess the public’s perception of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). My initial question was why CPAs do not seem to receive the same level of respect accorded to other esteemed professions such as doctors and lawyers. My research...
Metro Pacific Coconut Holdings Corp. (MPCH), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), has increased its market share to nearly 70 percent of the country’s food-grade coconut exports after completing the acquisition of Franklin Baker Co. of the Philippines. MPIC said in a statement...
A staggering number of Filipino students in Grades 1 to 3 are struggling to read, with only 15 percent reaching grade-level proficiency, highlighting the urgent need for rapid measures—such as more reading materials, teacher capacity building, and parental engagement—to address the growing...
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the appropriate remedy for the public to question the prolonged absences of senators is to file an ethics complaint, noting that there is no “no work, no pay” rule for legislators under existing Senate rules or the Constitution. Sotto made the...
Nov. 23 was a red-letter day for my family. Four days before his birthday, my son, Carl Lorenz Cervantes, launched his book, Sikodiwa: Revisiting Filipino Indigenous Wisdom for Personal and Shared Well-Being, published by North Atlantic Books. It is a proud moment for a parent, naturally. But as I...
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday outlined the Senate’s revised timetable for the passage of the proposed 2026 national budget, saying the chamber is still aiming to have the measure signed into law by December 29 despite disruptions caused by a weekend fire. In an interview on Monday,...
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday, Dec. 1, said the Senate does not observe a “no work, no pay” policy for its members, noting that the Upper Chamber’s existing practice only requires senators to formally notify the body when they are unable to attend sessions or budget hearings. Asked...
State-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) will continue to seek regulatory and dividend relief for several more years as it aims to recover the capital it infused into the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC). DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Michael O. de Jesus told reporters last...
State-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is looking at issuing peso-denominated bonds next year as part of its fundraising efforts to recoup the ₱25-billion capital it injected into Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC). On the sidelines of the DBP’s event, DBP Executive Vice President...
