The Philippines expanded its rice importation by 18 percent to 1.7 million metric tons (MT) during the first four months of 2026 as the government looks to bolster the supply of the commodity amid expectations of lower output in the coming months. The latest Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) data...
Commuters will soon have a more seamless experience transferring from one mode of transport to another as international and local companies, including GCash and Maya, have expressed interest in managing the country’s pioneering interoperable fare collection system. The Department of...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out intervention measures to prepare the agriculture sector for the potential impact of a super El Niño phenomenon, which is estimated to cut production by up to 30 percent. In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the DA is now...
During intense deliberations that preceded the 2005 enactment of the Expanded Value Added Tax (E-VAT) Law, which also covered oil and electricity, lawmakers defended the measure as a treasury-tightening mechanism; an unpopular but calculated imposition designed to raise massive revenues so it could...
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is planning to bid out the concession to operate and maintain Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) by October as it seeks to nearly double the railway’s passenger capacity. In a notice issued last week, the DOTr said it is preparing the tender for the...
The World Bank has canceled part of the loans for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) while as project scope was pared down with only five months left before its financing closes. A May 8 restructuring paper seen by Manila Bulletin showed that the Washington-based multilateral lender, effective Jan....
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Philippine government have launched a technical cooperation project aimed at strengthening sustainable finance and climate-related transparency frameworks in the country. In a statement on Saturday, May 9, JICA Philippines said that it signed...
President Marcos’ chief economic manager brushed off concerns over the country’s fiscal position, assuring markets that the government remains financially stable and still has room to borrow further if needed to cushion the economy from energy shocks. This comes against the backdrop of...
While Senator Rodante Marcoleta cried foul over the allegation that he sought P500 million in "allocables" from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson pointed out that he missed the most important reaction: denying it. "He...
Senator Risa Hontiveros has called on the Senate to conduct a thorough and immediate investigation into the “sudden and aggressive” rice importation of Planters Products Inc. (PPI), noting that the agency’s latest questionable moves could further hurt the country’s farmers already reeling...
As the national government prepares to stabilize the rice price and supply, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be there to ensure that everybody will comply. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. has expressed full readiness to support the enforcement of the government’s planned...
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has teamed up with the Creative Content Creators Association of the Philippines Inc. (SIKAP) to provide stronger support for local content creators, including the protection of their original works. In a statement, the DTI said it signed a memorandum of...
