Microfinance lender BPI Direct BanKo Inc., A Savings Bank (BanKo), the microfinance arm of Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), is spotlighting the growing role of Filipino mothers in driving grassroots entrepreneurship and local economic activity. Among them is Madelyn Nayre of Barangay...
Latest numbers from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) serve as a reality check for the Marcos administration, which has been promising a new economic era. The economy grew by just 2.8 percent in the first quarter of the year, a cold shower for a country recently touted as a regional leader....
Local equities retreated as weaker-than-expected economic growth print and escalating tensions in the Middle East prompted investors to pocket gains before the weekend. The Philippine Stock Exchange index fell 73.3 points, or 1.2 percent, to close at 5,960.97 on Friday, May 9. The Services sector...
The Philippine central bank faces an intensifying divide among private-sector economists over the trajectory of borrowing costs, with a lone dissenting voice branding recent monetary tightening as “misguided” following the sharp slowdown in economic output. While a majority of analysts maintain...
Investments approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in the first four months of the year rose by 72 percent to more than ₱100 billion compared to a year ago, as the country’s ecozones continue to attract capital amid ongoing global volatility. PEZA said it approved a total of...
The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, May 8, said it is closely monitoring the developing hantavirus situation linked to the cruise ship Hondius and has begun preparing the country’s laboratories and quarantine systems for possible cases. Dr. Albert Domingo, the spokesperson of the DOH, said...
In an apparent swipe at the current administration, Vice President Sara Duterte criticized leaders who are heavily affected by public criticism, saying officials who react strongly to ordinary citizens are “sensitive, insecure, and afraid,” while also blaming poor governance for rising...
AVANT GARDENER I’ve been writing interviewing folks from different areas of the agriculture industry on their thoughts on RA12215, also known as the Philippine Agriculturists Act. So far, the folks who are willing to voice their thoughts and those of their colleagues are those who will not be...
It has been nearly 10 weeks since the eruption of the Middle East conflict, which has negatively impacted the world economy, completely disrupted what was otherwise smooth-sailing business outlook at the onset of the year, and drastically altered our daily lives. The conflict is wreaking commercial...
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) climbed back above the 6,000 threshold, shrugging off the weaker-than-expected economic growth report as investors focused on potential diplomatic breakthroughs between the United States (US) and Iran. The benchmark gauge advanced 67.06 points, or 1.1...
Vice President Sara Duterte criticized what she described as the government’s “lack of direction” as many Filipinos continue to struggle with poverty, unemployment, and rising economic uncertainty. In a video interview released by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Thursday, May 7,...
Legendary talent maker Johnny Manahan, known in the industry as Mr. M, is leading TV5’s push to discover the next generation of Philippine entertainment stars through its newly launched talent arm, Star Worx. At 79, the former head of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic reaffirmed his reputation for spotting...
