Finance

Filipino Microentrepreneurs Shine at 4th Digital Financial Inclusion Awards: A Tech-Driven Leap for Economic Growth

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Manila, Philippines – In a landmark celebration of innovation and economic empowerment, Filipino microentrepreneurs took center stage at the 4th Digital Financial Inclusion Awards 2026, securing top honors in multiple categories. The event, held virtually and in-person across Southeast Asia, highlighted how digital financial tools are bridging gaps for underserved communities, with the Philippines emerging … Read more

PH National Debt Hits ₱17.65T, Exceeds 2025 Target

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The Philippines’ national government debt has surged to a historic peak, reaching ₱17.65 trillion as of November 2025, surpassing the Marcos administration’s full-year projection. The swift climb, driven by intensified domestic and external borrowings, has raised alarms among economists and policymakers over the country’s shrinking fiscal space amid looming mid-term elections. Debt Surges Beyond Year-End … Read more

NAIA Surges to Record 52M Passengers in 2025

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The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) reached a historic milestone in 2025, processing a record-breaking 52.02 million passengers and marking a full recovery from the aviation downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. December alone accounted for 4.86 million travelers, underscoring a strong resurgence in both domestic and international air traffic. This unprecedented throughput reflects not … Read more

PBBM Halts Flood Control 2026 Budget Over P350B Scandal

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As 2025 draws to a close, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has placed flood control projects squarely at the center of his administration’s intensified anti-corruption drive. In a decisive policy shift, the President ordered stringent audits and performance reviews across infrastructure agencies, halting new allocations for flood control in 2026 until it is proven that … Read more

PBBM Delays PHP6.793T 2026 Budget Signing to Review Inserts

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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has postponed the signing of the PHP 6.793 trillion 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) until the first week of January 2026, citing an urgent need for a meticulous review of recent legislative insertions. Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto confirmed that this move aims to scrutinize bicameral adjustments against the administration’s … Read more

Contractor Discaya Arrested for P7.1B Tax Evasion, Graft

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In a sweeping move against entrenched corruption in government infrastructure projects, contractor Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya was arrested on December 18, 2025, by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on charges tied to a staggering ₱7.1 billion tax evasion case and alleged involvement in a series of irregularities in flood control projects nationwide. The crackdown … Read more

Manila Cracks Down on Food Price Gouging

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A documentary editorial photograph captured mid-action on grainy 35mm film (ISO 1600) inside the crowded, humid confines of Manila's Obrero Public Market. A tense confrontation unfolds in a mid-shot frame as a stern government inspector, wearing a dark vest over a polo shirt and holding a clipboard, thrusts a paper "show-cause order" toward a distressed female vendor. The vendor, surrounded by piles of red onions and cuts of raw pork hanging from hooks, gestures defensively with begrimed hands, her face twisted in frustration and anxiety. Behind them, a uniformed Philippine National Police officer is partially visible, observing the scene amid a blur of marketgoers and stacked produce crates. Harsh, mixed artificial lighting creates deep shadows and lens flare, with noticeable motion blur capturing the urgency of the interaction. The background is densely packed and significantly out of focus, emphasizing the raw, chaotic atmosphere.

MANILA — Philippine authorities have launched an aggressive crackdown on wet market retailers in the capital, issuing “show-cause orders” to vendors accused of inflating food prices during the critical holiday season. The enforcement operation, led by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), targets a widening gap between government-mandated … Read more

Philippine Stocks Rebound on Dual Rate Cuts

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Philippine stocks posted a modest rebound after coordinated interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) provided a shot of adrenaline to investors navigating an uncertain economic landscape. The synchronized move to ease borrowing costs signaled a potential shift in global monetary policy, offering temporary relief to a … Read more