Auto sales drop 10% in April as passenger car sales slump

PHILIPPINE AUTOMOTIVE SALES slid by 10% in April, the biggest annual decline in more than three years, amid a double-digit decline in passenger car sales, an industry report showed.

BoP deficit widens to $2.56B in April

THE PHILIPPINES’ balance of payments (BoP) deficit widened further in April as the government paid back its external debt, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.   

PHL banks’ profit up nearly 11% in first quarter

THE PHILIPPINE BANKING industry’s combined net earnings jumped by 10.6% in the first quarter as both interest and non-interest income rose, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

Philippines falls in global startup index for 4th year in a row

THE PHILIPPINES dropped four spots in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Index amid persistent gaps in infrastructure and regulations, according to global research firm StartupBlink.

DoF eyes at least $200M from CBK privatization

THE DEPARTMENT of Finance (DoF) is looking to generate at least $200 million from the privatization of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydroelectric power plant (HEPP) complex in Laguna.

Real estate risks need closer scrutiny

EVEN as the Philippine banking system has remained resilient, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said risks in the real estate sector and consumer credit...

BIR simplifies documentary req’ts for VAT refund

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Wednesday said it has streamlined the documents needed to claim value-added tax (VAT) refunds. “The BIR, together with...

Filipinos turn electric amid high fuel prices

JOHN REX O. GABALES, a 22-year-old entrepreneur from Bulacan province north of the Philippine capital, bought his Chinese-made BYD Seagull electric car last year to replace his diesel-based hatchback amid high fuel prices.

Lawmakers urged to prioritize energy reforms in the next Congress

INCOMING LAWMAKERS should prioritize measures that would prioritize energy security, particularly amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and reforms that would...

Contact centers target 5% growth

THE CONTACT CENTER Association of the Philippines (CCAP) is projecting at least 5% growth in revenues and jobs this year, even as companies increasingly adopt new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Philippines’ Marcos asks cabinet secretaries to resign in government reset

MANILA - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has asked all cabinet secretaries to submit their resignations, a move his office described on Thursday as...

US rating cut could benefit the Philippines, other markets

THE UNITED STATES’ latest credit rating downgrade could benefit the Philippines and other emerging markets as this could prompt investors to diversify their portfolios. “The...