MANILA, Philippines — Local power regulators are seeking to further reduce the retail choice threshold that will allow all Filipino households to choose their own electricity supplier by 2031. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is currently creating a five-year roadmap to hit this goal. READ: ERC mulls over 50-kilowatt power retail threshold This follows the significant

MANILA, Philippines — The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has pushed for the restructuring of the excise on sweetened beverages, arguing that beverages made with natural cane sugar should be subject to lower taxes. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the regulator is pushing for beverages containing natural cane sugar to remain under Tier 1, while beverages

MANILA, Philippines — Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp. seeks to sell its electronics subsidiary to an Indian company for $20.2 million, with proceeds earmarked for debt payments and the working capital needs of its remaining core business. In a regulatory filing on Monday, Cirtek said its board approved the sale of its entire stake in Cirtek

MANILA, Philippines — Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) plans to raise at least P5 billion through sustainability bonds to finance or refinance eligible green and social projects. The Ayala-led bank said its planned peso-denominated, fixed-rate issuance would carry an option to upsize, allowing the bank to raise more than the initial amount. READ: BPI

MANILA, Philippines — Despite high airfares weighing on travel sentiment, the operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) still expects a slight increase in passenger traffic during this year’s observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, or Undas. According to New Naia Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), passenger traffic at the country’s main gateway could

MANILA, Philippines — Criminal networks operating across Southeast Asia are hurting the region’s investment appeal, a new report warned, which flagged four “criminal hubs” that it said are exploiting legitimate businesses, trade routes and economic zones. In a study commissioned by the EU-Asean Business Council, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) identified the major criminal

MANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may hold fire at its final policy meeting of the year after delivering a jumbo increase this month, German lender Deutsche Bank said, as the central bank assesses whether inflationary pressures are spreading further before deciding on additional tightening. In a note, Deutsche Bank said the

MANILA, Philippines — Villar-led Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) of P24.2 billion in 2025, meeting its full-year target as it renewed its focus on horizontal housing. In a stock exchange filing on Monday, the property developer said consolidated revenues had reached P35.8 billion last year. READ:

Hong Kong’s fundraising market is now facing a severe test, as the last-minute halt of two initial public offerings (IPOs) within a week raises concerns over investor appetite amid market volatility and stricter regulation, analysts say. Robotics maker Changzhou Microintelligence decided to postpone its IPO due to “the consideration of several factors, including prevailing market conditions”, according to its Sunday announcement – echoing reasons cited in previous deals pulled from the...

The Bank of Thailand and Bank Negara Malaysia have joined Singapore’s BLOOM initiative for cross-border payments and settlement using tokenised deposits and regulated stablecoins.

China has granted new autonomous-driving permission to electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng and a mainland joint venture of Volkswagen, intensifying the commercialisation race between China’s autonomous driving firms and US company Tesla. Xpeng would now be allowed to conduct “demonstration operations” of its Yoyo driverless taxis in the capital city of southern China’s Guangdong province under a licence officially granted recently, the company said on social media on Monday. The licence, which...

The HK$2.7 billion (US$344 million) sale of two Shimao Group hotels in Hong Kong leaves an estimated HK$1.8 billion shortfall against their secured loans. Still, receivers managed to squeeze out improved bids in the final stages, with all shortlisted parties improving their offers, said Una Ge, a managing director at AlixPartners who oversaw the sale as a joint receiver. The deal offers a glimpse into how mainland China’s developer debt crisis is reshaping Hong Kong’s restructuring industry,...

Thailand's Queen Suthida piloted a royal Boeing 737 back to Bangkok after an eight-day trip to Japan

The European Union will from Sunday slap a €2 (US$2.25) handling fee on packages from outside the 27-nation bloc in a bid to curb the influx from China. The new levy – coming just weeks before the Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas season shopping rushes – will be on top of the EU’s €3 fee on small parcels. The fee will apply to each type of item in a package sent directly to consumers from outside the EU regardless of the parcel’s value. For example, if there are 10 T-shirts in a package,...

Siripong announced that Rabbit cards may join the fare-refund scheme if certified. The Cabinet will discuss rail fare proposals and upcoming budget for a trial reimbursement scheme to boost ridership.

MANILA, Philippines — The Oct. 31 compliance deadline for the mandatory online posting of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Registration Seal Badge has been suspended until further notice. BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza announced the suspension in a statement issued on Monday. READ: Deadline to display BIR registration seal badge extended to Oct.

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has extended the Oct. 26 deadline to Oct. 29 for the filing of tax returns and payment of corresponding taxes under BIR Form No. 2550Q — the Quarterly Value-Added Tax Return — and BIR Form No. 2551Q — Quarterly Percentage Tax Return), including the submission of required

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. affiliate Bank of Commerce has launched a bond offer to raise at least P5 billion to support balance sheet management, diversify funding, and fund general corporate purposes. On Monday, BankCom disclosed to the local bourse that the dual-tranche offering carries an oversubscription option, allowing it to raise more than the

MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration’s pace of budget releases still lagged at the end of the third quarter, leaving more than P260 billion in allotments yet to be released as the government enters a make-or-break final quarter to accelerate spending and shore up the sluggish economy. Latest data from the Department of Budget and Management

MANILA, Philippines — Public and private motorists should budget for fuel purchases as diesel prices will rise again this week. In contrast, gasoline prices fell again as geopolitical conflicts continued to drive oil price volatility. In an advisory on Monday, the Department of Energy (DOE) said gasoline prices would drop by 30 centavos per liter.

MANILA, Philippines — Public and private motorists should budget for fuel purchases as diesel prices will rise again this week. In contrast, gasoline prices fell again as geopolitical conflicts continued to drive oil price volatility. In an advisory on Monday, the Department of Energy (DOE) said gasoline prices would drop by 30 centavos per liter.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may tap massive financial support from the United States (US), up to $5 billion, for its nuclear energy development, a local official said.  In a media briefing on Monday, Department of Energy (DOE) undersecretary Giovanni Bacordo said the government has been exploring financing schemes to fund the deployment of nuclear facilities,

MANILA, Philippines — Truck operators hauling agricultural products have until Oct. 31 to enroll in a government program that would grant them a 5-percent discount on toll fees in November, intended to help alleviate logistics cost pressures amid still-elevated fuel prices.  From Nov. 1 to 30, eligible agricultural truckers may avail of discounted toll fees on

MANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has disqualified five money service businesses operating without prior registration, barring their owners from running other sole proprietorships as well. The Monetary Board, the BSP’s policy-making body, named Shara-P Money Changing Services and Downtown Money Changer among the five entities disqualified for operating without the central bank’s

MANILA, Philippines — The state-run Land Bank of the Philippines is putting nearly P12 billion behind five solar projects by Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) in Batangas as it expands its solar footprint nationwide. In a statement, the state-run lender said it provided P11.68 billion to CREC, which forms part of a P35.014-billion syndicated project finance

LPG supplier Solane said in an advisory that it will implement a decrease of P4.55 per kilogram, inclusive of value-added tax (VAT), effective October 27, 2026.

MANILA, Philippines — Pag-IBIG Fund’s housing loan releases climbed 20 percent in the first nine months of the year as financing for minimum wage and low-income members nearly tripled under the government’s socialized housing program. In a statement, Pag-Ibig said its housing loan releases increased 20 percent to P111.29 billion from January to September, from P93.03

MANILA, Philippines — Investors looking to expand in the Philippines face mounting economic and political uncertainties, as a new report flagged “elevated” risks in the country’s business environment and warned that conditions could deteriorate further. In its inaugural Philippine Political and Country Outlook Report, professional services firm WR Advisory Group gave the country an overall risk

There is something about gathering around a table, sharing good food, discovering a remarkable bottle, and raising a glass with friends that never goes out of style. For Philippine Wine Merchants (PWM), that spirit of togetherness is at the heart of the 23rd Grand Wine Experience, returning on November 20, 2026, to the Marriott Grand

Local tax bureaus across China are continuing to step up oversight following the expiration of the country’s grace period for the reporting of offshore trusts last Thursday, part of an ongoing push to spur voluntary tax disclosures. Municipal tax authorities in Beijing published notices for 21 individuals on the official website last Thursday – the expiry date of the 90-day grace period – ordering them to submit tax documentation linked to offshore trusts. The notices, issued to “tighten tax...