December 26, 2024
Budget gap widens in November
PHILIPPINE STAR/ EDD GUMBAN THE National Government’s (NG) budget deficit widened to P213 billion in November, as revenue collections dipped and spending accelerated, Treasury data showed. Data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed the budget deficit more than doubled to P213 billion in November from P93.3 billion in the same month last year. […]
December 26, 2024
Infrastructure spending inches up in October
Workers of the Department of Public Works and Highways put temporary asphalt on the potholes along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. — PHILIPPINE/EDD GUMBANSTAR By Aubrey Rose A. Inosante, Reporter STATE INFRASTRUCTURE spending in October inched up by 2.52% annually, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said. In the latest disbursement report, the DBM said […]
December 26, 2024
Transactions via Instapay, PESONet hit P15.6 trillion
DAVID DVORACEK-UNSPLASH By Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson, Reporter THE VALUE of transactions done through InstaPay and PESONet jumped to P15.62 trillion as of end-November, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. Transactions coursed through the two automated clearing houses climbed by 35.2% in the January-to-November period from P11.56 trillion in the same […]
December 26, 2024
BSP says less counterfeits of polymer banknotes
The First Philippine Polymer Banknote Series is composed of the 1000-piso polymer banknote, as well as new polymer denominations: 500-, 100-, and 50-piso. — COURTESY OF THE BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS THERE WERE FEWER recorded counterfeit and damaged bills for polymer banknotes versus paper notes, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Thursday. The […]
December 26, 2024
CICC, JuanHand, and Maya launch PROTECTA FINTECH to combat cybercrimes in the Philippines
In photo from L to R, 1st row: Kristoffer Rada (Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs, Maya), Atty. Rogelio V. Quevedo (Commissioner, Securities and Exchange Commission), Andres Reyes Jr. (Retired Supreme Court Justice and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center Consultant), Francisco “Coco” Mauricio (Lead Advocate, Protecta Fintech and President and CEO, JuanHand), Atty. Roy Ibay […]
December 26, 2024
Federal Land Nomura Real Estate (FNG) sets out with a unique vision of Japanese-inspired living in the Philippines
One of FNG’s first developments, The Observatory in Mandaluyong aims to provide a complete, comfortable, and convenient living experience to its future residents. (Artist’s perspective) FNG has established itself as a notable player in the Philippine real estate industry. Formed through a partnership between Federal Land, Inc., a trusted local developer with over five decades […]
December 26, 2024
Philippine Stock Exchange to take over PDS in P2.32-B deal
REUTERS THE Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) is set to take over Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp. (PDS) after buying the stakes of various shareholders in a deal worth P2.32 billion. In an e-mailed statement late Thursday, the PSE said it would buy 3.87 million PDS shares at P600 each for a 61.92% stake as […]
December 26, 2024
SM eyes increased sales as prices ease in 2025
BW FILE PHOTO SM Investments Corp. expects slowing inflation to boost consumer demand in 2025, which it said could create opportunities in the Philippine retail sector. “Any moderation in inflation should trigger a strong confidence rebound,” SM President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said in a statement on Thursday. “This could create opportunities […]
December 26, 2024
Cosco Capital terminates P500-M JV with Siam Global due to poor market conditions
PUREGOLD COSCO Capital, Inc. on Thursday said it has ended its P500-million home improvement warehouse joint venture (JV) with Thailand’s Siam Global House Public Co. Ltd., citing market conditions. They agreed to terminate the joint venture agreement on Dec. 23, Cosco Capital, which operates S&R Membership Shopping and the Puregold Price Club, Inc. chain of […]
December 26, 2024
Metro Manila Film Festival 2024: Himala moves from screen to stage to screen again
By Joseph L. Garcia, Senior Reporter Movie ReviewIsang HimalaDirected by Jose Lorenzo “Pepe” Diokno EARLIER this year, Broadway star Patti LuPone appeared on the talk show Hot Ones, where, instead of apologizing to singer Madonna about her previous criticism of the singer’s acting skills in the movie musical Evita (Ms. LuPone played the dictator’s wife […]
December 26, 2024
BoI says 12 projects eligible to switch to CREATE MORE regime
THE Board of Investments (BoI) said it counts 12 registered projects as eligible to transfer to the incentive regime offered by the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act. In an advisory dated Dec. 18, the BoI said the 12 eligible registered business enterrises (RBEs) […]
December 26, 2024
Japan expresses hope for success of CREATE MORE
TDK JAPANESE Ambassador Endo Kazuya said he is hoping fo the effective implementation of the CREATE MORE Act to draw in more Japanese investment. In a statement, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said Mr. Endo made the remarks during a Dec. 19 visit to Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque. The newly signed CREATE MORE, formally known […]
