Day: December 16, 2025

Manila: Job creation in the Philippines is expected to get a boost as additional businesses have indicated interest in starting operations in the country. Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque told journalists Monday night she will be in South Korea from Dec. 17-19 to meet four investors, whom she declined to identify. According to Philippines News Agency, Roque is hopeful that these potential investments will help drive growth in the retail sector, thereby creating more job opportunities for Filipinos. She noted that aside from the retail sector, the businesses of the four entities, whose officials she is scheduled to meet

Manila: Developers have been given until March 31, 2026, to comply with the Balanced Housing Development Program (BHDP) as per Republic Act (RA) 10884, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). The DHSUD Secretary, Jose Ramon Aliling, announced that the ancillary sanctions for non-compliance have been further suspended due to prevailing economic challenges and the impact of recent natural events. According to Philippines News Agency, the new deadline extends the previous target of December 31, 2025. This extension is part of the DHSUD’s efforts to sustain economic activity and support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang

Baguio: The Baguio Water District (BWD) has completed a PHP24.2 million pipeline project, installing 7,505 meters of new pipes across the city to improve service and reduce water loss. General Manager Engr. Salvador Royeca highlighted the project’s scope, which included 28 major works encompassing 11 repiping projects to replace old lines, 10 extension lines to reach new areas, four new transmission lines, and three upsizing projects for high-demand zones. According to Philippines News Agency, the upgrades are designed to address both current water needs and anticipated population growth for the district’s 51,004 active connections. Additional projects along Manga Road-Loakan and

Makati city: Power sector industry players intending to explore geothermal power in the Philippines can tap into a USD170-million (around PHP10 billion) de-risking facility starting in the first quarter of 2026. This development follows the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin and Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) President and Chief Executive Officer Ma. Lynette Ortiz during the Sustainable Energy Awards 2025 in Makati City. According to Philippines News Agency, the MOA operationalizes the Philippine Geothermal Resource De-Risking Facility (PGRDF), with funding sourced from the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) through

Manila: The local stock barometer snapped its climb as investors decided to take profits but the peso regained its footing against the U.S. dollar. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slipped by 0.04 percent to 6,055.68 points, and the broader All Shares by 0.10 percent to 3,452.26 points. According to Philippines News Agency, most of the sectoral indices also ended in the negative territory, with Services declining by 1.84 percent; Mining and Oil, 1.57 percent; Holding Firms, 0.25 percent; and Industrial, 0.22 percent. Financials and Property, meanwhile, rose by 1.65 percent and 0.75 percent, respectively. Luis Limlingan, Regina Capital Development