BIR chases billions from online sellers [The Philippine Star, October 14, 2025]
Lumagui said it is continuously coordinating with online merchant platforms and the Department of Trade and Industry on how to implement the shutdown of websites that fail to pay the required fees.
PEZA teams up with China technology firm [The Manila Times, October 14, 2025]
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) on Monday said that it teamed up with FiberHome Phils. Inc. to enhance telecommunication solutions for ecozones.
Analysts see stronger transparency from SEC’s proposed ownership disclosure rules [BusinessWorld, October 14, 2025]
The proposed guidelines categorize beneficial owners based on various modes of control or ownership. These include direct ownership of at least 20% of shares, contractual control, influence over board elections, dominant influence over corporate policies, nominee arrangements, and senior management control when no natural person is otherwise identifiable.
DOE: Full RE foreign ownership added 20 GW to Philippine power supply [Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 14, 2025]
Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara acknowledged the private sector’s role in helping the country hit its target of 35 percent renewable energy share in the electricity generation mix by 2030.
Cirtek on the hunt for new investors [The Philippine Star, October 14, 2025]
Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp., a listed integrated technology company chaired by Jerry Liu, is seeking new investors as the company recovers from financial setbacks due to a global slowdown in market demand.
Buildings designed, built properly generally safe in strong earthquakes, says engineer [GMA News Online, October 13, 2025]
According to a study of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Japan International Cooperation Agency, 40% of residential buildings in Metro Manila could collapse or be affected once the “Big One,” or the magnitude 7.2 earthquake, hits.
‘Tax holiday won’t fix corruption, public trust issues’ [The Philippine Star, October 13, 2025]
Senate Bill 1446 or the One-Month Tax Holiday of 2025 seeks to provide a one-month income tax exemption to individual taxpayers receiving compensation income.
Lucena, Siquijor ports set for nearly P700M in upgrades [BusinessWorld, October 13, 2025]
The port regulator said it issued bid invitations for the P620-million expansion of Lucena Port in Quezon and the P58-million expansion of Lazi Port in Siquijor.
GOCC pay scheme under GCG review [BusinessWorld, October 13, 2025]
In a statement dated Oct. 9, the regulator said the guidelines for the new Compensation and Position Classification System II (CPCS II) — which raises salaries and adds tiered medical allowances — are now being looked at by the GCG, sitting en banc.
PNB Holdings bets on IT-BPM, lifestyle retailers [Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 13, 2025]
Joselito Consunji, COO of PNB Holdings Corp. (PHC), told the Inquirer in an email interview that their properties currently maintained an occupancy rate of almost 90 percent. These are both at PNB Financial Center in Pasay City and PNB Makati Center.
ICTSI climbs on long-term Subic terminal deal [BusinessWorld, October 13, 2025]
RAZON-LED International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) shares surged last week after the company secured a 25-year renewal of its Subic New Container Terminals (NCT) 1 and 2 concessions.
Right-of-way issues still hamper ODA-assisted projects in Philippines [BusinessWorld, October 13, 2025]
The acquisition of RoW from landowners for National Government infrastructure projects is mostly hampered by disputes over property valuation.
Palace OKs Creative Industries Development Plan [The Philippine Star, October 13, 2025]
The creative economy at current prices amounted to P1.94 trillion in 2024, higher by 8.7 percent than P 1.78 trillion in 2023, the latest PSA data showed. The sector accounted for 7.3 percent of the gross domestic product and employed 7.51 million people last year.
Ayala partners with IKEA [The Philippine Star, October 13, 2025]
IKEA opened its first store in the country in 2021 at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.
Decades-old forfeiture law could curb ill-gotten wealth, lawyer says [The Philippine Star, October 12, 2025]
Known as the Forfeiture Law, it empowers authorities to confiscate assets clearly disproportionate to a public official’s lawful income.
'Cash for iris scan': NPC issues cease and desist vs firm amid alleged data privacy violations [ABS-CBN News, October 11, 2025]
“The NPC determined that offering monetary incentives to individuals in exchange for submitting to iris scanning constituted undue influence. This rendered the consent obtained not freely given, and therefore invalid under the DPA and relevant NPC issuances,” the NPC statement read.
MVP: Corruption scandal puts Philippine credit rating at risk [Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 11, 2025]
Speaking before the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) on Friday, Manuel Pangilinan said the current political landscape may affect investor confidence, especially if “institutional responses are regarded as inadequate.”
Brian Poe wants ₱60-B PhilHealth subsidy to go directly to patients [Inquirer.Net, October 11, 2025]
He expressed concern that without strict oversight, PhilHealth might divert the funds to operational maintenance, which he noted the agency could already finance from its existing reserves of over ₱464 billion.
Philippines getting Google Pay, Apple Pay for cross-border payments [The Philippine Star, October 11, 2025]
Leading fintech innovator in cross-border and local payments Aqwire has officially become the local company to process transactions via Google Pay and Apple Pay for cross-border payments in the Philippines.
Efforts underway to exempt Philippines from 'Keep Call Centers in America' bill [The Philippine Star, October 10, 2025]
The Philippine ambassador to the United States is pressing US lawmakers to exempt the country from a new bill that would punish American companies for using overseas call centers.
DFA releases statement after Gretchen Ho's relative denied currency exchange in Norway [GMA Lifestyle, October 10, 2025]
According to the DFA, the incident occurred because the forex stall at Oslo Gardermoen Airport is following an outdated list of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, which “identifies countries that have deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regimes.”
Banks start cap on large cash withdrawals [The Philippine Star, October 10, 2025]
In a customer advisory, BDO Unibank Inc. said that starting Oct. 7, cash withdrawals of over P500,000 per banking day, or its equivalent in foreign currency equivalent, would require additional documents in compliance with BSP Circular 1218.
YouTube now reaches more rural Filipinos than traditional TV [Technobaboy, October 10, 2025]
The shift reflects how mobile access and creator-driven content are changing viewing habits outside Metro Manila. According to the report, 9 out of 10 Filipinos say they trust YouTube creators more than influencers on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
Corruption issues hurting US investor interest in the Philippines — Romualdez [BusinessWorld, October 10, 2025]
In a Super Radyo DZBB interview on Thursday, Mr. Romualdez estimated that around $100 billion to $150 billion in potential investments — including those linked to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s US engagements — may be at risk unless the corruption scandals are resolved.
DOTr secures right-of-way for NSCR sites, eyes 2026 partial completion [Inquirer.Net, October 9, 2025]
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) acquired on Thursday the right-of-way in six areas from Bulacan to Pampanga to complete the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project.
5 Philippine hotels get Michelin Key distinctions [The Philippine Star, October 9, 2025]
Three of the five Philippine hotels with a Michelin Key are located outside Metro Manila, all three on island havens.
Among 'most corrupt'? Customs bureau defends reforms after US bribery report [The Philippine Star, October 9, 2025]
The bureau said it “acknowledges the concerns” raised in the U.S. State Department’s 2025 Investment Climate Statements report, which cited complaints from American companies about bribes, inconsistent fees, and intrusive customs inspections in the Philippines.
Erwin Tulfo's tax holiday proposal must be studied, says Marcos economic aide [GMA News Online, October 9, 2025]
Under the proposed measure, the one-time, one-month income tax holiday will be applicable to individual taxpayers receiving compensation income, which will be on the first payroll month immediately following the approval of the bill.
Negative list overhaul urged to expand foreign role in infra projects [BusinessWorld, October 9, 2025]
In a report, “Addressing Legal and Regulatory Barriers to Quality Infrastructure Investment in India, Indonesia and the Philippines,” the OECD recommended that the Philippine government revisit its Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL), which outlines the industries where foreign investment is restricted due to national security, public safety, and public health concerns.
BSP wants cap on funds transfers, banks to refuse suspicious withdrawals [GMA News Online, October 9, 2025]
According to BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr., the central bank is studying more measures that would deter the use of funds for illicit activities, after it earlier set a P500,000 maximum for daily cash withdrawals.
‘Pasaway’: BIR chief says Discaya couple dodges notices [The Philippine Star, October 9, 2025]
Lumagui said this when asked why the tax evasion case against the contractor couple was filed only this year, despite the bureau having audited them since last year, saying that the couple sometimes refused to accept the bureau's documents.
VAT accounts for 62.9% of first-half Customs revenue [BusinessWorld, October 7, 2025]
“Such a rise is primarily driven by the 10.2% or P21.0 billion uptick in VAT collections for non-oil imports, but this was notably offset by the 10.2% decline in VAT collections from oil,” the DBCC said.
