News

Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is making a bold move to strengthen its presence in the Visayas—and at the heart of this expansion is a brand-new mall in Cebu. Notably, the development will house the region’s very first IKEA store, which marks a significant step in ALI’s strategy to grow its recurring-income portfolio beyond Metro Manila. In a statement released on Wednesday, Ayala Malls officially...

Ayala Corp. has signed a series of agreements with Japanese partners aimed at expanding collaboration on intelligent cities, digital finance, and data-driven services in the Philippines. Accordingly, this move reinforces the country’s oldest conglomerate’s commitment to innovation and regional cooperation.The memoranda of understanding were signed in Tokyo and witnessed by President Marcos....

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed on Thursday a significant new proposal from Japan—the USD10‑billion Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience, also known as POWERR Asia. Consequently, this initiative aims to strengthen regional energy security and resilience, especially in light of ongoing global supply uncertainties fueled by rising tensions in the Middle East.Marcos discussed...

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. left Manila on Tuesday for a four-day state visit to Japan. Accordingly, the Philippines is expected to secure several new agreements aimed at boosting both economic and defense cooperation between the two nations.The presidential aircraft carrying Marcos departed from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at exactly 1:36 p.m.In his departure statement, the President emphasized...

The proposed Lapu-Lapu Expressway (LLEX), valued at ₱4.8 billion, has cleared a crucial hurdle. In fact, the City Development Council (CDC) officially endorsed it as Lapu-Lapu City’s flagship infrastructure project during a full council meeting held on Thursday, May 21. Chaired by Mayor Cindi King-Chan, the council gave its unanimous approval to the 12-kilometer elevated toll expressway. Moreover,...

The Philippine economy recorded a year-on-year Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 2.8 percent during the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest national data. Key Contributors to Growth Several sectors played a significant role in driving this expansion. To begin with, Wholesale and retail trade, along with the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, grew by 4.6 percent. Furthermore,...

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) officially raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points on Thursday, April 23.As a result, this move marks the central bank’s first policy tightening in over two years. Why the BSP acted nowThe decision comes as inflationary pressures continue to intensify, largely due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. In particular, the BSP’s Monetary Board...

Among Filipinos, we Cebuanos are especially excited about the upcoming ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit. Specifically, the event will take place from May 6 to 8 in Cebu. Moreover, the summit will be held at the Mactan Expo in Mactan Newtown, focusing on three key themes: regional security, sustainability, and economic recovery. Why the Summit MattersFirst of all, this gathering is...

Rising sales of electric vehicles (EVs) were not enough to offset an overall decline in the country’s automotive market during the first quarter of 2026. This downturn occurred primarily because higher fuel costs weighed heavily on consumer demand. According to industry data, total vehicle sales reached 105,642 units from January to March 2026. That figure represents a 9.8 percent drop compared to...

Cebu Province’s inflation rate surged to 9.1 percent in March 2026, primarily due to sharp increases in transport and food costs. As a result, household budgets across the region are facing mounting pressure. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Cebu Provincial Statistical Office, this latest figure marks a steep rise from 3.8 percent in March 2025 and 8.0 percent in February 2026....