Philippines

The Philippine central bank has yet to hit its target inflation range of 2% to 4%.
Economy

Philippine central bank slows rate hike to 25 basis points

Move comes amid stubbornly high inflation, global banking uncertainties

23 March 2023
The Philippine gambling regulator is exploring a sale of state-owned casinos. 
Travel & Leisure

Philippines eyes $1.5bn from sale of state-owned casinos

Gross gaming revenue may return to pre-pandemic level by 2024

21 March 2023
Islamic State supporters are growing in some Southeast Asian countries.
Terrorism

IS-linked extremists infiltrate ASEAN, eyeing Indonesia 2024 polls

Islamic State sees Philippine groups as good conduits, uses Singapore social media

21 March 2023
ABS-CBN was shut down three years ago by the government under former President Rodrigo Duterte. (File photo by Getty Images) 
Media & Entertainment

Philippine TV company shut down by Duterte to sell internet arm

ABS-CBN, once country's largest broadcaster, to focus on content creation

16 March 2023
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is promoting the Maharlika Investment Fund with an eye on his legacy, some observers say.
Asia Insight

Maharlika Investment Fund provides 'make or break' test for Marcos

Amid opposition and historical baggage, president pushes sovereign wealth fund

14 March 2023
A Lopez Group property in Manila. The group is looking to develop its electric power business for further growth. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Companies

Philippines' Lopez Group looks to geothermal, LNG for future growth

Conglomerate seeks to offset collapse of media business after political frictions

14 March 2023
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Cebu City on Feb. 27: The Philippine president has managed to discard his predecessor's foreign policy legacy without triggering any major political backlash.
Opinion

Marcos has work to do at home after his diplomatic successes

Philippine military and investment environment both in need of major overhaul

10 March 2023
Operations at DALI outlets are based on German supermarkets that avoid elaborate interiors and massive advertising costs. (Screenshot from DALI Stores website)
DealStreetAsia

ADB to invest $15m in Philippines-focused grocery chain DALI

Bank hopes move will increase food security and create jobs

8 March 2023
Mitsubishi Corp. aims to increase orders for railway systems and rolling stock in the Philippines. (Photo by Akikazu Ishii)
Transportation

Mitsubishi receives $2bn order for Philippine commuter railway

North-south transit project aims to ease Manila's chronic traffic jams

4 March 2023
Tengku Muhammad Taufik, third from right, president and group CEO of Malaysia's Petronas, and Japanese Economy and Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, second from left, and others attend a decarbonization conference in Tokyo on March 3. (Photo by Sayumi Take) 
Climate Change

Malaysia's Petronas CEO seeks 'practical' clean power transition

Southeast Asian energy leaders meet for Japan's decarbonization initiative

3 March 2023
U.S. Marines prepare for annual combat drills with their Philippine counterparts in Capas, Tarlac province, northern Philippines in October 2022. 
Defense

Philippine defense chief says U.S. base deal not aimed at war

Senators, local officials fear Manila involvement in possible Taiwan conflict

3 March 2023
Telemedicine is gaining a foothold in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries for services ranging from consultations to delivering prescriptions. (Source photos by Getty Images)  
Business Spotlight

Indonesia and its ASEAN neighbors take to telemedicine

Growing populations, fewer physicians spur apps like Alodokter, Doctor Anywhere

3 March 2023
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim discussed the Myanmar crisis during their meeting in Manila on March 1.
Myanmar Crisis

Malaysia's Anwar urges ASEAN rethink on resolving Myanmar crisis

Leader and Philippines' Marcos also discuss South China Sea, Mindanao

1 March 2023
The Philippines' business process outsourcing industry exceeded industry growth forecasts last year as global companies continue to look for ways to cut costs. (File photo by Yumi Kotani) 
Companies

Philippine BPO industry beats 2022 targets with hybrid work setup

Call centers and peers optimistic for 2023 despite recession fears

28 February 2023
The Philippines and Malaysia's startup ecosystems are emerging as lesser-known hot spots in Southeast Asia for investors seeking solid returns from young tech companies. (Source photos by Akira Kodaka and AP)
Startups

Philippines, Malaysia emerge as startup hot spots, says investor

500 Global doubles down on regional tech investment as valuations cool

28 February 2023
Fee earnings this month of ASEAN's largest banks -- United Overseas Bank, DBS Group Holdings and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. -- all dropped.
Finance

ASEAN banks feel fee earnings pinch amid choppy markets

Some investors pulling back, hitting noninterest incomes of lenders

24 February 2023
Consumers in Japan are paying more for eggs and foods that use them. (Photo by Nozomu Ogawa) 
Food & Beverage

Japan egg prices surge on bird flu, costs of feed and labor

Beef bowls, mayonnaise get more expensive; Taiwan, Philippines also affected

23 February 2023
A view of Manila's port. The Philippine Senate ratified the free trade agreement after the president advocated for more imports of agricultural products to tame inflation.
Trade

Philippines ratifies RCEP trade deal after shift by Marcos

Business groups cheer Senate's approval as step to boost competitiveness

22 February 2023
Cerberus Capital Management took over the bankrupt Hanjin shipyard at Subic Bay in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority)
Aerospace & Defense Industries

China tensions boost defense industry at Philippines' Subic Bay

Private equity company Cerberus reviving shipyard at former U.S. naval base

21 February 2023
Drought in Cambodia is expected to reduce Vietnam's supply of rice, hindering its ability to export more of the staple to the Philippines.
Agriculture

Thai rice exports to Philippines set to double as Vietnam cuts back

Fresh demand to help boost Bangkok's annual trade in staple to 8.2 million tons

16 February 2023
Onions are displayed at a public market in Manila in January, when inflation hit a 14-year high of 8.7%.
Economy

Philippines raises key interest rate to 6%, Indonesia holds steady

Manila's hike of 50 basis points follows fastest price rises in 14 years

16 February 2023
Philippine Airlines already restarted flights to the mainland Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Xiamen.
Transportation

Philippine Airlines restarts flights to Beijing and Shanghai

Carrier makes play for post-COVID tourist and business travel

16 February 2023
Rappler CEO and Nobel laureate Maria Ressa speaks to the media after being acquitted in a tax evasion case in Quezon City on Jan. 18: There are more battles ahead.
Opinion

A court victory is not enough to restore Philippine press freedom

End of Duterte era has brought some relief, but media remains under siege

15 February 2023
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Feb. 9. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
The Nikkei View

Japan and U.S. should pursue strategic cooperation with Philippines

Forcing Manila to choose sides would only risk pushing it toward China

15 February 2023
Rising tensions in the South China Sea have prompted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to bolster defense ties with the U.S. and Japan. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
South China Sea

Marcos summons Beijing envoy over laser use in South China Sea

Philippines slams China's 'acts of aggression' as U.S. vows anew to defend ally

14 February 2023