PH trade deficit narrows to 15-month low in August 2026

GMA Network - Sep 30, 2026

The Philippine trade deficit narrowed to a 15-month low in August 2026 as imports declined from the previous month while exports climbed, preliminary government data released on Wednesday showed.

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Sep 30, 2026

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China’s corporate sector remains considerably weaker than it was before the Covid-19 pandemic, but the country is emerging as a key beneficiary of the global artificial intelligence boom thanks to its ample power capacity, according to a Natixis survey of thousands of firms and a separate research report. Profit margins at Chinese firms had stabilised at about 4.5 per cent for the first half of 2026, but remained well below the nearly 9 per cent recorded by their global peers, according to the...

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Sep 30, 2026

ERC sets rules to curb double charges in electricity bills

MANILA, Philippines — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued new rules to protect electricity consumers against double charging. In Resolution No. 30, Series of 2026, it imposed uniform rates on “Other Charges” that distribution utilities (DUs) may collect from customers. According to the ERC, “Other Charges” may generally be imposed only for specific customer-requested

29 farm-to-market roads eyed in Mimaropa

Sep 30, 2026

29 farm-to-market roads eyed in Mimaropa

A total of 29 farm-to-market roads (FMR) across the Mimaropa region are set to be built, with a total funding of P430 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

Piston prefers tax-free oil products to P1 fare hike

Sep 30, 2026

Piston prefers tax-free oil products to P1 fare hike

MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) on Tuesday kicked off its two-day nationwide strike, saying the removal of excise on petroleum products will have more impact on drivers than the P1 fare increase. Piston president Mody Floranda said the additional P1 to the minimum fare is

Budget watchdog wary of closed-door negotiations

Sep 30, 2026

Budget watchdog wary of closed-door negotiations

MANILA, Philippines — A budget watchdog on Tuesday expressed concern that changes to the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 are already being negotiated behind closed doors, as it warned that any subsequent public hearings may be viewed as merely for show. The House of Representatives is hoping to approve its version of the 2027

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Sep 30, 2026

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USD to THB exchange rate stands at 33.40. Thailand's central bank maintained interest rates at 1.00% in 2026, supporting economic stability. Global factors and tourism influence currency fluctuations; travelers should compare exchange rates before converting money.

Online threats surge in S. Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat after Banga shooting

Sep 30, 2026

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KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines — Police have recorded a sharp rise in online threats following the Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, with authorities arresting about 40 people in connection with such cases. Police Brig. Gen. Allan Manibog, Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 director, said 65 online threats were

DOLE issues pay guideline for Nov. 16-18, 2026 amid 49th ASEAN Summit

Sep 30, 2026

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The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has set the pay guidelines for work rendered on November 16 to 18, 2026, which have been declared as special non-working days in the National Capital Region in connection with the country's hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit.

Provinces brace for drought, farm losses

Sep 30, 2026

Provinces brace for drought, farm losses

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Agriculture and health officials in several parts of the country are stepping up preparations as El Niño intensifies, with the weather phenomenon expected to reach a “very strong” state before the end of 2026 and possibly persist into 2027. The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region,

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Sep 30, 2026

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Sep 30, 2026

HSBC unveils RedCoin as name of its Hong Kong stablecoin for 3.3 million PayMe users

HSBC on Wednesday named its stablecoin offering HSBC RedCoin, paving the way for Hong Kong’s biggest lender to make the coin available to the more than 3.3 million users of its PayMe app for money transfers, shopping and dining. When launched before the end of the year, the stablecoin would be offered only through PayMe and HSBC’s Hong Kong mobile banking app, HSBC said. The bank said it was optimistic about retail usage of HSBC RedCoin, as 74 per cent of respondents to a survey of more than...

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The new members the BARMM parliament enter a period of negotiations before choosing their chief minister on October 30, when they hold their first regular session

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