THE LENDING portfolio of nonbank financial institutions with quasi-banking functions (NBQBs) dropped in the first half of the year as players merged or gave up their licenses, an official from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said. “As of end-June 2020,

By Denise A. Valdez, Senior Reporter LOCAL SHARES are expected to move sideways this week as some investors may start bargain hunting after last week’s four-day decline. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed Friday’s session at 6,791.46, down by 136.29

THE Department of Public Works Highways (DPWH) was responsible for redistributing infrastructure spending items in the proposed 2021 national budget, a senior legislator said, rejecting claims that budget cuts targeted Representatives associated with the former House leadership. “It was the DPWH

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE in an economic recovery is lower in the Philippines compared with elsewhere in Asia, McKinsey & Co. said, citing the results of a study. Only 42% of Filipinos considered themselves optimistic, while 9% were pessimistic and 49% unsure. McKinsey &

THE economy’s recovery will be hindered by the series of typhoons that hit during the fourth quarter, with fiscal and monetary measures necessary to provide support, S&P Global Ratings said. “The economy is gradually improving, but the disruption of a recent

THE PANDEMIC has hit poorer households in the Philippines harder than the rest of the population, affecting their income and food security disproportionately, according to the World Bank. According to a study conducted by the bank in early August, 47% of

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has ordered the planting of bamboo along the banks of the Cagayan River as an anti-flooding measure to prevent the recurrence of the floods that hit Cagayan and Isabela provinces during Typhoon Ulysses (international name:

With Christmas just a few weeks away, most of us are preparing decorations and buying presents despite the quarantine. This year’s holiday season will be much different from the past celebrations. Most businesses, particularly the micro, small and medium enterprises,

By Gillian M. Cortez and Vann Marlo M. Villegas, Reporters THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) plans to vaccinate as many as 25 million people against the coronavirus next year, the agency’s chief said on Monday. It also expects a large portion of

THE METRO Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will resume operations on Dec. 1 after repair works at the Taft section were completed, according to the Transportation department. Management installed long-welded rails at all train stations as part of its rehabilitation program,