VAT exemptions eroding tax base, think tank says
THE Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) of the House of Representatives said excessive value-added tax (VAT) exemptions are significantly reducing government revenue,...
Coconut output seen rising despite El Niño risks
COCONUT production is expected to increase this year despite concerns over dry weather linked to El Niño, while exports of coconut oil are expected...
Agro-based exports up in 1st quarter
AGRICULTURE-BASED exports in the first quarter rose 7.5% year on year to $1.82 billion, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), citing preliminary data.
The...
Port cargo volume up 1.53% in Q1
THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said cargo volume at ports it oversees rose 1.53% to 66.96 million metric tons (MMT) in the first quarter,...
Philippines in AI, critical minerals talks with Israel
THE PHILIPPINES is exploring partnerships with Israel on critical minerals and building artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystems, in a bid to deepen its role in...
VAT zero-rating for non-IPA registered exporters
By Meynard Sardalla
For many years, VAT zero-rating on local purchases was largely associated with enterprises registered with investment promotion agencies (IPAs).
DEPDev sees NCR cost of living distorting single national wage
THE Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said wage hikes should continue to be set at the regional level to preserve competitiveness.
Digital economy share of GDP steady at 9.8%
THE digital economy accounted for 9.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, unchanged from a year earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said,...
ASEAN counting on FTA enhancements to keep supply chains resilient in wartime
THE ASSOCIATION of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will strengthen and accelerate free trade agreements (FTAs) with partners like China, South Korea and Canada to...
Imported rice ‘blend’ being studied to keep prices low
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is studying a proposal to blend imported and domestically produced rice to reduce costs paid by consumers.
Agriculture...
BCDA remits P5.7 billion to Treasury
THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it remitted P5.7 billion to the Treasury this year to help fund key infrastructure programs and...
Part-time job demand seen fueled by rise of remote work
THE DEMAND for part-time and specialized roles in the Philippines continued to grow in the first quarter of 2026, driven by a surge in...