Category: Business

Business

A 1972 Coffee Recipe Is Suddenly Back in the Spotlight—Here’s Why DTI Is Betting on It

A coffee recipe dating back to 1972 is getting a fresh shot at the national market as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) features local brand Cremetowne Coffee at its MSME Hub in Makati City. The featured product is the brand’s locally produced kapeng barako, a distinctly Filipino coffee known for its strong and robust character. According to DTI, Cremetowne traces its coffee recipe to 1972, giving the product a decades-old story that the company is now bringing into a more convenient,

August 18, 2026

Business

₱12.3-M Irrigation Damage Hits Cordillera—But the Bigger Threat May Still Be Ahead

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The agricultural lifeline of parts of the Cordillera has taken another major hit as the combined effects of recent tropical cyclones and the enhanced southwest monsoon, or Habagat, damaged irrigation facilities in the region, with the National Irrigation Administration-Cordillera (NIA-CAR) estimating repair costs at ₱12.3 million. NIA-CAR Regional Manager Engr. Ronilio Cervantes said the agency has so far recorded damage affecting 253 hectares of agricultural land and

August 18, 2026

Business

Trump’s Indonesia Golf Resort Is Back in Business After Environmental Halt — But What Happens Next Could Be Bigger Than Golf

LIDO, West Java — A Trump-branded luxury resort project in Indonesia is moving forward again after months of uncertainty, with construction resuming inside the sprawling Lido Special Economic Zone (SEZ) south of Jakarta. The development, tied to the Trump Organization and Indonesian conglomerate MNC Group, had faced a major setback in February 2025 when Indonesian authorities ordered development work to stop over environmental and water-management concerns. Now, more than a year later, the pro

August 18, 2026

Business

DOLE Issues August Holiday Pay Reminder: Workers May Get Up to 260% Pay—Here’s Who Qualifies

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino workers and private-sector employers are being reminded to get their payroll calculations right as two nationwide holidays arrive this August, with different pay rules applying to August 21 and August 31. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said employers must observe the proper wage rules for Ninoy Aquino Day on Friday, August 21, 2026, and National Heroes Day on Monday, August 31, 2026. The reminder is particularly important for employees who are sche

August 18, 2026

Business

DOLE Internship Opens Government Career Door for Surigaonon Jobseeker—But Her Story Reveals What Experience Can Really Do

MADRID, Surigao del Sur — For Hilyn A. Estrada, landing a permanent government position did not happen overnight. It began with a temporary opportunity that gave her something many jobseekers struggle to obtain: actual experience inside government service. Estrada, a resident of Barangay Linibonan in Madrid, Surigao del Sur, joined the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Government Internship Program (GIP) in June 2024. Her assignment brought her to the Barangay Local Government Unit o

August 18, 2026

Business

DOLE’s ₱3.37-M Livelihood Push Gives 114 Surigao Norte Families a Way Out of Child Labor

SURIGAO DEL NORTE — A government livelihood program is taking aim at one of the hardest realities facing vulnerable Filipino families: children being pushed into work because their households cannot make ends meet. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has provided a combined ₱3,375,180 in livelihood assistance to 114 parents and guardians of profiled child laborers in Surigao del Norte, giving families access to income-generating resources intended to keep children in school rather tha

August 18, 2026

Business

From River Weed to Real Income: Ilocos Norte Weavers Turn Water Hyacinth Into Products Buyers Are Now Ordering in Bulk — What Happens Next?

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — A plant often dismissed as a nuisance is becoming an unexpected source of income for families in Ilocos Norte. Members of the Cataban Water Hyacinth Weavers Association are turning water hyacinth into bags, baskets, rugs, planters, coasters and tumbler holders—transforming an abundant local material into products that can be sold in the market. The livelihood initiative was highlighted on August 13 during an exhibition and live weaving activity at the Robinsons Iloco

August 17, 2026

Business

Hired Today, Helped Tomorrow: Why Thousands of Vulnerable Ilocanos Are Racing to Qualify for DSWD’s ₱7,000 Work Grant

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Landing a job is often celebrated as the finish line, but for many low-income Filipinos, it's only the beginning of another financial struggle. From medical examinations and government clearances to uniforms, transportation, and temporary lodging, the cost of reporting for work can easily reach thousands of pesos—forcing some newly hired workers to delay or even lose employment opportunities. To bridge that gap, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

August 17, 2026

Business

PSEi at 6,297: Stocks Could Be Poised for a Breakout—But One BSP Decision May Change Everything

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine stocks are expected to move largely sideways this shortened trading week, but investors may see a slight upward bias as markets weigh the possibility that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) could take a less aggressive approach to interest-rate hikes. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) ended last Friday at 6,297.30, gaining 0.11% week-on-week, as investors continued to assess weak economic growth, elevated inflation and the direction of monetary polic

August 17, 2026

Business

₱900,000 in Sales, 57 MSMEs: What Made Ilocos Norte’s ‘Produkto Ilocandia’ Trade Fair a Breakthrough?

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — What began as a showcase of homegrown products turned into a significant opportunity for small entrepreneurs in Ilocos Norte, with the second Produkto Ilocandia Trade Fair generating more than ₱900,000 in sales and bringing together 57 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers’ associations. Held from August 7 to 15 at the Laoag City Hall Grounds, the trade fair gave local producers a direct avenue to meet consumers, sell their products and gather feedba

August 17, 2026