Category: Philippines

Business

Maynilad Cut Water Losses Below 30%—But the Bigger Payoff May Be What It Means for Investors

MANILA, Philippines — Maynilad Water Services Inc. may have just collected five Philippine Quill Awards for communication campaigns, but the numbers behind those campaigns tell a much bigger story. The West Zone water concessionaire is increasingly turning one of the utility sector’s oldest problems—water disappearing through leaks, faulty meters, illegal connections and other system losses—into a potential source of additional supply, lower operating costs and stronger returns on billions of p

September 2, 2026

Business

THE SECRET BEHIND CHICKEN McDO: Why McDonald’s Says Every Piece Must Pass Its “Gold Standard” Before It Reaches Your Table

For millions of Filipinos, Chicken McDo is a familiar fast-food staple—but the consistency behind that familiar taste involves far more than simply dropping chicken into a fryer. McDonald’s Philippines says it has established detailed “Gold Standards” governing Chicken McDo—from its appearance and crispiness to its flavor, juiciness, freshness and food-safety requirements. At the center of that system are roughly 3,200 trained “Chicken Experts” working across McDonald’s restaurants in the Phil

September 2, 2026

Business

Converge Says Filipino MSMEs Don’t Need More Tech—They Need One Thing Before AI Can Take Off

MANILA, Philippines — Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital payments and e-commerce tools are becoming easier for Filipino entrepreneurs to access. But Converge ICT Solutions Inc. says getting the technology into the hands of small businesses may actually be the easy part. The bigger challenge is convincing entrepreneurs that these tools are simple enough, affordable enough—and useful enough—to trust with their businesses. That emerging “trust gap” is becoming a crucial issue as Ph

September 2, 2026

Business

SM Hotels Wants Filipino Food to Become a Reason to Travel — But the Bigger Bet Goes Far Beyond the Dinner Table

MANILA, Philippines — For decades, Philippine tourism has sold travelers on beaches, islands, heritage towns and postcard-worthy landscapes. SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. now wants another attraction to help convince people where to travel next: what Filipinos put on the table. The hospitality arm of SM Prime Holdings is expanding its “Gateway to Gastronomy” campaign, using regional dishes, local ingredients and Filipino culinary traditions to turn hotel dining into part of the destination it

September 2, 2026

Philippines

PNP Tightens Security as ‘Ber’ Months Begin: More Police, Patrols and Cybercrime Monitoring Nationwide

MANILA — The Philippines has officially entered the “ber” months, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) is responding with tighter security measures as shopping, travel, gatherings and other activities are expected to increase ahead of the Christmas season. PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered police units nationwide to strengthen visibility, patrols and monitoring in places expected to draw large crowds, including malls and other commercial establishments, transpo

September 2, 2026

Business

ACMobility Wins Big for Its People as Business Growth Accelerates—But the Bigger Story Is What’s Happening Behind the Scenes

MANILA, Philippines — ACMobility is strengthening its position not only as one of the country’s fast-growing mobility companies but also as an employer to watch, after earning multiple international and Philippine workplace recognitions amid an aggressive expansion push. The Ayala Group’s end-to-end mobility provider received new honors at the 2026 HR Excellence Awards Philippines and the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, extending its recent streak of recognition for people management, leader

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Philippines Habagat Crisis: Death Toll Rises to 39 as Floods and Landslides Leave Millions Affected

MANILA — The death toll from the combined effects of Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng and the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, has climbed to 39, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), as authorities continue dealing with widespread flooding, landslides and damage across the Philippines.  The latest OCD report, based on data as of 6 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, shows that Benguet has recorded the highest number of fatalities at 15, with all 15 attributed to landslides. Ten deaths w

September 2, 2026

Business

Ayala Land Just Made a Major Move—And Jaime Urquijo Is at the Center of It

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala Land Inc. is making a major leadership move that will bring its Metro Manila and regional estates businesses under a single organization, with Jaime Z. Urquijo set to take charge of the expanded group beginning January 1, 2027. Urquijo, who currently heads Ayala Land’s Urban Estates business, will become head of the newly integrated AyalaLand Estates Group, placing the next-generation Ayala executive at the center of the property giant’s nationwide estate development

September 2, 2026

Philippines

PILANDOK DECELERATES, THE ATMOSPHERE ACROSS THE ARCHIPELAGO SHIFTS DRAMATICALLY,WITH THE HABAGAT,OR SOUTHWEST MONSOON,CONTINUING TO EXERT ITS INFLUENCE OVER THE REGIONS OF LUZON AND VISAYAS

MANILA, Philippines — September 2, 2026. Tropical Storm Pilandok (international name: Krovanh) is moving away from the Philippine landmass, but the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, continues to bring heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous seas across parts of the country. PAGASA reported Wednesday that Pilandok was over the Philippine Sea, far east-northeast of Northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h. No Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal is currently rais

September 2, 2026

Business

Cebu’s MSMEs Have the Products and the Buyers—But Business Leaders Say One Missing Link Is Holding Them Back

CEBU CITY — Filipino entrepreneurs may already have the products customers want. The bigger problem, Cebu business leaders say, is getting those products through the doors of supermarkets, major corporations, government procurement programs and eventually overseas markets. That challenge took center stage as business groups called for a shift from simply showcasing micro, small and medium enterprises at trade fairs to actively connecting them with buyers, corporate supply chains and export oppo

September 2, 2026