Pandemic opens more hometown ventures for developer Ingenuity

A MORE than 10-year-old Davao City-based software firm that has worked with big technology names such as Google, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Oracle, has recently been devoting extra time in hometown ventures to help small businesses and the local government pull through the pandemic. “Many of us are trying to learn new skills to […]

D&L Industries’ income grows 35% as business segments recover

LISTED manufacturing firm D&L Industries, Inc. saw its first-quarter net income rise by 35% to P695 million year on year as the profitability of its business units recovered. In a press release on Wednesday, the manufacturer of food ingredients, specialty plastics and chemicals said that its net income for the three months ending March was […]

MPIC, Meralco boost their sustainability programs

BW FILE PHOTO METRO Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and its unit Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) are expanding their sustainability targets, including adhering to global standards and shifting to cleaner technology. Expansion targets of the companies’ sustainability agenda were shared with participants of a recent virtual forum on multi-sector integration through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) […]

EastWest Bank not looking to sell soured assets via FIST Law

EAST WEST Banking Corp.’s chief executive said the lender is “not very keen” on selling bad assets as its financial position remains healthy. — BW FILE PHOTO EAST WEST Banking Corp. (EastWest Bank) President and Chief Executive Officer Antonio C. Moncupa, Jr. said the bank is “not very keen” on availing of the provisions of […]

Twitter to introduce ticketing for audio Spaces feature

TWITTER, Inc. said on Monday it will introduce a new feature to let users charge admission to their live audio chat rooms in its Spaces feature, as the social media company seeks to court more content creators. Until now, only some users who were part of Twitter’s pilot testing were able to host their own […]

Localized anxiety scales reveal more depressed Filipinos

By Patricia B. Mirasol A DEPRESSION, anxiety, and stress scale that was translated into several Philippine languages revealed that the pandemic has had a larger psychological impact on Filipinos: the translated scales show a higher incidence of severe anxiety as compared to a similar study conducted solely in English. The importance of psychological assessment tools […]

DiskarTech app rolls out new offerings for OFWs, teachers

RIZAL COMMERCIAL Banking Corp.’s (RCBC) DiskarTech app has launched new services to target several groups, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), teachers and small businesses. The platform will offer collateral-free credit for OFWs through its loan marketplace this May, which will allow migrant workers to borrow up to P500,000, RCBC said in a statement. The OFW […]

Marvel rallies superhero fans to assemble at movie theaters

LOS ANGELES — Walt Disney Co.’s Marvel Studios on Monday encouraged superhero fans to return to movie theaters, a show of support for pandemic-battered cinemas trying to stage a comeback amid competition from streaming services. “See you at the movies,” said a three-minute-long trailer designed to stir excitement for 10 upcoming Marvel films including Black […]

Ovialand aims to build 3,000 units yearly by 2025

REAL ESTATE developer Ovialand, Inc. is ramping up expansion efforts to reach its goal of building 3,000 houses yearly by 2025 through a “dynamic growth strategy.” “There is strong demand for our housing lifestyle product, so we are aiming to scale up our capacity to 3,000 houses per year by 2025 and eventually 5,000 houses […]

Herd immunity vs COVID-19

Herd immunity is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that occurs when a high percentage of the population becomes immune, either through vaccination or previous infection. Also known as population immunity or community immunity, herd immunity makes the spread of an infectious disease from person to person unlikely. When herd immunity is achieved, even […]

Peso climbs on PMI data

THE PESO appreciated against the greenback on Monday after data showed factory activity deteriorated in April because of the renewed lockdown. The local unit closed at P48.05 per dollar on Monday, up by five centavos from its P48.10-a-dollar finish on Friday, based on the data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines. The peso opened […]

Stocks drop as virus continues to cloud outlook

PHILIPPINE shares declined on Monday as investors remained cautious over the country’s economic outlook as the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect recovery prospects. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) declined by 1.59 points or 0.02% to close at 6,369.28 on Monday, while the all shares index inched down by 0.03 point to end at 3.923. […]

Plan to tap GOCCs for stimulus clears House panel

THE HOUSE Committee on Ways and Means has approved a proposal to tap government companies’ dividends more extensively to fund the third stimulus package. The sourcing of funds from government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) was approved by the panel in passing the revenue generation provisions of the unnumbered substitute bill that, if approved, will enter […]

ATI applies to raise cargo handling rates at Port of Batangas 

LISTED PORT OPERATOR Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI) and its unit ATI Batangas, Inc. (ATIBI) have filed applications with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to increase cargo handling tariffs at the Phase I and Phase II terminals of the Port of Batangas. “The PPA will conduct a virtual public hearing on the petitions of ATI and […]

Palace asks DICT to cancel free WiFi deal with SpeedCast

THE PALACE on Monday asked the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to cancel its contract with a Hong Kong-based satellite company tapped to implement the P1.3-billion free WiFi project, alleging the slow progress made in the rollout. In 2017, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Republic Act No. 10929, which authorized the DICT to […]