It is the middle of October, well into the “ber” months, when mornings are supposed to turn cool and Christmas songs play in the background. But this year, the weather has not kept to the calendar. The heat and dry air make us feel as if the dry season never really left, with only a few intermittent downpours to interrupt it.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. expects its net income to fall below P5 billion this year from P17.47 billion in 2025, weighed down by higher mandatory remittances to the government’s sports agency and weaker gaming revenues amid slowing consumer spending.

The local stock market suffered a steep decline, losing for a second straight session amid lingering economic concerns raised by the International Monetary Fund.

The country’s largest business organization is pushing for reforms in 10 priority areas to attract investments and create domestic value and benefits that reach communities beyond major corridors.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Department of Agriculture (DA) had ordered the cancellation of the import permit for a P700-million rice shipment from Vietnam, days before the vessel arrived in the Philippines.

The Philippines has one of the lowest penetration rates for fiber-to-the-home  services in Asia-Pacific, as Filipinos prefer mobile data due to its cheaper pricing.

The country’s palay or unmilled rice harvest is projected to decline by 17 percent in the third quarter, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.