Telecommunications giant PLDT reported an 8% decline in net income to P21.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, even as service revenues increased and its enterprise and data center businesses posted growth.

Available through the bank’s Earnest financial education website, the chatbot allows users to ask follow-up questions and seek simpler explanations of financial terms.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered online lending platform Peso Flow to cease operations and take down its website and other digital channels after finding that it was conducting unauthorized financing activities while using the corporate identity of a registered financing company.

Converge ICT Solutions reported a nearly 4% increase in revenue to P34.2 billion in the first nine months of 2026, driven by its enterprise business, as the broadband provider prepares to expand into artificial intelligence (AI) services, additional data centers, and lower-cost Internet offerings amid slower economic growth.

Scam exposure among Filipino adults rose to 84% in 2026 from 77% a year earlier, while only 4% reported incidents to authorities, according to the Asean Foundation’s State of Scams Philippines 2026 Report.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has acknowledged that certain taxpayer profile information may have been exposed following cybersecurity incidents reported on Nov. 6 and 7, although it maintained that its internal databases and tax filing and payment records remain intact.

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has confirmed receiving personal data breach notifications from 10 government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), amid growing concerns over the security of government-held information.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched a system-wide security audit following a data security incident detected on Nov. 6, amid claims that approximately 487,000 lines of data associated with the agency have been posted on an online cybersecurity forum.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has revised the guidelines for its Startup Grant Fund (SGF), introducing three funding categories offering grants of up to P1.5 million and allowing individual founders and unregistered startup teams to qualify for assistance.

Startup founders will meet with venture capital firms, technology companies, and potential business partners at Philippine Startup Week (PSW) 2026, scheduled for November 9 to 12 at the Quezon City MICE Center.

Limited access to capital remains the biggest obstacle to startup development in Western Visayas, with businesses struggling to move beyond the idea stage, according to a regional ecosystem mapping report released by the Unified Movement in Western Visayas to Accelerate Startup and Spinoff Development (UMWAD).

OnlyFun.PH has launched FollowBet x VMX Live, an online gambling platform that combines livestreams featuring Filipino celebrities with real-time betting and games.

The Department of Energy (DOE), meanwhile, said it is coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) on a joint memorandum circular intended to simplify the permitting process for EV charging stations.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has turned over nine electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and a fleet management mobile application to the municipal government of Luna, Apayao, under a project supporting local public transport.

VinFast launched its all-new VF 8 electric sport utility vehicle in the Philippines on Nov. 11, with prices starting at P1.548 million under a battery subscription arrangement or P1.799 million with the battery included.

Filipino motorists reported better experiences in buying and maintaining vehicles in 2026, with improvements in dealership sales and after-sales services driving higher customer satisfaction across the Philippine automotive industry, according to a new study.

Technology roles are among the highest-paying jobs advertised in the Philippines, with monthly salaries for DevOps engineers ranging from P86,000 to P158,000, according to Jobstreet by SEEK’s Salary Pulse 2026 Report.

The Philippines has the highest proportion of “Savvy Shoppers” among six Southeast Asian markets surveyed, with 36% of Filipino consumers falling under the classification, according to a study by research firm Cube in partnership with Lazada.

LG Philippines has previewed new washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, and cooking appliances scheduled to reach local stores in 2027, although prices and specific release dates have yet to be announced.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has partnered with Rakuten Viber to offer free business accounts, digital training, and promotional support to accredited tourism micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).