The Philippine government has issued Executive Order No. 116, increasing the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for pork imports in an effort to address supply shortages, reduce rising food prices, and help stabilize inflation in the country. Signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on May 19, 2026, the order raises the MAV for pork from 54,210 metric tons to 204,210 metric tons for MAV Year 2026. Why the Government Increased Pork Imports According to the Executive Order, the continued spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) has significantly reduced the country’s swine population. This shortage has resulted in higher pork prices in markets nationwide, placing additional pressure on Filipino consumers already dealing with rising food costs. The government said the increase in pork imports aims to: Augment local pork supply Lower retail pork prices Ensure affordable food for consumers Help manage inflationary pressures The order also cites Executive Order No. 110, which declared a state of nationa...
A screenshot of the Landbank website showing an announcement of the new InstaPay fee. Landbank transfer fees via InstaPay using Mobile Banking and iAccess were cut from ₱15 to ₱8 to make their digital services more affordable and accessible to clients. The updated InstaPay fee is effective May 21, 2026, for users who use the Mobile Banking App and iAccess. Landbank also offered 1 free InstaPay transfer daily for amounts of ₱1,000.00 and below. The cut in transfer fees aligns with the response of Landbank to the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to expand access to affordable financial services. “LANDBANK remains committed to advancing financial inclusion by making digital banking more affordable and accessible. By lowering transaction fees, we are enabling more Filipinos to use secure and convenient digital channels for t...