Vena Energy Secures Landmark Financing for 300-MW Solar Project in the Philippines
Vena Energy, a part of Singapore’s Vena Group’s renewable energy portfolio, has achieved a significant breakthrough in the Philippines’ transition to clean energy by securing the largest fully international-financed energy project. Namely, the Opus Solar Energy Project, a 300-megawatt (MW) stationary solar facility located in Ilocos Norte, has secured a landmark $210 million financing from […]
Finternet Technology: The New Financial Landscape Taking Shape
As digital finance gradually takes over, an idea is beginning to revolutionize the global commercial community: The Finternet Technology – a unified, interoperable “Financial Internet” designed to address the problems of modern financial systems, all in a seamless network. At the 2025 Singapore Fintech Festival, insights from the conference highlighted the Finternet vision as the […]
President of the Philippines Extends Tax Relief to Power Plants
On December 3, 2025, through Executive Order 106, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. once again extended the tax relief to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) operating under Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreements with the government-owned or controlled corporations. This step by the President was deemed a continuation of the policy reinstituted earlier in the year under Executive Order 83, […]
Understanding Auditing in the Electric Vehicle Industry
The Electric Vehicle (EV) industry is no longer a “futuristic” ideal, rather, it is the current trend. A fast-evolving ecosystem driven by advanced technology, aiming for sustainability and even to accumulate data. As EV adoption increases globally, a critical yet often overlooked function is stepping into place: Auditing. From battery supply chains to carbon credits, […]
Digital Identity & E-Signatures: Regulatory Frameworks & Issuances
In our prior discussion, we explored how Digital Identity Systems and Electronic Signatures are changing the way modern corporate governance operates in the Philippine context, with attendant benefits such as stronger authentication, reduced fraud risk, and optimized approvals and system integration. Building on that foundation, we will now shift to the regulatory frameworks that make […]
Digital Identity & E-Signatures: Moving Towards Paperless Corporate Governance
The pace of technological progress has accelerated, and companies are also shifting towards embracing digitalization. Digital Identity Systems and Electronic Signatures (e-signature) have arisen as vital tools for modern corporate governance. Across the globe, and increasingly in the Philippines, these innovations are redefining how boards of directors, corporators, and regulatory agencies authenticate documents, validate transactions, […]
BIR Temporarily Suspends Issuance of LOA and Audit Operations
Recently, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), along with the Department of Finance (DOF), ordered a temporary suspension regarding the issuance of Letters of Authority and the conduct of audit operations of the BIR, which is a move that immediately caught the attention of businesses, accountants, and tax professionals. The directive was announced jointly by […]
Understanding Your 13th Month Pay
The Christmas season is just around the corner, and Filipino employees now look forward to one of their most-awaited year-end benefits: the 13th-month pay. To many, it is known as a mandatory payout. Yet, some still misunderstand how it works, who is entitled, and how it should be computed. Let’s break down everything that needs […]
New Opportunity for Philippine Connectivity
The digitalization in the Philippines has been ongoing for transformation. Yet, the main problem lies in our internet connectivity, especially the part concerning the “speed” that Filipinos experience. Indeed, having a better internet connection is a good call, and the laws have been currently in favor of the same! With the recent approval and signing […]
Understanding the BIR Assessment (LOA, PAN, FAN-FLD)
For many business owners, nothing feels more worrisome than receiving a Letter of Authority from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Indeed, technical terms like tax deficiency, assessments, and penalties arise, and the panic will ensue, even if businesses are compliant. But, here’s a myth we will debunk: A BIR Audit does not mean you […]
Global Non-Profit Sector Gets Its First Dedicated Accounting Standard
For the non-profit sector, a significant step was taken — the International Non-Profit Reporting Foundation (INPRF) has officially published the first-ever global accounting standard tailored explicitly for non-profit organizations, known as the International Non-Profit Accounting Standard (INPAS). The new standard was developed through years of collaborative effort, promising to reshape how charitable institutions, NGOs, and […]
SEC Pushes for More Transparency in Beneficial Ownership
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is moving toward much better corporate transparency with the proposed “Revised Guidelines on Beneficial Ownership Disclosure and Transparency,” issued on October 10, 2025. A Better Corporate Accountability The drafted guideline aims to reinforce and strengthen the disclosure process for those individuals who own, benefit from, or control such corporations […]
Near-the-Future Money: CBDC in the Philippines
Digitalization has been popular nowadays, with cashless payment options such as GCash and Maya. Likewise, the Philippines’ journey to transform the peso into a digital currency is at a crucial stage. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has announced that banks and financial institutions will implement a wholesale CBDC, dubbed Project Agila, within the next […]
Taxation on Go-Bags: Are Emergency Kits Subject to Levies?
Preparedness Meets Compliance With the recent events the Philippines has faced — floods, frequent earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, it underscores the importance of being prepared for such disasters. Hence, “Go-bags” are highly encouraged for households, survival kits containing food, water, supplies, and other essentials in case of an emergency. Yet, beyond the importance of preparedness, […]
AI and the Data Privacy Act: A Gap in Confidentiality
Recently, when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized that conversations with ChatGPT might need to be “produced” and easily given if authorities demanded it, a renewed discussion was started on one of today’s most pressing problems: how confidential are our interactions with AI systems? Altman’s discussion highlights a reality often underestimated by everyday users and even […]
Insights from ACPAPP: How CPAs Can Lead Through Technology
The accounting profession is at crossroads — where tradition meets technological transformation. With the new generations’ technology, such as automation, AI, and sustainable practices, businesses need to reshape their operations. Nowadays, CPAs are not just safeguarding ledgers but also serving as strategists, innovators, and catalysts. The abovementioned was strongly highlighted in this year’s ACPAPP 25th […]
Capitalization of Borrowing Cost from Interest-Free Advances
When a company receives an interest-free advance from a related party, an accounting question arises: can the borrower capitalize any borrowing cost related to that advance? Under the accounting standards, specifically PAS 23 – only borrowing costs actually incurred by the entity can be capitalized as part of a qualifying asset. In other words, unless […]
The Blockchain Bill: Can it Fix the Corruption?
When was the last time you checked where your taxes really went? — Ghost projects, delayed infrastructure or projects, contracts that vanished into thin air. Corruption in the Philippine governance is truly an old, deeply-rooted enemy of the public, draining the trust and hopes of the people. We have seen numerous reforms and promises, yet […]
Buy Now, Pay Later — Empowerment or Debt Trap?
You’ve probably seen it before — a tempting little button that says “Pay in installments with SPaylater, Check out with TikTokPaylater, or Use LazPaylater”. Just one click, and that gadget, those shoes, or that “I deserve” this thing you want is yours instantly. It sounds empowering, right? There’s no need to wait for your next […]
BSP Implements New Rules for Cash Transactions Above ₱500,000
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has issued Circular No. 1218, known as the Regulation on Large Value Cash Transactions, which took effect on October 3, 2025. This new regulation aims to promote financial transparency and strengthen the integrity of the Philippine monetary system. What the Circular says Under BSP Circular 1218, all cash withdrawals […]