Ben Arnold de Vera

Writer/editor | Allergic to plagiarists | 🇵🇭

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

.@BangkoSentral ghost stories in today’s Manila Bulletin Business The Daybreak Briefing newsletter… 🫣

Heard it jump-scared some of our subscribers awake 👻

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

Ano na, 🇵🇭?

The Philippines’ 2025 GNI per capita of $4,850 remained below Vietnam’s, which jumped to $4,970 from $4,490 a year ago. As a result, the income gap between the two countries widened sixfold—from just $20 in 2024 to $120 in 2025👇
https://t.co/r5ZJu1oJVH

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

Two days ago, Dexter was the first to report on the joint IBPAP, AmCham Philippines, and USABC position paper on the FCC’s plan to bring call center jobs back to the US. Read here👇
https://t.co/ga6wKTh1Jz

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

Three straight days of scoops by @DexterBarroII: Today, he reports that the US unit of Po-led Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF) wants its products exempted from possible tariffs due to the Philippines’ alleged forced-labor violations. Read only here👇
https://t.co/crFrrTRssy

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

Yesterday, Dexter reported that the BOI, the DICT, and PEZA defended the IT-BPM sector against claims that offshoring is a major source of consumer harm, as the US moves to reclaim jobs sent overseas. Read only here👇
https://t.co/OaSJFwVybh

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

All these business news you can read only in Manila Bulletin, both in print and online👇

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

May scoop na naman si @DexterBarroII: The Philippines could soon increase its pineapple exports to the US after the US gov’t determined risk-mitigation measures to address pest concerns that have long restricted access to the American market. Read here:👇
https://t.co/YW0UVNgQmT

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

Subscribe to Manila Bulletin Business’ The Daybreak Briefing newsletter for more! 🤓🤗

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

Documents seen by Manila Bulletin showed that Lucio Tan-led flag carrier @flyPAL and Alaska Airlines signed a codeshare agreement last April 22, then on April 23 sought US Department of Transportation (DOT) approval to implement the deal. Read here: https://t.co/jtSW4WtLl9

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

Another Manila Bulletin Business scoop: @DtiPhilippines pushes back vs. a @USTradeRep probe, asserting that the Philippines’ labor and trade policies neither enable forced labor nor disadvantage American businesses. Also our banner story in print today: https://t.co/rUeIcELozS

[Chino Leyco @MBChinoLeyco]

🎉🎉🎉

[Chino Leyco @MBChinoLeyco]

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[Chino Leyco @MBChinoLeyco]

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[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

.@DexterBarroII’s @flyPAL scoops did not end with the Chicago flights OK—he reports that the flag carrier also secured approval for an expanded codeshare agreement with American Airlines. Read only in Manila Bulletin Business, in print today and online: https://t.co/SyR5jFgPRA

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

Scoops from Manila Bulletin Business don’t stop: @derxrosal reports that the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has a new executive director starting today—Ronel Buenaventura. Get to know the new AMLC chief in this story (both online and in print today): https://t.co/IcKxbLzbLu

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

“Oil companies were told to follow the rollback calculation of the DOE because, according to [Energy Secretary Sharon Garin], the expected price cuts had already been reported to President Marcos,” a person familiar with yesterday’s emergency meeting told Manila Bulletin.

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

The Department of Energy (DOE) yesterday threatened oil companies with legal action if they fail to implement government-mandated price rollbacks that significantly exceed industry calculations. Read Ma’am Myrna Velasco’s scoop: https://t.co/D5YBVKHzLA

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

The Department of Energy (DOE) yesterday threatened oil companies with legal action if they fail to implement government-mandated price rollbacks that significantly exceed industry calculations. Read Ma’am Myrna Velasco’s scoop: https://t.co/D5YBVKHzLA

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

And of course, in today’s newsletter, too :)

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

The latest scoop from @DexterBarroII: The US Department of Transportation has approved @flyPAL’s Manila-Chicago direct flights, an April 9 notice seen by Manila Bulletin showed. This story’s also Manila Bulletin Business’ banner in print today. Read here: https://t.co/opucAWUUTA

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

Another Manila Bulletin Business scoop: @JamesALoyola reports that San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) infrastructure arm bagged — ‘coz its unsolicited bid was uncontested — the ₱7.8-billion Boracay Bridge Project, a March 30 DPWH notice of award showed. Read here: https://t.co/8O58cxAWOS

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

The quiet confidence of a scoop is @DexterBarroII filing the story on Saturday morning for Monday publication — and today, only he has it :)

[Ben Arnold de Vera @benarnolddevera]

The latest scoop from @DexterBarroII: The US Department of Transportation has approved @flyPAL’s Manila-Chicago direct flights, an April 9 notice seen by Manila Bulletin showed. This story’s also Manila Bulletin Business’ banner in print today. Read here: https://t.co/opucAWUUTA