LIVE UPDATES: Conflict in the Middle East (April 24, 2026)

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Department of Trade and Industry's Small Business Corporation (SBCorp) have forged a partnership to roll out a P7-billion loan facility program aimed at extending financial aid to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) hit by soaring fuel prices.

In a news release on Friday, the PCCI said the partnership deal with SBCorp will make the state-run financing firm's loan products and services accessible to MSMEs nationwide.  

The Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA) said Friday the country's sugar supply remains more than adequate to meet both consumer and industrial demand despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which could cause farm input costs to rise.

In a statement, the PSMA said, "the industry maintains a strong inventory position, ensuring continuity and resilience across the domestic sugar value chain."

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said 287 gasoline stations have been closed while 77 individuals were arrested in connection with fuel-related violations amid high pump prices.

“Bumaba na sa 287 ang gasoline stations na nagsara na,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said at a press briefing.

(The number of gasoline stations that have closed has dropped to 287.)

The PNP has been monitoring 14,529 gas stations nationwide, according to Tuaño.

WASHINGTON/BEIRUT/JERUSALEM — Lebanon and Israel extended their ceasefire for three weeks after a high-level meeting at the White House, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday.

Trump hosted Israel's ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese ambassador to the US Nada Moawad in the Oval Office for a second round of US-facilitated talks, a day after Israeli strikes killed at least five people including a journalist.

Motorists should expect another sigh of relief as pump prices of diesel could be slashed again next week, its third straight week of rollback since the series of global oil price shocks due to the Middle East conflict rocked the local fuel market.

Citing estimates based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) trading and foreign exchange averages in the past four days, an oil industry source said the per liter prices of diesel could be reduced by P8.00 to P10.00.

Gasoline prices, however, are seen to have no movement or a possible increase of P1.00 per liter.