By Rose de la Cruz Even though construction was among the key growth drivers of the economy in the third quarter, the capacity utilization of the industrial and construction sectors edged lower to 71.9 percent from 72 percent in the previous quarter. “This is still below the historical average of 73.3%, a benchmark that has yet to be hit in …
Read More »
By Rose de la Cruz If employment and underemeployment figures show declines in such incidents, how come the recent Pulse Asia Research Inc. survey still mentioned that jobs and livelihoods remain the major concern of Filipinos before the 2025 midterm elections. Is the Philippine Statistics Authority or the Department of Labor sugar-coating its reports to make the Marcos administration look …
Read More »
By Rose de la Cruz The partylist system was created by the 1987 Constitution to ensure representation for underrepresented community sectors or groups like labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural, women, youth and other sectors. But a 2013 Supreme Court decision clarified that partylist is a system of proportional representation open to various kinds of groups and parties and not …
Read More »
By Rose de la Cruz The August output of food and electronic factories slowed to a 4-month low hitting 2.8 percent, the slowest since the 1.4 percent in April 2024, 6.8 percent in July and 5.6 percent in August 2023. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority said this posted a four-month low in August, according to the latest data from …
Read More »
By Rose de la Cruz With the takeover last Sept. 14 by the New NAIA International Corp., the new operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport of the San Miguel Corp. group, around 844 plantilla position holders of the Manila International Airport Authority, would lose their jobs and face a bleak Christmas this year. Unlike government offices being abolished where …
Read More »
By Rose de la Cruz The successful privatization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has prompted the Department of Transportation to also speed up disposing to the private sector four more airports in 2025. These are Davao, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa and Kalibo, Aklan which are all tourist destinations and won’t require much hard selling. Transportation Undersecretary for aviation Roberto …
Read More »
MANILA – On September 10, Cargill Philippines hosted its 2024 Poultry Business Conference (PBC) at the Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort in Clark, Pampanga. With the theme “Leading Business Through Synergistic Collaboration,” the event stressed the vital role of strategic partnerships in addressing the evolving needs of the poultry industry and securing our food future. As the Philippines’ population grows, …
Read More »
Ariel Querubin filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for his senatorial bid next year. Querubin, the most bemedaled soldier in Philippine history and a Medal of Valor recipient, was accompanied by his family, former AFP, PCG, and PNP generals and officers, and supporters at the Manila Hotel Tent City. The retired soldier clarified that he is running under Nacionalista Party …
Read More »
By Rose de la Cruz By increasing overnight parking rates from P300 to P1,200 or by about four times, the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) , a corporation of San Miguel Corp. that was awarded the contract to rehabilitate, operate and manage the country’s main gateway, is practically shooing away overnight parkers. The overnight rates for other vehicle types are: …
Read More »
The government is expressing optimism that the recently enacted VAT on Digital Services Law will not hinder President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s ongoing initiatives to attract foreign investors to the Philippines’ burgeoning digital market. During a press briefing held at Malacañang, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. addressed potential concerns from investors, asserting, “We are confident that …
Read More »
The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business