By Rose de la Cruz The pandemic and the recurring thievery (holdup, stick ups and other petty crimes) in markets and other retail outlets of the country have caused the surging need for mobile digital payments and cards (debit and credit) among the Filipino consumers. For now, only the land transport system has not fully embraced digital payments. Merchants have …
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By Rose de la Cruz Flood prone Marikina City, where the Marikina River plunged the city and its environs with days-long floods during Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009, is now on the brink of seeing a repeat of this calamitous floods and already, SM supermall in Marikina was among the first to open its doors to flood victims and city …
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By Rose de la Cruz Of the numerous promises and commitments made by President Marcos Jr. in his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) what stands out for consumers and business alike are the educational reforms or overhauling the EPIRA law, which has caused our electric and power generation costs to be the most expensive in the Southeast Asian …
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By Rose de la Cruz After successfully consolidating/merging their banks last year, Cebu Pacific and the Ayala group are nearing their second partnership with the former acquiring Ayala Land Inc.’s boutique airline, AirSWIFT to boost the fleet of CebPac with its aggressive travel and tourism expansion thrust. The deal may be sealed in two months and would boost domestic tourism …
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By Jesse C. Ong President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a sweeping ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, citing their links to various criminal activities. Speaking before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, President Marcos addressed growing calls to prohibit firms offering online gambling services …
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By Rose de la Cruz Joint patrols by the Filipino Coast Guard with the coast guards of other better-armed and trained countries serve as a deterrent to China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. And why not, China knows our weakness and vulnerability while it is uncertain about the other forces of other nations so that it would not want …
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By Rose de la Cruz Despite a vigorous marketing blitz to attract foreign visitors in the country– both by the Department of Tourism and by President Marcos’ promotional travels around the world, Manila– just two points shy from the world’s riskiest city, Caracas, Valenzuela– still suffers from the stigma in a rating done by the credible Forbes Advisor. In the …
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By Rose de la Cruz The Department of Transportation and the Japan International Cooperation Agency will collaborate– with the signing Wednesday of a technical cooperation agreement– to improve the efficiency and quality of road transport system specifically in Metro Manila. The agreement focuses on capacity development initiatives for public transport systems including route planning, improving intermodal facilities in Metro Manila, …
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By Rose de la Cruz At P2.5 million monthly salary being asked by Maharlika Investment Corp. president/CEO Rafael Consing, this amount is atrocious and wicked for a country that is reeling from poverty, high unemployment and underemployment, a crisis in education, a yawning housing gap, a country in deep debt here and abroad and a healthcare system that is elusive …
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By Rose de la Cruz The United States Agency for International Development and the Public Private Partnership Center, an agency under the National Economic and Development Authority, forged a memorandum of understanding to establish a collaborative framework for a robust pipeline of PPP projects for local government units (LGUs) and other USAID partner institutions in Bohol. The MOU was signed by …
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The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business