The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Opposition to the new public safety rules being implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government is being framed as a defense of the marginalized. Much of the backlash appears misplaced, if not self-serving. The regulations in question are hardly novel impositions; they are reiterations of long-standing local ordinances—prohibitions on public drinking, restrictions on noise such as late-night karaoke, curfews for minors, and …
Points of View & Perspectives
April, 2026
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13 April
Reform Drive at the Bureau of Customs
LOVE FOR ALLBy: Virginia Rodriguez The ongoing reforms at the Bureau of Customs under Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno signal a serious attempt to shed the agency’s long-standing reputation as one of the country’s most corruption-prone institutions. For decades, the BOC has been associated with smuggling, revenue leakages, and weak enforcement. Today, however, early indicators suggest that a shift may be underway. …
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6 April
Between Sincerity and Strategic Dialogue
REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The reopening of oil and gas exploration talks between the Philippines and China has stirred both skepticism and cautious optimism. Herman Tiu Laurel, president of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute (ACPSSI), told The Manila Times that the move comes “very late in the day,” driven by fears of a looming energy crisis linked to escalating …
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6 April
No one’s immune to social strain
Government’s plan to negotiate “safe passage” for Philippine-bound oil tankers is less a strategy than a hopeful gesture detached from geopolitical reality. The Philippines is a longstanding ally of the United States, while the choke-point in question—the Strait of Hormuz—is influenced by the posture of Iran. Even arranging a formal dialogue at the diplomatic level would be fraught, slow and …
March, 2026
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29 March
Undue Process of Law
Since the Supreme Court ruled last year on the parameters defining the impeachment process against VP Sara, the phrase Due Process of Law was front and center in our daily conversation. It was demanded by our Supreme Court to be observed by the House of Representatives (HOR), such that when the time was rife and ripe, it was recently complied …
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29 March
The Politics of Shallow Happiness
REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro One of the most striking features of Philippine society is the resilience and cheerfulness of its people. The latest World Happiness Report 2026 places the Philippines fourth among Southeast Asian nations in terms of happiness. At first glance, this seems like a cause for celebration. But in the realm of realpolitik, this cultural trait is not merely …
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29 March
Private sector strategic thinking needed now
The emerging debate—initiated by the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte—over why the House Committee on Justice is prioritizing impeachment proceedings instead of confronting the fuel price crisis, does little to ease the daily burden of ordinary Filipinos. For millions already stretched thin, this discourse feels detached from reality. Financial assistance programs, while loudly promoted, fail to reach a significant portion of the population, particularly the middle …
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29 March
Faster Roads, Stronger Farms: PBBM
LOVE FOR ALLBy: Virginia Rodriguez President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has sharpened his directive to accelerate the construction of farm-to-market roads, recognizing infrastructure as a lifeline for struggling Filipino farmers. During a recent inspection in Barangay New Casay, Davao del Norte, the President underscored the urgency of completing critical road networks. Joining him was Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., highlighting …
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22 March
POLITICS, Filipino Style
Once upon a time, couple of decades ago, with me and politicians in a merienda setting with a prominent political family, the conversation drifted to the question — when is the best time to start campaigning for the next elections? To put matters in context, it was just the first few days since one of them won the governorship in a …
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22 March
PHL drifting toward instability
The President’s surprise suspension of fare hikes—earlier approved by transport regulators—initially gave commuters a sense of relief. But this relief is largely illusory. For transport operators and drivers, the move came as a shock, particularly as they were allowed only a one-peso increase despite local fuel prices having surged by more than 100 percent. The gap between the cost of operating …