The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) more than doubled in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), receiving the biggest jump in allocation, according to Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman DOTr will get a budget of P196.62 billion for next year, which is P110 billion more than this year’s budget of P87 billion, based on the 2026 NEP that was …
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August, 2025
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19 August
Manila – Clark only 45 minutes by train before 2032
Travel from Manila to Clark in Pampanga will only take approximately 45 minutes through the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), expected to be finished by 2032. Recently, Transport Secretary Vince Dizon and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno led the clearing operations along Old Antipolo Road corner Abad Santos St. in Manila to allow the delayed construction of the NSCR. According to Moreno, …
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19 August
Discounted Beep cards available by Sept
Transport Secretary Vince Dizon announced that Beep cards priced half for students, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens will be available starting September for use at the MRT and LRT lines. Students, PWDs and senior citizens get a 50% discount at MRT-3, LRT-1 and LRT-2. Sec. Dizon explained that the 50% discount will already be programmed into the special …
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19 August
No need to fill up forms to avail of discounted Beep card
The forms filled up by students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to avail of discounted Beep cards at the MRT-3, LRT-1 and LRT-2 lines have been removed. Transport Secretary Vince Dizon said this is to improve queuing and reduce long lines at train stations. Dizon observed a student/commuter who took a minute to one minute and 30 seconds …
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19 August
Feasibility for Quezon Ave. Busway out next year
The feasibility study for a busway system along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City is expected to be completed next year, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The busway line along Quezon Avenue starting at Espana, will replicate the successful EDSA Bus Carousel, providing a dedicated bus lane for commuters in Manila and Quezon City. Funding will come from the …
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19 August
License of counterflowing driver at Skyway revoked
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the perpetual revocation of the driver’s license of a motorist who was caught on CCTV driving counterflow at the Skyway. The vehicle was seen on CCTV moving against traffic at 3:32 AM, creating serious safety issues for other vehicles. “A suspension is not enough for this driver because the CCTV footage clearly …
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19 August
Civic groups back Marcos’ crackdown on corruption in flood projects
By Tracy Cabrera President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s campaign against corruption is gaining momentum, with several civic groups throwing their full support behind his efforts to hold erring officials and contractors accountable. The Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement rallied …
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18 August
Jean Henri Lhuillier and Cebuana Lhuillier Score Multiple Major Wins, Cementing Leadership in Inclusive Finance
Cebuana Lhuillier, the country’s leading microfinance services provider, and its President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier bagged a remarkable total of 20 prestigious awards at the Stevie® International Business Awards —comprising 8 Gold, 5 Silver, and 7 Bronze honors. These honors reaffirm Cebuana Lhuillier’s commitment to expanding financial access and empowering millions of Filipinos through inclusive, innovative financial solutions. “These …
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18 August
Samahang Plaridel journalists pay courtesy visit to DSWD chief
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian warmly received the Board of Trustees of the Association of Philippine Journalists – Samahang Plaridel Foundation, Inc. (Samahang Plaridel), led by association president Evelyn Quiroz, during today’s (August 18, 2025) courtesy visit at the DSWD Central Office. In his short message, Secretary Gatchalian expressed hope that media groups such as …
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18 August
House ‘Young Guns’ back BSP crackdown on in-app gambling
Lawmakers from the House of Representatives’ Young Guns bloc on Friday threw their full support behind the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) move to suspend in-app gambling access in mobile payment platforms, calling it a crucial step to protect Filipinos from addiction and financial ruin. In a joint statement, the group said BSP’s decisive action tackles the surge in online …
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