The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Philippine National Police (PNP) have intensified measures to prevent unnecessary travel following the presence of significant number of vehicles on major highways during the lockdown period.

For the first time since the enhanced community quarantine was imposed, the number of people who recovered exceeded those who died from COVID-19.

Electricity consumers belonging to electric cooperatives and using less than 50 kilowatts per hour a month will not be charged for the March-to-April period, according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles who is spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

First, some good news: several afflicted doctors and nurses who recovered from COVID-19 decided without hesitation to return to work. They are heroes of the finest grade. While distribution of relief goods by barangay and city/town officials received the usual flak – from selective beneficiaries to measly goods – their non-stop efforts have largely been ungratified. Apparently, some unscrupulous barangay/city/town …

The biggest single-day number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was 538 last March 1. On April 3, the number went down to 385. On April 4, it was 76. The following day, it jumped back to 152. In Baguio, they have recorded zero new cases for five consecutive days. In Italy – which is second to the US in most number …

The global quarantine – today’s fashionable buzzword – has driven fertile minds to go on overdrive. Those who can afford to heed the call to stay at home have easily succumbed into believing various conspiracy theories on the COVID-19 pandemic. Two recent theories both point to China as deliberately causing the pandemic. A first-hand revelation from an insider indicated there …

A guy (or girl) who goes by the pseudonym ‘Joe Americano’ – Filipino or American, undetermined – posted an insightful view on the President’s COVID-19 declarations. In the President’s first live telecast at Malacanang, he seemed to exhibit sincere concern on the gravity of the epidemic. Viewers clearly understood his message – he directed all local government units to do …

With President Rodrigo Duterte personally declaring the whole Metro Manila under community quarantine – euphemism for ‘lockdown’ – the real panic begins. With the careful use of subtle words, the President did not want to raise panic. Minutes after the declaration, panic-buying ensued late into the night. The President’s lieutenants valiantly tried to interpret the lockdown directive by assuaging any …

President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to find solid basis to suspend operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), according to Malacañang. 

By Jinky Jorgio A labor group warned that there will be much more similar cases of Alchie Paray if reforms are not legislated and implemented regarding employer-employee relations. Paray, a former security guard, took several Virra Mall employees as hostage after he was allegedly dismissed from his job without due process. He denied the offered money to him by his …