The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

By Tracy Cabrera Pushing for the speedy approval of the new ‘sin’ tax reform law, the finance department stressed the law’s importance in helping fill the massive funding gap for the Duterte administration’s Universal Health Care (UHC) program and likewise ensuring affordable and quality health care for every Filipino family starting next year.

Solaire, one of the world’s top luxury integrated resorts has been named “Best Regional Asian Integrated Resort” by an independent panel of judges at the 2019 G2E Asia Awards in Macau.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) officials applauded the amendment of the National Internal Revenue Code that exempted small-scale miners from paying income and excise tax for the gold that they sell to the central bank.

The National Food Authority (NFA) has not let up in its palay procurement, piling up a total of four million bags in less than five months.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe or CEPAL) has voted Puerto Cortés operated by Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC), the Honduran subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), as the best maritime terminal in the Central America-4 (CA-4) region and 24th best in Latin America.

Manila Water’s Cardona Water Treatment Plant is now distributing 50 to 56 million liters of water per day (MLD) initially to barangays in Binangonan, Angono, Taytay, Baras and Jalajala, Rizal.

As the government prepares to purge “fake” vinegar from the consumer market, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) will begin the nationwide training of farmers and women’s groups on the production of natural vinegar, using agricultural products to fill the expected supply gap.

At least 80 million litres per day (MLD) will be made available to East Zone concessionaire Manila Water Company (MWC) starting year 2021 and over 500 MLD by year 2025.

Italy made many headlines ahead of the coming EU election due to the League Party, but even after the election, the headlines continue- due to the economy.

By Nelly Lumbaca I met an extraordinary young man in Antique.