The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

By Gia Catimbang Small and medium entrepreneurs recently converged to take part in the annual Franchise and Business Expo which supports the Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s (Asean) seven-point strategy targeting the advancement of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to fit in the core of their economic agenda.

Gardenia Bakeries Philippines plans to set up a P1-billion bread manufacturing plant in Misamis Oriental province as it gears for an expected upsurge in the Mindanao economy.

By Riza Lozada Collections of the state’s main revenue agencies have started to pick up with “promising growth figures” of 8.8 percent in the first half from a year ago, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

The government’s budget posted a P28.8-billion surplus last August as revenue collections outstrip expenditures for the month.

Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), the thrift bank arm of the Metrobank Group, was the only local bank recognized at the recently held Customer Experience Asia Excellence Awards for its exceptional customer experience strategy.

Regulator Insurance Commission (IC) has asked four local health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to stop offering products that have unauthorized investment options.

The United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) recently hailed a recent Supreme Court (SC) decision to lift the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on two Executive Orders (EOs) issued by former President Benigno Aquino in 2015 targeted for the utilization of the Coco Levy Fund.

The Philippines and Japan will be working together in the implementation of multi-billion peso flood control projects in the country.

Construction of nine subsections of the P7.9 billion storm surge protection road heightening and tide embankment project in Leyte are now on track, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said it has made significant headway on its goal to cut water use across all its operations and has started investing and putting in place programs as part of its ambitious push to integrate sustainability into the conglomerate’s business strategy.