The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

In line with the Marcos administration’s whole-of-government drive against corruption in public infrastructure, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed criminal complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Mark Allan Villamor Arevalo, sole proprietor of Wawao Builders. The charges stem from an estimated ₱48.39 million tax deficiency linked to an alleged ghost flood-control project undertaken by Wawao …

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno has ordered an investigation into allegations that smuggling activities have resurfaced at the Port of Manila. In a statement, Nepomuceno said Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) field station chief Paul Oliver Pacunayen has been relieved from his post pending the outcome of the probe. “We will act and investigate all complaints and …

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recorded more than 15.6 million passenger arrivals nationwide in 2025, reflecting continued growth in international travel to the country. In a statement on Thursday, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said immigration officers at all international ports of entry processed a total of 15,608,868 arrivals from January to December 2025, including 6,704,007 foreign nationals. The figure …

For years, Washington has cast itself as chief guardian of a “rules-based international order,” a phrase Philippine officials invoke almost reflexively whenever China harasses Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea. The promise embedded in that phrase is simple: power should be restrained by law, and even the strong should be bound by rules. But the events unfolding in Venezuela …

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has approved the sale of three power plants owned by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation. Changing ownership are the Caliraya Hydroelectric Power Plant, Botocan Hydropower Plant and Kalayaan Pumped Storage Power Plant (KPSPP) from PSALM to Cleanergy 9 Power Inc., which is owned by the Thunder Consortium comprised of Aboitiz Renewables …

There are three reasons why the country’s ports will be bursting with economic activities this year, the chief of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said.  Jay Daniel R. Santiago, general manager of the PPA, enumerated these factors as port modernization, operational efficiency, and service excellence, citing greater volume or investments in these areas. Bolstering his optimism, Santiago said there is …

Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said that 2025 was a “banner year” for the agency’s ROW acquisition for the flagship railway initiatives of the government. Lopez emphasized that in February last year, the acquired ROW for Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) stood at only 51%, while for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) north segment, it was only 2%. The ROW …

Globe Telecom will again offer its popular Flagship Forever, the upgrade program which benefits loyal customers who are in the market for the latest iPhone models to go with their Globe. The new offering puts the newest lineup within easy reach, including the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, with matching flexible plans. With …

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) has announced an invitation for interested companies to participate in three airport upgrade projects budgeted for up to P895.12 million for the three projects. Bidding announcements for the upgrade construction of the airports have been released by the department. The projects are the P455.90-million Tacloban Airport development project, the P174.60-million Camiguin Airport development project, and …

HONOR Philippines officially unveiled the HONOR X9d 5G on New Year’s Day—and everybody in local cyberspace took notice. Touted as the brand’s toughest smartphone yet, the device quickly went viral as top creators like Malupiton, Ser Geybin, Jomar Yee, and KaMangyan Vlogs shared jaw-dropping first looks and reactions across social media. But HONOR didn’t stop at influencer hype. To prove …