The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Microfinance firm Cebuana Lhuillier has forged a partnership with Bayad Center to further boost its domestic remittance service in the country. 

The policy-making Monetary Board has approved the acquisition by Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP) units Union Properties Inc. (UPI) and City Savings Bank Inc. (CitySavings) of the 11-branch First-Agro Industrial Rural Bank (FairBank) based in Cebu. 

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has extended the deadline for the exchange or replacement of old bank notes, also known as the New Design series banknotes or NDS, to March 31, 2017. 

To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the collection and disbursement of the Motor Vehicle Users Charge (MVUC) fund, a study by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) is calling for greater transparency and accountability among government agencies involved in the program. 

By Weng C. Ocfemia Asia CEO Forum, the largest regular business event in Philippines and considered one of the most important in the Asia Pacific region will hold the Asia Infrastructure Summit 2017 on January 19, 2017 at the Manila Marriot Hotel.

The Board of Investments (BOI) recently approved the application of Schmidt Konstruktion Systems Corp. (SKSC) as a new domestic producer of modular housing components. 

The Development Academy of the Philippines Center for Governance (CfG), through its Local Governance and Development Office, has conducted the first run of the Introductory Course on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for LGUs, gathering local officials and key representatives from different local government units for the publicly offered course held recently at the DAP Conference Center in Pasig City. 

The International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Associations (IFAWPCA) will hold its 43rd Convention from May 30 to June 2 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Hotel in Seoul, Korea. 

The year just gone and the new year we heralded in are bridged with trumpet blasts, the tooting of horns, the clanging of pots and pans and the modest crackle of fireworks presumably to frighten away persistent demons of the past. As the din dies down and a new year begins, at least that is our fervent prayer. Unfortunately, not …

Has Vice President Leni Robredo’s political goodwill and value started on its downward slide?