The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

By Lito U. Gagni  The government needs to fine-tune the policy focus of its mass-housing program if it must address this social-reform issue that has eluded six presidents for the past 50 years, according to Januario Jesus Atencio III, president and CEO of 8990 Holdings Inc., the country’s top housing developer. 

Iloilo City, Iloilo—Ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) recognized on Friday that corruption and unethical business practices hamper micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from entering the global market. 

“Practitioners of the craft are responsible, in no small part, to the state of the Philippine society, or more accurately, to the state of the Filipino mind,” thus declared Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno when she opened the 22nd National PR Congress at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila in Makati City. 

By Riza Lozada The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) sought from the Philippine National Police (PNP) clear rules on the securing of permits for the importation and distribution of regulated chemicals. 

The Market Monitor salutes the contributions to the Philippines industrial landscape, of one of the pillars of the construction industry – the late Felipe F. Cruz Jr., who, unknown to many, subscribed to the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln. 

By Jerry Maglunog The power sector and infrastructure remain the most promising investment destination in the country because of the huge backlog in power and the continuing increase in population. 

Indulge us a bit of road rage. We’ve decided to surrender and succumb to the tempestuous rage that builds up whenever we hit Metropolitan Manila’s streets. Allow us to hitch a ride on the bandwagon by adding to the congestion of criticism and streetwise analyses rushing in from the commuting public on how to tackle the traffic problem. 

It’s baffling how our looks sometimes pin us down to the wrong map, which could turn out to be a good thing—like getting two turkey slices at a recent buffet where friends and I strayed into in Atlantic City. 

By Rod ‘Inky’ Reyes I am ominously aghast that regardless of how seemingly attractive automated elections are, the intent and spirit behind the Automated Election Law has been and continues to be prostituted by election authorities and the contractor entrusted with safeguarding our democratic institutions. Given what happened in 2010 and 2013 where every single security feature of the PCOS …

By Rachel Zoll / The Associated Press Pope Francis told US bishops on Wednesday they should avoid “harsh and divisive” language and create a Church with the warmth of a “family fire,” as he laid out a vision for American Catholicism far from the defensive stands on social issues that have put Church leaders at the center of the culture wars.