The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Lack of jobs still haunts the Filipino nation. The country’s unemployment rate in March rose to 5%, as the number of jobless Filipinos jumped to 2.58 million amid the oil crisis, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said. Preliminary results from the March 2026 Labor Force Survey released on Wednesday showed the jobless rate stood at 5% in March, much higher …

If you increase the income tax exemption threshold, the government loses money to fund its various projects and services.  Thus, the legislative branch would need to find a replacement fund to cover the revenue losses. This, in summary, is the position of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) headed by Economy Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. “Of course, that would …

For a more improved productivity and enhanced competitiveness, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) teamed up to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups through an enhanced platform of financing on May 4. In a ceremonial signing, DOST and LANDBANK inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the LANDBANK …

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) has announced its project with JG Summit Holdings, Inc., one of the Philippines’ largest and more diversified conglomerates, for a ServiceNow implementation and managed services engagement supporting its IT modernization journey.  Operating a conglomerate with a portfolio as diverse as JG Summit’s presents a unique set of management challenges. Conglomerates often face significant operational complexity, stemming from …

The days just passed need some commenting and reflection.  I did not hear nor read anything about May 6 – formerly celebrated as the day that the island fortress of Corregidor fell to the Japanese invaders during World War Two, not World War Eleven as a public official was maritessed to have said. We remembered last April 9 as the Fall of Bataan Day and …

The road leading to the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is increasingly becoming a battlefield of political maneuvering and disinformation. The vacuum created by the Duterte camp’s refusal to directly and comprehensively answer the allegations dissected at the House Justice Committee has allowed speculation, propaganda, and conspiracy theories to flourish. Instead of confronting the charges head-on, the strategy appears …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro “Filipino, Japanese, and American soldiers rejoiced during the Balikatan drills when the Japanese missile successfully sank the BRP Quezon 70.” To the casual observer, it was a spectacle of military precision. But to those who value history and national dignity, it was a troubling act: the deliberate sinking of a Philippine naval vessel, once a proud part …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez Every day, the brave men and women of the Philippine National Police put their lives on the line to protect communities, preserve peace, and uphold the law. Whether responding to emergencies, managing public safety, assisting during disasters, or maintaining order in busy urban centers and remote provinces, police officers carry a responsibility that demands courage, …

Despite the global fuel crisis, Philippine aviation emerged as fastest growing in Southeast Asia for April, according to global travel data provider OAG. OAG’s aviation market data indicated that the Philippines is now the third largest country in the region in terms of flight capacity, with 5.82 million seats recorded in April. The Philippines follows Indonesia at 10.31 million and …

Air fares will remain high in the first half of May after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) set fuel surcharge at Level 18, slightly lower than the near-maximum rates imposed in late April. Under Level 18, airlines are allowed to impose fuel surcharge in their tickets from P593 to P1,734 for domestic flights, and from P1,958.44 to P14,561.87 for international …