The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The camp of Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Thursday said the lawmaker remains in the Philippines and will exhaust all legal remedies after reports that the Sandiganbayan issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against him. Lawyer-spokesperson Ade Fajardo confirmed the development in a statement, noting that the order was reportedly issued upon the request of the …

Applications for the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) solar financing program have surged to ₱5.7 billion as of April 21, reflecting strong demand from government workers seeking relief from rising electricity costs. GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso said the growing uptake of the Ginhawa Solar Energy Loan (GSEL) shows how members are increasingly turning to renewable energy …

Text and photo by Tracy Cabrera  RIZAL PARK, Manila — With high fuel prices driving up farm input and production costs, Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa, enthused that preparedness is the key to ensuring food security for the country. Soeaking at the Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel at the Rizal Park Hotel in Manila, DE Mesa …

Three major developments have overtaken what should have been welcome economic news: a two-week slide in fuel prices. Instead of relief dominating public discourse, the spotlight has shifted to accountability, legality and political survival—issues that cut deeper than pump prices ever could. The International Criminal Court ruling affirming jurisdiction over criminal cases offormer President Rodrigo Duterte is arguably the most consequential. For thousands of families who lost loved ones in …

We live in interesting times. Internationally, the world’s superpowers are aligning towards bi-polarity,  ultimately  clustering into US and Non-US camps, like two warring Latin-named fraternities in disorganized brawls. Then, as if the on-going  mayhem wasn’t enough, there is a  spicier sideshow of names and emails of the high and the mighty proposing to cavort with under-aged pizza pies in the Virgin islands. The cause of it all lies below …

What exactly is Vice President Sara Duterte’s endgame in an impeachment case she appears unwilling to confront head-on? The silence is not just strategic—it is risky. In high-stakes political battles, refusing to engage the allegations early often concedes narrative control to opponents, especially when evidence continues to accumulate in public view. What complicates matters further is the durability of her support …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro Recently, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) revoked the licenses of 12 driving schools in Metro Manila for serious regulatory violations. Branded as “kamote factories,” these schools have been blamed for producing drivers who lack discipline—those who ignore road signs, overtake recklessly, and fuel the growing culture of road rage.   But this issue goes beyond the misconduct of …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez The Philippines has always stood at the crossroads of history and hope, and recent developments reflect a nation honoring its past while investing in its future. First Lady Liza Marcos graced the opening of Museo del Galeon in Pasay, near the SM Mall of Asia complex, marking a meaningful cultural milestone. Once a COVID-19 vaccination …

LANDBANK is enabling the efficient and secure digital processing of the ₱10-per-liter fuel subsidy for public utility vehicles (PUVs)—specifically for public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and UV Express units—under the National Government’s ₱10-Per-Liter Fuel Subsidy Program, with real-time verification and recording of transactions at participating gasoline stations in Metro Manila. The program provides immediate relief to PUVs drivers and operators facing …

Building forward by enabling businesses, uplifting communities, and creating lasting impact across the Philippines in recognition of Earth Day. In celebration of Earth Day, Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) is highlighting a year of meaningful action across its business units—demonstrating how infrastructure can drive both environmental stewardship and inclusive progress. Guided by its purpose of building transformative infrastructure ecosystems, AIC continues to …