The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Department of Energy (DOE) said last week that while power supply remains sufficient to support the growing data center industry, it needs the sector’s long-term roadmap to properly assess its impact on the energy market. Speaking at the ABS-CBN News Channel forum “The Clean Energy Shift: Powering a Green Economy with Renewable Energy” in Quezon City, DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara …

Foreign investments approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) surged by 33.5 percent in the first nine months of 2025, reaching around ₱154.7 billion from nearly ₱115.9 billion in the same period last year. In a statement last week, PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said the approvals, covering 215 projects, highlight “enduring investor confidence in the Philippines” and keep …

Foreign-currency-denominated loans granted by banks in the second quarter of the year inched up by 0.9 percent to USD15.93 billion from USD15.78 billion in the previous quarter, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. Year-on-year, foreign currency deposit unit (FCDU) loans were higher by 1.9 percent. These are loans extended by local banks’ FCDUs or branches of foreign …

Bank lending continued to grow in August but at a slightly slower pace, while domestic liquidity expanded at a faster rate, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Thursday. Preliminary data showed outstanding loans from universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) rose 11.2 percent year-on-year in August, easing from 11.8 percent in July. Total lending during the month reached ₱13.61 trillion. …

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) will put several real properties and transportation equipment up for sale through electronic public bidding (e-bidding) later this month. In a statement last week, PDIC said bids will be accepted through its e-bidding portal (https://assetsforsale.pdic.gov.ph) starting 9 a.m. on Oct. 29, 2025 until 1 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2025. Submitted bids will be opened …

The national government’s debt stock slightly eased to ₱17.47 trillion as of end-August 2025, down 0.5 percent from ₱17.56 trillion in July, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported Tuesday. The decline was attributed mainly to the government’s full repayment of its largest local bond for the year, worth ₱516.34 billion, as well as the peso’s appreciation, which lowered the …

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) remains upbeat about the Philippines’ economic prospects, saying the country will stay resilient amid a challenging global environment. In its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2025 report released last week, the ADB projected the Philippine economy to grow by 5.6 percent this year and slightly quicken to 5.7 percent in 2026. While the 2026 forecast was trimmed …

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has secured another freeze order from the Court of Appeals (CA), this time covering 57 bank accounts, 10 real properties, and nine motor vehicles linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects. The council said earlier freeze orders had already immobilized assets worth more than ₱4 billion. To date, the CA has ordered the freezing …

October 4, 2025 – The flavors and vibrance of Australia are now closer than ever as A Taste of Australia recently launches at Landmark Supermarket Makati. The event was led by Landmark Chief Operating Officer Teddy Keng, Landmark SVP for Marketing Michelle Keng, Hans Lim of NexTrade, with the support of Austrade and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Marc Innes-Brown, …

“Kung may kaguluhan, dapat palitan ng kapayapaan at ang pananalangin  ang solusyon para makagalaw ang Diyos.” — Apostle Renato D. Carillo. Quezon City, Philippines — In these challenging times, as corruption fuels unrest and massive demonstrations rise across the Philippines, we are called to lift our country before God in fervent prayer. It is only through united and persevering intercession …