The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) has introduced a new lending program aimed at empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with affordable financing options and capacity-building support. Called the Innovative Financing Thrust Towards Inclusive National Growth thru Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (LIFTING MSMEs) Lending Program, the initiative enables borrowers to fund working capital, business expansion, equipment upgrades, …

An economist has partly attributed the surge in foreign direct investments (FDIs) in July 2025 to the implementation of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act. Signed into law on November 11, 2024, CREATE MORE seeks to attract more investors to establish operations in the Philippines by offering incentives …

The World Bank has maintained its Philippine economic growth projections for 2025 and 2026, citing strong domestic demand and structural reforms that continue to support expansion. In its October East Asia and Pacific Economic Update, the World Bank forecast the Philippine economy to grow by 5.3 percent in 2025 and 5.4 percent in 2026, outpacing growth expectations for China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The …

PRESENTLY training in Manila, Paris Olympian Aleah Finnegan is confident that the staging of the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships next month will further accelerate the promotion and development of the dynamic Olympic sport in the country. “I really think it is really important that our young girls will see high level gymnastics in in the Philippines,” Finnegan …

The Caloocan Batang Kankaloo banked on Rommel Calahat and Jeff Manday to thwart the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, 65-61, on Friday and rev up their playoff drive in the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra. Calahat, a burly former star of the San Sebastian College Golden Stags, bunched 8 points …

In the wake of Typhoon Opong in South Luzon and the recent earthquake that struck Cebu, countless families have been left struggling to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. Roofs were torn apart, communities displaced, and lives upended. Yet amid the destruction, the Filipino spirit endures—steadfast, compassionate, and full of hope. To help ease the burden, MOONTON Games, through a long-term …

Taguig City, Philippines — Enderun Colleges marked its 20th anniversary with Enderun@20, a grand celebration of two decades of international-caliber education, held on October 5, 2025, at the Enderun Colleges campus in McKinley Hill. Among the event’s sponsors was Sprinto, a leading sports eyewear brand in the country. Sprinto joined the festivities and showcased its latest performance eyewear collection to …

Isuzu Philippines Corporation, together with its Cebu dealer partner Iconic Dealership, Inc., donated essential relief supplies for 200 families in Bgy Poblacion, San Remigio, one of the municipalities most affected by the recent earthquake in northern Cebu. This initiative follows the devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck las month affecting over 170,000 individuals and claiming more than 70 lives. Led by …

The ongoing Gentry Open 2025, the country’s first premier open tennis tournament organized by Gentry Timepieces, is being presented by the GWM Philippines from Oct. 9 to 19 at the Colegio San Agustin in Bulacan.  The sporting event brought together over 1,500 tennis players from across divisions; uniting athletes, families, and enthusiasts in a celebration of athletic excellence and community …

NLEX Lakbay Norte expanded for the first time beyond North and Central Luzon with NLEX Lakbay Manila, a special trip into the heart of the country’s lively capital, partnering with the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila with the participation of media and content creators to rediscover Manila’s rich history, culture, and flavors. The adventure proved that you …