The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Department of Health (DOH) has taken another step toward strengthening mental health care in the Philippines with the inauguration of a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine and the Forensic Psychiatry Building at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa led the ceremony on Wednesday, highlighting the government’s commitment to make advanced …

Around one million Filipinos are currently battling dementia, the Department of Health (DOH) revealed on Thursday, warning that the number could rise as the population continues to age. In an interview during World Alzheimer’s Month, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said dementia affects about 10% of Filipino senior citizens, with Alzheimer’s disease as the leading cause. Other forms, such as …

A bigger waistline is often blamed on weight gain, belly fat, or bloating — but health experts caution it could also signal a life-threatening condition called abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). AAA happens when the main artery in the abdomen enlarges or bulges. If it ruptures, it can trigger massive internal bleeding and death within minutes. The Philippine Heart Association (PHA), …

A groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) tool is now capable of predicting a person’s risk of more than 1,000 diseases—sometimes up to 20 years before they occur. Published Wednesday in the journal Nature, the study introduces Delphi-2M, a modified language model that analyzes health records and lifestyle factors to estimate the likelihood of conditions such as cancer, skin disorders, and immune …

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) have introduced the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) in Laguna to bring preventive health care closer to Filipino workers. Launched Tuesday at Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc., the program was led by DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesmaand PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Edwin Mercado. With the tagline “Malayo ka …

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for ordering the return of ₱60 billion surplus funds to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), a move seen as a major boost to Universal Health Care (UHC). DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who also chairs the PhilHealth Board, said the reinstated funds will expand health benefits, reduce …

The Philippines’ balance of payments (BOP), which accounts for the transactions of the country with the rest of the world, registered a surplus of US$359 million in August 2025. This is higher than the US$88 million surplus recorded in August 2024. The BOP surplus reflected the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) net income from its investments abroad. This surplus helped …

Global superstar, actor, and philanthropist Nick Jonas has teamed up with leading watch and accessories brand FOSSIL for a bold and nostalgic new collection, launching August 20, 2025. Each limited-edition timepiece blends Jonas’ passion for watch collecting, his distinct personal style and Fossil’s decades-long design heritage to deliver styles that are both timeless and distinctly modern—all while reinvigorating customers’ love …

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), headed by Chairperson and CEO Lala Sotto, held a Responsableng Panonood seminar for members and officers of the Rotary Club of Quezon City and the Rotary Club of Marikina West on Monday, September 15, 2025, at Club Filipino, San Juan City. The RP seminar highlighted the Agency’s commitment and dedication to …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has issued new regulations on large value cash transactions to reduce money laundering and other risks linked to the use of cash. Under Circular No. 1218 series of 2025, issued on 18 September 2025, large value transactions above ₱500,000.00 (or its equivalent in foreign currency) must be conducted through traceable channels such as checks, …