The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday inaugurated a major irrigation facility in Leyte aimed at boosting farm productivity and securing stable food supply in the province. The Hibulangan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP), located in Leyte, is a PHP1.12-billion infrastructure initiative that will provide year-round water access to around 2,750 hectares of farmland, benefiting 1,821 farmers, according to the Presidential …

The Philippine government has launched a centralized online platform designed to give the public real-time access to information on its response to the ongoing Middle East crisis, including updates on assistance programs, fuel supply, and economic safeguards. The Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) microsite, accessible via uplift.gov.ph, was developed through a joint effort of the Department …

The Senate has begun internal discussions on how it would proceed should the House of Representatives transmit articles of impeachment, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Thursday. Sotto said senators met in a caucus to prepare for possible scenarios, including procedural steps, timelines, and logistical requirements, although he stressed that all preparations remain contingent on action from the House. “Pinag-usapan …

Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is pursuing both legal and diplomatic channels to secure the return of fugitive Zaldy Co to the Philippines, where he faces graft and malversation charges linked to alleged anomalous flood control projects. According to the Palace, Co is currently in France seeking political asylum, after previously being detained in the Czech Republic over invalid …

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing to roll out a pilot sale of blended rice in May as part of efforts to stabilize retail prices amid concerns of a potential spike later this year. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the initiative will initially be tested in selected retail outlets in Metro Manila, with the goal of cushioning …

Senator Imee Marcos is proposing tax incentives for companies that invest in employee health and wellness programs, saying healthier workplaces translate to stronger productivity and better workforce performance. Under Senate Bill No. 1928, or the “Workers Health and Wellness Act,” employers that implement approved wellness initiatives may qualify for tax credits of up to ₱1,000 per employee for firms with …

The government is planning to establish a centralized system that will serve as the main reporting and coordination center for victims of fraud and online scams, in a bid to streamline response efforts and reduce confusion among complainants. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), led by Executive Director Undersecretary Renato Paraiso, is pushing for the creation of a National …

Vice President Sara Duterte emerged from the House Committee on Justice impeachment hearings politically battered, if not decisively weakened. The proceedings, marked by detailed testimonies and documentary evidence, have shifted the battleground to the Senate, where her camp now pins its hopes. Yet the strategy of withholding a full defense at the House level in favor of a Senate showdown is a …

The week just passed has been filled with Constitutionalism, thePower of Congress, and the Power of Judicial Review of the Supreme Court. One of the impeachable officials is the Vice-President. The possible grounds for impeachment under Article XI, Section 2 of the Philippine Constitution are: culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of the public …

The recent exit of the United Arab Emirates from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its expanded alliance, OPEC+, was greeted locally with cautious optimism. Industry players see in it a potential easing of supply constraints and a possible softening of pump prices.  On paper, the logic is simple: freed from production quotas, UAE can maximize its heavily funded oil infrastructure, flood the market with supply, and undercut competitors. In a time …