The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Holy Week just passed relived for us the last days of our Lord, Jesus, the Christ.  It was a week of betrayal, of the kiss that identified the Victim for purposes of the arresting officers, of the Last Supper. Judas, one of the brightest and most intelligent of the Victim’s cabinet, must have been driven by financial need to …

Opposition to the new public safety rules being implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government is being framed as a defense of the marginalized. Much of the backlash appears misplaced, if not self-serving. The regulations in question are hardly novel impositions; they are reiterations of long-standing local ordinances—prohibitions on public drinking, restrictions on noise such as late-night karaoke, curfews for minors, and …

The March 2026 inflation of 4.1 percent settled higher than the BSP’s announced forecast range of 3.1 to 3.9 percent, highlighting the upside inflation risks emanating from the global oil price shock. This was largely driven by higher transport-related costs following the sharp increase in domestic fuel prices, alongside higher prices of key food items, particularly rice. The inflation risk …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro In recent weeks, the government has repeatedly called for energy conservation. From the highest officials down to ordinary citizens, the appeal has been consistent: cut back on fuel consumption, reduce reliance on petroleum products, and make sacrifices for the greater good. The message is clear—everyone must contribute, everyone must pitch in.   But it seems one sector …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez The ongoing reforms at the Bureau of Customs under Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno signal a serious attempt to shed the agency’s long-standing reputation as one of the country’s most corruption-prone institutions. For decades, the BOC has been associated with smuggling, revenue leakages, and weak enforcement. Today, however, early indicators suggest that a shift may be underway. …

By DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN The reprieve currently in effect the West Asia hostilities due to the two-week ceasefire forged by Iran and the United States and Israel has little effect on Philippine business, as evidenced by the latest projections from local and international economic authorities. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pruned its growth forecast for the country, as this …

Unilever Philippines, together with the City Government of General Trias and its City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWD), has officially launched a livelihood partnership, named GentriAsenso, a community-based skills and livelihood program aimed at creating additional income opportunities for General Trias residents. The collaboration was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which was attended by 121 …

Mega Prime Foods Inc. (MPFI), the company behind the Philippines’ leading sardines brand Mega Sardines, marks a significant milestone in its growth journey as it expands beyond seafood and into agriculture through a landmark partnership with global agro-industrial leader Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF). The two companies recently broke ground on the Mega CP Layer Complex in Zamboanga City, positioning the region …

Manila, Philippines — Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP), the country network of the United Nations Global Compact, has elected a new set of officers for 2026–2027. GCNP’s new officers include: PLDT’s Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios as Chairman, Globe Telecom Head of Sustainability and Social Responsibility Apple Evangelista as Vice Chair, PTC Holdings Corp. Executive Director for Corporate …

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will release more than P19 billion under its Balik Ginhawa (Loan Moratorium Through Refund) program, benefiting 1.37 million members and pensioners with active loan accounts. GSIS data show that monthly loan amortizations range from ₱4,000 to ₱39,000, depending on the loan amount, equivalent to roughly ₱12,000 to ₱117,000 over three months. The program covers …