The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), has asked Cathay Pacific to explain a reported incident involving a damaged passport that prevented a 65-year-old passenger from boarding a flight at Mactan-Cebu International Airport last April 24. According to CAB’s report, the passenger was scheduled to fly to Dubai via Flight CX948 when the airline staff allegedly …

GameZone ignites the summer season with the sizzling GameZone Tablegame Champions Cup: Summer Showdown, bringing the heat to the Tongits arena for the finale duel happening from June 12 to 15 set to splurge ₱10,000,000 prize pool.  Center stage will feature 135 elite Tongits players, ready to dazzle aficionados with their exceptional displays of wit and card game mastery. This …

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has rolled out a major policy requiring all government agencies to adopt unified standards in crafting their Information Systems Strategic Plans (ISSPs), aligning with national ICT goals. Through Department Circular No. HRA-001 s. 2025, the directive mandates national government agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and other …

The recent arrest of a Chinese national caught with suspected surveillance equipment near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters is an alarming development that cannot be dismissed as an isolated incident. It strikes at the heart of Philippine sovereignty and raises urgent concerns about foreign interference in the country’s democratic processes. The National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) disclosure that the …

BEYOND ELLIPTICAL By Rose Marie de la Cruz I agree with the observation of IBON Foundation Inc.’s Sonny Africa about the rollout of P20 per kg of rice in the Visayas as just a “temporary fix” for which consumers have to be thankful, but that long term solutions like supporting small farmers are what is needed for food security and improving …

Former Department of Agriculture  Secretary William Dar described the  first quarter growth of only of 1 percent  in agriculture this year as modest.  “It could have been better as the crops sector benefited from favorable weather,”  claimed Dar and other analysts, citing  the agriculture’s growth came from a low base last year due to El Nino. But DA Secretary Francisco …

The forest cover of the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL) has significantly increased by 400 hectares from 2010 to 2020, a Department of Environment and Natural Resources official reported. DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria said UMRBPL’sforest is now 44.37 percent bigger because of the continuous implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) in the 26,000-hectare Protected …

Due to the rising  coconut oil prices, Filipino consumers are shifting to cheaper palm oil for cooking. The rising cost of coconut oil in the domestic market has been flagged by international observers and even by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) as a factor that could affect consumption of the commodity and drive food prices up this year, Philippine Star …

Baguio city—Two-time Korean national champion Dae-Yeong Joo is the undisputed winner of the MPTC Tour of Luzon: The Great Revival. Joo overcame his toughest challengers in the final stage to emerge as the champion of prestigious, eight-stage cycling competition at the Camp John Hay here Thursday. Although Joo finished well behind stage winner Joshua Pascual of Excellent Noodles, who clocked …

Capas, Tarlac – Both with Filipino blood in their veins, Singapore’s Marc Brian Louis and Jessica Laurance from Australia emerged as the fastest man and woman in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium late Friday night.  The Singapore national sprint champion, Louis, whose mother, Julie Ann Adsuara, hails from Moncada, Tarlac, won a close …