The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is no longer setting a timeline on when the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) will be completed until such time that challenges on right of way (ROW) are sorted out. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon received his first briefing with project managers of the subway, and was unsatisfied with the answers given to him regarding progress. …

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Regional Office IX (MRO 9) led by OIC-director Farida Cunanan successfully held the second leg of its Maritime Safety Culture Awareness Campaign Caravan in Zamboanga City on 25 February 2025. Key highlight of the event was the formal signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between MRO 9 and the Zamboanga City government to enhance …

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon issued a Department Order creating a Flagship Project Management Office (FPMO) following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fast-track big-ticket transportation projects to alleviate commuter woes. The Chief Executive had instructed Sec. Dizon to speed up priority transport system infrastructure projects for physical connectivity and shorter travel time. Under Department Order 2025-002, the DOTr-FPMO …

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported that its member states have expressed willingness to continue exploring common ground in negotiations for new binding measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from international shipping. The IMO in London said international efforts to curb GHG emissions from shipping took a step forward as the IMO’s Intersessional Working Group (IWG) on Reduction of …

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon vowed to fast-track big-ticket transport projects under the Build Better More (BBM) infrastructure program of the Marcos administration to ensure efficiency of the country’s transport systems and alleviate hardships of the commuting public. “Ang objective natin simple lang: pabilisin, at ayusin para maging safe ang ating transport systems. Hindi pwede ang pwede na,” Sec. Dizon said …

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Philippines could increase by 7 percent this year, hitting an annual purchase volume of 20,000 units for the first time, according to industry expectations. Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi) President Rommel Gutierrez said he expects that 4 percent of the estimated 500,000 vehicle purchases this year will be EVs. …

By Jinky Jorgio Some projects under the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue after the United States exempted the $336-million fund from its foreign aid freeze. AFP Public Affairs Office Chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad made the announcement during a press briefing,  saying this is a welcome development. “On the development of its particular use, …

ABS-CBN Corporation said  that it has already signed a deal with Ayala Land Inc (ALI) for the sale of a portion of its property in Quezon City. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed by ABS-CBN Corporation and Ayala Land last  Feb. 27, 2025, for the sale covering 30,000 square meters out of the total 44,027.30 sqm of the property for …

To protect the local cement industry, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has slapped a provisional safeguard of P400 per metric ton on two types of imported cement. In an order published last week,  the DTI said it decided to impose the cash bond following the safeguards investigation covering ordinary Portland cement and blended cement that entered the Philippines …

The Edsa bus carousel will soon be improved with the construction of bridgeways or concourses to ease access along the busway system’s 23 stations. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said that he observed that lines of passengers tend to build up at both the EDSA carousel and MRT-3 since most of the stations of the busway and the rail system are connected. …