The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

By Tracy Cabrera The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) is developing a geospatial analytics platform to address malnutrition and learning challenges among Filipino children. This initiative seeks to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these issues beyond food-related factors. DoST Secretary Renato Solidum emphasized the urgency of tackling malnutrition in the country. “Ang Food and Nutrition Research Institute ang …

The United States government, through the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), and the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) inaugurated an exhibition featuring the works of renowned Filipino painters to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation of Manila during World War 2. The “Liberation of Manila: 80 Years of Remembrance through Art” exhibit invites audiences to reflect on the destruction …

The digital age has changed how people get into romantic relationships, opening the door to a new breed of deception—AI-powered love scams. Fraudsters now leverage artificial intelligence to create convincing fake identities, using deepfake images, voice cloning, and AI-driven conversations to manipulate victims into emotional and financial entanglements. Unlike traditional scams, AI-enhanced fraud is more sophisticated and harder to detect. …

BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz Vast tracts of farmlands in the country have become parched from the blunders of the National Irrigation Authority to service water through its national systems, which had cost the government P2 billion of wasted investments. The Commission on Authority last February 1 released its report recommending that contracts be rescinded, bonds forfeited, court …

By Rose de la Cruz The AgriSpecialists Inc. (ASI) can now sell and distribute its BioN biofertilizers for use in rice and all other crops. The announcement came after the Laguna-based company finally secured its certificate of product registration (CPR) from the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) allowing it “to sell and distribute its Bio N biofertilizer.” FPA Executive Director …

Two key measures regulating tax increases on cigarettes and strengthening excise tax administration to combat illicit trade and minimize revenue losses have been sent by the House of Representatives to the Senate. House Bills 11360 and 11286 have been approved by the lower chamber on third and final reading, signaling a major step in refining tax policies on tobacco products. …

The maximum suggested retail price for imported rice is now at P55 per kilogram starting Feb. 15. The Department of Agriculture said the MSRP would apply to imported rice with five percent brokens. It is confident that come March the price cap would be lowered to P50 or below per kg. after two weeks.  “This should reflect the lower global prices …

The deferment of the implementation of Special Order 6 of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, which protects local producers by strictly monitoring the entry of imported sugar-based products and alternatives that would have been detrimental to other legitimate industrial players was hailed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. PCCI President Enunina V. Mangio welcomed the deferment saying that SRA …

The Philippines saved the best for last in the last day of the ninth Asian Winter Games on Friday morning just a few hours before the closing ceremony as the country’s top men’s curling team gave the Filipinos their first ever gold medal in the winter games.  Skipper Marc Pfister along with brother second Enrico Pfister, vice skipper Christian Haller, …

The country’s sports heroes and heroines kicked off 2025 with history-making campaigns and podium finishes. Leading the fiery opening salvo was the Philippine women’s lacrosse team, which defied the odds and captured the bronze in the Asia-Pacific Women’s Championship in Queensland, Australia on its way to next year’s World Championship in Japan. The underdog Filipinas put the sweetener on top …