The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

With the cool weather leading to lower demand, electricity rates in the country’s Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) will remain low this month, according to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP). Based on data from IEMOP, system-wide WESM rates were down by 14.3 percent to P2.96 per kilowatt-hour from P3.45 per kWh on a monthly basis, which …

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero advised newly appointed Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado to avoid the missteps of his predecessor. Welcoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s decision to appoint Mercado, Escudero stressed the need for leadership that prioritizes the public’s healthcare needs. “It’s right to replace the PhilHealth [chief] because for the longest time, …

By Tracy Cabrera The Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (Resto PH) has denounced the rampant use of fake persons-with-disability (PWD) identification cards to unlawfully claim discounts at restaurants and other establishments. In an Instagram statement, Resto PH President Eric Teng highlighted the “widespread abuse” of the PWD discount system, which he said places an unsustainable financial burden, especially on small, …

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has identified eight priority research and development (R&D) programs to drive national innovation. Launched on February 5 at Dusit Thani Manila, ELEV8PH: Pushing S&T Frontiers for National Development gathered industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to discuss advancements in science and technology. DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Lea J. Buendia emphasized the …

The impending impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte marks a critical juncture in Philippine politics. While impeachment is a constitutional mechanism designed to hold high-ranking officials accountable, its use must be weighed carefully to ensure it serves justice rather than political maneuvering. The charges against the Vice President—whether centered on alleged misuse of confidential funds, abuse of power, or other …

BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz One of my former bosses at the Department of Agriculture, Ernesto Ordonez, wrote a column at the Inquirer recently pushing the adoption of high density farming in view of limited land and increasing global competition. Ordonez now chairs Agriwatch. For this to happen, he said, “we must harness our underutilized scientific community, which …

By Rose de la Cruz After the Bureau of Plant Industry recommended to its mother agency, the Department of Agriculture, that there are ample stocks of red and yellow onions enough to last even after March,, DA Secretary Francisco Tiiu Laurel announced he would allow 3,000 of red onions and 1,000 tons of yellow onions. In an article headlined, “Dwindling …

Production of fisheries fell by 5 percent in 2024 to 4.05 million metric tons, the lowest in two decades based on data of the Philippine Statistics Authority. The PSA recorded total volume of fisheries in 2024 as lower than the 4.24 MMT in 2023 and the lowest since the 3.93 MMT posted in 2004. The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and …

The National Tobacco Administration reported that the country’s unmanufactured tobacco exports shrank by 14.2 percent in 2024 at 17.8 million kilograms from 20.75 MKg in 2023. The value of tobacco shipped dropped by 6.47 percent to $94.59 million in 2024 from $101.13 million in the previous year. NTA data also showed that Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc. (ULPI) as the top …

With the delisting of coconut by the US Food and Drug Administration from the list of tree nuts classified as major food allergens, the Department of Trade and Industry sees demand for other coconut-based products rising in that market. Citing Mintel’s global new product database from 2018 to 2023, DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) Director Bianca Pearl Sykimte said there are more …