The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) modernization program in addressing cybercrime and other evolving national security threats during the AFP’s 89th founding anniversary celebration at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday. In his speech, Marcos praised the AFP’s agility and adaptability to modern security challenges. “You have …

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) has approved a P500 increase in the monthly minimum wage for domestic workers (kasambahay). In Wage Order No. NCR-DW-05, the NCR wage board said the new minimum wage in the region for the sector will be at P7,000 a month. “The new minimum wage for kasambahays in …

The Philippine National Police – Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) confiscated nearly P2.4 billion worth of illegal drugs in operations conducted from January 1 to December 18, 2024. PDEG chief Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta disclosed on Friday that the haul included 168 kilograms of shabu, 3,866,600 fully grown marijuana plants, 1,830 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves, 48.672 kilograms of ketamine, 36.9 …

Newly appointed Philippine Air Force (PAF) commander Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura has pledged to spearhead the successful implementation of an integrated air defense system during his tenure, emphasizing a mission-focused and values-driven approach. “Under my term, I intend to pursue a command thrust that focuses on the mission essential task and clearly defines the imperatives for a successful implementation of …

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Friday to address long-standing issues with power rate resets, particularly its handling of the Manila Electric Corp.’s (Meralco) rate reset process. Tolentino criticized the ERC’s inaction, noting that Meralco’s last rate reset expired in 2015 and the commission only allowed the withdrawal of Meralco’s rate reset application on …

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) stands at a crossroads where its financial strength must be translated into meaningful healthcare reforms.  With total assets of P628.2 billion, including P150 billion in surplus funds, the agency’s fiscal position is robust enough to weather the loss of a P74-billion government subsidy under the 2025 national budget.  Yet, as Senator Loren Legarda emphasized …

Beyond Diliman By Rose Marie de la Cruz Since Martial Law, I had been covering the Department of Agriculture and its agencies, including the National Food Authority, and I could say that back then the country went through a most embarrassing rice crisis (with long queues and no stocks), which was in a large part due to mismanagement and patronage …

The Department of Agriculture is pushing for the use of organic fertilizer after decades of massive chemical fertilizer usage has degraded 80 percent of the country’s farm lands, DA Operations Undersecretary Roger Navarro stressed the need to foster awareness  that soil degradation comes from the abused use of inorganic fertilizer. “Our estimate [for soil degradation] is we’re at least already …

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) asked the government to expedite the approval of the African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine for commercial use, to ensure a speedy recovery of hog farming. “We hope that the (Food and Drug Administration) approves the vaccine,” SINAG Chairman Rosendo O. So said at a briefing. The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the approval for …

The Department of Agriculture said the drop in the millgate prices of sugar could have been caused by competition from imported artificial sweeteners. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the projected drop in sugar production this year due to the effects of El Niño and La Niña led to soaring imports of artificial sweeteners. “Two weeks ago, I …