The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Social Security System (SSS) has assured its members in the Middle East that access to benefits and services remains uninterrupted through its digital platforms despite ongoing regional tensions. SSS President Robert Joseph de Claro underscored the reliability of the My.SSS Portal, which enables overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to file benefit claims and apply for loans online, as long as …

The Department of Energy (DOE) reported the arrival of about 22.58 million liters of diesel in the country, bolstering local supply as global tensions in the Middle East continue to affect fuel markets. In a social media post, the agency said the shipment—equivalent to roughly 142,000 barrels—was secured under its Emergency Energy Security Program, which carries a ₱20-billion allocation. The …

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said China continues to disregard the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its sweeping claims over the South China Sea, while also engaging in a sustained disinformation campaign to undermine the decision. Speaking at the Paris Defense and Strategy Forum in France, Teodoro stressed that Beijing has not only ignored the ruling of the Permanent …

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has welcomed the decision to impose a ₱50-per-kilo price ceiling on imported rice, describing it as a timely move to shield consumers from the ripple effects of rising fuel costs. The cap, covering 5% broken imported rice, was approved by the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) and is set for implementation once an executive order …

Lawmakers are pushing for stronger safeguards for farmers as onion prices at the farm gate continue to drop despite rising production costs, raising concerns over market distortions and supply chain issues. At a Senate hearing in Muñoz City, Nueva Ecija—considered the country’s onion capital—Senator Francis Pangilinan said the ongoing energy crisis is worsening conditions in agriculture, driving up expenses from …

Oil industry players have expressed support for suspending value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products, saying the move could translate into quicker and more visible price cuts for consumers. At a Senate PROTECT hearing, representatives of both major and independent oil firms said removing VAT at the point of importation would immediately bring down costs and allow savings to be passed …

A senior Philippine Navy official has dismissed claims that Iran could target sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), calling such assertions “false narratives” that misrepresent the situation. Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the circulating reports lack context and fail to reflect the realities of the ongoing Middle East conflict. “Number one, the conflict in the Middle East …

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is ramping up its campaign against illegal online cockfighting, warning that more “e-sabong” hubs will be shut down following a major operation in Tondo, Manila. PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the intensified drive forms part of a broader, sustained effort to dismantle organized illegal gambling networks across the country. “We are intensifying intelligence-driven …

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered a temporary suspension of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to address risks of power supply shortages and price volatility stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The move follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s issuance of Executive Order 110 declaring a state of national energy emergency …

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has filed civil forfeiture petitions at the Manila Regional Trial Court targeting properties of individuals and corporations implicated in ghost flood control projects, while securing asset preservation orders to protect frozen assets. “Following the extensive investigation and finding of probable cause, the AMLC filed three petitions for civil forfeiture before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) …