The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded a significant decline in index crimes for the first 10 months of 2024, reflecting a 13.51 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo reported that 30,322 index crime incidents were documented from January 1 to November 8, 2024, down …

The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional P196 million ($3.5 million) to support the Philippine government’s response to Tropical Storm Kristine, known internationally as Tropical Storm Trami. Through this assistance, USAID will support logistics and provide clean water, sanitation, shelter, and cash assistance to help residents in the most affected areas …

A lawmaker has proposed legislation aimed at providing free vaccines against infectious diseases to all senior citizens in the Philippines, ensuring better health protection for the elderly population. Agri Party-list Representative Wilbert Lee recently filed House Bill No. 11055, or the proposed Safeguarding Seniors: Free Immunization Act, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed former Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director General Jose Torres Jr. as the new Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS).  Marcos’ appointment of Torres to the PTFoMS comes with a clear directive to bolster the protection of journalists, especially as the nation prepares for the 2025 midterm elections. Speaking …

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto highlighted the Philippines’ comprehensive climate finance strategies during the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Recto urged global leaders to seize the opportunity to advance meaningful climate action, emphasizing the urgency of the moment. “This year’s COP must go beyond rhetoric. For the Philippines, …

The Philippines is once again facing the compounded effects of overlapping typhoons, and as the storms intensify, so does the risk to the nation’s food supply.  These frequent and powerful storms, a clear sign of the increasing impact of climate change, wreak havoc on the agricultural sector, leaving behind devastated crops, disrupted supply chains, and soaring food prices. Typhoons are …

By Rose de la Cruz The Department of Agriculture said sugar importation has been held until May 2025 following the conclusion of the current crop year’s harvest. The decision was reached after DASecretary Francisco Tiu Laurel noted that there is no immediate need for additional stocks from outside since domestic supply of both raw and refined sugar would be sufficient …

The Department of Agriculture, which has allowed the entry of nearly 4,800 metric tons of ginger,  is  surprised at the retail price of this vegetable — commonly used as spice or herb —  at P100 per kilo. because of strong demand from manufacturers of herbal and turmeric teas. Data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that 4,759 MT …

Another myopic bill–  granting the Department of Agriculture the task of directly importing rice just because the substantial reduction on tariffs on rice imports did not lead to reduced retail prices of the staple–  is being eyed at the Lower House, which could lead to a split personality for the DA. The DA is basically tasked with protecting and supporting …

The  successive destruction to properties, lives and livelihood in the country  due to  climate change and calamities caused by government inaction remain as unpopular electoral issues even as the Philippines continues to lead the list of countries most vulnerable to disasters. This was the observation of  analysts as they called for a stronger push among civil society groups, opposition forces, …