The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Water from the faucet or tap in the Philippines is not safe for drinking, and the quality of the water does not meet the standards set by the national government, especially in urban areas. Data from the United Nations and Unicef showed that a majority, 53 percent of households in the Philippines do not have access to a safely managed …

TECNO captured the top spots in the recently concluded 9.9 Super Sale, ranking number 1 in GMV sales on TikTok Shop and number 1 in units sold on Shopee among all smartphone brands in the Philippines. This remarkable achievement was driven by the overwhelming success of TECNO’s newly launched SPARK GO 1, further solidifying the brand’s presence in the Philippine market. …

By Rose de la Cruz Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has issued a  stern warning against price manipulators and cartels engaged in large scale agricultural smuggling of stiff jail terms.  On Friday, Romualdez warned agricultural cartels, vowing that those involved in price manipulation and the smuggling of essential goods — acts considered economic sabotage (which could qualify as heinous crime as …

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has flagged 45 projects with official development assistance (ODA) funding as problematic, amid delays from implementation challenges, including right-of-way (ROW) acquisition issues. In its 2023 ODA portfolio review report, the NEDA said 58 of the 77 ongoing Investment Coordination Committee (ICC)-approved ODA-funded projects were assessed as of the fourth quarter of last year, …

By Joni Gesmundo Mexican Independence Day is a celebration that brings the entire nation together in a display of unity, pride and tradition. Every September 16, Mexico commemorates one of the most pivotal moments in their history—emancipation from Spanish rule. Unlike Cinco de Mayo, which is often confused with this holiday, Mexican Independence Day marks the true beginning of the …

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo Guillen on Thursday said the agency’s transfer to the Office of the President (OP) is crucial in realizing the administration’s target to achieve food security. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier ordered the reorganization and transfer of the NIA from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the OP under Executive Order No. 69. During …

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said the government has no plans to revive online sabong (cockfighting) operations. “I want to make this clear, and ulitin ko po ito. Wala pong marching orders ang Pangulo, Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, sa pagre-reopen ng e-sabong. (I want to make this clear, and I will repeat it. The President, …

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on Friday assured its employees, members, and pensioners that their personal information remains secure following a confirmed security incident involving a compromised administrator account on a test computer. “We assure our employees, members and pensioners that the protection of their information is of utmost priority. GSIS is implementing needed measures to protect our systems …

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said investigators will look into the circumstances of uncovered mass graves in Porac, Pampanga apparently arising from operations of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO). “Yung organized crime nila, lumipat dito, nagdala ng lagim, kaya nga yan ang isang dahilan kung bakit nangayaw na ang Pangulo (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) sa POGO kasi …

The House appropriations committee’s decision to slash the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed 2025 budget by nearly P1.3 billion—down to P733.198 million from the requested P2.037 billion—comes as a direct response to Vice President Sara Duterte’s repeated refusal to address critical questions about her office’s budget utilization.  This significant budget cut signals more than a mere funding issue; …