The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Department of Finance (DOF) said the use of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) sleeping funds for the government’s priority programs and projects would do no harm on its members and plans to expand its benefit packages this year. “So, ang nakita po na unused funds in PhilHealth is around is PHP89.9 billion. Kaklaruhin po namin na ito po …

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has reported a significant decrease in land dispute cases after implementing reforms in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to expedite resolutions. During the Malacañang Insider program aired on Thursday, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said that there was already a substantial caseload when President Marcos Jr.’s administration took over. Some …

The Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. (PPPI), under the leadership of its President and CEO, Undersecretary Maria Blanca Kim B. Lokin, held a strategic meeting with the top management of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), led by President and CEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr., on August 14, 2024, at the PhilHealth head office. The meeting focused on collaborative initiatives to …

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. on Thursday reminded celebrities, influencers, and endorsers of the recent Philippine Vape Festival 2024 to be mindful of the vape products that they promote. “Celebrities, influencers, and endorsers of the Philippine Vape Festival 2024 should be more responsible in promoting vape products. Instruct your agents or managers not to accept endorsements …

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday enumerated its plans on ensuring the protection and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Speaking during the Malacañang Insider program, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the agency’s new programs or initiatives include modernizing the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) for the benefit of Filipino seafarers, improving the OFW …

The Department of Energy (DOE) has called on interested parties to submit their bid documents for petroleum exploration in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the same activity for natural hydrogen in Central Luzon. In a statement Thursday, the DOE said it will open the application for the 1st BARMM Conventional Energy Bid Round and the 2024 …

By Robert Andaya As  the whole nation celebrates National Heroes Day on August 26, The Market Monitor takes look at the five Filipino athletes whose bravery and  heroism in the recent 2024 Paris Olympics make us proud to be Filipinos. No less than the country’s No.1 sportsman, President Ferdinand  “Bongbong” Marcos and the country’s top sports officials — Philippine Olympic …

As the country celebrates National Heroes Day, we are reminded of the indomitable spirit that has shaped our nation’s history.  From the revolutionary fervor of figures like Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio to the quiet resilience of countless unnamed heroes, the day serves as a collective homage to those who have dedicated their lives to the cause of freedom, justice, …

By Rose de la Cruz The Federation of Free Farmers is asking Congress to investigate alleged extortion activities of some personnel at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) from farm school owners and managers to expedite the release of grants for farmer-scholars. The same group also asked newly-appointed TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez to conduct a similar  …

While still governor of Ilocos Norte, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (now president) lobbied hard with his father, President Marcos Sr. and mom, First Lady, Imelda Romualdez Marcos to fund the Northern Foods Corp., that would process the province’s tomato products for value adding. Then costing P110 million, NFC (a failed tomato venture founded by Marcos Jr. in the 1980s), closed after …