The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Thousands of rice farmers stand to benefit from newly adjusted procurement rules of the National Food Authority (NFA), following consultations with growers, millers, and other stakeholders ahead of the dry season harvest peak. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the policy shift is meant to widen the agency’s buying coverage while raising farmers’ take-home earnings. He noted that the move carries …

House Speaker Faustino Dy III has ordered the accelerated consolidation of pending measures seeking a major overhaul of the country’s wage-setting system — including the creation of a single national minimum wage and the abolition of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards. The consolidated proposal merges several bills currently under review by the House Committee on Labor and Employment, …

The Department of Education (DepEd) said Thursday that expanding artificial intelligence (AI) integration in public schools is expected to significantly reduce teachers’ administrative burden and improve system-wide efficiency. Elmo Domino Jose, Governance and Delivery Lead of the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR), said even marginal efficiency gains can create a substantial impact across the country’s basic education system, which …

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday highlighted the “growing depth” of maritime cooperation among the Philippines, Japan, and the United States following a week-long multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement, the AFP said the 15th MMCA, held from Feb. 20 to 26, built on similar joint drills conducted earlier this …

Two foreign nationals were arrested in a police buy-bust operation in Pasay City for allegedly selling unregistered firearms, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday. Authorities identified the suspects as a 39-year-old Chinese national and a 33-year-old Taiwanese national. Their arrest stemmed from an intelligence report about a foreigner using the alias “Lucy” who was reportedly engaged in the illegal …

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Thursday brushed aside reports of his supposed imminent removal from office, describing them as fabricated and driven by “evil forces.” In a statement, Catapang said the circulating claims about his replacement were baseless and intended to sow confusion. “Our focus remains on our goals and the positive impact …

Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is urging the swift passage of House Bill No. 7230, the Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act, which aims to provide monthly rental support to millions of informal settler families (ISFs) across the country. The measure defines ISFs as households living without the consent of property owners, without legal claim to their lot, or …

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed support for the Department of Budget and Management’s plan to lower the ceiling on unprogrammed appropriations (UAs) to as low as 3 percent of the national budget, Malacañang said Thursday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro explained that the DBM aims to adopt a more disciplined fiscal approach by reducing UA levels below the historical …

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have renewed their commitment to prevent the entry of illegal drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs) into the Philippines. The partnership was formalized Thursday in Quezon City through a memorandum of agreement signed by PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez and BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno. Under …

The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges will hold an executive session on March 4 to adopt its rules and begin reviewing complaints, including the case filed against Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa for his prolonged absence from Senate sessions. Committee chairperson JV Ejercito told reporters via Viber on Thursday that the meeting was originally scheduled for March 10 but was …