The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Autokid Mobility Solutions, formerly known as Autokid Truck Solutions, started with grit, a small team, and a clear belief in delivering reliable transport solutions to a growing market. It has since grown into a provider of complete mobility solutions—spanning buses, heavy equipment, and more.  From its early beginnings to becoming a leading mobility provider with 16 branches nationwide, its journey …

A fourth impeachment complaint was filed last week at the House of Representatives against Sara Duterte, accusing her of failing to fully disclose assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) and allegedly accumulating wealth disproportionate to her lawful income. The verified complaint, lodged by Atty. Nathaniel Cabrera and endorsed by House Committee on Human Rights chair …

The House of Representatives recently approved on final reading a measure requiring electric distribution, cable, and telecommunications companies to assume full responsibility for the safety and proper management of overhead power and communication lines. With 223 affirmative votes, lawmakers passed House Bill No. 7565, or the Safe Overhead Electric Distribution, Cable, and Communications Lines Act, clearing it at the plenary …

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed all relevant government agencies to assist in crafting the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism/Proliferation Financing Strategy (NACS) for 2026–2030. Acting by presidential authority, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto signed Memorandum Circular No. 113 on February 12, tasking the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), as secretariat of the National AML/CTF Coordinating Committee, to “provide technical and administrative …

Amid fresh developments on Philippine territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and an upcoming debate on the issue, former senator Francis Tolentino expressed dismay over what he described as a divided stance among government officials, warning that such discord only fuels confusion about the legal realities of the dispute. “Gumulo (confusing),” Tolentino said during a media forum he …

The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has raised concern over declining population growth in several rural provinces, citing findings from the 2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) and shifting demographic patterns nationwide. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that as of July 1, 2024, the country’s population reached 112,729,484 — an increase of 3.69 million from 109.04 million …

The Supreme Court of the Philippines (SC) en banc has ruled that the mitigating circumstance of voluntary surrender must be assessed based on the accused’s true intent and the totality of circumstances surrounding the act. The clarification came after the high tribunal granted a petition to reduce the sentence of a man convicted of bigamy, 13 years after a warrant …

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has filed an election offense complaint against contractor Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya, accusing his former rival of overspending and misdeclaring campaign expenses in the May 2025 polls. In a complaint-affidavit submitted to the Political Finance and Affairs Department of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila last week, Sotto alleged that Discaya violated Section …

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines has removed the requirement to submit three months’ worth of bank statements for visa applications, easing documentary requirements for Filipino travelers. The Korean Visa Application Center Philippines (KVAC) said the policy change aims to streamline the process and encourage more visits to South Korea. “For all types of required documents, …

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines clarified Friday that the alleged mastermind in the Binondo drum murder is not Taiwanese, but a Chinese national. TECO said verification procedures revealed that the suspect’s purported Taiwanese passport was forged. “After carefully examining the passport presented by the suspect, this Office confirms that the document is a forged Taiwanese passport,” …