The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Upson International Corp. (“Upson” or “Company”), based on an updated industry study by the Center for Research and communication, remains to be the largest retailer of personal computers (PC) and information technology (IT) products in the Philippines. The study was based on total revenues as well as number of outlets of several similarly classified retailers. Upson currently has a combined …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued Circular No. 1160 dated 28 November 2022 to implement Republic Act No. 11765 or the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (FCPA) in line with its broader efforts to promote the welfare of financial consumers. “The Circular is expected to bolster the BSP’s longstanding initiatives to protect the interest of consumers who …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) underscored the resilience of the Philippine economy after its gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.6 percent during the third quarter of 2022. “The robust expansion recorded for Q3 2022 places the Philippines in a strong position to meet its target GDP growth rate of 6.5 to 7.5 percent this year,” said BSP Governor …

When Super Typhoon “Yolanda” devastated parts of the country in 2013, coconut farmers from this town struggled with lower productivity and income. They were left with damaged coconut farms, making it even harder to earn a living for their families. This dire situation pushed the Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC) to support its farmer-members by establishing a production center for diverse …

Yuchengco-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)’s DiskarTech, the country’s first multi-lingual financial inclusion mobile app in Taglish and Cebuano, launches 6.5 percent annual savings interest rate to further onboard more Filipinos into the formal banking system this holiday season.  Users of the internationally-recognized RCBC DiskarTech app will enjoy higher savings interest  at 6.5 percent from 3.25 percent, from December 1, …

What seemed like a simple a meet up between the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) and the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) was actually a prelude to the biggest event for senior citizens of National Capital Region (NCR) this year.   To jumpstart the meeting cum training workshop, NCSC Chairman Franklin Quijano and Dean of PLM College of Humanities, …

Consumers would have to pay more as prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) increased effective Thursday last week, ahead of the Christmas holidays. In separate statements, Petron and Phoenix LPG said they hiked LPG prices by P2.25 per kilogram, while Solane-branded LPG increased prices by P2.27 per kilogram. This translated to increments of P24.75 to P24.97 for a regular 11-kilogram …

Celebrating the exemplary performance of its registered business enterprises (RBEs) as the country gears towards full economic recovery, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has recognized the valuable contributions of its ecozone locators and developers or RBEs in its annual Investors’ Recognition Day held on 25 November 2022.  The Investors’ Recognition Day is the biggest annual event of PEZA wherein …

For the first time since it was opened to the public, the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX)—now the country’s longest and tallest bridge—was lit in color in symbolic stand and support for UNICEF’s celebration of the World Children’s Day. CCLEX is the first major infrastructure in the Philippines to light up in blue in support of UNICEF and the World Children’s …

By Jesse C. Ong Proudly staring at the enormous establishments he built over the years on US soil, 69-year-old Orlando Cruz is still in disbelief that the once seemingly impossible dream of fashioning a lucrative construction business in the “land of milk and honey” has turned into huge reality. From his humble beginnings as a carabao-riding young boy tilling farmlands …