The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

ICCP Chairman of the Executive Committee Guillermo D. Luchangco announced the election of Augusto D. Bengzon as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines (ICCP). Bengzon brings extensive leadership and financial management experience to ICCP. He worked in financial services for 18 years, including 16 years with Citibank where he served in several areas in consumer, corporate and investment …

Fire and Ice Entertainment officially launched its expanded creative ecosystem, bringing together concerts, new music releases, original films and series, and theatre productions set to roll out throughout 2026. Held February 5 at Noctos Music Barin Quezon City, the grand media launch gathered artists, industry partners, members of the press, and cultural stakeholders as Fire and Ice Entertainment introduced five distinct yet interconnected brands: Fire and …

Luxury need not be out of reach, according to Ms. Charo Cordial, the woman behind Maddox Jewelry, a fast-growing, Marikina-based line of jewels. What started as a home-based live selling venture has grown into a full-blown jewelry business that caters to customers from many walks of life. Charo credits the widespread pandemic that hit the country between 2020 and 2022 as the inspiration behind Maddox. …

METRO Manila is constantly evolving, and at the heart of its next phase of urban growth is one defining artery: C5.  Once regarded simply as an alternative to EDSA, C5 has transformed into a powerful growth corridor—anchoring major infrastructure projects, thriving business districts, and master-planned communities.  Rising at the center of this transformation is Haraya Residences, a modern vertical gated …

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Government of Sweden, through its development finance institution Swedfund, signed a grant agreement to strengthen the country’s public transport system.  The initiative will establish national bus standards designed to improve safety, quality, and inclusivity in urban public transport across the Philippines. Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez highlighted the importance of the partnership, saying: “Today’s …

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced the allocation of about P9.6 billion for the construction of 4,000 classrooms nationwide to address the shortage of learning spaces. Marcos announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) to formalize a partnership to accelerate classroom construction and address the backlog. The …

THE Aboitiz and Yuchengco groups have secured clearance from the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to move forward with the expansion of their economic zone venture in Tarlac. Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. said the clearance enables the two parties to formalize definitive agreements for TARI Estate, their joint venture covering a 184-hectare (ha) property owned by HI subsidiary Tarlac Terra Ventures …

THE Alpha Distinct Development Solutions, Inc.  is honored to receive the Special Citation for Waste Diverters from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the 2026 EPR Recognition Program: Celebrating Achievements and Milestones. This recognition affirms our commitment to waste diversion, circular economy initiatives, and sustainable solutions that support the Zero Waste to Nature vision of the Philippines. …

The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of Philippine banks improved to 3.08 percent in December 2025, down from 3.32 percent in November, marking the lowest level since August 2020, based on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data. Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort said the decline in NPLs amid rising bank loans is partly due to a total 200-basis-point reduction …

Confidence in the Philippine economy is showing signs of recovery, BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said Wednesday, projecting a growth rebound in the second half of 2026. Citing the central bank’s survey of supply chain managers, Remolona noted that the confidence index has risen above 50 percent, signaling improving sentiment. He also pointed to declining yields on Bureau of the …