The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. will remain behind bars in the Payatas prison facility after the Sandiganbayan denied his bid to be transferred to the custodial center at Camp Crame. More significantly, the anti-graft court has sustained the sufficiency of the non-bailable charge of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents filed by the Office of the …

National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Larry Lacson has thrown his support behind proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), saying the changes are crucial to protecting farmers, consumers, and the broader rice industry. Speaking on Friday during the groundbreaking ceremony for a modernized NFA warehouse, Lacson said the agency is pushing for the restoration of its market intervention powers, …

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in South Korea are set to receive higher wages this year following the approval of a 2.9 percent increase in the country’s minimum wage effective January 1. In a statement released Friday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the adjustment will benefit 25,606 Filipino workers employed under South Korea’s Employment Permit System (EPS) who are …

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday dismissed speculation of an impending leadership shakeup in the Senate, saying recent tensions stemmed from disputes over committee assignments and procedural issues—not dissatisfaction with the Senate presidency. Speaking during a virtual briefing, Sotto said concerns raised by some senators revolved largely around committee control, a situation that escalated following the removal of Sen. …

The public is being urged to stay alert as authorities warn of a spike in increasingly sophisticated “love scams” ahead of Valentine’s Day, with criminal syndicates now using artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools to deceive victims. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian issued the warning on Friday following an advisory from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), which has flagged a …

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has stepped up intelligence operations nationwide to track down and dismantle illegal cigarette factories believed to be operating across several regions. In a statement Friday, the PNP said it is conducting simultaneous intelligence validation following reports that at least 10 illegal cigarette factories are currently active in different parts of the country. “We cannot allow …

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday pledged to broaden career opportunities for public school teachers, saying promotions serve as a “doorway to a better life” by providing greater financial security and long-overdue recognition. Marcos made the assurance during the mass oath-taking of teachers and school heads from Metro Manila under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) program at the Makati Coliseum …

Domestic pump prices are poised to climb again this week, with diesel and gasoline expected to rise by as much as ₱1 per liter, amid global supply concerns and geopolitical tensions. In an advisory, Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said diesel prices may increase by ₱0.80 to ₱1 per liter, while gasoline could go up by ₱0.30 to ₱0.50 per …

United States President Donald Trump has invited the Philippines to join the Board of Peace (BOP), a US-initiated multinational body focused on post-conflict solutions, including the reconstruction of Gaza. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Thursday that Trump, through the White House, sent a personal letter to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. formally inviting Manila …

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) turned over patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to five local government units and a national health institution last week to strengthen healthcare delivery and emergency response across the country. The latest beneficiaries include the City of Imus in Cavite; Bataan province; the municipality of Libertad in Antique; the municipalities of Ibaan and San Jose …