The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said the government is enforcing programs to manage price pressures emerging from the energy sector. It includes improving the Department of Energy’s Net Metering Program by enforcing time-bound local permitting, simplifying utility documentary requirements and expanding consumer incentives.   “The program allows consumers to install eligible renewable energy systems and export surplus …

More and more Filipinos in the labor force are finding it hard to land a job. The number of unemployed Filipinos increased to 2.26 million in December, higher than the 1.63 million logged in December 2024 and the previous month’s count of 2.25 million. For 2025, the jobless rate averaged 4.2%, equivalent to 2.14 million jobless Filipinos. This was higher …

Ten industry divisions performed so badly last year that the country’s manufacturing output decreased. This was according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Preliminary results of the PSA’s Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries showed that the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) for manufacturing posted an annual average decline of 0.02 percent last year, indicating a downtrend from the 0.7 …

The decision of members of the House Committee on Justice to dismiss the two impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was framed as a triumph of procedure over politics. Yet, as more details surface, the vote now looks less like principled restraint and more like part of a familiar choreography—one where accountability is expertly dodged while the public is expected to …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro In the Senate, leadership changes are rarely about principle or institutional continuity. Whether framed as a coup, power sharing, or term sharing, the underlying dynamic is the same: the bargain. Votes are secured, alliances are forged, and promises are made—not for the sake of transparency or reform, but to protect personal interests and maintain the status quo. …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez The recent meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Mr. Katsuya Nakanishi, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Corporation, may appear routine in diplomatic calendars, but it carries weighty implications for the country’s economic and social direction. It reflects an administration intent on translating high-level partnerships into concrete benefits that ordinary Filipinos can feel in their …

THE transition from a scholar to a legal professional is rarely a straight path. More often, it is a test of endurance.  For Atty. Jermagne A. Ceria, passing the 2025 Bar Exam was not just a personal milestone, but the culmination of a decade-long journey fueled by a “never-say-die” spirit and the unwavering support of SM Foundation. Jermagne’s story begins …

International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI)’s wholly owned subsidiary Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd. (VICT) has signed a 26-year extension of its contract to operate and manage the Webb Dock East terminal at the Port of Melbourne. Port of Melbourneand VICT announced the extension today, which will see VICT continue to operate and manage the terminal until 2066.   This …

FIRST Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation (FirstMetroSec) continues to strengthen its already robust digital trading ecosystem as it prepares investors for increasingly dynamic market conditions, reinforcing its long-term commitment to technology-driven investing. As market participation grows and trading activity becomes more fast-paced, FirstMetroSec has continued to invest in platform enhancements that improve speed, visibility, and the overall trading experience.  Recent upgrades …

NINOY Aquino International Airport (NAIA) recorded its highest monthly passenger traffic on record in January 2026, extending the momentum from its strongest year to date. New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the private operator of NAIA, said 4.96 million passengers passed through the airport during the month, exceeding the 4.86 million recorded in December 2025 and making January the busiest month …