The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned the Philippines against “excessively onerous” aviation regulations that would hamper growth in the aviation sector and consequently hurt passengers.

Cebu Pacific is deferring plans to fly to Honolulu and the US mainland to focus on the growing domestic and regional demand.

Local oil refiner Petron Corp. has filed a case against state-owned Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) for breach of a binding and compulsory sale-leaseback contract, saying such act threatens to hurt not only Petron’s operations and its shareholders but the broader economy that relies on its petroleum products.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. recently signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire Philippine FamilyMart (PFM), the third largest convenience store brand in the country.

By Riza Lozada Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play an important role in linking up with multinational enterprises (MNEs) and propelling economic growth of the regional block, Trade and Industry Secretary and Board of Investments (BOI) Chairman Ramon Lopez said.

Global port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has, since last year, rolled out a new employee rewards program by raffling off new house and lot units to qualified employees of its flagship, Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in the Philippines.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has provided banks with elbowroom in financing priority projects with its directive excluding loans guaranteed by Multilateral Financial Institutions (MFIs) from the loan cap to subsidiaries and affiliates.

State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) recently granted a P78-million term loan to UGEP Solar 1 Inc. (UGEP Solar) to finance the construction and installation of two photovoltaic rooftop solar power projects with a combined output of 2.1 megawatt peak (MWp).

United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB ) lent a hand to Operation Smile Philippines Foundation Inc. in providing free surgeries for 150 children with cleft lip and cleft palate in a mission to held at the Metro Davao Medical and Research Center last November 20 to 24.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) posted P17.7 billion in excise tax collections from so-called sin products in last September, up 12 percent from P16.67 billion a year ago.