The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

It’s been a long year of isolation. While the country still struggles with the ongoing pandemic, non-essential travel is still discouraged. However, the need for some semblance of normalcy has caused people to adjust their travel behaviors. 

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

At the Health and Wellness Caravan, residents are given free check-ups, blood examination, blood pressure taking, chest Xray, medicines and reading glasses.

The Good Guys advise their communities of the Health and Wellness Caravan at least three weeks before so they may pre-register, but walk-ins are also easily managed. In a single day, at least 100 patients receive medical attention from the front liners, some of whom are volunteer residents.

Sheila Genibiazo-Calces, also of Trees Residences, is a registered nurse who works on clinical trials of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The Philippine economy is projected to return to pre-pandemic levels by end of 2022, possibly the slowest to bounce back within the region as the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Moody’s Analytics.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) recently reported that the Duterte administration, within the last five years, has approved a total of 92 projects worth P3.86 trillion, most of which were big-ticket infrastructure projects financed by official development assistance (ODA) loans and grants.

Local business tycoon Dennis Uy of Davao now controls the country’s biggest natural gas venture near Palawan.

Local industry groups are calling on government to liberalize the agriculture sector to ensure food sufficiency.

Three giants of the cruise industry will return to the seas within weeks, with Norwegian Cruise Lines becoming the latest to announce its US ships will set sail starting in early August.