THE average farmgate price of palay, or unmilled rice, rose 1.7% week-on-week to P16.69 per kilogram in the fourth week of March, with prices down 11.2% year-on-year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Wednesday that net profit declined 25% year-on-year in the first quarter to P2.54 billion as port activity dwindled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

In times of crisis, even clichés find renewed meaning. We all know that taxes are the lifeblood of the government. However, against the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives worldwide, the maxim makes much more sense both literally and figuratively. Billions in public funds have been used to keep lives afloat, defray expenditures for medical supplies and equipment, and subsidize social amelioration projects for affected households, but much more is needed.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte said ASEAN countries must continue to trade within the bloc in order to ensure health and food security during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

THE Palace said Monday that it released more than P132 billion so far to various agencies in order to boost the government’s capacity to contain the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

THE budget usage rate exceeded 100% during the crisis-hit month of March as emergency spending ramped up during the public health emergency and the ensuing quarantine, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

MANUFACTURERS of hygiene products and pet food have been allowed to resume operations during the extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) remitted P6 billion worth of dividends to the government Monday, after state-owned firms were ordered to provide funding for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) containment effort.

THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is requiring all public telecommunication entities and internet service providers to submit business continuity plans to ensure uninterrupted services during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and the greater dependence on the industry by workers performing their duties remotely.

A DIRECT-marketing program has allowed more than 5,000 farmers to bypass middlemen as well as checkpoints during the enhanced community quarantine that locked down Luzon to contain coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

AN off-cycle monetary response ahead of the Monetary Board’s next policy-setting meeting could be on the table soon to cushion the economy from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, according to Nomura Global Markets Research.

THE Transportation department said it has turned over P17.27 billion worth of dividends to the Bureau of Treasury to support the government’s efforts to contain coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), among other projects.