THE PHILIPPINES returned to the global bond market for a third time this year with its dual-tranche offering of US dollar-denominated bonds on Monday, a top official said.

THE Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) started the week in the red as investors rebalanced their portfolios ahead of the month’s close and as the market was concerned over a new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variant.

THE PESO weakened versus the greenback on Monday as the Philippines was included in the list of countries that will be subjected to increased monitoring to prove its progress against money laundering and terrorist financing.

THE CENTRAL BANK is expected to keep the policy rates at record lows before tightening by the second half of 2022, when risks to economic recovery are likely to have significantly subsided and credit activity picks up, Fitch Solutions Country Risk & Industry Research said. 

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, which accounted for 4.8 million jobs before the pandemic, are expected to help drive the Philippines’ economic growth in the post-pandemic era, the Trade department said Monday.

THE PHILIPPINES on Monday took delivery of a million more doses of CoronaVac from China, according to the presidential palace, bringing the total vaccines that have arrived to 17.4 million.

THE PHILIPPINES might seek the help of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) about a suspected drug lord who may have left the country, according to the Department of Justice (DoJ).

THE INTERNATIONAL Criminal Court (ICC) has asked victims of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s deadly war on drugs to come forward by filling out an online form on its website.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has taken a neutral position on the proposed extension of the transition body handling the new Bangsamoro region in southern Philippines, according to the presidential palace.

MAYNILAD Water Services, Inc. has tapped international weather intelligence provider MetraWeather to improve its climate data analysis and forecasting, which will allow quicker interventions on weather disturbances that affect the delivery of water service. 

THE PESO could depreciate against the greenback this week ahead of the release of manufacturing and labor data.

THE main index is expected to test the 7,000 level this week ahead of the release of manufacturing data and as investors continue to monitor the country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program.