How PSEi member stocks performed — April 22, 2025
Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Stocks inch up in cautious trade on Trump jitters
PHILIPPINE STOCKS managed to close higher on Tuesday even as the market mostly moved sideways due to lingering jitters caused by the Trump administration’s trade policies.
The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 0.12% or 7.59 points to end at 6,145.59, while the broader all shares index inched up by 0.18% or 6.83 points to close at 3,652.14.
“The gains are attributed to appreciation of corporate fundamentals,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message. “The local market moved sideways for the trading day, however, reflecting investors cautiousness amid lingering uncertainties connected to the US’ trade policies and its impact on the global economy.”
“Philippine shares managed to eke out minor gains once again as the market brushed off President Donald J. Trump’s renewed attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell… The Philippine market posted modest gains as investors resumed bargain hunting, supported by optimism around strong corporate fundamentals and confidence in the local economy’s ability to weather external risks, including US tariff pressures,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan added in a Viber message.
Asian stocks battled to hold ground on Tuesday after a furious flight from US assets undermined Wall Street and the dollar, while concerns about the independence of the Federal Reserve piled fresh pressure on Treasuries, Reuters reported.
Relatively limited losses in Asia did spark talk that funds could be reallocating money to equities in the area, though the impact of tariffs on economic growth remained a major drag.
Mr. Trump’s increasingly vocal attacks on Mr. Powell for not cutting interest rates saw Wall Street indexes shed around 2.4% on Monday and the dollar hit three-year lows. The fallout from Wall Street still only saw Japan’s Nikkei ease a slim 0.2%, while MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan held steady.
Back home, almost all sectoral indices closed higher on Tuesday. Mining and oil went up by 1.81% or 180.66 points to 10,125.58; property increased by 0.84% or 18.47 points to 2,211.55; holding firms climbed by 0.36% or 18.28 points to 5,081.63; industrials inched up by 0.01% or 1.53 points to 8,708.17; and services edged up by 0.01 point to 1,917.05.
Meanwhile, financials declined by 0.21% or 5.13 points to 2,420.97.
“Universal Robina Corp. was the top index gainer, climbing 2.82% to P71. Jollibee Foods Corp. was the worst index performer, dropping 3.17% to P226.40,” Mr. Tantiangco said.
Value turnover rose to P4.84 billion on Tuesday with 593.06 million shares traded from the P4.56 billion with 1.05 billion issues exchanged on Monday.
Advancers bested decliners, 95 versus 83, while 52 names were unchanged.
Net foreign selling declined to P38.76 million on Tuesday from P46.86 million on Monday. — R.M.D. Ochave with Reuters
Peso weakens as yuan fix hits Asia currencies
THE PESO weakened anew on Tuesday, joining the Chinese yuan and other Asian currencies that weakened against the dollar.
The local unit closed at P56.68 per dollar on Tuesday, dropping by seven centavos from its P56.61 finish on Monday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.
The peso opened the session weaker at P56.65 against the dollar. Its worst showing was at P56.77, while its intraday best was at P56.60 versus the greenback.
Dollars exchanged inched up to $1.459 billion on Tuesday from $1.458 billion on Monday.
The peso dropped after The People’s Bank of China fixed the rate for the yuan higher, which helped the dollar’s recovery, a trader said in a phone interview.
“However, the upside [for the dollar] remains limited due to trade tensions and a cautious market mood,” the trader said.
The peso fell due to the broad market volatility caused by US Donald J. Trump’s continued threats to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell, threatening the independence of the US central bank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort added in a Viber message.
For Wednesday, the trader expects the peso to move between P56.50 and P56.80 per dollar, while Mr. Ricafort sees it ranging from P56.60 to P56.80.
The onshore Chinese yuan weakened to near 7.31 per dollar early on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The People’s Bank of China set the official midpoint at 7.2075 compared with 7.2055 on Monday, despite the dollar index’s slump to a three-year low.
The dollar continued its slide against major peers, pressured by Mr. Trump’s criticism of Mr. Powell and confrontational trade policies.
Investor confidence in US assets has wavered amid concerns over the Fed’s independence and the toll Mr. Trump’s tariffs could exact on the US economy.
The unease was visible across asset classes on Monday. US equities tumbled, while Treasuries declined.
The dollar index is down a substantial 5.7% this month, on track for its sharpest monthly drop in at least a decade. — A.M.C. Sy with Reuters
China says Philippine-US drills threaten regional stability, economic prospects
By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter
THE Chinese government on Monday said ongoing joint military drills between Philippine and US forces threaten regional stability, opposing the use the “Taiwan question” to justify military preparations.
“With the world being hit by unilateralism, protectionism and bullying, countries in this region have been calling for greater solidarity, coordination, and joint efforts to keep the region stable and respond to challenges,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news briefing in Beijing, based on a transcript posted on the agency’s website.
“Against this backdrop, the Philippines chose to conduct the large-scale military drills with this country outside the region and brought in strategic and tactical weapons to the detriment of regional strategic stability and regional economic prospects,” he added, alluding to the US.
“This act has been detested and opposed by regional countries.”
Philippine and US forces on Monday started their three-week, annual combat drills set to be staged near key locations facing regional flashpoints like the South China Sea and Taiwan. This year’s exercise will involve about 14,000 troops, with participation from nations such as Australia, Canada and France.
Started in 1991, the Balikatan exercise has evolved into Southeast Asia’s premier combat rehearsal as the Philippines and US seek to strengthen security cooperation and enhance force interoperability in response to China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
The US military has brought a variety of advanced weaponry for the drills to enhance military preparedness, including mobile anti-ship missile systems, portable artillery rocket systems and short-range air defense platforms, while making use of a mid-range capability missile battery that remained in the Philippines after last year’s exercises.
The South China Sea has become a regional flashpoint as Beijing continues to assert sovereignty over almost the entire sea, seen as a vital global trade route that is believed to be also rich in undersea gas and oil deposits.
Philippine and Chinese forces have repeatedly sparred over competing claims in the sea, with tensions flaring around disputed maritime features such as the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.
Washington has pledged to work with the Philippines to help ramp up deterrence against China’s aggression in the South China Sea, with US Defense Secretary Peter Brian Hegseth vowing in late March to support Manila with funding to boost its military modernization efforts.
The Philippine military is seeking to counter China’s military might in the region by undertaking a modernization program called Horizons and has earmarked at least $35 billion (P2 trillion) for its military build-up in the next decade.
Mr. Guo said the “Taiwan question” is China’s internal affair and is at the core of its national interest.
“China firmly opposes any country using the Taiwan question as an excuse to strengthen military deployment in the region, heighten tensions and confrontation, and disturb regional peace and stability,” he said.
“We urge relevant sides not to make provocation on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it,” he added.
Beijing lays claim over Taiwan and it has not ruled out the use of force to annex the self-governed island. The Chinese military has routinely staged air and naval military drills near the island.
Philippine and US military generals on Monday said the Balikatan exercises are not aimed at countering an invasion of Taiwan by China. These are meant to address broader “regional security challenges,” according to US Lieutenant General James F. Glynn, exercise director for the US side.
But an invasion of Taiwan is not “conducive to a free and open” South China Sea, he told reporters after the drill’s opening ceremonies at the Philippine military headquarters near Manila on Monday.
“If ever there is a conflict in Taiwan, the Philippines will not participate,” Philippine Major General Francisco F. Lorenzo, exercise director on the Philippine side, told reporters at the same event.
Marcos-backed Senate bets lead Luzon, Visayas in WR Numero April poll
By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter
SENATORIAL candidates endorsed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. dominated voter preferences across all regions except Mindanao, where Duterte-aligned bets led, according to the latest poll by WR Numero Research.
Eight senatorial aspirants from the Marcos-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines) were within the 12 winning slots in Metro Manila, including nine in Luzon and seven in the Visayas, but only one in Mindanao, WR Numero said in a statement, citing the results of its April survey.
Nine senatorial bets from Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, which is chaired by ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte, were supported by voters in Mindanao, but only two in Metro Manila and three in Luzon and the Visayas, it added.
“The regional divide in Senate preferences reflects long-standing patterns in Philippine politics, where regional identity, patronage networks and local political machinery play key roles in shaping electoral outcomes,” Cleve V. Arguelles, chief executive officer and president at WR Numero, said in a Viber message.
The political rift between the Marcos and Duterte clans have deepened in recent months after Marcos allies at the House of Representatives stripped Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio hundreds of billions of pesos of intelligence and confidential funds.
It culminated in her impeachment in February and the arrest and surrender of the Duterte patriarch to the International Criminal Court in The Hague last month where he will be tried for crimes against humanity in connection with his deadly drug war.
In Metro Manila, 47% of Filipino voters said they would vote for Party-list Rep. Erwin T. Tulfo, followed by ex-Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III (32%) and reelectionist Senator Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano (31%), all part of the administration’s Senate ticket, according to WR Numero.
It added that 31% of Filipinos support former Senator Panfilo M. Lacson and Makati City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” S. Binay, both Marcos-backed candidates, alongside ex-Senator and independent candidate Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino. Reelectionist Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go, a Duterte ally, followed with 29%.
WR Numero said 28% of voters backed Senator and Alyansa candidate Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid, with 27% saying they would vote for former Senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan. They were followed by ex-Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. (27%), a member of the administration’s slate, and radio personality and independent candidate Bienvenido T. Tulfo (26%).
Reelectionist Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” R. Marcos, also a Duterte ally, completed the list, with 24% saying they would vote for her.
Political analysts said the stark regional divide was due to the strongholds of each senatorial ticket’s backers, which heavily influenced voter preferences.
Political elites from Luzon and the Visayas tend to support Mr. Marcos because it aligns with their business interests, Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.
“Mindanao remains a bulwark for the Dutertes because their brand of iron-fisted rule resonates more in the Mindanao region,” Anthony Lawrence A. Borja, an associate political science professor at De La Salle University, said via Messenger chat.
WR Numero interviewed 1,814 voters nationwide on April 1 to 7 for the noncommissioned survey, which had an error margin of ±2 points.
In Luzon, Mr. Tulfo, Mr. Lacson and Mr. Lapid led the polls, with 47%, 41% and 38% of Filipinos saying they would vote for them. Following them were Ms. Cayetano (38%), Mr. Go (37%) and Ms. Binay (37%).
WR Numero said 36% of Filipinos would vote for Mr. Tulfo, the broadcaster, while 35% would go for Mr. Sotto. Reelectionist Senator and Alyansa candidate Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla, Jr. trailed at 34%.
Las Piñas Rep. Camille A. Villar, endorsed by both the Marcos and Duterte camps, got 29% support, tying with former Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, Sr.
Senator Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa, a Duterte ally, completed the Luzon poll, securing the support of 28% of voters in the region.
In the Visayas, Alyansa’s Erwin Tulfo and his brother Bienvenido topped the list with 53% and 41%, respectively. They were followed by Mr. Lapid (40%), Ms. Cayetano and Ms. Villar, who both got 39%.
Mr. Go and Mr. Dela Rosa followed with 34% each, and Ms. Binay and Mr. Pangilinan with 33% each. Completing the list for the Visayas were Mr. Aquino (32%), Mr. Pacquiao (31%) and Mr. Sotto (31%).
“In Mindanao, however, Duterte-aligned candidates lead,” WR Numero Research said.
It said 76% said they would back Mr. Dela Rosa, while 67% were voting for Mr. Go. They were followed by Duterte-endorsed candidates James Patrick R. Bondoc (45%) and Phillip R. Salvador (42%).
Party-list Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta and televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy, also backed by the Dutertes, both got 40%.
Also among the Duterte candidates on the list were Victor D. Rodriguez with 34%, Raul L. Lambino wit 26% and Jesus V. Hinlo, Jr. with 23%.
WR Numero said 22% of Filipinos would vote for Party-list Rep. and independent candidate Bonifacio L. Bosita, while 21% backed Ms. Cayetano. Independent candidate Ariel O. Querubin completed the Mindanao list with 19%.
WIN FOR MARCOS
Also on Tuesday, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez ordered his political party to rally behind Marcos-backed senatorial candidates, aiming for what he described as a “sweeping victory” for its candidates.
A win for the administration-backed alliance would secure Mr. Marcos’ legislative agenda, the Speaker, who is president of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, said in a statement.
“Please, just please, straight Alyansa,” he told an assembly of governors, mayors and lawmakers from his political party during a meeting at the presidential palace. “Let’s push for all of them, no one gets left behind. This is what our beloved President wants.”
“These are the right candidates,” he said. “We are choosing leaders who build, not break, leaders who legislate, not obstruct.”
Most candidates from the administration slate were present at the assembly held at Malacañang except Ms. Villar, according to the statement.
Mr. Romualdez is campaigning for the Marcos-backed Senate candidates to secure President Marcos’ political influence during the latter half of his term, Mr. Juliano said. “They would do this now to ensure they are not a lame duck, and also to ensure that the Senate will be closer to them.”
Bill eyes energy, tourism development of Philippine Rise
A PHILIPPINE senator has filed a bill that seeks to create a multi-agency body that would secure and oversee the sustainable development of the Philippine Rise for energy and tourism projects.
“This maritime territory promises transformative opportunities, from renewable energy sources and marine biodiversity conservation to ecotourism development,” Senator Francis N. Tolentino said in Senate Bill No. 2996’s explanatory note.
The Philippine Rise or Benham Rise, an underwater plateau and continental shelf extension off the eastern coast of the Philippines, has abundant marine species and untapped mineral resources and gas deposits.
Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued an executive order in 2017 that renamed Benham Rise to Philippine Rise.
In March, government representatives submitted a chart of the Philippine Rise to the International Seabed Authority of the United Nations.
The agency regulates and controls deep-sea mining activities beyond national jurisdictions, as mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Republic Act No. 10264 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Law, which was authored by Mr. Tolentino, incorporated the Benham Rise within the Philippine territory.
Mr. Tolentino said unlocking the potential of the Philippine Rise requires “overcoming systemic barriers such as fragmented governance, uncoordinated research and the absence of a unified strategy for sustainable development.”
He added that his bill seeks to create a central body that would unify efforts and coordinate research to unlock the potential of the Philippine Rise, while also ensuring the area’s protection.
Mr. Tolentino said the creation of a Talampas ng Pilipinas Development Authority (TPDA) would “catalyze inclusive economic growth, generate employment and uplift communities nationwide.”
In 2009, the Philippines filed a partial claim for the area with the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for Philippine Rise, which was approved three years after.
Among the proposed agency’s tasks are to promote public-private partnerships in renewable energy, ecotourism and blue economy initiatives.
It will also coordinate with government agencies, local government units, private enterprises and civil society to optimize resource management and investments.
It will create a science-based framework aligned with national priorities and implement strict environmental protocols and marine biodiversity protection.
“As the central governing body, the TPDA will spearhead integrated planning, policy formulation and multisectoral collaboration to ensure the region’s resources are harnessed responsibly,” Mr. Tolentino said.
The proposed agency will be steered by a board of directors headed by the secretary of the Department of Economy Planning and Development (DEPDev).
The Department of Energy and Department of Science and Technology will provide technical assistance, funding and program support for TPDA-led projects, including shared personnel and laboratories.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tolentino also filed a separate bill that seeks to create a corporate body that will focus on tapping potential oil or natural gas resources at the Philippine Rise.
He said the Talampas ng Pilipinas Oil Corp. will focus on the exploration, development and use of all potential oil, petroleum and gas operations in the area.
It will also build, install or maintain duty-free ports, airports, telecommunication centers and ship-to-shore communication facilities, and provide utilities such as power and water.
Under the bill, the corporation will be governed by a seven-member board of directors, including the administrator of the TPDA, who will be appointed by the President. — Adrian H. Halili
Rep. Villar told to explain alleged vote-buying
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it will issue a show cause order against Las Piñas Rep. Camille A. Villar, who is gunning for a Senate seat in the May 12 polls, for alleged vote buying.
Comelec Committee on Kontra Bigay Executive Director Teopisto E. Elnas, Jr. said that a Facebook video sent to them showed that Ms. Villar was allegedly involved in a raffle activity in Imus, Cavite which involved a cash prize.
“We will serve the show cause order… and we will wait for three days upon receipt. We will wait for the reply of (Ms.) Villar on this,” he told reporters in mixed Filipino and English.
Mr. Elnas added that two other local candidates will be given show cause orders for their involvement in the raffle activity. He did not identify the candidates, but he noted that one is running for a mayoral post.
“We are looking [at whether] there is an instance of vote buying because someone handed out money and someone accepted it during the event,” he said.
Under Article 12 of the Omnibus Election Code, vote-buying and vote-selling are punishable by imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years.
“If the elements of vote buying and vote selling fall into place, then we can file a case,” Mr. Elnas added.
Ms. Villar said that she has yet to receive a show cause order from the poll body.
She, however, explained the raffle event took place on Feb. 9, before the official start of the campaign period on Feb. 11.
“I vehemently deny any allegation or insinuation of vote buying or commission of any election offense for that matter… I am confident that the Comelec will clear my name of these wrongful allegations upon hearing my side on the matter,” Ms. Villar said in a statement on Tuesday.
This will be the first instance that the election body will issue a show cause order against a senatorial candidate.
Also on Tuesday, the Comelec said it asked Pasig congressional candidate Christian G. Sia to comment on a disqualification case filed over his discriminatory remarks against solo parents.
According to the summons, dated April 21, the Comelec second division has given Mr. Sia five days to respond to an April 16 disqualification petition, filed by the election body’s Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections (SAFE).
Task Force SAFE’S petition also comes with a motion to suspend proclamation, should Mr. Sia win in the May 12 polls.
Mr. Sia earlier went viral on social media after making a sexual comment about single moms and sexist remarks about the body size of his assistant.
He later apologized, dismissing his remarks as a joke and vowing that it would not happen again.
The agency had previously issued a show cause order against Mr. Sia asking him to explain his discriminatory statement and argue why he should not be disqualified for potentially violating Comelec’s anti-discrimination rules.
Under its Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaigning Guidelines, the election body prohibits discrimination against women and gender-based harassment and further extends protection against bullying and discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, age, religion, disability, and other personal characteristics
Separately, Comelec issued a show cause order against reelectionist Cabiao, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ramil B. Rivera following his discriminatory remarks made in separate campaign events.
Among the statements cited by Comelec include Mr. Rivera saying his competition is running with a candidate for council who is allegedly a “gun-for-hire.”
The election body said that Mr. Rivera is ordered to show cause in writing within a non-extendible period of three days from receipt and to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or a petition for disqualification should not be filed against him.
It said that the alleged remarks of both candidates may constitute a breach of Comelec’s anti-discrimination rules, particularly gender-based harassment, and labeling. — Adrian H. Halili
CHR: 2.7M online sexual abuse of children seen in 2023
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has sounded the alarm over a surge in online sexual exploitation of Filipino children, with cases climbing by six-fold to 2.7 million in 2023 from 426,000 in 2019.
The US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received over 400,000 online sexual abuse reports from the Philippines in 2019, which rose to 1.2 million in 2020 and surged to 2.7 million by 2023, the CHR said in a statement.
“Economic vulnerability — particularly poverty — remains a primary driver of OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children), with many cases involving perpetrators who are family members or close relatives,” the human rights body said.
Nearly one in every 100 children in the Philippines were trafficked to produce child sexual exploitation material in 2022, according to data from the International Justice Mission (IJM) and the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab.
The CHR said that shame and emotional burden of court proceedings discourage child victims from seeking help, with gaps in the legal system further complicating their ability to pursue justice.
GAPS REMAIN
The human rights body said that despite laws protecting children from online sex abuse, gaps in reporting mechanisms, rescue operations and rehabilitation efforts fall short of addressing child victims.
“These gaps not only worsen the trauma experienced by child victims, but also contribute to continued underreporting, particularly in cases where parents are the perpetrators,” it said.
“Rescue and rehabilitation efforts must adopt a child-sensitive and trauma-informed approach, ensuring sufficient resources for psychosocial recovery and long-term support,” it added.
The government should also provide psychological and financial interventions to family members caught sexually abusing children for online purposes, the CHR said, adding that a “comprehensive” rehabilitation program should be formed to break the cycle of exploitation.
Philippine courts should also allow pre-recorded testimonies for child victims during legal proceedings to prevent re-traumatizing them, it added.
The government should strengthen efforts to combat online sexual abuse by launching awareness campaigns, implementing poverty alleviation and livelihood programs in vulnerable communities, and cooperating with internet service providers to disrupt abusive activities online, the CHR said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
Fast-track infra projects — MAP
THE Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has called on the government and private contractors to expedite the completion of crucial infrastructure projects to help address the country’s infrastructure inadequacies.
“We firmly believe that vital transport infrastructure projects geared towards national development will open opportunities for more investments which will help spur economic growth,” MAP said in a statement on Tuesday.
In its media release, MAP said projects like the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project and the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 will enhance connectivity between the northern and southern provinces while also cutting travel time for motorists and promoting economic growth.
“We strongly urge the government, and the parties involved to fast-track the completion of this project and other vital infrastructure developments for nation building,” MAP said.
The P44.86-billion Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 project is targeted to be completed by December 2025, information from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showed.
This skyway project’s concessionaires are Citra Central Expressway Corp. and Metro Manila Skyway Corp., Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said. While the NLEX-SLEX Connector project is being undertaken by NLEX Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.
MPTC is the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., one of the three key Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., alongside Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., holds a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
Law for proper Muslim burials signed
PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., has signed into law a measure that allows the proper and timely burial of dead Muslims according to their traditions.
Republic Act 12160, “An Act Requiring the Proper and Immediate Burial of Muslim Cadavers in Accordance with the Islamic Rites,” was signed on April 11 and posted on the Official Gazette’s website late Monday.
The law mandates that Muslim burial rites be conducted as soon as possible, even in the absence of a death certificate.
The next of kin or the person who performed the burial rites must report the death within 14 days to the local health officer, who will then issue the death certificate and determine the cause of death.
In the absence of immediate family members, the death will be reported to the Office of the Mayor who will issue a death certificate and will certify the cause of death.
“For burial purposes, in accordance with Islamic rites, Muslim cadavers shall be released within 24 hours by the hospital, medical clinic, funeral parlor, morgue, custodial and prison facilities, or other similar facilities, or persons who are in actual care or custody of the cadaver,” the law states.
It added that the dead body is required to be wrapped in white cloth and placed in an airtight, leak-proof bag or wooden box. It should be sealed with zippers, tape, or bandage strips.
Those who refuse to release a Muslim body due to non-payment of hospital bills, medical expenses, professional fees, cost of wrapping, or any other charges may face up to six months of jail time, a fine of P50,000 to P100,000, or both. The family of the deceased may be allowed to sign a promissory note instead.
The law also orders the Department of Health and the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos to “promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act” within 120 days of effectivity. — Adrian H. Halili
BARMM mourns Pope Francis’ death
THE government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Tuesday expressed solidarity with the nation’s Catholic majority in mourning the death of Pope Francis, who led the world’s largest religious group.
The Argentine cleric, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died on Monday following a stroke and cardiac arrest, the Vatican said, marking the end of a turbulent papacy that sought to reform the centuries-old institution.
“The news of his passing brings profound sadness as Pope Francis was a beacon of hope and a tireless advocate for peace, justice and interfaith dialogue,” Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua said in a statement.
“In this time of mourning, we stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters, and we reaffirm our commitment to fostering a society where peace and mutual respect are the cornerstone of our existence,” he added.
Catholics make up about 80% of the Philippine population, according to government data. Catholicism was introduced to the Southeast Asian nation in the 16th century by Spanish colonizers and missionaries and became deeply embedded in Philippine society during Spain’s 333-year rule. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
PSA allots P7.4M for price survey
THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said it allotted P7.4 million to finance a retail price survey, which will cover 2,036 establishments in the National Capital Region.
“The [PSA] through its Standards Service, has granted clearance for the conduct of the 2025 Retail Price Survey of Selected Commodities for the Generation of Retail Price Index,” the PSA said in statement on April 15.
The survey aims to collect prices at which retailers dispose of their goods to consumers or end-users for the computation of the Retail Price Index.
PSA said the data collection has begun from January until December and the results will be released on the 30th day after the reference month.
PSA earlier reported that growth in the general retail price index in Metro Manila slowed to 1.8% in 2024, well below the year-earlier 4.5%. This was the weakest reading since the 1.2% posted in 2020. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante