BIZ BUZZ: First MB meeting for 2025 moved
Heads up! The first policy meeting of the Monetary Board (MB) for this year will be held earlier than expected.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the next rate-setting meeting of the MB would happen on Feb. 13, instead of Feb. 20.
Accordingly, the press briefing on the BSP’s monetary policy decision will be held on Feb. 13 at 3 p.m.
READ: BIZ BUZZ: New general counsel at BSP?
The adjustment was prompted by Governor Eli Remolona Jr.’s upcoming attendance at the Financial Action Task Force Plenary and Working Group Meetings in Paris, France, from Feb 17 to Feb. 20.
Will the next MB decision—which is widely expected to be another quarter-point cut to the key rate—be succeeded by an announcement of a potential delisting of the Philippines from the global dirty money watchdog’s “grey list”?
Abangan! —Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
Veteran IP lawyer appointed new IPOPHL head
A new head for the government’s intellectual property rights office has been officially announced, marking the latest leadership shakeup in the state institution leading the fight against piracy and counterfeiting.
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said that Brigitte da Costa-Villaluz was appointed the new director general, ending what could have been a continuation of former chief Rowel Barba’s 5-year stint, which concluded last December 2024.
One industry source said that Barba, who had expressed willingness to continue leading the IPOPHL, was thumbed down by President Marcos due to being an appointee of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
As we all know, there’s now bad blood between the Marcoses and the Dutertes, leading to a political meltdown between two parties that had ironically pushed for “unity” during their election campaign.
Despite being an outsider, Da Costa-Villaluz still seems like a competent replacement for Barba, given her three decades of private practice expertise in IP law.
The IPOPHL said she has also worked on complex cases involving trademarks, patents, copyrights, and commercial law.
She is also the founder of BDCV Law and was previously a partner at Poblador Bautista & Reyes Law Offices where she built a distinguished career handling IP litigation, enforcement, and corporate governance, according to the IPOPHL.
Still, only time will tell if the alumnus of the University of the Philippines will bring the same kind of leadership that Barba brought to the IPOPHL that made the government agency flourish. —Alden M. Monzon
Help wanted for Cebu project
We were all excited about DMCI Homes’ debut in Cebu City, with the condominium inventory surplus in Metro Manila seemingly scaring developers and investors alike.
But building a P24-billion project surely entails a lot of work and, of course, a workforce.
READ: DMCI Homes to launch 4 projects in ’25
The Consunji-led developer is looking for over 1,000 construction workers, engineers, architects, accountants, sales agents, and office staff to jumpstart its operations in the country’s second-largest metropolis.
“We are committed to serving Cebu’s property market for the long term. This includes creating jobs and building a strong team of Cebuanos,” DMCI Homes president Alfredo Austria says in a statement.
Much preparation was needed for the 4.6-hectare Kalea Heights, with DMCI even hiring engineers from Cebu just to fly them to the company’s Metro Manila projects and train there
“Now, they’ll bring their skills back to Cebu,” Austria says.
This is just “the first of many” Cebu projects, according to DMCI, and probably the first of many opportunities for job seekers, too. —Meg J. Adonis INQ
