ASEAN NOW News

MRT-3 (File photo) MANILA – The free rides and antigen tests at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) are coming to an end as the rail service holds the last day of the free services on Thursday. The end of the ‘Libreng Sakay (free ride)’ program comes after being extended twice -- lasting more than three months -- since it began on March 28. The free ride program was meant to celebrate the completion of the massive rehabilitation of the rail service and to help the public amidst the rising prices of fuel and goods. “The free ride program allowed the MRT-3 management to test the performance and capacity of the rail line to take in more passengers, up to 380,000 in a regular day,” the MRT-3 said in a Facebook post. On June 10, the MRT-3 served a record 381,814 passengers -- the largest number of passengers the MRT-3 served in a single day since it resumed operation in June 2020. On the other hand, the MRT-3’s free antigen testing for passengers (voluntary basis) will end after almost six months since it began on January 11. The free Covid-19 testing, it said, was meant to help ensure the safety of commuters amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. It noted that the last person who tested positive for Covid-19 under the program was back on January 28. Under former Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and MRT-3 Officer-in-Charge Michael Capati, MRT-3 trains have increased their operating speed to 60 kilometers per hour (kph) from the previous 30 kph, reducing travel time and the waiting time between trains. The MRT-3 has also started to deploy four-car train sets in addition to the 16 to 18 three-car train sets in the rail line to boost its passenger capacity. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

MADE IN PH. KTM motorcycles in AC Centrale showroom in Bonifacio Global City. Engines of KTM motorcycles are now being produced in the Philippines, complementing its local assembly for 13 motorcycle models in the country. (PNA photo by Kris Crismundo) MANILA – Engines of KTM motorcycles are now being produced in the country through the partnership of KTM Asia Motorcycle Manufacturing, Inc. (KAMMI) and Ayala-led Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (IMI), Adventure Cycle Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) president Andre Angelo Santos said. Santos said during a recent interview the principals made fresh investments in the engine manufacturing facility here that was inaugurated during the first quarter of the year. “2022 was very special for us because, in the past, we did not build the engine in the Philippines. 2022, we inaugurated our engine building facility. We are now building the engines for our motorcycles that are exported and sold locally,” he said. ACPI is the exclusive distributor of KTM motorcycles in the Philippines. Santos said the facility produces engines for all 13 models that KAMMI is assembling in its Laguna plant. “Both partners felt that (it) would be a good tool in order for us to be able to manage our supply chain issues. In the past, when we bring in small items, there were so many variables. But if you are able to build your engine yourself, then you are able to at least manage the supply issues,” he told reporters. Santos added that with the manufacturing of motorcycle engines here, the local content of KTM motorcycles increased to a “little over 40 percent”. The Department of Trade and Industry has been advocating for the manufacturing and sourcing of key vehicle parts locally. Bringing in the manufacturing activities here creates more jobs for Filipinos and facilitates technology transfer. “It took a while for Filipinos to be able to learn the technique that our principals were providing, and second, I think the Filipinos gain the trust of the principals. And that’s the reason why the building of the engines had been allocated to the Philippines for the bikes exported to China and Asean,” Santos said. KAMMI was sourcing the motorcycle engines in India before. Meanwhile, Santos said ACPI is conservative with its growth for 2022 relative to the past two years due to supply woes in the global market. He said KAMMI is eyeing to produce at least 11,000 units this year, lower than the close to 14,000 units assembled last year. “Supply chain issues have hampered a lot of industries and the vehicle industry is not spared with that. However, we see a lot of parts starting to come in already, and then that is good news and we have still another half of the year to be able to perform,” he added. Santos said the company is also looking forward to the easing of pandemic-related lockdowns in China to ramp up exports to the East Asian country. For the past 4.5 years, KAMMI has produced 38,000 motorcycles in the Philippines, 85 percent of which were exported to China and Asean. From only two motorcycle models being produced here, it expanded to 13 models. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

RESILIENT PHILIPPINES. Newly-installed President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. delivers his inaugural speech after taking his oath of office before Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at the National Museum of the Philippines in the City of Manila on Thursday (June 30, 2022). Marcos promised to build an “agile and resilient” nation under his leadership. (Photo by Rey S. Baniquet) MANILA – Newly-installed President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. promised on Thursday to transform the Philippines into an "agile and resilient" nation under his leadership. In his inaugural address delivered at the National Museum of the Philippines, Marcos said he would act in haste and avoid delays in making decisions, in a bid to give Filipinos a better life in a "safer" and "more prosperous" country. "That is how agile and resilient Republics are made," he said. "The sooner we start, the surer and quicker the prospect of achieving our future. These are troubling times. What is happening to others can happen to us, but it will not. We see what's happening." Marcos was also elated that an overwhelming number of Filipinos has chosen him to lead the country, trusting him to bring unity and success. Sticking to his promise of unity during his watch, Marcos expressed confidence that all Filipinos "will go further together than against each other, pushing forward, not pulling each other back." "I believe that if we but focus on the work at hand and at the work that will come to hand, we will go very far under my watch. You believe that too," Marcos said. Changes 'benefiting all' Marcos also vowed to pursue changes, even "radical" ones, that would benefit the Filipino people. "The changes we seek will benefit all and will shortchange no one. I was not the instrument of change. You were that. You made that happen," he said. "I will need your help. I want to rely on it. But rest assured that I do not predicate success on a wide cooperation that is needed. I will get it done." (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan) He guaranteed that his administration would adopt measures to ensure the country's economic recovery from the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. "The pandemic ravaged bigger economies and ours. Virus is not the only thing to blame. What had been well built was torn down. We will build it back better," Marcos said. "A stronger resilience, quicker adaptability, they are our best prevention, they are our best protection." 'Future of sufficiency' Marcos, son of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., said he would not dwell on the past, as he intends to focus on the "future of sufficiency." "I am here not to talk about the past. I am here to tell you about our future, a future of sufficiency, even plenty of readily available ways and means to get done what needs doing," he said. Marcos, who will also serve as the agriculture czar under his administration, said food sufficiency is among his top priorities. He made the promise, as he emphasized the need to give food sufficiency the "preferential treatment." "The role of agriculture cries for the urgent attention that its neglect and misdirection now demands. Food self-sufficiency has been the promise of every administration. None but one delivered. There were inherent defects in the old ways and in recent ways too," Marcos said. No excuses He also assured his fellow Filipinos that he will make no excuses. Marcos vowed to deliver his promises, which include providing solutions to the issues on the energy sector, protecting the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers, improving the country's education system, and boosting the tourism industry. "Government will get as much done alone without requiring more from you. That is what government and public officials are for. No excuses, just deliver. It was like that, once upon a time," he said. He said he would look for "new" and "better" ways to address the pressing issues confronting the country. "In this fresh chapter of our history, I extend my hand to all Filipinos. Come, let us put our shoulders to the wheel and give that wheel a faster return to repair and to rebuild and to address challenges in news ways to provide what all Filipinos need, to be all that we can," Marcos said. Thanking his predecessor Meantime, Marcos also expressed gratitude to his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, for his "courage" of making "hard decisions" aimed at bringing change and progress to the country. He also vowed to continue some of the programs initiated by his predecessor, which include the infrastructure projects initiated by the Duterte administration. He said he would come up with a "comprehensive" infrastructure plan to ensure the speedy completion of the projects. "I will complete on schedule the projects that have been started. I'm not interested in taking credit. I want to build on success that is already happening," Marcos said. "Six years could be just enough time. No part of our country will be neglected. Progress will be made wherever there are Filipinos. So, no investment is wasted." (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

HCMC's Thu Thiem 2 Bridge linking downtown District 1 and Thu Duc City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran The HCMC economy grew by 5.73 percent in the second quarter to take growth in the first six months to 3.82 percent, authorities said. It had contracted last year. VN Express reported that the economy has "recovered quickly, uniformly and quite comprehensively," city Party secretary Nguyen Van Nen said. People’s Council chairperson Nguyen Thi Le said the recovery was "faster than expected." Commercial and service sectors grew the fastest at 4.83 percent, followed by industry and construction at 2.23 percent. The index of industrial production has been rising since February and is up 3.1 percent for the first six months. But electronics production shrank on falling global demand, a chip shortage and high transport costs, director of the city Department of Industry and Trade, Bui Ta Hoang Vu, said. Eight out of nine service sectors grew with real estate bucking the trend, shrinking by 5.82 percent. The fastest growth was seen in finance and banking, information, communication, and logistics. Some other key indicators also rose, including import-export (by 13.8 percent), tourism revenues (29.9 percent) and foreign direct investment (60 percent). But rising costs, driven by the Russia-Ukraine crisis and higher fuel prices, has affected consumption and recovery. Public spending occurred at the slowest pace ever, with only 17 percent of the targeted amount spent in the first half of the year. During the rest of this year the city will focus on promoting public spending, mitigating difficulties faced by companies, improving the business environment, and enhancing tourism activities. Each district should develop a specific tourism product, deputy chairperson of the People's Committee, Phan Thi Thang, instructed. The city will also roll out price stabilization programs and closely monitor fuel and gold prices to reduce inflation risks. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Vietnamese returning from Europe fill out health declaration forms at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, March 18, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy Over 25,000 Vietnamese citizens abroad have been deported since 2018 for violating local laws, the public security ministry said. According to VN Express, "Vietnamese abroad have become the main subjects of investigation for authorities during campaigns to search for illegal workers, and have frequently been mentioned in the media, negatively affecting the image of Vietnamese workers," Luong Tam Quang, Deputy Minister of Public Security, said at a Hanoi conference Wednesday. Quang said Vietnamese workers were illegally staying in many countries and territories like Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the U.S., and Europe. In Europe, the illegal workers were mostly in the U.K., France, or Germany, while more of them were going to Australia, the Middle East and Africa, he added. "Since 2018, we’ve cooperated to investigate, verify and deal with around eight hundred cases of Vietnamese abroad violating the law per requests by local authorities. We’ve also received over 25,000 deported citizens," he said. Quang said there were crime rings that utilized social media to entice Vietnamese to go to certain Southeast Asian countries for work and instead, sell them to casinos. Vietnam still lacks regulations to deal with the consequences of law violations in foreign countries as also deterrence for businesses at home that fail to prevent their employees from violating laws in foreign countries, he said. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said there might be only a few Vietnamese committing crimes abroad, but they affect the reputation of the entire Vietnamese community in foreign countries. There are currently around 5.3 million Vietnamese living and working in around 130 countries and territories. The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese said 80 percent of the diaspora live in developed countries. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov (L), corvette Gremyashchy and oil products tanker Pechenga docks at Cam Ranh port in Khanh Hoa Province, June 25, 2022. Photo by People's Army Newspaper We reported this week that three ships of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet have completed their three-day visit to Vietnam's central Khanh Hoa Province on Tuesday. Destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov, corvette Gremyashchy and oil tanker Pechenga led by Colonel Alexey Anciferov had docked at the strategic naval base at Cam Ranh Bay in Khanh Hoa from June 25 to 28. Russia is a current ally of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The Soviet Union was one of the first countries in the world to recognize and formally establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, laying the foundations for strong and cooperative friendship between the two countries. However, is this really the correct move for Vietnam to be inviting Russian warships to visit when there is so much tension globally due to the Russian Ukraine conflict? Russia’s war in Ukraine has put many countries in a tough spot, pitting them between maintaining healthy ties with Moscow and supporting Western punitive measures. One such nation is Vietnam. Despite their close cooperation on military affairs, Vietnam and Russia have been drifting apart for decades. The primary impetus for their cooperation during the Cold War—countering China—is no longer applicable to their partnership. Russia’s positions on the South China Sea disputes and Mekong River issues also do not align with Vietnam’s strategic interests. Much to the chagrin of the West, Vietnam’s “comprehensive strategic partnership” with Russia is likely to persist due to Hanoi’s reliance on Russian arms, bureaucratic momentum, the China factor, and shared ideology. Vietnam will try to weather the Russia storm and preserve ties with both Moscow and Washington, as well as other Western nations. Even played football together!!! Unbelievably during their stay, it was reported that the Russian officers and crew members actually played sports with their Vietnamese counterparts at the High Command of Region 4 of the Vietnam People's Navy, which oversees the waters off the central coast. They also visited several cultural and historic sites in Nha Trang. Wow let’s invite the Russians for a holiday too!!! Destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov belongs to the Soviet designation Project 1155 Fregat and Russian designation Project 11551 Fregat-M, which are a series of anti-submarine guided-missile destroyers built for the Soviet Navy, seven of which are currently in service with the Russian Navy. The ship is armed with an A-190 Arsenal naval gun and eight launchers for either Kalibr, Oniks or Zircon anti-ship/cruise missiles, and two anti-submarine torpedoes. The Redut VLS system with sixteen launchers is placed on its stern. Not the sort of ship you take on holiday for sure. For now, the best that the West can do is consistently note their concerns and the likely implications that refusing to condemn or punish Russia might have on Vietnam’s own security. No amount of poking or prodding by outside powers will be successful or be appreciated in Hanoi. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

A 4,200km undersea cable promises to deliver vast amounts of clean energy to Singapore. (Image: Sun Cable) SINGAPORE: The company behind a megaproject to deliver up to 15 percent of Singapore’s energy requirements via a 4,200km undersea cable from northern Australia aims to start construction in 2024. According to CNA, the project took a step closer to being realised last week, after being deemed investment-ready by Infrastructure Australia, a statutory body that advises the country’s government on key projects of national significance. This potentially opens the US$20.7 billion intercontinental cable operation - called the Australia-Asia PowerLink - to investment that could include public funds. Before construction can begin, all financing documents will need to be signed and prior conditions for the availability of financing will have to be fulfilled. Sun Cable wants to build the largest solar farm and battery storage facility in the world in Australia’s Northern Territory and send clean power to the regional city of Darwin as well as Singapore. “We certainly envisage that this will be the first of many and the need for supply of renewable energy from resource-abundant regions to large growing loads will become more and more intense as years go by,” Sun Cable’s Founder and CEO David Griffin told CNA. The company is relying on the rapid electrification of Southeast Asian economies and the pursuit of cleaner technologies as countries sharpen their focus on emissions targets to address climate change. “Electricity is fundamentally a very efficient means of consuming energy relative to alternatives. It's also the easiest way to supply energy in a zero-emissions manner. So, both of those issues are critical to the future growth of regional economies,” Mr Griffin said. “We need that ability to transmit electricity on an intercontinental basis to get from where that resource is abundant to where those large loads are and where they're growing fast. And that's what the evolution of high-voltage direct current submarine cable technology allows,” he added. It comes as Singapore looks to expand its renewable energy options and moves to import power as a solution to lowering its carbon emissions footprint - it currently generates about 95 per cent of its energy from burning natural gas, a fossil fuel that contributes to global warming. This month, for the first time, it began to import renewable energy from abroad, via a Power Integration Project. Up to 100MW of energy generated by hydropower projects in Laos can be transmitted through existing high voltage cables, via Thailand and Malaysia. This accounts for about 1.5 per cent of Singapore's peak electricity demand in 2020. It could be the first of several smaller-scale imports that are potential precursors to the bigger ambitions of PowerLink, which aims to be fully operational by 2029. It might also smoothen the path for the development of a wider ASEAN power grid, where greater amounts of energy could be transmitted internationally. A 12,000-hectare solar farm will be built in the Northern Territory. (Image: Sun Cable) Singapore’s options for expanding its own renewable energy industry are limited due to land constraints and geography. With climate change to contend with and a current goal of “achieving net zero emissions as soon as viable in the second half of the century,” finding alternatives is imperative. “With the electricity demand set to continue rising, Singapore faces significant challenges relating to both security of supply and reducing carbon dioxide emissions,” said Dr Philip Andrews-Speed, a senior principal fellow at the Energy Studies Institute of the National University of Singapore. “Capacity of solar power will continue to grow but still only supply a modest share of electricity demand. Potential for geothermal and marine energy exists but is likely to be limited. The option of nuclear power is now on the table, but when and how much are quite uncertain,” he said “The key uncertainties are timing and cost. As Singapore's carbon price rises, the commercial viability of the Sun Cable project improves.” Last October, it was announced that the country plans to import 30 per cent of its energy needs from low carbon sources by 2035. Despite expectations for fast future growth, Singapore does not lack energy capacity. Yet, it can experience extreme fluctuations in commodity prices for its natural gas needs. It is an issue that has been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sun Cable’s Mr Griffin said that their offering could provide long-term stable and competitive pricing to power consumers in Singapore. “I think Singaporeans would be very conscious of the global energy situation with the price of gas. Gas has traditionally been a volatile commodity - that price is heavily impacted by global geopolitical events and that leaves consumers exposed,” he said. “Obviously, that situation is heightened at the moment. And there's no end in sight to that.” Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar, the executive director of the Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University said that the global energy crisis has accentuated the need to consider new options and the value proposition of intercontinental energy supply, not just for decarbonization, but also for energy security. “Sun Cable is definitely an option that ought to be looked at; with the primary consideration being costs and energy availability and security from a long-term perspective,” he said. He added: “A detailed techno-economic analysis needs to be carried out to determine if intercontinental supply can be competitive against imports to Singapore from its neighbours." “Geopolitical considerations will also feature in assessing viability; and technical challenges also need to be addressed, from generation, storage and a transmission perspective.” Projections for the Australia-Asia PowerLink. (Image: Sun Cable) Sun Cable still needs the green light to be able to transmit its solar energy in a few years' time. It is optimistic it can reach an agreement with Singapore authorities to be allowed to hook up its power link but did not disclose when it expected that might happen. “We’re working with the Energy Market Authority … for them to consider the issue of import licenses. And, ultimately, it's their decision about the timing on that process and we're happy to work with their decision-making process,” Mr Griffin said. The company is also working to reach agreements with Jakarta about the coordination of laying and maintaining its cables in Indonesian waters. “We're very pleased with how the Indonesian authorities have approached the project. We will be procuring various components for the project from Indonesian manufacturers, and we'll also be establishing a significant marine repair base (there),” Mr Griffin said. Despite being backed by Australia’s two wealthiest men - tech giant Mike Cannon-Brookes and mining magnate Andrew Forrest, there are big financing gaps that still need to be filled. There is also expected to be competition to Sun Cable in the form of a cross-border interconnector and subsea power cable for a large solar farm in the Riau Islands, being developed by Singapore-based Sunseap Group. “This will be one of the most consequential clean energy projects for Singapore and Indonesia,” said Sunseap’s CEO and co-founder, Frank Phuan. He said that solar energy has enormous potential in Singapore, it just needs to be deployed in creative, innovative ways. “For instance, our sea and reservoirs are underutilized for solar systems but have the potential to generate more solar energy as compared to traditional rooftop and ground mounted solar systems."

Samsung's plant in Thai Nguyen Province. Photo courtesy of Samsung Vietnam has attracted foreign direct investment worth US$14 billion this year, down 9 percent from the same period in 2021. According to VN Express, the Ministry of Investment and Planning, announcing this, said nearly $5 billion went into 752 new projects, 48 percent less than in the same period last year, and the rest into existing ones. Over $8.84 billion went into manufacturing and $3.15 billion into real estate. Singapore was the leading source of investment with $4.1 billion, though it represented a decline of 27 percent, followed by South Korea and Denmark. Lack of intellectual property protections and cumbersome procedures were hurdles to investment from some western countries like Germany, France, the UK, and the U.S. FDI did not meet expectations last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic disruption, EuroCham said recently. Investments from European countries was down 13 percent in the first 12 months since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect in August 2020. The pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict have greatly affected EVFTA's effectiveness, EuroCham said. Oil refining and petrochemicals and electricity generation and distribution are two leading sectors for EU investment in Vietnam. European enterprises are leaders in clean energy and hi-tech farming, and they share interests with Vietnam in developing these fields, EuroCham said. EVFTA has yet to be fully effective due to the lack of an EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), it pointed out. "By committing to equal treatments, investment protection and legal transparency, the EVIPA could promote bilateral trade and FDI." Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

A doctor takes care of a dengue fever patient at the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases on June 21, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Thu Anh The lack of healthcare staff and medicine has contributed to a high number of critical dengue fever cases and deaths in Ho Chi Minh City. According to VN Express, HCMC has recorded the nation's highest number of dengue fever patients with almost 19,000 cases in the year to date, an increase of 151 percent from the same period last year. Of them, 311 were critical and ten died, up seven fatalities against last year. Hospitals in the city have reported overload and have let patients lie on beds placed along the hallway. Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, deputy director of the municipal Health Department, said of the fatalities, three were transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in the inner city from Cu Chi General Hospital in the outlying district of Cu Chi, two hours from the downtown area. Of two hundred doctors at Cu Chi General Hospital, 40 percent have just graduated or have less than five years of experience and had never treated dengue fever. Experienced doctors, meanwhile, have quit or moved to other hospitals, he said. "There are cases in which critical signs of dengue fever had not been detected in time, allowing the conditions to worsen," said Chau. Department Deputy Director Nguyen Huu Hung said the situation had become a general problem across the city. After the latest Covid-19 outbreak here, which lasted from June to October last year, four hundred healthcare workers at ward/commune medical centers have quit. In most cases, they reported overload and low incomes. For now, the monthly salary for the head of a medical center stands at VND6 million ($260), and at VND3.75 million for nurses and pharmacists. Those staff, meanwhile, oversee performing tasks to protect the public from infectious diseases. As for dengue fever, they are the ones who inspect areas that are most vulnerable and spray disinfectant. In addition, the city is facing a lack of medicine to treat dengue fever and has been using another type as an alternative. For medicine that Vietnam uses to treat dengue fever, producers request buyers to place orders at least six months in advance and once arriving in Vietnam, a bidding process of around five-six months. Another reason leading to more critical dengue fever cases concerns patients who had failed to have their early symptoms diagnosed, which include high fever over two days. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

FINTECH MEET. GCash Chief Technology and Operations Officer Pebbles Sy (left), GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon (2nd from left), Her Majesty's Trade Commissioner to Asia Pacific Natalie Black (3rd from left), and GCash Chief Finance Officer Tek Olaño (right) at the opening ceremony of the London Tech Week 2022. The United Kingdom is eyeing to strengthen its trade partnership with the Philippines through partners in the financial technology sector. (Photo courtesy of GCash) MANILA – The United Kingdom (UK) is eyeing to strengthen its trade partnership with the Philippines through partners in the financial technology sector. In a statement on Tuesday, GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon said the company represented the Philippines in an “intimate" roundtable discussion among tech representatives from the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) and top UK officials during the London Tech Week 2022 from June 13 to 17. “It’s a rare privilege to have been invited to an exclusive dialogue with the Prime Minister’s closest advisors at 10 Downing Street. We had a very inspiring discussion on ways to leverage tech here to drive development,” Sazon said. During the meeting, UK Trade Commissioner to APAC Natalie Black said the Philippines is an “important partner to the UK,” with the two countries’ trading relationship worth nearly PHP134 billion. “With total tech spending in the Philippines reaching more than £6 billion last year, I believe our digital trade partnership will only grow deeper and stronger with the help of companies like GCash,” Black said. She noted that GCash is the Philippines’ “largest unicorn,” having a valuation of over USD2 million, and is part of the APAC delegation consisting of over 250 investors, entrepreneurs, and government officials. The London Tech Week 2022 is Europe’s largest technology festival that covers digital innovations and future possibilities. GCash was the lone representative of the Philippines in the financial technology (fintech) sector during the event, with Sazon holding talks with UK Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific Natalie Black CBE, UK Secretary of State for Trade and President of the Board of Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan and a separate meeting with UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Rt. Hon. Nadine Dorries MP. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

CONTINUITY. Manila's first woman mayor takes her oath on Wednesday (June 29, 2022) at the Manila Cathedral with outgoing mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso administering her oath. In her speech, Lacuna-Pangan vowed to continue the programs and projects started by Domagoso. (Screengrab from Isko Moreno Domagoso Facebook page) MANILA – As she takes the helm to become the first woman mayor of the City of Manila, Honey Lacuna-Pangan has assured Manilenyos that she is prepared to lead the nation’s capital. During her inauguration on Wednesday at the Manila Cathedral, she vowed to continue all the projects and programs taken up by his predecessor, Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso. “We will continue the construction of complete facilities for the health, order, peace, prosperity, and security of all the people of Manila,” she said in Filipino. “Expect continued delivery of quality services, care for our grandparents, the disabled, single parents, students, and teachers in public schools, the police, government employees, and ordinary citizens,” she added. Lacuna-Pangan thanked those who unceasingly supported her, most especially her father, former Manila Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, who was present at the event. Lacuna-Pangan said she strived and worked hard to achieve his father’s dream. “Most of all, this is for you, promise, I will make you immensely proud of me. Because of you, I tried to put an end to the old saying that the Lacuna’s are only for vice mayors. Hopefully, at least for a moment, even just today, it will be clear in your mind that you now have a daughter who has become a mayor,” she said. Lacuna-Pangan thanked Domagoso for giving her the opportunity to shine on her own, especially as a doctor, amid the Covid-19 pandemic response of the city government. “He has prepared me well, to be able to continue the realization of all the programs we have laid out for our beloved city. Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, thank you very much. Rest assured, I won't let you down, don't abandon me yet, just stay on the side,” she added. Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

MANILA – All is set for the historic inauguration Thursday (June 30) of incoming President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. at the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila. Franz Imperial, one of the preparations committee heads, said they are hoping that all the activities will go smoothly and according to plans. The events of the day will start with the traditional meeting of the outgoing president and his successor in Malacañang Palace before they proceed, in separate vehicles, to the inaugural venue. Before leaving the Palace, President Rodrigo Duterte will be given departure honors. The inauguration ceremony will start with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, followed by an Ecumenical/ Interfaith prayer. As previously reported, a military-civic parade will follow, which will be a 30-minute activity. Then the Senate President will read the Joint Resolution from both Houses of Congress before the administration of the Oath of Office of the President-Elect at noon, as the Constitution mandates. For Marcos’ inaugural address, slight changes have been made after he was advised to make use of a teleprompter for the outline of his speech, to ensure sequencing and coherence. For the inaugural song, Cris Villonco and the Young Voices of the Philippines choir will sing the Pilipinas Kong Mahal. Villonco was chosen because she can sing traditional kundiman songs even as Marcos wants his inauguration to be very traditional and solemn. The Young Voices of the Philippines, aside from being a multi-awarded group, will represent the future. After the ceremony at the National Museum, Marcos will proceed to Malacañang for the mass oath-taking of his designated Cabinet secretaries and the inaugural dinner. Also in the evening, the People’s Concert, which is part of thanksgiving activity, will follow. The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the country’s leading orchestra and is widely regarded as one of the top musical ensembles in the Asia-Pacific region, will serenade the people to express the incoming President’s gratitude for the massive support he received from them. Cecile Licad, a world-renowned and awarded classical pianist, will render a solo performance. It was gathered that Marcos personally requested the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and Licad, who is one of the finest virtuosos and the country’s most celebrated pianist, to perform in the concert. For the morning activities, Marcos Jr. will wear a modern barong inspired by the rayadillo, which was the traditional military uniform in the Spanish era. Multi-awarded designer Pepito Albert designed both the said barong as well as a fully-embroidered barong from Taal that Marcos will wear for the evening’s activities. Aside from BBM's barongs, Albert also designed barongs for his three sons, his mother former First Lady Imelda, and his sister Irene Marcos-Araneta. On the other hand, the terno to be worn by Marcos’ wife Liza was designed by Filipino designer Lesley Mobo who is known as an international fashion genius. It was made from a vintage pina fabric. Meanwhile, his elder sister, Senator Imee Marcos, chose a different designer for her outfit. Also, the President and the First Lady will showcase the country’s talents by using Philippine-made shoes. In a related development, authorities have already announced the road closures and traffic re-routing for the significant event. Protocols have also been announced, which include a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results taken 48 hours prior to the event. Guests are also required to be fully vaccinated or boosted and to comply with minimum public health standards. Drinking water that guests will bring should be contained in a clear, plastic container. The bags they would use to hold personal essentials should also be transparent. (PR) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

People wearing masks in the central business district in Singapore on Mar 25, 2022. (Photo: CNA/Gaya Chandramohan) SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 11,504 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Tuesday (Jun 28), comprising 10,732 local infections and 772 imported cases reported CNA. There was one fatality, taking the death toll from coronavirus complications to 1,410. Cases tend to increase on Tuesdays, with Health Minister Ong Ye Kung previously referring to such a pattern, writing on Facebook in October 2021 that numbers would "always spike after the weekends". The last time Singapore reported more daily infections than Tuesday was on Mar 22, when 13,166 COVID-19 new cases were reported. A total of 437 patients are in hospital, according to the latest infection statistics on the Ministry of Health's (MOH) website on Tuesday night. Thirty-six patients require oxygen supplementation. Nine patients are in the intensive care unit. On Monday, MOH said about 45 per cent of COVID-19 cases in the community in the past week were those of the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, up from 30 per cent in the week before. The BA.5 subvariant alone is estimated to have contributed to 40 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in the past week. However, international, and local data show that the two subvariants do not result in more severe outcomes as compared to the earlier Omicron strains, said MOH on Monday. "Coupled with our population’s high vaccination coverage, the number of severe COVID-19 infections has remained manageable," said the Health Ministry. Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force, said on Monday that there was no need to tighten COVID-19 safe management measures at this stage, but adjustments will be made "if need be". He said cases are expected to continue rising in the coming weeks, although the hospital situation remained stable. Earlier this month, Mr Ong said that Singapore could expect a new Omicron wave to emerge in July or August, as COVID-19 antibodies start to wane. Among the local cases reported on Tuesday, 9,989 cases are tested using antigen rapid tests (ARTs) and have been assessed by doctors to have mild symptoms and are of minimal risk, said MOH. The remaining 743 local COVID-19 cases were confirmed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Of the imported cases, 748 were tested using ARTs and twenty-four using PCR tests. The week-on-week infection ratio is 1.62. A number above 1 indicates that the number of new weekly COVID-19 cases is rising. The week-on-week infection ratio has been above 1 since Jun 14. Singapore has recorded 1,425,171 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. For the full report check out: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/new-covid-19-cases-deaths-hospital-infection-ratio-moh-2775281

The pandemic coupled with rising inflation is making everyone look very carefully at their monthly outgoings. What was a simple trip in the car to the local city for shopping is now expensive with rising fuel costs, which are likely to go up even more? Commuting to work is also getting exorbitant whether you drive or take public transport, which in most cases are cutting back due to lack of customers. File Photo If you are a medium-sized company, do you really need all members of staff to turn up for work every day? Of course, it depends on the type of business you run; however, most desk-bound jobs don’t necessarily need to all work together in an expensive HQ Highrise. If I were a CEO of a company, I would first want to retain my staff, so perhaps letting them work from home is the best way forward. Firstly, the staff will not have any expensive commuting costs, and the company can reduce the size of its HQ building thus saving on rent too. Personal expenditure also needs a close look too. Walking to a local store or market not only should be cheaper, but again you are not paying to fill up the tank. You are also getting some exercise as well. Cutting back on extras can also help. Look how many Netflix accounts have been canceled in the past few months. Maybe reading a good novel will make a comeback!!! Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Buses are seen at Giap Bat Bus Station in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Chieu Sao Viet Bus, which operates on the northern route Hanoi – Lao Cai Province, is struggling to survive as the price of fuel, which accounts for 50 percent of costs, keeps rising according to VN Express. "If we do not operate regularly, we will lose our slots at bus stations, but the more we operate, the more we lose because of surging costs," Do Van Bang, CEO of Sao Viet’s parent company, Minh Thanh Phat, said. Sao Viet has reduced the number of trips to cut costs. Bang said the only way to break even is to increase fares by 15-20 percent, but with competition being intense, the time is not right for it. But the company would not be able to absorb the losses for long, he added. The company is one of many to lose due to the 39 percent rise in fuel prices since the beginning of this year. Nguyen Manh Hung, CEO of transport firm International Logistics, said fuel accounts for 40 percent of costs, and so the increases in their prices have affected the company. It is not easy to negotiate price hikes with customers, he said. "We are trying to cut all other expenses to survive the fuel price surge." Half of all fishing vessels in Vietnam have stopped going out to sea after diesel prices rose 1.7-fold since the end of last year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said in a recent report. The cost of operating boats has risen by 35-48 percent, while seafood prices have only gone up marginally, it added. The chairperson of garment company TNG, Nguyen Van Thoi, said its business has not been majorly affected by the fuel price surge as contracts have already been signed for the rest of the year. But it is seeing prices drop as a consumer in its export markets are cutting spending due to inflation, he said. Huynh Thi My, general secretary of the Vietnam Plastics Association, said plastic companies are also in trouble as they cannot negotiate price hikes with foreign customers. Businesses are looking for new markets and suppliers with lower prices, she added. Businesses are petitioning for more tax cuts to lower fuel costs. The Ministry of Finance should reduce special consumption tax (currently at 10 percent) and value added tax (also 10 percent) on fuel so that businesses face no more burden, Bang of Minh Thanh Phat said. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

A health worker takes care of a Covid-19 patient on an ambulance in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy Around nine hundred health workers in Hanoi have either quit or switched workplaces in the past 18 months, causing a medical personnel shortage in the capital according to VN Express. A report by Hanoi People's Committee on June 20 revealed 532 medical personnel had quit last year, while eighty-two decided to switch workplaces. In the first four months of this year, 226 have quit and seventeen switched workplaces, the report added. Hanoi said the medical field has focused all its resources on fighting the pandemic since 2020. Due to the dwindling number of workers, the sheer amount of workload and lower incomes and benefits in public facilities, many are opting to quit or seek better opportunities. Hoa, the former head of a ward medical station in Dong Da District, said her workload was too much while her salary wasn't enough to make a living. She quit at the end of March. During the height of the pandemic, Hoa and her colleagues did contact tracing and vaccination day in and day out. The pressure was building up, yet they only got a "bonus" of VND500,000 ($21.50). Her colleagues, a married couple, only got VND8 million a month in total. Amid a worker exodus in the medical field and a possible risk of new coronavirus variants and outbreaks, Hanoi People's Committee said if there are not enough workers, "a catastrophe would be unpredictable." In fact, many Covid-19 patients in Hanoi back in March had to treat themselves at home when they could not contact health workers swamped with work. For example, in some areas of Hoang Mai and Dong Da districts, there were only five to ten health workers for every 30,000 citizens, forcing even those who had contracted Covid-19 to work too. Healthcare quality suffered as a result. The Hanoi Department of Health has since requested the People's Committee to introduce more policies to support health workers. A proposal is expected to be presented before the People's Council in a meeting early next month. Hanoi isn't the only metropolis seeing health workers quitting en-masse. In Ho Chi Minh City, around four hundred have already quit within the first quarter, equal to the number of health workers who quit during pre-Covid years on average. In 2021 alone, the southern city saw 1,154 health workers quit, triggering a severe personnel shortage. In April, HCMC passed a resolution that would provide VND138 billion a year to 310 medical stations until 2025 to attract more talents. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

File photo MANILA – The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has reiterated its call for better internet services in the country by passing more legislative reforms. In an online seminar Tuesday, PCCI president George Barcelon cited those legislative measures such as the Open Access in Data Transmission Act, Rural Wired Connectivity Development Act, Spectrum Management Act, Better Internet Act, and the Satellite-Based Technologies Promotion Act can facilitate the improvement of better internet connection in the country. “Through these priority reforms, we can finally address the legal obstacles and outdated internet laws that stifle the country’s ability to keep pace with its neighbors in Asean in the area of ICT (information and communications technology),” he said. Barcelon added the current broadband speed in the Philippines according to Ookla is at 50.26 megabits per second (Mbps), or fourteen times faster than the 3.6 Mbps speed eight years ago. From ranking 108th in terms of global broadband speed in July 2020, the Philippines leapfrogged by thirty-six notches to 72nd place in just five months, following the “common tower” policy of the Duterte administration. The common tower policy allows information and communications technology (ICT) service providers to share the same telecommunication infrastructures that are newly built. Barcelon added that introducing competition in the telecommunications industry also made companies improve their services and offer competitive prices. “Indeed, these developments show we can go beyond ‘good internet,’ especially if there still remains 53 percent of Filipino individuals, 52 percent of public schools, and 57 percent of households unconnected to the internet,” he said. “We cannot go on like this or forever be left behind.” Barcelon said easing the policies by removing the requirement for a congressional franchise for data transmission service will accelerate more investments in the telecommunications industry that would further improve “good” broadband speed in the country. “It is lamentable that in this digital age, the Philippines remains to be the lone country in the world that still needs a congressional franchise to provide data transmission service,” he added. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

ANKARA – Oil prices surged on Tuesday amid likely sanctions on Russia by G7 countries, including a price cap on oil exports. International benchmark Brent crude was trading at USD112.62 per barrel at 0640 GMT for a 1.48 percent increase after closing the previous session at USD110.98 a barrel. American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at USD111.15 per barrel at the same time for a 1.44 percent gain after the previous session closed at USD109.57 a barrel. The US and EU on Monday agreed to step up energy security cooperation with the end goal of further reducing Russia's revenues from oil and gas. The leaders of the G7 countries are discussing a price cap on Russian oil to tackle inflation and reduce dependence on Russian supplies. By setting a limit on the price Russia can charge for its oil, Western countries hope to curtail Moscow's revenues while at the same time allowing more oil supply to reach the global market. Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the G7 meeting on Monday, France called on oil-producing countries to increase their production "exceptionally" and to carry forward negotiations to allow the return of oil from Iran and Venezuela back on the market to overcome the energy crisis. Oil producers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), led by Saudi Arabia, along with 10 other non-OPEC members, including Russia, known as OPEC+, are expected to remain loyal to the plan of increasing oil production for August at Thursday's OPEC+ meeting. In its last meeting, the OPEC+ group decided to increase production by 648,000 barrels in July and August. (Anadolu) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Department of Foreign Affairs façade (PNA photo by Avito Dalan) MANILA – The Philippine government on Tuesday expressed its "strong objection" to Taiwan's unlawful live-fire drills off the coast of Ligaw Island, describing the move as an "illegal activity" that "raises tensions and complicates the situation in the South China Sea." In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the island, also known as Itu Aba, is an integral part of the Kalayaan Island Group. "The Philippines expresses its strong objection over the unlawful live-fire drills to be conducted by Taiwan (China) on 28 to 29 June 2022 within the vicinity of Ligaw Island," it said. "Ligaw Island is an integral part of the Kalayaan Island Group over which the Philippines has sovereignty." According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Taiwan took permanent possession of the feature in 1956. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

TODAY file photo SINGAPORE — Over a span of 16 years, a man sexually preyed upon children with learning or physical disabilities by posing as a qualified educational therapist to gain their parents’ trust. Today reported on Monday (June 27), that the Singaporean, now aged fifty-four, was sentenced in the High Court to 45 years’ jail — the longest sentence ever meted out here for sexual offences, prosecutors said. Justice Ang Cheng Hock described it as an “exceptionally sickening sexual abuse,” with the prosecution branding it “one of the worst cases of pedophilic sexual abuse that has come before the courts.” The man’s offences became known only by accident in 2018 when a woman bought his old laptop. Several obscene photos and videos, showing him sexually assaulting the victims, were automatically imported from a cloud drive into the laptop. He later admitted to investigators that he would watch child abuse material online and wanted to “try” the same on real-life subjects. He has since been diagnosed with pedophilic disorder. Two of his eight victims were only five years old when he began raping them. This typically took place in their own homes, his home or in public locations such as toilet cubicles in malls. He pleaded guilty to six counts of aggravated rape. Another eighty charges — including sexual exploitation of a minor, molestation and attempted aggravated rape — were taken into consideration for sentencing. He cannot be named due to a court order imposed to protect the identities of his victims, who were aged between five and thirteen at the time of his offences from 2002 to May 2018. He was aged between 35 and 50 at the time. He also dated the mother of two of his victims, whom he met while volunteering at a cultural dance group from 1998 to 2004. The court heard that between 2005 and May 2018, he worked part-time as a tutor. To the parents of some victims, he misrepresented himself as a qualified educational therapist with a graduate diploma in psychology, as well as a diploma in learning disorders management and child psychology. He also made these same claims on his social media account. He managed to obtain the second diploma only in October 2012. Prosecutors told the court that he gave tuition to “gain access to a ready pool of children,” including children with disabilities. When he was arrested on June 11, 2018, he was not formally employed anywhere but worked ad-hoc as a tutor for children, including those with special needs. He previously worked as an IT administrative officer but was terminated in February that same year when the department shut down. The court further heard that he had a history of watching pornography, including child sexual abuse material, on the internet. He admitted that he found such material interesting and wanted to “try” the same on children in real life. Deputy Public Prosecutor Andre Ong told the court: “Some of his offences were committed after he had watched a mixture of Japanese adult and child pornography, gotten aroused, and thereby decided to satiate his lust upon the victims.” Court documents detailed how he sexually assaulted three victims. One of them, identified as V1, had to undergo speech therapy at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital when she was four years old. In 2015, he introduced himself as an educational therapist to the girl’s mother and said that he was part of a non-profit organisation. She then engaged him to tutor and provide speech therapy lessons to her daughter. The girl’s family formed a close relationship with him and often invited him to have meals with them. However, he betrayed that trust by beginning to take obscene and nude photos of the girl. He then molested and ultimately raped her multiple times in 2017. She was between six and nine years old. He often distracted her with games or videos on his mobile devices while assaulting her. Thirty-eight of the charges, including three of aggravated rape and two of attempted rape, were in relation to her. Some of her soft toys later tested positive for his semen. In 1998, he also volunteered as the chairperson of a youth executive committee. Details of this were not revealed in court documents. From then until 2004, he helped to teach a cultural dance group and choreograph dances. This was where he first became acquainted with the mother of two of his victims. When she told him of her son’s attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis, he lied that he had studied psychology and offered to tutor the boy, who also had to use a hearing aid. The man grew more involved in the family’s personal lives between 2006 and 2009. He financially provided for them, helping to care for the boy and his sister when their mother had to work part-time or work the night shift. Sometime in 2007, he began dating the older woman. The family then moved to his Woodlands flat. He acted as though the children were his own, looking after them and regularly watching movies with them in the cinema. However, he then repeatedly raped or assaulted them for several years until he broke up with their mother in 2015. On June 3, 2018, a 40-year-old Filipino woman bought his laptop for S$280 and collected it from him at Admiralty MRT Station. While trying to transfer some personal photos to the laptop several days later, she clicked on a red notification icon. Obscene photos and videos were then automatically imported into the device. Police officers arrested him on the evening of June 11 that year. They found more obscene photos and videos of the assaults, as well as two pairs of children’s underwear belonging to one of the victims. He possessed at least 3,253 obscene films; court documents showed. When he was examined at the Institute of Mental Health, psychiatrist Derrick Yeo observed that he was “very inconsistent” in his accounts of the sexual offences. He claimed selective memory loss and that he heard voices occasionally asking him to perform sexual acts on the victims. Dr Yeo assessed that he was lying about these psychotic symptoms to minimise his criminal responsibility and that he was at a “very high risk of repeated sexual offending against young female victims.” The man will be eighty if he is released from prison upon being granted one-third remission for good behaviour. For each offence of aggravated rape, he could have been jailed for up to 20 years and fined or caned. Those aged fifty or above cannot be caned under Singapore law.

SEIZED. The Bataan Maritime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) seizes the assorted fish illegally caught within the municipal waters of Pilar, Bataan. It reported on Monday (June 27, 2022) the arrest of the boat skippers and crew of two fishing bancas reportedly caught illegally fishing within the municipal waters of Pilar last June 24. (Photo courtesy of the Bataan Maritime Group of the PNP) MARIVELES, Bataan – The Bataan Maritime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Monday the arrest of the boat skippers and crew of two fishing bancas reportedly caught illegally fishing within the municipal waters of Pilar town in this province. Maj. Leoncio Alcantara Jr., Bataan PNP Maritime Group chief, said nabbed were boat captains Antonio Revira, 54, of fishing boat Asrael Eion; and Ernesto Mayor, 54, of FB Kuya Caloy; both from Hagonoy, Bulacan. The two boat captains will be charged with the violation of Section 95 on the use of active gear or trawl under Republic Act 10654, or an Act to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Alcantara said they were patrolling the seawaters of Bataan last Friday when they chanced upon the two boats with seven crews each illegally fishing within the municipal waters in the bay of Pilar. The confiscated pieces of evidence were the two fishing boats and fishing paraphernalia like diesel, fishing nets, and coolers. Also seized were 50 kilos of assorted fish estimated at PHP22,000. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

MOSCOW – Brent oil prices may rise to USD135 per barrel in the second half of the year amid insufficient supply on the world market, the IHS Markit consulting agency (part of S&P Global) forecasts in its analytical report, which was available to TASS. Currently, Brent oil price is USD110 per barrel. However, already in the third quarter of 2022, the price may rise to USD136.3 per barrel, IHS experts said. In the second half of the year, the price of oil will stay at USD135 per barrel and on average for the year it will be USD122 per barrel, IHS added. According to agency experts, high prices are caused by the lack of oil supply. The experts cited the decline in oil production in Russia due to sanctions, low probability of reaching an agreement on the Iranian nuclear deal, which will not allow Iranian oil to be brought to the market, as well as the reduction in free production capacity in OPEC+ countries as the factors affecting the global oil production. According to IHS, as of the second quarter of 2022, the amount of free production capacity in OPEC+ countries is estimated at 2.7 million barrels per day. However, by the end of the year, the agency expects the figure to fall to 1.8 million barrels per day and only Saudi Arabia and the UAE will retain the opportunity to increase oil production. IHS experts also draw attention to the transformation of the global oil market. For example, oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela is now sold cheaper than raw materials from other countries since there are fewer buyers for this oil due to its place of origin, the agency notes. According to IHS, this is a sign of "fragmentation of the oil market." "The global oil market that we knew no longer exists," experts said. (TASS) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Outgoing President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (File photo) MANILA – With only three days left before he steps down from office, outgoing President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday said corruption cannot be stopped. “Corruption is endemic. It cannot be stopped but it can be minimized," Duterte said in a speech during the oath-taking of local officials in his hometown Davao City. His son, Davao City mayor-elect Sebastian, was among the local officials who took their oath. "It is hard to stop the corrosive effect of money upon the person," Duterte added. This is not the first time Duterte described corruption as endemic. During his sixth and final State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on July 26, 2021, Duterte said the only way to eradicate corruption is to overturn the government completely. He said his successor could only change the system if he or she would fire “everybody” in government by declaring martial law. Duterte, however, said his administration has taken significant strides in eradicating corruption in government. Duterte has fired several officials due to alleged corruption. Previously, he named officials from the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, and Department of Public Works and Highways as having been sacked for alleged corruption. In October 2020, Duterte ordered the Department of Justice to head a mega task force that would probe all government agencies hounded by corruption allegations. His administration also launched a Citizens' Hotline and Complaints Center where complaints against corruption and red tape are processed. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

At the recently concluded Da Nang Investment Forum, a memorandum of understanding on strategic bilateral framework has been signed between budget carrier Vietjet Air and Da Nang to promote tourism and aviation development in the 2022-2027 period reported Da Nang Today. Accordingly, Vietjet will expand its international footprint starting the third quarter of 2022 onward. Vietjet will be starting seven new international routes with flights connecting Da Nang with Singapore, South Korea, and India. The launching of new international services from Da Nang is considered as the first step of the framework of Vietjet’s commitment and efforts to cooperate with the city to promote the image of Da Nang to domestic and foreign tourists, as well as drive the development of the city’s trade and tourism. Vietjet’s aircrafts will be emblazoned with Da Nang’s tourism logo in efforts to promote the image of the city to their flying destinations while Da Nang will also join Vietjet for travel stimulation programmes, investment promotion conferences, tourism advertising programmes and more. Come July, those wanting to travel to South Korea’s Busan and the five largest and most populous cities in India, namely New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore along with Singapore will be able to do so as flights between Da Nang and these destinations are set to commence. Starting from the third quarter of 2022, Vietjet will operate from 4 to 7 round-trip flights a week between Da Nang and these destinations to meet growing travel demand from residents and tourists. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

A woman is inoculated against Covid-19 in Ho Chi Minh City on June 22, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa Vietnam has recorded the subvariant BA.5 of Omicron, Phan Trong Lan, head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health, said Monday. VN Express reported that further information regarding the BA.5 cases and their conditions have not been disclosed. According to Lan, the detection of new strains is inevitable as Vietnam has reopened under the new normal. BA.5 was first discovered in South Africa in January. So far, it has become a dominant strain in some countries such as Israel and Germany. Some studies show that BA.4 and BA.5 spread faster than the previous subvariant BA.2, but there has been not enough data on severity rate. Lan said the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor new strains and World Health Organization (WHO) information to adjust Covid-19 prevention measures when necessary. Vietnam has recorded 142,000 Covid cases over the past two months, and the death rate has fallen to 0.06 percent of the total number of infections. Vietnam has covered almost 80 percent of its 96-million population with two vaccine doses, and the group of those from five years old are to receive the second doses within June. The health ministry recently said it is still not the right time for Vietnam to consider Covid-19 endemic though the situation has stabilized somewhat. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php