ASEAN NOW News

Doctors treat a severe Covid-19 patient in HCMC, September 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

 

With more people contracting Covid-19 and the number of severe cases rising again, a Ho Chi Minh City health official has warned of another wave reported VN Express.

 

According to official numbers, 164 people contracted Covid-19 each day in HCMC in the past week compared to 127 the previous week.

 

In the week to Aug. 28, HCMC recorded more than 1,100 new cases, up 258 against the previous week, Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, deputy director of the municipal Health Department, said Sunday.

 

The real number of cases, however, could be higher because many have tested and treated themselves at home without visiting any healthcare facilities, and these infections were not added to the official database.

 

Along with the rise in daily infections, the number of severe cases admitted to hospitals has also increased, with an average 64 cases per day so far this month compared to around 30 in July.

 

Currently, the city has a total of more than 250 severe Covid-19 patients and around 80% of them must rely on ventilators.

 

Most are in the high-risk group of elderly people, those with chronic diseases and those that have yet to be fully vaccinated with two doses.

 

In the past few weeks, the Omicron subvariant BA.5 has become the dominant strain of the new coronavirus in the city.

 

"This variant has been confirmed to spread faster than others, leading to a possibility of a new wave of Covid-19 in HCMC," Chau said.

 

HCMC, which was hit hard by Covid between May and October last year, has planned to reactivate one of its field hospitals should more severe cases be recorded in future.

 

World Health Organization Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Aug. 27 the world had reached "a tragic milestone" by recording a million Covid-19 deaths so far in the year.

 

He again urged all governments to step up action to vaccinate all health workers, older persons, and others at highest risk, as part of efforts towards inoculating 70% of the global population.

 

DROWNING INCIDENT. Responders provide assistance to excursionists after a drowning incident at the Kabilang-bilangan Reef in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on Sunday (Aug. 28, 2022). Four of the 16 persons who visited the area drowned due to strong current, the police said. (Photo courtesy of Cadiz City Coast Guard Sub-Station)

 

BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental said on Monday the city government will temporarily prohibit the public from going to the Kabilang-bilangan Reef in Barangay Sicaba after four excursionists drowned on Sunday afternoon.

 

“Starting today, we will try to close the facility until further notice or until such time we can introduce appropriate safety measures,” he said in a radio interview.

 

Escalante said the area is a coral reef and people are allowed to visit although they are just being cautioned to be always alert to strong currents which usually occur during high tides.

 

On Sunday, a group of 16 people visited for a day’s relaxation, but the trip turned tragic after four of them drowned at around 1 p.m.

 

The Cadiz City Police Station identified the fatalities as Marlyn Aguirre, 33, and son McJohn Aguirre, 15; Remymar Ocon, 31; and Michael John Merabe, 13.

 

The report said the elder Aguirre and the two other victims attempted to rescue McJohn, but they all drowned due to the strong current.

 

Escalante said the city government has been planning to regulate visits to the Kabilang-bilangan Reef, considering that a lot of people have been coming lately to the area, which is just near the mainland of northern Negros city.

 

At present, there is a 15-foot tower with a roof deck on the reef.

 

He said the plan is to replicate the management of the famous sandbar in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental in regulating the activities at the reef, adding they intend to set up safety facilities and deploy Philippine Coast Guard and Bantay Dagat personnel.

 

“I’ve long planned to implement this. We have budget limitations but it’s already in the pipeline. Then there is an untoward incident and it’s just unfortunate it happened to this group,” Escalante said. (PNA)

 

Google map of Pilar town

 

ORANI, Bataan – The chief of police in Pilar town here died after he reportedly shot himself by accident early Monday morning.

 

Col. Romell Velasco, Bataan police director, identified the victim as Maj. Rizaldy Rubio, 43, a resident of Barangay Tapulao, Orani, this province.

 

An attending physician declared the victim dead on arrival at the Orani District Hospital.

 

The Orani police station said in a report that it received a phone call from May Rubio, wife of the victim, saying that her husband was rushed to the hospital after she saw his bloodied body with a gunshot wound in the right abdomen, sprawled on the floor.

 

Prior to this, she said she heard a gunshot outside of their room.

 

The victim’s wife is also a member of the Philippine National Police with the rank of chief master sergeant.

An investigation on the alleged accidental firing is still going on. (PNA)

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa (File photo)

 

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said authorities are taking the sexual harassment allegations against six teachers in Bacoor, Cavite “very seriously.”

 

In a Viber message to reporters, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said they find the information surfacing online “disturbing.”

 

“The allegations of sexual harassment in Bacoor National High School are very disturbing news and we are taking this very seriously,” he said.

 

Poa said an investigation is underway and the accused teachers have been placed in “floating status.”

 

“Upon inquiry, I was informed that the Schools Division Office was made aware of these allegations of 

sexual harassment last week and an investigation has already started and is currently underway. There were six teachers mentioned in the posts.

 

Said teachers were not given any teaching load pending initial investigation on the matter,” he added.

 

Amid allegations, the DepEd ensured they are firm to have “zero tolerance” against any form of abuse in schools nationwide.

 

The allegations originally posted on Facebook were taken down for “violation of community standards.”

 

However, a pinned Twitter thread is now circulating online, tweeted by Expresso, with username @expresso_o, which has gained almost 20,000 retweets and over 30,000 reactions.

 

Included in the thread were supposed conversations between teachers and learners either being asked about sexual experiences with gay or simply invited to meet them to “try” performing sexual activity.

 

A screenshot of a Facebook story of a teacher during the class opening week also included disturbing comments like “There numerous yummy [students],” and “That’s true! [They look] fresh.

 

In the same thread, Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla advised victims to file a formal complaint as they secure monitoring on the matter.

 

“This has been reported to the DepEd Regional Office and at present ongoing investigation. The teachers involved are no longer holding classes. We will be monitoring this issue. Best if the victims/ students file formal complaints to Bacoor Schools Division Superintendent,” she said.

 

Names of teachers were not disclosed as the probe continues.

 

Just last week, another teacher was subjected to administrative proceedings after allegedly “bullying” or causing verbal abuse to a grade 5 learner in Camarines Norte.

 

The learner was reportedly called “witch, stupid, animal" by the teacher, being the last one to finish their writing activity.

 

The DepEd, meanwhile, provided psychosocial interventions to the affected learner. (PNA)

 

 

Shoppers without their masks in City Square Mall on Aug 29, 2022. Singapore earlier announced that wearing a mask will be optional from Aug 29, except on public transport and in healthcare facilities. (Photo: CNA/Gaya Chandramohan)

 

SINGAPORE: From Monday (Aug 29), people in Singapore will not be required to wear a mask except on public transport and in healthcare facilities. 

 

According to CNA, the authorities announced details on Wednesday after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said during his National Day Rally speech that COVID-19 rules on wearing masks will be eased.

 

Here's what you need to know about the new rules.

 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

 

Masks will still have to be worn on transport modes such as the MRT, LRT and public buses, as well as in indoor public transport facilities like boarding areas at bus interchanges and MRT platforms.

 

Masks will be optional on private transport modes such as taxis, school buses and private bus services. Passengers should check with private operators for additional service requirements, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said. 

 

While it will no longer be mandatory, drivers and passengers of taxis and private-hire vehicles are encouraged to continue wearing masks, especially if they feel unwell, said the Land Transport Authority.

 

Masks will not be required at airports, naturally ventilated bus interchanges and in the retail areas of bus interchanges, MRT and LRT stations.

 

Mask-wearing requirements for public transport. (Graphic: Rafa Estrada)

 

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

 

MOH director of medical services Kenneth Mak said during a press conference that when it comes to international flights, the requirement depends on what the rules are in the destination of choice as well as the airline.

 

"The carrier may have requirements imposed based on his country of origin as well, so where there's a mandatory requirement for masks to be worn ... the mask must be worn on the flight itself," he said.

 

However, there are countries where mask-wearing may be optional, like in the United States, he added.

 

"In that setting, where countries do not enforce or will not require mask-wearing, flights to those destinations will not require mandated wearing on board the flight as long as the carrier has no such requirement as a condition for travel on that particular carrier as well," said Assoc Prof Mak.

 

This means that passengers will need to wear their masks on outbound commercial flights and ferries from Singapore to destinations that require mask-wearing onboard.

 

This also goes for inbound commercial flights and ferries into Singapore from destinations that require mask-wearing onboard, the MOH said.

 

But masks are not required on outbound commercial flights and ferries from Singapore to destinations that do not require mask-wearing onboard, and inbound commercial flights and ferries into Singapore from destinations that do not require mask-wearing onboard.

 

Singapore Airlines said its passengers will not be required to wear masks on flights from Aug 29 unless they are travelling to or from destinations that mandate it. The airline provided a list of destinations where masks are required.

 

Mask-wearing requirements for flights and ferries. (Graphic: Rafa Estrada)

 

HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

 

Healthcare facilities, residential care homes and ambulances will keep the mask-wearing requirement. These include welfare and sheltered homes for the aged, as well as adult disability homes. 

 

The same goes for COVID-19 care facilities, testing centres and vaccination centres.

 

Masks will also be needed at retail and F&B establishments and communal areas located within hospital buildings, national specialty centres and polyclinics.

 

However, masks are not required at physiotherapy and other allied health clinics for services like speech therapy and occupational therapy located outside hospitals, MOH said. Masks are also not needed at facilities providing non-residential community services like centre-based service, day care services and home care services.

 

Mask-wearing requirements for healthcare facilities. (Graphic: Rafa Estrada)

 

SCHOOLS

 

While the multi-ministry task force did not provide information on mask-wearing in schools during its press conference on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said earlier in his National Day Rally speech that masks should not be needed during classes.

 

“The children do need to be able to see the facial expressions of their teachers and of each other ... It's crucial for their learning and development,” he said.

 

RULES FOR FOOD HANDLERS

 

Existing sector requirements on mask-wearing for food handlers continue to apply, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a statement on Wednesday.

 

SFA made it a requirement in April 2020 for all food handlers to wear masks or other forms of physical barriers.

 

This applies to all personnel engaged in the sale and preparation of food and drinks at retail F&B establishments, including hawker centres, coffee shops, restaurants, supermarkets, trade fairs, and non-retail food establishments, including food processing establishments and slaughterhouses, SFA said.

 

"All food handlers will still be required to wear over his nose and mouth a mask or spit guard that is capable of preventing any substance expelled from his mouth or nose from contaminating food," SFA said.

 

Face shields are not allowed because they are not considered as being effective physical barriers, due to a large gap at the bottom of the shield.

 

Those bringing plated food to consumers, collecting payments, or who participate in cleaning work need not wear masks, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor.

 

Hidden in Vietnam's northwestern hills is a hotel resembling the shape of a high-speed train.

 

Check out this video.

 

The high-speed train-shaped hotel is located near the world’s longest pedestrian glass bridge.

 

Although not yet opened, the hillside accommodation in Moc Chau immediately will attract the attention of young people because of its novel and unusual design.

 

The trend of traveling by train in Vietnam has been growing in recent years, if you are too familiar with the image of high-class train cars like 5-star hotels, then you will surely enjoy seeing them. the hotel that is exactly like a speedboat in Moc Chau.

 

Built in the mountainous landscape of the Northwest, the newly-appeared The Bullet Hotel is located right under the hillside in Ban Lon, Muong Sang Commune, Moc Chau. 

 

 

The hotel ship has a length of 225 meters and includes 28 rooms. 

 

From the front of the train to the end of the train, each compartment is a room with a capacity of rooms from 2 to 16 people.

 

Bach Long Glass Bridge

 

The super speed train hotel is located right next to Bach Long Glass Bridge – the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. 

 

This is a project that also attracts the attention of people from all over the world.

 

View of the hotel overlooking Bach Long bridge, although not too close, you can admire the beauty of this bridge

 

Bach Long Bridge has a total length of up to 632m, of which the part over the cliff is 290m long and the part on the cliff is 342m long.

 

This is the fourth glass bridge in Vietnam.

 

Currently, the hotel is still in the process of completing the final items so that it can begin to welcome tourists to visit during the National Day holiday on September 2.

 

A farmer tends to peach blossom trees, the most common plant for Tet decoration in northern Vietnam, in Hanoi in 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

 

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has proposed letting workers enjoy a break of seven or nine days for the next Lunar New Year holiday reported VN Express.

 

In a proposal sent to collect opinions from relevant units, the ministry suggests that the holiday to welcome the upcoming Lunar New Year, the Year of the Cat, runs from Jan. 20-26, 2023, which means civil servants and public employees will have a seven-day Tet holiday; or from Jan. 21-29 to include two weekends.

 

The ministry has said it prefers the seven-day option, which will guarantee that the holiday will not last too long and the number of days off will be equal before and after the new Lunar New Year day, which will fall on Jan. 22.

 

After it collects the feedback, the ministry will submit the final plan to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Vietnam had a nine-day Tet break early this year that included two weekends.

 

Transport Minister S Iswaran at an F1-themed community event at West Coast on Aug 27, 2022.

 

SINGAPORE — The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix is set to see its biggest turnout since the first night race in 2008, with tickets for this year's edition expected to sell out reported Today.

 

Giving this update on Saturday (Aug 27), Transport Minister S Iswaran said that the ticket sales are a noticeably clear sign that Singapore is "back strong" and ready to host world-class events after the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

"After a two-year break, this year's Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix is set to make an extraordinarily strong comeback. The ticket sales have been very strong," Mr Iswaran told reporters at an F1-themed community event at West Coast, where he is a Member of Parliament.

 

"This year's ticket sales have exceeded that in 2019. So, it means that we are set to see the largest attendance at the Singapore Grand Prix since its inaugural year in 2008," he added.

 

"I think it's a very clear sign of the interest and demand both locally and internationally for these kinds of sports events and entertainment."

 

The Singapore Grand Prix was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

This year's event will be held from Sept 30 to Oct 2, after a contract was signed in January for Singapore to host the Formula 1 Grand Prix for another seven years — the longest extension for the race to date.

 

"The organisers SGP expect a sellout event by the time we come to the weekend itself, and most importantly, it's a clear signal that Singapore is back strong," said Mr Iswaran, who is also Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

 

He added: "How much further it will go ... is a function of both the capacity that the organisers are able to make available and ... we have to make sure that the event's quality and the experience that the racegoers have is preserved."

 

The minister said that more than 40 per cent of the participants are usually from overseas and this should remain unchanged or could be exceeded this year.

 

The 2019 race drew 268,000 spectators over three days, while in 2008, 300,000 people attended the inaugural race.

 

CNA has contacted organiser Singapore GP on the expected capacity this year.

 

Pointing to the F1-themed activities at the West Coast Community Centre, Mr Iswaran said that community outreach is an important part of the F1 event.

 

"The objective is to bring the buzz, excitement and the experience of F1 to all parts of Singapore, including our heartlands," he said.

 

He noted that there is a GP roving truck with race simulators which has been to about 17 locations, including community centres and schools. F1 screenings have been held at Suntec City, PLQ Mall and Dempsey, and will be going to more locations.

 

Mr Iswaran said that as a major event that attracts international visitors, the Grand Prix also draws other kinds of activities like Mice events and several types of conferences.

 

Major Events

 

This year, Singapore will host the Milken Institute Asia Summit, as well as the Forbes Global CEO Conference, both of which will be held days before the Singapore Grand Prix.

 

"The benefit overall is for our tourism industry, in particular hospitality — so the hotels benefit, the air travel industry, but also equally, the F&B and our retail sector as well," said Mr Iswaran.

 

"Overall, I think it's a positive impact for the broader hospitality and other sectors that are associated with the Formula 1 event."

 

Mr Iswaran said that there are many Singapore small- and medium-sized enterprises, contractors and service providers supporting the organisation of the race, totalling about 30,000 people.

 

"I think it's a very strong and positive signal on the recovery in our hospitality sector," he said.

 

"The hotels are gearing up, the hotel managers I have spoken to are very positive about the Formula 1 this year. They say the bookings are strong, the room rates are strong, and they have been able to mobilise the workforce."

 

Responding to a reporter's question about concerns over the environmental impact of the race, Mr Iswaran said that sustainability is a national objective for Singapore.

 

He noted that many of the F1 teams already have arrangements with fuel suppliers to introduce biofuels and other kinds of sustainable fuels.

 

"We will make sure that the Singapore race does its best ... to be conducted in a sustainable way for now and for the whole duration of the contract and the period that we hold the race in Singapore." 

 

A novel way to recycle public buses has been used by this unique Singaporean resort .

 

Watch this video.

 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/public-buses-turned-rooms-new-changi-village-resort-video-2905656

 

 

 

 

Last week we reported that the Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO) of South Cotabato was planning to conduct an auction sale for some 2,000 properties with arrears in real property tax (RPT).

In a statement Thursday, PTO local tax operation officer Zenaida Erum said they have already published in local newspapers the real properties with unpaid taxes that are about to be auctioned on Nov. 22 this year.

Most of the properties are agricultural and residential lands.

 

She said they also have commercial lots, commercial buildings and residential buildings.

She noted that the owners of the delinquent properties have a total tax due of PHP94,531,651, some going back to 1960’s.
 

“Although some of these lands were inherited, the record from the Assessor’s Office shows they are still in the name of the original owners. The new owners are not aware of their undue taxes, some of them were surprised when they received the notice,” she explained.

 

Is it fair?

 

 

Of course, governments everywhere try to extract the maximum in taxes and property is one their biggest earners.

 

That said you have to feel for some of the poorer owners who may have inherited a home or a plot of land which was passed down after relatives have passed away.

 

Unable to pay extra costs they fall into default easily.

 

Seems the authorities in those cases should have a truce so the new owner only needs to pay taxes if they want to sell.

 

Many could be family homes and they cannot afford to pay huge taxes.

 

Authorities appealed to these delinquent real property owners, especially those who received the notice, to consult with the PTO or the nearest Municipal Treasurer’s Office.

“Delinquent taxpayers need to update their payment and must know what to do to prevent the auction sale of their properties,” she said.

The property owners are given time to settle the tax delinquency upon receipt of the warrant. Failure to pay means the forfeited property will be published before the scheduled auction.

 

Assume that the real offenders do lose the lands while authorities show a bit of compassion and work out a way to assist these poorer owners.

 

 

RAPE-SLAY SUSPECT. The suspect in the rape-slay of a 15-year-old girl in Bustos, Bulacan who was nabbed in Barangay Veneracion, Pamplona, Camarines Sur on Aug. 18, 2022. PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said on Sunday (Aug. 28, 2022) he has ordered a continued investigation to build an airtight case against the suspect. (File photo courtesy of Police Regional Office 3)

 

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – The head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed that justice would be served to the family of a 15-year-old rape-slay victim in this province.

 

PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said on Sunday that he ordered a continued investigation to build an airtight case against the suspect, Gaspar Maneja Jr., alias Jose Francisco Santos, who was nabbed following a joint manhunt operation of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-5) and personnel of Bulacan Police Provincial Office in Barangay Veneracion, Pamplona, Camarines Sur last Aug. 18.

 

“Our personnel don’t sleep on cases. They make sure that they are built on strong information gathering to search and arrest the perpetrator of the crime. Following this is the filing of necessary charges against an arrested suspect,” Azurin said in a statement.

 

The suspect was positively recognized by witnesses as the last known companion of the victim whose body was discovered in a grassy area of a bypass road in Barangay Bonga Menor, Bustos, this province last Aug. 12, two days after she went missing.

 

Further investigation revealed that the suspect has three outstanding warrants of arrest for violation of Republic Act 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act (Anti-Child Abuse Law); and rape with no bail recommended.

 

Criminal complaints of rape, homicide and using a fictitious name were filed against the suspect before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in this city under Senior Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Catherine E. Rutor-Reyes. (PNA)

 

BRIEFING. Minister Liu Jianchao (2nd from left) of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee faces the media at a hotel in Taguig City on Sunday (Aug. 28, 2022). Liu said he wants to enhance relations with political parties in the Philippines. (Photo by Joyce Rocamora)

 

MANILA – The Communist Party of China (CPC) is looking at enhancing relations with political parties in the Philippines, its ranking official said Sunday.

 

"We are open and we are very positive to promote and strengthen the interactions between the Communist Party of China and [political parties in the Philippines] and even with new parties, we would like to establish ties," Minister Liu Jianchao of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee said in a press conference at a five-star hotel in Taguig City.

 

The diplomat, who arrived Friday for a three-day working visit, had also met with House Speaker and Lakas-CMD party president Martin Romualdez and Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, chair of PDP-Laban.

 

In their Sunday meeting, Liu and Pimentel discussed cooperation between the CPC and PDP-Laban and how the two parties could help improve bilateral relations between Beijing and Manila.

 

The CPC established a connection with the PDP-Laban as early as 2017 after Pimentel attended the World Dialogue of Political Parties in Beijing.

 

At the time, Pimentel discussed with Chinese President and CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping the need for political parties "to adapt and cooperate with the phenomenon of the global village."

 

Apart from party leaders, Liu likewise met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to discuss key areas of cooperation, including agriculture, infrastructure and people-to-people ties.

 

Liu said China is ready to support and work with Manila as the latter shifts to renewable energy.

 

Among others, he discussed Beijing's relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the war in Ukraine, and the worsening global food insecurity.

 

In the same media roundtable, Liu expressed hopes for the revival of negotiations on the Philippine-China oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea.

 

"It seems that there are some legal barriers or legal factors that are standing in the way of a final consensus. So I hope that both sides will move about this issue in a way that is feasible, in a way that will be practical so that the cooperation could be continued, could be realized,” he said.

 

“I hope that the discussions will continue and both sides will demonstrate some kind of flexibility so that, without prejudicing each other’s claims or their own positions, cooperation could happen,” he added.

 

The International Department is the CPC's diplomatic arm.

 

Prior to heading this office, Liu previously served as the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines. (PNA)

 

 

MANILA – Another elderly Filipino was assaulted in Manhattan, the latest in the string of violence and harassment involving a Filipino national in New York.

 

The Philippine Consulate General said the victim was walking along Madison Avenue near East 52nd St. on Wednesday when "she was punched without provocation by another woman."

 

The suspect fled the scene.

 

"In view of this incident, the Consulate reminds members of the Filipino Community, as well as kababayan visiting New York to exercise the necessary precautions at all times while on the streets or in the subways," the Consulate said.

 

It did not provide details if the incident was a case of Asian hate but the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured that the issue had been raised by the Philippine government with US officials.

 

"The issue of Asian hate crime has been raised by the Philippine government with US officials. Recently, Philippine Consul General in New York Elmer Cato raised this issue with the concerned authorities in New York City, who gave the assurance that they are taking this matter very seriously and are taking steps to address it," DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said in a separate statement.

 

"We assure our fellow Filipinos that our Consulate General in New York will continue monitoring these incidents accordingly and is ready to assist hate crime victims and other distressed Filipinos in the area," she added.

 

There are about 450,000 Filipinos in 10 states under the Consulate's jurisdiction.

 

Daza said the 74-year-old Filipino's assault brings to 43 the number of cases of "race-based violence, harassment, and other criminal incident involving Filipinos" monitored by the Consulate.

Most of these cases are in New York City, particularly Manhattan and Queens. (PNA)

 

 

Using the data website Numbeo we compared two similar touristy islands in SE Asia: Cebu in the Philippines and Phuket in Thailand.

 

Both offer tourist and ex-pats island living, with many resorts, restaurants, and international airport connections.

 

Both have tropical temperatures however Cebu is prone to typhoons while Phuket is fairly void of them although it did suffer badly from the Tsunami a few years ago.

 

Here are some comparisons.

 

Summary about cost of living in Cebu, Philippines:

 

 

Family of four estimated monthly costs are 61,767.06฿ (96,351.62₱) without rent.

 

A single person estimated monthly costs are 17,522.35฿ (27,333.45₱) without rent.

 

Cebu is 7.95% less expensive than Pattaya (without rent).

 

Rent in Cebu is, on average, 5.69% higher than in Pattaya.

 

Summary about cost of living in Phuket, Thailand:

 

 

Family of four estimated monthly costs are 61,895.02฿ without rent.

 

A single person estimated monthly costs are 17,247.47฿  without rent.

 

Phuket is 3.76% more expensive than Pattaya (without rent).

 

Rent in Phuket is, on average, 8.63% higher than in Pattaya.

 

Here are some price comparisons.

 

A McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo meal) costs around 180 peso or 140 Baht.

 

If you buy imported beer expect to pay 100 pesos or 140 Baht.

 

Taking a taxi for 1km will cost you 13.25 pesos or 37.50 baht and if you drive expect to pay 73 pesos for a litre of gasoline or 44.29 baht.

 

For the full comparison click here.

 

Currently, the rate of exchange is 1 Philippine Peso = 0.64 Thai Baht.

 

 

A beach resort on Phu Quoc Island

 

Thai Vietjet, a subsidiary of Vietjet Air, plans to launch the first ever direct service between Bangkok and Phu Quoc Island on October 12.

 

There will be four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, the Vietnamese budget carrier says on its website.

 

Currently people flying on the route have to transit in HCMC.

 

Both Vietnam and Thailand have reopened their borders to foreign tourists and lifted most Covid restrictions.

 

The Thai government will increase from October the period of visa-free stay for tourists from over 50 countries, including Vietnam, from 30 days to 45.

 

Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is famous for its white-sand beaches and fish sauce, an indispensable Vietnamese condiment. 

 

Vinpearl Phu Quoc

 

It also has a top class 27 hole golf course owned by Vinepearl.

 

What is Phu Quoc Island regarded as?

 

Phu Quoc has been evaluated as the most attractive island in Vietnam and been an extremely prominent name on the international tourist map in recent years.

 

Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is known as the pearl island on the southwest coast of Vietnam.

 

The island has become globally popular since the government allowed 30-day visa free entry in 2014.

 

An artist's impression of the new opera house in Thu Duc City, HCMC. Photo by HCMC Management Board of Industrial and Civil Engineering Construction and Investment Projects

 

The plan to build an opera house in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area in HCMC will be postponed for a lack of funds, a new report says.

 

According to a report on the city's public investments for the 2016-2025 period released Wednesday, the new opera house does not belong to the group that will receive funding priority in the 2021-2025 plan.

 

VN Express reported that since the city has just recovered from the pandemic, it needs to focus investments on social welfare and economic development, according to the Management Board of Industrial and Civil Engineering Construction and Investment Projects.

 

The plan to build an opera house in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area in Thu Duc City was approved by the municipal legislature, the HCMC People’s Council in October 2018.

 

The project was estimated to cost VND1.5 trillion ($64 million) at the time, but the investor had later proposed raising it to almost VND2 trillion.

 

It was originally set to be completed within 2022, then pushed back to 2024.

 

The new opera house, which can seat 1,700, is to be built near the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge, which was completed in April.

 

The bridge links Thu Thiem New Urban Area with Binh Thanh District.

 

When the opera house project was made public, it attracted a lot of criticism for skewed priorities at a time the city was facing many problems that needed urgent attention, including urban flooding, traffic jams and overloaded public infrastructure.

 

However, the city administration had said back then that building an opera house of international standards was "essential and urgent."

 

It had argued that apart from the Saigon Opera House in District 1, the city did not have any other facility that could host international performances.

 

The new opera house would become a new icon of HCMC in the future.

 

Le Thi Huynh Mai, director of the municipal Planning – Investment Department, said that it was still working on procedures related to the project.

 

The opera house will be built when "the city is allowed to increase the medium-term public investment for the 2016-2025 period and allocated funds for the project."

 

She said HCMC has many public projects still waiting for funds.

 

Its investment demand for 2021-2025 was VND672 trillion but the central government approved just VND142 trillion.

 

The late Andrea Teo, creator, and director of Under One Roof and Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd.

 

CNA Lifestyle reported that Andrea Teo, the brains behind some of Singapore’s most beloved sitcom hits Under One Roof and Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, died on Thursday (Aug 25) after a battle with cancer. She was just 56.

 

“The laughter is quiet today as Singapore’s ‘Queen of Comedy’ has passed away after two years of illness,” said a statement from the Under One Roof family that was released to the media.

 

It hailed her as a “true innovator and trailblazer” in the entertainment scene.

 

Before she charmed audiences in the 90s with the memorable families of Tan Ah Teck and Phua Chu Kang, Teo directed the riotous sketch comedy show The Ra Ra Show starring comedian Kumar.

 

Said the statement: “Andrea established the English sitcom genre in Singapore as a mainstay of local entertainment with programmes like Happy Belly, Three Rooms, My Grandson the Doctor, Money and Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, where she trained and nurtured a whole generation of local TV directors, production coordinators and scriptwriters.”

 

Many tributes

 

Actress Koh Chieng Mun, who starred as Dolly in Under One Roof, said Teo “pushed the envelope continuously” because she “believed in presenting the Singaporean identity.” 

 

“Without Andrea leading Under One Roof, Singaporeans would not have had the show that reflected their souls nor gave them the licence to lighten up. And I would not have the chance to play Dolly nor enjoy a career as a comedic actor,” she said.

 

Fellow Under One Roof cast member Vernetta Lopez, who played Denise, said that Teo "basically carved out a new era of local comedy of the time".

 

"If you ever loved and still remember Under One Roof, please spare a prayer for Andrea Teo, who created the show, and has just lost her battle with cancer," she said in a Facebook post.

 

"She was detailed, dynamic, and understood what comedy was and brought out the best in her writers, actors, producers and crew."

Mediacorp issued a statement, saying: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of our former colleague, Andrea Teo. She will be dearly missed by all who have collaborated with her. Andrea was well known and regarded for her work on some of our best loved comedies, such as Under One Roof and Phua Chu Kang. This is a devastating loss, and we offer our deepest condolences to Andrea’s family and friends."

 

She was a media whiz

 

Woon Tai Ho, former CEO of MediaCorp News, paid tribute to Teo on Facebook, calling her a "media whiz".

 

"She was also an accomplished musician, a true renaissance woman, creative in many other ways," he wrote.

He recounted how he first came to know of her.

 

"In 1994, the CEO of TCS (Television Corporation of Singapore) Lee Cheok Yew invited a few of us to watch the pilot recording of the first local sitcom, Under One Roof.

 

I found myself laughing hard and realised while I was laughing with Tan Ah Teck and his family in Bishan, I was also laughing at ourselves.

 

The jokes did not sound forced and the English used did not make me cringe. I was happy someone finally found a way to make me comfortable with local comedy and local TV.

 

I remember Cheok Yew turning to me, 'This is good, he said. Well, it wasn’t just good, TV history was made."

"The creative mind behind the sitcom was Andrea Teo. I found out later she was also the person behind The Ra Show and later Phua Chu Kang. Singapore entertainment had found its identity," he said.

 

Actor Hossan Leong posted a message of gratitude.

 

"Thank you, Andrea," he said in a Facebook post. "You gave me my start in TV."

 

Culinary icon Violet Oon also took to Facebook to bid farewell to her friend.

 

"A beautiful light has dimmed but not died - Andrea lives on in the laughter and joy she brought in her TV programmes - The Ra Ra Show, Under One Roof and more - that so many in Singapore remember with fondness and love," she said.

 

"As for me, I remember her as the superb pianist whose musicianship made singing to her piano accompaniment a dream come true!

 

"She was the renaissance personified whose creativity touched TV, beer, theme parks, chocolate cake (?) and now - Sentosa - all with magic dust and gave them a whole new different life no other person could possibly imagine!" 

 

Award Winner

 

Teo’s work won a slew of awards, including multiple Asian TV Awards, a bronze medal for Sitcom at the New York Festival and an international Emmy for her second sitcom, Happy Belly. 

 

She spent nearly 12 years at Mediacorp and made her mark at Asia Pacific Breweries, and later Resorts World Sentosa where she spearheaded the start-up of the Entertainment team.

 

From 2017, she was VP of Attractions and Entertainment of Jeju Shinhwa World in South Korea.

 

Since 2021, she worked as a consultant to the team redeveloping Sentosa, curating and designing guest experiences.

 

“Dynamic, fearless, inspiring, Andrea could perhaps seem intimidating to those who didn’t know her, but her warmth, kindness and generosity knew no bounds. Throughout her life, she was a mentor, advocate, mother hen and guide to many creative souls,” said the Under One Roof family.

 

“If Andrea’s TV programmes have ever made you laugh or brought some warmth to you and your family, please take a moment today to think of her with a smile.”

 

The South Cotabato Provincial Capitol. (Photo courtesy of South Cotabato PIO)

 

KORONADAL CITY – The Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO) of South Cotabato will conduct an auction sale for some 2,000 properties with arrears in real property tax (RPT).

In a statement Thursday, PTO local tax operation officer Zenaida Erum said they have already published in local newspapers the real properties with unpaid taxes that are about to be auctioned on Nov. 22 this year.

Most of the properties are agricultural and residential lands.

 

She said they also have commercial lots, commercial buildings and residential buildings.

She noted that the owners of the delinquent properties have a total tax due of PHP94,531,651.

“The biggest number included in our publication are the 508 properties with unpaid taxes in the municipality of Norala,” Erum said.

PTO has also discovered that the RPT of some agricultural lands that were published was not paid since the 1960s.

“Although some of these lands were inherited, the record from the Assessor’s Office shows they are still in the name of the original owners. The new owners are not aware of their undue taxes, some of them were surprised when they received the notice,” she explained.

Erum appealed to the delinquent real property owners, especially those who received the notice, to consult with the PTO or the nearest Municipal Treasurer’s Office.

“Delinquent taxpayers need to update their payment and must know what to do to prevent the auction sale of their properties,” she said.

As standard procedure, local government units are obligated to publish in a newspaper the list of the properties identified before the auction sale.

A final demand letter must be issued to the owner and will be followed by a warrant of levy if no payment or settlement is made.

A warrant of levy means that a delinquent real property has been attached to the name of the local government.

The property owners are given time to settle the tax delinquency upon receipt of the warrant. Failure to pay means the forfeited property will be published before the scheduled auction. (PNA)

 

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla (File photo)

 

MANILA – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla on Thursday confirmed plans to provide handcuffs to immigration officers assigned at the country's points of entry.

 

Remulla said the restraining devices are needed as Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel provide frontline services in securing the country. 

 

"They wield a sovereign function. They protect our territories," he told reporters in a Viber message.

 

He added the handcuffs will be issued to those assigned at airports, seaports, and points of entry.

 

Remulla named the BI as among the problem-laden offices under the Department of Justice (DOJ).

 

Last June, the bureau implemented the dismissal order of the Office of the Ombudsman against its personnel in connection with the "pastillas" scheme.

 

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of 45 officials and employees of the bureau after finding them liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

 

Under the "pastillas" scheme, immigration officers receive bribes wrapped in a small white paper in exchange for allowing the illegal entry of foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals.

 

They are able to enter the country without going through the usual immigration procedures. (PNA)

 

 

NOTHING TO HIDE. Former Education Secretary Leonor Briones attends a hybrid Accountability of Public Officers and Investigation (Blue Ribbon) Committee inquiry on Thursday (Aug. 25, 2022) on the alleged overpriced and outdated laptops of the Department of Education (DepEd (Photo courtesy of Senate PRIB)

 

MANILA – Former Education Secretary Leonor Briones dismissed claims on Thursday that she was in hiding amid allegations of overpriced and outdated laptops procured by the Department of Education (DepEd) under her term through the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

 

Briones made the statement in response to questions from members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino.

 

She pointed out that the DepEd asked the PS-DBM to procure the laptops for them because the latter specializes in "big-time" procurements.

 

"ADB and Philippine Institute of Development Studies [have] been tracking the record of PS-DBM and this is why we say that we endorsed the project to them," she said.

 

The former Education chief stressed that while the DepEd has six Bids and Awards Committees (BAC), the PHP2.4 billion worth of procurement needed a huge BAC.

 

"We calculated that we are already preparing for face-to-face, we may not have the time to really look into the details of the offers of the various suppliers," she said.

 

Briones insisted that what the DepEd, under her watch, did was legal and has been done by other government agencies for the past decades.

 

"Yes, we have a BAC. But we don't have a big enough BAC to specialize in a six-month plan to provide computers at a time of a lockdown, at a time when chips were not produced, at a time of Covid-19 and the supply was very limited," she told the senators.

 

Meanwhile, former Budget Undersecretary and former PS-DBM head Lloyd Christopher Lao said that the demand and prices of laptops increased during the lockdown and almost everyone was working at home.

 

"When we conducted a market survey on March 2020 then by June 2020, we really awarded in favor of DepEd, PHP32,000 pesos laptop at  Intel Core i5 already. That's the fact," Lao told senators.

 

In its 2021 report, the Commission on Audit sought an explanation from the DepEd for buying PHP2.4 billion worth of “pricey” and “outdated” laptops for teachers. (PNA)

 

 

Between 2014 and 2017, nations in this region were affected by 55 earthquakes, 217 storms and cyclones, and 236 cases of severe flooding, impacting 650 million people and causing the deaths of 33,000 people.

 

This week we reported that the Kon Plong District in the Central Vietnam Highlands province of Kon Tum experienced 12 earthquakes of 2.5-4.7 in magnitude from Tuesday afternoon to early Wednesday.

 

Kon Tum

 

The first, at 2:08 p.m. last Tuesday, had a magnitude of 4.7 on the Richter scale, making it the strongest earthquake to ever hit Kon Tum, causing tremors in neighboring provinces of Gia Lai, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, and Da Nang.

 

The next 11 quakes had a magnitude of 2.5-2.9. The latest was recorded at 1:21 a.m. on Wednesday.

Altogether, the 12 events caused the tiled roof of a household in Kon Plong's Dak Ring Commune to collapse.

 

Luckily, no human fatalities were reported.

 

The Ministry of Science and Technology has been ordered to work with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to determine the cause of the quake series, estimate the risk levels and propose response solutions.

 

134 Earthquakes recorded

 

According to Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the country experienced 134 earthquakes in the 20th century, including two that were between M8. 0 and M9.

 

In recorded history, two earthquakes with estimated magnitudes of M5.0–6.0 are known to have shaken Hanoi in 1278 and 1285, an M6.5 quake occurred in the lower section of the Ma River in 1635, and an M6.0 temblor struck on the Ca River in 1821.

 

In the past 100 years, there have been two major earthquakes of M6.0–7.0 near the province of Dien Bien in 1935 and 1983. Seismic hazard in Vietnam is mainly attributed to the Red River fault system.

 

Could North Vietnam Experience a Christchurch-Like Event?

 

According to Verisk, sometimes even earthquakes of moderate strength can cause considerable damage, which is what happened in Christchurch, New Zealand.

 

The M7.1 and M6.2 earthquakes that struck Christchurch in 2010 and 2011, respectively, were wake-up calls because the region was thought to have little seismic activity, until the city was hit by a swarm of earthquakes that occurred on previously unknown faults.

 

Because Christchurch had so many unreinforced masonry buildings (and/or buildings with insufficient detailing), and because so much of the city was built on loose sand and silt deposits—both of which are of great concern in Vietnam—there was an unprecedented amount of damage from liquefaction.

 

 

Much of the Hanoi metropolitan area is located in the Red River delta on alluvial soil composed of loosely layered clay, silt, or sand, which makes it highly susceptible to liquefaction.

 

Most buildings in Vietnam predate the introduction of seismic building codes, which makes them vulnerable to earthquakes.

 

Where are earthquakes common in Asia?

 

From Afghanistan to Bangladesh, much of South Asia is in one of the highest seismically active regions in the world.

 

More than 600 million people live along the fault-line across the Himalayan belt that runs through Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

 

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, which causes the country to have frequent seismic and volcanic activity. 

 

Many earthquakes of smaller magnitude occur very regularly due to the meeting of major tectonic plates in the region.  

 

The last reported earthquake was reported there on August 23rd 2022.

 

The largest was the 1918 Celebes Sea earthquake with Mw8.3.

 

Thailand has moderate earthquakes

 

Thailand is prone to natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, tropical storms, and forest fires, but  weak to moderate (below magnitude 6.0) earthquakes are not uncommon and earthquake risk should not be underestimated.

 

In the last two decades, three notable earthquakes have affected Thailand, resulting in extensive damage and/or loss of life.

 

In May 16, 2007, an M6.3 earthquake in neighboring country Laos caused damage to public buildings, including a school, a hospital, and historic structures.

 

An M6.9 temblor that struck near the border with Thailand and Laos on March 24, 2011, caused one death in northern Thailand and was felt in the northwest as well as in Bangkok.

 

And most recently the May 5, 2014, M6.1 Mae Lao earthquake in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand, was one of the most significant seismic events ever recorded in the country.

 

This temblor resulted in extensive damage to more than 15,000 buildings and infrastructures, as well as one death and 107 injuries.

 

According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation at Chiang Rai, the estimated total economic loss reached USD 300 million.

 

Over the past 40 years, Thailand has experienced mid-sized earthquakes (magnitudes 5.0-5.9) 8 times or once every 5 years.

 

Meanwhile, earthquake disasters are not common in Cambodia. There is no record of significant disasters caused by earthquakes.

 

Natural disasters

 

Typhoon in China

 

Humanity is faced with more natural disasters, which last longer and impact more people than ten years ago. Climate change, population growth and urbanization are contributing to an increase in both the number and severity of disasters, with the Asia Pacific region particularly badly hit.
 

According to the United Nations’ Global Humanitarian Overview 2019 report, in the period between 2014 and 2017, 870 million people from 160 countries, either lost their lives, their livelihoods or were displaced from their homes because of disasters caused by natural hazards.

Floods, severe storms, droughts and other climate-related extremes are responsible for over 90% of global disasters and affect the most people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign tourists are seen in Hoi An, central Vietnam, on July 24, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh 

 

The Vietnamese government is considering recommendations from the tourism, foreign affairs, and public security ministries for expanding the list of countries whose nationals can get visas online.

 

Vietnam currently offers 30-day single-entry e-visas for citizens from 80 countries and territories, including major economies such as Australia, India, the U.K. and the U.S.

 

According to a report by VN Express, the government also instructed the Ministry of Public Security to simplify e-visa procedures to help foster tourism.

 

Though Vietnam allows quarantine-free entry and resumed pre-pandemic e-visa and visa exemption policies on March 15, the number of foreign visitors has remained disappointing.

 

In the first seven months of the year there were only 733,000 foreign arrivals or 15 percent of this year's target.

 

Vietnam's target for this year of five million visitors is only equivalent to 30 percent of the pre-pandemic number.