ASEAN NOW News

Shares of industry disruptors, such as Shopify, Grab and Sea, have plunged since the start of the year amid a bearish stock market and increasing concerns about the profitability of technology firms. (Photos: Grab/iStock/Sea)

 

SINGAPORE: Amid an uncertain environment and concerns about their profitability, shares of once buzzy technology firms have been in freefall this year, with some plummeting as much as 70 per cent. 

 

Tech stocks that benefited from the COVID-19 pandemic have suffered especially, such as streaming service Netflix, which has seen its share price plunge around 60 per cent since January.

 

Canadian e-commerce firm Shopify, which received a fillip from the pandemic-induced online shopping boom over the past two years, has seen its shares fall around 70 per cent year to date. 

 

Singapore-headquartered tech groups have not been spared from the rout.

 

Shares of Grab, which made a much-anticipated debut on the Nasdaq stock exchange in December 2021, last traded at US$3.73 on Monday (Aug 15).

 

This marked a nearly 48 per cent decline since January and a loss of almost three-quarters in value since its listing.

 

Sea, which owns mobile gaming company Garena and online shopping platform Shopee, has also seen its shares on the New York Stock Exchange fall by about 61 per cent this year.

 

Several of these industry disruptors have since announced layoffs. Shopify said last month that it will axe about 1,000 workers, or 10 per cent of its global workforce, while Sea’s Shopee retrenched an undisclosed number of employees across several markets in June.

 

The layoffs come as tech firms are “consolidating” ahead of a possible recession and as liquidity dries up amid rising interest rates, CNA previously reported.

 

Moving forward, with the global economic outlook and company fundamentals still far from certain, experts said investors who are looking to jump into beaten-down tech stocks should remain cautious.

 

To read the full report go to https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/tech-stocks-selloff-grab-sea-shopify-investors-2876191

CASH IN TRASH | A resident fishes plastic bottles and packaging in a river in Tondo, Manila, so these can be sold later to junk shops. The pandemic-induced economic slowdown has forced many Filipinos out of jobs, resulting in more poor families, according to latest government data. (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

 

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday showed that the poverty rate had worsened to 18.8 percent from 16.7 percent in 2018.

 

This translates to 19.99 million Filipinos who are living below the poverty line, or those making less than P12,030 a month for a family of five.

 

As an example of poverty Rosalyn (not her real name) is a 34-year-old mother of three who works as a domestic helper in Parañaque City. She has been with her current employer since 2005 and has seen her monthly wage increase from P3,500 to P12,000 a month. Still, Rosalyn complains that her earnings are never enough.

 

Her common-law husband Jerry (not his real name) works as a night watchman in a public school in Pangasinan but is paid by the local government “only when there are surplus funds from the municipal budget.”

 

For months when most of Luzon was on lockdown, Jerry did not get paid as the school he worked in was closed, forcing Rosalyn to advance portions of her future wages to send to her partner who is caring for their three children—now age 10 to 14.

 

Rosalyn said that a few days ago, Jerry called to tell her to borrow P12,000 from her employer as their kids still did not have school uniforms, books, and other supplies.

 

An argument ensued, Rosalyn recalled, saying she was already tired of borrowing money and blamed Jerry for being unable to make ends meet with the cash she sends every month.

 

“But deep inside, I know he tells the truth. The price of everything has gone up. And because he has lost his job during the pandemic, Jerry stays at home to take care of the children. I know he feels ashamed. But my borrowings are now at P40,000. And I can never send enough back home,” Rosalyn said, her voice breaking.

 

Rosalyn and her family are among the 2.3 million Filipinos who joined the ranks of the poor because of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The Inquirer reported that preliminary results of the family income and expenditure survey for 2021 released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday showed that the poverty rate had worsened to 18.8 percent from 16.7 percent in 2018.

 

This translates to 19.99 million Filipinos who are living below the poverty line, or those making less than P12,030 a month for a family of five.

 

In 2018, the last time the survey was made, there were 17.67 million Filipinos living below the poverty threshold of P10,481 a month. The poverty rate was worse in 2015 at 23.5 percent, or the equivalent of 23.68 million poor Filipinos.

 

Unemployment

 

The poverty threshold is the minimum income needed to meet the basic food and nonfood needs such as clothing, fuel, light and water, housing, transportation and communication, and health and education expenses.

 

“The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including income and employment losses, caused the poverty incidence to rise. Restrictions on mobility and low earning capacity of poor households due to limited access to regular and productive jobs made the lives of Filipinos difficult,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who heads the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

 

“We do know that we have a tough road ahead, but we are already prepared to face these challenges head-on. Our poverty reduction efforts will focus on three main areas: full reopening of the economy; more investments in human capital, social development, and social protection, and transformation of the production sectors to generate more and quality jobs and competitive products,” Balisacan said.

 

“Social protection programs and services must effectively reach and empower them,” Sen. Grace Poe added on Monday.

 

The senator said improving employment opportunities for Filipinos would be critical, particularly in the agriculture sector, as the pandemic forced many companies to close.

 

She said the passage of the Public Service Act, which allowed foreign ownership of companies in telecommunication, airlines, and railways, would help in generating jobs.

 

She also noted that the government should let drivers of public utility vehicles return to their routes “as they have waited for too long without income.”

 

“The commuters need them, especially the millions of students who will return to schools next week,” she stressed.

 

Despite recent employment gains due to the reopening of more economic sectors, the Philippines’ latest jobless rate in June of 6 percent, equivalent to 2.99 million Filipinos, was still the second worst in emerging Asia.

 

“The unemployment rate in the Philippines remains one of the highest among major Asian economies, though much lower than that of India,” Neda noted in a report issued on Monday. India’s jobless rate in June was 7.8 percent.

 

The unemployment rate in Vietnam was 2.5 percent in June; Malaysia, 3.9 percent in May; China, 5.6 percent in March; and Indonesia, 5.8 percent in February, Neda’s report showed.

 

Economic reopening

 

Among families, poverty incidence inched up to 13.2 percent of households in 2021 from 12.1 percent in 2018, although still below the 18 percent in 2015. This meant the number of poor Filipino households increased to 3.5 million last year from 2018’s three million. 

 

While the PSA has yet to release sectoral poverty statistics, National Statistician Dennis Mapa told a press briefing that farmer and fisherfolk were historically among the poorest of the poor in the country.

 

Mapa said it did not help that entrepreneurial activities and cash receipts from abroad—among the top sources of Filipino families’ incomes—were the most badly hit by the hard times caused by the pandemic.

 

Thousands of small local businesses had been shuttered by the most stringent lockdowns at the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

 

The COVID-19 crisis also temporarily stopped the deployment of overseas Filipino workers, while hundreds of thousands of them lost their jobs and returned home due to a global recession.

 

Mapa nonetheless said domestic cash remittances—mostly dole-outs from the government—kept many households afloat last year.

 

He said the government would now monitor poverty statistics every two years, with the next survey slated in 2023, unlike before when it was conducted every three years.

 

For Neda, “the full reopening of the economy needs to be prioritized to steer the economy back to its high-growth path and reinvigorate job creation.”

 

 

 

MANILA – The Philippines has recorded a total of 1.1 million foreign travelers since it reopened in February this year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported late Friday.

 

The latest figure as of August 7 surpassed the full-year arrivals in 2021 when borders were still closed to tourists and only 163,879 foreigners entered the country.

 

To sustain this momentum, the DOT promised an enhanced "overall experience" for travelers by promoting "digitalization" and working with relevant offices to further improve tourism infrastructure.

 

Tourism's 12.7 percent contribution to the country's economy before the pandemic fell to 5.1 percent in 2020 and 5.2 percent last year.

 

At a tourism summit in Cebu on Thursday, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the DOT projects the sector would "recoup its losses and revert to pre-pandemic level in the next three years."

 

Frasco said the DOT is developing new regional tourism circuits that would highlight nature-based tourism; Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE); food and gastronomy; heritage and culture; farm and agri-tourism; health and wellness; and arts, among others.

 

“All these tourism dimensions will get an equal promotion, attention, and support as we expand ourselves from the traditional portfolio and explore multidimensional tourism,” she said.

 

Frasco also urged the tourism stakeholders to do their share and "build a stronger bridge of collaboration" to uplift the tourism industry.

 

“All of you play a vital role in our aspirations for recovery and progress. Your success, our success, means more jobs for our people, a better economy, more productive workforce, and sparking our recovery not only in our tourism industry here in Cebu but for the entirety of our country's economy," she told about 200 tourism stakeholders and local government representatives present during the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry-organized event.

 

"I invite everyone to join the efforts of the Department of Tourism and the national government in building a stronger bridge of collaboration to maximize all of our efforts and that we would be able to exceed our previous standing on the global stage," she added. (PNA)

 

FRAUD AUDIT REQUEST. Education Undersecretary and Chief-of-staff Epimaco Densing III answers queries from the media in a press briefing on Monday (Aug. 15, 2022). Densing said Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has ordered to request a fraud audit from the Commission on Audit on the procurement of the controversial laptops for teachers through the Procurement Services of the Department of Budget and Management. (PNA Photo: Alfred Frias)

 

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday requested a fraud audit from the Commission on Audit (COA), as ordered by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, to investigate the alleged overpriced and outdated laptops purchased for teachers.

 

In a press briefing, DepEd Undersecretary and Chief-of-staff Epimaco Densing III said they have already transmitted their letter to COA Chairperson Jose Calida.

 

“In the meantime, while we are not yet declaring that there is a fraudulent transaction that happened at that time, we’re also not saying that there is none…  That’s why the directive to us by VP Secretary Sara, let it be investigated, to see whether there’s an irregularity,” he said.

 

Densing said Duterte gave the go signal last Friday to request a fraud audit from COA on the procurement of the PHP2.4 billion laptops through the Procurement Services of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

 

“What we are looking at is not an official investigation yet, and this is the reason why we are asking COA to do a fraud audit, the reason why it was downgraded from 1.9 gigahertz to 1.8 gigahertz. At the same time the price also increased, and why is it [an] Intel Celeron,” he added.

 

He said all the documents “immediately given” by the PS-DBM upon the DepEd’s request have already been submitted to the COA.

 

Densing said the DepEd prefers to conduct future purchases under its own team to avoid similar controversies after the COA flagged the 2021 report on the procurement of the PHP2.4 billion laptops for online classes amid the Covid-19-pandemic.

 

“We in the DepEd executive committee, are already one that for future procurement, and we will do our procurement via our own procurement service here at the DepEd, and hopefully there will be no longer a budget given out of the blue, so we don’t have to go through PS-DBM,” he said.

 

Last Friday, the PS-DBM, headed by Executive Director Dennis Santiago, turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) documents related to the procurement of the DepEd’s laptops.

 

Santiago earlier directed his office to conduct a thorough examination of COA’s findings, emphasizing that the mandate of the PS-DBM is to ensure a transparent and competitive procurement process.

 

“The NBI is a highly competent investigation authority to take over the matter to ensure that the probe would be fair, impartial, and independent. We do not want any room for suspicion,” Santiago said.

 

Santiago added that the move to request the NBI to step in was made after the examination showed alleged discrepancies in the initial findings, which are like COA’s observations. (PNA)

 

According to Numbeo the world's largest cost of living database,  their Cost of Living Comparison Between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, means you would need around 2,414.17$ (56,484,939.87₫) in Ho Chi Minh City to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 2,900.00$ in Phnom Penh (assuming you rent in both cities).

 

However, as a tourist, a week in Cambodia can cost you about $346 (per person), while a week in Vietnam may cost you around $361.

 

These differences become even more noticeable if you plan to spend a longer time in the country.

 

10 days, two weeks, or even one month of travel to Cambodia or Vietnam can really add to your travel budget.

 

How much does it cost to live in Phnom Penh?

 

 

According to https://twocantravel.com/, renting in Phnom Penh, you can rent a luxury, serviced apartment with a pool, gym, 24-hour security guard, and cleaning service for anywhere from $500 to $3,000/month, or live in a comfortable Cambodian style apartment for under $300.

 

It depends on what you want your cost of living in Cambodia to be and whether you are seeking western creature-comforts or want to experience a more local way of life.

 

Either way, the city has what you are looking for at prices much less than what you would pay in most developed countries.

 

How much does it cost to live in Ho Chi Minh City?

 

 

Ho Chi Minh City average cost of Living is $750 – $1,300

One expat said his monthly cost of living came in at $724 for an average month, which includes a studio apartment in District 1. After rent, most of his expenses can be attributed to street food and coffee.

 

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Vietnam?

 

A couple can enjoy a comfortable, middle-class lifestyle for less than $1,300 per month.

 

Many Westerners who live in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City get by spending around $500 per month, but it's a no-frills lifestyle.

 

Is Phnom Penh cheaper than Bangkok?

 

Phnom Penh is 17% cheaper than Bangkok according to Numbeo.

 

Most foreigners coming to Cambodia live in one of the three major cities; Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Sihanoukville.

 

There are a few smaller cities that attract both tourists and long-term visitors. Kampot, Kep, Battambang and Koh Kong are also popular.

 

What is the biggest problem in Cambodia?

 

The major challenges are sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues, including STIs and HIV/AIDS (prevalence of 0.2 percent among youth aged 15-24), unwanted pregnancy, pregnancy-related illnesses, unsafe abortion, mental health problems, accidents, and violence.

 

What is the average rent in Vietnam?

 

Here are in detail the expenses to live in Vietnam:

 

Monthly rent: from $150 for a single room, to $500 for a small apartment up to $1,000 for a well located one and even $3,000 for a luxurious villa.

 

 

What is the cheapest city to live in in Vietnam?

 

Tra Vinh. Out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam, Tra Vinh is the least expensive place to live, with a rate of 87.6% compared to Hanoi.

 

At the end of the day, it depends on what you personally are looking for say if you are considering retiring in either city.

 

HCMC is a lot larger than Phnom Penh and has better international flight connections around the world.

 

Cambodia is perhaps a bit more laid back and has its own charm, whereas Vietnam is becoming an industrialized centre for the likes of Apple and Samsung.

 

If you are a golfer, then both cities have excellent golf courses and great shopping centres too.

 

If you are a culture vulture Cambodia is famous for its Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap while there are several UNESCO sites to see around Vietnam.

 

The choice is yours.

 

I am sure many of you who live there may disagree with these figures supplied by Numbeo, but at least it gives you a snapshot of the likely costs.

 

 

According to Numbeo the cost-of-living website, you would need around only about Baht87,588.50 (137,995.51₱) in Manila to maintain the same standard of life that you can have Baht110,000.00 in Bangkok (assuming you rent in both cities).

 

Numbeo was launched in 2009 and is the world's largest cost of living database. https://www.numbeo.com/

This calculation uses the Numbeo cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax).

 

How much does it cost to live in Manila per month?

 

 

Summary about cost of living in Manila, Philippines: Family of four estimated monthly costs are Baht64,581 (101,521₱) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are Baht18,501 (29,084₱) without rent.

 

How much does it cost to live in Bangkok per month?

 

 

Summary about cost of living in Bangkok, Thailand: Family of four estimated monthly costs are Baht 75,970.66 without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 21,099.82฿ without rent.

 

Of course, these figures are average figures supplied by Numbeo and could differ depending on your lifestyle.

 

Bangkok is 26.95% more expensive than Pattaya (without rent). Rent in Bangkok is, on average, 90.58% higher than in Pattaya.

 

How much does rent cost in Manila Philippines?

 

Monthly rents of units in row houses can range from PHP 15,000 to PHP 30,000 per month depending on the square footage. On the other hand, spacious units in mid- and high-rises have monthly rental rates of PHP 30,000 to PHP 40,000 per month.

 

Average Rent Per Month in Bangkok:

 

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

Baht19,209.21

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

Baht9,729.73

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

Baht73,014.67 

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

Baht32,344.83 

 

How far does $100 go in the Philippines?

 

In the Philippines, USD $100 Can Get You:

2-3 nights' stay in a three-star Cebu or Manila hotel. 1-3 one-way trips on a Philippines budget air carrier. 100-150 Filipino beers.

 

In Thailand, USD $100 Can Get You:

 

10-15 meals from any number of Bangkok Street food stalls

300 Thai beers

2-5 nights in a three-star Phuket beach resort

60-140 one-way trips on the Bangkok rail system (BTS/MRT).

2-3 one-way flights between Bangkok and Phuket.

 

In summary Consumer Prices in Manila are 23.94% lower than in Bangkok (without rent). Consumer Prices Including Rent in Manila are still 20.37% lower than in Bangkok.

 

However, restaurant Prices in Manila are 3.86% higher than in Bangkok.

 

So overall although it costs more to live in Bangkok at least you get a lot more beers.

 

 

 

 

 

Nguyen Truong Giang at a police station in Ha Nam Province for stashing a 3-year-old boy in a freezer. Photo by VnExpress/Xuan Hoa

 

A 25 year old man in northern Vietnam's Ha Nam Province has been detained after allegedly strangling and stashing a 3-year-old boy inside a freezer reported VN Express.

 

Nguyen Truong Giang, 25, was detained by Ha Nam police Sunday for behavior that may in the end constitute a murder charge.

 

Giang said that at 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, a 3-year-old neighboring boy had come to his milk tea store, rented from the boy's family.

 

The boy drank a glass of milk tea, followed Giang into the kitchen for biscuits, then sat on his bed and ate.

 

Giang said he was annoyed that "the boy asked him to play multiple times," so he threw a metal club at the boy, hitting his head.

 

The boy fell to the floor and wailed.

 

Giang tried to calm him down but failed, so he began to pin him to the ground.

 

When the boy screamed for his grandfather's help, Giang used a shoelace to strangle him, placed him in a carton box and put it inside a freezer.

 

He then locked the gate and rode his motorbike to Hanoi.

 

By that time, the boy's grandfather, 65-year-old Nguyen Van Thuoc, was already searching for his grandson.

 

Through security camera footage, he saw the boy enter Giang's store but never come out.

 

He tried to call Giang but failed, so he enlisted his neighbors to help him break into the store.

 

At around 5:50 p.m., the boy was found suffering respiratory failure, hypothermia, and multiple injuries.

 

He was taken to National Children's Hospital in Hanoi for treatment and his condition has since stabilized.

 

Authorities said Giang was decommissioned from the military in 2020 and came to Hanoi to make a living.

 

He then returned to his hometown Ha Nam to sell milk tea.

 

Tran Thi Huy, 28, sheds tears while hugging her son upon mentioning about her husband, 31-year-old Nguyen Van Uoc, who has been confirmed dead in U.K. mill fire, August 14, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Hai

 

Holding two children aged 6 and 8 in her arms, the mother broke down Sunday afternoon as she spoke about praying hard for a miracle to save her missing husband.

 

According to VN Express, Tran Thi Huy, 28, of Dien Chau District in the north central Nghe An Province, is the wife of 31-year-old Nguyen Van Uoc, who has been confirmed dead in a mill fire in Oldham, Manchester back in May.

 

On Saturday, Huy received a phone call from the U.K. The person on the other side was a representative of the Manchester police, informing her fingerprint analyses of a body found in the aftermath of the fire showed that it belonged to Uoc, one of four Vietnamese nationals reported missing last month.

 

They said a DNA analysis would be done next to confirm the fingerprint analysis.

 

A month ago, hair and nail samples of Uoc’s family members were sent to the U.K. police by a Vietnamese citizen living in the U.K. who came back home to collect them.

 

"We have been praying hard at the altar, hoping a miracle would happen for Uoc. But that hope is gone," Huy said.

 

At the end of 2016, just months after the couple had welcomed their second child, Uoc left his wife and family and went to Russia as a foreign worker.

 

In 2017, he told Huy that he had already reached the U.K.

 

Huy was surprised. She tried to ask her husband for more details, but he refused to tell her about his journey to the U.K. as he "didn't want his family to worry." Uoc was also the one who actively called home whenever he was free.

 

Huy said her husband's income over the past six years had not been stable.

 

There were times when he had money and times he didn't.

 

The last call she received from him was on May 6. He was talking about working in a large facility in Oldham.

 

"Through the video call, I could sense that my husband's health was in decline. He told me that his job was stressful, that he constantly had to stay indoors. I told him that if it gets too tough, it's okay to quit," Huy said.

 

After wishing his children goodnight, Uoc told Huy to take care of them and wait for his return. But then news of a fire at the Bismark House Mill came, and Huy felt that something had gone very wrong. She tried to contact her husband, but her calls never connected.

 

For the next two months, Huy constantly waited for her husband to contact her, but all she heard was static.

 

She sought help from the Vietnamese Embassy in the U.K., scanned her husband's personal identity card and mailed it, hoping they could track him down.

 

Meanwhile, 54-year-old Nguyen Van Cuong, Uoc's father, has been sitting on his own in a corner of the yard. His voice had gone hoarse after days of calling out his son's name in grief.

 

Uoc was the firstborn in a family of four siblings. Due to family circumstances, he was only able to finish 8th grade before quitting to help his family at the farm. Later he found work at a local industrial complex.

 

"I feel sorry for my son, who had to work so hard from such an early age. Now I have only wish that authorities help to bring his body home."

 

Nguyen Van Cuong, 54, had spent the last two months waiting for news from his son, 31-year-old Nguyen Van Uoc. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Hai

 

In the same district, Chu Thanh Cao's parents have already lit incense at the family altar for their son, 39-year-old Chu Van Cuong. Cuong is another one of the four Vietnamese who went missing in the U.K. last month and is suspected to have perished in the fire.

 

"We have sent DNA samples to U.K. authorities for verification," a relative said, adding that Cuong had been in the U.K. since 2019.

 

A Dien Chau District official said the administration was aware that one of their residents has died in a fire in the U.K.

 

"When we get the official announcements from authorities, the district will offer our condolences and support to his family."

 

Two other families in Nghe An’s Yen Thanh District also have missing members suspected to have been in the Oldham mill at the time of the fire.

 

The fire at the Bismark House mill in Oldham broke out early in the morning on May 7 and took four days to extinguish. The police believed then that there was no one inside.

 

It was only on July 21, after local police received a call saying four Vietnamese nationals were missing and might have been caught in the fire, that a search was launched.

 

The four missing persons were identified as: Chu Van Cuong, 39; Nguyen Van Uoc, 31; Nguyen Van Duong, 29; and Le Thanh Nam, 21.

 

Demolition workers have so far found three bodies at the mill. The first one was found on July 23, and the others on July 27 and August 4, U.K. media reported.

 

Details of the Vietnamese's work in the U.K. and their legal status are not clear.

 

Staff at Silk Path Hotel in Hanoi. Photo by Silk Path Hotels & Resorts

 

High-end hotels in the country have not been able to deal adequately with the loss of well-trained staff during the Covid-19 pandemic and remain mired in a human resource crisis reported VN Express.

 

According to the Vietnam Hotels Association, there are over 550 luxury hotels that accounts for about 18% of the total number of rooms in the country. Hence the shortage of trained staff in this segment is concerning, industry insiders say.

 

Dao Manh Hung, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Education Association, said that in the first seven months of the year, the number of domestic tourists reached 71.8 million arrivals, exceeding the target of 60 million. But this has not proved very advantageous for luxury hotels.

 

"The rise of domestic tourism post Covid-19 has had a significant impact on middle-level hotels and the hiring of staff in this segment has increased rapidly. But, due to the slow return of international visitors, luxury hotels haven't been able to do the same. Well-trained staff in these hotels might have changed their careers and may not return after Covid-19," Hung said at a conference held Tuesday.

 

The dire need for staff has seen high-end hotels lower their qualification requirements.

 

Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Sales Director of Silk Path Hotels & Resorts, said that major hotels are so short of people that they are accepting even inexperienced staff. In fact, hiring of staff has become a competition between luxury hotels, she said.

 

"About 7-8 years ago, [luxury] hotels only had full-time staff. If someone could find work part-time, they would consider themselves lucky. But after Covid-19, part-time became a trend. In the past, it was considered lucky to get a chance to gain some valuable experience. Now they not only get to work and learn but also get paid for it. During this staff crisis, we don't really require experienced candidates.

And it has become common for big hotels to steal staff from competitors," Thuy said.

 

Thuy also said there were cases where candidates made "unbelievable" demands, like a monthly salary of VND18 million for the concierge position, VND15-20 million for the position of duty manager.

 

Then there were some applying F&B service positions but not wanting to work in shifts.

 

Not well paid

 

Nguyen Quang, Chairman of Vietnam Executive Housekeeper Association, cited a survey by Hoteljob in June that found 48% of hotel workers were dissatisfied with their income.

 

Quang said that in most domestic and international hotels, the average salary is only about VND5-6 million ($213-256), plus about VND2-3 million in tips and bonuses, which takes the total income to nearly VND8 million ($342).

 

Compared to industries that do not require foreign language skills and knowledge, like leather, footwear and apparel, the average salary is also around VND6-7 million.

 

"In the banking industry, the average salary is also VND7-8 million and if you do well, you can go up to VND10-15 million in a few years. Meanwhile, in the hotel industry, if you don't get promoted, the salary won't change much," he said.

 

High-quality human resource comprises people with the ability to do an assigned job in the best way, Quang said, adding that Covid-19 created an opportunity for such staff to change their jobs, and when they find a better place, they wouldn't want to return.

 

Additionally, even if the high-end hotels recruit students, it will be difficult to keep them because of low remuneration, especially for those who are studying or have graduated from top universities, he noted.

 

Hung said that human resources in Vietnam's hotel industry lacked adequate foreign language and communication skills.

 

These skills need to be sharpened as the tourism industry faces challenges posed by the technology era, requiring staff to have certain qualifications and professionalism.

 

Reduced interest

 

From a training perspective, Nguyen Quyet Thang, Head of the Faculty of Tourism, Restaurant and Hospitality Management at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, said that the university tries hard to connect with enterprises and create a favorable environment for students to train, but the number of students in the tourism field was reducing as they were taking the cue from those who quit the industry during Covid-19 times.

 

"This is troubling because the tourism industry really needs trained employees in the coming years," Thang said.

 

Hung said that to develop human resources of international quality, it was necessary to have an international organization granting and recognizing degrees awarded by local universities.

 

He suggested adoption of the hotel school model, where in a training facility is set up within the hotel, giving students, who are prospective employees, the opportunity to gain direct, practical experience.

Thang said Vietnam can learn from Thailand.

 

"In the 1980s, Thailand had a project to improve their domestic tourism staff, promoting Thais from staff positions to middle and senior managers. After 20 years, they were able to export quality staff in the hotel and restaurant industry to the world."

 

Vietnam had more than 2.5 million employees working in the tourism sector in 2019. In 2020, many enterprises were forced to cut their staff strength by 70 to 80%.

 

In 2021, the number of full-time employees accounted for just 25% of the total. At present, the industry’s human resource strength meets just 50-60% of the demand.

 

The Vietnam Tourism Association has said that the industry will create about 8.5 million jobs by 2030. Given the current human resource problems, this should be seen as an opportunity for Vietnam to create a new generation of tourism workers, Thang said

 

Multiple injuries are seen on a boy's head and face, who was found trapped inside a freezer in Ha Nam. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Du

 

A 3-year-old boy was trapped inside a freezer for over an hour after he went to a neighbor's house in Ha Nam Province, police said.

 

VN Express reported that Police in the northern province of Ha Nam said Sunday that a suspect has been summoned in the case, but provided no further information as they were still "verifying the incident."

 

At around 11:15 p.m. Saturday, the National Children's Hospital in Hanoi received a young patient transferred from a Ha Nam hospital with respiratory failure, hypothermia and injuries in the head, face and neck.

 

Doctors said the boy had suffered from physical injuries, hemorrhage and inflammation on the head, face, neck and tongue, making it difficult for him to eat.

 

The boy's health has stabilized since.

 

"The patient's family said he was found trapped inside a carton box kept in a freezer. At the time he was found, the boy was delirious," a doctor said.

 

Ngo Minh Toan, chairman of the Nhan Chinh Commune People's Committee, said the incident happened Saturday afternoon in Thuong Vi Village.

 

The suspect is someone who’d came to the area and rented a house in Nhan Chinh Commune to sell iced tea, he said.

 

"At around 3 p.m. Saturday, the boy came to the suspect's house to play. By 5 p.m., the boy's grandfather did not see him returning home, so he checked the security cameras and saw that the boy never left the suspect's house. His family went to the suspect's house and found the boy in the freezer," Toan said.

 

Patong beach on Phuket, southern Thailand on Jun 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

 

PHUKET: A 21-year-old Singaporean woman was killed when the car she was driving hit a tour bus on a hilly road in Muang district in Phuket, Thailand on Friday (Aug 12) night.

 

Another seven others - including her four Singaporean passengers - were injured when she lost control of the car while going downhill, causing it to hit the tour bus, The Bangkok Post reported on Saturday. 

 

The bus driver and two guides on board the bus also sustained injuries. 

 

The accident was reported at around 10.50pm, said an investigation officer at Karon police station.

 

According to The Bangkok Post, police, disaster prevention and mitigation officials and rescue workers found a badly damaged Toyota Yaris and a small white bus with a broken windscreen when they arrived at the scene.

 

Preliminary investigations revealed that the car was travelling from Tambon Chalong to Tambon Karon. 

 

"While the car was coming downhill, the driver lost control of her vehicle, causing it to hit the bus," reported The Bangkok Post.

 

The Singaporean woman driver was unconscious at the scene and succumbed to her injuries on the way to the hospital,  added the newspaper.

 

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) told CNA on Saturday that it has been in contact with the affected Singaporeans and assisting their families.

 

"A team from the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok is currently present in Phuket to provide consular support on the ground," said MFA.

 

"We offer our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and wish the injured a smooth and speedy recovery."

 

Police investigations are ongoing.

 

Editor's note: This article was based on a news report published online by the Bangkok Post on Saturday. The Post subsequently removed the names of those involved from its article. As the Post was the source of this article,  CNA has followed suit.

 

TRANSPORT PROJECTS. Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian restart “negotiations for major transport projects” in a formal meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Makati City on Aug. 11, 2022. They also tackled three China-funded railway projects -- the PNR South Long Haul Project (North-South Commuter Railway), Subic-Clark Railway and Mindanao Railway (Tagum-Davao-Digos) that were terminated after China reportedly failed to act on the funding requests by the previous administration. (DOTr photo)

 

MANILA – The Philippines has resumed talks with China to renegotiate China-funded transport projects in the country, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Sunday.

 

In a press statement, the DOTr said Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian met in a formal meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Makati City on Thursday to “restart negotiations for major transport projects”.

 

“The two officials discussed the resumption of talks for the major China-funded railway projects such as the PNR South Long Haul Project (North-South Commuter Railway), Subic-Clark Railway and Mindanao Railway (Tagum-Davao-Digos),” the DOTr said.

 

To recall, these transport projects were earlier deemed “withdrawn” due to China’s inaction on funding requests by the previous administration.

 

The DOTr said the Chinese government’s funding support for these projects will “strengthen bilateral relations and enhance the partnership between the Philippines and China.”

 

In a separate statement, Huang described his meeting with Bautista as “constructive” and expressed hope that the two countries would accomplish more infrastructure projects in the railway sector.

 

“[I] hope that China-Philippines cooperation in infrastructure and railway would achieve more tangible fruits and bring about more benefits to the Filipino at an early date,” he said.

 

He also said China is committed to helping Southeast Asian countries in railway development.

 

“China is also devoted to promoting the connectivity of the Southeast Asian countries by sharing its experience and introducing the cut-edging technology of railway construction and rolling stock manufacturing,” he added.

 

China earlier said it has helped the Philippines complete 17 projects while more than 20 projects are under implementation or in progress.

 

Meanwhile, Bautista and Huang also discussed several China-Philippines Maritime Cooperation Projects, particularly the hotline communication and legal affairs cooperation arrangements between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the China Coast Guard.

 

Also discussed was a possible collaboration on Maritime Traffic Safety, Ferry Safety; a Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Search and Rescue; as well as the capacity building for maritime governance, safety supervision, and vessels safety inspection. (PNA)

 

WARNING SIGN. A steam-rich plume degassed from the Taal Volcano main crater is captured by the security camera of the Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Center from Barrio Barigon in Agoncillo, Batangas on Friday (Aug. 12, 2022). The Lipa Archdiocese is asking for donations of N-95 masks for residents living near the volcano. (Photo courtesy of LASAC/CBCP)

 

MANILA – The Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Center (LASAC) in Batangas province is asking for donations of N-95 masks as Taal Volcano has been emitting sulphur dioxide the past days.

 

In a statement at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website on Friday, LASAC said the face masks will be provided to residents living near the volcano.

 

“There is still a need for N95 (masks), especially the areas near the Taal Volcano,” the group said.

 

Donors of face masks may bring their donations to LASAC’s headquarters at St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary compound in Lipa City.

 

Experts say an N95 mask offers a high level of protection as it filters out both large and small particles when the wearer inhales.

 

As of the 5 a.m. Saturday bulletin of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Taal Volcano is under Alert Level 1.

 

Entry to Taal Volcano Island (Permanent Danger Zone), especially the Main Crater and Daang Kastila fissures, is not allowed.

 

Likewise prohibited are occupancy and boating on Taal Lake, and flying any aircraft close to the volcano.

 

Possible hazards that can occur include steam-driven or phreatic or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas, according to Phivolcs. (PNA)
 

 

(PNA file photo)

 

MANILA – The number of young Filipinos appears to be significantly lower in recent years, while that of the elderly has been expanding, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) has noted.

 

The agency said the Philippine “population pyramid” is currently constricting at the bottom, which consists of Filipino children ages zero to 4; while it is increasing at the top, reflecting the part of the senior citizens as they continue to register growth and doubling in numbers in the last 20 years.

 

Citing a recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report, POPCOM derived that the percentage share of Filipino children under 5 is now down to 10.2 percent in 2020 from 10.8 percent in 2015, and 12.6 percent in 2000.

 

In the last two decades, the percentage in the population of Filipinos under 15 has dropped from a 37-percent share in 2000 to 30.7 percent in 2020.

 

Meanwhile, the median age of Filipinos also went up to 25.3 years old, from 23.3 years old in 2010, continuing a 30-year trend of increasing median age of Filipinos, according to PSA.

 

In 2020, Filipinos 60 years of age and older comprised 8.5 percent of the population, or 9.2 million. That year saw the doubling of the country’s aging citizens’ numbers from 2000, when they represented just 5.9 percent of the national population at 4.5 million.

 

In 2015, 24.4 percent or 5,606,500 of the 22,975,630 households nationwide had at least one member who was a senior citizen.

 

“The dynamics of the Philippine population continue to see lower levels of fertility, as evidenced by the decline in numbers of children under 5 years old,” POPCOM Executive Director Juan A. Perez III said in a statement on Sunday.

 

“The high fertility levels of the last two decades were projected to create a bulge of young people entering the workforce up to 2035. This could prove to be a boon for the country if they become effective workers, or a lost generation if they are not employed or are underemployed, which will create a socioeconomic burden for a smaller, employed population,” he added.

 

The POPCOM chief said the most current statistics point at the effectiveness of the Philippines’ family planning program, as evidenced by the lower number of children born since 2015. As it was derived in the first year of the pandemic, that figure, he believes, may be further down in 2021.

 

The latest PSA data also showed a steady growth in the Philippines’ working-age population, as the 15 to 64 age group now makes up 63.9 percent of Filipinos -- slightly higher from 63.3 percent in 2015, and 59.1 percent in 2000.

 

Women of reproductive age, or those 15 to 49 years old, are also at a record high in 2020 figures, which stood at 27.8 million -- a jump from 26 million in 2015.

 

Perez, as the undersecretary of population and development or POPDEV, welcomed this as an opportunity for more Filipino women to further augment the country’s potential number of working citizens. (PR)

 

According to Numbeo the cost-of-living website, you would need around only about Baht87,588.50 (137,995.51₱) in Manila to maintain the same standard of life that you can have Baht110,000.00 in Bangkok (assuming you rent in both cities).

 

Numbeo was launched in 2009 and is the world's largest cost of living database. 

 

This calculation uses the Numbeo cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax).

 

How much does it cost to live in Manila per month?

 

File photo of Manila

 

Summary about cost of living in Manila, Philippines: Family of four estimated monthly costs are Baht64,581 (101,521₱) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are Baht18,501 (29,084₱) without rent.

 

How much does it cost to live in Bangkok per month?

 

File photo of Bangkok

 

Summary about cost of living in Bangkok, Thailand: Family of four estimated monthly costs are Baht 75,970.66 without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 21,099.82฿ without rent.

 

Of course, these figures are average figures supplied by Numbeo and could differ depending on your lifestyle.

 

Bangkok is 26.95% more expensive than Pattaya (without rent). Rent in Bangkok is, on average, 90.58% higher than in Pattaya.

 

How much does renting cost in Manila Philippines?

 

Monthly rents of units in row houses can range from PHP 15,000 to PHP 30,000 per month depending on the square footage. Spacious units in mid- and high-rises, on the other hand, have monthly rental rates of PHP 30,000 to PHP 40,000 per month.

 

Average Rent Per Month in Bangkok.

 

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

Baht19,209.21

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

Baht9,729.73

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

Baht73,014.67 

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

Baht32,344.83 

 

How far does $100 go in the Philippines?

 

In the Philippines, USD $100 Can Get You:

2-3 nights' stay in a three-star Cebu or Manila hotel. 1-3 one-way trips on a Philippines budget air carrier. 100-150 Filipino beers.

 

In Thailand, USD $100 Can Get You:

10-15 meals from any number of Bangkok Street food stalls

300 Thai beers

2-5 nights in a three-star Phuket beach resort

60-140 one-way trips on the Bangkok rail system (BTS/MRT).

2-3 one-way flights between Bangkok and Phuket.

 

In summary consumer prices in Manila are 23.94% lower than in Bangkok (without rent).

 

Consumer Prices Including Rent in Manila are still 20.37% lower than in Bangkok.

 

However, restaurant prices in Manila are 3.86% higher than in Bangkok.

 

So overall although it costs more to live in Bangkok, at least you get a lot more beers.

If you are worried about whether you will get to play in any of the Majors in 2023 while the big tours are going into huge legal battles, help is at hand.

 

Throughout the year, golfers from around the world can still play Asia’s finest public and private golf courses in a multi-day tournament format, unlike anything else ever produced for amateur golfers.

 

Run by Golfasian https://www.golfasian.com/events/ they have just organized the world’s biggest major the Centara World Masters Golf Championship in Hua Hin.

 

2022 Players in Hau Hin

 

The next one will be on 11 – 17 June 2023.

 

Don’t expect mega payouts from the Saudis here, and the PGA will not hassle you, but you will have a lot of fun and meet golfers from all over the world.

 

Who knows Patrick Reed may turn up!!!!

 

If you are worried about whether you will get to play in any of the Majors in 2023 while the big tours are going into huge legal battles, help is at hand.

 

Throughout the year, golfers from around the world can still play Asia’s finest public and private golf courses in a multi-day tournament format, unlike anything else ever produced for amateur golfers.

 

Run by Golfasian  they have just organized the world’s biggest major the Centara World Masters Golf Championship in Hua Hin.

 

players at 2022 Centara World Masters

 

The next one will be on 11 – 17 June 2023.  They also run events and tours across Vietnam too.

 

Don’t expect mega payouts from the Saudis here, but you will have a lot of fun and meet golfers from all over the world.

 

Who knows Patrick Reed may turn up!!!!

 

If you are worried about whether you will get to play in any Majors, while the big tours are going into huge legal battles, help is at hand.

 

Throughout the year, golfers from around the world can play Asia’s finest public and private golf courses in a multi-day tournament format, unlike anything else ever produced for amateur golfers.

 

Run by Golfasian they have just organized the world’s biggest major the Centara World Masters Golf Championship in Hua Hin.

 

2022 PLAYERS

 

The next one will be held on 11 – 17 June 2023.

 

Don’t expect mega payouts from the Saudis, but you will have a lot of fun and meet golfers from all over the world.

This week we reported that civil servants were leaving their jobs in droves, unable to make ends meet on their meager salaries, knowing their abilities can guarantee jobs with higher incomes elsewhere.

 

Handling anything from legislation to road transportation or inland revenue to childcare, all these vital services could be at risk and the Government should be realistic when creating a wage structure for their workers.

 

State workers at the People's Committee office of Thu Duc in Ho Chi Minh City, August 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

 

The report quoted how Tran Cong Hoang, 32, despite his relatively senior position as a manager, had quit his job at a state agency in Ho Chi Minh City last year after six years.

 

After finishing college in 2012, Hoang was sent to Australia for a postgraduate course on a government scholarship with the condition that he must return to Vietnam and work for state agencies for at least five years after finishing it.

 

Hoang returned to Vietnam in 2016 and began working for a state department in the city for a salary of VND3 million ($130) per month.

 

Five years later his salary was increased to around VND5.5 million per month plus an allowance for managers.

 

The salary could not even cover the monthly expenses incurred for his newborn, Hoang said.

Hoang is among 2,188 employees who quit working at state agencies in HCMC last year, according to the municipal Home Affairs Department.

 

The figure was even higher in 2020 at 2,400. From 2017 until last year, the city had lost more than 2,000 state employees a year on average.

 

In most cases, they cited low income, an unattractive working environment, and the lack of opportunity for career development as the main reasons for quitting.

 

Despite their low salaries, state workers in HCMC wards and communes are given a lot of work, given the city’s high population.

 

On average, a civil servant in the city serves 346 residents compared to the national figure of 152. The average population of a district in HCMC is 239,000 higher than the national average.

 

Though the city has tried diverse ways to raise incomes for this group, their salaries have stayed around VND5-6 million per month, which makes it extremely hard to ask them to stay on and keep working, she said.

 

Huynh Thanh Nhan, director of HCMC’s Home Affairs, said state agencies have been facing "huge" challenges in attracting and retaining experienced and high-quality staff due to competition from the private sector.

 

Besides, working in state agencies requires employees to follow different rules and they have the pressure of being disciplined and warned, he added.

 

Hoang, who'd completed his master’s degree in Australia, found a job with a private corporation after quitting his city government job.

 

His basic salary is three times higher and there are months his income rises to more than VND30 million based on his performance.

 

"Leaving (a government job) was such a sound decision," he said.

 

These examples show that the government must act quickly otherwise Vietnam’s civil service will not be able to retain its staff.

 

The problems with nurses are similar.

 

Get a job in the private sector and double or even triple your monthly income.

 

So, what incentive will the government offer and how quickly???

 

Pi Jiapeng and Siriwipa Pansuk after their arrest and handover to police in Singapore on Aug 11, 2022. (Photos: CNA/ Calvin Oh)

 

SINGAPORE: A fugitive couple allegedly involved in a luxury goods scam in which dozens of people lost millions of dollars have been arrested in Malaysia and handed over to the Singapore Police Force (SPF) after more than five weeks on the run reports CNA.

 

SPF said on Thursday (Aug 11) that it has been working closely with various foreign law enforcement agencies to secure the couple’s return to Singapore. 

 

A warrant of arrest was issued on Jul 16 against Singaporean Pi Jiapeng and his wife, Thai national Siriwipa Pansuk, who were associated with two companies Tradenation and Tradeluxury.

 

SPF said it received information from the Royal Thai Police on Wednesday that the pair may be staying in a hotel in Johor Bahru.

 

"The SPF immediately sought the assistance of the Royal Malaysia Police to locate the couple. The warrant of arrest was executed by the Royal Malaysia Police in Johor Bahru on (Thursday)," it added. 

 

When CNA arrived at the Woodlands Checkpoint just before 6pm on Thursday, two police cars were seen at the arrival bus concourse.

 

The Royal Malaysia Police handed the couple over to SPF at about 6pm. Pi, 26, and 27-year-old Pansuk were escorted to police cars at about 6.20pm.

 

Both did not speak to the media as they walked past reporters.

 

Pi Jiapeng after his arrest and handover to police in Singapore on Aug 11, 2022. (Photo: CNA/ Calvin Oh)

 

Investigations are ongoing, said the police.

 

The couple faces charges of criminal conspiracy to commit cheating and illegal departure from Singapore. 

 

They will be charged in court on Friday. 

 

"The Singapore authorities will do whatever is necessary and permissible under Singapore law to pursue and bring to justice those who commit crimes in Singapore, regardless of where they might have fled to," said the police.

 

"We will also not hesitate to take firm action against fraudsters."

 

Originally arrested in June

 

Pi was first arrested in June for his suspected involvement in cheating offences.

 

His Singapore passport was impounded, and he was then released on bail.

 

Pansuk also surrendered her passport to police officers and was assisting with investigations. 

 

The couple subsequently became uncontactable and fled Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint on Jul 4.

 

They hid in the container compartment of a Malaysia-registered lorry. 

 

Both of them were listed on Interpol’s red notice website on Jul 21.

 

At least 180 reports have been made to the police about the scam involving two companies – Tradenation and Tradeluxury.

 

While some media reports said the total value of the undelivered luxury watches and bags was S$32 million, CNA understands that victims who made police reports have not received goods worth at least S$20 million as of Jul 17.

 

Two men who are accused of helping the couple flee Singapore have said that they intend to plead guilty. 

 

Malaysians Mohamad Fazli Abdul Rahman, 38, and Mohamed Alias, 40, appeared before a district court earlier this month.

 

Mohamad Fazli has been charged with conspiring with Mohamed Alias to arrange for Pansuk and Pi to hide in the container compartment of a Malaysia-registered lorry.

 

Mohamed Alias also faces two charges of helping the couple flee Singapore by driving the lorry through Tuas Checkpoint on Jul 4. They will return to court later this month.

 

An employee operates a gas pump at a station in Ho Chi Minh City, February 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

 

Vietnam gasoline prices on Thursday dropped 3.6-3.8% to the lowest since Feb. 11 as global rates kept falling.

 

According to VN Express a liter of popular RON 95 gasoline now costs VND24,660 ($1.05), down VND940, while that of biofuel E5 RON 95 costs VND23,720, down VND900.

 

Thursday’s was the fifth consecutive downward adjustment made to gasoline prices. Compared to this year’s peak on June 21, prices have fallen by 24.22-24.98%.

 

Prices of diesel and kerosine also dropped 4.4-5.2%.

 

On the global market, gasoline prices have decreased marginally in the last 10 days, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance.

 

On the global market WTI crude futures slipped toward $91 per barrel Thursday as concerns over supply disruptions eased and markets looked for evidence of improving fuel demand, Reuters reported.

 

A family spends the Reunification holiday at the Saigon Zoo, April 30, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Thuc

 

For the first time in months, Vietnam is among the top four countries with the highest number of recorded Covid-19 cases in a week, the WHO said Wednesday.

 

VN Express reported that Vietnam has been recording over 571,000 new Covid-19 cases a week on average, which is only behind South Korea (713,000 cases), the U.S. (760,000 cases) and Japan (1.4 million cases), according to a World Health Organization report.

 

But the report did not mention Vietnam among countries with top Covid deaths.

 

The WHO said the high numbers of recorded cases in Vietnam were partly because of extra data provided by certain localities, which were recorded since February.

 

Over the past week, the northern port city of Hai Phong added another 402,830 cases to its tally and the northern province of Thai Nguyen added another 152,485 cases, the Ministry of Health said.

 

Vietnam records around 2,000 new Covid-19 cases a day on average over the past week, the ministry added.

 

There has been a spike in the number of new Covid-19 cases as reported on Thursday, with 6,775 new cases, which is three times that of the average number of new cases recorded in the previous week, the ministry said.

 

However, a data revealed that the spike was the result of Nghe An Province adding another 4,408 new cases to the national database.

 

Vietnam has recorded over 11.3 million Covid-19 cases so far, with over 43,000 deaths.

 

The country has lifted all Covid restrictions and life has resumed almost to pre-pandemic normal.

 

TOUR GUIDES TRAINING. The Department of Tourism-Central Luzon (DOT-3) trains tour guides for the World War II tour in this undated photo. The DOT-3 will soon launch a World War II historical tour project to boost tourism in Central Luzon. (Photo courtesy of DOT Region 3) 

 

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Tourism-Central Luzon (DOT-3) will soon launch a new tourism circuit to boost the tourism industry in the region.

 

DOT-3 Regional Director Carolina Uy said on Thursday they are developing a World War II historical tour that will cover the significant sites in the region.

 

The historical sites, Uy said, include Mt. Samat, Corregidor Island, Capas National Shrine, and other landmarks in Clark, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija.

 

She said the DOT-3 has trained guides for the World War II tour that will be instrumental in reliving history for tourists.

 

“They will serve as storytellers that will bring us back to the World War II era. This is one of the projects that we are excited to launch, hopefully, late this year,” she said in a radio interview.

 

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Uy said the DOT-3 is continuously developing programs that will help revive the tourism industry in Central Luzon.

 

She said the DOT-3 had validated some new and emerging tourist destinations in the region.

 

The DOT official said one of the trends that emerged during the pandemic is the patronage of tourists for wide and open spaces like farms, eco-tourism sites, and glamping sites, which Central Luzon now offers in support of moves toward economic recovery.

 

“We are on the road toward recovery, and we have figures to show that,” she said.

 

She said there is a 64 percent increase in tourist arrivals or 1,261,030 in the region during the third semester of this year as against the same period last year. (PNA) 

 

 

 

MANILA – The ten close contacts of the first monkeypox case in the country are still undergoing the required quarantine period.

 

“And [they] have remained asymptomatic,” the Department of Health told reporters on Thursday in a Viber message.

 

On July 29, the DOH reported the first monkeypox case – a 31-year-old Filipino who arrived from overseas on July 19.

 

“To date, there has been no new case of monkeypox in the country,” the DOH said.

 

The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern.

 

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared public health emergency over America because it is one of the countries with the greatest number of monkeypox cases.

 

Unlike coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), monkeypox is spread through close or intimate contact with someone infected.

 

In a televised public briefing Thursday, former National Task Force Against Covid-19 adviser, Dr. Ted Herbosa, said the government had asked the American government if it can supply the country vaccines against monkeypox.

 

“There are two brands, smallpox vaccine. This is not specific to monkeypox, but it is seen effective when you’re exposed, to prevent developing monkeypox,” he said.

 

Herbosa said the jabs are not given to everyone as these are administered post-exposure to monkeypox cases. Post-exposure vaccine or post-exposure vaccination protects uninfected individuals from having the infection they have been exposed to.

 

“So, I hope our Department of Health will try to acquire some of these. We have not acquired them; they are not yet registered with the FDA [Food and Drug Administration]. So, I hope our Department of Health will try to acquire some of these in case we need them here in the Philippines,” he said.

 

He added that at present, there is no community transmission of monkeypox in the country.

 

On Wednesday night, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. presided over a meeting with DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire and Director for Epidemiology Bureau Alethea De Guzman to discuss updates on the country’s Covid-19 situation and the preparations for preventing the spread of monkeypox and dengue.

 

Marcos earlier allayed fears on the monkeypox virus, saying it is "not as scary as Covid." (With reports from Azer Parrocha/PNA)

 

GROWTH FORECAST REVISION. Fitch Solutions revises upwards its 2022 growth forecast for the Philippines from 6.1 percent to 6.6 percent due to higher-than-expected economic growth in the first half of the year. Risks to growth are seen on the downside due to possible impact of the rising Covid-19 cases and any escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (PNA file photo)

 

MANILA – Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research hiked its 2022 economic growth forecast for the Philippines following the better-than-expected output in the first half despite challenges, such as elevated inflation rate. 

 

In a report released on Thursday, Fitch Solutions now sees a 6.6-percent growth for the domestic economy this year, within the government’s 6.5 to 7.5 percent target band. Its previous forecast was 6.1 percent. 

 

However, it projects slower growth in the second half of the year given the expected slowdown of the global economy, tightening global monetary conditions, and high energy prices. 

 

The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) slowed to 7.4 percent in the second quarter from the previous three months’ 8.2 percent, bringing the first half average to 7.8 percent.

 

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, domestic output in the second quarter stood at -0.1 percent compared to the 1.9 percent from January to March this year.

 

The report said the growth deceleration is in line with Fitch Solutions’ projection “but the magnitude was lesser than we expected.” 

 

“Our forecast reflects our expectations that H222 (second half 2022) growth will moderate relative to the 7.8 percent y-o-y (year-on-year) growth print in H122,” it said. 

 

The report said growth in the first half of the year benefited from the continued reopening of the economy, spending related to the May national polls, as well as the accommodative monetary policy, which buoyed consumption and investment. 

 

“These tailwinds helped offset external headwinds stemming from elevated energy prices, a slowdown in the world economy, and tightening global monetary conditions. However, we believe that these tailwinds will continue to fade over the coming months, while growth headwinds intensify, leading to slower growth in H222,” it added. 

 

Fitch Solutions expects the country’s exports to post slower expansion this year at about 6 percent compared to the 7.8 percent last year, and the 7.4 percent in the first half of the year on expectations for a global growth slowdown. 

 

The report said exports grew by 1 percent last July from 6.4 percent in the previous month, which was attributed to drop in sales for electrical. 

 

It said electronic equipment historically accounts for around 51 percent of the country’s total exports. 

 

The report said elevated energy prices will continue to weigh on domestic savings and on investment given that the country is a net importer of energy.

 

“Elevated energy prices have led to (a) drastic increase in the Philippines’ import bill, and, in turn, widening the trade deficit,” it said.

 

Also, households’ purchasing power is seen to be eroded by the accelerating inflation rate, which posted a further uptick last July to 6.4 percent from the previous month’s 6.1 percent. 

 

The average inflation to date stood at 4.7 percent, higher than the government’s 2-4 percent target range. 

 

Monthly rate of price increases surpassed the government’s target band since last April when it rose to 4.9 percent. 

 

“Against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and adverse weather conditions in a number of food-producing countries in the region, energy and food prices will continue to be a significant source of upward pressure in the Philippines,” it said. 

 

With inflation expected to remain elevated, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and other central banks are seen to further tighten key rates, which would impact on investment and private consumption. 

 

BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) has increased the central bank’s key policy rates by 125 basis points so far this year.

 

Fitch Solutions forecasts additional 100 basis points to bring the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) facility rate to 4.25 percent by end-2022. 

 

Amid these challenges, Fitch Solutions said risks to the economy’s expansion this year are on the downside due in part to rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019, which may prompt the government to implement movement restrictions, which then will likely impact on domestic growth. 

 

It said any escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict “may cause further upside volatility to energy prices, further weighing on investment appetite and the Philippines’ trade position.” (PNA)