ASEAN NOW News

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon (file photo) MANILA, Philippines — Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., which bagged the government contracts for the supply of face masks and face shields, generated a profit of P393 million from April to June 2020, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Monday. “Pharmally generated a profit of P393 million from government transactions from April to June 2020”, Drilon said in an interview on Teleradyo. According to the Inquirer, the Senate blue ribbon committee is currently investigating the controversial procurement of “overpriced” personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks and shields made by the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service on behalf of the Department of Health. Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. received government contracts worth over P8.6 billion in 2020 despite being only several months old and having just P625,000 in paid-up capital. Investigation needed Drilon reiterated that Pharmally’s tax records and tax liabilities need to be investigated. Based on records, Pharmally is classified as a domestic corporation subject to the provisions of Section 27 of the Tax Code, the senator noted. “This firm is not a manufacturing company but a trading company, so there’s no manufacturing cost for the items, they just bought these supplies from China and sold them to us,” Drilon pointed out. “The question is, did they pay the 12-percent value added tax? Did they pay income taxes for the P393-million profit they generated in 2020?” he added

MANILA – The Philippines will not be bringing home a medal in the Tokyo Paralympics as the national team's last two hopes failed to make the podium on Friday. Following the conclusion of the qualifying heats for the 100-meter backstroke event at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre, para-swimmer Gary Bejino was way outside of the Top 8 cutoff for the final. Competing at Heat 2, Bejino clocked in at one minute and 28.87 seconds, finishing last among seven swimmers. After Heat 3 was played, Bejino ended up at the cellar of a list of 20 para-swimmers. Bejino was seven seconds off the time of the last qualified finalist, David Sanchez of Spain. Jia Hongguang of China headlines the finalists after clocking in the fastest at the heats with 1:14.15. Completing the Final 8 are Matias De Andrade of Argentina, Dino Sinovcic of Croatia, Wang Jingang and Yang Hong of China, Thijs Van Hofweegen of the Netherlands, and Laurent Chardard of France. Meanwhile, Jerrold Mangliwan settled for the eighth spot in the final 100-meter wheelchair race at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium. Mangliwan clocked in at 20.08 seconds, barely three seconds off eventual winner Raymond Martin's time. The American, who holds both the world and Paralympic records for the said race, took the gold at a time of 16.99 seconds. Yuki Oya of Japan won silver at 17.18 seconds, while Mexico's Leonardo Perez set a new personal best of 17.44 seconds en route to the bronze. There were supposed to be three Filipinos in action for Friday, but para-taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin was tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019. "Allain is upset in missing this opportunity but prays that this challenge will strengthen in resolve in his later competitions," Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo said the day before. Ganapin became the third Filipino para-athlete who has tested positive for Covid-19, joining para-powerlifter Jinky Guion and para-discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda at the sidelines. Guion, like Ganapin, tested positive for Covid-19 here, while Aceveda got her positive result during the mandatory testing for the athletes in Tokyo. "The present pandemic has created so many obstacles for our para-athletes. The virus has been unforgiving and denied them the chance to bring glory and honor to the Philippines," Barredo said. (PNA)

Nguyen Thu Giang. Photo: Thanhnien Thu Giang, 28, is a doctoral student at the University of the West of England (UWE) and is in charge of teaching undergraduate, postgraduate and master students in subjects such as project management, strategic management, strategic business, and research methods. According to Vietnam Times, after graduating from Asia Pacific International University in Japan at the end of 2016, Nguyen Thu Giang received a full scholarship for a master's program in January 2017 from UWE. During a year of studying for a master's program, her intelligence, dynamism, and excellent professional ability was noticed by professors at the school. Immediately after completing with excellent results, she was awarded as best student in the course, and in 2017 she applied for the position of lecturer at the school. Giang with University's Principal. Photo: Thanhnien “I was lucky when I applied, went through the selection round and interviews and was accepted. Entering the school, I was trusted by teachers to assign many classes in different subjects even though I was the youngest lecturer here. At first, I was also quite nervous, but thanks to my previous experience working with young people as well as good foreign language ability, it helped me feel more comfortable,” she said. The female lecturer not only aims to clarify complex issues in the field of economics, but also explains them in practice so that students do not find it too difficult to understand. Besides, she also helps and shares with students like a sister and close friend in their learning journey. First international president of student union Giang's journey at University of the West of England became brighter when she became the first international female president of the Student Union of West England University. Giang represented more than 30,000 students at the whole university and managed more than 200 employees of the union. During her tenure in 2017 to 2019, she worked with the principal and vice-principal to develop and implement policies on education and finance for students as a member of the council's advisory committee. She also managed and coordinated business competitions on campus and in the Southwest of England. Programs led by Giang were appreciated for their innovation, creativity, relevance, and necessity for students. “After the successes of the term, in October 2019, I was granted a full scholarship by the school to study for 3 years for a doctorate in supply chain management and officially became the youngest lecturer here," she said. "Although I do not work directly with the Student Union, I still monitor and support the next generation and students when needed. For me, working here is really meaningful.” In the lecture hall with students at the university. Photo: Thanhnien Giang is currently the student ambassador for the Southwest region of England of the Vietnam Student Association for 2021 to 2022. Talking about her plans, Giang said: “After completing my PhD, I will continue to teach and study in the UK. When the time is right, I look forward to returning to Vietnam to teach or work for multinational corporations. I want to dedicate myself to my country, so sooner or later, I will return to Vietnam to work and live.”

All shippers, accordingly, will have to furnish a certificate with negative PCR or rapid antigen test results in line with the Ministry of Health’s regulations. The municipal People's Committee made the decision following a proposal submitted by the Department of Transport. The People's Committee asked the Departments of Public Security, and Transport and relevant agencies to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control measures during the implementation of the decision. Three Zones Hanoi will divide its localities into three zones for the application of different COVID-19 prevention and control measures starting from September 6. The division will be based on the level of pandemic outbreak risk as well as characteristics of each locality such as geography, population, and production, thus ensuring pandemic control measures and maintaining production. Accordingly, the Prime Minister's Directive No.16, and stricter pandemic prevention and control measures and travel restrictions will continue to be applied in zone 1, comprising 10 districts – Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Cau Giay, Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Thanh Xuan, Ha Dong, Thanh Tri and Hoang Mai; and parts of the five districts of Nam Tu Liem, Bac Tu Liem, Hoai Duc, Thanh Oai, and Thuong Tin. Transport connecting with zone 2 and zone 3 will be tightly controlled with 23 checkpoints. Authorities in zone 1 are requested to make careful preparation to avoid disruption of supply chains of food and necessities. Meanwhile, the PM's Directive No.15 will be carried out in zone 2 which covers five districts – Long Bien, Gia Lam, Dong Anh, Soc Son and Me Linh. Higher measures will be applied in areas with higher risks to match each locality's production situation. Safe production will be maintained in zone 2 using "three-on-site" or "one route – two destinations" models. Meanwhile, looser measures will be implemented in zone 3, covering agricultural production areas and industrial parks and clusters with low population density including 10 districts – Ba Vi, Son Tay, Phuc Tho, Dan Phuong, Thach That, Quoc Oai, Cheong My, Ung Hoa, My Duc, and Phu Tuyen, and the remaining parts of the five districts in zone 1 – Nam Tu Lie, Bac Tu Liem, Hoai Duc, Thanh Oai and Thuong Tin. The capital city has also designed regulations on inter-regional operation mechanisms with an aim to tightly controlling zone 1 as well as the travel flow from zone 1 to zone 2 and zone 3 and ensuring the continuity of production and supply chain. After three times of applying social distancing along with mass testing, the city has found that infections mostly concentrated in inner districts, while lower risks are seen in other localities. The division into three zones is expected to help the city prevent the spread of the pandemic and focus on stamping out COVID-19 in high-risk areas.

A table can tell you a lot but convert that table into one big colourful world map and suddenly the results get a lot more interesting. Asia dominates the list of the world's most costly cities for expatriates, despite significant shifts -- including a big drop of 11 points for Bangkok to 46th place -- according to the global human resources consultancy Mercer. Hong Kong lost top spot -- a position it held for the past three years -- to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, now the costliest city for international employees, both in Asia and globally, in the 2021 Cost of Living Survey by Mercer. Tokyo, now ranked fourth, was leapfrogged by Beirut, which climbed 42 positions to third, because of a severe economic depression linked to a financial crisis, Covid-19, and the Port of Beirut explosion in 2020. Shanghai and Beijing ranked sixth and ninth, respectively, up one place from last year, while Singapore moved from fifth place to seventh. Three cities in Switzerland -- Zurich (5), Geneva (8) and Bern (10) -- rounded out the top 10. Cities across mainland China also grew more expensive, buoyed by currency appreciation against the US dollar and a swift recovery from the impact of the pandemic. Most notably, Tianjin and Chengdu each climbed 12 positions to 26th and 28th, respectively. The strengthening of the Taiwanese dollar pushed Taipei up six places to 22nd. Currency fluctuations and deflation resulted in Southeast Asian cities including Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur dropping in the rankings. Bangkok (46) fell 11 places, while Kuala Lumpur (152) was down 8 places. Mumbai (78) is India's most expensive city but dropped 18 places due to a relatively weak rupee. Survey to help Expats The annual Mercer survey is designed to help multinational firms and governments determine compensation for their expatriate employees. New York City is used as the base city for comparisons and currency movements are measured against the US dollar. This year's survey was conducted in March 2021. One significant trend Mercer has observed since the pandemic began relates to how companies deal with mobility. The concept is evolving from traditional long-term assignments -- such as relocating an employee for a few years then repatriating them to their home location -- to other kinds of moves such as short-term assignments, international foreign hires, permanent transfers, commuters, international remote workers, and international freelancers. Another Mercer survey found that over 50% of employers surveyed expected changes in terms of the number of one-way transfers, talent development, short-term and commuter assignments in their organisations due to the pandemic. "Across the region, companies are actively reassessing their talent and mobility strategies in light of the complex challenges brought on by Covid-19," said Julia Radchenko, Mercer's global mobility leader for Asia Pacific. "And it is no longer about just geographical mobility, it is about talent mobility which implies lateral moves, a distributed workforce, geographical mobility, international remote working, virtual assignments, etc." "What we've seen is that companies are exercising more flexibility to accommodate the different personal situations of employees. Broadly speaking, companies are now more open to international remote working arrangements, allowing employees to perform the same role remotely as they would if they were to relocate," she said. "That said, international remote working arrangements bring with them other complexities such as determining the right compensation and whether such arrangements can fully replicate the importance and impact of having someone in a specific market." Actual costs between Hanoi and Manila According to the website Expatistan, the cost of living in Hanoi (Vietnam) is 34% cheaper than in Manila (Philippines). And the cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) is 24% cheaper than in Bangkok (Thailand). Food in Hanoi (Vietnam) is 24% cheaper than in Manila (Philippines). Housing came out -48% less in Vietnam and transportation was -37% less. Here are some comparisons Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district will cost around US$2.78 in Hanoi and US$4.82 in Manila. 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk is US$1.40 in Hanoi or US$1.78 in Manila. The all import 16oz of domestic beer will cost US$0.74 in Hanoi and US$1.12 in Manila. Surprising Expatistan say that a bottle of good quality red table wine is US$12.86 in Hanoi but only US$8.83 in Manila. Of course, apart from getting a good job for younger expats, for them and expat retirees, it is not only the costs that are important. Climate, lifestyle, location, and meeting people play a huge part on where we decide to reside. And of course, getting that all-important visa too.

A table can tell you a lot but convert that table into one big colourful world map and suddenly the results get a lot more interesting. Asia dominates the list of the world's most costly cities for expatriates, despite significant shifts -- including a big drop of 11 points for Bangkok to 46th place -- according to the global human resources consultancy Mercer. Hong Kong lost top spot -- a position it held for the past three years -- to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, now the costliest city for international employees, both in Asia and globally, in the 2021 Cost of Living Survey by Mercer. Tokyo, now ranked fourth, was leapfrogged by Beirut, which climbed 42 positions to third, because of a severe economic depression linked to a financial crisis, Covid-19, and the Port of Beirut explosion in 2020. Shanghai and Beijing ranked sixth and ninth, respectively, up one place from last year, while Singapore moved from fifth place to seventh. Three cities in Switzerland -- Zurich (5), Geneva (8) and Bern (10) -- rounded out the top 10. Cities across mainland China also grew more expensive, buoyed by currency appreciation against the US dollar and a swift recovery from the impact of the pandemic. Most notably, Tianjin and Chengdu each climbed 12 positions to 26th and 28th, respectively. The strengthening of the Taiwanese dollar pushed Taipei up six places to 22nd. Currency fluctuations and deflation resulted in Southeast Asian cities including Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur dropping in the rankings. Bangkok (46) fell 11 places, while Kuala Lumpur (152) was down 8 places. Mumbai (78) is India's most expensive city but dropped 18 places due to a relatively weak rupee. Survey to help Expats The annual Mercer survey is designed to help multinational firms and governments determine compensation for their expatriate employees. New York City is used as the base city for comparisons and currency movements are measured against the US dollar. This year's survey was conducted in March 2021. One significant trend Mercer has observed since the pandemic began relates to how companies deal with mobility. The concept is evolving from traditional long-term assignments -- such as relocating an employee for a few years then repatriating them to their home location -- to other kinds of moves such as short-term assignments, international foreign hires, permanent transfers, commuters, international remote workers, and international freelancers. Another Mercer survey found that over 50% of employers surveyed expected changes in terms of the number of one-way transfers, talent development, short-term and commuter assignments in their organisations due to the pandemic. "Across the region, companies are actively reassessing their talent and mobility strategies in light of the complex challenges brought on by Covid-19," said Julia Radchenko, Mercer's global mobility leader for Asia Pacific. "And it is no longer about just geographical mobility, it is about talent mobility which implies lateral moves, a distributed workforce, geographical mobility, international remote working, virtual assignments, etc." "What we've seen is that companies are exercising more flexibility to accommodate the different personal situations of employees. Broadly speaking, companies are now more open to international remote working arrangements, allowing employees to perform the same role remotely as they would if they were to relocate," she said. "That said, international remote working arrangements bring with them other complexities such as determining the right compensation and whether such arrangements can fully replicate the importance and impact of having someone in a specific market." Actual costs between Hanoi and Manila According to the website Expatistan, the cost of living in Hanoi (Vietnam) is 34% cheaper than in Manila (Philippines), and the cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) is 24% cheaper than in Bangkok (Thailand). Food in Hanoi (Vietnam) is 24% cheaper than in Manila (Philippines). Here are some comparisons Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district will cost around US$2.78 in Hanoi and US$4.82 in Manila. 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk is US$1.40 in Hanoi or US$1.78 in Manila. The all import 16oz of domestic beer will cost US$0.74 in Hanoi and US$1.12 in Manila. Surprising Expatistan say that a bottle of good quality red table wine is US$12.86 in Hanoi but only US$8.83 in Manila. Housing came out -48% less in Vietnam and transportation was -37% less. Of course, apart from getting a good job for younger expats, for them and expat retirees, it is not only the costs that are important. Climate, lifestyle, location, and meeting people play a huge part on where we decide to reside. And of course, the all-important visa too.

Southeast Asia’s economy could lose trillions of dollars over the next 50 years, if the region does not act soon to reduce carbon emissions significantly, a Deloitte report found. Bangui Wind Farm (file photo) In fact, the region is at a major turning point, and can turn the cost into an great opportunity, the report said. Accord to CNBC, if Southeast Asia steps up efforts on climate change and rapidly reduces emissions, it could achieve economic gains of $12.5 trillion in present value terms — with an average GDP growth of 3.5% each year for the next 50 years, according to the consulting firm. “This potential future not only avoids the worst impacts of climate change, it also creates prosperous long-term economic growth for Southeast Asia and the world,” said Deloitte. Unmitigated climate change threatens to wipe out decades of hard-won economic growth in Southeast Asia. The Deloitte Report said that failing to do so, however, could lead to global warming of more than 3°C by 2070, according to Deloitte’s model. This could cost the region economic losses worth about $28 trillion in present value terms in the next 50 years, and reduce GDP growth by an average of 7.5% each year in the same period, according to Deloitte’s forecast. Southeast Asia is home to half a billion people and has a gross domestic product of $3 trillion, according to Deloitte. The region — defined in the report as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Timor-Leste and Thailand – has seen a 5% to 12% average annual per capita GDP growth since the 21st century. “Unmitigated climate change threatens to wipe out decades of hard-won economic growth in Southeast Asia,” Deloitte said. “The foundations of the region’s prosperity — it’s natural and human capital — are at risk, and along with them each nation’s standard of living, its prospects for future growth, its place on the global stage and the wellbeing of its people.” From agriculture to tourism, climate inaction will cause major disruptions as livelihoods are lost due to rising sea levels and natural disasters. Who could lose out? Here are the industries set to lose trillions by 2070: Services industry could lose $9 trillion; Manufacturing sector faces $7 trillion of losses; Retail and tourism could collectively lose $5 trillion. Together with construction, mining and gas, these sectors account for 83% of the region’s economic output, Deloitte said. “The impacts of a changing climate would be felt across Southeast Asian nations and industries, with some bearing the economic burden more than others,” the report said. Time is running out The United Nations has warned that keeping global warming close to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels “will be beyond reach” in the next two decades unless immediate action is taken to reduce carbon emissions. “There is an urgency for countries and governments to act quickly — within the next 10 years — to circumvent irreversible damage from climate change,” said Philip Yuen, Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia needs to pivot from seeing global warming efforts as an optional cost, to seeing it as “an investment in a climate-driven transformation to a better future,” said Deloitte. The amount countries spend on decarbonization would be “almost immediately offset by positive returns in the capital and technology,” the report said. “We have the opportunity to create a new engine for sustainable economic prosperity while at the same time preventing the worse consequences of a warming world.”

Were you able identify if a woman is from Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore or Cambodia? Yesterday, we posted five photos which had been randomly selected from Google featuring five women. The correct answers were: No 1. Was from the Philippines. No.2 from Singapore. No.3 from Thailand. No.4 from Vietnam No.5 from Cambodia.

Here's Today's Tip... The Green. Aim for the middle of the green. This is one tip that I’m sure every golfer has heard, but very few actually put to use (except for the pros). It’s also a tip that many players misunderstand. You see, playing to the middle of the green doesn’t mean playing sloppy. When the pros do it they still take dead aim by selecting the smallest blade of grass or tiniest spot of turf they can find, and then focusing on landing their ball right on top of it. And STAY AWAY from those "sucker pins"... always aim for the middle, your scorecard will thank you.

With decades of many ethnic backgrounds and intercultural marriages, SE Asian women can blend into most cultures. Some say that most Southeast Asian women really look the same physically. Even one Filipina said it’s hard for me to tell fellow Southeast Asians apart based on simply looks alone. I tried, but many times, I failed. If you forced me to take a guess when I was younger, I would think that the Vietnamese would probably be the easiest to isolate from the group in terms of physical appearance, because they are probably the most likely to have generic Chinese-looking features. Perhaps a fair complexion and slanted eyes, because of their historical ties with China, based on my very, very limited knowledge of Asian history. As a personal example, we went on a trip to Singapore once and a good number of the Singaporeans with possibly Malay ancestry that we saw, looked a lot like many Filipinos in the Philippines. In some cases, there were even Singaporeans with Indian heritage that look like some of my Filipino relatives, that if I had seen them in the Philippines, I would think they were just another Filipino. Expat’s reaction According to one expat living in Thailand. there are stereotypical appearances by nationality, and if a woman happened to look a lot like the stereotype it would be possible to guess, but Southeast Asians vary a lot in appearance too. I think locals in the region are more familiar with those stereotypical appearances, but that almost relates to a different question. A lot of Thais—where this writer lives, have close connections with Chinese ancestry, and if they look a lot like they are Chinese, whether they are or not, then picking out a nationality wouldn’t work. His wife and her mother are completely Thai, not Chinese at all, and my wife could probably pass for Chinese, and her mother Japanese. Thais alone span a range of different looks, more or less regionally based within Thailand, but again genetic mixing and random variation would vary what people from different areas look like. Central Thais tend to look more Chinese, Isaan-region Thais look relatively completely different, overlapping some with an appearance typical for Cambodians or women from Laos, and the far South and far North vary in two different ways. Sometimes the writers wife will say she can tell where people are from by appearance but more often, she can’t do it. Once they speak in their own language it’s easy. Deeper Observation Finally, another Filipina female said all it takes is deeper observation. Our features are different, our behaviour (brought about by our differing cultures and environment) are different as well. Just like there is a difference between Chinese, Japanese and Korean women, and difference between French, English, German, Russian, Swedish women. Believe it or not, the most well-travelled people can tell the difference. So, this writer suggests that you do the same. Travel, observe and learn. It is not that hard, it’s even very enjoyable. With various ethnic groups, religions and inter marriages of the past few centuries, it is sometimes hard to recognize where people originated from. Do you think you could recognize the difference? We have posted a few photos randomely selected from Google today of women from across SE Asia. Do you think you could recognize the difference and tell us what country they come from? We will post the correct answers in the comments tomorrow. No.1 No.2 No.3 No.4 No.5 General notes: Ethnic groups. Indonesia is clearly dominated by the Javanese and Sundanese ethnic groups, with hundreds of ethnic minorities inhabited the archipelago, including Madurese, Minangkabau, Bugis, Balinese, Dayak, Batak, and Malays. While Malaysia is split between more than half Malays and one-quarter Chinese, and Indian minority in the West Malaysia however Dayaks make up the majority in Sarawak and Kadazan-dusun makes up the majority in Sabah which are in the East Malaysia. The Malays are the majority in West Malaysia and Brunei, while they are forming a significant minority in Indonesia, Southern Thailand, East Malaysia, and Singapore. In city-state Singapore, Chinese are the majority, yet the city is a multicultural melting pot with Malays, Indians and Eurasian also called the island their home. The Chams form a significant minority in Central and South Vietnam, also in Central Cambodia. While the Khmers are the majority in Cambodia and form a significant minority in Southern Vietnam and Thailand, the Hmong people are the minority in Vietnam, China, and Laos. Within the Philippines, the Tagalog, Visayan (mainly Cebuanos, Warays and Hiligaynons), Ilocano, Bicolano, Moro (mainly Tausug, Maranao, and Maguindanao) and Central Luzon (mainly Kapampangan and Pangasinan) groups are significant. Thailand is a country of some 70 ethnic groups, including at least 24 groups of ethnolinguistically Tai peoples, mainly the Siamese, Lao, and Yuan; 22 groups of Austroasiatic peoples, with substantial populations of Northern Khmer and Kuy; 11 groups of Sino-Tibetan peoples ('hill tribes'), with the largest in population being the Karen. Other ethnic groups include longstanding immigrant communities such as the Chinese and Indians.

In recent weeks, many countries have been reporting an increase in “pandemic fatigue” – people are feeling demotivated about following recommended behaviours to protect themselves and others from the virus. Finding effective ways to tackle this fatigue and reinvigorate public vigilance is a growing challenge as the crisis continues. Pandemic fatigue evolves gradually over time and is affected by the cultural, social, structural, and legislative environment. Expat Fatigue Here in SE Asia, when the pandemic began last year, luckily most countries were reporting very low number of cases. However, as expats we often have to rely on word of mouth, to get accurate information, as most Covid details are mainly posted in the local language. Now as the number of cases has skyrocketed, governments across the region have realized the importance of keeping us expats well informed with English language information. The penny has a last drop that Covid cannot tell the difference between a local or an expat, as we can all carry the virus. Meanwhile being thousands of miles from home, can add to an expat’s anxiety although everyone stuck at home goes through some sort of Pandemic Fatigue. Online WHO Meeting Held High-level public health experts from over 30 countries and many partner organizations from the World Health Organisation (WHO) European region, recently connected remotely to search together the root causes of this phenomenon and share national experiences and plans. At the request of European Member States, WHO/Europe developed a framework of policy recommendations to guide governments in the planning and implementation of national and subnational strategies to bolster public support for COVID-19 prevention measures. Governments need key strategies Katrine Bach Habersaat, Team Lead (ad interim) of the Behavioural and Cultural Insights Unit at WHO/Europe, introduced the framework developed by WHO/Europe to address pandemic fatigue. It includes 4 key strategies: · Understand people: collect and use evidence for targeted, tailored, and effective policies, interventions, and communication. · Engage people as part of the solution. · Help people to reduce risk while doing the things that make them happy. · Acknowledge and address the hardship people experience, and the profound impact the pandemic has had on their lives. WHO/Europe has suggested a quick list of concrete actions, with examples from countries of what they have done. More work will need to be carried out, with opportunities for regular exchanges of views among WHO and Member States. Understanding pandemic fatigue Professor Cornelia Betsch, Heisenberg-Professor of Health Communication at Erfurt University, Germany, spoke of the psychology behind pandemic fatigue, explaining that fear is a motivator for protective behaviour, but it wears off as people adapt to the threat. Fatigue also occurs if we do the same things repeatedly for a long time, she added. WHO defines pandemic fatigue as a natural and expected reaction to sustained and unresolved adversity in people’s lives. It expresses itself as demotivation to engage in protective behaviours and to seek out information, as well as in feelings of complacency, alienation, and hopelessness. Pandemic fatigue evolves gradually over time and is affected by the cultural, social, structural, and legislative environment. Therefore, monitoring public opinion, through tools such as the one developed by WHO/Europe and now used by 27 countries and areas in the Region, is an important starting point for effective behavioural change. Sharing country experiences Many country representatives took the floor at the meeting to share examples of action taken in their countries to ensure public engagement in COVID-19-related measures. Common themes included making sure that these initiatives were understandable and logical, the importance of supporting livelihoods and jobs, targeting measures to specific groups, and considering other barriers beyond knowledge that prevent people from following recommendations (such as lack of access to safe water, hand sanitizer, masks, spacious living conditions, and so on). Several participants also highlighted how supporting mental health initiatives is essential as the pandemic continues. Next steps There was broad agreement among participants that further discussion on the topic of pandemic fatigue is needed through a regular forum. WHO/Europe also proposed creating a repository for country experiences. At the end of the meeting, the Norwegian concept of “dugnad” was invoked – support provided by individuals to help each other or a community – a form of group resilience to be nurtured in the months ahead. Using behavioural and cultural science to advance health Behavioural and cultural insights for health refers to knowledge derived from the social sciences and health humanities that helps us to better understand the drivers of and barriers to achieving the highest attainable standard of health. The newly approved European Programme of Work 2020–2025 has a strong focus on harnessing behavioural and cultural insights, and a new unit was recently established at WHO/Europe to improve knowledge in this field. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Meanwhile as cases rise, and Health Ministries scramble to bargain for new vaccines, all we can do is vent our frustration at the local governments, many who seem to be seen as mis-managing the Covid crisis and the country’s economy. Many expats are over 60 years old, and therefore the state of their own economy adds to the stress. All we can do is sit tight, and hope that vaccines will soon be available over the counter to everyone. Then the cases will start to drop along with everyone’s Pandemic Fatigue. If you are suffering from pandemic fatigue, do please let us know. And perhaps you may even have some tips on how to cope as well.

With the restrictions gradually being stopped hopefully some golf courses will be opening as well. It would be very helpful to all, if you can let everyone know if you know of any courses that will open near you. Great if you know when the course will re open and better stil if you know if they have any opening packges too. Burapha We heard Burapha near Pattaya will be opening on September 1st. Hope you can add some more????

MANILA – Despite cases of the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus, President Rodrigo Duterte has not changed his stance about allowing Filipinos to return home. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Duterte continues to push for the unimpeded return of all Filipinos. The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, facilitates the repatriation of 150 distressed Filipinos from Bangladesh on July 15, 2021. The returnees received USD200 reintegration assistance on top of free plane fares, quarantine facility stay, and Covid-19 testing. (Photo courtesy of DFA) “For President Duterte, they are our fellow Filipinos. If they want to return home, it is their right. We cannot stop our fellowmen from returning. That’s unfair to them,” Nograles said in a radio interview on Sunday July 25th, 2021. The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 55 new cases of the Delta variant also on Sunday, bringing to 119 the total cases in the country. The cases were from the latest batch of samples sequenced by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center. Nograles assured the national government has set in place testing and quarantine protocols. “We have protocols in place. These include a 10-day quarantine from those coming from non-green countries or non-green jurisdictions. And then they get swabbed on the seventh day,” he added. Green countries and jurisdictions are those classified by the DOH as “low risk” based on disease incidence rate. Fully vaccinated travelers from green countries and jurisdictions must carry their official documentation of full vaccination. Nograles said current testing and quarantine protocols are “effective” in preventing further transmission of the new variant. Earlier, Duterte said he is eyeing stricter health measures against the Delta variant. "The reported local cases in the country is a cause for serious alarm and concern. Again, it's redundant but it's good as any warning that can be given to people. We may need to impose stricter restrictions to avoid mass gathering and prevent super spreader events," he said in his July 19 public address. Of the new Delta variant infections, 37 are local cases and 17 are returning overseas Filipinos. The Delta coronavirus variant was first detected in India and found to be 60 percent more infectious than the Alpha (United Kingdom) variant. Delta caused the surge in Covid-19 cases in other countries, according to reports. (PNA)