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ILOILO CITY – Unexpected flash floods in 42 barangays in Miagao, Iloilo on Sept. 6 have destroyed 241 hectares of rice crops as well as irrigation systems. FLASH FLOOD. A damaged palay farm due to flash floods (FILE PHOTO) In a phone interview on Wednesday, Miagao Mayor Macario Napulan said the “freak change in climate” has ruined 241.25 hectares of farmland with an estimated but invalidated damage of PHP4.32 million. Some 36 households were also evacuated. Dam was destroyed The center dam of the Barangay Igcabitoon Communal Irrigation System and its concrete canal in Barangay Bacolod were also destroyed. He said the town’s three major rivers -- Tumagboc, Bacauan, and Oyungan -- overflowed around 3 p.m. on Monday. Napulan added the incident was like the destructive flash floods that happened during Typhoon Undang in 1984. John Nocal, municipal administrator and municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer said the flash floods were due to heavy rains brought about by the localized thunderstorm as it happened a day before the landfall of "Jolina". “We didn’t expect that the volume would be that huge because we only experienced light rains in the poblacion area. It was only in the upland areas that the rainfall was heavy,” he said, adding that most of those affected in the 42 barangays were farmers living along the river. Municipal agriculturist Ma. Frea Monsale said the damaged palay crops were ready for harvest while those already harvested were carried away by the rushing waters. She added that some of the affected farmers have already filed their notice of loss before the Philippine Crop Insurance System (PCIC). The farmers would be given seeds but meantime, their office is just extending the assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Napulan said less than 50 individuals have been pre-emptively evacuated and staying with their families as severe tropical storm Jolina continues to bring rain in several areas of Western Visayas. These are families staying along riverbanks and need to be transferred to elevated areas. (PNA)

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. (File photo) MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. on Wednesday night confirmed that the country has welcomed the first Afghan refugees to the Philippines since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan three weeks ago. "We stay steady where others waver: tonight, we welcome Afghan nationals including women & kids seeking refuge. Our doors are open to those fleeing, conflict, persecution, sexual abuse and death," he said in a tweet. Locsin, however, noted that no further information will be provided to the public for the refugees' safety and privacy. "The matter is closed. We’re not interested in publicity or thanks. This is done so one can look at himself in the mirror. Period," he said. Malacañang last August 17 stated that the Philippines’ doors are open to Afghan nationals fleeing Afghanistan to escape the Taliban's rule. There is no specific quota on the number of refugees which may be taken in by the Philippines, but Locsin earlier said the country will only accept refugees on a government-to-government basis. "We will not entertain any request for asylum coming from NGOs, however well-meaning or reputable, or any other non-state parties," he said in a tweet Monday. "I predict that refugees will be the next lucrative order of business, having plenty of cash in hand or in foreign bank accounts. The temptation will be resistible to help them and help oneself to them. That will never happen under this administration or in my watch," he added. (PNA)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday announced the completion of the Cagayan de Oro City Convention Center's main building, 20 years after the start of its construction. The inauguration was made public through a canned video presentation and uploaded via DPWH Region 10's Facebook page. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar gives a speech inside the newly established main building of the Cagayan de Oro City Convention Center in a canned video released Wednesday (Sept. 8, 2021) (File photo) The Convention Center was the pet project of the late Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. in 1998 but was delayed due to budgetary constraints when it started construction in 2001. Secretary Mark Villar said a total of PHP1.335 billion is needed to meet the requirements from Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for the convention center to become globally competitive. Cagayan de Oro City Convention Center's main building (File photo) "Now that the completion of the main building is realized, CDO (Cagayan de Oro) will further ignite economic development through investments, infrastructure improvements, and tourism," he said. DPWH-10 Director Zenaida Tan said the event seals a mark of confederation as the department also officially turns over the facility to TIEZA's stewardship. "After several years in the making, accompanied with left and right controversies upon its suspension from the year 2012 to 2016, the CDO Convention Center’s main building is finally completed," she said. The convention center project was conceptualized by the late Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. at the start of his term in 1998. The construction of the facility began in 2001 and was expected to be completed in August 2003. With initial funding of PHP125 million in 2000, the convention center aimed to support big events like sports, concerts, conventions, exhibits, seminars, conferences, and trade shows. Space for 7,700 The building is designed to accommodate 7,700 people. The DPWH-10 has already requested funding for the rest of the facilities including the establishment of the pavilion, car park, deck with helipad, view deck, powerhouse, sewage treatment plant facility, materials recovery facility, and pump house. Meanwhile, TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid said the center will help boost the region's tourism, especially with the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2016, the construction continued after its suspension in 2012 as the Magtajas family donated the land where the complex is located. The project was then funded in 2017 with PHP350 million, 2018 (PHP100 million), 2020 (PHP214 million). "The completion of the Cagayan de Oro Convention Center, which stands two decades, demonstrates our resolve and commitment to pursue into fruition our development goals and aspirations. Amid a pandemic, we can offer the region a landmark that can host regional, national, and even international gatherings," National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Mylah Faye Cariño said in a statement. (PNA)

Singapore’s economy has traditionally relied on the many foreigners who live and work in the country - the high-earning professionals at global firms that set up their regional headquarters in the city state and the manual and domestic workers who take up many low-paid roles. Now, with economic pressures increased by the pandemic, and a higher than normal - albeit low compared to many other countries - unemployment rate, there is growing anger amongst some Singaporeans towards the high number of workers from overseas. Annual figures from the country's Ministry of Manpower shows the total number of workers from overseas declined by almost 14% in the year to December 2020. There are still more than 1.2m overseas workers, or about a third of Singapore's total workforce working, however that figure may drop in 2021. Some say they have been deprived of better job prospects by foreign professionals, while others have been irked by cultural differences and a few high-profile incidents where foreigners have "misbehaved". For instance, a group of foreigners had their work passes revoked for breaking lockdown rules last year, while a British man who refused to wear a mask on a train was recently deported. Expat family leave after 10 years in Singapore The Schneuwly Family have departed (photo Schneuwly) Pavla and Alain Schneuwly called Singapore home for more than a decade, raising their two sons in the South East Asian business hub. "Everything was perfect, life was beautiful. We could travel around and enjoy the best of Singapore," says Pavla. But, she says, things changed when Covid-19 hit, making them decide to leave. Prime Minister’s Message On Sunday evening, the country's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted these issues in his National Day speech. "We must not turn our backs on them, and give the impression that Singapore is becoming xenophobic and hostile to foreigners," he said. "It would gravely damage our reputation as an international hub. It would cost us investments, jobs and opportunities." Despite these promises of inclusivity however, some foreigners have felt the impact of the country's shifting policies. Different rules for Expats Like other governments in the region, Singapore has at times during the pandemic had different border rules for its citizens and foreign residents. There have also been differences in vaccine eligibility, while companies have come under pressure to hire more locals, with foreign-worker quotas for certain industries changed in recent years. This will continue, according to Prime Minister Lee, who said Singapore will tighten the criteria for foreign working visas "gradually and progressively" to tackle companies overseas that sometimes hire based on "familiar links and old boys' networks, rather than on merit". There is already some evidence to suggest that these policies are having an impact on the number of foreign workers in Singapore. Annual figures from the country's Ministry of Manpower shows the total number of workers from overseas declined by almost 14% in the year to December 2020. And it's not an insignificant number. Even after that decline, there are still more than 1.2m overseas workers, or about a third of Singapore's total workforce. Federico Donato, President of the European Chamber of Commerce, said parts of this workforce are vital for Singapore's development: "Allow me to borrow an example from soccer. If you play in the Champions League, you need to have the best talent, you want to have Ronaldo, Bonucci and Messi to compete at the top level. "If you want to be a top banking centre, you want to be a global tech hub, you cannot do it without an influx of people - especially if you are a country with just five million people." image caption Singapore's Finance Minister Lawrence Wong spoke to the BBC "Countries everywhere face the same concerns about whether foreigners are taking over jobs and opportunities for locals, whether you might result in higher income and wealth inequalities, whether there will be unfair hiring practices, these are not unique to Singapore," the country's Finance Minister Lawrence Wong told the BBC just days before the Prime Minister's speech. "But these concerns have always been there, accelerated, amplified by the pandemic," he added. Recruitment with local talent Simon Hayes is an executive recruiter at Andrews Partnership in Singapore. He says the new policy is working and demand for local talent has increased: "Policy is obviously a factor, it is harder to get an employment pass than it would have been five years ago. But there's also a recognition of the strong talent you can get in Singapore." Mr Hayes has recruited several Singaporeans to Asia-Pacific regional leadership roles and enticed several Singaporeans to return home. "Companies need to be bolder in exploring the talent here," he says, highlighting that Singaporeans have specialised understanding of the region and its politics as well as how to do business with China. While Singapore is keen to make assurances that it is still open to workers from overseas, it is inevitable that some of them, will no longer feel welcome.

SINGAPORE: A girl who was allegedly molested by a Grab driver when she was 10 years old testified against him in court yesterday (Sep 8). Lom Mun Hoi, 47, leaving the State Courts on July 13, 2021. (Photo: Raj Nadarajan/TODAY) The girl, who is now aged 14, took to the stand against Lom Mun Hoi, who was the private-hire driver assigned to her when she made a Grab booking on Aug 25, 2017. According to CNA, Lom is contesting three charges of molestation from two separate incidents. His trial started in July this year. The girl is the older of the two alleged victims. Lom is alleged to have touched the groin area of the younger girl - then aged seven - over her dress twice within 10 minutes while they were in his car at Tampines Mall on Jun 14, 2017. Both girls cannot be named due to a court order to protect their identities. Family members and friends giving evidence cannot be named either. On Wednesday, a shield blocked the alleged victim from being seen by Lom at the hearing. The court heard that the girl was travelling alone with her dog to her friend’s house for a sleepover. The court also heard that it was her first time booking a Grab ride and making a car journey on her own. Description of journey The girl said that Lom stroked her right knee with his left hand twice during the journey, when she was sitting behind the passenger seat. The first incident lasted about 10 seconds, and the second, “a bit longer”, she said. On both occasions, the car had come to a halt at the traffic light, the court heard. The court also heard that at those times, the small dog, a maltipoo, was seated in her lap, facing the window on her left, and did not respond to Lom’s hand getting near the girl’s knee. The girl did not say anything in response to being touched, the court heard. When asked by Lom’s lawyer Riko Isaac how she felt when she was first touched, she answered: “Scared and awkward.” When asked if she said anything, she said no, because she “didn’t know what to say”. The girl also said that she is “generally awkward” with strangers, especially with older ones. In the time between the first and second incidents, Lom also allegedly asked the girl to add herself as his friend on Facebook. The court heard that he opened the app on his phone and handed it to the girl. When asked why she added herself despite being scared, she said: "I was scared he would do something else." The court heard that the driver also told her that she had a lot of freedom, and gave her life advice on her family’s situation, after she shared information with him, in response to questions he asked. At the time, the girl was living with her grandparents, and her parents were separated, the girl said. Lom also touched her cheek and told her to behave, the court heard. He also gave her three sweets. The girl testified that she left the sweets in the lift on the way up to her friend’s home as she was suspicious of them. “I was scared there’ll be things inside,” she said, adding that it could be things “like poison”. Reported over ten days later The girl’s friend’s mother made a complaint to Grab after finding out what happened and informed the girl’s mother. Grab advised that a police report should be made, the court heard. The court heard that that the girl’s mother made a police report ten days later. The mother, who also testified on Wednesday, said that the delay was due to her being busy as a single working mother, and because she was afraid her young daughter would be affected. The girl's mother testified that to the best of her recollection, the girl did not go to her friend's house for a sleepover, but just for the day, and that it was not “normal” for her to have sleepovers. She also said that the girl now “stays home more” and is more aware, and afraid of “guys”. The case is expected to be heard again in November. If convicted of molesting a minor under 14, Lom could be jailed for up to five years, fined, caned, or receive any combination of the three.

What started as a temporary solution last year became an official measure in the COVID-19 education playbook in Vietnam this year. Last month, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training announced that the first half of the 2021–2022 school year will take place entirely online. Many school children have no devices (File Photo) Students will learn via pre-recorded lessons and virtual classrooms. The department is partnering with the municipal television station to film virtual lessons; around 10 weeks of courses have been recorded so far. According to saigoneer.com, middle- and high-school students already began their year on Monday, September 6, while elementary school children will start lessons from September 20. First-graders and their teachers are to take a week before the date to prepare for the formal classroom environment. On the first day, education activities already faced numerous setbacks across grades and household situations. According to the Director of the HCMC Department of Education and Training Nguyễn Văn Hiếu, many students, even those in metropolitan Saigon, have encountered difficulties with learning devices and internet connection. Poor Equipment and Connections Teachers, on the other hand, are struggling with non-standardized teaching platforms and software. Hiếu shared preliminary data compiled by the department showing that over 57,000 out of 600,000 primary school kids in Saigon don’t have enough home resources to study online. Difficult to connect (File Photo) For middle and high school levels, 17,000 out of 700,000 students either don’t have studying devices or internet access; while over 5,000 others have at least a smartphone or laptop for learning, but no internet. Because of the outbreak, 8,000 students from sixth to twelfth grades can’t do online learning at the moment for a variety of reasons: they have COVID-19, their family has COVID-19, they are undergoing treatment at a medical facility, their household has many students but only one smart device, etc. For those who are lucky enough to overcome those hurdles, the situation is still grim online. Yesterday morning, nearly all middle and high schools in Saigon using the K12 Online teaching portal could not connect to their virtual classrooms or experienced choppy performance according to media reports. The software is one of eight online learning platforms approved by the education department. So far, some of the challenges have been tackled with temporary solutions. Teachers have temporarily switched to other group chat platforms while waiting for K12 Online to be fixed. Several schools have taken the initiative to launch donation drives seeking old-but-usable smart devices to assist students in need. Some teachers have resorted to spreadsheets and printed-out slides for students without internet access, but those are unsustainable in the long run. This has been a problem for many education authorities across SE Asia, as pupils have returned to this years term, but are working online. Many families cannot afford internet connections.

Vienna - Vietnam plans to promote cooperation with Austria in the field of energy, especially renewable energy and sustainable development, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien told State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology Magnus Brunner on September 7. Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien shake hand with State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of Austria Magnus Brunner (Photo: VNA) Minister Dien is accompanying Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue to attend the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments (WCSP5) in Vienna, Austria. During a working session with the Austrian official, Minister Dien highlighted the fruitful and flourishing development of friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Austria in recent years. Especially in political, economic and cultural fields, while affirming that the European Union (EU) - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is an opportunity to further expand economic cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in general, and Austria in particular. He expected that Brunner will support the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) as soon as possible. The entry into force of the EVIPA, together with the EVFTA, will create a great competitive advantage for European businesses in general and those from Austria in particular to invest in Vietnam, opening up opportunities to increase trade between the two countries, Dien said. Austria will become a bridge to help Vietnam make inroads into the EU market, while Vietnam will help Austrian businesses access the ASEAN market with more than 650 million people, and a larger market with 800 million people when the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with 11 members, including Vietnam, has come into effect. Energy is one of Austria's important industries and a number of Austrian

Bamboo Airways will operate its first two-way demonstration flight on the Vietnam-US direct route on Thursday September 23rd. Under a certificate granted by the US’s Transportation Security Administration to the airline, Bamboo Airways will conduct 12 two-way flights on the route between September and November this year. The flights will take off and land in different airports of Vietnam, namely Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang. In the States the flights will use San Francisco and Los Angeles airports in California, and Seattle-Tacoma airport in Washington. So far their website is showing no fares for these routes. The operation of the first demonstration flight is the first of a series of activities of Bamboo Airways in the US, including the signing of MoUs with San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. Also the opening of a representative office in the US, and working sessions with Boeing and US partners. According to the airline, it has so far completed all important preparations to get ready to operate regular commercial flights connecting Vietnam and the US from late 2021 or early 2022. Earlier, Bamboo Airways officially entered into cooperation with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to trial the IATA Travel Pass from the fourth quarter of 2021, laying a solid foundation for the airline’s reopening of international routes. IATA Travel Pass is a digital health wallet where passengers can upload and share their COVID-19 tests and vaccinations certificates for travel. Health information is an essential factor for both governments and carriers to conduct safe flights during and after the pandemic. The IATA Travel Pass is considered a safer and more effective solution compared to current paper-based procedures, especially when it comes to a multitude of test and vaccination data needed to be secured. Meanwhile Bamboo Airways officially opened the sale of routes Hanoi – Taipei and Hanoi – Tokyo to meet the travel needs of Vietnamese people wishing to study, work, etc., foreigners in Vietnam wishing to return home, or for business trip … to satisfy the conditions on entry and exit of the countries. Flights to Taipei and Tokyo will start in November according to their website.

PetroVietnam's HQ (File photo) The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) reported that its pre-tax profit in the first eight months of the year surpassed the set plan by 177 percent and tripled the figure for the same period last year, reaching 30.2 trillion VND (US$1.32 billion ). According to Vietnam Plus, during the period, the group’s crude oil output surpassed the plan by 12.7 percent, and the outputs of petrol, oil and fertiliser were also higher than the targets. The group's total revenue hit over 390.7 trillion VND, exceeding the plan by 17 percent and up 24 percent on a yearly basis. Its contribution to the State budget soared by 38 percent to 56.9 trillion VND. PetroVietnam cut costs by 2.04 trillion VND, equivalent to 75 percent of its yearly target. It also contributed 733.8 billion VND to the COVID-19 fight, of which 554.9 billion VND went to the COVID-19 vaccine fund. (File photo) However, the group’s operation was severely affected in August when the social distancing order was imposed in most of cities and provinces nationwide, including several economic hubs such as Ho Chi Minh City and the southeastern region. Given the challenges, the group has taken drastic actions to cope with the pandemic, including imposing strict preventive measures, securing vaccination for its employees, while rolling out suitable, effective production models. At the same times, PetroVietnam units have kept updated on market developments, adjusted production chains and boosted digital transformation to adapt to the new working environment amid COVID-19. Note: Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation, trading as Petrovietnam, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, production, refine, storage, and transportation of petrochemicals/hydrocarbon products. The company also engages in importing and exporting petroleum materials, equipment, and productions; and distributing oil and gas products and hydrocarbon materials. In addition, it surveys, designs, and constructs petroleum and civil sites; manufactures and trades construction materials. Further, the company provides consulting in construction and investment, and designing petroleum and civil projects. Furthermore, its operations include investing in real estate and power projects; operating in finance, banking, insurance, and securities fields; manpower training and supplying in petroleum fields and labor export; and operating in hotel, travel, and office businesses. Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation was founded in 1977 and is based in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Heavy rainfall in several parts of the Lower Mekong River Basin is contributing to the rise, with river levels above their long-term averages, mostly at the upper stations, according to MRC’s observed water level and rainfall data. Mekong River (File Photo) Most regions of Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand can expect to be drenched in the next few days as heavy rain is forecast as Tropical Storm Conson approaches. Conson, is currently forecast to move off the coast of the Philippines and into the South China Sea by Thursday afternoon. Conson can approach, or directly strike, China's Hainan province early this weekend before potentially tracking into Vietnam early next week. Umbrella weather As it approaches the storm will likely bring a 70-80% chance of rain in all regions in the next 24 hours. The downpours in many parts of the country are likely to continue until next Monday. Vietnam’s forecast for Wednesday September 8th is mostly cloudy with a couple of soaking shower s with 9.77mm of rain expected. The region received approximately 40% higher than average rainfall in July when compared to the same period between 2015 and 2020, the MRC added. “Due to heavy rainfall, dams in the Lower Mekong including those on the tributary released large amounts of water during 24–25 July, causing water levels to surge quickly,” said Dr Lam Hung Son, Head of the MRC Secretariat’s Regional Flood and Drought Management Centre. He added that it was not immediately clear whether these surges caused any damage. “Sudden water releases from tributary dams increasingly pose a challenge to accurate forecasting of river levels,” Dr Son said, noting that the MRC has installed 67 automatic hydrometeorological stations along the Mekong mainstream and tributaries to collect rainfall and water level data. Thailand levels increased The water level in Thailand’s Chiang Saen, the second uppermost monitoring station in the LMB, increased from 3.10 metres (m) to 6.5m between July 20 and 23, a rise of almost 3.5m. But the level receded approximately 1m during July 24–26. Lao PDR’s capital city Vientiane saw its river level surge more than 4.83m during the last seven days, but the level is expected to drop by about 0.30m over the next five days. From Nakhon Phanom in Thailand to Pakse in Lao PDR, river levels rose more than 3.10m and may continue to rise by approximately 1.60m over the next five days. In Cambodia, water levels in the stretches from Stung Treng to Neak Luong in Prey Veng were reported to have increased by 0.85m in the same period. Throughout the next five days, levels are forecasted to rise by a further 2.60m. Meanwhile In Vietnam's Mekong Delta encompassing Tan Chau on the Mekong River and Chau Doc on the Bassac River, water levels fluctuated between maximum and minimum values because of tidal effects. The MRC continues to monitor water levels across the Mekong region amid erratic weather patterns. With the world's strongest monsoons, this region stretches from the South China Sea into the Indian Ocean and includes Asia and the northern end of Australia. From June until September, summer monsoon rains occur in South Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and India.

Ipo Dam (File Photo) MANILA, Philippines — Residents in ow-lying areas in Bulacan have been warned against possible floods and flash floods after the Ipo Dam released excess water Wednesday due to heavy rainfall brought by severe tropical storm Jolina. According to the 7:30 am situation of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Ipo Dam conducted spilling operations with an initial discharge of 55 cubic meters (cms). “IPO Dam management will conduct a spilling operation at 8:00 am today, with an initial discharge of 55 cms,” the situationer read. According to the Inquirer ,Ipo Dam’s water level is now at 101.23 meters, which is over the spilling level of 101 meters. “Residents living along the low-lying areas and those near the riverbanks of Angat River from Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliuag, Pulilan, Plaridel and Hagonoy are advised to be alert for possible flood/flash flood,” the advisory from Pagasa’s Hydro-Meteorology Division. These areas are under the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2, where damaging gale-force to storm-force winds is expected to prevail within 24 hours, the state weather bureau said. The Ipo Dam is a gravity-concrete dam located about 7.5 kilometers downstream of the Angat Dam in Bulacan. It was completed in January 1984 with a maximum storage capacity of 7.5 million cubic meters with a total catchment area of 6,600 hectares.

MANILA – Chief banking economist projects the country’s inflation rate to accelerate in the coming months due to weather-related factors. In a separate ING Bank Manila economist report, they state that a likely 6.9 percent unemployment rate “to weigh on the Philippine economic recovery." “In view of the typhoon season and still relatively lower base/denominator effects, inflation could mathematically reach a peak of about 5 percent by September or October 2021." "This will be before easing thereafter back to 3-4 percent by November-December 2021 as the lower base/denominator effects fade by then,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said in a report Tuesday. RCBC chief economist Michael Ricafort (left) and ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa Ricafort also forecasts inflation to average “at a little over 3 percent” in 2022 “as the inflation denominator/base normalizes.” The country’s inflation rate accelerated to its fastest since January 2019 last August to 4.9 percent. The average inflation in January to August stood at 4.4 percent, higher than the government’s 2 percent to 4-percent target band. Monetary authorities forecast a sustained elevated inflation rate in the next few months before this decelerates to a within-target level by the end of the year. Ricafort forecasts the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep its accommodative stance “as part of the efforts to help stimulate and support recovery prospects in the economy” given the domestic growth, along with demand and consumption, still fragile because of the pandemic. While Ricafort sees the BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) rate to remain at a record-low 2 percent, he projects a possible cut in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) “especially if inflation stabilizes further.” 6.9 percent unemployment In a separate report, ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa also forecasts monetary officials to “likely look past this price spike” since BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno has repeatedly vowed to keep their current stance to support the domestic economy. “A BSP rate hike will not likely be able to address the current food price spike nor make imported energy cheaper and thus, we fully expect BSP to retain its accommodative stance all the more with the economy still in the midst of a recession,” he said. Mapa also forecasts the elevated inflation rate and the 6.9 percent unemployment rate “to weigh on the Philippine economic recovery.” He expects full-year gross domestic product (GDP) to be at around 3.8 percent, lower than economic managers’ 4 percent to 5 percent assumption. He also forecasts the peso to “remain pressured in the near term as BSP signals it will not likely adjust policy rates to combat this current spike in prices.” (PNA) Note: In 2020, there were seven tropical storms recorded in the Philippines. (File photo) Super Typhoon Goni, became the world's most powerful tropical cyclone in November that year, bringing torrential rains, violent winds, mudslides, and storm surges to Luzon. In all, the typhoon killed at least 32 people, and caused at least ₱20 billion (US$415 million) worth of damage.

MANILA – Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday said he is certain that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte won’t tolerate any form of corruption in the government. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (File photo) Dela Rosa made this comment during the Senate Blue Ribbon inquiry into the alleged overpriced personal protective equipment (PPE), face shields, and other medical supplies in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). “In fairness to President Duterte, I’ve known him for 35 years. I know that when one of his men get involved in corruption, he will be removed immediately,” dela Rosa said. He added that even former Special Assistant to the President and now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go won’t allow himself to be used by anyone to influence government transactions on the purchase of medical supplies. "In fairness to him [Go], he will not stay long with the President if he has been doing illegal because I know President Duterte will not really allow to have corruption,” dela Rosa said. Legitimate transactions During the hearing conducted by the Senate blue ribbon committee, former Department of Budget, and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao said all the transactions involving the purchase Covid-19 emergency supplies at the onset of the pandemic are legitimate. Lao made this response when asked by dela Rosa if the former DBM-Procurement Service (PS-DBM) chief received kickbacks in government contracts for the purchase of PPE set, face masks and other medical supplies. “I did not receive kickbacks. These are all legitimate transactions; they are all multiple companies. Those are series of transactions for emergencies,” Lao responded. Lao added that Go did not give him instruction to give preference to Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corporation. “I would like to explain to the public so that everybody will know. Pharmally did not supply PPEs of these items to PS-DBM outright. Because there was no supply,” Lao said. Since there was no supply of PPE set in the first few months of the pandemic, Lao said the government reached out to China using diplomatic channels. “And China responded. So that is why foreign companies supplied to us first. Then later, Pharmally came in. So, it’s a series of event,” he added. Lao said the PS-DBM had to purchase face masks from Pharmally as local supplier EMS Components Assembly could only supply face masks by June 2020. "When we had a contract with EMS already, we stopped procurement from any entity except EMS," he said. (PNA)

MANILA – Commission on Audit (COA) Chairman Michael Aguinaldo clarified that the findings of the auditing team that handled the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (PS-DBM) pertained to the inventory management, and not the alleged overpricing of the medical supplies in the fight against Covid-19. “The findings of auditing that handles PS-DBM really pertained more to inventory management and not the overpricing,” Aguinaldo said during the Senate inquiry on Tuesday. Face mask production (File photo) Aguinaldo said the PS-DBM procured “quite a bit” of face masks anywhere from PHP13 to PHP27 per piece during the first few months of the pandemic. “The problem was a lot of these equipment were not disposed right away so that when September 2020, came and the prices went down, the regional offices and the hospitals from PS-DBM don’t want to buy anymore from PS-DBM because its expensive already,” he said. He said the PS-DBM was forced to dispose the Covid-19 supplies “at a discount” due to inventory management problem. “Now they’re face to the problem with a lot of stock, but no one wants to get because its expensive, and so PS-DBM was forced to dispose of them at a discount. ‘That’s our main observation that there was a problem in the inventory management,” Aguinaldo said. Former DBM Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao said the PS-DBM awarded the contract to EMS Components Assembly for the supply of face masks. EMS chairman Ferdinand Ferrer, however, said although his company secured a 100-million-piece face mask contract with the government, only 25 million face masks were bought for PHP13.50. Ferrer said the PS-DBM only paid PHP2.35 each of the remaining 75 million face masks, resulting in only total sales of PHP523 million or way below the original PHP1.3 billion contract. (PNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Bloomberg network in the States, has hailed Vietnam as a growth hotspot for branded residences in Asia. Ritz Carlton project in Hanoi (file photo) The newswire said Vietnam’s number of high and ultra-high network individuals have increased impressively over the past five years. Most amassing over 1 million USD and 30 million USD accounting for 26 percent and 108 percent, respectively. Class Statement Therefore, owning a branded apartment is considered a “testament” to their class, apart from the purpose of living and pure investment. The growth arose from Vietnam’s impressive economic growth. In 2019, Bloomberg said Vietnam was one of the fastest growing economies globally with a growth of over 6 percent in 20 consecutive years. The South China Morning Post also agreed that Vietnam’s property sector has been increasingly favoured by international investors because of its stellar economic growth. The US-based hotel operator Marriott International is also making a foray into Vietnam’s branded residence segment. Grand Marina Saigon (file photo) In early 2021, Marriott International announced the first branded residence project in Vietnam – Grand Marina Saigon in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. It also plans to embark on another branded Ritz-Carlton in downtown Hanoi in late 2023. VNA

The fourth Covid outbreak in Vietnam has caused major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to enter extensive social lockdown. This has had a major effect on the retail sector, particularly the mobile retail outlets, which have been hit hard as a result. Shops shut (photo Bao Thanh Nien) According to Vietnamtimes, since the Delta variant wave broke out in late April, most mobile stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have recorded a significant drop in sales. In 2021, CellPhoneS, one of the largest mobile retail chain stores in Vietnam, reported a 50% dip in June sales and 70% in July sales respectively compared to before the fourth Covid wave. ShopDunk, a retail chain store specialized in Apple products, noted similar challenges, with a drop of 50% in turnovers as its 11 stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been forced to turn to online mode. 51 million Smartphone Smartphone penetration in Vietnam has doubled since 2014 and there are now 51 million smartphones, representing over 80% of the 15 plus aged population. In rural Vietnam, 89% of the population have mobile phones, with 68% of these owning a smartphone. However, like many non-essential retailers, Mobile phone outlets across SE Asia were forced to close during the lockdowns. Online Sales still suffered However, moving online did not boost sales significantly due to transportation constraints. “A lot of our orders have been transferred to the transporting companies weeks ago, but they are still lying in the warehouse. Most provinces in southern Vietnam are under social lockdown so it is extremely difficult to deliver products to the customers,” CellphoneS representative Nguyen Lac Huy said. Mobile retail stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are struggling due to extended social lockdown. File photo) According to ShopDunk representative, “if this continues, retail chain stores will continue to struggle. Our sales in August took a dive not because we did not have customers but because we could not deliver our products. For instance, J&T Express has canceled hundreds of our orders in Ho Chi Minh City because they could not come and take the orders from us.” FPT Digital Retail, another mobile retail giant, noted that although the demand for smartphones had cooled down, leading to a decrease of 10% in sales compared to some months ago, the company recorded a rise of 50% in laptop and tablet turnovers as blue collars and students embraced working and studying from home. Mobile retail stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City noted that further social lockdown would place maintenance of their businesses under pressure due to rising operational and human resources costs. Some companies have planned to close down stores. To address current obstacles, mobile retail chain stores have sought solutions to maintain the influx of customers, notably boosting online sale channels and offering extra added value services to customers. In August, ShopDunk introduced new sale channels by cooperating with e-commerce giants such as Shopee Mall, Lazada and Tiki to open its Apple Authorized Reseller mall. ShopDunk is complying with the Covid prevention measures imposed in areas with Covid outbreaks. According to ShopDunk representative, the chain store has provided vaccination to all its employees in high-risk areas, reducing human resources by applying an unpaid leave policy. The management staff has cut down 30 – 70% of salary to maintain operation. ShopDunk is focusing on improving its online services such as free shipping, same-day delivery, giving vouchers worth VND 200,000 – 500,000 or providing 100% online shopping and technical advice to customers. According to FPT Digital Retail mobile telecommunications director Nguyen The Kha, the corporation has developed various scenarios to become adaptive, utilizing the rise in laptop needs to compensate for decreasing smartphone demand. For the third quarter of 2021, FPT Digital Retail has increased supply capacity and rolled out special sale programs intended for students in anticipation of the new academic year, ready to meet the target turnover growth. To attract customers, the retail chain store has also introduced promotion programs such as 15% or installment plans with 0% interest rates. “Toward the end of the year, the market will be very unpredictable, so we have prepared various business plans to respond actively to new occurrences,” FPT Digital Retail representative noted. Exports suffer too In 2020, Vietnam exported over 51 billion U.S. dollars’ worth of mobile phones and phone accessories, indicating a slight decrease from the export value for these products compared to the year before. Before 2020, the export value of phones and phone accessories had been increasing steadily year on year. With factories closed and shipping costs rising, exports for 2021 are expected to fall as well.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue arrived at the Vienna-Schwechat airport in Austria (photo VNA) National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue arrived at the Vienna-Schwechat airport in Austria on Sunday evening, beginning his trip to attend the fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (WCSP5) in Vienna. This was at the invitation of President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Duarte Pacheco and President of the Austrian National Council Wolfgang Sobotka. According to Vietnamtimes, Hue was welcomed at Schwechat airport by Vietnamese ambassador to Austria Nguyen Trung Kien and other officials of the embassy. He then met with officials of the embassy and representatives of Vietnamese expatriates in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia to reaffirm the policy on great national unity of the Party and State that consider the Vietnamese community abroad an integral part of the Vietnamese state. The meeting was considered a special constituency meeting of the NA Chairman with the expatriates. Important Speeches The Vietnamese NA delegation will attend the fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament from September 6-9. Hue will deliver three important speeches in plenary sessions and panel discussions, highlighting issues on sustainable development, the role of multilateralism in COVID-19 response and post-pandemic recovery, digital transformation, climate change and environmental protection. NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has arrived in Vienna, Austria, beginning his working trip to the EU, where he will attend the fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Vienna. Hue is scheduled to meet with leaders of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, along with several parliaments from other countries, and several international organizations. He will also meet with representatives of Austrian businesses and attend the Vietnam - Austria business forum. The WCSP, due to take place in Vienna from September 6-9, is to attract delegates from 104 members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and observers. Heads of IPU parliament members will deliver speeches at plenary sessions, focusing on such topics as sustainable development, climate change, gender equality, COVID-19 impact mitigation, and the role of multilateralism. After the WCSP5, Hue and his entourage will pay working visits to the European parliament, Belgium, and Finland till September 11, according to the VOV. A number of Vietnamese ministers in charge of foreign affairs, investment, trade, agriculture, labour, and public security, who are accompanying Hue on his trip will meet their counterparts in the host countries to promote cooperation in issues of mutual concern. NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue meets with the ambassadors to five European countries (Photo: VNA) NA Chairman Hue is scheduled to deliver speeches on the overall topic of the conference and at some discussions, focusing on sustainable development, the response to COVID-19 and post-pandemic recovery. On the sidelines of the event, the Vietnamese NA leader will have meetings with leaders of the IPU, parliaments of some countries and some international organisations. He will also attend a Vietnam-Austria business forum. The conference is a new and special mechanism of the IPU, aiming to contribute a common voice to the United Nations on the settlement of global issues. It is held every five years. Meeting with several Ambassadors Also on Sunday evening, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met Vietnamese Ambassadors to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Austria, and Germany. He lauded the efforts of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, including those in Europe, in implementing the vaccine diplomacy, asking the ambassadors to continue to work hard by all means and all channels to bring more COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam. The ambassadors were encouraged to exert more efforts to seek more vaccine sources and remove all obstacles in procedures to bring vaccines and medical supplies home as fast and soon as possible, he requested.

Vietnam Airlines has resumed international flights in response to domestic customers' demand. Boeing 787 Dreanliner for International flights (file photo) Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines continues operating repatriation flights in service of travelers overseas. The well-being and safety of passengers is our utmost priority. In response to the spread of Covid-19, Vietnam Airlines has been implementing various measures to provide our passengers the most comfortable flights possible, and we are also committed to policies that ensure our passengers' rights. They are continuously monitoring the situation and will provide updates as necessary. Regulations on travel documents Here are details of the current regulations, However these regulations are subject to change due to further announcements from local authority in the future. Passengers are required to have adequate travel documents for all flights on all concerned airlines and to abide by national laws and regulations. Vietnam Airlines are not responsible if passengers are denied entry into any country, passengers will be responsible for any legal liability, and to pay any fine, penalty or charge imposed against us by the Government concerned, any detention costs we are charged; the cost of transporting passengers from that country and any other costs we reasonably pay or agree to pay. The fare collected for carriage to the point of refusal or denied entry will not be refunded by us. The airline suggests you visit the IATA website for the latest entry requirements of the destinations you are travelling to. Entry and Exit Requirements: The Vietnamese government continues to allow pre-approved foreigners and their families in exempted categories, including diplomats, officials, experts, business managers, foreign investors, high-tech workers, and other business travelers to enter Vietnam. Please note that these individuals will be subject to mandatory COVID-19 testing and quarantine upon arrival. Detailed instructions for foreigners in exempted categories applying for entry into Vietnam are available on the Vietnamese government’s website (in Vietnamese only). If you have any questions about this process, please contact your employer or sponsoring organization directly. Flights running Currently on the Vietnam Airlines website they have posted this information on flights in operation. Ho Chi Minh city (SGN) - Sydney (SYD) flight operates only on 05/09/2021, 09/09/2021, 12/09/2021, 19/09/2021, 26/09/2021, 30/09/2021 Ho Chi Minh city (SGN) - Melbourne (MEL) flight operates only on 07/09/2021, 14/09/2021, 21/09/2021, 28/09/2021 Hanoi (HAN) - London (LHR) flight operates only on 02/09/2021, 21/09/2021 Hanoi (HAN) - Moscow (SVO) flight operates only on 03/09/2021 Hanoi (HAN) - Taipei (TPE) operates 1 flight per week (Tue.) from 01/11/2021 Hanoi (HAN) - Incheon (ICN) flight operates only on 12/09/2021 & 1 flight per week (Thu.) from 01/11/2021 (Suspended. 09/09/2021) Hanoi (HAN) - Narita (NRT) operates on 11/09/2021 & 1 flight per week (Thu.) Ho Chi Minh city (SGN) - Narita (NRT) operates 1 flight per week (Tue.) (Suspended. 07/09/2021, 14/09/2021) Ho Chi Minh city (SGN) - Bangkok (BKK) operates 1 flight per week (Wed.) Domestic Travel Domestic flights (file photo) According to the US Embassy’s website in Vietnam, the COVID-19 Testing for Domestic Travel is as follows: In Hanoi: Since July 10, Noi Bai Airport has offered pre-boarding COVID-19 testing service for passengers flying domestically from Hanoi. U.S. citizens who have questions about this service should contact air carriers directly. In Ho Chi Minh City: Since July 11, Tan Son Nhat Airport has also offered pre-boarding COVID-19 testing service for passengers flying domestically from HCMC. If you have any questions about this service should contact air carriers directly. Bottom line is as the situation on travel in general all across the globe is changing daily, it is important to contact your airline first, to get all the latest rules and regulatons, before booking a flight.

SINGAPORE - Unattended luggage and commuters without a mask, will soon be automatically detected by SBS Transit using new video analytics system. The system will be rolled out at five MRT interchange stations - Outram Park, Chinatown, Dhoby Ghaut, Little India and Serangoon - along the Northeast Line later this year. According to Straitstimes.com, it is expected to be used at interchange stations along the Downtown Line by next year. Screens can analyse visuals (ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG) The system, which can analyse visuals taken from SBS Transit's existing closed-circuit television (CCTV) network, was developed by the operator and French firm Thales over the last 1½ years. SBS Transit senior vice-president Jeffrey Sim, who is acting head of rail, said at a media preview last Friday, "Our whole underlying goal is really to enhance customer experience and also to enhance outcomes in safety and security." The system will not replace station staff but will instead "be more of an enabler", said Mr Sim, who is also SBS Transit's head of the North-East Line/Sengkang-Punggol LRT and head of rail development. Currently, staff must patrol MRT stations regularly and monitor CCTV cameras to spot any issues. Big Brother is looking Video surveillance is a very common technology used in public transport, especially for security purposes. New video analytics tools offer a cost-efficient means to monitor COVID safety measures using existing networks of street cameras. Globally, there are already 770 million CCTV cameras in use, and almost half of these are outside China, with the US, Asia and the Europe being key markets. Detecting outdoors too. (File photo) Several new examples of cities using video analytics have emerged during the pandemic. Cannes in France used artificial intelligence (AI) to detect adherence to mask-wearing and social distancing rules. Transport for Greater Manchester has been analysing CCTV footage to understand social distancing behaviour and assess how infrastructure is used. And Barcelona deployed AI to prevent beach crowding by analysing the proportion of available sand. London has used data from cameras, sensors and point of sale counts to understand ‘busyness’ as well. Singapore system The system here will help staff identify issues of unattended luggage, mask less commuters and unexpected crowds more quickly. It can gauge commuter density at the MRT stations - a functionality that was trialed at Woodleigh station last March. Fainting passengers Mr Sim said the system will collect data to identify the usual crowd level at different times of the day. The software will then alert station staff whenever a bigger crowd than usual is detected. Such an instance could arise if a commuter has fainted. "The tendency is, when someone has fainted, people will come together and the density will rise," said Mr Sim. "So that's when the station staff will be able to intervene early, rather than being informed by somebody pushing the panic button or coming up to the station control." He said the ability to gauge passenger density accurately will help staff decide whether to deploy more marshals or bridging buses to disperse crowds in the case of MRT breakdowns. Mr Sim said the system is also being adapted to identify commuters with mobility needs, such as wheelchair users or those using crutches. This would let station staff help them more quickly. Mr Cyrille Bataille, Thales' head of integrated communications and supervision domain in Singapore, said the system can be expanded to add wheelchair identification and other functionalities without requiring additional infrastructure. SBS Transit is also studying how to make historical and real-time information about commuter density from the new system available to the public, said Mr Sim. This will then help people to better plan their journey to avoid crowds. Mr Sim said the project was fully funded by SBS Transit, however he declined to reveal the exact cost. Station manager Roy Ong said the automated alerts by the new system will enable him and his colleagues to reduce time spent monitoring CCTV screens, freeing them to assist commuters. He added: "I think the mask detection is good, especially with the current Covid-19 situation. It lets us immediately proceed to the passenger and assist them."

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. 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. Vietnam wind farm (File photo) 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. Climate change threatens regions economy “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.”

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III–DOF photo Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III yesterday assured the public, that neither the government nor taxpayers, would be on the losing side in deals entered into with the private sector for big-ticket infrastructure projects. According to the Inquirer, Dominguez told the House committee on ways and means on Monday that at the start of the Duterte administration, it reviewed the projects undertaken through the public-private partnership (PPP) mode, amid rising contingent liabilities. “There is no such thing as ‘no cost to the government’— there is always a cost, and the cost is either borne by the government or by the taxpayer, or by the user of PPP projects”, Dominguez said. Among these contingent liabilities are guarantees of revenue and of return of investment (ROI), which the government will shoulder, as well as fees and charges, which consumers will pay, the Finance chief noted. While the PPP Center was still preparing a report on these contingent liabilities, Dominguez said that “we were quite surprised with the amount of liabilities that these so-called PPP projects in the past had generated.” The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) had estimated contingent liabilities arising from PPP projects to have reached P311.8 billion last year. For the PPP projects awarded during the current administration, Dominguez said the liabilities had been “limited” to not burden the government and users. Recent report This comes after a press report last week, that 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. Dominguez also cited the airport and water utility PPPs in New Clark City, which he claimed had “totally different” contracts compared with previous deals entered by the government. The Finance chief said the Clark water contract, for instance, was unlike those with Manila Water and Maynilad, which the government reviewed and renegotiated for allegedly being “onerous”. The Clark International Airport expansion was also “much better in terms of contingent liability management than the PPP project that was done for the airport in Cebu,” Dominguez added. The updated list of flagship infrastructure projects in the “Build, Build, Build” pipeline included 20 unsolicited PPP projects worth P1.5 trillion, which will be financed by tycoons’ deep pockets.

MANILA – Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCRA) on Monday affirmed its A-level credit rating with a stable outlook on the Philippines, citing partly government measures to address the pandemic’s impact on the health system and the economy. “The ratings mainly reflect the country’s high and sustainable economic growth performance underpinned by solid domestic demand, its reliance to external shocks supported by an external debt kept low relative to GDP (gross domestic product) and the accumulation of foreign exchange reserves, the government’s solid fiscal position, and sound banking sector,” it said in a statement. The rating affirmation came nearly 15 months after JCRA upgraded its ratings on the Philippines to A-level on June 11, 2020, on the belief that the economy would be able to weather the impact of the virus-induced pandemic. In its report, the Japan-based debt watcher said the recovery of economic activities is delayed because of movement restrictions needed to address the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), especially given the more contagious Delta variant. Shokichi Takagi, JCRA President “However, the government has been swiftly implementing adequate measures such as increased public health-related expenditure, acceleration of vaccination, and continuation of employment program(s) by drawing upon its relatively strong fiscal position before the pandemic,” it said. The credit rater said it “does not consider that the fiscal soundness will be impaired because while the fiscal deficit has widened, the support package at this time is backed by appropriate fiscal policies and the government debt will remain comparatively subdued.” "The Duterte administration's centerpiece infrastructure development program has not been retarded even amid the prolonged pandemic," it added. (PNA) Note: JCRA is a leading credit rating agency in Japan, and an expert of credit risk analysis. JCR has a track record of assign credit ratings for more than 200 foreign issuers. JCR is the only Japanese rating agency that is also officially registered in the US and certified in the EU. As the financial market becomes more globalized, demand for credit ratings with international recognition may be growing, to provide an important clue to assess credit risks. JCR aims to address such needs in the international financial markets.

MANILA – Long queues greeted the resumption of the Commission on Election (Comelec) voter registration on Monday in Metro Manila that is still under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said many would-be voters have lined up in many Offices of Election Officer (OECs) in the National Capital Region (NCR). Metropolitan Manila, known officially as the National Capital Region, is the seat of government and one of three defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines. It has sixteen (16) highly urbanized cities composed of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela, all broken down into 1,705 barangays. “The first day of registration in NCR while under MECQ saw a heavy turnout of registrants throughout most of NCR,” he said in a statement. “Long queues formed outside many offices.” Compliant with minimum health protocols Despite the strong turnout, Jimenez said the applicants were compliant with minimum health protocols amid the threat of the Covid-19, including the more contagious Delta variant. Jimenez said numerous Comelec offices did not have a cutoff and are ready to accommodate over 300 applicants for the 2022 national and local elections. He said Comelec’s decision not to extend the nationwide voter registration beyond September 30 will remain despite the heavy turnout. “Despite the strong turnout of applicants, however, there is still no indication of a possible reversal of the decision not to grant an extension,” he said. Last week, the poll body decided to resume voter registration in areas under MECQ. On Monday, Malacañang said the quarantine classification in Metro Manila will be downgraded to regular general community quarantine (GCQ) from Sept. 8 to 30. However, granular, or localized lockdowns will be piloted in the NCR particularly in areas with high Covid-19 cases during the period. (PNA)

MANILA – The government’s decision to lift restrictions on travelers from ten countries starting this week was based on improved risk classification assessment and strict border control measures. In an online media forum, Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said four weeks prior to the lifting of travel restrictions on India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the country adapted the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States. Over the weekend, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation to lift the travel restrictions. “Aside from this from CDC guidelines, we added one parameter for leeway for other countries because the CDC parameters are too strict and almost all countries fall under high, moderate risk classification” Vergeire said on Monday. “We added one metric, and this is the incidence rate of Covid-19 cases, and because of the CDC classification, other restrictions in our country like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, their situation improved based on the assessment internationally, they have gone to the moderate risk level countries, and their restrictions were lifted,” she added. Still 14 days quarantine Vergeire said safeguards are in place and the country has strict border controls, including required 14-day quarantine for inbound travelers regardless of vaccination status. The first 10 days of quarantine must be in a facility and the remaining four days at home. To avoid false negative or false positive results, the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests of inbound travelers will be done on the seventh day of quarantine. (PNA)

Chew on this for a minute… Lexi Thompson has 11 #LPGA wins and 74 top 10s. Meanwhile, Patrick Cantlay just earned 3.6 million dollars more in one week than Lexi has earned in her ENTIRE career. A very rich winner. Patrick Cantlay The 2021 FedEx Cup final leaderboard was headed by winner Patrick Cantlay, who prevailed by a shot in the Tour Championship to win the FedEx Cup at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga. Jon Rahm finished second in the season-long race, having tied with Kevin Na for the lowest 72-hole score in the season finale but unable to win the trophy as he started the week four shots back of Cantlay. Cantlay won the $15,000,000 winner's share of the $46,000,000 purse. The top 30 players in the standings, all of which qualified for the Tour Championship, earned their final bonus-pool payout based on their finish in the Tour Championship inclusive of starting strokes. The other 120 players who earned money from the $60 million bonus pool did so based on their FedEx Cup points standings at the time they were eliminated from the playoffs. Even the last player who finished 150, Satoshi Kodaira won $70,000. When will this gravy train stop?