More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
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| https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2024/11/29/638196/debt-to-gdp-ratio-unlikely-to-return-to-pre-pandemic-level/ |
THE PHILIPPINES’ debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio is unlikely to return to the pre-pandemic level as debt remains elevated in the medium term, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.
But the National Government’s (NG) medium-term fiscal consolidation plan will make sure it can continue to invest in its economic priorities while keeping debt obligations sustainable, the BTr added.
“It should also be said that an aggressive return to the pre-pandemic debt-to-GDP ratio of 39.6% is technically and politically infeasible,” BTr said in its annual report released on Nov. 27.
The Treasury said this would require a “more dramatic” fiscal adjustment where the government should have consistent budgetary surpluses.
But this approach would deprive the country of the needed public investments, it added.
The NG’s debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 61.3% at the end of September, higher than the year-earlier 60.2%.
This is still above the 60% threshold deemed by multilateral lenders as manageable for developing economies.
The government seeks to bring this down to 60.6% by the end of 2024, and below 60% by 2028.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the government incurs “relatively wider budget deficits” as it requires additional government borrowings that increase the outstanding debt.
“Faster GDP (gross domestic product) growth would also been an essential element to bring down the ratio below the 60% international threshold,” Mr. Ricafort said.
Mr. Ricafort said new tax and fiscal reform measures are needed to further narrow the budget deficit.
As of end-September, the deficit-to-GDP ratio stood at 5.14%, well below the 5.6% target for 2024.
“While debt-to-GDP will remain elevated compared with historical levels, the strong and sustained economic growth of 5.6%, coupled with steady reduction in budgetary deficits and a favorable negative real effective interest rate of 1.3% on the NG’s issuances will drive support for debt sustainability,” the Treasury said.
That's the result of all the borrowing which was done during the pandemic.
MakeSense Asia is one of the winners of the 2024 Le Trophee Bleu Business Sustainability Award. This is in no small part to its RISE for Youth Initiative which helps address youth unemployment.
MakeSense Asia is one of the winners of the 2024 Le Trophee Bleu Business Sustainability Award. The non-profit organization earned the recognition in the Sustainable Excellence in SME category from the French business community in the country, CCI France Philippines, for its unique program of empowering the youth to sustain themselves and the planet at the same time.
On the website of MakeSense Asia is a job board where jobseekers can find employment related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations. For example, it lists renewable energy companies or an enterprise that transforms recovered textile waste into wearable products. There are also career opportunities from the Salvation Army and Doctors Without Borders.
“If I talk about what MakeSense does, our goal is very simple: to have every actor in society, every person involved in creating social or environmental impact. And to give you an example of any actor, it really means anyone. We believe that anyone can be someone who creates change,” Carlos Hechenova, director for development of MakeSense Asia, said.
MakeSense Asia primarily focuses on climate action, social entrepreneurship and youth empowerment.
Its climate programs focus on renewable energy, circular economy practices with local government units (LGUs) and private sectors, and combating single-use plastics. It also offers support to startups of budding changemakers.
What eventually clinched the award for MakeSense was its RISEForYouth initiative.
RISE is short for Reducing Inequalities and Skills Employment. It emerged at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to address rising youth unemployment. The program targets underserved youth, including those who age out of orphanages, live below the poverty line, or face barriers like early parenthood.
“These are young people left to their own devices, without access to decent jobs,” explained Angeli Recella, MakeSense Asia’s co-executive director.
Hechanova recalled the grim unemployment statistics during the pandemic.
“It was really bad,” he said. “Youth unemployment was even worse compared to the general rate because the sectors hardest hit — hotels and food services — were where most young people were employed.”
To bridge the gap, MakeSense Asia focused on equipping the youth with the tools they needed to reenter the workforce. Over one million young individuals gained access to free resources, while job fairs, resume-building workshops and mock interviews prepared them to be hired.
From upskilling beneficiaries in soft and hard skills, to assisting with documentation, to curating job fairs that result in on-the-spot hires, MakeSense Asia ensures no one is left behind.
The group organizes in-person job fairs across Luzon and Visayas, connecting thousands of young people to decent jobs, including hundred who are hired on the spot.
But their ultimate vision? To become obsolete.
“That’s the ideal world,” said Recella. “A world where organizations like ours aren’t needed because systems are already in place to ensure equality and opportunity for everyone.”
Until then, MakeSense Asia continues to lead with one mission: to transform lives and ensure that every step they take creates ripples of change.
The program arose during the pandemic. They hope one day to be eventually obsolete but that might not be anytime soon.
Museo Pambata is finally reopening its doors after four years.
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| https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-culture/what-to-expect-museo-pambata-reopening-december-2024/ |
Good news for all children and children at heart! The famed Museo Pambata is reopening on December 6, with new and exciting activities and exhibits for all.
The Philippines’ first children’s museum located in Ermita, Manila, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with its new theme “Isla Pambata (Children’s Island)” — a tribute to the diverse and vibrant experiences of Filipino children all over the country.
“Generations of children have passed through Museo Pambata’s doors, and this anniversary honors them — and those yet to come,” Museo Pambata founder Nina Lim-Yuson said during the media launch on Wednesday, November 27.
Museo Pambata was one of the many cultural establishments that had to close due to the pandemic. Coupled with having to deal with structural problems within the building, the institution has since only been able to hold limited events and private programs within the museum.
Since 2020, Museo Pambata’s board has been working to not only return the museum to its pre-pandemic state but to update it based on the needs of today’s children.
“Our hope for Museo Pambata is to be an intergenerational cultural playground,” said president Bambi Manosa-Tanjutco. “It’s where we want Filipinos of all ages to believe in the power of our culture and collectively dream of this future, today.”
Not all spaces within the museum will be available to the public until early 2025, but visitors can look forward to exploring several exciting spaces during their reopening in December.
It's the latest in a long line of places reopening after the lockdown.
Bohol tourism is back to pre-pandemic levels but other areas are struggling.
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| https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2024/11/29/bohol-tourism-back-to-pre-pandemic-levels-but-other-areas-struggling-1249 |
Tourism in Bohol is back at pre-pandemic levels but other parts of the Philippines are still struggling, the owner of a hotel and resort in the province said Tuesday.
"I think, sa Bohol nga, parang pre-pandemic level na," said The Bellevue Resort Managing Director Dustin Chan.
"But unfortunately, other areas still struggling," he added.
Chan said Chinese tourists have yet to return to the Philippines.
The executive said more than 80 percent of their guests pre-pandemic were Chinese. But the number of Chinese guests now is "Very little--miniscule compared to before," said The Bellevue Resort Manager Andrew Fernandes.
Fernandes added that there are more Koreans now visiting Bohol, with between 6 to 9 flights daily directly flying to the province from South Korea.
But "Just because there are more Koreans doesn't mean the numbers even out," he added.
Chan explained that the Chinese now must visit either one of four cities--Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu--to get interviewed for a visa to travel to the Philippines.
Still, he noted that Bohol is a popular destination because it is "convenient" for tourists.
"There's no traffic yet, there's [an] international airport just here, it's only 10 to 15 minutes away," he said.
"Kung magbo-Boracay ka, imagine-in mo, it’s like a penalty for choosing Station One, kasi lagpas Station Three yung Jetty Port eh. Tapos dadaanan mo lahat ng traffic sa gitna," Fernandes noted.
"Or when you land in Cebu you fly 1 hour to get there but drive 1 and a half hour to get to the city," he added.
Chan said the government can make the Philippines more attractive to tourists by keeping crime low.
He also noted that the government must prevent tourism sector workers from being opportunistic and charging higher costs to tourists.
"For example, when you go to Thailand, you try to search bookings in Bangkok or somewhere--it's not very expensive, right? Because they're really regulating the prices, and when their guests have complaints, like, 'Oh this travel agency is trying to screw me,' or 'This tour is screwing me'-- the support of their local tourism and their government is so strong."
"They’re very supportive of tourism. Tourism comes first before maybe making extra more money to screw people up. Like before we had an experience there, we noticed that the travel person was bringing us to places that were too expensive. We tried to complain; they were really scared about it," he related.
The Philippines hopes to bring in 7.7 million foreign tourists to the Philippines by the end of 2024.
Chinese tourists have not returned en masse to the Philippines and tourists don't like getting screwed out of money.
Another Filipina nurse has been awarded for her efforssts during the pandemic.
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| https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/africa-press-releases/nurse-maria-victoria-juan-from-philippines-wins-the-prestigious-aster-guardians-global-nursing-award-2024-klc12zlk |
Nurse Maria Victoria Juan from Philippines, a Consultant at Philippines Army Health Services and Colonel, Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has been announced as the winner of Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024 and awarded with USD 250,000 at a prestigious award ceremony held in Bengaluru, India.
Maria Victoria Juan, currently a consultant at Philippine Army Health Services and Colonel, Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, served as the Chief Nurse of the Philippines Army and she was responsible for initiating the first aeromedical evacuation system in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). This system has greatly improved survival rates by enabling rapid evacuation and early treatment of casualties, especially in conflict areas. At the age of 54 years, she joined an intensive 9-month long aeromedical evacuation training program while working full-time as a chief nurse. As a leader who believes in leading from the front, she completed 200-hours of emergency ambulance conduction, 100 hours of clinical duty, 1-mile ocean swim, 3-day jungle survival, helicopter underwater escape and flight medical runs, while having a fear of flying and deepwater swimming. Maria also pioneered environmental health initiatives, integrating vetiver grass technology to combat soil erosion and water pollution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maria organized the Endurun Mega Swabbing Center, training troops as medical swabbers and coordinating healthcare professionals. The center conducted nearly 500,000 tests, significantly contributing to the country’s pandemic response.
The twist is she actually lives and works as a nurse in the Philippines and not overseas.
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