Coronavirus Lockdown: Allowance Claims Stil Unpaid, Sara Duterte's Pandemic Tale, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

Billions of pesos in COVID-19 allowance claims have yet to be paid. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/04/18/2348490/p234-billion-covid-19-allowance-claims-still-unpaid

At least P23.4 billion is still needed to pay the allowance of health workers who served during the COVID pandemic, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

“Based on individually approved claims... fresh funds of P23.4 billion is needed to pay for 4.3 million claims,” the DOH reported on Tuesday night.

The department said it has received P91 billion from the Department of Budget and Management for the payment of public health emergency benefits and allowances as well as COVID sickness and death compensation  from July 1, 2021 to July 20, 2023 aside from special risk allowance and meals, accommodation and transportation benefits from Feb. 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

Centers for Health Development  are working with private and local government unit (LGU)-owned hospitals and health facilities for the completion of documentary requirements for workers to receive their benefits and allowances.

The law requires non-DOH facilities to execute a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the department before fund transfers can take place.

Commission on Audit Circular No. 2012-001 requires that no additional funds can be transferred unless those previously transferred are fully liquidated.

The DOH gave assurance that it would release the funds as soon as concerned private and LGU hospitals comply with the law that requires a MOA and liquidation.                                  

Of course they are working on rectifying the situation. They have been working on it for four years now. 

Sara Duterte has related how she became besties with Singapore Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan during the pandemic. 

https://politiko.com.ph/2024/04/17/sara-dutertes-pandemic-tale-how-she-became-friends-with-singapores-top-diplomat/snitch-network/

Vice President Sara Duterte is forever grateful for the friendship with Singapore Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan.

Duterte revealed a touching tale of how she bonded with the Singaporean official during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a Facebook post, Duterte recalled that when a family member faced a daunting COVID-19 quarantine in Singapore, Balakrishnan stepped up to extend a helping hand.

The country’s veep extended her heartfelt gratitude to the Singaporean diplomat during a meeting at her office on Tuesday, April 16.

“Foreign Minister Vivian was one of the Singaporeans who helped a family member navigate the COVID-19 quarantine in Singapore,” she said in a Facebook post on April 17.

“We will always be grateful for the kindness extended by the Singapore government. A memorable chapter in my pandemic stories was when I made friends with Foreign Minister Vivian,” she said.

The Vice President meanwhile hailed the robust ties between the Philippines and Singapore as the two nations mark its 55 years of relations this year. She also cited Singapore as a reliable trade and tourism partner of the Philippines.

“We both look forward to further expanding and deepening these relations, particularly in the field of education,” she said.

Duterte was also moved to hear about Singapore’s appreciation for the hardworking Filipino workers in their country.

Looking ahead, Duterte expects more collaborations and partnerships with Singapore, especially in the field of education.

The Singaporean government helped a Duterte relative navigate the quarantine. But what does that mean exactly? How hard is it to stay indoors?

President Marcos has made Time's list of 100 Most Influential People of 2024.  His efforts to stabilize the post-pandemic economy is just one reason cited for this honor. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/04/19/2348839/marcos-jr-makes-times-100-most-influential-people-2024

President Marcos is among this year’s 100 most influential people of Time magazine, which depicted him as someone who rewrote history but who has “elevated the Philippines on the world stage.”

Time’s description of Marcos, the only Filipino in this year’s list, was not flattering. It called the President’s late father and namesake a dictator and attributed his 2022 electoral victory to the “whitewashing” of his family legacy and “clever” social media manipulation.

However, Time also cited his efforts to stabilize the post-pandemic economy, enhance the Philippines’ image and stand up to China, which has sparked fears and tensions because of its aggressive actions in the South China Sea.

“For Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos to make history, he first needed to rewrite his nation’s. His dictator father plundered billions of dollars from state coffers and stood accused of grievous human-rights violations until his ouster in 1986,” an article written by Time correspondent Charlie Campbell read.

“Yet Bongbong’s desire to rehabilitate the Marcos name has resulted in other shifts. He brought technocrats back into government, steadied the post-­pandemic economy, and elevated the Philippines on the world stage,” it added. 

According to Time, Marcos has “stood steadfast” against China’s aggression in the South China Sea and bolstered the Philippines alliance with the US in the face of rising regional and global tensions.

“Many problems persist, including extra­judicial killings and journalists routinely attacked. But by trying to repair his family name, Bongbong may reshape his country too,” the article read.

But it seems everyone has overlooked that Time literally claims Marcos had to rewrite his nation's history. "For Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to make history, he first needed to rewrite his nation’s. His dictator father plundered billions of dollars from state coffers and stood accused of grievous human-rights violations until his ouster in 1986. Bongbong’s rise to the Philippine presidency in 2022 was owed to whitewashing this family legacy through clever manipulation of social media." 

The Philippines and New Zealand are determined to increase their trade by 50% in order to recover to pre-pandemic levels. 

https://pia.gov.ph/press-releases/2024/04/19/ph-nz-eye-50-hike-in-bilateral-trade

The Philippines and New Zealand are both determined to increase their trade by at least 50 percent in the next few years, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Thursday.

“In our meeting today (Thursday) we also discussed the huge economic potential in our relationship and we are both determined to grow its rate by at least 50 percent in the next few years,” Prime Minister Luxon said in press statement after his bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Malacañang.

“And it’s great to see bilateral trade between New Zealand and the Philippines able to recover to pre-pandemic level and continue to increase,” he said.

The New Zealand Prime Minister also mentioned the increasing interest in the local information and technology sector, manufacturing, renewable energy, and food [processing] with more New Zealand companies looking to set up operations in the Philippines.

Travel and tourism are also major drivers for trade growth as more people travel between the two countries to visit family and friends and to spend holidays in the Philippines.

“We want to do more to grow both of our countries’ tourism industries,” he said.

Last year, New Zealand ranked as the Philippines’ 28th trading partner (out of 230) with total trade amounting to US$495.37 million and is also the country’s 38th export destination and 24th import source. The Philippines has a US$361.94 million trade deficit with New Zealand.

In 2021, New Zealand was ranked the 34th source of approved investments in the manufacturing and wholesale and retail trade industry.

From 2018 to 2022, approved investments from New Zealand amounted to US$3.49 million in key sectors such as manufacturing, administrative and support services activities, wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

In 2023, the country recorded a total of 29,272 tourist arrivals from New Zealand, up from just 17,503 in 2022, making the foreign nation the 22nd source of visitors to the Philippines.

Of course increasing tourism is playing a big part in this bilateral trade.

 Moody's says consumer spending has not yet recovered from the pandemic. 

https://business.inquirer.net/455661/consumer-spending-in-ph-not-yet-healed-from-pandemic

Consumer spending in the Philippines has yet to return to prepandemic normal, Moody’s Analytics said in a new report that highlighted how sticky inflation is derailing the recovery of consumption in Asia-Pacific from the pandemic onslaught.

In a commentary, the unit of the Moody’s Group said the Philippines has yet to fully reverse the “big shift” in consumption pattern that was created during the pandemic—when lockdowns and strict social distancing protocols crushed demand for travel and other services, but boosted sales of goods, especially online.

Moody’s Analytics said services spending in the Philippines and Thailand remains far below the prepandemic trend, reflecting “a high degree of pandemic scarring on both economies.”

Meanwhile, goods consumption in the Philippines and Thailand also fell post-lockdown amid “smaller policy support for households and worse economic damage from the pandemic.”

To make things worse, Moody’s Analytics said stubbornly high inflation is crimping the recovery of consumer spending in the Philippines, where consumption historically accounts for over 70 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.

“Goods typically make up a smaller share of private consumption than services, so weaker goods consumption won’t completely derail these economies as long as services consumption stays on course,” Moody’s Analytics said.

“But weaker goods spending is a headwind at a time when growth is already hard to come by,” it added.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed consumers’ overall confidence index (CI) declined to 2.7 percent for the second quarter of 2024, from 5.6 percent previously.

That the CI stayed positive means the optimists outnumbered the pessimists, although the weaker reading indicated a less upbeat sentiment among consumers. Findings showed the pessimists mostly came from low-income households.

And the weaker optimism would likely persist for much longer after the consumer CI for the next 12 months sagged to 13.4 percent, from 15 percent in the previous survey.

"Sticky inflation is derailing the recovery of consumption in Asia-Pacific from the pandemic onslaught." Seems like that ought to be dealt with first.

Filipino boy band SB19 thought the pandemic killed their career. They were wrong. 

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/entertainment/meet-sb19-the-filipino-boy-band-that-rose-from-trainees-to-post-pandemic-stars

SB19's story is one of astonishing success, going from being trainees to becoming wildly popular self-managed idols under 1Z Entertainment. "Starting in 2016, we had auditions back then," recalls Stell, one of the band members. "Pablo, Josh and I auditioned in the same year."

What started as personal dreams soon turned into a shared vision, leading to the creation of SB19 and an adventure that would surpass all expectations. Originally a trio with Stell, Josh and Pablo, the group grew to include Ken and Justin. Reflecting on their journey, Stell reminisces about the difficulties they encountered and the surprising happenings that resulted in them founding their own company, 1Z Entertainment. He emphasises their common ambition of making a mark on the music industry and cultivating future artists.

Josh shares a story highlighting the importance of social media in their career and says, “We always try to find ways to put ourselves out there and be known by people. During the pandemic, we thought we were over. There were no gigs or live events. But because of social media, we survived. A lot of people got to know our story. I think our story is magical and we are thankful.”

Social media has played a pivotal role in SB19’s journey. In 2019, the band released a dance rehearsal video for their song Go Up which went viral on Twitter and Facebook. Social media has also allowed them to connect to their fans, receive feedback and share their story on a global scale. “Social media helped us to not only connect with our fans but also other artists, helping us to grow and learn. It allows us to create something big and different”, says Stell. It has played a crucial role in shaping their career trajectory.

The band is currently on their ‘Pagtatag! World Tour’, comprising 18 shows that started on June 24, 2023, in Quezon City, Philippines. They have put on shows in the Philippines, the United States, and Canada so far. Fans, referred to as A'TIN, in the UAE and worldwide can expect an exciting concert with a complete setlist of popular songs like Gento, Crimzone, Bazinga, and more. SB19 has shared the final portion of their Asian tour, bringing their thrilling performance to Dubai as the next-to-last stop.

Without social media to buoy them during the pandemic these boys might not have a music career.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Mental Health, US' Contribution, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

President Marcos recently visited the USA and touting the Philippines' pandemic recovery before the Philippine-US Business Forum in Washington DC thanked the US for contributing to the Philippines' economy.   

https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/pbbm-touts-phs-post-pandemic-recovery-highlights-us-contribution-to-admins-economic-agenda/

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday touted the Philippines’ strong post-pandemic economic recovery, being one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia.

“On the economy, I would like to share with you that for 2023, the Philippines achieved a 5.6 percent annual growth in GDP which outpaced other high-growth economies such as China Viet Nam, and Malaysia,” President Marcos said in his keynote address before the Philippine-US Business Forum in Washington DC.

“Despite the recovery time needed to accelerate businesses coming from the–coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to either exceed or match the economic projections of multilateral organizations, such as the IMF, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, and the World Bank,” he pointed out.

Marcos said the Philippines also saw a significant increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows, surging by 28 percent, reaching US$1 billion in November 2023 from US$820 million of net inflows recorded for the same month in 2022.

In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments (DTI-BOI) approved PhP1.26 trillion in investment projects last year, which was an increase of 73 percent compared to the previous year recorded at PhP729 billion.

President Marcos also reported that for last year, the US was also Philippines’ 4th largest source of FDI.

“Over the years, the Philippines has acknowledged the significant contribution of the United States to our economic agenda. We have observed the consistent high ranking of the United States, as evident last year, being our third top trading partner,” President Marcos said.

But even thought the US contributes so much Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) the lack of FDI is being touted as a reason so many Filipinos are being deployed as OFW's.

https://qa.philstar.com/headlines/2024/04/12/2347168/historic-2023-ofw-deployment-moves-philippines-labor-migration-forward-pandemic

Migrant worker-sending Philippines has moved forward from the COVID-19 pandemic by posting a 55-year high in the number of deployed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Fresh data from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) showed that the Philippines had deployed 2,330,720 land- and sea-based migrant workers in 2023, higher compared to the 2,156,742 OFWs deployed in pre-pandemic 2019.

But various countries’ travel restrictions, economic recessions and labor market closures in 2020 plummeted OFW deployment figures in 2020 by 74.5%. Only 549,841 OFWs were deployed that year.

From 2020 to 2023, OFW deployments rose by 323.9%. Meanwhile, the government’s first record of deployed OFWs showed that 3,694 overseas contract workers (OCWs) were deployed in 1969.

Even the numbers of deployed land-based OFWs (1,752,094) and seafarers (578,626) both reached historic highs, DMW data show. Given that the pandemic shut down worker deployments abroad in 2020, the 2023 numbers for land-based and sea-based migrant workers were 426.7 and 166.3% higher, respectively from pandemic-hit 2020.

DMW is now the country’s lead migration agency, it being the merger of seven agencies and bureaus including the former Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) that usually releases OFW deployment data.

From the 2023 data, some 1,244,005 OFWs are rehires and 508,089 others are newly-hired migrant workers.

DMW data also showed that 49.8% of deployed OFWs were female, as “domestic cleaners and helpers” make up 31.1% (or 157,812) of these deployments.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the return and repatriation of an estimated 2.3 million OFWs who suffered job losses, insufficient incomes and health problems. From March 2020 to August 2022, records from the Inter-Agency Task Force against Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF) show that the 2,348,098 returnee OFWs nearly outnumbered the 2020-to-2022 deployed OFWs (Total: 2,498,305).

The droves of return prompted had government agencies to pivot towards providing economic reintegration support to returnee OFWs through entrepreneurial loans, cash grants and skills training.

A 2021 survey by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of over-8,000 OFW returnees showed that majority of them wish to go back and work abroad if borders re-open and overseas labor markets re-hire foreign workers.

The Philippines felt the overseas job losses given the pandemic while it almost saw the drastic decline in cash remittance flows from abroad. In 2023, the Philippines received record-high cash remittances (US$33.49 billion).

In 2021, analysts like University of the Philippines political scientist Dr. Jorge Tigno think that pre-pandemic migrant deployment “will not return overnight”.

But given the Philippines’ own economic recovery efforts, Tigno wrote that “The Philippines needs labor migration to weather through future economic crises, as well as to address the socio-economic issues caused by the pandemic.”

“In the absence of significant foreign direct investments entering the economy, the overseas employment program represents the only viable economic strategy the country has for some time to come,” Tigno added in a UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS) paper.

Yet migrant civil society groups fear that continued labor migration post-pandemic will see persisting labor-related abuses and exploitation of Filipino workers in host countries.

This coming May 1, the country commemorates the 50th year of the 1974 Labor Code (Presidential Decree 442), whose provisions instituted the formalizing of what is called the country’s “labor export program."

How can the economy be recovered and doing so well while at the same time there are so few jobs that pay a living wage? How can a country be expected to survive when "the overseas employment program represents the only viable economic strategy the country has for some time to come?"

Tourism is recovering but without any help from the Chinese. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/568040/chinese-tourist-absence-hampers-ph-tourism-recovery

Bank of America’s (BofA) recent report pointed out that the Philippines, along with China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, are still struggling to catch up in tourism recovery compared to other parts of Asia, as tourist arrivals in these destinations have yet to reach prepandemic levels.

The slow return of Chinese tourists specifically has been a major factor in holding back progress.

In the Philippines, BofA noted that foreign visitor arrivals were still 76 percent of prepandemic levels as of February this year, albeit much better than Hong Kong’s 73.7 percent and Taiwan’s January 2024 figure of 69.6 percent.

Among the laggards, BofA said China was an “outlier” after it reopened its economy much later than other Asian destinations. Data compiled by the bank showed foreign tourist arrivals in China were 36.3 percent below prepandemic level as of December 2023.

In turn, the later reopening of China’s economy weighed on tourism recovery in countries that heavily depend on Chinese holidaymakers, such as the Philippines and Hong Kong.

Data compiled by BofA showed Chinese arrivals are only tracking at 20 to 30 percent of prepandemic levels in the Philippines, below trends elsewhere in the region. And the recovery is unlikely to speed up anytime soon, with BofA noting the “changing preferences” of Chinese consumers.

“The typical Chinese traveler these days is increasingly interested in exploring domestic cities that offer unique cultural experiences. This has also slowed their return to international destinations,” BofA said.

“The return of Chinese travelers might be a gradual process,” it added.

Well, there are plenty of POGO workers here and they continue to arrive. 

Mental health was a big thing during the pandemic and not the government wants PhilHealth to offer coverage for it. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1929778/govt-eyes-mental-health-under-philhealth-benefits

The government is considering including mental health care under the packages of state health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to raise awareness and provide competitive compensation to mental health professionals.

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) noted the importance of mental health, which was highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Some cases of depression, anxiety and traumatic disorders all surfaced during the pandemic, which is why communities must have awareness of mental health concerns, according to Jaime Montoya, executive director of the DOST-PCHRD.

“But even before that, we already did mental health research and development, even prior to the passage of the mental health law in 2018, and that actually helped in raising awareness among Filipinos about the importance of mental health,” Montoya told reporters last week on the sidelines of the DOST-PCHRD’s first mental health research symposium in Pasay City.

He said the PCHRD coordinated with the Department of Health to support mental health “even at [the] primary level.”

Mental health care has always been at the “tertiary level” of health, but Montoya said the PCHRD wants to change this by bringing mental health care to the community level “because this should not be hospital-based only.”

The problem is [that] our barangay health workers don’t even know what mental health is,” Montoya said.

“So, that is part of our objective. We are developing modules that will be adopted. We have separate projects on that which can be used by health workers and not just by doctors and nurses,” he added.

Montoya explained these projects can help in the early detection of mental health problems “and, therefore, to make the appropriate interventions.”

At present, he said the PCHRD is currently working with PhilHealth to include mental health care in its packages so that professionals will receive the proper compensation.

Who would have through that forcing everyone inside for nearly two years, stripping them of their jobs, and scaring them daily with death threats would have made the public go crazy?

Some hospitals have still not received health allowances.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/16/dbm-chief-urges-doh-to-accelerate-hea-releases

Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman has urged to fast-track the creation of a mapping system to track hospitals that have not received health emergency allowances.

During a radio interview, Pangandaman called on the Department of Health (DOH) to address the issues that slow down the release of HEA claims.

[ requested that the DOH have a HEA mapping so that they don't have a hard time with the list of hospitals they monitor. From what I see, the most difficult thing is validating the hospitals and their names]

[If they were able to release a few billion, they should know where that billion pesos fund went so it's easier to see who the hospitals that haven't been paid.]

The DBM chief said that the DOH already has a link for the HEA mapping and that it is still subject for adjustment.

[They promised that they would fix that link. So, maybe, let's give them time. I hope they finish it within the month.]

In a meeting held earlier this year, the DBM suggested that the DOH develop a HEA mapping that will capture and present all HEA claims and payments by region and health facilities to aid hospitals monitor the status of HEA releases.

It will also help in expediting the final determination of the actual amount of deficiency to cover the full settlement of arrears, the DBM said.

Of the P91.283 billion released by the DBM for public health emergency benefits and allowances since pandemic, over P73 billion was allocated for health emergency allowance and one COVID-19 allowance, P12.90 billion for special risk allowance, P3.65 billion for COVID-19 sickness and death compensation, and P1.4 billion for other benefits, such as meal, accommodation, and transportation allowance.

[This year, our total budget for the HEA is P19.962 billion. So the GAA has about P20 billion. Our budget this year is being comprehensively released. We have released all to the DOH. So, they are in charge of disbursing.]

Out of the P91 billion budget released by DBM to the agency, the DOH has so far disbursed P64 billion, based on the data submitted to DBM.

Pangandaman also suggested that the DOH consider the use of a blanket memorandum of agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and private organizations to solve bottlenecks in releasing the remaining unpaid HEA claims, mostly from private hospitals and local government units (LGUs).

[However, we assure our healthcare workers that we will continue to act on the matter. President Bongbong Marcos wants the government to settle the unpaid HEA claims of our healthcare workers as soon as possible.]

It's 2024. Will this situation of health allowances ever be sorted out? 

Representative Villafuerte hopes so.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/17/villafuerte-seeks-swift-release-of-unpaid-covid-allowances-to-health-frontliners

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is urging the Department of Health (DOH) to release the unpaid Covid allowances worth at least P27 billion that have been due to healthcare workers (HCWs) since 2021.

“It’s nearly a year after the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the worldwide health emergency spawned by Covid-19 as officially over, and yet many of our HCWs who were at the frontlines of that three-year global war have yet to receive the economic benefits due them for their untold sacrifices to save lives during the pandemic,” Villafuerte said in a statement on Wednesday, April 17.

Thus, the lawmaker said he is backing a proposal from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to address the delays in release through a nationwide mapping of all the due allowances.

According to DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, the mapping will be broken down per region and per health facility to ensure that all HCWs receive their unpaid Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA) in full.

This proposal likewise pushes the DOH to enter a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and private organizations to speed up the release of unpaid allowances in private hospitals and local government units (LGUs).

“Such a fast-tracked mapping and the use of a blanket MOA with the DILG and private organizations to address bottlenecks in the release of HEA claims mostly in hospitals and LGUs—as both suggested by the DBM— would let the DOH come up with a definitive amount as to how much Covid-19 extra benefits exactly are still due our medical frontliners,” said Villafuerte.

Based on an April 16 report of the DBM, a total of P91.238 billion for the PHEBA of all HCWs have been released.

Of this amount, the DOH—as the implementing agency—has so far disbursed P64 billion. This leaves a balance of about P27 billion that is yet to be handed to medical workers.

Villafuerte noted that the DOH will be able to speed up their paperwork for the intended beneficiaries by carrying out a quick mapping system for all claims and payments.

“With the end of the Covid-19 health crisis almost a year ago already, the prompt and full release of the benefits long due them is the least we can do for our HCWs and non-HCWs who were at the forefront of the war to save lives during the pandemic,” he emphasized.

 

Based on the most recent data from the DOH, a total of 4.14 million Covid-19 cases had been recorded, of which 66,864 infections resulted in deaths.

We have not seen DOH COVID-19 data in a while. 66,864 deaths out of a population of 110 million is hardly a pandemic to be worried about!

Coronavirus Lockdown: WHO Thanks Philippines For Pandemic Response, Mom Shares Why Working From Home is A Blessing, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

It seems that every analysis of the pandemic is contradictory in some way. First we learn that teen pregnancies are up because of the pandemic but now we learn married couples are delaying having children because of the effects of the pandemic which includes inflation. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1926483/pandemic-worries-high-prices-forced-ph-couples-to-delay-having-kids

The economic uncertainties brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, further worsened by soaring prices of essential goods and services, forced Filipino couples to delay or deprioritize having children due to their perceived lack of financial capacity and insufficient income, according to the Commission on Population and Development (CPD).

In “Fertility Decline during Covid-19 Pandemic,” a qualitative study undertaken by the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute for the CPD, it was found that the decision of couples not to have children during the pandemic increased the acceptability of modern family planning (FP) methods.

But even prior to the contagion, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the majority of the country’s regions were already displaying a decline in the total number of registered births since 2019.

“Our recent study supports the assumption that Filipinos, even before the Covid-19 health situation, were already keen with their mindsets of delaying life-defining events, such as dating, marriages and having children,” CPD Executive Director Lisa Grace Bersales said on Thursday.

“These preferences were reinforced by the shocks in broader socioeconomic conditions, and the rise in the level of uncertainties in various aspects of the pandemic. We are now monitoring whether these fertility behaviors have become the norm postpandemic,” she added.

Based on PSA data, the downward trend of total registered live births (number of children born alive) was observed as early as 2017 to 2018, when there was a 1.91 percent decline in total registered live births to 1.67 million from 1.7 million. This further dipped by 0.35 percent in 2019 to 1.67 million.

The drop was more pronounced at the onset of the pandemic in 2020 when only 1.53 million babies were born, a decline of 8.68 percent year-on-year in live births.

In 2021, this fell further by 10.72 percent to 1.36 million, before eventually rebounding by 6.64 percent to 1.46 million live births in 2022, when pandemic restrictions were relaxed.

Based on the CPD study, Bersales said the prevalence of contraceptive use as a form of modern FP rose to 42 percent in 2022 from 40 percent in 2017.

“Filipinos have increased their dependency on FP methods, of which the pandemic was deemed as a key catalyst for the hike in their usage. The study revealed that female-centric methods: pills, ligation or female sterilization, and injectables are still the most preferred methods, and that women still carry out decisions with regard to FP as compared to men,” Bersales explained.

The CPD chief noted that the country’s fertility rate (the number of children that would be born to a woman during her reproductive years, usually from age 15 to 49) declined from 2.7 in 2017 to 1.9 in 2022.

Countries need a fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman, a number called the replacement level, to maintain stable population numbers. When the fertility rate falls below the replacement level, populations begin to shrink.

During the same period, Filipino women who wanted to bear more children declined to 48.8 percent from 52.6 percent, while Filipino women who wanted to have a child soon decreased to 13.9 percent from 15.1 percent.

“One positive result that came out from the pandemic was the more conscious consideration of couples’ and families’ socioeconomic capacities, as well as preparedness in their childbearing decisions,” Bersales noted.

The CPD study was consistent with a report published in The Lancet medical journal in March projecting that the global fertility rate, which went down to 2.23 in 2021 from 4.84 in 1950, would continue to fall to 1.59 by 2100, or well below the ideal 2.1.

The CPD study noted that while the decrease in the number of children over the years could be beneficial in the short term by bringing a measure of economic relief, the continuous and sharp decrease in the number of live births might be disadvantageous in the long run in terms of a larger aging population.

But this same study says fertility rates were on the decline before the pandemic. How can we trust any of these studies?

The WHO has formally thanked he Philippines for its pandemic response. 

https://qa.philstar.com/headlines/2024/04/08/2346058/who-thanks-philippines-pandemic-prevention-preparedness-and-response

World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has expressed his appreciation of the Philippines’ role in the ongoing negotiations on a “WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response” known as the Pandemic Treaty.

Tedros also encouraged the Philippines to explore the assignment in Geneva of a health attaché from the Department of Health to help manage the increasing workload related to global health cooperation.

During a meeting at the WHO headquarters in Geneva on April 3, he discussed with Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Carlos Sorreta the Philippines’ assignment of a health attaché.

They also discussed the state of play of the negotiations, which aim to adopt a consensus text by May 2024.

Tedros thanked Sorreta for chairing an ambassador-level meeting of more than 30 developing countries known as the Group for Equity, which the WHO chief attended.

He conveyed his availability for further meetings with the group to help build consensus on the instrument.

The Pandemic Treaty negotiations are entering the final stages as countries prepare for an additional meeting on April 29 to May 10 in the hope of bridging divides on key issues such as access and benefit sharing, technology transfer and financing.

Sorreta reaffirmed the Philippines’ dedication to continue working with other countries to deliver an effective instrument.

Aside from helping create the Group for Equity, the Philippines served as co-facilitators for key articles on production of countermeasures, transfer of technology, and supply chains and logistics.

As a leading producer of health professionals, the Philippines is also a key proponent of the article on health workforce.

Apart from the negotiations, Tedros and Sorreta raised Philippine initiatives on human resources for health, financial contributions and planned membership to the WHO executive board next year.

Of course this pandemic treaty would be a blow to the much touted sovereignty of the country even as it battles China in the WPS. And thank goodness the Philippines is sending much of its health workforce abroad.  Isn't losing skilled workers just what this country needs? 

The Chemical Engineering Students Summit Philippines has returned four years after the pandemic. 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/04/09/public-square/premier-chem-eng-students-gathering-returns/1940419/amp

CHEMICAL Engineering Students Summit Philippines (ChESSPH 2024) returned to the traditional face-to-face operations for its 15th iteration on April 4-6, 2024 at the University of the Philippines Diliman after the shutdowns prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic

Organized by the UP Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students, or UP Alchemes, ChESSPH 2024 gathered undergraduate chemical engineering students nationwide to foster networking, academic support, and awareness of scientific advancements and innovations in assisting the citizenry.

ChESSPH 2024, with its theme "Kairos: Forging Connections through Limitless Potential," challenged undergraduate chemical engineering students to explore their potential and enrich their capabilities while embracing diverse opportunities through interaction and meaningful connections.

The highly anticipated Plant Tours, Chemical Engineering Symposium for Senior High School Students, Career Paths Seminar, ChE Expo, Idea Generation Seminar, and Culminight were reinstated onsite.

The Plant Tours allowed the participants to have immersive experiences on operational chemical plants, offering insights into the industry in real-world applications.

The Chemical Engineering Symposium for Senior High School Students and the Career Paths Seminar featured a series of talks from chemical engineering professionals to give participants a chance to explore possible career opportunities.

The ChE Expo and Idea Generation Seminar offered platforms for students to compete against one another and showcase their scientific skills and abilities.

ChESSPH 2024 closed with the Culminight, providing participants networking opportunities and creating new bonds with other chemical engineering students.

Hopefully they don't go overseas for higher wages but that will likely be the case. 

Cebu Air is hiring more cabin crew as travel ramps up post-pandemic. 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/philippines-cebu-air-hires-cabin-crew-sees-travel-ramping-up-171411919.html

Cebu Air Inc. resumed hiring cabin crew, anticipating a recovery in air-travel demand as the Philippines eases its coronavirus curbs.

“The airline has reached out and encouraged former CEB cabin crew to apply as the airline gets ready for growth,” the Philippines’ largest budget carrier said in a statement Saturday. The airline unit of conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. has been bringing back domestic travel routes and flight frequencies it had to cut during the pandemic, while also gradually resuming flights to key Asian destinations.

A steady increase in fully-vaccinated Filipinos and a decline in daily Covid-19 cases have led to an easing of quarantine restrictions in many parts of the Philippines, including in the capital region, which accounts for a third of the economy.

Domestic tourism has shown signs of a revival, with travelers from the capital Manila now visiting tourist spots, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in an interview Nov. 11.

Does that mean they will be reaching out to those who were let go during the pandemic or will these be new hires? 

Traditional life insurance polices are seeing a comeback.

https://business.inquirer.net/453972/traditional-life-insurance-seeing-resurgence-says-bdo-life

More Filipinos are now seeing value in getting traditional insurance, with the number of people getting variable universal life insurance (VUL) policies, which have long been the dominant insurance product in the country, slowly declining.

This stems mostly from fears of sudden and unexpected illnesses—and even death—triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting BDO Life Assurance Co. Inc. (BDO Life) to intensify its traditional life insurance campaign.

The bancassurance arm of Sy-led banking giant BDO Unibank Inc. explained that while Filipinos “underappreciate” life insurance as an investment product, 79 percent of them confirmed that it was also now “more important to them than ever.”

This market study is supported by the fact that BDO Life’s traditional insurance plans accounted for 75 percent of its total premiums last year, a 15-percent growth from 2022.

“As fund values of variable life insurance rise and fall with the economic tide, traditional life insurance has proven to be a safer haven over time,” said Renato Vergel de Dios, BDO Life president and CEO.

“Slowly but surely, Filipinos are realizing the importance of having a safety net, a Plan B in the form of life insurance protection that serves as a solid foundation on which their financial planning model rests,” he added.

Apart from a permanent life insurance, VUL also provides investment opportunities, such as stocks, but there may be higher risks depending on which assets the investments go to.

Traditional insurance, meanwhile, does not offer this investment component, thus having relatively lower risk, and focuses instead on providing death benefits while allowing loans to fund emergencies while insurees are still alive.

But will this insurance cover vaccine related deaths and injuries?

The pandemic made working at home a necessity. Some people still love it and never want it to go away.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/567052/mom-shares-why-working-from-home-is-a-blessing

A huge part of the work force had to work-from-home when the Covid-19 pandemic hit a few years back.

Post-pandemic, many still prefer to work-from home, a set-up that according to studies make employees more productive.

According to studies, employees who work from home focus on getting the job done the soonest possible time because of minimal interruptions.  One of which is that they no longer need to take long coffee breaks to gossip with colleagues.

Working-from-home also allows employees to save a lot of time and energy.  This frees them from the hassle of having to commute, endure the very hot weather and the slow moving traffic in Metro Cebu.

And the best part is that employees are able to cut their expense on food and travel.

But of course, this kind of a work set up also has its consequences.

There are those who say that working-from-home makes communication very challenging and the distance among employees also delays the process of brainstorming.

As we celebrate work-from home day, let’s get to know a mother who chose to continue to work-from home instead of staying in an office.

Meet Veronica Faith Badana-Nadala, 27, a former visa consultant agent turned virtual assistant and a mother to a two-year-old baby girl, Gianna.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, she had to adopt to a lot of changes, including a sudden shift from working at a visa consultancy agency to working-from-home.

Nadala said they also experienced a massive drop in their clients considering that migration and travels were put on hold then.

But instead of feeling bad about it, she taught herself to learn to accept that her career hump was just temporary.

Then, she learned that she was expecting her first baby.  It was then that she told herself that her having to work-from-home was a blessing because it will allow her more time to take care of her daughter Gianna.

After she gave birth and when Covid-9 restrictions were beginning to loosen, Nadala had to make a decision as to whether or not she wanted to go back to doing office-based work.

Then, another blessing came.  She was presented with an opportunity to continue to be home-based as a virtual assistant (VA).

While she felt a slight pinch in the heart for leaving a job that she loves, she decide to take a leap and start a new adventure as a mom and VA.

Fast forward to today, two years after she made that big decision,  Nadala said has no regrets.

Nadala said that working-from-home allowed her to balance the need earn and take care of her daughter and husband, Kent.

“One of the most significant advantages of working from home, especially as a mother, is the precious gift of time. Eliminating the daily commute not only saves valuable hours that would otherwise be spent in traffic or on public transportation but also conserves my energy. This reclaimed time and energy can be redirected towards meaningful activities, such as spending quality moments with my daughter,” Nadala told CDN Digital.

But she admits that working-from-home could also become very exhausting especially when her daughter wants to cuddle while she works.

Still, she said the experience is something that she would cherish.

Nadala said that Gianna is growing too fast. She wants to be with her every step of the way to enjoy each moment with her.

“By working from home, I can seamlessly integrate my professional responsibilities with the joys of motherhood. Whether it’s stealing a quick hug during a break or a playful moment during my lunchtime, being present for those spontaneous interactions brings fulfillment. It’s these small yet priceless moments that strengthen the bond between my daughter,” Nadala said.

For Nadala, working-from-home has been immensely beneficial for her and her family because it allows her to be flexible and productive at the same time.

It really is a new world and there is no going back. Especially for this lady.