More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
 |
| https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2025/11/27/714852/phl-manufacturers-need-to-move-up-the-value-chain/ |
PHILIPPINE MANUFACTURERS should go up the value chain to produce more globally competitive export products and cater to the country’s growing domestic base amid global disruptions, according to industry stakeholders.
Federation of Philippine Industries President John Reinier H. Dizon said that recent global shocks revealed the country’s import dependency for some products.
“I think a couple of years ago, everyone can still remember when the pandemic hit us all. And for me, the key learning there is it actually exposed our risk that we are dependent on the global supply chain,” he said at the BusinessWorld Forecast 2026 on Tuesday.
Mr. Dizon recalled that during the pandemic the Philippines had to manufacture basic items such as face masks. “Then over time we were able to actually develop local industries to support those things,” he added.
In the last 25 years, he said that the Philippines opened its borders to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members and forged bilateral agreements with several countries.
“Now, there are pros and cons to such free trade, and there is nothing wrong with free trade. It obviously helps companies and individuals procure cheaper products… but many other countries have placed more safeguards vis-a-vis the Philippines,” Mr. Dizon said.
“The Philippines was maybe a little bit more aggressive, and in hindsight, as a consequence, several industries actually faltered,” he added.
Within ASEAN, he said that the Philippines recorded the biggest trade deficit at P54 billion in 2024.
“Now, if we compare that with the likes of Vietnam, they actually had a trade surplus of P28 billion; Thailand’s trade surplus of P6 billion; Malaysia, a trade surplus of P20 billion; and Indonesia, a trade deficit, but at a much more manageable level, at P15 billion,” he said.
To address this, Mr. Dizon said that there should be more support for Filipino products.
“It’s not a silver bullet, but let’s patronize our local products, food, consumer goods, etc. Because it’s always easy to import, it’s cheaper. But make no mistake, it has dire consequences and multiplier effects,” he said.
“We need to revive manufacturing and production in our country,” he added.
Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) President Danilo C. Lachica said that the goal is to maintain the country’s competitive advantage.
“Definitely, we want to maintain whatever limited competitive advantage that we have. But if you look at the challenges, and I’m not just talking about the export industry but even local industries, there’s a whole slew of challenges, both external and internal,” he said.
Domestically, Mr. Lachica said that the Philippines is facing several issues including prop osed legislated wage hikes, field audits by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and corruption.
“For the electronics industry to be able to catch up, we need to look at moving up the value chain in terms of technology, improving our talent and infrastructure,” he said.
For the semiconductor and electronics industry, Mr. Lachica said that the country needs to build its own wafer fabrication plant to move up the value chain.
“This is what we need to grow — our own integrated circuit design industry. This is what we need to get the Philippines on the map for front-end semiconductor manufacturing,” he said.
Mr. Lachica said it is very important that the Philippines should plan for the long term amid the changing geopolitical landscape and trade policies.
“We cannot be paralyzed by what we hear. We just have to make the most intelligent decisions based on the information, whether it’s investment or the market. We certainly have to minimize dependence on certain markets,” he said.
“But I think what we all should be doing really is from the private sector, we need to work closely with the government and academe to put forward initiatives and programs to the best interest of the Philippines,” he added.
Meanwhile, Victor Andres C. Manhit, president of think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, said the Philippines does not have to be an export-oriented country, as it has a strong consumer base.
Household consumption, which accounts for around 70% of Philippine gross domestic product, has been a driver of growth.
Instead, Mr. Manhit said the country should focus on capacitating its people, which is key to sustaining growth momentum.
“We focus on building the capacity of our young people. They can consume. They can be hired in more strategic manufacturing industries, part of the global supply chain, continue to grow the business process outsourcing industry, and develop the creative industry,” he added.
Mr. Manhit said giving incentives to export-oriented enterprises and not to domestic enterprises was a “mistake policy-wise.”
Aside from thinking long term or beyond political timelines, he said that there is a need to invest in the country’s strong sectors.
“Let’s start to think long term and invest in those strengths that we have, build on the capacity of our local industries, look at the consumers as a potential source of growth, and always think about how important we are in geopolitics,” he added.
It's almost as if having a strong independent economy and manufacturing sector is important to the economic health of the nation. Who knew?
During the pandemic many parents sold their children online to foreigners. One mother has finally been sentenced to prison for her crimes.
 |
| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2146927/woman-gets-life-term-for-sexually-abusing-own-kids-other-minors |
A Taguig City court has sentenced a woman to life imprisonment and ordered her to pay P4.3 million in fines and damages for sexually abusing seven minors—four of them her own children—in exchange for money from online viewers at the height of the pandemic, the International Justice Mission (IJM) said.
In a Nov. 17 decision, the Taguig City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 163 imposed two prison sentences on the woman: life imprisonment for qualified trafficking and reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years) for possession of child sexual abuse material. She was also ordered to pay P4 million in fines and P300,000 in damages.
According to IJM, the conviction was secured with the help of digital evidence to “[spare] survivors from the trauma of reliving their abuse in court and facing their perpetrator.”
The case stemmed from the April 2020 arrest of the 25-year-old woman in Taguig City and the rescue of seven minors during an operation that was conducted based on a tip from the United States Homeland Security Investigations.
It was the second police operation against the online sexual exploitation of children that was carried out while the country was on lockdown due to COVID-19.
The victims, composed of six males and a female between the ages of 3 and 14 at the time, were rescued from the scene. Four of them were the suspect’s own children, the IJM said.
The woman operated under multiple social media usernames, online accounts and contact numbers to conceal her illegal activities.“This crime thrives in the shadows—often within homes—which is why community vigilance is key to stopping it,” said IJM Philippines’ Community Engagement Director Evelyn Pingul.
One has to wonder why it took five years to reach this verdict. But of course that is how it is in the Philippines.
Tourism continues to pick up which is why the Philippines is opening one of the world's largest hotels in Manila.
 |
| https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/philippines-to-open-worlds-largest-movenpick-hotel-in-manila/ |
Manila is ready to take its place on the world stage in the hospitality industry with the opening of the world’s largest Movenpick Hotel. Megaworld Corporation is a dominant player in the real estate and tourism sectors and recently joined with French hospitality major Accor, to convert the Grand Westside Hotel hotel with its 1,530 guest rooms into the Movenpick Manila Bay Westside. This highly ambitious project, therefore, positions the Philippines to be a major player in global tourism for the foreseeable future.
Boosting the Philippines’ Global Tourism Profile
The project is part of Megaworld’s larger strategy to boost the Philippines’ international tourism appeal. Located in Paranaque at the Westside City township, a sprawling 31-hectare area, the hotel is poised to cater to both international tourists and domestic travellers. The Movenpick Manila Bay Westside will offer luxury accommodations while benefiting from its prime location near the country’s first Grand Opera House and a major casino and entertainment complex.
The Philippine government has long targeted tourism as a critical growth area, and developments like this Movenpick hotel underscore the country’s efforts to enhance its position on the world tourism map. As international travel picks up post-pandemic, the country is expected to see a surge in both foreign and domestic visitors, which in turn will drive economic growth and job creation in the hospitality sector.
A Key Tourism Development for Manila’s Bay Area
The Westside City township in Paranaque, the future home of Movenpick Manila Bay Westside, is already a focal point of development within Metro Manila’s tourism landscape. The township is strategically positioned close to key transport hubs and leisure destinations, making it an attractive site for international tourists.
The hotel’s two-tower design, along with a dedicated skybridge connecting it to the adjacent casino and entertainment complex, is expected to elevate the area’s stature as a major tourist hub. With the ongoing development of the Grand Opera House, the entire precinct is set to become a one-stop destination for luxury, entertainment, and cultural experiences.
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) views such developments as a vital part of the country’s long-term tourism strategy. The Movenpick Manila Bay Westside is expected to attract high-value international tourists, such as those from Europe, the Middle East, and other regions, providing a strong push for the tourism sector to recover and grow.
Strategic Partnership Enhances Tourism Infrastructure
The collaboration between Megaworld and Accor marks a significant step in the Philippines’ growing tourism industry. Accor’s presence in the country is already strong, with a wide range of hotel offerings, from luxury to economy brands. By introducing the world’s largest Movenpick hotel to Manila, the company aims to further consolidate its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region.
The rebranding of the Grand Westside Hotel into Movenpick Manila Bay Westside also signals a shift towards more upscale, world-class offerings in the country’s hospitality market. According to government tourism officials, the move is part of broader efforts to elevate the Philippines as a destination that meets international standards and attracts a wider range of global visitors.
Mövenpick Manila: A Major Driver for Employment and Local Economy
The introduction of the Movenpick Manila Bay Westside hotel is expected to create thousands of jobs across various sectors, including hospitality, retail, construction, and entertainment. As the hospitality industry grows, so too does the potential for ancillary services, from transport and food services to local tourism activities.
The DOT has highlighted such developments as critical to achieving the country’s tourism targets. The expansion of high-end tourism infrastructure, particularly in key urban areas like Manila, is expected to help the country meet its goals of attracting millions of international visitors annually. The growth of tourism also aligns with the government’s broader objectives of boosting the Philippine economy and improving the livelihoods of communities dependent on tourism-related industries.
A Bright Future for Philippine Tourism
By 2026, The Movenpick Manila Bay Westside is estimated to open which is apparently going to be one of the foundations of the country’s tourism strategy. In pursuit of the Greater Manila Area’s vision as a tourism hotspot and as part of the country’s growing tourism strategy, the Philippine government is utilizing new establishments like this Movenpick hotel to attract a variety of international tourists.
This progress goes to show how the Philippines continues to strive to be a premier destination around the world. It exposes international travellers to top-notch services and also greatly enriches the local economy.
Why would tourists want to stay in an overpriced luxury hotel in Manila? That's not the real Philippine experience.
At any rate air traffic is "closing in on (a) new record high."
 |
| https://www.philstar.com/business/2025/12/02/2491180/air-traffic-closing-new-record-high |
Philippine air traffic is on pace to set a new record in the post-pandemic period, especially as the international segment is close to touching 2019 levels, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
Based on CAB data, air travel in the Philippines has reached 46.84 million passengers as of September, which is 78 percent of last year’s 59.91 million.
Broken down, domestic passenger volume has hit 24.95 million, which is roughly seven million shy of the 2024 total, and airlines expect to finish on a high note as demand tends to peak in the fourth quarter.
Likewise, international passenger traffic is flirting with the 22-million level, putting it on track to record a new post-pandemic high. The Philippines is seeing a surge in international travel, thanks to the arrival of new carriers and launch of more routes.
Locally, low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific is dominating the competition, cornering 55 percent of the market. Cebu Pacific, together with its regional carrier Cebgo, has flown 13.62 million domestic passengers as of September.
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) accounted for 30 percent with 7.42 million, while budget operator AirAsia Philippines landed at 14 percent with 3.4 million.
Boutique carrier AirSWIFT, also owned by Cebu Pacific, ferried 328,494, followed by Sunlight Air (124,436), Royal Air Philippines (45,970) and Island Aviation (8,736).
Meanwhile, foreign carriers grabbed 57 percent of the market with 12.37 million, lifted by the arrival of new airlines, such as Air Canada and Air India, linking Manila to their home countries.
In April, Air Canada mounted weekly services between Manila and Vancouver to become the first and only Canadian carrier bridging the two cities on a non-stop basis. Air India followed suit in October, launching direct flights between Manila and New Delhi.
Domestic carriers are also joining the push to connect Manila to more destinations abroad. PAL, for one, ramped up Seattle flights to five times weekly to support the rising demand for non-stop trips to the Pacific Northwest.
By June 2026, PAL is increasing weekly frequency for Los Angeles flights to 18 times a week, as the city prepares for a series of international events that could attract millions of visitors.
The Philippines recorded its highest volume of international passengers in 2019, reaching 30.53 million, but has struggled to recover to that level since the pandemic.
The people will come. They have always come to the Philippines. But those same people are still recovering from the economic effects of the pandemic which is tied with the high inflation around the world.
In Northern Mindanao the construction industry is helping the region recover from the pandemic.
 |
| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264456 |
The construction industry in Northern Mindanao was identified as a key driver of the region's economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday.
During the Regional Dissemination Forum here, PSA-10 analyst Micah Joy Oppus said that in 2024, the region approved 12,095 building permits, reflecting a 17.2 percent increase from 2023.
"The construction activities in the region gradually bounced back after a significant downturn in 2020, mainly due to the pandemic," she said.
Oppus said residential construction activities saw the highest growth among different construction types in 2024, with 9,379 or a 77.5-percent increase from 2023.
PSA-10 Director Janith Aves said the construction industry stands as one of the region's most visible markers of progress.
Residential construction has seen the highest growth in the region at a 77.5% increase from 2023.
