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.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/921054/lmcp-hosts-2024-asia-pacific-corporate-counsel-alliance-conference/story/ |
The Legal Management Council of the Philippines (LMCP) on Thursday hosted for the first time the 2024 Asia Pacific Corporate Counsel Alliance Conference (APCCAC).
Themed “Post-Pandemic Legal Landscape: Challenges and Trends in the In-House Counsel Community”, the regional conference brought together associations of corporate legal counsels from different countries in the ASEAN region to discuss shared challenges, and best practices in the industry following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the pandemic, it’s now very important what the role of in-house counsel should play in a company or business,” Arlene Lapuz-Ureta, APCCA Secretary General and LMCP president, said in a panel discussion.
LMCP is an association of corporate legal counsels of top domestic and multinational corporations and leading legal service providers in the country.
“As we mentioned earlier, the primary obstacle was business continuity. All those default problems, all those failures in terms of complying with obligations — all of these are issues that the management takes. Therefore, it's very important for the in-house counsel not only to just give out legal opinions..but the important thing is to play that role of being a partner of the business, of your management,” she said.
Lapuz-Ureta said the COVID-19 pandemic likewise showed various risks in digital space such as cybersecurity, data privacy, and transactional online activities.
Representatives from the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA), Thai CCA, and Indonesia CCA joined the two-day APCCAC held in Shangri-la The Fort in Taguig City from September 19 to September 20, 2024.
Meanwhile, the panel agreed the pandemic brought about new opportunities for lawyers concerning new technologies such as the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal industry.
They likewise shared new legislations emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic in their respective countries such as the amendments in the Telecommuting Act, which paved the way for work-from-home arrangements in the Philippines.
“I think there are other related skills that lawyers need to learn more: how to use the latest technology and generative AI…If you’ll use generative AI, you’re gonna have to have a good prompt and instruction…so it could generate output in a good way. That’s prompt engineering,” said Thai CCA President Sahachai Wibuloutai.
The pandemic changed everything and as the years go by that fact is made ever more clear.
Filipinos love to consume. Even during the pandemic they consumed. Malls played a vital role in this consumption.
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| https://www.bworldonline.com/special-features/2024/09/20/622626/the-vital-role-of-malls-in-the-philippines-retail-renaissance/ |
The Philippines is a consumer-driven economy, with statistics showing that 70% of the country’s gross domestic product is attributed to consumption. Even during the challenges and changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, this Filipino urge to consume reinforced the retail sector’s resilience, making it one of the more stable segments of the economy.
Reflecting this is a study from SM Supermalls indicating an average of over four million daily shoppers in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 21%, compared to only 3.3 million in the same period last year.
Malls in the Philippines are more than just a place to shop. They have become hubs for social interactions, entertainment districts, and sometimes even sanctuaries and evacuation centers during natural disasters. However, their most important value lies in their role as economic engines that drive local businesses and generate employment.
According to data from SM, food tenants now account for 30% of leased mall spaces, a significant increase from just 10% a decade ago. Meanwhile, non-food tenants, including entertainment providers, occupy 50% of the available space, with the remaining areas filled by various service-related tenants, creating a well-rounded mix that offers a wide range of options for shoppers.
These shifts in tenant composition and rising visitor numbers directly respond to evolving consumer preferences shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic altered what Filipinos considered normal including their shopping habits, they sought more than just retail opportunities in the mall — they looked for spaces that provided safety, convenience, and a sense of normalcy.
A 2021 survey by global research firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) International Limited shows that many consumer behavior trends have changed considerably during the pandemic. The study found that although in-store shopping remains the preferred choice for daily or weekly purchases, the preference for e-commerce and digital platforms is rapidly increasing.
PwC identified four fault lines to explain a rapidly evolving consumer behaviors and the preference for online shopping: namely the “Zoom effect” or work-from-home setups, the generation gap, the “conscientious consumer,” and East-West differences.
The Zoom effect refers to a new type of worker that emerged during the pandemic who worked from home and continues to do so today. The study found that they are significantly less likely to shop in-store. PwC also mentioned that the generation gap can also be a factor as younger consumers are more likely to shop online.
COVID-19 also changed consumer habits not only in shopping preferences but also in spending habits. Some “conscientious shoppers” are planning to stay at home more and more willing to pay a premium for healthier, more local, and more environmentally friendly products.
The difference in culture also plays a hand in choosing between shopping online and in-store. PwC’s survey found that 45% of Asia-Pacific consumers reported shopping daily/weekly in-store, and 40% through online platforms compared to the Americas where only 38% of consumers shopped frequently in-store, and only 31% via mobile.
Regardless, the study found that most Filipinos preferred shopping physically in-store. Almost half of the respondents in the Philippines said that they bought clothes, books, and electronics in physical stores in the past 12 months.
Additionally, “the ability to quickly and conveniently navigate the store to find products” as well as the preference “to see and touch the products” were among the factors that drew Filipinos back to malls. Respondents also highlighted the value they place on the “enjoyment of the social aspects of going to a store.”
In light of these trends, the importance of brick-and-mortar stores becomes clearer. Leechiu Property Consultants mentioned that stores are expected to remain relevant to the consumers’ shopping experience despite the ongoing digital shift.
The pandemic changed working and spending habits. Nothing new here.
The hotel business is booming indicating a post-pandemic resiliency.
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| https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/09/20/2386492/hotel-developments-reflect-confidence-phl-tourism |
The Philippine Hotel Owners Association Inc. and Leechiu Property Consultants recently released the 2024 Philippine Accommodation Pipeline Report, which provides an in-depth analysis of new accommodation establishments and commitments across the country.
Among the key findings of the report was that the hotel development sector remains resilient post-pandemic, with 158 accommodation establishments and 40,084 rooms in development, reflecting strong confidence in Philippine tourism.
These development projects represent P250 billion in private sector investment, which will create over 55,000 direct hotel jobs.
Mactan, Cebu and Panglao in Bohol, the report showed, were ranked as the first and second tourist destination choices, prompting the most significant accommodation development in the country. However, the report pointed out that while the Visayas is the tourism center, Luzon still leads in accommodation developments – with 85 projects and 20,116 room keys – as it focuses on business and urban properties.
Thus, Visayas placed second with 57 accommodation developments and 16,830 room keys, accounting for just 42 percent of the pipeline compared to Luzon’s 50 percent. The Visayas projects, however, focus on leisure and resort tourism in Cebu, Bohol and Boracay, catering to the high demand from tourists, which drives significant growth.
Mindanao, with 16 new accommodation developments and 3,138 room keys, accounts for just eight percent of the total projects. However, it still shows that growth is expected as economic conditions continue on an upward trajectory. Further expansion is expected as developers seek growth markets, especially for mid-scale and upscale properties.
According to the report, by the fourth quarter of this year, 3,231 new keys are set to be available from projects being developed by Citadines Paragon Davao, Radisson Red Mandaue and Ascott Double Dragon Meridian Park.
For next year, another 8,168 keys will become available, with the majority located in the National Capital Region and in Cebu from Crown Regency Grand Paradise Resort in Bohol and the Westside City Resorts project.
By 2026, another 9,110 keys will be added to the market from the accommodation developments in Central Luzon, such as the Mercury Subic Hotel, Ibis Styles Subic and the Wyndham Garden Hotel.
However, the report projects a decline in new hotel openings in 2027 as most pipeline projects will have been completed by 2026, including those by SM Hotels and Convention Centers (SMHCC), particularly the Park Inn by Radisson hotels in Luzon and the Marriott hotels in Panglao and Mactan.
Thus, with the opening of 8,969 keys by that time, the Philippines hopes to reach its 12 million tourist arrivals goal by 2028.
But for 2029 and beyond, the PHOA and LPC report projects that 6,772 keys will be available, as there are still many projects in the planning stage.
That is good news for the tourism sector.
The DOH says 90% of the health emergency allowances owed to frontline healthcare workers has now been paid.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/21/doh-90-of-health-emergency-allowance-paid-to-frontline-healthcare-workers |
The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Saturday, Sept. 21, that the total Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) obligation of P103.5 billion is “now 90 percent paid.”
This follows President Marcos’s decision to fully fund the remaining P27.3 billion this year. The DOH, as the implementing agency, stated that it has settled around 14.5 million claims from health workers.
In April this year, the DOH reported that P23.4 billion worth of HEA obligations for 4.3 million claims “could not be paid due to budget constraints.”
After processing and granting appeals, the DOH noted that this number rose to P27.3 billion.
In July, the DOH explained that Marcos instructed Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to “no longer wait” for the General Appropriations Act of 2025 to pay this amount and to process it this year.
The DOH noted that the DBM then immediately released a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) to enable the DOH to fulfill the obligation.
As of Sept. 20, the DOH said that 64 percent of the additional P27.3 billion “has already been disbursed.”
The surplus fund balance, or excess payments returned by PhilHealth to the national government, provided the necessary cash, the DOH said.
“Ang sobrang bayad na di naman nagamit at siyang isinauli ng PhilHealth ay naging pang pondo para sa HEA ng ating mga health workers (The excess payments that were not used and were returned by PhilHealth became funding for the Health HEA of our health workers),” DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said.
“Lumipat po mula sa bangko, papunta sa tao. Sa ngalan ng ating mga Covid-19 frontliners, maraming salamat po (This moved from the bank to the people. On behalf of our Covid-19 frontliners, thank you very much),” Herbosa added.
Meanwhile, the DOH stated that health facilities have been “key players” in the final payment of HEA to health workers.
The DOH reported that it has listed 2,853 such facilities, and checks have been issued to 2,070, or 73 percent of them.
In compliance with Commission on Audit (COA) guidelines, the DOH continually reminds 517 of these facilities to finalize the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and 649 to completely liquidate previous payments.
“Over the weekend, both health facilities and groups of health workers publicly acknowledged receipt of their well-deserved HEA,” the DOH said.
In an online human resources (HR) advisory, the DOH stated that the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) expressed its gratitude to Herbosa for facilitating the payment of their HEA covering 20 months.
Health workers from Gentri Medical Center in General Trias, Cavite, also sent a video recording to the DOH in which they thanked President Marcos and Herbosa for facilitating the HEA payments.
Only 10% more to go.
Malabon City frontlines will soon finally receive their health emergency allowance.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/23/malabon-covid-19-frontliners-will-finally-receive-emergency-allowance-city-gov-t |
Malabon City health workers and emergency frontliners who served during the Covid-19 pandemic will receive their Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) soon, the city government announced on Monday, September 23.
According to the city’s public information office, the city government will continue to coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) regarding the financial grants of frontliners.
The announcement came following requests for updates from Covid-19 responders and other sectors.
The HEA, established under Republic Act No. 11712 in April 2022, grants allowances to both health and non-health care workers, including contact tracers and staff at the isolation centers, vaccination sites, and other facilities.
It added that the allowance is based on the number of days worked and the worker’s exposure level in low, medium, or high-risk areas.
“Since COVID-19 ended as a public health emergency in the Philippines in July 2023, the COVID Allowance or Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) also ended at that time. What is currently being awaited pertains to payments for certain periods in 2021, 2022, and from January to July 2023,” City Health Department (CHD) Officer-in-Charge Dr. Bernadette Bordador said.
“All those who worked in healthcare, isolation facilities, vaccination sites, or offices during those periods are entitled to the allowance, with variations depending on the level of risk they faced,” she added.
The city has submitted the necessary documents to the DOH, including a list of frontliners and pre-audited payroll covering the specified periods.
The City Health Department said that they are now waiting for the national agency’s approval.
Borador also said that once approved, City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval will sign a memorandum of agreement with the DOH for the distribution of the HEA, amounting to P76 million, which will benefit over 1,533 Covid-19 health workers and non-health personnel in the city.
“Right now, it's not just Malabon waiting. There’s a lot of LGUs waiting and even private companies,” she said.
The CHD head also emphasized that they will coordinate with the DOH's focal person to follow up on the status of the city's Covid-19 frontliners' HEA.
“It’s coming, kaunting pasensiya lang siguro about the timing pero dadating naman 'yung HEA (It’s coming, just a little more patience regarding the timing, but the HEA will arrive),” Bordador said.
City Administrator Dr. Alexander Rosete expressed his gratitude to all the frontliners who sacrificed and provided service to the residents of the city during the pandemic.
Rosete assured frontliners that they will follow up on their HEA in coordination with the DOH. He encouraged anyone in need to reach out to the local government office for assistance.
How many times have they heard the word "soon?"
Health workers in Sagay City will not be receiving their HEA anytime soon because the money has gone missing.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/104163/money-in-sagay-city-treasurers-vault-found-missing/story/ |
Money kept in a vault at the Sagay City Treasurer’s Office was found to be missing.
Funds purportedly lost were confirmed after medical frontliners in Sagay City, Province of Negros Occidental complained about the delay in the release of their Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) for their service during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sagay City Mayor Narciso Javelosa, Jr. called up City Treasurer Juvy Pinongan to inquire on the said non-release of the allowance.
According to Sagay City Administrator Ryan Bonghanoy, the health workers expected the release of their HEA worth P7.3 million since August 27, 2024. The amount is part of at least P22 million allocated for HEA. But when a vault at the City Treasurer’s Office was opened, it was reported to be empty.
A second vault could not be opened because Pinongan forgot allegedly the number combination to unlock the vault.
As of this posting, an investigation ordered by the mayor has started.
In order to facilitate distribution of said allowance to the health workers, the Local Government Unit of Sagay City has to look for other sources of funds.
Is the combination to the second vault not written down anywhere in the city's records? Why was this money not kept in a bank?
