Coronavirus Lockdown: Innovations With Empathy, Pre-Pandemic Mass Schedules, and More!

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

Philippines-based Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) has changed operations due to the pandemic.

https://futureiot.tech/rcbcs-pandemic-playbook-innovations-with-empathy/

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Philippines-based Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) jumped to fifth from ninth among the country's largest private universal banks in terms of assets. The lender credits the achievement to an innovation playbook that prioritizes and aligns the country's interests with its own.

The bank's total resources went up from 767.1 billion Philippine pesos in 2019 to 1.2 trillion pesos by the end of 2022, up approximately 56%, an impressive feat given that geographic constraints in the country of 7,100 islands impact the financial system. As of 2019, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) estimates that 71% of the population remains unbanked.

After the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the Philippine government imposed stay-at-home orders with varying degrees of restrictions from March 2020 to March 2022, one of the longest lockdowns in Asia, resulting in severe limitations in the movement of people, goods and trade. In Metro Manila and 38 other provinces where business activities ground to a halt, people struggled to shift to digital channels to pay for basic goods and services and meet daily needs, while the most vulnerable sectors depend on financial aid.

“This pandemic puts banks on the frontline. We have now become part of the solution rather than the cause,” RCBC President and CEO Eugene S. Acevedo stated in the bank’s 2020 annual report.

The report noted that in the first year of the pandemic, RCBC rolled out ATM Go, its digital disbursement platform, which was one of the channels used to distribute the government’s financial aid to families affected by the lockdowns. By the end of the year, the bank has helped disburse 12.43 billion pesos of cash subsidy to more than 3.3 million households in 72 of the country’s 82 provinces.

Anticipating the impact of lockdowns on businesses, RCBC set aside 9.4 billion pesos in loan loss provision, which is 2.5x higher than the normalized provisions in the previous year. It also introduced the COVID Assistance and Recovery (CARE) program, which adjusted loan repayment terms for businesses based on “realistic expectations.” As of end-2020, the bank said 78.7 billion pesos of loans were placed under the program.

For its employees, it rolled out the pandemic and infectious disease plan, which includes health and safety protocols in the workplace, shifting to work-from-mode whenever possible, mobilizing its resources to allow nearly half of its branches in Metro Manila in Luzon to continue serving clients, and consolidating branches as foot traffic declined.

“At RCBC, we live by the mantra "innovations with empathy" and this inspires all members of the RCBC community to devote 100% of their skills, talent, and energy into conceptualizing designing and even offering products and services that are not only top-notch but reflects the desires or even lifestyles and aspirations of every Filipino,” said Lito Villanueva, chief innovations and inclusions officer.

That's good for customers and employees. 

The Philippines has secured 24.9 million dollars from the UN to upgrade its health systems. 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/10/30/business/top-business/ph-secures-249-m-un-grant-for-health-systems/1993595

THE United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday announced the approval of a $24.9-million grant to the Philippines, which FAO representative Lionel Dabbadie said "will enhance the country's health systems, from bolstering disease surveillance and early warning systems, to strengthening laboratory networks and cross-sectoral collaboration."

The UN agency will co-lead the grant's implementation under the Resilient Philippines project. The money will come from the Pandemic Fund, launched by the Group of 20 (G20) in 2022 to directly respond to global vulnerabilities following the outbreak of Covid-19. The G20, composed of 19 countries, plus the European Union and African Union, was formed to address issues affecting the global economy including financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

Dabbadie said the project was timely since the Philippines consistently ranked high in the World Risk Index, a statistical model that provides an assessment of the latent risk of 193 countries to disasters caused by extreme natural events and the negative impacts of climate change.

The project also marks the implementation of One Health — an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment. "It is crucial because diseases don't respect borders, whether geographical, species or ecological," Dabbadie said, adding that One Health will help detect, prevent and respond to health threats like zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and transboundary animal diseases.

The Pandemic Fund aims to strengthen response to disease outbreaks especially in the most vulnerable countries. More than just a funding mechanism, Dabbadie said it provided governments with a crucial opportunity to institutionalize and sustain their efforts towards building long-term pandemic resilience and health security.

The FAO official also called for strengthened efforts to integrate One Health principles and the Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030 across all levels.

He urged strong collaboration and more innovative funding to face evolving threats to human, animal and environmental health.

"The success of this project shows what is possible when we act collectively, but the real test will be our ability to sustain and expand this progress for generations to come, leaving no one behind," Dabbadie said.

Bu t the Philippines consistently ranks high in the world risk index. That's not good. Hopefuly the money goes where it needs to go.

The pandemic is over but the Philippines is already preparing for the next one!

https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/10/31/opinion/contributors/leveraging-one-health-to-build-a-resilient-philippines/1994441

THE Philippines is already preparing to handle the next pandemic.

The country has just reached a critical milestone in the pursuit of global health security by securing a significant grant from The Pandemic Fund. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Finance, and key stakeholders such as the World Bank and the Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (Ectad) of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the country's proposal stood out in this year's competitive funding round. The $24.9-million grant under the Resilient Philippines project will enhance the country's health systems, from bolstering disease surveillance and early warning systems to strengthening laboratory networks and cross-sectoral collaboration.

This success is very timely for the Philippines, a country topping the World Risk Index for the third consecutive year. The rapid decline in biodiversity — driven by deforestation, ecosystem destruction and habitat loss — has triggered the emergence and reemergence of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and zoonoses, or diseases transmitted between species, such as from animal to human. In addition, the misuse of antimicrobials has also fueled the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a hidden yet growing threat. Often called the "silent pandemic," AMR continues to advance unnoticed until its devastating effects are felt, compounding food security risks and socioeconomic challenges.

This project will thus mark a pivotal step in fully implementing the One Health approach in the Philippines. One Health is a framework that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. It is crucial because diseases don't respect borders, whether geographical, species or ecological. By fostering collaboration across sectors, from agriculture to health and environmental management, the One Health approach helps to better detect, prevent and respond to health threats like zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, and transboundary animal diseases. Ultimately, One Health is not just about addressing health risks but about building a resilient system that protects the well-being of people, animals, and ecosystems alike.

This success is also a collective achievement, a testament to the power of collaboration. By building on the shared expertise of its national stakeholders, the Philippines has harnessed the mutual enrichment of public health and sustainable agricultural practices. With the FAO's leadership in sustainable agriculture and the World Bank's strategic investment support, this partnership has also created a powerful synergy, culminating in the awarding of the grant to the consortium.

The Pandemic Fund was launched in 2022 by the Group of 20, composed of the world's biggest economies, as a direct response to the global vulnerabilities exposed by the coronavirus pandemic. It finances critical investments aimed at strengthening pandemic preparedness and resilience in the most at-risk countries. More than just a funding mechanism, this initiative provides governments with a crucial opportunity to institutionalize and sustain their efforts toward building long-term pandemic resilience and health security.

For us, this is just the beginning. Now is the time for all sectors — government, private industry and civil society — to rally behind this momentum and invest in sustainable, resilient systems that will protect our future. We must scale up our efforts to integrate One Health principles and the Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030 across all levels, strengthen partnerships and secure more innovative funding to face the evolving threats to human, animal, and environmental health. The success of this project shows what is possible when we act collectively, but the real test will be our ability to sustain and expand this progress for generations to come, leaving no one behind.

Yeah. More than likely they will wait for The Who to tell them wha to do. 

The pandemic has been long over but only now is Cebu's Basilica del Santo Niño back to normal operating times. 

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/visayas/basilica-minore-del-santo-nino-de-cebu-returns-pre-pandemic-mass-schedules/

The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu announced it will return to pre-pandemic Mass schedules, including hourly services on Fridays, starting December 1.

The Augustinian friars who administer the basilica announced the new schedule in a post on their official Facebook page. 

The new schedules will be implemented in time for the increased number of massgoers and pilgrims in December and heading to January, in time for the Sinulog. During the Sinulog, held on the third Sunday of January, millions of pilgrims from all over the world converge in Cebu to venerate the Holy Child.

“As the world recovers from the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño wishes to inform everyone of the resumption of the pre-pandemic schedule of Masses and confessions beginning December 1, 2024, the First Sunday of Advent,” the Augustinian priests said in their announcement.

Aside from new Mass schedules, the Basilica Minore is also implementing a stricter dress code for churchgoers. Despite the controversy it has generated, the dress code has received mostly positive feedback, according to an Augustinian friar.

Why didn't they do this sooner?

Tourists levels are up but have not hit the target.

https://tribune.net.ph/2024/11/01/tourist-arrivals-far-from-77-m-target

As 2024 nears its end, the country’s foreign tourist arrival numbers remain sluggish and far from the 7.7-million target set by the Department of Tourism (DoT) for this year.

Initial data relayed by the DoT showed that as of 1 November, arrivals were 4,879,022 tourists short of the target.

Earlier, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco suggested that arrival numbers should not be the benchmark for determining the robustness of a country’s tourism industry, but tourism receipts.

From January to June this year, the DoT toted up P282.17 billion in tourism receipts, perking up 32.81 percent over the P212.47 billion in revenue posted in the same period last year. 

For all of 2023, from January to December, total visitor spending was P482.54 billion.

Against its tough competitors in Southeast Asia, the Philippines’ numbers are far from Thailand’s 26 million arrivals. The Kingdom is expecting 36 million foreign tourists this year.

Vietnam, another tough rival of the Philippines, has welcomed nearly 10 million arrivals in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 51 percent over the same period last year, its General Statistics Office reported.

Aggressive drive in remaining days

With this, the DoT, along with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), has been joining global expositions to aggressively sell the

Philippines as the premier destination in Southeast Asia.

The DoT and TPB will lead the largest Philippine delegation to the World Travel Market (WTM) 2024 to be held from 5 to 7 November at the ExCeL convention center in London.

The WTM is one of the leading global business-to-business events for the travel industry, bringing together tourism professionals, government ministers, and international media to showcase innovations in travel and tourism. Founded in 1980, the event serves as a vital platform for nations to build business connections and strengthen their global presence.

“We see World Travel Market London as a vital platform to present the Philippines to a global audience, showcasing the distinctive qualities that set our country apart — from our award-winning destinations and vibrant culture to our rich gastronomy, world-class facilities, and the renowned warmth of the Filipino people,” Frasco said.

“With our largest delegation of tour operators, hotels, and resorts since the pandemic, the DoT and TPB Philippines are strategically positioned to strengthen international partnerships and solidify the Philippines as a premier destination in the global tourism market, reaffirming our commitment to transforming the country into a tourism powerhouse in Asia, as envisioned by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” she said.

The United Kingdom is the top source of visitors from Europe, ranking as the Philippines’ ninth-largest source market with 128,660 arrivals recorded from 1 January to 31 October 2024.

As the UK outbound travel market rebounds, the DoT said it presents a valuable opportunity for the Philippines.

Perhaps sending out the "largest delegation of tour operators, hotels, and resorts since the pandemic" will get this numbers up.