More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
President Marcos thanked the outoging Thai ambassador for all his countries' help during the post-pandemic recovery.
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| https://tribune.net.ph/2025/02/05/marcos-lauds-thai-envoy |
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed his gratitude towards the outgoing Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Tull Traisorat enhancing bilateral ties between the Philippines and Thailand.
In Trasorat’s farewell call to the President, Marcos noted the cooperation between Manila and Bangkok especially the post-pandemic recovery as well as the significant progress in exchanging economic policies, and diplomatic engagements.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for everything you have done to bring our countries closer. Thailand and the Philippines have forged many new agreements and many new alliances in the past years,” Marcos said.
For his part, the Thai diplomat said he appreciated a “very fruitful and rewarding” time in the country.
The two neighboring countries have signed 54 bilateral agreements covering various sectors, including air services, agriculture, the abolition of entry visas, tourism and technical, scientific and cultural cooperation.
In addition, both countries also agreed on illicit trafficking prevention, trade and industry, and defense logistics.
In 2023, Thailand was one of the Philippines’ key trade partners, ranking as the seventh-largest trading partner, eighth-largest export market, and sixth-largest import supplier.
Total trade between the two nations in 2023 amounted to $10.81 billion, with $2.93 billion in Philippine exports and $7.87 billion in imports. That same year, remittances from overseas Filipino workers in Thailand reached $64.72 million. As of October 2023, there were 32,950 Filipinos living and working in Thailand.
In 2025, the Philippines and Thailand will celebrate 76 years of diplomatic ties. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 14 June 1949.
Trade is certianly a big factor in the recovery but likely so is tourism.
Hong Kong's recovering tourism sector is due largely in part to Filipino tourists.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1243462 |
The Philippines remains as a key tourism market for Hong Kong as it attracts some 1.2 million Filipino travelers in 2024, the highest among its visitors from Southeast Asia.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said this number makes up nearly half of the 2.4 million arrivals it received from the region.
“This is a record-breaking achievement and we are thrilled to know that Hong Kong last year is the top travel destination for the Filipinos,” HKTB executive director Dane Cheng said during a reception in Taguig City on Wednesday night.
“As we look forward to 2025, we have no intention of slowing down —we remain committed to staying one step ahead and providing visitors with a million reasons to explore Hong Kong,” he added.
The HKTB said Southeast Asia is Hong Kong’s fastest-recovering visitor source market, which has shown robust growth since the city fully reopened to international travelers. In 2024, visitor numbers from the region rebounded to around 95 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
Last November, Hong Kong welcomed its one millionth visitor from the Philippines, Miguel Linao, along with his wife Ana and their three children.
Also present at the reception, Miguel shared that his family had been a repeat visitor of the city even prior to the pandemic, describing it as a destination that “has something for everyone”.
“My wife and I, we love the food and the modern vibe of Hong Kong. And then for our kids, of course, there's the theme parks. So, we just walk around the city endlessly, get lost in the city, but then it's also easy to find your way back,” he said.
“We also find Hong Kong to be home of one of the best culinary experiences in the world. There are so many restaurants to choose from —So, there's something for everyone. And I think we have barely scratched the surface."
But as has been previously noted not many Chinese are making their way to the Philippines.
Business groups are opposing a proposed 200 peso daily wage hike. One reason they cite is econmic hardships due to the pademic!
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| https://business.inquirer.net/505116/more-biz-groups-oppose-bill-on-p200-daily-wage-hike |
More business groups have come forward to oppose plans to legislate a P200 wage hike, signaling a growing disapproval from a wide range of industries in the country.
A joint letter signed by ten major trade organizations dated Feb. 4 was sent to House of Representatives labor committee Chair Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles voicing their “strong opposition” to the proposed law on an across-the-board wage hike that was recently approved.
“While we acknowledge and respect the desire to improve the welfare of workers, we believe that the sweeping nature of this proposal will have devastating effects on business owners, particularly small and micro enterprises, and the Philippine economy in its entirety,” the letter read.
The business groups which signed the letter include the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors, Philippine Retailers Association, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Constructors Association, People Management Association of the Philippines, and the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) “are already struggling with rising operational costs, limited access to credit, and the ongoing challenges posed by economic instability, including the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation,” the letter read.
“Mandating a blanket wage increase of P200 a day will disproportionately burden these businesses, many of which are operating with slim margins and lack the financial flexibility to absorb such a significant increase in labor costs,” it added.
How ironic seeing as the wage hike is needed because of "the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation!"
The COVID-19 pandemic has been over for years yet PhilHealth is still paying billions in COVID claims.
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| https://philstar.com/headlines/2025/02/11/2420705/philhealth-p679-billion-covid-claims-reimbursed |
Despite pandemic restrictions being lifted in July 2023, total reimbursements for COVID-19-related claims reached P6.79 billion last year, according to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
About 517,977 COVID-19 patients were covered, based on PhilHealth data.
Of the amount, P5.691 billion (29,566 claims) was paid for inpatient care.
About P2.10 billion was paid for critical pneumonia – adult and pediatric; severe pneumonia – adult and pediatric, P1.57 billion; moderate pneumonia, P1.61 billion, and mild pneumonia – elderly or with comorbidities, P322.8 million.
Full financial risk protection for health workers is also included under inpatient care, amounting to P62.6 million, while intermediate package – severe and critical pneumonia – totaled P2 million and intermediate package – moderate pneumonia – P1.1 million.
For COVID-19 testing of 482,909 PhilHealth members, the state health insurer paid P988 million.
As to isolation measures, PhilHealth paid P118 million representing 5,502 claims.
Members can still avail themselves of COVID-19 benefit packages in accredited health facilities, PhilHealth said.
In November last year, PhilHealth implemented an increase in COVID-19 benefit packages.
President Marcos lifted the state of public health emergency in July 2023.
Note that none of these claims are for COVID alone. They are all for pneumonia which has been exacerbated by COVID.
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