More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
Business has changed since the pandemic causing more Filipinos to be hired as virtual assistants.
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| https://techbullion.com/the-rise-of-virtual-assistants-in-the-philippines-why-businesses-are-turning-to-filipino-talent/ |
The business world is always evolving, with new technologies and trends constantly shaping it. But with change comes opportunity—allowing businesses to adapt, grow, and refine their operations. Take the pandemic, for example. Even though it’s been nearly half a decade, its impact is still felt today, pushing companies to rethink how they work and embrace more flexible, efficient ways of operating.
One way companies have successfully weathered these changes is by hiring skilled remote professionals from the Philippines—ranging from virtual assistants to highly specialized roles. But what makes Filipino talent such a great choice?
In this article, we’ll dive into the benefits of hiring remote professionals from the Philippines and how they can help your business grow in more ways than one.
There are plenty of reasons why businesses are turning to remote Filipino talent. From their excellent English proficiency to their strong work ethic, virtual assistants in the Philippines are highly preferred and considered valuable assets in companies because:
Filipino VAs are known for delivering high-quality work, which allows businesses to focus on growth and expansion. But that’s not all, Filipino remote talent are flexible, adaptable, and always looking for ways to improve. That’s because hard work has been deeply ingrained in Filipino culture.
More importantly, beyond cost-effectiveness, the Philippines has ranked among the top countries for delivering exceptional digital services. With digital work becoming essential across industries, this makes hiring Filipino talent an even wiser decision for businesses worldwide.
eCommerce has experienced massive growth since the pandemic, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. After all, it offers customers the convenience of shopping anytime, anywhere. But running an eCommerce business isn’t always seamless. That’s where an eCommerce Virtual Assistant comes in.
Working from home your computer as a virtual assistant can't be that bad of a job.
The Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Health want COVID-19 health allowances to be audited.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/937700/dbm-doh-seek-special-audit-on-covid-19-health-allowance-for-workers/story/ |
The Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Health have requested the Commission on Audit to conduct a special audit of the previously released and disbursed funds for the payment of all Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA) claims
In a joint statement, the DBM and DOH said this will ensure proper accounting of public funds spent for the purpose and will assist the Health Department in validating and consolidating all requests and disbursements related to the health emergency allowance.
The agencies noted the constantly changing funding requirements for PHEBA.
They said the DBM has allotted and released to the DOH a total of P121.325 billion, covering all healthcare and non-healthcare workers who rendered their services from 2020 to 2023.
The P121.325 billion covered the grant of Special Risk Allowance, Health Emergency Allowance/One COVID-19 Allowance, COVID-19 Sickness and Death Compensation, and other benefits, such as meal, accommodation, and transportation allowances.
During the hearing of the Senate committee on health and demography on April 2 and May 20, 2024, the DOH requested for P27.453 billion in additional funds to cover the full requirement for the supposed final computation of the PHEBA arrears.
On July 5, 2024, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the release of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) amounting to P27.453 billion.
"The Advice of SARO specifically provides that the allotment release therein shall cover the full funding requirements for the PHEBA of eligible healthcare and non-healthcare workers, based on the submitted report dated April 26, 2024. This is the final and validated computation by the DOH based on submissions before a set deadline," the agencies said.
"However, despite the final and validated computation of health emergency allowance payments timely filed before the announced deadline, the DOH and DBM have received various appeals and additional requests for health emergency allowance payments from health facilities that were not covered by previous releases," the joint statement read.
It was also reported that the PHEBA funding requirements, as of December 12, 2024, was P110.30 billion instead of the earlier reported P103.5 billion.
“An additional funding requirement of P6.8 billion, in addition to the P121.325 billion funding, is requested," the agencies said.
The DBM and DOH said it raised serious concerns among economic managers why the funding requirements to cover the incentives remain a moving target, even more than a year after the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 was lifted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July 2023
"This situation creates uncertainties regarding the government's payment obligations for this purpose," they added.
Aside from the special audit, the DOH has agreed to finalize the list of health emergency allowance recipients to resolve the longstanding concern once and for all.
It is amazing how health workers have still not been paid what they are due. It is also amazing how much corruption and fraud was committed during the pandemic.
The Bureau of Immigration remains committed to backing efforts to boost tourism to get it back to pre-pandemic levels.
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| https://radyopilipinas.ph/2025/03/bi-backs-efforts-to-boost-tourism-highlights-strong-recovery-in-international-arrivals/ |
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the country’s tourism recovery, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of strengthening the Philippine economy through increased foreign arrivals and enhanced international connectivity.
According to BI data, the Philippines recorded a total of 14,733,597 international arrivals in 2024, a strong rebound nearing the pre-pandemic figure of 17,085,097 in 2019.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that this reflects a steady recovery of the tourism sector, bringing the country closer to pre-pandemic levels despite global challenges.
South Korea remained the top source of foreign arrivals, with 1,761,281 visitors, followed by the United States with 1,325,684) arrivals and China with 500,082 inbound travelers. Other key markets included Japan, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, India, and Singapore.
Viado emphasized the Bureau’s role in facilitating tourism growth through improved immigration processes.
“The return of international arrivals to near pre-pandemic levels is a testament to the Philippines’ appeal as a top destination,” said Viado. “The BI remains committed to streamlining and modernizing our entry procedures to support this momentum while upholding border security,” he added.
The BI recognizes South Korea as a key market for Philippine tourism and supports the country’s drive to sustain and further increase arrivals from Japan, given the strong cultural and travel exchange between the two countries.
Additionally, India and Singapore have shown significant potential for further growth.
“The BI fully supports the government’s initiatives to strengthen the tourism industry. We will continue working with relevant agencies to ensure that immigration policies align with global tourism trends, making the Philippines an even more accessible and welcoming destination,” Viado added.
Apart from arrivals, Viado said that they are inviting foreign tourists to stay longer in the Philippines and enjoy the country’s different sights and sounds by making immigration services easy and accessible. He said that visa extensions and other services are easily available through its more than 60 offices nationwide, or online via eservices.immigration.gov.ph.
Perhaps the DOT and BI will finally meet their goals this year.
Another province has fully recovered from the pandemic. This time its Nueva Vizcaya.
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| https://pia.gov.ph/nueva-vizcayas-economic-performance-rebounds-post-pandemic/ |
The province of Nueva Vizcaya has posted a remarkable economic recovery from 2021 to 2023 based on the latest Economic Performance Report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region 2.
The economic growth is attributed to the implementation of various local and national interventions after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Engineer Jonem Gacad, head of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), highlighted the role of the provincial government’s P1 billion loan secured through the Land Bank of the Philippines for the improvement of farm-to-market roads, which has significantly enhanced transportation and connectivity.
In addition to infrastructure, other key initiatives included measures to combat African Swine Fever (ASF), such as a repopulation program, and various livelihood assistance programs in collaboration with national agencies played a crucial role in the province’s impressive economic rebound.
“The reopening of our tourism industry post-COVID-19 has also been a significant factor in our economic recovery. Through strategic promotions of our local tourist attractions via social media, we’ve been able to draw both local and international visitors back to Nueva Vizcaya.” Gacad said.
Gacad also credited the continued operations of mining projects in the province—specifically, the OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. in Barangay Didipio, Kasibu, and the FCF Minerals Corporation in Barangay Runruno, Quezon. These projects have contributed substantially to the local economy, generating revenue through taxes such as the Real Property Tax and the province’s share of the National Wealth Tax.
“Our increased collection of local taxes has allowed the provincial government to fund critical infrastructure and social welfare programs, creating numerous jobs for residents, especially during the post-pandemic recovery phase,” she added.
Supporting these statements, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported robust economic growth in Nueva Vizcaya from 2021 to 2023. Cholly Bayon, PSA Provincial Chief, noted that the province experienced a 13.1 percent growth in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 2021 to 2022, followed by an 8.7 percent increase from 2022 to 2023.
“We can confidently say that our province has made significant strides in economic recovery, even amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bayon remarked.
Wow! Who knew building roads would grow the economy? But why are so many places in the Philippines wihtout proper roads?
China is now not the top market for Philippine bananas.
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| https://www.philstar.com/business/2025/03/04/2425633/philippines-loses-china-market-bananas-vietnam |
Vietnam has upended the Philippines’ 20-year rule as the top supplier of bananas to China.
International Trade Centre (ITC) data showed that Vietnam – for the first time – overtook the Philippines as China’s top supplier of bananas last year.
China imported a record-high 625,166 metric tons of bananas from Vietnam while its purchase from the Philippines stood at 463,306 MT, the lowest volume in 15 years.
On an annual basis, China’s banana imports from Vietnam expanded by almost 24 percent from 505,633 MT in 2023, reflecting the Southeast Asian country’s growing production and exports for the prized fruit.
Meanwhile, China’s imports of Philippine bananas plunged by 32.45 percent from 685,869 MT in 2023.
Throughout the years, Vietnam has been eroding the Philippines’ share in China’s robust banana market, which imports about 1.8 million MT of bananas annually.
From a peak of 70 percent share in 2017, the Philippines now accounts for only 27.47 percent of China’s banana imports, based on ITC data.
Vietnam now accounts for 37.06 percent of China’s banana imports – a surge from a share of just one percent 10 years ago.
China is one of the Philippines’ top three markets for bananas. It used to be the Philippines’ top market for bananas in 2018 and 2019, thanks to warmer relations between the two countries during the Duterte administration.
However, China has been relegated to the second largest banana market for the Philippines since 2020 due to the economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and persisting domestic production challenges.
In recent years, the rising geopolitical tensions in the West Philippines Sea have also impacted Filipino banana growers, with China further cutting back on its purchases of the country’s prized commodity, industry players confirmed.
Crazy that the pandemic impacted the banana market this way.
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