Philippines blog – Page 103 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Over 700 senior citizens vaccinated for pneumonia at Robinsons Place Las Piñas

March 18, 2024March 11, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, more than seven hundred senior citizens got vaccinated for pneumonia at Robinsons Place Las Piñas, the City Government announced through social media on March 7, 2024.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s social media post. Some parts in boldface…

The City Health Office of Las Piñas successfully conducted the final leg of its series of pneumonia vaccination drives for senior citizens at the Robinsons Place Las Piñas on Saturday, March 2nd.

The drive saw the vaccination of over 700 senior citizens, protecting their vulnerable population from pneumonia, a leading cause of morbidity among the elderly.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Were there many senior citizens in your local community who managed to get vaccinated for pneumonia at Robinsons Place Las Piñas? Are you hoping that the City Government will conduct another pneumonia vaccination drive?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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FDA working with BIR to make medicine more affordable for senior citizens

March 18, 2024March 17, 2024carlocarrasco

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are working together to cut the prices of medicine for senior citizens by means of exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). It should be noted that previously President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., ordered the FDA to implement a 20 percent discount and VAT exemption for senior citizens under RA 9994 or Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to bring down prices of medicines for senior citizens through exemption from value-added tax (VAT).

FDA Director General Samuel Zacate said the exemption of VAT coverage will be through the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) or Republic Act (RA) No. 11534.

“Basically, the exemption for VAT is through a law – iyong (the) CREATE Law. So, those medicines have been declared by the FDA, endorsed to the BIR para matanggal or mawala iyong kanilang (to remove) VAT,” Zacate said in a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday.

RA 11534 provides VAT exemption to certain medicines for hypertension, cancer, mental illnesses, tuberculosis, kidney diseases, diabetes, high cholesterol, as well as Covid-19 drugs and medical devices.

Pursuant to the CREATE law, Zacate said the FDA is directed to identify and transmit the list of approved medicines for VAT exemption to other implementing agencies, such as the BIR.

“Basically…we only endorse it to the BIR kasi kami po iyong nagdi-determine kung ano, para saan talaga iyong gamot. So, FDA ang magsasabi, kung papaano iyong mekanismo, kung paano tatanggalin iyong gamot (because we are the ones who determine what, what your medicine is really for. So, FDA will say, how your mechanism, how to withdraw your drug). So, it’s a joint process po of the FDA and the BIR,” he said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Are there lots of senior citizens in your local community who are aware of this development?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Over 1.2 million international tourist arrivals in the Philippines counted (January 1 to March 5, 2024)

March 18, 2024March 7, 2024carlocarrasco

If the newest data about the 1.2 million international tourist arrivals released by the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the period of January 1 to March 5, 2024, is indeed true and accurate, then it looks like achieving the 7.7 million international tourist arrivals target for the Philippines for 2024 is doable. The DOT recently announced that that 1,227,815 international tourist arrivals (which includes both foreign tourists and Filipinos based overseas) were counted during the first 65 days of the year, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippines is off to a good start in reaching its year-end arrival target after getting 1.2 million foreign visitors in the first two months of 2024 alone, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported Thursday.

As of March 5, international tourist arrivals to the Philippines have tallied 1,227,815.

Foreign tourist arrivals took the lion’s share with 1,160,129 or 94.49 percent while overseas Filipinos make up the remaining 67,686.

Speaking at the Philippine Pavilion at the Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB) 2024 Convention in Germany, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said this is 22.86 percent higher than the 999,390 arrivals received by the country in the same period in 2023.

“I would like to express my profound gratitude first to all our Philippine sellers who continue to champion Philippine tourism. As of today (March 5), the Philippines has received over 1.2 million international visitors, a robust indication of the future of Philippine tourism. Cheers to all the reasons to celebrate and Love the Philippines,” she said.

South Korea remains the country’s top source market for visitors, with 349,956 or 28.50 percent of the total, followed by the United States with 195,603 (15.93 percent), China with 85,876 (6.99 percent), Japan with 73,159 (5.96 percent), and Canada landing in the fifth spot with 50,555 (4.12 percent).

Australia took the sixth spot with 50,488 (4.11 percent), Taiwan with 42,955 (3.50 percent), the United Kingdom with 30,507 (2.48 percent), Singapore with 25,253 (2.06 percent), and Germany with 20,816 (1.70 percent).

In January, the country’s visitor receipts also grew by 4.84 percent to USD652.26 million from the USD622.14 million recorded in the same month last year.

By doing the math, 1,227,815 international tourist arrivals divided by the first 65 days of 2024 is equivalent to 18,889.46 per day. Multiply that by 366 days for 2024 (a leap year), the total would be 6,913,542 which is several hundreds of thousands of international tourist arrivals short of the declared target. The DOT and the rest of tourism industry’s stakeholders still have lots of work to do to ensure that more than enough visitors from overseas will come into the country and add to the nation’s economy. It should be remembered that the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and China Banking Corp. found the nation’s Philippine tourism recovery still lacking.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this latest development? Do you think the reforms and initiatives the Department of Tourism (DOT) executed last year are generating positive results right now? Did you notice the lack of Arab nations among the top markets of international visitors the DOT declared? Do you think there is enough momentum and time for the Philippines to be able to attract 7,700,000 international tourist arrivals by the end of the year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Supreme Court tells Metro Manila LGUs to follow MMDA’s ticketing system

March 14, 2024March 6, 2024carlocarrasco

Motorists who travel around the Metro Manila regularly should be aware that the Supreme Court recently officially invalidated local government units (LGUs) of the National Capital Region (NCR) from issuing traffic violation tickets and seizing drivers’ licenses and ordered them to follow the ticketing system of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Supreme Court (SC) has invalidated provisions of ordinances by local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila allowing their respective traffic enforcers to issue violation receipts and confiscate driver’s licenses.

“A permanent injunction is hereby issued to enjoin respondent local government units from further issuing ordinance violation receipts; and confiscating licenses through their own traffic enforcers, unless they are deputized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA),” the court said in its 42-page decision uploaded March 4 and penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

This stemmed from a suit filed by 11 transport groups before the Court of Appeals in 2006, claiming that different citations from the MMDA and the LGUs are confusing as some bodies do not recognize tickets by other LGUs or the MMDA.

While the case was pending in 2012, a resolution by the MMDA Metro Manila Council (MMC) then adopted a uniform ticketing system and established a system of interconnectivity among the LGUs involved in transport and traffic management in Metro Manila.

In December of that year, the appellate court dismissed the suit, prompting the petitioners to elevate the case to the high tribunal.

The tribunal, in its ruling, said traffic management in the LGUs is covered by the MMDA Law.

“(T)he Court thus declares as invalid the common provision in the said traffic codes or ordinances of the LGUs in Metro Manila empowering each of them to issue OVR (ordinance violation receipts) to erring drivers and motorists,” the SC said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think this new order by the Supreme Court will turn out helpful in the years to come?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Las Piñas City’s PESO recognized by DOLE

March 13, 2024March 5, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government announced that its Public Employment and Services Office (PESO) was recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for its efficient and effective conduct and monitoring of job fairs, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-National Capital Region (NCR) recognized the Las Piñas Public Employment and Services Office (PESO) for its efficient and effective conduct and monitoring of job fairs that contributed to the increase of employment in the region.

Vice-Mayor April Aguilar said the department was awarded by the DOLE-NCR as best performing PESO in job placement for 2023.

The recognition was given to PESO during the regular flag raising ceremony on Monday, March 4.

Aguilar expressed her pride for the recognition as she reiterated the city government’s commitment to increasing the employment opportunities for Las Piñas residents.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think PESO office deserves the recognition from DOLE? Did anyone in your local community got employed through the services of the PESO over the past twelve months?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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The potential danger behind the promotion of the Philippines as an LGBTQIA+ tourist destination

March 12, 2024March 12, 2024carlocarrasco

As many of you my readers should know by now, I blogged a lot about tourism in the Philippines, what the Department of Tourism (DOT) has been doing and what the nation has achieved with regards to attracting foreign tourists.

While DOT has been working very hard to make the nation a more competitive tourism destination in Asia in accordance to the master plan, I am concerned about the department’s involvement with promoting the Philippines as an LGBTQIA+ destination. In fact, I can say it is a big turn-off as it can lead to new incidents and criminal activities that will affect local societies which the stakeholders cannot anticipate.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article of September 28, 2023. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine government on Thursday vowed to promote inclusive travel in its bid to position the country as an LGBTQI+-friendly destination in the region.

During the first Tourism Pride Summit in Makati City, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the Philippines plans to implement programs and initiate government interventions to address the unique challenges that the community faces when traveling.

The summit, she said, is one intervention to spark conversation and give members of the LGBTQIA+ a platform where they can share experiences and suggestions on how the government can make travel enjoyable and safe for them.

“Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he seeks a tourism industry that is inclusive, where no destination and no stakeholder is left behind in the development of our country,” Frasco said.

“That is why in our effort to reach our hand of collaboration to the farthest reaches of our country, we reach out our hand of collaboration as well to the many sectors that are involved in tourism, especially and including the LGBTQIA+ community,” she added.

Frasco noted that LGBTQIA+ tourism presents vast opportunities for growing the Philippine tourism industry portfolio.

Citing data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Frasco said there are an estimated 36 million LGBTQIA+ travelers around the world.

“We recognize the strength of capitalizing on LGBTQIA+ tourism considering that it is a USD200 billion industry that’s only slated to grow at half a trillion dollar industry by 2030,” she said.

Obviously the DOT is determined to attract as many LGBTQIA+ foreign tourists as possible as well as their money so that it could help them reach their financial goals and add to the momentum to make the Philippines a major tourist destination by the year 2028.

If ever a huge influx of foreign tourists who identify themselves as homosexuals/transgender/bisexual/transsexual/intersex/non-binary arrive in the Philippines, there is the potential rise of criminal activities involving the acts of the LGBTQIA+ people in the country. Can they behave themselves? Already there is one local LGBT crime that resulted one death. Can you imagine the possibility of more crime happening as more LGBTQIA+ tourists arrived? Can these people really behave themselves?

I am not just talking about sex tourism but also potential violations such as rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault, theft, scams, molestation, kidnapping, murder and other incidents that LGBTQIA+ tourists could commit here in the Philippines as they know they are favored by the DOT. If these specific foreign tourists could add to crime while touring the country, then the “Love the Philippines” slogan of the DOT could end up having a very dirty reputation plus additional embarrassment for the entire nation.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about the DOT’s drive to make the Philippines a more attractive destination for LGBTQIA+ tourists? Do you think the DOT continues to ignore the potential danger that LGBTQIA+ tourists could unleash on Filipinos while they tour the country? Did you encounter a homosexual foreign tourist who committed a crime or victimized a member of your local community? Does the majority of the youth in your local community express themselves as LGBT-friendly or even as LGBT rights activists?

Do you think that the Democrats in America, the Islamo-Leftists and woke activists could be funding LGBTQIA+ people to come to the Philippines for vacationing as well as executing secretive efforts to establish new activists among Filipinos who will blindly fight for LGBT rights in the country?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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DILG Secretary tells local governments to improve social protection and monetary management strategies

March 11, 2024March 2, 2024carlocarrasco

In recent times, local government units (LGUs) were urged by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos to improve their social protection and sensitivity as well as their monetary management strategies, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. urged local government units (LGUs) to put up measures to enhance their social protection and sensitivity as well as financial sustainability assessment ratings.

He issued the call during the recent Council on Good Local Governance (CGLG) activity in Cebu City, which discussed the proposed criteria for the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Assessment for 2024- 2025.

During the event, Abalos bared that the LGUs registered the lowest compliance rates during SGLG assessments when it comes to their social protection and sensitivity, and financial administration and sustainability.

On the flip side, Abalos stated that the LGUs registered positive performance and excelled in the following assessment criteria: Health Compliance and Responsiveness; Tourism Heritage Development, Culture and the Arts; and Sustainable Education.

“Natutuwa ako sa mataas na pagpapahalaga ng mga LGUs sa kalusugan, turismo at edukasyon base sa lumabas sa assessment para sa SGLG nitong nakaraang taon. Ipagpatuloy lang natin ang pagsisikap sa mga areas na ito (I am glad about the LGUs’ high appreciation for health, tourism and education based on the results of the assessment for the SGLG last year. Let’s continue working on these areas,” he said.

Together with Abalos, DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan also emphasized the significance of aligning the objectives and ensuring the effective execution of the SGLG assessment process.

The SGLG is an award, incentive, honor and recognition-based program for LGUs that aim to challenge them to continue good governance practices while providing better public services.

Relatedly, the DILG noted that a total of 42,000 barangay captains and other newly-elected officials will undergo continuous training to enhance their capabilities in handling various challenges that they may face in the course of their mandated duties as community leaders.

Abalos stressed that the exercise dubbed as “Grassroots Renewal and Empowerment for Accountable and Transparent (GREAT) Barangays” will run until 2025 and is designed to capacitate the village officials in all leadership aspects.

“As the basic unit of local governance, at pinakamalapit sa ating mga kababayan sa komunidad (and nearest to the people in the community), everything starts in the barangay,” Abalos explained.

Through the Local Government Academy (LGA), Abalos pointed out that the DILG ensures newly-elected barangay officials are ready to face the challenges of leadership in the barangays.

“We will prepare our barangay officials,” he said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think the DILG is properly doing its job to guide all LGUs on how to do their jobs over a wide series of issues? Do you think your local government or barangay has been neglecting its duties?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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PNP tells public to avoid scammers and transact only with legitimate companies when booking for travel

March 11, 2024March 2, 2024carlocarrasco

In recent times, the Philippine National Police (PNP) advised people to avoid scammers, protect their personal information and only transact with legitimate companies with regards to making arrangements for travel as the summer season approaches, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. The PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) noticed that scammers have been using digital methods and social media to deceive customers and take their money.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday advised the public to ensure that they are transacting with legitimate companies to avoid falling victims to scams ahead of the summer travel season.

The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) issued the warning due to the upward trend in vacation or travel accommodation scams last year.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, citing ACG data, said from 39 cases in 2021 and 91 cases in 2022, the police recorded 313 cases in 2023. This year, the police has so far recorded 35 cases.

Criminals utilize social media and digital technology to impersonate legitimate establishments, offering online accommodation services at much lower rates than usual.

However, upon arrival, victims discover that their reservations do not exist in the establishment’s system.

“We would like to take this opportunity to warn and remind our public na mag ingat (to be wary). Katulad ng sinasabi natin (As we have been saying), this is not only limited sa mga (to) vacation scam. Pati nga ‘yung mga nagbebenta ng mga murang services, nagbebenta ng mga ano-anong produkto, mag-ingat tayo especially kung ang kapalit agad nun is magpapadala kayo ng pera without you not knowing kung sino ang mga iyon (This includes those offering cheap services, selling different kinds of products, let’s be wary especially if the scheme means you have to send money without you knowing who are these),” she added.

ACG director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia Director urged netizens to exercise utmost caution and refrain from providing personal or financial details online without verifying the legitimacy of the recipient.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think the scammers have been victimizing a lot of local travelers lately? Have you seen lots of enticing travel promos on social media that promised huge discounts? If you have been traveling lately, do you do your bookings online or over the counter with a travel agency?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Dutch bank predicts Philippine economy will grow 5.4% this year

March 8, 2024February 28, 2024carlocarrasco

ING, a bank and financial services firm based in the Netherlands, published its forecast that the economy of the Philippines will grow by 5.4% this year, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Dutch bank ING is projecting a moderate 5.4 percent growth for the Philippines this year, saying the impact of the central bank’s rate hikes could have propelled robust growth but it is handicapped by “soft” capital formation.

The 5.4 percent growth estimate is considerably lower than the government target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent this year. It is also lower than 2023’s full-year 5.6 percent growth, which was also below the government’s goal of six percent to seven percent.

ING senior economist Nicholas Mapa, in an ING Manila’s economic briefing on Monday, Feb. 19, said domestic growth seems strong this year but “below par as handicaps persist.”

He said one of these handicaps is the lack in capital formation as an impact of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) cumulative rate hikes since May 2022, for a combined 450 basis points to bring the target reverse repurchase rate or the policy rate to 6.5 percent.

Because of this, Mapa said the “missing link” for a within-target growth is private investment and a National Government spending spree not hampered by a “soft” capital formation.

Capital formation is an integral part of GDP growth. However, capital formation and growth prospects were soft in 2023 due to rate hikes and it could persist this year.

For 2024, ING also forecasts inflation of three percent versus an actual six percent in 2023. The forecast is within the BSP’s target of two percent to four percent. It is also lower compared to the risk-adjusted forecast of the BSP of 3.9 percent for 2024.

Mapa also predict the exchange rate will end with a stronger peso this year at P54.90 since he also expects the BSP’s Monetary Board will cut the policy rate by 50 basis points (bps) from 6.5 percent to six percent, thereby boosting the peso performance.

Based on his presentation during the briefing, Mapa expects the first quarter GDP will perform better at six percent compared to the fourth quarter 2023 GDP of 5.6 percent. By the second quarter, he thinks the economy will grow by 6.3 percent but then will drop to 4.7 percent by the third quarter and further down to 4.5 percent in fourth quarter this year.

He said the rate hikes impact bank lending as well as GDP growth, and that the “elevated rates (has kept) capital formation subdued after years of underinvestment.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think ING’s prediction will turn out correct by the end of this year? Do you think that the economy of the Philippines can somehow grow by at least 6% this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Muntinlupa City Government to give free rubber shoes to public school students

March 8, 2024March 5, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government announced that it will soon release free rubber shoes to public school students as the next school year approaches, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government will give free rubber shoes to students in public schools for the next school year that will start in July.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon announced that the free rubber shoes will be an addition to the city government’s Balik Eskwela Package, which was launched last year.

Last year’s package contained school bags, school supplies and leather shoes, which was given for free to public school students from kindergarten to Grade 12.

“Last school year, tinupad natin ang commitment nating wala nang ‘sana all’ (Last school year, we fulfilled our commitment that there would no longer be ‘sana all’). Around 100,000 public school students were provided with a free balik eskwela package, mula daycare, elementary, junior hanggang sa senior high school,” said Biazon in his recent State of the City Address.

“Sana all” is a Filipino-English expression of being envious with the hope that everyone will have the same experience.

“Lahat ng binigay natin, from school bags to school supplies and leather shoes, ay high quality. Gusto natin sa Muntinlupa, happy ang mga bata. Gusto natin ganado silang mag-aral (All that we gave, from school bags to school supplies and leather shoes, were high quality. We want that in Muntinlupa, all children are happy),” he added.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you delighted that the City Government will be giving rubber shoes to public school students?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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