reform – Author Carlo Carrasco

Higher Residence Permit Procedure Fees for Foreigners in Japan Will Take Effect on October 1

August 26, 2026August 26, 2026carlocarrasco

Starting October 1, the fees for residence permit procedures for foreigners in Japan will be hiked officially as a result of the approval by the Cabinet yesterday, according to an NHK World news article. This new development is part of the revision of the immigration control act of Japan and was set in motion over a month ago.

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

Japan’s government has decided on a series of fee increases for residence permit procedures for foreign nationals.

The move was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and will go into effect on October 1 in line with a revision to the immigration control act.

The fee to obtain a permanent residence permit will be raised from the current 10,000 yen, or about 63 dollars, to 200,000 yen, or more than 1,250 dollars. The procedure can be carried out only in person.

The current fee when renewing or changing residence status is set at 6,000 yen, or about 38 dollars, at an official counter and 5,500 yen, or about 35 dollars, online.

For a stay of up to three months, the charge at both counters and online will be raised to 10,000 yen, or about 63 dollars.

For a one-year stay, the fee will be raised to 33,000 yen, or over 205 dollars, at a counter, and 27,000 yen, or about 170 dollars, online.

The fee for a stay of five years or longer will be raised to 75,000 yen, or about 470 dollars, at a counter, and 65,000 yen, or more than 400 dollars, online.

The government says it will reduce the fees for applicants facing financial difficulties, including those designated as refugees.

Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi told reporters that the fee hikes are necessary to ensure that the policy is implemented to promote an orderly society coexisting with foreign nationals.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you convinced that there will be no stopping the hike of the mentioned fees from taking effect on October 1? Do you think the increased fees are insufficient from a financial viewpoint? Do you think this latest immigration control move by the current government can effectively alter the direction of permanent residency in Japan? Do you think people from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and other Muslim-majority nations will be discouraged from going to Japan for work and residency?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Data on Foreigners Facing Deportation in Japan Shared By Immigration Agency With Local Governments

August 12, 2026August 11, 2026carlocarrasco

To ensure better coordination and more efficient action on immigration matters, Japan’s Immigration Services Agency has formally started the process of sharing personal data on foreign nationals facing deportation with the local governments, according to a news article by Jiji Press. The agency plans to provide monthly updates on such foreigners’ relocations or returns to their home countries.

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

Japan’s Immigration Services Agency has started sharing personal information on foreign nationals subject to deportation proceedings with local governments, as part of a review of policies concerning foreigners pursued by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Previously, such information was shared only when there was consent from affected individuals, sometimes leaving local governments unable to grasp the whereabouts of foreigners subject to deportation proceedings.

The latest move is aimed at promoting appropriate responses through cooperation between the central and local governments.

In July, the agency informed local governments of the number, names, addresses, nationalities and dates of birth of foreign nationals who were subject to deportation proceedings and living outside immigration facilities as of the end of June.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the immigration services agency of Japan is doing the right thing by sharing with local governments personal information of foreigners who are facing deportation? Do you think this new strategy will improve the search for and deportation of foreigners who are staying in Japan illegally? What do you think local governments can do when it comes to illegal aliens/immigrants living within their jurisdiction? Do you think other nations should follow Japan’s examples?

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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Japan Immigration Agency Proposes Tougher Requirements And New Pension Rules For Permanent Residency

August 5, 2026August 4, 2026carlocarrasco

In the latest development on reforming immigration in Japan, the nation’s immigration agency proposed tougher requirements and new pension rules for granting permanent residency to foreigners, according to a news report by Kyodo News.

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

Japan’s immigration agency on Tuesday proposed tougher requirements for granting permanent residency to foreigners, including requiring applicants to maintain income above the average for Japanese households and a certain level of projected pension benefits.

The proposed guidelines are part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to create an “orderly society” in which Japanese and foreign nationals coexist while cracking down on illegal activities.

The Immigration Services Agency will solicit public comments before implementing the new rules from April 2027.

Permanent residents can remain in Japan indefinitely without restrictions on their activities while retaining their original nationality. Applicants generally must have lived in Japan for at least 10 years to qualify.

It differs from naturalization, through which a person acquires Japanese citizenship.

Under the current guidelines, the three main requirements for obtaining permanent residency are good conduct, sufficient assets or skills to maintain an independent livelihood, and that granting permanent residency is in Japan’s best interests.

The revised rule would require applicants to maintain annual household income above the average for Japanese households, with the benchmark based on several government data sources.

According to a health ministry survey on living conditions released on July 15, for instance, average income per household in Japan stood at 5.75 million yen ($36,500) in 2024.

Applicants would also be required to have projected pension benefits equivalent to those payable after 30 years of enrollment in the employees’ pension program at their income level.

If the projected pension benefits fall short, they will be allowed to cover the difference with their financial assets.

The revised guidelines would also introduce a Japanese-language requirement, with applicants required to demonstrate proficiency at the level of an “independent user.”

While the population of Japanese nationals has been on a downtrend, the number of foreign residents has been increasing as Japan has been accepting more workers from abroad.

As of the end of last year, about 947,000 people held permanent residency status, with many from China and the Philippines.

Permanent residency is currently granted to a spouse of a Japanese national or a permanent residency holder when their marriage has lasted for at least three years, and the non-Japanese spouse has resided in Japan for at least one year.

The proposal would raise the thresholds to five years of marriage and three years of residence.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the proposed tougher requirements and new pension rules make a lot of sense when it comes to the granting of permanent residency to foreigners there in Japan? Do you think the proposals will discourage foreigners from Third World nations like Pakistan, Somalia and Bangladesh from seeking permanent residency in Japan? Do you think the current government of Japan is doing good enough to reform immigration? Do you think that foreigners in Japan who applied for permanent residency and committed a local crime or an act of violence should automatically be disqualified by the government?

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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Japan’s Prime Minister Reaffirms Intention To Revise Constitution

May 5, 2026May 4, 2026carlocarrasco

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae made it clear that she intends to revise the Constitution of her nation in accordance with the demands of the modern age, according to a news report by Kyodo News. When it comes to national security in the modern age, Japan is constantly defending itself from the aggressive moves of Communist China and North Korea. The nation also has its own internal challenges such as foreigners committing crime, grouping together to cause public nuisance and negatively affecting the Japanese.

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

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Sunday once again signaled her intention to pursue a revision of the Constitution, as she stressed that the postwar supreme law, which serves as the foundation of the country, “should be periodically updated in accordance with the demands of the times.”

Speaking in a video message to a gathering of revision proponents on Constitution Memorial Day, Takaichi vowed to explain potential amendments carefully to the public, adding that her ruling Liberal Democratic Party would “advance discussions in the Diet aimed at reaching decisions while securing the cooperation of other parties.”

A recent Kyodo News poll showed that 73 percent of the Japanese public called for prioritizing a broad consensus across political parties when moving toward an amendment of the Constitution.

“Discussion must not be for the sake of discussion alone. What politicians must engage in, in order to fulfill the trust placed in them by the people, is discussion aimed at making decisions,” Takaichi said.

Takaichi, known as a conservative hawk, is pushing to bring about a change to the Constitution for the first time since it came into effect following World War II. Among possible areas of amendment is the war-renouncing Article 9, which is seen as the cornerstone of Japan’s postwar pacifist stance.

An amendment would require approval by a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the Diet, followed by majority support in a national referendum. The LDP won two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives election in February, while it and other pro-reform forces are within reach of the same threshold in the House of Councillors.

Amid a deteriorating security environment, Takaichi said at the LDP’s annual convention in April that she aims to initiate a proposal for a constitutional amendment by the time the party holds its convention next year.

At Sunday’s gathering, Tomohiko Taniguchi, a former special adviser to the Cabinet, cautioned against getting distracted by discussion of other provisions, saying, “Article 9 stands squarely at the center. I hope we avoid taking easy detours.”

For insight about the current Constitution of Japan, click here and here.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think there are sufficient grounds for Japan to have its Constitution revised? Do you think national security and the regional threats of North Korea and Communist China justify the need to revise the Japanese Constitution? Do you think Prime Minister Takaichi, the LDP and other parties in the chambers of government can reach a consensus to successfully amend the Constitution?

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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Japan Moves With Establishing Pre-Entry Immigration Checks And Higher Residency Fees

March 12, 2026March 10, 2026carlocarrasco

The establishment of online pre-entry immigration checks and much higher residency fees could become a reality as the Japanese government approved a bill to amend the immigration control law, according to a Kyodo News report.

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

The Japanese government on Tuesday approved a bill to amend the immigration control law to establish an online pre-entry screening system for overseas arrivals and significantly increase residence status application fees for foreigners.

The Cabinet-endorsed bill will be submitted to the current Diet session, and if enacted, the government aims to implement the entry eligibility screening system called the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or JESTA, in fiscal 2028.

The amendment includes raising the upper limit for visa application and renewal fees from 10,000 yen ($63) to 300,000 yen, marking the first increase since 1982.

The introduction of JESTA aims to prevent terrorism and illegal employment, according to the Immigration Services Agency. It would target the current 74 countries and regions whose citizens are exempt from obtaining short-stay visas.

Several days before traveling to Japan, applicants would be required to provide information online, including their name, the purpose of their stay, and the locations they intend to visit. Those suspected of traveling for illegal employment or other violations would be denied boarding on aircraft and ships.

Fees are currently set at 10,000 yen for application for permanent residency and 6,000 yen for residence period renewals.

It has been pointed out that these fees, which cover only actual costs and are also allocated to coexistence measures, are significantly lower than those in Western countries.

The number of foreign residents in Japan at the end of 2025 stood at approximately 4.13 million, a record high.

The government would aim to use the increased cap to cover system costs for efficient visa screening and the establishment of consultation services.

The amendment sets the cap at 300,000 yen for permanent residency applications and 100,000 yen for visa extensions and similar procedures.

The limits have been set in anticipation of future inflation. Going forward, the specific amounts for each fee would be determined by government ordinance with the aim of applying them within fiscal 2026.

According to sources, the permanent residency application fee is being considered at around 200,000 yen, while other fees would range from 10,000 yen to 70,000 yen depending on the intended period of stay.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the proposed changes will make a tremendous impact on immigration in Japan? Do you expect the bill to be approved this year? How far do you think Japan should go with reforming their immigration system?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Varied And Impactful Changes Realized Since Trump Returned As US President

January 22, 2026January 21, 2026carlocarrasco

A year ago, Donald J. Trump returned as President of the United States and a wide series of changes were realized since January 20 of 2025. Those changes are still happening and it is very clear Trump’s America made impact not only on Americans but also on the world. Trump is on his 2^nd term as President and he has three years remaining.

As such, the White House issued a statement titled “365 WINS IN 365 DAYS: President Trump’s Return Marks New Era of Success, Prosperity” which contains a very extensive list of changes and developments since January 20 of 2025. The statement contains an extensive list of developments covering a wide series of categories such as economics, immigration, national security, border security, jobs, income, international relations and more.

Clearly, I cannot highlight all the items from the White House statement in this blog post. What I can share with you are the items that caught my attention.

To put things in perspective, posted below are excerpts from the White House statement. Some parts in boldface…

Item #1 – Achieved negative net migration in 2025, reversing a 50-year trend and restoring U.S. control over immigration flows for the first time in a generation.

Item #2 – Removed more than 2.6 million illegal aliens from the United States through deportations and voluntary self-departures.

Item #3 – Carried out over 650,000 arrests, detentions, and deportations of illegal aliens — including the worst of the worst criminal illegal alien killers, rapists, gang members, and repeat offenders.

Item #17 – Revoked visas tied to pro-Hamas agitators on college campuses, restoring safety, free speech, and American values to universities across the nation.

Item #28 – Rescued 62,000 missing migrant children from trafficking, forced labor, and exploitation networks tied to illegal migration — most of whom were lost during the Biden Administration.

Item #31 – Revoked Temporary Protected Status for over 500,000 migrants — a decision upheld by the Supreme Court.

Item #53 – Delivered the largest one-year decline in homicides in U.S. history by launching targeted federal crime crackdowns and ending Biden-era non-enforcement.

Item #69 – Created 654,000 private-sector jobs following deregulation, tax relief, and restored investment confidence.

Item #70 – Ensured 100% of net job growth went to native-born Americans by enforcing immigration laws.

Item #71 – Achieved massive economic growth, with real GDP rising 4.3% in the third quarter of 2025 — smashing economists’ expectations and setting the stage for future growth, with GDP projected to be even higher in the fourth quarter as President Trump’s policies continue to take effect.

Item #79 – Signed the Working Families Tax Cut, delivering the largest middle-class tax relief package in modern U.S. history and saving 5.9 million jobs.

Item #80 – Delivered on his No Tax on Tips campaign promise.

Item #106 – Secured new and improved trade agreements with major U.S. trading partners covering more than half of global GDP — including the United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, China, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Israel, Switzerland, the Philippines, and Cambodia.

Item #107 – Sent tariff revenues soaring, collecting $300 billion under expanded enforcement and new policies.

Item #108 – Reduced the trade deficit to its lowest since 2009.

Item #141 – Ended the Israel–Hamas war by imposing a ceasefire framework, securing the release of hostages, and enacting a landmark Gaza Peace Plan to unleash total security and prosperity for all in the region.

Item #144 – Brokered peace between India and Pakistan.

Item #145 – Brokered peace between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

Item #151 – Destroyed Iran’s nuclear weapons capability through coordinated military action, sanctions escalation, and intelligence operations.

Item #161 – Secured the capture of long-wanted narcoterrorist Nicolás Maduro, paving the way for his prosecution in the U.S.

Item #229 – Rolled out new merit-based federal hiring plans, ensuring the government’s hiring decisions are based on merit only — including at the Federal Aviation Administration, where the Biden Administration specifically recruited individuals with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric issues.

Item #313 – Established the Make America Healthy Again Commission tasked with investigating and addressing the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis — with an initial focus on childhood chronic diseases.

The selected items shared above are only a portion of the extensive list of the White House statement. Still, it give you an idea as to how vast the Trump administration’s initiatives really are. Truly, America is back and we should observe what else could President Trump and his team do over the next three years.

To see the full statement and list, click https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/01/365-wins-in-365-days-president-trumps-return-marks-new-era-of-success-prosperity/

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Among the many initiatives Trump launched since January 20, 2025, how were you affected? Do you think the international community is respecting America more under the leadership of President Trump? Do you think the US economy is taking off towards a new economic boom? Do you think Trump’s America should start striking the terrorist state of Iran to bring down the Islamic regime once and for all?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Prime Minister Takaichi Intends To Strengthen Japan With Reforms

January 2, 2026January 1, 2026carlocarrasco

With countless challenges – both internal and external – affecting Japan every day, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is determined to make the nation stronger and more prosperous by implementing reforms, according to a Kyodo News article. The Prime Minister delivered her New Year’s statement.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news release of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday pledged to make Japan “strong and prosperous” by carrying out “necessary reforms” to address various domestic and global challenges.

In her New Year’s statement, Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21, said her government is committed to building a nation where younger generations can believe in the future and live in hope.

Takaichi emphasized that Japan faces a shrinking population, rising living costs after decades of deflation, and what she described as “the most severe and complex security environment” since the end of World War II.

Globally, political and economic uncertainties are growing as “the free and open international order is being shaken and hegemonic moves are increasing,” she said, in an apparent reference to China’s escalating military activities and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Takaichi took office after winning the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race in early October, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba, who had announced the previous month that he would resign following the party’s heavy setback in the House of Councillors election in July.

With Takaichi’s Cabinet maintaining high approval ratings — well above those of her immediate predecessors — parliament is set to begin this year’s 150-day regular session on Jan. 23.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Apart from the pending new rules on foreigners, what kind of social and economic reforms do you think Prime Minister Takaichi and her administration will come up with over the next six months? Do you think the government will be able to come up with new policies to encourage married couples to have more children?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines At Risk Of Falling Behind Southeast Asian Neighbors Economically

November 26, 2025November 19, 2025carlocarrasco

The 3^rd quarter growth of only 4% the Philippines achieved has been on people’s minds a lot lately. As such, the country is at risk of falling behind its neighbors in Southeast Asia in terms of economic growth and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

The Philippine economy is at risk of further falling behind its Southeast Asian neighbors, an economist said, noting it may take two years to catch up with Vietnam and up to 70 years to catch up with Singapore.

“(T)he Philippines could find itself lagging behind if alleged public spending issues continue to divert attention and resources away from the structural reforms needed to accelerate economic development,” Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Lead Economist Emilio S. Neri, Jr. said in a commentary on Wednesday.

In the third quarter, Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4%, its slowest pace in over four years amid slower household and public infrastructure spending as the flood control scandal dampened investor and con-sumer sentiment.

In the nine months to September, GDP growth averaged 5%, putting the government’s 5.5%-6.5% full-year growth target further out of reach.

“The Philippine economy is growing, but not enough to close the economic gap with other countries,” Mr. Neri said.

He noted the Philippine GDP per capita is lower compared with other economies in the region. Citing International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, he said the Philippines’ GDP per capita stood at $4,078 in 2024.

“At the current growth rate, it would take the Philippines two years to catch up with the GDP per capita of Vietnam, 4 years with Indonesia, 14 years with Thailand, 26 years with Malaysia, and 70 years with Singapore, assuming their incomes remain stagnant. In reality, their GDP per capita continues to grow, which means the gap could persist or even widen,” Mr. Neri said.

The Philippines lagged behind Singapore which had a GDP per capita of $90,674 in 2024, followed by South Korea ($36,128), Japan ($32,498), China ($13,312), Malaysia ($12,540), Thailand ($7,491), Indonesia ($4,958) and Vietnam ($4,535).

“Before the pandemic, the Philippines had a higher GDP per capita than Vietnam, but has since been overtaken. At current trends, it would take the Philippines two years to catch up with Vietnam, but that gap could increase to 13 years by 2044,” Mr. Neri said.

The BPI economist said the Philippines needs structural reforms to accelerate growth in order to close the widening gap with its neighbors.

“The current economic model of the country is not enough, as shown by the country’s inability to grow faster than 6% in recent years,” he said.

Mr. Neri said the economy has been “too reliant” on consumer spending, driven by overseas Filipino worker (OFW) remittances and the business process outsourcing industry.

“There is a need to diversify its sources of growth. The economy must improve in terms of production, especially in agriculture and manufacturing, as they will allow the economy to be more self-sufficient and to reach foreign markets. These industries have been critical to Vietnam’s success and could play a similar role for the Philippines,” he said.

However, Mr. Neri said implementing these reforms will be hard if the government lacks focus.

“Public spending issues divert fiscal resources and policymaking focus away from long-term development priorities. Efforts to strengthen safeguards against potential issues in government spending are essential, enabling the country to work on structural reforms that could improve the economy,” he said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? What do you think should the government do to accelerate economic growth?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Approved Foreign Investment Pledges Fall Down 48.7% In 3rd Quarter

November 21, 2025November 14, 2025carlocarrasco

The flood control corruption scandals connected with the weaker investor sentiment resulted in a 48.7% fall in foreign investment pledges during the 3^rd quarter this year, according a news report by BusinessWorld. It should be noted that Philippines GDP growth for the same quarter slowed down a lot.

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

APPROVED foreign investment pledges plunged nearly 50% in the third quarter as investor sentiment soured due to the corruption scandal involving government infrastructure projects, the local statistics agency said.

Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the value of foreign commitments approved by investment promotion agencies (IPAs) fell by 48.7% to P73.68 billion in the July-to-September period from P143.74 billion in same period last year.

However, this was the highest amount of investment pledges since the third quarter of 2024.

Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes, director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development, said the decline in approved investments can be attributed to the weaker investor sentiment.

“Tingin ko. Wala pang nakukulong eh (I think so. No one has been imprisoned yet),” he said in a Viber message, when asked if this sharp slump in approved investments will likely persist in the fourth quarter until 2026.

Quarter on quarter, the approved pledges rose by 9.34% from P67.38 billion in the second quarter.

Singapore was the top source of foreign investment pledges in the third quarter with P20.26 billion (27.5%), followed by Japan with P13.59 billion (18.4%) and Cayman Islands with P13.14 billion (17.8%).

Investment commitments from South Korea stood at P5.57 billion (7.6%), while those from China stood at P4.51 billion (6.1%)

PSA data showed the investment pledges were approved by seven IPAs — the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Board of Investments (BoI), Clark Development Corp., Clark International Airport Corp., Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? What do you think the government must do to convince foreign investors to become more confident about investing in the Philippines? Do you think the investigation and pace of justice related to the flood control corruption scandal is moving too slowly?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

USAID formally shut down and incorporated into State Department

July 4, 2025July 3, 2025carlocarrasco

They finally did it! The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) –the independent agency of the American government responsible for administering civilian and foreign aid – was formally shut down by the Trump administration and has been incorporated into the State Department, according to a news report by Breitbart.

It should be remembered that USAID was heavily abused for a long time and a lot of taxpayers’ money was abused for questionable and wrongful purposes around the world such as funding LGBTQ projects, pushing abortion overseas, overseas tourism promotions, terrorist funding, creating a Sesame Street in Iraq, creating a mural in Parañaque City, and more.

As expected, there are high-profile figures who still want USAID to continue even though the abuses have been exposed. This new development with USAID is undeniably a major change decades in the making and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued statements defending the move.

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

The US foreign aid agency formally closed down Tuesday, with President Donald Trump’s administration trumpeting the end of the “charity-based model” despite predictions that millions of lives will be lost.

Founded in 1961 as John F. Kennedy sought to leverage aid to win over the developing world in the Cold War, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has now been incorporated into the State Department — after Secretary of State Marco Rubio slashed 85 percent of its programming.

In a farewell to remaining staff on Monday, former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama — as well as U2 frontman Bono — saluted their work and said it was still needed.

Bush pointed to PEPFAR, the massive US effort to fight HIV/AIDS that he considers one of the top achievements of his 2001-2009 Republican presidency.

“This program shows a fundamental question facing our country — is it in our nation’s interest that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is,” Bush said in a video message seen by AFP.

Obama, who like Bush has been sparing in openly criticizing Trump, said that ending USAID was “inexplicable” and “will go down as a colossal mistake.”

“Gutting USAID is a travesty and it is a tragedy because it’s some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world,” the Democrat said.

A study published in the medical journal The Lancet predicted that more than 14 million people would die, a third of them small children, by 2030 due to the foreign aid cuts.

‘Little to show’ – Rubio painted a drastically different picture of USAID, which was an early target of a sweeping government cost-cutting drive led for Trump by billionaire Elon Musk.

Rubio said that USAID’s “charity-based model” fueled “addiction” by developing nations’ leaders and that trade was more effective.

“Beyond creating a globe-spanning NGO industrial complex at taxpayer expense, USAID has little to show since the end of the Cold War,” Rubio wrote in an essay.

He also complained that many recipients of US aid do not vote with the United States at the United Nations and that rival China often enjoys higher favorability among the public.

A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that The Lancet study relied on “incorrect assumptions” and said the United States will continue aid but in a “more efficient” way.

He said that PEPFAR will remain, with a priority on stopping HIV transmission from mothers to children.

But he acknowledged the United States was no longer funding PrEP medication, which significantly reduces the rate of HIV transmission and has been encouraged by high-risk communities.

“No one is saying that gay men in Africa shouldn’t be on PrEP. That’s wonderful. It doesn’t mean that the United States has to pay for every single thing,” the official said.

He said the Trump administration was looking at “new and innovative solutions” and pointed to food deliveries in war-battered Gaza staffed by US military contractors and surrounded by Israeli troops.

Witnesses, the United Nations and local Gaza officials have reported that Israeli troops have repeatedly opened fire and killed Palestinians waiting for aid — although the US-backed initiative, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, denies any deadly incidents.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you satisfied with the formal end of USAID and its incorporation into the State Department? Do you think a lot of people’s lives around the world will suffer from the shutdown of assistance from USAID?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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