Southeast Asia – Page 16 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Around 800 Las Piñas City Residents Avail Of Services From Medical Mission

September 23, 2025September 14, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, around eight hundred local residents availed of the services from a medical vision involving the Aivee Group, the City Government confirmed via social media.

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

Mayor April Aguilar, together with Vice Mayor Mel Aguilar and The Aivee Group led by Dra. Aivee Aguilar, brought premium medical care to the community through the “Aivee Beyond Borders” free medical mission held at the Equitable Covered Court, Barangay Talon Kuatro. Around 800 Las Piñeros benefited from the activity, receiving expert consultations, treatment procedures, post-procedure medicines and creams, as well as follow-up guidance.

The event also became a celebration of community spirit, with free meals and treats shared by the City Nutrition Office and Potdog, plus giveaways from The Aivee Group and the Las Pin̈as LGU. A raffle was likewise held, made possible through the generosity of sponsors including Unilab Foundation, Omni Med Hub Corporation, Vanguard, Siklab, and Ms. Maribel Mijares.

Joining Mayor April were Congressman Mark Anthony Santos, Councilor Alelee Aguilar, and special guest Mika Salamanca, PBB Celebrity Collab Big Winner, who all came together to show support for the beneficiaries.

Mayor April reiterated her commitment to bring quality health services closer to the people.

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 wish that another medical mission involving the Aivee Group will be held again in the city soon?

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 Receives 2025 CROWN Award For Nutrition Programs

September 22, 2025September 13, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently the City Government of Muntinlupa received a new Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner (CROWN) award for its nutrition programs, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The National Nutrition Council-National Capital Region recognized the Muntinlupa City government for its nutrition programs.

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon received the Second Year CROWN (Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner) Maintenance Award Contender during a ceremony on Sept. 11.

“Ang CROWN o Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition Award ay ibinibigay sa mga LGU na consistent na top performer sa nutrition programs matapos makuha ang Green Banner Award ng tatlong sunod-sunod na taon (The CROWN or Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition Award is given to LGUs that are consistent top performers in nutrition programs after winning the Green Banner Award for three consecutive years),” the mayor posted on Facebook.

In addition, the Muntinlupa City government also received the awards for Best LGU in Mandatory Food Fortification Program, Best LGU in Nutrition-Sensitive Programs and Best LGU in Nutrition Investment.

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 with the city receiving another CROWN award? Do you think Muntinlupa has the best nutrition programs among all other cities of Metro Manila?

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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Mandatory Trustmark for E-Commerce in the Philippines

September 21, 2025September 12, 2025carlocarrasco

Business in the Philippines with established presence online will be required to get registered for E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark (Trustmark) as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that digital verification system for e-commerce will be mandatory, 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…

The digital verification system in e-commerce to ensure reliability of online transactions will no longer be voluntary and instead now mandated for every merchant and platform, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The DTI launched the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark to serve as a digital badge issued to online businesses that comply with fair e-commerce practices.

In July, the department said the trustmark was only “voluntary,” with merchants only “encouraged to apply to build consumer trust.”

The trustmark is designed to help consumers identify legitimate online merchants, thereby safeguarding them from unfair trade practices and threats of scams and other fraudulent activities.

Under Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 25-12, the DTI said the trustmark will now be mandatory and also serve as the permit for e-commerce merchants and online platforms to use the internet for conducting their business.

“Issuance of the trustmark shall signify that the products, goods, or services sold online by the holder comply with applicable standards and good e-commerce practices,” the DTI said in the order.

The DTI, headed by Secretary Cristina Roque, said the mandatory registration is a direct response to the recent surge in consumer concerns. Between January and August, the agency reported over 13,000 complaints related to online transactions.

As indicated under DAO No. 25-12, all online merchants, e-retailers, e-marketplaces, or digital platforms availing of the Philippine market over the internet shall apply for and obtain the (Trustmark) by Sept. 30

The DTI said this is to ensure that the merchant or platform is permitted to “use the internet for conducting e-commerce.”

While the order did not explicitly detail potential violations for not having a trustmark, it noted that those who have submitted an application on or before Sept. 30 must clearly state on their page that their trustmark is still pending evaluation and approval.

To apply for the trustmark, interested applicants must submit an application form accompanied by a sworn undertaking to comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

E-commerce merchants must meet key regulatory standards, including full business disclosure, protection of consumer data, and an internal redress mechanism to address consumer complaints.

As embodied under the order, the DTI emphasized that Trustmark does not exempt the holder from compliance with other applicable laws or regulations.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? If you are operating a local business with presence online, do you think the mandatory registration for the Trustmark is hassle?

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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Deadline For E-Commerce Trustmark Registration In The Philippines Set On September 30, 2025

September 20, 2025September 11, 2025carlocarrasco

Here in the Philippines, businesses that have established their presence online are supposed to get themselves registered for the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark (Trustmark) and they have until September 30, 2025, to do it, according to a news article by Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

Businesses with online presence are given until Sept. 30, 2025 to register for the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark (Trustmark), a move aimed to address consumer concerns, the Department of Trade and Industry said Thursday.

Online merchants are mandated by the DTI, in a Department Administrative Order, to register for the Trustmark to increase consumers’ confidence on the electric commerce (e-commerce) space and in compliance to Republic Act 11967, otherwise known as the Internet Transactions Act of 2023.

“The mandatory registration is also a direct response to the surge in consumer concerns, with DTI recording over 13,000 complaints related to online transactions from January to August 2025,” DTI said in a press release Thursday.

Under the Internet Transactions Act of 2023, consumers may file damage claims against the erring online businesses before the court or the DTI. Penalties have been set, with the third and subsequent violations penalized PHP1 million.

DTI said it has already issued digital badges to several major entities that include Shopee Philippines, Inc. (Shopee), Bytedance Philippines Inc. (TikTok Shop), Lalamove Philippines, Inc. (Lalamove), and LG Electronics Philippines, Inc. (LG).

The others are Asahi Electrical Manufacturing Corporation (Asahi), Cherenz Global Mfg., Inc. (TOUGHMAMA), Concepcion Midea, Inc. (Midea), Concepcion Carrier Air Conditioning Company (Carrier), First Digital Finance Corporation (Billease), Mailtag Ortigas Corporation (DHL Express), Pan-Eurasia Sales Marketing Corporation (Dowell, Edamama and Tefal), QuadX Inc. (Gogo Xpress and ShippingCart), and Tosot Philippines Corporation (Tosot).

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you think Trustmark will is good for both the legitimacy of businesses as well as the safety of consumers? Do you own a business with online presence?

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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Wanted Man Apprehended After Getting Spotted During Online Live Selling

September 19, 2025September 11, 2025carlocarrasco

Believe it or not, a man who was wanted for carnapping and estafa was arrested by the police in Pampanga after he was recognized during an online live selling session, according to a GMA Network news report. The suspect wore a face mask, a cap and sunglasses during the live selling.

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

A man wanted for estafa and carnapping was arrested after he was recognized by authorities in an online live-selling video.

According to Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the informant identified the suspect via the live video through the shape of his face and tattoo on the arm.

“Siya ay naka-face mask, naka-sumbrero, at naka salamin na hindi typikal sa paningin ng ating mga kababayan kapag sila ay nagbebenta o nagla-live selling,” said Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group spokesperson Police Lt. Nadame Malang.

(He was wearing a face mask, a ballcap, and a pair of sunglasses on, which are not a typical appearance for those doing live sellings.)

Authorities were able to trace the location of the live selling at Lubao, Pampanga, which also led to the arrest of the suspect.

The PNP-HPG said the suspect was charged for estafa for fraudulent selling of anime figurines worth P800,000 to P900,000.

One of the alleged victims, who is now based in Australia, shared photos with GMA Integrated News that will prove his transactions with the suspect.

“Nangako po siya na babayaran ako through post dated checks, so nag-isyu po siya ng anim na post dated checks sa akin. Unfortunately po, lahat po ‘yun tumalbog,” he said.

(He promised that he would pay me through post dated checks which he did by issuing six. Unfortunately, all of them bounced.)

“Tinaguan na po kami, hindi na po siya totally nagre-reply sa mga messages ko,” the victim said, adding that there are 40 other victims.

(He hid from us and he was not totally replying to my messages.)

The PNP-HPG called on the other victims to coordinate with them.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Does this development make you concerned that there could be crime suspects among the many people who sell online live? Does the arrest of the suspect turn you off from attending online selling sessions? If you recently bought products from online selling sessions, were the good legitimate? Do you know anyone who became a victim of the suspect in the above news story?

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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HSBC Says Philippines Should Focus On Strengthening Services Sector

September 18, 2025September 10, 2025carlocarrasco

As far as HSBC is concerned, the Philippines would be better off strengthening its services sector instead of playing catch up with manufacturing, according to a business article published by the Manila Bulletin.

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

The Philippines should leverage its services sector to stand out in the global investment landscape, as competition with manufacturing-led economies is well out of reach, according to an HSBC economist.

The country has been lagging behind its peers in Southeast Asia in terms of attracting foreign investments.

Last year, the Philippines secured the sixth spot in the region, trailing behind Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, according to the report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

This trend is expected to continue this year amid uncertainties in global trade and especially due to the country’s relatively low manufacturing activity.

HSBC Asia Economics Associate Director Ines Lam said the limited scale of the manufacturing sector in the Philippines hinders its ability to draw foreign capital.

Lam explained that attempting to be competitive in manufacturing at this late stage could ultimately be ineffective and counter to the government’s efforts to secure investments.

“Everyone wants to get a piece of the global supply chain. Everyone wants to be a supplier to Apple. But for the Philippines, I think the Philippines’ unique value proposition is its people and soft skills,” she said during the 23rd International CEO Conference hosted by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

Instead of trying to catch up in manufacturing, Lam said the country could instead shift its focus to strengthening its services sector, in which it has an advantage compared to regional partners.

The economist said upskilling the country’s talented pool of workers is a critical component in boosting the sector. She noted that the educational proficiency and English expertise of Filipino workers are the top qualities sought by global employers and investors.

“I’m not saying that manufacturing is not important, but because the Philippines has already found its advantage, I think it’s important that the Philippines does not lose this,” said Lam.

“You provide something new and you improve your offerings in terms of BPO (business process outsourcing) and exports of services. Then, that will help the Philippines to stand out in this world,” she added.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you agree with HSBC’s economic opinion about the Philippines? Do you think the Philippines should focus more on strengthening the services sector instead of manufacturing? What do you think makes the Philippines not so good at manufacturing when compared with its Asian neighbors?

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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Couple Arrested In Valenzuela City For Mass Producing And Selling Fake Government ID Cards

September 18, 2025September 11, 2025carlocarrasco

In the City of Valenzuela, the local police officers arrested a couple suspected of mass producing fake government ID cards and selling them online, according to a news report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

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

Valenzuela police apprehended a couple allegedly mass producing and selling fake government IDs online, Valenzuela Mayor Wes Gatchalian announced on Wednesday at a press conference.

PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) Acting Director PBGen. Bernard Yang said the couple was tagged as the main suppliers by another online seller the police previously arrested.

Apart from forging tools, and a printer, operatives seized over 300 pieces of the fake government-issued identification cards: PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS), Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID), Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and Driver’s licenses. The suspects also reportedly forged government documents such as PhilHealth Member Data Records.

“We have confiscated so many IDs. They can do almost anything. And these are being sold online on different social media platforms ranging from P40 to P1,000,” Yang stated in Filipino.

The cops identified the couple as “Chippie,” 44, and “Kaye,” 40, who, when asked by the media, admitted to printing the IDs saying they were only doing their jobs, but they failed to name their employer.

They will face charges of falsification of documents, a violation of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Gatchalian advised against the production of fake IDs as it affects local businesses, as well as persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

“Disadvantaged here are the establishments that are losing money… The real senior citizens and the real PWDs of our city are disenfranchised,” the mayor said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Additionally, PhilHealth NCR Vice President Bernadette Lico reminded that registering to Philhealth can be done online, and the IDs can be claimed for free, highlighting that there’s no need to pay for fake documents.

“There are many people online who are buying PhilHealth IDs ranging from P200 to P900… There is no need to do this anymore. Because all Filipinos are covered by PhilHealth, When you get an ID made, there is no fee. And with the e-gov app, you can register for a PhilHealth ID online.” Lico explained.

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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Philippines Unemployment Rate Hits 5.3% in July 2025

September 17, 2025September 10, 2025carlocarrasco

As controversy about flood control projects continues to dominate the news cycles, more Filipinos reported themselves as unemployed this past July as the unemployment rate jumped to 5.3%, according to a GMA Network business news report.

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

The number of Filipinos without jobs or livelihoods increased in July 2025 due to weather disturbances which affected various sectors of the labor market during the period, according to the results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s latest Labor Force Survey.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, PSA chief and National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa reported that unemployed persons, ages 15 and above, rose to 2.59 million from 1.95 million in June 2025. This was also higher than the 2.38 million jobless in July 2024.

As a percentage of 48.64 million participants in the labor force who are actively looking for labor opportunities during the period, the number of jobless persons translated to an unemployment rate of 5.3%, up from 3.7% month-on-month.

This means 53 in 1,000 individuals do not have jobs or livelihoods during the period. This was also the highest unemployment since August 2022’s 5.3%.

Labor force participation in July 2025 declined from 52.42 million in June 2025 and 50.06 million in July 2024.

Likewise, employed persons, or those with jobs and livelihoods, during the period contracted to 46.05 million from 50.47 million in June 2025 and 47.68 million in July 2024.

As a percentage of labor force participants, the employment rate stood at 94.7%, lower than the 96.3% seen in June 2025 and 95.3% in July 2024.

Mapa attributed the increase in unemployed persons and decreases in both employed and labor force participation to the series of storms which hit the country during the month.

“Una talaga ang nangyari dito sa July round is first tinamaan ang ating bansa, maraming areas ng typhoons. Ito talaga ‘yung nakita namin na main reason kung bakit bumababa ang labor force participation at employment na rin,” the PSA chief said.

(First, what we saw during the July round is that many areas of the country were hit by typhoons. This was really the main reason why the labor force participation and employment numbers declined.)

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you think the unemployment rate of the Philippines will remain above 5% until 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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Most Wanted Man in Muntinlupa City Arrested For Qualified Rape and Lascivious Conduct

September 16, 2025September 9, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the most wanted person was apprehended by the local police over charges of qualified rape and lascivious conduct, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Police arrested a 42-year-old man tagged as Muntinlupa’s No. 1 top most wanted person for qualified rape and lascivious conduct on Friday, Sept. 6.

The suspect, identified as alias “Ranielle,” was nabbed in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa by operatives from the Warrant and Subpoena Unit of Muntinlupa police.

He is facing charges of lascivious conduct under Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) and qualified rape under Republic Act 11648 (An Act Promoting for Stronger Protection Against Rape and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Increasing the Age for Determining the Commission of Statutory Rape).

According to the Supreme Court website, lascivious conduct, based on the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act, 7610, is “the intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction of any object into the genitalia, anus or mouth, of any person, whether of the same or opposite sex, with intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a person.”

The Supreme Court Office of the Spokesperson stated that “qualified rape, on the other hand, refers to sexual intercourse with a woman against her will, committed under any of the circumstances listed in Article 266-B of the RPC (Revised Penal Code), such as abuse of authority, moral ascendancy, relationship, or the victim’s vulnerability.”

Presiding Judge Phillip Aguinaldo of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 207 issued the warrant of arrest. Bail was set at P200,000 for each of four counts of lascivious conduct and no bail for qualified rape.

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 there many property owners in your local community who have yet to know about the real property tax amnesty offered?

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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Philippines Offshoring Industry Expected To Reach $61 Billion By 2030

September 16, 2025September 9, 2025carlocarrasco

While the economy of the Philippines is having trouble reaching 6% growth this year, there is still some economic hope in the long run as the global talent solutions partner Robert Walters revealed through its research that the nation’s offshoring industry is expected to reach $61 billion by the year 2030, according to a GMA Network news report.

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

The Philippine offshoring industry is expected to contribute as much as $61 billion or P3.45 trillion for the economy by 2030 amid a significant shift in the global landscape, research released by global talent solutions partner Robert Walters showed.

According to Robert Walters, the offshoring sector is projected to increase its contribution by 69% from its current contribution of $36 billion, equivalent to 10.14% of the country’s gross domestic product by the end of the decade.

“To put the $61 billion figure into perspective, that’s more than three times the Philippines’ annual education budget,” Robert Walters head of market intelligence Phill Brown said in an emailed statement.

“Offshoring is becoming a long-term economic driver for the Philippines and underscores the growing confidence in the country’s skilled workforce and its ability to support critical, global-facing business operations,” he added.

The research took into consideration estimates from a combination of secondary sources and industry databases, and projections calculated using workforce size and average revenue per employee.

Robert Walters cited the country’s high English proficiency, the specialization in tech and transformation services, and pool of digital infrastructure and engineering talent, which it said has enabled the country to take on complex functions in technical and knowledge-based domains.

Among the most in-demand skills are backend programming, cloud engineering, and information technology (IT) security, highlighting rising global demand for technical capability in cybersecurity and cloud transformation.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you think the offshoring industry of the Philippines will pave the way for more investments to come in and more new jobs to be created in the years to come? Do you know anyone who works in the local offshoring sector? Do you know the difference between offshoring and outsourcing?

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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