A MAN puts on waterproof clothing amid the impact of Typhoon Yagi in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sept. 7, 2024. — REUTERS/THINH NGUYEN
HANOI — Typhoon Yagi, Asia’s most powerful storm this year, was downgraded to a tropical depression on Sunday, after wreaking havoc in northern Vietnam, China’s Hainan and the Philippines, claiming dozens of lives, according to preliminary reports.
Vietnam’s meteorological agency issued the downgrade on Sunday but cautioned about the ongoing risk of flooding and landslides as the storm, the strongest to hit the country in decades, moves westwards.
On Saturday, Yagi disrupted power supplies and telecommunications in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, causing extensive flooding, felling thousands of trees and damaging homes.
The government said the storm has led to at least three deaths in Hanoi, a city of 8.5 million, with these figures being preliminary. Fourteen people have died in Vietnam so far, according to reports, including four from a landslide in the province of Hoa Binh, about 100 km (62 miles) south of Hanoi.
A 53-year-old motorcyclist was killed after a tree fell on him in the northern Hai Duong province, state media reported. At least one body was recovered from the sea near the coastal city of Halong, where a dozen people were missing at sea, with rescue operations expected to start on Sunday when conditions allow.
Yagi has claimed the lives of four people on the southern Chinese island of Hainan, according to the latest update from local authorities. The civil defence office in the Philippines, the first country Yagi hit after forming last week, raised the death toll there on Sunday to 20 from 16 and said 22 people remained missing.
RISK OF FLASH FLOODS After it made landfall in Vietnam on Saturday afternoon, Yagi triggered waves as high as 4 meters (13 feet) in coastal provinces, leading to extended power and telecommunication outages that have complicated damage assessment, the government said.
The meteorological agency warned of continued “risk of flash floods near small rivers and streams, and landslides on steep slopes in many places in the northern mountainous areas” and the coastal province of Thanh Hoa.
Relative calm returned on Sunday morning to Hanoi, where authorities rushed to clean up streets from toppled trees scattered across the city centre and other neighborhoods.
“The storm has devastated the city. Trees fell down on top of people’s houses, cars and people on the street,” said 57-year-old Hanoi resident Hoang Ngoc Nhien.
Hanoi’s Noi Bai international airport, the busiest in northern Vietnam, reopened on Sunday after closing on Saturday morning.
In Hainan, preliminary estimates suggested significant economic losses and widespread power outages, according to emergency response authorities cited by state-run Hainan Daily. — Reuters
US TREASURY SECRETARY Janet Yellen said on Saturday that she is “probably done” serving at the highest levels of government after President Joseph R. Biden’s term ends in January, but will likely meet again soon with her Chinese counterpart.
Asked at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Texas whether she was “done” when a new administration takes over in January, or might continue in her job or take on a new administration role, Ms. Yellen said: “Probably done, but… we’ll see.”
The comments are the closest that Ms. Yellen, 78, has come to announcing her future plans as the presidential race between Vice-President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump heats up. Ms. Yellen has been the first woman to serve as Treasury Secretary, Federal Reserve chair and director of the White House National Economic Council.
Ms. Yellen told the event in Austin that she still has a lot of work to do at Treasury in coming months, including another likely meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, her Beijing counterpart, to try to manage an often tense relationship.
The two met in April in Beijing, where Ms. Yellen warned China to rein in excess industrial capacity ahead of Mr. Biden’s decision to impose steep tariff increases on Chinese-made electric vehicles, batteries, solar products and semiconductors.
Ms. Yellen said she would welcome a visit to the U.S. but also may return to China herself, adding: “My guess is that we will have, one way or another, a visit.”
The Treasury’s top economic diplomat, Undersecretary Jay Shambaugh, will lead a delegation to Beijing “very soon” to discuss economic issues. Shambaugh leads a US-China economic working group that has made addressing China’s excess factory production a top issue
Ms. Yellen said the US-China relationship “needs to be prioritized and nurtured” by the next US administration, with discussions at the highest levels and among agency staffs.
“We have enough differences and without a chance to discuss them and put them in context, it’s certainly possible for tensions to rise,” Ms. Yellen said. “So this is something that really requires ongoing attention. I hope that it would get it.”
‘SOLID ECONOMY’ Ms. Yellen also said the US economy has largely reached a “soft landing” with lower inflation after US August jobs data on Friday showed a slight decline in the unemployment rate despite slower hiring.
“When you see pace of job creation diminishing over time, what I love to see is that it stabilizes roughly where it is now, and we have to be careful to make sure that it’s not going to weaken further,” Ms. Yellen said.
She said consumer spending remains “quite solid” and while there is “less frenzy” in hiring, there are not meaningful layoffs
“I’m attentive to downside risks now on the employment side, but I what I think we’re seeing, we will continue to see, is a good, solid economy,” Ms. Yellen said. — Reuters
SYDNEY — Australia will include questions on sexual orientation and gender in its census for the first time, after more than a week of controversy over the centre-left Labor government’s earlier decision to exclude them.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Sunday the 2026 census would include sexual orientation and gender, although he declined to specify the questions and said the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) would design them later.
“We have listened to the LGBTIQ+ community to make sure that we can work with the ABS to deliver this really important change when it comes to the 2026 census,” he said.
“We say to Australians from the LGBTIQ+ community: you matter, you’ve been heard, you will be counted.”
The questions will be optional and only asked of those over 16 years of age.
The move reverses an August decision to exclude questions about LGBTIQ+ identity.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said then the government did not want to open up divisive debates. He denied any political motives behind the decision amid media reports that the government was apprehensive about sparking a culture-war-style campaign ahead of an election likely to be called within nine months.
The United Kingdom added an optional question on sexual orientation in its 2021 census for the first time. — Reuters
PITTSBURGH — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said on Saturday endorsements of her by Republican former Vice-President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz Cheney, a former US Representative, were “courageous” for putting country ahead of political party.
Ms. Harris was in Pittsburgh preparing for the Sept. 10 debate against her Republican rival Donald Trump, with whom she is locked in a tight race for the Nov. 5 vote.
“I’m honored to have their endorsement,” said Ms. Harris at Penzeys Spices in the Strip District, on a break from debate preparation where she greeted patrons and bought spices. She said both Cheneys were making a courageous statement that “it’s okay, if not important, to put the country above party.”
Dick Cheney, who served as vice-president under Republican George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, said on Friday that “in our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.”
Ms. Cheney said on Wednesday she would vote for Harris, calling Trump a “danger.”
Mr. Trump called Dick Cheney an “irrelevant RINO along with his daughter” in a social media post on Friday, using a term he applies to Republicans not loyal to him, which stands for “Republicans in Name Only.” — Reuters
A MAn rides a bike on a street in Shanghai, China, Oct. 13, 2022.
— REUTERS
SHANGHAI — A modern China with a huge population is an opportunity, not a threat, for the United States, China’s Ministry of Commerce reported commerce vice minister Wang Shouwen as saying on Saturday as trade talks were held in the city of Tianjin.
The talks, co-chaired by US Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago, are the second this year involving the two officials and come amid trade tensions between the two powers.
China’s commerce ministry said earlier this week that the United States should lift all tariffs on Chinese goods, ahead of an announcement by the Biden administration on expected hikes in levies on Chinese-made items, including electric vehicles.
In a statement on Saturday the Chinese ministry said the two sides had conducted “professional, rational and pragmatic” talks on policy and business issues raised by the business communities of both countries.
It added that China was focused on expressing concerns about issues including US tariffs on Chinese goods, and said China was opposed to the implementation of trade and investment restrictions under the pretext of overcapacity. — Reuters
Workers are seen at an electronics manufacturing assembly plant in Biñan, Laguna, April 20, 2016. — REUTERS/ERIK DE CASTRO
FACTORY OUTPUT growth rose to its fastest pace in three months in July, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday.
Preliminary results in the PSA’s latest Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) showed factory output, as measured by the volume of production index (VoPI), quickened by 5.3% year on year in July, faster than the revised 3.6% growth in June and the 3.6% a year ago.
This was also the fastest growth in three months since the revised 7.5% growth in April.
On a month-on-month basis, the manufacturing sector’s VoPI rose by 4.7%, a turnaround from the 3.4% decline in June. Stripping out seasonality factors, output rose by 3.9% from the 1.3% drop a month earlier.
For the January to July period, VoPI growth averaged 2.1%, lower than 5.3% in the same period a year ago.
In comparison, the country’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) by S&P Global for that month stood at 51.2, easing from 51.3 in June.
A PMI reading below 50 marks a contraction in the manufacturing sector, while 50 marks an expansion.
Robert Dan J. Roces, chief economist at Security Bank Corp., said that the higher VoPI in July was due to a combination of better domestic demand and increased exports.
“The notable growth in computer, electronic, and optical products may be attributed to rising global demand for technology, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence and semiconductors,” Mr. Roces said in a Viber message.
For Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion, chief economist at Union Bank of the Philippines, the increase may have come from the improvement of trade within the region.
“Note that manufacturing production index remains to be in expansionary region in the covered months of June and July,” Mr. Asuncion said in a separate Viber message.
The PSA attributed the leap in July’s factory output growth to computer, electronic and optical products, which increased by 12.5% from 1.9% growth in June. The electronic and optical products account for second-largest weight (17.6%) of total manufacturing, after food products (18.7%).
Also contributing to the rise in July’s factory output growth were the production of transport equipment, which inched up by 0.4% from -8.1%, and food products (up by 14% from 11.4%).
The capacity utilization rate in July improved to 75.6%, from 73.6% last year and 75.3% last June.
All 22 industry divisions reported capacity utilization rates of above 60% percent in July.
Mr. Roces said that based on current indicators, positive performance in the manufacturing sector will continue in August and for the rest of the year.
“It (VoPI) will continue to improve, but at a slow pace as the market adjusts to the easing of restriction in the financial system (lower interest rate),” Mr. Asuncion said.
Last August, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) cut the interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 6.25% for the first time in nearly four years, which started of what BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. called to as “calibrated” easing cycle amid an improving inflation and economic outlook.
However, prior to the cut, the central bank kept its policy rate at an over 17-year high of 6.5% for six straight meetings following cumulative hikes worth 450 bps between May 2022 and October 2023 to combat inflation.
The central bank signaled another 25-bp rate cut in the final three months of the year. — Charles Worren E. Laureta
Forest Lake Memorial Park, Digos, Davao Del Sur. The stunning facade of Forest Lake Memorial Park in Digos, welcoming you with elegance and
serenity
Long affirmed as the Philippines’ leading memorial park developer, Forest Lake continues to uphold its commitment to compassionate care, innovative services, and customer-centric core values — factors that, to this day, help the industry pioneer sustain its position in the deathcare industry.
Established in 1997 with parks initially built in Zamboanga and Iloilo, Forest Lake now has 37 operational memorial parks across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Forest Lake subsequently demonstrated consistent growth, with significant expansions between 2005 and 2015, doubling its network from 2016 to 2020, and launching eight new parks from 2021 to 2023. To top this off, Forest Lake surpassed Php 3 billion in sales in 2023.
Forest Lake Memorial Park, Bauang, La Union. Captivated by the winding road amid the vibrant greenery of Forest Lake Memorial Park, Bauang
Dedicated to creating “A Better Place” for families to honor and celebrate the lives of their loved ones, Forest Lake continues to grow and set an example for property developers in the country.
Holding the fort as front-runner, Forest Lake’s total revenues in 2023 reached Php 2.47 billion, surpassing its 2022 revenues of Php 2.17 billion (signifying a 12% increase), driven by a higher demand for memorial lots, the introduction of new parks, improved collection efficiency, increased development investments, and higher interment service revenues.
Sales revenues were bolstered by an 18.2% increase, rising from Php 1.73 billion to Php 2.04 billion, while interment revenues grew by 11%, from Php 190 million to Php 210 million.
Forest Lake Memorial Park, Koronadal. A peaceful sanctuary with lush greenery and stunning views, perfect for reflection and remembrance.
Likewise, net income before tax increased by 15% (from Php 527.8 million in 2022 to Php 607.2 million in 2023), with an EBITDA increase from Php 608 million in 2022 to Php 733.3 million in 2023, driving profitability upwards, from 28% to 30%.
Additionally, the company’s assets saw a 20% increase, including a 51% rise in cash reserves and a 31% increase in sales receivables. Total equity also grew by 18%, supported by a 48% rise in issued capital stock and a 25% increase in unappropriated retained earnings.
Forest Lake Memorial Park, Legazpi Albay. Nestled against the majes c Mayon Volcano, Forest Lake Memorial Park in Legazpi offers a serene and breathtaking backdrop for reflection.
“We have our core values to thank for our stature in the industry: Personalized Service, Value Creation, Teamwork, Innovation and Creativity, and Professionalism,” says Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, President and CEO of Forest Lake Development Inc. “These values have always guided us in everything we do and have led us to provide the best kind of care to the families we serve.”
For almost three decades, Forest Lake has set its “eyes on the prize,” with its mission of “offering accessible and affordable memorial parks and services, managed by a professional team that is dedicated to providing value, innovation, and personalized service.” Meanwhile, its vision is “to build a better place where generations of family memories are treasured, immortalized, and celebrated by the living.”
Forest Lake Memorial Park, Davao. Experience tranquility at Forest Lake Memorial Park in Davao, surrounded by natural beauty and serene landscapes.
With these guiding principles, Forest Lake continues to expand its services and meet the evolving needs of its customers. It now offers a comprehensive array of products and services designed to provide a complete memorial experience. Lawn Lots are available in standard, premium, and special premium options, with prices ranging from Php 50,000 to Php 250,000. Estate Lots, designed for above-ground interment, are priced between Php 720,000 and Php 3 million per block.
Forest Lake also offers a full range of interment and funeral services, including burial setup, funeral arrangements and preparation, all ensuring a seamless experience for memorial lot buyers. Forest Lake’s “Libing Anywhere” feature even provides customers the flexibility of using memorial lots at any Forest Lake park nationwide, while the “Libre Burol” feature grants free funeral services with each interment.
Forest Lake Memorial Park, Pozorrubio, Pangasinan. The beautiful entrance of Forest Lake Memorial Park in Pozzorubio, invites visitors to reflect on cherished memories amidst a peaceful setting.
In October 2015, Forest Lake Biñan became the first of Forest Lake’s parks to offer chapel services. Currently, chapels are under construction in Iloilo, set for completion this year. These services include body retrieval, preparation, casketing, use of a hearse, and a viewing chapel — all aiming to provide total memorial care.
Forest Lake’s parks are designed with convenience and aesthetics in mind, featuring well-manicured lawns, rock gardens, and Mediterranean-inspired gates and guardhouses. Other amenities include well-maintained restrooms, high concrete perimeter and security walls, water sprinkler systems, drainage facilities, street and park lighting, and 24-hour security.
“Our many years of commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction made us the industry leader that we are today,” adds Xerez-Burgos III. “We assure our present and future customers that we will continue this legacy and provide them the highest standard of care.”
Forest Lake Memorial Park, San Juan, La Union. A place of eternal peace amidst nature’s beauty
As Forest Lake celebrates its stature in the industry, it invites everyone to connect and stay updated through Facebook and Instagram at @forestlakememorialparks.
For over 27 years, Forest Lake has established itself as a leader in providing thoughtfully designed, family-friendly memorial parks throughout Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. These parks are more than places of remembrance; they are vibrant spaces where families gather, connect, and celebrate their loved ones’ memories.
Forest Lake Memorial Park Chapel, Zamboanga. A serene chapel nestled among swaying palm trees
As the foremost memorial park developer in the Philippines, with over 37 parks nationwide, Forest Lake is committed to expanding its offerings to include total memorial care services such as chapels, columbariums, and cremation. This expansion underscores the company’s dedication to meeting the evolving needs of Filipino families.
Guided by its mission to create “A Better Place,” Forest Lake upholds values of innovation, creativity, teamwork, personalized service, value creation, and professionalism. The company integrates cutting-edge technology to enhance service delivery and foster a seamless, personalized experience for every client. Forest Lake’s collaborative approach ensures that each park is a testament to thoughtful design and professional excellence, offering significant value to both clients and investors through low-risk, high-yield opportunities.
Forest Lake Memorial Park, Zamboanga. Explore the beauty of Forest Lake Memorial Park from above, where trees sway gently and open grass invites peaceful contemplation.
Forest Lake Memorial Parks is headquartered on the third floor of Alexcy One Building, 51 President’s Avenue, 1718, Parañaque City. For more information, email info@forestlakeparks.com or visit forestlakeparks.com. Follow Forest Lake on Facebook @ForestLakeMemorialParks and Instagram @forestlakememorialparks.
Join Forest Lake in its vision to provide spaces where the memories of loved ones are celebrated and immortalized, and where families can create new, lasting memories together.
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Commuters wait for public transportation along Ortigas Extension in Cainta, Rizal, Sept. 14, 2022. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS
The country’s jobless rate rose to a one-year high of 4.7% in July as fresh graduates entered the workforce, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Friday.
Preliminary data from the PSA’s Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed the jobless rate in July picked up from two-decade low of 3.1% in June. It is the highest jobless rate since the 4.9% recorded a year ago.
This translated to 2.38 million unemployed Filipinos in July, up by 755,000 from 1.62 million in June.
Year on year, the ranks of the unemployed was up by 86,000 from 2.29 million in July 2023.
In the first seven months of the year, the unemployment rate averaged 4%, lower than the 4.7% average in the same period last year.
“Our youth unemployment this July increased. In terms of numbers, it reached 1.02 million and makes a 43% contribution to jobless Filipinos. It means that in the 2.38 million unemployed Filipinos, 1.02 million youth or Filipinos aged 15 to 24 years, contributed to the total unemployed population,” PSA Undersecretary and National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in mixed English and Filipino during the press briefing on Friday.
Mr. Mapa also added that those who graduated from college and K-12 that entered the labor market but were not able to find a job also contributed to the total unemployment.
Youth unemployment rate rose to 14.8%, higher than the 8.6% in June and 14.2% in July 2023.
This translated to 1.02 million unemployed youth in July, up by 440,000 from June and 172,000 in July 2023.
Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion, chief economist at Union Bank of the Philippines, said that inadequate quality jobs for the young workers contributed to the youth sector’s unemployment.
“With still elevated interest rates and the challenge of inflation volatility, finding a quality job may prove to be difficult. Even as easing key rates are expected, there exists a lag before firms and other businesses like SMEs (small and medium enterprises) respond to the less restrictive financial environment. I just hope it can be faster so that the youth can get jobs that they need,” Mr. Asuncion said in an e-mail.
Job quality was unchanged in July, as the underemployment rate steadied to 12.1%, but lower than the 15.9% in July 2023.
This translated to 5.78 million underemployed Filipinos or persons already working but still looking for more work or longer working hours, versus the 6.08 million in July and 7.07 in July 2023.
As of end-July, the average underemployment rate stood at 12.3%, lower than 13% in the same period last year.
The size of the Filipino labor force is estimated to be around 50.07 million in July, down by 1.82 million from June. However, the workforce size rose by 3.23 million from 46.85 million in July last year.
This brought the labor force participation rate (LFPR) — the share of the Filipino workforce to the total working age population of 15 years old and over — to 63.5% in July, declining from 66% in June but rising from 60% in July 2023.
Meanwhile, July employment rate dipped to 95.3% in July, lower than the 96.9% seen in June but slightly higher than the 95.1% in the same period a year ago.
This was equivalent to 47.70 million employed Filipinos, down by 2.58 million from 50.28 million in June, but up 3.14 million from 44.56 million in July 2023
From January to June, the employment rate averaged 96%, up from 95.3% a year ago.
The average Filipino employee worked for 41.1 hours per week, higher than the 40.9 hours in June but down from the 42.4 hours in June 2023.
The services sector remained the top employer in July with an employment rate of 60.8% followed by agriculture at 21.2% and industry at 18%.
“While welcoming the still-high employment rate as a positive development, despite our critique of the leniency of the technical definition that those working for even just one hour during the reference week as ‘employed,” we remain concerned about the quality of jobs and the labor market situation in the country,” Carlos Miguel S. Oñate, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) legislative officer, said in an e-mail.
Month on month, job losses in July were seen in construction (down 1.02 million); wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (down 821,000 million) and agriculture and forestry (down 750,000).
Meanwhile, public administration and defense; compulsory social security 344,000 jobs in July on a monthly basis. Other sectors that posted monthly job gains were fishing and aquaculture (up 238,000) and financial and insurance activities (up 142,000).
Manufacturing recorded the largest annual drop in July (down 154,000), followed by professional, scientific and technical activities (down 100,000) and information and communication (down 76,000).
On the other hand, wholesale and retail trade added the biggest year-on-year employment gain in July (up 1.07 million), followed by agriculture and forestry (up 936,000) and accommodation and food service activities (up 512,000).
“It may take time for jobs creation and eventually rapid hiring. Nonetheless, the job environment is still expected to be better in the coming months,” said Mr. Asuncion. — Lourdes O. Pilar
Front row, from L to R: PWU Vice-President for External Affairs Alfredo Reyes, Unilab Foundation Executive Director Jose Maria Ochave, PWU President Marco Benitez, PWU Chancellor and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs Dr. Felina Young, and ULF Health Sector Skills Council Project Director Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go. Back row, from L to R: PWU School of Pharmacy Program Chair Dr. Harvey Adamson, Unilab Center for Health Policy Program Director Ruben Basa, PWU School of Food Science and Technology Program Chair Dr. Ligaya Braganza, PWU School of Social Work Program Chair Evelyn Valencia, PWU School of Nutrition Program Chair Vanessa Marasigan, PWU Marketing and Admissions Manager Nhalie Pangan, PWU School of Nursing Dean Dr. Minerva de Ala, RiteMED Planning and Analytics Team Abigail Nepomuceno, Unilab, Inc.’s Karla Reyes, RiteMED Tamang Alaga Head Dr. Nancy Bermal, Dr. Eca Lorenzo of RiteMED Tamang Alaga, PWU School of Medical Technology Officer-in-Charge Dr. Stephen Miniano, and Ramon Barredo of the Unilab Executive Office.
Education, at its best, is more than just a pathway to personal success; it is the blueprint for a healthier, future-ready nation. With a functional and efficient education system in place, the Philippines would have the power to produce a health care workforce that is not only skilled enough to meet the country’s evolving health needs, but also deeply committed to the mission of serving the Filipino people. Ultimately, the goals of Universal Health Care (UHC) would be within reach if a collaborative approach to investing in education is deemed a worthwhile and undeniable priority.
Acknowledging the critical connection between education and the health industry, Unilab Foundation (ULF) leads the conversations on this intersection by exploring an academic partnership with the Philippine Women’s University (PWU). ULF and PWU discussed avenues for cross-border collaboration on programs and local research studies aimed at integrating academe with industry.
“Our model focuses on partnering with existing colleges and universities to ensure that industry is not only linked but integrated with the academe,” said Unilab Foundation Executive Director Jose Maria Ochave. “I was pleasantly surprised by the number of PWU’s health care-related courses, which is perfect for developing our Human Resources for Health.” Among PWU’s health sciences programs are Medical Technology, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Nutrition and Dietetics.
In addition, the University offers a diverse range of programs in Arts and Sciences, Business, Music, and Fine Arts and Design.
Ochave adds that as the country advances toward Universal Health Care, there is potential for PWU, in collaboration with the Unilab Foundation, to play a significant role in capacitating global health personnel and officials.
Surfacing the Human Resources for Health (HRH) Gaps
The Philippine health care sector faces significant and longstanding gaps in its Human Resources for Health. Recently, Secretary of Health Ted Herbosa highlighted a shortage of 190,000 nurses in the country. This issue is compounded by high attrition rates and low licensure exam passing rates among students, indicating problems with education and production. Furthermore, many Filipino health care workers opt to migrate and provide health services abroad.
Unilab Foundation’s Health Sector Skills Council (HSSC) Project Director, Dr. Kenneth-Hartigan Go discusses the critical intersection of education and innovations in health care.
Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Director of the Unilab Foundation’s Health Sector Skills Council (HSSC) Project, identifies a number of factors contributing to these issues. “There is a strong information asymmetry regarding where to find jobs,” he notes.
Dr. Hartigan-Go emphasized the importance of a whole-of-society approach and the urgent need for collaboration between the education and health sectors to curb the persistent decline of essential health workers in the country. “We respect individual needs, but we are building a nation. We need to find a better way to manage this,” he adds.
“There’s a provision in the Universal Health Care Law requiring the DOH to develop a Health Human Resource Master Plan, which encompasses scholarships and training programs,” said Unilab Center for Health Policy (UCHP) Program Director Ruben Basa. However, Basa acknowledges that there is still a long way to go in addressing HRH issues. The lack of health care workers in the country remains a significant barrier to achieving the goals of UHC.
Academia as Key Partners in Health
The challenges faced within the health care sector, particularly concerning the workforce, are profoundly felt within the academe. Educational institutions grapple with producing a steady stream of competent and well-prepared health care professionals amidst a backdrop of limited resources and evolving demands. Discrepancies between academic training and real-world application also bring attention to the need to review educational curricula’s alignment with the practical needs of the health care system.
Philippine Women’s University, with its focus on the holistic development of students and preparing them for their careers, recognizes this need and is already making significant efforts. For instance, they immerse their students, particularly in health courses, in community settings to expose them to practical experience. Additionally, they advocate for versatility in their students’ skills, as demonstrated by their strategic clustering of competencies in their Nursing program.
With this alignment and mutual focus on strengthening the health care workforce, the Unilab Foundation and Philippine Women’s University are engaging in discussions and exploring potential collaboration opportunities.
Marco Benitez, President of the Philippine Women’s University, expresses gratitude to the Unilab Foundation for its insightful, in-depth, and eye-opening presentations on Human Resources for Health and the Universal Health Care Act, and reinforces PWU’s commitment to excellence in education, particularly in the health sciences.
“Especially after the pandemic, we realized that collaboration is truly key to fostering and building upon the individual strengths of institutions,” expressed Marco Benitez, President of Philippine Women’s University. “We can start with 2 or 3 concrete outputs in areas such as career opportunities, career placements, internships, or joint programs that address industry or skills gaps in health science professions, or opportunities for research in partnership with the Unilab Foundation. This approach would be a significant step forward.”
Furthermore, PWU is receptive to the proposal that the university can serve as a laboratory for some of ULF’s new ideas and upcoming projects. After pilot-testing, these initiatives could potentially be rolled out to other areas and institutions as well.
Collaborative Investment in Health Education
When it comes to advancing health services, there is still much work to be done. It is imperative that institutions with aligned goals for Philippine health care work together as soon as possible. Collaboration allows each organization to contribute uniquely and marks the first step toward moving beyond working in isolation, particularly in the academe and the health industry. This approach promises a better future for human resources in health care and opens up an array of possibilities.
“Health services are multifaceted. There are many aspects we can explore to enhance the quality of health services provided to the community,” said PWU Chancellor Dr. Felina Young.
Therefore, the time to invest in the health education system is now. By driving conversations and forming partnerships, we can pave the way for a healthier and future-ready Philippines.
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The prestigious Enterprise Asia Linchpin of Asia Awards 2024 showcased the pinnacle of excellence among Asia’s most distinguished industry leaders and enterprises, with a grand celebration at the Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, Thailand. Organized by regional NGO Enterprise Asia, the Linchpin of Asia Awards is a premier recognition program dedicated to honoring only the most excellent and elite industry leaders and enterprises exclusively selected across Asia.
The Awards stands as the pinnacle of recognition for entrepreneurship with the winners drawn exclusively from the illustrious alumni of the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA), which is held annually in 16 markets, making it the largest and most recognized awards for entrepreneurship in the region.
The Linchpin of Asia Awards trophy plate is professionally crafted from high-quality pewter by Royal Selangor, the world’s foremost name in quality pewter manufacture. The plate’s intricate design combines three remarkable elements that embody the essence of Asia’s finest leaders and enterprises: the national flower of each country in Asia reflects the winner’s profound pride as a true representative of their nation, the exquisite map of Asia at the plate’s core signifies the recognition of the linchpins of progress, and the bespoke engraving immortalizes the winner’s legacy that will reverberate through time. All of these stand perfectly as a testament to the winner’s unrivaled excellence and transformative influence, celebrating the brilliance of all their achievements.
Richard Tsang, President of Enterprise Asia, emphasized fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation as vital components for Asia’s continued economic growth and development. “By honoring these extraordinary leaders and enterprises, we are setting a powerful example for others to rise to the same heights of excellence and influence. Their achievements are not just commendable — they are essential to driving the sustainable growth of our economies and uplifting the communities we serve.”
The awardees of this year’s Linchpin of Asia Awards embody the extraordinary potential and dynamic spirit that drive Asia’s business landscape. Each of these trailblazers has carved out a unique niche within their respective industries, setting new benchmarks for excellence and innovation. Their achievements are not just milestones for their companies but are also catalysts for broader industry advancements and societal progress.
Visionary Founder Chou Chun-Chi has been instrumental in Sinyi Realty Inc.’s remarkable growth and success journey, having spearheaded the company’s operation expansion across multiple sectors and regions while earning top 5% rankings in corporate governance. Guided by his philosophy of “appropriate profit”, Chou has driven the company’s diversification in real estate, from development and sales to brokerage and home services, with a strong focus on innovative, customer-centric solutions. Under his leadership, Sinyi Realty has become a recognized leader in the industry, known for its integrity, sustainable growth, and commitment to delivering lasting value.
Thailand’s Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited (MTL) has set a new benchmark in the financial services industry by continually providing innovative products and services that satisfy the evolving needs of its customers. Committed to become the “No.1 Most Trusted Lifetime Partner in Life & Health Planning”, MTL has successfully implemented strategies to democratize insuranceacross all segments and reaching previously untapped segments. MTL has adeptly addressed the demands of Thailand’s digitally savvy, aging society and other business-impacting factors by embracing technology and leveraging a diverse network of partners across industries such as hospitals, healthcare, banking, e-commerce and real estate, thereby strengthening its market leadership.
Since 1970, Taiwan Alpha Electronic Co., Ltd. has been at the forefront of innovation in the manufacturing industry, specializing in potentiometers, switches, and encoders used in professional audio, lighting, and home appliances. As a key market player, the company has expanded its core business by introducing membrane sensors and tapping into emerging sectors such as wearable devices and rehabilitation technology. With a steadfast commitment to “quality, service, and responsibility”, the company drives innovation and aims to become a global leader in electronic components. Guided by principles of customer satisfaction, ethical practices, and continuous improvement, Taiwan Alpha is dedicated to shaping the future of the industry.
The Enterprise Asia Linchpin of Asia Awards 2024 is supported by the Business Networking Club Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce, Malaysian Alliance of Corporate Directors, Malaysia Chambers Jakarta, Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Malaysian-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Myanmar Business Executives Association, and Singapore-Thai Chamber Of Commerce. PR Newswire is the Official News Release Distributor, while Bangkok Post, BusinessWorld, Commercial Times, Dailywire.asia, Hong Kong Economic Times, and SME Magazine are the media partners.
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A view of South Korean and Japanese national flags on the airplane carrying South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee, at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) in Tokyo, Japan March 16, 2023. — REUTERS/ISSEI KATO
SEOUL – Japanese products, from cars to beer, whisky and clothes, have been rising in popularity in South Korea, rebounding from consumer boycotts in 2019 on the back of improving bilateral relations and the cheaper yen.
The monthly sales of Japanese cars, including Toyota Motor 7203.T and Lexus, jumped 31% in August from a year earlier, taking a boost from rival Hyundai Motor’s capacity crunch and consumer preferences shifting away from electric vehicles.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who made it a priority to mend ties with Japan since taking office in 2022, will have a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Seoul on Friday.
Sales of Japanese products in South Korea took a battering in 2019 when anti-Japanese sentiment flared after Tokyo imposed export curbs in a row over wartime forced labor. The two countries share a bitter history that includes Japan’s 1910-45 colonization of the Korean peninsula.
A recent survey showed that 57% of South Korean respondents in their 20s and 30s said they have favorable views towards Japan, compared to 10% who said the same of China.
“The public hostility towards Japan has been masked by economic benefits of Japanese products and tours,” said Seonglim Lee, a Consumer Science professor at Sungkyunkwan University.
South Korean imports of Japanese beer jumped nearly 70% in the first seven months of this year from a year earlier, while shipments of Japanese whisky rose nearly 50% during the period, Korea Customs Service data showed.
Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo, which was forced to close some of its stores in South Korea since 2019, saw revenue jump 31% in the financial year that ended in August 2023.
Japanese cars account for a small portion of the South Korean market dominated by Hyundai and Kia, but have been expanding sales in recent years.
Japanese carmakers – Lexus, Toyota and Honda which generate most of their sales from hybrid cars – sold a combined 2,527 vehicles in Korea in August, up 31% from a year earlier and 15% from the previous month. In contrast, Tesla TSLA.O, Mercedes and BMW saw their South Korean sales of electric vehicles tumble from July. Hyundai Motor saw its EV sales rise, helped by its new, less expensive models.
An official at Toyota Korea said it had been getting more requests about hybrid vehicles after some recent EV fires, including one involving a Mercedes electric vehicle on August 1.
A Sejong city resident, who asked to be identified only by the name Park, said while he “hates” Japan’s national identity, his trust in Japanese automobile technology led him to buy a Toyota Camry hybrid car.
“They are separate matters,” he said, declining to give his full name, citing concerns that he could face criticism from some Koreans who don’t like Japan.
Maria Hwang, a Seoul resident in her 60s, said she was not worried about public sentiment towards Japan when she bought a Lexus hybrid vehicle in late August.
“I don’t want to be dogged by the history,” she said.
Hwang also said she travels more to Japan thanks to the cheaper yen.
The number of Korean travelers to Japan surged nearly 40% from a year earlier to a record high of 5.2 million in the first seven months of this year. In 2023, the number of Koreans visiting Japan jumped more than six-fold from the previous year, accounting for the biggest group of foreign visitors to the neighboring country. – Reuters
BEIJING – Geespace, a company backed by Chinese automaker Geely, said on Friday it launched a third batch of satellites as part of its plan to form a megaconstellation it described as China’s equivalent of U.S. firm SpaceX’s Starlink.
The 10 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites were launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, located in the northern province of Shanxi, Geespace said in a statement.
“With this latest launch, the constellation now includes 30 satellites, covering 90% of the globe with 24-hour communication services,” Geespace said.
“This deployment marks the first time a Chinese commercial aerospace company has offered LEO satellite communication on a global scale,” the company said.
The carmaker’s Geely Technology Group created Geespace to research, launch, and operate low-orbit satellites in 2018.
LEO satellites usually operate at altitudes of 300-2,000 km (186-1243 miles) above the Earth’s surface and have the advantage of being cheaper and provide more efficient transmission than satellites at higher orbits.
Geespace placed its first 20 satellites in orbit in two separate launches, in 2022 and earlier this year.
Geespace plans to build a constellation of nearly 6,000 LEO satellites that would provide global broadband, the company said, describing the constellation as “China’s private equivalent to ‘Starlink'”.
SpaceX’s Starlink is a growing commercial broadband constellation that has about 5,500 satellites in space and is used by consumers, companies and government agencies.
Starlink, operated by billionaire Elon Musk, has tens of thousands of users in the United States and plans to add tens of thousands more satellites to its system, the largest of its kind.
Geespace’s Friday satellite launch is part of its first construction phase for its constellation, which aims to put 72 satellites in orbit to service over 200 million users worldwide by the end of 2025.
The second phase will add 264 satellites for mobile phone communications, while the third phase will launch 5,676 satellites for high-speed broadband.
Geespace is one of several Chinese firms hoping to rival Starlink.
Last month, state-owned enterprise Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) launched a batch of LEO satellites from Taiyuan for its “Thousand Sails Constellation”, also known as the “G60 Starlink Plan”.
SSST’s plan is to launch 108 satellites this year, 648 satellites by the end of 2025 and have 15,000 satellites deployed before 2030. – Reuters
