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Development, the family and technology

For this column, I will share a vision of family welfare and productivity that was penned some thirty (30) years ago in the crafting of a strategic vision for the then newly reformed Development Bank of the Philippines. I believe it is a yardstick that can be applied to any organization wanting to serve the cause of development. However, the yardstick is now confronted with new hurdles.

“All development must translate into welfare of people in society. But society is made up of subsidiary groupings, the most basic of which is the family. All welfare therefore that development makes possible must be directed towards the benefit of the family. Thus, can development take on a truly human, concrete dimension and thus be brought home to respond meaningfully to the everyday concerns of ordinary people.”

“The basic needs of family must be met so as to strengthen the backbone of society. The requirements for subsistence and nutrition should be adequately met. Education and proper healthcare for all must be made readily available and affordable. Time and opportunity for rest and recreation, reflection and rejuvenation of the spirit, should be provided. A decent house with the most necessary modern conveniences where a vibrant and pleasant home life can be fostered must be owned. Proper arrangements for savings and security to take care of contingencies and old age have to be set up and made operative. Only when these basic needs are met can families be freed from their most immediate concerns; only then can a material base be laid upon which to build strong family ties that help make a unified and happy society.”

“If family welfare, measured in the concrete, is to be the ultimate yardstick of development, then concern for productivity fostered at the family level has to be the true engine for economic growth. Discipline and hard work are attributes that are best fostered within a family setting. Concern for the little things that in the end make a lot of difference is the base for innovation, for entrepreneurial daring, and for commitment to bring about effective results; and these are the imperatives for a progressive society. It is also in the family where lessons on adaptability to change, on teamwork, on harmonious cooperation with others are learned as in a natural environment.”

“No less concrete, therefore, are the demands of productivity which is the concomitant side of welfare in development. All work from whence the family earns the income to provide for its welfare must lead to a product or service whose ability to rise above competition is rooted in its responsiveness to the needs and welfare of the family: whether in affordability, quality utility or durability.”

“Welfare and productivity must go together in the process of economic growth. Justice demands that the level of one must be equated with that of the other. The challenge of development is that the level of both increases quickly and consistently for many generations.”

A development focus on the needs of the family’s welfare has not changed even in this fast paced world. However, technology and social media provide a lot of challenges. Advancement in science which were thought to improve productivity have a way of creating a dark cloud that threatens the vision of family welfare.

A regular parent will want to provide the convenience and best life possible for his/her children so that they become responsible and holistic adults, persons who contribute goodness to society. But the care that have been provided to today’s children has also been criticized as a flawed parenting strategy. In their enthusiasm to nurture their offsprings, parents tell their children that they are always special and can have all the things they want The idea is to boost self confidence but the unintended result is a generation that feels entitled. Couple this with technology and social media and we have provided filters that affect the resiliency of our young people when they finally face the real world.

Technology and social media have been identified to contribute to the growing concern over mental health issues, depression and even suicide. The young finds difficulty in confronting missteps. Small failures are magnified when expectations are unmet. Support mechanisms are artificial and insufficient.

New ways of managing family life have to be crafted to address the negative effects of modern tools that cut both sides. Productivity and innovation as measured in family welfare find itself in a crossroad with unanticipated side effects. The communication needed to harness the human dimensions of development, especially in the family, is shortchanged by expediency brought about by technology.

Development as focused on the family must be cognizant of the towering challenges of the digital age. Today’s world is one characterized by instant gratification and the decline of meaningful human interactions. Cell phones and social media have short circuited many processes essential to developing a healthy emotional human being. Family welfare today must address the constraints being imposed where skill sets on managing relationships and addressing stress are diminished. Concern for productivity fostered at the family level must embrace and hurdle this new dimension.

The views expressed herein are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office as well as FINEX.

 

Benel D. Lagua is Executive Vice President at the Development Bank of the Philippines. He is an active FINEX member and a long time advocate of risk-based lending for SMEs.

TIEZA seeking partners for Manila golf course, Panglao resort

THE government, through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), is seeking private sector partners to develop and manage the Club Intramuros Golf Course in Manila and a dive resort in Panglao, Bohol.

In a statement released by the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Center on Thursday, TIEZA said it will bid out the 25-year development and management contract for the Club Intramuros Gold Course and its facilities.

The selected partner can redesign, reconstruct or rehabilitate the 20-hectare golf course and its facilities. However, the design and construction will need approval from the Intramuros Administration.

TIEZA said the public-private partnership (PPP) project requires a minimum capital investment of P250 million.

Interested parties for the Club Intramuros Golf Course project should submit a letter of intent and other required initial documents to TIEZA on or before Jan. 6, 2020. Deadline for the submission of eligibility documents is on Feb. 5, 2020 at 12:00 noon at the TIEZA main office in Pasay City.

Meanwhile, TIEZA is also looking for a private sector partner for the development and management of the Balicasag Island Dive Resort (BIDR) PPP project through a competitive selection process.

Located in Panglao, the Balicasag Island Dive Resort has been operated by TIEZA since 1989. Balicasag is described as a mushroom-shaped coral island with five diving sites.

“The scope of this PPP Project includes the development and management of BIDR in order to upgrade the facilities of the asset, improve efficiency in operations, and create significant contribution to a thriving and sustainable tourism in the area,” TIEZA said.

Under the 25-year concession, the partner may expand the resort’s accommodations and add water sports activities and island tours, among others.

Interested parties can submit their eligibility documents until 12:00 noon of Jan. 10, 2020. — Arjay L. Balinbin

What to see this week

6 films to see on the week of November 22 — November 28, 2019

Frozen II

THE SEQUEL to the popular Disney film is set three years later. Elsa begins to hear strange voices in the north which leads her, Anna her sister, Sven, and Olaf to journey far from Arendelle and discover the origin of her powers. Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the movie features the voices of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, and Jonathan Groff. US Weekly’s Mara Reinstein writes, “Frozen II is still a beautifully designed, sharply written and toe-tapping piece of family entertainment. And as cold as it may be in Arendelle (not to mention outside your window), it’s heartwarming to spend time with our old friends.”

MTRCB Rating: G

21 Bridges

AN EMBATTLED NYPD detective gets involved in a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a conspiracy. Directed by Brian Kirk, the film stars Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller, and Taylor Kitsch. Forbes’ Scott Mendelson writes, “Beyond the strong performances and the nuts-and-bolts action, what works best is its frankly surprising structure. No, it’s not narratively out of order, but the film devotes almost as much time to its two shooters as it does to the key police officers chasing them down, and as such both sides of the law end up discovering the big picture almost concurrently.”

MTRCB Rating: R-13

The Sonata

DARK FORCES haunt a young violinist as she unravels her father’s past. Directed by Andrew Desmond, the film stars Freya Tingley, Simon Abkarian, and James Faulkner. Kat Hughes of THN writes: “Perfect viewing for a rainy autumnal afternoon The Sonata is a solid Gothic ghost mystery that will easily entertain.”

MTRCB Rating: PG

Dark Waters

MARK RUFFALO stars in Dark Waters.

INSPIRED by a true story, the film follows a corporate defense lawyer Robert Bilott who uncovers a secret about the growing number of unexplained deaths in connection to one of the world’s largest corporations. Directed by Todd Haynes, the film stars Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hahaway, and Tim Robbins. The Wrap’s Robert Abele writes, “Though a solid example of saber-rattling, justice-centered docudrama, Dark Waters is also a more brooding effort, attuned more to the reality of never-ending battle than the epiphanies that come with bringing wrongdoing to light. That might make it a tough sell to a moviegoing populace who craves heroes with clean wins, but not for those who like whistleblower yarns that embrace the drama lying in the side effects.”

MTRCB Rating: PG

Damaso

THE “musical within a film” follows writer Fernando Damaso who seeks to have his story made into a film. The story transitions to the past, revealing his book counterpart Padre Damaso facing problems of his own. Directed by Joven Tan, the film stars Vina Morales, Aiko Melendez, Nyoy Volante, and Ariel Rivera.

MTRCB Rating: PG

Adan

ELLEN seeks the help of her best friend Marian in getting away from her impoverished life. Directed by Roman Santillan Perez Jr., the film stars Cindy Miranda and Rhen Escaño.

MTRCB Rating: R-16

Training techniques for non-training specialists

Our HR manager has challenged me to handle our training programs. It’s an additional work assignment for me as a recruitment clerk which I’ve been doing for three years. My boss tells me that if I can perform better in this new assignment, I will be promoted to supervisor after two years of consistent, above-average performance. Could you please tell me how to do well in this new job? — Greenhorn.

A young man asked a successful manager for the secret to his success in management. The manager said: “You have to jump at every opportunity that comes along.” The young man asked how he would know if there’s an opportunity coming. The manager replied: “You can’t. That’s why you have to keep on jumping to discover what’s on the other side of the fence.”

At least, you’re in luck as you don’t have to keep on jumping as the opportunity is being offered to you on a silver platter. Now that the ball is in your hands, what would you do to perform the best job as a training specialists? It depends much on your current experience, interests, and knowledge of the subject. Just to give you the fundamentals, you may consider the following:

One, conduct an annual training needs analysis. The best respondents to this exercise are the line supervisors and their managers. Simplify the form into a one-page format to make it easy for them to cooperate with you. They can take the cue from the result of their employees’ performance appraisal or you can take it from the morale survey. Just like other similar surveys, you need a good majority to understand what’s best for the organization.

Two, have a good command and knowledge of the subject. This means you cannot handle all management topics thrown at you. Choose and specialize in certain topics that are close to your heart and mind. Start with the basic programs like orienting new employees on the company’s working conditions, facilities, and related concerns. Specialized topics should be assigned to your boss or other senior managers. Then learn from them.

Three, use the “show and tell” style in your training program. If you can’t explain things clearly to your kasambahay (domestic helper), then you can’t explain it well to your office colleagues. Use a lot of photographs or graphics with not more than two to three words per slide. Explain them using every day language fit for your audience. There’s nothing more effective than having a clear and crisp presentation.

Four, know well your target participants and their interests. Anyway, you can’t choose your audience. Be prepared how to deal with people with varying personalities. This requires tweaking your style to suit their tastes. In general, many are bored with long lectures. Therefore, reduce your lecture to not more than average seven minutes to coincide with the attention span of most people.

Five, build and sustain the interest of your audience. You can do this by telling a story, showing an interesting visual or props, sharing a relevant anecdote or fictional story. Then follow up this with an issue that is close to the hearts and minds of the participants. Sometimes, you can ask questions so they will be glued to their seats to listen to your presentation for the correct answers.

Six, use effective teaching techniques to maximize understanding. This may include actual photographs taken of certain basic issues in the office or factory. To change the monotony of your presentation, you can use the group discussions to draw the opinion of people on certain issues. You may also use individual personal assessments, online quizzes, videos, and physical activity to demonstrate the theme of your lecture.

Seven, allow the participants to be mentally active during the program. Allow, if not require them to ask questions. If they are too shy to ask embarrassing questions, you can use a free online feedback system designed to feel the pulse of the audience during the lecture, while allowing them to express their sentiments anonymously. When you do this, be prepared to receive sarcastic or unfriendly comments or questions that could challenge your credibility.

Last, ask for a written, online participants’ feedback. Aside from number seven above, you can solicit feedback from your audience one or two days after the seminar. Allow the audience to give their honest opinion about your impact as a trainer and the result of the program. Don’t be afraid of the result. Treat it as part of your learning process. Whatever is the result, everything should help you build your trust and confidence.

As soon as you have gained confidence, you can handle other difficult topics. You can start doing this by working in tandem with management specialists like your HR manager who can handle heavy and sensitive topics like employee discipline or motivation techniques.

Remember that training is a major part of the people management equation. As Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group put it: “Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”

ELBONOMICS: The best way to understand everything is to teach it.

 

Send anonymous questions to elbonomics@gmail.com or via https://reyelbo.consulting

How PSEi member stocks performed — November 21, 2019

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, November 21, 2019.

 

UHC presents opportunity for health care industry to innovate — Duque

HEALTH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said changes dictated by the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law are an opportunity for private firms to innovate their offerings and drive down costs.

At the Health Leadership Summit to discuss “The Big Shifts of the UHC” held at Shangri-La at The Fort yesterday, Mr. Duque said the government needs the private sector to play a major role when UHC launches next year.

“The UHC Act provides more opportunities for the private sector to expand their market reach, but at the same time we challenge their creativity in developing high-value enhancing solutions,” he said.

“For example, shifting investment to primary care is expected with PhilHealth paying for comprehensive primary care benefit package. The direction to contract health care provider networks raises the need for solutions or technologies that can help providers successfully achieve financial, clinical and management integration.”

Republic Act No. 11223 or the UHC Law puts heavy emphasis on primary care. The law defines primary care as the initial contact with care services before referral to other health care providers.

The health care system that the law wants to build focuses on forming a network of health care providers, with the goal of strengthening integration across various health service needs.

Mr. Duque said the opportunity for health care businesses is to explore other businesses such as health technology.

“The institutionalization of the health technology assessment process is the (driver) of cost-effective jobs and devices, and procedures for public funding are expected to foster innovation and improve market competitiveness,” Mr. Duque said.

Ayala Corp.’s health care unit Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) also sees major potential in growing its business due to UHC.

“I think overall it’s made us more excited and it made us bolder. We’re looking to invest in more clinics, not just FamilyDoc but other types of clinics as well,” AC Health President and Chief Executive Officer Paolo Maximo F. Borromeo told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the forum.

“There are discussions about how we could work with local government units in terms of implementing service delivery networks, embedding FamilyDoc clinics for instance in their LGUs…,” he added.

During the forum, Michael L. Tan, whose background is in medical anthropology, emphasized the importance of looking at Filipino attitudes to health care to identify how to best implement UHC. Among these are the need to be accompanied during consultations, choosing specialists over general practitioners, and skipping basic individual preventive care measures.

He said the government must carefully study how to best reach out to Filipinos to create a universal health care system that will succeed. — Denise A. Valdez

Pharma lobby touts bulk buying of drugs instead of price controls

THE government needs to buy medicine in bulk to realize savings on drug costs for consumers, rather than imposing price controls, the pharmaceuticals lobby said.

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) said Thursday that the proof of concept was government hospitals, where medicine is cheaper because the government can drive prices lower by virtue of its being a bulk purchaser.

PHAP Executive Director Teodoro Padilla said in a statement: “The Department of Health (DoH) should consider making these hospitals major outlets of medicine. We have been making medicine available to the government at very low prices through bulk procurement and we are committed to keep doing this.”

Buying in volume drastically cuts drug costs. According to the DoH Drug Price Reference Index (DPRI), breast cancer medicine costs P38,372.00 per vial for 100 units but P13,000 per vial for 6,100 units.

Government hospitals also sell cholesterol and hypertension treatments at about P0.35 and P0.19 per tablet respectively. Purchased from private hospitals and at retail, the cost escalates to P71.55 and P33.75 respectively, with hypertension medicine at P38.50 per tablet.

PHAP said with the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law passed this year, the government should maximize its opportunity to negotiate lower prices with pharmaceuticals firms under the law’s bulk procurement provisions.

PHAP called bulk buying a better option than price controls.

The DoH is looking to impose pice controls on 122 medicines treating the Top 40 ailments in the Philippines. The drug list will be contained in an Executive Order (EO) to be issued by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

The DoH has said that the Philippines has some of the highest drug prices of medicines in the region.

PHAP countered that “Medicine prices in the Philippines are comparable with those in ASEAN countries. For some medicines, Philippine medicine prices are lower compared with Malaysia and Thailand.”

“An anti-diabetic 80 mg tablet is being sold at P7.13 in the country but is priced at (the equivalent of) P9.17 in Thailand and P10.19 in Malaysia. Insulin sold in the country for P713.44 is priced at P968.75 in Thailand,” PHAP added. — Gillian M. Cortez

Counterfeits top list of Customs seizures in year to date

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has confiscated nearly P13 billion worth of smuggled goods as of late October, most of which consisted of counterfeits, the Department of Finance (DoF) reported.

In a DoF executive meeting, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero said the bureau seized P12.92 billion in smuggled goods in the year to date. Some P7.81 billion were counterfeit products. The seizures took place over 14 separate incidents in 2019, as of Oct. 24.

Among the confiscated items were P1.69 billion worth of cigarettes and other tobacco products along with agricultural products valued at P107.59 million, according to Mr. Guerrero.

Intercepted shipments of methamphetamine, known in the Philippines as “shabu,” amounted to P2.96 billion while other illegal substances seized were valued at P151.74 million, he added.

“The other seized goods were vehicles and accessories worth P67.25 million; used clothing valued at P54.66 million; steel products, P12.61 million; general merchandise valued at P9.39 million; and other products, P58.20 million,” DoF stated.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Deputy Commissioner Arnel SD. Guballa reported that the bureau collected a total of P798 million as of October from 567 establishments closed for non-compliance with tax laws, in a program known as Oplan Kandado.

Mr. Guballa said this compares with the 127 closures in 2018.

Collections from such padlocking operations also rose 125.75% from a year earlier. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Baguio targets closure of small mines by first half of 2020

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City hopes to close all small-scale mines within city limits by the first half of 2020 as an environmental-protection measure.

“Two months ago kinausap ko yung DENR at pinasara ko yung mga butas siguro by first semester of next year (Two months ago I spoke with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and I agreed to shut down the mines, which I hope will happen by first semester of next year)” Baguio Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong said on the sidelines of the 66th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference Thursday.

He noted that there are about 20 small-scale mining operations have been shut down, but cannot give an estimate how many more are still operating.

Mr. Magalong also said that the crackdown on their operations will not affect the city’s economy since small-scale miners do not pay taxes.

Small-scale miners also do not restore the land after completing their digs, and their chemical use is little regulated.

Proclamation No. 414 and Proclamation No. 572 declare some parts of the city, which include Loakan-Apugan, Atok Trail, Kias and some parts of Mines View and Gibraltar, as mineral zones where mining is permitted.

The City Mining Regulatory Board (CMRB) also passed a resolution seeking to repeal these proclamations, citing the potential harm to the environment.

Some members of the city council are also supporting the declaration of Baguio City as a mining-free city to give way to the growing population, noting that sinkholes also pose a serious threat to people living in the areas.

“We cannot sacrifice safety. Yon pa rin ang paramount concern namin. Kinausap ko yung council na we have to declare that Baguio city is a no-mining zone (Safety is our paramount concern. I have spoken to the council for the need to completely declare Baguio City a no-mining zone),” Mr. Magalong said.

The city government is also providing alternative livelihoods to small miners affected by the shutdown, which includes the sale of rice, and vegetables, and hog raising. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Dominguez says money well-spent on Clark sports complex

FINANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III defended the government’s investment in the “world class” New Clark City Sports Complex in Tarlac, calling the funds well-spent because the venue has the potential to attract more tourism.

The newly-built sports center will be used for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in December.

“My job is to raise money for the government and when I do that I also want to see the money spent well and not wasted because believe me, it’s very hard to raise money for the government,” Mr. Dominguez said during a news conference at the sports complex.

“This project, I think, is well-spent. Not only for the athletes but also for the pride of the country. We have now for the first time in 18 years, a world-class sports facility,” he added.

Mr. Dominguez said the sports complex will boost tourism, sparked by the exposure provided by the SEA games.

Speaker Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who is also the chairman of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), said the government’s investment in the SEA games will boost the country’s reputation.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Vivencio B. Dizon added: “It’s not a kaldero (cauldron), national artists don’t build, design kalderos. They design monuments, tributes to inspire our people and athletes. The effect of this monument is priceless.”

Opposition politicians have criticized the spending on the games, with Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon questioning the P50 million spent on the tower that will house the flame, which he desribed as a “kaldero.”

The late National Artist for Architecture Francisco T. Mañosa designed the cauldron. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Fiscal space built up over years enabled infrastructure programs, UA&P says

THE government’s increased capacity to spend on infrastructure was reflected in the declining share of interest payments in its spending, creating “fiscal space” to invest in key facilities, a University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) economist said.

Professor Victor A. Abola said that the share of government spending set aside for interest payments has declined to 10% from 30% in 2005.

Speaking at UA&P’s 2019 Yearend Business Economics Briefing, Mr. Abola said the government has maintained a low debt burden as seen in the current debt- to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio of 41.8% in 2018.

According to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), interest payments as a percentage of total spending dropped to 10.96% in the third quarter from 11.94% a year earlier.

The debt-to-GDP ratio has been declining since 2005, when it peaked at 70%.

“It’s low now because our debt burden is lower. In 2005, our debt to GDP was 77% we’re now down below 42%,” he said.

However, according to the BTr, debt as a share of GDP inched up to 43.3% at the end of September.

With the infrastructure push, Mr. Abola said that the government may not be able to sustain the downtrend of debt-to-GDP ratio but keeping it below 45-50% is manageable.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) has set a 41.4% debt-to-GDP target for this year and an even lower target for 2022 at 38.6%.

Mr. Abola said that the fiscal room created was a cumulative effort by previous governments, coupled with the declining borrowing costs here and overseas.

“The other thing is interest rates have gone down, not only abroad but also locally. As late as 2002, your 10-year bond yields were around 13% now it’s about four and a half,” he said.

Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina E. Cabral said infrastructure development has always had a multiplier effect on growth but the current administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program has had an outsized impact.

“Infrastructure has always been a major driver of economic growth. Nahi-highlight lang ngayon kasi napakalaki ng investment na nailalatag para matapos itong mga ‘to (It’s just highlighted because the investment is now supersized to complete the works),” Ms. Cabral said at the forum.

To sustain the “Build, Build, Build” program, she said the next government must be willing to continue on the same track, while expanding private-sector participation.

The Department of Finance reported that the government spent P889 billion on infrastructure development in 2018, the equivalent of 5% of GDP.

The economy grew 6.2% in the third quarter, picking up from the muted 5.5% average growth in the first half. — Beatrice M. Laforga

India, PHL to pilot-test high-yield garlic, onion farming in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — India and the Philippines are looking at other agriculture-related partnerships after recently agreeing to pursue several projects, including the establishment of pilot farms in Mindanao for high-yield varieties of garlic and onion.

“Your indigenous garlics, just like in India, are very pungent. Some agreements were signed on setting pilot farms in Mindanao regions that will really improve productivity of onions and garlic, and it will result to hundreds of millions of dollars,” Indian Ambassador to the Philippines jaideep Mazumdar said at a news conference Wednesday during the opening of the three-day ASEAN-India 2nd InnoTech Summit in Davao City.

Mr. Mazumdar said an agreement was also signed with Land Bank of the Philippines for a project that will use satellite technology to reduce financing risk in agriculture.

The InnoTech Summit is being held alongside the ASEAN-India Grassroots Innovation Forum, which highlights best practices in community-based innovation.

“There are so many things in common between India and the Philippines. I would like to capitalize on getting all the innovation, finding all the business common ground,” said Johnny Chotrani, Philippines country chair of the ASEAN-India Business Council.

Mr. Chotrani also said that the two countries can benefit from sharing their respective expertise and “have more collaboration, more communication that will lead to something.”

The events are hosted by the two countries’ respective science and technology departments, the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the National Innovation Foundation-India.

Aside from the Philippines and India, participants come from the nine other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. — Maya M. Padillo