Tag: 2019 YearEnder
Bureau of Corrections cleans house after unwanted year in spotlight
IT’S BEEN an uncomfortable year in the headlines for the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) after a prisoner early-release scandal, revelations of widespread drug-dealing and unauthorized creature comforts inside the prison system dented confidence in the government’s handling of some of its worst convicts. So it’s no surprise that the first order of business for its leadership is a thorough purge.
Government softens on PPPs as private sector angles for bigger role
MIDWAY through the government’s term, the list of key infrastructure flagship programs has been revised, signalling a rethinking of priorities, not the least of which is a politically-driven decision to complete a significant number of works by the time the President steps down in 2022.
Rice industry downplays ultimate impact of RCEF
THE Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) estimates that the cost of production in the Philippines was P12.72 per kilo between 2013 to 2014, while the Thai cost was equivalent to P8.86 and Vietnam’s P6.22. Only Indonesia performed worse at P15.74.
Public-hospital staffing could be Universal Health Care’s biggest hurdle
NURSES are vital for the successful implementation of universal health care (UHC). The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the importance of investing in nurses to execute UHC properly. It’s a respected profession that has earned a reputation for also being largely overlooked, to the extent that many practitioners need to move overseas to earn a living.
Local governments at the front lines of UHC implementation
FORTY-FIVE-year-old Melodina Hugo is the go-to person when family members and relatives, especially those from the remote Paquibato district, get seriously sick and need to be brought to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City, the biggest government-owned hospital in Mindanao.
An aerial photo tool for now, drones could transform disaster relief
AROUND a hundred drones rose up into the night sky during the final leg of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Torch Run at the Clark Freeport Zone on Nov. 23.
At the dawn of UHC, private hospitals brace for long struggle
THE HOSPITAL UNIT of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) came close to staging a massive initial public offering (IPO) this year worth P83.3 billion — right on the eve of implementing the Universal Health Care Law (UHC).
It takes a village — and more — to raise disaster...
IN UNDER a minute of the earth’s shaking, the people of Balutakay, a coffee-farming village at the foot of Mt. Apo, saw their homes, warehouse, and processing center sustain severe damage.
Could 2020 be our Olympic breakthrough year?
IN 2020 the Philippines will take part in the Summer Olympics once again, the 10th since 1984 and 22nd appearance since the country first competed in 1924.
Streaming hits critical mass as Filipino content thrives
SIX YEARS since the entry of streaming services into the Philippines, Asian streaming platforms HOOQ and iflix have pronounced that the industry has emerged from infancy and consider 2019 a turning point, with more originals being produced and the entry of more players signifying that the Philippines has fully embraced a new way of consuming content.
Animation industry poised for transition from outsourcing to original content
THE 5,000 EMPLOYEES of the Philippine animation industry, though toiling in obscurity, make up part of the production line for some of Disney or Cartoon Network’s biggest hits.
Virtual lenders dip their toes in the banking waters
LONG QUEUES are a familiar scenario for bank clients transacting over-the-counter. Avoiding this waiting time, and the ability to transact during off hours, have long been a selling point for the online banking industry. The question for this age of improved connectivity, broader smartphone penetration, and an up-and-coming digital-first generation is whether a point of no return has been reached, giving the industry critical mass.
