PH flag in World's tallest building

Burj Khalifa lights up to mark Philippine Independence Day

The National
12 June 2019

The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, lit up on Wednesday evening to mark the 121st Philippines Independence Day.

People gathered to see a projection of the Philippine flag with its sun and three stars on the Dubai skyscraper, which glowed in red, blue and white.

The UAE's leaders also sent their congratulations to President Rodrigo Duterte.

The President, Sheikh Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, wrote to Mr Duterte, the state news agency Wam reported.

There are more than 750,000 Filipinos living in the UAE, almost 25 per cent of the population of Dubai.

Philippines set for dynamic growth

GDP seen doubling by 2026 as Philippines ‘set for dynamic growth’ 

Czeriza Valencia

The Philippine Star

April 27, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine economy is still expected to experience sustained and rapid growth in the long term, with gross domestic product (GDP) seen doubling between now and 2026, enabling the country to attain upper middle income status by 2022.

In an economic research report released yesterday, market intelligence firm IHS Markit said the continuous growth of above six percent in the past seven years is likely to continue over the short term, although at a slightly slower pace of around six percent annually over 2019 and 2020. Michael Varcas

In an economic research report released yesterday, market intelligence firm IHS Markit said the continuous growth of above six percent in the past seven years is likely to continue over the short term, although at a slightly slower pace of around six percent annually over 2019 and 2020.

 “Strong GDP growth is projected to continue over the medium term, with the total size of the Philippines economy expected to double between 2018 and 2026,” said Rajiv Biswas, IHS Markit chief economist for Asia Pacific.

The long-term outlook, he said, is “ very positive” with GDP seen doubling from $330 billion in 2018 to $672 billion by 2026.

 “The Philippines is forecast to become one of Asia’s trillion-dollar economies by 2032, with per capita GDP reaching around $8,200. Over the next decade, sustained rapid economic development will result in a significant reduction in poverty levels and accelerate progress towards meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” the report said.

The domestic economy is now powered by several growth engines such as the sustained strength of remittance inflows from Filipino workers abroad which is helping boost consumption spending.
Rapid growth of service exports, notably from the IT-BPO sector, is now contributing to export earnings and employment growth.

Despite external headwinds, the electronics industry remains the largest merchandise export sector.

The government’s ambitious infrastructure development program is also supporting the economic growth momentum.

With per capita growth having shown rapid growth since 2010, the number of middle class households have expanded, driving consumption spending.

IHS Markit said by 2022, per capita GDP in the country is expected to exceed $4,000, pushing it into the ranks of upper middle-income developing countries, according to World Bank standards.

When this happens, this will give the economy an enormous spending power that will support major industries in the country.

 “The Philippines is also one of the most populous countries in Southeast Asia, and as per capita GDP levels rise above the upper middle-income threshold, this will create an increasingly substantial consumer market that will support the growth of the nation’s manufacturing, services and construction industries,” the report said.

At this point, IHS Markit urged the country to immediately address hindrances to growth such as weak infrastructure and its uncompetitive business climate.

 “Significant challenges remain to the nation’s economic development, including weak infrastructure and a relatively uncompetitive business climate compared to other East Asian peers,” the report said.

“A key priority will be to make the Philippines more competitive as an investment hub for multinationals, in order to boost exports of goods and services and narrow the trade deficit,” it added.

On the socioeconomic level, high levels of poverty in the country particularly in the rural regions is making a large number of the population vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks.

 “Despite the significant progress in achieving higher living standards during the past decade, one of the key economic development challenges facing the Philippines is the high level of poverty, particularly in rural regions,” IHS Markit said.

 “The vulnerability of the population to natural disasters is also high, due to the frequent incidence of destructive typhoons that devastate agricultural crops, as well as the nation’s vulnerability to
earthquakes. Manila is located in an area near two major seismic fault lines,” it added.

Pinay wins best nanny in UAE

Filipina wins Best Nanny award in UAE

Khaleej Times

17 December 2018

(MENAFN - Asia Times) A Filipino domestic worker in Dubai was named the United Arab Emirates' Best Nanny for 2018, beating out 42 others who were shortlisted for the award. 

Rosie Villa, 39, who has been working in the UAE for 17 years, was nominated for the award by her current employers of almost six years. On Friday, Villa won the award, the initiative of a financial-technology platform for migrants, which saw more than 2,000 nominations from families all across the UAE, Khaleej Times reported.

Villa will receive a retirement fund of 1 million Philippine pesos (US$18,860) as her prize, which will allow her to pay for her daughter's college education. She said the money came at the time she needed it the most. 

Villa started working after her husband left her and her one-year-old daughter, who is now 17. She decided to take a job in Dubai as she needed to finance her daughter's education, as well as support her parents and siblings.

'My parents are bedridden and it is my sisters who take care of them. They also play the role of mother for my daughter. I am grateful to them,' Villa said. 

Last year, Filipino domestic worker Melanie Manansala won the UAE's Best Nanny award. Manansala worked in Dubai for 25 years and said the prize money she got would help her retire sooner and return home to the Philippines for good.

Philippines support Papua New Guinea

Philippines Supports PNG


Post Courier
19 November 2018




The Philippines is ready to build schools and deploy teachers to PNG in a bid to enhance the development of its neighbour.

President Duterte announced the government education aid to PNG in appreciation to its generosity and kindness to Filipino workers.

Mr Duterte was in Port Moresby for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit but cut short his three-day trip by a day to return home on Sunday morning.

“We need to develop and develop well Papua New Guinea. We are willing to help establish schools,” he said.

Mr Duterte said during the meeting with the Filipino community on Friday night, he heard that most of “our countrymen are treated well and respected”.

“We are ready to build schools, ask teachers to come here and help in the education of your people,” he said.

President Duterte said the government was also prepared to help PNG with its livelihood projects to improve the welfare of its people.

He took pride that the Filipino workers are industrious and bright.

“We can come here, we can establish schools, if you want universities, we are good at that. We will try to help you,” he said.

The President also cautioned PNG against allowing multinational companies from encroaching its farmlands.

He said they should guard against such activity, citing that the Philippines no longer has farmlands for food crops.

“It has been overtaken by multinationals. Be careful about that. You may but do not allow encroachment of multinationals because at the end of the day what you would get is the salary of the people but the bulk of the money goes to the company.”