With the pandemic inducing a significant shift towards working from home as companies follow social-distancing rules, in the Philippines co-working spaces are emerging as a solution for firms seeking to decentralise while ensuring a sound operating environment for employees. In a sign of the economic fallout from Covid-19, in late September 2020 the Department of Trade and Industry said that…
After years of exponential growth, South-east Asia’s super apps were forced to reassess their business models due to measures to contain Covid-19, with many refocusing their priorities as they plan for the post-pandemic world. In recent years super apps – online or mobile platforms that combine multiple services into one portal – have sought to expand their offerings. While many started…
In an effort to promote social distancing and restrict the movement of people during the Covid-19 pandemic, retailers selling hardware, clothing and electronics were mandated to close during the Philippines’ strictest lockdown phase. However, grocery and convenience stores, as well as delivery services, were deemed essential businesses and permitted to continue operations. This opened the…
Business process outsourcing (BPO) was disrupted by fluctuations in demand and restrictions on the mobility of workers during the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic, but there are signs that new engines of growth are emerging that could bode well for the longer-term development of the sector. BPO is frequently described as one of the two pillars of the Philippine economy, alongside remittances.…
The Universal Health Care (UHC) Bill was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2019, with the implementing rules and regulations approved in October by Francisco Duque III, the secretary of health. This set the stage for 2020 to be the Philippines’ first year of UHC. Although many stakeholders knew that the system would need time to mature, the unexpected arrival of the…
The government implemented various programmes to help alleviate the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. To sustain these measures, the Department of Finance issued Revenue Regulation (RR) No. 21-2020 in September 2020, which outlines the guidelines for the implementation of the Voluntary Assessment and Payment Programme (VAPP) for the 2018 taxable year. Compliance To limit contact with…
Health The government declared different levels of lockdowns and social distancing measures to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As in many countries, the strictness of the measures varies according to the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases at the time. Entry may also be restricted depending on the purpose of the trip. As such, visitors must check the travel conditions and requirements…
The Republic of the Philippines reaches from Taiwan in the north to Indonesia in the south. It is the fourth-largest country in South-east Asia after Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand. Bordered by the South China Sea – also known locally as the West Philippine Sea – in the west and the Sulu and Celebes seas in the south, the Philippines is home to some 175 ethnolinguistic groups across thousands…
The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies of the past decade, averaging 6.4% growth per year in 2010-19. Indeed, an expanding and youthful population, combined with reforms and an ambitious infrastructure programme, have made it an enticing investment destination. Nevertheless, as is often the case in emerging markets, challenges regarding inequality – particularly the distribution…
The year 2020 marked the fourth year of President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year term in office, following his inauguration in June 2016. The Philippines’ GDP increased by more than 6% per year between 2012 and 2019, making inclusive growth and the reduction of income inequality among the top priorities for the administration. However, the economy is expected to contract by 8.3% in 2020 as…
