The PH world rank in financial promo

Philippines ranks 2nd in Asia, 8th worldwide for financial inclusion promotion

By TED CORDERO
GMA News
December 18, 2020

The Philippines remains among the top leaders in financial inclusion, according to the 2020 Global Microscope on Financial Inclusion of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research arm of The Economist Group.

The country ranks second in Asia, next to India; and eight worldwide, tied with Brazil, in the EIU study, which assessed the financial inclusion environment in 55 countries.

The EIU study rated countries across five dimensions, namely Government and Policy; Stability and Integrity; Products and Outlets; Consumer Protection; and Infrastructure.

Together with Thailand and Russia, the Philippines posted the highest improvement in Asia and Eastern Europe, in view of the government’s push to promote digital channels as part of its responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the study.

The Philippines got a perfect score of 100 points in Products and Outlets dimension, which covers Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regulations on e-money, simplified accounts like the Basic Deposit Account (BDA), and financial outlets such as cash agents.

Focusing on the role of financial inclusion in the COVID-19 response, the EIU study recognized the initiatives of the Philippines to mitigate the adverse economic impact of the pandemic.

The report cited the regulatory relief measures of the BSP to ease liquidity constraints in the financial system, restore business confidence, and sustain the flow of credit amid the unprecedented health crisis.

These include the temporary relaxation of compliance to reporting requirements, easier access to rediscounting facility, and waiver of licensing fees and charges for financial institutions setting up their electronic payment and financial services.

It also cited the initiative of financial service providers to suspend fees for electronic fund transfers during the community quarantine period.

In addition, the EIU report highlighted measures to promote MSME financing such as allowing banks to include loans granted to MSMEs as alternative compliance with reserve requirements, reducing the credit risk weight of MSME loans that are current in status to 50% from 75%, and reducing the minimum liquidity ratio (MLR) for stand-alone thrift banks, rural banks and cooperative banks to 16% from 20% until end-December 2020.

While the Philippines scored lowest in the Infrastructure dimension with 69 points, there is noted improvement from last year’s level owing to ongoing initiatives on digital connectivity, digital identification, and digital payments infrastructure.

The report emphasized the importance of digital infrastructure that includes access to identification, mobile phones, and financial accounts to facilitate efficient delivery of cash assistance to vulnerable segments.

It also noted that better data integration is needed for proper targeting of cash aid program beneficiaries.

The Global Microscope is an annual cross-country assessment of the enabling environment for financial inclusion. Since 2009, the Philippines consistently belongs to the top-ranked countries in terms of having a supportive framework for inclusive finance.

Latin American countries namely Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, and Mexico dominated the top five spots of 2020 Global Microscope. —KBK, GMA News

...the PH improved world talent ranking

Philippines up 6 notches in world talent ranking

Louella Desiderio
Philippine Star 
19 November 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines was among 63 countries that posted the biggest climb in the latest World Talent Ranking (WTR) report of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), as it rose six places to 49th place from 51st last year.

The country remained the laggard however, among Southeast countries.

Released in partnership with the Asian Institute of Management Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness in the Philippines, the WTR looks at countries’ ability to attract, develop and retain an employable talent pool.

The other countries which posted the biggest improvements are Taiwan, which went up seven places to 20th; Lithuania, which rose eight notches to 28th; and Colombia which advanced six places to 54th.

While the Philippines’ ranking improved in this year’s report, it was still behind its peers in the region.

All other Southeast Asian countries included in the report had better rankings than the Philippines such as Singapore (10th), Malaysia (22nd), Indonesia (41st), and Thailand (43rd).

In ranking countries, the WTR looked at three factors such as investment and development, appeal and readiness, and took into account responses to IMD’s executive opinion survey.

In the investment and development factor which measures funds poured in, as well as development of domestic human resources, the Philippines ranked 61st, up from the 62nd spot last year.

“This represents a one-place improvement from 2018, but this factor has consistently ranked in the 60s. Its low rank was mostly driven by pupil-teacher ratio in primary and secondary education and public expenditure on education per student,” IMD said.

As for the appeal factor, which looks at the ability to attract and retain high-quality talent from abroad, the Philippines rose to 31st place from 38th a year ago.

IMD said the highest ranked indicators for the Philippines under the appeal factor were cost of living and effective personal income tax rate, while the lower ranked ones were quality of life, justice, and brain drain.

When it comes to the readiness factor which assessed the quality and growth of the existing talent pool, the country placed 26th, 11 places higher than the previous year’s 37th.

“The relatively higher rank of the readiness factor was mostly driven by indicators on skilled labor, language skills, and share of science graduates among college degree holders,” IMD said.

Switzerland continued to top the WTR, strengthening its position as a global talent hub.

This was followed by Denmark in second place, and Sweden on the third spot. Mongolia, on the other hand, was at the bottom of the list or 63rd place.

...the Asia's best airports

Iloilo, Cebu airports among Asia's best - poll


Recto Mercene
Business Mirror
31 October 2019

A web site devoted to grading airports that offers the most accommodating spots, especially for the backpackers, has included two of the Philippines’s airports as among the best in Asia this year.

Making it in the sleepinginairports.net’s list of best airports in Asia for 2019 are the Iloilo International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). Topping the list is Singapore’s Changi Airport.

Iloilo airport, at 18th spot, is operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, while MCIA at the 16th spot, is operated by a private conglomerate.

Completing the Best Airport in Asia for 2019 list are Seoul Incheon Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport, Osaka Kansai Airport, Taipei Taoyuan Airport, Hong Kong Airport, Kuala Lumpur Airport, New Delhi Airport, Jakarta Airport, Tokyo Haneda Airport, Mumbai Airport, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangalore Airport, Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport, Hyderabad Airport, Da Nang Airport, Islamabad Airport and Kunming Airport.

Changi Airport also topped the overall Best Airport list, followed by Seoul Incheon Airport, Helsinki Airport, Tokyo Narita International Airport, Osaka Kansai International Airport, Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Munich International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Making it in the worst airport’s list are Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (Saudi Arabia), New York City LaGuardia Airport (United States), London Stansted Airport (England), Juba International Airport (Sudan), Santorini International Airport (Greece), Cairo International Airport (Egypt), Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (Ethiopia), Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Bangladesh), Murtala Muhammed (Lagos) International Airport (Nigeria) and London Luton Airport (England).

The web site, founded in 1996 ranks the best and worst airports from an annual survey and airport reviews submitted by readers rating their airport experiences.

In the annual survey, travelers are asked to rate their airport experiences based on factors, such as comfort, services, facilities and things to do, food options, immigration/security, customer service, navigation and ease of transit, cleanliness  and “sleepability.”

...the favorite countries among travelers

Philippines 8th favorite country among travelers

Christina Mendez/Catherine Talavera
Philippine Star
26 October 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign visitors’ interest in the Philippines remains strong after the country was voted by readers of travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler as one of the favorite destinations in the world to visit.

Based on results of Conde Nast Traveler’s Top 20 Countries in the World: Readers Choice Awards 2019, the Philippines ranked eighth with a score of 90.63.

The magazine cited island hopping, surfing and shopping as some of the activities tourists can do in the country.

It also cited Palawan, particularly Coron, El Nido and Linapacan, as among the top destinations.

The Philippines joined the other favorite countries to visit that included Indonesia, Thailand, Portugal and Sri Lanka.

“Gaining yet another prestigious recognition as the 8th Favorite Country in the World speaks well of the concerted effort of the Philippine tourism industry stakeholders in nurturing the many natural wonders the country is blessed with,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Department of Tourism New York attaché Francisco Lardizabal received the award in behalf of the Philippines during ceremonies at the One World Trade Center in New York.

“All these accolades that the country and our other island destinations continue to receive bode well for the country’s sustainable tourism development program as continuity is the very essence of sustainability,” Puyat said.

Malacañang lauded yesterday the DOT for efforts to promote the Philippines after the country placed 8th in the Readers’ Choice Awards 2019 of Conde Nast Traveler.

“The world has spoken: it is truly more fun in the Philippines,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

The Palace official is grateful to the readers of Conde Nast Traveler for making the Philippines eighth in their list of favorite countries in the world.

“We commend the Department of Tourism, their industry partners and other stakeholders for their splendid job. In its most recent report, the DOT counted a total of 5,554,950 visitors between January and August 2019,” Panelo said.

On top of this, Panelo noted that the Philippines registered a 14.08 percent year-on-year increase in the country’s international inbound traffic.

The recognition comes on the heels of two major awards the Philippines won at the recent 2019 World Travel Awards held at Phu Quoc island in Vietnam.

Readers of Conde Nast Traveler also voted three Philippine islands as the best islands in Asia, with Boracay grabbing the number one spot, despite the six-month closure of the island last year due to clean up and rehabilitation efforts.

“This itty-bitty island (just under four square miles) in the Western Philippines is as close to a tropical idyll as you’ll find in Southeast Asia, with gentle coastlines and made-for-Instagram sunsets,” according to Conde Nast Traveler.

“Fold in a thriving nightlife scene, and you have one of the top tourist spots in the region,” it added.
The magazine acknowledged the island’s closure and ongoing rehabilitation, noting that it has “become too touristed” in the past.

At present, the Philippine government is implementing a carrying capacity for Boracay, with only 19,215 tourists allowed to be on the island at any one time, and 6,405 tourists allowed to enter the island per day.

“The aptly named White Beach is Boracay’s main draw, with powdery white sand and shallow azure water ideal for swimming and snorkeling,” Conde Nast said.

Following Boracay is Cebu and the Visayas islands landing in second spot.

“Located in the center of the Philippines, Cebu draws nearly two million travelers annually for its pristine beaches and diving off the island’s northern coast. Spanish and Roman Catholic influences permeate Cebu City; Basilica Minore del Santo Niño houses a small statue of Christ that was presented by Ferdinand Magellan,” Conde Naste said.

The magazine highlighted Cebu’s Kawasan Falls near Cebu’s southwest coast, noting its popularity among locals and tourists.

...the PH ranking in Ease of Doing Business

Philippines climbs to 95th spot in World Bank’s ‘Doing Business’ rankings

Ian Nicolas Cigaral
Philippine Star
24 October 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Ease of doing business in the Philippines improved over the past year, with the Southeast Asian country climbing 29 notches in World Bank’s “Doing Business 2020” report released Thursday.

Out of 190 economies, the Philippines advanced to the 95th spot from 124th place in 2019. The country’s score improved to 62.8 from 60.9 previously.

Compared to its peers in the East Asia Pacific, the Philippines ranked below Singapore (2nd), Hong Kong (3rd), Malaysia (12th), Taiwan (15th), Thailand (21st), China (31st), Brunei (66th), Vietnam (70th), Indonesia (73rd) and Mongolia (81st).

The Washington-based multilateral lender’s annual report looks into the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it.

Quezon City was used as a benchmark for the Philippines.

According to World Bank, starting a business in the Philippines became easier following the abolition of the minimum capital requirement for domestic companies.

The country also made dealing with construction permits easier by improving coordination and streamlining the process for obtaining an occupancy certificate.

“The Philippines strengthened minority investor protections by requiring greater disclosure of transactions with interested parties and enhancing director liability for transactions with interested parties,” World Bank added.

Worldwide, 115 economies made it easier to do business, World Bank said, with New Zealand remaining the most business-friendly country in the world.

Somalia was the worst with a score of 20.

Meanwhile, the economies with the most notable improvement in Doing Business 2020 are Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Togo, Bahrain, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, China, India and Nigeria.

“The Doing Business 2020 study shows that developing economies are catching up with developed economies in ease of doing business,” World Bank President David Malpass said.

“Still, the gap remains wide,” he added.

...the PH ranking in Property Rights

Philippines gains 3 notches in International Property Rights Index

Louella Desiderio

Philippine Star

17 October 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines moved up to 67th place out of 129 economies in this year’s International Property Rights Index from 70th last year, amid improvements in two out of three components tracked by the report such as physical property rights and intellectual property rights (IPR).

Developed by the Property Rights Alliance which promotes protection of innovation, IPR and physical property rights, the index seeks to serve as a barometer for the state of property rights in the world by looking at three components – legal and political environment, physical property rights and IPR.File

Developed by the Property Rights Alliance which promotes protection of innovation, IPR and physical property rights, the index seeks to serve as a barometer for the state of property rights in the world by looking at three components – legal and political environment, physical property rights and IPR.

Released in partnership with the Foundation for Economic Freedom and Minimal Government Thinkers in the Philippines yesterday, the index showed the country was behind many of its neighbors in Southeast Asia.

In particular, the Philippines trailed behind Singapore (4th), Malaysia (32nd), Thailand (64th) and Indonesia (65th), but was ahead of Vietnam (83rd) and Brunei Darussalam (98th).

The index showed the Philippines’ overall ranking improved as its score increased to 5.309 this year from the previous year’s 5.217.

...the world's best hotel bars

LOOK: One of the best hotel bars in the world is in Manila

ABS-CBN News
16 October 2019

MANILA -- One of the best hotel bars in the world is in Manila, according to an exclusive list published by Forbes Travel Guide on Tuesday. 

The Bar of The Peninsula Manila has been included in a list of the best hotel bars in the world. The Peninsula Manila's website

The Peninsula Manila's The Bar, with its swanky, Cuban-inspired design, was among the 44 hotel bars that made the cut. It is one of only four watering holes in Southeast Asia featured. 

The list -- a first from Forbes Travel Guide -- described The Bar as: "Bedecked in checkered flooring and wood walls, the bar gleans inspiration from an old Cuban cigar factory." 

It also recommends some of its menu items like the sisig croquetas, the Sriracha butter duck wings, and the Batangas Old Fashioned, "which swaps in Maker's Mark infused with Kapeng Barako." 

The full list can be seen here. 

To come up with the list, Forbes Travel Guide sent "inspectors" to stay at hotels around the world anonymously. They then evaluate the bars based on up to 900 standards for the guide's annual star ratings. 

Two bars in Indonesia and one from Singapore were also included in the prestigious list. 

...the improved PH FIFA Ranking

FIFA Rankings 2019: Thailand, Philippines set for rise, Indonesia to fall after poor display


Fox Sports Asia
16 October 2019

Thailand and Philippines are set to rise up the FIFA Rankings table after their latest exploits in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers while Indonesia, Cambodia and Singapore are set to fall down.

Thailand registered a massive 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates while Philippines produced a fine defensive display to hold the mighty Chinese side for a goalless draw. Indonesia, on the other hand, lost 3-1 to Vietnam, Cambodia suffered a 4-0 defeat to Iraq and Singapore went down 3-1 against Uzbekistan.

With their win over UAE, Thailand are expected to move up six spots to 109, while Philippines will gain one spot and will move up to 126. Indonesia will lose one spot and go down to 171 while Singapore will lose two spots and will go down to 159. Cambodia, who were hammered 14-0 by Iran last week, will go down to the 172nd spot after the loss against Iraq.

...the Pinoy Fighters in World Ratings

44 Pinoy Fighters in World Ratings


Teodoro Medina Reynoso
Philboxing.com
26 September 2019


Aside from the country's five currently reigning world champions led by Senator Manny Pacquiao, a total of forty four more Pinoy fighters are included in the latest rankings of the four major world boxing sanctioning bodies in ten out of eleven weight divisions from minimumweight to welterweight. 

Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire are super champions respectively in the welterweight and bantamweight divisions under the World Boxing Association (WBA) while Jerwin Ancajas and Pedro Taduran are regular champions in the super flyweight and the minimumweight classes respectively under the International Boxing Federation (IBF). Johnriel Casimero presently is the Interim world champion in the bantamweight class under the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

Manny Pacquiao

Nonito Donaire

John Riel Casimero

There are no current Pinoy titleholders in the World Boxing Council (WBC) although Pacquiao at 112, 130 and 135 lbs, Donaire at 118 and 122 lbs and Casimero at 108 and 112 lbs. once reigned as champions under the WBC.

Per sanctioning body, the WBO has the most number of rated Filipino fighters with a total of 22, followed by the IBF with 19, the WBC with 18 and the WBA with just 12.

Many of our top local fighters are in the ratings of more than one boxing bodies.

Highest rated are Robert Paradero, Edward Heno, Geimel Magramo, Michael Dasmarinas and Marlon Tapales who are all the top ranking contenders in the minimumweight (WBO), light flyweight (IBF), flyweight (WBO), bantamweight (IBF) and super bantamweight (WBO), respectively. 

Former champions Donnie Nietes and Vic Saludar are both ranked highest at fourth in super flyweight and minimumweight respectively by the WBC and the WBO while Milan Melindo is ranked ninth at light flyweight by the WBC.

The other Pinoy fighters include the following (highest rated by organization in parenthesis):

Minimumweight- Melvin Jerusalem (#2 WBC), Vic Saludar, Rey Loreto, ArAr Andales, Mark Anthony Barriga, Rene Cuarto, Joey Canoy, Lito Dante, John Marco Rementizo, Jonathan Refugio and Samuel Salva who was erstwhile number one at IBF but was beaten for the vacant title by Taduran.

Again, Paradero is ranked number one by WBO in this division.

Light Flyweight- Jonathan Taconing (#7 WBC), Melindo, Ivan Soriano, Mark Vicelles, Christian Bacolod, Randy Petalcorin and Jaysever Abcede. Christian Araneta was formerly the highest rated after Heno at number three by he was recently defeated in a title eliminator fight in Mexico hence his rating will likely fall.

Edward Heno is rated number one by WBO. at light flyweight.

Flyweight- Rene Baldonado (#8 WBA), Jayson Mama, JR Raquinel, Jobert Alvarez, Genesis Libranza and Alphoe Dagayloan.

Geimel Magramo is highest rated Pinoy flyweight at number one by WBO.

Super Flyweight- Donnie Nietes (#4, WBC and IBF), Aston Palicte, KJ Cataraja, Froilan Saludar and Jade Bornea.

Jerwin Ancajas is current IBF titlist.

Bantamweight- Reymart Gaballo (#4, WBA), Kenny Demecillo and Vincent Astrolabio.

Nonito Donaire is WBA super champion, Johnriel Casimero is interim IBF titlist and Michael Dasmarinas is IBF top and mandatory contender.
Super Bantamweight- Marlon Tapales and Albert Pagara are rated # 1 and 2 by WBO with Jeo Santissima rated sixth. Juan Miguel Elorde who lost in his recent title try fell out.

Featherweight- Former interim titlist Jhack Tepora is rated third by WBA while Mark Magsayo is eighth with WBC. Tapales is also rated at featherweight at #11 in the WBA. Conspicuously absent in the ratings is Genesis Servania.

Super Featherweight- Asian champion Joe Noynay is the lone rated Pinoy at number six with WBO.

Lightweight- Romero Duno is also the only rated Pinoy at number four with WBO.

No Pinoy is world rated at junior welterweight after Jheritz Chavez also fell out.

Manny Pacquiao is the lone Pinoy at welterweight and he holds the WBA super belt in the division.

Who among these rated Pinoy fighters will become world champion is worth watching out for next year.