Category: Philippines

PHILIPPINES: Duterte reluctantly agrees to doctors’ request for Manila lockdown

Teneo August 3, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte re-imposed movement and business restrictions for the greater metropolitan Manila region from 4-18 August, following a plea Saturday from doctors’ organizations that the system could “not hold the line much longer.”… Read the rest

PHILIPPINES: The context to Duterte’s threat against the telcos

Teneo July 28, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to cancel the licenses of the country’s two largest telecommunications companies will be more difficult to carry out than his denial of a broadcast license to ABS-CBN this June.

… Read the rest

PHILIPPINES: Duterte’s policy speech on Monday – curb your expectations (again)

Teneo July 24, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte will supposedly present his “roadmap to recovery” on 27 July.
However, he is unlikely to deviate from the limited stimulus being advocated by his economic team, or radically reshape his administration’s other healthcare policies.

… Read the rest

PHILIPPINES: Numbers paint a weak outlook for migrant workers

Teneo July 17, 2020

Remittances have dropped for a second straight month and a total of about 250,000 migrant workers are expected to have returned home in the next few months since the start of the pandemic, with possibly more awaiting repatriation.

… Read the rest

PHILIPPINES/INDONESIA: The two that stand apart

Teneo June 26, 2020

Of the large Southeast Asian economies, the Philippines and Indonesia continue to grapple with the highest absolute number of new daily coronavirus diagnoses, and the trend is still unclear as to whether either country has reached a plateau.… Read the rest

PHILIPPINES: The politics of the decision against journalist Maria Ressa

Teneo June 16, 2020

On Monday, a local court found prominent journalist and administration critic Maria Ressa guilty of cyber-libel and ordered that she pay a fine and damages of roughly USD 8,000, and sentenced her to a minimum of six months and a maximum of six years in prison.… Read the rest

PHILIPPINES: Consumers may continue to feel under the weather

Teneo June 10, 2020

Confidence is weak in the government’s immediate ability to manage the public health risks.
The only government stimulus program so far is equal to 1.1% of GDP, with the administration’s economic team resisting a legislative initiative for an additional 7% spending plan.

… Read the rest

PHILIPPINES: Why Duterte may struggle in an economic downturn

Teneo June 4, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature law-and-order narrative may become less valuable politically should a serious economic slowdown ensue.
While this will not manifest in immediate instability, it could weaken the government’s ability to pass legislation and throw open the 2022 presidential race even more.

… Read the rest

PHILIPPINES: An easing of the quarantine, with complications

Teneo May 15, 2020

● Many industries and businesses will be allowed to restart in the capital Metro Manila starting 16 May.

● Government PCR testing still has a backlog, which means there will be a risk window within the next two to three weeks when new outbreaks may not be immediately caught, especially as overseas workers may start to return in greater numbers.… Read the rest

ASIA: The politics of coronavirus – Weekly update

Teneo May 14, 2020

Below is the latest edition of our weekly Asia coronavirus update. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you want to discuss any of the countries mentioned in more detail.… Read the rest