Philippines Roundup: China talks, Kuwait visa ban, ‘viral hepatitis’
Philippines eyes China talks
The Philippines is considering talks with China to discuss a violent clash between their sailors in the South China Sea. The incident occurred on June 17, when Chinese Coast Guard personnel foiled a Filipino navy attempt to resupply marines stationed on a derelict warship. The Philippines-China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea was launched in 2017 to promote peaceful conflict management in the region. The proposed July meeting will establish "confidence-building measures" to create the basis for more serious discussions, Malaymail reports
Former Philippine president Duterte plans senate run in 2025
Former Philippine President Duterte and his two sons are planning to run for the country's senate in 2025, according to Vice President Sara Duterte. This comes after Sara resigned from her cabinet position under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. There are 12 seats to be contested in the upcoming election. The Duterte family holds significant political influence in the country, with Sebastian Duterte also planning to run for president in 2028. The resignation of Sara Duterte has highlighted the political and policy differences between their alliance with the Marcos family.
Kuwait lifts visa ban on Philippines
Kuwait has lifted its visa ban on domestic workers from the Philippines after a year-long suspension, following a breakthrough in talks between the two countries. The ban was imposed in response to the murder of a Filipino domestic worker in Kuwait. A joint committee will now address any future issues in domestic labour affairs. This decision comes after several previous disputes between the two countries over the treatment of Filipino workers in Kuwait.
Tourism investments
Tourism investments in the Philippines reached $8.64 billion in 2023, up 34% from 2022. The accommodation sector was the biggest contributor to last year’s tourism ventures, covering 51% of the total. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco highlighted the importance of tourism expenditures and investments in creating jobs and improving the lives of Filipinos during the Philippine Tourism and Hotel Investment Summit. The summit aimed to foster collaborations with hotel owners, investors, and developers to expand projects, make new investments, and enhance global competitiveness, local media The Star reports.
High prevalence of ‘viral hepatitis’
The Philippines and other countries are facing a high prevalence of viral hepatitis. In 2022, there were 6.1 million cases in the Philippines and 1,045 deaths. International experts are urging countries to declare public health emergencies to eliminate the disease by 2030, according to Asian News Network. The World Health Organisation raised the alarm for 38 "focus" countries, which account for nearly 80% of viral hepatitis infections and deaths worldwide.
