South East Asia’s manufacturing sector continues to deteriorate amid further rapid contractions in both output and new orders despite re-opening of more economies from Covid-19 related lockdowns, with expectations of stabilizing production in the upcoming months. According to Japan’s Nomura Global Markets Research, Asean manufacturing experienced higher activity in May but the pace of recovery is more gradual than China’s …

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) will let the parents decide and respect those who are against enrolling their children for the upcoming school year amid the threats of the Covid-19 pandemic. Education Secretary Leonor Briones said yesterday the next school year would be voluntary due to the concerns of the coronavirus disease and they would just give the …

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has certainly hit the Asean banks and induced a recession that is now currently affecting majority of the countries in the region. According to Fitch Ratings, They will be downgrading the Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of around 20% of ASEAN banks portfolio beginning March. ASEAN banks portfolio ratings in this period are at around …

HANOI – Top diplomats from Vietnam and Russia pledged here on Friday, May 29 to strengthen ties and bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone conversation and discussed the deepened comprehensive strategic partnership by agreeing to continue coordinating the external activities of their …

MANILA – The World Bank has approved a $500 million (P22 billion) loan to help the Philippines ease the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The World Bank said on Friday, that the fund approved will help the poor and vurnerable household and will support small and medium enterprises by providing financial assistance. The Philippines Emergency Covid-19 Response Development Policy Loan …

JAKARTA – China announced on Friday that it is ready to extend assistance to their Southeast Asian neighbors amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. According to Chinese ambassador to Asean Deng Xijun, President Xi Jinping is committed to extending the international aid on nations affected by the pandemic, including the South east Asian region. Deng has indicated that Asean can benifit …

The coronavirus had seemingly been confined to China in December 2019. A few weeks later, however, the virus which causes the disease known as COVID-19 has become a global pandemic. The infection, which develops in a respiratory illness that can be spread from droplets of body fluids-such as mucus and saliva-has now been identified in at least 188 countries and …

METRO MANILA – The modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila will ease into a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) from June 1 to June 15, President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Thursday. In a televised address last night, President Duterte said that the National Capital Region (NCR), Davao City, Regions 2, 3 and 4A, Pangasinan, and Albay would …

MANILA – Vietnam’s PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has assured President Rodrigo Duterte of a long-term supply of rice to the Philippines amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Vietnam is Philippine’s biggest source of imports for rice. Vietnam Industry and Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh assured the country that Vietnam will be providing 400,000 metric tons of rice at a “competitive price”. According …

Asean region and it’s member needs to step up and further enhance the connectivity and trade and investments to survive the Covid-19 pandemic crisis and prevents future one have the similar faith. Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia (ERIA) said that improving these important policies can increase the attractiveness of the region’s potential as a investment destination. “Therefore, …