NIGHT OWL President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s (PBBM) report to the Filipino people through the State of the Nation Address (SONA) indicated that the Philippines is on its way to becoming a trillion-dollar economy. It continues to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The numbers...
NIGHT OWL In 2019, the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law was enacted to improve the delivery of health services to Filipino citizens. Among the fund sources for the implementation of the UHC is the income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro...
NIGHT OWL Digital connectivity is no longer a luxury, but an essential. Learning, employment, livelihood, business, accessing essential services can all now be done online. Many opportunities are now available to those who have access online and equipped with digital skills. The lack of these,...
NIGHT OWL Last June 30 marked the first year in office of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. after being voted by more than 31 million Filipinos. There was no honeymoon phase for the President as he had to immediately roll up his sleeves and get down to work. He had to ensure strong recovery from...
NIGHT OWL Switzerland is already one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world. In the 2022 IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, the country placed fifth among 63 global economies. The country’s aim is not only to be among the best, but to be a leading digital nation. Under the...
NIGHT OWL My interest in Singapore started after I read a Bloomberg article pointing to the country as “The World’s Most Competitive Economy” a few years back. Today, the country also ranks high in digital competitiveness. In the 2022 edition of the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking...
NIGHT OWL On June 19, we observed Filipino Youth Day, coinciding with the birth anniversary of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who was convinced that the youth is the hope of our nation. In his message, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. challenged the Filipino youth to serve the community and be...
NIGHT OWL Last month, I was invited by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) International Women Committee (IWC) to kick-off their Keynote Speaker Series for this year. The IWC is an informal committee at the ADB that promotes internal dialogue within the ADB community and supports ADB’s...
NIGHT OWL Infrastructure development is crucial in the growth strategy of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration. Among the infrastructure projects that are being prioritized are those that would improve physical and digital connectivity, water resources, health, energy, and...
NIGHT OWL Last June 2, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), led by Secretary Ivan John E. Uy, launched the eGov PH Super App to kick-off the National ICT Month. In his speech, the President reiterated the direction he wants for...
NIGHT OWL Sovereign wealth funds (SWF) are state-owned funds or entities that invest in real and financial assets to benefit current and future generations. Several nations have already set up their own SWFs, like Norway, Japan, China, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In the...
NIGHT OWL The proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), which was already approved by both houses of Congress, is set to be the country’s first-ever sovereign investment fund that is expected to generate income for the government and help promote economic development. The fund will help boost the...
