Published May 4, 2021, 6:00 AM
The pandemic has highlighted the greatest economic treasure the Philippines has, its human resources. We continue to have a young, growing and English speaking population that is referred to as our demographic dividend. In contrast, all developed countries as well as some of the emerging markets in Asia like China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are already showing signs of rapidly falling fertility rates and ageing that can dampen their economic growth in the next decade or so. Heavy pressures on pension funds and social security systems, labor shortages, and dwindling domestic markets are already worrying the leaders of even the most populous country in the world, China. Because of unwise population control programs in the past, China is already rapidly ageing before becoming rich. We should be thankful that population control programs that some of our past governments tried to impose were not successful. Our population today of close to
Eight people die in an Indian hospital after medical oxygen runs out
From Manveena Suri and Esha Mitra in New Delhi
Eight people, including one doctor, died at a hospital in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Saturday afternoon after the facility ran out of medical oxygen.
Speaking to CNN, Dr. SCL Gupta, the medical director of Batra Hospital, said staff had been messaging government authorities, warning them the hospital only had four to five hours of oxygen left.
At around 1:30 p.m. local time, with minutes left, they were running on oxygen brought in by the families of patients while emergency reserves were used for ICU patients.
BusinessWorld
May 3, 2021 | 12:02 am
BW FILE PHOTO
THE PESO could weaken anew this week on expectations that the inflation rate is likely faster and amid preference for the dollar due to the brighter prospects of the US economy.
On Friday, the local unit finished at P48.10 per dollar, powering by 21.5 centavos from its P48.315 close on Thursday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.
The peso’s Friday close is its best in more than two months or since Feb. 15 when it ended trading at P47.93.
The local unit also strengthened by 28.1 centavos from its P48.381 close on April 23.
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