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Monday, January 27, 2025 Vol. 20 No. 107
EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS
BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR
(2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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OUTSTANDING T-BONDS AT END-DEC HIT P10.18T Mid income
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
T
@reine_alberto
but trailing: PHL status explained
HE outstanding Treasury bonds (T-bonds) issued by the national government reached P10.176 trillion as of the end of December 2024, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
The amount was higher by 7.26 percent or P689 billion than the P9.487 trillion recorded in December 2023. Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs) accounted for the bulk of the outstanding T-bonds, with P3.130 trillion still outstanding, at maturities ranging from 2025 to 2037 and carrying coupon rates from 2.6250 percent to 6.1250 percent. The next biggest chunk of outstanding T-bonds are the 10-year securities, with P2.133 trillion in outstanding T-bonds maturing from 2027 to 2034. Following the 10-year T-bonds are the 7-year debt papers with P1.550 trillion in outstanding T-bonds at maturities from 2025 to 2031. Outstanding 5-year T-bonds amounted to P312.188 billion, while outstanding 3-year T-bonds amounted to P181.283 billion. The 3.5-year T-bonds also have P45 See “T-bonds,” A2
By Cai U. Ordinario
L
SLITHERING INTO THE FESTIVITIES: BINONDO GEARS UP FOR THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE Ornaments, lucky charms, and vibrant Chinese New Year attractions fill the
sights of Binondo Mall in Manila, days before the grand celebration of the Year of the Snake. NONIE REYES/BM
@caiordinario
OW labor productivity and educational development as well as weak rule of law continue to stall the country’s efforts to escape the Middle Income Trap, according to Nomura. Based on Nomura’s Middle Income Trap Escape Index (MITEI), the Philippines is considered a middle income country that is classified as in a “tight spot”—or those countries who were considered performing below average in 1990 and continued to trail their peers. The MITEI, which is a scoreboard created through the 3i pillars such as investment, infusion, and innovation, was used to determine whether middleincome countries are nearer to escaping the middle-income trap. “There is certainly no ‘one size fits all’ strategy, but these countries still need to implement various reforms to promote infusion and innovation as income levels increase. The continued improvement in both aspects has been promising over the past two decades,” Nomura said. “However, a continuation of past success is not a guarantee amid the more See “Income,” A2
MAJORITY OF PHL WORKERS Mainland Chinese prefer
SUFFER STRESS 2X A WEEK Japan, SEA for New Year By Justine Xyrah Garcia
A
WORKING paper by the Department of Labor and Employment’s Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) revealed that 72 percent of Filipino workers across public and private sectors experience stress at least twice a week. Titled Mental Health at Work: Determinants of a Safe and Healthy Workplace, the study surveyed 295 employees, including regular, agency-hired, project-based, casual, and fixed-term workers. Of these, 213 respondents reported frequent work-related stress. ILS identified several factors that trigger workers’ recurring stress, including heavier
workload than usual, financial difficulties, conflict with co-worker, tight deadlines and excessive work hours. “These observations may have stemmed from situations or circumstances in which employees have little to no control over the demands of their jobs or the resources provided by the management do not adequately compensate for the work that they must undertake in relation to the context or content of their jobs,” ILS noted in its study made public last month. Workplace discrimination, harassment, and violence also contribute to heightened stress levels. At least 20 respondents reported experiSee “Workers,” A2
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
S
OUTHEAST Asian countries with visawaiver policies cornered the bulk of outbound Chinese travelers for the long Lunar New Year holiday, which will start on January 28. “Southeast Asian countries are proving popular,” said Nancy Dai, Market Analyst (China) at ForwardKeys, adding that “Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam [are] standout performers, with growths of 41 percent, 26 percent, and 8 percent respectively—compared to their performance in 2019. Relaxed visa policies in these countries have undoubtedly contributed to their appeal.” While Thailand and Indonesia also showed
year-on-year growth, “they remain slightly behind 2019 figures,” she noted. Similar to 2024, there was no significant number of bookings by Chinese travelers going to the Philippines during the Lunar New Year. Last year, the Philippines attracted only 312,222 tourists from China, some 82 percent less than the 1.7 million who arrived in prepandemic 2019. Malacañang had ordered the suspension of the electronic-visa platform of the Department of Foreign Affairs, as tensions between Beijing and Manila grew hotter due to disputes over the West Philippines Sea. There were also numerous local arrests of Chinese criminals disguised as Filipinos, or those involved in kidnapping of Chinese employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming See “Mainland,” A2
INTO THE HEART OF ILONGGO CULTURE: DINAGYANG 2025 AT SM CITY ILOILO Immerse yourself in the vibrant spirit of Iloilo as SM City Iloilo transforms into the hub of Dinagyang 2025. From awe-inspiring tribal costumes to delectable Ilonggo cuisine and exciting events, experience the best of Ilonggo artistry, resilience, and unity all in one place. Join the celebration and make your visit truly #AweSMIloilo2025! SM SUPERMALLS
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 58.6410 n JAPAN 0.3758 n UK 72.4392 n HK 7.5285 n CHINA 8.0500 n SINGAPORE 43.2679 n AUSTRALIA 36.8559 n EU 61.0863 n KOREA 0.0409 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.6343 Source: BSP (January 24, 2025)