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Drug Price Control 51, Pharma efficiency and lower drug prices
I reviewed again two reports (below) featuring LKI and my friend Vic Dimagiba. I think Vic – and many other NGOs – may be confused as consumer advocates. The main “vested interest” of consumers is more...
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China Watch 40, More on US-CN rivalry
My friend and fellow UPSE alumnus Bob Herrera-Lim co-wrote a new paper, The Broad Trends Shaping Asia By Tobias Harris, Bob Herrera-Lim & Gabriel Wildau...
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BWorld 465, Construction contraction and steel issues
* My article in BusinessWorld, December 8, 2020.During the BusinessWorld Economic Forum with the theme “Forecast 2021: Reboot, Rethink, Reshape” which ran on Nov. 25-26, the government’s Build, Build,...
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APTU meeting 2020
Later today, the Asia Pacific Taxpayers Union (APTU) will hold its Meeting 2020 via zoom. APTU is composed of taxpayers' organizations, advocates of low flat tax in the region. APTU holds a biennial...
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Covid 20, CDC PH livestream #2, PNP to arrest partying people
Last night, the Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines (CDC PH) produced its free-flowing discussion about Covid cases, deaths, early treatment, vaccines, herd immunity, economic...
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BWorld 466, Tourism, investment and NAIA modernization
* My column in BusinessWorld, December 15, 2020.At the BusinessWorld Economic Forum 2020 last month, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and other speakers discussed the difficulties of the...
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Drug Price Control 52, Advisory Council vs Affirmation Council
The DOH Advisory Council (AC) was created in early 2009 presided by then DOH USec for Health Regulations Alex Padilla. DOH Secretariat was headed by NCPAM Director Dr. Robert So. Before 2009, I was...
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The corruption in poverty, climate and virus over-spending
Poverty data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that in 2018, only 12.1% of PH households are poor at poverty threshold of P25,813 per person per year."Self-rated poverty" data from...
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BWorld 467, Electricity supply-demand and climate
* My article in BusinessWorld, December 22, 2020.The indefinite, no timetable lockdown policy of the government continues to pummel many businesses, and restrictions in economic activities are...
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Energy 137, Piki Lopez's climate and energy alarmism
My column this week in BusinessWorld, https://www.bworldonline.com/electricity-supply-demand-and-climate/ has partially mentioned and criticized the paper and speech of Mr. Piki Lopez. I will expand...
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BWorld 468, Top 10 economic news of 2020
* My column in BusinessWorld, Dec. 29, 2020.Here is my modest list of the major economic events of the year.1. The deep global contraction of gross domestic product (GDP). In the first three quarters...
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Pol. Ideology 79, Paul Krugman leftism
A friend posted in one of my Viber groups a recent paper in Business Insider, “Nobel laureate Paul Krugman predicts a swift, sustained economic recovery once vaccines are out.”I quickly laughed at...
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Global warming hits Asia, Part 6
Some reports yesterday, Jan. 8:1. Seoul, -18.6 C, lowest since 1986, https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/01/281_302154.html2. Beijing, -19.6 C, lowest since 1969,...
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Migration 25, Border walls, welfare and rule of law
When I went to Houston, Texas in 2017 to attend a conference, some of my Filipino friends there hosted me few days after the event and toured me around the city. They told me that until Obama, some...
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BWorld 469, Top 10 energy stories of 2020
* My article in BusinessWorld, January 5, 2021.Here is my modest list of the top five international and top five national energy stories last year.1. Global lockdowns and drastic cut in oil demand and...
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Covid 21, P140.5 billion vaccine budget
Yesterday, a friend pointed me at this post by the Department of Finance @DOFPH:--------------- https://www.facebook.com/DOFPH/posts/1637031889791421?_rdc=1&_rdrJanuary 11, 2020, 9:05 am LOOK:...
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BWorld 470, 10 big changes in the 2021 budget
* My column in BusinessWorld, January 12, 2021.The new budget law or General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2021 was signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Dec. 28, 2020. Due to space constraints, I will...
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High ICOR and build-build-build
Somehow it is common to see in the Philippines of non-ugly roads being destroyed so that new roads will be built. On the same spot. Any new value added to society? Or just count them as part of big...
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Climate 94, Eat worms and bugs to save the planet
This week, the EU has officially cleared and approved worms for human consumption."Eat the Bugs: EU Approves Mealworms For Human Consumption to Save the Environment", Jan. 13,...
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Covid 22, Deaths from vax, Studies on lockdowns don't work
Some deaths and additional diseases after taking the Covid vax.55 dead in the US after taking Moderna and Pfizer...
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