November 14, 2021

Energy insecurity

Published by
Philippine Star

May you live in interesting times is supposedly an ancient Chinese curse. But for us, after two years of the pandemic and five and a half years of Duterte, we will welcome boring times. But expect interesting times not just because of the elections, but because the failure in energy planning and execution will bring us brownouts. Expect power failures by summer, yes, just as we will be holding our elections. Or maybe that’s the idea. The ADR Institute had a very informative webinar last week on the problems we face in the power sector. Thanks to Professor Dindo Manhit, I was able to monitor it… Continue reading “Energy insecurity”

November 14, 2021

Philips provides update on earlier announced voluntary CPAP, BiPAP and Mechanical Ventilator recall notification*

November 14, 2021

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – On June 14, 2021, Royal Philips’ (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) subsidiary, Philips Respironics, initiated a voluntary recall notification* for certain sleep and respiratory care products to address identified potential health risks related to the polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound abatement foam in these devices. Following the substantial ramp-up of its production, service, and repair capacity, the repair and replacement program in the US and several other markets is under way.

As expected, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently conducted an inspection of a Philips Respironics manufacturing facility in connection with the recall. On November 12, 2021, the FDA published a list of the observations it provided to Philips Respironics. In accordance with normal practice, Philips Respironics will submit its response to the inspectional findings for review by the FDA. Importantly, an FDA investigator’s list of inspection observations does not constitute a final FDA determination of whether any condition is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or any of its implementing regulations. Additionally, the FDA has not changed its recommendation to patients and healthcare providers in relation to affected devices.

“In connection with the voluntary recall notification in June of this year, the FDA has recently conducted an inspection of a Philips Respironics manufacturing facility in the US,” said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips. “We will work closely with the FDA to clarify and follow up on the inspectional findings and its recent requests related to comprehensive testing. Until we have concluded these discussions, we are not able to publicly provide further details on these responses. We remain fully committed to supporting the community of patients who rely on the affected devices, and the physicians and customers who are dedicated to meeting patient needs.”

Since June 2021, Philips Respironics and certified testing laboratories have been conducting a comprehensive test and research program on the PE-PUR foam to better assess and scope potential patient health risks, with support from appropriately qualified third-party experts. Philips Respironics plans to make more data available to the relevant competent authorities as soon as possible after completing the assessment of the above mentioned research and tests, which is anticipated to take place in the fourth quarter.

Separately, Philips Respironics has conducted testing to support the new silicone replacement foam. Silicone foam testing provided by Philips Respironics to the FDA on devices authorized for marketing in the US had demonstrated acceptable results. Philips Respironics continues to coordinate with the FDA and other competent authorities on its testing.

An FAQ is available here.

* Voluntary recall notification in the US/field safety notice outside the US

For further information, please contact:

Steve Klink
Philips Global Press Office
Tel.: +31 6 10888824
E-mail: steve.klink@philips.com

Derya Guzel
Philips Investor Relations
Tel.: +31 20 59 77055
E-mail: derya.guzel@philips.com

About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2020 sales of EUR 17.3 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Forward-looking statements
This statement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about the strategy, estimates of sales growth, future EBITA, future developments in Philips’ organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

November 14, 2021

Glasgow climate vows fall flat

Published by
The Bangkok Post

An eventful 12 days of COP26 in Glasgow, that was supposed to end on Friday, headed into overtime yesterday to give delegates more time to reach a final agreement after lofty vows to reverse deforestation and cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. But if one was to sum up the theme of this year’s meeting, it’d be: “Who should pay to prevent climate catastrophe?” One thing everyone could agree on was that not enough is being done to prevent the planet from heating beyond 1.5º Celsius by 2100, a target set by the UN. Time and time again, pledges have been made but few have led to specific policie… Continue reading “Glasgow climate vows fall flat”

November 14, 2021

Indonesia offers infrastructure investment opportunies at Dubai Expo

Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing offered infrastructure investment opportunities during a business forum at Expo 2020 Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the ministry said in a press statement here on Sunday.

“Currently there are 24 projects both solicited and unsolicited worth US$19 billion, including 10 Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects worth US$9.2 billion ready to be offered. These projects comprise 9 road projects and 1 dam project, ” Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said in Dubai.

During the business forum, Minister Hadimuljono said entrepreneurs can use two platforms to invest in the infrastructure sector.

The first platform is a Foreign-Owned Limited Liability Company and the second is a Foreign Construction Services Business Entity.

Indonesia needs a budget of US$430 billion, but of the total, only 30 percent can be covered by the State Budget.

For the other 70 percent, the government issued a number of policies such as on creative financing scheme, including tax incentives for new investment, in order to attract investors and remain competitive.

The government also issued Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation, which aims to open up greater opportunities for entrepreneurs to invest in infrastructure in Indonesia.

The Indonesian Pavilion during the seventh week of Expo 2020 Dubai broadcast digital content containing the support of the Ministry of PUPR for the Five Super Priority Tourism Destinations, development of eastern Indonesia, increasing accessibility between regions and developing special areas.

The Five Super Priority Tourism Destinations are part of the government’s program to promote ten new Balis. The tourist destinations are Lake Toba, Borobudur Temple, Lombok-Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang.

The five super priority tourist destinations are expected to not only attract tourists, but also foster a creative economic ecosystem that involves local residents.

The Ministry of PUPR’s support for the Five Super Priority Tourism Destinations is in the form of infrastructure development at each location, which is planned in an integrated manner.

It also held a virtual exhibition entitled “Infrastructure for A Better Tomorrow” from November 12 to 30 at the Dubai expo.

Source: Antara News

November 14, 2021

Police send forensic team to investigate fire at Pertamina’s refinery

The Indonesian Police have deployed a forensic laboratory team to investigate the fire that broke out at a fuel storage tank at Pertamina’s refinery complex in Cilacap, Central Java.

“The Indonesian Police Headquarter has sent a team of Inafis (Automatic Finger Print Identification System) and Puslabfor (forensic laboratory center) to the location,” a spokesman of the Indonesian Police Senior Commissioner Ahmad Ramadhan told the press at the Police’ Mobile Brigade headquarters in Depok, West Java on Sunday.

Ramadhan said, the police questioned five witnesses in the incident that include one official of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and four witnesses at the scene.

The police also questioned officers at the refinery’s Tank 36 T-102, collect CCTV data and other documents.

“We have secured the location and sterilized the main access,” he added.

The police would conduct investigation at the scene as soon as the location is confirmed safe.

A tank of Pertamina’s refinery in Cilacap containing Pertalite components was caught on fire on Saturday (Nov 13) at 7:10 p.m. local time during heavy rain and lightning.

As many as 80 residents near the refinery were evacuated to Baitul Munir Mosque and Lomanis Village Office. No civilian casualties were reported.

The fire was successfully extinguished on Sunday morning at 7:45 a.m. local times by firefighters in the field.

President Director of PT Pertamina Nicke Widyawati ensured that the fire incident at the Cilacap refinery did not affect the fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution.

Source: Antara News

November 14, 2021

ILO encourages worker protection through COVID-19 risk service

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has encouraged worker protection and business resilience through a COVID-19 risk assessment service for the workplace as a safety net for labor and business and investment in occupational safety, health systems.

“We still need to monitor the spread of the COVID-19 locally so that it can protect workers/laborers in their respective workplaces, and increase business resilience,” ILO’s manpower specialist, Kazutoshi Chatani, said in a statement received here on Sunday.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left a significant impact on the labor market and the business world, he said.

The ILO highlights the toughness of regulations governing the implementation of occupational safety and health (K3) system Chatani remarked.

“The ILO estimates that the number of workers and their families affected by the pandemic will remain high until the first half of 2022. In order to provide livelihoods for workers, especially those who are vulnerable, steps are needed to save and re-create jobs,” he said.

He stated that a COVID-19 risk assessment service helps companies and business actors in Indonesia to identify the risk of virus transmission in the workplace.

By participating in the service, he noted, companies and business people will get recommendations and technical assistance to make an action plan with doctors to mitigate risks in their workplace.

The COVID-19 risk assessment service was compiled by the ILO, the Indonesian Medical Association for Occupational Health (IDKI), and the Ministry of Manpower.

When companies want to register the COVID-19 risk assessment service, Chatani noted, the companies need to fill out a self-assessment form about their workplace and a worker/labor survey.

The service can be accessed online through the website www.ilocovidproject.id

National Project Officer of ILO Mega Savitri Aniandari said that the service was free of charge to 1,500 workplaces in Indonesia.

Each company can register a maximum of 5 workplaces. The service is not only for large companies but also small and medium businesses with a minimum number of 10 employees, Aniandari said.

As of November 9, she said, there were 57 companies that have registered their workplaces with 949 workers/laborers filling out the survey. Most survey respondents work in factories, then in services and offices.

The distribution of the survey is mostly in East Kalimantan. Companies in the province actively access services from the ILO.

“We are still waiting for many companies to register. Don not hesitate to register because this service is easy to access,” Aniandari stated.

Source: Antara News

November 14, 2021

Over 84 million Indonesians receive full vaccination: Health Ministry

A total of 84,161,759 Indonesians have received a full dose of COVID-19 vaccination as of Sunday, according to data from the Ministry of Health.

This number has increased by 742,673 compared to the previous day. Meanwhile, the number of people who had received the first dose of vaccination rose by 573,155 to reach 130,283,345..

The data also showed 1,189,235 health workers had received third or booster vaccine doses. Overall, the government is seeking to vaccinate 208,265,720 people against COVID-19.

Previously, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology expressed support for the government’s plan to vaccinate children aged 6-11 at school with the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We always support the government’s efforts to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, one of which is through the vaccination program and the expansion of vaccination coverage,” Acting Bureau of Cooperation and Public Relations of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Anang Ristanto said.

Ristanto added that the vaccination for teachers and students aged 12-18 years which has been carried out previously has become one of the considerations to conduct face-to-face learning (PTM) which has begun on a limited basis.

Vaccination for teachers and students raises hope to welcome a new habit, namely limited face-to-face class held under strict health protocols.

“Evaluation of learning policies continues to be carried out by the government during the pandemic, including distance learning (PJJ). But somehow PJJ cannot be equated with PTM,” he conveyed.

If the government was to extend PJJ, the students would potentially experience learning loss or a decrease in learning achievement. PJJ was considered to be less effective, due to the limited family economy and internet network for some students.

“In addition, PJJ in the long term can have several negative impacts on social and psychological development for children, parents, and teachers. This learning method during the pandemic has an impact on several aspects, including the mentality of children and parents,” he concluded.

Source: Antara News

November 14, 2021

Tourism Ministry to make West Java’s vaccine car pilot project

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has initiated to make the COVID-19 Vaccine Car program in West Java a pilot project.

This program is aimed to build herd immunity and to recover the economy that has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are grateful that the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has provided us with this chance. I think this is a good move that we should pursue,” Head of the West Java Tourism and Culture Service Dedi Taufik said in a press release, Sunday.

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has deployed two cars symbolically inaugurated at the West Java Governor’s Office on November 13, to serve the local community.

One car will serve people living in Garut District, Tasikmalaya District, Tasikmalaya City, and Majalengka District.

Another car will serve people in Bandung District, Subang District, Indramayu District, Cirebon District, and Kuningan District.

“We will provide vaccination services to areas with low coverage in vaccination. The vaccine cars might also go to traditional villages in West Java,” Taufik added.

The Vaccine Cars are targeting people involved in the tourism industry and creative economy sectors.

To support the program, the ministry collaborates with related parties such as the West Java Provincial Health Service, West Java Provincial Tourism and Culture Service, West Java Provincial Village Community Empowerment Service, as well as regional officials in districts/cities.

In addition to the vaccine cars, there will be two more vehicles deployed to provide entertainment and attract public interest to come to vaccination locations.

“We hope that this program will be an initiative for all local governments. We will always continue to help. Together we develop West Java,” Expert Staff for Crisis Management at the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, Henky Manurung noted.

According to the schedule, the vaccine cars will start to travel on November 13 to 23 and continue the journey to Central Java before returning to West Java for the second route.

Source: Antara News