Day: April 7, 2024

Hanoi: Vietnam is facing a significant shortage of human resources, both in quantity and quality, for occupations related to the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. As the nation is promoting the National Digital Transformation Programme to 2025, Vietnam aims to develop digital government, economy and society, the need to fill this gap has become more urgent than ever.

In 2000, Vietnam had only about 50,000 people working in the ICT sector who contributed about 0.5% to the country’s GDP. After more than 20 years, this workforce exceeded more than 1 million people and made up to 14.3% of its GDP.

It is forecast that by 2030, the country needs 2.5 million personnel to serve digital transformation, so promoting ICT human resources training is very urgent.

According to a report from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), Vietnam has about 1.5 million workers in the ICT field. The country currently has 168 universities and 520 vocational schools providing ICT training, with ove
r 84,000 graduates annually, including about 50,000 at the university level and 34,000 at the college and intermediate levels.

However, a survey by TopDev, a reputable recruitment organisation, showed that only about 30% of graduates meet the skills and expertise of employers. Thus, they need retraining or changing careers, causing a waste of social resources.

Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, Deputy Director of the Information and Communications Technology Industry under the MIC said that in the world, ICT is one of the three industries with the fastest reduction in personnel over the past five years, at 23%. About 380,000 workers have lost their jobs since 2022, accounting for 1.9% of global personnel.

According to Layoffs.fyi, a site specialising in tracking layoffs in the technology industry, the number of technology workers laid off in 2023 was higher than the combined figure in 2020 and 2021. Amazon made the largest number of layoffs in the past 12 months with more than 27,000. It was followed by Meta, Google and
Microsoft with 21,000, 12,000 and 11,000, respectively.

Vietnam is not an exception. Information technology has become one of the three industries with the fastest workforce reduction in the past three years. In particular, businesses in Ho Chi Minh City had a staff reduction rate of more than 22%; while 14.7% of businesses in Hanoi reduced salaries and bonuses.

According to Nguyen Thi Thu Giang from Navigos Group, companies have set more stringent recruitment requirements, leading to pressure on information technology personnel to find new jobs. Many employees lack soft skills and foreign languages, she said, adding that it is the inflexibility makes employees see more challenges than opportunities in new jobs.

Although the wave of layoffs in the IT industry has not stopped, some job positions will still have an increasing demand such as artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing engineer.

Director of the MISA Institute of Training and Technology Nguyen Thanh Tung said that in the current context,
students who have skills and knowledge about AI and know how to use AI tools will certainly be able to be recruited and developed better than others.

Vietnam faces a major turning point in the roadmap for developing IT human resources to meet market demand. Therefore, improving training quality is always a top priority for education institutions.

It is expected that there will be five universities piloting the digital higher education model this year. Professional and soft skills training programmes will also target international standards, international certificates, digital platform applications, and online practice, while the training duration is shortened from 4.5 to 3.5 years.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung said that to support universities, the ministry will issue an annual report on demand for IT and digital technology human resources and send it to schools. In addition, the MIC will create demand for digital human resources by promoting digital transformation and develo
ping the semiconductor industry, as well as supporting and promoting digital technology businesses to go abroad to conquer the global market, turning Vietnam into a global digital transformation hub./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: National University bucked an erratic start to bag its third straight women’s title while University of Santo Tomas retained the men’s crown in the UAAP Season 86 tennis tournament at Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila on Sunday.

NU claimed the 3-2 victory after Elise Abarquez defeated UST’s Justine Maneja, 6-3, 6-0, in the third singles match.

“That loss in the first tie, I think we needed that para mapa-realize sa amin na kahit na-sweep namin ‘yung eliminations, pwede pa rin kaming matalo. And na-overcome namin ‘yun (That loss in the first tie, I think we needed that to make us realize that even though we swept the eliminations, we can still lose. And we overcame that) as a team,” team captain Allyssa Mae Bornia said.

UST looked headed for an upset after Alexei Santos trounced JM Carcueva, 6-3, 6-2, in the opening singles, and Rookie of the Year Kaye Emana beat Angela Cabaral, 6-4, 6-2, to move a match away from the title.

Bornia then teamed up with
Alliah Ragunton to beat Miles Vitaliano and Debbie Gom-os, 6-2, 6-4; and Danna Abad and Rovie Baulete scored a 6-0, 6-4 win over Minette Bentillo and Nicole Dela Rita as NU levelled at 2-all.

Bornia and Ragunton were named co-Most Valuable Players.

“Thankful kami sa mga senior na nag-step up talaga sila to lead the team. Mahihirapan kami kasi after this season. Tatlo silang mawawala (We are thankful to the seniors who really stepped up to lead the team. It will be difficult for us because after this season three of them will be gone). But we will regroup, we will recruit, and let’s see what will happen next year,” Lady Bulldogs coach Ronald Joven said.

UST captured the men’s title over Ateneo de Manila University, 3-1.

Noy Seno demolished Christopher Sonsona, 6-1, 6-0, to put Ateneo ahead before UST swept the next three matches of the best-of-five tie.

Steven Sonsona and Nilo Ledama clobbered Nio Tria and Axl Gonzaga, 6-2, 6-1; Ericjay Tangub downed Austin delos Santos, 6-1, 6-4; and Richard Bautista-Nas
h Agustines dominated JJ Llavore-Stef Gurria, 6-4, 6-2.

“Pressured din kami kasi syempre ine-expect ng mga tao na ma-defend namin ‘yung title. Pero maganda ‘yung preparation namin, mahaba ‘yung preparation namin (We were also under pressure because, of course people, expected us to defend the title. But our preparation was good, our preparation was long),” assistant coach and many-time national player Johnny Arcilla said.

Arcilla said coach Balong Diego will scout new players in the Cebu Palarong Pambansa in July.

Ateneo mentor Gee Abacan, who started coaching the Blue Eagles eight years ago with former national player Patrick John Tierro, was gracious in defeat.

“Hats off to UST. They are the best team in the UAAP,” Abacan said. “I’m proud of each member of my team as they gave it all the entire school year and not just this UAAP season.”

Source: Philippines News Agency

ILOILO CITY: This city needs more reliable sources of power to meet the increasing power demand that would support the local economic growth, Mayor Jerry Treñas said.

During a recent courtesy visit of Manila-based reporters, Treñas urged power generation companies to look into investing in baseload plants in Panay Island, which he said is essential to meet the city’s fast-growing economy.

‘There’s a need for additional baseload power for the city and Panay. Because Iloilo is growing by 9.6 percent for its GDP (gross domestic product), so that will mean economic activities and the need for additional baseload,’ he told reporters.

The city power supply demand is around 6 to 7 percent annually.

He said they do not want a repeat of what happened in January when Western Visayas was hit by a region-wide blackout after two major plants on the island tripped.

Iloilo City reported PHP500 million in losses a day during the outages.

However, Treñas noted that despite the current power issues in Panay Island, Iloil
o City continues to attract investments, especially in the sectors of business process management, and tourism, as well as meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.

‘While investors are scared, they are still coming in. So, assuming that they will no longer be scared, I think there will be more,’ he said.

Treñas said the attraction could also be attributed to the local government’s decision not to increase its property tax.

Iloilo City has not increased its property tax for the past 18 years.

‘I think once we get some investments in the baseload power plants, the investments coming into Iloilo will further accelerate,’ he added.

The city mayor has assured power investors that the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is on top of the power situation.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Despite dropping a set for the first time in four matches, University of Santo Tomas (UST) went on to beat Gracel Christian College, 19-25, 25-17, 25-13, to remain unbeaten in the girls’ division of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) U-18 Championship at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Sunday.

The Junior Tigresses won their first three games in straight sets — 25-16, 25-23 against Montessori School; 25-8, 25-9 over Limitless Sports Center; and 25-16, 25-20 versus De La Salle-Zobel (DLSZ).

DLSZ, meanwhile, finally barged into the win column at the expense of Limitless, 25-22, 25-15.

In Pool B, Colegio de Los Baños ended a two-game losing skid after posting a 19-25, 25-13, 25-12 victory over Parañaque.

In the boys’ division, De La Salle-Lipa outplayed Batangas Christian School, 25-22, 25-17, for its third straight win.

Other matches saw Angatleta Sports of Orion, Bataan beating Golden Whiskers Club, 25-16 25-19; and Umingan National High School winning over VNS Volleyball Cl
ub, 25-20, 24-26, 25-19.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar has promised the Department’s firmer support to local government units (LGUs) and bolster coordination with other national government agencies (NGAs).

Acuzar made this remark as he expressed enthusiasm in the signing of the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) on Public Financial Management with LGUs and NGAs on April 3.

‘This [signing] marks a significant step forward in our collective effort to empower LGUs and achieve stronger public financial management,’ Acuzar said in a news release on Sunday.

He said JMC ‘ushers in several significant changes to our existing policy guidelines.’

“This is another solid proof of the administration’s pursuit to Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance,” he added.

He guaranteed the DHSUD’s commitment to ‘foster the improved coordination among oversight agencies, strengthen LGU support to equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge for local land use and development plannin
g.’

Acuzar also pledged to ‘ensure an efficient process for reviewing and approving plans while facilitating their alignment with regional and national priorities.’

The formulation of the JMC was spearheaded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) headed by Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr.

The JMC was primarily designed to enable better coordination among national government agencies led by the DILG, DHSUD, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Finance’s Bureau of Local Government Finance (DOF-BLGF) in their provision of technical assistance to LGUs, specifically on public financial management.

It was likewise implemented to ensure that the agencies’ tools on policy development, manuals, guidelines, issuances, awards, and advice and guidance complement each other.

Under the JMC, the DHSUD is tasked to provide technical assistance, as well as formulate and prescribe standards, regulations and guidelines for the
Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment, Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan of LGUs.

The DHSUD is also mandated to ensure the LGUs’ compliance with the formulation or updating procedures of land use or physical framework plans, up to the implementation process through review or ratification, monitoring and imposition of penalties.

‘We at the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development recognize the importance of effective resource utilization as it is the cornerstone of building resilient and sustainable communities,’ Acuzar said.

‘The DHSUD stands ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure its successful implementation. I believe that through our collective commitment and action, we can build a brighter future for Better, Greener, Smarter Human Settlements, and Urban Systems in a More Inclusive Philippines,’ he added.

The JMC covers the areas of local development planning, land use planning, investment programming, resource mobi
lization, budgeting, expenditure management, and performance monitoring and coordination in fiscal oversight of the DILG, DHSUD, NEDA, DBM and DOF-BLGF over provinces, cities, municipalities and villages.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ISTANBUL: Rising temperatures associated with climate change are leading to more diseases transmitted by animals and longer periods of seasonal illnesses such as flu, according to experts.

Dr. Emine Didem Evci Kiraz of Adnan Menderes University Medical School in Aydin, Trkiye said rising temperatures could lead to significant increases in the effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun, changes in food and water quality-related diseases, infectious disease agents and their transmissions, animal-derived diseases, and mental health issues.

She also highlighted the potential emergence of new diseases, underscoring the vulnerability of our health to climate change.

Kiraz said the average body temperature for a human ranges from 36.1 degrees Celsius (96.7F) to 37.8 degrees Celsius (100F), with mechanisms such as sweating and heat transfer in place to maintain it.

Increased temperatures stress the heart and blood vessels, cause fluid loss in tissues and cells, and affect kidney function, she said.

Stressing
the potential development of metabolic syndromes and disruptions in organ balance under stress, Kiraz warned of emergencies such as drops in blood pressure and sudden fainting due to heat.

Prolonged heat and water loss can render a person immobile and lead to death, she added, while sudden heat waves can also cause mental health issues, violence, and unsafe behavior.

Kiraz highlighted that temperatures around 37 degrees Celsius provide a conducive environment for rapid bacterial growth, making the body more vulnerable to unhygienic conditions and increasing the risk of food and waterborne diseases.

Climate change-induced events like floods and power outages can exacerbate water and foodborne illnesses and increase food poisoning cases.

On animals transmitting new diseases and infections due to climate change, Kiraz mentioned the rise in diseases such as arboviruses, dengue fever, Chikungunya fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

Kiraz stressed the need not to overlook the impact of climate change o
n diseases like allergies and asthma, citing events such as air pollution, floods, wildfires, and dust storms that can alter pollen structure and increase disease-causing factors, leading to higher frequencies of conditions like asthma, rhinosinusitis, COPD, and respiratory infections due to extended pollen seasons.

Source: Philippines News Agency