Philippine GDP growth in the first quarter of the year exceeded expectations as the economy reopens and gains momentum with a new administration to be sworn in by July. Despite this, volatility in the domestic and global markets remains high with growing inflation, increasing interest rates and the ongoing war in Ukraine dampening investors’ sentiments.

What is the outlook for the investment markets in 2022? Which asset classes are expected to perform well in the current environment? How do the markets normally behave in a National Election year? Listen in to our informative chat with ATR Asset Management’s (ATRAM) Chief Investment Officer, Phillip Hagedorn, to learn about the right investment strategy during these challenging times, the asset classes to invest in right now and the movement of the markets in previous elections.

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As we approach the final stretch of the campaign period and prepare to head to the polling stations on May 9 for the Philippine National Elections , it's time to take one final look at the Presidential Candidates and their plans to shape the direction of the country for the next six years.  With a discerning eye of an economist, perhaps we can properly assess which Presidential Candidates are in a good position to navigate the country's challenges while maintaining its current growth trajectory.   

What are the platforms of the Top Presidential Candidates? What should we look for in a Presidential Platform? What makes a Presidential Platform good? Listen in to our engaging chat with Michael Ricafort, Chief Economist from the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation.

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The new season of The Speak Easy Project launches April 28 with three new episodes covering the business news that matter to you today.  Listen to fascinating conversations about the economy, investments and platforms related to the Philippine National Elections.

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Podcast Logo: Berlyn Tinonas

The Philippine Economy is projected to finish strong by the end of 2022 as it emerges from the COVID-19 epidemic with lower virus cases and lesser travel and mobility restrictions.  With an additional boost from the National Elections, talks of growth returning to pre-pandemic levels seem to be achievable. However, rising inflation, tightening interest rates, and emerging COVID-variants portend to dark clouds in the horizon. 

Where is the economy headed for the rest of the year? Do current growth forecasts need to be revised? How does the economy behave in a National Election year? Learn about the prospects for the Philippine Economy, the initiatives by the Government to boost growth and the right frame of mind to have for the rest of the year from our special guest, Dr. Alvin Ang from the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.   

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Voice Over: Nina Torralba

Episode Logo: Berlyn Tinonas

With a growing number of listeners and content creators, podcasts are starting to get serious attention from the business sector.   What can companies do to take advantage of this technology ?  How could businesses connect with its target listeners ?   What does the future look like for podcasts in the country?  

Listen in to part 2 of my conversation with PumaPodcast Network CEO, Carl Javier, to talk about the profile of the podcast audience, the methods businessmen and entrepreneurs could harness this medium and the outlook for the industry in the coming years. 

Local podcasts have been around for a decade but only gained a mainstream audience in the last few years.  With traditional media, digital platforms and more content creators getting into this space, the industry is expected to reach even greater heights . What are the reasons for the recent gain in popularity of podcasts? Does the industry have more room to grow? How can podcasts even compete with our other digital distractions?

Listen in to part 1 of my conversation with PumaPodcast Network CEO, Carl Javier, to learn more about the podcast landscape, current growth trends and the advantages of the digital medium.

By 2030, the Philippines aims to achieve universal access to clean water and sanitation for all its citizens as part of its commitment to Sustainable Goal # 6 of the United Nations. Without reforms to the water sector, achieving this goal by end of the decade will be a challenge as the country's water resources are increasingly under stress due to population growth, rapid urbanization, natural disasters and climate change. At this time, there are more than 30 national agencies that play some role in water resources, water supply and sanitation but there is no single department or body with overall responsibility over policy and coordination.  

What are the reforms needed in the water sector today? How does the latest water bill in Congress address the sector's challenges? What are the implications to us if the proposed bill does not prosper?

Listen in to my illuminating chat with the CEO of FutureWater Asia, Ramon "Dondi" Alikpala to learn about the current challenges in the water sector, the features of the recently proposed water bill and its benefits to us.  

Smart cities use data and technology to enable us to make better decisions and improve our overall quality of life.  By leveraging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart cities aim to solve common urban problems and achieve a higher standard of living in terms of the environment, health, safety, time,  etc. How do smart cities work? What are the advantages of living in a smart city?   What are the things that need to be considered by a city to transform itself into  a smart city? 

Listen in to my informative chat with Founder and CEO of ThingsPH, Ardee Yanto, to learn about the benefits of living in a smart city,  the type of applications already being used today and the critical factors to becoming a successful smart city.  

5G is the next generation in wireless network technology that's expected to change how we live and work.  It promises to deliver faster speeds, higher bandwidth and stable internet connections that would have a profound impact in retail, manufacturing, entertainment, healthcare and multiple other sectors.  The top telecom companies in the country are spending billions of pesos in the coming years to build the infrastructure around this transformative technology to meet the ever growing demands of our digital society. How does the technology work? What are the type of applications that can be used with 5G?  When will this be available in my town or city?  

Listen in to my fascinating chat with Managing Director and Founder of Future Gen International Pte Ltd and co-founder of Project BASS,  Wilson Chua, to share the uses of 5G technology, the benefits to consumers and businesses and the way you can check if you have 5G in your area.

In the next decade, there could potentially be two international airports servicing Metro Manila at any given time.   What are the implications of this to us?  Do we still need an international airport within the megacity? How will  our travel habits change in the coming years? 

Listen in to part 2 of my conversation with infrastructure specialist, Jerome Cachau, to learn  about  potential repercussions of a dual international airport solution, examples of multiple airport configurations around the globe and recent developments in the international aviation sector.