All Eyes on Manila
Issue 17 — Key Developments Across the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam
Editor’s Note
by Karen Ysabelle R. David, Lead Editor - Pacific Corridor Desk
In 2026, the Philippines is set to host the ASEAN Summit—but how will Manila fare? Will it rise to the occasion, smoothing over current domestic political squabbling and corruption scandals? Will it emerge as a true leader to the rest of ASEAN, strengthening the bloc and reinvigorating its goals? Or will Manila fail on both counts?
Elsewhere in the Pacific Corridor, Singapore continues to wrestle with the issue of workplace fatalities, despite a workplace safety framework that sets the standard for the rest of the region. Clearly, there is still room for improvement, and Singapore has proven itself willing to adapt and innovate.
And in Vietnam, the growing population of expatriates has become cause for concern. Even with their much lauded contribution to the country’s economy, tensions with locals have arisen due to the perceived privileges of expatriates: Vietnamese culture and traditions fall by the wayside when met with Western spending power.
The Philippines 🇵🇭
ASEAN 2026: A Crucible for Reform?
by Eduardo G. Fajermo Jr., in Angeles City
The Philippines is set to chair and host the 2026 ASEAN Summit, stepping into a leadership role during a politically turbulent time at home. Originally scheduled for Myanmar, the hosting was reassigned to Manila after Naypyidaw stepped aside due to ongoing instability. For President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the responsibility is both an opportunity and a test.
To prepare, Marcos issued Administrative Order No. 17, establishing a National Organizing Council (NOC) tasked with ensuring seamless coordination across government agencies. In his directive, Marcos underscored the weight of the task: “It is imperative to constitute a National Organizing Council to organize, manage, and supervise all major and ancillary programs, activities, and projects related to the hosting of ASEAN 2026 in the country.”
The NOC spans multiple agencies, from Foreign Affairs and Trade to Public Works, Tourism, and National Defense. It will also include local government executives of host cities. An Office of the Director-General for Operations has been created within the Office of the President to serve as the NOC’s implementing arm and coordinating body.
ASEAN 2026 will not merely be a routine ceremonial event, but an opportunity to project Manila’s modernization agenda. The Department of Trade and Industry has already identified digital transformation—with an emphasis on artificial intelligence, blockchain, and inclusive technology—as a key theme for Manila’s chairmanship. This reflects an attempt to showcase the Philippines not only as a host, but as an innovator in Southeast Asia’s ongoing digital shift.
Yet the stakes go beyond logistics and policy themes. Domestically, the Marcos administration is facing intensified criticism over corruption scandals and governance challenges. For many observers, the ASEAN Summit will be judged not only on Manila’s ability to host, but also on whether the Philippines can present itself as a credible and stable leader at a time of public distrust.
Regionally, the challenge is just as complex. ASEAN is under pressure to respond more decisively to global tensions, economic realignments, and internal governance crises. The Philippines will chair not just the flagship leaders’ meetings, but also the full agenda of ASEAN’s Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Communities. How it sets priorities could shape the bloc’s trajectory in a period of increasing strain.
If Manila uses ASEAN 2026 to showcase reforms in transparency, procurement, and governance, it could strengthen both its credibility and ASEAN’s. If not, the Summit risks being remembered as another display of ceremony without substance. For now, the Philippines has pledged order and continuity. The real question is whether it can also deliver vision and leadership.
Eduardo is a faculty member at Holy Angel University, where he teaches courses on Philippine history and contemporary global issues. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Political Science at the University of Santo Tomas, with a research focus on disaster governance, environmental politics, and the urban poor in the Philippines.
Vietnam 🇻🇳
Is Vietnam’s Expatriate Growth a Boon or a Burden?
by Hang Nguyen, in Ho Chi Minh City
In 2025, leading global expat network InterNations ranked Vietnam as the world’s fifth best country for expatriates, evaluating factors such as quality of life, assimilation, employment opportunities, personal finance, housing, language, and the country’s bureaucracy. Of the 46 destinations overall, Vietnam has continued to remain at the top for five consecutive years in the category of personal finances: 90% of expats report high satisfaction levels with the cost of living while 87% say their disposable income is sufficient to live comfortably. The education sector employs the highest number of expats, at 42% of InterNations’ survey respondents, dwarfing transportation & logistics, coaching & consulting, and media.
The concentration of expatriates contributes to the bolstering of the national economy. With a higher average disposable income in comparison to locals, this demographic often has a larger spending power and drives the demand in the real estate, restaurant, international schools, and entertainment industries. This ultimately creates local jobs and business opportunities. Vietnam also expresses interest in attracting foreign talent and foreign direct investments (FDI) as expats and foreign professionals act as the bridge for skills and knowledge transfer. Vietnam’s pursuit of capacity building in key strategic sectors such as semiconductors, digital technology, science, and creative industries benefits from skilled expats.
Understanding the promising opportunities, in July 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security proposed a five-year visa exemption scheme aiming to facilitate the entry of valuable foreign contributors to the country’s socioeconomic development, including scientists, university professors, researchers, engineers, investors, and leaders of multinational corporations. Subsequently, in August 2025, the state issued Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, aimed at streamlining agencies’ recruitment process for foreign workers, especially those with high technical expertise to promote investment cooperation, and the development of science, technology, and engineering.
The integration of foreign norms into the local environment inevitably causes friction. Although globalization is considered an indicator of economic growth, it brings the risks of economic segregation and the erosion of local spaces to cater to this demographic of customers. Most often, working foreigners live in “expat bubbles”—neighborhoods with a large majority of expats with services considered affordable only to Westerners—without assimilating into the local community, sometimes with a sense of privilege. Such businesses also charge higher prices, reducing accessibility to the average Vietnamese and accommodating Western preferences, all while minimizing local traditions.
In terms of regional development, Vietnam is not only a fruitful destination for Western skilled workers but also Southeast Asian individuals. ASEAN’s Economic Community (AEC) identifies labor mobility as a significant milestone for regional connectivity, which is expedited by the legislation of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) and the Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons (MNP). With the availability of such resources provided by ASEAN, Vietnam is encouraged to utilize and learn from its Southeast Asian counterparts such as Indonesia and Thailand.
Hang is a young researcher with academic experience in Vietnam and the United States. She has previously worked in public relations at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and the YSEALI Academy. Her research focuses on ASEAN centrality in the evolving Asia-Pacific landscape, with particular attention to Vietnam’s approach to trade, regional cooperation, and political economy in the face of external power dynamics and global volatility.
Singapore 🇸🇬
The Problem of Workplace Fatalities in Singapore
by Ryan
Singapore recorded 17 workplace fatalities in the first half of 2025, a slight improvement from the same period last year. Vehicular incidents again led the toll, with seven deaths in construction and four in transportation and storage. Officials stress that, while the trend is favorable, the only acceptable target is zero.
Singapore is strict when it comes to workplace safety rules and regulations. The Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act places legal duties on employers and other stakeholders to manage risks, complemented by the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations that mandate documented risk assessments and controls in every workplace. In high-risk sectors, the WSH (Construction) Regulations require permit-to-work systems for hazardous activities such as work at height and lifting operations. Since 2022, an Approved Code of Practice has clarified chief executives’ and boards’ responsibilities for safety governance, signaling that accountability begins in the C-suite. These instruments are reinforced by detailed guidance on on-site traffic safety management.
Policy has continued to evolve after the 2022 “heightened safety” response. In May 2023, the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) retained targeted measures to sustain outcomes under the WSH2028 strategy of keeping fatalities below 1.0 per 100,000 workers. Starting from April 2024, agencies tightened requirements in public sector projects, such as through adopting safety technology and bonus schemes to reward strong performance. Separately, to curb on-road risks, lorry speed limiters will become mandatory in phases from 2026 to 2027.
Are the deaths a failure to follow the rules or are they simply inevitable? Singapore’s framework is broadly robust by international standards, and the mid-2025 data suggests enforcement and governance reforms are helping. However, the pattern of fatalities points to execution gaps more than legislative ones: controls around moving vehicles, supervision at smaller worksites, subcontracting interface risks, and the tendency to trade speed for safety on busy logistics sites. These are not “inevitable” accidents. They are preventable events when risk assessments translate into disciplined practice, competent supervision, and hazard-aware work design.
Compared with much of Southeast Asia, Singapore’s workplace safety framework is among the most stringent and enforcement-driven. The Workplace Safety and Health Act, backed by an Approved Code of Practice for chief executives and boards, places explicit accountability at the highest levels of corporate leadership. This is reinforced by significant penalties, frequent inspections, and stop-work orders. In contrast, many ASEAN neighbors are still strengthening their regimes. Malaysia’s amended Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, which took effect in 2024, extended coverage economy-wide and increased fines, while the Philippines has updated its OSH Law to regulate modern contracting practices. Regional initiatives—such as the ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network (ASEAN-OSHNET)—encourage alignment, yet Singapore stands out for its clarity of governance, stronger deterrents, and consistent inspections, making it a benchmark for safety standards in Southeast Asia.
Singapore’s economic growth relies on safe construction, manufacturing, and logistics. The country employs workers from across ASEAN and has a responsibility to safeguard every worker. Taking better care of all workers, including citizens, migrants, direct hires, and subcontractors, requires stronger traffic management plans, competency-based supervision, and more accountability. The moral and strategic stakes are clear: Singapore must continue ensuring high standards of safety until zero harm becomes the norm.
Ryan is a final-year finance student at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) with experience across venture capital, venture debt, and business development. He also holds a diploma in Law and Management from Temasek Polytechnic. His interests lie in how emerging technologies and economic trends shape business ecosystems and regional development in Asia.
Editorial Deadline 30/09/2025 11:59 PM (UTC +8)
