A powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the central part of the Philippines late on Tuesday. So far, authorities have reported at least 69 dead and dozens injured; the province of Cebu declared a state of calamity early on Wednesday, after thousands spent the night on the streets amid repeated aftershocks
With investments of billions of dollars and cooperation between public and private sectors, the project is set to accelerate economic growth in the Philippines – creating jobs, strengthening peripheral regions, and positioning the country as a central air hub in Southeast Asia
The small city-state has become the most popular tourism destination in Southeast Asia, with the industry contributing more than $66 billion to the country's economy last year. The number of tourists this year is expected to surge by nearly 10% compared to 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic
