Badly affected Philippines continues to suffer from business closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but people have found ways to reduce expenses and put food on the table.
Online Bartering Finds Its Way in Filipino Households
Bartering was once a popular trading system in the Philippines but with the closing of businesses many people have no choice but to stay at home - so online bartering has become a trend.
Thousands of Filipinos lost their jobs to the pandemic leaving many struggling to make ends meet. However, online bartering on several social media apps has helped save many from starvation.
An Agence France-Presse tally said that at least 98 online bartering groups are operating around the Philippines. These groups allow people to swap goods and services for food.
Some of the popular items are shoes, bags, kitchen appliances, designer clothing, toys and many more. Participants negotiate through the comments section in social media posts.
People who have successfully bartered their items for food said newer goods sell faster than old. The online bartering system made popular by social media wouldn't have become popular in the Philippines if COVID-19 hadn't come around, experts say.
Philippines Cases Up Steadily
Meanwhile, the Philippines continues to record a steady increase in daily new coronavirus infections - with 3,483 additional cases Tuesday.
President Rodrigo Duterte has announced Bacolod City, Batangas, Bulacan, Tacloban City and Metro Manila would be placed under general community quarantine until the end of September.
The Philippines remains the worst-affected country in Southeast Asia and it has reported more than 2,000 daily cases for more than a month.
As of Tuesday the Philippines had 224,264 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,597 deaths.
Jokowi Confident of Indonesia Vaccine Access
In the second worst-affected Southeast Asia country, Indonesia, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said he was "very confident" that the nation would have access to a COVID-19 vaccine before the end of the year.
There has been a steady increase in daily new infections over the past several days. Indonesia's president believed the outbreak would peak sometime this month.
With 2,775 additional confirmed coronavirus cases Tuesday, Indonesia now has 177,571 COVID-19 cases and 7,505 deaths.
Indonesia has the highest number of deaths linked to the novel coronavirus in the region.
Imported Cases on the Rise in Thailand
Thailand is one country that successfully contained the first wave of coronavirus outbreaks but, over the past few weeks, there has been a steady increase in imported cases.
On Tuesday there were nine new COVID-19 cases - all of which had traveled from abroad. The trend intensifies concerns about the possibility that imported cases could drive a second wave of infections.
As of Tuesday, Thailand had 3,412 confirmed coronavirus cases and 58 deaths.
Vietnam: Day Three of No New Cases
For the third consecutive day Vietnam recorded no new COVID-19 cases - raising hopes that the trend in zero community transmission continues.
The country reported its 33rd coronavirus-linked death this past weekend. There were also 28 people Tuesday who were transferred to the recovered category.
Unlike other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam has been praised for its response to the COVID-19 crisis. Some experts said the public's natural adherence to authority helped control the virus' spread.
