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Press Release
20 July 2024
On Mandela Day, UN Philippines emphasizes need for prison reform
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Story
19 July 2024
UN Philippines briefs embassy representatives on Summit of the Future
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Story
10 July 2024
UNODC helps Philippines tackle gang-run ‘scam farms’ of human trafficking
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Philippines
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in the Philippines.
Data in this section is currently being updated and under review.
Story
07 June 2024
UN showcases achievements, reforms in high-level briefing
MANILA, 7 June. The United Nations (UN) in the Philippines today presented the highlights of its work to representatives of 42 UN Member States and development partners. UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo González provided a snapshot of the country’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), identifying areas that are on track, as well as those that are lagging or have regressed. This was followed by an overview of the UN Country Team’s (UNCT) cross-cutting activities towards the fulfillment of the SDGs and the Philippines’ development priorities. The briefing served as a forum for the United Nations to share updates on the implementation of its programmes amid the organization’s shift in focus from traditional development assistance to transformative strategic partnerships for policy and capacity development, knowledge generation and the leveraging of financial resources, as set out under the UN Reform. “The reform brings clarity to the type of services and support to be delivered by the UNCT. In a middle-income country like the Philippines, we expect the UNCT to be more engaged in technical assistance, knowledge sharing and policy advice, rather than the service delivery or international coordination support provided to low-income countries,” said Mr. González. This new approach is reflected in the Philippines-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2024-2028 (CF), which came into effect at the beginning of the year. Undersecretary Charles Jose of the Department of Foreign Affairs commended the UN for being a valuable partner in government-led initiatives and expressed hope for continued collaboration to achieve the Philippines’ ambitions and address existing challenges. “We hope that more resources and expertise are directed towards areas in which the Philippines is still in the process of building competency, such as up-levelling innovation- and science-based solutions, creating a sound business environment, enhancing climate and hazard resiliency, and other forward-looking projects that support our upper middle-income country ambition,” he said. Notable among recent innovations in the UNCT’s programme implementation is the increase in joint programming among United Nations entities, a strategy that facilitates the pooling of capacities and resources towards shared priorities. Mr. González emphasized that the briefing reflected the United Nations’ commitment to increased accountability, transparency, and coherence: “This is a strong attempt to ensure a more collaborative and integrated UN development system that enhances a whole-of-UN approach to all aspects of the development planning cycle.” Reporting on 2023 UN results At today’s briefing, Mr Gonzalez and heads of UN entities also provided a summary of the results of the final year of implementation of the United Nations Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework 2020-2023 (SEPF), the previous joint framework between the UN and the government. In 2023, the UN was second largest source of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the Philippines with US$ 281.2 million in assistance, according to data from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). See the UN in the Philippines’ Press Release on the 2023 Annual Report and the main achievements last year.
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Speech
17 April 2024
Speech of UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez at the Launch of the 2024 State of the World Population Report
The speech was delivered during the launch of UNFPA's 2024 State of the World Population Report. Read more about the report's key findings here. -- Every year, I have the opportunity of joining the Government and UNFPA in the launch of one of the most relevant reports of the United Nations: the State of World Population report. This piece of research has been framing UN’s policies on development and population for decades. Thus, allow me to start by congratulating the Commission on Population and Development and my UNFPA colleagues for such valuable contribution to development. This year, the report focuses on “Ending Inequalities in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights”. Over the years we have learned about the tremendous impact that sexual and reproductive health can have on a country's development trajectory. We know that suitable access to sexual and reproductive health and rights can decrease child marriage, decrease teenage pregnancies and of course prevent a number of sexually transmitted infections. The report highlights two critical dimensions across population issues: “Inequality” and “Intersectionality”. On inequality, we still face significant inequities in access to sexual and reproductive health rights, worldwide. On intersectionality, sexism and racism have significantly influenced health structures, systems and services. More broadly, we also see that these two dimensions have slowed down progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals even here in the Asia-Pacific. Inequality shows that countries in special situations have experienced much slower progress compared to the rest of the region, and intersectionality reflects where some groups become disadvantaged and are at greater risk of being left behind depending on sex, education level, age, income, ethnicity and other factors. The report is, fundamentally, a call to action to partners involved in sexual and reproductive health and rights to: To promote inclusivity through greater mindfulness of intersectionality – that takes into account factors like ethnicity, race, and sexual orientation is vital for addressing inequities. To invest in sexual and reproductive health and rights and mainstream gender equality – because these benefit society as a whole and enables us to harness gender dividends. For us, the United Nations Country Team in the Philippines, our response to this call to action is captured in our United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2024 to 2028. Under our first strategic priority on Human capital development, inclusion, and resilience building, we will contribute to government programs to facilitate access to maternal, newborn, child development, sexual and reproductive health services. We will work with government to improve resilience of and access to reproductive and child health services during emergencies. We will also enhance capacities of government institutions and civil society to protect women, children and vulnerable groups against violence and harmful practices. In closing, I would like to note that this State of the World Population Report 2024 is a great contribution to the on-going preparations for the UN Summit of the Future to be held in New York in September later this year. The Summit is intended to forge a new consensus on multilateralism to better meet the needs of the present while also preparing for the challenges of the future. Ending inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights will require a reinvigorated people-centered global architecture that is forward-looking and responsive to the needs not only of this generation but also the next one. Thank you.
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Story
18 July 2024
UN Philippines briefs embassy representatives on Summit of the Future
Manila, 18 July. The United Nations and the German Embassy in Manila today jointly chaired a dialogue with the diplomatic community in the Philippines on progress towards the Summit of the Future, an event which will gather world leaders in New York in September to revitalize international cooperation on global challenges and opportunities.Speaking before 24 representatives from various embassies, including three ambassadors, German Deputy Head of Mission to the Philippines Mathias Kruse emphasized the value of the Summit: “It is a very important chance for us, the international community, to address the burning questions on the table and get this process as far as we can get it, including necessary reform of the present international architecture.”Germany is one of the co-facilitators of the Summit, together with Namibia, and played a key role in preparing the zero drafts of the agreements to be negotiated during the two-day high-level event.In a video message for the briefing, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Policy Guy Ryder shared the Summit’s goals and expected outputs. “The Summit of the Future is our once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape global governance for years to come,” he said. “Between now and September, we need to keep working together to champion ideas and to drive up ambition.”Three documents will be agreed upon during the Summit. Most important among these is the Pact of the Future, which will tackle five key areas: sustainable development and financing for development; international peace and security; science, technology, innovation and digital cooperation; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance.Also up for negotiation are the Global Digital Compact, which will focus on managing the opportunities and risks of emerging digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, and the Declaration on Future Generations, which will outline commitments to protect the interests of generations that have yet to be born.Consultations for these outcome documents have been ongoing since the start of the year to ensure that diverse groups, particularly those that are often marginalized, are represented and that their voices and perspectives are included in the national commitments that will be made.Following the briefing, embassy representatives highlighted the need to mainstream actions in Pact of the Future on climate change and gender equality. “All of us here have a critical role in disseminating, explaining and building support for the proposals that will be presented and encouraging governments to send high-level representation to the Summit. Your support will help sustain momentum and facilitate the implementation of the major changes our multilateral system needs,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines. The Summit of the Future will be held on 22-23 September 2024. Read the draft Revision 2 of the Pact of the Future here.
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Story
10 July 2024
UNODC helps Philippines tackle gang-run ‘scam farms’ of human trafficking
Transnational organised crime syndicates based in Southeast Asia are fueling the trafficking of people for both forced criminality and sexual exploitation in “scam farms” that have spread across the region.There are estimated to be some 400 of these criminal enterprises in the Philippines alone. They are almost always operated clandestinely and illegally alongside licensed and legal online gaming operations.The proliferation of online scam farms targeting victims across the world is a relatively new phenomenon that exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic.The Philippines Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has raided and shut down dozens of the operations in recent years and is collaborating with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to look at ways of working with other countries to disrupt and dismantle the scam farms in Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.UNODC’s engagement in this area complements the work of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), whose analysis on trafficking in persons for forced criminality in Southeast Asia’s online scamming centres provides practitioners, policymakers and donors with actionable recommendations. IOM, in collaboration with government counterparts and other stakeholders, supports the implementation of rights-based victim identification and protection. In the Philippines, IOM provides protection and repatriation support to victims and promotes inter-agency and international cooperation to tackle this emerging trend. UN News visited raided locations in, Manila and Bamban. We spoke to two people: Susan, a Filipina and Dylan* from Malaysia. Both were coerced into carrying out scams. UN News also met PAOCC’s Winston Casio.Susan: My half-sister tricked me into leaving home and travelling to Myanmar where I was promised a marketing job in her company. It turned out to be a scam farm, and I was forced to work to pay off my sister’s debts as she had fled.I developed a fake character, a rich young woman based in Brooklyn, New York, who owned property and businesses. The managers gave me images from an Instagram account to build the character and told me to contact divorced or lonely men in the US and get them to transfer money to me. This is what is called a “love scam”. In the pictures, my character is always shopping. But I could not even go outside. I was trapped inside the building.We are given scripts to use in text conversations, and when they told me to improvise, I used a grammar app to check my English. If the client wants to meet you on a video call, they have models who play the role. The models are also trafficked. Dylan: Most people do not choose to be there. You have to work up to 16 hours a day, especially as you have to contact clients across time zones. The managers told me to get them to invest in a fictitious oil deal in Dubai and then steal their money.There are quotas for the amount of money you must scam. They set the target for me of $100,000 a month, and when I did not make that, I was beaten.Winston Casio: We rescued around 680 people in the Bamban scam farm, but we think that a number of managers escaped after they were tipped off.These are huge operations. People are not allowed to leave. They are held against their will and forced to commit scams and fraud. Women are trafficked as sex slaves, and the managers in one farm had what they called “the aquarium” where women were forcibly put on display and then chosen by the men to perform sex. Every location is self-contained, and everything is provided. Of course, there are dormitories and cafeterias, but also a barber shop, medical clinic, massage spa, gambling room as well as a VIP karaoke bar for senior managers, where they could drink, sing and socialise in private rooms. Just a few metres down the hallway, we also found a torture room with handcuffs and bloodstains on the walls, where people were taken for brutal punishment when they did not meet their quotas.Susan: I got close to scamming some clients, but felt bad about it so secretly warned them whilst telling my manager that they had blocked me. He got angry and beat me with a metal pipe. My injuries were too serious to be treated at the scam farm, so I was taken to a hospital by three guards but was unable to tell the doctors what had really happened to me. I still suffer the physical and emotional trauma. Dylan: I didn’t make any salary, but started building up debt as I had to pay for food, which cost two to three times more at the scam farm than outside. I was freed after one month when the facility was raided.Winston Casio: It’s sometimes difficult to know the difference between victims and complicit scammers. There are cases where people are taken against their will, but who after four to five days training, embrace the illegal activity and thrive and actually make money. The law wants to see this situation in black and white, but there are many grey areas.It is an understatement to say that this situation is challenging, as the transnational organised criminal networks that run these facilities are always three or four steps ahead of us.This is a regional problem which no one country can solve. This is organised crime. Susan will confirm the furniture and computer equipment is the same in facilities in Myanmar and the Philippines.Law enforcement agencies across Southeast Asia need to collaborate and coordinate, and this is why UNODC is important. It can bring countries together and provide expertise, for example, in digital forensic investigations. Susan: Towards the end, I was beaten 13 times in one day. I just prayed and prayed while they beat me. I was forced to call my parents and ask them to pay $7000 for my ransom, which was the cost of the hospital bill. They didn’t have the money, and I told them not to try to pay it. I said to my managers “just kill me.” They don’t care about people. They only care about money. However, in the end they realised I had no money and that I was of no use to them, so they just let me go. I made my way back through Thailand to the Philippines.***Susan now works for PAOCC in Manila, and Dylan has agreed to be a witness in possible forthcoming legal action and hopes eventually to return to his home in Malaysia.*Not their real namesThis article was originally published on UN News.
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Story
08 July 2024
From childhood summers to a global enterprise: celebrating the export potential of MSMEs
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) represent over 99% of the business enterprises in the Philippines and account for over 60% of its jobs. With support from the government, the European Union (EU), and the UN, they are poised to become an even bigger economic asset for the country and help reach the goal of achieving upper middle income country status.In this article, we are featuring one of the businesses supported by the EU funded ARISE Plus Philippines project.Dreaming betterNestled 72 kilometers south of Manila, the quaint farm in Sta. Maria, Laguna, holds more than just childhood memories for Jessica R Gutierrez, CEO of Amazing Foods Corp. It's where her passion for nature and the dream to transform the crops into authentic healthy food preserves and farming into a lucrative venture for her family first took root. "My siblings and I were always in awe of the bountiful harvests at our grandparents' farm. When the yields suddenly stopped, it was a disturbance," Ms Gutierrez reminisces. The dwindling returns, resulting from tenant farmers abandoning agriculture, seeded a promise among the siblings to restore the farm's former glory.Sta. Maria's hidden potentialSta. Maria, may be poor and remote, but is a vital rice-producing region. Jessica's vision extended beyond the immediate, seeing potential in the 13 hectares of mountainous land dotted with coconut and fruit-bearing trees. "We envisioned a sustainable farming method that would respect and preserve our environment," Ms Gutierrez says. This led the siblings to explore the virgin coconut oil (VCO) market, inspired by government training sessions that revealed the coconut's vast untapped potential.Going international with support from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)Introduced in 2005, Sta. Maria VCO initially struggled to gain traction. "The first three years challenged our resolve as the local market was slow to embrace coconut oil as a dietary staple," she says. However, their perseverance paid off when online platforms like Alibaba opened international doors. "Our breakthrough came with our first overseas client from Japan, swiftly followed by others from Sweden and Croatia," she recalls, highlighting the importance of their organic certification in securing these pivotal deals.The Department of Trade and Industry has supported the company in their export journey. Enabling its participation in international trade fairs has been instrumental in exporting abroad, including to the EU. Amazing Foods Corp. has since expanded its product lines from VCO food supplements to other coconut by-products including healthy soaps, coco ginger tea, jams, chips from root crops and fruits and massage oils. Utilizing the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) They were able to tap into the EU’s special incentive scheme to encourage export diversification in developing countries, called GSP+. Under this scheme, the Philippines has been benefitting from zero tariff on two-thirds of all product categories entering the European Union market since 2014. Support from ARISE Plus PhilippinesAmazing Foods Corp. has also benefitted from ARISE Plus Philippines, a project that trains and mentors Philippine micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to further develop their global export capabilities. This programme, funded by the EU, is implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the UN and the World Trade Organization.Ms Gutierrez says that they now pay close attention to documentation and certifications, as well as logistical requirements to expand and upgrade their product offering to the global market.Participation in the ANUGA Trade Fair in Germany further helped to expand their markets, she adds. A mission of health and sustainabilityAmazing Foods Corp has since flourished into a mid-sized company and continues to thrive on a year-round supply of fresh coconut from over 150 hectares of organic plantation. They are just one of 168 MSMEs and entrepreneurs in the coconut, game development, processed food and tech sectors that received support from the EU funded ARISES Plus Philippines.The EU is the fourth largest trading partner of the Philippines accounting for 7.9% of the country’s total trade in 2021. ARISE Plus Philippines is a project of the Government of the Philippines, with the Department of Trade and Industry as lead partner together with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Customs, the Department of Science and Technology, as well as the private sector. It is funded by the EU with the International Trade Centre (ITC) as the technical agency for the project.
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Story
01 July 2024
‘Trust and respect’ feeds interfaith rice growing success in the Philippines
Trust built on decades of respect for religion has fertilized the seeds of success for two communities—one Muslim, the other Christian—which have joined together to build a successful rice growing cooperative in the Philippines.The cooperative Liton, Kibales, Magatos Irrigators Association (LKM-IA) has been supported by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).The communities live just a few hundred metres apart, close to Kabacan in central Mindanao, an area which has seen separatist violence over many years and which is now moving towards a more significant level of self-rule by the Muslim majority.Ahead of the International Day of Cooperatives marked annually on 1 July, UN News’s Daniel Dickinson travelled to Kabacan and met two members of LKM-IA, Treasurer Marcializa Calud, who is Christian and Mona Usman, a Muslim and who works as the auditor.Marcializa Calud: The association began in 2015 with just 250 pesos ($4) and last year our income was 1.65 million ($28,000). Careful planning and management have helped us to grow and this has been reinforced with support from KOICA and FAO including seeds, fertilizers, as well as machines. Mona Usman: The association received machines for each step of the rice growing and harvesting process; a rotavator to plough the field, a combine harvester to bring in the crop and a milling machine to process the rice.Marcializa Calud: The machines which are rented to our members have greatly increased productivity. It takes one whole day to plough a one-hectare field by hand with a water buffalo, but just one hour using a rotavator. Harvesting rice by hand in the same field takes around two days, but just one to two hours using the combine harvester. The cropping income from my rice paddy has increased from 20,000 pesos ($340) to 24,000 pesos ($410), which is a significant amount.Mona Usman: Before the cooperative existed, we had to rent a combine harvester from a private lender which took 10 per cent of the value of our crop as payment, while we kept 90 per cent. Since we established our cooperative and acquired our own harvester, nine per cent goes to the association and now each farmer receives 91 per cent. That extra one per cent makes a big difference. Meanwhile, with our contribution the association can afford to pay for the irrigation that we need as our crops are not rain-fed. Marcializa Calud: What we worry about most is access to water as we are downstream of other communities. During the recent El Nino climatic event when there was less water, we had to negotiate with our upstream neighbours to release enough for our needs. Fortunately, we get on well, so this was not a problem, but climate change does remain a concern to all rice cultivators, as the crop grows in water paddy fields. Mona Usman: We are one association and we represent two religions, Muslim and Christian. My grandfather was a Muhajadeen who fought for our land. He later became a religious man and welcomed the Christian settlers who came to Bangsamoro, the predominantly Muslim part of southwestern Mindanao. So there is trust and respect between the communities because of this historic connection. Marcializa Calud: There is a saying amongst farmers here that when harvest comes we speak English. We say the words, “short, failure, overdraft.” Short, because after we have paid our expenses, we are short of money; failure, because another harvest has failed to bring in enough money; and overdraft, because we need to borrow money to survive. However, with the new machinery this is no longer the case and we are making money.Mona Usman: We are making progress in this community, but it’s still difficult to make ends meet. We want to ensure that all people in the community have access to health services and that their children go to school and that they can eat three times a day. And above all we want peace. The story was first published in UN News.
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Story
01 July 2024
From banana bread to pineapple pizzas: Women in the Philippines bake a better future
The Balaigay Women Producer Cooperative is made up of local women from the fishing village of Lumbayanague, as well as women who were displaced from nearby Marawi City following an attack by Islamist militants in 2017.Ahead of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day, which is marked annually on 27 June, UN News spoke to Beliante Matanog Cayongat, a long-term resident of Lumbayanague, and Nobaida Arig, who arrived following the terrorist attack, about the recipe for their success.Nobaida Arig: I work one shift a week in the bakery, arriving at 4:30 in the morning and baking for two hours. We have six main products: banana muffins, Spanish rolls and coconut breads as well as chocolate cake, banana loaf and a standard white loaf.I am one of 20 people in the cooperative who fled Marawi when it was attacked in 2017. Beliante Matanog Cayongat: The cooperative runs the only bakery in the neighborhood, and normally all our bread and pastries sell out early in the afternoon.We make 2 kg of each product. In Ramadan, our large loaves were very popular and we sold out even though we made 60 a day. The large loaves cost 40 pesos ($0.70) each, and because this is a very close community, if people are unable to pay, we allow them to settle their bill later. Nobaida Arig: We are a successful bakery because our breads, cakes and pastries are delicious and affordable. When you love your work, you bake delicious foods.I did not know how to bake before we opened this bakery. We were trained and given materials, including an oven, to put our training into practice. I am getting better as a baker with the hands-on experience. I can earn 200 pesos ($3.40) on my shift, which is good, but not enough to support my family of six. I also run a small shop selling snacks and goods.Beliante Matanog Cayongat: On a slow day, the bakery can make 1,500 pesos ($25.50), but when we are very busy with orders, we can earn 2,500 pesos ($42.50) a day. After paying salaries, the remainder is put back into the cooperative.Nobaida Arig: Baking is actually quite easy if you follow the recipe, and I am always looking for new ideas. I’m so excited about baking that I watched a video on YouTube at home, which taught me how to make pizza with pineapple, mushroom and tuna. We baked a special order of pizzas for Ramadan. I am very happy and proud that my pizza was so popular and contributed to the community.Beliante Matanog Cayongat: During the Marawi siege in 2017, which lasted five months, we welcomed about 100 people into our community who had fled their homes in the city. Many had family connections, including Nobaida, whose husband fishes out of this village. Nobaida Arig: When Marawi was attacked, we heard gunshots and I thought it was a family feud, which we are quite used to. But after two days when the school was burned down, we realized it was something more serious, and we decided to flee. We had absolutely nothing with us.There were many men dressed in black, carrying guns and flying the Islamic State [ISIL/Da'esh] flag in the city, but they let us pass, and we left for the village. It was a big surprise and unthinkable that Marawi would be attacked in this way. Beliante Matanog Cayongat: We want to build a bigger bakery and sell our products further afield. But, we also want to diversify and provide more employment for women living here.We would like to offer tailoring and office services, so we really need computers and a good internet connection. Women here want peace and prosperity and a better future for their children, and we are making a big effort to realize these hopes. The story was first published on UN News.
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Press Release
20 July 2024
On Mandela Day, UN Philippines emphasizes need for prison reform
The Mandela Rules, named after the South African president who was imprisoned for 27 years, define the international minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).In December 2023, the Philippines joined 38 other nations that comprise the Group of Friends of the Nelson Mandela Rules, which was created to raise awareness and promote humane conditions of imprisonment. “In joining the Group of Friends of the Mandela Rules, the Philippines is explicitly expressing its commitment to adopting the necessary changes to improve conditions in the country’s detention facilities and ensure that the human rights and dignity of every prisoner is upheld,” said UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez.To help improve prison conditions, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been working with the Department of Justice, including the Bureau of Corrections and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, to address prison congestion. The country, which reported a congestion rate of 348 percent from January to October 2023, ranks third in the world for jail and prison overcrowding. In honor of Nelson Mandela Day, a total of 784 PDLs were discharged in a ceremony on 19 July—over half of whom were released upon serving their full sentences, while the remaining were acquitted, paroled, granted probation or Executive Clemency. Over 15,000 PDLs have been released under President Ferdinand Marcos’s administration as part of efforts to decongest the prison system. Together with the Philippine government, UNODC also convened the first National Decongestion Summit last year to bring together policymakers, justice sector professionals, and members of civil society and the academe to develop long-term solutions to prison congestion, many of which centered on three themes: reducing admissions, shortening detention times, and increasing releases.Complementing the decongestion efforts, UNODC is also providing technical assistance to the Philippines on revitalizing the country’s approach to drug control. Presently, drug-related offenses account for almost 70 percent of incarcerations. The UNODC and Philippine government are collaborating with multi-sector stakeholders to establish a more holistic approach to addressing drug-related issues, which was a key theme during the recently concluded Drug Policy and Law Reform Summit. “Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for championing equality and fighting against discrimination in South Africa. In remembering his legacy, we must learn from this powerful, yet humble leader by showing compassion to those in the penal system who are now deprived of their liberty. We celebrate today a type of leadership that is much needed in facing today’s challenges,” said Mr. Gonzalez.
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Press Release
16 May 2024
UNSGSA Queen Máxima to visit the Philippines to support scaling up financial services for better financial health
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — May 17, 2024 — H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), is scheduled to visit the Philippines from May 21-23, 2024. The visit will focus on advancing key foundational building blocks for financial inclusion—including connectivity, digital identification, and digital payments—as well as enhancing financial health and resilience against economic and climate-related challenges for Filipinos.In recent years, the Philippines has seen considerable progress in financial access, with the proportion of adults owning a bank account rising from 26.6% in 2011 to 51.4% in 2021, as reported by the World Bank Global Findex. However, despite these gains, the Philippines remains still has approximately 37.6 million unbanked adults. The Findex data also highlights significant concerns about financial resilience among Filipinos. The primary financial worry for 42% of adults is covering medical costs in the event of a serious illness or accident, followed by concerns over managing monthly expenses (24%) and securing funds for old age (17%). The urgency for improved financial health has been underscored by the pandemic, with 68% of adults very worried about facing severe financial hardship.Throughout the visit, Queen Máxima will recognize recent developments in digital ID implementation and digital payments systems while engaging with public and private sector leaders to discuss support for their expansion. Digital ID can help people access safe and secure financial services such as digital payments. The visit will also highlight the need for more affordable financial services, crucial for the archipelago's many small islands.During the trip, the UNSGSA will conduct field visits in Manila and its surrounding areas to hear firsthand from financial services users about innovations that significantly impact their lives, especially those enhancing financial health. Queen Máxima will visit a fisherfolk community to explore last-mile financial solutions that address the unique challenges present in remote island settings. The Special Advocate will also learn about a tech-enabled platform that empowers small ‘sari-sari’ (which means retail shop) store owners to grow their businesses, digitize their operations, and integrate into larger supply chains. The agenda further includes high-level meetings for the UNSGSA with figures such as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF) Ralph G. Recto, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Dr. Eli M. Remolona Jr., and other key policymakers and leaders. These discussions aim to foster partnerships and support continuous innovations in the financial sector. Queen Máxima will also meet with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa to explore collaborative opportunities at a regional level.Additionally, a focus group discussion with a diverse contingent of female financial users will provide insights into how financial products can effectively address the needs of women and enhance their financial health. Another highlight of the visit will be a demonstration of the Co-Develop’s South-East Asia Center for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) at Ateneo University.Throughout her visit, Queen Máxima will emphasize the critical role of financial services in enhancing economic prospects and quality of life for all Filipinos, particularly those in underserved communities. By sharing insights and forging connections between global financial initiatives and local realities, the UNSGSA visit aims to inspire continued progress and innovation in the Philippines’ financial sector. The UNSGSA will be supported by some of her Reference Group members, including the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), the Better than Cash Alliance, the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), and the World Bank.The UNSGSA previously visited the Philippines from June 29 to July 1 in 2015. For media inquiries please contact:Christopher HughesCommunications AdvisorOffice of the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development Email: christopher.hughes@unsgsa.org Marianne WiltjerHead Spokesperson to Queen MáximaThe Netherlands Government Information ServiceEmail: m.wiltjer@minaz.nl
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Press Release
17 May 2024
The Philippines, KOICA, UN agencies launch 2 mobile health clinics to reduce adolescent pregnancies in Samar, Southern Leyte
TACLOBAN, 16 May, 2024 – In a significant step towards improving adolescent health and curbing adolescent pregnancies in Eastern Visayas, the United Nations, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) turned over two adolescent-friendly mobile health facilities that will be offering free medical services to Samar and Southern Leyte provincial governments.The mobile health facilities, dubbed TrucKABATAAN, are part of the Joint Programme on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy in Southern Leyte and Samar in the Philippines, a collaborative effort supported by the Korean Government through KOICA, in partnership with the Philippine Government, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization. The programme is estimated to potentially benefit 275,000 adolescents."Reducing teenage pregnancies is a key goal for the Philippine government - a goal that the United Nations and our partners are committed to help achieve by mobilizing knowledge, resources, and opportunities to better enable youth in the Philippines to reach their full potential. These mobile health facilities provide accessible health services that are key to empowering young people,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, United Nations Philippines Resident Coordinator.This program comes in response to the pressing issue of adolescent pregnancy in the Philippines, which has been declared a national priority. While the Philippine Statistics Authority reported a slight decline in teenage fertility rates nationally (from 8.6% in 2017 to 5.4% in 2022), the number of adolescent mothers aged 10-19 continues to rise, particularly those in the worrying younger age bracket of 10-14.“I would like to remind everyone that KOICA stands with you in safeguarding and improving adolescent health and well-being. This year, we are celebrating the 75 years of Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of KOICA in the Philippines. These historical occasions give us the momentum to intensify our assistance to the country. We assure you that KOICA will continue to strongly support you for a realized comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights of Filipino adolescents and reduced adolescent pregnancies,” said KOICA Country Director KIM Eunsub.Besides being one of the Philippines’ poorest and most typhoon-battered regions, the 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study showed that Eastern Visayas, where Samar and Southern Leyte are located, has one of the highest rates of 15 to 19-year-old female youths that had begun childbearing. The regions had the highest percentage of female teenagers who were currently pregnant at the time of the survey.“Over the past years, we have implemented various programs, projects, and strategies aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy in the region. With the Universal Health Care Act, all stakeholders have been diligently working and putting in every effort and system in place to fully implement and realize Universal Health Care in the region. While there is still much to be done, we are making significant progress. Today, we are one step closer towards our goal of ensuring that every Filipino has equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services. Through this mobile clinic, we will be bringing essential health services directly to the doorsteps of our young people. From sexual and reproductive health education to maternal and child health services, TrucKABATAAN will provide comprehensive support tailored to the unique needs of adolescents,” said Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development Regional Director Exuperia B. Sabalberino.The partners are working closely with the Department of Health, the Department of Education, and the governors of Samar and Southern Leyte, as well as other government agencies in rolling out adolescent-friendly services through the TrucKABATAAN, building the capacity of community adolescent health service providers, accelerating the integration of comprehensive sexuality education in schools, implementing youth leadership and governance initiatives, and conducting research on adolescent pregnancy and child, early, and forced marriage."Pregnancy can be a beautiful journey, but for adolescents, it should not be part of their journey! Adolescence is a crucial time for personal growth, education, and development, and pregnancy can significantly disrupt these processes. The health-related risks are real! Adolescent mothers face higher risks of medical complications during pregnancy and childbirth compared to adult women. We must ensure access to quality healthcare and education to protect their health, prevent complications, and empower them to reach their full potential,” said UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Dr. Leila Saiji Joudane.Adolescent pregnancy can result in anemia, sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortions, postpartum hemorrhage, and mental health disorders. It can also exacerbate maternal undernutrition, resulting in low-birth-weight infants and childhood stunting. This perpetuates a cycle of malnutrition across generations.“All adolescents have the right to good health and well-being. Investing in adolescents’ health builds strong economies, inclusive communities and vibrant societies. Adolescent-centred approaches such as these mobile clinics put young people at the heart of the solution and give them opportunities to access key services and participate meaningfully in their communities,” said UNICEF Representative to the Philippines Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov.“We must strengthen and sustain our collaboration to effectively prevent adolescent pregnancy. Adolescent pregnancy is a public health concern that requires whole-of-society efforts that involve families, service providers, schools, faith- and community-based organizations, policymakers, and youth. We hope these mobile facilities will be able to bring services much closer to those in need at any time, anywhere,” said Dr Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO Representative to the Philippines.The program aims to bridge the gap in access to quality healthcare services for adolescents, particularly those residing in remote or underserved areas. A medical team will travel with the mobile clinics, visiting young people aged 10-19 in at least 20 local government units in Southern Leyte and Samar. They will provide:compassionate & confidential careholistic healthcare: Attend to physical, mental, sexual/reproductive, and nutritional needs of adolescents,education and empowerment: Equip adolescents with health knowledge for informed decision-making,early intervention & prevention: Provide screenings, counseling, and assessments to reduce risks,community engagement.Among the features of the TrucKABATAAN are: air-conditioned adolescent-friendly rooms, including one with a medical bed, where adolescents can access services with confidentiality; audio-visual system for information sessions;laboratory equipment and supplies for basic diagnostic tests such as complete blood count, blood typing, urinalysis and stool examination, screening for HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B;solar panel for power during emergencies or when in off-grid areas; andsatellite Internet connectivity. The local government will also provide a driver, administrative staff, a medical team composed of a doctor, nurse, midwife, medical technician, social worker, and peer educator.Young people from Eastern Visayas last year co-created the trucks’ exterior design and recommended features to make it appealing to their peers.
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Press Release
25 April 2024
The UN calls for increased support for climate resilience in the Philippines as drought wreaks havoc
MANILA, PHILIPPINES. The international community is behind the Philippine Government as it faces a serious drought induced by El Niño. The Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Niño / La Niña Response, UN Assistant Secretary-General Reena Ghelani and the UN Resident and Humanitarian coordinator in the Philippines, Gustavo Gonzalez urged for increased support to the Government response. This call was made at the end of the visit of the Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Niño / La Niña Response in the Philippines.The current El Niño episode, one of the strongest in history, is causing dry conditions and high temperatures across South-East Asia. In the Philippines, 41 provinces are experiencing drought and nearly 31 others are facing dry spells or dry conditions. More than 1,400,000 people have been affected and the upcoming harvest will likely be below average. The Government, with support from partners, has put in place a national Task Force, headed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, to prepare for and mitigate the worst impacts of the crisis on water, food security, health and energy.The UN and humanitarian and development partners have been actively preparing for and responding to El Niño in the Philippines in support of the Government's El Niño relief efforts. In 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Oxfam Pilipinas activated their Anticipatory Action programs in the north, Isabela, and the south of the country, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, to provide immediate support to affected communities before the effects of drought are most felt. Early last year, the World Food Programme (WFP) worked with the Government and communities to build ponds and small reservoirs to ensure water sufficiency and food security in pre-identified areas affected by El Nino. Likewise, private sector's collective action is being monitored by the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF). The majority of the sector's support is aligned with food and water security."The Philippines demonstrates the importance of acting early before a disaster strikes. With more frequent and severe climate shocks, it is crucial we strengthen our support to community resilience", said Reena Ghelani.One of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, the Philippines is highly exposed and vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Recent estimates showed that climate change could cost the Philippines over 7% of GDP by 2030. Disasters have already cost US$ 23 billion in damages to the country since 1990."Building resilience to address shocks like El Niño/ La Niña is at the heart of the new UN Cooperation Framework signed with the Government last year. The UN Country Team is presently recalibrating such technical assistance as part of the Enhancing Resilient Communities flagship initiative. The visit of the UN Coordinator is very timely as climate-related investments are needed more than ever," underscored Gustavo Gonzalez.During her week-long mission to the Philippines, Reena Ghelani met with the Government's National Task Force on El Niño, the Humanitarian Country Team, the Philippine Red Cross and other partners. She interacted with communities affected by El Niño and women's groups engaged in strengthening community resilience. She also visited a climate-resilience housing project and spoke with local authorities and civil society organizations.
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Press Release
19 April 2024
Philippines joins UN Global Accelerator aiming to expand jobs and social protection
The inter-ministerial Social Development Committee (SDC), chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has confirmed its commitment for this programme to facilitate just transitions towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The interest from the Philippines highlights the alignment of the Global Accelerator objectives with the country’s development frameworks, particularly the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan (PLEP) for 2023-2028, said Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma of DOLE. These frameworks have been reinforced by the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan whose inter-agency council shall be the national steering committee in implementing the roadmap/s under the Global Accelerator. “These underscore as a priority the creation of employment opportunities and that is where support from the new initiative will be crucial,” he said on behalf of the SDC.The Global Accelerator will support pathfinder countries like the Philippines to align national policies, close gaps and channel investments for social impact. It will help address coverage and financing gaps for universal social protection, create decent work, protect communities from climate change and other risks, and facilitate just transitions initially in the construction and transport sectors. With its potential to make a real difference in the lives of millions of people around the world, the Global Accelerator will also enhance multilateral cooperation for joint implementation, said Gustavo Gonzalez, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Philippines.“The Philippines’ participation as one of the Pathfinder Countries in the Global Accelerator will maximize UN support to bolster the country’s efforts to ensure full, decent and productive employment for every Filipino,” he said. “This global initiative has great potential to fast-track the realization of development objectives.”The engagement process with the Global Accelerator started in 2023 with various national consultations that included international financial institutions, UN agencies, development partners, government agencies and other partners. On 28 February 2024, the Global Accelerator was presented to the Social Development Committee at the Cabinet level, which endorsed the country's engagement in the initiative.The International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will actively support the Global Accelerator in the Philippines.Following the official commitment, the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TBP) Inter-agency Council will serve as the National Steering Committee. The council will support the design and implementation of the national development roadmap and foster collaboration among the actors involved, including workers and the private sector. The national roadmap will set the direction and the entry points of the Global Accelerator in the Philippines.The Philippines has already joined the Global Coalition for Social Justice, a UN-breaking initiative to reduce inequalities, promote decent work and advance social justice.
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