Wellness in Labor: Authorities increased training and public awareness efforts on trafficking

US Trafficking in Persons Report 2011: Philippines | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features: "Authorities increased training and public awareness efforts on trafficking, including for judicial officials, diplomats, civil society groups, and overseas foreign workers. The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) conducted 1,344 pre-deployment orientation seminars and 863 pre-employment seminars for over 100,000 prospective and outbound Filipino overseas workers. POEA and the Department of Labor and Employment also conducted anti-illegal recruitment and trafficking seminars in the country, attended by local prosecutors, law enforcement personnel, local government units, NGOs, recruitment agencies, and community members. The government conducted training seminars in Malaysia and Jordan for regional Philippine embassy personnel in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa on victim identification, reporting of trafficking cases, victim-centered interview techniques, and discussion of options for filing trafficking cases or related criminal charges against traffickers in the destination countries or in the Philippines"

The DFA also continued to provide pre-deployment seminars on recognizing and responding to trafficking cases to government personnel before being assigned abroad. During the year, the IACAT significantly increased staffing to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons, which now operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week, is led by three senior airport officials, and includes 11 full-time airport police department officers, 10 Department of Justice prosecutors and staff members, and seven social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also designated 14 agents to assist the task force in law enforcement operations. Four regional anti-trafficking task forces consisting of prosecutors, law enforcement agents, social workers, and NGOs were created in trafficking hotspots around the country; these task forces received funding and personnel support from the IACAT and the Department of Justice. On March 15, the IACAT launched a 24-hour nationwide anti-trafficking hotline designed to respond to crisis calls from human trafficking victims. Despite significant local demand in the country’s thriving commercial sex industry, the government’s efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts in the Philippines were limited, as were the government’s efforts to address the demand for forced labor. In December, the Philippine Congress appropriated $550,000 in the 2011 national budget to fund, for the first time, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s anti-trafficking programs. The Department of Justice created dedicated office space for the IACAT and increased staffing for the IACAT Secretariat from four to eight personnel, though the majority of these staffers were not assigned on a full-time basis. The government also overhauled its screening of immigration patterns for evidence of trafficking during the year. In August 2010, the Bureau of Immigration instituted new screening guidelines for ports of exit, leading to the interception of over 28,000 passengers identified as potential victims of trafficking, due to their lack of proper documentation and indicators of high risk for illegal recruitment and trafficking. Over 900 cases were referred to the IACAT, NBI, POEA, and DFA for further investigation. Through trafficking prevention efforts at major seaports in partnership with an NGO, over 1,800 potential victims of trafficking were intercepted, resulting in the filing of 21 criminal anti-trafficking cases. The Philippine armed forces reportedly rescued eight child soldiers during the year, all of whom were allegedly conscripted by the NPA. The government provided training, including a module on human trafficking, to Philippine troops prior to their deployment abroad on international peacekeeping missions.

Wellness in Labor: Authorities increased training and public awareness efforts on trafficking

US Trafficking in Persons Report 2011: Philippines | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features: "Authorities increased training and public awareness efforts on trafficking, including for judicial officials, diplomats, civil society groups, and overseas foreign workers. The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) conducted 1,344 pre-deployment orientation seminars and 863 pre-employment seminars for over 100,000 prospective and outbound Filipino overseas workers. POEA and the Department of Labor and Employment also conducted anti-illegal recruitment and trafficking seminars in the country, attended by local prosecutors, law enforcement personnel, local government units, NGOs, recruitment agencies, and community members. The government conducted training seminars in Malaysia and Jordan for regional Philippine embassy personnel in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa on victim identification, reporting of trafficking cases, victim-centered interview techniques, and discussion of options for filing trafficking cases or related criminal charges against traffickers in the destination countries or in the Philippines."

The DFA also continued to provide pre-deployment seminars on recognizing and responding to trafficking cases to government personnel before being assigned abroad. During the year, the IACAT significantly increased staffing to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons, which now operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week, is led by three senior airport officials, and includes 11 full-time airport police department officers, 10 Department of Justice prosecutors and staff members, and seven social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also designated 14 agents to assist the task force in law enforcement operations. Four regional anti-trafficking task forces consisting of prosecutors, law enforcement agents, social workers, and NGOs were created in trafficking hotspots around the country; these task forces received funding and personnel support from the IACAT and the Department of Justice. On March 15, the IACAT launched a 24-hour nationwide anti-trafficking hotline designed to respond to crisis calls from human trafficking victims. Despite significant local demand in the country’s thriving commercial sex industry, the government’s efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts in the Philippines were limited, as were the government’s efforts to address the demand for forced labor. In December, the Philippine Congress appropriated $550,000 in the 2011 national budget to fund, for the first time, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s anti-trafficking programs. The Department of Justice created dedicated office space for the IACAT and increased staffing for the IACAT Secretariat from four to eight personnel, though the majority of these staffers were not assigned on a full-time basis. The government also overhauled its screening of immigration patterns for evidence of trafficking during the year. In August 2010, the Bureau of Immigration instituted new screening guidelines for ports of exit, leading to the interception of over 28,000 passengers identified as potential victims of trafficking, due to their lack of proper documentation and indicators of high risk for illegal recruitment and trafficking. Over 900 cases were referred to the IACAT, NBI, POEA, and DFA for further investigation. Through trafficking prevention efforts at major seaports in partnership with an NGO, over 1,800 potential victims of trafficking were intercepted, resulting in the filing of 21 criminal anti-trafficking cases.

Wellness & Health: Nutrition month promotes exclusive breastfeeding

Nutrition month promotes exclusive breastfeeding

PIA daily news in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Waray, Pangalatok from around the Philippines: "Dr. Anthony Redaniel, MDGF-2030 Field coordinator for exclusive breastfeeding, said “Tama” stands for the correct practice of allowing immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after birth, and initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of life.
He said “Sapat” is meant to assure the mother that little breastmilk is enough for the first week and that frequent breastfeeding ensures continuous breastmilk supply to respond to the increasing needs of the baby.
“EKslusibo” on the other hand, Redaniel said, advocates that for the first six months, only breastmilk and no other liquid should be given to the baby as it has all the nutrients and water that the baby needs.
“After which, the baby should be given appropriate complementary foods while continually breastfeeding,” Redaniel said.
On the other hand, NNC Regional Coordinator Nona Tad-y said during a press briefing held July 4, that breastfeeding ranks among the most effective interventions to improve child’s survival.
Tad-y said the World Health Organization has estimated that high coverage of optimal breastfeeding practices could avert 13 percent of the 10.3 million annual deaths of children five years old and below."

Wellness in Governance: Local Chief Executives (LCEs) to commemorate this year's theme, which is 'Making the Rights Real for Filipinos w/ Disabilities

33rd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week Celebration | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "The Department of Interior the and Local Government (DILG) Sunday expressed support to persons with disabilities (PWDs) in light of the upcoming 33rd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week Celebration, which will be held from July 17 to 23, 2011.

In memorandum circular 2011-81, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo called on local chief executives (LCEs) to commemorate this year's theme, which is 'Making the Rights Real for Filipinos with Disabilities' by calling the public's attention to the plight and challenges faced by PWDs."

Wellness in Science & Technology: DOST installs Automatic Weather Station

DOST installs Automatic Weather Station

PIA daily news in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Waray, Pangalatok from around the Philippines: "The DOST-PAGASA/ASTI Automatic Weather Station joint project will establish and maintain a nationwide environmental monitoring network and will continuously provide solutions for the mitigation of environment-related disasters.
The ASWs are equipped with sensors capable of measuring weather parameters, wind speed and direction, air temperature, air humidity, air pressure, rain amount, duration and intensity.
Aside from Tacloban, DOST will also install Automatic Weather Stations in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, Maasin, Southern Leyte, Catbalogan, Samar and Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
A total of 80 AWSs is programmed to be installed in stations across the country. The DOST hopes to complete the installation by August of 2011.
Mr. Peñaranda said that in addition to the AWSs, DOST-ASTI, in cooperation with DOST-PAGASA, has also developed an Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) to gather and record the amount of rainfall over a set period of time and automatically sends the data to the central based station on a pre-determined interval basis."

Wellness in Environment: Groups push plastic bags phaseout on plastic bag-free day - Nation - GMA News Online - Latest Philippine News

Groups push plastic bags phaseout on plastic bag-free day - Nation - GMA News Online - Latest Philippine News: "The groups called for the enactment of a law that will:
phase out plastic bags both regular and degradable;
promote organic reusable bags;
espouse take-back mechanisms and recycling;
support LGUs in their waste management initiatives;
impose environmental levy on plastic bags; and
for accountability purposes, label so-called “degradable' plastic bags to show name of manufacturers, manufacturing date, and the degradation period of the bag."

Wellness in Arts & Culture: Ancient art and culture event wows artists group — Lake Bluff news, photos and events — TribLocal.com

Ancient art and culture event wows artists group — Lake Bluff news, photos and events — TribLocal.com: "An interactive presentation on Philippine arts and culture by renowned Manila born American visionary artist and ancient art historian, Fred DeAsis, excites members of local art group — Artist on the Bluff. The event was held Monday, June 6, 2011 at the Lake Bluff Park District meeting hall.

The cultural art presentation-workshop included a brief history and revival of “Kut-kut”, the ancient lost art and “Baybayin”, an ancient writing system commonly used during pre-colonial years in the Philippines. During the session, participants translated words and names into Baybayin written system."

Kut-kut is an ancient Philippines art style and technique based on early century Oriental and European art forms. Specific designs represent the identity of a tribal unit on the island. The uniqueness of the art form is the story it presents. It has been kept alive by passing it on through the generations. It is described as a production of interwoven lines and multi-layered textures. Artisans from Samar province, one of the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, were known for their kut-kut artistry,” explained Fred DeAsis.

"Baybayin is a writing system commonly used during pre-colonial Philippines. It is one of many writing systems used in Southeast Asia. The origin could be traced back from north central India were artifacts in Brahmic writing system were found dated as early as 3rd century,” he added.

Fred DeAsis received the 2010 CFO Presidential Award from the president of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III, for outstanding achievement and service in the field of Arts and Culture. The international award is given every two years to highly selected individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements on their given field. Last year's awards were presented to 24 recipients from 13 countries.

Wellness in Education: Gardening in 403 schools begun | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

Gardening in 403 schools begun | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) launched last week vegetable gardening in 403 schools in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur to help address micro problem on food security and malnutrition.

Dubbed as Programang Agrikulturang Pilipino — Gulayan sa Paaralan, the project is part of the state’s accelerated hunger mitigation program seeking to open a 200-sq. m. vegetable garden in each of the selected schools, according to Salik Panalunsong, field operations chief of the DAF-ARMM. (Ali G. Macabalang)"

Peace Update: Cordillera rebels, gov't to sign peace pact today » Nation » Article

Cordillera rebels, gov't to sign peace pact today » Nation » Article:

"The Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA), a group that broke away from the New People’s Army (NPA) in 1986, is set to sign a closure pact with the Government of the Philippines (GPH) today.

“From an armed group, we will now be a potent force that will drive development and economic growth in our communities,' said CPLA Chairman Arsenio Humiding.

Humiding is set to meet President Benigno Aquino III at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace to officially sign the peace agreement.

Humiding, with Marcelina Bahatan, president of CPLA's political wing, the Cordillera Bodong Administration (CBA), will sign the agreement on behalf of the Cordillera rebel group. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles will be government's signatory.

The agreement provides for community-identified projects, livelihood and employment support for CPLA members, sub-regional development projects, legacy documentation and final disposition of arms and forces, all leading towards the group's development into an unarmed, socio-economic organization."

The closure agreement will also be signed by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia Jr., Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman, Ifugao Congressman Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Apayao Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr., local government officials from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and CPLA zone commanders, as witnesses.