Climate Change Update: To prevent more deaths during disaster, Surveillance in Post Extreme Emergencies and Disaster (SPEED), a project supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), uses SMS / text messages on mobile phones or the internet to alert emergency health officials to dangerous situations and send them health information, and receive data on health conditions in communities and reports of disaster damage

IRIN Asia | PHILIPPINES: Texting help and health in disaster response | Philippines | Natural Disasters: "SPEED can be activated within 24 hours of any disaster, including displacement caused by conflict, and works by tapping into the vast mobile phone network in the Philippines - official statistics say almost everyone has a handset. Where mobile phone systems are down, field reporters can use radios to send in statistics for their area, she said. Health and emergency “reporters”, usually disaster response or health officers at the barangay (the smallest administrative area) or municipal level, fan out to community health facilities, hospitals and evacuation centres to check on reported cases of the most common post-disaster diseases. This data and other information is then sent via mobile phone - using codes and formats specially designed for the system - to the central SPEED server based in Manila, where it is collated and analyzed before making the information accessible to emergency officials at all levels of government. "

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Peace Update: Philippines isn’t hampered by the absence of the joint statement in the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meeting in Cambodia, saying the country would continue finding a peaceful solution to the disputed West Philippine Sea. ASEAN foreign ministers had earlier agreed to key elements on the code of conduct in the West Philippine Sea, but for some reason, a joint communiqué was not issued at the end of the ministerial meeting

PHL to continue claim of West Philippine Sea through diplomacy, Palace says - ZamboTimes: "In April, during the ASEAN leader’s summit in Cambodia, the chair removed the West Philippine Sea issue from the agenda despite Manila’s insistence. Cambodia is this year’s ASEAN Summit chair. “We are not hampered by the absence of a joint communiqué. It certainly would have helped us but we are not hampered by the absence of a joint communiqué,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a media briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday.
Asked by reporters what would be President Benigno S. Aquino III’s approach when he goes back to Cambodia this November for the ASEAN Summit, Lacierda said the President will certainly back the ASEAN centrality. “Number one, tingnan natin kung ano ang magiging developments from here on until the next meeting of the ASEAN leaders. But definitely, one thing that the President has emphasized and will emphasize again in the coming meeting will be the ASEAN centrality,” he said."

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Children's Causes Update: DepEd National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) launched, on Tuesday, the implementing rules for viewing safety law for 15-year-olds and younger

DepEd releases rules for law shielding kids from TV violence | Inquirer News: "According to MTRCB chair Grace Poe Llamanzares, children watch an average of 21 hours of TV per week and are exposed to up to 18,000 scenes of simulated murder by the time they turn 18.  That is equivalent to 1,000 scenes per year or up to three scenes per day. “The modern age has allowed us to recognize that there is a third leg that is so critical in terms of caring for children: the media.  Whatever values, good things we wish to pass on are sometimes removed from the consciousness of young people because of what they hear media, in this case TV,” Education Secretary Armin Luistro said."

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Wellness in Science & Technology: Students from Philippine Science High School (PSHS) recently showed their craftsmanship and ingenuity in the 2012 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. A part of the annual celebration of the science week - the Interactive Activity - drew in the young crowd that stood amazed at the clever “playthings” fashioned by the students of PSHS. The event, which ended July 15, featured PSHS student-developed gizmos, robots, and other creations that have practical applications.

PIA | Philippine Information Agency | Philippine Science High School students show talents at S&T week: "Some of the featured creations were robots or automated gadgets from the 11 campuses of PSHS, including the one in Quezon City, that have been recognized in national and international robotics Olympiads. These include the robosoccer-real steel kicking robots, Botball, Ilocano Robots, Bioloids, and robots resembling animals.

Through the activity, PSHS students had the opportunity to interact with the public and provide valuable information, especially to young students, that helped increase awareness and appreciation of science and technology.

In his inspirational message, Science and Technology Undersecretary Fortunato Dela Pena said he believes the students can even boost the country’s economy despite their young age.

Dr. Josette P. Biyo, PSHS executive director, acknowledged the active participation of the students, teachers, and the directors of different campuses in this activity. "

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Wellness in Business: Grant Thornton International Business Report; which was released by audit, tax, and advisory services firm Punongbayan & Araullo; showed that the Philippine business community is the second most optimistic in the optimism league table. The Philippines scored 90 percent, just behind Peru’s 96 percent and tied with Chile. The Philippines was at fourth spot last quarter, behind Peru (90 percent), Brazil (86 percent) and the United Arab Emirates (84 percent)

Philippine business community 2nd most optimistic in the world - report | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere: "For this second quarter, a balance of 40 percent of Philippine respondents expected increased profitability, same as last quarter. But in terms of revenue improvement expectations, the balance dropped from last quarter’s 48 percent to 44 percent. The proportion of businesses expecting to hike prices grew to 30 percent from last quarter’s 14 percent.

“The drop in revenue expectations could be due to businesses expecting a reduction in sales volumes as a result of price increases,” Marivic Españo, P&A’s chair and chief executive, said in a statement. “Costs attendant to doing business, such as oil prices for example, which were on the high end at the start of the second quarter, are normally passed on to consumers, so business leaders are naturally looking at a drop in volume sales.”

Also, 80 percent of the respondents in the report plan to increase salaries either in line with inflation or by causes other than inflation. None of the businesses intend to reduce pay."

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Wellness in Education: Department of Education (DepEd) gets the biggest allocation in the proposed P2.006-trillion national budget for 2013 as the Aquino administration aims to solve the shortage in teachers and classrooms by next year, according to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad. The DepEd gets P292.7 billion for 2013, or P55.9-billion more than its P238.8-billion budget this year

Education Gets Biggest Budget Allocation | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "“Next year, for the first time in Philippine history, we provided enough budget to the DepEd to hire 61,510 teachers,” Abad said in a press briefing in the Palace yesterday.

The construction and rehabilitation of 31,789 classrooms will “finally close the teacher and classroom gap,” said Abad.

Following the DepEd in terms of budget allocation are: the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with P152.9-billion; Department of National Defense (DND), P121.6-billion; Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), P120.8-billion; Department of Agriculture (DA), P74.1-billion; Department of Health (DOH), P56.8-billion; Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), P56.2-billion; Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), P37.1-billion; Department of Finance (DOF), P33.2-billion; and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), P23.7-billion."

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Wellness in Trade & Industry: Philippines' $225 billion economy expanded 6.4 percent in the first quarter, the fastest pace since 2010, and the peso is the best performer against the U.S. dollar among Asia’s 11 most-traded currencies this year, having gained about 5 percent. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PCOMP) surged to a record this month. The peso rose a third day today to 41.732 per dollar as of 9:27 a.m. in Manila. Benchmark bonds due March 2021 gained, with the yield falling to the lowest level since February, according to Tradition Financial Services

Philippines Targets $10 Billion of Annual Foreign Investments - Businessweek: "The Philippines said it aims to boost foreign direct investments in call centers, factories and shipyards to more than $10 billion a year, as President Benigno Aquino strives to create jobs and bolster growth.

The Philippines received 24 business teams in the first half of the year from countries including Russia, Turkey and Japan, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said. Investors are keen on shipbuilding, agriculture, energy, steel, garments, and business process outsourcing, he said.

“The biggest thing that has improved our standing in the investment community globally has been President Aquino’s governance,” Domingo said in an interview in his office in Manila yesterday."

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Wellness in Environment: Regulations in Mining: The executive order (EO) on mining that President Benigno Aquino signed in early July is expected to have a significant effect on projects worth $12bn over the next five years, according to recent international press reports. The EO sets standards for environmental protection and paves the way for the government to raise more revenue from mining. The finance secretary, Cesar Purisima, said the order would initiate a “thorough review of all mining operations … to strengthen and promote efficient and effective regulation of the industry, as well as gain popular support for the development of our mineral resources

The Philippines: Regulations in mining | Energy | Philippines | Oxford Business Group: "Environmental measures included in the order are bans on mining in areas identified as sites for ecotourism, agriculture and fishing; tighter regulation on small-scale mining; and a ban on the use of mercury. The EO also requires local mining regulations to be consistent with national legislation, a centralising move likely to be welcomed by the industry, which has occasionally found local administrations sceptical of mine development.

Importantly, the order respects existing mining agreements and allows exploration activities, feasibility studies and the processing of environmental compliance papers to restart. A moratorium on new projects imposed in January 2011, when the government began a review of its mining policy, has been a cause of great frustration for the industry, particularly given the Philippines’ resource wealth and rising global demand for minerals."

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Rotary Update: Metrobank Foundation announces 2012 outstanding Philippine soldiers. They are: Col. Milfredo Melegrito, director of Land Warfare Center, Training and Doctrine Command. He has been in the service for 25 years. M/Sgt. Juana Hernal is the branch non-commissioned officer in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training and has been in the service for 22 years. T/Sgt. Rolando Diomangay, chief clerk adjutant of the 53rd Engineer Brigade from the Philippine Army has been in the service for 20 years. Capt. Erick Kagaoan is the director of Naval Management and Fiscal Office in the headquarters of the Naval Station and has been in the service for 25 years. Engineman Second Class Arce Balasabas is the petty officer-in-charge in the maintenance and repair branch, headquarters fleet maintenance and support group in Eastern Mindanao and has been in the service for 28 years. Engineman Third Class Ricky Burgos is the petty officer-in-charge, Naval Intelligence and Security Group Unit 2 in Estern Mindanao and has been in the Philippine Navy for 17 years. Lt. Col. Antonio Francisco, Jr. is the Deputy Group Commander of the 505th Search and Rescue Group of the Philippine Air Force and has been in the service for 20 years. Senior M/Sgt. Augusto Reyes is an overall non commissioned officer-in-charge assigned in the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for CMO A-7 HPAF, and has been in the service for 30 years. M/Sgt. Emerito Angcao is the communication/navigation technician from the 463rd Avionics Armament Maintenance Squadron, 15th strike wing and has been in the Philippine Air Force for 24 years. Col. Raul Tangco is dean of the Academic Group of the Philippine Military Academy and has been in the service for 28 years. Metrobank Foundation with Rotary Club of Makati Metro, annually holds the Search for TOPS to honor the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces to highlight their achievements and efforts towards achieving peace and nation building. “We are proud to present to the entire nation 10 of the most dedicated and accomplished members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” says Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña.

Metrobank Foundation announces 2012 outstanding Philippine soldiers - Home » Best of the Philippines » The Good News: "“More than being the private sector’s expression of gratitude to the sacrifices of our soldiers, TOPS also highlights the contributions of the men and women of the military, as vanguards of peace and democracy, to nation building and development,” he added.

The awardees will be feted together with the winners of the Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) and Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) – known as the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos – on Sept. 5 during Metrobank’s 50th anniversary.

TOPS winners will receive a cash prize of P300,000 and a trophy courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation."

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"Many Filipinos believe our peaceful EDSA “People Power” revolution in February, 1986, served as inspiration for peoples of the Middle East and North Africa who demanded and fought for long-suppressed freedoms. Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Yemen were able to effect regime change from protracted dictatorship in what is now called the “Arab Spring.” No matter how benign, authoritarianism won’t work in a diverse, democratic society like the Philippines. The Marcos regime was overthrown by the combination of valiant, God-fearing people and a rebellious but professional military component. The winds of change energized by the “Arab Spring,” wiped out despots, no matter how deeply entrenched. While the common denominator of such regime changes was that leaders stayed in power too long and trampled on people’s rights, it was only in the Philippines where democratic transition took place without violence and bloodshed."- FVR, Former Phil President

Waging Peace And Winning Development | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "Violent uprisings – as happened in Latin America, and are still seething in Africa and the Middle East – we must make unnecessary. For their part, Filipinos must not allow their political processes, democratic institutions and elected leadership ever to fail again.

Filipinos, surely, are justified in trumpeting their unique “people power revolution Philippine-style.” But, people power cannot again and again substitute for durable democratic institutions as safeguards against corruption, impunity, cronyism, and incompetence.

Building strong political institutions buttressed by social justice and competitiveness requires unceasing, consistent effort."

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