HEALTH: FREE Medicine distributed by DOH due to continuous rain. Public schools in Quezon City, San Juan and Pateros have already been given doxycycline and assorted medicines during dengue and leptospirosis awareness campaign. Health personnel in evacuation centers are also providing doxycycline capsules to evacuees as [a form of] protection from leptospirosis. Regional epidemiology surveillance unit has reported that 133 leptospirosis cases were admitted from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10 this year. “The figure is 63 percent lower than the 357 cases reported for the same period last year. The ages of those affected ranged from 11 months to 82 years. Majority (81 percent) were male. Most of the cases (22 percent) were from the City of Manila. Ten deaths were recorded. DOH-NCR health emergency staff and regional health representatives conducted a rapid health assessment (RHA) in selected evacuation centers in Marikina, Quezon City and Pateros. An RHA is also being done in selected and accessible evacuation centers in Pasay City by the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan health teams.

DOH starts distribution of meds vs leptospirosis | Inquirer News: "Besides the doxycycline capsules being given to affected individuals, doses of vitamin A were also being administered to children in evacuation areas....I advise everyone who will wade in floodwaters to wear protective gear in order not to be affected by leptospirosis,” Eduardo Janairo, the DOH-NCR regional director sain in an interview. He said the DOH was coordinating with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Flood Control Information Center and the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center on assistance to be given to the afflicted." CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE

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GLOBAL PINOY: Australian Parents learned basic Filipino language with their adopted Filipino children in an event organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney to celebrate the Philippine’s Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa (Month of National Language). The Philippine Embassy in Australia gathered together adopted Filipino children aged three to 13 along with their Australian parents for an interactive Filipino language lesson aimed at teaching them Filipino words they can use at home and in an outdoor setting. According to the Filipino community news site The Filipino Australian, the parents and their children were taught salutation phrases like “Kumusta po (How are you)?”, “Anong pangalan mo (What’s your name)?” “Ako si… (I am…)” and Filipino words for colors, food, and other common objects.

Australian parents taught Filipino words while bonding with their Pinoy kids | Pinoy Abroad | GMA News Online: "Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis lauded the success of the event, which was the second presentation prepared by the Philippine Embassy for the Australian parents and their adopted Filipino children.

“We are very happy that the Australian parents of the children are very supportive and they take extra efforts to nurture an awareness of Filipino culture and heritage in their adopted children,” she said."

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SPORTS: PHL won 2 Gold & 3 Silver Medals in ASIAN YOUTH GAMES 10-day competition among 45 countries and their best athletes in the age bracket of 14-17 years. Padilla, who mastered the rapid air pistol event, said for the second AYG they were able to assemble a good set of athletes from 13 sports disciplines. They produced the results in golf, taekwondo and tennis with promise shown in athletics, badminton, 3-on-3 basketball, fencing, judo, rugby, shooting, swimming, table tennis and weightlifting. Winning the gold were Mia Legaspi and Pauline Louise Lopez while providing the silver were Princess Superal, Francis Aaron Agojo and Jurence Mendoza.

AYG underscores need for sound youth program | Sports, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com: "The performance of the Filipino athletes in Nanjing surpassed the country’s one-silver, one-bronze effort in the inaugural AYG in Singapore in 2009.

“There should be continuity. Once you identify the talents you must push through with their development,” said Padilla, a five-time gold medalist in the SEA Games.

Padilla knows how it is being a youth athlete because when he was 12 he won the gold medal in the 1976 World Junior Shooting Championships in Mexico." CLICK LINK TO SEE FULL ARTICLE

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TRADE & INDUSTRY UPDATE: Development goals and needs of three Philippine industries – manufacturing, chemicals, and copper – were discussed during the Trade and Industry Development Updates forum on August 13, 2013. The three industries were the first batch of over 30 industries for which the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has drum up medium- and long-term plans to guide in policy-making, especially in reviewing Executive Order 61 on import duties. Agribusiness, tourism, and manufacturing, have top government priorities. Manufacturing is the heart of industry growth, with its huge supply chain and economic impact, including the development of the copper and chemical industries. Three development phases have been drawn up for manufacturing until 2025. The first phase (2014 to 2017) will rebuild the capacity of existing industries and strengthen emerging ones. The second phase (2018 to 2021) will shift manufacturing to high value-added activities and integrate with micro, small, and medium enterprises to enhance inclusiveness. The third phase (2022 to 2025) will make manufacturing the hub in Southeast Asia for automotive, electronics, garments, and food. The chemicals industry has a three-phase development plan: By 2016, it will establish the Chemical Industry Council, integrate petrochemicals and target $5 billion in exports. By 2022, it will diversify and expand into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), improve domestic feedstock, and expect $10 billion in exports. By 2030, local chemicals will be the third-largest export, with $30 billion in revenue. The copper sector will strengthen ties with global copper organizations by 2014. It will be included in the 2014 Investment Priorities Plan to provide direction on open pit mining and on mining economic zones. BOI reported that manufacturing grew by 20.4% in the first quarter of 2013 and drew R3.4 billion worth of investments. It is preparing for ASEAN Economic Integration by 2015.

Bolstering Philippine Trade and Investment | Tempo - News in a Flash: "The Manila Bulletin, led by its Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Emilio T. Yap, President and Publisher Atty. Hermogenes P. Pobre, Executive Vice President Dr. Emilio C. Yap III, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Cris J. Icban Jr., Business Editor Loreto D. Cabañes, Officers and Employees, congratulate the Philippine Government, headed by H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, Board of Investments Managing Head Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., and Philippine Institute for Development Studies President Dr. Gilberto M. Llanto, in their collective efforts to identify interventions, policies, and strategies for trade and investment that will improve the global competitiveness of industries in the Republic of the Philippines. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY."

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