On Mother’s Day, United Nations Population Fund Philippines calls for gender equality, adequate reproductive health care

Statement of Dr. Leila Saiji Joudane, Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Philippines:

With adequate support from health providers, family and society, giving birth should be a very fulfilling and positive experience for mothers. 

Unfortunately, we see on a daily basis a significant number of women who do not get the support that they need. Worse, some do not receive crucial medical assistance, resulting in maternal mortality or death of women while giving birth or during pregnancy.

Globally, every two minutes, a woman dies giving birth. In the Philippines, we noticed an increase of maternal deaths during the past two years: in 2019, 1458 women died of maternal causes; this number increased to 2,478 in 2021 (source: PSA). That is around 6 to 7 Filipino women dying daily due to childbirth. During emergencies, when access to maternal health services is disrupted, more women die during pregnancy and childbirth.

Women die because sexual and reproductive health services are unavailable, inaccessible, unaffordable or of poor quality. Human resources are also scarce. There are not enough trained health care workers that provide quality sexual and reproductive health information and services. For every 1,300 women and girls in reproductive age, there is only one public health midwife. In the Philippines, 14% of pregnant women do not get regular check-ups and the other necessary medical care that they need during their pregnancy. One in 10 women do not give birth in health facilities or receive assistance from skilled healthcare personnel during childbirth.

The top 5 causes of maternal deaths included complications in pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium, eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, and hemorrhage. Many of these deaths are preventable if only there were accessible proper medical interventions and adequate health-care systems that are also resilient to emergencies.

The high cost of health care makes it more inaccessible to poor Filipinos. According to the 2021 National Health Expenditure Survey, Filipinos in rural areas pay more for health care services and medicines compared to those living in urban areas and those with better income. 

A UNFPA study conducted with Burnet Institute showed that globally, every dollar invested on family planning services gains $8. But for the Philippines, the gains are even higher at $18. This is on top of the hundreds of thousands of  mothers’ and children’s lives saved.

Preventable maternal mortality, the denial of rights or demographic change can all be addressed by making the world a more gender-equal place.

Of course, this is easier said than done. But gender inequality’s role at the root of so many other issues, including those mentioned above, must be recognized. Gender inequality is what keeps women out of the workforce and schools, vulnerable to conflict and violence, and denies them the right to make decisions about their own bodies and health. And it’s what makes pregnancy a dangerous endeavour, one which hundreds of thousands of women do not survive.

As the sexual and reproductive health agency of the United Nations, we at UNFPA support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Philippines’ commitment to achieving universal health coverage and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reducing to zero preventable maternal death.

This Mother’s Day, let us uphold the right of all people — especially mothers — to reach the highest possible standard of health. Timely health care for pregnant women can make the difference between life and death. No woman should die giving life. 

About UNFPA

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA globally is promoting commitments to achieving three transformational goals by 2030 - ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and other harmful practices against women and girls including child marriage. UNFPA works with the government, civil society, development partners, other UN agencies, academia, and the private sector to reach those furthest behind first and leave no one behind, especially young people, the poorest, the conflict and disaster-affected, indigenous peoples and people with disabilities.

PHINLA Global Waste Management Conference hosted by World Vision and Eco-Waste Coalition

With the alarming waste generation posing massive health risks and environmental degradation globally, concerned individuals and groups from around the world have also taken concrete action to address and mitigate irreversible impact to the envoronment and the vulnerable sector including the waste collectors

In the Asian Region, World Vision's solid waste management (SWM) program PHINLA, funded by the German  government and development agency BMZ and in partnership with local actors, has strengthened eco-friendly initiatives in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Ondonesia through innovation and enhancements of effective waste management practices at the village or community level. The PHINLA program aims to empower waste workers and communities affected by poor waste management by harnessing waste collection and management processes to provide additional livelihood source  assisting local government in developing/enhancing their solid waste management systems and raising public awareness and involvement in addressing waste challenges in different country context.

Following PHINLA's successful implementation in the last four years, International development and advocacy agency World Vision in partnership with Eco-Waste Coalition, organizes the Global Waste Management Conference in Manila with the theme "Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Waste Management: Innovations, Partnerships, and Empowerment", to be held on May 4-5, 2023  8:30AM-4;30 PM at the Heritage Hotel Manila Pasay City, Philippines.

Nearly a hundred International delegates and the media are expected to attend from the Philippines  Sri Lanka, and Indonesia including representatives from different government and country offices, private providers, and multi-sectoral stakeholders on solid waste management at the local and community level.

The global conference also aims to highlight and celebrate what worked in the participating countries, especially the lessons and promising practices worth replicating and scaling up in the region. The eco-inspired event also hopes to highlight the Philppine government's contribution to Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action

Potential for Philippine Biogas Production spotlighted at recent German Chamber roundtable

MANILA, Philippines – The German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) brought together more than 40 biogas enthusiasts from the private sector, academe, and relevant government agencies during a multi-stakeholder roundtable discussion on biogas as a renewable energy source in the Philippines.    

The forum was organized as part of a develoPPP project to raise awareness for biogas technology in the Philippines, train Filipino biogas technicians, and establish biogas research and yield testing capacity in the country. The project was initiated by the German biogas technology provider LIPP GmbH and is 50% co-financed by the German Investment Corporation (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft – DEG) through public funds of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).   

During her keynote speech, German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Philippines stressed that biomass is a reliable renewable energy source – as compared to wind and solar which are dependent on weather conditions – that can play an important role in the renewable energy mix of the Philippines. In Germany, renewable energies contribute 44% to the country’s overall energy mix of which 7.7% are generated through biomass.   

According to Ruby De Guzman, Assistant Director of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) of the Department of Energy (DOE), renewable energy comprises 29% of the installed capacity and 22% of the gross power generation of the Philippines as of November 2022 and December 2021 respectively. In those years, biomass accounted for 2% of installed capacity and 1% of gross generation in the country.  

As a renewable energy (RE) source, biogas is more versatile in its use than other RE sources, such as the wind and sun, whose use is limited to generating electricity and heat. Biogas, on the other hand, can also be used as cooking gas, and once upgraded to a higher methane content, as transportation fuel. In addition, biogas production holds great potential to convert biodegradable waste into energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through carbon capture.  

The easing of foreign ownership restrictions for investments in the renewable energy sector opens opportunities for technology transfer to increase the production of biogas as a viable contributor to achieve energy security in the Philippines. 

About GPCCI 

GPCCI / AHK Philippinen belongs to the international network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) which is represented by 150 offices in 93 countries. GPCCI is the official representation of German businesses in the Philippines; a bilateral membership organization with around 300 members; and a service provider to companies in their market entry and expansion. 

GPCCI in Social Media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GPCCI.org/  

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/gpcci 

Twitter:https://twitter.com/AHK_Philippinen  

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqXbBFbpoE-LSZPoR2n3sCA 

Upskilling Training for Filipino Journalists on Biodiversity Reporting Opens Call for Applications

One of the 18 most species-rich countries, The Philippines is home to two-thirds of the world's biodiversity and numerous endemic species. However, human activities, including habitat destruction, wildlife trafficking, and climate change, are pushing many of these populations to the brink of collapse. That’s why it is crucial to train more Filipino journalists to cover biodiversity stories and investigate threats to the environment.

The Association of Young Environmental Journalists (AYEJ), an ecological literacy non-profit organization, is inviting journalists to join the Green Beat Plus, a free upskilling training program designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of Filipino journalists in reporting on biodiversity and natural resources management.

The Green Beat Plus is offered by RTI International and USAID’s Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes (SIBOL) Activity in partnership with AYEJ. It will run from June to September 2023.

Biodiversity plays a critical role in the lives of Filipinos. From the food on our tables to the sources of our livelihood, Filipinos are deeply linked to the riches that nature provides. This interdependence means that more Filipinos journalists should be equipped to accurately report on biodiversity stories, investigate threats and environmental violence, and explore community responses and solutions.

The Green Beat Plus features a virtual training program for 20 selected journalists from June to July 2023, where participants will learn from biodiversity and journalism experts. Selected journalists from this pool will receive reporting support and mentorship, and a chance to join an in-person advanced workshop in Palawan.

It is open to professional media practitioners, either staff or freelancers, working in any journalistic medium such as print, online, radio, podcast, television, and multimedia. They must be currently residing and working in the Philippines to join the program. 

Applicants do not need to have prior experience with biodiversity reporting, but they should be able to demonstrate strong interest and commitment in the topic.

The participating journalists will undergo a 4-week online training to learn about key biodiversity concepts and techniques and tools in reporting biodiversity stories. At the end of the training, journalists will pitch their stories on biodiversity and natural resources management. The 10 best story pitches will receive funding support and mentorship to pursue their reporting and publication.

The 10 journalists with the best story pitches will receive an all-expenses-paid opportunity to gather in an in-person advanced workshop in Palawan, which is one of the main areas of implementation of the USAID SIBOL project. The selected journalists will have the chance to present their progress in their reporting and the workshop will serve as a space to critique, polish and strengthen their stories, before their expected publication by mid-September 2023.

Interested journalists should send their CV or resume, at least two sample works, and a biodiversity story idea/pitch in the Green Beat Plus application form: https://bit.ly/apply-biojourntraining

Applications close at May 10, 2023 at 11:59 PM. Participating journalists will be informed of their selection by mid-May.

SIKA Successfully Closes MBCC Acquisition and Strengthens Position as Sustainability Champion in the Global Construction Industry

• Sika acquires MBCC business generating CHF 2.1 billion net sales in 2022
• Annual synergies expected in the range of CHF 160 – 180 million by 2026
• Integration process well prepared and to start as of today
• The combined innovation power of Sika and MBCC will accelerate the sustainable transformation of the whole construction industry
• Sika is set to reach sales in excess of CHF 12 billion in 2023

Sika has completed the acquisition of MBCC Group after having received all necessary regulatory approvals. With this highly complementary transaction, Sika strengthens its footprint across all regions, reinforces its range of products and services across the entire construction life cycle and drives the sustainable transformation of the construction industry further and faster.

MBCC Group, headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, and formerly owned by an affiliate of Lone Star Funds, is active in the field of construction systems and admixture systems. To close the transaction and to comply with regulatory requirements, Sika sold MBCC Group’s chemical admixtures assets in the UK, the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand to the international private equity firm Cinven. The business now acquired by Sika generated sales of CHF 2.1 billion in 2022, employs 6,200 people and operates in over 60 countries and 95 production facilities.

Thomas Hasler, CEO: “Today is a historic day for Sika. We are delighted to welcome the MBCC employees to the Sika family. We embark on our exciting journey and will continue to drive Sika’s growth story. Thanks to our extensive experience in integrating companies, we will successfully bring Sika and MBCC together and combine our strengths to create a new reference in the construction chemicals industry. Together we will deliver world-class performance for our customers and develop innovative, sustainable solutions."

After the successful closing, Sika’s sustainable product portfolio will be further enhanced with MBCC’s innovative technologies. Sika will offer a wide and comprehensive range of solutions to enable the sustainable transformation of the construction industry and help customers reduce their carbon footprint.

With this transaction, Sika strengthens its growth platform by broadening its product and solution offerings in four of five core technologies and seven of eight Sika Target Markets. Customers will benefit from an enhanced and more efficient distribution network across all construction markets. Sika expects to generate annual synergies in the range of CHF 160 – 180 million by 2026. The combined Group is set to reach sales in excess of CHF 12 billion in 2023.

SIKA CORPORATE PROFILE

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and

protecting in the building sector and motor vehicle industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 101 countries around the world and manufactures in over 300 factories. Its more than 27,500

employees generated annual sales of CHF 10.49 billion in 2022.

The First Disc Golf Course in Metro Manila hosted by Nayong Pilipino

The Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF), in partnertship with the Disc Golf Association of the Philippines (DGAP), will officially launch the Nayong Pilipino Disc Golf Course on April 29, 2023 with an inaugural Tournament which will be participated by at least 40 professional disc golf players from different parts of the Philippines.

Disc golf, is also known as Frisbee golf, is a professional, highly-competitive sport with one of the fast-growing, most dedicated fan and player communities in the world. It is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, player use a flying disc or Frisbee. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer.

NPF Executive Director Gerlie Duran-Batocabe said the agency hopes that the opening of the new sports attraction will spark new interest in emerging sports.

She also disclosed the agency aims to host an international disc golf tournament within the year, with NPF in partnership with the Professional Disc Golf Association.

"This furthers our goal of promoting sports tourism in support of our mother agency, the Department of Tourism as many foreign and domestic visitors will be flying in to participate and/or watch the tournaments" said Duran-Batocade.

Disc Golf is a sport for everyone as it can be played from school age to golden age.  It is also a healthy, inexpensive, recreational activity that provides upper and lower conditioning, aerobic exercise and mental stimulation

Opportunity Awaits All at Go! iVolunteer Expo, Free Admission!

iVolunteer, SM Cares, SM Supermalls and Cravewell are bringing back the two-day volunteer exposition on May 6 to 7 at SM Megamall. On its third run, they are also expanding the event to SM City Davao Annex Event Center from May 27 to 28 so that many more can discover new ways to support their chosen causes.

Coming from 28 non-governmental organization (NGO) partners before the pandemic, Go! Volunteer expo aims to increase this number this year. Not to mention, organizers expect to host the “most diverse slate of partner organizations” at these SM malls, as the locations have become an avenue for the youth to make more opportunities. The expo also stands to reignite everyone’s volunteering passion as it again gathers NGOs and volunteers to measure up their interests and needs.

“For us, Go! Volunteer 2023 is significant in a way that it ushers in the start of bringing back physical volunteering,” explains Tan. “We’ve continued our volunteer activities online during the pandemic when we were locked in our homes; but now, we’re saying we can volunteer in person again.”

“SM Cares is dedicated to supporting communities by empowering the next generation of leaders and actively involving them as champions of our various advocacies,” shares Royston A. Cabunag, Assistant Vice President for SM Supermalls and SM Cares Program Director for Children & Youth. “As the ‘Mall for All’, we are thrilled to be an avenue for iVolunteer to welcome and gather organizations and volunteers, creating more meaningful opportunities for the youth to create a brighter, more sustainable future for all,” adds Cabunag.

Event attendees also have the chance to get volunteering insights as different speakers will take the expo stage. Apart from that, games, activities, treats and much more await attendees.

So if you advocate for women’s empowerment, community development, education, children, the environment and a lot more, #DiscoverNew head to Go! Volunteer 2023 expo.

Admission is free so see you there