Day: September 7, 2022

A report published by the U.N. Development Program finds the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, economic uncertainty and other crises have halted progress in human development and reversed gains made over the past three decades.

Data from 191 countries show 90% failed to achieve a better, healthier, more secure life for their people in 2020 and 2021. For the first time in 32 years, the UNDP’s Human Development Index, which measures a nation’s progress, finds human development has declined for two years running.

U.N. Development Program administrator Achim Steiner said that is unprecedented.

“Nine out of 10 countries in this year’s human development report index are shown to have faced a decline,” Steiner said. “This has never happened before even during the last devastating global moment of crisis, the financial crisis, only one out of 10 countries faced a decline in human development indices.”

The Human Development Index captures a picture of a nation’s health, education, and standard of living. This year’s rankings show some countries are beginning to get back on their feet, while others remain mired in deepening crises. The report finds Latin America, the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia have been particularly hard hit.

Switzerland tops this year’s rankings, followed by Norway, Iceland, Hong Kong, Australia, and other wealthy nations. Countries from sub-Saharan Africa are among the lowest ranked in human development, with South Sudan at the bottom.

The report’s lead author, Pedro Conceicao, said the unprecedented decline in human development was driven by economic recession, and by an extraordinary decline in life expectancy. That, he said, includes the 21st-ranked United States, which has seen a dramatic drop in life expectancy due to COVID-19 from 79 years to 76.1 years.

Conceicao said other new data from the report show global levels of trust are the lowest on record. He added those who are most mistrustful hold the most extreme political views.

“Uncertainty and the feeling of insecurity hardens people’s commitments to a group that shares a similar set of beliefs and increases hostility to other groups that think differently,” he said. “And digital technology often adds fuel to this flame of divisiveness. So, as a result, the report documents that democratic practices are under stress.”

The report warns insecurity and polarization are feeding off each other. And that, it says, is preventing nations from taking the collective action needed to address the multiple threats and crises the world is facing.

Source: Voice of America

PASAY CITY 07 September 2022 – To spur innovation, help internationalize local businesses, and continue capacity-building on economic diplomacy, the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of International Economic Relations (DFA OIER), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), IdeaSpace Foundation, and QBO Innovation Hub, organized an Information Session on Philippine Startups on 02 September 2022.

The Session included information on the basics about startups, lifecycle and funding, Philippine government policies to support startups and innovation, best practices in promoting startups abroad, and opportunities for the DFA to support the country’s startup ecosystem.

In her opening remarks, DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba underscored the Philippines’ goal to make startups an engine of economic recovery, inclusive growth, and job creation, as well as the government’s strategies to develop the country’s startup ecosystem. Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary for International Economic Relations Gina Jamoralin noted the crucial role of startups in driving innovation and digital transformation across industries, and expressed her hope for the DFA to further contribute in accelerating the Philippine startup ecosystem.

The event featured presentations from IdeaSpace Foundation and QBO Innovation Hub Head Butch Meily, Katrina Chan of QBO Innovation Hub, Carlo Delantar of Gobi- Core Philippine Fund, Karl Lyndon Pacolor and Louise Kaye Mendoza of DTI, May Niña Celynne Layug and Michael Alfred Ignacio of Philippine Trade and Investment Center Silicon Valley and Osaka, respectively, and Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco.

Seventy-four (74) participants from Philippine Embassies and Consulates in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Americas, and Middle East and Africas, and from the DFA Offices attended the event.

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs

The Police are appealing for the next-of-kin of 78-year-old Mr Lock Weng Fook to come forward.

Mr Lock, a former resident of Blk 117 Bukit Merah View, had passed away on 5 September 2022.

Anyone with information is requested to call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Source: Singapore Police Force

PASAY CITY 7 September 2022 – The 5th Philippines-Japan Vice Ministerial Strategic Dialogue (VMSD) was held in Manila today, 7 September 2022. Hon. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, chaired the VMSD with Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs YAMADA Shigeo.

To keep the positive momentum generated by the recent series of high-level engagements including the inaugural PH-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) held in Tokyo in April 2022, the VMSD was convened to firm up the next steps in the second decade of the PH-Japan Strategic Partnership, which is now on its 11th year.

Delegates from PH and Japan recalled the “rocket start” of the bilateral relations under the new administrations in PH and Japan, and expressed desire to make use of such momentum in bringing the Strategic Partnership to new heights.

As maritime states, PH and Japan consider their maritime cooperation an integral part of the two countries’ bilateral cooperation. The VMSD reaffirmed the continuation of maritime cooperation through various projects that promote maritime domain awareness, improve maritime law enforcement capability, and build capacity through various training programs.

PH and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen their political and security coordination. Both sides exchanged views on new and emerging areas of cooperation such as on food security, energy security, cybersecurity, space and health, in a bid to make the relations more responsive to the challenges of the ever-evolving security environment.

The Philippine side acknowledged Japan’s important contribution to the country’s infrastructure development, and to Mindanao through various socio-economic programs. These are key to ensuring that PH, particularly Mindanao, contributes to the overall peace and stability in the region by building resilience against economic recession and security challenges.

Both sides likewise exchanged views on developments in the region and the wider Asia-Pacific area. Japan reaffirmed its support for ASEAN processes and ASEAN centrality, as both countries prepare for the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations in 2023. The two sides affirmed the necessity of close regional and international cooperation if the region is to benefit from the post-pandemic re-opening of economies.

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs

MANILA 07 September 2022 – The Philippines and Israel conducted the 12th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in person at Shangri-la The Fort Hotel, Bonifacio Global City, Metro Manila on 05 September 2022. This year’s JCM, hosted by the Philippines, covered issues such as cooperation in the fields of agriculture, labor, defense and security, public diplomacy, tourism, development and innovation.

Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs Alfonso Ver and Deputy Director General Rafael Harpaz led the Philippine and Israel delegations, respectively. They were joined by officials from the DFA Office of the Middle East and African Affairs, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, as well as officials from the Israeli Embassy in Manila and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In his welcome remarks, Assistant Secretary Ver thanked the Israeli government for being a “steady and consistent partner”, referring to over 65 years of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. “I am optimistic that our partnership will grow from strength to strength amidst all challenges in the evolving architecture of our region and the world”, said Assistant Secretary Ver.

For his part, Deputy Director General Harpaz fondly recalled his memories being posted in the Philippines as Ambassador of Israel and expressed appreciation for the warmth and hospitality of the Filipinos. Describing the Philippines-Israel relations as “very good”, the Deputy Director General expressed how the Philippines enjoy strong bipartisan support in their country and remarked on how they will do what is necessary to expand the relations.

Both sides also took the opportunity to review pending agreements in the areas of tourism, defense and environment, as well as exchange views on international issues such as the Abraham Accords, regional security and the developments in ASEAN.

The meeting ended on a positive and hopeful note, with both sides promising to closely cooperate on issues of mutual concern and lay the groundwork for the 13th JCM which will be hosted by Israel next year.

Representatives from other agencies such as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Agriculture (DA), TESDA, and the Department of National Defense were also present at the meeting.

The Joint Commission Meeting is a bilateral mechanism that provides a platform for representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss issues of mutual benefit and concern and to explore ways to advance the bilateral relations further.

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs