UNICEF commends Philippines Government in taking next step to protect children in armed conflict


UNICEF
14 June 2019

MANILA, 14 June 2019 – UNICEF commends the Philippine government in taking the next critical step toward improving the plight of children in conflict zones with the recent signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the law to protect Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (CSAC).

UNICEF supported the government’s Inter Agency Committee (IAC) for the CSAC, led by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) in the nationwide consultation process and drafting of the IRR of Republic Act 11188. UNICEF Chief for Child Protection Grace Agcaoili congratulated the committee saying that “the release of the IRR of this first-ever comprehensive national law on CSAC is further proof of the government’s commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”

She also reaffirmed UNICEF’s support in implementing the law as it marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. “A very exciting and challenging work awaits the government at this crucial stage of implementation, and to focus on the priorities identified in the IRR,” she added.

CWC Executive Director Mitch Cajayon-Uy said that “We are confident that this law will enable us to strengthen our mechanism to place special emphasis on the rights of these children, toward building a caring and protective society for, by and with the children, with the recognition that they need a peaceful environment to thrive.”

Child rights advocates, under the umbrella alliance Child Rights Network (CRN), expressed optimism with the release of the IRR and called on its partners to “help ensure that the law will be fully implemented at the soonest possible time.” Under the law passed in January 10 this year, the Inter Agency Committee is also tasked to ensure its full implementation, which upholds humanitarian principles and the rights of children to be treated as victims.

Agencies of the government who signified their commitment include the Department of National Defense, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Justice, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Office of Civil Defense, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Philippine Commission on Women, and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

The IRR clearly defines the individuals covered under the law (persons aged 18 and below), provides rules on age verification, outlines the rights of children in situations of armed conflict, identifies the enforcement agencies, and how the law will be carried out.

Salient features of the law include:

• Adoption of an expanded definition of schools and hospitals/health facilities to provide wider protection for these civilian facilities and serve as a stronger deterrent for attacks on these structures, and places of worship
• Expansion of the definition of Zones of Peace, not limited to “demilitarized zones” but covers any community site of sacred, historic, cultural, or environmental importance
• Inclusion of gender-specific provisions on access of girls to education as well as to Menstrual Hygiene Management packs and services
• Upholds the rights of children to be treated as victims; and affords immunity from suit for persons providing assistance.

Globally, children in armed conflict are among the most vulnerable according to UNICEF. The UN Secretary-General reported that in 2017, some 10,000 children were either killed or maimed in conflict and 8,000 were recruited or used as combatants in 20 countries, including some identified hotspots.

UNICEF has identified the Philippines among these hotspots where children continue to be affected by armed conflict. The 5-month long Marawi crisis in 2017 showed how children remain particularly vulnerable when armed conflict breaks out. From January to October 2018, approximatively 160,000 persons were displaced in Mindanao due to armed conflict and crime and violence – half of them children according to the UNICEF report on the Situation Analysis of Children in the Philippines.

UNICEF is committed to help government in facilitating productive dialogue among parties in conflict situations, building social cohesion and strengthening services for all children, especially in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. In particular, the completion of the 2017 Action Plan of the UN and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) showed that some 1,869 children have already disengaged from MILF and receiving support through follow up care from social workers, psychosocial support, help with education and birth registration and other social welfare service.

Media Contacts

Zafrin Chowdhury
Chief of Communication
UNICEF Philippines
Tel: +63 2 249 5495
Tel: +63 917 867 8366
Email: zchowdhury@unicef.org

Marge Francia
Communication Officer
UNICEF Philippines
Tel: +63 2 249 5497
Tel: +63 917 858 9447
Email: mfrancia@unicef.org

PH in Proactive Tax Reform

WB lauds Philippines for ‘proactive’ tax reform

Mary Grace Padin 

The Philippine Star 

June 9, 2019 

MANILA, Philippines — A top World Bank official has lauded the Duterte administration for implementing a “proactive and forward-looking” tax reform program, which is seen to raise enough funding for the government’s infrastructure and social program and help sustain economic growth, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.



World Bank director of macroeconomics, trade and investment Lalita Moorty cited the Philippines’ accomplishments on the economic front, especially in implementing a tax reform program to enable the government to aggressively increase its investments on infrastructure and social services.

The DOF quoted Moorty, who said it was “quite a change” to see a country implementing a tax reform proactively, unlike some countries who only push for these reforms when they are in the middle of a fiscal crisis.

“It is actually quite a change to see a country that is taking a very forward-looking approach to reforms.The Philippines is posting really fast growth rates, about three times of what we see in Europe and Central Asia. I think this is a good time to do these tax reforms. It is a good time and you have seized it. That is quite impressive,” said Moorty during the Philippine Day Forum held in Washington DC last April 11.

According to the DOF, Moorty also commended the Philippine government’s sound fiscal policies as shown by its declining debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio amid sustained rapid growth and increased public spending.

“When I think about comparing the Philippines to other parts of the world, it has managed to do so much and grow so much while bringing its public debt-to-GDP ratios down. It’s very impressive that it went from over 50 percent to around 40 percent in a decade. That’s quite impressive, in contrast to other countries where we’re seeing a rise in the public debt-to-GDP ratio,” Moorty said.

 “All in all, I think this is such a strong and wonderful start when I look at the Philippines in comparison to other countries in the world and I do hope that this continues to progress and accelerate in the near future,” she said.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said actual disbursements for infrastructure and capital outlays reached P1.64 trillion in the first 10 quarters of the Duterte administration, outpacing the P1.57 trillion investments made by the previous administration in all of its six years.

 He said economic expansion averaged 6.5 percent in the same first 10 quarters.

The country’s debt-to-GDP ratio, meanwhile, continued its downward trend to 41.9 percent last year from 68.5 percent in 2005, and is expected to further decrease to 38.6 percent by 2022, Dominguez said.

Dominguez said the national government’s revenues rose by 15 percent to P2.85 trillion in 2018, while tax revenues grew 14 percent to P2.57 trillion.

This translated into a tax effort of 14.7 percent last year, which is now the highest the government has ever achieved in the past 20 years.

Revenues from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, the first package under the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program, reached P68.4 billion in 2018, higher than the full-year target of P63.3 billion.

PH in right direction

SWS: Pinoys believe PH in ‘right direction

Ralph Villanueva

Manila Times

27 October 2018

THREE of four Filipinos believe that the country is moving toward the “right direction,” a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) found.

Market goers look for a cheaper goods at the Commonwealth Market. PHOTO BY RUY MARTINEZ

The survey, conducted from September 15 to 23, also found that 22 percent of Filipinos said the country is headed in the wrong direction.

The remaining 3 percent were undecided.

The 75 percent figure is 5 percent higher than June 2018’s mark.

All areas in the country had higher marks compared to last quarter’s numbers.

The survey showed that 89 percent of the people in southern Mindanao, from June’s 87 percent, believe that the country is in the right direction, the highest in the country.

The region is then followed by those in Balance Luzon at 73 percent, from June’s 68 percent; Visayas at 69 percent, from June’s 66 percent; and Metro Manila at 65 percent from June’s 57 percent.

The figure also rose by 4 points in overall rural areas, at 79 percent from June’s 75 percent and by 2 points in overall urban areas at 68 percent from June’s 66 percent..

Those who believe that the country is going in the right direction rose by 5 percent in class D, at 75 percent from last quarter’s 70 percent; and by 2 points in class E, which is at 72 percent, from last quarter’s 70 percent.

The figure, however, fell by 4 percent in Class A, B and C, currently at 80 percent, from June’s 84 percent figure.

The survey was welcomed by Malacañang.

In a statement released on Friday, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the survey shows that the people continue to trust President Rodrigo Duterte and his ways of steering the country.

“We view this as a reflection of our people’s continued trust and confidence in the President and an affirmation that the policies and programs of the current administration are on the right track.

President Duterte emphasized in numerous occasions that as government workers, we are here to serve the people. Our objective as public servants is thus being able to perform our respective duties well,” Panelo noted.

He said he hopes that results of the SWS survey would make more people support the administration.

“We hope this strong public appreciation, which is seen in the uptick of survey numbers in all geographic areas, would further engage our people in supporting this administration in building a nation where all Filipinos can experience comfortable and decent lives under a trustworthy government,” Panelo added.

“Together, let us work hand in hand to realize the President’s vision for the Philippines,” he said.

Those who believe the country is headed in the right direction gave Duterte a +72 net satisfaction rating, while those who say the Philippines is going in the wrong direction gave him a -3 net satisfaction rating.
The survey was conducted among 1,500 adults nationwide.

It had sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages, ±4 percent for Balance Luzon and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao.