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DOST-PHIVOLCS, nagbigay ng mga paalala sa gitna ng pagputok ng bulkan

June 18, 2024 | 3 mins read

R&D program aims to improve production and management of taro and indigenous crops in Bicol

June 17, 2024 | 2 mins read

DOST, DENR launch waste collector system to help clean Philippine rivers

June 16, 2024 | 2 mins read

Offering goat’s milk-based livelihood to mitigate COVID-19’s impact in Central Luzon

June 15, 2024 | 4 mins read

Freedom from pollution, poverty, and wasteful systems: Waste workers demand equal rights, legal protection

June 13, 2024 | 3 mins read

Philippine engineers showcase agritech solutions at int’l conference

June 12, 2024 | 3 mins read

Biologists develop microsatellite markers for emerging seafood

June 11, 2024 | 3 mins read

DOST and Mapúa launch weather forecasting system to prepare for La Niña

June 2, 2024 | 2 mins read

UP professors urge long-term monitoring of West Philippine Sea resources

June 1, 2024 | 6 mins read

Brilliance brutally cut short: The life, work, and legacy of Leonard Co

May 25, 2023 | 4 mins read

UPOU offers permaculture design course

May 23, 2023 | 2 mins read

New documentary by Pinoy scientist highlights urgency of mangrove conservation

March 15, 2023 | 2 mins read

Ang bubwit na nakaligtas sa bagsik ng bulkan

November 2, 2021 | 4 mins read

Masungi Georeserve: A green frontier championing endangered and endemic wildlife

July 28, 2021 | 8 mins read

Camarines Norte agriculture sector ready for boost with DA-backed plans

June 5, 2024 | 2 mins read

UPLB scientists develop AI-driven system for early detection of liver cancer

January 9, 2024 | 8 mins read

Project SARAi: Where traditional practice and agricultural technology meet

August 25, 2023 | 7 mins read

Science, technology, and the creation of weapons of mass destruction

August 9, 2023 | 8 mins read

Systemic lupus erythematosus in the Philippines: it’s time to talk about this oft-overlooked disease

January 7, 2024 | 7 mins read

From mother to child: The mitochondrial mode of inheritance

January 1, 2024 | 3 mins read

Contraceptive use and family planning in the Philippines: Has the RH Law really helped?

July 11, 2023 | 4 mins read

Sorbetes science: Is “dirty ice cream” really dirty?

May 24, 2023 | 4 mins read

Tuberculosis in the Philippines: a serious health issue requiring urgent action

March 24, 2023 | 5 mins read

Traditional Filipino medicine and the quest to cure the incurable

March 17, 2023 | 5 mins read

Ask Theory Podcast Ep. 157: Of Six-Eyed Spiders And Taxonomic Tasks

April 12, 2024 | 1 min read

Ask Theory Podcast Ep. 156: Pertussis O “Whooping Cough”: Panibagong COVID Nga Ba? (with Dr. Chenery Ann Lim)

Ask Theory Podcast Ep. 155: Ano Ang “Gin Bulag,” At Bakit Ito Delikado? (with Dr. Chenery Ann Lim)

April 5, 2024 | 1 min read

Ask Theory Podcast Ep. 154: Bakit Manghang Mangha Tayo Sa Space? (with Jo Brianne Briones)

March 29, 2024 | 1 min read

Ask Theory Podcast Ep. 153: May Naitutulong Ba Talaga Ang Earth Hour? (with Genea Nichole Cortez)

March 22, 2024 | 1 min read

Ask Theory Podcast Ep. 152: Bakit Tayo Nahihiyang Pag-Usapan Ang TB? (with Dr. Trisha Angelie Thadhani)

March 15, 2024 | 1 min read

Ask Theory Podcast Ep. 151: Ano Ang Ginagawa Ng Isang Analog Astronaut? (with Kristine Jane Atienza)

March 8, 2024 | 1 min read

The best Pinoy Science news and features coming your way.

Articles on Philippines

Displaying 1 - 20 of 122 articles.

Extreme heatwaves in south and south-east Asia are a sign of things to come

Neven S. Fučkar , University of Oxford

Chinese nationalist groups are launching cyber-attacks – often against the wishes of the government

Lewis Eves , University of Sheffield

War games risk stirring up troubled waters as Philippines − emboldened by US − squares up to Beijing at sea

Fred H. Lawson , Northeastern University

Japan’s diplomatic charm offensive in US aims to keep Washington in committed relationship

Mary M. McCarthy , Drake University

Once enemies, Japan and US strengthen their alliance – and it goes beyond AUKUS

Craig Mark , Temple University

What we don’t understand about China’s actions and ambitions in the South China Sea

Edward Sing Yue Chan , Australian National University

Doing laundry by hand sheds just as many microfibres as machine washing – new research

Deirdre McKay , Keele University ; Kelly Sheridan , Northumbria University, Newcastle , and Thomas Stanton , Loughborough University

As Australia strengthens its ties with the Philippines, it’s wading even further into the dangerous South China Sea

Noel Morada , The University of Queensland

Vatican centralizes investigations on claims of Virgin Mary apparitions – but local Catholics have always had a say

Deirdre de la Cruz , University of Michigan

The US is about to blow up a fake warship in the South China Sea – but naval rivalry with Beijing is very real and growing

Krista Wiegand , University of Tennessee

South Africa is exporting more food. But it needs to find new growth frontiers

Wandile Sihlobo , Stellenbosch University

Philippines sides with US amid rising regional tensions between Beijing and Washington

Tom Smith , University of Portsmouth and Ann Bajo , University of Portsmouth

When Filipino parents in the US encourage their children to talk about their feelings and promote cultural pride, their children’s mental health improves

Joyce Javier , University of Southern California

Marcos junior is the latest beneficiary of ‘bloodlines’ in Southeast Asian politics

James Chin , University of Tasmania

Philippines: the challenges ahead for the new president Marcos

Tom Smith , University of Portsmouth

A member of the Marcos family is returning to power – here’s what it means for democracy in the Philippines

Adrian De Leon , USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Philippines election: how the Marcos clan might be heading back to power

TikTok is propagandists’ new tool to win elections in Southeast Asia

Nuurrianti Jalli , Northern State University

Russia’s war on Ukraine is driving up wheat prices and threatens global supplies of bread, meat and eggs

David Ubilava , University of Sydney

‘Mission impossible?’: tracking political misinformation and disinformation on TikTok

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Associate Professor in International Relations & Academic Director of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, University of Portsmouth

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Professor of Sustainable Development, Keele University

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The World Bank in the Philippines

Domestic growth is strong in the Philippines, while global challenges are affecting prospects. The Philippine government is implementing its 8-point socioeconomic agenda and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 to ensure inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth for a prosperous society.

The Philippines has been one of the most dynamic economies in the East Asia and Pacific region. With increasing urbanization, a growing middle class, and a large and young population, the Philippines’ economic dynamism is rooted in strong consumer demand supported by a vibrant labor market and robust remittances. The private sector remains buoyant, with positive performance from the services sector including business process outsourcing, wholesale and retail trade, real estate, and tourism. Poverty rate declined from 23.3 percent in 2015 to 18.1 percent in 2021 despite the shocks endured through the COVID-19 pandemic and other global headwinds such as high global commodity prices and tight global financial conditions. The Philippine government pursues larger investments in both human and physical capital to boost inclusive growth over the medium and long term. The Philippines’ economic recovery is well underway, as remained robust at 5.6 percent in 2023, which is among the top growth performers in the region. Over the medium-term, the growth outlook will continue to be supported by strong domestic demand, driven by a robust labor market, continued public investments, and the positive effects of recent investment policy reforms which could boost private investment. With continued recovery and reform efforts, the country is getting back on track on its way from a lower middle-income country with a gross national income per capita of US$3,950 in 2023 to an upper middle-income country (per capita income range of US$4,466 -US$13,845).

Last Updated: Mar 19, 2024

The World Bank’s partnership with the Philippines spans 78 years, providing support to the country’s development programs and projects. Since 1945, it has mobilized funding, global knowledge, and partnerships to support the Philippines’ efforts to alleviate poverty, promote agricultural development, upgrade infrastructure, improve health, nutrition, and education, strengthen resilience against climate change and natural disasters, promote peace, and enhance global competitiveness. The Bank is an active partner in helping spur private sector growth including in agriculture, expanding engagement with civil society, and promoting peace and development in Mindanao.

The  Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for the Philippines for 2019-2023 , extended by the  Performance and Learning Review  to 2024, prioritizes investing in Filipinos (health and nutrition, education, and social protection), competitiveness and job creation, and addressing core vulnerabilities by building peace and resilience, with governance and digital transformation as cross-cutting themes. The Bank provides technical assistance and support to projects that strengthen community-driven development including service delivery and linking remote communities to markets; promote human development; and address drivers of conflict. The CPF also supports a cohesive approach to Mindanao’s development and intensify efforts to engage the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

As of end-March 2024, the active portfolio of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD or World Bank) in the Philippines consists of 18 operations with net commitments of US$ 7.46 billion. The financing portfolio spans various sectors: Agriculture and Food (21%); Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation (17%); Urban, Resilience and Land (16%); Health, Nutrition and Population (10%); Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment (10%); Social Sustainability and Inclusion (10%); Social Protection and Jobs (8%); Water (3%); Environment, Natural Resources & the Blue Economy (2%); Transport (2%); and Education (1%).

The Philippines’ Trust Fund (TF) portfolio consists of 81 active grants with a total commitment of US$ 82.23 million. These TFs provide technical assistance and advise in project implementation as well as create or share knowledge to support the Government of the Philippines with the planning and execution of projects and policy changes and initiatives.

Since 1962, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group has invested up to US$6 billion in over 170 projects in the Philippines. IFC has provided investment and advisory services focused on climate finance, digitalization, financial inclusion, disaster insurance, enhancing the investment climate, and enabling private sector investments in the country. IFC’s strategic priorities in the Philippines include reducing the impacts of climate change, deepening financial inclusion, promoting sustainable infrastructure, and strengthening the capacity of the private sector. 

Last Updated: Apr 11, 2024

Since the Philippines government received its  first World Bank loan in 1957 , the Bank’s development projects in the country have produced significant results for its people.  In the past decades, the Bank’s assistance has expanded to a wide range of projects and analytical work, policy advice, and capacity development in support of the country’s development agenda.

Highlights of some projects and results

The  Philippine Rural Development Project  (PRDP) has been helping raise rural incomes, enhance farm and fishery productivity, and improve market access throughout the country since it started in 2015. It has been supporting provincial planning, rural infrastructure, and agriculture enterprise development. It has been using tools such as  geotagging , value chain analysis, expanded vulnerability and suitability assessments, and climate risk vulnerability assessments to strategically guide public investments toward a modern, value-chain oriented, and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector.

The project has supported provincial investment planning for priority agricultural commodities in all 81 provinces of the country. Since 2015, the project has benefitted over 739,000 farmer and fisherfolk beneficiaries (97% of project’s end-target), 49% of them are female beneficiaries.  The project has also constructed and rehabilitated over 1,950 kilometers of farm-to-market roads (about 600 kilometers more are underway). These resulted in reduction of travel time by 61% and reduction in transport costs by 23%. Results of a household survey indicate that farmers and fisher households benefitting from completed infrastructure and agricultural enterprise subprojects gained 36% increase in annual household real income.

In June 2021, the PRDP received US$280 million additional investment and €18.3 million grant to build on the gains achieved by PRDP. A  new PRDP Scale up project  with $600m IBRD was approved in June 2023.

The  Philippines COVID-19 Emergency Response Project  supported the country’s efforts to scale up national vaccination, strengthen the country’s health systems, and overcome the impact of the pandemic especially on the poor and the most vulnerable. It has helped the Philippines ramp up vaccination by supporting procurement of at least 33 million doses of vaccines. The World Bank-financed vaccines are among the first vaccines used for pediatric vaccination, benefitting 7.5 million children all over the Philippines.  The ramp up of vaccination has enabled the authorities to open more economic activities, allowing the country to grow 5.6 percent in 2021. It has facilitated purchase of 500 mechanical ventilators, 119 portable x-ray machines, 70 infusion pumps, 50 RT-PCR machines, 69 ambulances, as well as other medical equipment and supplies crucial for improving the country’s COVID-19 response. It has also built isolation wards with negative pressure systems and reference laboratories, for the country to be more prepared in facing infectious diseases.

To mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the welfare of low-income households, the  Philippines Beneficiary FIRST Social Protection (BFIRST) Project  was initiated to support the government’s flagship conditional cash transfer (CCT) program, known as  Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program  (4Ps). The BFIRST project aims to strengthen the country’s social protection delivery system to be more adaptive and efficient, focusing on the development and implementation of digital transformation strategy for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in addition to supporting the cash grants for the 4Ps.

The BFIRST project is also facilitating the adoption of Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), which enabled services initially under the 4Ps and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program of DSWD. By adopting PhilSys, as a valid proof of identity, the DSWD will be able to improve the overall experience for its beneficiaries with streamlined process in accessing social assistance services while preventing fraud and leakages. The benefits of adopting PhilSys include digitizing and streamlining DSWD’s beneficiary registration and enrolment, establishing a United Beneficiary Database (UBD), identifying and removing duplicate or ghost beneficiaries, and enabling financial inclusion.

The project also promotes the use of digital payments in the distribution of cash assistance. The 4Ps beneficiaries used to receive their grants by withdrawing cash through an ATM or over the counter with their Landbank cash cards. Early this year, the DSWD shifted to transaction accounts for grant distribution enabling the beneficiaries to receive funds from other sources, save their money, and make electronic fund transfers such as online bills payment. As of July 2023, there are 3,493,827 beneficiaries of 4Ps who have access to transaction accounts.

The 4Ps is the Philippine national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program which was institutionalized with the passage of  Republic Act 11310  on April 17, 2019. The program supports low-income households  invest in the education and health of children  up to 18 years old. The program has made  significant impacts in reducing total poverty and food insecurity among beneficiaries, and has grown to become one of the largest CCT programs in the world, helping more than 6 million households since its inception. As of July 2023, the 4Ps serves 3,978, 736 active households and is being implemented in 148 cities and 1,481 municipalities across 81 provinces throughout the country. The BFIRST project supports 4Ps’ efforts to enroll new families who fell into poverty especially due to the pandemic and facilitate the transition of families who graduate out of the program.

The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan - Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi CIDSS) has been supported by the Bank since 2002. Starting in 2014 it received funding under the  KC National Community Driven Development Project  (KC-NCDDP) with accumulative lending of US$779 million. The  KC-NCDDP Additional Financing (AF) was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors in December 2020 and is closing December 31, 2024. KC-NCDDP is implemented in the poorest municipalities in the Philippines, mainly located in areas characterized by high risks to climate change and livelihood constraints. It aims to empower poor and disaster-affected communities to participate in more inclusive local planning, budgeting, and implementation, and improve their access to basic services.  Out of 948 poor municipalities in the Philippines, with a poverty incidence greater than or equal to 26.3 (2009 poverty threshold), 828 municipalities or 87% (a total of 19,647 barangays) were covered under the KC-NCDDP, and 676 municipalities (13, 934 barangays) are covered under the AF.

Impact Evaluation (IE) results indicated positive impacts on household consumption that contributed to reduction in poverty with a 12% increase in per capita spending among beneficiary households and an even higher increase (19%) for households that were identified as poor at project start-up. KC-NCDDP has so far funded 39,831 community sub-projects within the areas of basic access facilities (e.g., village roads, footbridges, footpaths), followed by social services (e.g., day-care centers, classrooms, health stations); environmental protection (e.g. flood and river control; and community production facilities and utilities (e.g. electrification and multipurpose buildings).  About 319,968 Indigenous People households benefitted from the sub-projects. Implementation of community sub-projects also benefitted women where 34.8% are part of the sub-project's implementation workforce. Since the outset of the pandemic, KC-NCDDP has financed 2,654 isolation units and support training of barangay health emergency response teams in 86% of barangays. More than 2.1 million community volunteers have been mobilized in various positions since 2014.The Project has also contributed to enhanced local governance by providing a mechanism for closer engagement between the municipal local government units (MLGUs) and communities. 99% of municipal local government units (MLGUs) have poverty reduction action plans based on KC-NCDDP participatory processes, and 97% of MLGUs have increased representation of peoples’ organizations (POs) in local development councils.

Following Typhoon Haiyan in 2014, KC-NCDDP spearheaded an innovative response to assist disaster-affected municipalities through the Disaster Response Operations Modality (DROM), which was used again for COVID-19 and other disaster events. 

To strengthen the government’s capacity to manage risks from climate change, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks, the Bank has provided the  Fourth Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO4) . The operation is supported by a   technical assistance program to help (i) institutionalize the use of Rehabilitation and Recovery Plans for local government units (LGUs) to rapidly request and access funding from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Fund; and (ii) integrate climate and disaster risk information of LGUs within the National Government’s central risk data system (GeoRiskPH platform). 

The  Ready to Rebuild  (R2R) program was launched to train communities to be more prepared – to build a culture of preparedness to help local governments and communities anticipate the impacts of disasters and prepare recovery plans even before disasters hit.  A total of 350 provinces, cities, and municipalities from all 17 regions in the country have  undergone training , including those struck by Super Typhoon Rai. This translates to 1,800 governors, mayors, and technical staff. An additional 450 technical staff from 150 local governments were  trained  in the use of  GeoRiskPH platform  to integrate hazard and risk information into the local disaster risk reduction and management plans.

The technical assistance supports strengthening the delivery of community-based DRM related Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program to equip people in vulnerable local government units (LGUs) with critical and targeted skills to be able to quickly respond to and recover from disasters;  increasing the compliance of National Government Agencies (NGAs) and LGUs in climate and disaster budget tagging; integration of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures in local investment programs and Provincial Commodity Investment Plans.

The Bank is supporting the Department of Science and Technology, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, in collaboration with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Office of Civil Defense, and Department of the Interior and Local Government in the development and rollout of the  PlanSmart Ready to Rebuild Automated Planning Tool for Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery. This web application was developed to help the government formulate and implement hazard- and risk-informed programs and projects to better prepare for and recover from disasters. Thus far, over 400 participants from the National Capital Region, Central Visayas Region, Caraga Region, Southern Tagalog Region, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have been  trained . This resulted in the integration of baseline data of 128 LGUs in the  GeoRiskPH platform .

The financing also supported the urgent needs created by the COVID-19 crisis. This is combined with  technical assistance  to help enhance the capacity of national and local governments in developing effective response mechanisms through  emergency cash transfers  and  Recovery Guide from COVID-19  with suggested strategies and financing options to help communities recover from the impacts of the pandemic. 

The Bank’s assistance extends to conflict-affected areas in the country, providing support for service delivery, skills development, and enhanced participatory processes. Supported by five countries and the European Union, the  Mindanao Trust Fund  (MTF) (2005-2021) aimed to promote peace and development in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. The MTF funded a series of three Reconstruction and Development Projects (RDPs), which fostered inclusive social and economic recovery, social cohesion, and participatory governance through a community-driven development approach, mainly in the area that in 2019 became the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. More recently, the World Bank was chosen by the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to administer a new multi-donor trust fund to support Normalization, the track of the peace process that covers decommissioning and transformation of camps into peaceful and productive communities. The new  Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund  (BNTF) will be building on the achievements of the MTF.

In the private sector, IFC has been a leader in developing the thematic bond market in the Philippines, helping banks issue green bonds since 2017 for climate-smart projects, including renewable energy, green buildings, and energy-efficient equipment. IFC’s blue, green, and social bonds have helped provide loans to MSMEs, expand healthcare, and improve wastewater treatments services in water scarce areas. IFC supported  Ayala Corporation’s first social bond in healthcare  for the first green cancer hospital in the Philippines and  Union Bank’s social bond  which provided 4,000 loans to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. In April 2022, IFC supported  BDO Unibank's blue bond  issuance to help tackle marine pollution and preserve clean water resources. This was the first blue bond for the Philippines and the first blue bond subscription for IFC globally.

Last Updated: Apr 05, 2024

liters per day of domestic waste water is processed daily in the Olandes Sewage Treatment Plant in Marikina City which reduces pollution in Metro Manila waterways and in Manila Bay

Philippines: Commitments by Fiscal Year (in millions of dollars)*

Voices of the filipino, around the bank group.

Find out what the Bank Group's branches are doing in Philippines.

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Results Profiles

Our projects cover education, community-driven development, water and sanitation, and poverty-reduction in Mindanao.

Systematic Country Diagnostic

The Systematic Country Diagnostic identifies a four-part diagnosis of the constraints to the Philippines' achieving its Ambisyon Natin 2040 goals.

Through Thick and Thin: Philippines-World Bank Partnership Since 1945

The World Bank is proud to have been a partner of the Philippines for over 7 decades, mobilizing funding and global knowledge to support poverty reduction and shared prosperity.

Knowledge for Development Community (KDC)

Get to know the partnership between the World Bank and schools, policy and research institutions.

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Today’s front page, Saturday, June 22, 2024

Never miss out on the latest scientific innovations being developed in the Philippines today with Business Mirror’s Science and Technology News. With technological advancements taking center stage in different business industries today, entrepreneurs and businessmen – whether newbies or seasoned experts – need to stay up to date with the latest programs, technologies, and scientific progress. Stay informed with Business Mirror’s Science and Technology News.

Colombian family’s genes offer new clue to delaying onset of Alzheimer’s

• Lauran Neergaard | AP Medical Writer
• June 22, 2024

WASHINGTON—Scientists studying a family plagued by early-in-life Alzheimer’s found some carry a genetic oddity that delays their initial symptoms by five years.

PHL to host 1st International Nuclear Science Olympiad for students

• BusinessMirror

There’s a new kid on the block ready to break new ground in yet another challenging field of science: the International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO), the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) announced.

DOST explores setting up plywood testing lab in South

• Apple Jean C. Martin-de Leon | S&T Media Service

The Science department recently met and discussed with major plywood makers in the Caraga region the possibility of establishing a satellite plywood testing laboratory (SPTL) in Mindanao.

Searca, Michigan SU in collab talks on research, innovation, among others

A professor from Michigan State University (MSU) recently visited Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) at its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, and discussed with the center’s executives some opportunities for collaboration on research, innovation, capacity build cing, and publication projects.

Past Covid infections may helpprotect against certain colds

• June 16, 2024

If you’ve been sick with Covid-19, you may have some protection against certain versions of the common cold.

2024 Peanut Fiesta’s 5 tech innovations a win for farmers

Hidden beneath the rich soils of Cagayan Valley and Northern Luzon is an industry that is ripe for the picking.

UP biologists set up first DNA segments to monitor in-demand ‘maliputo’ fish

One of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals is to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.”

New Wehlo technology to aid in weather forecasting amid La Niña

• Lyn Resurreccion
• June 9, 2024

A new technology, known as Wehlo, a 23/7 localized weather information and impact monitoring system, is now available for local communities to help them in weather forecasting, including in the coming La Niña that brings increased rainfall.

Startup EdukSine is finalist in WIPO global awards

EdukSine Production Corp., a Filipino startup in the creative industries sector, has been selected as one of the finalists for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Awards 2024.

Experts weigh in on benefits of biotech

• Sebastian Montemayor

The Philippines has had a long history of agricultural biotechnology use and research, being the first Asean country to initiate its regulatory practices in 1990. Its most prominent success is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn which is a variety of choice among most Filipino farmers planting yellow corn for feed.

Craft unfurls China’s flag on the far side of the moon and lifts off with lunar rocks to bring home

• Emily Wang Fujiyama / The Associated Press
• June 4, 2024

BEIJING — China said its lunar  spacecraft  unfurled the country’s red and gold flag for the first time on the far side of the moon before part of the vehicle blasted off early Tuesday with rock and soil samples to bring back to Earth.

China’s spacecraft carrying rocks from the far side of the moon leaves the lunar surface

• The Associated Press

S&T agencies of PHL, Japan focus R&D on water security

• June 2, 2024

The science and technology (S&T) experts from the Philippines and Japan recently held a workshop to look into their respective water security challenges.

UP profs urge long-term monitoring of WPS resources

The ongoing dispute over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) between China and the Philippines hinders Filipino scientists from conducting scientific work in the Philippine territory, but something can still be done.

PHL’s milestones in biotech inspire Pan-Pacific farmers despite moratorium

• May 26, 2024

Milestones made by the Philippines in terms of science and technology has become an inspiration for some neighboring countries that are just currently starting in developing their own genetically modified (GM) crops.

AdDU’s Rocketry Team qualifies for Spaceport America Cup 2024

DAVAO CITY—The Ateneo de Davao University’s Rocketry Team has made history as the first to represent the Philippines to the Spaceport America Cup 2024-Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition, AdDU announced recently..

‘Atlantis’ project viable in automated greenhouse for lettuce and ‘tilapia’

‘Project Atlantis” developed an aquaponic greenhouse farming using Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) to address the time-consuming task of tracking and regulating plant nutrients, water quality, and other parameters influencing the growth of vegetables, such as lettuce, and tilapia fish.

Forum marks 20th year of ‘Bt’ corn in PHL

International and Philippine-based research institutions and other stakeholders recently marked the two decades of use of Bt corn, or locally known as yellow corn, after its first commercial planting in the Philippines in 2003.

Ban on GMOs a discouraging move, BCP head warns

• May 19, 2024

The head of Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP) warned that the Philippines may lose its biotechnology scientists following the Court of Appeals’s (CA) commercial ban on Golden Rice and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant, along with the importation of genetically modified (GM) crops.

Beyond boundaries: nuLab delivers transformative learning to Cagayan Valley

‘I enjoy studying about sciences!”

PHL, US execs meet for S&T collaboration

In a significant stride toward advancing bilateral relations in science and technology, the Philippines and the United States convened the first PH-US Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology in Washington, D.C, on April 30.

Delegates from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) won awards at the recent 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (IEIG).

• May 12, 2024

Considered one of the world’s largest invention exhibition, the event showcased more than 1,000 innovations and inventions across over 40 organizations and universities.

Genetically engineered food crops on trial

• Joel C. Paredes

Agriculture biotechnologist Dr. Rhodora R. Aldemita recalled that she was first introduced to the “Golden Rice” project as early as 2002 during her post-doctoral studies at the University of Freiburg, Germany.

Texas vet helps crack mystery of bird flu in cows

• Jonel Aleccia | AP Health Writer
• May 5, 2024

The first calls that Dr. Barbara Petersen received in early March were from dairy owners worried about crows, pigeons and other birds dying on their Texas farms. Then came word that barn cats—half of them on one farm—had died suddenly.

Number of overweight, obese teens in PHL increasing–DOST-FNRI:

Overweight and obesity prevalence among Filipino adolescents significantly increased from 11.6 percent in 2018 to 13 percent in 2021.

97,000 students take 2024 science scholarship exams

Taking that one great leap toward their dreams, around 97,000 Grade 12 students from all over the Philippines took the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute’s (DOST-SEI) 2024 Undergraduate Scholarships Qualifying Examination held last April 6 and 7 in 205 testing centers nationwide.

More scientists sign NAST PHL position vs CA’s ruling on Bt Talong, Golden Rice

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This University of Texas at Austin collection contains various maps of Philippines, including country maps, city maps, thematic maps, regional maps, detailed maps, and historical maps

A collection of full text monographs and government documents published in the United States, Spain and the Philippines between 1870 and 1925, drawn from the University of Michigan Library’s Southeast Asia collection.

The Philippine Elections web archive documents the Philippine general elections of 2010 and 2019.

The Asian Division's Southeast Asian Rare Book Collection counts among its most unique items a collection of 71 bamboo slats and 6 cylinders from the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. These items are etched with either verses or prose in the Mangyan script.

The Martial Law Museum aims to be a comprehensive online learning resource that our community of educators can use to teach the values of human rights, freedom, democracy and engaged citizenship to Filipino students through factual and engaging storytelling.

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Humanities Diliman promotes scholarship in the arts and humanities in the Philippines, as well as international synergies, especially with scholars of Southeast Asian studies.

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An expanding collection of academic journals hosted by C&E Publishing, Inc.

The Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology publishes research and reviews in English in the field of Taxonomy & Systematics, Ecology and Conservation Biology, specifically information on animal, plant and microbial diversity in the Philippines.

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RMRJ publishes research covering: Accountancy, Business and Management, and Finance; Communication, Humanities, Psychology, and Religion; Education and Educational Management; Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, and Technology; Environment, Health and Natural Sciences; Philosophical and Mathematical Reviews; and Politics and Governance, and Social Sciences.

The Review of Socio-Economic Research and Development Studies (ReSERDS) publishes research in socio-economics and development studies in the Philippines, particularly in the Visayas region. Topics covered include: Agricultural Economics, Behavioral Economics, Bioeconomics, Business Management, Climate Change, Communication, Development Economics, Disaster Risk Management, Development Studies, Energy Policy, Ecological Economics, Education Research, Entrepreneurship, Finance and Marketing, Food Security and Nutrition, Gender Studies, Governance, Land Management, Natural Resource Management, Peace and International Relations, Policy Studies, Rural and Urban Studies, Tourism and Hospitality Management.

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Philippine basic research needs more funding, say scientists

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[CEBU] Filipino scientists say more money is needed for basic science following the success of a scheme to divert some research funds to more ‘blue skies’ topics.

Half of the government’s research and development (R&D) budget should go towards basic research instead of the current 20 per cent, according to Jaime C. Montoya, president of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), which funds basic research.

"The global competition is now in basic science, so we’re putting more emphasis on basic research," he told SciDev.Net . "Some of our neighbours [in the region] are already doing so."

Montoya’s comments follow the successful implementation of some projects through the National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA), launched in November 2008, which allows basic science researchers better access to Philippine government funds.

Under NIBRA, the NRCP has been able to tap the grants-in-aid programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which funds research projects by government scientific agencies as well as projects in other areas such as technology transfer.

"Any project that [the NRCP] approved but cannot fund is recommended to the DOST for funding," DOST Undersecretary Graciano P. Yumul said.

Two projects started last year and four others from various disciplines are due to start soon, said Montoya.

"The NRCP has a very small budget — about US$450,000 a year. Now that we are able to access DOST funds, more basic research can be undertaken," Montoya told SciDev.Net.

"But it’s not enough," he said. "We need more funds." Montoya said the country’s overall research budget should also be increased.

The budget for DOST’s grants-in-aid programme has been increasing annually, with this year’s allocation reaching US$32 million, roughly 7 per cent more than last year’s US$30 million.

But the allocation for the research component of this programme has hardly changed from the US$12 million annual share in 2008, said Rosella B. Dolor, DOST’s project development officer.

Researchers said they were hopeful that the new administration, after May’s presidential elections, would continue to move the basic science agenda forwards.  

Liza G. Custodio, supervising administrative officer of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, said her institute’s goal is to raise at least US$400,000 each year for basic research instead of the current US$10,000 or less.

"Our goal is to focus more on basic research because this is the foundation for applied science. It would help a lot if we are able to access government funds," Custodio said.

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Philippines

The loosening of pandemic restrictions in March followed by a hard-fought presidential election campaign have further helped news organisations recoup advertising and other revenues lost during the prolonged lockdown. But concerns over press freedom have grown as incoming president Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the namesake and son of the late dictator, held professional journalists in low regard throughout his campaign.

Political advertisements started making their presence felt, especially on television, by the third quarter of 2021 ahead of the 8 October deadline for declarations of candidacy. They further picked up in early 2022 as the national and local campaigns got into full swing.

Across the whole population, television remains the most popular medium in the Philippines, but this year’s Digital News Report confirmed a steady growth of online news consumption including heavy news use on a range of social platforms. Facebook remains the most widely used (73% for news weekly) but the biggest leap comes from TikTok, used by mere 2% for news in 2020 and now by 15%. News organisations correspondingly moved into the platform, especially in time for the elections. Besides being the largest radio and television network, GMA Network is now the country’s largest news creator on TikTok, which it also partnered with for an election campaign series. Other brands that have attracted a loyal following are ABS-CBN, News5, The Philippine Star , Manila Bulletin , DZRH, and Rappler.

With the country awash with disinformation in the lead-up to the elections, media combined forces with academia and civil society to fact-check untruthful election narratives that mostly lionised Marcos and demonised his rival, Vice President Leni Robredo. Two fact-checking collaboratives took the lead: TsekPH, formed during the 2019 midterm elections and relaunched with 34 partners, and FactsFirstPH, a new initiative with 18 fact-checking partners.

However, journalists and fact-checkers alike continue to come under attack, a grim reality further highlighted when Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, who faces at least seven lawsuits, was conferred the Nobel Peace Prize for Journalism in December 2021. Ahead of the elections, Marcos barred professional journalists from covering his campaign events, snubbed media-hosted debates, and gave preferential treatment to friendly social media influencers and a partisan TV station that repeatedly lambasted mainstream media. Journalists and fact-checkers have been vilified not only by online trolls but also by public officials. A presidential communications official in February warned the government’s anticommunist task force intended to take legal action against Rappler for allegedly spreading disinformation, as well as against Facebook for allowing Rappler and Vera Files ‘to abuse the immense powers’ of their designation as the platform’s third-party fact-checkers. 1

Big and small news organisations were targets of what seemed to be coordinated distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that crippled their websites for hours, even days. Apart from Rappler and Vera Files, ABS-CBN, GMA News, CNN Philippines, Interaksyon, PressOnePH, and Mindanao GoldStar Daily were attacked; so were alternative news sites Bulatlat and Pinoy Media Center. Months earlier, the attacks against Bulatlat and another alternative site were traced to an IP address assigned to the Philippine Army. 2 The country’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index slipped further, by nine spots to 147th out of 180 countries.

Investments by media houses have been channelled mainly to growing their digital presence as Filipinos increasingly turn online for news. ABS-CBN Corp., for example, in January raised nearly US$10m from the sale of its shares and depositary receipts to fund digital initiatives and content production. These have kept the network afloat since mid-2020 when its free-to-air radio and TV stations closed after Congress refused to renew its franchise.

ABS-CBN’s move preceded the government’s decision to assign its highly coveted frequencies to three companies, two of them owned by allies of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte. Swara Sug Media Corp., owned by Duterte’s spiritual adviser Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted in the United States for sex trafficking, 3 received the frequency formerly used for ABS-CBN's digital terrestrial television. The network’s two other frequencies, including Channel 2, were awarded to Advanced Media Broadcasting System bought only in 2021 by Manuel Villar, former Senate president and the country’s richest man.

While most online news sites still rely on advertising, revenue from paid online e-papers grew by 25% in 2021, outperforming those from Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. 4 Revenue growth of e-magazines reached 19.5%. Around 70 titles, including leading newspapers, rely largely on PressReader to distribute their digital versions. The Philippine Daily Inquirer also sells digital subscriptions through the online shopping platform Lazada. Besides its basic plan, Inquirer is bundled with a choice of any of 10 local papers it has partnered with, or with 30 other publications, including Jakarta Post of Indonesia and The Star of Malaysia.

Yvonne T. Chua University of the Philippines

Changing media

Television news’ reach continued its decline, from 66% in 2020 to 60% this year. The shift to social media and online sites of traditional media continues while the use of smartphones to access news has reached 80% of our sample.

Pay for online news

Trust in news overall, (+5) =28/46, trust in news i use.

Overall trust in news rose as Filipinos turned to media amid a surge of COVID-19 cases around the time the survey was conducted. However, trust in brands slid, with the exception of DZBB, Teleradyo, Rappler, and the tabloid Abante . Independent outlets respected for their reporting on those in positions of power are often actively distrusted by supporters of the politicians in question.

Undue influence on the news media

% who think media are independent from undue political or government influence, % who think media are independent from undue business or commercial influence, share news via social, messaging or email.

1 https://www.facebook.com/lorraine.badoy/posts/10159683907769834 ↩

2 https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2021/09/23/200795/dict-unit-findings-bare-cyberattacks-vs-alternative-media-outlets-traced-to-philippine-army/ ↩

3 https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/human-trafficking/apollo-carreon-quiboloy ↩

4 https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/digital-media/epublishing/philippines ↩

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#FactsFirstPH: Here’s a wrap of the biggest lies debunked in 2022

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

MANILA, Philippines – From claims about the elections to issues related to government programs, the economy, and the pandemic, lies were everywhere in 2022. 

To help combat falsehoods spreading on social media, several newsrooms, civil society groups, business organizations, and research and legal groups banded together to form an anti-disinformation initiative dubbed #FactsFirstPH in January.

The coalition was  recognized  in an international fact-checking conference as most innovative and impactful.

We have collated some of the most repeated lies about pressing issues this year that were debunked by #FactsFirstPH partners, including ABKD Network, Altermidya, Baguio Chronicle, Daily Guardian, Davao Today, Interaksyon, Mindanao Gold Star, News5, OneNewsPH, PressOne, and Rappler, among others. ( LIST: Organizations that are part of the #FactsFirstPH initiative )

As a reader and social media user,  you can support this initiative by sharing these fact checks or keeping this list in handy so you come equipped with the right information to debunk false claims.

Check out the fact checks debunking the biggest lies of 2022: 

Fact checks about the 2022 PH elections

This year’s presidential elections was a top issue that Filipinos cared about . Alongside this, the high-stakes elections stirred not only hopes and fears for the country but also a lot of false claims on social media. 

These included false claims about election results, fake endorsements that even included some international personalities, crowd estimates, and campaign propaganda. Here are some of them: 

Election results

• News5: Vlogger’s claim of hatched plan to cheat Marcos on election day is false
• ABKD: [FALSE] Nakialam ang Central Intelligence Agency sa halalan noong Mayo 2022
• Rappler: FALSE: Marcos Jr. got biggest electoral mandate in Philippine history
• News5: Tweet claiming Robredo’s Angat Buhay NGO to breed ‘new government’ is fake
• Rappler: HINDI TOTOO: Maaaring palitan ang boto sa vote-counting machine gamit ang USB at ‘codes’
• OneNewsPH: FACT CHECK: FB Post Claiming Sara Duterte-Carpio Is First Incumbent Mayor Elected As VP Is False

Fake endorsements

• ABKD: [FALSE] Communist Party of the Philippines, may open endorsement sa kandidatura ni Leni Robredo
• Altermidya: FACT CHECK: Facebook post falsely claims Leni-Kiko tandem, Kabataan Partylist are allies of the CPP-NPA-NDF
• Rappler: HINDI TOTOO: Nagpahayag ng suporta si Jacinda Ardern kay Marcos Jr.
• PressOne: FACT-CHECK: Duterte did not endorse Leni Robredo for president
• Baguio Chronicle: Prince Charles, heir apparent to the British throne, was happy that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the new president of the Philippines
• OneNewsPH: FACT CHECK: UK’s Tower Bridge, Other Famous Landmarks Lighting Up Red, Green for Marcos-Duterte Win is False
• Rappler: HINDI TOTOO: Pagbati ni Queen Elizabeth II kay Marcos Jr.

Campaign propaganda

• Davao Today: FACT CHECK: Bangui Wind Farm in Ilocos Norte is not BBM’s project
• Baguio Chronicle: Marcos Jr. claims that his father’s Masagana 99 increased farming production and lowered food prices
• News5: Marcos falsely claims that China as an election issue was raised for the first time in May 2022 polls
• ABKD: [FALSE] Pilipinas, pangalawang pinakamayan sunod sa Japan noong panahon ni Marcos?
• Rappler: HINDI TOTOO: Pinatunayan ng BSP na nag-imbak ng ginto si Marcos para sa bansa
• Altermidya: FALSE: South Korea and Singapore copied late dictator Marcos’ ‘economic blueprint’
• Daily Guardian: Guinness denies UniTeam supporters’ longest caravan claim 

Fact checks about government programs

Lies about the government programs that are too good to be true did not stop spreading this year. 

Some false claims that were debunked by #FactsFirstPH partners zoomed into the false promises for our labor and economy, credit grabbing of infrastructure efforts and other government programs, changes in education curriculum and program, and the impact of efforts to improve security in the country.

Below is a list: 

Labor and economy

• Rappler: HINDI TOTOO: Itataas ang national minimum wage sa P750
• ABKD: [MISLEADING] Pagbabalik ng Oil Price Stabilization Fund (OPSF), Pipigil sa Pagtaas ng Presyo ng Langis
• ABKD: [FALSE] Balik Scientist Program, nagsulong ng Deuterium Mining sa Pilipinas
• Rappler: Claim that Cory signed law on contractualization is false
• Altermidya: FACT CHECK: PH economy has ‘strongly bounced back’ from repercussions of COVID-19 pandemic
• Mindanao Gold Star: Misleading: PH fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia

Infrastructure

• ABKD: [FALSE] Rodrigo Duterte, pinatayuan ang lahat ng isla ng Pilipinas ng imprastraktura
• ABKD: [FALSE] Metro Manila Subway Project, popondohan gamit ang Marcos “wealth”
• News5: Bongbong Marcos rehashes false claims he started wind farm in Ilocos Norte
• Interaksyon: False: World’s most expensive railway system constructed under PNoy
• Rappler: HINDI TOTOO: Aamyendahan ni Sara Duterte ang K-12 program upang gawing K-14
• ABKD: [FALSE] Panukala ni BBM ang Free Tuition sa State Universities
• News5: Quote card claiming Sara will ask Congress for K14+ curriculum is fake
• OneNewsPH: FACT CHECK: Bong Go Didn’t Propose To Add ‘Life And Works Of Duterte’ In College Curriculum

Justice and security

• News5 : Ex-defense chief and presidential bet’s claim that Philippine laws don’t address rebellion lacks context
• News5: Lacson falsely claims only Anti-Terrorism Act provided several safeguards to ensure human rights
• ABKD: [FALSE] War On Drugs ni Duterte, ginawang ligtas at tahimik ang bansa
• Davao Today: FACT CHECK: BBM’s claim that ICC can only act if a country has no ‘functioning judiciary’ needs context

Fact checks about the Philippine economy 

The Philippines’ inflation reached a 14-year high in November 2022. Unfortunately, several of these claims touched on unpaid debt being paid, sovereign funds and other sources of funds like an alleged gold stash, inflation and alleged low inflation, and the impacts of investments. 

Income and revenue

• Rappler : MISSING CONTEXT: Non-tax revenue constitutes 6% of the PH’s total income
• Interaksyon: False: Claims on TikTok videos that P820 daily minimum wage is approved
• Rappler: Philippines not the only country without a sovereign wealth fund
• Mindanao Gold Star: False: Marcos heirs not liable for estate tax

Inflation and prices

• ABKD: [FALSE] Administrasyong Marcos Jr., walang magagawa upang pigilan ang inflation sa bansa
• ABKD: [MISLEADING] Pagkapanalo ni BBM, bumaba ang presyo ng bilihin at tumaas ang sahod
• Rappler: HINDI TOTOO: Magiging P20 kada kilo ang presyo ng bigas simula Mayo 16
• Rappler: FALSE: PH only ASEAN nation with projected positive GDP growth in July 2022
• Altermidya :FALSE: Rice now sold at P20 per kilo following Marcos Jr.’s victory

Investments and debt

• ABKD: [FALSE] Maharlika Investment Fund, magtatanggal ng monopolyo sa kuryente at tubig
• News5: Vlogger’s YouTube claims Duterte had paid back all of Philippines’ debt is misleading
• Baguio Chronicle: Claim: The Marcoses will use the Maharlika Fund to access the gold that they will distribute to Filipinos ala Santa Claus
• News5: FACT CHECK | Video falsely claims Marcoses’ P203 billion estate tax already paid

Fact checks about the pandemic 

It’s 2022 but claims about the pandemic are still rampant. In times like these, unverified reports and misleading posts online can spread as fast and as wide as the virus itself.

This year, many false claims about the pandemic talked about the false side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine deployment. 

Vaccine side effects and hesitancy

• Rappler: Most systemic reactions among children reported in a US CDC survey are mild
• Rappler: Spike proteins produced by COVID-19 vaccines are not toxic
• News5: Montemayor’s claim that vaccination exposes people to COVID-19 is false
• Altermidya : FACT CHECK: President Duterte falsely claims that the CPP is behind vaccine hesitancy in Southern Mindanao
• ABS-CBN: FACT CHECK: ‘Di totoong nakakapagpasa ng COVID-19 ang pagbabakuna

Political ties

• Rappler: HINDI TOTOO: Matagumpay ang COVID-19 vaccination dahil sa mabuting relasyon ni Duterte sa China at Russia

COVID-19 origins

• Rappler: Flu and COVID-19 do not belong to the same virus family

And some of the weirdest fact checks  

Even if some claims were obviously not true, these claims had to be debunked.

This year, some of the weirdest fact checks were about the alleged health benefits you can gain when using certain items, false explanations of weather phenomenon and monitoring, and conspiracy theories.

• Rappler: FALSE: COVID-19 vaccines eliminate ‘God Particle’ in the body
• Baguio Chronicle: “Astronaut Pills” can be mass-produced to feed the poor
• Altermidya: FACT CHECK: Video Doctored To Tout Unproven Diabetes Treatment
• OneNewsPH: FACT CHECK: No Evidence ‘Detox Foot Pads’ Can Treat Various Medical Conditions And Illnesses, Experts Say
• Interaksyon: Fact or fake? Demystifying myths about pneumonia and pneumococcal vaccines

History and conspiracy theories

• ABKD: [FALSE] Ginamit ng Diyos si Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. upang maging “steward” ng kayamanan niya sa mundo
• ABKD: [FALSE] Jose Rizal, nakaligtas sa Bagumbayan at nakatrabaho si Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
• ABKD: [FALSE] Nagsasabwatan ang mga Oligarko at Aktibista upang pasamain ang imahe ng Administrasyong Marcos Jr.
• ABKD: [FALSE] Ninoy Aquino, nag-organisa ng Moro secession at Communist insurgency
• ABKD: [FALSE] Mga pinsan ni Cory Aquino ang nagpapatay kay Ninoy Aquino
• ABKD: [FALSE] “Land of Gold” ang Pilipinas at si Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ang tagapangalaga ng ginto nito
• News5: Dictator’s political party’s claims Marcos got hundreds of thousands ton of gold from a non-existent Malay royal family is false
• Interaksyon: FAKE: Post claiming King Philip bequeathed kingship to Marcos Sr.
• Mindanao Gold Star FALSE: Marcos Sr did not steal but rather took care of the gold for the Filipino people
• Baguio Chronicle: Igorots have tails
• Baguio Chronicle: Darryl Yap is listed by Forbes as among the most obnoxious people under 30 worldwide
• Daily Guardian : FALSE: Chris Rock says he forgives Will Smith but not the Marcoses

With the help of the other partners in the mesh layer, these fact checks were also promoted on several social media pages of our partners, and shared as videos, cartoons, translations to other local languages, and other executions to reach a wider audience across the country. 

If you spot other claims on social media, report them to https://factsfirst.ph/tipline .

And together, let’s put facts first this 2023.  – Rappler.com

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In South China Sea dispute, Philippines' bolder hand tests Beijing

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U.S. reiterates its obligation to defend the Philippines after new clash with China at sea

MANILA, Philippines — The United States renewed a warning Tuesday that it is obligated to defend its close treaty ally a day after Filipino navy personnel were injured and their supply boats damaged in one of the most serious confrontations between the Philippines and China in a disputed shoal in the South China Sea , officials said.

China and the Philippines blamed each other for instigating Monday’s hostilities in the Second Thomas Shoal, which has been occupied by a small Filipino navy contingent aboard a grounded warship that has been closely watched by Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships in a yearslong territorial standoff. There is fear that the disputes, long regarded as an Asian flashpoint, could escalate and pit the United States and China against each other in a larger conflict.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell discussed China’s actions with his Philippine counterpart, Maria Theresa Lazaro, in a telephone call. Both agreed that China’s “dangerous actions threatened regional peace and stability,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Campbell reaffirmed that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which obligates Washington and Manila to help defend the other in major conflicts, “extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft — including those of its coast guard — anywhere in the South China Sea,” according to Miller.

A Philippine government task force overseeing the territorial disputes condemned what it said were “dangerous maneuvers, including ramming and towing,” which disrupted a routine effort to transport food, water and other supplies to the Filipinos manning the territorial outpost aboard the BRP Sierra Madre at the shoal.

“Despite the illegal, aggressive, and reckless actions by the Chinese maritime forces, our personnel showed restraint and professionalism, refrained from escalating the tension, and carried on with their mission,” the Philippine task force said without elaborating. “Their actions put at risk the lives of our personnel and damaged our boats in blatant violation of international law.”

The Chinese coast guard said the Philippines “is entirely responsible for this.” It said a Philippine vessel “ignored China’s repeated solemn warnings … and dangerously approached a Chinese vessel in normal navigation in an unprofessional manner, resulting in a collision.”

Two speedboats — attempting to deliver construction materials and other supplies to a military vessel stationed at the shoal — accompanied the supply ship, according to China’s Foreign Ministry, which described its coast guard’s maneuver as “professional, restrained, reasonable and lawful.”

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Monday night that his country’s armed forces would resist “China’s dangerous and reckless behavior,” which “contravenes their statements of good faith and decency.”

“We will exert our utmost in order to fulfill our sworn mandate to protect our territorial integrity, sovereignty and sovereign rights,” Teodoro said. “It should now be clear to the international community that China’s actions are the true obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

Several incidents have happened in recent months near the shoal, which lies less than 200 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine coast and where it maintains the Sierra Madre, which has become encrusted with rust since it was deliberately grounded in 1999 but remains an actively commissioned military vessel, meaning an attack on it could be considered by the Philippines as an act of war.

China has increasingly become assertive in pressing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which has led to a rising number of direct conflicts with other countries in the region, most notably the Philippines and Vietnam.

A new law by China, which took effect Saturday, authorizes its coast guard to seize foreign ships “that illegally enter China’s territorial waters” and to detain foreign crews for up to 60 days. The law renewed a reference to 2021 legislation that says China’s coast guard can fire upon foreign ships if necessary.

At least three coastal governments with claims to the waters — the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan — have said they will not recognize the law. Malaysia and Brunei are also involved in the long-seething territorial disputes, which are regarded as a delicate fault line in the longstanding U.S.-China rivalry in the region.

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Pan American Health Organization regional meeting on human genomic research for health held

The regional meeting on Human Genomics for Health: Enhancing the Impact of Effective Research was convened in Brasilia, Brazil, on 15–16 May 2024 by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) with the support of WHO headquarters, the PAHO/WHO country office in Brazil and the Department of Science and Technology (DECIT), Ministry of Health, Brazil.

The meeting gathered around 100 representatives from Member States, experts and observers from across the genomics and precision health ecosystem, from 19 countries in the region.

Genomics is an advancing field that presents novel strategies for attaining public health goals. This significant regional event drew inspiration from the 2022 WHO Science Council Report highlighting the vast potential of genomics and the critical need to accelerate access to genomic research and technologies for all countries. The event was organized in collaboration with the newly established Genomics Programme of Work within the Science Division at WHO headquarters.

The regional meeting’s objectives were to:

• raise awareness among Member States and regional stakeholders about the WHO Science Council report;
• share experiences and best practices in the implementation of genomic evidence to improve precision in the practice of medicine at an individual level, and to inform public health strategies at a population level;
• identify challenges and feasible strategies for the implementation of genomics in practice and for conducting genomic research in Member States; and
• create opportunities for linkages and collaborations.

To enhance communication and encourage the exchange of experiences and ideas among participants, the meeting was held in Spanish, English and Portuguese and provided simultaneous interpretation.

Participants represented a broad spectrum of disciplines and contributed their expertise across relevant fields of research, science policy, bioethics national genomic initiatives, cancer, rare diseases and congenital disorders and more. The assembly also included members of the Technical Advisory Group on Genomics from the Region of the Americas.

The meeting delved into experiences related to conducting research and applying genomics in clinical medicine and public health. Participants shared their insights on implementing genomic technologies, highlighting both successes and obstacles encountered in their work. Detailed discussions were held on the various challenges faced in the field, on the countries’ priorities and on the opportunities for advancement of genomics.

Additionally, there was a strong emphasis on the potential for collaborative efforts and the enhancement of partnerships within the region. Participants explored avenues for cooperation, recognizing that strengthening these alliances is crucial for the growth and integration of genomics into public health and clinical practice. The discussions underscored the importance of building robust networks to support ongoing research, facilitate the sharing of resources and expertise, and promote the equitable dissemination of genomic technologies.

The meeting exposed the broad and varied expertise in human genomics across the region, reflecting the interests and priorities of Member States in this field. They shed light on the opportunities and challenges involved in advancing human genomics research and implementation in the Americas. The final discussions focused on key actions and recommendations to enhance equitable and effective genomic research in the region, outlining a path forward for the Americas. The findings underscore the necessity for coordinated action at national, regional and global levels to equitably harness the transformative potential of human genomics.

Priority activities and recommendations discussed during the meeting included the need to:

• conduct an in-depth analysis of the local research landscape in human genomics to identify opportunities for accelerated advancements and innovation;
• establish regional expert advisory panels to provide guidance and foster coordination for collaborative activities, ensuring alignment with global best practices;
• develop comprehensive, evidence-based advocacy materials that clearly demonstrate the economic and societal benefits of investing in human genomic research, including detailed cost-benefit analyses; and
• implement robust strategies to strengthen the workforce, upgrade infrastructure, and enhance regulatory frameworks, thereby creating a supportive environment for the growth and development of human genomics.

For more information about Genomics and the WHO response .

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Indonesian university boosts Asia’s public health programmes through research training

Growing up in Bangladesh where several infectious diseases transmitted by helminths (worms) take a large health toll, Tilak Chandra Nath has always been fascinated with the challenges of addressing diseases of poverty.

After graduating as a biologist, Ezra Valido’s interest in infectious diseases took him to work in a rural, poor community in the eastern Philippines, where he headed public health programmes on tuberculosis, measles, dengue and chikungunya.

Valido’s community was devastated in 2013 by Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded. From that, he gained experience working in the aftermath of a disaster, including how to prevent waterborne diseases and sanitation-related illnesses.

As a TDR-supported fellow, also at UGM in 2017, Valido’s research project focused on how willing people were to take doses of the dengue vaccine in poor communities in the Philippines’ Quezon City. His initial plan was to focus on how the vaccines were rolled out. But this had to be shelved after community and media outrage based on misinformation about the vaccine led the government to cancel its vaccination plans.

TDR’s postgraduate training programme on implementation research

Both Nath and Valido were part of a special postgraduate training programme focused on implementation research, based at UGM’s Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, located in Yogyakarta. 

The programme, involving students from both WHO’s South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions, is supported by TDR, a global programme for research on diseases of poverty ,   hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, and co-sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), WHO and the World Bank.

UGM is part of TDR’s global postgraduate training scheme network , developed over the past eight years to boost the skills of future research leaders.  

The initiative focuses on building students’ skills in implementation research, a fast-growing field that supports the identification of system bottlenecks to delivering health services and approaches to addressing them. It is particularly useful in low- and middle–income countries where many health interventions do not reach those who need them the most.

One of the two partner institutions in Asia Pacific is UGM, where the initiative is co-ordinated by Professor Yodi Mahendradhata, Dean of Research and Development at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing. 

Involved from the start

Mahendradhata is proud of the fact that UGM was involved from the start - back in 2015 – in  TDR’s fellowship scheme as well as in the parallel development of course content for implementation research. So he feels considerable ownership over how it has evolved.

“It wasn’t just about receiving the tools and the toolkits, but being involved very early on in the development of the implementation research course, and that is what we particularly appreciate from TDR,” said Mahendradhata. “We learned a lot from participating in the development process, and that gives us a sense of ownership.”

His university has also developed and piloted lessons on implementation research as a part of a TDR-supported Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) , enabling researchers in places like Nepal and Myanmar to participate in virtual training, with UGM as the hub.

Critical and relevant

Valido is sanguine about how he had to shift the focus of his research on a new dengue vaccine from examining the standard parameters of mass rollout to focusing on the vaccine’s  acceptability in one city, Quezon, the biggest city in the Philippines.

Sanofi Pasteur’s Dengvaxia vaccine was approved in the Philippines in December 2015 , and the government started to roll it out to primary school children in 2016. However, in late 2017, Sanofi issued a statement reporting that, in rare cases, the vaccine could increase the risk of severe dengue illness in children who had never had the disease if they contracted the virus after being vaccinated. A public outcry followed , and the health department suspended the vaccine programme soon afterwards.

“While we were conducting the research, an update on the vaccine information caused a media frenzy which eventually led to its suspension and eventual cancellation,” he says. “We had to change the research and eventually looked at the change in the acceptability of the vaccine pre- and post-controversy.”

“The programme teaches you to be critical and relevant, and I had to change my research to remain relevant,” Valido says.“At the time, the Philippines was the only country implementing mass dengue vaccination in schools.”

Dengvaxia has since been approved in a number of countries, including the US – but only for people clinically proven to have had dengue in the past.

Valido enjoyed the opportunity to dissect the Filippino government’s plans for the vaccine’s implementation, focusing on “strategic actions, context and health system thinking.” 

New insights into managing parasitic diseases

Meanwhile, Nath’s research into parasitic diseases gave him new insights into how they can be both managed and prevented.

“In developed countries, most parasitic diseases have been either eradicated or controlled, but the scenario is quite different in lower-income countries, where many diseases remain a serious constraint to public health safety,” says Nath.

“Through the TDR training programme,” he says, “I learned to investigate the problems in preventing these diseases in greater detail and pave the way to find an implementable solution for policy-makers to mitigate the burden.”

Preparing for the future

Following his studies at UGM, Nath continued his research training, completing a PhD in Medicine from the Chungbuk National University, in Korea, in the area of One Health.  He is now an Associate Professor in the Department of Parasitology at Sylhet Agricultural University in Bangladesh.

 In a sense he has come full-circle - bringing knowledge amassed through years of study abroad back to his home country to ponder issues that he wondered about since his youth.  

“I am now actively engaged with helminthiasis elimination and biobanking of parasites projects,” says Nath, who is currently also the director of Bangladesh’s Parasite Resource Bank, where he is investigating the interactions between human, animal, and environmental parasites, following the One Health approach. 

Meanwhile, Valido is working on the biomedical aspects of infectious diseases as a post-doctoral researcher at Swiss Paraplegic Research, where he is exploring the interaction of microbiomes and the spinal cord. He started this work while completing his PhD in Health Sciences at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland. 

Few scientists understand the biomedical aspects of infectious diseases and “the complexity of public health designs to improve health programmes, guide health policies and identify key health infrastructure,” Valido observes. The TDR training helped him to build that interdisciplinary skill set.

This is the first article in a series on TDR’s research capacity strengthening programme - building skills of public health researchers, implementers, health practitioners and policy-makers in the fast-developing field of implementation research for improving uptake of effective health interventions.

TDR’s postgraduate training scheme

Philippines to Freeze Processing of New Green Energy Projects

• Energy department says five-month pause to start June 25
• Nation has more than enough contracts to hit clean energy goal

Ssolar panels in Cavite province, the Philippines. 

The Philippines will temporarily halt processing of new applications for renewable energy projects after it revamps rules amid a flood of contracts as the government pushes green power.

The Department of Energy will not review applications for five months from June 25 while it enhances a one-stop shop system with the implementation of the new guidelines from that date, it said in a statement on Friday.