In the recent Asia pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting held in Iloilo the first week of October, the two main subjects under discussion were disaster risk reduction and the increasingly important role of women in Southeast Asian economies. Founded in 1989, with 21 members, APEC’s challenge today is to develop more micro, small, and medium industries, since SMEs have turned out to play a pivotal role in spurring economic growth in the Asia Pacific region. The United Nations estimates that the APEC region was losing up to $47 million each year due to the lack of women’s participation in the labor market. Today in the Philippines, 54% of all registered trade names are owned by women, according to Trade Undersecretary Nora Terrado.
Philippine Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo told the press that in 2012, it was estimated that $89 billion could be added to the regional economy if barriers to women’s economic participation were eliminated. APEC indentified the five priority areas where women’s potential remains untapped: access to capital, access to markets, skills training, leadership, and access to technology.
The APEC forum in Iloilo launched the APEC Healthy Economic Policy toolkit, which details actions that need to be taken to improve women’s health, including workplace safety, healthcare access, work-life balance, and reproductive health.
Women in APEC countries represent over 50% of the population. In the 21 APEC countries, 600 million women are in the labor force. When health issues inhibit women from remaining in the labor force, it costs their country sizeable money. Healthy women mean healthy economies.
The Risk Reduction Framework, presented to APEC by the Philippines, involves community participation, disaster risk governance, disaster risk financing, critical infrastructure, and ecological integrity.
The framework will be presented to the leaders of the member countries when they meet here in Manila for the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting on November 18th and 19th.
*The APEC member countries are: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua new Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taipei, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam
Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/apec-adopts-the-philippines-disaster-risk-framework/#w1hfK6KXP0BYzPrF.99
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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