Shopee and Google Launch Google Ads with Shopee, a First-of-its-kind Marketing Solution for Brands to Drive Sales Online

Google Ads with Shopee offers specialized marketing support for brands to boost their e-commerce presence in Southeast Asia and Taiwan

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, teamed up with Google to launch Google Ads with Shopee, a first-of-its-kind marketing solution for brands to drive sales online. The launch reflects a shared commitment between Shopee and Google to accelerate digitization and enable e-commerce growth for brands across the region. Through this integration, brands on Shopee can access specialized marketing tools to boost their online presence, create deeper engagements with customers, and flexibly manage and measure their marketing campaigns.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines, said, “Most brands in the Philippines are expanding their online presence as e-commerce becomes a vital part of the retail ecosystem. Shopee is committed to providing the best environment for every brand to succeed online. Google Ads with Shopee extends our efforts by deepening our integration with Google and making it easier for brand partners to promote their official stores and products online. We are delighted to have a like-minded partner like Google and we look forward to deeper collaborations in the future.”

Google Ads with Shopee meets the growing demand among brands for specialized marketing tools to support their increasing e-commerce presence. Key benefits include:

1. Convenient ad campaign creation on Shopee Brands Suite: Brands can now create Google shopping ads directly on the Shopee Brands Suite, adding to the existing range of marketing solutions and tools offered by Shopee. It will allow brands to promote their official stores and products more efficiently across all channels.

2. Increased flexibility and control: Brands can directly create and manage online ads for their official stores and products on Shopee on the Google Ads platform. It allows greater flexibility as brands can tailor ad campaigns to meet different business needs.

3. One-stop monitoring: Brands can monitor the performance of all their Google ads via the Shopee Brands Suite. The one-stop access to data, brands can seamlessly measure success and optimize the effectiveness of their marketing efforts on Shopee.

Samuele Saini, Sector Lead for Apps, e-Commerce, Entertainment at Google, said, “The e-commerce industry in Southeast Asia has experienced massive growth in recent years and is forecasted to exceed 150 billion USD by 20251. It has been further accelerated by the pandemic, with more consumers shopping online, as well as both big brands and smaller sellers quickly pivoting to further building their e-commerce presence.” He further added, "We are excited to launch Google Ads with Shopee, making it faster and easier for brands to connect with their customers online, and provide them with flexible tools to measure and optimize their campaigns.” 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Robinsons Bank launches RBank Biz and QR facility to help businesses move forward to the next normal

With the new normal set in place, many Filipinos have begun exploring online market spaces as alternative means for their livelihood. From baked goods, handcrafted masks, electronics, and more, the e-commerce landscape has been thriving with unique business ventures.

Despite the struggles brought by the COVID-19 situation, they quickly found creative and innovative ways to help them during these challenging times.

As the e-commerce landscape surges  and the global trend for contactless transactions continues to grow, Robinsons Bank is introducing the RBank Biz Portal and capability – new safe and efficient ways to help buyers and sellers manage their business during this crisis.

Wider choices mean greater opportunities

Take your business to greater heights with RBank Biz. Here’s a business solution that’s guaranteed to provide you ease and convenience!

RBank Biz is an online platform where business owners, even online sellers in Facebook, can take advantage to help them in managing their cashflow.  Interested e-commerce sellers and micro business owners can easily apply to become an RBank Merchant through its digitized application process. The application process can take as short as three (3) days, depending on their type of business.  With RBank Biz, not only does it provide more payment options to customers, but also ease and safety in completing their transactions.

No matter how small or big the business is, RBank offers online and offline payment channels such as Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals for debit and credit cards, E-Commerce Payment Solutions, and QR Code payments for cashless, cardless, and contactless transactions.

This will allow business owners to reach a larger customer base since this platform will be able to accept payments from other local banks. What's more, it gives their business added visibility in RBank's website.

Soon, RBank Biz will enable a Merchant Dashboard where RBank merchants can easily track their receivables, providing a robust sales monitoring facility for their business. And the greatest part of this service to its clients, RBank Biz is all FREE!

Just visit www.bit.ly/RBankBiz and become an RBank Merchant today.

Enjoy the QuickR way to pay and receive payments via QR

With the gradual shift to contactless transactions, RBank QuickR is the perfect solution to get your hands off handling cash and remain safe from the covid virus.

RBank’s QR (QuickR way to pay) is a cashless payment solution that allows RBank accountholders to send and receive digital payments from other RBank accounts or RBank Biz merchants via QR code, and without investing in any hardware.

Furthermore, RBank’s QR promises a contactless payment, ensuring minimized contact between merchants and customers. Through RBank’s QR, payments received are credited to the RBank account in real-time ensuring efficient cash flow. Users need not worry about security since all information transferred via QR code is encrypted and secure. In a few months, expect RBank QuickR QR code to have the capability to receive payments from other banks! 

To cater to the market's changing needs especially as the world adjusts to the new normal, Robinsons Bank is committed to its promise to expand its products and services to serve you better and to be your partner towards a brighter future

Robinsons Bank is the financial services arm of the JG Summit Group of Companies, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines. It currently ranks 18th among universal and commercial banks in the country, with assets amounting to Php 131.088 Bn as of December 2019.

For inquiries and concerns, you may reach Robinsons Bank through its Customer Care Center at (02) 8637-CARE (2273) or domestic toll-free 1-800-10-637-CARE (2273); or visit its website at www.robinsonsbank.com.ph. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/robinsonsbank. Stay updated and join RBank’s Viber Community at https://bit.ly/RBankCommunity to know the latest announcements.

GCash, Singlife tie up to launch digital Insurance Marketplace

GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, has partnered with digital insurer Singlife Philippines to provide GCash users access to relevant, affordable, and secure insurance products.

Despite the growth of the insurance market in recent years, more than 95 percent of Filipinos are insufficiently prepared – if not completely unprepared –for high medical expenses, disability, or death of the main income earner. This leads to high debts to pay for medical costs or even outright denial of treatment. Families are being torn away from their standards of living when an adverse event happens and income is disrupted. One hurdle is the complexity of insurance products and the old-fashioned way they are offered, with conventional insurance plans requiring a lot of paperwork.

“Cash seeks to maximize the reach of technology to promote health and financial security especially during this global health situation. After offering customers a new, more customer-friendly way to do banking transactions, partnering with Singlife Philippines will allow us to also offer our clients access to a number of meaningful life insurance products that cater to their financial well-being,” GCash CEO Martha Sazon said.

GCash, the largest fintech company in the Philippines, has always had its eyes set on financial inclusion for all Filipino. Recently, GCash has started offering users a suite of financial services such as savings, on-demand credit, and investments. Offering insurance is the next step towards this goal.

Singlife Philippines is a majority-owned subsidiary of Singlife (65%) with partners Di-Firm (20%) and Aboitiz Equity Ventures (15%). The company’s purpose is to unlock the potential of money for everyone by offering innovative tools & solutions that help people become confident and in control of their finances.

“We believe that everyone should have access to financial products that support them to manage their financial lives efficiently. By using digital technology, we can simplify products, make them affordable for a larger market, and design them to be customer centric. Our products adjust to your needs and give you the best value for your money,” Singlife Philippines President & CEO Rien Hermans said.

He adds, “Partnering with GCash, the biggest e-wallet platform in the Philippines, makes perfect sense as our goals are aligned.  We offer simple and flexible products at affordable prices to a large base of customers.”

This is only one of many partnerships, and GCash will continue to work with local industry leaders to offer the best insurance options to the people in the market.

“The end goal is to really connect every Filipino to all the kinds of financial protection they might need in the most convenient way possible,” Sazon said.

SM launches Farmers Produce Market with DA and Resto PH

Many farmers and their families find themselves struggling to get back on their feet and make enough to get by amid the pandemic. To help, SM Supermalls formally launched Farmers’ Produce, a first-of-its-kind joint project with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Resto PH, an association of restaurant owners, with a first leg, a weekend market at SM Aura, Taguig.

In photo (L-R) Eric Teng, President of RestoPH;U.Sec Ruth Castelo, Department of Trade and Industry; Margie Moran; A.Sec. Noel Reyes, Sec. William Dar, A.Sec. Kristine Evangelista, Department of Agriculture; Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls. 

In photo (L-R) Margie Moran; Tessa Prieto-Valdez; Frank Briones; Ara Arida; Daphne Osena-Paez; Hideo Muraoka

During the launch of Farmers Produce which was held July 3-5, 2o2o at the open air SM Aura Skypark, guests had a great time shopping for fresh and organic produce and other local products at low prices. The event also offered a farm-to-table experience to all guests with the help of Resto PH restaurants which served special menu items using the various produce from the local farmers. 

Due to public clamor and to continue to help the farmers, Farm Produce will have its second run from July 10 to 12, at SM Aura Skypark Lawn, from 10am to 8pm.

According to DA Secretary William Dar, because of the pandemic, the livelihood of farmers have been affected. They have their produce, but they are not earning much profit due to lack of buyers. “During the past months in quarantine, we have come up with solutions that will directly connect farmers to the consumers,” he said. “This will help farmers sell their produce to the consuming public, and give shoppers the chance to buy fresh, nutritious items at a lower cost.”

Fresh fruits are also available at the Farmers’ Produce market at SM Aura Premier. Some of these include bananas, papaya, dragonfruit.

Onions are sold at a very affordable price.

SM shoppers can benefit from the partnership which will be implemented in many SM malls nationwide. “Through this project, SM malls across the country will be selling fresh and organic produce to help our farmers. This is only the beginning and we look forward to implementing more initiatives that will support local farmers and small businesses, to help boost the country’s economy during this time,” said SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.

Farmers’ Produce is part of the government’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Program, the flagship market development program of the DA, and aims to support local farmers and restaurants that have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Through this project, they will be able to sell their produce directly to restaurant owners and those who want to be of help to MSMEs.

Also available at the Farmers’ Produce Market are celery, pechay baguio, zucchini, raddish, eggplant, and red cabbage.

“When restaurants close, farmers suffer because we are such a big buying block for their produce. It will take a long time for restaurants to recover. On top of that, farmers also deal with other factors like growing seasons and the uncertainty of the situation. We hope this project will do a lot of good for our farmers by bringing their produce to our table,” added Eric Teng, president of Resto PH and Mango Tree Bistro.

Together with the top government officials and SM executives, public personalities and celebrities including Margie Moran, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Ariella Arida, and Hideo Muraoka, among others, also attended the launch.

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SM Supermalls, a staunch supporter of MSMEs

Since it started as a small enterprise 60 years ago, SM has long committed to support MSMEs to grow by helping them organize their business, provide access to market and marketing support, and act as distribution channels across the country.

PayMaya and beep™ team up to provide safer, contactless commute for all

Digital financial services leader PayMaya Philippines partners with beep™ to provide commuters a safer way to load up their beep™ cards.  

Commuters can enjoy a safe and contactless commute by simply purchasing their beep™ load packages on the PayMaya app. With this load up method, there is no longer a need for face-to-face interactions with the teller, as well as exchange of cash, which can contribute to the further spread of the virus.  

PayMaya users can choose among three beep™ load packages on their PayMaya app: 

P100, P250, and P500 with an additional P5 convenience fee. 

To buy a load package on PayMaya, simply follow these easy steps: 

1. Tap treats on the app homepage 2. Select a beep™ card load package 3. Input your beep™ card number, then tap continue 4. Wait for a purchase confirmation in-app and via SMS 5. Head over to a beep™ e-load station and tap your card to receive the load package.  

Once the beep™ card is loaded, it can already be used on LRT 1, LRT 2, MRT 3, as well as in Point-to-Point (P2P) and Metro Manila city buses. There’s also a growing number of modern PUVs, among other transportation modes, that accept beep™ cards as a payment method. 

AF Payments Head of Business Development, Sharon Fong said, “We recognize the challenges and health risks that the daily Filipino commuter faces during the pandemic. We want to help mitigate those health risks by promoting contactless commuting. So instead of paying for your fare with cash that gets passed around by different people, you just tap your beep™ card. Loading your card is also safer and more convenient when you use cashless options, such as PayMaya.”

“As the country reopens, more Filipinos are starting to go back to work and use public transportation. At PayMaya, we’re committed to making cashless options widely available in the transportation sector in order to promote a safer and more convenient commute for the public. Our partnership with beep™ is just one of the many steps we are taking to achieve this goal,” said Shailesh Baidwan, PayMaya President. 

Apart from PayMaya, commuters can also reload their beep™ cards through select Smart Padala agents in their neighborhood for a quick and convenient transaction. All they have to do is follow these simple steps:  

1. Go to your trusted Smart Padala agent and ask if beep load packages are available. 2. Give the beep™ card account number and load amount. You can load P100, P250, and P500. 3. Pay for the load amount with the additional P10 service fee. 4. Head over to a beep™ e-load station and tap your card to receive the purchased load.

PayMaya has previously announced its support to the directive released by the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board mandating the use of contactless payments in public utility vehicles as part of the measures in what is dubbed as the “new normal." 

In June, it has entered into an agreement ride-hailing app hirna and its partner taxi drivers to be able to accept cashless payments from its customers via PayMaya QR.  

PayMaya has also previously equipped taxi operators in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Baguio with contactless payments, and enabled the first digital bus ticketing system with the Araneta Bus Port for cashless payments through credit and debit cards as well as via PayMaya QR.

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, and government. Aside from providing payments acceptance for the largest e-Commerce, food, retail and gas merchants in the Philippines, PayMaya enables national and social services agencies as well as local government units with digital payments and disbursement services.   

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides millions of Filipinos with the fastest way to own a financial account with over 40,000 Add Money touchpoints nationwide, more than double the total number of traditional bank branches in the Philippines combined. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 30,000 partner touchpoints nationwide serves as last mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to services. 

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Globe at Home Postpaid introduces new innovative promo plans

Recreate the world right at home with faster speeds, unli data and free devices

While the country has shifted to more relaxed quarantine guidelines, many still choose to stay at home, opting to use the internet to work, study, and entertain themselves. Globe at Home is empowering families across the country to recreate the world right at home with its new postpaid plans, bundled with exciting freebies and complimentary services.

Bring the cinema right at home

With Plan 1899, customers can experience speeds of up to 30 Mbps with unlimited data. The cinema is right at home as new customers get three months free access to iWant and Amazon Prime Video plus a free Android TV box.  The Android TV box transforms any TV into a Smart TV with thousands of videos, movies, and games from the Google Play Store, YouTube, and other apps--making every night a movie night.

Set up the office right at home

With the increasing demand for home connection for the entire family, there’s no better time to upgrade to 100 Mbps speed with unlimited data for only P2899. This plan comes with two TP Link Deco M5 WiFi Mesh devices, which expand the WiFi coverage to more areas at home. With these, users can seamlessly move from room to room with a stable connection. 

Plan 2899 is perfect for big families, especially with parents who need to work and grow their businesses at home. Moreover, they get exclusive access to the VIP Tech Squad hotline, a specialized customer service team that provides end-to-end support for WiFi connectivity and installation of devices such as the TP-Link WiFi mesh system that enables enhanced online security for all users in the family. 

Secure a plan fit with your budget

Families can choose from a wide range of postpaid plans depending on their budget.

Globe at Home’s starter pack is Plan 1299, with speeds of up to 10 Mbps and 500GB of data allocation per month. Unlimited plans start at Plan 1699 and come with varying speeds ranging from up to 15 Mbps to a maximum of up to 1 Gbps with Plan 9499.

New and existing Globe at Home customers can apply for or can upgrade their plans using the Globe at Home app which can be downloaded for FREE via Google Playstore or the App Store. All of these plans come with three months of free access to iWant and Amazon Prime Video, and a free landline unit with unlimited calls to Globe and TM subscribers for 24 months.

Learn more via the official Globe at Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/globeathome/ or send a message via the Globe At Home FB messenger.

Alfamart offers Neovent Glass Containers for special promo price

Alfamart, the first and only Super Minimart chain in the Philippines, has something special for its customers. You can now purchase Neoflam’s Neovent glass containers at a special price by completing three stamps on an Alfamart stamp card.

Neoflam is a Korean kitchenware brand that makes elegant and tough products like containers, knives, pots, and pans. With this promo you now have a chance to get the Neovent food storage containers at an amazing discount.

Neovent containers have amazing build quality with shock-resistant borosilicate glass. The containers have lids with an airtight locking mechanism which ensures your food remains fresh for a longer time. These containers are especially convenient in this time of quarantines because we are mostly at home enjoying cooking or splurging on food deliveries. Glass containers also make for better food storage compared to plastics because you can be entirely sure that it is microwave safe and, unlike plastics, there is smaller chance of contamination.

First, acquire a stamp card at an Alfamart near you. Every PhP 100 purchase earns you a stamp on the card. If you have three stamps, just surrender the card and purchase either a Neoflam 0.32L square glass container for PhP 165.00; a 0.64L rectangle glass container for PhP 205.00; or a 1L rectangle glass container for PhP 270.00.

If you want to purchase another one of these containers, simply get another stamp card and fill it up with three stamps again.

The promotion runs from July 1 – August 31, 2020, while the redemption period is until October 31, 2020. Visit your nearest Alfamart branch for more details.

Access a Universe of Amazing Exclusive Deals with ZRewards

You deserve a reward! Beginning July 15, everyone will have a chance to unlock exciting and exclusive freebies and discounts never offered before by today's hottest and biggest brands courtesy of ZRewards by Zeal. 

ZRewards by Zeal is the country’s newest one-stop shop for awesome deals. Through their website, users from all over the Philippines can grab hold of premium and solid offers redeemable at their favorite online shops and physical stores. Best of all, there’s no strings attached. Membership is free, so the entire family can join in on the fun. 

Making the most out of your bucks

ZRewards by Zeal aims to embody what it wants to deliver.

For foodies, Restaurant Concepts Group, Inc. (RCGI), is giving out 25% discount coupons, the first time it has ever done so.  RCGI is the brain behind top notch restaurants Barcino, Single Origin, Bluesmith Coffee, and Meat Depot.  If you haven’t tried them, now is the perfect time.

Diners can also indulge in international gastronomical delights from the Bistro Group and Bistronomia  hosts of restaurants while at home and still get the most value out of their money.  Dine in style with Helm and Savage.  Satisfy seafood cravings with Red Lobster and Fish & Co.  Recreate a Spanish fiesta with Las Flores, Rambla, Tomatito, BCN by Las Flores, La Lola Churreria and El Pollo Loco. Go Italian with Italianni’s and Osteria Daniele.

Have some dessert from Coldstone, Tous Les Jours, Jipan and Goldilocks or just let your hair down with other deals from Zark’s and Bo’s. Shakey’s is also unveiling an exclusive promo on ZRewards where you can get a free large thin Hawaiian Delight pizza for every purchase of their new Supercard+.

And even while in community quarantine, you can transport yourself to America with Friday’s, Denny’s, Texas Roadhouse, Hard Rock Cafe, and Buffalo Wild WIngs.  If you love East Asia, visit China with Modern Shanghai, proceed to South Korea with Bulgogi Brothers, and drop by Japan with Watami. 

For your essential needs, take advantage of the wonderful deals from Unilever, Minimart, The Naturale Market, Breville, and Misso.  Keep yourself happy, fit, and entertained with discounts from Zalora, Flowerstore, The Smile Bar, Beauty Scout, Chris Sports, Grand Videoke, WOW Fiesta, and Beyond the Box.  Once the community quarantine is lifted and you can finally go out, use your discounts to flex your muscles at Gold’s Gym and get yourself a makeover from Browhaus and Strip.

Pinoy challenges

“We acknowledge the ever changing needs of our customers, especially under the new normal.  Because of the pandemic, consumers and businesses alike have fewer opportunities to connect with one another.  That is where we come in.  We envision ZRewards by Zeal as a source of discovery and delight for the consumers and a platform for merchants to reach out to their customers,” said Glenn Z. Estrella, Chief-Executive-Officer of ZRewards by Zeal. 

One of the pain points right now for a lot of Filipino consumers is that looking for deals is challenging. For some brands, it includes a paid membership to a loyalty program. For others, it entails going through dozens of websites just to find one single deal which may not even be valid or worth  the effort. 

Deals have become even more important during the COVID-19 outbreak. As people try to manage their finances more sustainably, deals, discounts and rewards can make a world of difference.  

It’s a similar situation for businesses. With the limited number of people going out, a lot of restaurants and stores need to find a way to sustain business operations. Deals are one of the few effective ways to entice customers to grab their phones and make an order. However, distributing those deals can also be problematic and costly. 

Through ZRewards, it’s a win-win situation for both parties. Businesses now have another platform to meet their customers while customers will benefit from big saving and irresistible deals under just one roof. Visit their website and sign up today: https://zeal.ph/signup .

ZRewards by Zeal is a brand under 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe. 

STATE OF WORLD POPULATION 2020: Putting the Brakes on COVID-19: How to safeguard the health and rights of women and girls now

UNFPA in the Philippines launched the State of World Population Report and commemorated the World Population Day together with POPCOM

MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Philippines, together with the Philippine Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), commemorated the World Population Day (11 July) through a virtual event broadcasted online. Featuring eminent policymakers such as the Secretary of Health Dr. Francisco Duque III, Philippine Commission on Women Chairperson Ms. Rhodora M. Bucoy, and Commissioner on Human Rights Ms. Karen Lucia Gomez-Dumpit, the joint event of UNFPA Philippines and POPCOM unpacked and discussed major vulnerabilities and harmful practices experienced by women and girls, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified these. The online event also featured a virtual hand-over of UNFPA’s global State of World Population (SWOP) Report 2020 to Undersecretary and Executive Director of POPCOM, Dr. Juan Antonio “Jeepy” Perez III.

Every year, millions of girls are subjected to practices that harm them physically and emotionally, with the full knowledge and consent of their families, friends, and communities, according to the SWOP Report 2020, published by the headquarters of UNFPA, the United Nations’ sexual and reproductive health agency.

The UNFPA report entitled “Against My Will: Defying the Practices That Harm Women and Girls and Undermine Equality” has identified at least 19 harmful practices, ranging from breast ironing to virginity testing, as human rights violations, and focused on the three most prevalent ones: female genital mutilation, son preference, and child marriage.

“Harmful practices against girls cause profound and lasting trauma, robbing them of their right to reach their full potential,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.

While progress had been made in ending some harmful practices worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to reverse gains. A recent analysis revealed that if services and programmes remain shuttered for six months, an additional 13 million girls may be forced into marriage.

Mr. Iori Kato, UNFPA Country Representative in the Philippines,

“In the Philippines, even before the outbreak of COVID-19, 1 out of 6 Filipino girls married before 18. And because the effects of this pandemic and quarantine measures are disrupting those efforts to end child marriage, we may actually see even a further increase in child marriage,” Mr. Iori Kato, UNFPA Country Representative in the Philippines, alerted. 

“Maternal deaths, unintended pregnancies, unmet need for modern contraceptives, and gender-based violence could all increase significantly, compared to pre-COVID in 2019”.

On the occasion of this year’s World Population Day with the theme of “Putting the Brakes on COVID-19: How to safeguard the health and rights of women and girls now,” Mr. Gustavo González, the newly-appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator and the Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines, underscored:

“What we have been observing in the country and globally, is the tremendous impact of the pandemic on women and girls. Looking after the health of women does not only mean ensuring their protection from the coronavirus; but also ensuring that women are able to access a wide range of services, including reproductive health and family planning information and services as a matter of choice and human right.”

The online event presented the preliminary results of an analysis that the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) had recently conducted with UNFPA about the impact of COVID-19 and quarantines on Filipino women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and freedom from violence. The study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions in access to essential services could result in increasing the annual maternal deaths to 3,200, 26% higher than the pre-COVID 2019, as well as in a significant increase in unplanned pregnancies, including among thousands of teenage girls. Domestic violence is also expected to increase as women and girls are stuck in the same home as their abusive partners, although many of them would be unreported.

POPCOM Executive Director Dr. “Jeepy” Perez emphasized, “Despite the challenges, there are policies, measures, laws and numerous other efforts in place adherent to the Philippines’ commitments made in the Nairobi Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) where the Philippines was a staunch supporter as a signatory 25 years ago. While there are observable great strides in our population and development goals, more needs to be done, especially at this time when COVID-19 can derail the work we have strived so hard to accomplish.”

Results of the Sexual & Reproductive Health and Gender-based Violence estimates amid COVID-19 pandemic were presented by Prof. Ma. Paz Marquez, Team Leader of UPPI Research Team on SRH/GBV Estimates.

On World Population Day 2020, POPCOM and UNFPA vow to strengthen their partnership to support women’s and girls’ unique needs faced during the pandemic, working with various national, regional, and local governments and NGOs in the Philippines. To enable this, UNFPA Philippines is appealing for USD 11 million or 549 million Pesos of additional resources as part of the UN Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19.

Website: www.unfpa.org/swop

Website: www.popcom.gov.ph