Saturday-Friday | March 13 - 19, 2021
global NEWS GLOBAL NEWS
PH ready for planned shift to ‘cashless’ society — Palace M A NIL A (Mabu hay) — Ma laca ña ng ex pressed confidence on Tuesday that the government is ready to transform the Philippines into a “cashless” society, given that the country is still grappling with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement in reaction to a survey, which showed that the Philippines ranked sixth on the list of nations that will support a completely cashless society. “So pang-anim nga po tayo sa digital ranking at iyan naman po’y patunay na we can readily make the shift to a cashless society dahil alam naman natin na ‘yung physical pera ang isa sa pinakamalakas na magkalat ng Covid virus (We ranked sixth in the digital ranking and that’s proof that we can readily make the shift to a cashless society because we are aware that handling banknotes is one of the reasons why Covid virus spread easily),” Roque said. A survey conducted by MoneyTransfers.com, an international money transfer firm, found that India topped the list of 21 countries that favor a cashless society. Following India (79 percent) were Malaysia (65 per-
cent), United Arab Emirates (63 percent), Indonesia (63 percent), Vietnam (60 percent), Singapore (56 percent), Italy (52 percent), the Philippines (52 percent), Thailand (51 percent), and Taiwan (48 percent). Roque said he could not tell as to when the Philippines could turn into a cashless society. He, nevertheless, guaranteed that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is taking measures to pursue cashless transactions in the country. “May mga hakbang na po na ginawa ang Bangko Sentral ‘no, unang-una, para huwag nang gumamit noong mga barya (Steps have been taken by the Bangko Sentral (so people) avoid using coins),” Roque said. Some ex per t s have warned that Covid-19 may remain infectious for weeks on banknotes. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said the Philippines is expected to be a “coinless society” by 2025, as the National Quick Response (QR) Code Standard, or QR PH, is seen to scale up contactless payments. The BSP November 2019 adopted QR PH which seeks to push for a QR code standard for all digital transactions nationwide that will be adopted by all financial technology firms and banks.
The use of QR technology, according to a statement earlier issued by the BSP, has emerged as the “most expedient” means of payment since it entails code scanning that is faster and easier to do than bringing out a card, tapping and swiping it, and signing a charge slip in most cases. The BSP’s goal is to do at least 50 percent of all financial transactions digitally by 2023. (MNS)
25% of Pinoys cite violence vs women as top concern amid pandemic MANILA (Mabuhay) — As the world celebrates Women’s Month this March, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) renewed its call for special protection of Filipino women, especially during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This, as the POPCOM on Tuesday shared its commissioned survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) which showed that one of four adult Filipinos have said harmful acts in various forms are among the most pressing problems of women during the present health crisis. Eleven percent mentioned physical violence as top-of-mind concern while 14 percent cited sexual violence and emotional violence (7 percent each), the survey said. In Mindanao, 24 percent of adults shared the same sentiments (11 percent for physical violence, 5 percent for sexual, and 8 percent for emotional), while it was slightly lower in the Visayas at 22 percent (6 percent physical violence, 11 percent sexual, 5 percent emotional). SWS said it was higher in Manila at 29 percent (13 percent for physical violence, 7 percent sexual, 9 percent emotional) and the rest of Luzon at 28 percent (13 percent for physical violence, 7 percent sexual, 8 percent emotional). Per accounts of the Philippine National Police in the yearly Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health
report, there were 19,743 recorded cases of Violence Against Women in 2019, or before the pandemic. Of the total, 77 percent, or 15,160 cases, were violations under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children law, or the intimate partner-relationship category. The rest fell under other forms of Gender-Based Violence, such as rape (2,341 cases), acts of lasciviousness (1,953), concubinage (204), and sexual harassment (85). Popcom Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III said on Tuesday the Philippines leads the global community in championing the causes of women, evidenced by its high worldwide ranking in women empowerment and gender equality. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index places the Philippines at 16th — the only one in Asia in the top 20 — as the country is performing excellently in closing the gender gap when it comes to economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. He also revealed that half of his colleagues in the agency’s executive roster are women. “As an agency being looked upon by the national government in promoting women’s rights, Popcom will do its best to guarantee their protection, empowerment, and provision of opportunities needed to achieve their utmost in life,” he said. (MNS)
Visit www.Balita.com
Weekend
BALITA
9
PH Mission to UN defends Calabarzon ops MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippine Mission to the United Nations in Geneva defended as "legitimate" the law enforcement operations in Calabarzon that resulted in the deaths of nine activists and arrest of six others last Sunday. This comes in the wake of a statement from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that denounces what it describes as "arbitrary killing". " We a r e a pp a l le d a t OHCHR prejudging legitimate police operations on Sunday in the Philippines vs persons possessing dangerous firearms and explosive devices. We regret this overreach of OHCHR’s mandate -- clearly uninformed of facts on the ground," the Philippine Mission said over Twitter on Tuesday night. It said there is "no basis for calling deaths resulting from these operations as arbitrary killing," adding that these were carried out "strictly within the bounds of law, on 40 search warrants secured by the police after a rigorous legal process." When deaths occur during operations conducted by security forces, investigations are "automatically" launched in the Philippines, it added.
"And this will be true for the search ops in Luzon last Sunday," it said. "We ask OHCHR to correct hasty opinions favoring violators of the law & instead support efforts to uphold law & order." At least six died in Rizal province, two in Batangas, and one in Cavite following simultaneous police operations on Sunday. Initia l reports showed that policemen conducted the raids by the virtue of search warrants for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Col. Chit Gaoiran, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-4A (Calabarzon), earlier said the raiding team was engaged in a gunfight, resulting in the deaths of the nine individuals. A Depa r t ment of Justice-led panel on extrajudicial killings is currently investigating the death of the nine activists. The Commission on Human Rights will also launch an independent probe. (MNS)
