Faith Forward: Reclaiming HIV in the Health Agenda *Multistakeholder Dialogue | September 24-26, 2026 | Astoria Hotel, Philippines*

*Manila, Philippines —* Faith leaders, health officials, youth, people living with HIV, and civil society are coming together for a historic three-day dialogue to put HIV back at the center of the health and moral agenda.

With the theme *"Faith Forward: Reclaiming HIV in the Health Agenda,"* the Multistakeholder Dialogue will be held on *September 24-26, 2026 at the Astoria Hotel, Philippines*, convening participants from government, faith-based organizations (FBOs), medical community, development partners, and key populations.

The Philippines has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in Asia and the Pacific. Despite medical advances, stigma, misinformation, and shrinking space for dialogue continue to hamper response. This dialogue seeks to change that — by harnessing the unique moral influence of faith.

 Why Faith? Why Now?

Faith communities reach where health systems often cannot. In a highly faith-driven country like the Philippines, pastors, priests, imams, and faith leaders are trusted gatekeepers who can either perpetuate stigma — or break it.

This dialogue will move beyond judgment to compassionate, evidence-based, and rights-affirming action.

Three Days, One Goal: From Dialogue to Action

*Day 1 — September 24: RECLAIMING THE REALITY*

Opening plenary: State of HIV in the Philippines in 2026

Voices from the ground: Testimonies from PLHIV, young key populations, and mothers

Faith and Science: Can compassion and condoms coexist?

*Day 2 — September 25: REFRAMING THE RESPONSE*

Multistakeholder Labs:

- Youth and Faith: Bridging the prevention gap

- Combating Stigma in Pulpits, Clinics, and Classrooms

- Sustainable Financing for Community-Led HIV Response

- Reclaiming UHC: Integrating HIV into Primary Health Care

*Day 3 — September 26: FORWARD TOGETHER*

Presentation of the *Faith Forward Covenant* — a shared commitment and action roadmap

Interfaith Prayer and Solidarity Service

Closing and Launch of Regional Faith & Health Network

Expected Outcomes:

1.  *The Astoria Covenant on Faith and HIV* — a joint statement of principles and commitments from faith and health sectors

2.  Creation of a *National Faith & Health Taskforce on HIV*

3.  Concrete community action plans for local churches, mosques, and temples to implement stigma-free HIV education, testing referral, and care support.

- Faith-Based Organizations and Interfaith Networks

- Department of Health, PNAC, Local Government Units

- People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Networks and Key Population Communities

- Youth leaders, Health workers, CSOs, academe

- Development partners, private sector, and media

HIV is not just a medical issue. It is a moral issue, a youth issue, a justice issue.

For three days at the Astoria, we listened, learned, and lead — faith forward.

World PET Expo 2026 Returns for a Bigger Second Edition, Uniting Pet Owners, Businesses, and Industry Leaders

Manila, Philippines - Worldbex Services International (WSI) officially opens the second edition of

the World PET Expo, a premier event celebrating the growing pet industry in the Philippines.

Running from September 24 to 27, 2026, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, the expo

brings together pet owners, businesses, and industry professionals for a weekend dedicated to

pets and their well-being.

Pet ownership continues to grow across the Philippines. According to the International Trade

Administration, a Kantar Philippines survey found that 94% of Filipino households are pet

owners, giving the Philippines the highest level of pet ownership in Southeast Asia. While dogs

remain the most common household pets, cats have also become increasingly popular.

For many Filipinos, pets are considered part of the family, with owners placing greater emphasis

on their pets’ health, happiness, and overall well-being. This growing commitment has also

driven demand for a wider range of pet products and services, from premium toys and

accessories to diapers, strollers, and carriers designed for pets on the go.

The World Pet Expo responds to this growing interest by providing a dedicated platform where

pet owners can discover products, services, and information to help them care for their pets.

The event also highlights the businesses and innovations contributing to the continued growth of

the pet industry.

The Opening Ceremony was held on September 24, 2026, at the World Trade Center Metro

Manila and was hosted by radio DJ and events host Tina Ryan. Her enthusiasm and energy

was felt throughout the ceremony and helped bring the mood of everyone watching on high

lievels. The ceremony was attended by industry leaders, distinguished guests, and VIPs who

gathered to celebrate the official opening of the expo.

Highlighting World Pet Expo’s growing role as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and

industry development, WSI Managing Director Ms. Jill Athnie Ang shared, “World Pet Expo is

becoming the premier platform where the pet industry comes together … Together, we

are building an industry, strengthening a community, and creating a better future for our

pets.”

Other distinguished guests also delivered messages during the ceremony, including Mr. Ernie

Lopez, the Advocacy Ambassador for the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.; Ms. Pamela Pascual, the

Chairman and CEO of the World Trade Center Metro Manila; Hon. Dr. Christian P. Daquigan,

DVM, Officer-in-Charge and Director for the Bureau of Animal Industry for the Department of

Agriculture (represented by Dr. Glenn Reyes); Hon. Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano , Mayor for the

City of Pasay (represented by Former Councilor Joey Calixto Isidro , Special Assistant to the

Mayor ); Hon. Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza D. Bautista, Supervising Head for the

Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG) in the Department of Trade and Industry

(represented by Mr. Emerson Labang, Officer-in-Charge for the Bureau of Domestic Trade

Promotion); and Hon. Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. of the Department of Agriculture

(represented by Asec. Michael De Joya Garcia).

With four days of activities, exhibits, and opportunities for pet owners and industry stakeholders,

the World Pet Expo 2026 aims to bring the pet community together while showcasing the

products, services, and innovations shaping the future of pet care in the Philippines.

Spend your “fur-fect” week with your fur friends in this exciting event, here at the World Pet

Expo 2026, happening here at the World Trade Center Metro Manila! This event is open until

September 27, 2026, so come and get your tickets now at https://worldpetexpo.ph/. Follow the

official pages on social media to stay up-to-date with the latest updates and news:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/WorldPetExpo

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/worldpetexpo/

The World PET Expo 2026 is organized by Worldbex Services International and is for the

benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.

*ASEAN Opens Regional Dialogue on Circular Economy in Manila: From Waste to Wealth*

*MANILA, September 22, 2026 — New World Manila Bay Hotel* — The Philippines is hosting the *ASEAN Regional Dialogue on Circular Economy* from *September 22-23, 2026*, bringing together more than 200 policymakers, business leaders, MSMEs, and sustainability champions from 10 ASEAN Member States.

Themed *"Circular ASEAN: Closing the Loop, Opening Opportunities,"* the two-day dialogue is organized by the *Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)* in partnership with the *EU-ASEAN Green Economy Programme, UNIDO, and the ASEAN Secretariat.*

The dialogue comes at a critical time: ASEAN generates over 50 million tons of plastic waste annually, with the Philippines identified as a major contributor to ocean plastic. At the same time, new EU and ASEAN regulations are requiring products to be designed for reuse, repair, and recycling.

*Day 1 Highlights — September 22*

Opening the dialogue, *DTI Secretary* said the circular economy is no longer an environmental advocacy but a trade imperative:

"If we want to export to Europe and to each other, we must be circular. The future ASEAN product is refillable, repairable, recyclable, and traceable."

*DENR Undersecretary Jonas R. Leones*, in charge of Policy and International Affairs, presented the Philippines' progress on *Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act* — where 800+ large companies are now required to recover their own plastic packaging. He also announced the pilot *Pasig River Interceptor Project* with The Ocean Cleanup as a model for turning recovered waste into value.

Key sessions on Day 1 included:

 *Panel 1: Policy Harmonization* — Can ASEAN create one circular standard?

*Panel 2: Business Models That Work* — From refilling stations in sari-sari stores to plastic-to-school-chairs (Green Antz), PH MSMEs showcased profitable circular models.

*Panel 3: Financing Circularity* — BDO, BPI, and ADB discussed green loans for circular MSMEs.

*Day 2 Focus — September 23*

Tomorrow will focus on *LGUs as Frontliners* with DILG Undersecretaries, including *Atty. Jon Paulo V. Salvahan (Plans and Programs)* and discussions on how to integrate circularity into local solid waste management plans.

A *Circular Marketplace* at the New World Hotel lobby features 30 Filipino circular enterprises — from eco-bags made from kangkong to building materials from shredded sachets.

*Expected Outcome:*

The dialogue is expected to produce the *Manila Call to Action on Circular Economy*, a joint statement urging ASEAN to:

1.  Create a regional EPR framework by 2028

2.  Establish an ASEAN Circular Economy Innovation Fund for MSMEs

3.  Include informal waste workers in the transition

The event at New World Hotel is open to registered participants and will be livestreamed on DTI Philippines Facebook page.

“WE ARE AT LEVEL 9” IN BSKE PREPARATIONS Declared by COMELEC Chair

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia emphasized that the poll body continues to prepare for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) based on the law currently in effect.

Speaking to the media at the COMELEC Main Office in Intramuros, Manila, on September 18, Garcia said the decision on whether the BSKE will proceed or be postponed does not rest with COMELEC, but with Congress.

Garcia explained that, as of September 18, the elections were still scheduled for November 2, prompting COMELEC to continue its preparations.

“At the level of 1 to 10, we are already at 9 in terms of preparation,” Garcia said.

He stressed that COMELEC’s actions are guided by the law in force each day. While the poll body must prepare for the scheduled elections, Garcia said those preparations would immediately stop if Congress enacted a new law changing the election schedule or fixing the terms.

For COMELEC, the message is clear: prepare according to the law, remain ready for any change in legislation, and implement whatever Congress ultimately provides.

— COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia

Media interview, COMELEC Main Office, Intramuros, Manila

September 18, 2026

*JSCC Marks 5 Years of Delivering Justice Real Time at Summit in Manila Hotel*

*MANILA, Philippines — September 21, 2026* — The Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) convened its *2026 Summit today, September 21, 2026, at The Manila Hotel*, celebrating *5 Years of Delivering Justice Real Time* — a milestone that has transformed how justice is accessed and delivered in the Philippines.

With the theme *"Five Years of Reforms, One Vision: Justice in Real Time,"* the summit gathered  the *Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, the Department of the Interior and Local Government led by Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Hon. Maria Filomena D. Singh Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines and Chairperson, JSCC TWG on Processes and Capacity Building, Mr. Peter Adams Counselor for Development Embassy of Australia in the Philippines, Mr. Siavash Lahbati Country Manager, International Development Law Organization (IDLO) and Team Leader, EU-GoJust Programme III together with judges, prosecutors, public attorneys, law enforcers, jail officers, local government leaders, partners, and civil society.

*From MOA to Movement*

The JSCC was formally established through a Memorandum of Agreement in 2010 but was revitalized in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. What started as an emergency coordination mechanism to decongest jails and allow virtual hearings has become the central reform platform of the Philippine justice system.

 

In his opening message, *Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo* said:

> "Five years ago, we promised justice in real time — not justice delayed. Today at The Manila Hotel, we can say we delivered. We brought the courts closer to the people, we brought data into decision-making, and we brought institutions together. But the work is far from done."

*5-Year Highlights Presented at the Summit:*

*1. Decongestion and Jail Reforms:*

From 2021 to 2026, JSCC's coordinated efforts reduced jail congestion from 364% to under 180% nationwide through improved bail processes, release orders via video conferencing, and institutionalization of the *BJMP-DOJ-PAO-PNP Joint Referral System*.

*2. E-Courts and Virtual Justice:*

Over 3,500 courts are now equipped for videoconferencing hearings. As of August 2026, more than 1.2 million hearings have been conducted virtually, cutting the average case disposition time by 40%.

*3. Justice Zones:*

From 12 justice zones in 2020 to *32 operational justice zones today*, including new zones in BARMM, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas. Justice Zones allow LGUs, police, prosecutors, and courts to work as one unit — eliminating the classic "turfing" that delays cases.

*4. Evidence-Based Policymaking:*

The *Justice Sector Data Dashboard*, launched in 2023 with support from the EU-GOJUST and USAID, is now live — tracking case aging, jail population, warrant execution, and conviction rates in real time.

DILG Secretary *Jonvic Remulla* added that police and LGU coordination has been key: "When the PNP, BJMP, and LGUs move together, justice moves faster. That is real-time justice on the ground.

The JSCC Summit proceedings were livestreamed via the Supreme Court and DILG official Facebook pages.

#JSCC #JusticeZone #JSCCSUMMIT

#DeliveringJusticeRealTime 

#BayanihanParaSaKatarungan