CEDAW/C/SR.327 English Page 12 industries were being developed, particularly micro- and small industries, along with entrepreneurship development programmes for rural areas. Community training centres had also been established to expand the access of the rural work force to programmes and services designed to promote their employability and productivity. Another significant source of jobs in the countryside was subcontracting to homeworkers. 72. The number of HIV-infected females was increasing, but as of November 1996 the majority of HIV-positive individuals were males, and the majority of cases were individuals aged 49 or below. During the 12-year period preceding the report, 11 cases had been perinatally transmitted. The Government was implementing preventive and remedial programmes and raising public awareness through a variety of measures. The draft bills referred to in paragraphs 17.1 to 17.6 of the section on article 12 in the third report (CEDAW/C/PHI/3) had not been passed. The Government was cooperating with numerous non-governmental organizations that were actively working on issues of family planning, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. 73. Major achievements of the 1988 Action Plan of Philippine Parliamentarians on Population and Development were passage of the local Government Code of 1991, reduction of the population growth rate in the Philippines, rationalization of the population programme, transformation of family planning into a health issue, passage of new investment laws and provision of a venue for non-governmental organizations and civil society to participate in governance and in shaping Government policy through the social reform agenda. 74. Statistics on abortion were scarce and limited because it was illegal in the Philippines; a 1993 study conducted among 1,169 women in Manila revealed an abortion prevalence rate of 16.6 per cent. The policy of empowerment of women to exercise their reproductive rights was the recognition of the freedom of women and men to choose the size of their families and to practise family planning. All individuals should be provided equal access to information, services and guidance in planning their families. 75. No Government data were available on training programmes to improve the services provided by traditional midwives, but some non-governmental organizations had begun training programmes and dialogues with traditional midwives. While the social sector allocation of 128.8 billion Philippine pesos comprised the largest share (31 per cent) of the 1996 government budget, no information was available on the budget for health services in rural areas. 76. Cases of substance abuse were found among women of all ages but were highest among the 15- to 19-year-old age group. Official reports of women substance abusers had increased between 1990 and 1993. The Government was engaged in providing preventive education to different population groups, and was also conducting research studies on drug abuse. The Committee was referred to Fact Sheet No. 6, “Women and Health”. Social security coverage had been extended to domestic workers and persons earning at least 1,000 Philippine pesos per month in the informal sector. Implementors of the 1991 Livelihood Revolving Fund for Women had previously reported a 90 to 95 per cent repayment rate; however, updated information on the Fund was not yet available. / ...