PIA Dispatch - Saturday, November 22, 2008

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Speech during the Inauguration of the U.P.-Ayala Land TechnoHub
Commonwealth Ave., Diliman, Quezon City, November 21, 2008

Thank you, Secretary Alabastro, for your introduction. And thank you for helping me so much to make Science and Technology the foundation of Philippine Economic Development.

Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Jimmy Ayala and the other officials of the Ayala Land; Dr. Roman, CHED Chair Angeles and the other members of the Board of Regents and the whole U.P. family; Mayor Belmonte; our Congresspersons from Quezon City: Nanette Daza and Annie Susano; Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and everybody from Quezon City, to all of you, congratulations!

The U.P.–Ayala Land TechnoHub is one giant step to bring our country closer to the goal we declared in 2001 of making technology the foundation of our economic development. This is an important step together with the three billion pesos that the government is investing, has been investing, in R&D Manpower Development, and the one billion pesos that was mentioned by President Roman that we put in the national budget for U.P. to build its own Science and Technology Complex.

And now, here we are, we have the S&T Park of the U.P., with the TechnoHub as indeed its hub. And as Jim Ayala said, we can now create our own version of Stanford University’s Silicon Valley and MIT’s Route 128, the birthplace of so much research that has changed lives and lifestyles. The numerous applications of the research from these two cradles of modern technology today define the way people all over the world do business, work and spend their leisure. And we hope this U.P.-Ayala Techno Park will do the same.

With this Science and Technology Park, of which this hub is a central portion, we hope that U.P., the country’s premier academic institution, will ignite a new technological revolution that will upgrade our total Science and Technology capability and bring our country to the threshold of the First World in 20 years.

This Park will serve as our country’s foremost IT laboratory, training ground and incubator of new and high-value adding products and services. Together with the Science and Technology Complex and the Science and Technology Park, it will provide the nurturing environment for new IT-based businesses that transform new technologies into useful and commercially viable services. We must make sure that it has the physical infrastructure to support the academic, scientific and technological pursuits of noted U.P.-based specialists. And as Jim said earlier, this community-like environment, campus-like environment will strengthen the synergy between the academics in R&D and the technology-based entrepreneurs. The closeness to U.P. will offer the academics a better appreciation of the needs and risks of businesses, and the entrepreneurs located so close to U.P. here in the hub and in the entire Science and Technology Park will give the entrepreneurs valuable information about R&D.

As the pioneer academically-based IT Park, U.P.-Ayala Land TechnoHub plays a central role in the future of the bigger U.P. Science and Technology Park. TechnoHub will set the standard against which future S&T Parks and locators will be measured. And that is the same for the country as a whole.

Even in the face of new challenges brought about by the financial asset meltdown and the deepening recession abroad, our priority projects such as technology and R&D development will continue.

We all know that there is a global economic crisis that has been responsible for driving up the prices of food, fuel and rice in the Philippines and around the world. In the country, we are not in crisis, thank God, but we are facing strong challenges like all other countries. During these troubled times, it is the role of the government to help insulate the Filipino people from these price shocks and economic pressure.

That is why the government is doing everything in its power to put food on the table, and protect the paycheck from high prices and inflation. And one way by which we are protecting the U.P.’s paycheck is to increase the paycheck. That is why we have exempted you from salary standardization and we’ve also given the power to the Board of Regents to increase your salaries. We are also continuing to invest not only in education like U.P. but in the nation’s system of healthcare and social services.

Were it not for the painful reforms of the past seven years -- and we thank our congresspersons for helping much to make those fiscal reforms -- the impact on our country of the global meltdown would be much worst as it is in many other developing countries. Instead, the credit rating agency Standard & Poor says that the Philippine economy, in a very stormy sea of economic global uncertainty, the Philippine economy is an island of relative calm.

But this relative strength and resilience of our people and our economy is still no consolation to the average Filipino who is paying higher prices for basic commodities. We are very aware of the pressures the average Filipino faces from high prices and high rates of inflation. We know the average Filipino is concerned about job security and the buying power of his wages. We are also concerned.

That is why we are working hard to keep the prices of rice, food and fuel down; and to continue to increase the number of jobs and the investments that will continue to generate employment opportunities for more of our countrymen.

What we are inaugurating today is one of those investments.

We are dealing with the effects of the worldwide financial crisis through a comprehensive program that creates emergency jobs through pump priming measures, ensures food on every table, delivers targeted relief to the most vulnerable sectors, and encourages investments like this in industries with high resistance to the economic crisis.

Right now, the ICT sector is one of the areas where growth is robust, employment generation is on the rise, and investors are excited and placing money to back up that excitement.

Yesterday, we were very alarmed to read the news that one of the call centers supposedly laid off 700 workers. So we checked with that center, ACS, and they totally denied it. In fact, they are looking for more workers. And they were even telling us the story that when other call centers like Teletech and others read the news, they called up ACS and said, where are the workers you’re laying off, we want to absorb them right away. But ACS says we’re not laying off anyone. We’re looking for more.

And so because of this robustness of ICT, I have instructed the Commission on ICT to make a technical study on the resources needed to transform not just Sonny Belmonte’s hub but also every province in the country -- not necessarily a hub like this but -- to be an ICT-enabler.

After completing the technical studies, the national government through the CICT, shall guide the LGUs concerned on how to pursue the techonology programs with these twin objectives:

Number one, develop a technology hub -- a small one, not one like this -- in each of the country’s provinces with the hub capable of hosting, at the very least, contact center operations; and

Second, expand the capabilities of provinces that are already currently ICT-enablers so that they can increase their absorptive capacities and expand into hardcore ICT operations.

The national government will merely provide guidance and advice on a menu of pathways and strategies towards these objectives. It will be the LGU leaders who will decide on the level of technology and development they want.

Each to its own need. And Sonny has decided that this city will have the highest level of ICT technology. Each to his own need. And this is what we can do given that we have not been able to put together a national broadband. This is a good second best.

In the ICT jargon, we need to “wire” the entire country to attract more BPO and hardcore technology companies and help train young Filipinos into world-class workers in programming, embedded technologies and network engineering.

There is a wealth of technical and creative talent from where to draw this world-class pool of technology workers and there is the U.P. Science and Technology Complex to develop their potentials.

Let us direct the talent of the young away from hacking and other disruptive undertakings into productive ones. The CICT can utilize the National Computer Center and seek the support of state colleges and universities specializing on courses in ICT, like the U.P.

We cannot let this window of opportunity close.

Technology has also helped the government make sure that we now have a solid supply of rice for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, we are happy that distribution of rice is working. The people are getting the rice they need.

Our farmers are getting the investments they need. Instead of buying only 30,000 metric tons of rice from our farmers as before, this harvest season government is buying one million metric tons. This should encourage rice production to go up. With this, inflation has started to come down. The price of rice together with fuel has come down. And we expect the earning power of U.P. employees and others’ paychecks to increase. We want to harness the wonders of technology to produce more food, create more jobs -- as what will be created here -- and improve our productivity. The U.P.-Ayala TechnoHub and the whole S&T Park and the U.P. S&T Complex will help achieve all these objectives.

So, I thank Ayala Land. I thank the early locators who are already here -- sounds like a nice place to spend an afternoon having coffee and spaghetti here. I thank you all for your continuing faith in the nation’s ability to stand up to any challenge.

Our people are as optimistic as you, and as eager to work harder to get our country back on the growth track.

This afternoon, we leave for the APEC Leaders Meeting in Peru. We are optimistic, as we leave, about our future and the hope, optimism and resilience of the Filipino people, because we are revitalized by what we see here.

We will express to the other leaders of APEC the hope of our people that in seeking common ground on ways to coordinate assistance to our economies, we must do so in a way that puts the interests of the poor and the dispossessed ahead of the rich and the powerful.

As we inaugurate a symbol of a new age of technology in the Philippines, let us continue to be hopeful that the global storm will soon subside.

Let us wish the whole world the best. And here within our country, let us resolve to work even harder to keep our economy resilient.

To Ayala Land and U.P., for your contribution to these important goals, congratulations and thank you.


PGMA on the right track to endorse ASEAN Open Skies

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is on the right track to endorse the ratification of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Open Skies by the ASEAN governing body during the ASEAN Summit Meeting in Chang Mai, Thailand on Dec. 22.

In a letter to President Arroyo, the Federation of Tourism Industries of the Philippines (FTIP) -- an umbrella organization of major associations in the tourism industry -- told the Chief Executive that she is in the right direction to support the ASEAN Open Skies, “an important component of the overall economic integration of ASEAN, since transport links are critical to bringing down barriers to trade and facilitating change.”

The FTIP – which is headed by Atty. Alejandra C. Clemente -- is composed of all the major associations in the tourism industry, namely: Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA); Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA); Hotel Sales & Marketing Association (HSMA); Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP); Philippine Tourism Business Club (PTBC); Board of Airline Representatives (BAR); Philippine Association of Convention Exhibition Organizers & Suppliers (PACEOS); Association of Car Rental Companies, Inc. (ACRCI); Manila Japanese Travel Agents and Hoteliers Association (MJTAHA); Freedom to Fly Coalition (FFC); and the Southern Tagalog Tourism Council (STTC) headed by Clemente.

Mrs. Clemente said that under the ASEAN Open Skies, ASEAN airlines can fly unlimited third, fourth and fifth freedom traffic rights among any cities within the ASEAN region. For example, Philippine carriers will be able to fly unlimited flights from Manila to Singapore to Bangkok, or from Cebu to Penang to Phuket.

She explained that from December 2008 until 2010, only capital cities will be opened. This means that ASEAN airlines like PAL and Cebu Pacific can fly unlimited 3rd, 4th and 5th freedom traffic rights between Manila and the other capital cities of ASEAN.

“This unified aviation market by 2015 will be the result of the 22-year liberalization process in ASEAN aviation, embodied in the ASEAN Roadmap for the Integration of ASEAN: Competitive Air Services Policy based on the implementation timeframe,” Clemente said.

“President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is on the right track in pushing this open-skies charter agreement as this will open up travel and the free flow of goods within the Region and will increase export as well as import between and among the ASEAN member countries,” the FTIP president said.

“One of the most important provisions of the ASEAN Open Skies Agreement is the 5th freedom of an airline from one country to land in a second country, to then pick up passengers and fly on to a third country where the passengers then deplane,” she added.

She said the signing of this agreement among the ASEAN members will bring in the leisure market and will bring in more tourists, thus increasing foreign exchange receipts from the $3.5B to $10B by 2010 which will increase tourist arrival to five million.

Clemente also said that the ASEAN Open Skies is very timely with the passage of the Tourism Act by both the Senate and the House which hopefully will be signed into law before the end of 2008.

“At the same time, this will boost the Entertainment City known as Bagong Nayong Pilipino, the $15-billion project of PAGCOR and will bring in foreign as well as local investors who will build the much needed hotels and resorts. This will enable the country to accommodate more than 5M to 7M tourists yearly. Travel from and within the ASEAN countries will boost the tourist arrival figure and Tourism Secretary Ace Durano’s promotion and marketing thrust in emerging markets like China and India will definitely add to the tourist arrival statistics.”

The ASEAN Open Skies will therefore open the doors for the growth of tourism in the Philippines which will contribute to the economic stability and also cushion the impact of the global economic meltdown with new hotels and resorts which are expected to be ready by 2010.

An additional 20,000 will be added to 14,000 rooms that are presently available. It is further expected that 250,000 jobs will be available in two to three years time.


PGMA bats for equal and freer trade at APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Peru

LIMA, Peru -– President Gloria Macapagal would push for the early conclusion of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round of Talks during the 16th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting here on Saturday to promote equal and freer trade.

The President and other leaders of the 21-member APEC are expected to support the call for the Doha Round’s resumption after they dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The dialogue shall be held at the 7th Floor of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) Convention Center here Saturday afternoon.

Nine of the APEC countries are also members of the G20 which held talks in Washington last week. The G20 is also calling for a conclusion of the seven-year Doha Round of global trade talks.

WTO negotiators have been trying to reach an agreement since 2001 to cut agriculture subsidies and tariffs on industrial goods that some developing countries perceive to be in favor of developed economies.

The President has been strongly calling for the resumption of the Doha Talks right after negotiations collapsed when developing and developed countries failed to reach a compromise on cutting tariffs and farm subsidies.

As chairman of the of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2006, the President immediately pitched for the resumption of the stalled WTO talks, and further discussions on the possibility of establishing a free-trade agreement among APEC member economies.

The President had invited WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy to the 12th Asean Summit in Cebu City in 2006, asserting that breaking the deadlock in the WTO talks and working together on trade “is very important for our region, for our individual countries and the world."

At the APEC Leaders Meeting here, the President would also pitch for the $80-billion ASEAN+3 crisis fund that was proposed at the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing in October this year.


FG did not suffer heart attack, only stomach pains, says his doctor

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo did not suffer any heart attack while on board the Philippine Airlines flight carrying the lean Philippine delegation to the 16th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Lima, Peru.

This was stressed by his lead doctor, Dr. Juliet Cervantes, in a live interview with media this afternoon at the St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City where the First Gentleman was brought for recuperation upon arrival back in the country.

First Gentleman Arroyo was going to accompany the President to the APEC Summit which she had expected to be one of her “busiest” summits.

FG Arroyo was brought to the hospital by the President herself in Osaka, Japan where PAL’s PR flight no. PR-001 made an emergency landing last night (Nov. 21, Friday).

His doctors at St. Luke’s Hospital where he was brought after returning to the Philippines said the First Gentleman only complained of stomach pains.

President Arroyo is now on her way to Peru after a brief stop-over at Los Angeles, according to Press Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro who revealed that the President had assigned Philippine embassy officials to represent her in her earlier-scheduled meeting with the Philippine community in the Los Angeles.


UNICEF lauds Mt Province for successful implementation of children, women's program

Bontoc, Mt. Province (22 November) -- The Chief of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Philippines expressed elation on what she describe as satisfactory and encouraging implementation of children and women's program in Mt. Province.

Vanessa Tobin, the new UNICEF Representative to the country took cognizance on the progress made by Mountain Province to operationalize the broad-based Child Friendly Movement (CFM) under the UNICEF -assisted Fifth and now Sixth Country Programme for Children.

In her letter to Governor Maximo Dalog, Sr., Tobin expressed her appreciation to the strong leadership of the governor and the dedication and commitment of all the sectors in the province to work together to ensure universal enjoyment of rights by all children and women.

Tobin, in her recent and first visit to the province to have an insight and first hand information on the present situation of children and women, however observed that there are still remaining concerns that need to be addressed.

"The challenge is now on your leadership to ensure that there will be no more mothers dying because of pregnancy and childbirth, no undernourished children by insuring optimum infant and young child feeding practices in every households, and all the children will enjoy the right to education and are protected from abuse and exploitation," Tobin's letter to the governor partly states.

Dalog's State of Children's Address reveal that were three and 57 cases of maternal and child death respectively last year, malnutrition rate is 7.68 percent, education participation rates in the pre-school level, 70.6 percent; elementary, 82 percent and high school, 63 percent. The same report shows that there were 12 sexually abused children reported last year.

The report also disclosed that Mountain Province is first among the 24 UNICEF- assisted province and cities in birth registration, 97.50 percent; fully immunized children, 79.50 percent; exclusive breastfeeding up to six months, 72.8 percent and early childhood care and development,70.60 percent.

The UNICEF head assured the governor of UNICEF's continued assistance to the province to sustain and scale up the gains in the CFM. She also called on the strengthening the functionalities of structures and systems supportive of child and women programs. (by Andrew Doga-ong / PIA Mt. Province)