PIA Dispatch - Sunday, November 23, 2008

APEC countries to continue support for SMEs

LIMA, Peru (via PLDT) – The Philippines and other leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) committed today to sustain their support for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region as a means of addressing the global crisis and strengthening economic growth.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the other APEC leaders agreed to support the provision of financing for SMEs after the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting held at the Ministry of Defense (MOD) convention center this afternoon (Saturday, Nov. 22 in Peru).

In their collective statement, the APEC leaders said member economies have already taken urgent and extraordinary steps to stabilize their respective financial sectors, strengthen economic growth, and promote investment and consumption.

“We will continue to take such steps, and work closely, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner, to implement future actions to address this crisis,” the APEC leaders said.

“We will also support efforts by export credit agencies, international financing institutions and private banks to ensure that adequate finance is available to business, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and to keep trade and investment flowing in the region.”

The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) proposed special SME programs to the APEC leaders that cover technological infrastructure, financing-capacity building, training and other measures to sustain and promote SME employment and stability.

In the Philippines, the President had long been underscoring the importance of SMEs in national development and in the fight against poverty even before the global credit crunch.

The President earlier directed the release of P100 billion to various microfinance institutions for them to provide financial support to SMEs which, she said, are crucial in creating a robust middle class, a key factor in the fulfillment of her vision for the Philippines to attain First World status in 20 years.

To further support this, the President has directed a massive investment in public infrastructure that include the establishment and rehabilitation of strategic roads, bridges, airports and seaports. She also initiated the roll-on roll-off ferry system to further connect the country’s islands and open more economic opportunities across the country.

The President had also tasked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (SMEDC), including the “Go Negosyo” team of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) to pursue government efforts in the promotion, growth and development of globally competitive SMEs in the country.

The DTI helps SMEs sustain their growth through product development, provision of appropriate technology, seminars on quality and productivity, and market matching via various festivals and expositions generating business and trade opportunities for thousands of Filipino exhibitors.

Notwithstanding the global crisis, prospects still look rosy for Philippine SMEs because of continuous government support and the sufficient supply of highly qualified workforce.


PGMA to bat for labor mobility among APEC countries

LIMA, Peru – The Philippines will push for the inclusion of labor mobility in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) agenda to guarantee jobs and improve the welfare of all workers in the region who want to work abroad.

This is what President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will propose during the APEC Leaders dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) at the Ministry of Defense (MOD) this afternoon, said Roberto Romulo, head of the three-member Philippine delegation to the ABAC.

Romulo noted that unlike the facilitation of goods and capital, the human capital aspect, including the movement of temporary laborers, has not been given much attention in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Even if there would be substantial unemployment, there would be a need in the long term for labor from outside their respective Asia-Pacific countries,” Romulo said in an interview.

He stressed that labor will always be needed by businesses in all advanced and developed countries, whether it be Korea, Singapore, the US, or Europe.

What is important, Romulo added, is that APEC considers carefully all the implications affecting labor mobility now, including the best practices of labor- importing countries such as Australia and Canada.

“So what we are asking, and the President will ask, is that it be placed on the APEC agenda, not to come out with a final conclusion, but to study it for the long term,” Romulo said.

He asserted that it is in the best interest of labor-receiving and labor- sending countries to find ways and appropriate mechanisms to improve workers' plight, such as improving training programs and addressing human trafficking and the high transaction cost for remittances.

Improving the workers flight, Romulo added, would ensure the continued availability of good jobs and the protection of Filipinos who want to work abroad.


APEC leaders call for early conclusion of Doha Round of Talks

LIMA, Peru – The Philippines and other member-countries of the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) today pushed for the early conclusion of the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations to promote a free and more balanced trade in the region.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the other leaders of the 21-member APEC supported the call for the resumption of the Doha talks after the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting held at the Ministry of Defense (MOD) convention center this afternoon (Saturday, Nov. 22) in Peru.

The President arrived here at 3:35 p.m. Saturday and immediately proceeded to the APEC leaders’ dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) at the MOD convention center.

The President and the other APEC leaders supported the call of the G20 for the early conclusion of the Doha talks during a meeting in Washington last week.

“We seek an ambitious and balanced conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda negotiations to provide basis for our economies to grow and prosper. We are committed to reach agreement on modalities next month on the basis of progress made to date. We and our Ministers are intensifying our engagements with WTO counterparts to create the convergence necessary to achieve this outcome,” the APEC leaders said a statement.

To stop protectionist measures in the face of slower global growth, the APEC leaders also embraced a one-year lull in raising new barriers that would restrict the free flow of investments and trade in the region.

“In this regard, we strongly support the Washington Declaration and will refrain within the next twelve months from raising new barriers to investment or to trade in goods and services, imposing new export restrictions, or implementing WTO inconsistent measures in all areas, including those that stimulate exports,” the statement read.

The APEC leaders also instructed their ministers and officials to accelerate the implementation of measures contained in the Regional Economic Integration Agenda, including a possible Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific as a long-term prospect and intensifying work on structural reform.

“The current growth crisis will not shake our determination to address the important challenges facing the region including climate change, energy security and clean development, and the fight against poverty, hunger, disease and terrorism. We will stand by our international commitments in these areas, including Official Development Assistance and the Millennium Development Goals,” the statement said.

The APEC leaders are holding their 16th meeting here to discuss the impact of the global financial crisis and the collective and individual actions they will take to restore confidence in their respective economies and maintain the region's path to sustainable growth.


PGMA orders immediate assistance to flood victims in Cagayan, Isabela

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today directed the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other concerned government agencies to extend all possible assistance to the victims of the flashfloods in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. told the Radyo ng Bayan program “Pilipinas, Pilipinas!” this afternoon that more than 32,000 families in the two provinces have been affected by the widespread flooding.

Two persons, both from Cagayan province, were also reported to have died in the floods.

He said the President issued the directive from Lima, Peru where she is attending the 16th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Summit.

The President is getting a regular update of the situation in the two northern Luzon provinces which have been hit hardest by heavy rains over the past few days, he added.

Golez said 18 towns were the worst-hit by the floods. The towns were not immediately identified.

“Umabot na sa 32,575 pamilya ang na-apektuhan ng heavy rains na dulot ng flashflood sa 18 municipalities,” Golez said in the interview.

He added that evacuation centers have already been set up in five Cagayan municipalities.

Damage to agriculture has reached P14 million, Golez said, adding that the NDCC already has released 800 sacks of rice to assist the flood victims in the two provinces.

Aside from the NDCC and DSWD, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are also in the forefront of the rescue and relief operations.

“Umaabot sa 800 sacks na ang ni-release ng NDCC sa Cagayan at Isabela; bukod pa dito ‘yung tulong ng DSWD.”

“Mabilis rumesponde ang mga ahensya, kasama na ang PNP at AFP -- tumulong po sila. Nagtutulungan ang NDCC at regional offices ng pamahalaan para makatulong sa pag-relief at rehab ng mga komunidad na naapektuhan,” Golez said.


Charter Change moves begin, end with Congress -- Palace

Any move to amend the Philippine Constitution begins and ends with Congress.

Thus stressed Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. in an interview this afternoon over the Radyo ng Bayan program “Pilipinas, Pilipinas!”

Malacañang is neither the initiator nor the agitator for Charter Change (Cha-Cha), he added.

“Kailangan nating liwanagan ang issue. Moves to amend our Constitution, or Cha-Cha, begin and end with Congress.

“Sa Congress nagsisimula at nagtatapos ang Cha-Cha. Dahil dito, ‘di orchestrator ang palasyo. Dapat liwanagin ‘yan,” urged Golez.

The deputy presidential spokesman explained that “to be consistent” with its stand on the issue, the Palace has not prevented nor discouraged discussions of the Cha-Cha.

“Magmula pa po nung una, the Palace has not prevented nor discouraged such moves. Ang usapin na ‘yan is sa Kongreso po, and we respect the independence of Congress. Sila-sila po ang mag-usap diyan,” he said.

Golez added that Malacañang has been consistent about the “need for Constitutional reforms to significantly boost the chances for (economic) reforms and development.”

“Noon pang nanga-ngampanya siya (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo), sinu-suportahan na ng Pangulo ang mga reporma. It is reform-oriented and reform-driven,” he said.

He pointed out that “the Palace will exclude, disown and reject amendments that deal with term extension and other schemes to perpetuate incumbent elective officials, including the President.”

“Yung sinu-suportahan ng palace mula pa nung una eh moves to boost our chances of growing and developing, particularly yung kelangan ng bansa in the middle of the economic crisis,” said Golez.

As to threats by some groups to call for a snap election before Christmas should the Cha-Cha movement persist, the Palace official said, “Nasa kanilang pag-uusap ‘yan, sa Kongreso.”

“Sabi nga, ang snap election is like a snap decision. Hindi puede sa Constitution ang mga moves na ‘yan. Nasa kanila po ‘yan. Nasa Kongreso ang usapin na ‘yan.”

Golez added that the President’s critics were “barking up the wrong tree,” and urged: “Kailangan sabihin nila ‘yan sa mga kasama nila sa Kongreso, hindi sa Palasyo (dahil) sa kanila nagsisimula ang mga moves to amend the Constitution.”


First Gentleman is fine; PGMA does not have to cut short APEC trip

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo is fine and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo does not need to cut short her trip to Peru where she is attending the 16th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Summit.

This was the assurance made today by Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. when asked if the President would cut short her foreign trip and hurry home because of the First Gentleman’s condition.

Atty. Arroyo fell ill in mid-flight while the President was on her way to Lima, Peru via Los Angeles.

A physician, Golez said that the “mere fact na pinayagang makalipad (from Osaka, Japan where he was rushed to the hospital by the President), ibig sabihin po that the First Gentleman is in a stable condition.”

He added that “from a physician’s point of view, nakikita ko na ‘di po malala ang kondisyon ng First Gentleman and does not necessitate cutting short the trip of the President.”

“Although wala pa pong balita sa delegasyon, tuloy-tuloy po ang trabaho ng Pangulo dahil importante ang ipinunta niya sa APEC,” Golez added.

Meanwhile, Golez scoffed at the claim of ousted House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. in his auto-biography regarding the cancelled National Broadcasting Network-ZTE deal.

A portion of De Venecia’s autobiography, which was printed by a Philippine national daily today, touched on an alleged meeting at the ZTE headquarters in Shenzhen, China in which the President and the First Gentleman were present.

But Golez dismissed the former speaker’s claim, saying it “will not hold water.” “Madali pong gumawa ng auto-biography ng kahit na sinong tao.” He added.

In his autobiography, De Venecia said that “as always, the First Gentleman said hardly a word.”

Golez said that if De Venecia’s autobiography is “going to be used as evidence for any intention or motivation, it will not hold water. It is hearsay, dahil ito ay isang kwento lang.

“It has to be appreciated by the courts. Only then can we call it a biography of the truth -- otherwise it would be mere science fiction,” he said.


RP, Peru agree to expand trade relations

LIMA, Peru – The reintroduction of Spanish as a second language in Philippine schools next year is a very timely move as the Philippines and Peru have agreed to expand their trade relations, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said today.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Peruvian President Alan Garcia held bilateral talks Saturday night after the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) dialogue at the Ministry of Defense (MOD) center here.

Dureza noted that the Philippines and Peru share many significant commonalities. Both predominantly Catholic, the two countries were ruled by Spain for hundreds of years.

Lima is the center of Christianity in South America, the same role played by the Philippines in Asia.

“We have so much in common. We can explore a lot of possibilities like more trade between our two countries,” Dureza quoted President Garcia as saying.

Dureza said the meeting was very casual with the two leaders sharing commonalities and talking about the kinship between their two countries in straight Spanish.

Aside from the two countries’ common Spanish heritage, President Garcia has a soft heart for the Philippines, recalling that as a young boy, his mother would keep reminding him that he was the son of the “President of the Philippine Republic.”

Dureza said the Peruvian president later found out that his father was a namesake of the late Carlos P. Garcia, then president of the Philippines.

During their meeting, the President also informed her host that she was going to hear mass on Sunday at the Sta. Rosa de Lima Chapel here, her last activity in her two-day visit to Peru.


Lanao officials meet to end bloody feuds

ICC, Tubod, Lanao Norte (22 November) - In an effort to end bloody reprisals locally in Lanao as “rido,” local political leaders, military, and police officials on Fridays converged in the remote Magsaysay town of Lanao del Norte, the site of the recent atrocity, to dialogue with the local folks.

The practice of rido particularly in the town was attributed to disputes arising from business rivalry or being shortchanged in their deals.

This individual grudges later worsened as blood debts that had widened into clan wars. Just last week, Municipal Councilman Generoso Jamora was slain in what was believed to be part of a string of reprisals among the populace.

The nearby town of Salvador had also been the site of another feud that resulted in the ambush of a group of Maranaos.

Father and son, Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo of the 2nd District and Governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo of the province were joined by 104th Infantry Brigade Commander Col Benito de Leon and Police Region 10 Chief Supt Teoderico Capuyan to discuss arrangements to prevent further violence in the area.

The group later met with the people of the town to appeal to end the bloody feuds that had claimed lives and threatened to escalate into a bigger conflict.

Congressman Dimaporo who was celebrating his birthday gave way to attend to this concern which he feared may escalate to create a divide between the Christians and the Muslims or the Maranaos and the other ethnic groups.

He directed the police authorities to speed up investigation in order to identify the suspects to be charged in court so as to prevent people to take the law in their own hands. He appealed for unity to attain true peace and order citing.

He even cited that though he is a Muslim he got married to a Christian from the Quibranza family: his father hoped that such union will achieve peace in the land. He had to endure ridicule in many occasions if only to support the aspirations for peace.

Also, Governor Dimaporo echoed the sentiments of the his father and called for unity among the people so that they can better attain security and further take on development activities.

He says that his priority concern is in bringing the rogue element of Macapaar aka Bravo who sowed violence in the province.

Meanwhile, Supt Capuyan assured the locals that he had stationed more police forces in the area to curb further violence. He also asked the people to cooperate with and trust the police so that justice can be served faster.

Col de Leon, also, said that he had placed an Army unit, referring to 32nd Infantry Battalion, to attend to the security in the area and assist the police in law enforcement activities. This would include running after the lawless armed groups that may seek to undertake the extra-judicial option of “rido.”

Col. De Leon, the Army commander in the area stressed that the cycle of violence as a result of “rido” will be unending if everyone does not do anything to stop it. He says that the mistakes we do now will be paid by future generations.

“We owe it to the future generations to make right the foundations we prepare for them,” emphasized de Leon.


Speaking Out
By Ignacio R. Bunye

November 23, 2008 - The recent investigations involving top-ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have brought to the fore questions on the country's foreign exchange regulations, or how much foreign currency one could legally bring abroad.

Newspapers and television stations have been reporting on how members of the PNP delegation to the 77th Interpol General Assembly in the Russian city of St. Petersburg were stopped by Customs authorities at the Moscow international airport for carrying 105,000 euros (roughly P6.9 million).

Retired PNP comptroller Eliseo de la Paz, who with his companions earned the moniker "euro generals," also admitted during last week's Senate hearing that he had likewise carried 45,000 euros to buy expensive watches in behalf of his businessman friend Tyrone Ng Arejola.

This amount, plus another US $20,000 that De la Paz said his wife brought to Europe as a "personal fund," were on top of the 105,000 euros still being held by the Russian authorities.

So much cash on a government official (and in foreign denominations at that) will surely make an ordinary Filipino's head spin. Certainly,questions on how De la Paz was able to bring that much money out of the country have also become a matter of public concern.

During the time of the late Governor Rafael Buenaventura, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas signed a Memorandum of Agreement with government agencies such as the PNP, Bureau of Customs, Manila International Airport Authority, Bureau of Immigration, Air Transportation Office and the Philippine Ports Authority. The MOA sought to ensure the effective implementation of BSP rules, specifically BSP Circular No. 308 and Section 4 of Circular No.1389, on the physical cross-border transport of foreign currencies and the Philippine peso.

BSP Circular No. 308, as amended, requires "any person who brings in and out of the Philippines in excess of US$10,000 or its equivalent to declare the same in writing using the prescribed foreign currency declaration form."

The circular warned that disregarding the Bank's rule would subject the violator to sanctions provided for in Section 36 of Republic Act No. 7653, such as a fine of P50,000 to P200,000 or imprisonment of two to 10 years.

Governor Buenaventura recalled during the MOA signing that other countries such as the United States, South Korea, and Malaysia likewise require similar customs procedures in the transport of foreign currency.

Gov. Buenaventura disclosed that the circular had been issued as part of a package of measures that would help curb money laundering activities, adding that the BSP had adopted anti-money laundering measures as early as June 2000 "to be at par with international practices."

Gov. Buenaventura also said the monitoring of the cross-border transport of currencies is covered under the 9th Special Recommendation of the Financial Action Task Force, or the body that evaluates the anti-money laundering regimes of countries.

The BSP, of late, had reminded airport authorities to conspicuously post reminders of the BSP circular for the benefit of outgoing passengers.

Declaring cash in excess of US$10,000 would just mean asking for the prescribed form from representatives of the Bureau of Immigration at the airport and answering it as honestly as possible. This simple act of duty would not only spare you from going through the hassle of explaining to foreign Customs authorities, but it would also go a long way in helping the Philippine government in its crusade against money laundering.

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