PGMA to underscore importance of interfaith dialogue and cooperation in quest for peace in NY
As one of the chief proponents if interfaith dialogue, President Macapagal-Arroyo left last night for United States to address the United Nations Interfaith Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations on Nov. 12 in New York City.
In a media pre-departure briefing yesterday afternoon (Monday, Nov. 10) in Malacanang, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the President will be the second speaker after Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
The interfaith conference was initiated by King Abdullah as a follow-up to the Madrid interfaith conference last July.
“It shows how they highly regard the Philippines, especially in interfaith dialogues,” Dureza said.
Dureza said that the President is expected to discuss the importance of interfaith dialogue and cooperation in the quest for lasting peace not only in the region but also in the world.
Dureza added that interfaith dialogue, as originally espoused by the President, has been proven effective in the peace process in Mindanao.
The Philippines is a recognized proponent of interfaith dialogue in the United Nations, having launched this initiative in 2004 with the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, followed by the Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for peace.
The President has also been addressing various interfaith conference here and abroad after the Philippines initiated the holding of interfaith dialogues when the country chaired the opening session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in the June 2005.
During her latest US trip, the President will also have a quick meeting with the Filipino community in Chicago and fly home immediately back home, Dureza said.
PGMA arrives in San Francisco on her way to Chicago to meet Filipino community
SAN FRANCISCO (PNA/via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here today for a quick U.S. trip to address the United Nations Interfaith Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations on November 12 in New York City.
The President and her lean delegation landed at the San Francisco International Airport aboard a Philippine Airlines commercial flight at 5:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Manila).
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy Gaa led Filipino officials in welcoming the President who is staying overnight here before flying to Chicago Tuesday morning to meet with members of the Filipino community.
"The President will just have a quiet dinner with the Philippine delegation here tonight," according to Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, who is accompanying the President in her US trip.
After the Filipino community gathering in Chicago, President Arroyo will fly to New York to attend a high-level meeting on Interfaith and Inter-cultural Dialogue at the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
The Philippines is among the leading proponents of global initiatives on interfaith dialogue and cooperation for peace. (PNA)
PGMA leaves for New York City to join heads of states at UN Interfaith Conference
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left late Monday night (Nov. 10) for New York City to join other world leaders at the United Nations (UN) Interfaith Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations.
The President, garbed in an aqua blue blazer and pants, appeared very cool and composed as she boarded Philippine Air Lines commercial flight PR 104 bound for San Francisco, her first stop on her way to the UN Headquarters in New York where she will address members of the UN conference.
Earlier, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the President will deliver a statement at the conference that was initiated by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah as a follow up to the Madrid interfaith conference held in July and attended by delegates representing Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism and other faiths from across the world.
According to reports, the interfaith debate at the UN headquarters will likely become the world’s most well-attended cross-religious conference to date, with as many as 30 heads of states slated to deliver statements.
Aside from President Arroyo, other world leaders scheduled to attend the UN special session are the Saudi monarch, United States President George W. Bush, King Juan Carlos of Spain, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Israel’s President Shimon Peres, and Israel Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, leader of the Jewish state’s ruling Kadima party.
Asked by reporters on the new destabilization moves against the President and her administration, Press Secretary Dureza, who is accompanying the President in the New York trip, said the President remains focused on governance and is very confident that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) would do their respective mandates to protect the people and the government in her brief absence.
"The military will do what is appropriate. They are mandated together with the police to protect the people. The citizens are safe and well all the time, whether there is a destabilization rumor or 'chismis'; they continue with their mandate of seeing to it that civilians and the government are protected," Dureza said.
Dureza explained that the President was pushing through with this "obligatory trip" to New York City because "she feels that interfaith issues are very important not only for the Philippines but for the whole world, and also because she had committed her support for the advocacy of Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud who is now her personal friend."
Before addressing the special session of the UN interfaith conference, President Arroyo will meet with the Filipino community in Chicago, Illinois who now call this American state their second home.
Dureza also said the President's delegation to New York City is “very lean” considering her short stay in the US and that, as such, she is expected to be back by the end of the week.
Among those who saw the President off were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and officials and staff of the Manila International Airport Administration led by its general manager Alfonso Cusi.
DOH: Cheaper drugs out soon
Cebu City -- Access to low-priced drugs and medicines can now be available to the public with the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Cheaper Medicine Act, according to the Department of Health (DOH) website.
Health Sec. Francisco Duque bared the public can expect the prices of drugs and medicines to go down as prices can now be regulated under the IRR. "Presently, we are already in the process of coming up with policies and the drugs and medicines to be regulated. However, we have to be patient because we have to follow the normal government procedures and process to go through this," Duque said.
"The IRR can impose on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) to come up with better service packages so that the "out-of-pocket" expenditures of the public will be reduced and so patients will be substantially reimbursed," Duque disclosed.
Duque added that the IRR can also pave the way for quality and affordable generic drugs as well as rationalize the behavior of medical professionals and government health workers because of the amendment to the Generics Law.
"The IRR also allows over-the counter drugs and medicines to be readily available even in non-traditional outlets like supermarkets. So, aside from food and other domestic supplies, the public can also purchase these products under the same roof," Duque noted.
On the other hand, IPO Director-General Adrian Cristobal, Jr. explained that in the IRR there is an IPO provision that allows off-patent and patented affordable and quality drugs and medicines to get in the local market, through parallel importation, as long as these products meet the requirements and standards of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Cheaper Medicines Bill into law last June 6 and 120 days after the law took effect in July 4, the IRR is concluded and signed, the health secretary stated.
The health chief disclosed that before the IRR was crafted, the DOH and the Intellectual Property Office gathered public opinion by conducting separately seven public hearings in different parts of the country.
"We need to go through that process in order to listen and answer questions from the buying-public, private organizations and other concerned groups. These public hearings gave them an opportunity to share ideas that hopefully made the IRR more sound and reasonable. It made them part of the crafting of the IRR. It gave them some sense of ownership and that is good," Duque said.
The DOH said that the IRR will take effect 15 days after its publication last November 5. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)
Italian gov't-assisted projects in Albay amount to P26 million
Legazpi City -- The Italian government has infused around P26 million for various projects in the province of Albay as part of their assistance to the devastation wrought by Typhoon Reming in 2006.
Started in October 2007, the Italian cooperation program was able to build around 180 houses for the displaced families in the municipalities of Camalig and Guinobatan in Albay.
The total cost for the construction of the housing units amounted to P14 million.
Aside from permanent shelter for the displaced families the program also constructed two livelihood centers amounting to P792,000 in the resettlement areas of Barangay Tagaytay, Camalig and Quitago in Guinobatan.
Sergio Quattrocchi, Italian cooperation project coordinator, said the two livelihood centers are equipped with different sewing machines to be utilized by 48 organized women associations. The associations were also provided with raw materials and tools for the production of various handicrafts and other products made of cotton and raffia.
Quattrocchi said the livelihood centers seek to revitalize unemployed women in the resettlement areas and to help improve their living after the devastation of Typhoon Reming.
For those In the agriculture sector, the Italian cooperation program provided assistance to coconut farmers and fisherfolk.
Quattrocchi said for the past months the Italian government provided 80,000 coconut seedlings for replanting in the municipalities of Camalig and Polangui, and the cities of Legazpi and Ligao. "Another 10,000 seed nuts has been turned over to Ligao City coconut nursery as additional augmentation."
Aside from these, around 190 fisherfolk in the municipalities of Rapu-Rapu, Sto. Domingo and Manito were the beneficiaries of fishing boats including nets and other fishing materials. "The total cost of assistance to the fisherfolk amounted to P2 million."
"Our cooperation projects in the province of Albay is about to end this year and we will still provide help to the people of Albay in the future," Quattrocchi assured. (MDR, PNA)
PGMA, Thai PM confident of CMI's expansion ok at 14th ASEAN Summit in Thailand in December
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat last night expressed optimism for the approval of the proposed strengthening and expansion of the $84-billion Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI) during the 14th ASEAN Summit that will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in December.
The two leaders, in their separate statements before the Malacanang gala dinner tendered last night by the President for the visiting Thai PM, agreed that a concerted effort of the 10-member Association of South East Asia Nations and their dialogue partners China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN+3) is important for the region to withstand the effects of the current global financial crisis.
“We are very pleased, Your Excellency, that under your leadership, we are strengthening the Chiang Mai Initiative to a large and quick-disbursing fund for liquidity,” the President said.
“I thank Your Excellency, President Arroyo, for your initiative to convene the ASEAN +3 to discuss the current financial crisis on the sideline of the 7th ASEM in Beijing,” said the Thai PM as he invited the President to participate in the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit this December.
At the same time, PM Somchai -- who was here Monday (Nov. 10) for a brief seven-hour visit -- thanked the President for offering to host the High Level Meeting on the Financial Crisis on Nov. 20.
During their bilateral meeting, the two leaders also discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations between the Philippines and Thailand.
President Arroyo congratulated Somchai, a brother-in-law of deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, for his nomination by Thailand's governing party, the People Power Party, and for becoming the prime minister-elect last September after a court forced his predecessor, Samak Sundaravej, to step down.
The two leaders also look forward to the 60th relationship anniversary between Thailand and the Philippines next year as they both vowed to further strengthen cooperation in trading, investment, the Thailand-Philippines Tourist Package, energy, and the military.
The two South East Asian nations formally established diplomatic relations on June 14, 1949 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship in Washington, DC.
Since then, the countries have enjoyed cordial relations, and cooperation between them has been wide-ranging. Various bilateral agreements have been concluded, ranging from economic cooperation to extradition, to tourism cooperation.
Upon the initiative of the President, the ASEAN +3 -- at the breakfast meeting convened before the formal opening of the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting in Beijing last month -- agreed to expand the existing bilateral foreign currency swap framework that was earlier set up to assist any member that may experience liquidity problems amid the spreading global financial crisis.
The ASEAN +3 agreed to increase the CMI but they will still discuss the details. A technical working group composed of finance ministers and central bank governors has been designated to map out guidelines.
In that same Beijing meeting, the Asian leaders discussed the possibility of elevating the Chang Mai Initiative from a bilateral swap arrangement into a multilateral scheme to include all liquidity problems, including support for beleaguered financial institutions.
The original agreement is limited to providing emergency liquidity only in case of a foreign exchange crisis.
Also in that meeting, Thailand suggested that the fund be increased from $84 billion to $250 billion.
The leaders agreed to wait for the recommendations of the technical working group which will be submitted in December at the ASEAN Summit in Thailand.
The President advocated quick disbursement of the funds with minimum conditionality to countries that would need the funds, proposing that the expanded standby fund be called “Chiang Mai Initiative 2.”
Under the Chiang Mai Initiative, a country experiencing conditions similar to the 1997 Asian financial crisis could borrow foreign currency from another country to augment its foreign reserves until the crisis is over. This would enable countries vulnerable to a financial crisis to access the funds in a foreign reserve pool without seeking assistance from lenders like the International Monetary Fund.
Palace dismisses impeachment complaint as "recycled event"
Malacañang dismissed last night as just another "recycled event" the fourth impeachment exercise initiated against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the House of Representatives.
Speaking to reporters at the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Terminal (NAIA) 2 last night (Nov. 10, Monday), Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the "yearly" complaint is best left to the "competent group" at the House of Representatives to handle.
"You know, it (impeachment complaint) has already become a recycled event every year so we'll just leave this to the House of Representatives to handle," Dureza said.
Dureza -- who is part of the President’s "lean contingent" to the United States to address a special session on Interfaith Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations of the United Nations General Assembly – said the congressmen would "determine what action to take" on the impeachment complaint.
"The Palace will not at all intervene or one way or the other interfere in these proceedings in an independent co-equal branch of government which is Congress," the Press Secretary added.
When asked how the President feels that another impeachment complaint has been filed against her, Dureza said the President remains focused on what she has to do for the betterment of the people, the country and the government.
"She is focused on governance, taking care of what we should do in the face of all the problems that we face in the world today, especially on the financial crisis," Dureza said.
"She has to address the needs of the vulnerable and the poor. She has to even continue with her economic reform agenda, so ‘yung mga distractions na ganyan doesn't bother her because she is so focused in what she has been doing and what she has to do up to the end of her term," he added.
AIDS advocates support RH Bill, upset over surge
The number of Filipinos diagnosed with HIV rose almost threefold, for September alone, 57 Filipinos were diagnosed with HIV.
Girls, Women, and HIV & AIDS Network (GWHAN) cited this worsening problem as they called for the immediate passage of the RH bill recognizing also that most of those diagnosed (59%) are in their most productive years (25-39 y/o), it should also be noted that 35% of the recorded HIV positives are OFWs. This was recorded by the National Epidemiology Center (NEC).
“This alarming statistic supports the call for the immediate passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill now being deliberated in the House of the Representatives. Moreover, the widespread disinformation, misinformation and increased demonizing the condom use must be disproved with accurate data.” said Marlon T. Lacsamana of GWHAN.
GWHAN members said Mr. Lacsamana agreed on their October 26 general assembly meeting that they felt that it’s their avowed responsibility as pioneers and leaders of the HIV advocacy, to register their support for the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill (HB 5043) and to steadfastly stand behind organized groups and networks advocating its immediate passage.
Reproductive health which includes HIV prevention and care & support as one of its key elements is a right upheld in various international documents to which the Philippines is a signatory, notably the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1994 UN International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Beijing Platform for Action, 2001 United Nations Special Session on AIDS (UNGASS), 1st & 2nd Regional Consultative Meeting on Universal Access to HIV Prevention and AIDS Treatment, Care and Support in Low Prevalence Countries.
Joint Statement of the Fourth Summit among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam
Ha Noi, 6th November 2008
1. We, the Heads of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Union of Myanmar and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (hereafter referred to as CLMV) gathered for the Fourth CLMV Summit on 6 November 2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam. ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General was also present at the Summit.
2. We reiterated our initiatives and decisions adopted at the CLMV Summits in Vientiane, Laos in 2004, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2005 and in Cebu, the Philippines in 2007 and reaffirmed our determination to deepen the traditional relations of friendship, good neighborliness and mutual benefits among the CLMV countries under the light of the Vientiane Declaration.
3. We reviewed the implementation of the Vientiane Declaration and the CLMV Plan of Actions and confirmed that the smooth progress in the CLMV cooperation would not only be a practical evidence for the efforts of the CLMV in nurturing and strengthening their traditional cooperation relations and friendship, but also make positive contributions to peace, stability, narrowing development gap and integration within the Mekong Sub-region and the entire region as a whole.
4. We highly valued the efforts of our SOM officials at the CLMV SOM meeting on 28 August 2007 in Hanoi to translate the CLMV Plan of Actions into concrete projects and agreed to adopt the List of CLMV projects. We tasked our Ministers and SOM officials to build up mechanism and work plans to put the List of CLMV projects into actual implementation and also required SOM officials to submit the annual progress report to their Leaders and to update the List of CLMV projects biennially. We also urged Working Groups to convene their meetings as soon as possible to discuss the implementation of the work plans in their respective sectors.
5. In trade and investment facilitation cooperation, bearing in mind that trade and investments are attached with top priority, we agreed to:
5.1. Strengthen close coordination in trade and investment promotion through organizing the CLMV trade fairs in member countries in order to increase trade and investment flows within CLMV countries and with other countries. We highly appreciated Vietnam for her willingness to reserve booths for the CLM countries in major international trade fairs and exhibitions hosted by Vietnam.
5.2. Facilitate investment by the CLMV investors in terms of licensing, labor procedures and others on the basis of mutual benefit in potential areas inter alia, agro-industries, industrial crop processing, mineral industries, hydro-power, infrastructure development, logistics and services.
6. In transport cooperation, we agreed to:
6.1. Strengthen close coordination to make best use of economic corridors across the CLMV countries, particularly the East- West Economic Corridor (EWEC), the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC), the Central Economic Corridor (CEC) under the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) cooperation. We assigned the Transportation Working Group to conduct the studies of road links from: 1. Hanoi-Tay Trang (Vietnam) to Oudomxay-Luang Namtha (Laos) and Yangon (Myanmar); 2. Siem Reap-Stung Treng (Cambodia)-Champasak (Laos) and Siem Reap (Cambodia)-Khong Island in Champasak (Laos), and upgrading the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) to the primary highway; and
6.2. Enhance the implementation of the CLMV Multilateral Agreement on Air Services. We welcomed Vietnam and Myanmar to consider the possibility of opening direct air link from Hanoi to Yangon and encouraged development of air linkages among major cities, cultural and natural heritage sites in the CLMV countries for the expansion
7. In agricultural, industrial and energy cooperation among CLMV countries, we agreed to mutually facilitate investment through relevant investment incentives, particularly facilitation of labor regulations and payment procedures, in potential areas, including production and processing of crops, mineral exploitation, hydro power development, oil and gas exploration, telecommunication infrastructure development and service provision and others.
8. In tourism cooperation, we noted with satisfaction the Declaration of Tourism Leaders of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam on tourism cooperation under the “Three Countries-One Destination” program and tasked the CLMV countries’ concerned agencies to consider the possibility of Myanmar’s participation in this program.
9. In human resource development, we highly valued the initiative of Vietnam to establish CLMV Scholarship Scheme, which shall provide scholarships to the CLM countries annually, including scholarships for vocational and post- graduate training. We agreed that Vietnam shall prepare specific guidelines on the implementation of the CLMV Scholarship Scheme.
10. We welcomed the successful convening and positive outcomes of the 2nd Initiative for ASEAN Integration Development Cooperation Forum (IDCF-2) in Hanoi in June 2007 and reaffirmed to accelerate the pace of the CLMV countries’ integration and faster narrowing development gap within ASEAN in line with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). We called upon the ASEAN Secretariat to support CLMV countries in mobilizing financial resources from other development partners for CLMV projects and assist CLMV countries in translating the IAI Work Plan II to be adopted at the 14th ASEAN Summit into concrete actions.
11. Bearing in mind that closer cooperation among the CLMV countries is conducive to regional integration, we agreed to enhance our close coordination in the sub-regional and regional fora, particularly in the Greater Mekong Sub-regional cooperation (GMS), Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) and Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam Development Triangle (CLV) and ASEAN’s negotiations with other countries on economic and trade arrangements, in order to strengthen our common positions for the benefit of the CLMV countries in particular and the whole region in general.
12. We reaffirmed that efforts of the CLMV countries were the decisive factor in their respective development and integration. We highly appreciated the support and assistance of the international community to the CLMV countries in their socio- economic development. We thanked Japan for her readiness to provide assistance amounting to US$ 20 million through Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) to CLMV countries for the project “Improving Efficiency of Logistics and Distribution of the EWEC and the Second EWEC”.
13. We called upon other ASEAN members and concerned development partners to substantiate their assistance to complement our own resources for development and integration acceleration through the following:
13.1. Enhance financial and technical assistance to the CLMV countries through the current bilateral and regional initiatives, of which priority is given to infrastructure development, poverty reduction, human resource development and environment conservation. We instructed our SOM officials to work closely and keep frequent consultation with the ASEAN Secretariat and concerned development partners on providing assistance to the implementation of viable projects under the List of CLMV projects;
13.2. Continue to accord preferential and special treatment to the CLMV countries' products and services in market access under the frameworks of the ASEAN Integration System of Preference (AISP) scheme, free trade agreements between ASEAN and relevant countries; and
13.3. Encourage and facilitate their business sectors to increase investment in the CLMV countries.
14. We agreed to further strengthen close coordination and consultation among the CLMV countries to speed up and enhance the effectiveness of our cooperation. In this regard, we agreed that:
14.1. CLMV Summits shall be convened biennially in the CLMV countries in alphabetical order or back-to-back with ACMECS, subject to the arrangement by the host country. CLMV Ministerial Meetings precede CLMV Summits on the same occasion and, if necessary, an additional CLMV Ministerial Meeting may be convened during the interval of the two CLMV Summits. In that spirit, we agreed that the Fifth CLMV Summit will be held in 2010 in Cambodia.
14.2. CLMV SOM meeting shall be held annually in the host country of CLMV Summit and, if necessary, more SOM meetings may be arranged in corresponding to progress and momentum of the CLMV cooperation.
15. We tasked the Ministers and SOM officials to ensure the effective implementation of this Joint Statement and report its progress to their respective Heads of Governments.
16. We expressed our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for her excellent arrangements and warm hospitality in hosting the 4th CLMV Summit in Hanoi.
Done in Hanoi, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on 6th November 2008.
Mindanao, Palawan ecotourism sites identified for promotion in EAGA
CAGAYAN DE ORO --- With the global potentials of ecotourism on an upbeat momentum, key representatives and players from the tourism sector from Mindanao and Palawan identified key ecotourism destinations in both islands in a forum held here recently in a bid to intensify tourism promotions in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
In Mindanao, these include Malawi Island and Dapitan for Zamboangapeninsula, Camiguin Island for Region 10, Davao Gulf and Samal Island for Region XI, Lake Sebu and Mount Apo for Region XII, Agusan Marsh for Caraga, and Lake Lanao for the ARMM.
The Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake found in the Coron Islands are the ecotourism sites identified for Palawan. Participants of the forum-workshop plans to create a network of ecotourism sites in Mindanao and Palawan which will be representative of the key ecotourism destinations in the area as part of the overall BIMP-EAGA ecotourism network.
The Philippines aims to highlight these sites during the BIMP-EAGA Community Based Ecotourism Conference in to be held in Manado, Indonesia this November.
The Philippine-EAGA forum workshop aims to contribute to the formulation of the ecotourism roadmap for BIMP-EAGA and to highlight the important role of ecotourism as a tool for poverty alleviation.
"What the Philippines and BIMP-EAGA want to develop is a kind of ecotourism that involves local, grassroots communities so they are part of the development and benefit from it," said Ms. Narzalina Lim, Asian Development Bank Consultant on ecotourism. She said that there should be capacity building for the local community to equip them with skills in running small businesses like food, "homestays" and other ecotourism related businesses.
She added that stakeholders must identify projects that are attractive and "have an iconic appeal" to tourist markets and that access to destination has to be improved.
The forum participants also discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the ecotourism resources in terms of destinations, infrastructure, funding and human resources and activities in terms of product development, planning, marketing, training and networking in the Mindanao regions including Palawan.
The opportunities and threats in the regions in terms of trends, markets, events, investments, funding and technology were also discussed. Lim said that the criteria for ecotourism are green standards for sustainability, respect for communities, social responsibility, economic sustainability, education) and the importance of monitoring and evaluation.
It was emphasized in the workshop that BIMP-EAGA has a strong potential to be an ecotourism destination given BIMP-EAGA's tourism resources.
The Mulu Caves of Sarawak, Mt. Kinabalu of Sabah, Tubataha Reefs and the St. Paul Subterranean River of Palawan are four BIMP-EAGA sites listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Around 109 stakeholders coming from the private sector, government, academe, non-government organizations attended the said forum workshop. (MEDCo)
Aklanons rise from “Frank’s” devastation says Aklan Gov.
Iloilo City - The Aklanons have not lost their focus to rise from the devastations brought by typhoon Frank in Aklan province in June 2008.
This was emphasized by Aklan Governor Carliot S. Marquez during the opening of the 6th Aklan Product Showcase held at SM City-Iloilo.
“Typhoon Frank’s 190 km/hour winds, and mudflows may have devastated Aklan,” but this did not stop the Aklanons, the entrepreneurs from their toils,” Governor Marquez said as he cited the role of the Hugod-Aklan the wider range of participation of the food, flowers and handicrafts sectors in helping fuel the economy of the province.
“The Small and Medium Enterprises can be considered as the backbone of our economy in terms of employment generation and revenues that goes to the government’s coffer,” Marquez said.
The Aklan governor’s message was read during the program by Provincial Planning Coordinator Roger Esto.
The activity which is held from November 10 to 16, 2008 showcases hand-woven fabrics, fashion accessories, home decors, gift items, furniture and furnishings, and ornamental plants, and participated in by some 28 exhibitors.
Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr. of the Department of Trade and Industry-Aklan said the activity is a joint project of the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association, Inc. and the DTI, in coordination with the Aklan provincial government.
Cadena said that during the said event, distinctively Aklan meat products and delicacies will also be exhibited together with the products of selected beneficiaries of the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) Program and Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Peogram.
OTOP is one of the priority programs of President Arroyo to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs in the countryside.
OTOP encourages the Micro, Small and Medium Enterproses (MSMEs) to produce and market distinct products or services using indigenous raw materials and local skills of every municipality or city.
Cadena said that they are hopeful that the Aklan Product showcase will exceed last year’s P1.7 million sales performance.
The occasion was also graced by DTI 6 Regional Director Dominic Abad, RTD Remelyn Recoter of DA 6, representatives from the Iloilo City Mayor’s Office, and other government offices in Iloilo City. (PIA/T.Villavert)
As one of the chief proponents if interfaith dialogue, President Macapagal-Arroyo left last night for United States to address the United Nations Interfaith Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations on Nov. 12 in New York City.
In a media pre-departure briefing yesterday afternoon (Monday, Nov. 10) in Malacanang, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the President will be the second speaker after Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
The interfaith conference was initiated by King Abdullah as a follow-up to the Madrid interfaith conference last July.
“It shows how they highly regard the Philippines, especially in interfaith dialogues,” Dureza said.
Dureza said that the President is expected to discuss the importance of interfaith dialogue and cooperation in the quest for lasting peace not only in the region but also in the world.
Dureza added that interfaith dialogue, as originally espoused by the President, has been proven effective in the peace process in Mindanao.
The Philippines is a recognized proponent of interfaith dialogue in the United Nations, having launched this initiative in 2004 with the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, followed by the Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for peace.
The President has also been addressing various interfaith conference here and abroad after the Philippines initiated the holding of interfaith dialogues when the country chaired the opening session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in the June 2005.
During her latest US trip, the President will also have a quick meeting with the Filipino community in Chicago and fly home immediately back home, Dureza said.
PGMA arrives in San Francisco on her way to Chicago to meet Filipino community
SAN FRANCISCO (PNA/via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here today for a quick U.S. trip to address the United Nations Interfaith Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations on November 12 in New York City.
The President and her lean delegation landed at the San Francisco International Airport aboard a Philippine Airlines commercial flight at 5:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Manila).
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy Gaa led Filipino officials in welcoming the President who is staying overnight here before flying to Chicago Tuesday morning to meet with members of the Filipino community.
"The President will just have a quiet dinner with the Philippine delegation here tonight," according to Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, who is accompanying the President in her US trip.
After the Filipino community gathering in Chicago, President Arroyo will fly to New York to attend a high-level meeting on Interfaith and Inter-cultural Dialogue at the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
The Philippines is among the leading proponents of global initiatives on interfaith dialogue and cooperation for peace. (PNA)
PGMA leaves for New York City to join heads of states at UN Interfaith Conference
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left late Monday night (Nov. 10) for New York City to join other world leaders at the United Nations (UN) Interfaith Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations.
The President, garbed in an aqua blue blazer and pants, appeared very cool and composed as she boarded Philippine Air Lines commercial flight PR 104 bound for San Francisco, her first stop on her way to the UN Headquarters in New York where she will address members of the UN conference.
Earlier, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the President will deliver a statement at the conference that was initiated by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah as a follow up to the Madrid interfaith conference held in July and attended by delegates representing Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism and other faiths from across the world.
According to reports, the interfaith debate at the UN headquarters will likely become the world’s most well-attended cross-religious conference to date, with as many as 30 heads of states slated to deliver statements.
Aside from President Arroyo, other world leaders scheduled to attend the UN special session are the Saudi monarch, United States President George W. Bush, King Juan Carlos of Spain, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Israel’s President Shimon Peres, and Israel Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, leader of the Jewish state’s ruling Kadima party.
Asked by reporters on the new destabilization moves against the President and her administration, Press Secretary Dureza, who is accompanying the President in the New York trip, said the President remains focused on governance and is very confident that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) would do their respective mandates to protect the people and the government in her brief absence.
"The military will do what is appropriate. They are mandated together with the police to protect the people. The citizens are safe and well all the time, whether there is a destabilization rumor or 'chismis'; they continue with their mandate of seeing to it that civilians and the government are protected," Dureza said.
Dureza explained that the President was pushing through with this "obligatory trip" to New York City because "she feels that interfaith issues are very important not only for the Philippines but for the whole world, and also because she had committed her support for the advocacy of Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud who is now her personal friend."
Before addressing the special session of the UN interfaith conference, President Arroyo will meet with the Filipino community in Chicago, Illinois who now call this American state their second home.
Dureza also said the President's delegation to New York City is “very lean” considering her short stay in the US and that, as such, she is expected to be back by the end of the week.
Among those who saw the President off were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and officials and staff of the Manila International Airport Administration led by its general manager Alfonso Cusi.
DOH: Cheaper drugs out soon
Cebu City -- Access to low-priced drugs and medicines can now be available to the public with the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Cheaper Medicine Act, according to the Department of Health (DOH) website.
Health Sec. Francisco Duque bared the public can expect the prices of drugs and medicines to go down as prices can now be regulated under the IRR. "Presently, we are already in the process of coming up with policies and the drugs and medicines to be regulated. However, we have to be patient because we have to follow the normal government procedures and process to go through this," Duque said.
"The IRR can impose on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) to come up with better service packages so that the "out-of-pocket" expenditures of the public will be reduced and so patients will be substantially reimbursed," Duque disclosed.
Duque added that the IRR can also pave the way for quality and affordable generic drugs as well as rationalize the behavior of medical professionals and government health workers because of the amendment to the Generics Law.
"The IRR also allows over-the counter drugs and medicines to be readily available even in non-traditional outlets like supermarkets. So, aside from food and other domestic supplies, the public can also purchase these products under the same roof," Duque noted.
On the other hand, IPO Director-General Adrian Cristobal, Jr. explained that in the IRR there is an IPO provision that allows off-patent and patented affordable and quality drugs and medicines to get in the local market, through parallel importation, as long as these products meet the requirements and standards of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Cheaper Medicines Bill into law last June 6 and 120 days after the law took effect in July 4, the IRR is concluded and signed, the health secretary stated.
The health chief disclosed that before the IRR was crafted, the DOH and the Intellectual Property Office gathered public opinion by conducting separately seven public hearings in different parts of the country.
"We need to go through that process in order to listen and answer questions from the buying-public, private organizations and other concerned groups. These public hearings gave them an opportunity to share ideas that hopefully made the IRR more sound and reasonable. It made them part of the crafting of the IRR. It gave them some sense of ownership and that is good," Duque said.
The DOH said that the IRR will take effect 15 days after its publication last November 5. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)
Italian gov't-assisted projects in Albay amount to P26 million
Legazpi City -- The Italian government has infused around P26 million for various projects in the province of Albay as part of their assistance to the devastation wrought by Typhoon Reming in 2006.
Started in October 2007, the Italian cooperation program was able to build around 180 houses for the displaced families in the municipalities of Camalig and Guinobatan in Albay.
The total cost for the construction of the housing units amounted to P14 million.
Aside from permanent shelter for the displaced families the program also constructed two livelihood centers amounting to P792,000 in the resettlement areas of Barangay Tagaytay, Camalig and Quitago in Guinobatan.
Sergio Quattrocchi, Italian cooperation project coordinator, said the two livelihood centers are equipped with different sewing machines to be utilized by 48 organized women associations. The associations were also provided with raw materials and tools for the production of various handicrafts and other products made of cotton and raffia.
Quattrocchi said the livelihood centers seek to revitalize unemployed women in the resettlement areas and to help improve their living after the devastation of Typhoon Reming.
For those In the agriculture sector, the Italian cooperation program provided assistance to coconut farmers and fisherfolk.
Quattrocchi said for the past months the Italian government provided 80,000 coconut seedlings for replanting in the municipalities of Camalig and Polangui, and the cities of Legazpi and Ligao. "Another 10,000 seed nuts has been turned over to Ligao City coconut nursery as additional augmentation."
Aside from these, around 190 fisherfolk in the municipalities of Rapu-Rapu, Sto. Domingo and Manito were the beneficiaries of fishing boats including nets and other fishing materials. "The total cost of assistance to the fisherfolk amounted to P2 million."
"Our cooperation projects in the province of Albay is about to end this year and we will still provide help to the people of Albay in the future," Quattrocchi assured. (MDR, PNA)
PGMA, Thai PM confident of CMI's expansion ok at 14th ASEAN Summit in Thailand in December
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat last night expressed optimism for the approval of the proposed strengthening and expansion of the $84-billion Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI) during the 14th ASEAN Summit that will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in December.
The two leaders, in their separate statements before the Malacanang gala dinner tendered last night by the President for the visiting Thai PM, agreed that a concerted effort of the 10-member Association of South East Asia Nations and their dialogue partners China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN+3) is important for the region to withstand the effects of the current global financial crisis.
“We are very pleased, Your Excellency, that under your leadership, we are strengthening the Chiang Mai Initiative to a large and quick-disbursing fund for liquidity,” the President said.
“I thank Your Excellency, President Arroyo, for your initiative to convene the ASEAN +3 to discuss the current financial crisis on the sideline of the 7th ASEM in Beijing,” said the Thai PM as he invited the President to participate in the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit this December.
At the same time, PM Somchai -- who was here Monday (Nov. 10) for a brief seven-hour visit -- thanked the President for offering to host the High Level Meeting on the Financial Crisis on Nov. 20.
During their bilateral meeting, the two leaders also discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations between the Philippines and Thailand.
President Arroyo congratulated Somchai, a brother-in-law of deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, for his nomination by Thailand's governing party, the People Power Party, and for becoming the prime minister-elect last September after a court forced his predecessor, Samak Sundaravej, to step down.
The two leaders also look forward to the 60th relationship anniversary between Thailand and the Philippines next year as they both vowed to further strengthen cooperation in trading, investment, the Thailand-Philippines Tourist Package, energy, and the military.
The two South East Asian nations formally established diplomatic relations on June 14, 1949 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship in Washington, DC.
Since then, the countries have enjoyed cordial relations, and cooperation between them has been wide-ranging. Various bilateral agreements have been concluded, ranging from economic cooperation to extradition, to tourism cooperation.
Upon the initiative of the President, the ASEAN +3 -- at the breakfast meeting convened before the formal opening of the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting in Beijing last month -- agreed to expand the existing bilateral foreign currency swap framework that was earlier set up to assist any member that may experience liquidity problems amid the spreading global financial crisis.
The ASEAN +3 agreed to increase the CMI but they will still discuss the details. A technical working group composed of finance ministers and central bank governors has been designated to map out guidelines.
In that same Beijing meeting, the Asian leaders discussed the possibility of elevating the Chang Mai Initiative from a bilateral swap arrangement into a multilateral scheme to include all liquidity problems, including support for beleaguered financial institutions.
The original agreement is limited to providing emergency liquidity only in case of a foreign exchange crisis.
Also in that meeting, Thailand suggested that the fund be increased from $84 billion to $250 billion.
The leaders agreed to wait for the recommendations of the technical working group which will be submitted in December at the ASEAN Summit in Thailand.
The President advocated quick disbursement of the funds with minimum conditionality to countries that would need the funds, proposing that the expanded standby fund be called “Chiang Mai Initiative 2.”
Under the Chiang Mai Initiative, a country experiencing conditions similar to the 1997 Asian financial crisis could borrow foreign currency from another country to augment its foreign reserves until the crisis is over. This would enable countries vulnerable to a financial crisis to access the funds in a foreign reserve pool without seeking assistance from lenders like the International Monetary Fund.
Palace dismisses impeachment complaint as "recycled event"
Malacañang dismissed last night as just another "recycled event" the fourth impeachment exercise initiated against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the House of Representatives.
Speaking to reporters at the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Terminal (NAIA) 2 last night (Nov. 10, Monday), Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the "yearly" complaint is best left to the "competent group" at the House of Representatives to handle.
"You know, it (impeachment complaint) has already become a recycled event every year so we'll just leave this to the House of Representatives to handle," Dureza said.
Dureza -- who is part of the President’s "lean contingent" to the United States to address a special session on Interfaith Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations of the United Nations General Assembly – said the congressmen would "determine what action to take" on the impeachment complaint.
"The Palace will not at all intervene or one way or the other interfere in these proceedings in an independent co-equal branch of government which is Congress," the Press Secretary added.
When asked how the President feels that another impeachment complaint has been filed against her, Dureza said the President remains focused on what she has to do for the betterment of the people, the country and the government.
"She is focused on governance, taking care of what we should do in the face of all the problems that we face in the world today, especially on the financial crisis," Dureza said.
"She has to address the needs of the vulnerable and the poor. She has to even continue with her economic reform agenda, so ‘yung mga distractions na ganyan doesn't bother her because she is so focused in what she has been doing and what she has to do up to the end of her term," he added.
AIDS advocates support RH Bill, upset over surge
The number of Filipinos diagnosed with HIV rose almost threefold, for September alone, 57 Filipinos were diagnosed with HIV.
Girls, Women, and HIV & AIDS Network (GWHAN) cited this worsening problem as they called for the immediate passage of the RH bill recognizing also that most of those diagnosed (59%) are in their most productive years (25-39 y/o), it should also be noted that 35% of the recorded HIV positives are OFWs. This was recorded by the National Epidemiology Center (NEC).
“This alarming statistic supports the call for the immediate passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill now being deliberated in the House of the Representatives. Moreover, the widespread disinformation, misinformation and increased demonizing the condom use must be disproved with accurate data.” said Marlon T. Lacsamana of GWHAN.
GWHAN members said Mr. Lacsamana agreed on their October 26 general assembly meeting that they felt that it’s their avowed responsibility as pioneers and leaders of the HIV advocacy, to register their support for the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill (HB 5043) and to steadfastly stand behind organized groups and networks advocating its immediate passage.
Reproductive health which includes HIV prevention and care & support as one of its key elements is a right upheld in various international documents to which the Philippines is a signatory, notably the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1994 UN International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Beijing Platform for Action, 2001 United Nations Special Session on AIDS (UNGASS), 1st & 2nd Regional Consultative Meeting on Universal Access to HIV Prevention and AIDS Treatment, Care and Support in Low Prevalence Countries.
Joint Statement of the Fourth Summit among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam
Ha Noi, 6th November 2008
1. We, the Heads of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Union of Myanmar and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (hereafter referred to as CLMV) gathered for the Fourth CLMV Summit on 6 November 2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam. ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General was also present at the Summit.
2. We reiterated our initiatives and decisions adopted at the CLMV Summits in Vientiane, Laos in 2004, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2005 and in Cebu, the Philippines in 2007 and reaffirmed our determination to deepen the traditional relations of friendship, good neighborliness and mutual benefits among the CLMV countries under the light of the Vientiane Declaration.
3. We reviewed the implementation of the Vientiane Declaration and the CLMV Plan of Actions and confirmed that the smooth progress in the CLMV cooperation would not only be a practical evidence for the efforts of the CLMV in nurturing and strengthening their traditional cooperation relations and friendship, but also make positive contributions to peace, stability, narrowing development gap and integration within the Mekong Sub-region and the entire region as a whole.
4. We highly valued the efforts of our SOM officials at the CLMV SOM meeting on 28 August 2007 in Hanoi to translate the CLMV Plan of Actions into concrete projects and agreed to adopt the List of CLMV projects. We tasked our Ministers and SOM officials to build up mechanism and work plans to put the List of CLMV projects into actual implementation and also required SOM officials to submit the annual progress report to their Leaders and to update the List of CLMV projects biennially. We also urged Working Groups to convene their meetings as soon as possible to discuss the implementation of the work plans in their respective sectors.
5. In trade and investment facilitation cooperation, bearing in mind that trade and investments are attached with top priority, we agreed to:
5.1. Strengthen close coordination in trade and investment promotion through organizing the CLMV trade fairs in member countries in order to increase trade and investment flows within CLMV countries and with other countries. We highly appreciated Vietnam for her willingness to reserve booths for the CLM countries in major international trade fairs and exhibitions hosted by Vietnam.
5.2. Facilitate investment by the CLMV investors in terms of licensing, labor procedures and others on the basis of mutual benefit in potential areas inter alia, agro-industries, industrial crop processing, mineral industries, hydro-power, infrastructure development, logistics and services.
6. In transport cooperation, we agreed to:
6.1. Strengthen close coordination to make best use of economic corridors across the CLMV countries, particularly the East- West Economic Corridor (EWEC), the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC), the Central Economic Corridor (CEC) under the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) cooperation. We assigned the Transportation Working Group to conduct the studies of road links from: 1. Hanoi-Tay Trang (Vietnam) to Oudomxay-Luang Namtha (Laos) and Yangon (Myanmar); 2. Siem Reap-Stung Treng (Cambodia)-Champasak (Laos) and Siem Reap (Cambodia)-Khong Island in Champasak (Laos), and upgrading the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) to the primary highway; and
6.2. Enhance the implementation of the CLMV Multilateral Agreement on Air Services. We welcomed Vietnam and Myanmar to consider the possibility of opening direct air link from Hanoi to Yangon and encouraged development of air linkages among major cities, cultural and natural heritage sites in the CLMV countries for the expansion
7. In agricultural, industrial and energy cooperation among CLMV countries, we agreed to mutually facilitate investment through relevant investment incentives, particularly facilitation of labor regulations and payment procedures, in potential areas, including production and processing of crops, mineral exploitation, hydro power development, oil and gas exploration, telecommunication infrastructure development and service provision and others.
8. In tourism cooperation, we noted with satisfaction the Declaration of Tourism Leaders of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam on tourism cooperation under the “Three Countries-One Destination” program and tasked the CLMV countries’ concerned agencies to consider the possibility of Myanmar’s participation in this program.
9. In human resource development, we highly valued the initiative of Vietnam to establish CLMV Scholarship Scheme, which shall provide scholarships to the CLM countries annually, including scholarships for vocational and post- graduate training. We agreed that Vietnam shall prepare specific guidelines on the implementation of the CLMV Scholarship Scheme.
10. We welcomed the successful convening and positive outcomes of the 2nd Initiative for ASEAN Integration Development Cooperation Forum (IDCF-2) in Hanoi in June 2007 and reaffirmed to accelerate the pace of the CLMV countries’ integration and faster narrowing development gap within ASEAN in line with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). We called upon the ASEAN Secretariat to support CLMV countries in mobilizing financial resources from other development partners for CLMV projects and assist CLMV countries in translating the IAI Work Plan II to be adopted at the 14th ASEAN Summit into concrete actions.
11. Bearing in mind that closer cooperation among the CLMV countries is conducive to regional integration, we agreed to enhance our close coordination in the sub-regional and regional fora, particularly in the Greater Mekong Sub-regional cooperation (GMS), Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) and Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam Development Triangle (CLV) and ASEAN’s negotiations with other countries on economic and trade arrangements, in order to strengthen our common positions for the benefit of the CLMV countries in particular and the whole region in general.
12. We reaffirmed that efforts of the CLMV countries were the decisive factor in their respective development and integration. We highly appreciated the support and assistance of the international community to the CLMV countries in their socio- economic development. We thanked Japan for her readiness to provide assistance amounting to US$ 20 million through Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) to CLMV countries for the project “Improving Efficiency of Logistics and Distribution of the EWEC and the Second EWEC”.
13. We called upon other ASEAN members and concerned development partners to substantiate their assistance to complement our own resources for development and integration acceleration through the following:
13.1. Enhance financial and technical assistance to the CLMV countries through the current bilateral and regional initiatives, of which priority is given to infrastructure development, poverty reduction, human resource development and environment conservation. We instructed our SOM officials to work closely and keep frequent consultation with the ASEAN Secretariat and concerned development partners on providing assistance to the implementation of viable projects under the List of CLMV projects;
13.2. Continue to accord preferential and special treatment to the CLMV countries' products and services in market access under the frameworks of the ASEAN Integration System of Preference (AISP) scheme, free trade agreements between ASEAN and relevant countries; and
13.3. Encourage and facilitate their business sectors to increase investment in the CLMV countries.
14. We agreed to further strengthen close coordination and consultation among the CLMV countries to speed up and enhance the effectiveness of our cooperation. In this regard, we agreed that:
14.1. CLMV Summits shall be convened biennially in the CLMV countries in alphabetical order or back-to-back with ACMECS, subject to the arrangement by the host country. CLMV Ministerial Meetings precede CLMV Summits on the same occasion and, if necessary, an additional CLMV Ministerial Meeting may be convened during the interval of the two CLMV Summits. In that spirit, we agreed that the Fifth CLMV Summit will be held in 2010 in Cambodia.
14.2. CLMV SOM meeting shall be held annually in the host country of CLMV Summit and, if necessary, more SOM meetings may be arranged in corresponding to progress and momentum of the CLMV cooperation.
15. We tasked the Ministers and SOM officials to ensure the effective implementation of this Joint Statement and report its progress to their respective Heads of Governments.
16. We expressed our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for her excellent arrangements and warm hospitality in hosting the 4th CLMV Summit in Hanoi.
Done in Hanoi, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on 6th November 2008.
Mindanao, Palawan ecotourism sites identified for promotion in EAGA
CAGAYAN DE ORO --- With the global potentials of ecotourism on an upbeat momentum, key representatives and players from the tourism sector from Mindanao and Palawan identified key ecotourism destinations in both islands in a forum held here recently in a bid to intensify tourism promotions in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
In Mindanao, these include Malawi Island and Dapitan for Zamboangapeninsula, Camiguin Island for Region 10, Davao Gulf and Samal Island for Region XI, Lake Sebu and Mount Apo for Region XII, Agusan Marsh for Caraga, and Lake Lanao for the ARMM.
The Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake found in the Coron Islands are the ecotourism sites identified for Palawan. Participants of the forum-workshop plans to create a network of ecotourism sites in Mindanao and Palawan which will be representative of the key ecotourism destinations in the area as part of the overall BIMP-EAGA ecotourism network.
The Philippines aims to highlight these sites during the BIMP-EAGA Community Based Ecotourism Conference in to be held in Manado, Indonesia this November.
The Philippine-EAGA forum workshop aims to contribute to the formulation of the ecotourism roadmap for BIMP-EAGA and to highlight the important role of ecotourism as a tool for poverty alleviation.
"What the Philippines and BIMP-EAGA want to develop is a kind of ecotourism that involves local, grassroots communities so they are part of the development and benefit from it," said Ms. Narzalina Lim, Asian Development Bank Consultant on ecotourism. She said that there should be capacity building for the local community to equip them with skills in running small businesses like food, "homestays" and other ecotourism related businesses.
She added that stakeholders must identify projects that are attractive and "have an iconic appeal" to tourist markets and that access to destination has to be improved.
The forum participants also discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the ecotourism resources in terms of destinations, infrastructure, funding and human resources and activities in terms of product development, planning, marketing, training and networking in the Mindanao regions including Palawan.
The opportunities and threats in the regions in terms of trends, markets, events, investments, funding and technology were also discussed. Lim said that the criteria for ecotourism are green standards for sustainability, respect for communities, social responsibility, economic sustainability, education) and the importance of monitoring and evaluation.
It was emphasized in the workshop that BIMP-EAGA has a strong potential to be an ecotourism destination given BIMP-EAGA's tourism resources.
The Mulu Caves of Sarawak, Mt. Kinabalu of Sabah, Tubataha Reefs and the St. Paul Subterranean River of Palawan are four BIMP-EAGA sites listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Around 109 stakeholders coming from the private sector, government, academe, non-government organizations attended the said forum workshop. (MEDCo)
Aklanons rise from “Frank’s” devastation says Aklan Gov.
Iloilo City - The Aklanons have not lost their focus to rise from the devastations brought by typhoon Frank in Aklan province in June 2008.
This was emphasized by Aklan Governor Carliot S. Marquez during the opening of the 6th Aklan Product Showcase held at SM City-Iloilo.
“Typhoon Frank’s 190 km/hour winds, and mudflows may have devastated Aklan,” but this did not stop the Aklanons, the entrepreneurs from their toils,” Governor Marquez said as he cited the role of the Hugod-Aklan the wider range of participation of the food, flowers and handicrafts sectors in helping fuel the economy of the province.
“The Small and Medium Enterprises can be considered as the backbone of our economy in terms of employment generation and revenues that goes to the government’s coffer,” Marquez said.
The Aklan governor’s message was read during the program by Provincial Planning Coordinator Roger Esto.
The activity which is held from November 10 to 16, 2008 showcases hand-woven fabrics, fashion accessories, home decors, gift items, furniture and furnishings, and ornamental plants, and participated in by some 28 exhibitors.
Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr. of the Department of Trade and Industry-Aklan said the activity is a joint project of the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association, Inc. and the DTI, in coordination with the Aklan provincial government.
Cadena said that during the said event, distinctively Aklan meat products and delicacies will also be exhibited together with the products of selected beneficiaries of the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) Program and Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Peogram.
OTOP is one of the priority programs of President Arroyo to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs in the countryside.
OTOP encourages the Micro, Small and Medium Enterproses (MSMEs) to produce and market distinct products or services using indigenous raw materials and local skills of every municipality or city.
Cadena said that they are hopeful that the Aklan Product showcase will exceed last year’s P1.7 million sales performance.
The occasion was also graced by DTI 6 Regional Director Dominic Abad, RTD Remelyn Recoter of DA 6, representatives from the Iloilo City Mayor’s Office, and other government offices in Iloilo City. (PIA/T.Villavert)
