PIA Dispatch - Friday, January 16, 2009

IMF says RP is most likely to weather global economic crisis

Notwithstanding the global economic outlook, the outgoing representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is confident that the Philippines will continue its resiliency and absorb the challenges posed by the world financial crisis due to its economic and fiscal reforms.

Reza Baqir, outgoing resident representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), paid his farewell call to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this afternoon in Malacanang together with his wife Zareen, and their two-year-old son Shammeer.

The President greeted the IMF official who is celebrating his birthday today and thanked him for his pivotal role in strengthening relations between the Philippines and the IMF during his three-and-a-half year tour of duty that started in July 2005.

Present during the farewell call were Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Bangko Sentral and Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amado Tetangco Jr.

In an interview before the farewell call, Baqir said prospects still look good for the Philippines despite the challenges posed by the global economic crisis this year because of the economic and fiscal reforms immediately implemented by the President years before the world financial crisis broke out.

“This global economic crisis is going to pose challenges to all countries. The Philippines today is in a much better position to handle these challenges precisely because of the important fiscal and economic reforms implemented by the administration. In particular, I am referring to the reforms of the value-added tax that was successfully implemented in 2005 and 2006,” Baqir said.

With the country’s sound financial and banking policies, Baqir said the Philippine banking system has been generally unaffected by the global crisis.

“There are many financial systems in the world which have experienced stress due to the turmoil in the financial market. So far, the Philippines has not been one of those and Philippine banks have very little exposure to sub-prime,” he said.

With the country’s strong currency and fiscal position, the Philippines was regarded as one of the most resilient economies in Asia that fared well last year and projected to do well this year.

At the end of the farewell call, the President awarded Mr. Baqir with the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Maringal na Lakan (Grand Officer) for his pivotal role and commitment in assisting RP policy makers in crafting timely and effective economic strategies through his expertise in macroeconomic and financial sector policy.

Baqir said it has been “three-and-a-half wonderful years since July 2005” and he would miss wearing his barong.

Baqir said he will be leaving on Sunday back to the IMF headquarters in Washington, DC to serve as Deputy Chief for Emerging Markets.

The IMF is an international organization of 185 countries which is working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty.


PGMA visits Tondo’s urban poor

TONDO, Manila -- Tondo folk today flocked to the Don Bosco Parish in Barrio Magsaysay here for free medical consultation and medicines under the government’s pro-poor program in partnership with the Church which pinpoints the beneficiaries through Caritas Manila.

Some 70 malnourished children from the 17-barangay parish were also brought to the Don Bosco compound across the North Harbor here for the feeding program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who dropped by the parish today to preside the distribution of the arroz caldo snacks to the children upon her arrival here at 1:45 p.m.

The President was met by several priests led by Caritas Manila Executive Director Fr. Anton Pascual, Don Bosco Tondo school rector Fr. Ferdinand Camilo, Don Bosco parish priest Fr. Eliseo Santos, and Spanish priest Fr. Luis Iriarte, now 79 years old and one of the earliest parish priests of the now 40-year-old Don Bosco Tondo; and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and top Manila police officials.

With its programs directed towards the total human development of marginalized people, Caritas pinpointed the 70 children who were found to be malnourished based on their ages, heights and weight, according to Helen Oreto, Caritas operations OIC.

Asked who was in their midst presiding over the distribution of their merienda, Tinalyn delos Santos and Gerylyn Mangsat, 8 and 11 years old respectively, smiled and said, “Si Gloria!” Their seatmate, 11-year-old Amado Hernandez, chimed in, “Ang Pangulo!”

The children were earlier fed lunch of rice and adobo which was cooked by volunteers of Caritas Manila which revealed that it “receives support from the President’s Social Fund (PSF), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Malacanang Office for Religious Affairs.”

Caritas is the lead Catholic agency for social services and development in the Archdiocese of Manila, directly serving the 13 vicariates of the archdiocese and providing technical assistance to parish social services, according to the Caritas 2007 Annual Report.

The President also awarded scholarships to 70 parishioners – two of whom are in the elementary school; while 38 are in high school; and 30 in college. The scholars all belong to the Vicariate of Sto. Nino.

For the Medical Mission, the Office of the President (OP) brought some P150,000 worth of medicines for some 1,000 patients, according to Dr. Julius de Guzman who said all remaining medicines at the end of the day are left with the host parish or barangay for further distribution to sick residents.

Dr. De Guzman said the 30 brands of medicines brought to the OP’s medical missions include antibiotics for infection, and medicines for cough and cold, hypertension, acidity, urinary tract infections (UTI), hydration and fever, plus anti-anemic drugs, pain relievers and even vitamins.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) also sent a contingent of doctors and dentists for the Tondo medical mission from six units of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

The Don Bosco parish covers 17 barangays with 200,000 families in Barrio Magsaysay here.

The vocational school managed by the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) has a total of 700 indigent students from Manila, Valenzuela, Navotas, Pasay and the provinces, according to Fr. Camilo.

Each of the 10 courses offered by the school takes a total of 17 months – 12 months or one year for the theory and skills training, and five months for on-the-job training. Ready jobs await graduates as the school’s personnel office doubles as a placement office.

Fr. Camilo said the most in-demand courses are welding technology and automotive mechanic. The other courses offered are General Electrician, Fitter-Machinist, Industrial Electronics, Refrigeration and Aircondition Mechanic, Office Systems Technology, Garments Technology, Seafarer’s Rating, and Computer Technology.

The school spends some P40,000 per student even as each student pays only P3,000 for the entire course at a staggered payment schedule of around P300 per month for the school uniform and other school requirements.

Fr. Camilo said Don Bosco spends some P28 million per year for the 700 scholars alone, thus the need to raise funds from donors and even from their Christmas-time “perya.”

The school graduates an average of 1,500 scholars per year in recent years; and has been preparing the urban poor youth in the area for gainful livelihoods for the past 40 years since 1968.


CHR seeks unconditional release of ICRC workersCHR seeks unconditional release of ICRC workers

MANILA (PNA) -- Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is appealing for the unconditioned release of three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers abducted Thursday in Sulu province.

``CHR joins the human rights and international humanitarian law communities in appealing to the captors` conscience for releasing our humanitarian workers unharmed and without conditions,`` the rights body`s Chairperson Leila de Lima said in a statement released Friday.

She also urged people to help authorities resolve the case by volunteering information that will lead to the kidnapped victims` rescue.

Unidentified elements reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint ICRC`s Swiss humanitarian aid worker Andreas Notter as well as his colleagues Eugenio Vagni from Italy and Filipina engineer Mary Jean Lacaba while they traveled from a visit to Sulu provincial jail.

These workers visited the jail to inspect their water and sanitation project in a humanitarian effort to provide potable water and improved living conditions to the inmates.

De Lima slammed the kidnapping, describing this incident as violating domestic law and persons` right to liberty and security.

She also branded the act as ``an affront to neutral parties that give assistance to people regardless of political, religious or cultural affiliation.

`` ``The Commission denounces abduction of people devoting their lives to helping others,`` she said. ``The fact that they`re targeted is deplorable. Humanitarian aid workers have special status as they`re protected by international humanitarian law. They must be protected at all times. ICRC has nothing to do with any political or security agenda. Let`s allow them to continue their work in our country.

`` De Lima hopes the kidnappers will soon release their victims unharmed.

She also looks forward to the early and bloodless resolution of this case.

``Should rescue efforts or retaliatory measures become necessary, however, we remind government to ensure full respect of human rights and to avoid or minimize collateral damage to civilians,`` she added.

De Lima noted ICRC operated in the Philippines since 1982 and continues to be among CHR`s partners in advocating for passage of the International Humanitarian Law bill and Internal Displacement Act so vulnerable sectors in armed conflict areas can be protected. (PNA)


Gov't prepares to revive peace talks with MILF within the 1st quarter

MANILA (PNA) -– Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said the government is "currently assembling the pieces" for the resumption of peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) within the first quarter.

Esperon made the announcement on Thursday at the opening of the two-day dialogue participated in by peace partners involved in the Conflict Prevention and Peace-building Programme – a joint initiative of the Philippine government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to bring peace to Mindanao.

The dialogue was held at the Astoria Plaza Hotel in Pasig City.

Negotiations broke down when three rogue MILF commanders attacked civilian populations in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato and Sarangani following the aborted signing of the controversial memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA) in August last year. The Supreme Court had declared the MOA-AD as unconstitutional.

The government has launched police action against renegade elements of the MILF.

Esperon said Malaysia is being considered to continue its role as peace broker, but with some revisions in terms of reference in facilitation.

Malaysia used to head the International Monitoring Team (IMT) until November last year when its tour of duty ended.

The other members – Brunei, Libya and Japan have committed to remain in the IMT whose task is to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire between the government and the MILF.

Presently, all activities of the IMT are put on hold.

"It could be one country facilitator or a group of countries that would form the facilitator team," Esperon said.

At the same time, Esperon reiterated that "disarmament, demobilization and reintegration" (DDR) will be part of the guiding framework of the government in pursuing talks with armed groups.

Disarmament is the collection, documentation control and disposal of small arms, ammunition, explosives and other weapons of combatants and also civilian population, while demobilization is the formal and controlled discharge of active combatants from armed forces or other armed groups.

Integration, on the other hand, involves the process by which former combatants acquire civilian status and gain sustainable employment and income.

The government had invited three foreign experts from the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, who shared their experience in pursuing the peace process that led to the signing of the so-called Good Friday Agreement that ended the bloody conflict in Northern Ireland in 1998.

Those who gave lectures on peace process were Jonathan Powell, chief of staff of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Gerry Kelly, a member of the Northern Ireland Parliament, and Robert Hannigan, Blair's former security adviser.

While the government irons out the composition of the monitoring team, Esperon bared its plan to split the group into security and economic monitors.

"We will have in that DDR other groups and countries that could possibly contribute to carrying out the terms of DDR on the ground as we move forward," he said.

On strengthening authentic dialogues with communities, he referred to the lessons learned from the conflict with the MILF, stating that "we must now all the more listen to public sentiments.

"President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had completed the composition of a new government peace panel that will negotiate with the MILF. The panel is chaired by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis.

The peace process adviser also underlined the importance of peace-building that goes along with peacemaking.

He thanked the UNDP and congratulated the responsible peace partners of the CPPBP for their valuable contributions to peace-building.

Dubbed as Reflecting on Conflict Transformation and Peace-building Experiences and Lessons, the two-day dialogue which ends today, aims to gather the learning experience from partners and stakeholders in the peace process.

UNDP Country Representative Renaud Meyer attended the dialogue.

Others who participated in the dialogue were Sulong CARHRIHL, Ilawan Foundation, Assisi Development Foundation, UP Visayas Foundation, Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance and Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute, among others. (PNA)


3.9% growth in 2008 despite global crisis

Philippine agriculture expanded 3.92% in 2008 with its value rising by almost 20% to P1.16 trillion despite an unprecedented food crisis brought about by declining farm productivity across the globe.

Except for livestock, all subsectors registered production increases led by fisheries, which grew 5.78 in the January-December period, Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

Citing the full-year report by the DA-attached Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), Yap said that palay and corn production continued to increase despite a decline in fertilizer usage among farmers, with last year’s output reaching 16.82 million metric tons (MT) or 3.54% higher than the 2007 record.

Palay output was boosted in part by the government’s intervention measures, such as promoting the use of early maturing seed varieties particularly in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley , Central Luzon, MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), Western Visayas and the Caraga Region; and the timely release of irrigation water in Cagayan Valley and MIMAROPA.

Corn output increased 2.82 %, totalling 6.93 million MT in 2008, Yap said.

Despite last year’s global farm woes, Yap said that in the Philippines , incomes of palay farmers grew by 29% while those of corn growers posted a 3% hike in gross earnings, owing to the combined effects of higher production and better farmgate prices.

“The growth of Philippine agriculture in 2008 was slightly lower than expected, largely because of external factors that have hurt productivity not only in the country but in the rest of the world as well,” Yap said.

“These external shocks that have affected local palay and corn yields,” he said, “include the 30% drop in fertilizer use among farmers because of the prohibitive costs of these inputs; super typhoons; changing climate patterns that have altered planting periods and cut down harvests; and high fuel prices during the first semester,”

Yap said he expects the agriculture sector to fare better in 2009 as prices of commonly used fertilizers began to drop by as much as 53% at the start of the year because of the softening of crude oil prices in the world market.

With areas planted to major crops like palay and corn not expanding as had been expected, Yap reiterated his call to Congress to swiftly pass a law will that spell out a national land use policy that will, among others, regulate the conversion of prime farmlands into industrial and commercial estates along with residential subdivisions.

Pending legislative measures in both chambers of Congress—Senate Bill No. 76 and House Bill 3175 ---aim to categorize lands either for agricultural production, human settlements, infrastructure development or as protected areas.

BAS Director Romeo Recide reported that the fisheries subsector was again the primary growth driver in 2008, posting a 5.78% production increase and contributing 25.82% of the total agricultural output, Yap said. The subsector generated gross earnings amounting to P21.5.5 billion at current prices or 19.37% higher than the 2007 level.

Aquaculture was the biggest gainer with output expanding by 8.71%, while production in commercial and municipal fisheries rose 2.78% and 2.19 %, respectively, he said.

Recide said that the crops subsector, which accounted for 47.71% of the total agricultural production, expanded by 4.05 % last year, with big gainers that include pineapple, banana, and sugarcane, Yap said.

In 2008, the subsector grossed P634.9 billion at current prices, representing a 23.95 % increase from the 2007 record.

Pineapple grew by 9.57%, banana by 16.06 % and sugarcane by 22.62% in 2008.

The livestock subsector contracted by 1.06% primarily due to lower hog production last year, with its value recorded at P181 billion at current prices, representing a 10.98% hike from the 2007 level.

The poultry subsector, meanwhile, posted a 4.71% increase in output, with chicken production rising 5.76% in 2008. The subsector, with its 14.11% share in the total agricultural output, is valued at P130.9 billion at current prices or 10.71% higher than the previous year’s record.

In 2007, Philippine agriculture grew 4.68% with key subsectors posting ample or higher-than-expected yields as the DA succeeded in large part in easing the impact of a dry spell that had initially threatened to cripple farm growth in the second half of that year.

Yap said he has already given marching orders to DA officials to draw up a comprehensive blueprint that would ensure the effective and speedy implementation of the agency’s “high-impact” projects in 2009 to sustain the growth of Philippine agriculture and help carry out the national government’s program of pump priming the economy and preserving and creating jobs in the midst of a global economic slowdown.

The Department, he said, will also carry out a systemic overhaul that will include a new policy of shifting the DA;s focus away from “soft” projects and into “hard” infrastructure projects covering irrigation maintenance, postharvest facilities, and farm-to-market roads (FMRs) as well as rural extension work.

For instance, instead of the fertilizer discount coupons that were given out in 2008 to farmer-beneficiaries in partnership with the local government units, Yap said the Department is providing organic fertilizer manufacturing support this year to farmers in 2,600 clusters or sites where it will channel a bulk of its funds for intervention measures.

These clusters of adjacent or neighboring farms, where palay production is below the national average of 3.8 tons per hectare, are spread out across 48 provinces, mostly in rainfed areas. ### (DA-PRESS OFFICE)


DPWH improves road transport infra

MANILA (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continues to improve the road transport infrastructure worth P230.569 million in the National Capital Region (NCR).

DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. said nearly all who travel in the Philippines passes through the region being the main financial, commercial and education center of the country.

Ebdane said last year, the NCR together with the nine district engineering offices and project management offices (PMO) joined forces toward the completion of vital infrastructure projects.

Notable among the completed projects implemented and completed are the one kilometer concrete paving of Sumulong Highway, P19.226 million; one kilometer concrete paving of Marikina-San Mateo Road, P19.091 million; and concrete paving of President Garcia Avenue (C-5 Road), P19.091 million.

Projects which were also completed and have helped improve the flow of traffic are the 1.6 kilometer concrete paving of Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (north and south bound) costing P19.295 million; 1.8 kilometer concrete paving of President Quirino Avenue (north and south bound), P19.290 million; concrete paving of south and north bound of Sucat Road, P19.1 million; and 1.2 kilometer asphalt overlay with concrete blocking of C-5 Road from C-5 Kalayaan Intersection towards East Service Road (north bound with exception), P19.091 million.

To improve vehicular flow of traffic at the Makati City, the Philippines' center of finance and commerce and where mega shopping centers are located, the DPWH completed the rehabilitation/improvement of Buendia Avenue (from Ayala to EDSA) at a cost of P19.191 million.

In Northern Metro Manila area, completed projects include the improvement of General Luis Street in Caloocan City, P19.034 million; and concrete paving of Honorio Lopez Boulevard including bridge in Tondo, Manila, P19.750 million.

Also accomplished are the repair/rehabilitation including application and installation of road safety signs and devices along J.P. Rizal Avenue Extension, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Solis, Pampanga, and Aurora Boulevard at a cost of P19.099 million; and repair/rehabilitation of Manila South Road-Muntinlupa Road from Barangay Alabang to Barangay Tunasan (San Pedro Laguna Boundary), P19.311 million. (PNA)


New jobs expected from the tourism sector

Iloilo City -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) remains confident of continued tourism activities this year despite the global financial meltdown.

This was emphasized by Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano at the launching of the DOT's Tourism Apprentice Program, stressing that in line with the Arroyo administration's program to provide one million new jobs in the first six months of 2009, about 3 to 4 million in tourist arrivals is being eyed by the DOT to create 3,000 new jobs in the tourism sector this year.

He said the DOT's mission is to keep its targets within the range of the 3-4 million in tourist arrivals in 2009 to keep on track with its targets.

The DOT secretary said that the Tourism Apprentice Program is one of the department's "investments" to train students of tourism-related courses as the DOT's ambassadors by exposing them to our tourism destinations.

These include Iloilo, Davao, Palawan, Cebu, Boracay, Bacolod and Bohol.

Philippines, Durano said, has the edge over its neighboring countries owing to its variety of choices in beauty and bounty. "We are a blessed country, so much beauty and so much bounty. Our destinations offer different charm and different experiences," Durano said.

He said the apprentice program will tap graduating students from private schools as well as state-owned schools with the support of the Commission on Higher Education.

The Malacanang press report disclosed that the DOT is eyeing the five-million mark in tourism arrivals by 2010, when the global economy is expected to bounce back.

Durano said the bustling activities in the tourism sector are manifested by the continued support of investors such as the Ayalas and George Yang of the McDonald chain. The two investors are putting in money in improving the Caticlan airport near Boracay. Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo earmarked a P100-billion resiliency fund to pump prime our economy amid the world economic meltdown, the Malacanang press report disclosed. (PIA)


Commentary: Kabalu in a state of denial?

General Santos City (16 January)---If the MILF spokesman, Eid Kabalu, has to be followed, he wants the government forces to stop running after their renegade commanders that had murdered innocent civilians and ravaged isolated communities in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato and Sarangani for the separatist elements to agree to the resumption of peace talks in Kuala Lumpur.

What Kabalu wants to happen, is for their renegade commanders to go on with their atrocities and for the government peace keeping force to just watch akimbo as civilians are slaughtered, houses are being torched and the farmers produce carted away by the lawless MILF elements.

The punitive action and pursuit operations being waged by the government forces on the defiant MILF commanders is not only meant to isolate the mainstream MILF forces but to avert further carnage destruction and pillage of properties. Kabalu, for certain, knew the ferocity of these renegade leaders who cannot be reined-in by the MILF leadership. If Kabalu is not aware of what is truly happening in the ground, then he must indeed by in a serious state of denial. He failed to recall that since the botched Memorandum of Agreement On Ancestral Domain the MILF has been stepping up attacks on vulnerable civilian targets by way of improvised explosives and grenade attacks. (MW/PIA SarGen)