PIA Dispatch - Thursday, January 22, 2009

Economic zones earn P445B in export earnings, generate 177,000 jobs in 2008

GENERAL TRIAS, Cavite – The country’ s economic zones turned in a total of P443 billion in export revenues and generate 177,000 jobs last year.

This is the combined figure reported by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Board of Investments (BOI) to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her visit to the Gateway Business Park here this afternoon.

PEZA Director-General Lilia De Lima and Board of Investments (BOI) Governor Francis Ferrer, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose Lito Atienza and Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza were among those who welcomed the President at the Gateway Business Park in Barangay Javalera here.

Also present were locators and investors led by Gateway Proper Holdings, Inc. (GPHI) chairman Geronimo delos Reyes Jr., and GPHI president Jaime Hidalgo.

In an interview, De Lima and Ferrer said the figure came from 894 investments and new projects approved by BOI and PEZA last year.

In their first meeting held last week, PEZA and BOI approved P7.965 billion worth of new investments, a 117-percent increase compared to the P3.66-billion figure for the same period last year, De Lima said.

Although De Lima and Ferrer admitted that there is a slowdown in the manufacturing industry, they said the closure of the Intel Corporation facility here would not affect most of its workers.

Intel Corp. announced today that it is cutting production at two US silicon wafer facilities and closing three overseas facilities -- two in Penang, Malaysia, and the third here at the Gateway Business Park which exports micro processors and electronic integrated circuits.

Intel said the plant shutdowns will be carried out before the end of the year.

In a news release, Intel said some of its workers could be offered positions at other facilities.

De Lima and Ferrer said majority of Intel’s workers here would be absorbed by its sister company, Newmonix, which had bought more than half of Intel’s facility here.

De Lima and Ferrer also said that Newmonix would be closing down its facility in Pudong, China and relocate here in the Philippines.

“That is the good news,” they said.

The President directed the two officials to continue assisting relocators and investors, including Filipino workers who might be retrenched, by way of the government’s jobs matching, training and retraining programs.

Ferrer said that based on experience at economic zones, the electronics industry makes a strong rebound after a slowdown.

The Gateway Business Park, Cavite’s premier industrial facility, employs some 16,000 workers and contributed at least $6 billion worth of exports last year.

Earlier, the President led the continuing government-church social development program at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church just outside the gates of the business park.

She also led the feeding program for school children and distributed scholarships and training certificates through the Archdiocese of Imus.

The President also witnessed the medical and dental mission at work here, and the establishment of Bigasan ng Parokya outlets. The Bigasan sells low-priced basic commodities such as NFA rice at P18.25 per kilo.

Among those who welcomed the President at the Guadalupe church were parish priest Fr. Cornelio Matanguihan, Diocese of Imus Social Action Center Dir. Fr. Alain Manalo, Cavite Gov. Erineo Maliksi, 2nd District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, 3rd District Rep Jesus Crispin Remulla, and General Trias Mayor Luis Ferrer IV.

The President has been leading the continuing provision of scholarships, trainings, livelihood and other social services for the poor families to ease the plight of the most vulnerable sectors of society in the midst of the global crisis.


PGMA inaugurates RP-Korea special health project for Caviteños

TRECE MARTIREZ CITY, Cavite – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo opened today the two-storey medical arts building of the General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital (GEAMH), a special health project for the Cavitenos aimed at strengthening further the 60-year old ties between the Philippines and Korea.

Fresh from her civic and social works development activities at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and working luncheon with the top executives of the investor locators at the Gateway Business Park in General Trias town, the President motored here to lead the endorsement and formal inauguration of the medical arts building of the GEAMH under the Korea-Philippines Friendship Hospital (KPFH) Project Phase II.

Upon her arrival, the President cut the ribbon and unveiled the project marker of the newly-constructed $5.2 million two-storey medical arts building adjacent to the KPFH which the President inaugurated in August 2002.

Assisting the President in the ribbon-cutting and unveiling of the marker were Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) president Park Dae-Won, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Choi Joongkyung, Cavite Governor Ireneo Maliksi, Cavite 2nd District Representative Elpidio Barzaga, Cavite 3rd District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla and Trece Martirez City Mayor Virgilio De Sagun

In his welcome remarks, Governor Maliksi said the opening of the medical arts building of the GEAMH is part of the Korea-Philippines Friendship Hospital Phase II project.

He said the hospital project is the manifestation of the national government efforts thru the intercession of the President in helping the provincial government of Cavite to improve its health program.

He reported to the President that since 2002, the Korean government through KOICA has already given US$3.8 million for the construction of 100-bed capacity mother-and-child hospital and an extension clinic in Bacao, General Trias near Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) Rosario (Cavite).

He said the Phase I of the hospital project was made in response to the need for additional medical facilities in the province. For the past five years, the bed occupancy rate of the KPFH project increased from 39.63% to 73.72% in 2007.

Maliksi also told the President that in 2007 KOICA provided another grant of US$1.4 million for the Phase II project, which is the construction of the medical arts building, improvement of the existing hospital equipments and facilities, continuous training of the medical personnel and the dispatch of Korean health volunteer to look after medical needs of Koreans residing in Cavite.

During the endorsement and inaugural rites program, the President witnessed the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signifying the mutual cooperation and friendship between KOICA and provincial government of Cavite.

The MOA also envisioned to reduce poverty and improved the quality of health services of the residents, especially the poor families of Cavite.

Among the signatories in the 4-page agreement are the following: Governor Maliksi, provincial health officer Ma. Vilma V. Diez, MD, MHA, for the Philippine side, and Korean International Cooperation Agency president Eun Hong Lee and KOICA resident representative to the Philippines Kim In, for the Korean side.


Dureza’s request for lighter load to devote more time to his ailing wife triggered Cabinet shift – Ermita

It was the request of Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza for a lighter load that triggered the latest Cabinet shift that served the double purpose of filling the vacancy earlier left by the Palace Counsel.

This was made clear today (Thursday, Jan. 22) by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in an interview over DZRH where he stressed, thus: “Iyon ang nag-trigger – yung kay Dureza.”

Ermita recounted that “itong si Secretary Dureza, nagsabi sa akin na medyo dahil nga sa katayuan ng kanyang maybahay ay gusto niyang magsabi kay Presidente (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) kung maaring siya mabigyan ng isang posisyon na hindi kasing bigat ng ginagawa sa OPS (Office of the Press Secretary) na kung saan, maya’t maya, lagi siyang kasama ni Pangulo pag sa biyahe, lalo na local at international.”

Mrs. Elizabeth Salutillo-Dureza, who is based in Davao, is battling a kidney ailment.

“Sabi ko sa kanya (Secretary Dureza), siguro naman ay iyan ay papakinggan ng Pangulo. Nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na makausap si Pangulo -- kaya nasabi sa akin ni Presidente na, o sige, magaling naman na abugado si Jess (Dureza), at iyan naman ay placer sa Bar examination.

“Sabi niya (President Arroyo), ibigay natin iyong slot na na-vacate ni Serge Apostol – at siyempre pagka nag-ganyan (vacated post), ang iisipin naman, sino ang papalit?” added Ermita.

Dureza -- who placed #10th in the 1973 Bar Exams, scoring 100 percent in Criminal Law – is taking over Apostol’s vacated post as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel on Feb. 1.

As for Dureza’s replacement – Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Director-General Cerge Remonde – Ermita said:

“Kita naman natin, si Secretary Cerge Remonde naman ay isang media man… kaya ipinilagay sa akin ni Pangulo si Cerge.

“Si Cerge naman, out of patriotic zeal, sabi niya, kung ano ang sabi ni Pangulo, kung saan ako makakatulong, okay lang.”

Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Hermogenes Esperon, who is presently the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (PAPP), will take over Remonde at the PMA helm; while newly retired Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr. will take over Esperon as PAPP


RP contributes to ASEAN’s continued humanitarian effort in Myanmar

The ASEAN Cooperation Fund for Disaster Assistance received a US $ 50,000-donation from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines through the Philippine Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar on Thursday.

The Fund is used for relief and recovery activities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in cyclone-hit Myanmar.

Dr. Anish Roy, special representative of the Secretary-General of ASEAN, received the contribution on behalf of Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN.

The contribution from the Philippine government is to support ASEAN’s continued effort and leadership role in humanitarian assistance in Myanmar.

“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines for its continued support, which enables ASEAN to reinforce our assistance and commitment to the people of Myanmar affected by Cyclone Nargis,” said Dr. Roy.

Contributions made to the ASEAN Cooperation Fund for Disaster Assistance have been utilized to help people recover their livelihoods through community-based early recovery projects in the cyclone-affected areas as well as in disaster risk management and other Nargis-related activities. (PNA)


PGMA inaugurates 6 bridges in Cavite

President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo led the unveiling of the marker for the Mabacao Bridge in Maragondon, Cavite to mark the inauguration on Thursday of six bridges in different parts of the province.

The six bridges are the 88-lineal-meter steel I-beam girder Mabacao Bridge in Maragondon; the 26-meter H-beam girder Salitran Bridge and the 25-meter pre-stressed concrete deck girder Piela Bridge, both in Dasmarinas; the Catmon Bridge and Lipa Bridge, both 21 meters in length and reinforced concrete girder-type, and the 27-meter pre-stressed concrete deck girder Pajo Bridge in Alfonso.

The bridges were implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-President's Bridge Program through the Urgent Bridges Construction Project for Rural Development (UBCPRD), a foreign-assisted project of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The newly-completed bridges are part of the 64 bridges under Contract Package lll project.

President Arroyo was joined in the inaugural ceremony by DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr., Undersecretary Ramon P. Aquino, Region IV-A Director Bonifacio Seguit and President's Bridge Program Executive Director Emil K. Sadain

Ebdane presented to the President the project profile of the newly-completed bridges in Cavite in the presence of local officials, including Gov. Erineo S. Maliksi, Cavite 3rd District Rep. Jesus Crispin C. Remulla and Maragondon Mayor Monte Andaman. (PNA)


CHR fears drop in school attendance and enrollment due to random drug testing

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) warned about a possible drop in school attendance and enrollment if government pursues its planned random drug testing for students.

"The danger could be that students who are users of illegal drugs will neither attend school nor enroll simply to avoid being part of the sampling," CHR Chairperson Leila de Lima said.

If this happens, she fears the testing itself will hamper learning and promoting children's right to education.

"Does this not make random drug testing counter-productive for don't we aspire that our children remain in school instead of being impelled to be out of it?" she asked.

CHR, the independent body tasked with promoting human rights nationwide, called for assessing the random drug testing's effectiveness in fighting the illegal drug menace and its repercussions on the youth before the government implements it.

"Minor students have the right to invoke and demand fulfillment of their right to education, obliging government to respect the child's right to education as a constituent function," she noted.

She also believes studying the plan is in order, saying it's still unclear how government will protect the integrity of confidential random testing if private schools will conduct this activity.

"Implications abound necessitating standards to be strategized, validated and adapted," she said.

The CHR has sought postponement of the planned random testing, noting government has not even assessed the effectiveness and viability of such activity which it also conducted between 2003 and 2005.

To help address the illegal drug menace, the CHR reiterated its call for multi-sectoral consultations on the matter, up to the grassroots level, so the best strategies to fight illegal drug trade and use can be identified.

De Lima also said government must popularize drug dependents' voluntary submission to authorities tasked with helping them recover and start life anew.

"Explore the possibility of assessing the current status of drug use among the youth through other modalities like conduct of confidential key informant interviews," she added.

She noted that even the Department of Health used an interview-based independent study as reference for the random drug testing report it presented to the Dangerous Drugs Board. (PNA)


Peace talks take two to tango, reminds GRP`s Seguis

It takes two to (dance the) tango, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis reiterated today as he prepares to leave for Kuala Lumpur next week to personally convey to Malaysian authorities the Philippine government`s decision to resume stalled peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He was originally scheduled to depart last week but the trip was postponed.

Malaysia remains the central facilitator of the talks, which were abruptly scuttled last August after the MILF began attacking civilians in Mindanao based on what they claimed was government`s reneging on a supposed agreement for a distinct Bangsamoro homeland. Close to 800 Muslims and Christians died in the incursions and millions of pesos worth of property was lost and destroyed.

As in past conversations with the press, Seguis referred to the tango, a Latin dance genre where execution is perfected if the performing pair jibe with their steps, in response to the MILF`s declarations that it would not get back to the negotiating table unless they are assured first of a homeland.

``I always say it takes two to tango,`` Seguis said when reminded that the MILF remains at ``conditional resumption.``

Peace is not a one-sided affair, he added.

The homeland issue was contained in a so-called Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) that was to have been signed last August in Kuala Lumpur, witnessed among others by no less than the Malaysian foreign minister, the Asia regional representative of the Organization of Islamic Conference and the U.S. Ambassador in Manila.

But just before the fanfare-filled event, the case was questioned by Mindanao-based critics before the Philippine Supreme Court, which eventually declared that a ``juridical entity (homeland)`` for Philippine Muslims in Mindanao is unconstitutional.

Seguis said that as GRP chair, he is going to Malaysia duty-bound ``to do what it is supposed to do`` and claimed that he is not aware what the moves are of his MILF counterpart. The mechanism is that the parties would inform the facilitator (Malaysia), he reminded.

The Philippines News Agency (PNA) tried reaching some MILF officials for its moves, but failed.

While Malaysia remains the facilitator of the GRP-MILF talks, the issue of whether or not Kuala Lumpur would rejoin the International Monitoring Team (IMT) for the talks has not been resolved as of date.

It looks like Brunei -- a long-time IMT member along with Libya, and much later, Japan -- would act as IMT head. In this case, they would have to send in more members to the IMT. At various times in the past six years of the IMT existence, Malaysia would have at least 20 volunteers, culled from the various armed services of its defense ministry.

When Malaysia`s tour of the IMT expired last November, its foreign ministry immediately announced non-renewal of its participation and released an official statement to the press, without first informing the DFA. (PNA)


RP exports to India seen to rise with the implementation of ASEAN-India FTA

NEW DELHI (PNA) -- Philippine exports to India, particularly agro-processed products, manufacturing and information technology services, are expected to increase tremendously with the implementation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

This was bared in an interview here by Dr. Amit Mitra, secretary-general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, at the sidelines of the ongoing First Delhi Dialogue on Regional Security and Cooperation.

Mitra said an FTA with India means getting market access to the trillion-dollar Indian economy.

He said Philippine products can enter the huge Indian market once the FTA between the two regions is enforced.

Such agreement is scheduled to be signed during the ASEAN Summit by the end of next month in Thailand.

"(The) Philippines as a country can access a huge market -- India -- which today, we are missing that opportunity because our trade is very low relative to our potentials. So when there is an FTA, trade will develop,” he stressed.

Philippine-processed foods have real advantage in India, Mitra said, noting: “We need processed foods, vegetables; the Indian middle class is beginning to eat that.”

Philippine manufacturing products and IT services have also great potential of penetrating the Indian market, he added.

”You are very rich in agro-processed products, you have special niche area in manufacturing and you are very good in IT in certain niche. You can engage with us in these three areas immediately,” Mitra advised.

He said the industrial sectors in the Subic Special Economic Zone could export to India.

Data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics of India indicated India’s imports from the Philippines rose by 48.98 percent to $ 181.92 million in 2004-2005 from just $ 122.11 million in 2003-2004.

Major Philippine exports to India were machinery and mechanical appliances; iron and steel; electrical machinery and equipment and parts; pearls, precious or semiprecious stones; paper and paperboard; copper and articles; auto parts; plastic and articles; organic chemicals; and animal fodder.

Other ASEAN countries to benefit from an FTA with India are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, LAO PDR, Myanmar and Cambodia. (PNA)


Senate ratifies P1.415-trillion 2009 national budget

The Senate ratified on Thursday morning the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed P1.415-trillion national budget or General Appropriations Act of 2009.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Benigno Aquino III objected to the report when it was presented on the floor for ratification.

The House of Representatives earlier ratified the proposed 2009 national budget on Wednesday night.

After the Senate's ratification of the 2009 GAA, it will be transmitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for signing into law.

Sen. Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee, presented on the floor the bicameral committee report containing a P50-billion economic stimulus package.

Sen. Lacson objected to what he called "insertion" of the stimulus package fund in the 2009 budget and threatened to question it before the Supreme Court.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said 15 senators were present during Wednesday’s session which was suspended until this morning.

”It (the 2009 budget) is now ratified, next is the signature of the President,” Sen. Zubiri told Senate reporters after the Upper Chamber ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2009 General Appropriations Act. (PNA)


Setting a Course of Action for ASEAN Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Jakarta

ASEAN,Sec-22 January 2009- The Meeting of the Ad-hoc Task Force on ASEAN Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), comprising experts from the ASEAN Member States, gathered at the ASEAN Secretariat on 20-22 January 2009 to work on a regional strategy to facilitate the implementation of ASEAN GAP for fresh fruit and vegetables.

ASEAN GAP is a collection of principles to apply for on-farm production and post-production processes, resulting in safe and healthy food and non-food agricultural products, while taking into account economic, social and environmental sustainability. Developed in 2007 under the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program, ASEAN GAP is a voluntary standard for good agriculture practices for fresh fruit and vegetables. It consists of four modules, namely, food safety, environmental management, worker health, safety and welfare, and produce quality.

Speaking at the Meeting, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community, Mr S. Pushpanathan said, “ASEAN GAP has been identified as an important measure guided by the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint to facilitate greater intra-regional and international trade. It is a flagship initiative to enhance the competitiveness of food and agriculture sectors and to better position ASEAN food and agriculture products in the global market and trade.”

“The challenges now lie in promoting the awareness and implementation of ASEAN GAP, strengthening national GAP programmes, raising recognition of ASEAN GAP at major world markets, and engaging the private sector to adopt and further develop ASEAN GAP,” he added.

To address these challenges, the Meeting concluded with a strategic plan and project proposals on sustaining the development of and enhancing ASEAN GAP, which will be submitted to the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Crops for endorsement in June 2009. The plan identified initial activities to be launched in 2009, which are to raise awareness of ASEAN GAP, benchmark national GAP with ASEAN GAP and enhance private sector engagement.