PIA Dispatch - Thursday, February 5, 2009

PGMA’s Bahrain visit ‘very successful,’ says Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa

MANAMA, Bahrain (via PLDT) – It was a “very successful visit.”

The assessment of President Gloria Macapagal’s two-day visit here came from no less than her host: His Royal Highness Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Salman Al Khalifa.

In a chance interview with a member of the media at the Royal Terminal of the Bahrain International Airport Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa said the President’s visit further strengthened the labor, diplomatic and economic relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Philippines.

During their first formal meeting here Tuesday, the Bahrainis leader told the President that his country needs more Filipino workers, particularly salesladies to man Bahrain’s burgeoning shopping malls.

On a personal note, Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa said that he and the President are “good friends,” and that they have a similar leadership style, specially their approach to the political and economic problems of their respective countries.

“We are in support of each other with the present situation and I wish the Philippines (all) the best. And I’m sure the Philippines will come up clear from everything for any trouble,” he added.

He reiterated that the reason why Bahrain treated Filipino workers very well is because the Filipino is “friendly, talented, hospitable and hardworking.”

The Philippines and Bahrain are “survivors,” regardless of the problems that confront both countries, the Bahrainis premier added. He did not amplify.

The oil-rich Middle East kingdom, which hosts 45,000 Filipino overseas workers, also needs more foreign professionals and skilled workers including engineers and nurses.

His Highness, who led the red carpet welcome for President Arroyo when she arrived here, Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa also led the airport send-off when President Arroyo left Bahrain for the Washington leg of her foreign trip.

“(It was a) very successful visit . . . from the President . . . and we hope will continue to strengthen (our) relations on all levels,” he said.

“I’m wishing the Philippines and the Filipino people all the best in her (President’s) leadership,” he told the Filipino reporter.

He cited the President’s strong will and leadership amid the global financial downturn, adding that the Philippines is really blessed because it will not be affected so much by the global economic crisis.

“The Philippines is intact. The Filipinos will go on despite the challenges they face. We are very supportive of the President and the Filipino people,” he said in response to a question on his assessment of President Arroyo’s handling of the political and economical problems of the Philippines.


RP-Bahrain forge agri, fisheries accord

MANAMA, Bahrain (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and His Highness Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Salman Al Khalifa witnessed yesterday the signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU) on agricultural and fisheries cooperation between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap signed the MOU for the Philippines, while Minister Hassan A. Fakhro of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Bahrain signed the document on behalf of his country

The simple signing ceremony was held at the Judaibiya Palace of the Prime Minister.

The MOU establishes a general framework for bilateral cooperation in agriculture and fisheries for the purpose of fostering sectoral development for the enhancement of agri-related trade and investment.

The parties will also endeavor to strengthen cooperation in plant science, crop technology, vegetable and fruit preservation, biotechnology, post-harvest technology, livestock and fisheries, organic agriculture, aquaculture, coastal and deep-sea fishing management, irrigation and water resources, halal industry, through the following:

1) Exchange of science or technical materials and information in agriculture and fisheries;

2) Exchange of professionals, scientists, technical experts and trainees;

3) Conduct studies related to areas of mutual interest;

4) Organization of training workshops, seminars and conference in areas of mutual interest;

5) Conduct of promotional and facilitation activities including agricultural products, trade fairs and special exhibitions;

6) Cooperation in the areas of food and commercial sectors and food industries, technology transfer and innovation, implementation of activities related to trading in agricultural products through meetings, seminars, and other methods considered appropriate; and

7) Cooperation in other related areas to be identified and agreed upon by the countries, such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures relating to the import or export of agricultural and fisheries products.

To ensure the successful implementation of the MOU, the parties will create a joint committee composed of an equal number of representatives. This committee will meet twice a year, one in Manama and one in Manila, to study and formulate detailed programs for cooperation in the areas of agriculture and fisheries.

The joint committee will submit a report jointly prepared and certified to by the Secretary Agriculture of the Philippines and the Minister of Industry and Commerce and the Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Before the MOU signing, President Arroyo had a private meeting with His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa at the Judaibiya Palace, where she also made her farewell courtesy call on Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa.

Prime Minister Shaikha Khalifa also hosted a luncheon to the presidential party at the banquet hall of the Palace.


Gov't crafts tourism stimulus package

San Fernando City, La Union -- Tourism industry is a large foreign earner and source of employment for the Philippines. It is one of the bright lights for the country amid the doom and gloom of the current worldwide economic crunch.

To spur tourist arrivals despite the global economic crisis the government has crafted a stimulus package for the industry.

The stimulus plan which is intended to insulate the tourism industry from the impact of the global meltdown includes, an aggressive marketing strategy that makes the Philippines as the best and cheapest tourist destination at this time, especially for the "depressed markets" like the United States and Japan.

Based on the plan the Tourism Department in tandem with airlines and hotels has cut by half the cost of tour packages for US and Japan, the target markets.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said the new tour packages focused on the two target markets, hotels and airlines will offer discounts starting February to April this year.

Durano said the reduction of airfare and hotel rates aimed to attract American and Japanese tourists to visit the Philippines this year, in the wake of the global financial crisis affecting the world's largest economies.

Together with Japan, Korea and US account for more than half of visitor arrivals in the Philippines.

International visitor arrivals from US and Japan both fell in 2008, as the world's two target economies entered recession last year.

Arrivals from Japan went down 9 percent last year while those from US dropped 1 percent. Tourists from Korea also declined 9 percent.

Despite the global economic crunch the DOT expects to attain its target within range of 3-4 million tourist arrivals this year owing to the stimulus package and the momentum generated by the agency's aggressive sales blitz in its major and emerging tourism markets including China, Russia and other European countries.

The agency is also confident to create 3,000 new jobs this year in support to President Arroyo's program to provide one million jobs in the next first six months of 2009. (PIA La Union)


PGMA ‘very concerned’ over fate of pre-need plan holders -- Remonde

Malacanang said today President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is “very concerned” over the fate of the victims of the collapse of some pre-need firms, especially the future of children whose education rested solely on the viability of their parents’ investments in pre-need plans.

In an interview with radio RMN-DZXL this morning, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the problems besetting the pre-need industry would need the President’s priority attention when she arrives from her trip abroad.

“Malacanang will do everything possible to help the distressed pre-need plan-holders,” Remonde assured.

“We just have to wait for the President to arrive, but definitely she is very concerned,” he said.

He said that the lost investments in the pre-need plans were the “sweat and blood” of people upon whose hopes of sending their children to school depended.

Officers of the pre-need firms have been undergoing intense grilling at the Senate over the alleged anomalous business practices in the beleaguered industry.

Officials of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have also been denounced in the Senate hearings for their failure to check the anomalous practices of the pre-need firms.

The government entity that supervises the operations of pre-need companies, SEC has been accused of failing to protect the plan-holders from the illegal practices of the pre-need firms.

SEC officials, however, said the government agency has limited powers over the operations of the pre-need firms. “In fairness to SEC chair (Fe) Barin, they have articulated that SEC has limited “regulatory powers over pre-need companies,” Remonde said.

He said Malacanang has taken preliminary steps to assist distraught plan holders by putting up an assistance desk at the SEC building.