Aquino welcomes manufacturing plant’s P2.5-B expansion in Cabuyao
Having just brought home good news of over $5 billion in fresh investments from his foreign callers during his attendance of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders summit in Japan, President Benigno S. Aquino III was delighted anew last night when Procter & Gamble Philippines announced it would be expanding its Cabuyao plant soon worth P2.5 billion or $60 million.
In his speech marking the 75th anniversary of P & G in the country, the Chief Executive said the company’s Cabuyao plant expansion will not just bring more jobs and improve the lives of Filipinos in the years to come but also demonstrates its continued trust and confidence in the capacities of the Filipino as well as its commitment to improve the quality of its products in the Philippines.
The company’s expansion plan was announced by P & G Global president and chief executive officer Robert McDonald in a report before introducing the President for the latter’s keynote speech.
McDonald, who headed the Philippine operation in 1991 to 1995, said P & G Philippines is the oldest subsidiary in Asia and the second oldest in the world, beginning as the Manila Refining Company in 1908 and incorporated as Philippine Manufacturing Company in 1913.
“Today we distribute 20 leading brands across product categories. From just 10 employees when we started we are now 1,300 strong nationwide,” he said.
P & G Asia head, Deb Henretta said 1/3 of the company’s global revenues of $15 billion come from the Philippines. The total consumer base of P & G in Asia is 2 billion.
“Your P2.5-billion expansion is a testimony of your commitment to the Philippines and in your past 75 years of operations, P & G has had significant contributions to the Filipinos for several generations,” the President said.
In a lighter mode, the President said one of his greatest critics, younger sister Kris, complimented him for his skin, which he said is due to his use of Safeguard (which brought loud laughter from the jampacked Hotel Sofitel function room) and he went on to say that “in 5 or 6 years I might be using your Downy also.”
The manufacturing sector, he said, contributed P83 billion as of the second quarter of 2010, or 12 percent over that in the same period last year.
And, as of July this year, 8 percent of the 3 million of the total labor force came from the manufacturing sector, the President said.
The President noted that P & G has created jobs, nurtured the Filipino families and generated revenues for the government. “We look forward to more increased investments from your company in the years to come,” the President added.
He also invited the P & G and its foreign partners to take a look at the private public partnerships that will be launched tomorrow (Thursday, November 18) initially involving the first 10 infrastructure projects to be rolled out in 2011 and will eventually cover projects in a broader spectrum of the Philippine economy.
The President reiterated his administration’s efforts to curb corruption through transparency (with the Department of Budget and Management posting online its fund disbursements for projects) and running after smugglers and tax evaders (by the Department of Finance).
The President thanked the company for being one of the most responsible corporate citizens of the country by turning over 200 houses to the GawadKalinga and its numerous and quick interventions to victims of calamities and natural disasters. All told, he said, P & G gave P20 million of such relief goods to victims of calamities.
He pointed out that his administration’s strategy is to get the private sector to collaborate with the government in its vital programs and projects “so that together we can bring more benefits to the people.”(PCOO)
Aquino inducts 3 new members of U.P. Board of Regents
President Benigno S. Aquino III inducted three new members of the 11-man Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines, of which 5 to 6 are appointed by the Office of the President. The term of regents is two years until reappointed.
Inducted at the lobby of the Premier Guest House by the President were former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Elizabeth Siguion-Reyna and MagdalenoAlbaraccin Jr.
The President according to Puno reminded the new UP Board of Regents members of the many things he wanted done in UP given the resources of the government to restore the state university into its premier status.
Siguion-Reyna took her Imaginative Writing Program at the English Department (now called the Creative Writing program) at the UP from 1970 to 1975. She is currently a director of a parenting show at QTV, gag shows and writer for film and television.
Puno, who took his two-year associate in arts course and finished law at UP in 1962, said the President also asked him to go over the UP development plan which would help the university attain its academic and non-academic objectives.
Puno, as the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, became the 2008 Most Distinguished Alumnus of UP in its centennial celebration.
Albaraccin, whose uncle Narciso served as Deputy Minister for Education of the late strongman, President Marcos, finished his engineering course at UP in 1956. He continues to be active in the College of Engineering.(PCOO)
Aquino to launch electronic payments processing center
President Benigno S. Aquino III will launch and keynote the country’s first Global Payments Processing Center Inc. (GPPC) at the Robinsons Cybergate Plaza in Mandaluyong on Thursday (Nov. 18).
GPPC is a leading provider of electronic payments transaction processing services with clients in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Asia Pacific region, Czech Republic and Russia.
Aquino will be welcomed at Robinson’s by Lance Gokongwei, chairman of the Robinsons Land Corp. and Claire Ann Yap, senior vice president and head of the Global Service Center.
At the Global Payments’ office, the President will be received by Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Paul Garcia, chairman/CEO of the Global Payments; Morgan Schuessler, chief administrative and operations officer of Global Center, Vincent Perrell Jr., credit and operations officer, Global Center and Ian Courtnage, president Global Payments Asia-Pacific.
The President will lead the “torch lighting” ceremony assisted by four Global Payments Inc. officials. He will then unveil the company emblem to signal the formal launching of GPPC. On his way to the program venue, the President will have the chance to tour and inspect the work stations and other facilities of the company.
Yap will deliver the welcome remarks followed by an overview by Garcia of the company’s global operations and the President’s message.
GPPC serves as an intermediary in facilitating payment transactions. Its registered revenues for the fiscal year ending May 2010 was at $1.6 billion.
The company operates in two business segments namely North America and International Merchant Services and employs 3,600 people worldwide.(PCOO)
Aquino optimistic of PPP support
President Benigno S. Aquino III today expressed confidence in getting support from major stakeholders for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects that will be launched tomorrow in Pasay City.
In a press briefing the President said various private entities have shown interest on the first 10 projects that will be launched tomorrow.
The President said that the travel advisories previously issued by other countries may not affect the launching and implementation of the PPP projects.
“There really seems to be a lot of interest, hopefully, the travel advisory brouhaha last week will not seriously dampen it. At this point we’re really optimistic that there will be a lot of interest at least the first 10 that will be rolled out by tomorrow”, the Chief Executive said.
The government, in cooperation with the private sector, launched “Infrastructure Philippines”, that will run until Friday, Nov. 19 at the Manila Mariott Hotel.
The event is part of President Aquino’s socio-economic agenda which aims to achieve a high and sustained economic growth needed to generate jobs and to examine investment opportunities, profiles of public-private partnership (PPP) projects in the country, as well as policy, regulatory, and legal concerns in developing the infrastructure sector in the country.
The government has committed to channel the gains from the PPP into essential social services, such as those in education, health, and its centerpiece program on poverty alleviation.
Implementing agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Transportation and Communications will present their pipeline of infrastructure projects for possible private-public partnership as well as their planned timelines for bidding out such projects.(PCOO)
Erring bus operators will face sanction, says Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III admitted that bus operators who joined in Monday’s strike will face disciplinary sanction for violating the privilege to serve the riding public.
In an ambush interview Wednesday afternoon, the President said bus operators need to be reminded that the franchise issued to them by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is not a right but a privilege.
“Bus operators have an obligation to the public, which they seemingly have ignored,” said the President, noting that bus companies never approached him to air their problems.
The President pointed out that during his meeting with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Secretary Jose De Jesus of the DOTC, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, and LTFRB Chairman Nelson Laluces he tasked them to review the existing franchises of the bus companies that participated in the bus strike on Monday.
“We will review their franchises and after that we will impose disciplinary sanction to those who participated,” he assured.
The President added that the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila and wasting of fuel during traffic is everybody’s concern.
The Number-Coding scheme which was re-implemented by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) last Monday after the previous administration suspended it on 2004, has an objective to reduce traffic congestion by 20 percent and improve the quality of air in general.(PCOO)
