Aquino underscores need for enhanced tourism
cooperation between the Philippines and New Zealand
(AUCKLAND, New Zealand) The Philippines and New
Zealand could enhance further tourism cooperation for the benefit of both
countries, President Benigno S. Aquino III said.
“The
relations between our two countries can only grow stronger if our peoples gain
a better understanding of our cultures, our history, and the unique experiences
we can offer,” President Aquino said in his speech during the Philippine-New
Zealand Business Forum held at the Convention Center of SkyCity Grand Hotel
here on Tuesday.
The
number of New Zealander tourists who have visited the Philippines has grown by
almost 13 percent, to more than 12,700 tourists in 2011, noted the Chief
Executive.
This
development is an encouraging sign, and the two countries can do more to
enhance cooperation in this sector.
The
existing Working Holiday Scheme between the Philippines and New Zealand can do
much so that both countries can strengthen people-to-people relations and their
shared agenda on tourism.
Under the
scheme, New Zealand citizens can spend up to a year in the Philippines, and
vice versa, he said, noting that this means great things for both New
Zealanders and the Filipinos.
Through
the working holiday, New Zealanders can experience Filipino culture and
hospitality as well as gather and share stories about the Philippines.
“I want
to take advantage of this opportunity to extend an invitation to all of you to
visit our country—whether you want to try cave-diving, relax on our beautiful
beaches, or just simply go shopping, you can be sure that Filipinos will
welcome you with open arms, and make your vacation well worth it,” he said.
The
Philippine government eyes to increase the annual tourist arrivals in the
country to 10 million by 2016. The local tourism industry targets to achieve
4.6 million tourist arrivals in the country by the end of this year.
This
year, the Department of Tourism launched the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”
tourism campaign slogan to achieve its tourist arrival targets.
At the
same time, the President encouraged New Zealand businessmen to talk with
Filipino economic managers if they are interested in putting up their
investments in the Philippines.
With the
reforms being carried out by the present administration, the President said,
today is the most exciting time to invest in the Philippines. PND (as/6:28pm)
Aquino invites New Zealanders to visit the
Philippines and see for themselves what the country can offer
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has invited the New Zealanders to visit the Philippines,
saying that this is the best time to invest in the country because of the
genuine reforms initiated by his administration to reduce the opportunities for
corruption.
In his
speech before the Philippines-New Zealand Business Forum in Auckland, New
Zealand on Tuesday, President Aquino announced to the businessmen leaders of
New Zealand that the Philippines is now open for business.
The
President, who is in New Zealand for a two-day State Visit, shared the many
other opportunities present in the country. He cited the geothermal energy and
the Business Process Outsourcing Industry as some of the sectors in which
investors may be interested in.
“One of
the areas of mutual interest to our countries is geothermal energy. We have
already collaborated in the past, and this provides a solid foundation as we
continue to work together through measures like the Geothermal Energy
Cooperation Arrangement, which will allow us to share best practices and
knowledge, and facilitate private-sector activity,” he stressed.
“I
understand that we still have somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 megawatts
of untapped geothermal resources, and we can maximize these available
opportunities together,” the President said.
He noted
that the Department of Energy has an investment promotion program entitled the
Open and Competitive Selection Process, in which geothermal energy prospects
are offered to private investors for bidding.
“Another
area that should hold great interest is our Business Process Outsourcing
Industry, which has as its backbone the capable, easily-trained, and
customer-oriented Filipino people. It is because of them that the Philippines
is currently the world leader in voice BPO services, posting 7.38-billion U.S.
dollars in revenue for 2011,” the President said.
“I am
proud to say, however, that we are diversifying, and moving up the value chain
in BPO services, offering more complex services such as healthcare information
management outsourcing, backroom engineering design, and animation and game
development among others,” he said.
President
Aquino said that more than 700 companies have already bet on the Philippines
and, “with rapid increases in employment and revenue for the BPO industry, our
country has not disappointed,” he added.
The
President also assured the participants attending the business forum of a level
playing field for business adding that investors will win contracts based on
their ability to deliver projects not on backroom deals and political favors.
“What we
are bringing to the table today—that we believe administrations in the recent
past have not been able to offer—is a business climate characterized by
fairness and integrity --- where rules are clear-cut, where all are given the
opportunity to profit, and where your success is determined by your strengths,
adaptability, and ability to innovate,” he explained.
After his
two-day state visit to New Zealand, President Aquino and his official
delegation flew to Canberra on Tuesday for a state visit to Australia. PND (co)
New Zealand Prime Minister congratulates
President Aquino for the historic signing of the Framework Agreement
WELLINGTON, New Zealand: The fruits of
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s labor in terms of fighting corruption and
resolving the decades-old conflict in Mindanao did not go unnoticed in the eyes
of New Zealand’s most powerful man.
In a statement delivered before fielding
questions from the media in a joint press conference following their bilateral
meeting last Tuesday, Prime Minister John Key personally congratulated
President Aquino for the work that he’s been doing when it comes to fighting
corruption.
“It takes a brave and courageous leader to
undertake those steps of the President so we congratulate him for the work he’s
doing there and also for his commitment to peace and security and we
congratulate him for the work in signing the peace agreement in Mindanao,” Key
said.
The recent historic signing of the Bangsamoro
Framework Agreement between the government of the Philippines and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was among the topics of interest raised by
President Aquino in his separate meetings with Key and Governor-General Sir
Jerry Mateparae.
When asked whether New Zealand has plans to put
some of its investments in Mindanao given this latest positive development, Key
said “that’s possible” as part of their overall investment profile.
Key, meanwhile, announced that New Zealand will
be putting around NZ$5,000,000 worth of investments to the Philippines over the
course of five years to help in the development of its local dairy industry.
“The Philippines is New Zealand’s fourth largest
dairy export market and consumption is growing and we’ll be working with the
Filipino community with the Philippines government to help us establish their
own dairy industry which I know is very small at home,” Key said.
This move was apparently in answer to the very
lopsided trade relations pointed out by President Aquino between the
Philippines and New Zealand given the two countries’ sizeable gap in terms of
population.
“The investment of NZ$5-million over five years
aims to expand our, well, to impart knowledge and capability for the
Philippines so that you can develop your own dairy industry. As I understand
it, 99 percent of your dairy consumption is imported so you’re a very small
domestic producer,” Key said.
“So we think that New Zealand can play a role in
two parts: one is in helping solve the state demand as it grows but also,
secondly, in building your local capability and your ability to service your
own domestic market,” he added. PND (hdc)
President Aquino declares October 2012 as ‘Mechanical
Engineering Month’
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has declared the month of October 2012 as “Mechanical
Engineering Month” to focus public attention on the important role of
mechanical engineers in the development of the country and nation building.
The Chief
Executive issued the declaration by virtue of Proclamation No. 480 signed by
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on October 1.
President
Aquino noted that the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers, Inc. (PSME)
is an organization composed of more than 12,000 registered mechanical
engineer-members in 81 chapters and some 2,500 mechanical engineering
student-members in 102 universities and colleges throughout the country.
The PSME
will celebrate the “Mechanical Engineering Month” in conjunction with their
60th Diamond Anniversary and 60th Annual National Convention on October 23-26,
2012 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
The
President called on all mechanical engineers and students to give their full
support to the observance of the “Mechanical Engineering Month”. PND (js)
President Aquino begins Australian leg of his
trip
CANBERRA,
Australia: President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived a little over past midnight
here Wednesday to begin the Australian leg of his trip which will be as busy as
his recently concluded state visit to New Zealand.
President
Aquino started his official day at the Lakeside Lawn of the Government House
where ceremonial welcome was prepared in his honor by Governor General Quentin
Bryce complete with a 21 gun salute.
President
Aquino is said to be the second head of state to be welcomed at the Government
House. The first had been Chilean President Sebastian Piñera.
A
discussion between the two leaders was held shortly followed by a state
luncheon hosted by Governor General Bryce and her husband, Michael Bryce, at
the dining room where a ceremonial toast was proposed.
From
there, President Aquino proceeded to the Parliament House for a bilateral
meeting with Prime Minister Julia Gillard at her office before meeting with
other Australian ministers.
Later in
the afternoon, President Aquino laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial
and toured selected galleries.
The
President then granted an interview with Ms. Kathy Novak, a senior
correspondent of the Special Broadcasting Service, before driving back to the
Parliament House for the official dinner hosted by Prime Minister Gillard.
President
Aquino wrapped up his first day of activities here with a brief attendance to
the state dinner hosted by Prime Minister Gillard at the private dining room of
the Parliament House.
The
President apologized to his host as he had to leave the dinner early after
delivering a speech because he was not feeling well.
“I have
wished I had been in more perfect health. The speech that was prepared for this
evening seems so wholly inadequate. Unfortunately, this is a question of the
spirit wanting and the body not cooperating at this point in time,” he remarked
then went on to read the remainder of his speech.
Prime
Minister Gillard, however, still thanked President Aquino’s presence in the
occasion and wished for his speedy recovery.
“Thank
you for gracing us with your presence this evening. We are very, very
disappointed that you had become unwell but we wish you a very speedy recovery
and a goodnight’s rest here in Australia,” she said.
The next
two days of President Aquino’s state visit here will be spent with meetings
with various company executives and other leaders including the Premier of New
South Wales Barry O’Farrell in Sydney.
The
President will deliver a keynote address at the Philippines-Australia Business
Forum and meet with top CEOs in a roundtable setting.
He will
then address The Asia Society of Australia and the Australia Philippine
Business Council before proceeding to Campbelltown to unveil a statue of Dr.
Jose Rizal.
The
President will also grace a Filipino Community gathering where he is expected
to encourage them to help raise the profile of the Philippines by being
knowledgeable and competent sources of information on their home country, be it
on history and culture, business, and tourism, among others.
President
Aquino traveled for more than three hours from Wellington, New Zealand on his
way here via a chartered Philippine Airlines flight PR001.
During
the flight, the President managed to engage his fellow passengers in a brief
and candid conversation about his experiences in New Zealand particularly the
traditional Maori welcome or ‘powhiri’ which he seemed to have enjoyed and
found most memorable. PND (hdc)
New Zealand, Philippines ink agreements in tourism, defense and energy
WELLINGTON, New Zealand: Three bilateral
agreements in the areas of tourism, defense, and energy were signed Tuesday
between the governments of the Philippines and New Zealand designed to enhance
bilateral relations between the two countries.
President Benigno S. Aquino III and Prime
Minister John Key witnessed the signing of agreements in a ceremony here.
An arrangement on working holiday scheme between
the Philippines and New Zealand was signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert
del Rosario and his counterpart Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.
This reciprocal arrangement is the first working
holiday arrangement negotiated by the Philippines. It complements the strong
people-to-people links that it has with New Zealand thereby providing a way for
young people to experience each other’s culture.
The working holiday scheme will provide 100
temporary entry (12 month) visas to citizens between 18 to 30 years of age in
each direction to New Zealand and Philippines. Once qualified, participants are
limited to a maximum of three months’ work with one employer and may enroll in
training or study courses within the same period.
“The endpoint is to increase the body of
knowledge available with the endpoint of going back home to be able to share
this expertise with the rest of our countrymen,” President Aquino said of the
agreement at a joint press conference held in the Parliament Building.
The implementation of the said agreement will
occur after some final process issues are worked out. It is expected that the
issuance of the first visas under the scheme will start next year.
A memorandum of agreement on defense cooperation
was also signed to provide a formal framework for dialogue and cooperation on
defense issues reflecting New Zealand’s existing defense activities with the
Philippines.
The agreement which was signed by Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Minister McCully includes meetings between senior
and military representatives, education and capacity building, training
activities and exercises, information exchanges and multilateral cooperation.
When
asked whether this particular agreement had something to do with the ongoing
territorial disputes that the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries
have with China over the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), President
Aquino responded: “Defense cooperation should not be seen as offensive to
anybody, I think… Defense is just that, (it) increases our capabilities to
defend ourselves against not necessarily superpower threats but even terrorist
threats.”
The President stated that this agreement only
“formalizes that which has already been existing” so that both countries can
exchange experiences and best practices toward improving their respective
forces in the arena of shared threats especially in terms of terrorism, drug
trafficking, human trafficking, among others.
“There is need for exchange of information and
abilities or enhancing each one’s abilities,” he stressed.
Key, for his part, underscored that “peace and
stability in the South China Sea is critical because Asia is the fastest growing
partner of the world” and they want to see its growth continued.
“Anything that disrupts its growth will have
implications for the New Zealand economy. So we think peace and stability is
extremely important,” Key said.
Key added, however, that New Zealand doesn’t
wish to take sides on territorial disputes but does encourage dialogue and
discourse towards a peaceful finding of solution to these issues which
President Aquino appreciated.
“A system where (there is) peaceful resolution
of disputes should be to everybody’s interest to foster and to make a reality
and, towards that end, we thank countries like New Zealand amongst others that
have joined in the voice to having a rules-based approach in settling all of
these disputes,” the President said.
The third agreement signed between the
Philippines and New Zealand was on geothermal energy cooperation which intends
to provide a formal government-to-government framework to support commercial
geothermal development between the two countries.
Earlier, a business deal between the Energy
Development Corporation of the Philippines and New Zealand’s GNS Science was
forged during a business event held in Auckland which President Aquino also
witnessed.
This arrangement which was signed by Secretary
Del Rosario and Minister McCully on behalf of their respective countries will
help highlight geothermal connections between New Zealand and the Philippines.
“We’re second largest in terms of exploiting
geothermal resources in the world and I had to be educated that our geothermal
energy actually started from the New Zealand expertise… You’re still in the
forefront wherein you can make our existing facilities, our methods that much
more efficient, that much more longer-lasting,” President Aquino said. PND
(hdc)
President Aquino vows to accelerate the
transformation of the Philippines as a land of opportunity and hope for all
Filipinos
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has vowed to “accelerate” the implementation of reforms
in government in order to transform the Philippines as a land brimming with
opportunities and hope in which all Filipinos may partake of to build their
dreams and achieve their ambitions without having to look towards greener
pastures.
The
President gave this promise during his speech at the state dinner held in his
honor by Their Excellencies Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry
Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae at the Government House in Wellington, New
Zealand on Tuesday.
He said
his two-day State Visit to New Zealand from October 22 to 23, where he met with
the Filipino community there, has made him fully understand why many Filipinos,
despite being familial in nature, choose to uproot themselves and their
families to work and eventually live in another country.
“It takes
substantial courage and emotional fortitude to uproot oneself -- to move away
from kin, and start anew in an unfamiliar land…But in my two days here, I am
somehow made to understand the reason for their leavetaking. I have witnessed
the better life that my countrymen are enjoying here, borne of opportunities
they would no doubt have been deprived of, had they chosen to stay in the
Philippines of the past,” the President said.
“This
understanding propels me to further accelerate the transformation we are now
experiencing in our country,” he added.
He said
that among the reforms he plans to implement is to provide opportunities for
all Filipinos to live stable and prosperous lives.
“Time and
again, I have witnessed the decent, dignified lives of my countrymen who live
abroad and that is why I have refocused government to what truly matters:
Opening doors of opportunity for my people, working towards stability and
prosperity, and ensuring that the growth we are experiencing is just and
equitable and all inclusive,” the President said.
“This, I
know, is a goal I shared with our friends in the community of nations -- a goal
whose fulfillment comes within closer reach as we expand the already fertile
common ground between our nations, and lift each other to even greater heights.
I look forward to a future of even deeper, even more meaningful, and even more
positive engagement between our two respective countries,” he added. PND (rck)
President Aquino
cites strong relations between the Philippines and New Zealand
President
Benigno S. Aquino III cited on Tuesday the strong relations between the
Philippines and New Zealand which he said has gone beyond time and history.
In his speech at the State Dinner hosted in his
honor by Their Excellencies Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry
Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae at the Government House in Wellington, New
Zealand on Tuesday, the President said “the cooperation between our two countries
extends farther than the 46 years that we have had diplomatic relations.”
“We remember that during World War II, Filipinos
and New Zealanders fought side by side for democracy, and from there, we have
continued to work shoulder to shoulder in valuing and promoting the democratic
way of life,” the President said.
“Back in 1986, as earlier mentioned by the
Governor General, right after my country's EDSA revolution, then Prime Minister
David Lange of New Zealand was among the first to visit and offer his support
to my mother, who had been recently elected after a long struggle against
dictatorship. That support helped accelerate our nation's return to democracy,”
he added.
The President noted the two countries’
willingness to help each other as seen during the spate of calamities that
struck in the past years has further deepened our relationship and strengthened
our bonds with each other.
“During the aftermath of the Christchurch
earthquake, Filipinos the world over stood in solidarity not only with our
patriots but with you as you mourned and pledged to rebuild. And when the
powerful typhoons caused flooding and destruction in Mindanao earlier this
year, so, too, did New Zealanders demonstrate their solidarity by extending a
helping hand,” the President stressed.
In this connection, the President extended his
appreciation for New Zealand’s “generous contributions to the Philippine Red
Cross and UNICEF that helped the Philippines from the typhoons and contributed
to the rehabilitation of affected areas especially in the Southern
Philippines.” PND(rck)
