MANILA, June 23 – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo braved heavy rains in Brazil and is set to begin negotiating for the signing of agreements with Brazilian business sector on agricultural development, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman for Economic Affairs Gary Olivar said President Arroyo expressed hopes that her visit in Brazil would “provide impetus for enhanced relations with Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America and an emerging major global player.”
Olivar said the President’s mission to Brazil - one of the four new economic giants after Russia, India and China -- “represents the full breadth of our nation’s interests in the world.”
“Brazil is a developing nation that has burst onto the international scene the last decade. Brazil has become a voice for the special challenges of a developing nation as well as an innovator in biofuels,” Olivar quoted the President as saying in her earlier statements.
”Brazil also faces many of the same challenges experienced by the Philippines,
so developing a closer relationship with this South American powerhouse affords our two nations a chance to learn from each other’s experiences,” Olivar said.
Olivar said the President hoped to establish greater alliances with Brazil in the areas of bio-fuel production and agri-business during her visit.
”On Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), the President will visit what is touted to be the biggest Filipino investment in Brazil -- the Tecon Suape, S.A. (TSSA), the Brazilian subsidiary of Filipino company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI),” Olivar said.
In May 2000, ICTSI won the bid to manage and operate the container terminal at the Suape Industrial Complex in Ipojuca, Pernambuco at the northernmost tip of Brazil, for a period of 30 years.
TSSA officially took over the operations of the SCT in april 2002.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said early Tuesday morning over radio station RMN-DZXL that “there’s a downpour here in Recife, Northeastern Brazil. We are on our way to the Governor’s Palace for a state dinner by government officials.”
Pernambuco Governor Eduardo Henrique Accioly Campos hosted a dinner for the President at the Governor’s Palace upon her arrival there Monday night (Tuesday morning in Manila).
Recife is located where the Beberibe River meets the Capibaribe River to flow into the Atlantic Ocean. It is a major port on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Recife means "reef" in Portuguese, in allusion to the coral reefs that are present by the city's shores.
Remonde said President Arroyo and party arrived Monday night (7p.m. Brazil time) in that northeastern city of Brazil, on the first leg of her four-day, three-city visit to the world’s 10th largest economy.
”The President will also visit Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro. The President’s state visit is expected to deepen further 49 years of diplomatic and bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Brazil. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1960,” Remonde said in the radio interview by broadcast journalist Ely Saludar.
The Philippines and Brazil will sign two agreements on agricultural development during the President's state visit this week, Olivar said.
Olivar said the first agreement would be a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Agriculture between the Department of Agriculture and Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, that hoped to promote trade and investments in livestock and agribusiness development.
”The two countries will share experiences and best practices in enhancing agricultural productivity in biofuel feedstock, dairy, horticulture, food safety, agribusiness management, sustainable land management, genetics and biotechnology, processing and post-harvest technologies and agricultural machinery,” Olivar said.
The agreement would also cover exchanges in plant and animal science and cooperation in inspection procedures for international transit of animal and plant products.
The second agreement, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp. (PADCC) and the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria or the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corp. (Embrapa), will allow the two countries to cooperate in agricultural science and technology through joint projects.
“The Philippines and Brazil will commit to an exchange of scientists, experts and trainees, the organization of symposia and conferences, the joint publication of studies and papers, conduct of agricultural trade fairs and exhibitions, joint ventures and other means as may be mutually agreed upon,” Olivar said.
PGMA reiterates order to Health Dep’t on flu virus
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today reiterated her order to the Department of Health (DOH) and other concerned agencies to do everything possible to protect the people from the influenza AH1N1 virus.
In a radio interview over RMN-DZXL, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was informed about the AH1N1-related death of a 49-year-old woman in Metro Manila.
The DOH said the woman died of “congestive heart failure secondary to acute myocardial infarction” and other complications, including the A H1N1 virus.
Remonde is with the President who is now in Brazil on a state visit upon the invitation of Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula de Silva.
He said the virus reported in the country is not the virulent type. He added that the President is calling on the public and private health sectors to team up in the fight against the virus.
Filipinos consumers 'better prepared' to weather financial crisis
MANILA, June 23 (PNA) – Times are harder but Filipinos are better prepared for weathering an economic crisis than consumers from other countries, a study revealed.
This was the conclusion of a new study called "Trading Up/Trading Down" recently completed by BBDO /Guerrero Proximity Philippines to gauge how the spending habits of Filipino consumers are being affected by the global economic crisis.
This finding become more relevant as the World Bank sees the local economy slipping into recession this year. Economic recession is characterized by two consecutive quarters of negative growth.
The economy shrank 2.3 percent in the first three months this year from the previous quarter, the worst in two decades, bringing annual first quarter growth to 0.4 percent. The National Economic and Development Authority, however, gave a different perspective on the World Bank projection, saying the Philippines will avoid a recession with second quarter growth expected to outperform the performance in the first quarter.
Agnes Acasio-Martinez, Strategic Planning Director of Proximity Philippines, said that since news of the crisis broke, 72 percent of respondents were looking for other means to augment their income and 71 percent were spending more time looking for the best deals before making a purchase.
The study also revealed that more consumers were looking for leisure activities at home as opposed to going out versus six months ago, and that 75 percent of consumers were resistant to compromising quality for price, all behaviors adopted to help them cope with the uncertainty of the current financial crisis.
Arlene Aquino, Brand Planning Director of BBDO/Guerrero said that since consumer debt-related spending is not really an option for most Filipinos, they have not experienced a ‘shock to the system’ in the same way that consumers in developed markets have.
“The consumers we spoke to and spent time with indicated that the hardships of life in our country have left them feeling more resilient to the vagaries of the economy and better prepared to deal with the implications of a downturn.
This crisis is viewed by many as just another in a long line of financial challenges.
Martinez pointed out that this conclusion was supported by recent consumer data from Nielsen showing that consumer confidence has dropped by 12 percent in Great Britain and 13% in Singapore, while it has only dropped by 6 percent in The Philippines since the start of the crisis.
The study, which has also been conducted in other markets around the world by BBDO Proximity, shows that Filipino consumers are not only more resilient, but they adapt their behavior quicker to deal with changing conditions than consumers in other markets.
Thirty six percent of Singaporeans decreased spending on social outings and meals with friends when the crisis hit versus 61 percent of Filipinos, or almost double the number of Singaporean consumers.
"Filipino consumers have become well equipped at adapting to hanging economic conditions quicker than in other markets due to the hardships they have gone through in the past," said Paul Roebuck, CEO of BBDO Guerrero/Proximity Philippines.
“Liquidity means security to Filipino households,” Aquino added noting that as a result Filipinos spend only when needed even for the upscale sector.
Since consumer debt-related spending is not really an option for most Filipinos, they have not experienced a "shock to the system" in the same way that consumers in developed markets have.
"The consumers we spoke to and spent time with indicated that the hardships of life in our country have left them feeling more resilient to the vagaries of the economy and better prepared to deal with the implications of a downturn. Many said they felt that they had "one up" on consumers in developed countries in helping them deal with the downturn because they had more experience of challenging economic conditions. This crisis is viewed by many as just another in a long line of financial challenges," Aquino said.
The most notable portion in the survey is that most Filipinos are saying goodbye to the “Bahala Na” attitude.
“We are seeing that more people are thinking twice even thrice of their actions. They still stick to branded and quality products but that does not mean they are not going to scout for the best deal. Consumers are becoming wise,” she said.
“Consumers are unwilling to incur debt as they look at credit like as a quick sand,” said Chris Thomas, chairman and CEO of BBDO/Proximity Asia.
Thomas noted that the different crisis in the country may it be political, social and economic has more or less prepared the Filipino consumer to any crisis that may come their way.
In other words, Filipino consumers have become wiser and more informed as they decide what to expense to cutback, scrutinize each purchase and view them as investments no matter how mundane and less personal indulgences but rather chose shared rewards by staying at home with loved ones.
“The value for money” concept is being redefined by Filipino consumers junked the cheap price as the lone determinant for value.
Because of the crisis, Filipinos find more time at home and family. It is finding more value with family and relationships.
The study, however, did not include if the change in consumer behavior is a lasting one or is good only until the crisis is over.
But Thomas said that abstinence is not a natural human state.
“People want to enjoy more of life but here it has a ...shift that could have a long time change in people,” Thomas said.
DOH and Smart join forces against A (H1N1); 85% of reported cases fully recovered
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III welcomed the support of SMART Communications, Inc. in the government’s continuing efforts to fight influenza A (H1N1). SMART represented by its Public Affairs Group Head, Mr. Ramon R. Isberto, unveiled the company’s SMART Health Watch Hotline 155 which can be used by the public to access the most recent information and updates on the novel virus A (H1N1).
“We welcome SMART’s move to strengthen government efforts against A (H1N1) through a better informed, educated and empowered Filipino public. By hitting 155 on their Smart and Talk ‘N Text-powered mobile phones, subscribers can easily access information on A(H1N1). This is good for the A (H1N1) information campaign. We, at the Department of Health (DOH), are glad that we have this partnership,” Duque said
Hotline 155 will be available starting today from Mondays to Fridays, from 8am-5pm. Duque said that the DOH will be providing the contents that Smart will be giving its subscribers.
“We have given them all relevant information on the novel virus that they will need because they would be manning the hotline. However, when tougher questions come up, they will be referring the callers to the DOH-Health Emergency Management Service Operations Center,” Duque said.
Duque said that apart from the hotline, there will also be a Smart Infoboard Service, a text messaging solution that will provide a more effective and efficient communication service.
“This means that information on A(H1N1) can soon be accessible through text messaging,” Duque said.
Meanwhile, Duque announced that 26 more A(H1N1) patients have already fully recovered, thus bringing the total count of those who have fully recovered to 400. This figure represents 85% of all the confirmed cases reported since May 21.
Duque also disclosed today that there are 28 more confirmed (mild) cases of the novel virus in the country. This new number brings the total sum of confirmed cases to 473.
The 28 new cases involved 16 males and 12 females. Their age range is from 7 months to 49 years old, with 19 as median age. All of the cases are Filipinos with no history of travel to any affected country.
“There is only one reported A(H1N1)-related death in the country,” Duque said. “All close contacts in the household and in the workplace of this particular patient are being monitored and are now in quarantine,” he added.
Duque said that globally the World Health Organization has reported 52,160 cases with 231 deaths from 94 reporting countries. Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam and Fiji are the new countries that reported A(H1N1) cases.
Smartmatic assures of enough spare voting machines for 2010 automated polls
MANILA, June 23 (PNA) – The consortium of Smartmatic and Total Information Management Corp. assured on Tuesday it will provide 2,000 additional precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to replace voting machines which will break down during the first computerized elections next year.
”We have 2,000 spare voting machines and we can guarantee the quality of our machines,” Smartmatic spokesman Cesar Flores told the Senate consultative meeting conducted by the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws.
Flores said the voting machines will be supplied by Jarltech, a Taiwan-based company which has ISO certification.
”We are assuring the Filipino people that we can deliver good results in the next year election because our voting machines have passed international standard,” Flores, who was joined by TIM chairman of the board Jose Marie Antunez in the Senate hearing, said.
During the power point presentation, Commission on Elections (Comelec) executive director Jose Tolentino informed the panel that voting machines have built-in batteries which can last up to 12 hours.
”The batteries will be used in the event of power failures or in the areas where there is no supply of electricity while the Smarmatic assured that cellphones, landlines and satellites will be used in the transmission of the election results,” Tolentino said.
Despite the assurance, Senator Chiz Escudero expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of the Comelec to answer questions regarding its preparedness as well as the capability of the winning bidder Smartmatic-TIM to conduct automated elections in 2010.
"I am still waiting to be convinced by Smartmatic and the Comelec that they can conduct a credible and fail-safe automated election next year," Escudero, head of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes and laws, said.
"I am not against poll automation. I just want to be sure that there will be no failure of elections. The future of our democracy rests on this exercise," Escudero said.
In the same hearing, Escudero asked the Comelec to submit all necessary papers, including the proposed contract with Smartmatic-TIM for review by the committee.
The committee also asked the Smartmatic-TIM for 24 hours during which the Senate general counsel will review the papers.
"We want to make sure that there is nothing illegal, unconstitutional, and uncalled for in the contract," Escudero said. "We don't want a repeat of the Mega-Pacific deal."
Comelec chairman Jose Melo said the Comelec’s contract with Smartmatic was supposed to be signed on Friday but “we might postpone it” to give way to the Senate’s queries.
Escudero scored the Comelec for not checking the validity of the secretary certificate of the Smartmatic-TIM joint venture. The certificate was authenticated by the Philippine embassy in Washington DC instead of the RP consulate in Caracas, Venezuela which has jurisdiction over Barbados where Smartmatic is based.
Escudero, who was joined by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Richard Gordon in the hearing, said that the next hearing on the poll automation process will include their counterparts in the Lower House.
The Smartmatic-TIM consortium is the winning bidder for the P11.2-billion automation project for the 2010 elections.
PAGASA warns E Visayas, Bicol to brace for storm Feria
MANILA, June 23 (PNA) - The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) urged the provinces in eastern Visayas and Bicol region to brace for inclement weather as tropical storm Feria makes a landfall and hit these areas in the coming days.
"Feria has intensified into a Tropical Storm and signal number 2 has been raised over Masbate, the nearby Ticao Island, Sorsogon and Albay," latest weather advisory issued by the state weather bureau stated.
As of 10 am Tuesday, the eye of Feria was spotted 100 kms East of Borongan, Samar packing winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 22 kph.
Feria continues to move closer to Eastern Visayas. It is seen to make a landfall over Eastern Samar this afternoon.
Signal number 2 is also hoisted over Samar Provinces, Leyte and Biliran Island.
The Pagasa reiterated its warnings to people living around the slopes of Mayon Volcano in Albay and of Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon - especially along the areas where possible lahar flows are located - to be alert due on possible landslides and flashfloods due to to heavy rains in the coming days, the Pagasa said.
In 2006, typhoon Reming incurred more than 1,000 fatalities due to lahar flow from Mount Mayon, part of the government's effort to mitigate disasters is to alert people of effects of imminent dangers caused by natural disasters.
Feria was spotted as an active low pressure area Monday afternoon. It moved rapidly and intensified into a tropical depression overnight.
Signal number 1 is raised over Camarines Provinces, Southern Quezon, Catanduanes, Burias Island, Romblon, Marinduque, Southern Leyte, Camotes Is., Cebu, Bohol Northern Negros, Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan, Dinagat Is. Siargao, Surigao del Norte and Camiguin.
Feria is expected to reach 100 kms Southeast of Tayabas, Quezon Wednesday morning; and about 200 kms Northwest of Iba, Zambales Thursday morning.
