PIA Dispatch - Wednesday, July 15, 2009

PGMA assures NAM of Asian support and solidarity

MANILA, July 15 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured on Wednesday Asia’s commitment in strengthening regional and global cooperation under the principles and objectives of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to address political, economic and social issues affecting the world order.

Speaking on behalf of Asian leaders at the opening ceremonies of the 15th NAM Summit this afternoon (Manila time) at the Maritim Congress Center in Sharm El-Sheikh, the President said international cooperation needs to be heightened to immediately address pressing global issues such as the current global financial crisis, nuclear-nonproliferation, climate change, protection of migrant workers, and interfaith and cultural understanding.

For more than 50 years, the President said NAM has been one of the most respected platforms for dialogue among the developing countries.

She said international solidarity can be effectively developed through dialogues which create mutual understanding respect and tolerance amongst peoples, civilizations and religions.

“If the developing world speaks as one, and the Non-Aligned Movement speaks as one, we have the potential to speak as one, then we have the power to move forward towards faster solutions to the many challenges facing the world today,” the President said.

Before the chairmanship of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, President Arroyo committed Asia’s full support and cooperation towards the attainment of global peace and development efforts under the objectives and principles of NAM.

“In behalf of Asia, Mr. President, I am sure I speak for each and every member country coming from Asia when I say that you can count on the full cooperation of all the Asian Non-Aligned Movement member countries in the pursuit of the goals and principles of our great movement,” the President said.


PGMA thanks NAM for endorsing RP to preside over nuclear review confab

MANILA, July 15 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo thanked the members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) today for endorsing the Philippines to preside over the Conference of States party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) slated May next year in New York.

Speaking on behalf of Asian leaders at the opening ceremonies of the 15th NAM Summit this afternoon (Manila time) at the Maritim Congress Center in Sharm El-Sheikh, the President said Asia will contribute its share in strengthening regional and global cooperation to address political, economic and social issues affecting the world order that include the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

“We take this opportunity Mr. President to thank the NAM membership for endorsing the Philippines’ presidency in the 2010 review conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which was mentioned earlier by His Excellency UN Sec. General Ban Ki Moon in his statement earlier today, she said.

Last May, the committee preparing for the United Nations-backed Conference of States parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty agreed on Libran Cabactulan, Ambassador of the Philippines to the United Arab Emirates, as president of the May 2010 conference in New York.

Ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku of Zimbabwe, the chairman of the preparatory committee’s third session held in New York last May 4-15, said full agreement on the agenda was a “good omen” for next year’s review of the 1970 treaty.

The agenda of the 2010 conference includes elaboration on the three pillars of the treaty – disarmament, non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy – and discussions on nuclear-free zones.

The NPT comes up for review every five years.

With 190 member states, the review makes it one of the most successful multilateral conventions in history.

“And so I hope that all the Non-Aligned Movement member countries, having selected the Philippines to head this review conference, will support that conference and make it a success,” President Arroyo said


Arroyo-Obama meeting may dwell on regional peace, prosperity

MANILA, July 15 - If the statement of Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta is any indication, expect the forthcoming meeting between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and US President Barack Obama as one which would focus on peace and prosperity in Southeast Asia as well as the entire Asian region.

Panetta, during his Malacanang visit last Sunday, told President Arroyo that the leadership of the Philippines in Southeast Asia is important to the United States in advancing peace and prosperity in the region.

He expressed appreciation for the leadership of President Arroyo particularly in promoting and protecting human rights and in advancing cooperation on counter-terrorism.

The President has been invited by Washington to meet with Obama on July 30, making her the first Southeast Asian leader to visit the United States under the Obama administration.

Panetta, during his talk with President Arroyo, noted the “great cooperation relationship” between the Philippines and the United States, stressing that the country is “part of the family – a great ally, friend and partner of the United States.”

Panetta’s call was an opportunity to discuss the partnership between the Philippines and the United States especially in the area of counter-terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation in the region and other regional security issues such as developments in Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

The situation in the Middle East is of particular importance to the Philippines because of the 2.4 million Filipinos in the area. Their safety and security is always given the highest priority by the Arroyo administration.

The President and Panetta also discussed how economic development is part of the strategy to root out the conditions that breed and support terrorism.


PGMA acted with prudence in imposing drug price ceilings, says Palace

MANILA, July 15 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo only acted with prudence in not immediately imposing price ceilings on medicines as doing otherwise “could send wrong signals to the foreign community.”

This was the explanation of Deputy Presidential Spokesperson for Economic Matters Gary Olivar by way of rationalizing President Arroyo’s 10-day ultimatum to pharmaceutical firms to reduce their prices by half.

“The President tried to balance the impact of the maximum retail prices to her efforts to attract and maintain foreign investments in the country, and in a way to keep jobs here, in the face of recessionary environment abroad,” Olivar said in a press briefing this afternoon in Malacanang.

Though the Cheaper Medicines Act provided the President with the authority to impose maximum retail prices, it does not mandate or compel her to do so, according to Olivar. “Which is why President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo opted to give the drug companies 10 days to reduce their prices by half."

Asked if the Palace would be happy if the drug companies decide to reduce prices by only a few centavos, Olivar said: “If you talk about drug prices like P50, P70 or P100, a few-centavo reduction is not satisfactory and could be a reason for the President to think if that was a bona fide compliance to her order or not.

This could also be a ground for her to start thinking about imposing maximum retail prices, or a price control regime.”

The ideal situation, he said, would be a voluntary compliance by the drug companies to reduce their prices, in a practicable and credible manner to a level the President can best serve the public welfare.