PIA Dispatch - Wednesday, July 29, 2009

PGMA leaves for US state visit

NAIA, July 29 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left Wednesday afternoon via Philippine Airlines for a four-day state visit in the United States beginning Thursday in Manila (Wednesday in the USA) and a bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama.

Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde said in a press briefing at the NAIA in Pasay City that the President will put her best foot forward in her meeting with US President Obama at the White House at 1600 Pennsylvannia Avenue, Washington, D.C. on July 31 (Manila time), or July 30 (US time).

Remonde announced the following schedule of President Arroyo:

VISIT OF HER EXCELLENCY GLORIA MACAPAGAL- ARROYO TO WASHINGTON, D.C., USA (US EDT time) July 29 – 01 August 2009

DAY 1 (WEDNESDAY) JULY 29, 2009
1820H Arrive in Washington D.C. Venue: Andrews Air force base
2000H Dinner Meeting with FILUSA Venue: Willard Ballroom, Willard Hotel

Day 2 (Thursday) July 30, 2009
1000H Meeting with Admiral Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence Venue: Capitol Suite, Willard Hotel

1030H Meeting with Sheila Jackson Lee Venue: Capitol Suite, Willard Hotel

1230H Lunch reception with leaders of the RP-US Friendship Caucus/Awarding ceremony Venue: Veterans Committee Room, Cannon Hall Bldg.
Meeting at the White House (TBD)

700H Coffee reception by Sen. Harry Reid Venue: LBJ Room, Capitol Hill

1800H Stakeholders' forum on the Coral Triangle (with the National Geographic) Venue: Grosvenor Auditorium, National Geographic

1930H Philippine Media Interview – Joe Taruc (Manila), Rey Langit, Jennlyn Kabiling (Washington)

Day 3 Friday July 31, 2009
1030H Meeting with Atty. General Eric Holder Venue: Capitol Suite, Willard Hotel

1100H Call of DOTC Secretary Ray La Hood witness signing of MOU on Cooperation in Maritime Counter Piracy Training and Education Venue: Capitol Suite, Willard Hotel

1330H Meeting with Senators Inouye and Akaka/Conferment of Citations Venue: Capitol Suite, Willard Hotel

1400H Call of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki Venue: Capitol Suite, Willard Hotel

Day 4 Saturday August 01, 2009
0730H Depart Washington for New York


PGMA cites importance of her upcoming meeting with U.S. President Obama

MANILA, July 29 – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited today the importance for the Philippines and the entire Filipino people of her scheduled meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., during her latest visit to the United States.

In her statement prior to her departure at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City this afternoon, the President said her expectation for her trip to the U.S. is straightforward: “To meet new United States President Barack Obama and advance the interests of the Philippines.”

The President is flying to the U.S. for a meeting with President Obama on July 30 (Washington time). The visit is upon official invitation of the White House.

The President had to pause twice before she could finish her departure statement because the NAIA's public address system kept on barking paging messages for departing passengers. She just smiled while waiting and went on delivering her message after the airport's announcements were over.

Citing Washington as Manila's strongest ally, President Arroyo said the United States is essential to “our Philippine economic, diplomatic and natural security. We plan to ensure that these objectives remain front and center and on track between our two nations.”

”High on our agenda will be peace and security issues, including ways to continue to strengthen regional cooperation on anti-terrorism, particularly in the light of the recent Jakarta, Indonesia bombings,” the President stressed.

The Chief Executive said the Oval Office meeting with President Obama comes at a pivotal time for U.S. relations in Asia.

“I am very hopeful that the Obama Administration will once again put America back on the radar screen in Asia,” she said.

After her brief speech, President Arroyo shook hands with and bade goodbye to members of the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC), including the Philippines News Agency (PNA), government officials led by Vice President Noli De Castro and other well-wishers.

The Chief Executive then boarded Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR 116 for San Francisco at 1:03 p.m.

Among those seen with her in the entourage were Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando.


Ibrado tells troops: Support peace process with MILF

MANILA, July 29 (PNA) - Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Victor Ibrado has told the troops to support the ongoing peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), saying this is the best way to end the conflict in Mindanao.

In a command message, Ibrado said there is no doubt the military can defeat the MILF, which has about 10,000 fighters as of latest military count, but he stressed that a military solution to the problem will entail “social costs and sufferings.”

“The peace process is not an alternative, it is the civil way in resolving conflicts. No doubt we can defeat the MILF militarily, but the social costs and sufferings that come with it contradict modern democratic principles of conflict management,” said Ibrado.

Upon orders of the military’s commander-in-chief, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the AFP effected a Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) with the rogue MILF rebels to establish a situation conducive to the peace process.

Fighting between government and MILF forces broke out in August last year following the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain. The aborted signing also stalled the peace talks.

“The eyes of the world are on us because of affected internally displaced persons. Show that the AFP is cognizant of human rights and neither oppressive nor militarized as portrayed by our critics. Work with the NGOs (non-government organizations). They are here to ameliorate sufferings of affected citizens,” said Ibrado.

“See the NGOs as partners and not as obstacles to our mission in enforcing the law. Let media and international NGOs tell the world of our genuine desire to end the Mindanao conflict. Let them know that the IDPs (internally-displaced persons) are in our agenda,” he added.

Ibrado said the troops should convince the NGOs and the media “that we need to be firm against any one out to sabotage peace and stability.”

The AFP chief also directed the troops to avoid making statements that are contrary to the peace process, which are expected to continue in the coming weeks.

“Avoid remarks which run contrary to the peace process. Instead of LMG, refer to the rogue groups as Kato’s group, Pangalian’s group, Bravo’s group, etc. Refrain from mentioning base commands (of the MILF,” said Ibrado, referring to rogue MILF leaders Ameril Umbra Kato, Aleem Pangalian and Abdulrahman Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo.

“The peace process does not in any form suspend the law on possession of firearms. Commanders must exercise utmost prudence and exhaust their conceptual skills in dealing with illegal armed groups,” Ibrado stressed in his command message.

He likewise told the troops to liaise with MILF leaders. “Liaising with MILF leaders must be persistent in order to convey our intention. Solicit their assistance to prevent hostilities if only to show government’s sincerity to talk peace. Know and discuss peace dividends. Articulate and show that we come in good faith,” he said.

“Peace process remains the best alternative to end the conflict but we cannot allow citizens to be placed in peril. We cannot allow any rogue group to harass our citizens. We are enforcing the law, these are not combat operations,” said Ibrado.


2nd quarter investments up 243 percent to P61.70 billion

MANILA, July 29 – Investments registered with the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) went up 243 percent in the second quarter to P61.70 billion from P17.98 billion in the first quarter this year, fueling hopes of the government to meet the upper end of the 0-5 percent investments growth target for 2009.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Peter B. Favila, who chairs the boards of the two major investment promotion agencies, said the improvement in the second quarter brought the total first-half investments to P79.67 billion.

Favila stated that from a slow start, as the country reels from the effects of the global economic slowdown, the Philippines might yet meet its investment target of 0-5 percent growth this year.

As the world economy begins to pull out of a recession as shown by positive signs of generally improving economic and financial conditions in most economies worldwide, although at a snail's pace, it provides impetus for a modest investment performance of the country in 2009, Favila added.

The approved investments involve 340 projects and are expected to provide direct employment to 55,533 workers.

DTI Undersecretary for Industry and Investments Elmer C. Hernandez said that the second quarter investments were in the sectors where business communities continue to have faith in the country's absorption of foreign direct investments (FDIs).

These sectors include electricity, gas and water supply (P29 billion from first quarter of P140 million); IT services (P6.48 billion from 1st quarter of P2.45 billion); and manufacturing (P4.30 billion from 1st quarter of P1.60 billion) that have remained the country's growth drivers as their investment performance.

Local investors continue to be the major source of investment during the period, with committed investments of P60.97 billion (76 percent) while foreign investments account for P18.70 billion (24 percent).

Among foreign investors, Hong Kong businessmen topped the list for the period with P3.91 billion, followed by the Japanese, Americans and British with P3.32 billion, P3.16 billion, and P2.20 billion, respectively.

The top five investments for the first semester include the two geothermal power projects of AP Renewables Inc. in Makban and Tiwi (P13.18 billion and P9.54 billion, respectively) , construction of eight IT centers and one incubation building in Baguio City for a project cost of P3.94 billion, mass housing project of DMCI Project Developers (P3.02 billion) and the 17.5-MW biomass power generating plants of Green Power (P2.03 billion).

According to Hernandez, investments in the power sector are practically in the renewable and green sector, which bode well for the country as "we aggressively address the future growth demands for energy in the near term and at the same time ensure that these are not only renewable but clean as well."