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| 14 APRIL 2008 | . | |
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| 14 APRIL 2008 | . | |
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| Statement of Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo on the latest SWS survey on PGMA's popularity rating, and on the allegation that the Magdalo conviction was a ploy to convict Senator Trillanes |
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Considering the serious task of making presidential decisions that affect
the many facets of governance, we are not surprised at the possibility of
the rating of the president to drop. She has to govern for the interest of
more or less 88 million Pilipinos, we can’t expect everyone to be happy with
it all the time. The concerns of many of our people are personal, government
can only do so much by balancing the personal and national interest. The conviction of the Magdalo soldiers is a manifestation of the triumph of the justice system. The soldiers having been given their day in court, changed their plea from not guilty to guilty. There is no ploy. We must given it to the Magdalo soldiers for their realization of the grave mistake they did when they launched the oakwood mutiny. Maybe senator Trillanes can study the actions of his former comrades and learn from their humble admission leading to their change of heart. |
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| German traders eye investments in medical tourism, maritime personnel development |
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A German trade mission informed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today that
German businessmen were interested in investing in medical tourism, maritime
personnel development and micro-finance in the Philippines. The German delegation discussed the business prospects in the “three areas of excellence” during a courtesy call on the President at the Malacanang Music Room this morning (Monday, April 14). The business mission was headed by Dr. Gerhard Zeidler, honorary consul general of the Philippines in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Hesse, two of the biggest of the 16 federal states of Germany. President Arroyo thanked the visiting delegation “for all your efforts in bringing our countries closer.” Zeidler, who is also president of an international company that certifies to the quality standard of hospitals and wellness centers all over the world, said he “offered our services” to check on the country’s major hospitals and help them to qualify as International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-certified hospitals. In offering his company’s hospital-certification services, Zeidler stressed that tourists want to be assured that the countries they visit have ISO-certified hospitals. The German consul-general pointed out that in all of Europe, “it is impossible for hospitals to operate without ISO-certification.” The certification assures patients of the quality standard of the technology and services offered by the hospital, Zeidler explained. Zeidler’s company employs 18,000 personnel worldwide. According to Loredanna Hess, honorary vice consul general of the Philippines in Baden-Wuerttemburg and Hesse, Zeidler’s company will start certifying 16 major hospitals, most of them in Metro Manila (MM). Two of the ISO-certified hospitals in Metro Manila are St. Luke’s in Quezon City and the Asian Hospital in Alabang, Muntinlupa. The German delegation was accompanied to Malacanang by Philippine Ambassador to Germany Delia Domingo-Albert and Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano, who said that German investors were particularly interested in medical tourism, maritime personnel development and micro-finance. The German delegation also included Consul Eckbert von Bohlen und Halbach of Bavaria and Consul Heinz-Peter Heidrich of North-Rhine-Westphalia. |
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| PGMA bats anew for Senate approval of JPEPA |
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CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Underscoring the importance of the Japan-Philippines
Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) to the Philippines, President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo called on the Senate anew today to ratify the accord when
Congress convenes next week. In her opening statement during a visit to the Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Incorporated (YTMI) here, the President stressed that the advantages of the proposed agreement to the country far outweighed its disadvantages. “Studies estimate the JPEPA benefits from P6.5 to P110 billion for the government due to an improved investment climate with projected direct investments from Japan amounting to P365 billion, plus more than 200,000 jobs compared to costs around P4 billion that will come from tariff reductions,” the President said. She pointed out that studies also show the overall positive impact of the agreement on poverty reduction in the country. “Tariff on our farm goods will also fall to zero, boosting exports of Philippine agricultural produce. Add to that the high-wage hiring of our nurses and caregivers,” she added. The President also pointed out that among the benefits the JPEPA would be increased revenue for the government, the agricultural sector, and the employment of Filipino nurses and care-givers in Japan. Without the agreement, restrictions against the entry of Filipino professionals, including health workers, would remain. The President dismissed as unfounded fears that the JPEPA would transform the Philippines into a dumping ground for toxic wastes coming from Japan. “About the environmental issue – the fear that we will be the dumping ground for Japanese toxic wastes: their importation is banned by international as well as national fiat. In any case, during my last visit to Japan, Japan signed a side letter making that clear,” she said. The JPEPA has sufficient provisions that will protect the environment and prevent any illegal trade in toxic wastes. It does not contain any provision explicitly allowing trade or liberalized entry of regulated or banned products in both countries, she pointed out. The President also warned that the Philippines would be left out of the benefits of the trade agreement with Japan since the country’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) partners like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei already have working agreements with Japan and are “moving in front of us.” The irony of it, the President said, is that the “Philippines was the first country after Singapore with which Japan pursued the idea of an economic partnership agreement. But Japan has entered into the same kind of agreement since then with Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei and here we are at the starting point with everybody moving in front of us.” “The JPEPA is worth it. We cannot afford not to ratify it because with everyone but us on board, eh di dadalhin ng Hapon ang negosyo sa kanila,” the President stressed. “So we hope the Senate will ratify the JPEPA when Congress convenes next week,” she added. The JPEPA is a framework for cooperation between Japan and the Philippines that includes assistance in human resources development, research and development, and technology development and transfer. |
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| PGMA to convene Regional Wage Boards |
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CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to convene
a meeting of Regional Wage Boards "all over the country" to discuss salary
adjustments for workers to mitigate the adverse effects of the rising world
prices of oil and rice.
The President announced this move in her statement before meeting with officials and guests of Yazaki-Torres Manufactuing, Inc. at the wiring harness producer's manufacturing plant here. “Because of the increasing prices of fuel and rice, we are calling for a meeting of the Regional Wage Boards (RWBs) all over the country to discuss how the RBWs can help the workers cope with the rising world prices of oil and rice," she said. The President, who was joined by Trade Secretary Peter Favila and Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, is visiting factories "to personally attend to the needs of workers." “We encourage giving of wage and non-wage benefits. In fact, we are encouraging establishment of day-care centers for working mothers," she said. The President lauded the Filipino worker who she called "the best in the world" and vowed to work harder to project a positive image of the Philippines to the world and to bring in more jobs and investments. "We will leave no stone unturned as we seek even more foreign and domestic investments to bring more jobs to our nation," she said. |
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| Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye Statement on SWS survey |
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The most important thing for the President is results not poll numbers.
Would it be good if she could get more credit for the many successes of her
Administration, most certainly, but political reform and tough choices take
their toll on President Arroyo's approval rating just as they have for other
leaders around the world. I can assure you that the President would rather have the results for the nation than accolades for herself. The President takes comfort in knowing that our nation is on the move. People are benefiting from the reforms that have been instituted by the Administration and the overall rate of poverty is down even though we are fighting the twin challenge of increases in the prices of oil and rice. Employment is also up and our education and healthcare services to the poor are vastly improved. Our nation has a long way to go, but this is the first time in a generation that we have the resources to invest in the country and in our people. Only through a strong economy can we improve the plight of the poor |
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| PGMA witnesses unloading of seven truckloads of rice from Mindoro |
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BATANGAS CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed here today the
unloading of seven truckloads of commercial rice from Oriental Mindoro bound
for markets in Calamba, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (CALABARZON) and
Metro Manila. The rice shipment consisting of about 2,500 sacks, as unloaded from the Starlite Ferry which arrived here from Calapan City. The cargo was part of the summer harvest ("palagad") of the rice-producing island of Mindoro, considered as the rice granary of Southern Luzon. Among those who accompanied the President to the Batangas port this afternoon were Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Batangas City Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha, Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, 2nd District Representative Hermilando Mandanas, 3rd District Rep. Vicky Reyes, 4th District Rep. Leandro Mendoza Jr., National Food Authority (NFA) Region IV Director Efren Sabong, and NFA provincial manager Alejo Tamayo. Director Sabong briefed the President on the shipment which was part of the 3,400 bags of rice that arrive daily in Batangas from Oriental Mindoro. Sabong said that during the harvest season about 400 bags of rice are also shipped out daily from Oriental Mindoro province through the Roll-On Roll-Off (RORO) port in Roxas town to Panay Island. The NFA regional official said that an estimated 4.4 million bags of palay are produced during the April-May summer harvest in Mindoro Island. He pointed out that this is more than enough to meet the rice consumption in Region IV. "As far as Region 4 is concerned, we have sufficient supply of both government and commercial rice until the end of the year." To further beef up the NFA rice inventory in Batangas, Sabong said the NFA central office has approved the importation of 2.1 million metric tons of the cereal. Mindoro supplies the rice requirements of Metro Manila, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon and even of Panay Island through the RORO ferry system between Roxas, Oriental Mindoro and Caticlan, Aklan. Under the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, 31 RORO ferry trips ply daily between Batangas and Calapan City, aside from the four RORO trips from Abra de Ilog and one from San Jose in Mindoro Occidental that transport rice and other agricultural products to neighboring provinces. To ensure the stable supply and prices of rice, the President earlier ordered decisive measures against rice hoarders, and people engaged in the diversion of NFA rice to the commercial market; the rehabilitation and construction of irrigation facilities and farm-to-market roads, investments in agricultural modernization, and provision of rice subsidies for the poor. The President said her administration's near-term objective is focused on putting food on every table as the current global rise in the prices of basic commodities like fuel and rice is putting a strain on all hardworking Filipinos, especially the very poor. |
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| Statements of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye |
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Re: SWS Other areas in the country are definitely affected by what is happening in the NCR. Having said that, the President will not be distracted from working harder to ensure what matter most to the average Filipino, i.e., food security, stable economy, good education and a clean and healthy environment. Re: Magdalo As we speak, the President has not received any formal recommendation yet from the DND, DILG, or AFP. You can rest assured that whatever decision she makes will uphold constitutionalism, adherence to the chain of command and respect for the rule of law. |
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Remarks of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo visit to the Expansion of Yazaki
Torres Batangas April 14, 2008 |
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• Congratulations sa Yazaki Torres at sa mga Batanguenos sa inyong expansion
at sa inogurasyon ng Cancer Institute ng St. Frances Cabrini. • Lumaki na ang Yazaki Toress mula dalawang daang empleyado noong 1974 hanggang walong libo ngayon, na sineserbisyo ang pangangailangang wiring harness ng mga sasakyan sa buong mundo. • Napag-alaman ko na ang St. Frances Cabrini ay nagsimula upang paglingkuran ang mga health requirements ng mga empleyado ng Yazaki Torres at ibang mga kliyente sa industriya. • We are visiting factories to personally attend to the working conditions of labor. I encourage wage and nonwage benefits like the medical center in Cabrini and day care centers for mothers in the work place. • As we travel abroad, we will continue to fight for the interests of our vital OFWs in places that are far from home, including Japan. Our government has worked long and hard to improve the quality of life of our brothers and sisters abroad. We will remain vigilant in that effort until the end of my term. • We will also leave no stone unturned as we seek even more foreign investments to bring more jobs to our nation. We will do everything to project a positive image of the Philippines to the world. The Filipino worker is the best in the world. We want the world to know that we not only have great people, but that as a nation we live up to our global responsibilities. • The success of Yazaki Torres is a tribute both to the excellence of its Filipino workforce and to the vision of its Filipino and Japanese investors. • The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement will further enhance our partnership. • To quote the respected economist Winnie Monsod: • The benefits of the JPEPA far exceed the costs. The draft agreement has been available on the internet since sometime the end of 2003/beginning of 2004. And the agreement is negotiated every five years. • The Philippines was the first country (after Singapore) with which Japan pursued the idea of an Economic Partnership Agreement. But it has entered into the same kind of agreements with Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei. Here we are, at the starting point, with everybody moving in front of us. • The Philippine Institute of Development Studies estimates JPEPA benefits between P 6.5 billion and P 110 billion, due to an improved investment climate, with projected direct foreign investment from Japan amounting to P365 billion, plus more than 200,000 jobs; compared with costs of around P 4 billion because of tariff reductions. The studies also show an overall positive impact on poverty reduction. • Tariffs on our farm goods would fall to zero, boosting exports of Philippine produce. Add to that the high-wage hiring of our nurses and caregivers. • About the environmental issue – the fear that we are going to be made a dumping ground for Japanese toxic wastes. Their importation is banned (by international as well as national fiat). In any case, Japan has signed a side letter making that even clearer. • The JPEPA is worth it. We cannot afford not to ratify, because with everyone else but us on board, dadalhin ng Hapon ang negosyo sa kanila. • We hope the Senate will ratify the JPEPA when Congress convenes next week. • Magtulungan sana tayong lahat para sa sama-sama nating kaunlaran at magandang kinabukasan! • We must put the interests of the individual Filipino we above all else. • In this challenging task, I count on the cooperation of all hardworking Batanguenos. • Mabuhay ang ating mga kababayan sa Yazaki Torres! • At maraming salamat po muli sa inyong lahat! |
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| PGMA orders filing of technical smuggling raps vs flour importer |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Bureau of Customs (BOC)
yesterday to immediately file technical smuggling charges against the
consignee of 32 container vans of flour held at the South Harbor. The flour shipment consisting of 32 container vans valued at P22 million started arriving at the South Harbor from Hong Kong last March 22 to April 1 from China. The President, who motored directly from the Batangas Port to the BOC, also directed bureau officials to file the appropriate complaint against the importer, Rubills International Inc. Fao Fil Haus Ent., including underpayment of taxes, misdeclaration and undervaluation. The President was visibly dismayed when she found out that the initial complaint being prepared by customs investigators was merely “in relation to BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs)” since the shipment had no BFAD certification that it was fit for human consumption. She stayed at the BOC for about three hours and watched over customs investigators and other officials as they prepared the complaint to make sure that they came up with the appropriate charges against the importer. After viewing the questioned cargo, the President went to the office of Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales where she demanded to see the documents and other paperwork involving the shipment. Told that the shipping documents were in the BOC’s Internal Inquiry and Prosecution Division (IIPD), the President proceeded to the cramped IIPD office whose locked doors had to be forcibly pried open by a member of her Presidential Security Group (PSG) as the key had been accidentally left inside. She indicated that she was not satisfied with the Warrant of Seizure and Detention that the bureau’s district collector for the Port of Manila prepared against Rubills International Inc., and the apparent delay in the filing of the charges. She told Morales that she wanted the complaint filed by tomorrow, and the charge sheet prepared “right now.” The President’s convoy then proceeded to Morales’ office on the second floor, where she asked for supporting papers and background information on the importer. At the IIPD, the President looked over the right shoulder of lawyer Willie Sarmiento, IIPD head, as the latter prepared the charge sheet against BOC personnel who had let the shipment pass without incident. She then climbed the stairs back to the second floor offices of the Run After The Smugglers (RATS) and sat beside RATS chief Rogel Gatchalian, and the instant encoder, lawyer Tristan Langkay, as they prepared the charges against Rubill. “Don’t explain to me – do it already,” the President told the RATS officers, who then encoded the “complaint affidavit” against Rubills owner Francisco Billones of Las Pinas City. When Langkay typed the violation allegedly committed by Rubills as “in relation to BFAD,” the President reacted, telling Morales that the violation should not only be BFAD-related, but also, and more importantly, include “underpayment of taxes.” Tax underpayment, along with misdeclaration, undervaluation and underweight, are violations of Section 3602 of the Tariff and Customs Code, and are considered “technical smuggling.” The President told Morales that it was a good thing she watched the lawyer-encoder write down the complaint, otherwise the importer would have been charged with merely violating BFAD rules. “Your lawyers should know, (right from) the first step,” the President told the customs chief. With the appropriate charges properly encoded, the President left the BOC, with instructions for the BOC to file the charges by Tuesday April 15 with the Department of Justice (DOJ) where the Cabinet meeting will be held also tomorrow. |
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| PGMA inaugurates first-of-its-kind medical facility in Sto. Tomas, Batangas |
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STO. TOMAS, Batangas – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated today a
first-of-its-kind medical facility here that offers a holistic approach to
the treatment of medical problems through the integration of advanced
medical technology with complementary healing therapies. The St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center (SFCMC), one of the 35 tertiary hospitals servicing the CALABARZON area, is the Philippines' first proclaimed Medical Tourism Special Economic Zone that features a modern Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), a medical process of using various imaging technologies to locate a tumor prior to radiation therapy. This process aims to improve the treatment accuracy so that the need for large target margins which have traditionally been used to compensate for errors in localization is minimized. As a result, the amount of healthy tissue exposed to radiation can be reduced, minimizing the incidence of side effects. The SFCMC boasts of a Chemotherapy Section set amidst a healing garden to ensure a holistic environment for patients. The President's participation in the inauguration ceremonies coincided with the medical center's current expansion project to bring more medical benefits to more people within the CALABARZON area and beyond. Aside from the hi-tech cancer facility and expanding the current bed capacity of 100 to at least 220 beds this year, the SFCMC's project will also consist of a new hospital wing dedicated to geriatric care ward specifically outfitted to accommodate the requirements of senior citizens. These facilities will be complemented by a wide array of diagnostic services for timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of medical malaise. |
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