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| 23 JANUARY 2008 | . | |
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| 23 JANUARY 2008 | . | |
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| PGMA arrives in Switzerland for WEF |
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ZURICH, Switzerland (via PLDT)--The temperature was a chilly four degrees
Centigrade when Philippine Airlines (PAL) Flight PR 001 bearing President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her official delegation touched down at the
Zurich International Airport at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday (6:15 a.m. Wednesday,
Manila time). Wearing a dark gray trench coat, the President and First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo alighted at the airport tarmac and were welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Minerva Falcon, Philippine Mission to Geneva Ambassador Erlinda Basilio, and Philippine Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Manuel Teehankee. After the brief welcome ceremony, the President and her party immediately proceeded to the Baur Au Lac Hotel located in the City Center of Zurich. The President's brief stay in Zurich will be highlighted by her keynote address during the meeting of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday (Swiss time, 5:00 p.m. in Manila) at the Savoy Hotel here. This would be followed by the call of Philippine-born Zuellig Pharmaceuticals owner Dr. Stephen Zuellig, also at the Savoy Hotel. The President will have lunch with the International Board of Advisors in nearby Bocken, Landhaus before departing at 1:45 p.m (8:45 p.m. in Manila) for Casa Bracke, Davos, where she will attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The President’s first day in Davos will be highlighted by courtesy calls on her by the officials of the Aragon Financial Group (AFG) and Dredging International NV. |
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| President to promote RP's energy independence program in Davos meetings |
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ZURICH, Switzerland (via PLDT)—In a move to advance the country's energy
independence program, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will meet with the
officials of the Aragon Financial Group (AFG) Wednesday afternoon in Davos,
her first activity in the ski resort city after arriving Tuesday night at
the Zurich International Airport from Manila. The President is scheduled to meet with the Aragon Group executives at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday (Swiss time, 12:15 a.m. Thursday in Manila) at the Casa Bracke in Klosters, Davos. The financial group is assisting oil and natural gas companies that need funding from financial partners such as private investors, venture capital, equity and institutional and banking sources. The AFG has available funding for natural gas projects in the United States and is currently looking for clients with existing operations that require funding through build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme, debt finance, equity refinance and even merger. The financial group could help the government in its policy to ensure continuous and adequate supply of energy through integrated and intensive exploration, production, management and development of the country's indigenous energy resources such as oil and natural gas. The natural gas industry in the Philippines began with the operation of the Malampaya gas-to-power project in offshore Palawan that now has three gas-fired power plants with a capacity of some 2,760 megawatts. However, this output is insufficient to advance the government's program to utilize natural gas for cheaper public transport operation costs. Also, the country still needs to explore and develop more energy sources to lessen its dependence on imported and expensive fossil fuel. Under Executive Order No. 473 that was signed by the President in November 2005, the Department of Energy (DOE) has been tasked to pursue the immediate exploration, development and production of crude oil from the Camago-Malampaya reservoir. Under E.O. 473, the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) that manages the Malampaya operations, or its designated subsidiary, was likewise directed to engage the participation of third parties, if necessary, in the exploration, development and production of crude oil in the country. After her meeting with the Aragon Group officials, the President will also entertain a courtesy call of the executives of the Dredging International NV, a Dutch-based company that has more than 100 years of experience in river dredging, building ports and reclamation projects in Europe, South America, Australia, Singapore and Africa. Under Executive Order No. 380 signed by the President in October 2004, reclamation has been identified as one of the primary sources of government revenue generation under the Medium Term Philippine Development Program (MTPDP) from 2004 to 2010. |
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| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: Possible US economy slowdown |
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Clearly, there will be some impact on all countries, however, as Finance
Secretary Teves said yesterday, while a possible slowdown or recession in
the US economy could dampen the growth of emerging markets, the Philippines
will likely withstand the adverse effects of such a development largely
because of its improving economic fundamentals. It is important to note that from a high of 28 percent seven years ago, the share of the US demand to total export income of the Philippines has shrunk to less than 20 percent as our exporters have diversified their markets. In some respects, it might also result in increases in BPO investments in the Philippines as international companies seek to further reduce their costs. We remain vigilant and we know that the BSP is closely watching developments on the monetary front and that gives us great comfort that we can and will weather any storm. |
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| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: CSC Chair |
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Her sweeping generalizations in a luncheon speech do a disservice to the
over one million civil servants, both career and appointed, who work
diligently each and every day to serve the people of the Philippines. Be that as it may, all presidential appointees must perform. If they don't, they have to go, whatever their credentials may be. |
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| Bunye defends civil servants against CSC chair's "sweeping generalizations" |
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Malacańang lamented today what it described as “sweeping generalizations” of
outgoing Civil Service Commission (CSC) chair Karina Constantino-David on
the government bureaucracy, saying it was “an insult” to the more than one
million hardworking government employees. In a statement, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said the CSC chair’s statement did not reflect the work ethics of government employees “who labor diligently each day to serve the people.” In reply to David’s statement that the government bureaucracy was composed of “timid” and “unthinking” employees because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had “abused” her prerogative to appoint certain people in government, Bunye said all government employees, in an appointed capacity or a plantilla position, are required to do their job well or else they will have to go. “All presidential appointees must perform. If they don’t, they have to go, whatever their credentials may be,” Bunye said. David also said the President’s prerogative of appointing whom she thinks will be helpful in running the government, has now “bloated” the bureaucracy. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, however, countered the President “only appoints people who are foremost, qualified and can deliver (on the aspects of the job) and who are worthy of her trust.” He brushed aside as mere speculations the common perception that the reason a political appointee got the job is because of “political considerations.” “We cannot turn away from the fact that political considerations are used as a basis for appointments, but it is not without reason because marami naman sa ating mga political recommendees are really very qualified and are in a position, because of their experience, to be able to do the job in the offices or agencies where they are appointed,” Ermita said. To prove this, Ermita pointed out that there “are 13 former congressmen, one senator and one vice president in the Cabinet of President Arroyo” – people who, he said, have vast experience in delivering the goods on their work. |
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| Palace debunks report gov't lost P17 billion in SSS-BDO deal |
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Malacanang debunked today a newspaper report that the national government
lost P17 billion from the sale of Social Security System’s (SSS) 25 percent
stake in Equitable PCI Bank to Banco de Oro (BDO). Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita made the clarification during a press briefing this afternoon in Malacanang. In its banner story this morning, a Manila daily broadsheet reported that the government lost billion of pesos in the SSS-BDO deal. Ermita said he was informed by SSS chairman Thelmo Cunanan that the newspaper report was inaccurate. “The government did not lose P17 billion” in the transaction, Ermita quoted Cunanan as saying. The P17 billion mentioned in the newspaper report referred to the total sale of the government’s 25 percent stake in Equitable PCIB of 338.13 million shares, out of which SSS netted P7.11 billion from the transaction, Ermita said. He explained that the Equitable share is equivalent to 1.8 BDO share, and the cost of one BDO share is equivalent to P51.11 per share, while SSS sold its Equitable shares at P92 per share. “Again, the cost of one Equitable share is equivalent to 1.8, hence, they gave us the figure that a total amount of P17 billion was generated out of this sale and as I said SSS netted P7.11 billion” from the SSS-BDO transaction, Ermita stressed. Cunanan also reported to Ermita that the SSS sold its Equitable PCI Bank shares at P92 per share for a total of P17 billion. Last Friday, SSS sold its entire 25 percent stake in Equitable to BDO in order to recover the acquisition cost of its Equitable shares and use the proceed from the sale to generate additional income for the benefit of its 25 million members. Earlier, SSS president Corazon dela Paz said that holding on to the shares denied the SSS the opportunity to invest the potential proceeds from the sale in safe and higher yielding instruments. |
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| Palace shrugs off Estrada's "speech tour" around the country |
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Malacanang merely shrugged off today former President Joseph Estrada's going
around the country, saying "Let him be" the way he wanted to project himself
before the people. “My line as far as former President Joseph Estrada is concerned: "Let him be". Kung iyon ang kanyang gustong gawin. Instead of fast reacting, reacting to what he says and what he does, gawin na lang natin and ating trabaho,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said. This was Ermita’s reply to a reporter’s question during a press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon on whether the Palace is intimidated by the nationwide political visits of Estrada in his alleged preparations for the 2010 presidential polls. Ermita said that the Palace is hardly intimidated with anybody's statement about their aspirations in year 2010. He stressed anew that it is always the position of the Arroyo administration to focus on governance and government projects implementation. "The position of the Palace has always been “let us not talk about politics now,” not yet anyway, because you have to focus on governance, focus on implementation of the projects,” he said. He however, admitted that Estrada is still a very popular personality that makes him a good media copy. "Let us give it to former President Estrada. He has to move around. He was a very good subject for mass media. Everytime he spoke or did something, media covered him. We have to admit that he is very, very popular personality," he said. He reiterated that it is not the job of the administration to readily react to somebody’s action or move whether he or she is with the side of the President or not. "Pero we cannot react all the time, especially to those who are not with the President who have been saying anything for that matter. Even among those who are with the President, we have not reacted to what they say except to tell them "hey, let's slow down on talking about politics,” he said. He added that he is not aware on whether Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia has communicated with Estrada. "You mentioned about Bataan Governor Garcia. I know that Governor Garcia is a significant member of the Coalition. He is an official of ULAP for that matter. I am not even sure whether the former President and Governor Garcia are in constant contact with each other. The bottom line is "let it be" the way the former President wants to project his own position,” the Executive Secretary said. |
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| RP can weather effects of possible economic slowdown in the U.S. -- Bunye |
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The Arroyo administration remains vigilant in the face of a possible
economic slowdown in the United States, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) closely watching developments on the monetary front. Thus assured Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye who enthused in a statement today that the BSP’s close watch “gives us great comfort that we can and will weather any storm.” Bunye was commenting on the possible effects to the local economy of the reported US economic slowdown. “Clearly, there will be some impact on all countries, however, as Finance Secretary (Margarito) Teves said yesterday, while a possible slowdown or recession in the US economy could dampen the growth of emerging markets, the Philippines will likely withstand the adverse effects of such a development largely because of its improving economic fundamentals,” Bunye said. He also pointed out that the US now accounts for only 20 percent of the Philippines’ total export income, down from the high of some 28 percent seven years ago because Filipino exporters have since diversified their markets. “In some respects, it (a possible US recession) might also result in increases in BPO (business process outsourcing) investments in the Philippines as international companies seek to further reduce their costs,” the Presidential Spokesperson enthused further. Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita momentarily left his weekly press conference with the Malacanang Press Corps this afternoon to receive a call from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who, he said, asked him to monitor with the Department of Finance the “drop in the American stock market.” In her statement at the weekly Cabinet meeting in Malacanang before leaving for Switzerland on Tuesday to attend the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the President assured the Filipino people, thus: “Sa patuloy na pagsigla ng ekonomiya at paghahatid ng biyaya sa taong bayan, pinakamahalaga ang nagkakaisang pagsisikap ng lahat, lalo na ngayong may banta hindi lamang ang presyo ng langis, kundi ang paghina ng ekonomiya ng Amerika na baka mag-epekto sa Pilipinas.” “Kaya naman lalo nating pag-iibayuhin ang kabuhayan sa kabila ng mga ligalig sa pandaigdigang ekonomiya,” the President added. |
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| Palace welcomes Norway's offer to host gov't-NDF exploratory talks |
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Malacanang welcomed today the offer of the Norwegian government to host the
exploratory talks on the resumption of the stalled peace negotiations
between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the
Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF). Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said at his weekly press briefing this afternoon at the New Executive Building in Malacanang that the National Security Council-Cabinet Group has agreed to restart the peace negotiation with the communist rebels. He said the NSC-Cabinet Group headed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was receptive to the Norwegian government’s offer of assistance to the Philippine government’s effort to forge a peace agreement and end the decades-old communist insurgency in the country. “The peace process with them (communist rebels) is still open. We just have to continue to dialogue with them. Norway is our go-between,” Ermita said. He added, however, that the NSC-Cabinet Group reiterated its position that the rebels should agree to a cessation of hostilities before informal talks could proceed. “We can talk, but reconsider your (NDF) position about the need for the cessation of hostilities so that we can come out successful in the negotiation,” Ermita said. He refuted claims by the NDF that the government was “stonewalling” by insisting on the cessation of hostilities as a prelude to the resumption of the exploratory talks. The government is committed to negotiations as the only peaceful means to end the long drawn-out communist rebellion in the country, Ermita said. He added that National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales had already informed the Norwegian government, through its resident ambassador in the country, that the Philippine government is ready and willing to hold exploratory talks with the NDF. On Tuesday, Luis Jalandoni of the NDF negotiating panel, said in a news conference abroad that the Norwegian government is prepared to host the exploratory talks next months in Oslo. |
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| PGMA makes SSS card as core of unified multi-purpose ID system |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered that the Social Security
Identification (ID) system be made as the core of the country’s unified
multi-purpose ID system. In an executive order she signed last Jan. 16, the President ordered the Social Security System (SSS) to implement this through the streamlining and harmonization of the identification systems of all government agencies and government-controlled corporations. In other countries like the United States, the Social Security card is the most used ID system. The Philippines’ SSS itself has some 12 million card-carrying members. In her Executive Order No. 700, President Arroyo ordered the SSS administrator to “take over the work of the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to implement the streamlining and harmonization of the ID systems of all government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations towards a unified multi-purpose ID system.” On April 26, 2005, Executive Order No. 420 had required all government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations to streamline and harmonize their ID systems, and authorized the NEDA director-general to implement the same. So far, “some work has been done by the NEDA on the assignment,” and so the SSS administrator “shall build on the work already done by the NEDA director-general,” says EO 700. EO 700 mandates the NEDA and the National Statistics Office (NSO), as well as all other agencies identified by the SSS, to “assist the SSS in developing the unified multi-purpose ID system.” The SSS shall use its funds to carry out the objectives of EO 700 which takes effect immediately. |
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