March 29 2008

PGMA: We are now tipping towards first-world status within a generation

Stressing there will be “no rest” in strengthening the country’s economy, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has expressed confidence that the Philippines is now tipping towards reaching First-World status within a generation.

“We are at a tipping point. I’m confident that the Philippines will tip forward in pursuit of reaching the status of first-world within a generation,” the President said in her speech during the Philippine Development Forum (PDF) held Wednesday (March 26) at the Fontana Convention Center at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

“It is my pleasure to join you in our constantly productive and insightful dialogue on Philippine development,” the President enthused to the PDF participants, assuring them that the year “2008 holds real promise for a different reason – not only do we expect to sustain our growth, but as a result of our total economic overhaul, we are, I believe, well-positioned to weather a global economic slowdown which, unfortunately, will affect all of us.”

Citing 2007 as the “best year for the Philippine economy in over 30 years with a 7.3 percent economic growth,” the President told the country’s investors and creditors, including the World Bank, that “the maturity in our economy has brought with it a new confidence that forms the foundation of sustained economic growth moving forward.”

“And we assure you there will be no rest. We are continuing the pace of progress that has succeeded in strengthening our economy,” the President said, adding, “we made a policy decision that -- in any case since we were not expected to balance our budget last year -- we should spend all that extra revenue on infrastructure and social services.”

“The national budget which I signed a few weeks ago provides a road map for realizing our priorities in 2008 and for the remainder of my term. It should provide you, our international donor and creditor community, with a sense of our priorities and our thinking about the future of our nation,” the President said as she pointed out that “overall, the budget provides a buffer to mitigate the pain of a deteriorating global economy and the accompanying rise in prices which affects food and transportation the most.”

“Political noise there is, but it need not interfere with economic progress and reform. This (2008) budget helps make that point. The people are tired of partisan wrangling, they want all of us to do our job -- which is to work for the interest of the people, keeping the nation strong and stable, and always moving forward,” stressed the President while calling on the PDF participants to be guided by the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for this year to glean the development focus of the Arroyo administration.

“First, the budget reflects our values and policy priorities for investing in our people. This budget invests in what we call the three ‘Es.’ They’re the essential building blocks of a nation, namely: the economy, education and the environment. Every Filipino wants a good job, food on the table, sound education for their children and a healthy environment with clean air, clean water and clean land.

“Second, this budget represents another important step in the economic development of the Philippines, namely, fiscal discipline… Part of the plan includes a march towards a balanced budget for the first time in many years.

“Lastly, this budget proves once again that members of Congress from both the House and the Senate and all parties can come together to work with the Executive branch to get things done for the nation...

“Most importantly, it is a budget dedicated to investing in the vital physical and human infrastructure to continue to modernize our nation. Roads, bridges and ports along with education and healthcare build up the foundation of the nation and make us more competitive.”

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Sumilao land case resolved

The Sumilao land case is finally headed for a just resolution with the signing at noon today of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by all concerned parties.

The signing ceremony was held at the San Carlos Seminary Complex in Makati City with Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales as witness.

After the signing ceremony, the parties paid a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang to present her with a copy of the settlement agreement and thank her for her support.

The MOA spells out the implementing guidelines for the Basic Agreement entered into by all parties on March 3, 2008 that defined the parameters of the settlement. The quiet backroom negotiations that led to the settlement were initiated by Cardinal Rosales and participated in by top-level representatives of the Catholic Church, San Miguel Corporation, and the Government. The talks lasted nearly three months from January to March 2008.

The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Ramon S. Ang and Francisco Alejo for San Miguel Corporation and San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI); Antonio Medina for the NQSR Management and Development Corp.; Samuel Merida, Larry Carejo, Mercy Serona and Napoleon Merida, Jr. for the Sumilao farmers; and Secretary Nasser Pangandaman of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Secretary Conrado Limcaoco of the Office of the President for Government. Cardinal Rosales and Bishop Broderick Pabillo were among those who signed as witnesses. Other witnesses to the MOA are Sumilao Farmers’ consultant Atty. Christian Monsod, Sumilao Farmers’ legal counsel Atty. Arlene Bag-ao and SMFI legal counsel Atty. Wilfredo Peñaflor.

SMC and its CEO Ramon S. Ang, consistent with their belief in corporate social responsibility, in the spirit of peaceful co-existence, and responding positively to an appeal by Cardinal Rosales agreed to release to qualified farmers by deed of donation 50 hectares within the original property of 144 hectares. Further, SMC will acquire 94 additional hectares outside of the original 144-hectare property for the farmers to complete the 144 hectares claimed. The farmers are presently identifying their preferred parcels of land outside the original property from a list given them by SMC.

The farmers have agreed to accept this formula of 50 hectares inside the original property and 94 hectares outside. The Deed of Donation giving the 50 hectares to the farmers was also signed by SMFI today. The farmers will get a total of 144 hectares which is equivalent in size to the original property they seek.

The farmers have organized a new cooperative made up of initial qualified beneficiaries which will be the owner of these lands. Other qualified beneficiaries from MAPALAD and San Vicente Landless Farmers Association (SALFA) will be included in the succeeding processes. This will finally vindicate their years of sacrifice and relentless efforts.

President Arroyo has ordered the Department of Agrarian Reform to expedite the process of determining qualified farmer beneficiaries and pledged the support of all other agencies of government.

DAR has conducted the technical survey delineating the 50 hectares to be given the farmers and is also determining which parcels of land within the vicinity of the original property can be acquired by SMC for distribution to the farmers.

DAR Secretary Pangandaman has vowed to personally attend to this.

President Arroyo also offered the use of Air Force C-130 planes to transport the farmers back to Mindanao where thanksgiving Masses are scheduled on site. The farmers are expected to occupy the initial 50 hectares within the SMFI property in a few days.

The dropping of all pending cases by all parties is also part of the agreement.

All protagonists have won. SMC will be able to continue with their project and has also clearly demonstrated that it is a corporation with social responsibility. The farmers will get the land they have sacrificed and worked for through many years with a promise of a better life for their families. Government has demonstrated its commitment to land reform and social justice, and that it is a government that cares for the poor and is committed to fighting poverty. The Church, led by Cardinal Rosales played its role as a Church of the poor and peacemaker on earth. Much can be done if we work together.

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Reception with Filipino community to kick off PGMA’s three-day working visit to Hong Kong

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will kick off her three-day working visit here from March 30 (Sunday) to April 1 (Tuesday) with an evening cocktail reception for Hong Kong’s Filipino community during which new administration programs designed to benefit overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be launched formally.

The reception -- which President Arroyo will host at the Tiffin Lounge of the Grand Hyatt Hotel where she will be staying with First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo – will feature a presentation by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) about its Peso Hedging Program, and by the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) about its “i-Net Negosyo” program and OFW Cash Card.

The DBP’s Peso Hedging Program consists of the “Peso Insurance” and “Peso Protect,” where “OFWs will have the opportunity to mitigate the effects of the Philippine peso appreciation vis-à-vis their US dollar remittances or the equivalent in US dollars,” according to the DBP.

Peso Insurance is “an agreement where the OFWs can sell their US dollars at prevailing exchange rate on maturity or at the selected protection rate if the peso appreciates and the OFW pays an insurance fee.”

On the other hand, Peso Protect is “an agreement whereby the exchange rate (forward rate) at which OFWs will sell their US dollars in the future is already determined beforehand, and the OFW pays no fee but has to place a hold-out deposit refundable after the delivery of the contract amount to the DBP.”

The DBP also has an “i-Net Negosyo” program which is a “loan facility offered to eligible OFWs for the setting up of a mini ‘internet station’ via SMART wireless broadband or other telecom internet service provider offering similar packages.”

Meanwhile, the LBP has its “affordable” Long-Term Negotiable Certificate of Deposit (LTNCD) “requiring a minimum investment of only P20,000 while having a high-yielding interest compared to other existing savings or time deposits.”

The LBP also has its OFW Cash Card which it dubs as a “safe, convenient, fast and affordable way that the OFWs can send their remittances to the Philippines.”

The President’s first working day here following her party’s arrival at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Hong Kong International Airport will be capped by her having coffee with the “GMA Pa Rin” group at the presidential suite.

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President underscores need to extend Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed today the need to extend anew the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) to ensure the distribution to farmer beneficiaries of some two million hectares of agricultural lands all over the country.

The extension of the CARP is part of the President’s policy to support the country’s farmers and at the same time promote food security and alleviate poverty.

In June last year, the President certified as urgent a bill seeking to extend the life of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) after Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman reported that almost two million hectares of agricultural lands remain to be distributed to qualified and deserving beneficiaries.

The law, which was already extended by 10 years since 1998, is scheduled to expire on June 10 this year.

The President cited the need to extend the CARP law after a copy of the settlement agreement on the 144-hectare Sumilao land case was presented to her in Malacañang this afternoon by members of the Sumilao farmers and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president Ramon Ang.

The President congratulated all the parties involved in the settlement of the 12-year-old land case that was finally resolved after the Sumilao farmers and SMC signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at noon today at the San Carlos Seminary in Makati City.

“Congratulations, congratulations to all. This shows to many of our countrymen the need to extend our land reform (program),” the President said.

Aside from Ang, among those present during the occasion were Secretary Pangandaman and Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton Pascual.

Ang said the decades-old land case was resolved through the help and intercession of the President and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

“If not for the President, this case would not have been resolved,” Ang said.

Last December, the President ordered the reclassification of the disputed 144-hectare Bukidnon property from agro-industrial to agricultural land that was appealed before the courts by the SMC which acquired the property in 2002.

The farmers had been awarded the land under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in 1995, but the property, then owned by the Quisumbing family, was converted into agro-industrial use in 1996.

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29 MARCH 2008		.