The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) has recommended that the US government outsource non-core government services to the Philippines via data transfer over the Internet.

The suggestion was contained in a letter of AmCham president George P. Henefeld to US President George W. Bush.

"(The Bush) administration has announced a policy of increased outsourcing of non-core government services. Some of these could be performed in the Philippines, as a back-office for the federal government, with rapid data transfer over the internet," Henefeld said in his letter.

Henefeld said sending some of this work to the US Asian ally could achieve savings for the American taxpayers while creating jobs in the Philippines which may otherwise move to other less strategic low-cost offshore locations.

Henefeld also noted that accounting, customer service, document digitization and search, engineering design, HR services, medical transcription and telemarketing are some of the services now being performed in the Philippines for corporate America.

Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II noted that if the Philippines succeeds in wooing US government to tap Filipino IT workers this could mean increased international exposure and training for Filipinos engaged in IT and IT-enabled services.

"While this trend is, again, an affirmation of our leadership and reliability as a service provider in the field of information and communication technology, efforts must be pursued in engineering economic development without losing our best people." said Roxas.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has intensified its drive against persons and establishments usurping portions of national road right-of-way (RROW) in Region 5.

In report to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, DPWH Secretary Bayani Fernando said the clearing program covered structures within the Manila South Road that included houses/shanties, stores, walls, railings, driveways and other obstructions that constrict the carriageway of national highways in the region.

Earlier, Fernando issued Department Order No. 52 directing the DPWH regional and district offices nationwide to cause the removal of all obstructions and prohibited uses within the RROW.

In Naga City alone, Fernando informed the President that the Camarines Sur 2^nd Engineering District Office has issued notices to some 22 violators.

Fernando said DPWH Region 5 Director Orlando Roces gave violators seven days to remove their obstructions.