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19 JANUARY 2004 |
| The Good News: Foreign direct investments seen to reach $900-million in 2004 |
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has predicted that the country’s foreign direct investment would hit the $900 million mark in 2004. BSP managing director for economic research Diwa Guinigundo said foreign direct investments would likely go to the country’s most attractive sectors--power, information technology (IT), electronics and telecommunications. "Once the uncertainty is removed after the presidential elections this coming May, foreign direct investments would start to come in earnest," Guinigundo said. He said the power sector remained the biggest attraction for foreign direct investments as generation companies expand their current capabilities in anticipation of heightened economic activities. Guinigundo also said IT and electronics were "growth areas that would continue to attract investors since the country has comparative advantages over its primary competitors in the region." Telecommunications, on the other hand, was expected to sustain its sgrowth as the consumer market expands further with the rise in income from the deployment of more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) abroad. "We would have seen the beginning of this surge in foreign direct investments during the later half of last year had it not been for all this political noise that have been generated. But once the elections are over, we expect to see improvements," he said. Portfolio investments were also expected to grow stronger this year as expectations improved in anticipation of further economic recovery for the Philippines, Guinigundo said. "Considering the disruptions we saw last year, we still saw an increase in portfolio investments compared to 2002. We will see even more activity once the political season is over," he said. The BSP reported that despite the market’s shocks created b the US-Iraq war, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the build-up of political controversies towards the May elections, portfolio investments still went up from $186.2 million to $423.5 million during the first nine months of 2003 compared to the same period in 2002, representing a 20 percent growth. |
| Statement of the President re Iraq Bombing |
The Philippine government condemns in the strongest terms the recent bombing incident in Iraq. We sympathize with the Iraqi people and reiterate our firm resolve to help rebuild Iraq and its democratic institutions. Our fight against terror and the struggle for freedom and democracy are commitments shared with the international community. Our humanitarian contingent in Iraq will stay and we will not be intimidated or discouraged in our mission. The DFA is determining if there are Filipinos among the casualties, so that supportive measures can be undertaken. |
| Statement of the President re Anti-Drug Operations |
Foreign drug lords will be given no quarter in the Philippines. We have dismantled our 18th drug laboratory and more will fall as we sweep the barangays of pushers. The street price of drugs has climbed threefold and we will push it higher by curtailing the supply. Drug-related crimes are down. This campaign is part of the security our country needs to ensure investments to create jobs and give the average Filipino the opportunity to move ahead and to protect his family. |
| Statement of the President re Elections |
We have no time for blame tossing or more speculations. The Filipino people will not accept any excuses for failure to preserve and advance their right to suffrage. We urge the Comelec to devote every minute of its time in the affirmation of honest and orderly polls. I direct all concerned government agencies to support the Comelec in this objective. The whole nation must gather around and behind a credible electoral process. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye re Scheduled Execution |
We must take this issue in the context of the need to uphold law and order and ensure just retribution for the families that have suffered from heinous crime. Sometimes our memory is short and we do not remember the days when the front pages are splashed by death and loss of loved ones in the hands of notorious criminals. We must hold fast to our determination as a people and as a society and support the will of the Presidency despite the President’s own struggle with her personal beliefs. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye re Secretary of National Defense |
The Secretary of National Defense is not involved in the partisan campaign and is committed to preserve professionalism and impartiality in the AFP. The President wants the DND-AFP to stand in the center of any partisan contest and considers this vital to the preservation of security and law and order. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye re Terrorist Threat |
The government has scored success after success in the campaign against terrorism, especially in flushing out JI cells and connections in the country. The quietness in this front must be seen as a victory of law enforcement and community vigilance, but we are not letting our guard down. The manhunt will continue until the militant cells are dismantled. This is important for our political and economic security and for the peace of mind of the average Filipino. |
| Palace appeals for sobriety in death penalty issue |
Malacaņang today appealed for sobriety and a dispassionate appraisal of the state’s responsibility to uphold law and order in the wake of reports that some groups would seek the intervention of Pope John Paul II to stop the execution of two death convicts late this month. "We must take this issue in the context of the need to uphold law and order and ensure just retribution for the families that have suffered from heinous crime," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said today in a statement. Bunye lamented that sometimes people’s memory is short and they tend to easily forget the days when the front pages of newspapers were splashed with stories about the death and loss of loved ones in the hands of notorious criminals. He said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself, being a devout Roman Catholic, is personally against the imposition of the death penalty but she has to make an exception if the death convict has been involved in a high-profile cases of illegal drugs or kidnapping for ransom. "We must hold fast to our determination as a people and as a society and support the will of the presidency despite the President’s own struggle with her personal beliefs," Bunye said. But Bunye has stressed that even if the President has already decided to proceed with the lethal injection as scheduled, a new ruling by the Supreme Court could still stay the execution. He explained that if the so-called new evidence on the case would be given credence by the high tribunal, then it could order the reopening of the case and the President is duty-bound to abide by that order and stay the execution. |
| Badawi's visit to ensure resumption of peace talks with MILF - Bunye |
Chances for the formal peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to start soon have improved with the state visit to the Philippines by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi starting today. Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said this morning that Badawi’s first state visit is vital for the Philippines because of the many important topics to be discussed between him and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, including that on the peace process with the MILF. Prime Minister Badawi is scheduled to arrive at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City tonight and will be meeting with the President in Malacaņang tomorrow morning. It will be their second one-on-one meeting, the two having met in Tokyo in mid-December last year during the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Meeting. "Ang Malaysia ang pangunahing bansa na katuwang natin sa pagsusulong ng resumption of formal peace talks (Malaysia is a major country supporting us in resuming the formal peace talks)," Bunye said in a radio interview. "At napapanahon na na ito ay mapag-usapang muli ng ating dalawang pinuno ng estado at marahil ay para pag-usapan na rin ang ating pending application na magkaroon ng observer status sa Organization of Islamic Conference (And it is timely that this issue be discussed by the two heads of state, including our application for an observer status in the OIC)," Bunye said. Once given an observer status in the OIC, Bunye said, it will be an important development in the pursuit of peace in the South. In the same interview, Bunye bewailed reports that about a thousand Filipino workers from Jordan, Kuwait, and Turkey have sneaked into war-torn Iraq to find livelihood there. He quoted Presidential Adviser on International Competitiveness Roberto Romulo as saying that this will not be good for their health. "They should take into consideration first the situation in Iraq before making any personal plans of going there," Bunye said. He revealed that once the situation has stabilized, the government has a program in place for skilled Filipino construction workers and middle managers for the reconstruction of post conflict Iraq. Presently, the country has a humanitarian contingent deployed in the war-torn country, which perform medical and other humanitarian services for the victims of the conflict. |
| Palace announces resignation of Secretary Braganza |
Malacanang today officially announced the resignation of Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Hernani A. Braganza who opted to run for Mayor of Alaminos City, Pangasinan. Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said Braganza has filed his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Election’s regional office in Alaminos City. He said that by operation of law, once a government official or a member of the Cabinet files his certificate of candidacy to run for an elective post, he is considered resigned from his post. "Braganza will be running practically unopposed and we don’t have any names yet for his replacement," he said. Prior to assuming his post as Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs, Braganza was Press Secretary from January to June 2003. He was also the Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform from February 12, 2001 to January 20, 2003. |
| GMA names new presidential adviser for North-Western Luzon Development Program |
VIGAN CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced here today the designation of Henry Mendoza as her new adviser for North-Western Luzon Development Program, replacing Luis "Chavit" Singson who stepped down to run for the gubernatorial post of Ilocos Sur province. In a press briefing at the Vigan Airport here shortly before her departure back for Manila, the President said her decision to tap Mendoza would ensure that the government’s development programs for the region will be pushed to completion. "Chavit has just resigned as Presidential Adviser for North-Western Luzon Quadrangle because he is running for governor," Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said. The Chief Executive flew in here for a one-day working visit marked by a series of meetings with local government officials, religious leaders and law enforcement authorities. The presidential visit was timed for the observance of the 75th birthday and Silver Episcopal Jubilee of Bishop Edmundo Abaya at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral here. The President also heard Mass to commemorate the occasion. She was joined by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Chairman Ma. Livia "Honey Girl" Singson-De Leon, Chavit Singson, Ilocos Sur Representatives. Eric Singson and Salacnib Baterina, Ilocos Sur Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano and Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. While in Vigan, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo also inspected the Immaculate Heart of Mary Abbey of the Eucharistic King that was razed recently by fire. |
