Malacaņang announced today the reappointment by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

A veteran of 34 years in law enforcement, intelligence operations and public safety administration, Ebdane was the DPWH chief until the President appointed him as Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) effective Feb.1 of this year.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement that former Tarlac Congressman Gilbert Teodoro will assume the DND post effective August 3, 2007.

"In the meantime, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales has been designated as DND officer-in-charge," Bunye said.

Prior to his assignment to the defense post, Ebdane held the DPWH portfolio. With his reappointment, he will take back the DPWH post from Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan who has been designated as officer-in-charge of the department since he relinquished it five months ago.

LIPA CITY, Batangas -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited today both the workers and the management of two successful business locators – the Pilipinas Kyohritsu Inc. (PKI), the top taxpayer of Lipa City, and Nestle Philippines Inc. which exports most of its produce to Asean countries, for the industrial peace prevailing in this industrial city.

Accompanied by Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, the President’s first stop was the Japanese-owned PKI which produces automotive wiring harness and plastic components for seven car manufacturers, among them Nissan Motors and Nissan Shatai.

The President was briefed on the operations of the company and toured around the factory by PKI president Mitsuyosi Matsumura and other PKI officers who thanked her for being the first Philippine president to visit the "accident-free" plant since its inception in 1983.

Starting this year, the company has been producing new sets of wiring harnesses for new car models of Nissan Motors like the Safari, Tilda, Ad Van, Hoger and Condor. This P453-million 2007 expansion program necessitated the hiring of 855 new workers, thus bringing to 4,205 the total number of PKI employees who are paid some $58 million per year.

Most PKI employees are fresh out of high school who are given eight-day trainings to ensure "accident-free" and "zero-defect" production. Those eyeing management positions are given three-month trainings.

In her informal interaction with the factory workers, the President said it was a great honor to have been the first Philippine president to visit the plant, adding it was surprising to find workers who have been working there for the past 17 years out of the company’s 24-year existence, proof that the company must have pro-worker policies.

The Chief Executive also lauded the employees’ group, PKI Employees Welfare Union, for the existing industrial peace in the company. She appreciated the firm for hiring even high school graduates as long as they pass the trainings. She hoped that the company will continue expanding its "world-class" operations.

The President’s next stop was the Nestle plant which produces the Milo drink and breakfast cereals. On hand to welcome the President were Lipa factory manager Ernesto Mercado, technical director Camp Van Beek, other officers and the union leaders.

Nestle Lipa employs 343 workers and provides employment to some 4,015 "indirect laborers" – outsourcers, co-packers, community groups and suppliers.

The Lipa plant – which has grown 810 percent since it started operations in Lipa in 1992 -- exports 80 percent of its breakfast cereals production to several countries, including Mauritius, Madagascar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

On the other hand, 60 percent of its Nescafe coffee is for the export market, while 40 percent is sold to the domestic market.

From 2003 to 2007, total Nestle investments in Lipa amount to P1.2 billion, Next year, the company hopes to expand by P389 million in terms of manufacturing equipment acquisition, plus supporting infrastructures, including laboratories and automated modern control systems.

With total sales turnover of P63.8 billion in 2005 and P66.1 billion in 2006, Nestle Philippines Inc. (NPI) belongs to the list of Top 10 Philippine Corporations. In the Nestle world, it is "number 1 among Nestle ASEAN countries; number 3 in Nestle region (Asia, Oceania and Africa); and number 11 in the Nestle world.

NPI has manufacturing facilities in Cagayan de Oro, Cabuyao, Lipa and Aurora that are manned by a total of 3,000 employees. It paid a total of P7.6 billion in taxes in 2006.