March 05 2007

17 port projects set for completion in 2007

Travel time and cargo transportation costs from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao and vice versa are expected to be reduced further with the completion of 17 priority port projects in various parts of the country this year.

In a press briefing held this morning at Malacañang's New Executive Building, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Director General and Infrastructure Monitoring Task Force (IMTF) Chief Cerge Remonde said that upon the directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to fast track the completion of priority infrastructure projects, the government is set to complete.

The ports that are scheduled to be finished within the year are the: Dingalan Port in Aurora Province; Batangas Port, Batangas; Cawit Port, Boac, Marinduque; Cawayan Port, Masbate; Pantao Port, Libon, Albay; Siquijor Port, Siquijor; Jagna Port, Bohol; Ubay Port, Bohol; Liloan Ferry Terminal Port, Southern Leyte; Limasawa Port, Southern Leyte; Naval Port, Biliran; Guisiliban Port, Camiguin; Cagayan de Oro Port, Misamis Oriental; Davao (Sasa) Port, Davao City; Balbagon (Mambajao) Port, Mambajao, Camiguin; Subic Bay Port Development Project; and Lucena Port Passenger Terminal Building in Quezon.

Remonde said the 17 priority port projects form part of the 28 port projects the President identified in her Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) program at the beginning of her administration.

At an aggregate cost of P23.5 billion spread until 2010, the SRNH aims to facilitate the end-to-end transport of passengers, goods and services from production to population centers to boost and maximize the economic potentials of the country's five Super Regions.

Under President Arroyo's Super Regions concept, which forms part of the Medium-Term Public Investment Program (MTPIP), the country's 16 regions have been grouped into four mega-regions, plus another region that cuts across these mega-regions, to create an enlarged economic landscape based on the natural competitive advantage of these areas.

These are the North Luzon Mega-Region, the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, the Central Philippines Mega-Region, the Mindanao Mega-Region and the cyber corridor that serves as the cyber link among these four regions.
Remonde cited the strategic importance of ports in the sustaining the economy's growth as they serve as vital links that bring the country's production base closer to the markets.

"Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) ports reduce transport costs and ultimately the costs of goods in the market. They are also important in promoting tourism in the countryside," Remonde said.

He pointed out that due to the SRNH, travel time from Mindanao through the Visayas region to Luzon and vice versa has been cut by 10 hours.

Aside from this, Remonde said, "transport costs for passengers were cut by 40 percent while cargo costs were cut by 30 percent."

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Oscar Sevilla, who joined Remonde at the press briefing, said there are five immediate benefits ports have on a community where it is situated -- economic activity, employment, peace and order, tourism and easing of cultural divergence.

Sevilla stressed that the benefits of ports contribute to the overall economic growth of the country and provide additional funds that will "trickle down" to the masses.

During the same conference, Remonde addressed the concern of several quarters on the probability of increased smuggling activities once all RoRo ports become fully operational.

He said that anti-smuggling measures have been institutionalized and partnerships with the stakeholders and inter-agency cooperation strengthened.

According to him the Bureau of Customs (BoC) is still implementing its "RATS" (Run After Smugglers) program which aims to prosecute smugglers, suspend erring brokers or importers and relieve customs personnel party to smuggling.

"The BoC is also cleaning up its list of accredited importers and exporters of fictitious, fly-by-night or spurious importers through the Customs Accredited System," Remonde said.

He added that 10 scanning-detection machines which can detect the actual contents of containers, including firearms, dangerous drugs and weapons of mass destruction, have been installed in major ports nationwide.

With these machines installed in the Manila International Container Port and the Ports of Manila, Cebu, Davao, Subic, Cagayan de Oro and Batangas, the BoC anticipates a drastic drop in the number of cases of misdeclared cargo, Remonde said.

The national government is also intensifying its coordination with the private sector through the Task Force of Anti-Smuggling Industry Advisory Council (TFS-IAC) that will allow the BoC and industry leaders discuss trade and anti-smuggling issues as well as generate intelligence information for the anti-smuggling drive.

TOP

Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: Energy Supply

In fairness, Secretary Lotilla never said there was a power crisis in Mindanao. He was talking candidly about the time in 2009 when the private sector have to put in additional supply, and this is being addressed by both private firms and the government.

We are also urging big users to contract directly with the Northern Mindanao coal plant of STEAG, which can easily expand by another 100 MW if needed.

The government has a deep and broad blueprint to meet the challenge of boosting the energy supply of Mindanao, which is looming as the front door of investment owing to the advent of peace and the improving security situation.

Our plan is not only built on the rehabilitation of aging power plants or the construction of new ones, but also expand the field of alternative sources of energy and push the cause of the environment.

The energy team, which includes the private sector, is constantly on top of this agenda, working proactively on solutions to avert shortages and assure long-term supply. Stable power in Mindanao is a permanent agenda of this administration.

TOP

Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: Special Courts

President Arroyo appreciates the quick action of the Supreme Court in creating the special courts to try unexplained killings.

She is also keeping tab on all the other measures attendant to this issue such as the fielding of composite investigation teams involving the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Human Rights; beefing up the witness protection program, the designation of special prosecutors for these cases; and continuing liaison with the international community on the investigative and capacity building aspects.

We are forging a strong partnership with the judiciary and all sectors which will continue to bear on the resolution of these cases and serve the cause of criminal justice.

TOP

PGMA welcomes Russia's move to be more economically engaged in RP, ASEAN and East Asia

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed today Russia's target of increasing its two-way trade with the Philippines from the present $200 million to at least $2 billion as part of Moscow's move to expand its bilateral relations with the Philippines, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia.

"Russia is a very important country to the Philippines. We would like Russia to be more economically engaged in the ASEAN and East Asia," the President said during the courtesy call on her of six of the 54-member Russian trade and investment mission, led by Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Mikhail Nikolaev, at Malacanang's Music Room.

The President informed the delegation that "within ASEAN, the Philippines is the coordinator on relations with Russia."

"We hope Russia could become a full dialogue partner of ASEAN and East Asia. I hope your visit would contribute to that aspiration," the President said.

In response, Nikolaev said Russia would like to have more participation in the ASEAN, specifically to assist and help small businesses in the region.

"Our (trade) mission has great support from our head of government," he said, adding that his group would like to look into "many unexplored areas" of investment in the Philippines and on "products of interest to both sides."

Nikolaev said they have keen interest on Cebu's custom-designed furnitures that are made of materials indigenous only in the Philippines.

They are also looking at the Philippines-produced tropical fruits and aquaculture products which they intend to distribute to the Siberian countries.

The delegation arrived in Manila last Saturday and would also visit Cebu and Bohol provinces during their eight-day visit.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary of the Office of European Affairs Maria Zeneida Angara-Collinson said the Board of Investments has scheduled for the group several business-matching sessions with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The delegation also conferred on President Arroyo Russia's Presidential Star Medal awarded only to leading statesmen.

Other recipients include former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and former Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson.

The delegation is composed mainly of members of the Eastern Dimension International Public Movement, a non-governmental organization created to assist in the rapid development of the Russian economy, especially in Siberia and the Far East, through the expansion of Russia-ASEAN cooperation in economic, cultural and scientific fields.

It is the first large-scale business mission from Russia to visit the Philippines since the founding of the Russian Federation in 1992.

TOP

Beauty expert cites PGMA for supporting hairdressing industry

A top official of the country’s leading authority in the local beauty business cited President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today for showing the administration’s concern and support to the hairdressing industry which provides job opportunities to Filipinos.

Evelyn Alvaran-Cruz, president and CEO of Hair Asia Inc., made the remarks after the President attended the nationwide 17th National Open Championship for Hair and Makeup Competition at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

"Hinding-hindi namin makakalimutan ang suportang ipinagkaloob mo sa amin, Madam President. Ikaw lamang ang kauna-unahang presidente na nagbigay ng importansiya sa kalagayan ng mga hairdressers at saloon owners (We will never forget your support to the industry. You’re the first ever President who gave importance to the contribution of hairdressers and saloon owners)," Cruz said in her welcome remarks.

The Hair Asia National Championship for Filipino hairstylists organized by Hair Asia Inc. is the country’s most respected and credible competition for hairdressers and makeup artists looking to break into the big leagues.

Cruz revealed that she was not expecting the President to attend the Gala Show until her Presidential aide called to confirm her presence.

"I could hardly believe it. Never before had a Philippine President acknowledged the efforts and contributions of the hairdressing industry, much less taken the time to lend her presence to its endeavors," Cruz said.

During her brief stay at the Gala Show, the President presented the trophy to Gener Miranda, her personal assistant and hairstylist. Miranda was cited as Hair Asia 2007 Hall of Fame awardee.

Miranda also served as personal hairdresser to the President’s mother and former First Lady Evangeline Macapagal, Elvira Manahan and former President Corazon C. Aquino, among others.

According to Cruz, the Gala Show featured a runaway presentation by international experts from the world-renowned Vidal Sassoon Organization. The hair experts came from London and Shanghai to represent the Vidal Sassoon Hair Academy of Shanghai – the first and only Sassoon institute in Asia.

After the presentation, the President personally handed a token of appreciation to the members of the Vidal Sassoon Creative Team.

Cruz also assured the President that in response to the government acknowledgement, the 8,000 hairdressers and beauty experts who attended the show will definitely support her leadership and pro-poor programs to be able to provide livelihood and job opportunities to Filipinos belonging to the so-called third sex.

This year’s overall champion will receive P15,000 cash prize, a gold trophy, gift bags from the event sponsors and an educational grant to attend a short course at the Vidal Sassoon Academy of Shanghai.

TOP

.

05 MARCH 2007