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| 10 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
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| 10 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
| APEC leaders renew commitment to economic integration |
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SYDNEY – Leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum renewed their commitment to regional
economic integration, free and open markets and to the security of their
people in their joint declaration at the end of their two-day 15th Summit
here Sunday. Promoting open, efficient, transparent and flexible economies, the APEC leaders said, is vital to continuing economic growth and the building of a strong and sustainable future for the Asia-Pacific community. “This provides the best protection against economic volatility and disruption caused by natural disasters and other threats to sustainable growth,” the joint statement said. The APEC is composed of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The APEC economies’ commitment to open markets and economic cooperation, according to the leaders, has generated substantial regional integration that enabled the Pacific Rim nations to outstrip the rest of the world in economic growth, thereby reducing by half the number of people living in poverty in the region since 1989. They agreed to accelerate efforts towards this objective by:
“We have asked ministers and officials to
carry forward this work and report back to us in 2008 with a summary of
steps taken to promote regional economic integration,” the leaders said. |
| New peace paradigm working well in Mindanao - PGMA |
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DAVAO CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
said today that the new paradigm for peace in Mindanao, combining the soft
power of development and the hard power of the military, in the quest for
permanent peace in Mindanao is working well. She revealed that despite the all-out military offensive against the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, there has been no report of civilian casualty. The President arrived at the Davao International Airport at 4 a.m. on a direct flight from Sydney, Australian where she attended the 15th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum of the 21 leaders of the Pacific Rim countries. In an informal media interaction at the Martha’s Restaurant at the convention mountain and prayer center of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in Tamayong, Calinan District a few hours after her arrival from Sydney, the President said she was thankful to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for their coordination and cooperation in the peace and security arrangements implemented by the government in the current operations against the Abu Sayyaf. She explained that the government’s total war against the Abu Sayyaf constitutes the “hard power” component of the new paradigm, while the soft approach pertains to the government’s consolidated operation to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed during the military-Abu Sayyaf confrontations. "So iyon ang isang kabisaan noon, the estimation of the police showing development at walang civilian casualties dito sa offensive na ito. Pero nagpapasalamat naman tayo dahil sa bisa ng peace and security arrangements, hindi nakikialam ang MILF sa offensive na ito," the President said. She also reiterated the government’s commitment to go back to the negotiating table, saying she conveyed this position to Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi on the sidelines of the APEC leaders’ meeting. "Siyempre nag-alala ang Malaysia dahil sila ang facilitator ng formal peace talks, nang nagkaroon ng ambush sa Basilan. At sinabi ko sa kanya (Badawi) na committed tayo na bumalik sa peace table," she said, adding that the same sentiment was also aired by the MILF peace panel. Joining the President in her visit here were Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza. Also present at the media interaction were Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. |
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PGMA's
Statement during the Signing of the Executive Order on
Generating Investments in Geothermal Areas Davao City September 10, 2007 |
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Gi-abi-bi ko si Pastor Quiboloy ug ang tanan nga
mga apil sa Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name, ni-ining
inyong anibersaryo. Gapasalamat ako sa oportunidad aron maka-apil sa inyong
International Kingdom Leaders Convention dinhi sa syudad sa Davao. Nagtipon kita sa ngalan sa kalinaw, pangahiusa ug rekonsilasyon, kay kini ang labing kinahanglan karon. Salamat sa kanunay ninyong suporta ug pag-ampo alang sa padayon ng kaayuhan sa atong nasod ug katawhan. This morning we arrived from the APEC Summit which presented another opportunity to engage allies in economic, political and security issues at a time when the world needs closer cooperation: the US on our paradigm for peace in Mindanao using both soft and hard power, China on our Comprehensive Economic Cooperation, Japan and Brunei on the international team monitoring the ceasefire in Mindanao, Malaysia on our peace process with the MILF, Indonesia and New Zealand on our joint projects against the avian flu. At the Summit meetings we saw greater regional economic integration made possible with all twenty-one APEC economies agreeing to pursue the path of trade liberalization and a declaration on how the APEC can work together to address the global challenges of climate change through the UN renewed framework for cooperation. We embrace sustainable development. We have move forward with an aggressive effort to create a Green Philippines, including reducing reliance on fossil fuels with our biofuels, wind and solar efforts and geothermal programs. We take this opportunity of being in Davao City, the regional center near the geothermal field of Mount Apo, to sign an Executive Order to launch GIGA - G - I - G - A - Generating Investments in Geothermal Areas. Kining E.O. usa ka dakong hakbang aron mopaspas pa ang pag-usbaw sa mga lunsod nga du-ol sa mga geothermal sites sa PNOC (Philippine National Oil Company). Kining E.O. gahangyo sa mga local nga pamunuan o LGUs nga magpatindog ug economic zones sa mga lungsod na malapit sa mga planta ng enerhiya ng PNOC, aron labaw pa silang maka-bentaha sa ilahang royalties nga ginagamit nila sa pag-subsidize sa electric bill sa ilahang mga konstituwente. The acronym GIGA connotes bigness, which describes our geothermal fields as well as the potential in incubating businesses near them. What should lure investors to set up shop near geothermal plants is the same reason that led government to put in billions (of pesos) to build them; the availability of cheap and clean energy. It will be cheap because in these areas local governments have large bank accounts from geothermal project royalties that they use to subsidize the electric bill of their constituents. But geothermal plants need not to only transform steam to power. They can also be harnessed to channel steam to jobs. We can do this by convincing investors to take advantage of cheap power in communities hosting geothermal plants. Cheap power by itself is already a powerful draw but we will make it more irresistable by throwing in other fiscal incentives which an ecozone is allowed to grant. Thus if we build them, they will come. The synergy of geothermal power and ecozones will power up progress. So to the host communities, I urge you: full steam ahead. |
| 7 geothermal-producing provinces designated as special economic zones |
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DAVAO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
signed this morning an Executive Order (EO) designating seven
geothermal-producing provinces as special economic zones in a move to
attract investors, accelerate the development of the country’s geothermal
resources and bring down power costs. The still unnumbered EO listed these provinces as Laguna, Albay, Sorsogon, all in Luzon; Leyte, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, in the Visayas, and North Cotabato in Mindanao. These provinces were all directed under the EO to develop the economic zones immediately. The Chief Executive arrived here early this morning from Sydney where she attended the 15th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum along with 20 other leaders of the Pacific Rim countries. In signing the EO, she pointed out that “the Philippines has one of the highest industrial power rates in Southeast Asia.” Because “majority of the biggest power consumers are industrial locators in economic zones… there is a compelling need for a more reliable, economical, competitive, and efficient power supply to provide quality electricity to power-sensitive industrial locators in the economic zones and to encourage future locators,” the EO said. The EO, which comes on the heels of another energy-related EO – EO 655 signed last Aug. 22 – states that “the government is adopting measures that would give open access to private and publicly-owned economic zones in sourcing their power with the end in view of lowering the power cost in the economic zones and to promote competitiveness.” Identified as potential sources of geothermal power in the designated economic zones are Tiwi in Albay; MakBan, which borders Makiling and Banahaw in Laguna; Tongonan, which borders Ormoc and Kananga in Leyte. Palinpinon in Valencia, Negros Oriental; BacMan, which borders Bacon and Manito in Sorsogon and Albay, respectively; Mt. Apo in the border of Kidapawan, North Cotabato; and Murcia in Negros Occidental. The President signed the Executive Order
during the 22nd founding anniversary of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The
Name Above Every Name, at the Convention Mountain and Prayer Center in
Tamayong, Calinan District, Davao City. The President ordered the “respective local government units in areas near or adjacent to the geothermal producing sites” to “develop economic zones in coordination with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).” Under the presidential directive, the PEZA shall assist the local government units (LGUs) concerned in the creation and development of the economic zones. The signing of the EO was originally scheduled at the Philippine National Oil Company - Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC) geothermal field at the slope of Mt. Apo in the border of Brgy. Ilomavis, Kidapawan City, North Cotabato. However, bad weather earlier in the day forced the transfer of the signing to Davao City. |
| PGMA thanks powerful Davao-based religious group for support to her reconciliation policy |
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DAVAO CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
thanked today the leaders and members of one of the country’s most powerful
religious groups: the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name,
for their support to her administration’s national reconciliation policy by
rejecting hatred and divisiveness to attain national unity and economic
progress. "Nagtipon kita sa ngalan sa kalinaw, pangahi-usa ug rekonsilasyon, kay kini ang labing kinahanglan karon. Salamat sa kanumay ninyong suporta ug pag-ampo alang sa padayon ng kaayuhan sa atong naso ug katawhan," the President said in Visayan dialect. She made the remarks during the Kingdom’s 22nd founding anniversary celebration and 11th International Worker's Convention at the church’s convention and prayer center in the mountain of Barangay Tamayong, Calinan District, 35 kilometers from Davao City. She visited the center shortly after she arrived from Sydney, Australia where she attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ summit. In her speech, the President reported to the nation that leaders of the 21 APEC economies agreed on the adoption of greater regional economic integration, trade liberalization and declaration on how APEC members can work together to address the global challenges of climate change through the United Nations renewed framework for cooperation. On the sustainable development, she cited as a good example the successful establishment of a mountain convention and prayer center of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that gives the best view of the Mt. Apo. She called on the people to help create a Green Philippines, and support efforts to reduce reliance in fossil fuels, by using biofuels, wind, solar and geothermal energy. She also urged the Kingdom of Jesus Christ community to "full steam ahead" and support the government's effort to develop the country's renewable energy into generating investments that would provide more job opportunities to the people. The President also launched here the G-I-G-A or Generating Investments in Geothermal Areas by issuing an Executive Order directing all government units in areas near geothermal sites to develop it and convert as economic zones by putting up electronic factories. "The acronym GIGA connotes bigness, which describes our geothermal fields as well as the potential in incubating business near them," she touted, adding that by putting investment near geothermal sites all companies will not pay expensive electricity because geothermal energy has clean and cheap energy. Joining the President in her visit here were Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza. Also present were Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. |
| PGMA congratulates dozen Davao cops who repulsed NPA rebels |
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DAVAO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
congratulated today the 12 policemen who recently repulsed a band of
fully-armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in an encounter at Sitio Magum,
Saoquigue, Municipality of Baganga, Davao Oriental. The President shook the hand, one after another, of the 12 cops who were earlier awarded the Philippine National Police (PNP) Merit Medal or Medalya ng Kagalingan in abstencia at the National Heroes’ Day celebrations in Cagayan de Oro City last Aug. 27. The Davao cops encountered at least 15 fully-armed NPA rebels led by Eti Erlina, alias Bungi, on June 7, 2007, and the "PNP team successfully retaliated despite being placed in a disadvantage(d) position, (with) the enemy suffering eight casualties," the PNP said. The President cited the policemen because "the vigilance and bravery displayed by the PNP personnel contributed to the success of the campaign of the PNP against insurgency." "By this feat, they have manifested their competence and exceptional dedication to duty, an act worthy of recognition," states the award that went to: SPO1 Atilo Salvan, PO3 Munil Askali, PO2 Wilfredo Galupo, and PO1s Rodney Barte, Marcelino Vinson, Lemuel Magoncia, Kenneth Corsame, Sigfredo Sanchez, Dennis Jess Lumikid, Rey Idoy, Ronie Villegas, and Ariel Bongco. The President congratulated the Kagalingan awardees at the VIP Lounge of the Davao International Airport on her way back to Manila from attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Sydney, Australia. |
