PRESIDENT BENIGNO S.C. Aquino III on Friday pitched investments for the Philippines to foreign businessmen at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Myanmar.
Jun 072013
Jun 072013
SEAT ENTITLEMENTS between the Philippines and Macau have been raised with more flights to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport while the limit for other gateways has been lifted, an official said Thursday.
Jun 072013
Kabang, a mongrel dog, was given a hero’s welcome Saturday morning upon her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila following surgery in the United States to reconstruct her face. Kabang arrived aboard a Philippine Airlines flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at 3:25 a.m., radio dzBB’s Roland Bola reported. She was mobbed by photographers shortly after disembarking from the PAL flight PR-105, and is to undergo a checkup. Kabang was released from the University of California’s Davis Veterinary Hospital on Monday after eight months of treatment in which her face was partially rebuilt and she was cured of cancer and heartworm. In 2011 Kabang, then aged two and pregnant, became a hero in the Philippines after running in front of a motorcycle in what her owner said was a deliberate act to save her daughter and niece who were crossing a busy road. Thousands of dollars were raised for her treatment through an online campaign. “I think I will cry when I see her. She’s like a member of our family,” said owner Rudy Bunggal, a laborer who lives in a shanty in a poor southern Philippine town, told AFP by phone on Tuesday. In the accident Kabang’s snout and part of her jaw were torn off when the motorcycle flipped over, also damaging an eyelid. The dog became a hero in the Philippines and an internet sensation after local media reported how she had saved the girls by deliberately leaping in front Read More …
Jun 072013
By Nancy C. CarvajalPhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:23 am | Saturday, June 8th, 2013 Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng’s boat, the Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, is checked by Taiwanese officers after arriving at Liuqiu port in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, Saturday, May 11, 2013. Taiwanese boat owner Steven Liao said the damage to the Guang Ta Hsin 28 costs around NT$8 million (P11 million). AP PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday said it would not be able to complete its report on the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman last month or proceed with the filing of charges against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel involved until a counterpart Taiwanese team of investigators sends them a set of authenticated documents from the latter’s own probe of the incident. Virgilio Mendez, the NBI deputy director for regional services, told a press conference on Friday that the agency has ended its discussions with the Taiwanese probers after holding a series of meetings. “Discussions were terminated this afternoon and we agreed on some issues like exchange and clarification of evidence collected,” Mendez said. He described the meetings as “cordial and at the same time passionate”. But Mendez said the NBI report on its investigation cannot be finished until their Taiwanese counterparts send to the Manila Economic Cultural Office (Meco), the Philippines’ de facto embassy in Taipei, the results of their own investigation, complete with authenticated and translated documents constituting their evidence. Mendez said they requested for an “official English translation Read More …
Jun 062013
President Benigno Aquino on Friday morning left for Myanmar to attend the 22nd World Economic Forum East Asia summit. Aquino received departure honors from the Philippine Air Force before boarding a Philippine Airlines flight, radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported. The report said his delegation included: – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario– National Economic and Development Authority head Arsenio Balisacan– Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo– Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla– Presidential Management Staff head Julia Abad– Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Other officials who went to Myanmar in advance included Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang. Seeing him off at the NAIA Terminal 2 were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles, Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino. In his departure statement, Aquino promised to strengthen ties with the Philippines’ neighbors and boost cooperation with them. He also said the Philippines will seek to learn from the summit as part of its preparations to host the WEF on East Asia in 2014. Aquino said he expects to meet with Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and exchange ideas with her. He is also expected to meet with business groups during his visit, the report said. Upon arrival in Myanmar on Friday morning, Aquino is expected to have a bilateral meeting with Myanmar President Thein Sein. He will also meet Read More …
Jun 062013
By Cynthia D. Balana, Doris C. DumlaoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 12:18 am | Friday, June 7th, 2013 President Benigno Aquino III AP FILE PHOTO NAYPYITAW, Burma—Two Southeast Asian countries are thrust into the limelight at this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) East Asia—the host country Burma (Myanmar) for coming out of decades of economic and political isolation and the Philippines, once a laggard but now an investment-grade country and Asia’s fastest-growing economy. President Aquino will speak Friday in a plenary session at Myanmar International Convention Centre, sharing the spotlight with Burmese President U Thein Sein during the closing ceremonies of the three-day WEF East Asia Summit, which gathered 900 delegates from 55 countries. The two heads of state will be interviewed by WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab about their perspectives on regional transformation. This year’s summit has put a lot of focus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) ahead of its targeted integration into a single market by 2015. Prior to the plenary session, Aquino will speak in an informal interactive luncheon hosted by Ayala Corp. before a more intimate gathering of 200-300 people. “The East Asia Summit serves as an excellent regional follow-up to Davos,” Ayala chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said, referring to Aquino’s WEF debut in Switzerland last January. Despite the gains in Davos, Zobel de Ayala said more work was needed to encourage foreign investment in the country. “President Aquino’s participation in Myanmar keeps the momentum going with the global Read More …
Jun 062013
MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay has invited German businessmen to invest in the country. Binay, presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) concerns, urged the German business community to look past the Fraport-Piatco affair and take a second look at different investment opportunities in the Philippines. “It may not seem easy to think of doing business as usual without looking back at Fraport-Piatco affair. But that is now before the international courts, and we must let it take its own course as the stronger parts of our cooperation and partnership move on. We must not forget that we have gone through tougher things than this,” Binay said. On separate meetings, Binay reminded the Ostasiatscheveerein (Asia Pacific Business Association and the Thewirtschasftsrat Deutshcland (Economic Council Germany) that the Philippines continues to receive investment upgrades from the international credit rating agenices as well as attract many short-term and long-term investments from abroad. “So I believe we can move on, and I have come here to move on. The exchange of visits between Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario to Berlin in November 2011 and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle to Manila last February and Labor Minister Ursula von Der Leyen and a high-level group from the Bundestag also to Manila in March has, I believe, created a vigorous momentum for a fresh start,” Binay said. Binay also told German businessmen that a number of major infrastructure projects are up for international public bidding in the Philippines. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: Read More …
Jun 062013
MANILA, Philippines – It is not enough that countries have sufficient food today; it is important to ensure that there will continue to be sufficient food tomorrow. This was stressed recently by leading European agriculture executive Martin Taylor before the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AMCHAM). According to Taylor, increasing food security “in an environmentally sustainable way” is an issue that must be addressed not just by the Philippines but by the international community as well. Taylor expressed concern that there are “seven billion people in the world who do not have enough to east despite significant growth in production over the past 50 years.” He said global food production needs to grow by 70 percent if countries are to meet the growing food requirement. The need is for global food security, not just food sufficiency, he added. This calls for a well planned strategy backed by both governments and the private sector, he underscored. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Concerning the Philippines, Taylor said the challenge to the business and agriculture sectors is “to give small farmers access to technology” to increase production and move closer to food security. He noted that most farmers in the country are considered small since they generally till one to three hectares of farmland. Taylor said technology does not only include the use of modern tools and equipment but also the development of seeds and farm inputs Read More …
Jun 062013
MANILA, Philippines – The moratorium on the issuance of landing permits at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is sending the wrong signal to international investors, the country’s largest travel/tourism groups said. In a joint statement, Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) and the Federation of Tourism Industry of the Philippines (FTIP) said they are asking the government to study carefully the impact of the moratorium to the tourism industry and the economy as a whole. PTAA president John Paul Cabalza said the industry already anticipated the influx of request for permits to have regular flights into the country’s major gateways after the scrapping of the common carriers tax (CCT) earlier this year. “Having a strong Philippine tourism campaign requires the support of other government agencies and needs a singular voice on that same plan. We cannot give the international community mixed signals when we push hard to open a door and yet have that door being shut again,” he said. For her part, interim FTIP president Aileen Clemente said more than just addressing the flight congestion challenges of NAIA, “we want the government in general, to map out and address connectivity, tourism growth, and capacity build-up across the country.” Earlier reports came out that the Civil Aviation Board (CAB) has denied the request of both India’s Jet Airways and Oman Airways to mount regular flights to Manila. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Jet Airways is the second largest carrier in India with 21 international destinations across Read More …
Jun 062013
Kuwento By Benjamin Pimentel 7:08 pm | Thursday, June 6th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO – In his wonderful essay collection, “Pinoy in America,’ Lorenzo Paran III pondered the typical dilemma of the expatriate Filipino. “No one can live in two places,” Third, as Paran is known to friends, writes. “It wouldn’t be living. To truly live, you must be rooted in the land. A virtual life doesn’t count. It’s not a life if you can log out.” It’s been three years since Third wrote that and the explosive growth of social media has certainly made it possible for many more Filipino expats to try to hang on to life in the Philippines through cyberspace. Salamin editor Third Paran with Ruben Nepales who is featured in the magazine’s first issue. PHOTO/RICK GAVINO Still, Third makes a strong case for rootedness which he reaffirms this month with the launch of a new magazine. It’s called Salamin, or mirror, and it seeks to reflect the Filipino story in America. Salamin is a print publication. You don’t need to be logged in to check it out. Does it make sense to put out a print magazine at a time when print media is dying? Third works for a print news publication in southern California, so he knows the challenge he has taken on. But Salamin, he says, is not going to be yet another outlet for breaking, real-time news. You can get that from many other places on the Web. Instead, the mirror Third is Read More …