Chinese firms keen on more trade, investments in Phl

 Economy
May 052013
 
Chinese firms keen on more trade, investments in Phl

MANILA, Philippines – Chinese businesses are keen to trade and invest more in the Philippines amid its growing economic growth. Xu Ningning, Executive Secretary General of China-ASEAN Business Council (CABC), said they are willing to cooperate with the Philippines in sectors such as agriculture, fishery, infrastructure, mining, energy, information and communication technology, manufacturing, tourism, engineering service, forestry and some other areas. “There are huge cooperation potential and numerous business opportunities for trade and economic cooperation between China and the Philippines,”  he said during the recent Philippine-China Business Forum organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) held here. Ningning said that as Chinese enterprises are eager to “go out”, the Philippines and other ASEAN countries have become their biggest markets. He said the Philippines is one of their preferred markets and investment locations, citing its fast economic growth that is expected to accelerate six to seven percent this year. “At present, the Philippines is actively attracting foreign investments and promoting its industrial development. And China is actively implementing its 12th Five-Year Plan, with its average annual GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate at seven percent as planned,” he added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 With this, Ningning urged the need to implement the five-year development program for trade and economic cooperation signed by the Philippines and China in 2011 which targeted to expand the volume of bilateral trade to $60 billion by 2016. “The Philippines should actively promote its business opportunities and famous brands Read More …

In Alex Padilla’s peace quest, a battle with extremes

 News
May 052013
 
In Alex Padilla’s peace quest, a battle with extremes

Kuwento By Benjamin PimentelINQUIRER.net 3:22 pm | Sunday, May 5th, 2013 Something Alex Padilla told me years ago makes it clear that he has a toughest job in the government – but also the clearest sense of why that job is important. “Two related truths I believe in on this matter are these,” he told me in a January 2011 email after he was named head of the government peace panel and as peace negotiations with the underground left were set to begin. “First, government cannot defeat this insurgency through military action alone. And second, the CPP/NPA/NDF could never achieve victory through armed struggle.” “I don’t expect both extremes to agree, of course,” he continued, “but we have taken the stance that we are not only negotiating with the left but actually negotiating with the entire Filipino people as our main audience and these ‘truths’ are widely agreed with.” Two years later, the negotiations have come crashing down. The good news is that, while the peace talks have failed, the government, as Padilla himself said in a report, will try to take “a new approach to pursue peace.” Not exactly sure what that means. How you can pursue peace without negotiating a peace agreement? (Unless this new approach actually involves waging war.) The other good news is that Alex Padilla has a bit more time to do the job, at least based on a deadline he imposed on himself. “I have also been candid enough to say that I do Read More …

PAL flights to New York to start once US lifts ban

 Economy
May 012013
 
PAL flights to New York to start once US lifts ban

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines will soon be able to mount flights to New York once the United States Federal Aviation Administration lifts its ban on additional flights from the Philippines. The ban comes after the US FAA downgraded the country’s standing as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization, placing the Philippines in Category 2 or unsafe status. After a five-day audit early this year, ICAO found out that the country managed to address and resolved its safety concerns, seen to bring the Philippines back to Category 1 status. “With the lifting of the US FAA sanction, we can go to New York already,” PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang said. PAL currently flies to Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Ang said that according to a meeting of civil aviation authorities in Brussels, Belgium, the 27-nation European Union, which also imposed a similar sanction, is likely to lift its own three-year ban on Philippine air carriers “within the year.” 

Philippines suspends live shrimp imports

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Philippines suspends live shrimp imports

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The Philippine government today suspended the import of all live shrimps and susceptible crustaceans to prevent the entry and spread of shrimp diseases such as Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) in the country. The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) said it issued the suspension on the recommendation of shrimp disease expert Dr. Donald Lightner and after local shrimp operators expressed concern over the possible entry of infected shrimps from heavily-affected countries The DA said the Philippines remains free from EMS, a disease characterized by massive mortalities during the first 30 days. Infected shrimp samples show slow growth, corkscrew swimming, and pale coloration.   The government said it will closely monitor airports and seaports to ensure that infected shrimps from heavily-affected countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia will not enter the country.

Philippines to buy 187,000 tons of rice from Vietnam

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Philippines to buy 187,000 tons of rice from Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The Philippine government announced today that it had decided to  import 187,000 tons of milled rice from Vietnam to beef up stocks before the onset of the typhoon season in July. State-run National Food Authority (NFA) said Vietnam had given the “best offer” for the supply of 187,000 tons of 25 percent broken rice grade. NFA administrator Orlan A. Calayag said Vietnam’s Southern Food Corp. offered the best bid at $459.75 per ton. Vietnam and Thailand submitted bids for the right to supply the volume during a government-to-government tender held on April 3.   The Philippines may no longer need to import more rice as it expects another record harvest this year. For 2013, Philippine paddy rice output is projected to go up by 11 percent on year to 20 million tons. 

Liquidity expands 11.4 pct in March

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Liquidity expands 11.4 pct in March

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – Demand for money in the Philippines grew by 11.4 percent on year to P5.1 trillion ($123.9 billion) in March, the local central bank said today. On a monthly basis, seasonally-adjusted domestic liquidity or M3 also expanded at a faster pace of 1.5 percent compared with the 0.2 percent month-on-month growth in February. The central bank said the sustained expansion in net domestic assets (NDA) was the main driver in the growth of money supply. The Philippine government said the continued expansion in domestic liquidity in March indicates sufficient liquidity to sustain the growth momentum of the economy. 

Unknown disease prompts BFAR to ban shrimp imports

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Unknown disease prompts BFAR to ban shrimp imports

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources indefinitely suspended the importation of live shrimp and crustaceans to prevent an unknown disease from spreading in Philippine waters. “We are dealing with a disease unknown to us, all the more that measures must be undertaken,” BFAR Director Asis G. Perez said last week in a shrimp industry meeting with the operators and importers. The state agency instructed its Fish Health Officers, Quarantine Officers and the Law Enforcement Quick Response Team to implement monitoring, control and surveillance protocols at the ports of entry, airports and seaports in the country.  BFAR said the measure is meant to prevent the spread Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), characterized by massive shrimp deaths during the first 30 days. Infected samples exhibit slow growth, corkscrew swimming and pale color. Currently, no known pathogen has been found causing the disease, the state agency said. The order came after the recommendation of Dr. Donald Lightner, a shrimp disease expert. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “The Philippines remains EMS-free as of the moment and BFAR is exhausting all efforts to remain so,” Perez said, adding that the country is well-positioned as this opens the opportunity for the Philippines to expand its shrimp exports. 

US green card limbo: for one Filipino, a long wait

 News
Apr 302013
 
US green card limbo: for one Filipino, a long wait

2:32 pm | Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 This recent undated photograph obtained courtesy of Elizabeth Arnulfo shows Arnulfo Babiera (R), who applied for a US green card a decade ago, in the hopes of reuniting with his sister, Elizabeth Arnulfo (L), a naturalized citizen. But at the current rate, his wait could extend until 2027.a naturalized citizen. But at the current rate, his wait could extend until 2027. Foreigners seeking to immigrate to the United States under the family reunification program may however see changes on the horizon, with a new reform seeking to resolve the four million cases in limbo, like that of Babiera. AFP PHOTO WASHINGTON—Arnulfo Babiera applied for a US green card a decade ago, in the hopes of reuniting with his sister, a naturalized citizen. But at the current rate, his wait could extend until 2027. Foreigners seeking to immigrate to the United States under a family reunification program may however see changes on the horizon, with a new reform seeking to resolve the four million cases in limbo, like that of Babiera. “That is my dream, going to the United States of America — to earn more, to support my family here. My income would be greater than it is here,” Babiera told AFP by telephone from his home in Davao, in the southern Philippines. Babiera, a 58-year-old employee of a recruitment agency, earned the right to come to the United States when his sister Elizabeth filed a green card application on his behalf in Read More …

Invitation to the 11th Annual “Brown Strokes on a White Canvas” Art Exhibit

 Entertainment
Apr 292013
 

In commemoration of Asian American Pacific Heritage Month, the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C. and the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, Inc. Cordially invite you to the 11th Annual “Brown Strokes on a White Canvas” Art Exhibit Featuring established and future famous artists from the Filipino-American Community May 29 to May 31, 2013 […]

BOC inks pact with Russia, Netherlands

 News
Apr 292013
 
BOC inks pact with Russia, Netherlands

By Jerry E. Esplanada Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:52 am | Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Russian Federation and the Netherlands have joined the growing list of countries that have forged customs cooperation agreements with the Philippines. Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said this would boost the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) campaign against all forms of smuggling, commercial fraud and transnational crimes. He said the agreements would initiate information exchanges for the benefit of all countries and provide assistance in the areas of trade statistics, customs law enforcement, human resource development, technical know-how and trade facilitation. In a text message to the Inquirer on Monday, Biazon said these were the second and third agreements entered into by the BOC since he assumed office in September 2011. “The first agreement, which involved Mexico, was signed last year,” he said. Biazon disclosed the BOC was holding exploratory talks and negotiations for similar arrangements with a number of nations. He did not identify the countries. “We’ve had similar agreements with the United States, South Korea, Australia, China, Taiwan and Israel. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) also has multilateral agreements, which we are a part of,” he said. Borders divide, customs connect Citing the World Customs Organization motto, “Borders divide, customs connect,” Biazon said the country’s agreement with Moscow “is expected to enhance cooperation between the customs agencies of the Philippines and Russia.” “The cooperation agreement between the two countries is expected to prevent breaches of customs laws and protect their economic, fiscal, social Read More …

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