PGMA to Fil-North Americans: Help the Country of your Roots. And Other Updates. |
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Communities - RP Government Updates | |||
Monday, 14 July 2008 09:15 | |||
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged today the delegates to the 4th Annual Ambassadors, Consuls Generals and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) to become partners of her administrations in fueling the growth of the Philippine economy. The President issued the call, not only to the delegates of the 4th ACGTDT but also to the four-million Filipino-Americans residing in the United States and half-a-million Filipino-Canadians in her speech welcoming them this morning to Malacanang.
The President said Filipinos through their remittances, in the US and Canada are “truly a significant and positive force” for the Philippine development.
“You are an important partner of government in ensuring that the Philippines remains firmly on the path of progress. Your remittances, make up the bulk of the record-setting $16-billion that we received in 2007, and therefore, you have helped fueled the growth of the Philippine economy,” the President said.
She noted that the country’s Gross Domestic product (GDP) is 5.2-percent and with the help of remittances from the Filipino-Americans and Filipino-Canadians the Gross National Product (GNP) remains at 7-percent.
The President told the delegates that their investment in small and medium enterprises (SME’s) have fanned the flames in entrepreneurship among your siblings, children, nieces and nephews while your investments in real estate have been instrumental in renewing the real-estate market and sustained its considerable growth during her leadership.
“And now might have noticed our Philippine Stock Exchange is counting your investments as well. You are a crucial part of Team Philippines. We encourage you to continue championing Philippine initiatives aimed at lasting peace,” she told the delegates.
Citing the importance of their RP tours, the President said “we will continue to build bridges and neighbors and more importantly strengthen the Philippine ties with its allies around the world, particularly America.”
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PGMA: No backpedaling on fiscal reforms President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the government is determined to pursue the fiscal reforms that have placed the country in a better position to weather the blows of soaring food and oil prices worldwide, and raised funds for social services and priority infrastructure projects.
“We are sticking to and we are widening the fiscal reforms that have earned us the respect of international finance, bringing our interest rates down and making our peso strong,” the President said, in an apparent reference to the calls by certain sectors for the suspension or lifting of the 12 percent Valued Added Tax (EVAT) on oil.
The President made the statement before the visiting Filipino-Americans and Filipino-Canadians delegates to the 4th Annual Ambassadors/Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour of the Philippines, who paid a courtesy call on her in Malacanang this morning.
Instead of backpedaling on her fiscal reform programs, President stressed that she intends to “plant them deeper in the structures of the government economy. All this is for the benefit, not only of our people tomorrow, but the next President as well.”
Those who have sought the lifting of the EVAT on oil include committed candidates for president in the 2010 elections.
The Chief Executive pointed out that with the revenues generated by tough fiscal reforms, the government can now focus its attention on “day-to-day problems that have taken all countries by surprise including the US in the world food and fuel crises, while continuing to invest for a better tomorrow.”
She also pointed out that when it comes to food and fuel, the Philippines cannot take the “risk of no one selling us both (items) unless we pay impossible prices.”
“National food self-sufficiency and national fuel conservation are now entrenched as the first principle of statecraft,” she said.
“And that is why having prepared for this, we have adequate supplies of rice today, and we have a solid plan to reach self-sufficiency in the very near future,” she added.
She thanked the Filipino-Americans and Filipino-Canadians for their important role as partners of government in ensuring that the Philippines remains firmly positioned on the path of progress.
She said that their remittances formed the bulk of the $16 billion remitted to the Philippines in 2007 and which helped fuel the country’s economy.
There are now four million Filipino-Americans in the US, and 500,000 Filipino-Canadians.
“You investments in small and medium enterprises, have fanned the flames of entrepreneurship among your siblings, children, nieces and nephews. Your investments in real estate have been instrumental in renewing the real estate market during my administration and sustaining its considerable growth,” she told her visitors.
The President said that the Philippines will continue to build bridges with its neighbors and strengthen relations with its allies around the world, especially the US.
“But at the same time, at this moment in world history, with the rapid rise in food and fuel prices, which you’re also experiencing as the whole world is experiencing, the Philippine must take greater control of its own destiny. We must become more self-reliant and self-sufficient,” she said.
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PGMA says RP is prepared to face global food/fuel crisis President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that with her administration’s successful implementation of fiscal measures, the country has the best shield against the worst effects of the unstoppable worldwide food and fuel prices increases.
The President made the statement in a speech welcoming in to Malacanang’s Rizal Hall this morning the delegates of the 4th Ambassadors, Consuls Generals and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT).
The President said her government spends a lot of time and resources to train and retrain a growing work force for “specific task and for whatever challenges a wayward world economy may throw at us. And because we have been prepared for it we have been able to shield our nation from the worst effects of food and fuel crisis worldwide.”
The President told the 320 Fil-Am and Fil-Canadian delegates that the current economic crisis sweeping the world did not catch the nation unprepared.
In fact, she said, her hard decisions to impose bold fiscal reform measures have resulted in more revenues, which the government is now spending for the rehabilitation and upgrading of infrastructures projects such as bridges, highways, ports, airports and other facilities that intended to create more new jobs.
“With more money we can spend now a lot on health and education,” she said, adding that the policy reforms that she has instituted will now benefit the majority of the Filipino people. Her successor, she added, will inherit ‘a more stable economy’ when she steps down in 2010.
“Had we acted differently or not acted at all, all would be lost today,” she said. “So we remain committed to the path we have taken, the best solution is the one that has worked," she said.
The President maintained that her government remains on track and is firmly focus on getting the country ready for the next generation.
To be able to maintain the respect of the international finance, the government is now widening the fiscal reform by bringing interest rates down and making the Philippine peso stronger than its current status.
“All this is for the benefit not only of our people tomorrow but the next President as well,” she said.
She also informed the delegates that during the last three years that Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila has headed the nation’s competitiveness council, the international finance has convincingly agreed that the Philippines has made important progress for which the international credit rating agencies like Moody’s, Standard and Poor, and among others, gave its positive and stable outlook on the country.
“We are happy that the world competitiveness year book, the latest edition, shows a remarkable improvement of five notches in the rating of the Philippines,” she said.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s speech during the Courtesy Call of the Delegates to the 4th Annual Ambassadors/Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) of the Philippines July 14, 2008
OFWs
"Let me say once again, that Filipinos in the United States and Canada are truly a significant and positive force for development.
“Four million-strong in the U.S. now and half a million-strong in Canada, you are an important partner of Government in ensuring that the Philippines remains firmly on the path of progress."
"Your remittances, make up the bulk of the record-setting 16 billion dollars that we received in remittances in 2007, and therefore you have helped fueled the growth of the Philippine economy."
"And now you might have noticed our Philippine Stock Exchange is courting your investments as well. You are a crucial part of Team Philippines. We encourage you to continue championing Philippine initiatives aimed at lasting peace and development."
Foreign Relations
"On our part, in the Philippines, we continue to build bridges and neighbors, and strengthen ties with allies around the world, especially America."
Governance
"The world crises did not catch us unprepared or without reserves.
“We took hard decisions several years ago, hard on our people, unpopular with big business, but good for the country, as events have shown beyond any doubt."
"These hard decisions were intended to raise new revenues, large amounts of new revenues from bold fiscal reforms -- more money for more bridges, roads, ports and other infrastructure to create more opportunities for new wealth and new jobs, all towards a self-sufficient, self-reliant, strong republic."
"With more money, we spent a lot on health and education; we spent a lot to train and retrain a growing workforce. And not just for specific tasks but for whatever challenges a wayward world economy may throw up."
"We remain on track and firmly focused20on getting the country well on the road by 2010 to first world, like what you are enjoying, in 20 years."
"But when it comes to food and fuel, definitely, we cannot run the risk of no one selling us both unless we pay impossible prices. National food self-sufficiency and national fuel conservation are now entrenched as the first principle of statecraft. And that is why having prepared for this, we have adequate supplies of rice today, and we have a solid plan to reach self-sufficiency in the very near future."
"But our best response in the longer term to the global commodity crisis is this: What is lost in rising costs of commodity imports like oil and rice must be offset by increasing volumes and hopefully increasing prices of commodity exports, whether hard commodities like primary products or soft ones like tourism."
Economy
"We are sticking to and we are widening the fiscal reforms that have earned us the respect of international finance bringing our interest rates down and making our peso stronger. We shall plant them deeper in the structures of government of the economy. All this is for the benefit, not only of our people tomorrow, but the next President as well."
"With the fiscal wherewithal bestowed by our reforms, we are now focusing on the day-to-day problem. We can focus on the day-to-day problems that have taken all countries by surprise including the U.S. in the world food and fuel crises, while continuing to invest for a better tomorrow."
Food Supply
"We spent the last two years preparing for such world crises in two ways: first, by increasing productivity, with the help of the International Rice Research Institute which you have visited. Second, by increasing demand with bigger incomes and smaller income tax bites. Today, minimum wage earners no longer have to pay income tax."
"We should have the world food crisis well in hand in the Philippines, with the programs we launched, combined with more vigilance over prices and greater severity against price manipulation."
Social Services
"We are clustering the programs of DSWD, Department of Health, GSIS, SSS, and other anti-poverty agencies into a National Social Welfare Program to shield the poorest from these ongoing global-wide developments."
Full text of speech available at http://www.op.gov.ph/speeches.asp
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Developmental offensive a win-win solution vs insurgents
MANILA, July 13 (PNA) -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Alexander Yano credited the military's non-traditional activities in the countryside as among the major factors why the 120,000-strong military is winning the war against the communist New People's Army (NPA).
"We launch these offensives because we know that there is a symbiotic relationship between security and development. Bringing development into our communities encourages our people to reject armed groups. Our people know that they are stakeholders to peace and develo pment and they shun
The military is referring to the directive of President Arroyo for the military and the police to end the insurgency problem on or before 2010 when her term ends. The insurgency problem started about four decades ago.
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PGMA to receive 320 Fil-Ams and Fil-Canadians in Malacanang Monday President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to receive Monday, July 14, some 320 Filipino-Americans and Filipino-Canadians from the United States and Canada who shall participate in the 4th Annual Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) of the Philippines.
The highlight of their four-day tour is the wreath-laying rite at the monument of national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and the much-awaited and once-in-a-lifetime courtesy call to the President of the Philippines, to
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PGMA SONA to focus on realignment of expenditures---NEDA President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo is expected to explain in her 8th State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, the realignment of expenditures to social programs for the country to cope with the "global economic slowdown.”
Acting National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director- General Augusto Santos, in an interview over government-run Radyo ng Bayan this morning, said the President wants expenditures focused on social programs, infrastructure and environment protection.
"Gusto gawin ng gobyerno, ‘yung parang kailangan pagbutihin ang expenditures, ilagay sa tamang lugar, sa social programs, infrastructures, and programs to protect the environment (She wants the government to improve its expenditures and pour in money in social programs, infrastructure and protection of the environment)," Santos said.
Malacañang has also plans of a media campaign on the government's "achievements" in time for the SONA, the annual speech the President delivers before a joint session of Congress to spell out the accomplishments and thrusts of the administration.
Santos added that the Philippines has been caught in a "global economic crisis" that can be dealt with through strengthened partnership between the government and the private sector.
Santos also insisted the government's economic fundamentals remain in place.
He said NEDA projects that the economy will still grow this year but it will likely be lower than last year’s 7.3 percent.
In the same program, Presidential Management Staff head Cerge Remonde said many of the government's infrastructure projects have been completed, most even ahead of schedule.
Remonde added the only delays will be in the construction of airports.
* * * * * MANILA, June 04 (PNA) -- If the solid statistics compiled by the Philippine National Police (PNP) were to be a scientific basis for creating a public perception, there is no doubt that it is much safer to walk the streets now, than it was a year ago.
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Economy back on track next year, govt predicts THE Philippines expects economic growth to accelerate in 2009 as inflation and interest rates ease, an official said yesterday.
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PGMA preoccupied with cushioning impact of soaring oil prices on the poor – Dureza President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is preoccupied with finding ways and means to cushion the impact of the meteoric rise of oil prices in the world market on the poor.
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All social welfare programs consolidated into a single national social welfare strategy Exuding confidence that there’s still ample time for her administration’s social reform targets to be achieved, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the clustering of all existing social welfare-related programs of the different government offices into a national social welfare strategy that will directly address the impact of the adverse global situation.
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PGMA’s SONA 2008 to center on subsidy, electricity, food production & infrastructure – Ermita President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’ s State of the Nation Address (SONA) this year will center on government’s subsidies for the poor, electricity, food production and infrastructure.
The hands-on President has been “going through this (SONA preparation) many times,” said Ermita, adding that yesterday, President Arroyo discussed the content for the latest SONA for over two hours.
There will be both “mid-range and long-range” items, said Ermita, adding that the President will also touch on highways, airports, seaports, plus the electrification of all barangays.
2. The construction of new buildings, classrooms, provision of desks and chairs and books for students and scholarships to poor families;
10. A fair closure to the divisiveness among the Edsa 1, 2 and 3 forces. # # #
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Last Updated on Monday, 14 July 2008 11:24 |
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