| PGMA, Uribe compare governance notes in Cartagena, Colombia |
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CARTAGENA, Colombia -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Colombian
President Alvaro Uribe exchanged governance tips amid banter and both found
to their surprise that their countries, although worlds apart, have many
similarities and strengths, and share common challenges and solutions. In their casual discussion that lasted one and a half hours in the sitting room of a historic site in the coastal metropolis of Cartagena, the two heads of state exchanged views on how they deal with rebels, the current financial crunch and a variety of common topics. Businessman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and his wife Lizzie, who comes from a sugar-producing family in Colombia, played host to the President in their Cartagena home later in the day. When President Arroyo asked President Uribe what he was doing in the face of the financial crunch, the latter said his government was extending direct help to the poor with conditional cash transfers, subsidies through school and medical aid, attending to rice and food sufficiency, and taking care of the poor and vulnerable through “fiscal stimulus.” And yes, addressing the rebels. Finding resonance in the Colombian formula, President Arroyo acknowledged that the Philippines has learned from the good practices in South America and that, in fact, what Uribe mentioned were exactly what she has been doing in the Philippines. “Yes, we are doing exactly the same thing back home. In fact, we adopted the good practices of South America to deal with our present -- day challenges,” President Arroyo said. The conversation started in a light banter, with President Arroyo saying that the two best known women of Colombia got Filipino husbands, namely Stella Marquez-Araneta, a former Miss International, and Lizzie, referring to Mrs. Zobel. Both presidents exchanged views on investment incentives like economic zones, and tax holidays. President Arroyo also invited the Colombian leader to visit the Philippines soon. Like the Philippine President, Uribe is known for his work ethic, his frequent visits to his constituents, and doing governance in remote areas of the country whose population of 45 million is roughly half that of the Philippines. The President’s small delegation, composed of two Cabinet secretaries, Peter Favila and Jesus Dureza, and five congressmen, was billeted in a century-old monastery converted into a quiant hotel within the walled part of the city very similar to Intramuros. The monastery was also built years ago to protect the Colombian hideaway from marauding pirates. Today, Cartagena is a world tourist destination, and the walled portion of the city is a world heritage site. |
| RP, Peru business groups agree to explore trade opportunities |
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LIMA, Peru (via PLDT) – Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila witnessed
on Sunday the signing of a private cooperation agreement between Peruvian
and Philippine business groups on the possibility of expanding trade between
the two countries. The agreement was signed at the of Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola here during the reception that followed the conferment of a doctorate degree, honoris causa, on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Favila said the cooperation agreement could open many opportunities for the businessmen of the two countries, which share a common history of having been under Spanish rule for hundreds of years. “We should forge closer ties economically with Peru given the similarities of our two countries,” Favila said. He said a Peruvian company is keen on tying up with the Zuellig pharmaceutical company in the Philippines. Peruvians are also interested in pre-fabricated housing materials to support the construction boom in this South American nation, Favila said. “They (Peru businessmen) are still on the stage of exploring opportunities (in the Philippines),” Favila said. |