| PGMA says OFWs 2005 remittances could hit $12B |
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said remittances by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) this year could hit US$12 billion or 40 percent higher than the preceding year. Meeting with the Filipino community in Malaysia at the Saloma Theater and Restaurant here Sunday evening, the President said OFWs are "heroes of the new millennium" whose dollar remittances have helped stabilize the Philippine economy. "That is why the peso is now the strongest currency in Asia and even in the world," the President said. She also cited The Outstanding Filipinos and Groups in Malaysia (TOFIM) for their efforts to improve the lives of their fellow countrymen and themselves and for bringing to fore the well-known Filipino traits of "pakikisama" while in Malaysia. Among those cited as outstanding were Dr. Becky Leogardo, Chenina Chacko, Marilyn de la Rama, Aileen Carumba, Jusstine Bernales, Juliet Chin, Katrina Karim, Maria Allgeier, Ma. Soledad Solleza, Luis Encarnacion, Cora Cross Datin Grace Liao, Marilou Chin, Juvy Ranjit, Norshiah Abdullah, and Vicente Moran. The groups cited were the Filipino Bowlers Association of Malaysia (FBAM), St. John Tahanang Filipino Ministry, the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) and the Penang Support Group (PSG). Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Bro. Anthony Rogers and Datuk Lim Sun Hoe were the non-Filipinos cited by the President for the strong positive impact they made on the lives of Filipinos in Malaysia. They were cited for excellence in the field of business, entrepreneurship, community leadership and domestic services. The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported that as of June 2005, there were 229,674 Filipinos in Malaysia, about 106,000 of whom are undocumented. The working and living conditions of Filipino workers in Malaysia are generally fair and adequate, particularly for those who are documented. Filipino workers, including domestic helpers, generally receive higher pay than their Indonesian, Bangladeshi and Myanmar counterparts. |
| It's all-systems go for Northrail project - Bunye |
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (via PLDT) – It’s all-systems go for the Northrail project – an ambitious modern rail transport system linking Manila and the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga. In an interview with Filipino reporters during a lull in the 11th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center here, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said the bilateral talks between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao centered on the status of the project. Bunye said the President updated the Chinese premier on the progress of preparatory work on the project, including the relocation of squatters occupying 30 kilometers of the old railway line. Earlier, the Chinese government expressed apprehension over the project and hinted its possible deferment due to the resistance by the squatters who have put up a brave fight to keep their houses on the railroad tracks. The Philippine government has assured the squatters they will be relocated to a more appropriate site where their way of life and livelihood would not be affected. "The President reported on the progress of the Northrail project where the relocation of informal settlers has proceeded at a very satisfactory pace," Bunye said. "Right now, we have already cleared 30 kilometers of the areas previously occupied by the informal settlers and that the Chinese engineers are now welcome to take a look and start the ball rolling, as far as the Northrail project is concerned," Bunye added. Bunye, who is also Presidential Spokesman, said the Chinese leader expressed his elation over the development "because they know the impact of this project not only to the economy but also to the transportation industry in the Philippines." The Northrail project began in 1994 during the administration of then President Fidel Ramos. It was part of the plan to develop the former Clark Air Base into an international airport. It was started as an undertaking between the Spanish Railway Group (SRG) and the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), the Philippine National Railways, TPT Development Financing and Euroma, a group representing Filipino investors. When the agreement did not push through, the government looked for other funding sources until the China Export-Import Bank offered a $400 million loan for the construction of Phase I-Section I of the project. It also designated the China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation as the contractor for the project. |
| BIMP-EAGA leaders agree to improve air, sea links in sub-region |
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (via PLDT) -- Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines agreed today to improve their air and sea links to accelerate the growth of the sub-region. The agreement was contained in a joint statement released shortly after their meeting on the second day of the ASEAN Summit in this Malaysian capital. The three other agreements adopted by the BIMP-East Asian Growth Area (EAGA) leaders were: the adoption of a BIMP-EAGA Roadmap to Development; directing the government and private sector to be more proactive in sustaining BIMP-EAGA initiatives, and recognizing the participation of the Northern Territory of Australia and the People’s Republic of China as BIMP-EAGA development partners. "We, the leaders of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines – East Asian Growth Area, have met today to assess the achievements since the first BIMP-EAGA Summit in Bali, Indonesia in October 2003, as well as determining the future direction for the sub-region," the statement read. "This summit will bring greater impetus to the growth of the sub-region," it added. Meanwhile, Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) Chairman Jesus Dureza said that the issue of security and the holding of future BIMP-EAGA summits in tandem with the holding of future ASEAN summits were also taken up in the meeting. "Henceforth, back to back with every ASEAN Summit meeting will be a BIMP-EAGA Summit ," Dureza said. "The Philippines being the chair of the cluster that takes care of customs, immigration, quarantine and security (CIQS) matters will move to get the other four nations together in conducting probably joint patrols of their respective borders," Dureza added. He also said that the border patrol will be conducted on a regular basis and not only when military exercises are held to protect the sub-region from transnational crimes and terrorism. Dureza added that the four countries had reacted favorably to the proposal of Indonesia that the BIMP-EAGA member nations put up an "energy cooperation investment program" to ensure the continuity of energy supply. "This will ensure that the region within the BIMP-EAGA will have sufficient fuel reserves at any time in the future in the event of any eventuality of a critical level of fuel in the sub-region," Dureza said. |
| PGMA pursues 4 key concerns in ASEAN Summit plenary |
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pursued four key concerns at the first plenary session today of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC) here. The four key concerns are energy independence, counter-terrorism, maritime security, and poverty alleviation in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines – East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). "With every visit, we admire Malaysia's achievements, pacing the progress of ASEAN as we have valiantly responded to key issues affecting the region, such as energy, counter-terrorism, marine security and BIMP-EAGA," President Arroyo told the ASEAN leaders. In a briefing for Philippine media reporters covering the summit, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said the President urged the Energy Ministers of the ASEAN countries to discuss measures to secure a reliable energy supply that would last through the next three decades to help sustain the region’s economic growth. Bunye said the President called on ASEAN members to increase their investments in energy infrastructures at the same time that she urged them to collaborate more closely among themselves in looking for and developing renewable energy sources. President Arroyo, he added, likewise enjoined ASEAN’s partner countries --China, Japan and South Korea, sometimes referred to as the plus 3 (+3) countries, to pursue investments in this area. On counter-terrorism, Bunye said the President had called on ASEAN leaders to take the fight against terrorism another step further by including broader inter-faith dialogue. "The President said that this would foster tolerance and understanding and diffuse the climate of conflict among different parties. The President said that we need a broader front of regional security involving ASEAN, the United States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in counter-terrorism cooperation," he said. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, otherwise known as the "Shanghai Six" include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. On maritime security, Bunye said President Arroyo stressed it has become imperative for ASEAN to take steps to stop piracy, armed robbery, arms smuggling and human trafficking along the region’s vulnerable sea lanes. "These problems, she said threaten the growth of the region and disrupt the stability of commerce," Bunye said, adding that the President has reiterated her proposal for joint border patrols across common seas. Regarding poverty alleviation, particularly in the BIMP-EAGA sub-region, Bunye said President Arroyo has called for greater efforts to address the issue, and even urged the Plus Three partner countries as well as other regional organizations to involve themselves through more investments and revival of the region as a premier tourism spot. Bunye pointed out that President Arroyo had urged ASEAN leaders to "look towards the future" and imbibe within themselves a greater sense of community spirit "beyond our national interests" to forge a community that is caring, uplifting and sharing the desired quality of life for peoples in ASEAN. Malaysia plays host to this year’s ASEAN Summit which brings together leaders from the regional group’s 10 member countries -- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The ASEAN Declaration has set the following objectives for its leaders’ annual summit: (1) to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and strengthen the foundation of a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations, and (2) promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. |