PGMA's Opening Statement during a Press Conference |
Multi-purpose Bldg., Clark Field Angeles City, Pampanga (04 April 2002) |
| GOOD MORNING TO
EVERYONE. PLEASE SIT DOWN. I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME THE RENOWNED U.S. BUSINESS COMPANY UNITED PARCEL SERVICE KNOWN AS U.P.S. TO THE PHILIPPINES. THE U.P.S. IS THE BIGGEST CARRIER SERVICE IN THE WORLD TODAY. AND WE ARE HAPPY THAT THEY CHOSE THE PHILIPPINES TO BE THEIR HUB. THE COMPANY IS IDENTIFIED WITH EFFICIENT, DEPENDABLE AND QUALITY SERVICE, AND IS KNOWN TO BRING PROGRESS TO COUNTRIES AND CITIES THAT BENEFIT FROM ITS OPERATIONS. I AM PLEASED TO NOTE THE U.P.S. COMES TO THE PHILIPPINES NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE SERVICE HERE BUT TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY ITS HUB FOR ITS ASIA-PACIFIC OPERATIONS. IT IS A BUSINESS DECISION THAT HONORS THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKER. IT IS A BUSINESS DECISION THAT REAFFIRMS THE PHILIPPINES' ROLE AS A CENTER FOR CORPORATE BUSINESS IN THE REGION. I HAD THE PLEASURE LAST YEAR, ON MY BIRTHDAY, APRIL 5th 2001, TO WITNESS THE SIGNING OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE U.P.S. AND NOW, WE WITNESS THE FRUITION OF THAT AGREEMENT AND THE INAUGURATION OF U.P.S.' SERVICES IN THE COUNTRY AND SOUTHEAST ASIA. TODAY, WE ARE ALL WITNESS ALSO TO THE CEREMONIAL LANDING OF THE U.P.S. CORPORATE PLANE NAMED LIPAD PAG-ASA OR SOARING HOPE THAT INAUGURATES THIS VITAL SERVICE TO THE BUSINESS WORLD AND TO PRIVATE HOMES AND CITIZENS. THE U.P.S OPERATIONS ARE EXPECTED... AND THEY HAVE -- YES, MR. WALLACE TOLD US THIS MORNING -- THAT THIS INVESTMENT IS WORTH 300 MILLION DOLLARS. AND IT IS EXPECTED TO GRANT BETTER REGIONWIDE ACCESS TO EXPORTERS AND IMPORTERS FORTIFYING THE PHILIPPINES' VITAL EDGE IN EAST ASIAN TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS. MOST ANALYSTS AGREE THAT THIS VENTURE WILL GENERATE SIGNIFICANT INTEREST FROM LOCATORS ACROSS THE WORLD. THIS WOULD ALSO CREATE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS AND TREMENDOUS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FILIPINOS. THIS DEVELOPMENT IS A REAFFIRMATION OF THE GROWING CONFIDENCE OF FOREIGN INVESTORS IN THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT -- THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT, THE HEALTH OF ITS ECONOMY AND THE LEVEL OF STABILITY OBTAINING IN THE COUNTRY TODAY. SPEAKING OF CONFIDENCE IN THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY, IN THE HEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY, IN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION TO GAIN BACK THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY ON THE PATH TO SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, I AM VERY HAPPY TO LEARN THAT JUST AS MOODY'S LAST JANUARY UPGRADED OUR NEGATIVE TO STABLE, I AM HAPPY TO LEARN THAT STANDARD AND POOR IS NOW ALSO UPGRADING OUR CREDIT RATING FROM NEGATIVE TO STABLE. THUS, U.P.S. IS A MICROCOSM OF WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY NOW CONSIDERS REGARDING THE PHILIPPINES. THIS INVESTMENT OF U.P.S. -- 300 MILLION DOLLARS -- MANIFESTS THE OPTIMISM OF U.P.S. IN OUR FUTURE AND THE CLOSE ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE UNITED STATES. I WISH TO REASSURE U.P.S., THE COMMUNITY OF BUSINESSMEN WHO HAVE COME TO THE PHILIPPINES, AND THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR NATIONAL LIFE, THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING CONDITIONS THAT MAKE INVESTMENTS PROFITABLE AND WELCOME ON OUR SOIL. IT IS MY PLEASANT TASK TODAY -- AMONG OTHER THINGS -- TO RECEIVE A COMMEMORATIVE CHECK FROM U.P.S. PRESIDENT RON WALLACE -- THIS IS FOR OUR AETA COMMUNITY THAT WAS GIVEN EARLIER 30,000 DOLLARS OR 1.5 MILLION PESOS -- AND ALSO TO WITNESS THE ARRIVAL OF THE U.P.S. BROWNTAIL, THE OFFICIAL AIRCRAFT COURIER. I WAS ALSO HONORED TO OFFER A TOAST TO THE HEALTH OF U.P.S., ITS OFFICIALS AND WORKERS. AND TO PRESIDENT RON WALLACE AND THE REST OF THE U.P.S. FAMILY, WELCOME TO THE PHILIPPINES! MAY YOU THRIVE AND PROSPER, MAY YOU HELP BRING ASIA TOGETHER, AND MAY YOUR SERVICES MULTIPLY OUR FORTUNES AND BLESSINGS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PAY THE PROPER ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS 300 MILLION DOLLARS INVESTMENT POSSIBLE A REALITY TODAY FROM OUR OWN SHORES. THIS INVESTMENT HAS BEEN WORKED ON ALREADY FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS BY TRADE AND INDUSTRY SECRETARY MAR ROXAS. AND WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT, SECRETARY ROXAS TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I MUST DO IS TO CONSTITUTE THE NEW BOARD OF CLARK BECAUSE CERTAINLY AN INVESTOR WILL WANT TO CONSTITUTE ITS BUSINESS WITH A BOARD THAT WILL NOT BE CHANGED THE NEXT DAY. SO THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHO IS THE NEW BOARD OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, AND SO WE GAVE THEM AN ALL CAPAMPANGAN BUT ALL PROFESSIONAL BOARD -- ROY NAVARRO, MANNY ANGELES AND THE REST OF THE HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL BOARD OF CDC THAT THEY SAY U.P.S. TELLS US THEY HAVE REALLY FOUND TO BE A PROFESSIONAL TEAM TO DO BUSINESS WITH. AND FOR ALL THE LICENSES AND PERMITS FROM ALL OF THE AGENCIES, U.P.S. TELLS ME THAT THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING BUT EFFICIENT SERVICE AND THEY ARE ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED BY THE FACT WE JUST APPOINTED TONY BERNARDO AS COMMISSIONER. HE LOST NO TIME IN SIGNING ALL THE PAPERS NEEDED. HE DIDN'T NEED A LEARNING CURB. AND THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT FROM TONY IN OUR ANTI-SMUGGLING DRIVE. SO, TO ALL OF THOSE WHO MADE THIS INVESTMENT A REALITY TODAY I CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU. AND TO ALL THOSE WHO WILL BENEFIT BECAUSE OF MORE EFFICIENT LOGISTICS AND THEREFORE GREATER EMPLOYMENT, I CONGRATULATE YOU TOO. AND LET US ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THE PHILIPPINES A GOOD PLACE TO DO BUSINESS IN AND TO HIRE THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKER. THANK YOU |