PGMA leads consultations with Region 12 peace stakeholders
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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo interacted today with the stakeholders in
the Mindanao peace process as part of her commitment to get the stalled peace talks back on track.
Region 12 is composed of the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and
Sarangani.
The President's new paradigm for peace includes interfaith dialogue, authentic consultations with the
communities affected by the conflict and the principles of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration
(DDR) of the armed rebel groups.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino Razon Jr. said the holding of authentic dialogues with
the communities will be a ”continuing effort” by the government to obtain the needed inputs for the
resumption of the peace negotiations.
“There will be six more consultations/dialogues with the stakeholders. The 13th will be held in Bukidnon,”
Razon said.
Dialogues were already conducted in Koronadal City in January and in Kidapawan City in February.
Local government officials said that the holding of authentic dialogues with the stakeholders was in
keeping with the government’s policy of transparency in the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF).
General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. and Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu were one in
saying that the involvement of the communities in the dialogues showed the “sincerity“ of the Arroyo
administration in trying to put an end to the decades-old Mindanao conflict.
“It is better now, more transparent… and we would like to thank the President for giving priority to the
peace process. She is very hands-on in the consultations and this is appreciated by all sectors. By being
hands-on, we feel that she is really determined to resolve the issues in Mindanao,” Acharon said.
Government panel chair Ambassador Rafael Seguis presented the three Rs—the “main essence of the
consultations today” with the officials of the regions.
Seguis said the 3Rs—renegotiate, reaffirm commitment and review and improve the facilitation --
process, are the “way forward to resume talks.”
The region’s officials agreed with Seguis.
The peace talks with the MILF bogged down last August when rogue MILF elements led by three
recalcitrant commanders mounted separate attacks on civilian populations in North Cotabato, Sarangani
and Lanao del Norte to protest the aborted signing of the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on
Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD).
Thousands of evacuees have been displaced in the fighting.
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PGMA hails BPO company’s expansion in RP
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ILOILO CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today hailed and thanked Teletech, a foreign business
processing and outsourcing (BPO) company for expanding its operations in the Philippines and helping
provide more good paying jobs for Filipinos.
The President briefly visited Iloilo City today, Tuesday, and led the ribbon-cutting and marker unveiling
rites for Teletech’s 8,083 square-meter call center facility here that includes its state-of-the-art
communication and related equipments. .
Maulik Farekh, Teletech executive vice president and general manager for Asia relayed the good news to
President Arroyo about their need for some 2,000 employees to increase their current 23,000 workers to
25,000 before end of this year.
“We are actively looking for 125 employees here in Iloilo for March alone. Madam President, I’m very proud
to report that with over 23,000 employees in 12 locations in the country, Teletech goal now is to hit our
goal of 25,000 employees by the end of 2009,” Farekh told the President.
The company’s call center at the third floor of SM City here, is its fourth in the Visayas and its 12th in the
country.
Farekh, in his welcome remarks, said the President’s visit to their Iloilo BPO center is her eighth in as
many of Teletech’s 12 call centers in the country in three last three years, “a clear testament” to her strong
support for the BPO industry nationwide.
“And this is a testament of commitment, not only to Teletech but to the Filipino people, and we sincerely
thank you for that,” Farekh said, adding that since they open their Iloilo call center in January 2008, they
now have 1,600 employees here.
Farekh also thanked Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas for his support to their operations in the city.
Iloilo Governor Niel Tupaz, Mayor Trenas, Rep. Raul Gonzales Jr., Presidential Assistant for Region 6
Raul Banias and the top officials of Teletech headed Farekh and Teletech Iloilo site manager Nicki
Agcaoili welcomed President Arroyo upon her arrival here this morning.
Aside from touring the Teletech facility, the President also interacted with Sharon Acosta, a former
overseas worker in Brunei, Jeol Calle, and Augustine “Gus” Escalona and listened to their inspiring
stories and how they changed and improved their lives after employment with Teletech.
The President’s party included Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, and
Justice Secretary and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) 6 Raul Gonzales.
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Tourism remains key sector in generating jobs amid global financial crisis -- PGMA
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BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan – Even in the midst of the global economic crisis, the tourism industry remains
a key sector in generating jobs and various opportunities across the nation, President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo said today.
“Tourism is one of the sectors we have to strengthen as our response to the global meltdown. We have
done it today. We should continue to push it to provide jobs and vast opportunities to our people,” she
said.
The President arrived in Boracay from Iloilo at 2 p.m. today and immediately proceeded to the five-star
Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa together with Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Trade Secretary Peter
Favila and Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.
She was welcomed by Gov. Carlito Marquez, Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, Shangri-La general
manager Andre Kretschmann and Shangri-La chief operating officer Greg Dogan.
The President said her administration has persistently pushed various tourism-related projects to create
jobs and open livelihood opportunities, resulting in the industry’s unprecedented growth during the last
four years.
She pointed out that the Philippines has a lot to offer to tourists, domestic and foreign alike, as amply
demonstrated by the continuing increase in visitors arrivals. Tourist arrivals in Boracay alone rose by
more than five percent from last January’s 48,000 to 51,000 this month.
“There are still many things that we have to accomplish but we will continue to promote Boracay as well
as other destinations to ensure that tourism continues to be our flag bearer in economic progress and
development. 10.6 percent annual average growth for the past four years! The best performance in 20
years of tourism history,” the President said.
But she pointed out that tourism should not be promoted at the expense of the environment. The
government is aggressively promoting and carrying out environmental awareness and solid waste
management programs to ensure the cleanliness and beauty of the country’s tourist destinations.
To make Central Philippines the country’s tourism beltway under her Super Regions concept, the
President has ordered the upgrading of various airports in tandem with the improvement of the Strong
Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) system with the opening of new roads, bridges and roll-on, roll-off
(Ro-Ro) ferry routes to spur inter-island trade, improve the distribution of basic goods, reduce travel time
and transportation costs, and promote domestic tourism.
Investors have put up almost 7,000 new hotel and resort rooms of international classification worth P550
billion, “of which 2,000 will open this year, employing 3,000 Filipinos.”
“We will not stop. We will not be cowered by the global crisis. The government, this administration, will
continue to be a strong partner of the tourism industry as we promote our nation and its natural beauty,”
the President said.
After issuing her statement, the President convened the joint Cabinet-National Anti-Poverty Commission
(NAPC) group meeting at the Boracay Terraces Resort where she was further briefed by Durano on
various accomplishments of the country on the tourism front.
Durano informed the President and the Cabinet members that last year Central Philippines cornered 33
percent of the total tourist arrivals in the country. This pales in comparison with the 14.5 percent increase
in tourist arrivals recorded in 2005.
He said that close to six million domestic tourists alone visited Central Philippines last year.
In recent years, Durano said the number of foreign tourists who visited the country has increased further
following the opening of direct flights between the Philippines and three destinations in Russia –the
airports in Moscow, Vladivostok and the Lukhovitsy.
He said Taipei has also opened flights to Kalibo and Cebu, while the best connection to Europe is
through the Qatar Airlines direct flight from Doha to Cebu.
Durano said flight frequencies also increased between the Philippines and Asian countries such Hong
Kong, Singapore, Japan and Korea.
On the domestic front, Durano said that flights from Cebu to Siargao; Cebu to Legaspi City, Boracay, and
Puerto Princesa City were opened this month.
Boracay now has flights to Busuanga and Puerto Princesa, both in Palawan.
In Central Philippines, Durano added that 32,696 hotel rooms are now available, with 6,600 more of
international classification under construction.
He also said that among the noteworthy airport projects completed were the New Iloilo Airport, Bacolod
Silay Airport and Busuanga Airport. The biggest road project, he said, was the completion of the 260-
kilometer circumferential road in the island of Bohol, which is famous for its beaches, Chocolate Hills,
tarsier and whale watching.
Big-ticket tourism-related projects to be completed soon are the Bicol International Airport and Sibulan
Airport. The two airports will greatly reduce travel time to the whale-watching areas of Donsol, Sorsogon,
he said.
The other vital air terminals include those in San Vicente and Puerto Princesa City both in Palawan which
will provide easier and faster access to the famous Tubattaha Reef Natural Park, a UNESCO nature
heritage site; and the 8.2-kilometer Underground River which are both top contenders in the worldwide
search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
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