PGMA inaugurates ICT firm, attains 500,000 worker goal
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There are now more than 500,000 ICT (information communications technology) workers in the country.
Today, WNS First Global Delivery Center in the Philippines inaugurated its facility at the Eastwood Cyber City in
Libis, Quezon City, and announced it had increased the number of its workforce to 1100 employees.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who cut the ceremonial ribbon, had set the 500,000 mark and proceeded to
attain the goal by creating the cyber corridor super region that cuts across Baguio to Clark to Metro Manila, to
Cebu to Davao.
The firm’s expansion has enabled the current administration to reach that milestone.
''Half a million of nine million new jobs is certainly a substantial result,'' the President remarked during the
ceremony.
Prabhakar Bisen, president and CEO of WNS Philippines, said the country is ''one of the most exciting
destinations '' for BPOs and call centers. He added that all this was the result of the foresight and hard work of
the current administration.
In early 2008,WNS formed WNS Philippines as a joint venture with Advanced Contact Solutions, Inc, a pioneer
and leader in BPO services and customer care in the Philippines.
The BPO Association of the Philippines had projected the expansion of the BPO industry to a million jobs this
year, with the physical infrastructure in place.
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Gov’t sees decline in hunger incidence
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The incidence of hunger will decline in the coming months, with the continuous spending on the reconstruction
of facilities damaged by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng last year.
NEDA Director Dennis Arroyo and Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar made the observation in a
media briefing this afternoon
The spike in hunger incidence, Arroyo said, was mainly due to the damage in agricultural crops and fishery due
to the two typhoons that left farmers and fishermen idle for months.
As a result, the NEDA official further said, prices of basic commodities such as fish, rice, and vegetables went
up. The situation was aggravated by the almost 60 percent increase in the price of liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG).
He added that the spending on reconstruction work in the succeeding quarters this year will have a salutary
effect on the economy.
Likewise, he said, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR) are intensifying efforts to help affected farmers and fishermen.
The government is fighting hunger through the 14,581 Tindahan Natin outlets, 165 Barangay Bagsakan outlets;
and the Food-for-School program, all of which provide rice and food subsidies for the benefit of 921,084
elementary pupils and 826,761 day care children.
It has also expanded the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which has so far extended coverage to
700,000 families from the initial target of 321,000 families.
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Election spending to boost GDP -- NEDA
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Election spending will likely boost the conservative 2.6 -3.6 percent GDP growth forecast of the National
Economic Development Authority (NEDA) this year.
In a media briefing with Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar in Malacañang this afternoon, NEDA
policy and planning Director Dennis Arroyo said election spending can shore up the economy by giving an
additional 0.34 percentage points to GDP.
Arroyo said the projection is based on the 2007 elections for senators, House seats and local government
officials which gave additional income from television, news, rentals, food, shirts and other election materials.
Despite a possible mild El Nino, Arroyo said the NEDA is maintaining its conservative 2.6 -3.6 GDP growth
forecast for this year.
Arroyo said this is even with the 3.1 percent forecast of the International Monetary Fund (IMF); 3.3 percent by the
Asian Development Bank (ADB); and 3.5 percent forecast for the Philippines of the World Bank.
Arroyo said GDP growth last year will be buoyed up by the significant fourth quarter recovery of the export sector,
including the remittances from the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The fourth quarter growth of exports in 2009, according to him, will likely pull up the projection of 0.8 percent to
one percent or a bit higher.
“The fourth quarter will likely pull up the 0.8 percent projection for 2009,” he said adding that 2010 will be a bit
better with the worst of the global crisis in 2009.
Arroyo and Olivar said however the next administration faces the challenge of handling the economy and
continue the government’s pump priming and other economic agenda.
Arroyo advised the next administration to continue increasing the collections of the Bureau of Internal Revenue
(BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) to increase infrastructure and social spending.
Arroyo said this include the administration’s spending on vital infrastructure such as roads and bridges to spur
economic activities particularly in the provinces.
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PGMA forms task force for Haiti rescue, relief efforts
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the today the activation of a task force within the Philippine
Peacekeeping Contingent in Haiti that will conduct search and rescues, and relief efforts for Filipinos affected by
the earthquake in that Caribbean nation.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar said the President issued the directives to Foreign Affairs
Secretary Alberto Romulo to ensure that necessary assistance and relief efforts are extended to the Filipinos in
Haiti.
Olivar said DFA spokesman Ed Malaya had informed him of Secretary Romulo’s instruction to Philippine
Ambassador to Cuba MacArthur F. Corsino to form a consular team that will proceed to Haiti as soon as
possible.
Meanwhile, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Esteban Conejos reported that the task force, consisting of
soldiers and peacekeepers, was already on the ground assisting Filipinos in Haiti.
He noted that Filipinos in Haiti are helping each other with Ambassador Corsino coordinating with the Honorary
Consulate in Port-au-Prince for necessary assistance.
The Philippine Embassy in Havana reported that there are 290 Filipinos in Haiti, mostly in the garments,
telecommunication and power generation sectors. They mostly occupy middle and upper management
positions.
A number of Filipino nuns and priests also serve in the country.
On Tuesday, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck causing widespread damage and a still-undetermined number
of casualties.
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AMBASSADOR GAA PARTICIPATES IN THE 1ST MCC COMPACT DEVELOPMENT
ROUNDTABLE FOR AMBASSADORS HOSTED BY MCC CEO YOHANNES
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Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa (4th from right) participated in the 1st MCC Compact
Development Roundtable for Ambassadors of FY 2010 MCC Compact Eligible Countries such as the
Philippines, Indonesia, Jordan, Malawi, Zambia and Moldova, hosted by MCC CEO Daniel Yohannes at the MCC
CEO Conference Room. The Ambassadors/Representatives discussed their respective country’s progress in
developing Compact proposals.
During the meeting, Ambassador Gaa expressed confidence that the Philippines’ Compact Agreement with
MCC will further strengthen the country’s governance institutions that will be beneficial in the long-term.
MCC CEO Yohannes reiterated both President Obama’s and Secretary of State/MCC Chairperson Hillary Clinton’
s support to the MCC process, a key element in the smart U.S. foreign assistance focused on good policies,
country ownership, and results.
From R-L: MCC Senior Advisor Cassandra Butts, H.E. Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika (Zambia); Counselor
Walid al Hadid (Jordan), Ambassor Willy C. Gaa, MCC CEO Daniel W. Yohannes, H.E. Hawa O. Ndilowe
(Malawi), Chargé d’Affaires Andrei Galbur (Moldova), and Economic Minister-Counselor Ridwan Hassan
(Indonesia). END
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AMBASSADOR GAA REMINDS QUALIFIED FILVETS OF DEADLINE FOR FILING CLAIMS
FOR EQUITY BENEFITS
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In view of the deadline for the filing of benefits created by the Filipino World War II Veterans Equity
Compensation provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Philippine Ambassador to the United
States Willy C. Gaa reminded and urged eligible applicants to submit their applications to the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) before the deadline date of February 16, 2010.
The Ambassador said, “All those applicants who are potential beneficiaries of the new one-time benefit, are
encouraged to file their applications immediately and make sure that their applications are received by the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs not later than February 16, 2010. With only six weeks left before the
deadline, eligible applicants must take this opportunity to redeem this benefit that is rightfully theirs by virtue of
their courage and sacrifice fighting side by side with the Americans during the Second World War.”
Regarding the progress on the processing and release of these benefits, Ambassador Gaa noted that, "As of
January 1 2010, the USDVA has approved approximately 11,345 applications by eligible Filipino WWII veterans
and widows, while there are currently 16,725 claims that are pending."
Citing information from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Ambassador Gaa confirmed that of the 39,591
claims filed, "the vast majority are now in the system and are being processed accordingly." He said that of the
claims that are now being processed, “there are currently 6,777 claims that have been denied.”
Additional information and details regarding requirements and procedures for filing a claim for this benefit can
be found at the Philippine Embassy website at www.philippineembassy-usa.org. END.
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NEDA sees better economy
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The Philippine economy, fueled by better gold and nickel prices and the resurgence of electronics exports, will
be better this year than in 2009.
The assessment was made by acting Director-General Augusto Santos of the National Economic Development
Authority at a press briefing today.
“The actual economic performance for 2009 will be released in late February this year,” he said. “By then, we will
know how the Philippine economy grew last year and, based on that report, we will review our targets for 2010.”
Economists believe last year’s growth will be at the lower end of the government-set range of 0.8 percent and
1.8 percent while the economy will grow this year within the range of 2.6 percent and 3.6 percent as major
developed countries such as the United States, Germany, and France recover.
“We have given warnings that it may be a weak recovery and we have to make sure that, just like a sick person,
we will not go into a relapse. Thus, we have recommended continued stimulus spending for 2010 at a reduced
scale.”
Last year, the Philippines set aside P330 billion in stimulus spending to ensure the country will remain one of
only a handful of Asian countries that include China which have not gone into recession. Pump priming the
economy focused on increased government infrastructure spending and helping Filipinos like repatriated
overseas workers and the very poor who are the most vulnerable to the impact of the global financial crisis that
started in September 2008.
This year, the stimulus spending is recommended at between P100 billion and P300 billion.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap assured the Cabinet today there is enough rice in the market and
that prices are stable even as the short supply of sugar in the local market is traced to higher global prices.
“Definitely just like rice, we will import a certain percentage of our sugar requirements. We are importing five to
10 percent of our requirements,” Santos said.
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BIR initiates administrative reforms to boost revenues
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The Bureau of Internal Revenue will implement several administrative measures to meet its P830-billion
collection target this year.
The BIR is expected to raise 60 percent of the government’s spending needs placed at P1.54 trillion this year.
In a briefing today with Palace reporters, Acting Economic Planning Secretary Augusto Santos said the
administrative measures will boost revenues and plug the budget deficit that threatens the country’s
international credit ratings. It will also make the country more attractive to foreign investors and perk up the
inflow of foreign direct investments (FDIs).
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas earlier projects FDIs of between $1.8 billion and $2 billion this year.
Among these measures are: 1) compulsory business registration; 2) reshuffling of BIR personnel 3) running
after tax-evading locals and government-owned and controlled corporation executives; 4) business inventory
checking; and 5) stricter implementation of tax incentives.
Meanwhile, Santos said business around Mayon Volcano perked up by 30 percent on a year-on-year basis, with
the entry of P75,000 tourists in December.
“Mayon did not bring its expected ‘big bang’ but a ‘business boom’ for the province of Albay,” said Santos.
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