Month: January 2024

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned home Wednesday from his two-day state visit to Vietnam, bringing the good news that Vietnamese firms want to explore economic opportunities in the Philippines.

Marcos arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at 3:30 a.m., Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

In his arrival statement, Marcos said his Vietnam trip laid the ground that would further strengthen the two countries’ strategic partnership.

‘In my dialogue with Vietnamese business leaders they expressed interest in expanding their businesses in the Philippines, as well as exploring cooperation with our business sector in various traditional and non-traditional economic activities,’ Marcos said in a video message after his state visit.

Marcos noted that among the Vietnamese companies that expressed intent to invest in the Philippines is the Vingroup Company which seeks collaboration in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, as well as medical courses and scholarships f
or Filipino students.

He added that the Vingroup is also eyeing active participation in the electric vehicle and battery supply chains.

Marcos said his meeting with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thoung also paved the way for the affirmation of commitment to enhance Manila and Hanoi’s relations and the signing of agreements for rice, agriculture, maritime, and cultural cooperation.

‘We discussed areas of cooperation including defense, maritime, trade and investment, economics, education, tourism, and culture. We also witnessed the exchange of several agreements, including on rice, agriculture, culture, and maritime cooperation,’ he said.

In his separate meetings with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Marcos said he discussed with them the strengthening of bilateral relations to people-to-people exchanges, parliamentary cooperation, and other possible areas of collaboration.

Marcos said the Philippine government was also able to protect the interests and
ensure the competitiveness of Filipino companies in Vietnam.

‘We have successfully safeguarded the interest of Filipino businesses operating in Vietnam by providing them with the platform to voice their experiences, plans, and challenges at the very highest level,’ he said.

‘We want to assure them that the Philippine government stands ready to support in their endeavors in competing foreign markets,’ Marcos added.

Marcos said he also met with the Filipino community to express his appreciation for their ‘continued good work in projecting a very positive image of the Philippines in Vietnam’.

‘I gave them my assurances that my administration will continue to strive for the betterment of the Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad,’ Marcos said.

Vietnam is home to an estimated 7,003 Filipinos whose remittances in 2022 amounted to USD 13,683,000.

The Philippines aims to expand bilateral trade with Vietnam to USD10 billion from the current USD7 billion by exploring untapped resources.

The Philippines and Vie
tnam have a total trade amounting to USD6.18 billion in 2022, with exports valued at USD1.72 billion and imports at USD4.46 billion. The USD2.74-billion trade balance is in favor of Vietnam.

The Philippines and Vietnam established their formal diplomatic ties on July 12, 1976, and elevated their relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2015.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LAOAG CITY: The Ilocos Norte government is partnering with various national government agencies (NGAs) here to promote the ease of doing business and attract more investments, particularly in agribusiness, tourism, manufacturing, mining, renewable energy, and services.

Soya Cheng-Bueno, Ilocos Norte Trade and Investment Promotions Center (INvest) head, on Wednesday said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday granting Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc the authority to enter into a memorandum of agreement with authorized representatives of the Social Security System, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Tourism, Home Development Mutual Fund, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Bureau of Internal Revenue among others for the implementation of the I-Care Desk.

The I-Care Desk, which is under the watc
h of INvest, is a centralized application and requirement evaluation desk based at the provincial capitol that helps with investor registration, permit acquisition, and relevant licensing to expedite the processing of necessary documents.

‘The schedule of the MOA signing has yet to be announced,’ Bueno told the Philippine News Agency, noting that the provincial government is committed to making the province an investment-friendly destination by streamlining the current systems and procedures of government services.

‘The I-Care Desk provides a one-stop-business shop focused on enhancing economic activities through quality investment servicing and active investment promotions in the province,’ she added.

In turn, INvest, which was created in 2019 through Provincial Ordinance No. 061-2019, offers services such as providing updated information on investment opportunities, business procedures, permit requirements, and government regulations.

Currently, the province is offering various fiscal and non-fiscal inc
entives to investors and these include exemptions from paying real property taxes, and incentivizing enterprises that engage in environment-friendly practices as well as those that employ locals.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is in constant communication with lawmakers and legal luminaries to get their insights on the proposed reforms to the Constitution.

In a media interview on the sidelines of his state visit to Vietnam on Tuesday, Marcos said he had consulted Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile to determine the ‘best thing’ to do when it comes to amending the 1987 Constitution.

‘So the details have not yet been decided upon. That is precisely what we will be working on,’ Marcos said when asked how he intended to resolve the issues about calls for amending the Charter through a People’s Initiative (PI).

Marcos said he could not say if PI was ‘still one of the options that remains for us.’

He added that he has been talking to the top leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives in the past few days to resolve their differing views on PI.

‘In fact, before I left, I met with our legal luminaries and tried to find a way dah
il ‘yan naman talaga ang aabutin nila (because that’s what would they discuss) are the economic provisions that I have been talking for many, many years already,’ Marcos said.

Marcos said the usual conflict between the House of Representatives and the Senate is whether to vote together or separately.

He said he had asked congressional leaders and some of the ‘best’ constitutional minds to come up with a simpler solution that would not stir controversy.

‘Now there’s advice that we are getting: the best analysis and interpretation that we have is that the legislature is of bicameral nature and therefore that implies that they will vote separately,’ Marcos said.

‘So, how that will be done now is what we are trying to figure out, how will it be done so that both Houses’ role is in this bicameral system is preserved and that is what we are working right now,’ he added.

Marcos earlier said it is the job of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to look into reports of alleged buying out of signatures for a PI f
or amending the Charter.

On Jan. 26, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said ‘unnecessary restrictions’ in the economic provision of the constitution should be eliminated to entice more foreign investors.

The following day, Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda agreed with Balisacan, saying constitutional amendments are crucial in boosting investors’ confidence in the country.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ILOILO CITY: The city council on Wednesday remembered Ilonggo historian, journalist, and political leader Demetrio Sonza for his contribution to Iloilo City, including the crafting of an ordinance that identified Oct. 5 as ‘Adlaw sang Ciudad sang Iloilo’ (Iloilo City Day).

‘His remarkable life, dedicated to the service of our community, leaves a lasting legacy that will forever be etched in the history of Iloilo City and province,’ Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon said in his privileged speech delivered during.

He said Sonza, a recognized historian, contributed to preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of Iloilo.

‘His extensive literary works, encompassing 13 books, stand as a testament to his passion for documenting and celebrating the unique story of our region,’ he added.

Among the books he authored are ‘Sugar is Sweet: The Story of Nicholas Loney,’ “Mightier than the Sword: Biography of Graciano Lopez Jaena,’ and “Adriano Hernandez: A Hero in War and in Peace.’

The council unanimously adopted a r
esolution expressing the city’s sympathy to the bereaved family.

Sonza passed away on Jan. 22 and was laid to rest Wednesday morning. He was 89.

He was elected member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for two terms from 1988 to 1995, and three terms from 2010 to 2019.

He also served as vice governor of Iloilo from 1995 to 2001.

He was conferred the Gold Medallion Gawad Centenario by the Philippine Centennial Commission in 1999.

‘We join the community in mourning the loss of this eminent figure. May you find solace in the memories of his extraordinary life, and may his legacy continue to inspire generations to come,’ Ganzon said.

On Monday, employees of the provincial capitol also held a eulogy for the late official at the Casa Real, where his remains stayed overnight.

Source: Philippines News Agency