Good News....

[LytSlpr]

Exporters can recover despite stronger peso.

The appreciation of the peso is not abrupt but gradual, as such, exporters would be able to adjust to the movement of the local currency.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said an increase of P1 in a day is what can be considered an “abrupt” movement of the peso, which is not the case now.

He said the exporters can recover from the strengthening of the peso when the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ interest rates drop—a situation that will occur when the government no longer borrows from financial institutions because of a stronger peso.

In the meantime, he said the government tries to help the export sector by lowering fees and charges and reducing red tape.

“The gradual improvement of the peso on the net is better than a gradual depreciation of the peso,” he said.

Fears

The Monetary Board (MB) met with exporters last Monday to allay the export sector’s fears in relation to the strengthening of the peso.

The peso closed at 50.38 against the dollar yesterday.

Socio-economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri said the government economic team has discussed the fears of the export sector with the MB and the BSP.

Neri said the apprehension of exporters is “valid” because their products have high domestic content.

He said seaweed farmers in Mindanao, especially in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, are concerned that if the peso appreciates too much, some seaweed and carageenan processing firms will consider buying from Indonesia where supply may be cheaper.

Neri advised exporters to look for ways to manage the situation. He cited exporters in Japan during the strengthening of the yen.

He said Japanese exporters improved the quality of their products and imposed higher prices.

Rating

In another development, Teves dismissed the rating of Standard and Poor’s that the economies of Indonesia and the Philippines carry practically the same level of risk.

Standard and Poor’s noted, though, that while Indonesia’s political situation seems to have calmed down but that of the Philippines is “still somewhat choppy.”

Teves said the situation in the country is “a challenge more than anything else.”

“We have not done too bad. We still have five months to go. I think we should be more concerned about continuing to improve our economic fundamentals than praying and worrying about the rating agencies upgrading us. I think the rating will just follow if they feel that we’re very serious and we’ve been able to sustain our performance,” he said. (Sunnex)

[LytSlpr]

Heavy sked for Glo in Cebu today, tomorrow

PRESIDENT Arroyo is in Cebu today for a series of activities that will start with the 8th national convention of the Association of Barangay Councils in the country.

Arroyo will deliver a speech before 2,500 barangay leaders who will gather at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City.

The gathering of the league, headed by national president James Marty Lim, is to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the implementation of the Local Government Code, according to the Philippine Information Authority.

With the theme, “A Blueprint for Change Toward a System of Culture and Collaboration,” the league will sign an agreement with a National Government agency and a private business for a project for each barangay.

At noon, Arroyo will visit the Capitol building to unveil the marker beside the flagpole at the grounds to commemorate her oath-taking as President on June 30, 2004.

She will then proceed to the Capitol social hall where Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who is celebrating her 51st birthday today, will give a citation to Cemex president Jaime de Jaro for the company’s support to provincial projects.

The President will also confer the Presidential Award and Citation to Kepco chairman Joon-Ho Han, whose company invested in power plants in Naga, Cebu and promised to give P20 million for an electrification project of Cebu’s barangays.

The signing of a memorandum of agreement will then be held between the Cebu Provincial Government and Kepco Phils. for the electrification project.

After lunch, Arroyo will go to the Parklane International Hotel for the Couples for Christ-Gawad Kalinga Cebu Congress.

The President will witness the awarding or recognition of 50 groups and individuals who are considered Gawad Kalinga “partners or heroes.”

Arroyo will then join the governor’s dinner party. She will stay overnight in Cebu and go to Danao City tomorrow morning.

Danao City Mayor Ramonito Durano will lead more than 100 fifth district officials in welcoming Arroyo to the inauguration of their bus terminal-cum-public market in Barangay Poblacion, the first phase of which was funded by the Presidential Social Fund. (JPM)

[LytSlpr]

Speak Out: Best city by far.
by Bryan Bellamy
Sun Star Daily Cebu

(This letter is addressed to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña)

I’m a world traveler. My home country is Canada and I have lived in four cities there. I have also stayed in Phoenix, USA and in Mazatlan, Mexico.

The past four years I have been in Cebu, and I like this city best.

In my country, people always seem unhappy, and the young ones seem rude and crude---every second word that they speak is a swear word.

People here have less but they seem happier. I don’t remember a Pinoy swearing in English.

Almost everyone likes to sing love songs, not hard rap.

People seem more pleasant and helpful, and no matter how little they have they share.

I am amazed at how people work hard for so little and yet they are able to support their families.

I live modestly in a pension house, but I have also lived in a luxurious house in one of Cebu best gated communities.

I find the rents reasonable and my landlords to be good people.

I ride in four to six taxis daily, but I find passenger jeepneys an efficient form of transportation.

I have never gotten into a dirty taxi, although the vehicles’ state of repair often leaves something to be desired.

Drivers for the most part are friendly and helpful, but a few do overcharge, don’t give the change, do detours and stop for fuel even with a passenger onboard.

I find Cebu to be a cosmopolitan city.

You can shop and find almost anything you want at a reasonable price.

You can find any service you want at a reasonable cost.

Restaurants are generally good, even the sari-sari ones. The water system is clean and safe.

Work on the roads for the Asean summit will do much for the city now and in the future.

Lastly, you meet people from all over the world here, and many Pinoys who travel and work abroad have interesting stories.

Cebu is the seventh city I have lived, and I find it to be the best in terms of quality of life for the cost.

[LytSlpr]

Arroyo rating 'gets better': survey
Sun Star Daily Manila

MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's net satisfaction rating has "improved" to -11 percent in the third quarter of 2006, Social Weather Stations (SWS) said Thursday night.

In a statement on its website (sws.org.ph), SWS said 37 percent of 1,200 respondents in its third quarter social weather survey were "satisfied" with Arroyo's performance and 48 percent "dissatisfied."

"This is slightly up from the second quarter, which had 34 percent satisfied and likewise 48 percent dissatisfied, or net -13, correctly rounded," it said.

But it pointed out that Arroyo's national net rating has been unfavorable for nine consecutive survey rounds, ever since the third quarter of 2004. It plunged further at the height of the "Hello Garci" scandal in 2005.

The SWS said its fieldwork for the survey started last September 24 throughout the country and was completed on September 28 in the Visayas and Mindanao but extended up to September 30 in Luzon.

It was completed only last October 2 in Metro Manila after typhoon Milenyo hit the metro area last September 28. (JMR/Sunnex)

[LytSlpr]

Moreover, Diesel fuel prices was reduced by 50 cents as of 12PM yesterday.

The Peso is gradually but constantly appreciating.

Government agencies are better and more efficient compared before. e.g. DTI, PCSO, NSO, DOT

There are now more barangays with electricity and water.

More classrooms and relatively better education in public schools.

More loan facilities initiated by the government for SME's.

More farm-to-market roads as well as highways and irrigation system for farmers

More jobs and the governement is now more in touch and working with NGO's more than ever.

Cheaper communication and transportation because the administration is the least corrupt is most unlikely to favor specific sole companies which equates to fair competition therefore better for the consumers.

THE BEST PART IS, THESE ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. NOT ONLY IN MANILA OR LUZON.

[mata_hari]

[font=Georgia]2 Filipinos vie for UK Photo Contest Top Prize

Richard Larrios and Manny Librodo, two top Filipino photographers need your votes as they vie for top honors in the Digital Camera Photographer of the Year 2006 of UK magazine Digital Camera Magazine.

From 22,195 entries only 13 remain, Larrios and Librodo's photos are two of the 13 pictures. To vote, click here:

http://poty2006.dcmag.co.uk/finalists_listings.aspx You need to register first, before your vote.

The final assignment for all the finalists is that each photographer has to submit one photo. The subject's their choice but the image must illustrate the idea of 'Escape', whether it's a literal or symbolic interpretation of the theme.

http://goodnewspilipinas.com/docs/ar...o_contest.html

[mata_hari]

Filipina shines in Finland's Nokia


This Nordic nation famous the world over for its "midnight sun" and a leading mobile phone brand hosts less than 1,000 Filipinos, majority of whom are married to Finns.

On the distaff side of the Filipino community here, Carol Soriano easily tops the list of successful Filipinas here. An international relations graduate of the Ateneo University, she is the only Filipina at Nokia-Finland.

Moreover, she is not an ordinary employee of the international conglomerate. She's the global marketing manager of the cell phone company, no less.

Carol said she never feels intimidated nor discriminated because of the color of her skin, nationality or anything. Finnish people are noted for racial tolerance, and after all, her employer is fixated on her performance and contribution to Nokia, not the color of her skin or her race.

Aside from heading an outfit of around 20 people of mixed nationalities, Carol is in charge of formulating Nokia's global marketing strategy. And she has been here for three years only.

Filipinos are held in high regard here, she said proudly.

http://goodnewspilipinas.com/docs/we...l_soriano.html

[grabehbebe]

Government is now eyeing a full electrification of the country's 42,000 baranggays by 2008. This is inline witht the government's pro-poor agenda that seeks to eradicate poverty by 2015.

They reported that as of end of 2005, close to 95% of all baranggays nationwide had been given electricity and are expected to increase by 97.5% by the end of 2006.

This is one of the important things that most, especially in rural and in urban areas as well, is needed. This will not only to lighten up the houses, streets etc… this will also serve as the way to be more civilized and be more knowledgeable of the different technologies in our society now a days. Also, to avoid unwanted incidents…

[baron]

The price of LPG rollbacks again effective this 12 a.m. by P6 for every 11 kg. This is in line with the rollback of oil prices in the world market and the continuous appreciation of the peso.

Equally important news is the fact that various transport sectors and the concerned government agencies will meet today to tackle the issue of rollback on fares. If this would materialize, this would really be helpful to all of us.

[grabehbebe]

A two day Housing fair for 2006 will be held at Glorietta Activity center in Makati City and at the Ayala Center in Cebu City today and tomorrow. VP De Castro said this fair is for all the state workers to give them a chance to have their own home for tolerable terms of payments that would for part of their non-wage benefits.

This fair will be open to all government employees including the AFP, PNP BJMP, bureau of Fire Protection, teachers, elective officials and employees of local government units.

These are the kind of programs that for sure the employees are long waited for. For the huge number of Housing units available, I am sure, many of the state workers will grab this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Many more programs for the employees to come…