by admin | Oct 28, 2016 | DTI Updates, Headlines, National News
The Philippines has successfully completed the ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and has deposited its Instrument of Acceptance to the World Trade Organization (WTO) through the Philippine Permanent Mission to the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland on 28 October 2016.
Adopted at the WTO’s 2013 Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia, the TFA contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods. It also includes measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. Provisions on technical assistance and capacity building are also included to help countries implement the Agreement.
The TFA is the first multilateral trade agreement to be concluded since the establishment of the WTO in 1995. Once it enters into force, the Agreement is expected to reduce total trade costs by more than 14 percent for low-income countries, more than 15 percent for lower-middle countries, and more than 13 percent for upper middle-income countries by streamlining the flow of trade across borders.
The commitments of developing and least-developed countries in the Agreement are linked directly to their capacity to implement the TFA. On 31 July 2014, the Philippines submitted its Category A notification to the WTO indicating which provisions of the TFA it intends to implement upon entry into force of the Agreement. As a developing country, the Philippines can choose which commitments to prioritize, and the implementation can be on a staggered basis.
“The Philippines finds great value on the implementation of the TFA – not just for the big businesses – but also for local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the prospects of lowering trade costs and streamlining border procedures, which will enable them to participate more actively in international trade,” said Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo.
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez added that the TFA will also boost the country’s economic growth by supporting its integration into the global economy.
According to the World Trade Report released on 26 October 2015, implementation of the WTO TFA has the potential to increase global merchandise exports by up to $1 trillion per annum. The Report also found that developing countries will benefit significantly from the TFA, capturing more than half of the available gains.
The Philippines is the 95th WTO member to accept the TFA which will enter into force once two-thirds (110 out of 164 Members) of the WTO’s membership accepts the Agreement.
by admin | Oct 28, 2016 | DTI Updates, Headlines, National News
BEIJING—The Philippines, through Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, recently (20 October) encouraged China to level up trade and investments for both sides, during the Philippines-China Trade and Investment Forum at the Great Hall of the People in China.
Sec. Lopez said that although relationship between the two countries has had its highs and lows, China remains to be a major commercial partner of the Philippines, being the country’s 2nd major trading partner with $17 billion value in total trade.
China is also the country’s 4th largest export market and 1st or top import supplier. As of 2015, China is the 14th investment source of the Philippines in terms of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPA)–approved investments.
“The $17 billion total trade level can double or triple in a few years,” said Sec. Lopez, adding that the Philippines shares a long history of friendly and mutually-beneficial relations with China not only in terms of trade and investments, but also in cultural and social exchange.
“Huge opportunities still await that can easily leap frog the level of Chinese business transactions with the Philippines,” Sec. Lopez added. Noting that the influx of Chinese tourists in the Philippines in 2015 reached 500,000, the trade chief is optimistic that such figure can also be increased by two to four times, considering that there are over 100 million Chinese tourists in the world today.
Current Philippine export to China of about USD 6 million can likewise be doubled, as China’s total imports to the world amount to USD 2 trillion, according to Sec. Lopez.
The trade chief also emphasized that President Rodrigo Duterte’s goodwill with China has now led to the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) now amounting to USD 24 billion, generating over two million jobs for Filipinos in five years.
“Under President Duterte’s effective peace initiatives and inspiring leadership that are bringing the needed change in many fronts, the Philippines and Chinese business communities are sincerely optimistic now, more than ever, in seeing Philippine-Chinese business ties soar to an unprecedented high levels in the near future,” he concluded. (END)
Reden M. Miranda
DTI – OSEC, Public Relations Unit
4/F Industry and Investments Building, 385 Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City 1200, Philippines
Tel. No.: (+632) 895.3994 |895.3995 | Fax No.: (+632) 890.4517 | Mobile No.: (+63) 916.742.7430
E-mail: RedenMiranda@dti.gov.ph
www.dti.gov.ph
Enabling Business, Empowering Consumers
by admin | Oct 27, 2016 | Headlines, Major Events, National News
MANILA, October 27 (PIA)–Gilagdaan na ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte ang Executive Order No. 6 nga pormal nang nagtukod sa “8888” isip citizens’ complaint hotline.
Nakalatid sa maong EO ang mandato sa 8888 isip usa ka mekanismo diin mahimong mosumbong ang katawhan kalabot sa red tape o kahiwian sa mga ahensya sa gobyerno ug uban pang may kalabotan nga opisina sa gobyerno.
Pamunoan kini sa Office of the Cabinet Secretary nga gidumala karon ni Kalihim Leoncio Evasco Jr.
Mahimong mosumbong sa 8888 pinaagi sa text message, email, website ug sa social media.
Bukas kini 24/7 gawas na lamang kun holiday o suspendido ang trabaho.
Kun adunay mosumbong sa 8888, i-refer nila kini sa ahensyang hingtungdan alang sa mahimong lakang nila aron masulbad ang reklamo ug kinahanglan silang magbaton og konkretong aksiyon sulod lamang sa 72 oras.
Nagsugod na niadto pang Agosto 1 ang 8888 hotline apil na ang 911 emergency hotline, apan niadtong Oktubre 14 lamang nalagdaan sa Presidente ang pormal nga institutionalization sa maong emergency hotline. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Oct 27, 2016 | Headlines, Major Events, National News
MANILA, October 27 (PIA)–Gilagdaan na ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte ang executive order nga nag-reorganisa sa mga cabinet cluster.
Pinaagi sa Executive Order No. 7 nga gilagdaan sa Presidente niadtong Oktubre 14, 2016, gi-reorganisa niini ang gabinete sa lima ka cluster: ang good governance and anti-corruption; human development and poverty reduction; economic development; security justice and peace; ug climate change and mitigation.
Ubos sa E.O number 7, ang security, justice and peace cluster nga kanhi gipamunoan sa Executive Secretary pangunahan na karon sa Kalihim sa Department of National Defense (DND) sa tumong nga masiguro nga mapatuman ang mandato sa gobyerno nga pugngan ang lawless violence ug ipadaug ang kampanya batok sa krimen ilabi na sa ginadili nga droga ug korapsiyon.
Mahimong miyembro sa maong cluster ang Executive Secretary, Cabinet Secretary, ang Kalihim sa Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), ang National Security Adviser, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process ug ang National Security Council isip Secretariat.
Gi-amyendahan niini ang Executive Order No. 43 nga gipatuman ni kanhi Presidente Benigno Aquino III niadtong tuig 2011. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Oct 27, 2016 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, October 27 (PIA)–Ipaubos na usab sa Philippine National Police (PNP) sa Oplan Tokhang ang mga opisina, tunghaan, pabrika ug uban pang mga ‘labor force’ sa ipatuman nga Oplan Double Barrel Alpha o ang ikaduhang parte sa gipalapdan nga anti-drug campaign sa tibuok nasod.
Kini ang gipahayag ni PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato’ dela Rosa kalabot sa ikaduhang parte sa Oplan Double Barrel nga pagatawgon og Oplan Double Barrel Alpha.
Matud pa nga sa mga toktokong tunghaan, planong ipatahan sa balaod ang mga estud-yante, magtutudlo ug uban pang kawani sa mga kolehiyo, unibersidad, tunghaan sa elementarya, high school pribado man o pampubliko nga nalambigit sa paggamit ug pag-negosyo sa ilegal nga droga.
Gipasabot sa PNP Chief nga ang pagpalapad pa sa anti-drug campaign sa gobyerno tungod na usab sa padayon nga pagdaghan sa mga nitahang drug personalities nga gikan sa 600,000 nisaka na ngadto sa 700,000 diin ang target mokabat sa 1.8 milyon ang motahan sa dili pa matapos ang tuig.
Ang Oplan Tokhang mao ang pagtoktok sa panimalay sa mga gigudahang drug personalities aron kumbinseron kini nga motahan sa balaod. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
