by anyajulia | Sep 24, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, National News
Ten Saudi Arabian agricultural companies want to make the Philippines their food production hub and distribution center in the Far East. This was the informatio disclosed by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap
Yap said the 10 companies formed the Far East Agricultural Co. (FEAC) as their investment platform for agri-business projects in the Philippines after a visit to the Philippines in May.
According to Yap, FEAC representatives will visit the Philippines in November to firm up the trading and production of agricultural commodities with prospective trading and venture partners. (PIA-MMIO)
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by anyajulia | Sep 23, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, National News
AT LEAST ten Saudi Arabian agricultural companies want to make the Philippines their food production hub and distribution center in the Far East.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who accompanied President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her two-day visit to this Saudi Arabia’s eastern province bared this adding that the 10 investors forming the Far East Agricultural Co. (FEAC) are interested making in Mindanao part of their social and economic development plans.
The Philippines is currently Saudi Arabia’s top supplier of bananas, number four in pineapples, number two in sardines, and number three in tuna, Yap said.
by anyajulia | Sep 22, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, National News
The Department of Health (DOH), together with 3 United Nations (UN) agencies — the United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the World Health Organization — have joined forces and resources to undertake a joint program on rapidly reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in the country and meet the Millennium Development Goals.
Results from the 2006 Family Planning Survey showed that the Philippines is among the countries with a high percentage of maternal and neonatal deaths worldwide, the maternal mortality ratio pegged at 162 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
“This joint undertaking focuses on accelerating our efforts to attain the targets of MDG #5, which is the reduction of maternal mortality ratio by 75% and the universal access to reproductive health services by 2015, and MDG #4 which is the reduction of the neonatal mortality rate”, Duque declared adding that this initiative will also attain the results desired by the National Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health & Nutrition strategy.
The new project, with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is divided into two significant phases: the Transition period (2009-2011) and the Full Operationalization Period covering the years 2011-2016.
To seal the partnerships of the three UN agencies, the DOH, and AusAID, a document was signed by the heads of the respective agencies. (DOH)
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by anyajulia | Sep 18, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines
To solidify the country’s bid for an observer status with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). This is the main agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Turkey visit when she meets and updates the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu on the progress in the Mindanao peace process.
President Arroyo will also take the opportunity to thank Turkey President Abdullah Gul for his nation’s support of the Philippines ‘ bid for an observer status in OIC, which is aimed at ending the separatist movement in Southern Philippines.
The President’s visit is expected to strengthen economic ties with Turkey, which is the 16th largest economy in the world and the 6th in Europe. Turkey is an emerging market for Philippine exports, alongside India, South Africa, Russia, and Ukraine.
The Turkey visit is also a chance for President Arroyo to forward the welfare of an estimated 5,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
From Turkey, the President will proceed to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. (PIA)
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by anyajulia | Sep 17, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, Major Events
Journalists for the Asia-Europe competition “Freedom of Young Media”, which is sponsored by Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) and European Youth Press, have until September 20 to submit online entries for the competition.
The competition has three categories: (1) What does “Freedom of Young Media” mean to you and your media?; (2) How are you reporting on “Freedom of Young Media” in your media?; and (3) What challenges regarding “Freedom of Young Media” are you facing during your work?
After the deadline, an experienced jury from both continents will evaluate the submissions and choose ten winners, which will be announced and awarded in Brussels.
The prizes for the winners are an Adobe software package for the 1st prize, a DELL-Netbook for the 2nd prize, and a Microsoft software package for the 3rd prize.
For more details, information is available at http://www.aycn.net/groups/62-freedom-of-young-media. (AMIC/PIA)
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by anyajulia | Sep 14, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be on a three-country mission to Turkey, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia this week. The objective for the trip will be to look after the well-being of the overseas Filipino workers and to fortify bilateral relations and economic cooperation with.
On September 16, the President will leave for a one-day state to Turkey, a Eurasian country which is the only secular Muslim nation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
From Turkey, the President is set to proceed to the United Kingdom to deliver a keynote address in The Emerging Markets Summit organized by The Economist magazine on September 17-18.
Over 300 business leaders and investors from all over the world are expected to participate in this prestigious forum which has for its theme “Globalization Redefined by Emerging Markets.”
On September 21 -23, President Arroyo will proceed to Saudi Arabia upon the invitation of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
The President will grace the official inauguration of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia on September 23.
Saudi Arabia, through its membership in the OIC Ministerial Committee of Six, which facilitated the forging of Government of the Republic of the Philippines-Moro National Liberation Front (GRP-MNLF) peace agreement, has been a supporter of the peace process and development in Southern Philippines.
President Arroyo is expected to be back in the Philippines on September 24 or 25. (PIA)
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