Wednesday, February 4
Bamboo Fever
Bamboo talk is all over Pampanga. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 3 through the leadership of Director Blesila Lantayona recently called on all stakeholders, including those from other provinces, to come up with a road map for bamboo development. With a directive from the national government, DTI took the initiative among national government agencies to push for the development of engineered bamboo products to become mainstream industry in the region.
The Pampanga Bamboo Development Council (PBDC) and the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), on the other hand, continue to work on the propagation of bamboo in the province.
Aside from the P5 million allotted by the provincial government through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for the bamboo program that was presented by the bamboo council last year, the PBDC is now working on a proposal for the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) for the establishment of a bamboo plantation at the Clark sub-zone area.
During a recent meeting with CDC President Benny Ricafort, ADCL proposed that the
1,240 hectares reforestation land at the sub-zone could be considered for bamboo plantation. Ricafort has requested ADCL to submit the proposal as soon as possible for their review and possible approval.
ADCL, being the main player behind the PBDC, finds it appropriate to take advantage of the Clark sub-zone’s available area for reforestation. In order for the bamboo industry to truly materialize, CITC Director Frank Bonuan said at least 50 hectares of plantation is needed to sustain the supply needed by small scale manufacturers of bamboo engineered products.
Although Pampanga has the capability to manufacture bamboo engineered products at this point in time, the supply is too unpredictable, making it quite risky to enter into such investment. But with the PBDC and ADCL’s proposal to use the 1,240 hectare reforestation are of sub-zone, the concern on supply will be answered within a period of five years.
Tuesday, February 3
Fight Crisis, Save More
The global economic crisis is hitting us fast and loud. Retrenchment is all over the country, particularly among locators inside the special economic zones. Contrary to the recent claim of President Arroyo that we are outside the sphere of the global economic recession, more and more foreign-operated firms in the country are either laying-off people or cutting operational expenses. Our only advantage against US and other countries is the fact that Filipinos have long been adapted to poverty, unemployment, corruption and scams.
But still the economic crisis is a difficult challenge to all of us. Common laborers used to get by from earning P200 a day. But with the unabated increase of prices of basic commodities, services and education, they are facing a bleaker future amid the growing economic slump. This is apart from the new cost-cutting trends adopted by many labor-intensive businesses in the country.
So to help ourselves and our families, we must do something even in our own levels. Let the government do its duties to the public, we have to take responsibility of the consumption and expenses inside our own homes.
But still the economic crisis is a difficult challenge to all of us. Common laborers used to get by from earning P200 a day. But with the unabated increase of prices of basic commodities, services and education, they are facing a bleaker future amid the growing economic slump. This is apart from the new cost-cutting trends adopted by many labor-intensive businesses in the country.
So to help ourselves and our families, we must do something even in our own levels. Let the government do its duties to the public, we have to take responsibility of the consumption and expenses inside our own homes.
In the event of continuing economic crisis, saving energy, food and other consumables will help ease the family budget. Take for example water and power utilization.
Sunday, February 1
GMA's pronouncement doubtful
By Minerva Zamora-Arceo
February 2, 2009
US car manufacturer Ford was reported to have lost $5.9 billion recently. It would also lay-off 1,400 employees this year, according to international news. Kodak, also based in US, is reportedly losing billions in sales and would possible cut-down human resource by 4,000 around the globe. Based on CNN and BBC reports, US had already lost 588,000 jobs since the economic recession hit them late last year.
In the country, economists are projecting almost the same figure of 500,000 to be laid-off this year as an effect of the global economic crisis. Recently, no less than Labor Secretary Mariano Roque admitted that there were some 15,000 job losses reported this year while more and more companies mostly run by foreigners are either cutting operational expenses or stop operations.
If you are regularly reading Punto Gitnang Luzon, you probably noticed the successive reports on lay-offs all over the region. The Bataan-based Japanese firm Mitsumi Philippines recently announced that it dismissed 134 contractual workers and compressed work days from six to five a week to 3,314 employees. The company said this is due to downtrend in product orders as a result of global crisis. Meanwhile, International Wiring System (IWS) likewise compressed workdays to 10 days a month to cut expenses.
Noble Metals, another Bataan-based firm, has served notice of two-month temporary shutdown effective February 20, 2009. At least 32 workers will be affected. Mitsumi and Noble are two of the 42 multi-national firms operating at the Bataan Economic Zone in Mariveles. In Bulacan, DOLE reported that 400 employees were laid-off in several firms in the province including Republic Cement, Four Seasons Apparel, Indo-Phil Textile. Job rotations have also become a trend as part of cost-cutting. Firms now doing rotations are Huey Commercial Inc. Sun King Electronics and Manila Luggage.
In Clark, some 1,000 workers at the Fontana Leisure Estate are still waiting to be paid for their services for the month of December 2008 and January this year.
But despite these reported lay-offs and trends in labor, President Arroyo bravely pronounced that the country is “out of sphere of the two-thirds of the world now into recession.” She added that we should be proud even because our country recorded a six percent growth in GNP (gross national product) and 4.6 percent growth in GDP (gross domestic product) in 2008. During the Lakas-CMD party executive committee caucus in Mabalacat, Pampanga last January 29, the President added that merging Lakas-CMD and Kampi “will keep us on road to First World in 20 years.”
The President is either fooled by paper reports and statistics on GNP and GDP. But such growth is not visible to the common people. Everyday, hundreds of Filipinos lose their jobs and this means more Filipinos losing adequate meals, shelter and education.
To hear the President say that we are not affected by the global economic recession is too good to be true. Foreign-funded firms in the country are already starting to cut production costs. Texas Instrument (TI) in Baguio City has reportedly laid-off workers and likewise decreased operations. We just hope that this would not affect the ongoing construction of TI inside Clark Freeport Zone.
What the people need to hear from President Arroyo are the contingency plans being prepared by the national government in the face of the growing unemployment in the country. It is very dangerous to make people believe that we are “out of the recession sphere,” making others more complacent amid the current crisis.
Instead of announcing plans for the Lakas and Kampi merger, the national leadership should instead announce what specific steps are being done to lessen the impact of these massive lay-offs. The local government units, being the front-liners, will definitely need all the support when their constituents start demanding for livelihood and jobs.
It is not yet time to flaunt political realignments in preparation for the 2010 elections. Too bad that we had enough people power, we are at a lost on what kind of leader we really want. When GMA won the last presidential elections, the Makati Business Club thought an economist like President Arroyo would help propel the country’s economy. But what we got was a leadership full of scams, corruption charges, high rate of unemployment, an OFW-driven economy and dirty political tactics.
Come to think of it, the country could have been better off with ousted President Estrada who waged an all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf rebels, started massive housing project for the poor and launched the dairy program in Central Luzon. (30)
February 2, 2009
US car manufacturer Ford was reported to have lost $5.9 billion recently. It would also lay-off 1,400 employees this year, according to international news. Kodak, also based in US, is reportedly losing billions in sales and would possible cut-down human resource by 4,000 around the globe. Based on CNN and BBC reports, US had already lost 588,000 jobs since the economic recession hit them late last year.
In the country, economists are projecting almost the same figure of 500,000 to be laid-off this year as an effect of the global economic crisis. Recently, no less than Labor Secretary Mariano Roque admitted that there were some 15,000 job losses reported this year while more and more companies mostly run by foreigners are either cutting operational expenses or stop operations.
If you are regularly reading Punto Gitnang Luzon, you probably noticed the successive reports on lay-offs all over the region. The Bataan-based Japanese firm Mitsumi Philippines recently announced that it dismissed 134 contractual workers and compressed work days from six to five a week to 3,314 employees. The company said this is due to downtrend in product orders as a result of global crisis. Meanwhile, International Wiring System (IWS) likewise compressed workdays to 10 days a month to cut expenses.
Noble Metals, another Bataan-based firm, has served notice of two-month temporary shutdown effective February 20, 2009. At least 32 workers will be affected. Mitsumi and Noble are two of the 42 multi-national firms operating at the Bataan Economic Zone in Mariveles. In Bulacan, DOLE reported that 400 employees were laid-off in several firms in the province including Republic Cement, Four Seasons Apparel, Indo-Phil Textile. Job rotations have also become a trend as part of cost-cutting. Firms now doing rotations are Huey Commercial Inc. Sun King Electronics and Manila Luggage.
In Clark, some 1,000 workers at the Fontana Leisure Estate are still waiting to be paid for their services for the month of December 2008 and January this year.
But despite these reported lay-offs and trends in labor, President Arroyo bravely pronounced that the country is “out of sphere of the two-thirds of the world now into recession.” She added that we should be proud even because our country recorded a six percent growth in GNP (gross national product) and 4.6 percent growth in GDP (gross domestic product) in 2008. During the Lakas-CMD party executive committee caucus in Mabalacat, Pampanga last January 29, the President added that merging Lakas-CMD and Kampi “will keep us on road to First World in 20 years.”
The President is either fooled by paper reports and statistics on GNP and GDP. But such growth is not visible to the common people. Everyday, hundreds of Filipinos lose their jobs and this means more Filipinos losing adequate meals, shelter and education.
To hear the President say that we are not affected by the global economic recession is too good to be true. Foreign-funded firms in the country are already starting to cut production costs. Texas Instrument (TI) in Baguio City has reportedly laid-off workers and likewise decreased operations. We just hope that this would not affect the ongoing construction of TI inside Clark Freeport Zone.
What the people need to hear from President Arroyo are the contingency plans being prepared by the national government in the face of the growing unemployment in the country. It is very dangerous to make people believe that we are “out of the recession sphere,” making others more complacent amid the current crisis.
Instead of announcing plans for the Lakas and Kampi merger, the national leadership should instead announce what specific steps are being done to lessen the impact of these massive lay-offs. The local government units, being the front-liners, will definitely need all the support when their constituents start demanding for livelihood and jobs.
It is not yet time to flaunt political realignments in preparation for the 2010 elections. Too bad that we had enough people power, we are at a lost on what kind of leader we really want. When GMA won the last presidential elections, the Makati Business Club thought an economist like President Arroyo would help propel the country’s economy. But what we got was a leadership full of scams, corruption charges, high rate of unemployment, an OFW-driven economy and dirty political tactics.
Come to think of it, the country could have been better off with ousted President Estrada who waged an all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf rebels, started massive housing project for the poor and launched the dairy program in Central Luzon. (30)
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