Philippine President Noynoy Aquino's new challenges in last 3 years in power

Philippine President Noynoy Aquino's new challenges in last 3 years in power are the following:

Image below of President Noynoy Aquino, sourced from asiasociety.org



1. Spread the fruits or benefits of fast economic growth to the poor masses, the middle-class, to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs)

2. Structural and even constitutional reforms to really woo substantial direct foreign investments to the Philippines

3. Accelerate infrastructure projects, especially the horrible airports

4. Institutionalize anti-corruption efforts and reforms

5. Stabilize and enhance Philippine foreign relations beyond just being traditional and strategic ally of the United States and Japan, in order to boost and diversify Philippine diplomatic and economic ties with other nations most specially ASEAN neighbors, the rising new economic superpower China, and other countries.

Iage below of Philippine map, sourced from mlit.go.jp

Business leader Manny V. Pangilinan, Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) President Hans Sicat, University of the Philippines (U.P.) economics professor Dr. Benjamin Diokno and a former Muslim rebel leader will talk about the Philippines in 2013. Will it be a good year, why or why not?

Event: 16th Prospects for the Philippines Conference

Date: January 17, 2013, Thursday

Time:  9 a.m. to 12 noon

Venue: Ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Organizer: Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP)

(MVP image sourced from greatrealphilippines.com)




(Hans Sicat image below sourced from bloomberg.com)





(Dr. Benjamin Diokno image below sourced from econ.upd.edu.ph)

 

As we begin 2013, FOCAP will be holding the 16th Prospects for the Philippines conference, our year-opening event, on January 17, 2013, Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental in Makati City. 

Hans Sicat, president of the Philippine Stock Exchange, will deliver the main speech at the conference, "The Philippines: Things Looking Up?," which comes as President Aquino's administration begins the second half of his term.  

The distinguished guest speakers are  Manuel V. Pangilinan, managing director and CEO of First Pacific as well as PLDT chairman, on doing business in the Philippines and expansion plans of his group; Professor Ben Diokno, UP School of Economics and former budget secretary, on the 2013 economic outlook; Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator, on ending the Mindanao conflict as well as attaining peace and economic prosperity in the South;  Richard Jacobson, director of operations of Pacific Strategies and Assessments, Inc. on internal and regional security as well as concerns of foreign business;

The entrance fee for FOCAP members is Php 1,500 and Php 2,000 for non-members, which covers lunch.

Please save the date and make your reservations by FOCAP Secretariat at 394-0200 Ms. Hail Buenaventura.

Email  focap.manila@yahoo.com

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Foreign direct investments plunge 83% in August

My Comments?

We in the Philippines need to urgently reform our anti-investor and quite xenophobic constitution, especially its antiquated economic provisions.

Marketing efforts and political reforms are not enough, we need to boldly push progressive and globally-competitive structural reforms in the Philippine economy to catch up with our Asean and Asian neighbors.

Wake up, our Philippine politicians and leaders! Even our historic strategic ally and former colonizer USA is pouring more foreign direct investments to their former war enemy and still officially Communist Vietnam than here to us in the most pro-American nation of the Philippines!

Here's the latest news report from Rappler.com:

(Photo of skyline of Makati financial center, Metro Manila, the Philippines)

by Rappler.com Posted on 11/12/2012 7:06 PM  | Updated 11/12/2012 7:06 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The global economic slowdown has dampened August foreign direct investments, an indicator of investor confidence and traditional sources of jobs.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that the net inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI) plunged 83% to $13 million in August from from $76 million a year ago.

"This reflected investors’ relatively cautious stance due to weak global economic prospects and financial strains in the advanced economies," the BSP said in a statement on Monday, November 12.

Key sources of FDI in August were the United States, Australia, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Japan and Bermuda.

This brought the cumulative FDI in the first 9 months of 2012 to $1.038 billion, 61% higher than $644 million a year ago.

FDI, hot money that go to the capital markets, and remittances from Filipinos working abroad have kept the Philippines' balance of payments in surplus. - Rappler.com