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BLOG: Can the creative industries of ASEAN make waves?

By Patrick Cooke, Asia Regional Editor | Oxford Business Group — October 26, 2018

Strolling through Bonifacio Global City on a sunny Saturday, it is easy to spot the groups of smiley teenagers self-learning slick K-Pop dance moves in the shadows of gilded skyscrapers and leafy parks.

This joyful scene in a privileged enclave of Metro Manila is replicated every weekend across the sprawling cities of South-east Asia, as teens continue to ride the seemingly unstoppable “Korean Wave”. Whereas US music stars once reigned supreme in the Philippines and the wider region, they now compete for affection with the latest K-Pop idols to roll off the conveyor belt in South Korea.

K-Pop is just one element of Korean popular culture that has made inroads across the region and beyond in recent years, alongside TV dramas, movies, cuisine, fashion, cosmetics and video games. It has been driven not just by the creativity of Korean artists, performers and designers, but by a highly corporate – and sometimes ruthless – approach to talent management, combined with innovative social media strategies to engage directly with consumers and supportive government policies.

As a result, South Korea’s cultural exports generated a record $8.2bn in 2017, and the Korean Wave – known in the mother country as Hallyu – has been partially credited for driving growth in the tourism industry. Other soft power benefits are more difficult to quantify yet easy to imagine.

But should the fast-growing nations of ASEAN be content to remain consumer markets for the pop-culture giants of South Korea and the US, or can they realistically aspire to nurture their own creative industries into new growth engines for their economies?

A new economic pillar for the Philippines?

The Philippines is certainly in need of new growth engines. Expansion in two of the country’s major foreign exchange earners – business process outsourcing (BPO) and overseas remittances – has moderated in recent times.

The BPO industry is challenged by advancements in artificial intelligence and the proposed rationalisation of incentives for foreign investors in economic zones, while remittances have taken a hit from the 2014-16 oil price slump that impacted Middle Eastern states popular with Filipinos seeking opportunities abroad, as well as the repatriation of workers from that region this year.

Can the creative industries pick up some of the slack? That is one of the questions to be addressed next month in Manila at the Arangkada Creative Industries Forum, hosted by the Joint Foreign Chambers and supported by Oxford Business Group.

The Philippines has many inherent advantages that could support the growth of the creative industries. First and foremost, it has a large, consumption-driven internal market, buoyed by advantageous demographics. The median age is one of the lowest in Asia, and the Philippine Statistics Authority forecasts the population to expand from 92m in 2010 to 142m by 2045. This creates a fertile ground for a vibrant youth culture to flourish, sustained on a diet of music, film, fashion, arts and online content. The innate Filipino creativity and all-pervasive musicality is impossible for first-time visitors to the country to ignore; the challenge lies in harnessing this for wider economic benefits.

Already we see signs of success and growing demand for local cultural content, as evidenced by the highest-ever grossing Filipino movie at the box office in 2018. As far back as 2014, the creative industries contributed as much as 7.34% of national GDP and 14.14% of employment. Philippine culture also holds natural cross-over appeal for a wide variety of international markets, owing to its unique blend of Hispanic, American and Asian influences.

Beyond music and audio-visual content, the Philippines can also look to capitalise on its existing pool of digital talent in the well-established BPO sector to further develop the creative process outsourcing industry, focusing on more high-value activities such as graphic design, online marketing and web development, while also branching out into the lucrative video game development industry.

However, if the country is to truly realise its vast potential as a global hub for creativity, a more cohesive master plan may be needed to establish a viable ecosystem that ensures Filipinos have access to the financing and tools required to develop their considerable talents, as well as an effective means to access local and international markets. As Paolo Mercado, president of the Creative Economy Council of the Philippines, told OBG in an interview this month, a more stringent framework for intellectual property rights might be needed to ensure the creative accomplishments of Filipinos are legally protected and adequately compensated.

Indonesia well positioned for creative economy growth

Another ASEAN member state in need of new growth engines to counteract weaknesses in its domestic economy is Indonesia. Indeed, the country shares many similarities with the Philippines in that it is a vast and highly populated archipelagic nation whose economy is largely dependent on private consumption.

As it undertakes a variety of policy measures to address its chronic current account deficit and stabilise the currency, the administration of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has recognised the potential of creative industries to boost domestic consumption and increase foreign exchange earnings. In 2015 the Jokowi administration mandated the establishment of the Creative Economy Agency (BEKRAF), tasked with nurturing the growth of film, fashion, music, handicrafts and other creative industries to end an overreliance on commodities.

Oxford Business Group recently conducted an interview with BEKRAF head, Triawan Munaf, which will be published in our forthcoming Indonesia 2019 report. Since the contents of that interview are still going through the editing process, I will point to separate comments he gave to international media earlier this year, in which he highlighted that the creative industries contributed 7.4% to Indonesia’s GDP in 2017, with the target being to raise this to 9% by 2020.

During the most recent incarnation of Indonesia’s foreign negative investment list, published in 2016, film production, distribution and screening were opened to 100% foreign investment for the first time, which has led to a surge in the number of cinemas and ticket sales across the country.

Indonesia can also capitalise on demand for its cultural content beyond the 250m people who live there, as its national language is a variation of Malay that is widely understood in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

The country’s leadership potential should be further boosted next month, when it hosts the inaugural World Conference on Creative Economy in Bali, which is expected to attract over 1000 local and international delegates. One potentially unwelcome challenge on the horizon for Indonesia’s nascent creative industries could be posed by the rise in sectarian politics and religiously conservative ideology. It will be interesting to see how Indonesia can harness the economic potential of a dynamic and creative youth culture without igniting opposition from more reactionary elements of society.

Source: https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/blog/patrick-cooke/economic-roundups/can-creative-industries-asean-make-waves?utm_source=Oxford%20Business%20Group&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9972023_Regional%20Roundup%20-%20Asia%20-%20Patrick%20-%20Oct&utm_content=Roundup-Asia-Oct2018&dm_i=1P7V,5XQGN,T8GR9I,N8SA1,1

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TRAIN 2 year-end OK in Senate faces delay

By  | September 14, 2018

A BIPARTISAN consensus is shaping up among senators for a more careful consideration of the administration’s second major tax-reform measure, as senators raised the possibility it may not be passed by Christmas—a wish expressed by President Duterte in his recent televised tête-à-tête with Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo.

Several senators both from the majority and the minority told the BusinessMirror on Thursday that rushing the next-round reforms, which would cut corporate income taxes and “rationalize” fiscal incentives to business, is made difficult mainly by time constraints and the need to vet controversial provisions, especially the projected loss of tax perks for locators in economic zones.

As the nation still has to get fully satisfactory explanations from economic managers about the “terrible miscalculations” and “mistaken and inaccurate assumptions” in the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law that took effect last January 1, 2018, rushing a complex bill like TRAIN 2 when Congress is busy with the 2019 budget doesn’t make sense, two of the senators—Francis  “Chiz” G. Escudero and Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva—said.

Most lawmakers cited the budget deliberations as occupying top priority, given the more thorough study required by the shift from obligation-based to cash-based budgeting. Besides this, several reelectionist lawmakers are facing an October deadline for filing certificates of candidacy for the May 2019 midterm elections—a factor that, incidentally, makes them more careful about simply signing on to controversial tax reforms, noted Escudero.

Asked if Congress can fulfill Mr. Duterte’s wish to see the passage of TRAIN 2 before lawmakers adjourn for their year-end recess, senators said they will give it their best shot but also signaled it may be difficult to pass the tax bill before the Christmas break. Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III indicated to the BusinessMirror that passage of TRAIN 2 can be facilitated, “if it is the version that we will propose.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto was more blunt: the Palace tax bill “will be difficult to pass at the Senate before year-end.”

Sept. 25 deliberations

Sen. Juan Edgardo M. Angara, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee tasked to conduct hearings on tax measures, would not predict the fate of the administration’s latest major tax bill submitted for Congress approval. “I honestly don’t know, it’s not something I control,” Angara said.

On the sidelines of Wednesday’s “Arangkada Forum,” Angara said his Ways and Means panel intends to ensure that provisions of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) 2 will not be inflationary.

The chairman of the Economic Affairs panel, Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, said for his part—also at the Arangkada Forum—that his committee will work to safeguard the incentives of the electronics and semiconductors sector, as well as business-process outsourcing (BPO), considering their hefty contributions to the economy.

Angara told reporters the Senate will tackle the proposed bill on September 25.

The TRAIN 2 was approved on third and final reading on Monday by the House of Representatives, where it is called the “Trabaho” bill, standing for Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities.

“I think our priority is definitely not to make the situation worse in terms of inflation, so any incentive that is taken away that would lead to a possible rise in prices, that’s out of the question,” Angara said.

Minority senators ‘doubt’ year-end OK

For their part, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon and Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV, told the BusinessMirror in separate but similar text messages to the  BusinessMirror that they “doubt it,” indicating the Palace tax bill’s proponents will likely have a hard time mustering support for the administration revenue measure’s approval before the Christmas recess.

Chiz’s 3 reasons

Escudero listed three reasons for saying it’s a tough task to get the tax bill passed in the Senate within the year.

“I think it might be difficult given the following: 1) intricate and complicated provisions of the proposed TRAIN 2 which cannot be waded through and studied thoroughly within that period given that the Senate still has to pass upon the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Act; 2) mistaken and inaccurate assumptions of the same economic managers [who] proposed TRAIN 1 that resulted or at the very least triggered, to a large extent, the extraordinarily high inflation we are suffering from now—which therefore gives them a not-so-high credibility with respect to whatever guarantees or projections they may give in connection with the proposed TRAIN 2.”

Escudero added that passage of TRAIN 2 “might take its toll on reelectionists [re: their schedule and the fact that its a tax measure], which might, at the very least, affect their time and enthusiasm to support the proposed measure.”

Former Senate President Aquilino L. Pimentel III, however, held out hopes that lawmakers can still meet Duterte’s expectations to pass the tax bill within the year. “Best effort,” he said.

This, even as Sen. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito admitted it “might be difficult” to do so, pointing out that “the inflationary effects of TRAIN 1 needs to be addressed first before TRAIN 2.”

‘We must be smarter’

For his part, Villanueva said: “We are ready to listen, but we have to be smarter this time, we can’t have a repeat of TRAIN 1’s terrible miscalculations.”

Villanueva added: “For me, timing is very important, and so I’d say it would take a miracle to convince the entire Senate to support and pass TRAIN 2 before this year ends.”

Sen. Gregorio B. Honasan II, however, admitted the timetable for passing the tax bill is a bit too tight, making it hard to predict. “No one can say…it all depends on push from the Executive branch on both houses [of Congress] and material time next month, given the dates for filing of COCs [certificates of candidacies for next year’s mid-term elections] and the passage of the 2019 national budget before the Christmas break.”

Deleting inflationary provisions

Meanwhile, Angara explained that an example of how the Ways and Means panel will screen out proposals that could make the situation “worse in terms of inflation”  would be any provision that will lead schools to increase tuition.

Therefore, he stressed, “any incentive that is taken away that would lead to a possible rise in prices” is “out of the question.”

He said Filipino families are already struggling with higher commodity prices and burdening them further with higher education costs will not be supported in the Senate. “If you’re talking about schools, its not the right time to raise tuition on schools, its because families are already feeling the pinch,” Angara said.

Angara will also not back any provisions that seek to tax books. “[Taxes on] books, I think personally that’s crazy. You want a smart population,” he added. However, Angara could not predict whether the Senate will be able to complete its hearings on the tax measures given the schedule of the elections.

“I can’t answer all of those predictions. We haven’t even had our first hearing,” Angara said. “What’s realistic is that we have a hearing, then we have another hearing, then we have another hearing and see where we go from there.”

Tax amnesty

With regard to tax amnesty, which has also been approved at the House of Representatives, Angara said, the Committee is only waiting for the comments from Sens. Recto and Drilon.

Angara admitted that the tax amnesty is “less complicated” compared to the TRAIN 2. “It’s been finalized by our committee already, so we’re just waiting for the finishing touches actually,” he said.

On Monday 187 congressmen voted in favor of the second tranche of the Duterte administration tax- reform program, 14 voted against and three congressmen abstained.

GIE incentive

Also at the Arangkada forum, Gatchalian said he is open to retaining the 5-percent gross income earned (GIE) tax incentive under TRAIN 2.

The Senate is considering keeping the 5-percent GIE tax incentive for certain industries depending on their cost-structure, but he said the government should not grant such tax perks for an indefinite period. “I do admit that we need to rationalize the concept of giving perpetual incentives.”  The 5-percent GIE incentive is given to locators registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

The Department of Finance’s (DOF) version of this tax reform package wants to eliminate the 5-percent GIE tax incentives extended by the Peza to its registered investors. The companies continue to enjoy the perk so long as they are operating inside a Peza zone.

“The Trabaho bill that the House [of Representatives] approved is a much, I think, different version from the DOF version, in the sense that they made lot of adjustments so that jobs will not be lost,” said Gatchalian.

“And that’s also the view of the Senate, we will make sure that we will not lose the jobs and make sure that the country will not have a negative image, because we’re neglecting our contracts. We want to make sure that this bill, as intended, will make the Philippines competitive with its peers by lowering down corporate-income tax to 20 percent eventually,” he added.

He said after discussions with the foreign chambers’ membership, he will also examine the possibility of maintaining support for the electronics and semiconductor, as well as BPO industries.

“The semiconductor industry and BPO industry [account for] about more or less 20 percent of our gross domestic product, very sizeable industries for our economy. We don’t want that scenario wherein these industries will be weakened, the competitiveness will be lessened, and we want to continuously grow these industries,” Gatchalian said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc.  Director Celeste Ilagan, said the BPO sector is batting to keep the 10-percent corporate-income tax rate for regional operating headquarters (ROHQs) under the Trabaho bill.

She said the industry does not want to lose another incentive once the TRAIN 2 is passed. ROHQs already lost the 15-percent preferential tax rate because of TRAIN law, leading to “slight contraction of number of employees in ROHQs,” Ilagan added. With PNA

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/train-2-year-end-ok-in-senate-faces-delay/

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Poe on Train 2: Address causes of inflation first

By:  |  / 07:15 PM September 12, 2018

“I don’t know if it is time to actually consider TRAIN 2,” Senator Grace Poe said on Wednesday, noting that the people are still hurting from the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law (TRAIN 1).

TRAIN 2 or the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities (TRABAHO) is the second tranche of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program.

“But right now, especially with what’s happening with inflation and they’re saying and attributing some fault to TRAIN 1 and also certain social mitigating measures were not rolled, I don’t know if it’s time for us to actually consider TRAIN 2. There are so many things going on that we need to prioritize before this,” Poe said at the sidelines of the Arangkada Forum on Wednesday.

With most Senators worried about the implementation of TRAIN 2, Poe said the provisions of the tax reform law  must be carefully considered.

“A lot of my fellow Senators are actually quite apprehensive about it, especially at this time. But I think it’s our job to really read the provisions and if we have to, introduce amendments or object to it, but definitely with one thing in mind, will it actually help the economy or will it worsen the current situation?” Poe said.

The senator also admitted that she has yet to read the TRABAHO bill approved by the House of Representatives.

“There are certain things that we know will be a part of the provisions, but the actual one that they submitted in the House, I have yet to go through it,” she said.

On September 10, the House of Representatives approved the TRABAHO Bill on third and final reading. It aims, qmong others, to boost fiscal incentives for foreign and local businesses. /ee

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1031438/poe-on-train-2-address-causes-of-inflation-first

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Foreign chambers on Trabaho bill: ‘Leave PEZA alone’

‘We are advocating for the continued operation of PEZA as it is now. And also making sure that rationalizing our incentives [that] it is still competitive with the rest of the region,’ a business group executive says

INVESTMENTS. Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines cautions the government from the current version of the Trabaho bill. Photo by Aika Rey/Rappler
INVESTMENTS. Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines cautions the government from the current version of the Trabaho bill. Photo by Aika Rey/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Heads of foreign chambers of commerce in the Philippines oppose changes in the operations of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), in the wake of the looming approval of the tax reform Package 2 bill.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, September 12, members of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines (JFC) with one voice made a resounding appeal to lawmakers to keep the status quo on fiscal incentives.

“Leave PEZA alone,” American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (Amcham) told reporters.

“We are advocating for the continued operation of PEZA as it is now. And also making sure that rationalizing our incentives [that] it is still competitive with the rest of the region,” said Celeste Ilagan, director of the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters.

Supposedly revenue-neutral, the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher Quality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill seeks to lower corporate income tax rates. However, it faces challenges from current and possible investors who deem it would offset gains in the economic zones. (READ: Things you need to know about Trabaho bill)

Currently, incentives given to investors depend on agencies such as PEZA and the Board of Investments. The proposed measure seeks to repeal at least 120 special laws on investment incentives and consolidate them under a single omnibus incentive code. (EXPLAINER: Why the government is pushing for 2nd TRAIN package)

“Our Korean locators said they would want to keep the incentives as is – keeping what works and trying to change what doesn’t,” the Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines said.

“PEZA itself brings such confidence in foreign investment, and it’s important to protect that integrity,” the Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines said.

The Department of Finance have earlier downplayed job loss under the current version of the Trabaho bill, but the JFC maintained their position that it may have a negative impact on investments.

Pulling out?

According to a report by the Inquirer, Japanese firms in Cebu ecozones are planning to pull out investments if the Trabaho bill pushes through.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Senate committee on economic affairs, clarified on Wednesday that firms were not leaving, but rather setting side expansion in the country.

“They don’t know how the incentives will apply, [so] a lot of them are holding their expansions. Wala namang umaalis ang nakahold lang ngayon is pag-eexpand nila or [kung] mag-eexpand ba sila. (No firm is leaving yet and they are only holding their expansion plans or if they would actually expand),” Gatchalian told reporters in a media interview.

Gatchalian said that the version of the Trabaho bill passed on 3rd and final reading by House lawmakers is “very different” from the DOF version.

“We (Senate) will make sure that jobs will not be lost and we will make sure that the country will not have negative image because we are reneging on the contracts. We want to make sure that bill as intended will make the Philippines competitive with its peers,” Gatchalian said.

The senator highlighted the surge of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the first semester of 2018, which was recently released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

According to BSP, long-term equity investments from overseas amount to net inflows of $5.8 billion, a 42.4% increase from $4 billion last year, despite economic woes.

“The country remains to be an attractive place for foreign direct investments and there is a clear evidence.…The FDI can be much bigger when all these uncertainties are settled,” Gatchalian said. – Rappler.com

Source: https://www.rappler.com/business/211822-foreign-chambers-trabaho-bill-leave-peza-alone

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Implement ‘Build, Build, Build’ with political will like Boracay

‘We need to keep this pace to build up momentum. The government needs to be ready and we need to address the challenges of each infrastructure project,’ says Ramoncito Fernandez, Management Association of the Philippines president

By Aika Rey | Published 12:40 PM, September 12, 2018, Updated 12:52 AM, September 13, 2018

CONTINUITY. Ramoncito Fernandez, MAP President and Maynilad Water CEO, highlights at the Arangkada forum the need for continuity of projects in government when dealing with the private sector. Photo by Aika Rey/Rappler
CONTINUITY. Ramoncito Fernandez, MAP President and Maynilad Water CEO, highlights at the Arangkada forum the need for continuity of projects in government when dealing with the private sector. Photo by Aika Rey/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – A group of business executives called on the government Wednesday, September 12 to implement the centerpiece infrastructure program Build, Build, Build “with more political will” similar to the decisiveness displayed in closing the tourist hotspot Boracay.

Ramoncito Fernandez, Management Association of the Philippines president, noted that infrastructure spending has substantially increased compared to the previous year.

“We need to keep this pace to build up momentum. The government needs to be ready and we need to address the challenges of each infrastructure project,” Fernandez said at the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines’ Arangkada forum.

“[It should be treated with] the same intensity with the current problem in Boracay – with real honest to goodness demolition of illegal structures,” he added. Fernandez is also the President and CEO of Maynilad Water Services Inc.

Highlighting a common reason for delay in capital outlay projects, the right-of-way acquisitions, he said it should be given more funding by the government and should be handled by more qualified people. (READ: Right-of-way issues may delay MRT7 completion)

“Otherwise, the seemingly minor component will continue to impede implementation and timelines,” he said.

Philippine government spending has peaked in July, with disbursements amounting to P328.1 billion or a 34% increase from the same period in 2017. Bulk of July’s spending went to infrastructure at P84.5 billion or 75% higher than last year’s P48.4 billion.

Economic managers earlier said that 43 of 75 flagship infrastructure priority projects are under implementation, but only 6 of which are actually being constructed. Regardless, “it was a good batting average,” Socioeconomic Secretary Ernesto Pernia said. (READ: Hits and misses of Duterte’s infrastructure push)

Sustainability

Fernandez also said that upholding government master plans should be beyond political leaders and administrations.

“This does not help investors’ confidence. Often, changes in policies also mean deviation from contractual obligations. We need to emphasize that businesses simply want predictability,” he said.

Fernandez also said that political interference – particularly by local governments – should be reduced as “it will only be counterproductive.”

“We need to reduce the political interference in infrastructure projects, given [its] magnitude. Supervision and approvals should be lodged with the executive regulatory agencies,” he said.

The business executive suggested that the government should give assurances that the “sanctity of contracts are being upheld.”

“Over the next 10 years, $180 billion will be infused into the economy in the form of infrastructure investments as part of the Build, Build, Build program. This is expected to create jobs, reduce poverty, and attract investors to boost the economy and promote inclusive development,” Fernandez said.

The budget department said P8 trillion to P9 trillion will be spent on the “Build, Build, Build” program, raising infrastructure spending from 5.4% of the gross domestic product in 2017 to as high as 7.3% of the GDP in 2022.

The government targets the Philippine economy to grow by 7% in 2018, riding on the continuous rollout of its infrastructure program.

In April 2017, economic managers estimated that the infrastructure program would generate more than 100,000 jobs in 2017, over 800,000 jobs in 2018, 1.12 million jobs in 2019, 1.23 million jobs in 2020, 1.39 million jobs in 2021, and 1.7 million jobs million in 2022. – Rappler.com

Source: https://www.rappler.com/business/211795-implement-build-build-build-program-with-political-will

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MAP to gov’t: Deal with NCR traffic like Boracay mess

By Kris Crismundo, Reporter |  Philippine News Agency, September 12, 2018, 2:13 pm

MANILA — The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has called on the government to address Metro Manila’s worsening traffic congestion with the “same intensity” as in dealing with the environmental decay of Boracay.

During the Arangkada Philippines Forum 2018 in Pasay City Wednesday, MAP President Ramoncito Fernandez said the business group appreciates the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects in the past two years. However, the government has to do it with “more vigor and political will”.

“The government needs to be ready and committed to address the challenges of implementing each infrastructure project. It has to do this with more vigor and political will. Perhaps, the same intensity as it is dealing with the current problem in Boracay,” Fernandez said, citing the demolition of illegal structures in Boracay Island.

While the government targets to ease the traffic congestion in the National Capital Region (NCR) by building more roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects, these are also expected to worsen the traffic situation in Metro Manila, he noted.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is implementing the Traffic Decongestion Program by rolling out high standard highways and expressways, construction and widening of national roads and bridges, construction of by-passes and diversion roads, construction of flyovers, interchanges, and underpasses.

Major road and railway infrastructure projects that the government is currently implementing include the construction of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 and Metro Rail Transit Line 7, and the repair of the Old Sta. Mesa Bridge in Metro Manila and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge in Makati City.

The DPWH is also set to repair the Guadalupe Bridge, a major infrastructure along Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (Edsa), by 2019.

Fernandez added that the government should also implement some “quick fix” solutions to Metro Manila’s traffic woes, which include clearing road obstructions along Mabuhay Lane, deploying more qualified traffic enforces, and installing more surveillance cameras in the streets.

“We do know the problem of traffic will not go away with these quick fixes. It must be complemented by accelerated construction of more elevated roads as well as access to metro express rails, and also bridges,” said Fernandez. (PNA)

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1047709

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The Arangkada Philippines Fora 2018: Better Infrastructure for a Strong Economy

August 29, 2018 2:46pm | adobo magazine

MANILA – The Seventh Anniversary Arangkada Philippines Forum of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines will be held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom on September 12, 2018. This year’s forum with the theme “Better Infrastructure for a Strong Economy” will focus on the following infrastructure sectors: Rail and Roads, Seaports and Shipping, and Water. The forum will discuss key programs, policies, and recommendations that support each of these sectors.

The forum is divided into three panels with the following topics: How to Survive the Coming Water Crisis; Competitive Rail and Highway Networks; and Ports, Shipping, and the Blue Economy. A special panel on Investing in Next Wave Cities is also included in the program. A policy brief on each of the sector discussed will be launched during the event.

Distinguished industry leaders and experts from the public and private sectors are expected to join the event. The JFC has invited Senate Economic Affairs Committee Chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Senate Public Services Committee Chairperson Senator Grace Poe as keynote speakers.

The JFC will also host a separate forum on Creative Industries entitled “Creative Industries: The Next Sunrise Industry” at the Fairmont Makati Hotel on November 27, 2018. The forum will focus on various policy changes, initiatives, and recommendations to boost the country’s creative economy. A Creative Industries policy brief will also be released during the event.

In 2010, the JFC published Arangkada Philippines, an advocacy paper promoting seven sectors with high growth potential: agribusiness, IT-BPM, creative industries, infrastructure, manufacturing and logistics, mining, and tourism, with recommendations to build a more competitive and inclusive Philippine economy.

The JFC’s Arangkada Philippines Project has also published five annual assessments, six policy briefs, seven policy notes, and Implementing the Ten Point Agenda of the Duterte Administration, all intended to improve the investment climate. These publications are available at the Arangkada website www.arangkadaphilippines.com.

For more information, visit the official event website www.investphilippines.info/fora2018, send an email to [email protected], or call +632 751-1495.

To register, please visit their registration page at arangkada.teamasiaevents.com. For other concerns, please contact our Registration Manager, Trissa Baybayan, at +632 847-3500 local 309 or email [email protected].

The Arangkada Philippines Fora 2018 is sponsored by Auto Nation Group, Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Capital One Philippines Support Services Corporation., Dole Asia Ltd., Eastern Communications, Emerson Electronics, First Philippine Holdings Corporation, International Container Terminal Services, Inc., Manila Electric Company, Manila Marriott Hotel, Manila Water Company Inc., Marubeni Philippines Corporation, Megawide Construction Corp., Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Pacific Cross Philippines, PLDT Enterprise, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Regus, Resorts World Manila, Royal Cargo, Santos Knight Frank, SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co., TeamAsia, and UnionBank.

Source: https://www.adobomagazine.com/philippine-news/arangkada-philippines-fora-2018-better-infrastructure-strong-economy

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The Arangkada Philippines Fora 2018: Better Infrastructure for a Strong Economy

The Seventh Anniversary Arangkada Philippines Forum of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines will be held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom on September 12, 2018. This year’s forum with the theme “Better Infrastructure for a Strong Economy” will focus on the following infrastructure sectors: Rail and Roads, Seaports and Shipping, and Water. The forum will discuss key programs, policies, and recommendations that support each of these sectors.

The forum is divided into three panels with the following topics: How to Survive the Coming Water Crisis; Competitive Rail and Highway Networks; and Ports, Shipping, and the Blue Economy. A special panel on Investing in Next Wave Cities is also included in the program. A policy brief on each of the sector discussed will be launched during the event.

We have invited distinguished industry leaders and experts from the public and private sectors to join the event. The JFC has invited Department of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III as keynote speaker.

The JFC will also host a separate forum on Creative Industries entitled “Creative Industries: The Next Sunrise Industry” at the Fairmont Makati Hotel on November 27, 2018. The forum will focus on various policy changes, initiatives, and recommendations to boost the country’s creative economy. A Creative Industries policy brief will also be released during the event.

In 2010, the JFC published Arangkada Philippines, an advocacy paper promoting seven sectors with high growth potential: agribusiness, IT-BPM, creative industries, infrastructure, manufacturing and logistics, mining, and tourism, with recommendations to build a more competitive and inclusive Philippine economy.

The JFC’s Arangkada Philippines Project has also published five annual assessments, six policy briefs, seven policy notes, and Implementing the Ten Point Agenda of the Duterte Administration, all intended to improve the investment climate. These publications are available at the Arangkada website www.arangkadaphilippines.com.

For more information, visit the official event website www.investphilippines.info/fora2018, send an email to [email protected], or call +632 751-1495.

To register, please visit our registration page at arangkada.teamasiaevents.com. For other concerns, please contact our Registration Manager, Trissa Baybayan, at +632 847-3500 local 309 or email [email protected].

The Arangkada Philippines Fora 2018 is sponsored by Auto Nation Group, Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Capital One Philippines Support Services Corporation., Dole Asia Ltd., Emerson Electronics, First Philippine Holdings Corporation, International Container Terminal Services, Manila Electric Company, Manila Marriott Hotel, Manila Water Company Inc., Megawide Construction Corp., Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Pacific Cross Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Resorts World Manila, Royal Cargo, Santos Knight Frank, SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co., and TeamAsia.