INVESTMENT CLIMATE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NEWSCLIPS Economic Reform News from the and Elsewhere June 3, 2011

Philippines

US think-tank sticks to 4.8% growth forecast ICTSI offers to buy out Singapore firm for Phl The Philippine Star, June 2, 2011 The Philippine Star, June 2, 2011 Zinnia B. Dela Peña Lawrence Agcaoili International Container Terminal Services Inc. New York-based Global Source Partners is (ICTSI) has offered to buy all the shares of sticking to its revised gross domestic product Portek International Ltd., a Singapore-based (GDP) growth of 4.8 percent this year despite the investment holding company that operates economic slowdown experienced by the country medium-sized container and multipurpose ports, in the first quarter of the year. for approximately $146 million.

SMB in $100-M brewery expansion PEZA investment commitments up 44% to Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 1, 2011 P67 B in Jan-May Doris C. Dumlao The Philippine Star, June 2, 2011 Ma. Elisa P. Osorio Local beer giant San Miguel Brewery is opening up four new bottling plants in , Isabela, Investment commitments registered with the Bicol and Cayagan de Oro worth about $100 Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) million this year, thereby expanding its bottling expanded by 44.46 percent to P66.96 billion capacity by 30 percent. during the first five months of the year from P46.4 billion a year ago. What now after NAIA-3 victory? The Philippine Star, June 1, 2011 Gov’t on track with PPP program - Purisima Jarius Bondoc The Philippine Star, May 30, 2011 Iris C. Gonzales In resigning as Prisons Bureau chief, Ernesto Diokno showed the way for other political The government is on track with its much-touted appointees. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program for infrastructure, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima Just privatize PNR said over the weekend. The Philippine Star, May 30, 2011 Boo Chanco The Philippine economy, 1998 to 2010: (Part II) Consumption and investment and The current PNR general manager should expenditure probably be given a medal for his heroic efforts The Philippine Star, June 1, 2011 to make the government-owned railroad Gerardo P. Sicat company run its trains again all the way to Bicol. The two major components of total demand in any economy are consumption and investment. Proposed legislation seeks to boost copyright protection MetroPac OK’s P7B ROW cost Business World, May 31, 2011 Business Mirror, May 30, 2011 NMG Lennie Lectura

A MEASURE that seeks to provide an THE Metro Pacific group has agreed to shoulder environment where it is safe to distribute and P7 billion worth of road right-of-way (ROW) license copyrighted works was approved on third cost for a project that is envisioned to link the and final reading yesterday by the House of North Luzon and South Luzon expressways as Representatives. long as the government extends flexible tariffs.

Malacañang: No stand yet on divorce bill Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 1, 2011 Christine O. Avendaño Global/Regional It’s not that Malacañang doesn’t want to ruffle Church feathers again, but it just doesn’t have a Asian Data Highlight Slowing Growth position yet on a controversial divorce bill being The Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2011 revived in Congress. Michael S. Arnold

Tourism dep’t claims foreign visitor count on Purchasing managers indexes released track to goal Wednesday showed manufacturing strength Business World, May 31, 2011 ebbing around Asia, while the Australian Nathaniel R. Melican economy suffered its sharpest contraction in 20 years, reinforcing that the region's strong THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DoT) said recovery from the global economic crisis appears yesterday that foreign tourist arrivals reached to be waning. about 1.31 million in the four months to April, nearly half the full-year target and about 13.33% Malaysia Seeks Banking Crown more than what was recorded in the same period The Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2011 last year. James Hookway and Ankur Relia

Solar + Wind = Hot Air A brewing takeover battle for Malaysia's RHB The Philippine Star, June 1, 2011 Capital Bhd. between the country's two top banks Boo Chanco is adding fresh momentum to the Malaysian government's plans to create Southeast Asia's Back in the old days when government really largest lenders, as the region of nearly 600 thought out our energy options, we also looked at million people edges toward becoming a single, renewable energy with a lot of interest. But we interconnected trade bloc. always had our feet on the ground.

The puff that kills Monorails Gain Traction Around Globe Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 1, 2011 The Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2011 Paulo Trevisani WHENEVER THERE is talk about increasing taxes on tobacco products, the standard response The train of the future may be turning a corner— of the industry is to warn that government could but you'll have to look up to see it. lose a rich source of revenue since higher taxes would cut tobacco consumption or even drive Germany to End Nuclear Energy tobacco farmers and cigarette manufacturers out The Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2011 of business. THE INTERNATIONAL Energy Agency Monopolistic rampage reported on Monday that global energy-related Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 1, 2011 carbon emissions last year were the highest ever, Amando Doronila and that the world is far off track if it wants to keep temperatures from rising more than 2 THE ACQUISITION by PLDT (Philippine Long degrees Celsius, after which the results could be Distance Telephone Co.) of Digitel’s Sun very dangerous. Cellular has sparked in Philippine business circles widespread fears of a new era of monopoly control in the telecommunications industry.

Solons want 4-tier tax system to remain Business Mirror, May 30, 2011 Jun Vallecera

LEAD legislators looking to boost revenue flows that is possible with existing tax measures ruled out the plan cutting the four-tier excise system in half, saying a two-tier alternate will only raise India Moves to Buttress Telecom Sector cigarette and alcohol prices by an unacceptable The Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2011 500 percent. Amol Sharma and Megha Bahree

Nonperforming officials eyed for other India is finalizing an overhaul of its positions, says Aquino telecommunications policies to address criticism Business World, May 31, 2011 that regulations are wrecking one of the nation's J.P.D. Poblete hottest industries by fostering price wars, degrading service quality and blocking much- CABINET OFFICIALS will be evaluated and needed consolidation. those found lacking in performance will be given new positions, said President Benigno S. C. Word of the Decade: ‘Unsustainable’ Aquino III yesterday, following reports of The Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2011 possible changes over recent controversies Peggy Noonan involving high-ranking officials. We're at a funny place. The American Long wait establishment has finally come around, in unison, The Philippine Star, June 1, 2011 to admitting that America is in crisis, that our Ana Marie Pamintuan debt actually threatens our ability to endure, that if we don't make progress on this, we are going This country is more ready for a law promoting to near our endpoint as a nation. reproductive health than for the legalization of Not So Cool Rules divorce. The Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2011

Govt won’t abolish NFA In the 1982 film "Fast Times at Ridgemont Business Mirror, May 30, 2011 High," the character Jeff Spicoli expresses the Jennifer A. Ng Jeffersonian thesis that American democracy required "cool rules . . . pronto," lest our polity Instead of abolishing state-run National Food become just as "bogus" as the British rule it Authority (NFA), the government is looking at replaced. Where's Spicoli when you need him in reorganizing it, according to an economic Washington? blueprint released over the weekend. China and Philippines Tension Mount CHED closes deficient nursing, maritime The Philippine Star, June 1, 2011 schools Ana Marie Pamintuan The Philippine Star, June 1, 2011 Rainier Allan Ronda A diplomatic dispute between China and the Philippines escalated on Wednesday after The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) summoned Beijing's representative to convey its has sent out cease and desist orders (CDOs) to growing concern over recent naval incursions higher education institutions (HEIs) offering into disputed waters in the South China Sea. courses that do not comply with quality standards and whose graduates fare miserably in licensure Indonesia has yet to tap its cruise industry examinations. potential The Jakarta Post, May 31, 2011 More Pinoys now in favor of divorce Newsbreak, June 1, 2011 SWS Indonesia has not tapped the large potential of the cruise ship industry despite its vast maritime More Filipinos favor divorce today compared to resources due to several challenges, an six years ago, according to the Social Weather international seminar on cruise development on Stations. Monday heard.

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