US, Singapore to support Manila

Manila bags US, Singapore support to turn capital into 'smart city'

Katrina Domingo
ABS-CBN News
08 August 2019

MANILA - The United States and Singapore sent envoys to Manila City Hall this week to offer their assistance in the capital’s modernization and development programs.

Singapore committed to share its technical expertise in traffic and sewage management, and digital governance with Manila, Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Ho told reporters after his courtesy call on Mayor Isko Moreno, Thursday.

Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Ho arrives at the Manila City Hall to pay a courtesy call on Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday, August 8, 2019. (Manila PIO photo / MANILA BULLETIN)

Ho, who met with Moreno on the eve of Singapore’s 54th National Day, offered to fund a “study trip” to the city state where the Manila mayor could learn more about first-world policies and practices.

“We are ready to share. Ask us if you need any help. We have areas of expertise in traffic management, sewages, but you have to see what works for you because you cannot blindly apply,” Ho, the envoy of Southeast Asia’s richest nation, told Moreno during the meeting.

A similar offer was given to Jakarta before, he said.

"If you have done something before and it seems to work, and you want to be a good neighbor and friend to your region, isn’t it good to share these things to everyone?" he said.

US TO HELP DESIGN MANILA’S SMART CITY PLAN

Singapore’s commitment comes a day after officials from the US Embassy visited Moreno and offered to help the capital’s flood monitoring and prevention program.

"I was asked what I wanted to prioritize. Sabi ko, ‘Once and for all, please, study Manila geographically with regard to flooding problems," Moreno told reporters.

"So that once and for all, magkaroon ng drainage plans, catch basins and everything that will address the problem," he said.

US officials also backed Manila’s efforts to turn the capital into a “smart city,” Moreno’s chief of staff Cesar Chavez told ABS-CBN News.

“We were given options by the US Embassy Commercial Section if we want a total design for a smart city or a piece of it,” Moreno’s chief of staff Cesar Chavez told ABS-CBN News.

“Our inclination is to request for a total design... traffic, solid waste management, flooding, social services,” he said.

The city is also looking into a Manila Residents ID system, he said.

The design is expected to be completed in 4-6 months, while its approval would take an additional 3 months so implementation might happen next year, he said.

PRIVATE SECTOR OFFERS

Business tycoon and PLDT-Smart CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan earlier said his telecommunications company would provide closed-circuit television cameras for “all parts” of capital city.

PLDT-Smart would also help with the creation of Manila’s “operations center” on the city hall’s 4th level, he said.

Pangilinan also committed to fund the construction of a fountain near the city hall, Moreno said.

Billion Dollars Chinese investment in PH

Philippines gets $12.2B in new investments, trade commitments from China

Doris Dumlao-Abadilla

Philippine Daily Inquirer

28 April 2019

BEIJING—The Philippines bagged $12.16 billion worth of new investment and trade deals with Chinese partners—including big-ticket and labor-intensive energy, petrochemical, industrial park and infrastructure projects—on the sidelines of President Duterte’s visit to China.

FRESH AGREEMENT President Duterte (second from left) meets with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (second from right) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Friday. —AFP

Duterte witnessed on Friday the signing of 19 business agreements, which are expected to create more than 21,165 new jobs in the Philippines, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

The President guaranteed to the Chinese businessmen that he would crack down on corruption and ease doing business in the Philippines.

Biggest winner

Among the biggest winners during this trip is Filipino conglomerate Tranzen Group of mining mogul Salvador Zamora II. Tranzen signed a framework agreement with China Power Investment Holding for thermal, hydroelectric and renewable power plants cumulatively valued at around $1.5 billion to $2 billion. These are expected to create 1,000 jobs.

Tranzen likewise signed two memorandums of understanding (MOU) for infrastructure and telecommunications projects. One was with China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd. for the construction of a Light Railway Transit in Manila, housing and roads in North Luzon.

These projects have a combined value of $4 billion and are expected to generate 1,000 jobs.

The Davao Occidental provincial government and Fengyuan Holdings also signed an MOU for a $1.5-billion petrochemical refinery processing plant complex to be located at the Tubalan Cove Business and Industrial Park. This could employ some 500 workers.

Pampanga project

The Pampanga provincial government and Chinese company Macrolink Group likewise inked a $1.5-billion framework agreement to construct and develop the Yatai Industrial Park, which would create an estimated 10,000 jobs.

In all, the Philippines signed one contract agreement, three cooperation agreements, two purchase framework agreements and 13 MOUs and memorandums of agreements with Chinese companies.

Outside of the new deals, electronics manufacturer AAC Technologies disclosed plans to expand its operations in the Philippines during a courtesy call on Lopez by its officials.

AAC had set up shop at Gateway Business Park in General Trias, Cavite, taking over a Korean company in 2014. It committed to invest $30 million to manufacture stepper motors and motor reducers, creating about 3,000 jobs in the next three years.

A contract agreement was signed for the proposed 250-megawatt South Pulangi Hydroelectric Power Plant Project in Damulog, Bukidnon.

To be developed by Pulangi Hydro Power Corp. and China Energy Co Ltd., this $800-million project aims to improve power supply reliability and resilience, particularly in Mindanao. About 5,000 jobs would be created by the project.

Wi-Fi connectivity

As part of a long-term plan to reduce dependence on imported fuels, the Department of Energy, Shanghai Electric Group Co. Ltd. and Deluxe Family Co. Ltd signed a $40-million MOU to collaborate on the promotion of indigenous, new and renewable energy resources.

Another telecommunication deal involved CITIC Guoan Information Technology, which signed a $500-million project to construct infrastructure for nationwide Wi-Fi internet connectivity in various capital cities and towns in the Philippines. This project is expected to create 1,000 jobs.

Two Philippine companies signed purchase framework agreements to supply agricultural products to Chinese companies. Philpack Corp. bagged a deal to supply $40 million worth of pineapples to Chinese company Goodfarmer Foods Holding Group, while Eng Seng Food Products was tapped to supply $36.5 million worth of green coconuts to China Artex Corp. The latter is expected to create 1,500 jobs.

Infrastructure funding

The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (Ceza) signed six MOUs with Chinese companies to develop its economic zone. The projects include a $150-million yacht club, a $500-million green textile industry park, a $500-million expansion of the Cagayan North International Airport, a $100-million financial technology hub and financial center, a $500-million smart city, and $150 million for various projects, including a resort and theme park, and a lithium battery manufacturing plant.

A framework agreement was signed between GFTG Property Holdings and Sanya CEDF Sino-Philippine Investment Corp. for a $298-million project to develop Grande and Chiquita Islands under the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. The project is set to create 500 to 1,000 jobs.

Adnama Mining Resource Inc., Fu Properties Inc, and Xiamen C&D Inc. also signed an MOU to construct a $50-million iron processing plant in Agusan del Norte.

Since rekindling diplomatic ties with China in 2016 after Duterte took office, the Philippines has attracted big-ticket infrastructure funding from China.

Based on various published reports prior to the President’s latest trip to China, the Chinese government and private companies have made more than $34.24 billion in investments, loans, aid and trade commitments to the Philippines from 2016 to 2018.

Among the most prominent China-funded projects are the Kaliwa Dam project (P12.2 billion or $234 million), Chico River Pump Irrigation Project (P4.37 billion), Mindanao Railway project (P128.1 billion), Binondo-Intramuros bridge (P4.61 billion) and Estrella-Pantaleon bridge (P1.37 billion or $26.3 million).

Redefine cooperation

In a speech at the Forum on Friday,  Duterte urged fellow world leaders to redefine international cooperation to ensure that development assistance would not promote dependence but instead trigger sustainable growth anchored on mutual respect and mutual interests.

“Development assistance should build on capacities of nations. It should never foster dependence,” he said.

“It should be based on reciprocal benefits, motivated by keen interest in partner states to bring about real progress. This should be the new normal. And it is in our interest to work together to make this a reality,” he added. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH

Asia's Biggest Oil and gas Development

China, Philippines to Explore Biggest Oil and Gas Development in Asia 



Russel Cyra
Gineersnow.com
21 November 2018

In a motion to fortify an alliance for an amiable joint oil and gas exploration to the West Philippine Sea, both Filipino and Chinese officials signed last night a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is said to be the biggest oil and gas development in Asia.

It is during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two-day state visit in the Philippines that the MOU was able to sign among 29 agreements between Manila and Beijing which according to reports entails that the proposed joint exploration would be in accordance with the principles of, “mutual respect, fairness and mutual benefit, flexibility and pragmatism and consensus through equal and friendly consultations.”



The aforementioned MOU on oil and gas development in the formerly disputed territory was signed by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. and China’s State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi. It was witnessed by President Duterte and President Xi in a ceremony at the Malacañang’s Reception Hall.

The Philippine government recently claimed how they are doing everything so that the country will have energy reservoir and security. They also added how it has been a long time since they did any major exploration activities in the country.

In connection to this, oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea will pave the way to development since forecasts released how the Malampaya oil and gas field in Palawan will dry up in a few years.Meanwhile, if this joint exploration will ever bear fruit, it is said to need another agreement as there may be a possibility of exploitation of resources.

And so, the agreement also stipulates that there must be prejudice and two parties must, “make arrangements for the relevant bilateral cooperation including joint exploration,” in whatever outcomes may arise after. In addition, the outcome of the joint exploration would be shared only by the Philippines and China.

Furthermore, the draft also includes the establishment of an inter-governmental joint steering committee and an inter-entrepreneurial working group. 

Foreign affairs and energy departments of Philippines and China, on the other hand shall lead the committee along with other related agencies.

The working group is proposed to consist of representatives from the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) and an energy firm to be authorized by the Philippine government. 

This group will be responsible to discuss details of the joint exploration. 

After which, the CNOOC and the designated Philippine energy company are to sign a contract based on these discussions.The joint exploration contract will be executed upon ratification by the committee.

Philippines support Papua New Guinea

Philippines Supports PNG


Post Courier
19 November 2018




The Philippines is ready to build schools and deploy teachers to PNG in a bid to enhance the development of its neighbour.

President Duterte announced the government education aid to PNG in appreciation to its generosity and kindness to Filipino workers.

Mr Duterte was in Port Moresby for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit but cut short his three-day trip by a day to return home on Sunday morning.

“We need to develop and develop well Papua New Guinea. We are willing to help establish schools,” he said.

Mr Duterte said during the meeting with the Filipino community on Friday night, he heard that most of “our countrymen are treated well and respected”.

“We are ready to build schools, ask teachers to come here and help in the education of your people,” he said.

President Duterte said the government was also prepared to help PNG with its livelihood projects to improve the welfare of its people.

He took pride that the Filipino workers are industrious and bright.

“We can come here, we can establish schools, if you want universities, we are good at that. We will try to help you,” he said.

The President also cautioned PNG against allowing multinational companies from encroaching its farmlands.

He said they should guard against such activity, citing that the Philippines no longer has farmlands for food crops.

“It has been overtaken by multinationals. Be careful about that. You may but do not allow encroachment of multinationals because at the end of the day what you would get is the salary of the people but the bulk of the money goes to the company.”