Civil society groups want automatic debt payments scuttled

Under Section 31 of PD 1177, the national government must automatically appropriate funds for various government expenditures that include principal and interest on public debt.

Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development, said debt audits are critical in “shaping” and “transforming” policies on the government’s debts and debt payments. Nacpil added that these audits could also serve as a basis to call for changes in the policies of lenders.

“Filipinos are struggling to survive in the face of multiple crises. Examining the public debt through a debt audit can identify loans that should not be paid, and open opportunities for shifting public money from debt service continued from a14 to people’s needs especially in these extremely difficult times,” Nacpil said.

T he Philippines ended 2022 with an outstanding debt of P13.418 trillion, 14.4 percent over the P11.728 trillion recorded in end-2021, latest Bureau of the Treasury data showed. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2023/02/03/phl-ends-2022-with-debtof-p13-4-trillion-highest-ever/)

Historical Treasury data showed it was the Philippines’s highest end-December outstanding debt on record.

T he country’s outstanding obligation at the end of last year was below the national government’s (NG) projected debt stock level of P13.43 trillion for 2022. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas continued from a14

For her part, Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, also an economist, said MSMEs can maximize the benefits from the RCEP.

RCEP has a specific chapter on MSMEs. In this chapter there are provisions towards integration of MSMEs into the global value chain and trade facilitation provisions, which can help MSMEs,” she said.

[There is also] language on providing information and promoting cooperation so that MSMEs are empowered and therefore they can maximize their benefits from RCEP,” Quimbo said.

She also noted a chapter on electronic commerce and financial services that, again, is expected to contribute to the digitalization of MSMEs in the country.

“If we don’t proceed with this, we will be left out, our current export—about half—go to RCEP States. If we do not join and ratify [RCEP] it will affect our competitiveness,” she said.

For his part, Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Allan B. Gepty cited two studies showing RCEP’s benefits to the country’s real GDP.

There are 2 studies [one showing that] by 2031 it is expected that the Philippines will experience a positive 1.93 percent [while the other study said that] joining the RCEP can contribute to a 2.02 real GDP growth,” he said.

[But] the cost of not joining RCEP, we will suffer a negative .26 reduction in our real GDP.

If you are going to quantify it, we will be missing the opportunity of increasing our real GDP by an average 2 percent,” he added.

For his part, Speaker Martin Romualdez said by immediately ratifying the RCEP agreement, the Philippines can sooner benefit and take the advantages of this mega-trade deal that could attract more foreign investors, create more job opportunities, and curb the unemployment and poverty rates in the country.

In the resolution, authors noted DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual’s statement that the tariff liberalization under RCEP will make preferential market access easier for Philippine exporters, thereby allowing the country to capitalize on potential market gains.

Due to various FTAs that the Philippines entered into in the Asia-Pacific Region, there is overlapping of the numerous bilateral FTAs involving different sectors, with varying levels of commitment for tariff reduction and conflicting technical trade rules,” the resolution read.

T he RCEP is expected to address this debacle.

A ccording to Romualdez and the other authors, the benefits that the RCEP agreement will bring to the Philippines “far outweigh the risk, as it will promote greater openness, create a more business-friendly environment, encourage closer integration of economies, and provide a more stable and predictable rulesbased system of trade.” call center to respond to tourist emergencies, and an agreement with the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior Labor and Government to ensure peace and security in tourist destinations.

Designed as the framework for economic and trade cooperation in the Asia Pacific Region, the RCEP integrates and optimizes the economic and trade rules, including the changing digital landscape that affects intellectual property rights, trade facilitation measures, electronic commerce, and cross-border trade.

“ The possibilities for Philippine tourism are endless. With your continued support we will accomplish our goals for a tourism industry that is a major economic pillar for our country,” the DOT chief told attendees.

During the meeting, the agency asked TCC members for their comments and inputs to the NTDP 2023-2028, with the final version to be revealed in March.

“This National Tourism Development Plan for 2023 to 2028 envisions the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse of Asia, that is anchored in the Filipino identity, on sustainability, resilience, and global competitiveness, and that benefits the Filipino people,” said Frasco.

Among those who attended the TCC meeting were Tourism Congress of the Philippines president Roberto Zozobrado, Transportation Undersecretary Roberto C. Lim, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Gina Jamoralin, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Executive Director Oscar G. Casaysay, Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Operations PLT Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., OIC-Executive Director of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines Carmina Arevalo, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Vice President for Marketing Ricardo B. Faraon, and officials of the DOT and its attached agencies.

76.

CAI, JIEFAN Business Development Analyst

Brief Job Description: A commendable sales performance specializing in Financial Services and in Corporate Banking or Wealth Management / Financial Planning services to high-networth clients, fluency in English and Chinese Language is a must.

Excellent communication, interpersonal and listening skills, the capability to explain complex information simply and clearly, the ability to network and establish relationships with clients, negotiation and influencing skills as well as determination and tenacity fluency in English and Arabic Language is a must.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Excellent communication,

February 22, 2023

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION/S FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT/S (AEP/S)

Notice is hereby given that the following companies/employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien

TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

17 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

18 BROER BUILDERS CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION

Lot 3, Toclong, Kawit, Cavite

19 CALAMBA STEEL CENTER, INC.

Saimsim, City of Calamba, Laguna

YAP SAI WENG

Malaysian Customer Relations Officer

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

LIN, JICHAO

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

XIE, JINXING

Consultant

Brief Job Description:

Assist the clients in choosing the best contractor for the project.

TAKUMI, MIYU

Treasurer and Sales Manager

Brief Job Description:

Keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in the books of the corporation.

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

With knowledge on construction procedure.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Graduate of any 4-year course, with sales experience and can speak and write in Japanese and English.

Salary Range:

Php60,000 - Php89,999

• Editor: Angel R. Calso