What's On & Expat - Philippines

the study and analysis of the strategy and security of mainland China affairs and the People’s Liberation Army.
   “Taiwan has been an independent country for 97 years. We don’t have to declare our sovereignty

is then an irony that someone who’s contributing greatly has been pointed a gun to on the head,” remarks Yang on his knowledge that Taiwan is facing direct threats from China “with a thousand missiles

 to the world,” comments Dr. Lin on the premise of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon’s refusal to accept the application that it is in keeping with the one-China policy of the United Nations (Resolution 2758). In a statement, Government Information Office Minister Shieh Jhy-Wey clarifies “in order to underline the fact that Taiwan makes no pretense of vying for the right to govern China, we have requested the UN to grant us admission as Taiwan. This follows the well-established precedent of employing names for participation in the UN and other international organizations that are different from domestically used, constitutional names.”
   Taiwan applied for UN membership on July 18 but a UN Secretariat spokesperson announced on July 23 that the application

targeted at Taiwan.”
   Despite China’s obvious capabilities, “people believe that China will not shoot us. Seventy-five percent believe that Taiwan will be defeated if China resorted to use of force. But, seventy-five perfect also believe that the United States will intervene to the aid of Taiwan if it happens,” explains Yang, highlighting the presence of a Taiwan Relations Act which includes provisions such as “the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability…”
    On a positive note, Yang says that despite uncertain times between Taiwan, China and the rest of the world, “there is room for dialogue and the future presents tremendous opportunity.” He says that

Services is RP’s Main Growth Driver

By Richard A. Ramos

SERVICES CONTINUE TO figure as the single biggest factor towards the country’s march to economic recovery as services posted an average growth rate of a lofty 9.1 percent during the first quarter of the year.
    This was a hefty increase from the 6.66 percent rate posted during the same period in 2006 as the services sector, led by the country’s skilled manpower resources, continue to make remarkable progress despite the long-standing problems such as the enormous budget deficit and the national debt. All in all, services account for a 49 percent of the total Gross Development Product growth, or GDP, resulting in a 7.5 percent economic growth for the second quarter of the year.
    According to Dr. Cayetano Paderanga, chair of the Board of the Institute for Development and Econometric Analysis, Inc. (IDEA), the rate would have even been higher were it for certain governance issues that have clouded the big picture. “Issues such as red tape, corruption and flip-flopping over big projects have stunted further growth of the services sector. Besides, most investments here are of the small-scale genre such as restaurants, malls, franchises, and so on,” Paderanga added during an economic briefing organized by IDEA, Credit

Information Bureau Inc. and WealthBank in Cebu. He recommended that the industrial sector grow at a faster pace in order that real change would take place and benefit the needier sectors in society.
    Rounding up the list in the service sector are private services which includes Business Process Outsourcing centers at 8.87 percent, government services at 7.06 percent and office dwellings and real estate at 5.44 percent. “Mining and quarrying are expected to produce high outputs due to high demand from the Chinese market and the mushrooming of such mining ventures in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao,” the Paderanga affirmed. At the same time, government consumption grew the highest for the first quarter at 13.06 percent due to the recent elections and infrastructure spending.
    While the government is determined to achieve a zero deficit by next year, Paderanga expressed pessimism that such a target may not be reached due to unmet revenue targets and the absence of new tax measures. “Additional funds should be sourced from privatization or through borrowing in order to achieve the 2008 target.”