Taiwanese envoy said: Taiwan-Philippines ties closer than ever

Manila, Oct. 26 (CNA) The links between Taiwan and the Philippines are closer now than at any time in the past, according to Taiwan's representative to the Southeast Asian country Raymond Wang.

Bilateral ties between the two countries have grown closer because of increasing interaction on economic, trade and labor affairs, as well as humanitarian relief efforts, Wang said Thursday in a newspaper interview that will be published in mid-November in the Philippines.

Taiwan is now the Philippines' eighth largest trading partner and its seventh biggest foreign investor, he told the English-language Business Mirror.

Wang said trade between Taiwan and the Philippines totaled US$10 billion last year, and that exchange visits by trade and economic officials and business delegations have become more frequent over the past years, according to his office.

The two countries have also maintained close relations in the labor and tourism sectors, he said.

He noted that there are about 100,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan and that their remittances to the Philippines total some US$650 million per year.

Taiwan is the Philippines' fifth largest source of tourism, he added, citing data that showed there were 180,000 Taiwanese tourist arrivals to the Philippines in 2011.

Moreover, Taiwan has always been quick to provide medical aid and donations to people in need in cases of natural disasters in the Philippines, the envoy said.

Currently, Taiwan is actively pursuing agreements with the Philippines on economic cooperation, mutual legal assistance and cooperation in fighting cross-border crimes, he noted.

In addition, Taiwan is pushing for the Philippines to grant.

The Central News Agency

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Philippine Geothermal Power: second largest geothermal power in the world

Philippine geothermal power plant in Negros Oriental

Among the renewable energy industries in the Philippines, geothermal energy is the one able to keep on expanding. What's more, it ranks second among other providers of geothermal power in the world.

Along with the sector's development is the continuing support of New Zealand's Institute of Geothermal and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science), which evaluates current systems and progresses and recommends steps for improvement.

In fact, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), a Philippine geothermal company and one of the largest in the world, was able to save $2.48 million in operating costs with the GNS Science's previous evaluation and recommendation.

As EDC is currently undergoing an expansion, GNS Science will once again help in developing Philippine's geothermal energy industry as recently signed in an agreement during the two-day state visit in New Zealand of Philippine President Benigno Aquino, Jr.

According to GNS Science, they will be conducting viability reviews of EDC's steam fields for half a year, and the new contract is likely to be a forerunner to further work in the Philippines. They will be working with Filipino specialists to improve geothermal operations at certain fields, according to Richard Tantoco, EDC's chief operating officer.

"This will greatly help us in the reservoir management for our existing operating fields and identify and eliminate costs, complexity and risks. Over the next four years we plan to drill 75 new geothermal wells. If production improves by at least 1 MW per well, compared to the average of the last three years, the value it will deliver will be an added $75 million a year in revenues," said Tantoco.

While things are going great for geothermal energy in the country, the solar energy industry experiences otherwise. For whatever reasons there may be that hinder solar energy from burgeoning, perhaps political, hopefully, these would be surpassed should the government would also realize its great potential in reducing electrical costs and finally support solar energy projects as they would have for geothermal energy.

Ultimately, these renewable energy sources must also be accessible to the poor, and solar cell panels have the potential to achieve this goal

philSTAR

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Photos: U.S. Super aircraft carrier USS George Washington docked in Philippines

USS George Washington (CVN-73) is an American nuclear-powered supercarrier, the sixth ship in the Nimitz class and the fourth United States Navy ship to be named after George Washington, the first President of the United States.

Filipino-American members of the U.S. Navy stand inside the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington docked in Manila Bay, the Philippines, Oct. 25, 2012. The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrived in the Philippines for professional exchanges between the U.S. and Philippine Navy counterparts

U.S. navy soldiers walk inside the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington docked in Manila Bay, the Philippines, Oct. 25, 2012.

U.S. navy soldiers stand in front of a fighter jet inside the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington docked in Manila Bay, the Philippines, Oct. 25, 2012

U.S. navy soldiers walk inside the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington docked in Manila Bay, the Philippines, Oct. 25, 2012

Gregory J. Fenton, commanding officer of U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington, speaks inside the ship docked in Manila Bay, the Philippines, Oct. 25, 2012.

Filipino-American members of the U.S. Navy stand inside the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington docked in Manila Bay, the Philippines, Oct. 25, 2012

The U.S. Navy's Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrived in Manila Bay, Philippines on Oct. 24 – October 29, 2012 for a five-day goodwill visit.

 

While in the Philippines, the ship will host a welcome reception that will be attended by Filipino dignitaries and distinguished visitors, as well as U.S. embassy and military personnel. Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus is also expected to attend.

 

"We have a longstanding history of partnership with the Philippines dating back to the Spanish-American War, and we are always appreciative of the opportunity to be able to work with one of our regional partners," said Capt. G.J. Fenton, George Washington's commanding officer.

 

The ship's visit to the Philippines will also allow Sailors to take a break from the grueling operational work, experience the local culture, and participate in community service projects set up by USS George Washington. Projects include interacting with school children, teaching basic first-aid at a local hospital facility, and general cleaning and landscaping. In addition, Filipino-born members of the crew can take the opportunity to re-connect with the family or relatives they have not seen for years.

 

"As the Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier, we fly more often and operate in a less forgiving operational environment than any other carrier in the fleet; the crew deserves a break," said Legalman 1st Class Manny Gaona, from Greeley, Colo. "With us being allowed to visit the Philippines, we will be able to spend some time taking in the sights and enjoying some much-deserved rest and relaxation."

 

USS George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its partners and allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

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