Japan's Abe pledges $8.7 billion USD a 5 year public-private package for Philippines Infrastructure projects

Japan PM Abe at Duterte home in Davao, the Philippines on Jan. 12. Photographer: The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images

MANILA (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged a 1 trillion yen ($8.7 billion) aid package, including government aid and public investments, for the Philippines over the next five years to help its infrastructure development, in a bid to strengthen strategic ties with the key nation in the Asia-Pacific region amid China's growing presence.

"We will leverage Japanese technology and know-how to the fullest extent to positively cooperate for the improvement of infrastructure in Metro Manila and the whole of the Philippines," said Abe in a joint press conference in Manila after meeting with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

Abe is the first foreign head of government to visit the country since Duterte took power last June and met Duterte for the third time.

Abe and Duterte said they agreed to enhance maritime and security cooperation in their talks at the Malacanang Palace. Abe said China's military buildup in disputed waters of the South China Sea influences regional peace and stability, and is a global concern.

"We will continue to forge ahead with our efforts to advance the rule of law in order to secure the waters in our region," Duterte said. "As maritime nations, the Philippines and Japan have a shared interest in keeping our waters safe and secure from threats of any kind."

The two countries agreed to establish a joint committee to expedite Japan's involvement in infrastructural development in the fast-growing Southeast Asian nation, Abe said. Such an effort by Tokyo is also apparently aimed at thwarting China's growing influence on the Philippines.

Abe also said Japan will provide support for rehabilitation facilities for drug addicts in the Philippines.

The Philippines is Abe's first stop of his four-nation tour since Thursday. He will also visit Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Abe hopes that the Philippines, a key maritime nation in the Asia-Pacific region, remains committed to an alliance with the United States in maintaining regional peace and stability, and countering the growing assertiveness of China at sea, Japanese officials said.

Duterte, a former Davao mayor and prosecutor, has reacted angrily when Washington aired concerns about extrajudicial killings in Duterte's anti-drug campaign.

Duterte has also resumed talks with China, the world's second-largest economy, to boost cooperation and signaled he is prepared to set aside territorial disputes with the nation in the South China Sea.

Abe's meeting with Duterte at Malacanang Palace in Manila comes ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S. president on Jan. 20. It is unclear whether the Philippines' relations with the United States will mend under the incoming Trump administration, analysts said.

Abe also promised Japan's full support for the Philippines in chairing a series of meetings involving the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, expecting their efforts to address the South China Sea issue will be high on agenda.

Japan is not a claimant in the South China Sea disputes between China, the Philippines and four other governments, but it is concerned about China's rising military presence in the resource-rich area and busy shipping lanes.

Tokyo also faces challenges from Beijing related to China's claim to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

During the Abe-Duterte summit, Japan and the Philippines exchanged papers on Japan providing high-speed boats to the Philippine Coast Guard in a bid to enhance maritime safety. The offer was announced by Abe when Duterte visited Japan last October.

Tokyo will also aid flood prevention work in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao where Duterte is from.

Abe and Duterte will meet for breakfast at the Philippine president's home in Davao in Mindanao on Friday, the officials said, as Abe seeks to build a close personal relationship of trust with him. Abe will become the first sitting foreign leader to visit Davao, the officials said. – The Mainichi

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Nickelodeon to open in 2020 a 400 Hectares Dora the Explorer, & Underwater Sponge Bob Park in Palawan Island Philippines

El Nido, Palawan Island in the Philippines

Philippine environment Minister Gina Lopez vocally rejected the Dora the Explorer underwater theme park plan as the concept of the “name underwater park” could destroy the environment but it seem just a misunderstanding as the project which is expected to open by year 2020 is just a common resort except that there are some futurist feature such as underwater restaurant and underwater lounge.

A 1,000 acre or 400 hectares area is referring to land and not underwater. The kiddy TV program “Dora the Explorer” which teaches the kids about nature; animals, mountains and plants could not be realistic to be built under the water.

SpongeBob the Squarepants does not need hectares wide area underwater to looks realistic so the vocal objection of the Philippines minister could be just misunderstanding about the concept of the controversial wide underwater area of the whole project.

Recently, environment minister says she will not allow US TV network Nickelodeon to build park on pristine Palawan Island.

Hidden lagoon in Palawan Island, the Philippines

The Philippine environment minister has said the US children’s television network Nickelodeon will not be allowed to build an underwater theme park on one of the country’s most pristine islands.

Nickelodeon’s parent firm announced on Monday it would build a themed attraction inspired by its cartoon characters such as Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants as part of a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) development on Palawan, generating alarm from environmentalists.

The environment secretary, Gina Lopez, said on Wednesday she would reject the project.

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“Lopez says she won’t allow the underwater theme park in Palawan,” the environment department tweeted.

“Dora the Explorer animated kiddy TV show”

In an interview with ABS-CBN television, Lopez said she would not allow any project that would damage the environment and the welfare of local communities.

“That’s our wealth. It’s not allowed. You can’t kill the corals. For a theme park? No. No way, man,” said Lopez, who has been a vocal opponent of mining projects in Palawan.

“The commitment of the government is first and foremost and always, always to the benefit of our people.”

Conservation groups call Palawan the country’s “last ecological frontier” because of its relatively untouched coastlines and forests, which are among the oldest and most diverse in south-east Asia.

Palawan is home to two UNESCO world heritage-listed sites, a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs.

Tubbataha coral reefs, Palawan island in the Philippines

Monday’s statement by Nickelodeon’s parent firm, Viacom International Media Networks, said its resort would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six meters (20ft) below sea level.

It also said the Palawan project would “take its place alongside” other Nickelodeon-branded attractions such as Wet’n’Wild in Australia, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Land in Russia and IMG Worlds of Legends theme park in Dubai.

An online petition organized by local environmentalists calling for the project to be stopped attracted more than 125,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

Viacom’s Philippine partner, Coral World Park, issued a statement on Wednesday insisting the development was not a theme park and emphasized that it would not all be underwater.

The statement also highlighted the project’s “ocean conservation focus” and said it would help fund environmental protection in the area.

It referred to plans for a marine sanctuary and said the Coral World Park would “be the largest coral reef conservation program in Asia”.

“There has never been any form of communication from our side mentioning a theme park,” said Susan Lee, Coral World Park’s marketing and communications director.

Palawan Island rank as the best island in the world for already 2 consecutive years.

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Philippine Economy beats forecasts - makes PH 'fastest in Asia'

A bird’s eye view of two buildings under construction in Manila.

7.1% third-quarter GDP growth makes PH ‘fastest in Asia’

Growth in Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) exceeded expectations for the third quarter of 2016, accelerating to 7.1 percent from a revised 6.2 percent a year earlier, making the country the fastest growing Asian emerging economy among those that have released third-quarter data so far, the government said on Thursday.

The third-quarter GDP rate from data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) surpassed forecasts of 6 percent to 6.9 percent by economists polled earlier by The Manila Times, as well as the actual growth performance posted by China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia for the period.

“[Ours is] higher than China’s 6.7 percent, Vietnam’s 6.4 percent, Indonesia’s 5.0 percent, and Malaysia’s 4.3 percent. India has not yet released its data,” said a statement by Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon, delivered at a press briefing by National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Director Reynaldo Cancio.

Philippine economic growth in July-September also gained momentum from the second quarter of this year, when GDP registered a 7 percent expansion.

It was also the fastest growth for the country since GDP swelled 7.5 percent in the second quarter of 2013.

The third-quarter 2016 results bolstered cumulative growth for the nine-month period to 7 percent, the official PSA data showed.

Growth drivers

“From the demand side, investments continued to drive this economic growth, indicating its sustainability,” the statement read out by Cancio said.

Public construction surged by more than 20 percent; private investment in construction rose 16.2 percent; private consumption by 7.3 percent; and exports of goods by 7.8 percent.

Household consumption remained a pillar of strength for the domestic economy, Cancio said, noting upbeat consumer confidence as households put enrolment expenses at the top of their budget priorities.

“The higher private consumption is also supported by low inflation, low interest rates, better labor market conditions and the steady, though slower growth in overseas Filipinos’ personal remittance. Government assistance such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or 4Ps, also provided additional boost to consumer demand,” Cancio said.

From the supply or production side, the NEDA official noted recovery signs in agriculture, which grew by 2.9 percent after a prolonged drought caused by the El Nino phenomenon.

Industries expanded by 8.6 percent, with manufacturing and construction stronger, while utilities registered steady growth. Services eased to 6.9 percent from the previous quarter and from a year earlier.

On track for full-year target

Finance and economic managers said growth expansion in the third quarter means the government is on track toward attaining its growth target for the full year.

The government has set a full-year 2016 growth target of 6 percent to 7 percent. Analysts have forecast GDP would grow between 6.4 percent and 7 percent during the year.

For the first nine months of 2016, the economy grew by 7 percent, gaining traction from 5.7 percent a year earlier.

The central bank sees the GDP results indicating no need to change its monetary policy setting.

The NEDA said for the fourth quarter, the economy only needs to grow by at least 3.4 percent to hit the low-end target of 6 percent. To reach the high end of 7 percent, it would need to grow by 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter, the economic planning body said.

“Together with a low inflation environment, sustained strong growth bodes well for continued poverty reduction this year. The services sector and sustained strong fiscal spending are also likely to continue to drive growth in the fourth quarter. Robust domestic demand will continue to bolster growth in the near term,” Cancio added.

Agriculture and fisheries are also seen likely to continue to grow within the near term if the third-quarter momentum in the crops, livestock and poultry is maintained.

The NEDA official said the manufacturing sector is expected to benefit from the strategic localization of industry roadmaps and robust domestic demand and will also benefit from the projected rise of imports of both advanced economies and emerging market and developing economies beginning 2017.

“Construction also will remain a major contributor to growth due to the strong commitment of the government to implement a massive infrastructure investment program,” he added.

Downside risks

Although optimistic, the NEDA said the government is still on guard against possible downside risks to the economy. Some of the risks mentioned were: agriculture and fisheries remaining vulnerable to the possible occurrence of La Niña; a clouded outlook for exports due to sluggish recovery in Europe and uncertainties on economic policies in the UK and the US; resurgence in the Arab region of the “Saudization” policy, or the replacement of foreign workers with Saudi nationals; and the need to consolidate efforts that will pave the way for lasting peace and development in the countryside.

“Ultimately, what we should be concerned about is how the growth prospects for this year and beyond will translate to poverty reduction and improvements in the quality of life for Filipinos for the next six years,” Cancio said.

“We are hopeful that the trajectory of our country’s growth will remain high in the face of the challenges ahead of us,” he added. – Manila Times

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