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| ==[[Sarangani News]]== | | ==[[Sarangani News]]== |
| '''Mindanao chambers look to strengthen role in investment facilitation''' | | '''Journalist wants libel raps dismissed''' |
| *Source: http://www.zambotimes.com/archives/45759-Mindanao-chambers-look-to-strengthen-role-in-investment-facilitation.html | | *Source: http://www.zambotimes.com/archives/45853-Journalist-wants-libel-raps-dismissed.html |
| *Monday, April 2. 2012 | | *Tuesday, April 3. 2012 |
| :by zambotimes.com | | :by (PNA) |
| | DCT/PTR |
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| | | MANILA — A Mindanao-based journalist has sought the dismissal of the libel case filed against him by the alleged friend of world boxing champion Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao. |
| CEBU CITY-Chambers of commerce in Mindanao should take a stronger role in drawing trade and investment to their respective areas.
| | In his 13-page counter-affidavit, Edwin Espejo, contributor for MindaNews and Asian Correspondent, said that "it is, therefore, imperative upon the fiscal or the judge as the case may be, to relieve the accused from the pain of going through a trial once it is ascertained that the evidence is insufficient to sustain a prima facie case or that no probable cause exists to form a sufficient belief as to the guilt of the accused." |
| This was the consensus among the Mindanao chamber officials who attended a “cross-learning” seminar organized in Cebu City by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.
| | Espejo is facing an P18-million libel case filed against him by Mohammad Aquia, former head of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) in Central Mindanao. |
| The seminar drew executives from established chambers of commerce in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga, as well as from smaller, newer chambers, from the provinces of Sarangani and Surigao and the cities of Butuan, Pagadian and Kidapawan. Representatives from Naga, Iloilo, and Cebu business chambers also attended the activity.
| | In his article, Espejo allegedly mentioned Aquia as an accused of running a carjacking syndicate who sought refuge in Pacquiao's house in General Santos City to evade arrest. |
| Participants exchanged best practices on chamber revenue generation, policy advocacy, and trade and investment facilitation, focusing on the successful experience of the Cebu Investment Promotion Center.
| | The article was published online. |
| “We are in the process of reviewing our city’s investment code, and it was particularly useful to learn more about Cebu’s highly focused approach,” said Raymund Salangsang, president of the General Santos City chamber.
| | In his counter-affidavit, Espejo said that libel cannot be committed by means of the Internet pointing out that under Article 353, the definition of libel "did not comprehend the rise of the interface of advanced telecommunications technologies with the internet." |
| “GenSan has well-established fisheries, agriculture and IT sectors that bring in business, but we really should distinguish between domestic and foreign investors and their differing requirements,” Salangsang said.
| | Espejo said that such deficiency is recognized by the Senate thus Senator Manuel Villar filed on Jan. 18, 2011 a bill penalizing internet libel. |
| He also proposed a more subregional approach towards attracting investors.
| | He added that there is also no malice when he wrote the article because Aquia is a public figure and he does not know him personally. |
| “Some industries cannot be contained in just one city,” Salangsang said. “GenSan is already the commercial and transport hub for surrounding provinces, so why not help businesses to locate or expand there? It works out to everyone’s benefit.”
| | Espejo, through his legal counsel Romel Bagares, director of the Center for International Law Philippines, said that a United Nations Committee on Human Rights report stated that criminal libel in the Philippines is contrary to the country's obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. |
| “We looked at our respective strengths rather than try to replicate what other cities are doing,” said Mercedes Lourdes Quisumbing, president of the Pagadian City-Zamboanga del Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc.
| | Likewise, Bagares also said that they have yet to receive summons from the Office of the City Prosecutor in General Santos about the alleged P75-million libel case filed by Pacquiao against Espejo. |
| “We are a small city in a highly agricultural area, with only a small wharf, but with established supply routes to Cebu and Cagayan de Oro,” Quisumbing pointed out.
| | "Our information is that Rep. Pacquiao filed his complaint together with Mr. Aquia," Bagares said. |
| “Rather than focus on direct exports, we studied how we fit into the supply chain,” Quisumbing said. “Given our large coconut production base, for example, there are opportunities for investors in coco semi-processing.”
| | "In any case we reiterate our earlier call on Rep. Pacquiao to take this opportunity to work with journalists in pressing for the decriminalization of libel in the country," he said. |
| The Mindanao chambers are currently working with local governments and national line agencies to develop investment databases for their respective areas.
| | "This is an opportune moment for Rep. Pacquiao to show solidarity with Filipino journalists," Bagares added. |
| This would include information on available raw materials, people support, costs of doing business, investment incentives, and other economic and market information.
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| “Some local governments are still not aware of the extent to which their chambers of commerce can help bring in investment,” said Quisumbing. “There has to be a good working relationship between the business community and government to make sure everyone is on the same investment track.”
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| Public-private collaboration is expected to be further bolstered by the recent agreement between PCCI and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to share resources and technical expertise to promote investment.
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| This builds on an earlier partnership agreement between the two organizations to jointly formulate policy recommendations for enhancing the competitiveness of key economic sectors.
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| For chamber executives at the Cebu seminar, however, it was clear that a supportive policy framework will best succeed in attracting business to a particular area if its local stakeholders—both government and the private sector—work together to identify and strengthen their comparative advantages.
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| ==Photo Gallery of Sarangani, Philippines== | | ==Photo Gallery of Sarangani, Philippines== |