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President Aquino receives
Unilever Chief in courtesy call |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III received Unilever CEO Paul Polman in a
courtesy call in Malacanang Friday. Polman met with the President to
reaffirm Unilever’s business commitment to the Philippines.
This is Polman’s third official visit to the Philippines since he took over
the helm of the company in 2009.
In the last 87 years, Unilever has deeply established its presence in
Philippines, employing more than 1,800 employees.
Polman said Unilever is committed to supporting the social and economic
development in the country through comprehensive sustainability and
investment programs
The company also has plans to expand its manufacturing facilities in the
Philippines, as well as building the technological expertise in foods,
personal care, home care, ice cream and refreshment categories, he said.
During the meeting with the President, Polman presented the Sustainable
Living Communities program, an initiative to help rehabilitate towns
affected by Typhoon Yolanda.
The program aims to jumpstart local economies through-entrepreneurship
opportunities and skills training with local NGO’s.
To date, Unilever has donated close to P80 million to relief and
rehabilitation efforts post-Typhoon Yolanda, through its charitable
partners, Unicef, World Food Programme, Save the Children and Oxfam, as well
as a number of leading local agencies.
Also present during Friday’s courtesy call were Trade Secretary Gregory
Domingo and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman.
Polman was accompanied by the President of Unilever South East Asia and
Australasia, Peter Ter-Kulve, Unilever Philippines chairman and CEO Rohit
Jawa, VP for Corporate Affairs Chito Macapagal and VP for Customer
Development Carl Cruz. PND (as) |
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Philippines remains
top investment choice for European Union companies, says Coloma |
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Foreign investors from the European Union (EU) member states remain keen on
putting their money in the Philippines especially in the areas of trade,
energy, governance, urbanization and migration, a Palace official said.
Presidential Communications and Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma
said the government continues to secure investment commitments from European
companies, adding the “sustained business interest can be attributed to
administration’s efforts to curb corruption and improve the ease of doing
business in the country.”
“We continue to receive commitments from European companies which we hope
will convert to actual investments following our recognition as an
investment destination of choice by the EU,” Coloma said.
Data from the Department of Trade and Industry shows that the EU is
presently the country’s largest investor by stock with total investments
amounting to an estimated P440 billion. This investment has created an
estimated 400,000 jobs in the Philippines.
According to figures from the Board of Investments, the net Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) flow from the EU amounted to $174.22 million in 2012 while
total FDI Stock in 2011 was at $10.35 billion.
Coloma said EU investors will remain bullish in the country as additional
investments from companies in EU-member countries are expected to further
solidify EU’s position as the largest investor in the Philippines.
“We are gratified to see the fruition of commitments made at the
ASEAN-Europe summit in Vientiane in late 2012,” he added.
He recalled that “top EU officials pledged to President Aquino increased
investments in recognition of the significant reforms implemented by the
Philippines to strengthen transparency and good governance which are vital
in making the Philippines a preferred investment venue.”
“With the Philippine economy gearing for sustainable long term growth,
partnership with European companies can be a crucial factor in enabling the
country to reach an inflection point and achieve more breakthroughs,” Coloma
said. PND (as) |
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Palace announces new
appointments |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed Rafael E. Seguis as undersecretary
for Special and Ocean Concerns under the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),
the Palace said on Friday.
Seguis will be replaced as undersecretary for Administration by
Undersecretary Linglingay F. Lacanlale, while Laura Q. del Rosario was
designated as undersecretary for International Economic Relations.
The President has likewise appointed Ramon M. Rañeses as Director III, under
the National Police Commission; Angeline T. Chua-Chiaco as Commissioner of
the Professional Regulations Commission; Benjamin S. Magbanua as Acting
Director III of the Industrial Technology Development Institute under the
DOST;
Josette T. Biyo as acting Director IV of the Science Education Institute of
the DOST; Edilberto C. de Jesus as Member of the Board of Directors of the
Philippine Reclamation Authority; Delia C. Hernandez as Acting Executive
Director III of the National Council for Children’s Television under the
DepEd; and Victor G. Batac as Assistant Secretary in the Office of the
President.
All of the appointment papers were signed by the President March 6, 2014.
PND (as) |
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