U.S. Government, AmCham to Launch New Partnership to Enhance Philippines Business Climate

Manila, February 26, 2013 — The United States Government and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) launched a new partnership today to further enhance the country’s business climate and sustain the economic gains achieved by the Aquino administration.  Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), The Arangkada Philippines Project (TAPP) implements the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines’ recommendations to enhance the growth of key economic reform sectors and reforms under the U.S.-Philippines Partnership for Growth.

 The launch took place on February 26, 2013 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel during AmCham’s Arangkada Philippines Second Anniversary Forum, which serves as one of TAPP’s annual highlights.

 Speaking at the event, U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. said, “This partnership pursues the goal of the U.S.-Philippines Partnership for Growth to sustain broad-based and inclusive economic growth in the country.”

 TAPP advocates the implementation of nearly 500 recommendations to create $75 billion in foreign direct investments, 10 million new jobs, and $1 trillion in new tax revenues through rapid development of priority growth sectors — Agribusiness, Creative Industries, Manufacturing and Logistics, Infrastructure, Mining, and Tourism.

 AmCham President Rhicke Jennings welcomes this partnership as an opportunity to engage with the government and partners in the private sector to institute critical business and economic reform measures that will lead to greater investments and inclusive economic growth. “While we recognize the ongoing and considerable gains in terms of economic growth and reforms in governance, many challenges remain for the Philippines to realize its potential to become a middle income economy. Through The Arangkada Philippines Project, USAID and AmCham will work with government, private sector, and other stakeholders to accomplish the goal of high and inclusive growth,” Jennings said.

 U.S. Embassy Manila's USAID/Philippines Mission Director Gloria D. Steele explained, “We aim to enhance the growth of key economic reform sectors and further improve the investment climate in the Philippines."

 For more information, please visit http://www.arangkadaphilippines.com/forum.

PFG Technical Working Groups and Outreach Team Convene

The Fiscal Management Technical Working Group (TWG), co-chaired by the Philippine Department of Finance and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, met on June 21 to discuss ongoing and planned programs. The Regulatory Quality TWG, co-chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry and USAID, and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption TWG, co-chaired by the Philippine Department of Justice and USAID, also convened respectively on July 5. The Partnership For Growth Outreach Team, co-chaired by the Investor Relations Office of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section, met on July 12 and focused on developing PFG local messaging, structuring the local communications strategy and forming a permanent team.

Tourism Key Players Pilot Test Tourism Loop

Key players in the tourism industry are test-piloting the Cebu-Bohol-Camiguin-Cagayan de Oro Tourism Loop, all of which benefit from access to the Mactan International Airport in Cebu. The Tourism Loop is part of the Bohol Tourism Action Plan, which includes such partners as USAID and the German development agency, GIZ. Tourism is a high-growth priority under the Partnership For Growth, and through this initiative communities can see significant local economic impact through higher spending and longer length of stay by visitors.

USAID/Philippines Mission Director Gloria D. Steele (center, first row) with Bohol government officials and stakeholders led by Bohol Representative Rene L. Relampagos (First District) and Bohol Governor Edgar M. Chatto during the launch of the Bohol Tourism Action Plan on July 26, 2012.

Court of Appeals Expands Automated Case Management System

USAID and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative have been working with the Philippine
Court of Appeals to expand its automated case management information system (CMIS), and to help the
court reach its “zero backlog” goal by this year. Before CMIS was created, litigants waited many years for
decisions by the Court. During the past two years under CMIS, rulings are promulgated within the one-
year time period required by the Constitution. The Court of Appeals handles 90% of all appealed cases,
including disputes from quasi-judicial agencies such as the Intellectual Property Office and the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

USAID Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg witnesses how the kiosk station of the CMIS allows
the public to view actual dockets and decisions
of the Philippine Court of Appeals

USAID Launches Cities Development Initiative in Mindanao

As part of its continuing thrust to enable cities to become engines of broad-based and inclusive economic
growth, U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. and USAID Mission Director Gloria D. Steele launched
the Cities Development Initiative (CDI) in Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao. In attendance
were national and local government officials, the private sector and civil society groups. Cagayan de
Oro is the third city (along with Batangas and Iloilo) selected by USAID for its innovative approach to
programming in support of the U.S.-Philippines Partnership for Growth. The CDI will help unlock and
maximize the city’s growth potential through significant collaboration in areas such as higher education,
energy, environment, health systems, and economic growth and investment.

U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. (extreme right) and USAID Mission Director Gloria D. Steele (2nd from left) launched the Cities Development Initiative in Cagayan de Oro City with government officials led by Mayor Vicente Emano (2nd from right) on June 29. Also present was Department of Trade and Industry Zenaida Maglaya (extreme left).

USAID Deputy Administrator Steinberg Visits Land Titling Project

Some estimate that approximately half of all land parcels in the Philippines are untitled. This represents
a significant drag on economic growth and investment as these parcels are unbankable and can not
be used as capital assets. Property rights, including land titling, is an area of PFG policy reform that will help support an improved business environment. During his recent visit to the Philippines, DA Donald Steinberg met with beneficiaries of a USAID land titling project in Mabini, Batangas City and was impressed by the ground-breaking changes that the project is making in people's lives. USAID supported the passage of the Residential Free Patent Act in 2010, which allows for rapid and low-cost titling of the estimated 8 million untitled urban residential parcels in the country. In 2011, the first year of implementation, the government issued over 55,000 residential titles, a 1,450% increase over the number of titles issued in previous years..

Mabini resident Petronila Ramos broke into tears after DA Steinberg handed over her property title. She was grateful to USAID’s assistance which helped realize her dream to own the land where she has been living for more than 40 years and to live a more peaceful and productive life