August 2010

New: Nuñez Law Legal Articles
This month, TA Advisory introduces original informative online content relevant to our various fields of specialization. For starters, we have two articles from Nuñez Law attorneys discussing the legal principles relating to part-time employment in the Philippines and the necessity of getting professional advice when it comes to legal matters. Click on the links to read the articles:
• Part-Time Employment in the Philippines By Pagan N. Arches
• Why Consult a Lawyer? By Joel Rufino A. Nuñez

BIMP-EAGA gets $1.5M grant to cut border red tape
The four countries of the BIMP-EAGA, or the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, is receiving a $1.5 million technical assistance grant to streamline their border entry procedures, and provide a boost in trade and tourism in the process.
    A study of the immigration, customs, quarantine, and security procedures at the entry points of the said nations shows that submission of up to 15 clearance documents to at least 7 different agencies is commonly required. The long and complex clearance procedures for goods, as well as the inadequacy of visa-on-arrival facilities for foreign visitors present hindrances to trade and tourism growth.
    The technical assistance, provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and co-financed by Japan’s Investment Climate Facilitation Fund and the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund, will improve border procedures and trade facilitation at eight priority entry points, and help speed up the movement of goods and people in BIMP-EAGA.


June 2010

TA Advisory's June Newsletter is out
Read about TRTA 2's trade strategy and negotiations consultation workshops, the Asia Clean Energy Forum 2010 and more here.


May 2010

Asia solar energy initiative launched
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently launched a solar energy program that is expected to generate some 3,000 megawatts of power by 2012. The Asia Solar Energy Initiative’s (ASEI) goal is to seek out and develop large-scale projects that will generate the target amount of solar power within three years. The initiative will receive $2.25 billion financing from ADB, and in turn is expected to raise $6.75 billion in solar energy investments within the given period.
    The ASEI will cover a range of projects, as well as knowledge-sharing and finance mechanisms, geared to attract investments from the private sector and commercial banks. Aside from providing direct financing, the program also aims to raise $500 million from donor countries in order to “buy down” the steep up-front capital costs of solar energy projects.
    “With energy demand projected to almost double in the Asia and Pacific region by 2030, there is an urgent need for innovative ways to generate power while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said ADB Managing Director General Rajat Nag at ADB's 43rd Annual Meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
    As part of the initiative, a Solar Energy Forum will be launched and hosted by the ASEI on 5-6 July this year in Manila, Philippines. The forum will serve as a platform for keeping track of solar projects and discussing new proposals and incentive mechanisms.

ASEAN+3 to step-up cooperation
Finance Ministers of the ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN+3) have declared their commitment to take cooperation efforts to a higher level at a recently concluded meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This is in order to ensure regional financial stability in East Asia in the face of increasing post-crisis challenges.
    ASEAN+3 countries have started cooperation efforts in 1999 and have since then implemented some major initiatives. In late March 2010, it launched the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM), which is the first multilateral currency swap facility. Next year, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) will be set up to support the CMIM. A $700 million Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF) was just launched by the ministers under the Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI) earlier this month and will be operational by year-end.
    ASEAN+3 is also creating a task force to take stock of its finance cooperation and achievements, as well as to make recommendations as to new areas of focus in the face of changing global and regional circumstances.
    Aside from bond market development and regional financing, initiatives of the group also include economic review and policy dialogue, studies on key issues in the financial sector, and technical assistance and capacity building aimed to strengthen regional financial markets. ASEAN+3 countries are expected to grow by 4.6% in 2010 from 0.9% in 2009.


April 2010

WTO reports 9.5% trade growth in 2010
Economists of the World Trade Organization are expecting a 9.5% expansion of world trade in 2010 after its sharpest slump in over 70 years. In a press release, the WTO forecasts a 7.5% increase in the volume of exports within the year for developed economies and an 11% growth in shipments from the rest of the world. With these promising rates, it would still take another year for global trade volumes to surpass their peak in 2008 from the 12.2% contraction caused by 2009 economic crisis.
    A positive development noted in the report was the lack of increase in trade barriers imposed by WTO member economies during the crisis. Trade restrictions have in fact gone down in the last few months. However, unemployment could still remain high throughout this year in several countries, which could in turn increase protectionist pressures.
    WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy stated, “During these difficult times, the multilateral trading system has once again proven its value. WTO rules and principles have assisted governments in keeping markets open and they now provide a platform from which trade can grow as the global economy improves… we must avoid derailing any economic revival through protectionism.”
     Read the official press release here.

EC publishes biofuels and global trade study online
The European Commission recently published a study by the International Food Policy Research Institute titled “Global Trade and Environmental Impact of the EU Biofuels Mandate.” It is the first to be completed of four studies commissioned by the EC to examine, primarily, the indirect land use change brought about by biofuel production.
    The emission reduction effects of first-generation biofuels were positively reported in the study, as well as the environmental benefits of opening trade in biofuels. The effects of indirect land use change were found to off-set some of the emission benefits, although this was still not a threat to the environmental viability of the EU’s policy on biofuels, which mandates the use of 10% renewable energy for road transport fuels by 2020.
    The full report is available here.


March 2010

TA Advisory's March Newsletter is out
Read about the APEC seminar on trade in health services, an update on the Philippine grid emission factor and more here.


January 2010

EU-RP TRTA project launches website
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the EU Delegation recently held the website launch of the Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) joint project of the European Union and the Philippines. The ceremonial switch-on, held last January 14 at the Astoria Plaza in Ortigas, was led by NEDA Acting Director-General Augusto Santos and EU Ambassador Hon. Alistair MacDonald.
    The event was attended by officials from partner government agencies, and representatives from the private sector, civil society and the media. Anthony Abad, who was appointed as the project’s Key Expert for Component 1 (trade policy and export development) was also in attendance.
    The website contains information on the project and the four components under its second phase (TRTA 2), which are: 1) trade policy and export development; 2) standards harmonization and food safety compliance; 3) trade facilitation; and 4) rapid response facility. It also features other trade-relevant content and links to concerned government agencies and EU offices. The site can be accessed at www.eu-trtaphils.org.
    TRTA 2 commenced in 2009 with the objective of supporting sustainable poverty reduction in the Philippines through capacity-building for integration into international trading systems. Implementation of its activities will run up to 2012.



Stakeholders welcome biomass power project
A stakeholder consultation was recently held by the ASEA One Power Corp. (AOPC), assisted by CDM consultants CaFiS, Inc., regarding the company’s 30MW Biomass Power Plant project in Brgy. Pedada, Ajuy, Iloilo. Attended by Ajuy mayor Juan Alvarez, the Sangguniang Bayan and barangay representatives, the discussions covered the benefits and environmental sustainability of the project, concerns on taxes, community social responsibility, and the Renewable Energy Act. CaFiS, which is currently assisting AOPC with its CDM project requirements, was represented by its Managing Director Alan Silayan and CDM Technical Advisor Sari Simon.
    The biomass power plant is expected to provide communities in Panay a more stable source of electricity through sustainable means and using renewable fuel. Rice husks, hulls and straws, as well as sugarcane waste and coconut shells and husks—materials which would otherwise be burned improperly and emit methane and carbon dioxide—will be used to produce clean energy for the area. The project will also create the opportunity for local rice mills and farmers to earn additional income from selling their agricultural residues.
    The consultation, held at the Ramon Rojas Memorial Gymnasium, proved successful at getting the support of the community for the project and concluded with its formal endorsement in the form of a signed barangay resolution. AOPC held the groundbreaking of another biomass power plant in Banga, Aklan in late 2009.

Top (L-R): Hon. Juan Rojas Alvarez, Mayor of Ajuy Municipality, Iloilo, Alan Silayan, Managing Director of CaFiS, Sari Simon, CDM Technical Advisor of CaFiS, and Mr. Pepe D. Baterna, SB Member of Ajuy. Bottom: Sari Simon of CaFiS gives a presentation on climate change, clean development and the benefits of the biomass power plant project.

Go to
<< 2006  |  2007  |  2008  |  2009