Roxas launches information campaign against the people's initiative

In a statement, Senator Manuel Roxas III said his group, which is aligned with Senate President Franklin Drilon, would begin a grassroots information campaign after the Holy Week to present their arguments against the people’s initiative. (The Manila Times)

Signature drive for Charter change alarms bishops

According to Sun.Star, Caloocan City Bishop Deogracias Iniguez said members of the Senate have sought the support of the bishops' group in opposing changes to the Charter. During the meeting, Iniguez said Roxas asked for the CBCP's support in opposing the proposed Charter change being pushed through a people's initiative.

RP must create central trade agency

According to Inq7 Global Nation and The Mindanao Daily Mirror, the Philippines must create a central agency that will formulate international trade policies, handle trade negotiations, and make sense of all state functions related to global trade, Senator Manuel Roxas II said Wednesday. (Favorable feedback from The Manila Times)

Philippine lawmaker seeks broadband probe

According to Telecom Asia Daily, Senator Manuel Roxas III filed Senate Resolution 474 to probe the consumer concerns on the quality of broadband wireless service in the country.

Bohol should be competitive

The province should package her investment proposals in a way which is competitive to the global market. This point was stressed by Sen. Mar Roxas in his address during the general assembly of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (BCCI) at the Bohol Tropics last Friday.

For the full story, visit The Bohol Chronicle.

Marines' rebellion loosens Arroyo's grip on power

"There's a disgruntlement, there is unhappiness but it hasn't reached critical mass yet," said Senator Mar Roxas. "The average person may be angry and disappointed but not yet enough to force the issue on the streets."
For the full story, read The Guardian.

Gov’t urged to rethink tax incentives for BPO

Five years into making a mark in the global outsourcing arena, the Philippines needs to “reconfigure” tax incentives afforded to foreign investors and instead, channel these incentives into improving the country’s workforce. Senator and former Trade and Industry secretary Mar Roxas raised this point in a speech delivered during the annual E-services Conference before an audience composed of people from the local contact center and BPO sectors.

Read Computerworld and Inq7 for the full story.

Reduced medicine prices remain elusive

"PEOPLE are dying because medicines are expensive."

Thus said Senate trade and commerce committee chairman Sen. Manuel Roxas II, explaining his support for a bill that proposes to overhaul the Intellectual Property Code to pave the way for cheaper pharmaceuticals.

Read Inq7 for the full story.

Use people power for good governance

SEN. Mar Roxas on Thursday called on the government and young Filipinos to work toward the governance goals that were at the core of people power in order to lift the country from its political doldrums and redeem its full potential.

Read The Manila Times, The Mindanao Daily Mirror, and Manila Bulletin for the full story.

Strong peso should mean cheaper goods

THE strong peso should mean cheaper goods, especially those that use imported products like fuel, tin, aluminum, glass, flour, milk, and other raw materials, Senator Manuel Roxas II said Saturday.

For the full story, read Inq7 and the Manila Times. Read Fritz's observation and Sassy Lawyer's column too.

VAT proceeds cannot drive economy

Despite the touted economic gains from it, the increase in the VAT won’t translate to higher economic growth, said Sen. Manuel Roxas II, citing the government’s limited allocation for infrastructure spending.
Read the Manila Times for the full story.

Let ordinary people feel peso's rise

THE positive gains in the Philippine financial markets have not been felt in the everyday lives of ordinary Filipinos, Senator Manuel Roxas II said Wednesday.
For the full story, read the Manila Bulletin, Inq7.net, and the Mindanao Daily Mirror.

Labor office favors 'holiday economics'

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) Tuesday welcomed the proposal of Senator Manuel Roxas II to permanently adopt the holiday economics introduced by the Arroyo administration.
Read Sun.Star for the full story.

Senator Roxas files Holiday Act of 2005

SEN. Mar Roxas has introduced a bill that will set a standard schedule for observing nonworking holidays to address businessmen’s concern over the unpredictability of holiday observances in the country. “While the intent of holiday economics has yielded positive results, the business sector has expressed concern on the unpredictability of the dates set for the actual observance of legal holidays,” Roxas noted.

Read The Manila Times and Manila Standard Today for the full story.

Some pointers for Manila panel at WTO trade gab

The Philippine government should assert in the forthcoming World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong next week the reclassification of rice as a “special product” to protect the interest of some 3.2 million Filipino rice farmers, Senator Mar Roxas said yesterday.

Roxas, chairman of the committee on trade and commerce, said the Philippine delegation should resolutely negotiate for export subsidies and agricultural price support that would be good for the country.

Read the Manila Standard Today for the full story.

$2.5-M HP center seen to boost RP outsourcing bid

WITH the investment of Hewlett-Packard of 2.5 million US dollars in a new facility for its business process and application outsourcing arm in the Philippines, the country is expected to gain the expertise needed to tackle higher value-added offshore projects. "Definitely, it moves us higher up in the outsourcing food chain," Senator Manuel A. Roxas II said in response to a question from INQ7.net.

Read Inq7.net and Computerworld for the full story. Visit xieurx blog for a photo shot too.

Tax incentives for alternative fuel users sought

WITH a pending world oil crisis and the continued damage brought by fossil fuels to the environment, the Philippine government must grant tax incentives to those who will use alternative fuels, Senator Manuel Roxas II said Saturday. Citing the oil crisis forecast by the Asian Development Bank, the senator said oil production is expected to rise to 90 dollars per barrel next year. He noted that the Philippines depends on oil as the primary fuel source for transportation, importing at least 126 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products worth five billion dollars in 2004.
For the full story, read Inq7.net.

Fertilizer fund audit sought

Senator Mar Roxas II is asking for a special audit of the Department of Agriculture’s P728 million fertilizer project to detemine who are liable for the alleged misuse of funds. Roxas stressed the need to ensure that the intended recipients benefited from the funds and the officials involved are held accountable for any misuse.

Read the Manila Standard and the Philippine Star for the full story.

Mar wants probe on brain drain of health professionals

Sen. Mar Roxas has called for a Senate inquiry into the decline in the quality of healthcare service due to the continuing migration of Filipino health professionals to rich countries.

Roxas, chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, voiced concern over the damaging effects of the exodus of Filipino nurses and doctors on the country’s healthcare system.

“The government cannot afford to play deaf and blind to the problem of migrating health professionals. It must find ways to encourage Filipino doctors and nurses to remain in the country by giving skills training and work incentives,” he said.

Read the Philippine Information Agency for the full story.

Lack of business opportunities limits potential for OFWs' dollars

Roxas said, even the improvement in the stock market would not trickle down to the poor, neither would the dollars from foreign portfolio investments plough into the real economy, "except if a few stock brokers buy a home. But that's about it."

The senator explained that given the absence of a strong regulatory regime that would guarantee the continuing viability of such investment ventures, OFWs would simply keep their funds in the bank, while rich Filipinos would invest theirs abroad, instead of engaging in a profitable business in the country
Read Balita.ph for the full story.