The president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) pushed for the further expansion of export markets and products and the forging of more free trade agreements (FTAs) to address fluctuations in Philippine exports.

“The rise and fall in our export performance, particularly of goods, brings us back to the imperative of diversifying export portfolios and enhancing competitiveness in key sectors,” stressed Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. in his president’s report at PHILEXPORT’s second quarter general membership meeting.

His statement comes as merchandise exports rebounded in the first two months of the year after falling in 2023. Goods exports expanded by 9.1% to US$5.94 billion in January 2024 from the same period last year, recovering from a 0.5% fall in December.

The rebound in January also marked the first growth in goods exports since August 2023, according to William Tiu-Lim, PHILEXPORT trustee for the fresh and processed food sector, in his opening remarks at the meeting held April 16. It was the fastest growth in 14 months, driven mainly by a sharp increase in the sale of electronic products.

Merchandise exports further rose in February, recording a 15.7% growth and reversing the 18.3% decline in the same period last year, with electronics remaining the country’s top export.

However, despite reports of improved performance in January and February, Ortiz-Luis warned that the export horizon remains uncertain.

“(We) see a very fluid performance from our exports this year due to the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, among others factors. This means that the $143.4-billion target set in the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2023-2028 is impossible to achieve this year; possibly in two-years’ time,” he said.

In view of this it is crucial for the Philippines to extend its export reach to more destinations, primarily through the pursuit of more FTAs, he continued.

Ortiz-Luis said the country’s exports stand to gain a big push with the ratification in September last year of the Philippines-Korea FTA. This agreement is expected to remove tariffs on most products from the two countries, providing greater market access in South Korea for Philippine bananas and processed pineapples.

The Philippines is also seen to make significant gains should it close an FTA with the European Union, the country’s fourth largest trade partner. The comprehensive trade deal now currently under discussion will include market access for goods, services, and investments; the removal of trade obstacles; and the protection of intellectual property rights including Geographical Indications.

However, Ortiz-Luis said caution should be exercised on provisions that could pose as trade barriers for a developing economy like the Philippines, such as the EU’s policy on de-carbonization of imports.

He likewise noted the potentials of the German market as the country has emerged as the world’s third largest economy after Japan slipped into recession last year.

“With a GDP of $4.5 trillion, Germany now sits behind the United States and China in terms of economic power, and narrowly leads Japan, which has a GDP of $4.2 trillion,” he said.

Nonetheless, he maintains that Japan as the fourth largest economy in the world continues to be a key partner for the Philippines.

“We are anticipating the positive outcome of the recent meeting among President Marcos, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week that is expected to result into more jobs and more investments for Filipinos,” Ortiz-Luis said.

The executive also noted rising expectations as initial exploration for an FTA with the Middle East has started, saying a trade pact could remove some of the challenges facing seafood exports to the region.

RKCMPD

A successful webinar hosted by ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, supported by the National Environment Agency Singapore and the GIZ 3RproMar partnership program, shed light on Singapore’s private sector strategies for promoting plastic circularity. This successful seminar is a testament of the ongoing collaboration between RKC-MPD and NEA, and private sectors in tackling the complex challenge of marine plastic debris.

19 April 2024: A successful webinar hosted by ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, in collaboration with the National Environment Agency (NEA) Singapore and the GIZ 3RproMar partnership program, supported by the Singapore Environment Counsil (SEC) shed light on Singapore’s private sector strategies for promoting plastic circularity. The event, titled ‘Private Sector Initiatives to Reduce Marine Plastics: Toward Plastic Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore,’ brought together practitioners from across the public and private sectors, as well as civil society to discuss innovative solutions and best practices in tackling plastic pollution. More than 100 people from ASEAN region and beyond watched the event and participated in the Q&A session. 

About RKCMPD

About RKCMPD The Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris was established under the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in 2019. The Knowledge Centre’s mission is to provide information and support to ASEAN+3 Member States, thereby helping them to improve the circularity of plastic and prevent leakage into marine environments.

Contact

Email us at: marineplastic@eria.org Visit our website at: www.rkcmpd-eria.org

State pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced that it has set aside nearly P2.5 billion in emergency loan to help members and pensioners affected by the pertussis outbreak in the province of Cavite and by the El Niño phenomenon in the province of Occidental Mindoro.

Deadline for filing of emergency loan applications in Oriental Mindoro and Cavite are on May 7 and June 7, respectively.

To qualify for the loan, active members must be residing or working in the calamity areas. They must not be on leave of absence without pay, have no pending legal cases, and have paid at least six monthly premium contributions prior to application. They must also have a net take-home pay not lower than P5,000 as required under the General Appropriations Act.

Old-age and disability pensioners residing in the calamity areas may also avail of the loan provided their net monthly pension after availing the loan is at least 25%.

Members with existing emergency loan balance may borrow up to P40,000 to clear the balance of their previous emergency loan and still receive a maximum net amount of P20,000. Meanwhile, pensioners and those without existing emergency loan may apply for a P20,000 loan.

The loan has low interest rate of 6% and payment period of three years. It also includes a redemption insurance coverage, which will pay off the loan balance in case of the borrower’s death during the loan term, provided the payments are updated.

Members and pensioners may apply for the loan using the GSIS Touch mobile application.  This is available for download from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

For inquiries, visit the GSIS website (www.gsis.gov.ph) or Facebook page (@gsis.ph), email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph, or call the GSIS Contact Center at 8847-4747 (if in Metro Manila) or 1-800-8-847-4747 (for Globe and TM subscribers) or 1-800-10-847-4747 (for Smart, Sun, and Talk ’N Text subscribers).

NLEX continues to support the growth of its host communities as it recently kicked off the 2024 Pag-unlad at Paglago ng Pamayanan (PUNLA), the company’s capacity building program for women-led small businesses.

“Ang Pag-unlad at Paglago ng Pamayanan, o PUNLA is one of our flagship community development initiatives aimed to equip organizations with the necessary knowledge and skills to help improve their enterprise,” said NLEX Corporation Vice President for Communication and Stakeholder Management Donna F. Marcelo.     

NLEX  partnered with Philippine Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA), a social development organization that focuses on community development, to train the 60 participants from pre-qualified 12 enterprises in a 4-session training that will last until May. The 12  enterprises from NLEX and SCTEX host communities are Barangay 171 Bagumbong Person with Disability Association, Inc., Samahan ng mga Taong may Kapansanan sa Bataan (SATAMAKABA), Asosasyon ng Magbabayong sa Atis Potrero, Samahan ng Kababaihang Mananahi ng Tibag, Inc., Tabon San Jose Farmers Association, Inc., Vizal Sto. Nino Rice and Livestock Farmers Association, Balanga Agrarian Reform Beneficiary MPC (BARB-MPC), Sining Kahoy Association of Bagac, Makabakle, Kadenang Kristal at Marimar Community (MAKAMAL), Concepcion Calamansi Growers & Rice Producers, CAT – Employees Dependents Producers Cooperative, Makabagong Agrikultura ng Dinalupihan Marketing Cooperative (MA-DMC).   

To further empower the enterprises and propel their growth, the top 5 businesses based on the set criteria will receive grants for the implementation of their enhancement plans and will undergo coaching and mentoring sessions with PHILSSA from June to August.

            A reassessment will be conducted on the top 5 enterprises, leading to the selection of the grand enterprise at the end of the 8-month program. Additional grants will be provided to further facilitate business development.

            “Isang malaking karangalan ang mapabilang sa programang PUNLA. Naging daan ito para maging mas matatag ang samahan sa aming kooperatiba. Nagbigay din ng lakas ng loob ito sa aming mga miyembro dahil nakita naming may bukas palad palang organisasyon na handang umalalay sa aming munting negosyo upang mas mapalawig ito,” said CAT- Employees Dependents Producers Cooperative Chairman, Teresita A. Dizon.

            Aside from PUNLA, NLEX also has other women-centric programs lined-up this year such as Basketboys Clinic for Girls and Barangay emergency responders training as the company recognizes the vital role that empowered women play in driving socio-economic development. 

In addition to women empowerment initiatives, NLEX also pledges its continuing commitment to conduct programs on community development, environmental conservation, road safety awareness, and youth education, all aims to make a positive impact and help uplift the quality of life of every Filipinos.

            NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).

LUNGSOD NG BALIWAG—Sabay sa init ng panahon ay ganoon din naging kainit ang tagumpay ng pagbubukas o inaugural season ng proyekto ni Gob. Daniel Fernando at Bise Gob. Alexis Castro na Bulacan University and Collegiate Athletic Association (BUCAA) noong Lunes sa siyudad na ito.

Pinuno ng mga atletang kabataang Bulakenyo mula sa 32 kalahok na mga kolehiyo at unibersidad sa buong lalawigan kasama ang kanilang mga school heads and coaches ang Star Arena ng Lungsod ng Baliwag habang tinanghal na champion sa cheer dance competition ang Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) – Sta. Maria. Ang koponan ay tumanggap ng P200,000 cash prize at tropeo habang bawat isang miyembro nito ay sinabitan ng medalya.

Tinanghal na second prize ang Bulacan State University (BulSU) Meneses Campus na tumanggap ng P150,000 cash prize; P100,000 para sa Dalubhasaang Politekniko ng Baliwag bilang third prize at P60,000 para sa 4^th prize na Academia de San Lorenzo ng Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte.

Tinanghal namang Best in Basketball Uniform ang Rich Well College ng Lungsod ng Baliwag at Best in Cheer Dance Uniform ang PUP-Sta. Maria.

Nagwagi si Charmagne Alexis Cruz, 20 anyos ng BulSU-Meneses Campus bilang Best Muse o Ms. BUCAA 2024 habang first runner-up ang Marian College of Baliwag at second runner up Dalubhasaang Politekniko ng Baliwag.

Lubos na ikinagalak ni Gob. Fernando ang tagumpay na paglulunsad ng nasabing palaro na kauna-unahang isinagawa sa panahon nila ni Bise Gob. Castro.  Ang palaro ay nauna na nilang inilunsad noong 2019 subalit dahil sa pandemya ay agad itong nahinto kung kaya’t itinuloy nila ito sa ngayon na mas malawak at masiglang athletic association.

“Ang BUCAA ngayon ang magiging home of the champions,” ani ng gobernador.

Nag-iwan din ng paalala ang opisyal sa lahat ng manlalaro na bukod sa tagisan ng galing at husay sa larangan ng sports, pangunahing layunin din ng patimpalak na lalo pang maturuan ang kanilang hanay bilang kabataang Bulakenyo at mga kabataang Pilipino na lalo pang maging mga disiplinado, patas o sports, magkaroon pa ng mas maraming mga kaibigan at lalong mapagbuti ang pakikisama at pakikipagkapwa-tao.  

“Hindi lang home of the champions ang BUCAA kundi gagawa rin kayong mga kabataang Bulakenyo, kabataang Pilipino ng mga bagong alaala ng inyong kabataan, palalakasin ang inyong katawan, ilalabas pa lalo ang inyong galing at husay sa sports at huhubugin pa kayo lalo sa disiplina at pakikipagkapwa-tao at larangan ng pakikipag-kaibigan,” ani ng gobernador.

Pinasalamatan ng gobernador ang lahat ng eskwelahan at mga heads and coaches nito na lumahok at tumangkilik sa BUCAA at bukod sa certificate ay binigyan din ang bawat isa sa 32 mga lumahok ng tig P20,000.

Ani naman ni Bise Gob Castro, ang BUCAA ay magsisilbing bahay ng mga manlalarong Bulakenyo na gustong maglaro ng maraming uri ng sports pangunahin ang basketball, subalit walang pormal na mga patimpalak para salihan.

“Today, we made history, dito kayo maglalaro sa BUCAA. Ito ang tahanan ng mga ekuwelahan sa lalawigan ng Bulacan at ng kanilang manlalarong Bulakenyo,” ani Castro.

Pinaalala rin ng bise gobernador ang kalagahan ng sportsmanship and discipline sa mga manlalaro. “Huwag kayong mag-aaway,” bilin din nito.

Sa mensahe sa kanyang hanay, sinabi ni Bokal CaseyTyrone Estrella Howard, pangulo ng Bulacan Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation sa mga manlalarong kalahok, na ang BUCAA ang University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) ng lalawigan. Aniya, iba ang level o kalidad ng mga manlalarong madi-discover sa BUCAA sapagkat ito ay magkakaroon ng malaking exposure and training at kalaunan ay maaaring makapasok ng mabilis sa UAAP.

Bukod da basketball, madidiskubre rin ang iba pang talento ng kabataang Bulakenyo sa iba’t ibang sports kasama na ang cheer dance, aniya. Hinikayat din niya ang kapwa niya mga kabataang Bulakenyo na bigyang pagpapahalaga ang sportsmanship at discipline na idudulot ng palaro.

Nauna ng inanunsiyo ni Gob. Fernando ang pagtatayo ng Bulacan ng sarili nitong Bulacan Sports Academy sa Bulacan Sports Complex sa Sta. Isabel, sa Lungsod ng Malolos kung saan doon pormal na huhubugin ang mga kabataang Bulakenyo na maging mahusay sa taglay nilang mga talento at kakayanan sa larangan ng palakasan.    

Twenty year old Charmagne Alexis Cruz from Bulacan State University (BulSU) Meneses Campus was hailed as the Ms. Bulacan University and Collegiate Athletic Association (BUCAA) during its Inaugural Season kick- off ceremony held at City of Baliwag Star Arena on Monday.

Cruz, a resident of Hagonoy town was joined by BulSU-Meneses Campus Dean Marita Parubrob when she received the trophy, a bouquet of flowers, a P20,000 worth cash gift and a sash by Gov. Daniel Fernando (4^th from right), who conceptualized and initiated the project to discover and hone more the sports talents of Bulakenyo youth, Vice Gov. Alexis Castro (3^rd from left) and from left, First District Board Member Mina Fermin, Second District Board Member Dingdong Nicolas, City of Baliwag Mayor Ferdie Estrella, Third District Board Member RC Castro and Fifth District Board Member Teta Mendoza. Photo by Anton Luis Catindig    

CITY OF MALOLOS—Bulacan may have lost more than a billion worth of revenues from the recent high court decision stripping off the province of its right to collect its share in the national wealth tax over Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) usage of Angat Dam waters.

City of Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad confirmed to reporters on Friday the said huge amount of losses the provincial government incurred from the March 23 released decision of the Supreme Court (SC) en banc which ruled  that “appropriated dam water not to be considered national wealth, and therefore, not subject to the national wealth tax”.

Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando joined by Vice Gov. Alexis Castro and all the officials of the provincial government of Bulacan (PGB) who filed an MR before the high court on Thursday told reporters in an interview three weeks ago at his Official Residence (OR) in this city that what the provincial government of Bulacan (PGB) failed to collect and generate in the form of its share in the national wealth tax because of the said high court decision may have reached up to more than a billion worth already.  

“We don’t have the computation yet, but it could already reach more than a billion today,” Fernando said.

The PGB then under the term of former Gov. Josefina Dela Cruz has been claiming nearly P700 million worth in share in the national wealth tax from MWSS over the usage of Angat dam waters from 1992 until 2003 when the civil cases were filed before a Bulacan regional trial court.

Since 2003, it has been 21 years today.

“That would already be worth billions,” Natividad also told reporters.  “I was part of a team which was fighting for the Bulacan’s claim from MWSS that time, the Bulacan court and Court of Appeals rulings were supposed to be implemented that time,”Natividad said. 

The SC En Banc made the decision on October 3, 2023 but only released it on March 23. ruled that “appropriated dam water not to be considered national wealth, and therefore, not subject to the national wealth tax”. 

The said decision reversed both the 2005 and 2008 Bulacan court and Court of Appeals respective decisions in favour of the said nearly P700 million worth PGB claims of its share in the national wealth tax over MWSS usage of Angat dam waters.  

Fernando said the ruling of the high court is not in consonance with Article 386 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Local Government Code of 1991 over the Share in the Proceeds from the Development and Utilization of the National Wealth which states that “Local Government Units (LGUs) shall have an equitable share in the proceeds derived from the utilization and development of the national wealth within their respective areas, including sharing the same with the inhabitants by way of direct benefits”. 

“Mula sa bulubundukin ng Dona Remedios Trinidad hanggang sa sa Yungib ng Kasarinlan ng San Miguel, Bulacan, patungo sa mga ilog na malayang dumadaloy sa bawat bayan ng lalawigan patungo sa Look ng Maynila — hindi maikakaila na ang Dakilang Lalawigan ng Bulacan ay nilipos ng biyaya ng Inang Kalikasan. Bilang Punong Lalawigan at tagapangalaga ng kagalingan ng lahat, tungkulin kong tiyakin na ang mga mamamayan ng Bulakan at makakabahagi sa kaloob na ito ng Dakilang Lumikha. Dalangin natin na marapatin nawa ng ating Kataas-taasang hukuman na muling suriin ang kasong ito in consideration of the points presented in our Motion for Reconsideration,” (From the mountains of Dona Remedios Trinidad to the Cave of Freedom in Biak-na-Bato Republic in San Miguel, Bulacan to the rivers that smoothly flow to each of the towns and cities of Bulacan going to Manila—it is undeniable that the Great Province of Bulacan is so much blessed with national wealth and resources. That being the Governor and the one in-charge in leadership and good governance, it is my duty and obligation for the people of Bulacan to partake from what the Almighty God has given our province Bulacan. We pray that the high court takes another look into the case and to make a reconsideration of the points presented in our Motion for Reconsideration), Fernando said in a press conference at Rizal Park Hotel in Manila, just after the filing of the MR in the SC. 

Natividad joined by fellow Bulacan mayors in the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bulacan Chapter headed by Bocaue Mayor Eduardo Villanueva Jr. expressed their full support to Fernando and Castro and all the provincial government officials in appealing the said decision of the high court.    

Natividad expressed similar dismay over the said SC ruling. “This is bad. Where is the water extracted?? It is in our own province. This is a different way of evading payment and collection of due taxes to local government units or host localities,” the mayor said. 

Villanueva told NEWS CORE in a text message reply on Friday that the LMP is absolutely in support of the move of Fernando. 

“Absolutely, LMP supports the MR of PGB to SC. We really should partake in the national wealth in MWSS usage of Angat dam waters because it is within the jurisdiction of the province of Bulacan”. 

 SC decision

The high court has ruled that dam water is an appropriated water already removed from natural resources, and thus, can no longer be subject to national wealth tax.

The high court en banc ruling said the Court of Appeals erred when it affirmed on May 30, 2008 a June 3, 2005 Bulacan regional trial court decision which found MWSS liable to pay the provincial government of Bulacan a share in the utilization and development of national wealth.

“The moment that water from Angat River is already appropriated and impounded into the Angat Dam, it ceases to form part of natural resources,” the high tribunal said in a decision penned by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting.

The Supreme Court effectively granted the MWSS petition for review on certiorari as it reversed and set aside the said 2008 decision of the appellate court in favor of Bulacan province.

“What does this decision mean? Does it mean being a Bulakenyo driving in Quezon City or anywhere else loses my right of being a true blooded Bulakenyo because I went to other areas and direction. That is because the national wealth or water has been impounded in Angat dam, it is no longer a national wealth where we could collect our share and taxes,” the governor told reporters at the OR.

Atty. Gerard Nelson Manalo, head of the PGB Legal Office said 13 out of 14 justices of the SC ruled in favor of MWSS. 

Angat Dam is located in the villages of Norzagaray and Dona Remedios Trinidad (DRT) towns in the Sierra Madre mountain range. 

CITY OF MALOLOS—The city government of Malolos addresses the city’s decades of perennial flooding through a P170 million worth long-time dream flood control project designed by water and flood experts from the Dutch government.

Mayor Christian Natividad said here on Friday that they are now waiting for the completion middle of this year of the ongoing Detailed Engineering Design (DED) of the project being conducted by representatives and experts from the Netherlands for the actual works to begin.

The anti-flooding structure is the first of its kind grant project by the Dutch government in the country which is a nature-based solution flood mitigation design. The grant project worth P12 million covers the feasibility study and the DED.

The P170 million funds from the city government will be used for the actual works.

Nature-based solutions

The nature-based solutions expertise of the Dutch government, Dutch Ambassador to the Philippines Marielle Geraedts said, is a flood control process and at the same time helps prevent storm surge through the use of natural resources available in the area that is most applicable and suited. 

Geraedts said the coastal villages of Pamarawan, Panasahan and Bagna which were the considered catch basin of floods in the city will be the beneficiary of the project. In these areas, nature-based solutions would mean sediment trapping as the most applicable process, says Franco Rebarter, Senior Policy Officer at the Dutch Embassy in the Philippines. Sediments coming from Manila Bay and other river tributaries, he said, will be trapped using bamboo and mangroves, he told NEWS CORE in an interview more than three weeks ago.

Because nature-based solutions use available materials, she said, it does not leave a big impact on biodiversity unlike cemented walls or breakwaters.

The Dutch Ambassador who spoke as guest of honor and speaker in the Dangal ng Bulacan Foundation meeting held at Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here on March 9 said through the project grant and the initiatives, efforts and funding of the city government of Malolos,  the flooding in the coastal areas of Bulacan will be lessened including the destructive effect of storm surges through sustainable management and use of natural features inherent to the coastal areas of the city the Netherlands way.

Natividad told NEWS CORE that the project is a long dream flood mitigation approach and system people in the coastal areas of Bulacan like the City of Malolos are waiting to be realized. The realization of the dream is made more significant and deemed highly effective because of the grant and expertise of the Dutch government water management and flood control agencies. According to the mayor, the Malolos nature-based flood control project will later serve as a model flood-control project not only in Bulacan and Central Luzon but also in the whole country.  

According to Rebarter, the feasibility study has just been completed last year and the DED will be done in a few months. From there, he said, the city government will proceed with the construction of nature-based solution anti-flooding structures. “The target completion of the DED is by the middle of this year. After that, it will be submitted to the local government of Malolos for actual realization,” he said.

Geraedts recognized the initiative of Natividad including former Hagonoy town Mayor Angel Cruz who used to live in Netherlands and a memorandum of agreement with the Alyansa ng mga Baybaying Bayan ng Bulacan at Pampanga in seeking the help of the Dutch government to put an end to the decades of flooding problem in the coastal areas of Bulacan–City of Malolos, which is BUlacan’s capital including Hagonoy, Paombong, Bulakan and Obando towns.

“Flooding in Bulacan could just be a thing of the past,” she said during the March 9 meeting which gave high hopes and inspiration to Bulakenyos then represented by Vice Gov. Alexis Castro.

Geraedts said there had been comprehensive assessments made on the sites. She added that they have already Informed the people in the three coastal barangays and have gathered the sentiments of the community. 

Pamarawan barangay captain Belticesar Bartolome told NEWS CORE that the more than 6,000 people in their island barangay can now look forward to no longer experiencing flooding despite living in the coastal areas.

“If we in the coastal and island barangays will be dry, more so than those in the land barangays and that is a milestone for all Bulakenyos,” he said.

The Ambassador said the Malolos flood control project was in line with the national government’s 2019 programs and works to rehabilitate Manila Bay through inputs from Dutch experts by creating a comprehensive and sustainable master plan for the Manila Bay and the immediate coastal zones. 

“This contains frameworks  backed by scientific research from multi consultation that details on how to coordinate the redevelopment of the bay and the possibilities and potentials, limitations, precautionary measures, and standards necessary, guidelines and recommendations on how private investor’s investment should contribute financially, technically and structurally to the agreed development goals and much more for an Inclusive growth as an integral, sustainable plan that would benefit the more than 25 million inhabitants around the bay. The master plan is recognized by the country and is being used for relevant purposes by different Philippine government institutions,” the Ambassador also said in her speech. 

Water as Netherlands expertise

The Ambassador also said that water management, water supply and water protection is one of their country’s expertise.

She said that Netherlands and Bulacan geographically have a lot of things in common because people living in the Netherlands are surrounded by water in the Delta region much like the south-western hub of Bulacan.

“Because of these features, Dutch people suffered the consequences of flooding for centuries as a result, we have become an expert in keeping the water out and making the most of topography. Our long coastlines have somewhat become both a blessing and a curse. We can safely assume of the Netherlands assistance to the Philippines when it comes to these programs,” she said. 

Castro thanked the Ambassador and the Dutch government for its expertise and knowledge inputs to help address the perennial flooding in the province which has been there for decades now. 

Castro also thanked the Dangal ng Bulacan Foundation under the current leadership of Gladys Sta. Rita, former president of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) and founding chair, former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Pena not only in promoting the rich culture and heritage of Bulacan but also for being a staunch partner of the provincial government in the strengthening the province economy and trade.

The Dangal ng Bulacan Foundation is an organization of all the Dangal ng Lipi awardees, (outstanding sons and daughters of Bulacan) from all endeavors and fields who joined together to help Bulacan further reach its biggest potentials in terms of economic investments and businesses, environmental protection and culture and heritage preservation. 

Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Teresa Lazaro from Bulakan town is also a member of the Dangal ng Bulacan Foundation.