Batangas Statistics from 2007 Census of Population

BATANGAS: ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE
RECORDED AT 2.29 PERCENT
(Results from the 2007 Census of Population)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total population rose to 2,245,869 persons

As of August 1, 2007, the province of Batangas posted a total population of 2,245,869 persons. This figure represents an increase of 340,521 persons over the total population of 1,905,348 persons in 2000. The annual population growth rate (PGR) recorded for the period 2000 to 2007 was 2.29 percent, lower by 0.73 percentage point from the 3.02-percent annual PGR posted from 1995 to 2000.

The number of households also rose to 461,408, or an increase of 86,641 households over the 2000 figure of 374,767 households. The average household size in 2007 was 4.9 persons, lower than the 5.1 average household size in 2000.

Batangas City, the provincial capital, ranked first among the cities/municipalities

Among the 3 cities and 31 municipalities of Batangas, Batangas City, the provincial capital, had the biggest population, comprising 13.1 percent of the total population of the province. Lipa City and the City of Tanauan followed with 11.6 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively. The least populated was the municipality of Santa Teresita with 0.8 percent share to the total population of the province.

Sex ratio remained at 101 males per 100 females.  There were more males (1,127,081) than females (1,115,565) in Batangas. These numbers resulted to a sex ratio of 101, which means that there were 101 males for every 100 females. The same sex ratio was recorded in 2000.

Median age was 23 years.  Batangas had a median age of 23 years, which means that half of the household population was below 23 years old. The median age in 2000 was 22 years.

The proportion of persons under 15 years old to total household population was 34.2 percent, which was almost equally distributed to age groups 0 to 4 years (11.5 percent), 5 to 9 years (11.6 percent), and 10 to 14 years (11.1 percent).

Males outnumbered their female counterparts in age brackets 0 to 49 years, while females outnumbered the males in the remaining age brackets 50 years and over.

More than half of the population were in the voting age group .  Almost 60 percent of the household population belonged to the voting-age population (18 years and over). This was higher by 1.2 percentage point than the proportion of voting-age population (58.4 percent) recorded in 2000. Of the total voting-age population in 2007, there were more females (50.6 percent) than males (49.4 percent).

Dependency ratio declined by 3 dependents for every 100 persons of working ages .  The proportion of young dependents (0 to 14 years) to total household population was 34.2 percent, while old dependents (65 years and over) posted a share of 4.6 percent. On the other hand, the working-age population (15 to 64 years) accounted for 61.2 percent of the household population.

The overall dependency ratio of Batangas was 63.3. This means that there were about 63 dependents (56 young dependents and 7 old dependents) for every 100 persons of working ages. The overall dependency ratio in 2007 was lower than the overall dependency ratio of 66.5 in 2000.

There were more males among never married persons .  Of the household population 10 years old and over, 43.9 percent were never married while 47.3 percent were married. The proportion of never-married persons in 2007 was lower than its corresponding proportion of 44.5 percent in 2000. Conversely, the proportion of married persons in 2007 was higher than its proportion in 2000 (46.3 percent). The remaining 8.8 percent of the household population 10 years old and over in 2007 were either widowed, divorced/separated, had a common-law/live-in marital arrangement, or had unknown marital status.

Among the never married persons, males (53.3 percent) outnumbered females (46.7 percent). Meanwhile, the proportion of females was higher than that of the males for the rest of the categories for marital status: married (50.3 percent), widowed (79.1 percent), divorced/separated (62.5 percent), common-law/live-in marital arrangement (50.7 percent), and unknown marital status (52.2 percent).

More females than males attended higher levels of education .  Of the household population five years old and over, 35.9 percent had attended or completed elementary education, 34.9 percent had reached or completed high school, and 7.6 percent were college undergraduates. Academic degree holders accounted for 9.3 percent of the total household population five years old and over, which was 4.0 percentage points higher than the 2000 figure.

There were more males than females who had attended or finished preschool (53.5 percent), elementary (51.4 percent), high school (50.5 percent), and post secondary schools (53.8 percent). Females, however, outnumbered males among the college undergraduates (50.2 percent), academic degree holders (59.1 percent), and those with post baccalaureate courses (62.0 percent).

Of the total household population 5 to 24 years old, about 64.0 percent attended school anytime during School Year 2007 to 2008. There were more males (50.6 percent) than females (49.4 percent) who attended school during said school year.

Number of households per 100 occupied housing units was 101 . 

In 2007, there were 454,990 occupied housing units in the province. This figure was higher by 23.4 percent from the 2000 figure of 368,584. A ratio of 101 households for every 100 occupied housing units, or 4.9 persons per occupied housing unit was noted in 2007. In 2000, the ratio was 102 households for every 100 occupied housing units, or 5.2 persons per occupied housing unit.

Nine in every ten occupied housing units had roofs made of strong materials .  About nine in ten (87.8 percent) occupied housing units in Batangas had roofs made of galvanized iron/aluminum, or almost the same proportion recorded in 2000 (86.2 percent). As to the construction materials of the outer walls, 56.1 percent of the occupied housing units had outer walls made of concrete/brick/stone, up by 7.1 percentage points from 49.0 percent in 2000.

Source: Household Statistics Department
National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines

Page last revised: December 23, 2009

'Include Batangas bridge in P12-billion rehabilitation fund' | The Philippine Star News Nation

'Include Batangas bridge in P12-billion rehabilitation fund' The Philippine Star News Nation

Why Fuel is higher by P4-P6 per liter when Negros Occ. is close to BATANGAS ...

If anyone knows the e-mail address of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) Vice President for External Affairs Jose Maria Zayco - please, pass on... the blog below. To think Batangas enjoys cheaper fuel is the funniest thing we have ever heard.

DOE to probe higher gas prices in Bacolod

PIA Press Release 2009/10/27

Bacolod City (27 October) -- Investigation in underway on the observed higher gasoline prices in Bacolod City after a resolution authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. was submitted to the Department of Energy (DOE) for appropriate action.

In his reply, DOE Undersecretary Roy Kyamco said that since the Republic Act 8479 or the "Downstream Oil Industry Defegulation Act of 1998" was imposed, the prices gasoline and crude oil products were based on supply and demand and the price of crude oil in the international market.

He said the law has liberalized the downstream oil industry that promoted market competition " wherein the prices of petroleum products are governed and influenced by several factors/indicators such as the crude oil in he international market, the foreign exchange rate, spot prices and the interplay of market forces /conditions in a particular trading area."

"It is for this reason that prices may vary across locations as these are dictated by the market," Kyamko added.

He has endorsed the issue to concerned oil companies operating in the area of Bacolod City requesting asking them to submit written explanations on the price situation of oil here.

"Also we have directed our director for the Visayas field Office, Engr. Antonio Labios, to conduct a thorough assessment and evaluation of the price situation in your area," he said.

The gas price issue was spurred when Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) Vice President for External Affairs Jose Maria Zayco questioned the fuel prices in Bacolod as being higher by P4-P6 per liter when Negros Occ. is close to Batangas where most companies get their fuel supply.

Surprisingly, gas prices in some cities in Mindanao are cheaper compared to Bacolod. (PIA-LOL)

OUR BLOG in September of 2009

During the BPCCI Meeting held at the Hotel La Corona de Lipa this Sept. 17, 2009, one of the issues raised is the hiGHHH price of gasoline and fuels in the vicinity of Batangas City.

This prompted me to look at the receipts BPCCI has on file and this is what we found. In Batangas City Petron Station last Sept. 12, 2009 the price for XCS is P45.64 per liter, while on the same day at the Rico Shell Station in Lipa City, it is priced at 41.00 per liter, and in Metro Manila it is around P38.00 to P39.00 --- Php4.64 difference from Batangas to Lipa City.

On Sept. 6, 2009 at the Diversion Petron Station, it is 46.62 per liter. Oct. 8, 2009 at the Shell Station, Unleaded was 44.520 per liter. Bauan Petron on August 2, 2009 it was 43.45 per liter. On Aug. 16, 2009 at San Pascual Caltex, Silver was 46.550 per liter. August 19 at the Shell Station, Unleaded was 46.55 per liter. All these when prevailing prices in Metro Manila was way below P40.00.

It is a supply-and-demand economy anyway. What we, and we found out that so many of our friends have been doing, during the last few months is gas up just enough to get to Lipa or to Turbina / Calamba to save P5.00 per liter, gas up enough there to get to Manila or Makati to save another P2.00 or more per litter and fill her up where it is much cheaper. Maybe the Batangas City stations haven't noticed their diminishing sales yet.

Anyway, the issue has been officially raised. I am here to let you know what is happening. The action belongs, really to the people.

NEWEST Update: After raising the question, in late September - we gassed up in Batangas City and it was P41.00 . Quite an improvement from P45-46.00. We gassed up October 27, 2009 at 14:00 in Lipa City and it was P39.25 per liter for SilverTechron.

What says you? Bacolod?

Links for Voting online for Filipino Efren Pe�aflorida for CNN "Hero of the Year"

Vote online for Filipino Efren Pe�aflorida for CNN
"Hero of the Year"

Each year, CNN gives $100,000 to the winner (from a field of ten finalists--- winnowed from 9,000 nominees from all over the world) of its "Hero of the Year" award. This year, a 28-year-old Filipino, Efren Pe�aflorida, made it to the top ten. (A panel of 12 well-known personalities from various fields picked the finalists. Colin Powell was among the judges this year). If Efren wins this year's award (based on how many votes he gets, which will depend on us), he will be able to expand his mobile school program for the children of the slums in the Philippines. What this young man is doing to improve the lives of the kids in the slums is truly inspiring. Here's the link to Efren's story and his Dynamic Teen Company (the organization he founded). You can vote for Efren by clicking on the link found in the article. http://edition. cnn.com/2009/ LIVING/wayoflife /03/05/heroes. efren.penaflorid a/index.html Voting is open between now and Nov. 19. CNN will announce the winner and give out the award at a star-studded show on Thanksgiving night in L.A. at the Kodiak Theater (same venue for the Oscars). So, let's all help Efren win so that he will, in turn, be able to help more impoverished kids. The more votes Efren gets, the greater his chances of winning the "Hero of the Year" award and the $100K. It will take less than a minute to click a button to cast your vote. Let's all help Efren continue to make a difference in those slum kids' lives. Without his mobile school and his group of volunteers, those kids will probably never have a chance to set foot in a real school and learn their ABCs. Let's all vote for Efren! Please don't forget to pass this on to everybody you know---Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike----so more people can vote for this young man with an extra big heart. Thanks!!

To vote for him just click on the link below:
http://www.cnn. com/SPECIALS/ cnn.heroes/ vote/

Concidence? Karma? Take a Closer Look at the recent calamities

SOME Friends of ours has been discussing the recent disasters and calamities -- and we have noticed some pattern. Everytime some Congressman, or High Official get embroiled in a scandal, profited from some blown-up deals, his kababayans - locality is visited by a great calamity. Look back at the news reports and records for at least 8 years. If it's Karma... it's not the official who is affected !!! It is his constituents that suffer. Maybe it's our wake up call. Don't let our Officials do this to us.

These days... it's always the North being affected. I found some relevant items.

"While we are trying to help our country and kababayan, the hardened corrupt politicians in our country are selling what little natural resources we have to
foreigners, making it harder for our countrymen to live. Please read what is happening in many parts of the Philippines and in our beloved province, Cagayan Valley.

South Koreans illegally mining beaches
By Neal Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:27:00 05/31/2009

You have already heard what the South Koreans have done in our country, in particular at the Subic Bay Free trade Zone and on Volcano Island in Taal, Batangas. They built a high-rise residential condominium in the middle of a forest reserved and tried to raze a mini-forest long the pier area to build a hotel-casino in Subic. They succeeded in the forest but were blocked in the second by a Filipino architect trying to save our environment.

In Taal, they almost succeeded in putting up a hot springs spa at the foot of Taal volcano itself, with the approval of the mayor but without an Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). They had almost finished construction when the people woke up to what they were doing and protested. So the national government stepped in and construction was stopped.

Now listen to what the South Koreans are doing in the
northernmost tip of Cagayan, home province of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Six coastal municipalities of Cagayan have miles and miles of beaches that attract tourists. Foreign and domestic tourists like the beaches because of their color. No, they are not white like that of Boracay but the opposite color: black.

Although the sands are not white, they are more valuable than the snow-white sands of Boracay. It is because the black sand is 70 percent composed of magnetite, a mineral used in the smelting of iron ore into steel. It is what the South Koreans are lusting after, the newly industrialized country being hungry for steel. They have been digging up the beaches and shipping away the black sand. They have already made a wasteland of the beaches of five municipalities. Without a beachfront to hold back the sea, salt water has invaded the farms and made them unproductive.

They have started mining the beach of a sixth municipality, Buguey, at Barangay Minanga Este, but the mayor, Ignacio M. Taruc, and the municipal council stopped them.

Koreans and their agents made many visits to Mayor Taruc to ask for a mining permit but the latter refused. The municipal government vigorously opposed any form of mining on its beaches as it would mar its pristine beauty and pose a danger to its farmlands. The council passed a resolution objecting to the mining of black sand and other minerals along the coastal areas of Buguey as we believe that this is destructive not only to the environment but also poses a danger to the safety and security of the people and the loss of their livelihood due to the entry of seawater into their farms.

Apparently, the governor, Alvaro T. Antonio, was not able to resist the persuasive powers of the Koreans In spite of the opposition of the people of Buguey, he issued a permit to mine its beaches of black sand, but it was in the name of a political ally, one Renato Alariao, a former member of the municipal council, although it was being used by the Korean company, Jisan
Mining Corp.

Governor Antonio did not reply even as Mayor Taruc refused to issue a mayor's permit. Instead, the governor directed the mining operation to proceed with the assistance of armed men. ........ More ........

You can find more info about this news item ... through browsing.

PLEASE PASS: Please care for Philippine Land and Filipinos News Item Courtesy of the:
Nature Awareness & Conservation Club, Inc.

Hotel PonteFino renewed BPCCI Membership 2009

Greetings !!!

Hotel PonteFino renewed BPCCI Membership for 2009. OR no. 0257 dated 10/08/2009.

Hotel Pontefino
Pastor Village, Gulod Labac
Batangas City, Philippines
Tel: (043) 723-3466 (FINO)
Fax: (043) 723-3488
Mobile Phone : 0917 505 4214
Email: salesbatangas@pontefino.com.ph

Manila Sales Office
11th Floor Unit B Agustin I Bldg. No. 28 F. Ortigas Jr. Ave.
Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1600

Tel: (632) 635-9364, 631-8310
Fax: (632) 636-0435
Email: manilasales@pontefino.com.ph

http://www.pontefino.com.ph/

When visiting Batangas, consider staying at the Pontefino Hotel - A popular boutique hotel in Batangas, Philippines.

BPCCI members are entitled to Special Discounted Rates for rooms and events . Get in touch with us or BPCCI Chairman Cora Gonzales when you have guests or visitors to avail of the discount. Our new Office Sun Celluar is 0923-407-1600.

Appeal for Donations

AS PART OF OUR NETWORK, we have received the Appeals for Donation for the typhoon victims from Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, UNICEF, Go Negosyo Center for Entrepreneurship. In Lipa, Mary Mediatrix Medical Center and Cafe de Lipa are also accepting donations, and the Rotary Clubs of Lipa City and Sto. Tomas are also collecting among their members.

If you noticed, the UNICEF appeal below is for a minimum of P1,500.00 . You may donate through credit cards. For some people, it might not be convenient to go roaming around, or they only have a few Pesos they can spare.

If you have even a few pesos to donate, and you go to your banks -- you may deposit your few Pesos to the BPCCI Planters Bank Savings Account No. 01-24-067804 in the name of Batangas Province Chamber of Commerce (BPCCI) and we will pool them together. This account has been inactive since the project intended for it ended in March, 2009, so the deposits received hereon will ALL be for the Typhoon victims. Just please e-mail us or text us at 0923-709-1600 so we can do an internal accounting. No need to tell us who you are, if you do not wish to do so -- the deposits will be tallied on a per entry basis on the passbook.

Thank you very much.

Indefatigable Mark Leviste, our Batangas Acting Governor

One can't help but be amazed by the energy of our Vice-Governor Mark Leviste. He is acting Governor while Gov. Vi, our star-for-all-seasons Governor is still in the US.

At the height of Typhoon Ondoy, we were cooling off at the Benilda Resort and Restaurant Friday night in Naujan and then moved to the Filipiniana Hotel in Calapan on Saturday nearer the Pier for the Sunday trip back to Batangas (when it was relatively safe to travel back).

Mark Leviste was on the Radio while we were on the road, moving about in Mindoro. He was giving periodic reports to GMA7 / DZBB. That's where we heard that Calaca suffered extensive damage, and Talisay had landslides. Metro Manila was inundated and in a state of calamity - but it was Vice Governor Mark Leviste of Batangas we were hearing on the radio.

We had an appointment to see him for the Job Fair he is planning for Batangas in coordination with the Job Finder Magazine and Buy and Sell, and whooo..at 8:00 am. he was on the radio saying that there's a traffic jam somewhere in SLEX ..... I had to re-confirm the appointment. True enough ... at 2:00 p.m. he's back at the Provincial Capitol of Batangas at work and ready to meet with us, after having attended a number of engagements from Sto.Tomas to Lipa...

Acting Gov. Mark Leviste is a marvel. He makes the effort to attend every event invitation or send one of his representatives if it becomes really impossible. Energetic, indefatigable, and a hard worker. Mabuhay ka! Mark Leviste.

Relief and Assistance Center

For our members, Batangas stakeholders and those who wish to donate to the Ondoy flood victims but are too busy, or do not know where to bring their donations, we can accept and pool together donations in our San Pascual, Batangas office or at the Esteban Mayo Office. We will also try to pick them up if you are in the immediate vicinity. Our sun cellular Nos. are 0923-709-1598 and 0923-709-1600. Landline 043 980-3707.

MATAKAW DAW !!!

To: greennature@yahoogroups.com, environmentalleaders@yahoogroups.com, philecotour071909@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, September 21, 2009, 8:15 AM
from forwarded email, please forward to Philippine Customs and Department of Tourism


This was written by a Pinoy couple who now live in the US .

Would like to share with you what we found out as the reason why cruise ships of the big cruise companies skip Manila . My wife and I are regular cruisers and we always talk to the Filipino crew. When we took the 12-day Mediterranean cruise I asked the Pinoy waiters (because we are in a big group, we usually request for Pinoy waiters to be assigned to us) why all their Asian cruises skip Manila when they go to all the neighboring countries of the Philippines .. Tanong ko bakit ba wala sa itinerary ninyo ang Manila .

Ang sagot sa akin. Noong una ho may cruises kami na humihinto sa Manila but masyadong hong matakaw ang mga taga Customs sa atin kaya ang management ho namin nag decide na skip na ang Manila. When inspection time comes upon our arrival and departure, yung mga Customs inspectors ho kasama ang mga pamilya nila para kumain ng libre sa ship namin. Tapos bago mag bigay ng clearance para maka depart ang ship namin maraming hinihingi ng sigarilyo at mga alak. Sa Manila lang namin na experience ang ganoon kaya nahihiya ho kaming mga Pinoy dito sa ship. Sa ibang ports sa Asia wala hong nanghihingi.

The new cruise ships have an everage of 2,000 to 3,000 passengers. Imagine the loss of tourism revenue for the Philippines because most cruise ships do not go to the Philippines . WHY???

This is now a global world. What we do - and we don't do is circulated and has an impact on our community, province, nation, and the world.

Related to this -- is the prices of gasoline in Batangas City and vicinity.

People can easily just go to Lipa, Calamba or Manila and gas up there. So, if the stations in Batangas City suffers diminishing gross sales, they only have themselves to blame.

With the entry of the Wilcon Builders in Batangas City and the opening of 168 (Divisoria) Mall at Fiesta World Mall on Oct. 16, Batangueno traders have to re-think their age old formulas and learn to compete fair-and-square.

We hope this will really benefit the consumers who should be enjoying cheaper prices due to the ever-increasing competition. Batangueno traders should start to diversify and look into the new opportunities at the International Port, manufacturing, production and cottage industries.

Oil Cartel? Winnie Monsod and Ralph Recto should try gassing up in Batangas City

On Tuesday, September 15. 2009, we found in Minnie Monsod's blog site -Is there an oil cartel in the Philippines? http://blogs.gmanews.tv/winnie-monsod/

MANILA, Philippines - Former socioeconomic planning secretary Ralph Recto appeared yesterday before a court to reaffirm an earlier pronouncement that oil products are overpriced by as much as P8 per liter.

By Sandy Araneta (The Philippine Star) Updated September 19, 2009 12:00 AM http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=506615&publicationSubCategoryId=63 During the BPCCI Meeting held at the Hotel La Corona de Lipa this Sept. 17, 2009, one of the issues raised is the hiGHHH price of gasoline and fuels in the vicinity of Batangas City. This prompted me to look at the receipts BPCCI has on file and this is what we found. In Batangas City Petron Station last Sept. 12, 2009 the price for XCS is P45.64 per liter, while on the same day at the Rico Shell Station in Lipa City, it is priced at 41.00 per liter, and in Metro Manila it is around P38.00 to P39.00 --- Php4.64 difference from Batangas to Lipa City. On Sept. 6, 2009 at the Diversion Petron Station, it is 46.62 per liter. Oct. 8, 2009 at the Shell Station, Unleaded was 44.520 per liter. Bauan Petron on August 2, 2009 it was 43.45 per liter. On Aug. 16, 2009 at San Pascual Caltex, Silver was 46.550 per liter. August 19 at the Shell Station, Unleaded was 46.55 per liter. All these when prevailing prices in Metro Manila was way below P40.00. It is a supply-and-demand economy anyway. What we, and we found out that so many of our friends have been doing, during the last few months is gas up just enough to get to Lipa or to Turbina / Calamba to save P5.00 per liter, gas up enough there to get to Manila or Makati to save another P2.00 or more per litter and fill her up where it is much cheaper. Maybe the Batangas City stations haven't noticed their diminishing sales yet. Anyway, the issue has been officially raised. I am here to let you know what is happening. The action belongs, really to the people.

WARNING TO FRIENDS - your e-mail maybe hacked

I received this in my INBOX today - from an officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Rizal Province, using his e-mail address.

I am in a hurry writing this mail to you, I had travelled to UK for an urgent situation and unfortunately for me all my money was stolen at the hotel where I lodged. I am so confused right now, I dont know what to do or where to go. I didn't bring my phones here and the hotel telephone lines were disconnected during the robbery incident. So I have access to only emails. Please can you send me �960 today so I can return home.

Please have the money sent immediately through Western union money transfer

to my name and on this address right below.

Name: Rey De Leon
Address: 110 Palace Road, Tulse Hill
City: London
Post code: E8 4HR
Country: United Kingdom
Mtcn Number:

As soon as I get home I would refund it immediately. Please I need you to get back to me so I can let you know how to send the money to me.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you with the payment details now.

Regars and Godbless!

Papa.

I'd like to make this Statement: Rey de Leon IS NOT MY PAPA. . My father died in 2003 ... and I have no PAPA , but applications for the living PAPA position is still open , as long as he would not want 960.00 UK Pounds. Hahaha

Kidding aside, don't believe it when you get this message purportedly from us. The new hackers have a way of getting into your mailbox, so always clean up your cookies: from the Tools - Internet Options - Delete Cookies, Delete Browsing History, and limit the number of days to keep browsing history into maybe 7 days. I keep them only 3 days.

CCleaner is also free to install .... and i found it very useful.

We have four e-mails .... batangascham -- and batangaschamber -- works with both yahoo and gmail extensions. Personally I also have the meds and medz e-mails. But I use a rose icon -- or a smiley and colored letters as part of my permanent e-mail signature. So if there is no rose, it's not from us.

If you receive just plain text ... telling you to go to links, check with us first. We usually explain LENGTHILY whatever it is we are sending in the body of the e-mail / letter.

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

Recent OECD Observer articles by civil society authors

Progress, what progress?
By Joseph Stiglitz, Professor, Columbia University
The global economic crisis has focused minds on restoring growth. But does growth necessarily mean progress?
http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/2793/Progress,_what_progress_.html

A stress test for the OECD?
By John Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO and Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD
To be useful in helping countries to move out of the crisis, it is necessary for the OECD to look at its own history as an organisation and draw the right lessons for the future.
http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/2977/A_stress_test_for_the_OECD_.html

Water and the economic crisis   
Back to Basics
By Jack Moss, Chair of BIAC Water Group & Senior Water Advisor, AquaFed
Water, is as essential to human activity as air. When cities or societies neglect water, they face collapse.
http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/2845/Water_and_the_economic_crisis.html

A transparent roadmap to recovery
By Huguette Labelle, Chair, Transparency International
Governments must put transparency and accountability at the heart of all rescue and reform measures if they are to regain public trust and investor confidence.
http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/2959/A_transparent_roadmap_to_recovery.html


Source:  OECD Civil Society Newsletter No. 14 - 06/09/2009  / OECD Website
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) brings together the governments of countries committed to democracy and the market economy from around the world to:
 - Support sustainable economic growth
 - Boost employment
 - Raise living standards
 - Maintain financial stability
 - Assist other countries' economic development
 - Contribute to growth in world trade

For more than 40 years, OECD has been one of the world's largest and most reliable sources of comparable statistics and economic and social data. As well as collecting data, OECD monitors trends, analyses and forecasts economic developments and researches social changes or evolving patterns in trade, environment, agriculture, technology, taxation and more.


The Batangas Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (BPCCI) subscribes to the OECD newsletter for updates and materials.
Batangas Action for Services and Development (BASeD).

Philippine Travel Mart in its 20th year

The Philippine Travel Mart is currently ongoing (Sept. 4-6, 2009) at the SM Megatrade Halls, MegaMall in Mandaluyong City.

The event is organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) in cooperation with DOT, PAGCOR and Philippine Airlines.  The Travel Mart is supported by the Department of Tourism, Philippine Tourism Authority, Philippine Gaming Corporation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Clark Development Corporation, Philippine Airlines, Primer, Chase Technologies, Hop On-Hop Off. Media Partners are Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Travel Update, Foreign Post, Homestyle, Travel Plus, Travelife, Expat Publications, Market Square, GoodNewsPilipinas and ANC.

I paid the regular entrance fee of P50.00 and then went to the Press entrance for the Press kit - as the Batangas Satellite Office Representative of BuyandSell Magazine and the Finders Group (Car Finder, Property Finder, Job Finder, Bike Finder) and of course our very own BPCCI Chonicle.  I also submit event pictures and articles to Batangas local newspapers - which could have saved me the Fifty Pesos entrance fee if I asked sooner.

Batangas Province has a booth in the Philippine Travel Mart where you can have a free taste of  Cafe de Lipa's Kapeng Barako.  Manning the booth was none other than our good friend Teody Aguila of Merlo Commodities.  There are also products handmade by the Batangas City Jail inmates, the products of the SMEs assisted by the Office of the (Batangas) City Veterinarian and Agriculture Services (OCVAS) and other producsts like Bagoong Balayan, Batangas Honey from Lipa City, Atchara from Calaca and other foodstuffs.

Some of our Batangas travel-related companies we saw participating in the exhibit are:  Hotel PonteFino, Hotel La Corona, Atrium Hotel - Microtel Batangas.

The event press release is entitled:  Beyond the usual... experience at the 20th Philippine Travel Mart"
     " A ferry cruise on the Pasig River, a walking culinary tour of Binondo, vegetable picking in an organic farm in Batangas, a bacchanalian feast in Pampanga ... beyond the usual tour and travel packages...

Indeed, the travel organizers are coming up with exciting and out-of-the-usual iteneraries.  I have been receiving regular e-mail messages from the Environmental Leaders which features two-to-three day trekking tours, tree planting tours, learn-scuba-diving packages and even madcap tours for the adventurous - all for just cost-plus.  They designate a meeting place and time for those who booked the tours and voila ! you're on your way with a group of people you're bound-to and will share meals with  for the next 2-3 days.  A good way of finding new friends with the same interests.

What we really need in Batangas are regular land tours which we can offer to the travel agencies, resort visitors and hotel guests in packages.  Something like:  Diving Lessons Saturdays, Heritage Tour Mondays, Religious Tours Tuesdays, Industrial Plants Wednesdays, Volcano Trekking Thursdays,  where the tour leaves at a specified time and place on a permanent basis, whether there are 50 bookings, 10 or none at all. 

But then again, this project does not seem a highly profitable venture for a businessman.  With all the hassles the businessmen have been getting with registering companies, complying with regulations and the amount of taxes they have to pay - it is no wonder for the higly skilled and talented Batanguenos to just go work abroad and for those left behind to just sit on their verandahs and terraces "kukuya-kuyakoy" and wait for remittances.

Batangas Action for Services and Development - CSR Initiatives

The following are some of the Professional and Business Groups already existing in Batangas which we are aware of: 1. The Batangas Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (BPCCI) is an organization of businessmen and company official representatives. Membership is open only to those whose businesses are duly registered with the appropriate regulatory body and has a permit to operate. (www.batangaschamber.com) 2. The Philippine Marketing Association (PMA), Batangas Chapter is an organization of marketing, promotion and advertising professionals who either represents their company, or are employed by a company with a Marketing or Promotions Department. 3. The Batangas Industrial Security Alliance (BISA) is a group of Security Professionals and Security Officers representing the Industrial and Manufacturing Firms which are mostly situated along the coastal areas of Batangas Province. They are now trying to attract more members from the Industrial Estate locators and inland towns. 4. The People's Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) Calabarzon Chapter is an organization of companies and their management executives engaged or interested in human resource management (HRM) and industrial relations (IR) work. With the above groups: trade and commerce / investments ; marketing and promotions / advertisements ; peace and order and industrial peace / security ; human resources management and industrial relations / labor and employment -- are properly addressed. Most of the ordinary / rank-and-file personnel cannot gain entry into these groups. Some micro-small-medium enterprises (MSMEs) cannot also gain entry into these groups,. The membership fees and dues may also be beyond their means. The Batangas Action for Services and Development - CSR (BASeD) is now being organized to admit members from the rank-and-file or from Batangas OFWs who want to contribute their time and effort to address CSR Initiatives and concerns of the small-and-medium enterprises in Batangas Province. We have received pledges from companies for some of their employees to join BASeD as soon as it is registered. If you have a group, non-profit organization which is related to industry, business, enterprise, trade and commerce, and other economic activities and you want to network with us, please feel free to get in touch. We have been organizing a database since 2004 and we would appreciate your help and feedback. We have four e-mails which are batangascham and batangaschamber with yahoo.com and gmail.com extensions.