11 June 2012 - The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, in celebration of the 114th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, held a diplomatic reception at the Movenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel last June 06 with H.E. Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as guest of honor.
Members of the diplomatic community, the Filipino communities in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and friends of the Philippines from various sectors gathered as the Consulate remembered and honoured the memories of the valiant Filipino men and women who fought and gained Philippine independence.
The Philippines declared its independence on 12 June 1898 after the revolution of 1896 against Spain and while the Philippine-American War was at its height in 1898. During the declaration, President Emilio Aguinaldo raised the Philippine flag as the national anthem played for the first time.
In his speech, Philippine Consul General to Dubai Benito B. Valeriano highlighted the gains the Philippines currently enjoys. He said that for the first quarter of 2012, the Philippines' GDP growth rate was 6.4%, the highest among the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The country's economic growth was driven by the services and industry sectors and domestic consumption. The Consul General likewise stated that the growth was supported by government spending and the country's low inflation rate.
Remittances also increased by 5.4%, reaching a total of US$ 4.84 billion. Complementing such growth is the government's continued prudence in its public fiscal management characterized by low budget deficits, declining level of debt relative to gross domestic product (GDP), and an increase in revenue leading to an upgrade in its credit rating outlook by Moody's Investor Services from stable to positive.
Consul General Valeriano also laid out the Philippines' development strategy which includes attracting investments, business partnerships and boosting tourism. He also noted that public-private partnership (PPP) scheme has 22 projects aimed to improve transportation connectivity (e.g. roads, airports and seaports), boost agricultural productivity, increase water service areas, and raise the quality of education and health.
The strong trade relations with several countries in the Middle East were also highlighted. He underscored the 2011 trade between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which continued to expand.
Total trade between the two countries reached US$ 1.95 billion in 2011, up by 21 percent from 2010's US$1.61 billion figure, making UAE the Philippines' 14th largest trading partner.
"The Philippines will keep on enhancing economic relations with the UAE and other GCC-member countries. We welcome the UAE's initiatives to strengthen relations with the Philippines in the areas of agriculture, skilled labor and environmental studies. The Philippines is prepared to cooperate with the UAE's programs on "biodiversity, energy conservation and water" that aims to protect natural resources threatened by global economic development," Consul General Valeriano said.
"The pool of highly-skilled Filipino professionals in the fields of accountancy, engineering and medicine can also be tapped to complement the growing workforce in the UAE. The cordial relations that exist between the Philippines and the UAE have much room for growth and we look forward to further discussions in areas that would mutually benefit both our countries" the Consul General added.
The evening was punctuated by presentations of Filipino dances and band performances by Filipino artists. Various tourist destinations in the country were also showcased. END.