MANILA – Some 300 Japanese manufacturing companies operating in China and Japan have expressed interest to relocate their businesses in the Philippines in the next five years.

Takashi Ishigami, president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc., said that some of the firms had already started moving their operations here last year, viewing the Philippines as a very competitive country. “We have now many inquiries from Japanese firms. There are already 1,700 Japanese companies located here. And we will have more; it can increase by 200 to 300 easily,” he said.

Ishigami said on the sidelines of the Joint Foreign Chamber Networking Night that most of the companies were engaged in information technology while some others in automotive parts manufacturing.      Ishigami did not divulge any planned investment details, but noted “it’s a big number. It depends on the companies.”

Pact for ARBs inked

A memorandum of agreement was signed by the Department of Agrarian Reform-North, Negros Occidental and five AR organizations on the implementation of the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services at Natures Village and Restaurant in Talisay City, yesterday.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer-North Enrique Paderes said ARCCESS aims to improve farm productivity and sustainable net income for ARBs through their organizations.

He said the project provides a three-year grant of professional services and common services facilities to the ARBO beneficiaries that they will receive based on their needs and an assessment.

DAR holds mass processing
of claims for landholdings

The Department of Agrarian Reform-North of Negros Occidental is conducting a mass processing of claim folders to 20 landholdings for submission to the Land Bank for valuation before Oct. 15, Enrique Paderes, PARO-North, said yesterday.

Paderes said the landholdings cover 1,000 hectares, while another 8,000 hectares have already been processed and are now in the advanced stage for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform coverage.

After the valuation with the bank, the DAR can distribute the lands to agrarian reform beneficiaries by December, he said.

back to top