The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has 21 member countries which account for approximately 40.5% of the world's population, approximately 54.2% of the world Gross Domestic Product and about 43.7% of world trade. APEC members are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, The Republic of the Philippines, The Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America and Viet Nam.
In 1989, the founding members established APEC "to further enhance economic growth and prosperity for the region and to strengthen the Asia-Pacific community." Since its existence, APEC has worked to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers across the Asia-Pacific region, created the efficient domestic economies and increased exports among member countries. Its vision, called as the Bogor Goals, is to achieve free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region this year 2010 for industrialized economies, and year 2020 for developing countries. The presidents and prime ministers of the member countries adopted these goals during their 1994 meeting in Bogor, Indonesia.
The free and open trade and investment help the member countries to grow; they create jobs and provide greater opportunities for international trade and investment. Free and open trade and investment encourage the member countries to lower the costs of production; they reduce the prices of goods and services which benefit all the member economies. Furthermore, "APEC works to create an environment for the safe and efficient movement of goods, services and people across borders in the region through policy alignment and economic and technical cooperation."
As a founding member of APEC, the Philippines has to monitor and do something constructively and positively with regards to the latest unemployment reports in the United States of America in which there are more than four million Filipino-American citizens and permanent residents. As of July 2010, the "regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in July. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate decreases, 14 states registered rate increases, and 18 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twentyseven states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, 20 states posted increases, and 3 states had no change. The
national jobless rate was unchanged in July at 9.5 percent and little different from a year earlier (9.4 percent)," as reported in the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. Moreover, there are millions of "baby boomers" and retirees living in the APEC and non-member economies who are seeking for a warmer or tropical "paradise" to retire and continue to live with comfort, dignity and hospitality the rest of their lifetimes.
Two years ago, we had observed that as subscribers of the Maasin Cable TV, direct satellite TV and/or customers of the Internet cafe, we learned that thousands to millions of professionals and other workers turned into unemployed people in the U.S.A. after they enjoyed having watched the 2008 Summer Olympics, and followed intently the 2008 American presidential campaigns, debates and election. Also, as we watched the BBC, CNN and other major TV networks which reported on the top executives of Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and other famous international firms who begged for a bailout from Uncle Sam, we wondered why the top leaders of the government, establishments and systems of the so-called richest country in the world failed to prevent the global economic crisis? What went wrong with their very expensive American Ivy League college degrees? What went wrong to the world famous Americans and other nationals who won the coveted Nobel Prize Awards, and authors of the best-selling books on economics and international business and trade?
We should not wait for the local and national politicians and business persons, the Forbes or Fortune's lists of multi-millionaires and billionaires to help us out of our sufferings and frustrations. We should not wait for the next election again, again and again to sell our votes and souls to the politicians just to get some pesos and handouts to rescue us temporarily from our very long-term hunger and malnutrition. There is no more time waiting for help from the government while the thousands of our fellow Southern Leyteños and millions of fellow Filipinos the rest of the country are unemployed, homeless and/or squatting on the sidewalks, under the overpass bridges, along the riverbanks and seashores, and living way, way down below the poverty level.
Developers & Investors
One of the untapped markets for the production of goods and services which very few among us are capable of doing is the development of the well-planned and futuristic tourism, commercial, industrial and residential establishments, retirement communities, and the establishments of the modern inter-island transportation in many of the 7,107 tropical islands in the Philippines. Despite the massive financial losses in the United States' institutions and industries such as in banking, residential and commercial properties, stock exchange and brokerage, car and truck manufacturing, computer and electronics manufacturing, marketing and hundreds of other establishments, the global expatriates in Asia are still investing in real estate. The Philippines is experiencing high numbers of foreign buyers in real estate properties. Filipino expatriates are the largest group of second home buyers for vacation and retirement purposes. In addition to the former Filipino citizens and dual citizens that are leading in the luxury property investments, several thousands of the Americans, Australians, British and other expatriates are investing in second homes or third homes in the Philippines.
"But what's fueling this growth in the Philippine luxury real estate market? Industry experts point to the explosion of the country's business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. Since 2000, revenues for the Philippine BPO sector have exploded from US$24 million to an impressive US$2.6 billion in 2006, making it third behind China and India; revenues in the first half of 2008 have already hit US$5.8 billion. As the decade wraps up, the BPO industry show no signs of slowing, especially with the Philippine peso holding strong and increased stability for the entire economy – by 2010 revenues are forecast to hit US$11 billion.
"The recent growth spurt in the Philippine outsourcing industry has been largely fueled by high value outsourcing including legal services, web design, medical transcription, software development, animation, and shared services instead of low cost call centers. BPO is not the only sector of the economy showing strong growth potential. Overall economic growth for the country is anticipated to average 5.7% per annum between 2008 and 2012. Riding on the back of political stability and a strong currency, real GDP growth hit an impressive 7.3% in 2007. This expansion has been reflected in continued strong consumption growth and upward movement in the property market. A slight acceleration in investment growth compared with the past few years is also expected, while private consumption should remain the key driver of the country's economy during this period.
"Additionally, the Philippines boasts a liberalized and business-friendly economy that is ripe with opportunities, adding further growth potential and an increase in foreign expats. The nation features an open economy that allows 100% foreign ownership in almost all sectors and supports a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) investment scheme that other Asian countries are rushing to emulate. Government corporations are being privatized and the banking, insurance, shipping, telecommunications, and power industries have been deregulated to pave the way for future growth and stability.
"The growth of BPO and other sectors of the Philippine economy have been accompanied by a significant expansion of foreign expatriate workers landing in the island nation. As they spend more time working in the Philippines, the country's natural scenic beauty, convenient location, stable and growing economy, and bustling urban and cultural scene are driving guest workers to consider investment in the Philippines. Over the past decade, the Philippines has become a retirement haven for thousands of foreigners. Filipino property developers such as Shang Properties, Rockwell Land, Federal Land, and Ayala Land, among others, are looking to expatriates and tourists as hot new growth sectors," as reported in an excellent article "Live Your Dreams" in the Philippines.
Retirees, Permanent Residents, Working & Student Visa Holders
The U.S. State Department estimates that there are over 250,000 U.S. citizens living in the Philippines. About 22,000 of those are permanent residents and another 81,000 are non-citizens such as business persons, missionaries, educators, students, etc. There are currently about one million foreign students learning English as a Second Language, medicine, nursing, dentistry, agriculture, engineering and other professional degrees in hundreds of the accredited colleges and universities in the country. Also, there are thousands of Filipino-Americans who are “baby boomers” - born after World War 2. Many of them are still living in retirement in the U.S.A. However, due to the current economic crisis which is plaguing not just America, but also the rest of the world, the senior Filipinos and other citizens in foreign countries should avail of the fine services of the Philippine Retirement Authority.
Anyone in Canada and the U.S.A., for example, who is barely surviving from the retirement income of $600 per month, which is considered a luxury income among millions of the Filipinos, can comfortably live in Southern Leyte and other provinces in the country. Although the fresh foods are available at the public market, you do not have to waste your precious time and energies going to the public market or downtown to buy some needed foods. There are vendors of fresh fish, fruits and vegetables that sound their horns and vocal chords to sell the food items and other goods as they pass through the residential neighborhoods! You can arrange with the vendors to deliver the foods and other goods in front of your door. You can hire a housekeeper, driver and/or gardener at a very affordable rate. The College of Maasin, the oldest college in Southern Leyte which is affiliated with the internationally famous Silliman University, offers accredited degrees and diplomas on nursing and care giving. The licensed graduates of such professions can take care of your needs including those of the developers, investors and retirees as well as the local residents in Samar, Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces or Region 8.
The world famous celebrities that are living in their multi-million dollar homes and mansions (located in the smoggy and polluted air in Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Palm Springs and other exclusive residential communities in California, Nevada, Arizona, Illinois, New York, Texas, Florida and in other countries) will have 20 times or more of better air quality to inhale when they invest, retire, live or spend a working vacation in Southern Leyte, for instance. Their high quality and very expensive homes and mansions in the West can be similarly built in the Far East - the Philippines particularly in Southern Leyte as well as the rest of Region 8 - at 65% to 85% less expensive than their American-made mansions and/or residences!
Tourists & other Visitors
This year 2010, the country is expecting high numbers of tourists and visitors. "Filipino creativity in times of adversity truly shines as we see more diversified packages that promote nature-based, low-cost, and low-impact travels around the country, in the midst of these trying times," said Eduardo Jarque Jr, the undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions. The National Geographic has recently featured the Philippines in its elite list of 25 Best New Trips for 2010. According to the UNWTO Travel Barometer, it showed that in the first eight months of 2009, the international tourist arrivals declined throughout the world, but in Asia and the Pacific regions, the international tourist and visitors have increased. Asia's tourism industries are expecting a recovery with 1-3 percent growth. "Asia will show the strongest rebound, while Europe and the Americas will probably take longer to recover."
A total of 3.14 million foreigners visited the Philippines in 2008, or a 1.5-percent rise from 2007 figures, the Department of Tourism reported. South Koreans remained the top visitors in 2008, numbering 611,629 or a 19-percent increase from that of the previous year. The Americans were second with 578,246, up by 18.4 percent. Many visitors came from China, France and Russia. Some tourists and visitors also came from Finland, Norway and Sweden. The tourism growth in recent years had led to more investments and jobs for Filipinos. "Consequently, the increase in economic activities due to tourism investments in destinations also escalated construction services as it grew by 23.1 percent in 2007. Direct employment in tourism totaled 3.25 million for a 9.7-percent share of total employment as of 2007," according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. In tourism industries, Southern Leyte is way behind from those of the province's next island neighbor - Bohol. Bohol is now one of the top 5 tourists' destinations in the entire Philippines! Although Southern Leyte is so very close to Bohol, most of the business persons and long-established enterprises in Southern Leyte are not pursuing the tremendous economic opportunities which the people in Bohol are enjoying for many years.
Strategic Location
Distance is not a problem nowadays. Even in some developing world, modern transportation and high tech communications are available. From the U.S.A. and via other countries which are half way of the globe east and west, north and south to the tropical Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Limasawa and Panaon islands, the famous celebrities and other personalities can fly over through their executive jets, chartered aircrafts, or board the international airlines which take from 5 to 18 hours of traveling time into Maasin, Tacloban and Ormoc City domestic airports or via the Cebu-Mactan International Airport. The middle-class to upper-class foreign residents can use their satellite phones to communicate with their families, friends and business associates. In addition, there are more cell phone owners than land-line telephone users, and hundreds of Internet cafes in the Philippines!
If you search Maasin City using the Google Earth, you will notice that Maasin City is the most strategic site for the famous Costco or Sam's Club in the U.S.A., for example, to open a Philippine subsidiary. They have tremendous business opportunites to provide and serve the wholesale buyers in East Central Visayas and from the northern cities in Mindanao, if or when the fast passenger hovercraft and other modern transportation are established. Also, to save time for the travelers from Iligan City, Ozamiz City, Oroquieta City, Dapitan and other big cities and towns in northwestern Mindanao that are going to Metro Manila, the passengers on hovercraft or modern ferries can fast speed to Maasin City. From Maasin's big and clean bus terminal, they can transfer to the 5 or more modern and fully air-con buses which are the least expensive means to travel by land to Metro Manila. The buses from Maasin City to Metro Manila run daily via Leyte's capital, Tacloban City, then they continue to travel through the entire Samar Island up to its northernmost point. Then they cross by ferry to Albay in Southern Luzon and continue their trip until they arrive at the Pasay or Cubao bus terminals in Metro Manila.
Right now from the coast of Maasin City to Silago, San Ricardo and Limasawa in Southern Leyte, there are hundreds of available agricultural and real estate lands which the developers, investors and retirees can build their tropical business establishments, ideal vacation homes and retirement communities. They are the logical sites for some companies, industries, manufacturers, organizations, etc. to relocate permanently from the very low elevation in Metro Manila to avoid being the victims again of another mega floods. Some of the available and safe properties are elevated several feet above the sea level which are very advantageous when, not if, the high sea water occurs or rises someday due to the continuing melting of the ice in the North Pole and South Pole, glaciers and the increasing numbers of reclamation projects in many countries such as Holland, Dubai, United States, Philippines, etc.
Anyone who is a developer, investor or retiree, before you invest or plan to retire anywhere in the green Leyte, green Limasawa and green Panaon islands, we highly suggest that you first Visit Southern Leyte. Most importantly, we recommend that you visit the very historical, ecological and scenic Limasawa island in Southern Leyte and Gen. Macarthur Landing Memorial in northern Leyte. Region 8, composed of Samar, Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces are blessed with abundant source of electricity. The electricity is generated from the geothermal-electric power plant or station located in Leyte.
Another geothermal-electric project is under construction in the really "green" Southern Leyte. The officials and employees of our local government agencies, the students of high schools and colleges and the residents in Southern Leyte volunteered to plant millions of trees, and they still plant the different varieties of trees on special occasions. If or when you like our hospitable and peaceful province and our well-known ecological environment with millions of trees, we have our reliable and experienced contacts who can assist you with your building plan, general construction and other needs. In developing our province and hopefully throughout Region 8, our self-sustainable community is going to emulate the excellent examples of the present and future Denmark!
Our contacts have 40 years of experience in building residential, commercial and government infrastructures. Furthermore, we can assist or help you with your pertinent questions on development, investment and retirement especially in Southern Leyte. We can arrange a personal car and super fine tourist guide to meet you at the Tacloban City Airport, Ormoc City Airport or Maasin City Airport.
Where else can you find the world's 3rd largest English-speaking country and a haven for comfort, dignity and natural hospitality? Please read the maps, directions and other related information from the Australian, Canadian, U.K., U.S. and other foreign embassies in Metro Manila before you visit, tour or take a vacation, and to invest or retire in Southern Leyte. If or when you need additional information, feel free to contact us or the Trip Advisor. The 7th Millennium Community is one of the top reliable and trusted sources of general information in the country! To see some pictures along the coast of Maasin City and Southern Leyte, one hotel with a restaurant very near the seaport, and the 2 hotels on the beachfront, please click on pictures!
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