In a press conference to promote the foreign chambers’ trade fair, which will be held April 21 and 22 at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, organizing committee co-chairman Brian Lane assured the public that foreign businessmen still have long-term plans to set up businesses in the country.
However, Lane said foreign businesses are "not philanthropic" and will leave the country "if we do not get a monetary return." As of this time, foreign businessmen "see a long-term growth," he added.
Reacting to reports that Malacañang is seeking the help of public relations practitioners to improve Mrs. Arroyo’s image, Lane said the foreign chambers are doing a better job of promoting the Philippines than a PR firm ever could.
"Hiring a PR firm will not be able to present the Philippines as we do and we do it for free," he said.
It is not the first time the Palace has sought the help of PR firms to prop up Mrs. Arroyo’s image, which has been battered since June 2005 over questions of legitimacy and accusations of corruption.
Lane said foreign businessmen need the help of both the local media and Philippine authorities because potential investors are not likely to want to invest in the Philippines if they constantly read negative media reports.
He noted the current administration over the "last three or four years has shot itself in the foot."
While "it is not our position to criticize the government, if we ran our business the same way the (Philippine) government is run, we would be out of business," Lane said.
During the trade fair, the foreign chambers will hold a job fair, launch an "English is Cool" campaign, promote new services in health care, wellness and medical care, and hold an exhibit of Philippine products that multinationals and the diplomatic community may be interested in.
Henry Schumacher, vice president of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, stressed the need for the government to ensure that the local workforce can speak and write well in English.
He noted that over his last 28 years in the country, Filipinos’ English skills have deteriorated.
With the Philippines planning to provide the manpower needs of the global information and communications technology industry, Schumacher stressed the need to maintain Filipinos’ facility in English.
Earlier, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported that the practice of young professionals to speak in "Taglish," a pidgin mix of English and Filipino, is hampering their chances of being employed.
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said there was a huge demand for call center agents but the country is having difficulty filling those manpower needs because of the diminishing number of young Filipinos able to speak English fluently.
She said that out of every 100 call center applicants, only five to 10 are accepted.
"The problem, I think, is a culture thing because we have people who do fairly well in written English but not very well in conversational English," Sto. Tomas said.
She added that since the 1980s, many young Filipinos have also become used to mixing their native dialects and the English language in conversation.
Sto. Tomas said Filipinos, including English teachers, tend not to correct the incorrect use of English in conversation "as this would embarrass other people."