DTI taps Pacquiao as endorser of bill that will boost PH garments exports to US -- Philippine Daily Inquirer

By Amy R. Remo, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry is sending boxing champ Manny Pacquiao to help endorse to US legislators the passage of the Save Our Industries Act (Save Act), a bill expected to give the Philippine garments industry a much-needed boost.

Trade Undersecretary Cristino L. Panlilio told reporters that they were sending Pacquiao together with the Philippine trade attaché to seek the support of US legislators for this landmark piece of legislation.

“I hail the filing of this bill. This is something we have worked hard for since last year. The Department of Foreign Affairs, led by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and our new Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. have also adopted the Save Act,” Panlilio said.

“This is a major step, but the work is not over. We must work harder now to convince more senators and congressmen to support this bill. We are calling on all Filipinos here who have relatives in the US to please inform them about the Save Act. They can do their own share in getting in touch with their senators and congressmen,” Panlilio added.

Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, meanwhile, noted that the filing of the Save Act would be a “great development” in “achieving our goal to invigorate the garments industry.”

Panlilio earlier said the passage of the Save Act would benefit both the United States textile industry and local garment manufacturers.

“This is a landmark piece of legislation that will redound to great benefits for both our people. It will revive the Philippines’ garments industry, which has been in the doldrums ever since the end of the quota regime. At the same time, (it will) increase exports of US textiles to the Philippines and other Asean countries to up to $500 million. This definitely is a win-win solution,” Panlilio had said.

The Save Act is expected to provide enough incentives for garments exporters in the Philippines to expand their operations through a grant of preferential treatment from the United States.

The bill supports the country’s inclusion in the 809 Program, which gives various benefits to US trading partners that produce garments out of US-made fabric or yarn.

Garment manufacturers from Mexico, the Caribbean and Andean countries already enjoy preferential treatment, with benefits ranging from lower duties to quota-free and duty-free entry into the United States.

Under the 809 component of the bill, US-made fabric and yarns cut and wholly assembled in the Philippines would qualify to re-enter the US duty-free.

Garments made of US spun yarn or extruded yarn formed in the Philippines, on the other hand, would be allowed to re-enter the US at just half of the most favored nation (MFN) duty.

Introduced in June 2009 by Washington State Representative Jim McDermott and California Representative Brian Bilbray, the Save Act also had a companion bill in the US Senate filed by Senators Kit Bond and Daniel Inouye.

Source: business.inquirer.net

Pacman insists Marquez is dangerous -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao is not looking at Juan Manuel Marquez as somebody out to cash a paycheck and retire.

Told about the overwhelming 8-1 odds in his favor, Pacquiao told the Bulletin over the weekend that Marquez remains a dangerous foe and that taking him for granted is tantamount to jumping off a cliff.

Pacquiao is facing Marquez on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and despite the odds, the Filipino star said he has to be in top shape.

“You all saw our first two fights and based on that alone, you can tell he is somebody not to be taken lightly,” said Pacquiao, who drew with Marquez in 2004 and narrowly beat the Mexican in the rematch in 2008.

While the rubber match is more than four months away, Pacquiao has already calendared the start of training camp and the site of his first month of preparation.

“We’ll go to Baguio again in September and then to Los Angeles (for the second half of training camp),” said Pacquiao, who will be risking his stature as pound-for-pound king more than the World Boxing Organization welterweight title that he will put on the line.

Pacquiao let out a hearty laugh when told that based on the odds, the only way Marquez could win against him is if Marquez is allowed to bring in a machete on top of the ring.

“As I have always said, it’s not right to be overconfident,” said Pacquiao, who was listed as the underdog the last time when he met Oscar De La Hoya in Dec. 2008, a fight so lopsided that the Golden Boy announced his retirement two months after tasting a stinging stoppage loss.

Source: mb.com.ph

"I'm waiting on the call from Bob Arum" - Mike Jones feels ready for Pacquiao -- Examiner

By Chris Robinson, Examiner.com

Philadelphia native and welterweight contender Mike Jones kept the ball rolling last night with a 2nd round TKO over Kansas' Raul Munoz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The win followed a previously solid victory by the 28-year old Jones, who this past February clearly won his rematch with Jesus Soto Karass via decision inside of the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas underneath Nonito Donaire's thrilling TKO over Fernando Montiel.

Possessing great size, length, and power to boot, Jones is an intriguing character and seems to have the body to fill out well at 154 pounds in the near future. There seem to be an endless list of fights for him to consider but at the moment he seems to have his eye on one of the sport's biggest names; Manny Pacquiao.

Jones is currently rated #1 in the WBO rankings, the belt that Pacquiao has held since his November 2009 thrashing of Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand. At the moment Pacquiao is in line for a November 12th encounter with rival Juan Manuel Marquez inside of the same facility, seeing of course that Marquez can get by Likar Ramos next month, but Jones is wasting no time in throwing his name into the fray for possible contention against one of the sport's biggest cash cows.

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"I am waiting for the phone call from Bob Arum. If anything happens to Marquez on July 16th, I will take the fight with Pacquiao. He is such a great warrior. Let's see how he deals with my right hand. I am much more confident now and am ready for big fights," Jones said after his victory in a BoxingScene.com piece.

Jones' words shouldn't be dismissed but he honestly hasn't done enough for such a coveted shot, at least in my opinion. Jones would be better served by looking for fights against the likes of Pawel Wolak, Kermit Cintron, Joshua Clottey, and even the winner of the upcoming rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito before eyeing Pacquiao.

Jones doesn't need to rush things right now. He's in a great position and if he keeps winning then surely a big fight will come his way.

Source: examiner.com

Pacquiao 8-1 favorite vs Marquez -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao was aghast when told about the odds for his Nov. 12 rubber match with his Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.

“Grabe naman ‘yan, (That’s too much),” Pacquao, sounding a bit embarrassed, told the Bulletin on Saturday afternoon from the paradise island of Boracay, where he has been holed up the last week for some much-needed R&R with his family.

Pacquiao has been listed as -800, while Marquez is +500, according to sportsbook. Based on this line, an $800 bet on Pacquiao would only win $100, while a measly $100 wager on Marquez would win $500.

The Pacquiao-Marquez fight will be contested at a catchweight of 145 lbs with the Filipino’s World Boxing Organization welterweight also on the line when they lock horns at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao has been chilling out the last few weeks but is expected to return to work mode as the celebrated Sarangani congressman when he gets back to Manila this coming week.

“I have to attend to a lot of things and look forward to the SONA of President Noynoy Aquino (in July),” said the 32-year-old Pacquiao, widely acknowledged as boxing’s pound-for-pound king and a certified all-time great.

In the past, Pacquiao has graced a few SONA under the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, having been mentioned several times as a source of inspiration for his ring prowess.

After the SONA, Pacquiao’s schedule will start to pick up once again as Top Rank chief Bob Arum is setting the stage for a global promotional tour of the Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy starting in late-August in Manila.

From Manila, the tour will go to several Asian cities, London, New York, Los Angeles and finally to Marquez’s lair in Mexico City.

Source: mb.com.ph