MARIWASA, The Tile Company, introduces MICROBAN

Raul T. Concepcion
Chairman Emeritus
Meneleo J. Carlos, Jr.
Chairman of the Board
Ramon C. Agustines
Director
Jose C. Alvarez
Director
Jesus L. Arranza
President
Luna Go
Director
Edison T. Co Seteng
Exec. Vice-President
Renato R. Ermita
VP-Manufacturing
Ernesto M. Ordoñez
Director
Arsenio N. Tanco
Director
The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) successfully held its 15th
Annual General Assembly and Election of new Board of Directors last
Friday, 7 April 2006 at the Executive Dining Room of the United Coconut
Planters Bank (UCPB) in Makati City, with DENR Secretary Angelo T.
Reyes, as guest speaker.
FPI President Jesus L. Arranza made a report on the significant
achievements in the areas of anti-smuggling, labor and productivity,
environment, energy, monitoring of substandard products, international
trade, among others. Mr. Arranza likewise announced that the FPI
Secretariat will move to its new office at Suite 701, Atlanta Center,
Annapolis, right at the heart of the Greenhills Business Center.
V. Francisco Varua
VP-Agriculture
George S. Chua
Treasurer
Jose T. Baldonado
Corporate Secretary
Henry A. Tañedo
Director
Edwin L. Umali
Director
Abeto A. Uy
Director
During the occasion, Mr. Arranza launched the “FPI Award” and honored Dr.
Justino R. Arboleda as the first recipient in recognition for his outstanding
contribution in the area of environmental development for his invention of
the Geotextile. Geotextile is an exceptional product made from coconut coir,
which gained renowned international recognition.
It also marked the launching of two (2) complimentary activities – RUGS
(Remove Undesirable Government Servants) and ROGS (Reward Outstanding
Government Servants). This is being launched in support of the government’s
campaign against graft and corruption.
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MARIWASA, The Tile Company, introduces MICROBAN - anti-bacterial protection
MARIWASA is the leader in the ceramic tile industry, with over
38 years of experience in ceramic tile manufacturing and marketing.
Banking on its technological edge, MARIWASA has undoubtedly
established itself as a major market player and as an industry leader.
The Company accounts for close to half of total industry capacity.
MARIWASA keeps the lead in process and product innovations. In
1973, it was among the first companies in Asia to produce vitrified
floor tiles. In 1989, it was the first Philippine Company to utilize
slabless kilns. In 1991, it introduced in the country double fast
firing to produce big-sized wall tiles. In the same year, it became
one of the few companies in Southeast Asia to produce thirdfired ceramic products. In 1997, MARIWASA started polishing
homogeneous tiles in a new polishing facility in Pasig. In 1998, its
production capacity almost doubled with the full commercial
operation of its newest production facility in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
The facility in Batangas is now the core of MARIWASA’s
manufacturing operations with the transfer of the production
facilities in Pasig, which commenced in 2000. The consolidation of
these facilities in one location was instituted to achieve greater
economies of scale.
Through these efforts, the company earned the unchallenged
reputation not only as the industry leader but also the industry’s
quality standard-setter. Its ceramic tiles comply not only with
Philippine product standards but also conforms to international
standards such as the European Norm. All MARIWASA production
facilities are ISO certified. The main plant, as well as the Batangas
subsidiary, received their ISO 9002 certification in 1998.
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Congratulations to MARIWASA, the Tile Company:
Midlands is one of the most beautiful golf
courses in Asia. Top executives of major
manufacturing corporations and industry
associations competed for top honors in
four divisions, under a System 36 format.
Aside from trophies and other fabulous
prizes, FPI included a KIA Sorento 2006
as its major prize for the Hole-in-One
winner.
The overall champion of the FPI
4th Golf Classic, Mr. Roberto V.
Garcia, with members of the FPI
Golf Committee.
T
he Federation of Philippine
Industries (FPI), the foremost
association of local manufacturers
and agricultural producers, stages
recently its 4th Golf Classic in the
Tagaytay Midlands Golf course in
Tagaytay City. With its rolling terrain
and breathtaking views, Tagaytay
The winners in this year’s tournament are
as follows: Class D: 2nd runner-up, Ray
Craubourne; 1st runner-up, Marian
Herrera; and Champion, Ike Yusingco.
Class C: 2nd runner-up, Jayne Yu; 1st
runner-up, Takumi Yahata; Champion,
Claro Arriola. Class B, 2nd runner-up, Jun
Hizon; 1st runner-up, Arthur Dy; and,
Champion, Pepot Geraldez. Class A: 2nd
runner-up, Elbert Medina; 1st runner-up,
Ronald Dizon; and, Champion, Jonelle
Roxas. Low Gross, Eric Buhain; and, Low
Net, Roberto V. Garcia. Gross Champion,
Eric Buhain; and, Overall Champion,
Roberto V. Garcia. None of the players
was able to drive home a brand new KIA
continue on page 7...
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FPI 15th Anniversary...
Fifteen Directors were elected by the members. Under its unique
organization, Eight (8) Directors will be elected from the Industry
Associations while the remaining Seven (7) Directors will come from its
corporate members, provided they are manufacturers or producers.
Only the Chairman, President or Chief Executive Officers are qualified
to run as FPI Directors, unless, if he had been previously a Director of
the Federation.
Voted to the FPI Board from the Industry Associations, in alphabetical
order were: Ramon C. Agustines, Philippine Association of Battery
Manufacturers; Jesus L. Arranza, Coconut Oil Refiners Association;
Atty. Jose T. Baldonado, Philippine Coconut Oil Producers Association;
Edison T. Co Seteng, Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association; Luna S.
Go, Textile Producers Association of the Philippines; Henry A. Tañedo,
Tin Can Manufacturers Association of the Philippines; and, Francisco V.
Varua, Philippine Sugar Millers Association.
Elected from among its Corporate Members, also in alphabetical order,
were: Jose Ch. Alvarez, Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation;
Meneleo J. Carlos, Jr., RI Chemicals Corporation; George S. Chua, Tyson
Agro-Ventures, Inc.; Renato R. Ermita, Asahi Glass Philippines, Inc.;
Edwin Ll. Umali, Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation; Abeto A. Uy, Philippine
Steel Holdings Corporation; and, Arsenio N. Tanco, Coats Manila Bay,
Inc.
It was also officially announced during the assembly, that Mr. Raul T.
Concepcion being the Chairman Emeritus of the Federation is
automatically an ex-officio member of the Board.
The Board unanimously re-elected Mr. Jesus L. Arranza and Mr. Meneleo
J. Carlos, Jr., as President and Chairman, respectively.
BUSINESS OPTIONB
USINESS OPTION
by FPI Director George S. Chua
My Mobile Office
When
I started working, which was a long time ago (yes…25 years to me
certainly feels like a really long time), you had toliterally go to the office to get
things done. At that time, the only wireless communication facility we had could
only reach as much as your scream would carry. We had no laptops then and PCs
would occupy much of your desk space, requiring the arms of a gorilla to move
around. Data was stored in floppy disks whose drives were bigger than today’s
notebook computers and would have enough storage space for one whole
photograph…if it was a real low quality image.
Well, even at that time you could have reports duplicated and distributed to
people anywhere in the world. However, copiers then were as big as chest
freezers and the reports would either have to be physically delivered or faxed.
Unfortunately, faxed images and documents were lousy and the transmission
rates so slow that your long distance phone bill would probably put you out of
business. As for the internet at that time, I never even imagined about it.
Today, you just need a few basic tools to be able to work out of your house, car
or anywhere. With the right cell phone, laptop, and scanner, you can now take
your office along with you, wherever. The most basic cell phone will allow you to
be in touch with the whole world 24 x 7. Of course, things get more exciting when
your cell phone has a digital camera, MMS, wifi and can connect to the internet
like a laptop. Cell phones now have so many features like external speakers,
conference calling, voice mail, call waiting, etc., that it is now much like your
office land line and more.
Laptops or notebooks are really great for mobility, they can connect to the
internet wirelessly, they have the speed and storage capacity for all your needs,
and with USB ports, they can connect to a multitude of other gadgets. While
there are cell phones that can function like laptops, I still think that laptops are
still much more convenient to use when doing a lot of work. The keyboard and
screen is much bigger, processing speed is much faster and storage capacity is
not an issue.
To make your office truly paperless, you would need a decent scanner. Scanners
today are even cheaper than fax machines, you can have really good quality
scans of images and documents. Some scanners even come with software that
can read and allow you to edit scanned documents! You won’t even need a fax
machine if you have a scanner. You can send your scanned images and documents
as attachments to your email messages or send them directly to traditional fax
machines.
So imagine you are sick at home but you have to come up with a report to be sent
to your boss who is in another country. No problem. You can call up people in the
office, field or anywhere through their cell phone, get data sent to you via text
or email, photos sent to you via MMS and do further research on the internet. No
soft copy of the memos and letters that will form part of your report? Not to
worry, you can scan and edit these documents using your scanner and load them
into your laptop. You make your report using your laptop, attach the various
supporting documents and photos and email it all off to your boss on time. Just
to be sure he got it, you call him up or text his cell phone to tell him to check his
email for the report. He would not even know that you had done all of this from
your house, but of course you tell him that in spite of your condition, you managed
to deliver. That should earn you some points, don’t you think?
How much would this mobile office cost? Not much, for basic equipment that will
get the job done you would need three gadgets, a cell phone with a camera, a
laptop that can connect to the internet and a scanner. For P60,000 to P80,000
you should be able to have your mobile office up and running. Now, if only we
can find another gadget to get us that cup of coffee…oh, I just remembered, we
have that already and they come as attachments to your body, your arms and
legs.
(Comments may be sent to [email protected])
MBC invited FPI in
anti-smuggling forum
The Makati Business Club invited the
Federation of Philippine Industries as well as
other stakeholders in a discussion with BOC
Commissioner which was held recently at
Balmori, Manila Peninsula. MBC Executive
Director Guillermo Luz openly acknowleged
that FPI under the leadership of Mr. Jesus
L. Arranza is in the forefront of the antismuggling campaign. Mr. Edison Co Seteng,
FPI Executive Vice President and Vice Chair
of the Anti-smuggling, Mr. Ernesto Ordonez,
Atty Rufino Margate, Jr., and Mr. Rene Visaya
also attended the meeting.
During the same meeting MBC has
requested the support of the industry
relative to Republic Act No. 9280 particularly
the implications, among others, of the
provision of Section 27 which states, that:
“Sec. 27. Acts constituting the Practice
of Customs Brokers Profession. – Any single
act or transaction embraced within the
provision of Section 6 hereof shall constitute
an act of engaging the practice of customs
broker profession. Import and export
entry declaration shall be signed only
by customs broker under oath based on
the covering documents submitted by the
importers.
Mr. Arranza committed to support and
took advantage of the occasion to invite
MBC as well as those in attendance to join
the regular monthly meeting with BOC
Commissioner, which is held every second
Thursday of the month. It was agreed in
principle to jointly address the issue in RA
9820 and to close rank to fight smuggling
in all fronts.
Provisions under the Anti-Smuggling
Bill
Mr. Jesus L. Arranza, Atty Carmen LaysaHerce and Atty Mabel Mamba of Philip Morris,
Mr. Jong Sereno, Mr. Rene Visaya and Atty
Rufino Margate Jr., met at the DR Room UCPB
Main Office, Makati, relative to the
amendments of the anti-smuggling bills
particularly the provision on the required 30
day liquidation of imported raw materials,
otherwise, it will be considered abandoned.
Philippine Textile Group’s
Trade Mission to China
The Federation of Philippine Industries’ (FPI) Member
Associations – Textile Millers Association of the
Philippines (TMAP), Textile Producers Association of
the Philippines (TEXPAP) and Garment Manufacturers
Association of the Philippines (GMAP), under the
umbrella of the Federation of Philippine Textile Industry
(FOPTI), along with the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) headed by Undersecretary Tomas
Aquino, recently embarked on a very successful trade
mission to Guangdong, China.
More than sixty owners and executives from Philippine
textile manufacturers went to Guangdong, China, in
response to the recent visit made by the Guandong
Chinese Trade Mission in Manila where the Federation
of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(FFCCCI) warmly welcomed them. This was the biggest
single industry trade mission from the Philippines to
visit China in order to invite the Guangdong Chinese
Textile Industries, particularly the garment makers, to
invest in the Philippines. The Group eventually joined
the DTI representatives headed by Undersecretary
Tomas Aquino. Mr. Joseph Lim, Chairman of ChinaPhilippine Chamber of Commerce, hosted a dinner party
with Consul-General Erlinda Gavino, welcomed DTI
Usec. Tomas Aquino and the members of the entourage.
The mission was originally proposed and initiated by
Mr. Lorenzo Ku of FOPTI whose membership consisted
of Mr. Luna Go’s TEXPAP; Mr. Joseph Yae’s GMAP, the
members of the dyeing and finishing companies headed
by Mr. Peter Coliangco, and Mr. Arsenio Tanco,
Chairman of FOPTI, represented TMAP. Others, who
have contributed to the success of this mission
includes Mr. Tan Ching, Vice-President and Director of
FFCCCI.
The mission elected Mr. Francis Chua as Honorary
Chairman for the private sector in view of his
contribution as president of FFCCCI, who was unable
to join the delegation at the last moment.
DTI Secretary Peter Favila appointed Usec. Tomas
Aquino together with Executive Director Serafin Juliano
and the team from DTI as special envoy to lead the
group.
More than 200 delegates from Guangdong Textile
Associations attended the joint conference. Usec.
Aquino, in his speech, invited the members of the
Guandong Textile Association to invest in the Philippines
and presented to the delegations the many
opportunities open to prospective investors. He also
encouraged them to come and visit the Philippines as
tourists and experience the beautiful beaches and
scenic spots that we have. GTEB Executive Director
Juliano spoke on the advantages of investing in the
Philippines including the available facilities awaiting
the Guangdong investors. Finally, an open forum took
place, culminating in business proposals and
transactions were made.
Philip Morris has requested to provide a
provision exempting their particular industry
from the 30-day liquidation on the ground
of seasonality. Tobacco is planted and
harvested only once a year, which explains
why they import in bulk. The 30-day
liquidation would therefore affect their
operations, thus, the requested exemption.
The next one and a half day for the delegation were
utilized in visiting two textile mills and a textile mall
where textile products and accessories were
displayed and sold. The mills are literally huge, one of
which employs 5,000 workers with 340 knitting
machines, and dye house with fabric and package
dying capacity of up to 4,500 kilos per machine. There
is a saying that one can raise big fish only in big lakes
or rivers. These mills do not only supply the Chinese
market but the world market.
Mr. Arranza assured the group to submit
the matter to the Anti-Smuggling
Committee and the Board.
On the third day, a meeting was held between the
Philippine Trade Mission and the Guangdong Textile
officers with their respective government
representatives where views were exchanged in
order to achieve the very purpose of the visit and
in promoting trade relations between the two
countries, especially the invitation for the
Guangdong Garment Makers to invest in the
Philippines. The Chinese counterpart expressed
preference for a stronger commitment on the
facilities and privileges offered by the Philippine
government to the Chinese investors. The
representatives of the Philippine Consulate
suggested to them to formalize their requests in
writing so that she can present them to their
Consulate office and in turn forward them to DTI
for comment or study.
The Trade Mission boasts of the following
achievements:
•
•
•
•
It opens up and establishes an official and
formal communication between FOPTI and
the Guangdong Province Textile Association;
A partnership and cooperation memo was
signed/concluded
between Guangdong
Province Textile Association and FOPTI, in
order to promote investments and to establish
a long term cooperation based on the
principle of friendly cooperation and mutually
beneficial to all;
Formal negotiations have started between
the two groups regarding future investments
from the Guangdong Province Textile
Association, (not on an individual basis);
An offer was made by the government of
China to have a China Small and Medium
Scale Enterprise Fair and Sino-Philippines
Small and Medium Enterprise Fair. The
display will be free for the Philippine
participants. This is an opportunity for the
Philippine Manufacturers and Producers to
introduce, display and sell in China market
their Philippine-made products.
WTO-NAMA Negotiations
approaching critical stage
T
he FPI attended the first meeting of the Joint
Consultative Committee-TWG on Non-Agriculture Market
Access (JCC-NAMA TWG) last Friday, 7 April 2006 at the BOI.
Critical items on the NAMA Modalities were discussed such as
the Swiss Formula Coefficient, Mark-up for unbound tariffs
and Paragraph 8 flexibilities to cover items that may remain
unbound.
The approaching deadline of 30 April 2006 with NAMA
negotiations scheduled on 19-21 April 2006 leave very little
time to process and re-formulate negotiating positions. It
should be recalled that industry was willing to live with a
reduction of 20% in existing bound rates. This translates to a
required coefficient of 90. Officials from Geneva have
indicated that the coefficient could go as low as 25.
It was also noted that for unbound items, the mark-up
should be 99% for them to average 23.4% - the same average
for bound items in the previous Uruguay Round. Indications
during the TWG meeting point to a mark-up of only 25%.
These developments would seem to indicate that policy
space for Philippine industries will be severely constricted
should the 25/25 coefficient/mark-up formula framework be
adopted. This makes the allowance for exceptions under
Paragraph 8 of critical concern since local industries will need
ideally 20% allowance from the 5% being discussed for
industry development and sectoral nurturing to take place.
Inclusion in the sensitive list will likewise have to undergo a
thorough and coherent screening process for the country not
to lose its strategic and socially sensitive sectors.
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FPI Stages its 4th Golf Classic...
(L-R) FPI Director Jose Ch Alvarez with
special guests - DTI Secretary Peter Favila
and DILG Usec. General Melchor Rosales
Sorento 2006.The support and generosity
of the sponsors helped the tournament
even more successful than the previous
year’s. The FPI Golf Tournament Committee
is composed of FPI Vice President for
Manufacturing and Golf Committee Chair
Renato R. Ermita of Asahi Glass Philippines;
Director/Treasurer George S. Chua of
Tyson Agro-Ventures; Director/Ways and
Means Chair Henry Tañedo of the Tin Can
Manufacturers Association of the
Philippines; Directors Jose Ch Alvarez of
Philippine Phosphate Fertilzer Corporation;
Miguel V. Pingol of Philippine Battery
Manufacturers Association and Claro
Arriola of the Textile Mills Association of the
Philippines, together with the FPI
Secretariat headed by its Secretary
General, Atty Rufino M. Margate, Jr.
The FPI Board of Directors would like to
extend its warmest appreciation to all the
Sponsors and Donors of this year’s
tournament and to the Golf Committee for
their generous and selfless contribution of
time, effort and money who, in one way or
another made this annual event a great
success.
Principal Sponsors:
Global Steel Philippines (SPV-AMC),
Inc.
Philippine Steel Holdings Corporation
San Miguel Corporation
Major Hole Sponsors:
Asahi Glass Philippines, Inc.
Petron Corporation
Tin Can Manufacturers Association of the
Philippines
Scrap Collectors Recycling Association of
the Philippines
Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers
of Commerce and Industry
Oriental and Motolite Corporation
Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer
Corporation
Future Trade International, Inc. (Bombay
Gin)
NAFCO Research
BMW Philippines Corporation
Philippine Amusement and Gaming
Corporation (PAGCOR)
Puyat Steel Corporation
Puyat Flooring Products, Inc.
Minor Hole Sponsors:
R.I. Chemical Corporation
East-West Seed Company, Inc.
Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation
Flat Glass Alliance of the Philippines, Inc.
Philippine Sugar Millers Association
Chikka Asia, Inc.
To be a versatile golf player one must
have this winning form as skillfully
demonstrated by Secretary Favila
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation
Cathayland, Inc.
Social Security System
Hole-in-One Sponsors:
Columbian Autocar Corporation (KIA
Motors)
Arms Corporation of the Philippines
Master Sports Corporation
(MIZUNO)
Donors:
Aeropack Industries, Inc.
AG Canprint, Inc.
Alcantara, Ubay and Associates
Arce Dairy Corporation
Asahi Glass Philippines, Inc.
Asia Brewery Corporation
Boysen Philippines, Inc.
Central Azucarera de Don Pedro
Chemrez, Inc.
Chain Glass Enterprises, Inc.
Cheng Ban Yeek
Coats Manila Bay, Inc.
Manila Bay Spinning Mills
Coca-Cola Export Corporation
Coconut Oil Refiners Association
Creativepro Integrated Marketing, Inc.
D&L Industries, Inc.
East-West Seed Co., Inc.
Flat Glass Alliance of the Philippines
Future Trade International, Inc.
Macropharma Corporation
Metro Container Corporation
Nestle Philippines, Inc.
Noritake Porcelana Manufacturing, Inc.
Oriental and Motolite Corporation
Petron Corporation
Philippine Welding Products
Manufacturers Association
Philippine Association of Battery
Manufacturers
Philippine Association of Match and
Lighter Manufacturers
Philippine Steel Holdings Corporation
Philippine Steel Rolling Mills Association
Philippine Sugar Millers Association
PHIMCO Industries, Inc.
Procter & Gamble Philippines, Inc.
Quatro Grafix, Inc.
RFM Corporation
San Miguel Corporation
SCITECH Outdoor Ads
Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club, Inc.
Tire Manufacturers Assn. of the
Philippines
TJ’s Clear Art - The Glass Etching
Company
Unilever Corporation
Union Home Appliances
United Terminals Services (UTS)
Zesto Corporation
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MARIWASA, The Tile Company...
MARIWASA has produced its newest innovative products – the Antibacterial MARIWASA Tiles with Microban.
The MARIWASA brand remains the preferred choice of the market. MARIWASA maintains its leadership in all market segments, with a commanding
share of the wall tile market and a substantial edge in the market for floor tiles. At present, MARIWASA products still command a premium over its local
competitors.
MARIWASA products cater to the widest range of end-user preferences. MARIWASA presently produces glazed wall tiles in six sizes of various
designs, colors and finishes. MARIWASA regularly sponsors product presentations before the country’s leading architects and interior designers during which
newly developed products and designs are introduced. These roundtable sessions have served as the launching pads for the commercial production of these
items.
MARIWASA’s distribution network spans the whole archipelago. Ceramic tiles are distributed in the Philippines through exclusive and non-exclusive
distributors. Distributors pass these products on to dealers (who sell to end-users) or retail the products themselves. MARIWASA has over sixty active
distributors spread throughout the major cities in the country. To further strengthen its market leadership, MARIWASA has established showrooms in strategic
locations in the country.
MARIWASA – The Tile Company
Manila Office: C. Raymundo Ave., Bo. Rosario, Pasig City. Telephone
Nos.: (632) 628-3871 to 80 / (632) 628-1986 to 89 Fax Nos. (632) 6281983 to 85.
Plant Address: Brgy. San Antonio, Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
Telephone Nos.: (6343) 778-2929 to 36. Fax No.: (6343) 778-2934
Website: http://www.mariwasa.com
The FPI Secretariat: Standing, L-R: Mau R. Arce; Allan A. Salvador;
Judanito F. Yap; Juan Angelo Rocamora; Stevenson C. Tavera.
Seated, L-R: Jocelyn C. delos Santos; Atty. Rufino M. Margate, Jr.,
FPI Secretary General; Ellen Cusilit; Rhea Decosta.