Spanish Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines

Media

Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: Spanish Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines
Language: English
Source: The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume XXIV (No. 1) January 1948
Year: 1948
Rights
Fulltext: Commenting on the limitations of our shipments to the United States of hemp and copra, Representative Crawford suggested that “perhaps the United States has been too negligent in making war-damage payments to the Islands.” He emphasized that the Filipinos are not begging, and stated that the United States has "a specific obligation” to the Philippines entirely dissociated from the over-all Far Eastern problem, adding that "we had a moral obligation to the Philippines far before we had any thing to do with China and Japan.” George C. Dankwerth, former old-timer here, and now an investment-broker in San Francisco, who recently returned from a three-months business trip to the Philip pines, spoke of his disappointment with the delay in the rehabilitation of Manila and the Philippines. "It seems to me”, he said, "that we are treating our former enemies, the Japanese, better than we are treating the Filipinos.” Criticising the $500 limitation on individual war-damage payments, he said, "that little amount won’t bring adequate employment and won’t even start to rebuild industry.” It is comforting to know that we, the Filipinos, have good friends in the United States such as Representative Crawford and Mr. Dankwerth, and this Department re cords their heart-warming views on the Philippines and its problems with extreme satisfaction. On November 22, 1946, President Puyat was received by Chairman Commissioner Waring and Commissioner Delgado of the War Damage Commission at its Office, then located in the Aguinaldo Building, in the presence of other key-men of the Commission. One of the points made by Mr. Puyat was that the basis for payment of damages should be in proportion to the amount submitted as damages incurred. If the purpose is to rehabilitate the economic life of the country, claims filed for damages should be clas sified, and the money available for payment should be dis tributed proportionately among the different groups. Chairman Waring expressed himself as fully in favor of the proposal, but he, as well as Commissioner Delgado and members of his staff, were one in the opinion that the law does not permit the adoption of this suggestion of Mr. Puyat. However he said that if Congress decided later on to increase the amount of money for payment of war damages,thatwould open an avenue. Commissioner Delgado stated that the members of the Commission had already discussed this plan among themselves, but had been unable to find a way. He said that it might be possible to amend the law after the Commission had ascertained the facts and placed them before Congress. After more than a year of operation, the members of the Commission know the facts, and it is hoped that they will press for an increased appropriation to assure that war-damage payments will actually help in the re construction and economic rehabilitation of the war-torn Philippines. Pedro J. Ocampo, Secretary. Philippine Chinese General Chamber of Commerce IN retrospect, the Chinese businessman may look back on the year 1947 glad not only because he has sur vived it, but also because he has shared with his fellow businessman, be he Filipino, American, Indian, or any other, the benefits as well as the reverses brought about by the prosperity and the depressions which charac terized the past twelve months. For although business was not actually at its best at one time or at its worst at another, the ups and the downs were noticeable enough to be graphically presented. Yet no serious consequences followed the "poor” business during some months of 1947. Judged from the analysis made of the businesses in which most members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce have been engaged, the trends may be reviewed in accordance with the different items of business they handled, to wit: Textiles: From January to March, the business was generally fair. A big slump occurred in April and May, particularly during the latter, and most importers lost money. In June and July, the textile business picked up a bit; in August, September and October, the market greatly improved. As generally in the past, the months of No vember and December were quite all right. All in all, the volume of the 1947 textile trade was six to seven times that of any pre-war year. Hardware: Contrary to general belief, the hardware business was not the best business, although a few items, especially galvanized iron, gave considerable profit. The first half of the year was very good, but the market weak ened due to shortage of supply. The United States was the only source of galvanized-iron sheets, although stocks came later from Belgium. Groceries and Canned Goods: Business was at its worst from January to April, due to oversupply of imports and the Army surplus. During the following two months, these commodities began to pick up until at the end of the year they were in brisk trading. Philippine consumption was about thrice that of any pre-war year. Tobacco and Cigarettes: The first half of the year business was good, but the second half was not profitable to dealers and operators. Expenses were just recovered as manufacturers broke even. Locally manufactured cigarettes found no market, while the business in imported cigarettes ran to about twenty times the pre-war volume. Importers of American cigarettes had fairly good business throughout the year. Lumber: During the early part of the year, business was good, due to active reconstruction. When the Gov ernment assumed control of prices during July, August, and September, there was a slump, and the retailers (not the concessionaires) had only a very small margin of profit. Although trade was active, the lumber dealers made no profit in December. Glassware and Chinaware: Good during the early part of year, but from May to October, the business was very slow. Recovery was made in November and De cember as the volume of buying increased with the approach of the holidays. The volume of trade was five times that of any pre-war year. Bakeries: Good from January to middle of the year. The increase in prices of flour from Canada and the United States beginning in June, and the government specifica tions on the weight of bread made bakeries struggle to merely remain in business. Brisk trading before the holiday season relieved the bakeries a bit. ’ Restaurants: Business during the first half of the year was fair, but during the last six months it was so bad some of them went out of business. Chucherias: From January to the middle of the year, business was rather stable and then gradually increased until it reached its peak in November and December. Yang Sepeng, Executive Secretary. Spanish Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines AMONG our activities during November and De cember, there was, in the first place, the definitive reorganization of our Camara under the laws of the Philippines. A legislative mandate after the war required this, and on November 28 our Corporation was newly registered under the name of “Camara Oficial Espanola de Comercio de Filipinas.” Our Chamber was maintained during the war under great difficulties, but also with great integrity on the part of those who were acting during those painful times. 22 January, 1948 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 23 At the time of the liberation our Camara was presided over by Don Antonio Porta, of Porta Pueo 8s Company, who died recently in Spain. This sorrowful event was registered at the last meeting with the affection which Mr. Porta deserved; to him we pay the tribute of these lines. We think it is desirable also to acknowledge here our gratitude of the protection and support we have re ceived from the Spanish Representatives in the Philip pines during these years after the war when we have been struggling back to normalcy. We can not but express our appreciation of the patronage of such detached personal ities. The experience has been a tonic to our spirit. We wish to extend our full cooperation toward the renewed devel opment of the commercial relations between the Philip pines and the old metropolis. To conclude these lines, we may say with complacency that we reached the end of the year 1947 with a number of new members who have recognized the advantages of the contacts this membership affords them in rebuilding Hispano-Philippine trade relations. J. M. Rosales, Secretario. Philippine Safety Council Frank S. Tenny Director, Philippine Safety Council THE Philippine Safety Council will become a non-stock, public service corporation during this month. Elected Board President was Benito F. Legarda; Vice Pres ident and Treasurer, Louis P. Croft; Executive Director and Secretary, Frank S. Tenny. Board members are Soli citor-General Manuel Lim and Manila Railroad Manager Sergio Bayan. Other directors may be V. A. Brussolo and Primo Villar. The Board authorized Major Tenny to continue the company safety programs which are in progress in several local organizations for six months into 1948. These com panies as of this month are Manila Electric Company, Elizalde and Company, San Miguel Brewery, and Ang Tibay. Including subsidiaries, this makes a total of 16 safety programs in operation. Having concluded its instruction of the Rizal City Police Department, the PSC moves on to teach the men of the new Customs Patrol Service, under Col. Terry Adevoso. Police-safety-traffic matters will comprise the course. The Safety Council this month begins a new emphasis on fire-prevention activity. This is being incorporated into the safety programs, the publicity, and all plans. Cooperating are the Manila Fire Department, the PHILRYCOM Fire Marshal, Liberty Motors, Erlanger-Galinger, and Universal Trading Corporation. Complete joint civilian-military safety plans for 1948 were formulated at a meeting last month under PSC aus pices. Safety Directors of PHILRYCOM, COMNAVFIL, HPA, and 13th AF took part. The new driver and vehicle tests now going on at the Motor Vehicle Office under Chief Primo Villar are PSC inspired. A better driver and a safer vehicle should result. This program will be gradually enlarged this year, both in scope and geographically. In some cases new legislation is needed. h e Sign of friendly Service "X THE ASSURANCE OF GOODWILL ON THE ROAD Drive Safely with Mobilgas & Mobiloil STANDARD-VACUUM OIL COMPANY PHILIPPINES y