No meddling in local affairs—AmCham

This is in reaction to the news item titled “AmCham supports DOT chief.” (Inquirer, 8/12/11)  The headline is misleading. There is nothing in the article’s content or in the statement of Austen Chamberlain, president of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, that could have led to such a conclusion.

Chamberlain, as quoted in the article, said that, “AmCham is particularly pleased with the adoption of the ‘open skies’ and other policy reforms recommended in ‘Arangkada 2011 Philippines, a Business Perspective’ in the interest of developing tourism in the Philippines.” The statement is clear about the chamber’s stand on the issue of open skies.

We cannot understand how Chamberlain’s statement of support for open skies could be understood as a statement of support for the “DOT chief.” As a policy, the chamber does not interfere in local affairs, for which reason Chamberlain did not make any comment about the DOT chief, the complete opposite of which is the impression the headline gave.

On other issues related to Philippine development, the chamber stands by the policy reforms specified in “Arangkada Philippines 2011, A Business Perspective.”

—JEFFREY WOODRUF,

executive director,

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines,

2/F Corinthian Plaza,

Paseo de Roxas, Makati City