VZCZCXRO3976
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #1043 1340623
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 140623Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4120
INFO RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS MANILA 001043 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BANGKOK FOR HOWELL HOWARD AND WINSTON BOWMAN 
STATE PASS USTR JANE DOHERTY 
STATE PASS USDA/FAS/OSTA CLAY HAMILTON AND CASEY BEAN 
STATE PASS USAID 
STATE PASS HHS/NIH 
STATE PASS HHS/CDC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, RP 
SUBJECT: MGSF01 Economic Impacts and Philippine Response to H1N1 
 
REF: A) MANILA 0913 B) MANILA 0941 C) MANILA 0959 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Philippine government has earmarked funds for 
H1N1 prevention and treatment, but the virus has had only minor 
impact on the Philippine economy.  Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao 
ignored official warnings to delay his return from Las Vegas to 
avoid spreading H1N1, diverting media attention from exaggerated 
concerns about U.S. troops entering the Philippines for training 
exercises.  The rapid reversal of the Philippine ban on U.S. pork 
prevented any significant revenue loss to U.S. producers.  End 
summary. 
 
Bringing Home the Bacon 
----------------------- 
 
¶2.  The Philippine government ended its freeze on issuing import 
permits for U.S. pork on May 4 (Ref. B), thanks to a coordinated 
Mission effort and public pronouncements by international animal 
health authorities.  Mission members lobbied Philippine officials to 
resume issuing import permits, and the Ambassador met with 
Philippine Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap on May 4.  The 
Department of Agriculture lifted its ban later that day (Ref C). 
The nine-day pork import permit suspension had minimal impact on 
U.S. pork producers, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. 
U.S. pork exporters simply delayed shipments to the Philippines 
during the hiatus. 
 
Philippine Government's Financial Preparations 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶3.  The Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council set aside 
93.5 million pesos (nearly $2 million) for planned H1N1 expenditures 
by the Department of Health.  This includes 10 million pesos (around 
$212,000) for additional personal protective equipment; 15 million 
pesos (nearly $320,000) to reinforce stockpiles of oseltamivir;  and 
the balance for other preparedness activities including support for 
hospitals that have the capacity to treat H1N1 patients. 
 
Business as Usual 
----------------- 
 
¶4.  There have not been any confirmed H1N1 cases in the Philippines. 
 The Philippine stock market took a quick dip of 2% following the 
outbreak, but has since increased by about 7%, as of May 12.  The 
travel industry has not been hit and the retail industry has not 
been affected.  Philippine government officials do not foresee any 
H1N1-induced economic slowdown. 
 
Pacquiao's Triumphant Return 
---------------------------- 
 
¶5. On May 3, Philippine boxing champion Manny Pacquiao fought in Las 
Vegas, winning his fifth title.  Philippine Health Secretary 
Francisco Duque urged Pacquiao to delay his return to the 
Philippines to allay concerns that Pacquiao and his entourage could 
spread the virus around the country.  Pacquiao defied Duque and came 
back to a hero's welcome on May 8, which included a meeting with 
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo.  The boxing star said he had 
used hand sanitizer, and no one in his group has shown any flu 
symptoms.  A travel ban has not been imposed, and all flights from 
the U.S. maintained their regular schedules. 
 
¶6.  Post was prepared to field questions from reporters and health 
authorities about any risk posed by U.S. Navy personnel coming to 
the Philippines for the Combined Afloat Readiness and Training 
(CARAT) exercises May 21-28.  However, Pacquiao's return helped 
demonstrate that just because a person has come from the U.S. does 
not mean that the individual is infected. 
 
MEMMOTT