1.   Association Vice President Roberto Claudio said that while Filipino retailers support the plans to liberalize the industry, they strongly opposed giving foreigners full ownership of retail businesses.

2.   Coal miners called for an eight-day strike in northern Spain Friday to pressure the government into cancelling its proposal to liberalize the industry.

3.   However, Thai authorities have taken steps toward liberalizing the industry, effectively allowing free competition for new entrants into the cellular duopoly.

4.   Immediately deregulating the oil industry will send a positive signal to foreign investors that the country is seriously pursuing its efforts to liberalize key industries, traders said.

5.   Since the industry was liberalized, about nine new telephone service providers have begun operations.

6.   The government is also attempting to liberalize several industries and has been reluctant to prop up prices artificially as a matter of general policy.

7.   Foreign firms have shown renewed interest in the moribund Philippine mining industry in recent months since the government liberalized the industry this year.