Angeles City News August 2012

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Committee: Angeles City projects ‘irregular’

By Reynaldo G. Navales


ANGELES CITY -- The City Project Monitoring Committee (CPMC) has discovered that some infrastructure projects undertaken by the City Government under Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan are “overpriced, poorly planned, and poorly constructed”.

In its report dated July 31, 2012, the CPMC said there is perceived overpricing in some monitored projects, including the construction of the Legislative Building, which is not yet completed.

The CPMC revealed that P12.80 million has already been spent by the local government for Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the Legislative Building.

The CPMC noted that the repair done on the existing Angeles-Magalang road “did not seem to be proportionate to the amount diverted from the fund intended for the widening.”

The City Government also spent P600,000 for repair of eight units of public comfort rooms at Pampang Public Market but the committee discovered that the “CRs do not look like they have undergone repair.”

“Several market vendors [revealed] that the CRs were only repainted,” the group said.

The group suggested that the fund used for improvement of the public market should have been utilized to repair leaking roofs, clogged drainage of the wet section and electrical wiring.

Poor planning was noted on several projects, including the construction of roads along Barangays Amsic and Anunas where there is no existing drainage. “Absence of drainage could lead to early deterioration of roads,” the CPMC said.

The Angeles-Magalang road was supposed to be widened by 600 meters on both sides but 350 meters of additional space were added and the funds derived were diverted to the asphalting of the same road.

The group also dubbed the City’s Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Office as “not PWD-friendly as no ramps were provided and doors are too narrow for wheelchair-bound physically challenged persons.”

“Floor tiles are too smooth that may cause people to slip, and CR floor was found to be sloping towards the door which causes water to flow out and no grab bars were installed,” the group added.

The CPMC also discovered that the newly renovated Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center’s (RLMMC) ceiling already has defects.

The CPMC pointed out that several projects are not properly documented with varying details about stages of implementation while some papers are not readily available upon request.

As an example, the CPMC cited that the improvement of the RLMMC started on December 7, 2011 and completed January 16, 2012. But when the group visited the hospital on November 10, 2011, it was discovered that construction was already finished.

The group also claimed that stakeholders like vendors, stall owners, residents and PWDs were not properly consulted during the planning and programming stage.

The CPMC recommended that implementing offices should be diligent with the documentary requirements of the projects and impose administrative sanctions for people found to have commitment negligence on their duties.

The group also reported the delay in implementation of five infrastructure projects for 2010, including the construction of offices at San Nicolas Public Market, improvement of Museo Ning Angeles, construction of covered court at Pulung Maragul, concreting of Cavite St. in Barangay Balibago and concreting of 3rd St. in Barangay Ninoy Aquino.

For 2011, two projects were unimplemented while for 2012, only one project was completed out of the 28 programs identified.

The CPMC is headed by Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President Joseph C. Dimapilis as chairman, and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Myrvi Apostol-Fabia as co-chairman.

Its members are Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David; Fe C. Manapat of the Angeles City Women and Children Concerns Network; Dory Siy Hian, president of the Ing Makababaying Aksyon (IMA) Foundation; Lucila Paran, president of the League of Angeles City Entertainers and Floor Managers Inc. (Lacem); and Fely M. Flores, president of the Soroptimist International-Angeles City Chapter.

Clark golf course project threatens water supply

By Ding Cervantes


ANGELES CITY, Philippines – An environmentalist group warned yesterday that the development of a $400-million golf course that involved mowing down a hill at the Clark Freeport would eventually dry up the water supply of residents here and in neighboring Mabalacat.

“The water supply at the Metro Clark area is threatened by the 36-hole golf course of Donggwang Clark Corp. because the site is a watershed area,” said Sonny Dobles, president of the Alliance for the Development of Central Luzon.

He recalled that five years ago, the Pampanga Association of Water Districts submitted a resolution to the Clark Development Corp., the state firm that runs the Clark Freeport, calling for a moratorium on the construction of more “water-hungry” golf courses at the Freeport.

“What is more disturbing about the Donggwang project is that water security for the area is now in clear and present danger,” he said.

This, amid reports that the Balibago Water District, which supplies potable water to thousands of households in Angeles City and Mabalacat, is already experiencing water shortage from local aquifers.

Even the town of Magalang is threatened, Dobles said.

“The area where the golf course is being developed is a watershed. Worse, it’s a head watershed that flows into two major rivers in the affected areas,” he added.

P40M Leoncia bridge finally inaugurated

By Aurora Catu


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, August 29 -- After delays due to recent heavy rain and flooding, the Leoncia Bridge was formally inaugurated, here, on August 28.

The four-lane bridge is part of the Clark Circumferential road in Barangay Sto. Domingo.

First District Representative Carmelo Lazatin who led inauguration ceremonies said the project costs P40 million.

Also present on the inauguration were Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District Engineer Jesus Obordo, City Councilors Bryan Mathew Nepomuceno and Alfie Bonifacio and officials of the barangay.

The bridge, constructed by Haidee Construction and Development Corporation, was started on December 29, 2011 and the contract completion was June 2012.

“The bridge is very important because it is an alternate route to Clark where an international airport is located,” Lazatin said.

Lazatin said the construction of the Leoncia Bridge is vital to boost the economy in our district.

The congressman also revealed the implementation of a total of P342million infrastructure projects in February and March of 2013.

Part of the said amount was allocated for the widening of Clark-Angeles-Magalang road while P50million will fund the drainage construction in the old Manila North Road in Angeles and Mabalacat area.

To decongest traffic in Macarthur Hi-way, the widening and drainage construction along the old Manila North, Bulacan to Mabalacat, is also part of the project. (CLJD/ATC-PIA 3)

US vets petition for takeover of Clark cemetery by US Government

By Ding Cervantes


CLARK FREEPORT- Hundreds of American veterans of foreign wars (VFW) gathered recently in their 113th national convention in Reno, Nevada to sign a resolution urging the US Senate to take over the “operational control” of the US cemetery in this former US air force base. Lt. Guy Hilbero, executive officer of the 26th US Cavalry and Philippine Scouts Memorial Regiment, a group revived for historical purposes here, said the VFW national security and foreign affairs and prisoners of war- missing in action committee unanimously passed Resolution No. 481, titled “Clark Veterans Cemetery a US Government Responsibility.” “The resolution is in support of pending Senate Bill 2320 backing the proposal for the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to finance the upkeep and manage the Clark cemetery in the way the commission supports the American cemetery in Manila, “ Hilbero said. Hilbero, citing an update from the VFW in the US, said the bill has gained the support of 15 senators, including Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar who has been known to be supportive of Philippine concerns over the past years. He said that lobbyists in the US Congress include 11-year-old Nathan Beeler of Indiana who, with his mother, went recently to Washington DC to present a petition of 1,000 signatures he gathered from his school, local malls and various parades and other events to support the senate bill upon the invitation of Lugar. Also lobbying for the passage of the bill is Jean Flannery, wife of a deceased US military man whose infant son Kevin was buried at Clark in 1969. She wrote the White House and other US officials, and created a Facebook account soliciting support for the US bill. In their resolution, the VFW recalled that “in 1949 the US air force assumed responsibility of Fort Stotsenberg in the Philippines and officials renamed it Clark air base. The air force also assumed sole responsibility for budgeting and administering the Clark veterans cemetery which was established in 1947 as the final resting place for 5,056 reinterred non-World War II veterans from the Fort McKinley cemetery in Manila, two smaller Stotsenberg cemeteries and the Navy’s Sangley point cemetery.” It noted that “the devastation caused by the combination of typhoon Yunya and Mt. PInabuto in 1991 caused the Air Force to abandon Clark air base.” “Following the complete departure of the US military from the Philippines in 1992, the Clark Veterans Cemetery fell into serious disrepair because no provisions were made for its perpetual care, unlike the American cemetery in Manila which falls under the auspices of the American Battle Monuments Commission,” the resolution lamented. It said that thereafter, the “VFW post 2485 (based in Angeles City) organized a general clean-up of the entire cemetery with volunteers from all local areas veterans organizations.”

Kapampangan balagtasan slated tomorrow

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Aug 23 (PIA) -- This year’s Crissotan or the Kapampangan balagtasan which enjoins secondary students in Angeles City to participate in the debate in verse is slated tomorrow, August 24, at Museo ning Angeles (Angeles Museum).

Angeles Tourism Office (ACTO) head Christine Nunag explained that this project "aims to support the sustained interest and appreciation of Kapampangan language."

Crissotan consists of eight rounds, each round with two stanzas, each stanza composed of eight rhymed lines, and each line with 12 or 16 syllables.

It started in 1962 and was named after poet Crisostomo Soto.

A variation of the crissotan is the three-way Tolentinuan, named after another Kapampangan poet, Aurelio Tolentino.

Amado Yuzon, who coined the term crissotan, was the Ari nung Crissotan (King of crissotan) from 1930 until his death in 1979. Jose Gallardo of Candaba town was the last major proponent of crissotan.

Cash prizes and certificates will be given to the winning students after the program.

Moreover, the works of poeto laureado Amado Gigante will be used for this cultural activity.

The event is spearheaded by ACTO - in partnership with Center for Kapampangan Studies (CKS) of Holy Angel University, Parnasong Kapampangan and the Kuliat Foundation.

Representatives of HAU’s CKS, ACTO, participating schools, and local poets and polosadors or someone who sings in honor of a birthday celebrator, a guest of honor, a guest speaker or a newly crowned beauty queen will be present in the said event.

For those who still want to join, interested schools may contact ACTO at (045) 625-2286 or HAU’s CKS at (045) 888-8691 loc. 1312. (CLJD/JGB-PIA 3)

DOLE-Region 3 establishes first Aviation Industrial Tripartite Council in the country

By (PNA)


MANILA, Aug. 22 (PNA) — The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 3 has partnered with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) in setting up the country’s first Aviation Industrial Tripartite Council (A-ITC) at the Clark Freeport Economic Zone. This was the gist of the report of DOLE Region 3 Director Raymundo G. Agravante to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, who said that no less than CIAC President Jose Victor Luciano attended the first organizational meeting of the ITC hosted by the CIAC itself. In his report, Director Agravante said 18 labor and management representatives of 12 Clark Freeport locators from the aviation industry attended the meeting, during which the following A-ITC officials were elected: Director Agravante, Chairman; Victor Edgar Carillo III, Asean Aeronautics, Vice Chairman (Management); Jonas Cortez, Lubwell Corporation, Vice Chairman (Labor); Gala Castro, Clark Airport Support Services Corporation, Treasurer; Tessibeth Cordova, CIAC, Auditor; and Glenn Zamora, Lubwell Corporation; Jeffrey Lacsina, Omini Aviation Corporation; and Grenil Castrence, Winning Touch International, Board of Directors. The DOLE regional office in San Fernando, Pampanga has been designated as ITC Secretariat. “I am pleased that the aviation industry in Central Luzon has come together under the umbrella of the Aviation Industry Tripartite Council. The ITC will surely boost efforts to foster industrial peace and labor-management cooperation, promote productivity and competitiveness, and encourage self-regulation,” said Baldoz. Strengthening or establishing industry tripartite councils (ITCs)—particularly in key employment generator (KEG) areas, such as the agribusiness sector—is a key DOLE reform measure essential for inclusive growth and job generation. DOLE Pampanga Field Office head Ma. Rima Hernandez, who spearheaded the Aviation-ITC’s initial meeting, said that aside from the CIAC, other companies supported the DOLE’s initiative to further strengthen industrial peace in the aviation industry in the region. These companies were UPS International, Inc.; Aerotech Industrial Philippines, Inc.; Air Asia Incorporated; Omni Aviation Group; Asian Aeronautics Services, Inc.; Philippine Aviation Security Services Corporation; Dornier Technology; Clark Airport Support Services Corporation; Lubwell Corporation, Winning Touch International Marketing, and Miascor Clark Catering. CIAC’s President Luciano personally commended the DOLE for its efforts in setting up the council which he sees as a venue to raise labor and management issues concerning the aviation industry. “I am very thankful that the DOLE took the initiative of forging the AITC. I believe that industrial peace is primordial in the aviation industry and we need to sustain it if we have to realize the bright future promised by the global interest in Clark. Thanks to the very competitive workforce in this industry, Clark International Airport is already a fast-growing airport,” Luciano said. The top CIAC official reported that in 1st semester alone, the CIAC already achieved 70 percent of its target passenger-volume for the year numbering more than 600,000. Luciano also stressed the importance of a harmonious relationship through social dialogue, thus, he expressed CIAC’s support to the council. “There’s nothing better than talking with each other through this council. We at the CIAC will support the A-ITC because industrial peace is very important to us. More than aircrafts and facilities, human resource is the key to efficiently running this industry,” he said. At the meeting, DOLE Assistant Regional Director Geraldine Panlilio urged for a strong partnership between the DOLE and the aviation industry, saying the Aviation ITC should be utilized as venue to address issues and concerns that industry stakeholders themselves are in the best position to resolve or address.

DOLE forms aviation industrial tripartite council in Clark

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


CLARK FREEPORT, August 21 (PIA) -- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently led the formation of an Aviation Industrial Tripartite Council (ITC) inside Clark Freeport.

"The council institutionalizes tripartism by providing for a continuing forum for tripartite advisement and consultation in aid of streamlining the role of government, empowering workers’ and employees’ organizations, enhancing their respective rights, attaining industrial peace and improving productivity, "DOLE Regional Director Raymundo Agravante said.

Agravate noted that “the aviation industry is considered a key component employment generator. We have measures such as the creation of this council to address issues and concerns through tripartism.”

Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President Jose Victor Luciano is grateful that DOLE took this initiative in forging the council as he believes that industrial peace is primordial in the aviation industry.

“There’s nothing better than talking with each other through this council. We at CIAC will support this council because industrial peace is very important to us. We hope we can have that environment through this ITC because more than aircrafts and facilities, human resource is very important in running this industry,” Luciano added. (CLJD/JGB-PIA 3)

Taipei, Manila expand economic cooperation

By Rachel Chan at ccchan@mofa.gov.tw


MOEA Minister Shih Yen-shiang (left) and his Philippines counterpart Gregory L. Domingo field questions from the media after signing five economic cooperation letters of intent Aug. 17 in Taipei City. (CNA)

Taiwan and the Philippines inked five letters of intent Aug. 17 in Taipei City to expand economic cooperation, according to the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs.

“Now is a critical time for ROC-Philippines trade and respective economic performance,” MOEA Minister Shih Yen-shiang said. “We must seize the opportunity to bolster exchanges across all sectors.”

Shih and his Philippines counterpart Gregory L. Domingo signed the letters during the 18th round of bilateral trade talks. They encompass certifying merchandise and electronic certificates of origin, as well as boosting development of information technology-enabled services, small and medium enterprises and the footwear manufacturing industry.

The two sides also discussed ways of establishing links between Taiwan export processing zones and the Southeast Asian nation’s Clark Special Economic Zone and Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

According to MOEA spokesman Huang Shih-chou, the potential coupling of free trade zones in Taiwan and the Philippines makes good business sense and can boost the former’s presence in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations market.

This initiative is in line with ROC government policy of including Taiwan in regional economic integration and signing trade pacts with economies worldwide, he added.

Taiwan and the Philippines launched a feasibility study on an economic cooperation agreement in July. To date, Indonesia, India, New Zealand and Singapore are assessing the merits of concluding ECAs with the ROC. (JSM)

Number of workers inside Clark soars to 70,000

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga, Aug 17 (PIA) -- The number of workers inside Clark Freeport has soared to 70,097 as of July 31 this year, an all-time employment high since its inception in 1993.

“The electronic sector has the biggest number of employees inside the Freeport at around 14,400 followed by information technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) at approximately 11,470,” Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Chairperson Eduardo Oban said.

The expansion program of Cyber City Teleservices Inc. (CCTI) was among the biggest contributor of employment in the first semester of the year.

CCTI has expanded its operations in the last quarter of 2011 following the continuing economic improvement in the United States.

Founded in 1999, the CCTI is a holding company focused on a portfolio of BPO and contact center investments around the globe. It currently has 2,000 workers.

Oban hopes that opening of more tourism-related projects by Asian investors and BPOs of American firms will spur even more drastic employment growth to Pampanga and Tarlac- provinces which belong to the so-called “Metro Clark area.” (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

Man caught molesting Grade 1 pupil

By Bernard Galang


ANGELES City -- A man was arrested after he was caught in the act touching the private parts of a seven-year-old Grade 1 pupil inside a surplus goods store here recently.

Chief Insp. Romeo Castro of Police Station 3 identified the suspect as Arnold Cuartelon, 22, a stay-in helper at Japan Surplus store in Bgy. Tabun.

Investigators said the victim’s father also works as a helper at the surplus store.

According to Senior Supt. Rodolfo Recomono Jr., city police director, the incident happened at the height of monsoon rains at around 3 a.m. while the three were sleeping inside the store.

The father said that he saw Cuarterlon hand touching the girl’s private parts and his other hand masturbating his sex organ.

“Nakita ko po si Mang Arnold hawak niya ang kanyang ari at pinasok po niya ang kanyang kamay sa loob ng aking short at hinawakan po niya ang aking p__. Nakita po ’yon ng aking tatay at sinuntok po niya sa Mang Arnold at tumakbo po siya.

The next day, the suspect was arrested by barangay tanod and policemen in his residence in Bgy. Amsic. He was charged with statutory rape before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Clark Int’l Airport subject of 2 more feasibility studies Inquirer Central Luzon

By Jess Malabanan


CLARK FREEPORT—A feasibility study for the budget terminal of the Clark International Airport (CIA) has begun while the terms of reference (TOR) for another study—worth P100 million and funded by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC)—is being drafted.

The Reid Foundation, led by Prof. Twinkle Rodolfo of the University of Asia and the Pacific, started the first study last month on a grant from the Asia Foundation, said Victor Jose Luciano, president and chief executive officer of the Clark International Airport Corp.

The study is due to be completed by the end of September, Luciano said on the sidelines of the ceremonial launch of Philippines AirAsia’s flights to Hong Kong and Macau recently.

He disputed reports that the budget terminal plan has been scrapped. The plan aims to construct a terminal for low-cost carriers that is projected to serve 10 million passengers annually.

The budget terminal should be completed by the end of 2015, Luciano said.

“The simpler the model for us, the better,” said Maan Hontiveros, chief executive officer of the AirAsia Inc., which runs the local hub of the Philippines’ AirAsia.

Luciano said the TOR for a feasibility study making the CIA an international gateway is being drafted and will be available for public tender. This will be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority and government’s Public-Private Partnership Center.

President Aquino, through Executive Order No. 64, placed the CIAC under the supervision of the DoTC in January this year. It used to be administered by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

“The DOTC wants a real honest-to-goodness major development, which should be the gateway,” said Luciano.

The terminals for budget carriers and large, legacy aircraft could be located next to each other, he said.

Of the P1-billion loan that the CIAC took from the Land Bank of the Philippines, P360 million will be used to expand the current terminal, retire a P330-million loan from the Veterans Bank and spend the rest to buy new navigational aids, he said.

As with previous administrations, the Aquino administration has announced its intention of making Clark the country’s premier international aviation gateway, supplanting the overcrowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

These plans are, however, hobbled by the lack of viable high-speed rail transport services between Manila and Clark.

The Hong Kong-based Metrojet Engineering has already set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at the Clark Civil Aviation Complex. Singapore Engineering Philippines set up an MRO two years ago and is building its second hangar for big aircraft.

The CIA services 300 aircraft movements weekly due to flights by AirAsia, Airphil Express, Dragonair, Cebu Pacific, Seair and Asiana Airlines.—Tonette Orejas

Clark Int’l Airport subject of 2 more feasibility studies

By Tonette Orejas


CLARK FREEPORT—A feasibility study for the budget terminal of the Clark International Airport (CIA) has begun while the terms of reference (TOR) for another study—worth P100 million and funded by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC)—is being drafted.

The Reid Foundation, led by Prof. Twinkle Rodolfo of the University of Asia and the Pacific, started the first study last month on a grant from the Asia Foundation, said Victor Jose Luciano, president and chief executive officer of the Clark International Airport Corp.

The study is due to be completed by the end of September, Luciano said on the sidelines of the ceremonial launch of Philippines AirAsia’s flights to Hong Kong and Macau recently.

He disputed reports that the budget terminal plan has been scrapped. The plan aims to construct a terminal for low-cost carriers that is projected to serve 10 million passengers annually.

The budget terminal should be completed by the end of 2015, Luciano said.

“The simpler the model for us, the better,” said Maan Hontiveros, chief executive officer of the AirAsia Inc., which runs the local hub of the Philippines’ AirAsia.

Luciano said the TOR for a feasibility study making the CIA an international gateway is being drafted and will be available for public tender. This will be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority and government’s Public-Private Partnership Center.

President Aquino, through Executive Order No. 64, placed the CIAC under the supervision of the DoTC in January this year. It used to be administered by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

“The DOTC wants a real honest-to-goodness major development, which should be the gateway,” said Luciano.

The terminals for budget carriers and large, legacy aircraft could be located next to each other, he said.

Of the P1-billion loan that the CIAC took from the Land Bank of the Philippines, P360 million will be used to expand the current terminal, retire a P330-million loan from the Veterans Bank and spend the rest to buy new navigational aids, he said.

As with previous administrations, the Aquino administration has announced its intention of making Clark the country’s premier international aviation gateway, supplanting the overcrowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

These plans are, however, hobbled by the lack of viable high-speed rail transport services between Manila and Clark.

The Hong Kong-based Metrojet Engineering has already set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at the Clark Civil Aviation Complex. Singapore Engineering Philippines set up an MRO two years ago and is building its second hangar for big aircraft.

The CIA services 300 aircraft movements weekly due to flights by AirAsia, Airphil Express, Dragonair, Cebu Pacific, Seair and Asiana Airlines.

Subic lures BPO investors, cites ICT readiness

By clarkphilippines.com


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga- The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is enticing call centers to locate in Subic Freeport as it cited its excellent facilities for business process outsourcing (BPO) operations.

In an assembly meeting of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) and the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP), SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia expressed optimism that Subic Bay will become “the next place to be for information and communication technology (ICT) businesses in the country.”

Garcia, who was invited by BPAP and CCAP president Benedict Hernandez to talk about the advantages of investing in Subic, also said the BPO industry continues to grow in the Philippines with Subic likely to be a major ICT destination.

“BPO is the most vibrant industry in the country today. And Subic is now ready to accommodate you as we gear towards becoming an ICT hub,” Garcia said.

He said Subic has complete ICT facilities “in an environment where you will love to stay.” Proof of this, he added, is the 44 BPO locators now in Subic Bay, which altogether employ some 2,400 call center agents.

Garcia said Subic now enjoys three-way global connectivity, a link from fiber-optic cable network to satellite transmission system, and the microwave uplink services needed to set up an international call center.

Most of all, he said that the freeport zone at present has a 116-MW power plant supplying the national grid and is working to have a switch for this plant that will ensure the Freeport continuous and steady power supply should the grid go down.

The SBMA chief said that working in the Subic Freeport is enjoyable as the agency maintains the best security in the country, enforces traffic discipline which eliminates traffic jams, and promotes a clean and friendly environment that is conducive to good health and happy living.

To accommodate more BPO locators, Garcia is offering the use of a former assembly building of computer-maker Wistron Infocomm Philippines inside the Gateway Park, an industrial estate managed by the Subic Bay Development and Management Corporation.

The building has plenty of office space in a 10-hectare lot and is located near the Freeport’s Central Business District, Garcia said.

Garcia also advised the BPO executives that they can source out manpower elsewhere to fill up the seats for their call center projects.

“You offer good jobs in one of the best places in the country and you will attract people to come with you to Subic,” he said.

Garcia explained that because of the expected influx of thousands of BPO workers in Subic, the SBMA is planning to build a workers’ dormitory, which can accommodate 8,000 workers near the proposed ICT hub.

He added that the proximity of the dormitory to the ICT hub will mean some P4,000 monthly savings on travel expenses of call center agents, thereby making the cost of living in the Subic Bay Freeport about 40 percent cheaper than in Manila.

Hernandez expressed optimism that Garcia’s vision for an ICT hub in Subic is not far from realization.

He noted that Subic is such a beautiful and attractive place.

Garcia closed his meeting with BPAP and CCAP members with an invitation for them to visit Subic for a first-hand view of the ICT hub.

Farmers urge P-Noy to scrap CARPer law

By Ding Cervantes


ANGELES CITY, Philippines - Farmers in Central Luzon have urged President Aquino to scrap the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPer) in favor of the Genuine Agrarian Reform bill now pending in the House of Representatives as they observe today the third anniversary of the signing of the CARPer law by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Farmers belonging to Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) yesterday expressed doubt that the President’s family no longer had any interest to reclaim Hacienda Luisita.

“We are asking him to junk CARPer and instead back House Bill 374,” said AMGL chairman Joseph Canlas.

Farmers from Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Pampanga held a protest rally in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform central office in Quezon City.

“Aquino should accept that without genuine land reform, there would be no social justice and fundamental reforms and all deception and lies about CARPer would be exposed and its multi-billion budget allocation would all go to waste or to the pocket of the rich landlords,” Canlas said.

“The President is sending a wrong signal by delaying the distribution of Hacienda Luisita to the farmer-beneficiaries. He promised to uphold the law but when the Supreme Court finally decided, here he goes ordering DAR to make a new list of farmworker-beneficiaries, thus prolonging the process,” he added.

The group also sought the immediate distribution of the 3,100-hectare agricultural lands which used to be part of the Fort Magsaysay military reservation in Laur, Nueva Ecija. The property is being claimed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“If Aquino was sincere in realizing fundamental reforms, CARP should have covered the subjected lands decades ago and distributed to legitimate farmer-beneficiaries, but he did not,” Canlas said.

Clark airport among world's best

By philstar.com


MANILA, Philippines - Clark International Airport ranked third among the best airports in the world, according to the London-based Financial Times Business Group.

Sharing the prestige, Clark Freeport Zone ranked eighth, landing a slot on the elite list of freeport zones in the world, including the Dubai Airport Free Zone, the Dubai International Financial Centre in the United Arab Emirates, and the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone in China.

Balibago Vermi Garden project lauded

By Ian Ocampo Flora


ANGELES CITY -- Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III lauded the Vermi Garden Project of Barangay Balibago on Thursday, saying the project is a model for environment friendly programs.

“This project is something that could be replicated in other highly urbanized cities whose problems in garbage disposal is a particular concern,” said Tañada, who visited the garden before his open forum on the Freedom of Information Bill at the Balibago Barangay Hall.

Tañada said he was impressed by the dedication of local leaders and the support of the stakeholders here in setting up the project.

The Vermi Garden Project, also known as “Gulayan sa Barangay,” employs the use of African Nightcrawler worms (Eudrilus eugeniae) that are used for organic composting under the vermiculture technology.

Balibago village chief Rodelio Mamac said he personally saw to the purchase of the worms that they now use to create organic fertilizer.

Residual organic wastes are collected from households and fed to the worms. The result, Mamac said, is waste produced by the worms that can be used as substitute for chemical fertilizer.

“The fertilizer is used to run the production of vegetable gardens in the 3,000-square meter lot here that was loaned to us for use in this project,” Mamac added.

The garden is managed by local officials, senior citizens and volunteers who either give or sell the products of the garden to the community.

Mayor Pamintuan also said that he is impressed by Balibago’s Gulayan sa Barangay. He urged other grassroots leaders to explore the possibility of setting up similar garden projects in their respective villages.

“This project is something that goes in line with our environmental advocacies and we home that other barangays would see the benefit of such project,” Pamintuan added.

DFA: Satellite office in Angeles a result of an ‘out-of-the box’ formula

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Aug. 2 (PIA) -– The newly opened 811-sq.m. satellite office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Angeles City is the result of an “out-of-the-box” formula of the DFA pursued last year to make the agency’s services more accessible to the public.

This was disclosed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario during the inauguration rites of said satellite office which is located at the 3rd level of MarQuee Mall in Barangay Pulung Maragul, Angeles City.

The establishment of DFA office in Angeles, according to del Rosario, was the result of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements which the DFA entered into with the Pacific Mall Corporation, Robinsons Land Corporation, Ayala Land Incorporated and SM Prime Holdings.

Del Rosario disclosed that the DFA will be opening at least 11 more consular offices in shopping malls across the country.

"Before the end of the year, we will have at least 14 mall-based passport offices serving the public in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. By 2014, we should have 30 of such facilities operating in shopping malls across the country," he added.

For his part, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said “the DFA passport office will provide several, not to mention timely, advantages for the community. It will prove to be an essential, convenient and necessary addition to the city’s already sterling array of services.”

DFA special assistant for special projects Elmer Cato, on the other hand, said that the new consular office, “will take over the operations of the former Clark satellite office, which is no longer serving the public and whose operations was temporarily absorbed by DFA San Fernando at Robinsons Starmills.”

Both consular offices are open from 10 a.m to 8 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. They are also open half-day on Sundays to let applicants claim their passports.

DFA-Angeles at MarQuee Mall is the third mall-based DFA office. The first one is DFA Cebu at the Pacific Mall in Mandaue City, which was opened in February, and the second is DFA-Pampanga at Robinsons Starmills in the City of San Fernando. (WLB/JGB-PIA3)

PSHS-Central Luzon to rise in permanent site in Clark

By (PNA)

LAM/zst/FEM/ps


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Aug. 1 (PNA) -- The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Central Luzon campus will soon to rise in its permanent site on a 30,000-square meter area in Lily Hill Avenue here.

Officials of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the PSHS have recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the conclusion of a three-year search for a permanent site for the PSHS Central Luzon campus.

Since its pilot year in 2009, PSHS-Central Luzon campus has been renting a portion of Clark Polytechnic School in this Freeport.

The agreement was signed by CDC chair and officer-in-charge Eduardo Oban Jr., CDC executive vice-president Philip Jose Panlilio, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo, and PSHS system executive director Josette Biyo.

During the signing rites, Oban said the MOA for the Clark campus has transformed a dream “into a reality."

Aside from industrial, commercial, and tourism-related businesses here in Clark, Oban said the Freeport also provides a conducive atmosphere for learning and educational institutions.

Oban said that PSHS’s permanent site here in Clark will have academic buildings, residence halls, canteen, gym, administration building, grand stand, and state-of-the-art laboratories.

Montejo, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to the CDC saying the DOST and PSHS administration will make sure that Central Luzon campus scholars “will get the best science and technology education they deserve."

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