Angeles City News January 2017

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

Angeles City Photo Gallery

Angeles City Realty

Philippine News

Nophoto.gif
Official Seal of Angeles City
Interactive Google Satellite Map of Angeles City, Pampanga
Angeles city map locator.png
Angeles City Map Locator
Angeles City Hall Building, Mc Arthur Hwy, Brgy. Maragul, Angeles City, Pampanga.jpg
City Hall of Angeles City

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Angeles city catholic church.jpg
Angeles City Catholic Church
Angeles city crucifixion of the faithfuls.jpg
Sacrifice of the faithfuls by crucifying themselves.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

EdPam urges Angeleños to obey traffic rules

(Angeles CIO)

ANGELES CITY- Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has called the attention of the public to strictly follow traffic rules to avoid apprehensions.

“The reports coming from the Public Transport and Regulatory Office (PTRO) and Angeles City Traffic Development Office (ACTDO) regarding the number of apprehensions on traffic violations are quite alarming because it shows that a great number of motorists, both public and private, are either ignorant of traffic laws or they are just indifferent in following them,” said Mayor Pamintuan.

“Though it may be advantageous for the city because of the income it generates, it is also a manifestation that most of our commuters are not keen observers and followers of the traffic rules,” Pamintuan added.

Among all the traffic violations recorded by the Angeles City Traffic Development Office (ACTDO) and the Public Transportation and Regulatory Office (PTRO) in 2016, road obstruction remains to be the most committed road violation with a total of 9, 525 apprehensions.

Violation against the implementation of the truck ban in some selected areas came second, while driving without helmet came on third with 6,048 and 2,074 apprehensions respectively.

Other road violations that garnered the highest number of apprehensions include: None or Invalid Driver’s License with 1,214; Wearing of slippers (among drivers of motorcycles and PUJ’s) with 1,032; and No Mayor’s Permit with 773 total apprehensions.

On the other hand, the city is also enforcing the Anti-Modified Muffler ordinance with 710 number of violators; Colorum vehicles with 322 violations; and illegal transport terminals with 206 apprehensions.

Illegally parked vehicles are also being towed in major thoroughfares, and in areas where good traffic condition needs to be maintained.

In summary, a total of P 5.7 million worth of apprehension was recorded for 2016.

“We can help improve the city’s traffic flow and safety by adhering to the law. Unless all of us obey, we cannot achieve the change and the progress we wish to experience,” said ACTDO Chief Danilo Concepcion.

“We are also promoting a ‘corrective’ policy upon apprehension. We educate our offenders for them not to repeat the same violations over again,” Concepcion added.

Meanwhile, Councilor Amos Rivera, Chairman of the Committee on Public Transport said that there is an urgent need to amend the Traffic Code of Angeles City in order to address the different problems that we are now encountering.

According to Rivera, among the amendments that will be proposed include the declaration of No Parking Zones in all major thoroughfares of the city; designation of pay-parking for inner barangay roads and other traffic improvement ordinances.

“While the ACTDO and PTRO are really bent in improving the traffic in our city, sometimes their hands are tied because they don’t have to full force of the law to back them up. Among the 3 E’s of Traffic Management, Enforcement of the law, together with Education and Engineering, play a vital role in ensuing a successful traffic management plan,” Rivera said.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has approved the 2017 high-impact infrastructure development plans for Angeles City, these are: (1) Abacan Development Corridor, (2) East Circumferential Road, (3) an interchange and a flyover near MarQuee Mall connecting to McArthur Highway, (4) Cuayan Bridge.

These engineering interventions are seen to further decongest and ease the traffic fl ow in major road ‘choke points’ in the city.

Legarda pushes for swift passage of free tuition bill for SUCs

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT -- Senator Loren Legarda is pushing for the immediate passage of a bill that seeks to institutionalize the provision of full tuition fee subsidy for students enrolled in all of the country’s 114 state universities and colleges (SUCs).

In her co-sponsorship speech on Senate Bill 1304, or the proposed Free Higher Education for All Act, Legarda underscored the need to pass a law that will set out mechanisms and guidelines by which the funding for free tuition, already appropriated for this year, will be utilized.

"We have already funded the free tuition fee for SUCs students through the 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA). However, mindful of the government’s limited resources, we must also ensure that public funds will be used equitably and serve first the poorest of the poor. This bill seeks to ensure that such funds are managed efficiently," said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.

The senator explained that P5.7 billion has been allocated for the Commission on Higher Education's (Ched's) Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs), which cover both the Regular StuFAPs, such as its Scholarship Program, Grants in Aid Program and Student Loan Program, and other StuFAPs like the Tulong Dunong and the Iskolar ng Bayan program, under the 2017 GAA.

An additional P8 billion has been appropriated for the Ched's Higher Education Support Fund while another P300 million has been approved to serve as Cash Grants to Medical Students enrolled in the country’s SUCs offering the Doctor of Medicine Program.

"We have the ability and influence to shape the future of our children and the generations to come. Hence, I urge my colleagues to lend their valuable support so we can enact the best possible version of this bill as we seek to uphold the Constitutional mandate that education shall be the State’s highest priority in terms of allocation of resources," Legarda said.

Philhealth: Pampanga best in Central Luzon

By Philip Ocampo (Pamp PIO)

CLARK FREEPORT – Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Region-3 Vice President Walter Bacareza announced the other day that Pampanga is the best performing province in the whole of Central Luzon in terms of distribution and implementation of health insurance benefits in a meeting held at Royce Hotel here.

“Pampanga is one of the best performing provinces I’ve seen in the whole country, the best in the region,” Bacareza said.

Bacareza said that he was amazed with the performance of the provincial government in utilizing all the benefits and delivering them to the poorest of the poor.

He also lauded the well-maintained district and provincial hospitals which maximized the benefits of the said health care.

Bacareza also asked the Pampanga PhilHealth to guide the other provinces who are underperforming.

“Please help us improve their performance by showing them how you got that ‘almost 100%’ statistics,” he said.

Pampanga registered P42,333,600 worth of Point of Care enrollment in 11 district and provincial hospitals which gained P151,740,144 utilized benefi ts recorded last year or 365% utilization.

Provincial Health Office Officer-in-Charge Dr. Jay Rivera said Governor Lilia Pineda is not 100 percent satisfi ed with the performance of the hospitals with regards to Philhealth program as she wants more and better results as the Cuban- like health management system in the province will kick-off in February, this year.

CDC, DOT ink MOA on accrediting tourism facilities in Clark

By CDC CommDep

CLARK FREEPORT – Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Noel F. Manankil acknowledged the importance of worldclass tourism facilities and services available to the visitors and residents of this Freeport and its contiguous areas.

This was learned after the Department of Tourism Region III (DOT III) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with CDC on January 23 to enforce the accreditation of tourism enterprises in Clark that will be jointly undertaken by CDC and DOT Region III.

The MOA was signed between Manankil and DOT III Regional Director Ronnie Tiotuico.

The MOA is also in support of the DOT’s thrust to uplift the quality of tourism facilities and services in the country as mandated by R.A. 9593 otherwise known as the Tourism Act of 2009.

At present, Clark has over 2,000 hotel rooms, 63 convention and meeting facilities, 75 dining facilities, eight wellness facilities and five hospitals. The Freeport also has six casinos, eight golfing and other sports facilities, seven shopping centers, 20 banks, 12 convenience stores and six petrol depot.

PHL to push final draft of instrument on protection, promotion of migrant workers' rights

By Zorayda S. Tecson [(PNA), LAP/ZST]

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga (PNA) -- The Philippines, as chair of this year's Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, will push the final draft of the instrument on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, in a press briefing after the pillar launch of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community at the Marquee Mall here, said it is the most important agenda that the Philippines will push and which is seen to give tangible benefits to the Filipinos and the ASEAN as a whole.

"That is the significant outcome that we want to achieve," Taguiwalo said, referring to the instrument on the protection and promotion of migrant workers proposed by the Philippines and unanimously adopted by nine ASEAN labor ministers during their 24th biennial meeting in Lao People's Democratic Republic in May last year.

Taguiwalo is hopeful that ASEAN Committee on Migrant Workers (ACMW), the subsidiary body responsible for drafting the instrument, and another subsidiary body, the Senior Labor Officials Meeting (SLOM), will continue the negotiations on the instrument towards its finalization.

"This would be a very significant way to mark the 10th year of the Cebu Declaration and, more importantly, the 50th year of our sharing and caring ASEAN Community," she said.

In the making for 10 years since the issuance of the ASEAN’s Cebu Declaration, negotiations on the instrument has been deadlocked on four principle issues — the legal nature of the document, whether it is to be binding or not binding, and on the inclusion of migrants’ families and undocumented workers.

It can be recalled that it was in Cebu City, during the ASEAN chairmanship of the Philippines, when the Declaration to Protect and Promote the Rights of Migrant Workers was adopted by the ASEAN leaders.

The first ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour, which endorsed the formation of a team to draft the instrument to implement the Cebu Declaration, was held in Manila.

With regard the pending issues in the draft Instrument, the Philippines has expressed a level of openness to a non-legally binding instrument, provided the following four parameters would be present: (a) the immediate development of an action plan, with timelines to implement the Instrument; (b) negotiation of bilateral labor agreements between ASEAN Member States; (c) sharing and documentation of best practices; and (d) designation of national focal points on Instrument implementation in every AMS.

With respect to family members of migrant workers already residing with the member states, the Philippines has joined a compromise solution by agreeing to re-state Article 3 of the Cebu Declaration in Chapter VII of the draft instrument, on “Commitments by ASEAN Member States”.

The article provides that “receiving states and sending states shall take account of the fundamental rights and dignity of migrant workers and family members already residing with them without undermining the application by the receiving states of their laws, regulations, and policies.”

With regard to undocumented migrant workers, the Philippines have also joined seven in an agreement to replace a chapter in the draft instrument with a provision under Chapter VII, “Commitments by ASEAN Member States”, directing AMS to “Take measures to prevent and curb the flow of undocumented migrant workers and explore cooperation and coordination among AMS in providing assistance to those who are in need of protection, subject to prevailing national laws, regulations, and policies of AMS.”

Social welfare dept pushes for gender-based streaming in all the goals of ASEAN

By Leilani S. Junio [(PNA), CVL/LSJ/EBP]

ANGELES, Pampanga, Jan. 24 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will push for gender-based streaming as one of the outputs of the ASEAN activities in the country, as the department aims for a people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN, its chief has said.

"Sisikapin natin na ang gender-based streaming ay maging importanteng bahagi sa iba't ibang layunin ng ASEAN (We will strive hard to make gender-based streaming a significant part of the ASEAN’s goals),” Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said in her keynote speech as she led the launch of the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), held at the Marquee Mall here Tuesday.

Taguiwalo added that one of these goals is to ensure the promotion and protection of the rights of vulnerable sectors such as women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, internally displaced persons, and indigenous peoples.

In addition, she noted the need to protect the interest of migrant workers and combat malnutrition.

"This is also one of the priorities of the Duterte administration. If he has a war on drug addiction, he also has a war against malnutrition,” Taguiwalo said.

She also stressed the importance of preserving cultural heritage, especially for the future generation. She however noted the need to learn the cultures of other ASEAN member states so that the evolution of culture would be dynamic and not static. “Otherwise, it will die,” she said.

The ASEAN socio-cultural community council, which the DSWD chairs this year, is one of the three ASEAN Community Councils. The other two are the political-security community and the economic community councils.

The ASCC seeks to create a more “people-centered ASEAN” by making the policies of ASEAN members responsive to the welfare and needs of the vulnerable sectors to ensure that they are not left behind, as ASEAN member states partner for change.

Social welfare dept to lead launch of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Pillar on Jan. 24

(PNA), CVL/LSJ/EBP

MANILA, Jan. 23 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will lead the launch of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Cluster (ASCC) Pillar at the Marquee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga on Tuesday.

The ASCC Pillar, one of the three Community Councils within the ASEAN, focuses on nurturing human, cultural and natural resources for sustained development in a harmonious and people-oriented ASEAN.

Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo heads the ASEAN ASCC this year.

She will be joined by Department of Foreign Affairs executive director Zaldy Patron, and ASEAN National Organizing Council (NOC) chairperson, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

As head of the ASCC, the DSWD aims to help realize the ASEAN objective and eventually foster greater solidarity and unity among peoples and member states of the ASEAN.

“As the Philippines chairs the ASEAN, the goal is to make it a more people-oriented, people-centered institution. We want to make the ASEAN an institution that is more responsive to the needs of vulnerable sectors, such as senior citizens, children and youth, disadvantaged women and persons with disabilities,” said Taguiwalo.

Interactions with the neighboring countries during this international event will give the country a lot of opportunities to look into their best practices and learn from them, she said.

“We can use some of these practices to guide us as we craft new policies, programs, and services or improve our existing ones. We will do our best to ensure that the results of the ASEAN 2017 conference will result in tangible benefits for the Filipino people, particularly the poor and working sectors,” she added.

The social welfare chief noted that the ASCC Blueprint or the plan that will be discussed and formulated represents the human dimension of ASEAN cooperations and upholds ASEAN commitment to address the region’s aspiration to lift the quality of life of its peoples.

The goals of the ASCC are envisaged to be achieved by implementing concrete and productive actions that are people-centered and socially responsible.

Taguiwalo further said that since a people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN is among the six priorities of ASEAN 2017, which carries the theme, “Partnering for change, engaging the world”, they intend to do the following:

Ensure the promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers;

Ensure the promotion and protection of the rights of the vulnerable sectors -- women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, internally displaced persons, and indigenous peoples, among others;

Further promote appreciation of cultural heritage and strengthening the ASEAN cultural identity;

Intensify access to health care and improved nutrition; and

Promote the role of the civil service as catalyst for achieving ASEAN Vision 2025.

As chair of ASCC, the DSWD is also set to host the 22nd Senior Officials Committee for the ASCC (SOCA) and 17th ASCC Council Meeting on March 6-9 in Iloilo; the High-Level Meeting on ASEAN Active Ageing: Presentation of Results of the Study on May 21 in Metro Manila; the Cross-Regional Meeting on Violence against Children in June in Metro Manila; the ASEAN High-Level Conference on Social Protection on Aug. 15-17 in Metro Manila; the ASEAN Policy Dialogue on Children’s Rights on Aug. 30-31 in Metro Manila; and the 23rd SOCA and 18th ASCC Council Meeting on Sept. 11-14 in Metro Manila.

CDC opens new gate in Clark for light vehicles

(PNA), LAP/ZST/MDDR

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga (PNA) -- The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) ordered the opening of a new access gate for inbound and outbound motorists here.

The opening of the new gate along Don Juico Avenue in Barangay Malabanias, Angeles City is in preparation for the staging of the 21st Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta on February 9 to 12.

CDC vice president for Engineering Services Group Alveen Tabag said the new gate is only for light vehicles and open only from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The new access gate is one of the infrastructure projects of the state-owned firm that are lined up to help ease down traffic in and around the Freeport especially during rush hours.

The CDC spent PHP4.4 million for the construction of the new access gate.

Last year, CDC opened the six-kilometer Clark Mabalacat Angeles Road (CMAR) to motorists to help decongest vehicular traffic along MacArthur Highway between the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat.

CDC president and CEO Noel F. Manankil said that more infrastructure projects are being lined here in line with the Build Build Build mantra of the national government.

The CDC is also eyeing to widen the major thoroughfares inside the Freeport in preparation for a possible conduct of events related to the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be held in the country this year.

The road improvements are also in anticipation of growing domestic and international flights at Clark airport and the increasing number of workers due to the expected operations of new locators here.

Angeles City RTC orders arrest of 2 cops, 5 others over abduction of S. Korean businessman Aguirre

(PNA), FPV/CLTC

MANILA (PNA) – Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Friday disclosed that the Angeles Regional Trial Court Branch 58 has ordered the arrest of two active police officers and five others in connection to the kidnapping of a South Korean national in Angeles City, Pampanga last October.

Aguirre told reporters that Angeles Regional Trial Court Branch 58 ordered the arrest of SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, SPO4 Roy Villegas, Ramon Yalung and four people identified only under the aliases "Pulis," "Jerry," "Sir Dumlao" and "Ding" for kidnapping for ransom with homicide in relation to the disappearance of businessman Jee Ick Joo.

Aguirre said Sta. Isabel is now under NBI custody and he will be transferred to the PNP once the arrest warrant is served.

”Lumabas na yung arrest warrant about an hour ago. Angeles RTC Branch 58, susunduin siya (referring to Sta. Isabel) ng arresting officer from Camp Crame. That will happen anytime this afternoon. The custody will be transferred to the PNP,” he explained.

Aguirre also emphasized that the agency is still studying the possibility of placing Sta. Isabal under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) after he was identified as the alleged killer.

” Titignan natin kung hindi siya ang most guilty...,” Aguirre explained.

The DoJ Secretary said that the wife of Sta. Isabel went to his office to issue a statement and will be assisted by PAO lawyers under Persida Acosta.

The DOJ said the kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints filed by the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) against the suspects was upgraded to kidnapping for ransom with homicide due to the testimony of Villegas.

In a seven-page resolution, the DOJ said Villegas gave a detailed narration of the abduction and the eventual killing of the victim.

In his narration, Villegas said Sta. Isabel brought a packaging tape and surgical gloves and ordered them to cover the head of the victim and follow him.

"He finally recalls seeing respondent Sta. Isabel strangling and killing the victim," the DOJ resolution said.

On Tuesday evening, the National Bureau of Investigation, together with the Caloocan police went to the funeral parlor after receiving information that Jee's body was taken there on the same day he was abducted on Oct. 18, 2016. No body was recovered as Jee’s body had been cremated last year.

Choi Kyunghin, wife of Jee, 53, said his husband was forcibly taken by eight armed men on Oct. 18 from his residence and has not been located until now.

His family paid PHP5 million ransom money on Oct. 30 but he was never released.

The abductors asked for an additional PHP4 million but failed to produce proof that the victim is still alive, prompting Choi to seek police’s assistance.

Guiao to continue advocacy for Clark airport

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY -- Former congressman Joseller "Yeng" Guiao has vowed to continue advocating for the full development and utilization of Clark International Airport (CRK).

Despite his defeat in the congressional race, Guiao said that he is still pushing for the development of Clark airport.

"This has been my personal advocacy, kapag nakakausap ko po ang mga boss at nakakausap ko rin si MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) ito pong ating airport dito sa Clark ito pa rin an gating itinutulak at ipinapaalala sa kanila," Guiao, who is now the coach of NLEx Road Warriors basketball team, said.

A developed Clark airport will also result to the development of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and Central Luzon, according to Guiao. "

Even in a different capacity, hindi po natin tinitigilan itong advocacy na ito. Our bosses are all driven that Clark airport in Pampanga should be further developed.

Kahit hindi po doon sa dating forum o venue, dito po sa aking kinalalagyan ngayon ay tinutulak po natin yan," Guiao said.

The former Pampanga official also denied reports that he will seek the vice gubernatorial post in the 2019 elections.

Guiao, who lost to Carmelo "Jonjon" Lazatin, Jr. in the 2016 congressional race, said he is contemplating to run again for congressman.

"Depende keng sitwasyun. Malaut pa [ing eleksyon]. Pagaralan ke pa nung buri da ku pa reng tau,” It depends upon the situation. Election is still far.

I’m still figuring out if the people still like me," Guiao said. Guiao meanwhile lauded Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade for his support to the development of Clark airport.

“It’s a good thing that Tugade became the Transportation secretary.”

“He (Tugade) knows the potential and advantages that Clark can contribute to the economy not only to Central Luzon but the whole country.

He is also in the best position to push for the development Clark airport due to his position and closeness to the president (Duterte),” Guiao said.

Angeles council passes public cemetery ordinance

(AC-CIO)

ANGELES CITY – The 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod led by Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno, has passed Ordinance No. 403, Series of 2016 “Establishing the Angeles City Memorial Park and creating the Angeles City Memorial office under the city mayor and other related purposes.”

The public cemetery at Barangay Sapalibutad is one of the priority projects of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan to provide decent burial for the departed loved ones of the people of Angeles City.

“The city council is always supportive of the programs of the executive department under the office of Mayor Pamintuan specially those projects and programs that are geared towards the overall welfare of the Angeleños,” said Vice Mayor Nepomuceno.

“This pro-poor and pro-people ordinance will provide an affordable resting place for our people,” Nepomuceno added.

The Angeles City Memorial Park sits in a 1.6 hectare land. It has a state-of-the-art crematorium, chapels, columbarium, niches, park and other first class amenities.

The proposed fees and charges for Angeles residents are: Php15,000.00 for burial inclusive of a headstone and use of the niche apartment type for seven years, Php12,000.00 for the cremation services inclusive of urn for the ashes, Php1,000.00 per day for the chapel services (maximum of three days), and Php1,000.00 per year for columbarium placement.

On the other hand, non-residents of Angeles City can only avail of the cremation services which will cost Php18,000.00.

The requirements for residency qualifications are presentation of two (2) government issued IDs and a duly signed barangay residency certification with corresponding verification and ocular visit from the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWDO).

This project is the first and only public cemetery in Angeles City, as the traditional burial place of Angeles City, the public cemetery in Brgy. Cutcut, is owned by the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. It has been closed since more than 3 years ago as it has exceeded its maximum capacity and is now undergoing major reconstruction.

Mandatory discounts as provided by law shall be conferred to senior citizens, person with disabilities, solo parents unless otherwise provided.

The local government is now undergoing the stringent process required by law to obtain necessary permits, clearances and certifications from the Department of Health (DOH) and other national government agencies.

The ordinance was introduced by Councilor Alexander P. Indiongco and was approved by the city council and by Mayor Pamintuan on December 20, 2016.

San Diego artist to exhibit ‘Leftovers’ in Angeles, Pampanga

By Eunice Barbara C. Novio (INQUIRER.net US Bureau)

The doll looks eerie with its bald head, uncertain smile and large eyes that seem to follow Raul “Paul” Del Mundo’s every move. He picks up the doll lying on the dusty concrete near the studio where he works. He looks at the speeding cars wondering if someone had thrown it.

Del Mundo takes the doll home to transform it into an artwork, which will soon become one of the exhibits at the American Pikinisan at Museo ning Angeles in Angeles City, Philippines this coming Feb. 18-27.

Raul “Paul” Del Mundo, is a San Diego based artist and graphic arts designer at Strategic Operations, Inc. (STOPS) owned by Stu Segall, a television and movie producer.

“My arts are mixed media. There is no such thing as useless. I can transform thrash like pieces of iron, wood, colored bottles, etc. into artworks,” Del Mundo says.

He also frequents swap meet or flea markets to look for things he fancies to complement his art material.

Self-taught artist

Del Mundo fondly recalls that his early artworks were found on the walls of his childhood home in Angeles, Pampanga. He made posters in grade school. The first of his many exhibits happened during recess when he would do drawings on the soil while the students looked on.

He became serious in art in high school at Holy Angel University. He started with charcoal portraits. Robert Odejar, a member of the Pampanga Artists Guild (PAG), taught him proper shading. His first group exhibit with PAG was in 1994 at Tarlac Museum.

“All the members of PAG are my idols, like Edille Paras and Lorina Capitulo-Tayag to mention some. Jose Tence Ruiz another multimedia artist also influenced me. They are not traditional artists using paints and brushes. Instead they continue to develop and experiment using different materials,” Del Mundo says.

However, Del Mundo relates that when he joined PAG and changed his medium, his family said that his works were “horrifying.”

To each his own

Artists have their own processes and styles and work with their hearts and minds, imbuing their works with emotion.

Del Mundo believes in the universality of art. He does not see his work as specifically Filipino or Kapampangan. Although, he does not claim to be unique when it comes to mixed media, those who are familiar with his works can immediately recognize a “Paul Del Mundo.”

He does not have anything in mind when he collects “thrash” for his art. He also considers his art as a consuming vice that needs to be fulfilled.

“My style has an element of surrealism though it’s revolves around social realism. Colors range from earthy tones to dark themes in order to convey the message,” he explains.

Del Mundo has joined group exhibitions since 1996. His works were exhibited in Museo de Tarlac, Museo ning Angeles, UP Vargas, Cultural Center of the Philippines and at Zepf Art Gallery in San Diego, California.

Coming to America

Six years ago Del Mundo immigrated to America, petitioned by his wife. He was lucky to land a job that is related to his interest. STOPS makes state-of-the arts props like foods, animal carcasses and guns for various television and movie productions in Hollywood.

The only Filipino in the company, Del Mundo worked with four other artists assigned to different props. Noting his artistry, the four employees were dismissed and he was left to do all the props with only a helper.

“It is difficult to apply if you do not have a diploma and no connections. I finished a two-year computer course. There is a lot of competition. For example, some other immigrants would accept even the lowest wage just to get jobs. It was just through sheer talent and confidence that I was able to work here,” Del Mundo relates.

In making props, Del Mundo says everything must be “exact” especially the colors, which are mixed with the help of computer programs. He proudly says that as an artist he can manually mix colors without the aid of machines or computers.

“I learned so many techniques in the studio which are helpful in developing my art,” Del Mundo says.

‘Pikinisan’

Pikinisan is a Kapampangan term for leftovers. When the US bases were still in Clark and in Subic, Del Mundo recalls that rejected parts of cold cuts, bacon bits, uneaten or leftover hotdogs and week-old burgers would be saved by many Filipino workers to feed their families. The leftovers were then cooked again and made into another viands. This practice became the basis of Del Mundo’s art.

“Selling art is just one perk of an artist, but it should not be the only motivation. Instead, make art for art’s sake,” Del Mundo’s advice to young artist.

“It feels good when your work is appreciated because people like your style. If you make art just to make money, your work no longer has heart and soul,” Del Mundo states.

American Pikinisan at Museo ning Angeles in Angeles City, Philippines will open on February 18-27, 2017.

Celebrate Chinese New Year at Quest Hotel!

(Press release)

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE - Café Mequeni will glow flaming crimson and bright gold as it ushers in the prosperous Year of the Fire Rooster in celebration of Chinese New Year 2017.

Quest Hotel and Conference Center - Clark, located in Mimosa Leisure Estate, will have a special Chinese New Year’s Eve buffet dinner on January 27 and an exclusive staycation package .

Just like many celebrations, the event will be highlighted by the sumptuous food offerings at the Café Mequeni’s buffet. According to Frank Wagner, Quest Hotel’s new Food and Beverage Director, the highlight of the buffet would be a wide array of Chinese and asian dishes for the New Year’s eve dinner.

“We’re mixing things up for Chinese New Year by having traditional Chinese dishes on the buffet, such as peking duck and a suckling pig. Apart from this, we’re also preparing an extensive Chinese dimsum station, which is a must-have for any Chinese celebration.” Frank says.

He added that guests can also have a taste of Charley’s Bar in a special Chinese Cocktail included in the dinner. Traditional oolong tea will be served as well as free fl owing non-alcoholic drinks, plus giveaways can also be expected.

Tsing Tao Beer, China’s premier brand will be available during the celebration at Php 220 per bottle. The beer is brewed from the finest ingredients including spring water from Laoshan Mountain and Canadian malting barley.

“Following tradition, we will have a lion and dragon dance, plus a fireworks display to entertain guests.” added the F&B Director.

The dinner buffet is priced at Php 1,888 per person. Dinner starts at 6:00 pm.

For those who wish to spend the night after the new year, Quest Hotel offers and exclusive Auspicious Rooster room package, which is an overnight stay at a deluxe room for just Php 5,888. This includes access at the Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner buffet for two and buffet breakfast also for two at Café Mequeni.

For tickets, call +63 928 194 3128 or +63 916 582 3849. You can also call the Reservations Office for the Auspicious Rooster package at +63 998 587 8158 or +63 (045) 599 8000.

Further details and other promotions can be found by visiting Quest Hotel and Conference Center - Clark’s website at clark.questhotels.com or by following the official Facebook page at facebook.com/questhotelclark and on Instagram at @questclarkmimosa.

Sta. Isabel yields to NBI

By Alfred P. Dalizon

THE former anti-narcotics agent accused of involvement in the October 18 kidnapping of a South Korean national in Angeles City yesterday yielded to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Already on AWOL status, Senior Police Officer 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel’s surrender was announced by Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ M. de la Rosa to newsmen in Camp Crame right after getting a call from Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III in the middle of his press conference.

“I’ve asked Secretary Aguirre to tell the NBI to make sure that Sta. Isabel won’t escape,” he said.

Gen. de la Rosa said they have identified at least eight other suspects in the kidnapping-for-ransom of 53-year-old Jee Ick-joo, two of them also police non-commissioned officers like Sta. Isabel.

De la Rosa said another suspect being eyed in the kidnapping of the Korean is a retired policeman who became an elected barangay official in a Metro Manila city. He did not name names but said the retired cop-turned barangay captain is included in the drug list of President Duterte.

According to the top cop, the ex-policeman is a “high-value drug target” who is believed to have already fled after sensing he is being hunted by the police.

Gen. de la Rosa also said that the suspect is making fabricated claims against the PNP since he knows his colleagues are mad at him. “Alam niya dito sa PNP eh hindi siya safe dahil dinudungisan niya ang aming organisasyon kaya ayaw niyang magpahawak sa pulis,” he said.

Last week, Dumlao said that SPO3 Sta. Isabel was also found to have been involved in the kidnapping of a Filipino-Chinese national named Myla Tan in Caloocan City in the 1990s.

Angeles City exec to attend 3rd round of peace talks in Rome

(PNA), JBP/ZST/MDDR

ANGELES CITY, Jan. 15 (PNA) -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan will attend the third round of peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the umbrella alliance of the Communist Party, the New People's Army and other revolutionary national democratic organizations.

The peace talks with the Reds, which was revived in Oslo, Norway immediately after the assumption of President Rodrigo Duterte after a hiatus of six years, will be held in Rome, the capital city of Italy in southern Europe on January 18 to 25.

"Both panels -- the Philippine Government and the NDFP -- mutually agreed to the change of venue because of the harsh winter weather in Oslo, Norway. Although the winter weather in Rome is at near freezing of 2 to 6 degrees centigrade, it is much better than the frigid temperature of -10 to -17 degrees centigrade in Northern Europe," Pamintuan said.

"European winter will never be a hindrance to the peace warriors from both sides. The desire to pursue the talks for a just and lasting peace in our beloved country will keep us warm during the negotiations," he added.

Pamintuan, who is also the chairman of the Central Luzon Regional Development Council (RDC) and national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, is the adviser of the Philippine Government panel.

"Hopes are high that there will be major agreements on substantial issues like social and economic reforms, and political and constitutional reforms. The matters concerning joint/bilateral ceasefire will also be taken up and I am very optimistic that there will be meeting points on this, if not a formal agreement," Pamintuan noted.

The ceasefire between the AFP and the NPA has been holding even if it is only covered by unilateral declarations from both sides. A formal joint/bilateral ceasefire agreement will make it more stable.

"So far, so good. The staccato of gunfire has been replaced by singing of songs and conduct of peace fora throughout the country. The Christmas season even paved the way for joint events punctuated by joint singing of AFP soldiers and NPA guerillas, and boodle fights," he added.

CDC: Hot air balloon fiesta signature event of Clark

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT -- The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) considers the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) as a signature event of Clark Freeport.

Noel Tulabut, CDC Communications Department manager, said the sports aviation event brings in not just tourists but economic benefits for Clark and its surrounding communities.

Tulabut issued the statement following reports that the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark in 2017 may be the last.

“While reality tells us that there is indeed a need to move it (hot air balloon fiesta) out of the [civil] aviation complex eventually, CDC is open to discussions to [transfer] the event somewhere else inside Clark,” Tulabut said.

Clark Freeport and Clark Special Economic Zone has a “vast space practically for a lot of business endeavors and attractions,” he added.

The three-year memorandum of agreement signed in 2014 by the CDC, PIHABF Foundation and Clark International Airport Corporation will expire this year.

CIAC President Alexander Cauguiran earlier said that he will recommend that the next balloon festival be held outside Clark because of the increasing number of flights at the Clark International Airport (CRK).

Cauguiran said that this is in line with the government’s push for the immediate development and utilization of Clark airport.

The increased commercial flights at the CRK will result to limited window of hours that hot air balloons may fly around the Freeport.

During a press conference at Oasis Hotel in nearby Angeles City on Thursday, PIHABF Foundation President Captain Joy Roa said that this year’s event will be held at the Omni Aviation area at the eastern side of the Clark airport runway.

This was due to the new restrictions issued by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the former venue of the festival, according to Roa, who disclosed that they were initially asked to move the event to the airport.

But moving to the airport is not easy because of the increasing operations and developments inside the airport.

He cited the ongoing construction of a hangar and Maintenance Repair and Overhauling (MRO) facility at the approach of Clark airport’s secondary runway which was used by aircraft and balloons during the past festivals.

Roa said that some 28 balloons from the Philippines and other countries will participate in this year's event.

Businessman Rene Romero, who accompanied Roa during the press conference, asked the help of the local media to support the event which he said has been helping Clark and adjacent communities in terms of tourism and economic activities.

League of Cities of the Philippines expresses full support to anti-illegal drugs campaign

(PNA), LAP/ZST/MDDR

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Jan. 13 (PNA) -- The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) has expressed its full support to the tough position of President Rodrigo Duterte against local officials involved in illegal drugs.

Angeles City Mayor and LCP president Edgardo Pamintuan in a statement said that "we, at the LCP leadership, believe that it is totally unacceptable for local officials to be into illegal drugs in any way, as user, protector or dealer."

Pamintuan said that local officials, particularly mayors, should in fact be at the forefront of the war against illegal drugs.

"We subscribe with the President's position that any mayor or local official involved in any activity related to drugs should be dealt with the full force of the law," he said.

Pamintuan also said the LCP will not condone and will even help prosecute any of its members who are into drugs.

He said that those who may be in the President's list should immediately clear themselves or face the consequences that the President has stressed on during his meeting with the mayors.

"We call on all our members to be pro-active in eradicating the menace in their respective areas, even as the LCP commits to implement its own program towards freeing our communities of drugs," he added.

First book on pre-historic roots of Kapampangan language out

  • Source: punto.com.ph/News/Article/26521/Volume-10-No-49/Feature-Article/First-book-on-pre-historic-roots-of-Kapampangan-language-out
  • Thursday, January 12, 2017
By Ding Cervantes

ANGELES CITY- A university here has announced the publication of a “major work” on Kapampangan language featuring its prehistoric root words and syllables derived from Asia languages, in a scholarly book expected to be patronized by Kapampangans all over the world.

Robby Tantingco, director of the Center for Kapampangan Studies of the Holy Angel University (HAU) here, said the 950-page book titled “Capampangan Roots: Primitive Words and Syllables from Polynesian- Austronesian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Bahasa Languages as Roots of the Capampangan Language.”

“It is the result of long years of research by Macau-based poet-artist-cultural advocate Oscar Balajadia a.k.a. Papa Osmubal, native of Magalang, Pampanga and alumnus of HAU,” Tantingco said.

He said “the book is part of a two-book series that complements Balajadia’s earlier four-book series entitled ‘O Jo, Nu Ca Menibat’, also published by HAU.”

“Balajadia dissected and broke Kapampangan words down to their basic syllables and discovered similarities to syllables of other Asian languages in form and meaning. For example, the root word of Pampanga is pampang, whose root syllable is pang, which is Mandarin for ‘beside something,’” he noted.

Tantingco said readers would be “surprised how interrelated languages are all over the world, due to east-west, north-south and backagain waves of migration.”

“For example, I thought ‘catre’ which is Kapampangan for ‘bed’ came from Spanish. As it turned out, Spanish had borrowed it from Sanskrit. So now I know catre is Sanskrit but I don’t know if catre reached Kapampangan directly from Sanskrit or it if passed through Spanish before reaching Kapampangan,” he added.

The book is available at HAU and could soon be obtained in major bookstores in the country, Tantingco also said.

HAU-SBA achieves IACBE reaccreditation

(Press release)

HOLY ANGEL University – School of Business and Accountancy (SBA) together with the Graduate School of Business (GSB), successfully received Reaffirmation of Accreditation from the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education ( IACBE) as officially stated on the IACBE Board of Commissioners’ Letter received from Ms. LaNita Malinowski, Director of Internal Operations for IACBE, last December 23, 2016.

This was a result of the IACBE Board of Commissioner’s meeting in Orlando, Florida, USA held on December 6 to 8, 2016. It can be recalled that the team had a site visit at Holy Angel University (HAU) on July 24 to 26 of last year. The team was composed of Prof. Dennis Gash (IACBE President), Dr. Ralph Mason (Team Chair), and Dr. Nipoli Kamdar (Member) and the said visit also included a dialogue with SBA’s key stakeholders, and a meeting with the University’s administrative and support personnel.

With the IACBE accreditation, SBA and GSB are given seal of commitment to provide academic excellence and quality improvement in business education, and that the business programs underwent and passed the rigorous evaluation made by the independent external reviewers, complying with the IACBE’s Accreditation Principles which are 1) Outcomes Assessment, 2) Strategic Planning, 3) Curriculum, 4) Faculty, 5) Scholarly and Professional Activities, 6) Resources, 7) Internal and External Relationships, 8) International Business Education, and 9) Educational Innovation.

In a separate event, HAU will be publicly recognized for achieving accreditation at the 2017 IACBE Annual Conference and Assembly Meeting scheduled on April 20, 2017 in San Francisco, California, USA.

Mayor bares plans for 2017

(Sun.Star Pampanga)

ANGELES CITY- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan announced on Monday his plans for this city, and for the region being the newly appointed chairperson of the Regional Development Council of Central Luzon (RDC-3).

Pamintuan highlighted the refurbishment of the Heritage District and the increase of the numbers of scholars in the City College of Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) approved the 2017 high-impact infrastructure development plans for Angeles City, these are: (1) Abacan Development Corridor, (2) East Circumferential Road, (3) an interchange and a flyover near MarQuee Mall connecting to McArthur Highway, (4) Cuayan Bridge.

On the other hand, the mayor further added that infrastructure development will be the main thrust of his administration as mayor and head of RDC-III.

“Equal distribution of projects will be my focus as the new RDC chairperson.

It is about time to extend more of the government resources for the growth and development of other towns and provinces,” said Pamintuan.

Fontana out as summit venue

By Ding Cervantes

CLARK FREEPORT - Organizers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting to be hosted by the Philippines later this year have abandoned plans to include the Fontana Leisure Park here as one of the venues.

Ronnie Tiotuico, director of the Department of Tourism in Central Luzon, said the National Organizing Committee (NOC) for the ASEAN meet, which is expected to be attended by incoming US President Donald Trump, is considering instead Subic Freeport which had hosted a meet of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) attended by heads of states in 1996.

In February last year, Fontana constructed a new convention center to host one of the ministerial meetings of APEC.

Guesting at the Talk Widus forum of the Pampanga Press Club at the Widus Hotel and Casino here, Tiotuico said Clark had initially been chosen as one of the venues for ministerial meetings during the ASEAN meet which will also coincide with the 50th anniversary of the organization.

ASEAN members include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

“Because of what happened in Fontana, Subic is now being prepared for one of the ministerial meetings,” said Tiotuico, adding that the NOC would be able to finally decide on this by next month.

Fontana, operated by Chinese national Jack Lam, was raided by government agents recently for illegal online gambling and was ordered shut down last Dec. 2 by the state-owned Clark Development Corp. Pres. Duterte had ordered the arrest of Lam, who had fled to Macau, on charges of bribery and economic sabotage.

Tiotuico said the venue must be able to accommodate as many as 4,000 participants and guests for the ASEAN meet.

“We have such a convention center in Subic, but the problem there is lack of (hotel) rooms unlike here at Clark and surrounding areas,” he noted.

Tiotuico said that the guests could be shuttled between Clark, where there are enough hotels, and Subic where the meetings could be held. The distance between the two freeports is now less than an hour via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

He said the NOC is now bidding out contracts for transport services for the ASEAN participants.

“There are those who might want to tour Central Luzon, so we are identifying areas we can recommend as tourism destinations,” he noted.

Earlier, Budget Sec. Benjamin Diokno said that aside from the heads of ASEAN member states, the organizing committee plans to invite the chiefs of US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and China for the 50th anniversary of ASEAN.

The Office of President had sought a P15 billion capital spending for the ASEAN Summit 2017 hosting.

Diokno said “a big chunk” of the P15-billion budget will be used for car rentals for the dignitaries.

Other than car rentals, Diokno told Philippine senators that most of the earmarked budget will be “spent domestically. In hotels, restaurants, local travel.”

“We might even expand the number of visitors. So there is the president of the US, [prime minister of] Canada, and others,” Diokno said.

CDC, CIAC hit on hot air balloon fest

By Ashley Manabat

CLARK FREEPORT — The Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) has once again assailed the planned holding of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) set here on February 9 to 12.

PGKM chair Ruperto Cruz is now calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to intervene for the sake of the development of the Clark International Airport (CIA) which he promised in his SONA.

Cruz described as “callous” the insistence of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) to hold the PIHABF at this freeport especially at this time when more flights are starting to come in to the CIA.

He said it is also both “dangerous and a hindrance” to the development of the CIA to hold the PIHABF here.

Cruz noted that the holding of the PIHABF will require a special permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) which will then issue a corresponding “notice to airmen (NOTAM)” to the CIA affecting normal flight operations at the Clark airport.

Flight diversion and delays of at least two hours are expected to be experienced by airline passengers of the CIA due to the NOTAM.

The PGKM has time and again assailed the holding of the PIHABF here citing the development of the CIA to attract more flights.

“We cannot compromise the development of the Clark airport just to give way to the hot air balloon fiesta,” Cruz said.

“There is already a place for hot air balloons in Lubao which will not affect flight operations in Clark because it is 33 nautical miles away from the Clark airport. Why insists on holding it Clark where normal flight operations will be affected,” Cruz pointed out.

The PGKM chair also assailed CIAC OIC Alex Cauguiran for allowing the holding of the PIHABF.

Cruz said the PIHABF is a private entity and should not be subsidized by government funds.

“It is an organized corruption,” Cruz said adding that the PIHABF is a “milking cow” of corrupt officials.

Cruz also lambasted Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade for his continuous disregard for the development of the Clark airport since he assumed the presidency of the CDC in 2012 where he allowed the establishments of the Capilion project and Honda Cars Philippines at the entrance of the freeport.

Published reports said “Over Two Decades of Flying High” will be the theme of the balloon festival this here year.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) launched the PIHBF in Clark in 1993, two years after the devastation brought about by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo to generate attention from both domestic and international entities that will invest and transform the former military base into a bustling economic hub.

NLEX snaps skid, outlasts TNT in Pampanga

By Denison Rey A. Dalupang (philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines — The NLEX Road Warriors were finally able to put their losing skid to a halt after defeating TNT KaTropa, 110-98 , in a rare PBA affair at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga on Saturday night.

The Road Warriors, who were only able to win secure their second victory in seven outings, banked on the services of Carlo Lastimosa, who finished with 23 points. Sean Anthony and Kevin Alas provided the added scoring punches with 13 and 12 markers, respectively.

"It's a big relief to win after a five-game losing streak. It's more special because it's against a contender. But it's just one win for us, it's a long way for us," said new NLEx head coach Yeng Guiao, a native of Pampanga.

"It's a good start for the new year. We hope this sets the tone," he added. Close Ad X

The win puts the struggling Road Warriors a notch higher the 1-5 Mahindra Enforcers.

The KaTropa, who also have a new coach in Nash Racela, relied on Jayson Castro, who finished with 17 points. Kris Rosales and Mo Tautuaa both chimed in 15 to keep the game within reach. Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

"We need to keep on improving. We still need fine-tune our system, and our culture," Guiao said.

"It's the probably the law of averages, 'no?" he offered. "If you play badly for five games, one of these days darating din yung maganda mong laro. It just happened that it was tonight."

The Road Warriors will face GlobalPort next, followed by Phoenix. They will end the elimination round with back-to-back sessions against Mahindra and Barangay Ginebra.

Clark, Subic prep up for ASEAN 2017

By Ashley Manabat

CLARK FREEPORT – Preparations are now thick for the holding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit’s 50th anniversary here in November as reported by Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director Ronnie Tiotuico.

During the media forum “Talk Widus” organized by the Pampanga Press Club at the Widus Hotel and Casino here on Wednesday, Tiotuico said tourism seminars as well as enhancements for safety and security are now starting to be conducted as initiated by the ASEAN National Organizing Committee (NOC).

He said hotels and similar establishments in this freeport and Angeles City are being prepped up for the anticipated 4,000 attendees of the ASEAN at 50 Summit.

But the final venue of the ASEAN related summits will still be finalized next month after the controversial Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino here was ruled out as the venue by the NOC, Tiotuico said.

He said if the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBEC) in Subic will be finally chosen as the venue, the DOT will shift its focus there. Tiotuico said SBEC can accommodate up to 10,000 persons.

However, Tiotuico emphasized that “preand post-tours as well as airport assistance” will be their main focus during the ASEAN summits.

“Starting next month and almost every month, ASEAN related summits will be held leading to the ASEAN Summit at the SMX Convention Center in Manila in November,” he said.

Meanwhile, it will be the third time the country will be hosting the regional meet, after it was held in Manila in 1987 under President Cory Aquino and in Cebu in 2007 under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The bloc’s chairmanship rotates annually, in alphabetical order of the names of the 10 member-states.

President Duterte has announced that the ASEAN 2017 theme will be: “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.”

Among the most anticipated talk during the summit will be the ASEAN’s pronouncement on the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in July, rejecting China’s claims on the South China Sea.

It was reported that there was no mention of this in the chairman’s statement issued after the two-day summit in Laos.

ASEAN leaders, as in previous summits, expressed concern over developments in the South China Sea and called for peaceful resolution of disputes.

2017 marks the ASEAN’s 50th founding anniversary. The Philippines is one of its five founding members, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Aside from the summits, the Philippines will also be staging events to celebrate the anniversary.

As for Tiotuico, this could probably be his last assignment prior to his retirement in July when he turns 65.

Tiotuico began his storied career in the tourism department during the time of Tourism Secretary Jose Aspiras under the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It was during that time that he became part of the holding of the Miss Universe Pageant here won by Spain’s Amparo Muñoz.

AUFMC opens PETSCAN facility

(Punto! Central Luzon)

THE Angeles University Foundation Medical Center (AUFMC), in partnership with K-Health Corporation, has recently inaugurated its Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography (PET-CT) facility in Angeles City, making it the fourth in the Philippines and first outside Manila.

In line with its mission to provide high quality and cost efficient health care services to Central and Northern Luzon, AUFMC now offers more relevant and more accurate molecular diagnostic information to patients with cancer, heart disease, neurologic conditions and a variety of other disorders. The facility is led by Eric Cruz, MD, SPSNM,CCD, and staff ed with highly experienced and well trained physicians who are board certified in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine.

For details and inquiries, please contact Ms. Amii Tayag at (0942) 449 - 2548.

DOT prepares for Asean summit

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT --- The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Central Luzon is now preparing for the upcoming ministerial meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Clark in November this year.

DOT Central Luzon Director Ronnie Tiotuico said that the regional tourism office has started conducting safety and security seminars in different various hotels in Clark and in nearby Angeles City.

“Marami na kaming naka-line up na seminars, number one yung safety and security in Clark and Angeles City.

Kasi we expect some 4,000 foreign visitors during the Asean summit,” he said.

Tiotuico said that hotels, especially the five-star ones, are expected to have their own security measures.

But Tiotuico said that the government is looking for another venue following the closure of Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino.

The Fontana Convention Center, which can accommodate 6,000 individuals is still the preference, he said.

The Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), which can accommodate 5,000 persons, is also being eyed as the venue of the Asean meeting. “They are looking at both places (Subic and Clark). Hindi pa final ang venue. Io-occular pa yan,” Tiotuico said.

Members of the Asean national organizing committee are coming over to look at the situation in Clark and Subic, according to the DOT official.

The Asean summit delegates will visit tourist spots in Clark and Subic and other parts of Central Luzon including Mount Pinatubo and Puning Hot Springs in Barangay Sapang Bato in Angeles City, he added.

Asean is composed of Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar or Burma, Cambodia, and Brunei.

Angeles City council okays PHP1.7-B budget for 2017

(PNA), LAP/ZST/MDDR

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Jan. 3 (PNA) -- The 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved this city’s budget for fiscal year 2017 amounting to PHP1,762,392,369.

“The Executive Budget is the fiscal translation of the city government’s initiative and programs for the year 2017. With this, the city will be able to meet the challenges of bringing our city to greater heights and further growth,” said Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno on Tuesday.

The 2017 budget is 6 percent or PHP194 million higher than the previous year’s budget of PHP1.57 billion.

Based on the appropriation report from the City Budget Office, the budget for this year includes the increased salary rate of permanent and regular employees as mandated by Executive Order no. 201, signed by former President Benigno Aquino on February 19, 2016.

But the main bulk of the approved budget is concentrated on the delivery of basic public and social services.

The allocation also underscores the many recommended priority projects for the physical, environmental and community advancements of the city.

According to the members of the Local Finance Committee (LFC), 48 percent or PHP802 million of the total budget will be derived from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), while the bulk of the budget will be coming from locally generated sources.

"We are elated to report that Angeles City is still independent from IRA. This means that our increased budget was attained through the city’s intensified revenue generation scheme, not only in the collection of business permits, fees and licenses but also from the improved assessment and collection of real property taxes,” said Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.


Among the front line city government offices, the Ospital ning Angeles (ONA) garnered the biggest appropriation for the year with a whooping PHP142 million.

The appropriation will greatly sustain the new and existing health programs of the city as well as the improvement and the high-demand operation of the hospital and its services.

This will also facilitate the modernization of ONA as it applies for a Tertiary Level hospital accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH).

The City Engineer’s Office (CEO) came second with a total appropriation of PHP103 million, City Health Office (CHO) with PHP92 million, and the City College of Angeles (CCA) with PHP64 million.

Under the city government’s special programs, an amount of PHP140 million is allotted for the intensification of the local government’s Solid Waste Management Program.

A total appropriation of PHP160.5 million will be allotted under the 20 percent Development Fund which will aid the development of the city’s Cultural Center; Enhancement of the Global Information System (GIS); Physical Development; Improvement of the Pampang Market; and Watershed Development Projects among others.

"With this appropriation report, we can say that health and social services, infrastructure development, environmental sustainability and education are our priorities this year,” said Mayor Pamintuan.

“These allocations will help us accomplish all the programs and projects that our administration had promised under the Contract with the Angeleños,” he added.

Making staycations extra rewarding at Quest Hotel

(Punto! Central Luzon)

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE - So you’re up in your quaint little hotel room at Quest Hotel, surfing the web and mindlessly rummaging through the cable TV’s channel. Your meetings not up until tomorrow, but you’re bored out of your mind. So you begin to think, “What’s there to do here?”

Hotel guests can now enjoy the following discounts whenever they’re booked at Quest Hotel and Conference Center - Clark!

For you who didn’t bring their swimsuits and gym clothes, they could opt to get their drink on at Charley’s Bar, the hotel’s high end bar which serves colorful craft cocktails, local and imported beers and your favorite liquors.

For individual guests, craft cocktails which cost Php 280 are on buy one take one. You can also get a free local beer, worth Php 180, alongside your order of Charley’s juicy, premium grade Angus burger.

Groups visiting Charley’s can get a free pizza with a minimum order of 4 cocktails. This saves you Php 390 for the deal. Fancy a spirit or a bottle of wine, perhaps? Give in and get 30% off the second bottle.

Feeling hungry? Satisfy those hunger pangs at the hotel’s all-day buffet restaurant, the famed Café Mequeni. Whether it’s fresh and leafy salads, cold cuts, cheeses, the best variety of fish, chicken or meat, or your absolute favorite (and ours too!), the delightful, flavorful but light, avocado cheesecake, there always something for everyone.

If you’ve got the room reserved for yourself, you can get a 40% off the breakfast buffet price, reducing it to Php 480. If you’re in the mood for meat though, ordering steak or lamb chops can also net you a free glass of house wine or local beer. The free drink also extends to those who opt for the dinner buffet.

For couples or groups staying in, you can enjoy a 50% discount on the dinner buffet, making the fabulous buffet spread all the more satisfying.

If you’re simply looking to dine at Café Mequeni, buffet lunch is priced at Php 700 only, from Monday to Saturday. From Sunday to Wednesday, you can Eat for 2, with the buy one, take one promo, while from Thursday to Saturday, you can bring all three of your best buddies to avail the 3+1 promo. Dinner is regularly priced at Php 1,250. All these promos are valid until the end of the year.

Looking for a reason for a staycation? Quest Hotel - Clark also brings in the holiday cheer with its latest packages for the Christmas and New Year, including a New Year’s Eve Countdown party.

For more information, you may contact the hotel’s Sales and Marketing Department at +63 (045) 599-8000. You can also visit the hotel website at clark.questhotels.com or follow updates on Facebook and Instagram @questhotelclark. For reservations at our food and beverage outlets, please call +63 928 194 3128 (Smart) or +63 916 582 3849 (Globe).

Businessman expresses support to new RDC-3 chairman

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY --- A businessman has expressed support to Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan who was recently appointed chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC-3).

Rene Romero, vice chair of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (PamCham) and a former representative of the RDC Central Luzon, said Pamintuan as the council’s head will be “very effective’ in working for the development of Region III and the whole country.

Pamintuan’s experience in governance and positions in various government agencies will help a lot in his new task, according to Romero.

President Duterte recently appointed Pamintuan as the new chairperson of the Regional Development Council in Region 3.

The President’s letter to Pamintuan dated December 12, 2016 stated “Pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, you are hereby appointed Chairperson, Regional Development Council, Region III, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

Duterte also stated that the RDC chairperson shall serve for a term of three years which shall coincide with his (Pamintuan’s) regular term as local elective official. Pamintuan replaced former Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M.

SY-Alvarado, who was appointed RDC Region III chairman by former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino in May 2014.

Pamintuan is also the president of the League of Cities of Philippines (LCP) and adviser of the Philippine Government (GRP) peace panel.

Angeles City Communications Officer Jay Pelayo said that Pamintuan’s appointment as RDC Central Luzon chairperson “adds laurel to the Angelenos and Kapampangans.”

One of Pamintuan’s aims is to provide the mayors in the region representation in the development council, Pelayo said.

“According to the LCP President, his aims is to make the mayors ‘have a say’ in coordination with their respective governors in Central Luzon.”

“The mayors are the front liners in the community and they know the needs of their respective jurisdictions and they are also the ones who should convey to their governor what projects should be prioritized,” Pelayo added.

Retrieved from "https://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Angeles_City_News_January_2017&oldid=986187"