Angeles City News June 2012

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Clark cited anew as among ‘Global Free Zones of the Future’

By (PNA)

LAP/ZST/ps


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, June 30 (PNA) – The Clark Freeport has been cited anew as one of the top global freeport zones in the world. Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Chairman and Officer-In-Charge Eduardo Oban, Jr. said this Freeport again landed on the pages of Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) Magazine as one of the top global free zones of the future for year 2012-2013. In 2010, fDi Magazine, published by the prestigious London-based The Financial Times Business Group, has recognized Clark and its potentials as a world-class economic haven. This year, Oban said the Clark Freeport ranked number eight in the magazine’s list of global freeport zones in the world with Dubai Airport Free Zone (Dafza) topping this year’s list followed by UAE-based Dubai International Financial Centre in second place and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone in China for the third spot. The other companies in the top 10 list are Iskandar in Malaysia, DuBiotech in UAE, Tanger Free Zone in Morocco, Freeport of Ventspils in Latvia, Chittagong Export Processing Zone in Bangladesh, and UAE-based Dubai Media City. The Clark Freeport also ranked third in fDi Magazine’s top five best airport zones in the world. First on the list is Dubai Airport Free Zone followed by Tanger Free Zone in Morocco. The fourth spot was awarded to Mauritius Freeport in Mauritius while tied in fifth place are Salalah Free Zone in Oman and Bahrain International Airport in Bahrain. The magazine said at least 600 free zones across 120 countries were invited by fDi to complete a survey requesting both qualitative and quantitative data regarding their free zones. The information collected was set under five categories: incentives, facilities, cost-effectiveness, transportation and best FDI promotion.

Old Dutchman found dead in Angeles

By Bernard Galang


ANGELES City -- A 65-year-old Dutchman was found dead in the garage of a house in Bgy. Balibago here before midnight Wednesday.

Chief Insp. Luisito Tan, Police Station 4 commander, identified the foreigner as Johannes Franciseus Maria Noordhuizen whose body was found by the housekeeper seated on a chair at the garage of his residence on Surla St., Balibago, at around 11:45 p.m.

The housekeeper sought the help of the police after noticing that Noordhuizen was no longer breathing.

An examination by Dr. Verona Guevarra of the City Health Office showed the Dutchman died of natural death.

Police said they did not find any sign of foul play on the death of the foreigner.

Philippines to lift Scarborough fishing ban

By Ding Cervantes, The Philippine Star


CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines – The Philippines will lift on July 15 the fishing ban it imposed last May at the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off the coast of Zambales, half a month earlier than the scheduled lifting of a similar ban imposed by China.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) national director Asis Perez yesterday said the fishing ban had nothing to do with the territorial dispute with China over Panatag.

China was the first to announce the fishing ban in May, followed by the Philippines.

President Aquino approved the fishing ban at Panatag and surrounding areas to protect marine resources and Filipino fishermen.

BFAR officials said the fishing ban was also meant to conserve fishery resources and replenish fish stock.

The officials said the seasonal fishing ban has been imposed since 1999, usually from May 16 to Aug. 1.

Perez said BFAR would lift the ban and allow Filipinos to fish at Panatag Shoal by July 15.

China’s fishing ban is until Aug. 1 and covers nearly the entire South China Sea. It is meant ostensibly to curb overfishing in waters China claims as its territory.

Parts of the sea are also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The area is a vital shipping lane, and is believed to be rich in oil and gas.

Perez said the fishing ban was merely a conservation measure. He warned against the occurrence of another fishkill that hit Bolinao, Pangasinan last May where some 70 tons of bangus (milkfish) were killed due to the drop of oxygen level in local waters.

Perez admitted, however, that conservational fish bans in 13 other parts of the country were lifted last February and that the Panatag Shoal area is now the only one still with fishing ban in effect.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed yesterday that no vessel of any kind was within the Panatag lagoon.

Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain earlier urged fishermen to stay away from the shoal being claimed by both China and the Philippines.

“I am personally urging our fisherfolk to avoid fishing within the area so as not to ignite the territorial controversy,” Lacbain said.

Lt. Commander Armand Balilo of the PCG said no vessel could be found as of yesterday noon in Panatag.

China was reported to have pulled more than 20 fishing boats out of the lagoon of Panatag.

Lacbain noted that last year, even before the territorial dispute between China and the Philippines over Panatag flared up, the town of Masinloc passed a resolution affirming that the shoal referred to as Bajo de Masinloc was part of its territory.

“I suppose the resolution was passed because the shoal is also near Cabangan and Palauig, although the towns never really had any territorial dispute,” he said.

Panatag Shoal is located 124 nautical miles from the nearest base point in Zambales.

It is within the Philippines’200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone as provided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to which China is a signatory.

A standoff ensued on April 10 after Chinese maritime surveillance ships barred the Philippine Navy from arresting Chinese fishermen who had engaged in illegal fishing and harvesting of endangered marine species like giant clams and sharks.

The Philippines has protested the Chinese vessels’action but China insisted that it has sovereignty over the area.

Last week, President Aquino directed two Philippine ships to pull out of Panatag Shoal due to bad weather.

Ordered to return to port were a Coast Guard ship and a BFAR vessel that symbolized the country’claim over the area.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said they would evaluate whether the ships would be sent back to the shoal once the weather improves.

The DFA had also claimed that China would also pull its ships but this was later denied by Beijing.

Beijing’denial dashed hopes that the standoff, which triggered fresh tension in the West Philippine Sea, was nearing its end.

Aquino on Monday said the government is ready to send ships back to the shoal if Chinese vessels remain there.

On June 20, an alleged Chinese vessel accidentally rammed a local fishing boat in Bolinao, Pangasinan, north of the disputed Panatag Shoal, killing one and leaving four others missing.

The PCG continued its search and rescue operations for the four missing fishermen of AXL John.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said the search and rescue operations for the four fishermen would continue until Saturday.

The Philippine Navy, on the other hand, said at least 90 foreign vessels might have been in the area at the time of the accident. The Navy sought the assistance of various international maritime organizations to identify the foreign ship, one of them believed to be the Hong Kong-registered M/V Peach Mountain.

An accident

Malacañang yesterday said the initial investigation into the incident showed a foreign vessel accidentally sideswiped the Filipino fishing boat after its anchor snapped.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also said there was nothing wrong with the pronouncements of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief Benito Ramos that the incident was accidental, not intentional or deliberate.

Lacierda said based on the affidavit of the surviving boat captain, Emedio Balmores, it was when their fishing boat got separated from the payaw (anchor) that an unidentified vessel with a Hong Kong insignia passed but did not ram them as earlier reported.

The vessel, Gazmin pointed out, did not bother to stop to rescue the drifting fishermen.

In the course of the search and rescue for the missing fishermen, there were three others found by authorities drifting at sea.

“But these fishermen are not related to the incident with the Hong Kong-registered vessel. But, just to let you know, these are lives which are just as important... apparently they were also stranded at sea on account of the storm,” Lacierda said.

He said this was also the reason why the government was carefully evaluating the weather and other conditions before deciding to redeploy vessels to Panatag Shoal.

“The investigation is still ongoing as to the identity of the vessel. That has not yet been (established)… so what is clear is that the rope from the anchor (snapped) and (the boat) was swept to the path of the (foreign vessel)… But, as to the identity of the vessel, that’s still ongoing. The investigation is still ongoing,” Lacierda said.

He said the government would consult maritime experts as to how to deal with the foreign vessel once identified.

Lacierda also took the opportunity to highlight the fact that vessels of the PCG had been deployed regularly in the area to protect fishermen as well as the maritime and environmental resources of the country, not because of the standoff with China over Panatag Shoal.

“Prior to the order to leave the Bajo de Masinloc (or Panatag due to bad weather), we have always provided vessels there. They do it on an alternate basis. So there is no basis with respect to redeployment. There’s always a vessel either of the Coast Guard or of the BFAR. So we have done that for several weeks prior to our decision to leave Panatag Shoal due to bad weather conditions,” he said.

Lacierda said the PCG and BFAR vessels had stayed in Panatag Shoal for sometime, depending on the situation.

“We have done that. I would have to ask the Coast Guard and the BFAR but, as far as we know, we have done that ever since the standoff until the time when the President ordered them to be removed from the shoal due to weather conditions. There’s always been presence of vessels either by the Coast Guard or by the BFAR,” he said.

On the other hand, Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said they have to identify with certainty the foreign vessel involved in the accident from the volumes of maritime data that started to come in.

Pama said the real culprit could be one of the dozens of foreign vessels transiting through the busy sea lane, being a maritime highway, as MV Peach Mountain was far from the point of impact.

Pama though remarked that other factors, like favorable winds and sea current, could have also increased the speed of Peach Mountain into the area.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), on the other hand, provided financial and livelihood assistance to the families of the rescued fishermen.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said they initially extended P5,000 financial assistance and family food packs to the families of the eight fishermen.

She said the DSWD-Region I and the local government of Bolinao agreed to provide livelihood assistance to the affected fishermen.

A stress debriefing session was also conducted at the Office of the Mayor to help the fishermen cope with the effects of the traumatic incident, Soliman said. Subsequent sessions will be conducted to ensure that their psychosocial functioning will be restored, she added.

Soliman said two of the fishermen are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the government’s conditional cash transfer program. – Aurea Calica, Jaime Laude, Helen Flores, Teddy Molina

Lazatin to run for mayor

By Reynaldo G. Navales


ANGELES CITY – Representative Carmelo Lazatin (1st District) revealed Tuesday his decision to run for mayor in this city.

Lazatin’s camp said the sudden pronouncement came after the alleged withdrawal of support of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan to the lawmaker’s previous re-election bid.

Irish Calaguas, Lazatin’s senior adviser for political affairs, said Pamintuan is reportedly supporting Vice Governor Joseller Guiao, who recently aired his congressional bid in the said district.

“We don’t want to be ‘double crossed’ again,” Calaguas said.

Pamintuan reportedly supported former Mabalacat Mayor Catalino Domingo in the 1995 polls instead of Lazatin, who is a supposed ally, according to Calaguas.

In 1998, Pamintuan again shifted support to Councilor Max Sangil instead of Lazatin, Calaguas added.

Lazatin and Pamintuan are set to meet today, Wednesday, to discuss the issue but Calaguas said this won’t change the congressman’s decision.

Lazatin also hopes that Pamintuan will change his plan for a re-election and will consider running for congressman instead.

Supporters of both camps see this as a win-win solution.

Sun.Star Pampanga tried to get Pamintuan’s side but the mayor is still out of the country.

Deo Sambilay, of the City Information Office, said the mayor is still working out the second shipment of medical equipment and medicines at the World Medical Relief Foundation.

Angeles City celebrates Arbor Day

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, June 26 (PIA) -- Angeles City joined the nation yesterday in celebrating Arbor Day with tree planting activities in all of its villages.

“The revival of the celebration throughout the country could be our contribution to the preservation and conservation of our environment to at least minimize the effects of global warming due to climate change,” Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting said.

“The protection and preservation of the environment is a responsibility and obligation not only of the city government and other government agencies but of every individual,” she added.

Almost a hundred volunteers coming from different sectors of society joined in the said celebration, where they planted bamboo and mahogany trees along the embankment of the Abacan river in Barangay Pandan.

In the barangay level, residents in each of the area were tasked to plant ornamental, vegetables, and fruit-bearing trees in their respective backyards.

They were joined by the Task Force 1 Million Trees and the City Environment and Natural Resources offices that spearheaded the program.

Also, several schools in different parts of the city also joined the event where they conducted Arbor Day programs focused on tree planting and preservation of the environment.

Presidential Proclamation No. 396 urged for the “active participation of all government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, private sector, schools, civil society groups and the citizenry in tree planting activity and declaring June 25, 2003 as Philippines Arbor day.” (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

Leyte murder suspect arrested in Balibago

By Reynaldo G. Navales


ANGELES CITY -- One of the suspects in a triple murder case in Leyte was arrested by officials of Barangay Balibago recently.

Clarinda Rellama of Santa Ana, La Paz, who was listed as a most wanted person in Leyte, was arrested here on Friday, said Balibago chairman Rodelio Mamac.

Rellama was arrested by virtue of an arrest order issued by Buenaventura Pajaron of the Regional Trial Court in Abuyog, Leyte on July 3, 2001, Mamac said.

Rellama and a certain Ruel Refugia were ordered arrested in connection with the case.

An informant told barangay officials that Rellama, who was staying in the village for months now, had a standing warrant of arrest.

Mamac said they conducted surveillance against the suspect for at least one month.

She is now detained at the Angeles City Police Office.

Angeles city trains employees on Ecological Solid Waste Management

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, June 24 (PIA) -- The Angeles City government recently trained all its employees on Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) in partnership with the Mother Earth Foundation (MEF) to intensify the implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said “we targeted the first participants of the training which is our employees and officials by practicing at the city hall compound itself where we are working, the city government is hopeful that it can demonstrate to the entire constituency that achieving zero waste is possible.”

“And our employees will be our ‘models’ towards our aim in this undertaking,” he added.

“This ESWM training will trickle down to the barangays but first, we have to make sure first that all city employees adhere to zero waste by practicing waste segregation,” says MEF head Grate, who facilitated the training.

RA 9003 aims to ensure the protection of public health and environment; utilize environmentally-sound methods that maximize the utilization of valuable resources and encourage resources conservation and recovery

It also set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through source reduction and waste minimization measures, including composing, recycling, re-use, recovery, green charcoal process, and others, before collection, treatment and disposal in appropriate and environmentally sound solid waste management facilities in accordance with ecologically sustainable development principles among others. (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

VM calls for private partners for climate change programs

By Ian Ocampo Flora


CLARK FREEPORT — Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting called on private sector representatives and local government officials to entertain public Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) projects that are geared towards climate change mitigation.

This was Cabigting’s statement during the recent 4th Conference of Private Sector Representatives (PSRs) of Regional Development Councils in the country held at the Holiday Inn here Saturday.

The event, attended by private and government stakeholders, seeks to serve as an avenue for exchange of views among PSRs.

Cabigting, who welcomed the participants during the event, said that private sector leaders play a vital role in the development of programs that aims to address concerns about climate change.

She said private sector leaders can take the initiative of spearheading green programs on reforestation, garbage to energy projects, go-green business ventures among others.

“The private sector can partner with government with these projects which we believe can greatly boost the initiatives for climate change mitigation in our respective regions,” Cabigting said.

Cabigting added that the private sector can also start the initiative in taking climate change issues as part of their respective corporate social responsibility program.

Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) vice chairman Rene Romero said Cabigting’s proposals are very timely and would surely be welcomed by the private sector.

In Pampanga, Romero said PamCham had been continually urging businesses to include environmental advocacies as part of their corporate social responsibility programs.

However, the private sector here has yet to partner with any government agency or local government unit on climate change programs or any sustainable profit oriented green project for local communities.

BIR files charges worth P46.6 million against Puregold’s fruit and vegetable supplier

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


The Bureau of Internal Revenue today filed tax charges worth P46.6 million at the Department of Justice against Alvin V. Esguerra fruit and vegetable supplier for the Puregold group of companies and his auditor. Esguerra is a fruit and vegetable dealer in Angeles City, Pampanga. Based on BIR’s investigation, Esguerra has been underdeclaring its sales to the BIR. For instance, Puregold Price Club Inc. alone bought P43.97 million from Fruiveg Marketing in 2010 and P61.41 million in 2011.Esguerra, however, only declared P2.7 million in taxable income for the two-year period. Other Puregold companies also bought from Esguerra. Puregold Jr. Supermarket Inc. bought P20.91 million in 2010 and P32.77 million in 2011. Puregold Duty Free Inc. bought P531,130.48 from in 2011. And, Puregold Duty Free Subic Inc. bought P2.13 million from Fruiveg in 2011. The BIR also filed charges against Esguerra’s auditor, Celia P. Mirasol-Gueco, an independent certified public accountant who certified Esguerra’s financial statements without any qualifying opinion. The BIR said Esguerra violated sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code or attempted to evade taxes and failed to supply the BIR with correct and accurate information If found guilty, Esguerra faces for taxable years 2010 and 2011. Based on Esguerra’s sales to the Puregold companies, Esguerra should have paid P20.73 million in income tax in 2010 and P6.81 million in 2011 instead of P2,122.15 and P765,390.66, respectively. a fine of at least P30,000 and imprisonment of two to four years for violating section 254 of the National Internal Revenue Code and a fine of at least P10,000 and imprisonment of another one to three years for violating section 255 of the NIRC.###

Angeles City distributes 3,000 PhilHealth cards

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, June 21 (PIA) -- Thousands of indigent Angeleños will benefit from the recent distribution of PhilHealth cards by the city government.

“The recipients include barangay officials and health workers and also indigent families,” Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said.

He added that this will be a great medical care help to the less fortunate, because they can be enrolled to PhilHealth without paying anything.

With the cards, the poverty-stricken families of Angeles will be able secure several medical and health care benefits that range from allowances for hospital rooms and board fees, drugs and medicines, x-ray and other laboratory processes, as well as allowances for professional fees of attending physicians, the mayor said.

The distribution of health cards is in consonance with the city government’s continuing advocacy on health and is one of the priority projects being undertaken in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

Noy urged: Revoke GMA order on Pampanga Bay reclamation

By Ding Cervantes


ANGELES CITY – At least three groups have asked President Aquino to revoke what they said was a “midnight” administrative order issued by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo two weeks before she stepped down from the presidency in 2010.

Administrative Order (AO) 288 signed by Arroyo on June 10, 2010, authorized a reclamation project in Pampanga Bay that the groups said would cause massive flooding in Central Luzon and even parts of Metro Manila.

The AO created an inter-agency body that would facilitate the comprehensive study and planning of an integrated development project in Pampanga Bay.

In a joint statement, the Koalisyon Kontra Kombersyon ng Manila Bay (KKKMB), the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and the Anakpawis party-list group said AO 288 “places Pampanga Bay as potential site for a reclamation project covering an area of 2,500 hectares.”

“Malacañang should not honor a midnight administrative order which now threatens the livelihood of marginalized fisherfolk and poor farmers along Pampanga Bay going through the mouth of Manila Bay,” the groups said.

They said the AO involved a plan to construct dikes along two major river systems “to define the boundaries of river banks and create land strips with an average width of not less than 100 meters and extending from the town proper of Lubao and Sasmuan towns up to the Pampanga Bay.”

“The dikes were also to provide areas for road right of way and for human settlements of mixed land uses following a linear type of development,” the groups said.

The AO did not cite any flood-control consideration in the project, they said.

The AO identified government agencies such as the Philippine Reclamation Authority and the provincial and municipal governments of Pampanga as the project’s implementing agencies.

Named as “support agencies” were the departments of Public Works and Highways, Environment and Natural Resources, Tourism and Health, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Philippine Ports Authority.

In their statement, the three protesting groups warned that the reclamation project “will result not only in demolition and destruction of livelihood and fishing villages, but will also cause a great deluge in Central Luzon.”

“The reclamation is basically an obstruction. It will submerge Pampanga, Bulacan and several portions of the National Capital Region in times of heavy rains brought about by frequent typhoons and tropical depression,” they said.

They added: “The government is inviting a major catastrophe with its reclamation project in Pampanga Bay. It promises juicy commissions for government officials but will bring disaster to the people and the environment in Central Luzon.”

At least 20 million people living in areas near Manila Bay, both in Central Luzon and Metro Manila, will be affected, they added.

Pamalakaya and Anakpawis said they would seek a congressional inquiry into AO 288 and are even considering petitioning the Supreme Court for a writ of kalikasan against the project.

Pamalakaya said 80 houses in Macabebe and 562 houses in Masantol, both in Pampanga, and 12 houses in Hagonoy, Bulacan were recently demolished apparently in connection with the project.

Pamintuan is finalist in 2012 World Mayor award

By Reynaldo G. Navales


ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan was recently voted and included in the list of 25 mayors from across the globe who will compete for the 2012 World Mayor award.

This was gleaned in the shortlist posted Monday by the World Mayor Foundation on its official website.

“This is really an unexpected result. As what I have said, being long listed to receive this award is already a heart-warming acknowledgment. But being one of the 25 finalists to vie to be the next World Mayor is extremely overwhelming,” Pamintuan said.

The World Mayor 2012 shortlisted five mayors from North America, four mayors from Latin America, seven mayors from Europe, two mayors from Australasia and Africa, and five from Asia.

Mayors from Israel, Indonesia, South Korea, and Turkey, including Pamintuan from the Philippines comprised the Top 5 finalists from Asia.

“I guess the reason why we were able to get this far is that people see what we have given in honor of the people of Angeles,” Pamintuan added.

Qualifications

Upon assumption into office, Pamintuan prioritized the intensification of programs concerning community and public health, quality and affordable education, and environmental preservation.

Pamintuan was able to establish the first Renal Care Unit (RCU) in the city offering affordable medication for people suffering from renal diseases.

With 19 dialysis machines and a total of 2,427 treatments served since its formal operation in less than a year, it is now believed to be the largest dialysis center in the Philippines.

Pamintuan was also able to institutionalize the City College of Angeles (CCA), offering market-driven courses catering to indigent student Angeleños who wish to continue their education.

The city mayor has also encouraged various sectors of the city to take part in the sustenance of the environmental resources of Angeles through initiative programs such as Task Force: One Million Trees and Sagip Sapang Balen.

Pamintuan has also inked several pacts with different organizations, like Mother Earth Foundation Inc., with concern to environmental management of solid wastes that encourages the city’s 33 barangays to build their respective Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to lessen waste and gain income for their villages through re-use of recyclable materials.

“These efforts and best practices gained praises and commendations from the local and national, public and private entities and are now being eyed by other Local Government Units (LGU) as worthy of emulation,” the mayor said.

“With the Seal of Good Housekeeping from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), we were able to prove that we offer quality, admirable and transparent governance to the people. I believe this has brought back the trust of our fellow businessmen and stakeholders back to the city government,” Pamintuan stressed.

Despite the decrease in the city’s internal revenue allotment (IRA) from the National Government, Pamintuan was still able to increase Angeles City’s local revenue for the succeeding years. From P847 Million in 2009, it even went up to P1 Billion for the year 2011.

Testimonies

On the World Mayor website, several testimonies from voters highlight why Pamintuan deserves to receive the coveted prize.

“Mayor Ed Pamintuan serves as a mayor of Angeles City following an administration full of corruption, graft and grandstanding. Upon taking his place as mayor, Mayor Ed Pamintuan took the city and put it on the right path. Gone were the day of graft and corruption, the city is once again headed for prosperity,” says one of the testimonials on the World Mayor’s site.

“Mayor Ed Pamintuan has all the qualities of a true leader worth emulating. He is very kind and truly cares to his peolpe. He is the only Mayor in the city who made all the improvements for the city for the benefit of his people to have a good life, not for his own interest. Mayor Ed is a role model…,” said a certain Rossen G from the Philippines.

“We owe this back to our citizens here in Angeles. I believe, with the services and programs that we are implementing, through unity and cooperation, the long-time dream of having a safe and abundant place to live in is becoming a reality- one thing I ever wished for the Angeleños,” Pamintuan concluded.

World Mayor Project

The World Mayor Prize is awarded every two years to a mayor who has made outstanding contributions to his/her community and has developed a vision for urban living and working that is relevant to towns and cities across the world.

The project also aims to raise the profile of mayors worldwide and honor those who have served their communities well and contributed to the well-being of cities nationally and internationally.

City college classes start on June 18

By Vic on 2012-06-05 02:00:48 EDT


ANGELES CITY – A total of 400 student-Angeleños will troop to the temporary campus site of the City College of Angeles (CCA) on June 18 for the first semester of academic year 2012-2013. Averell Laquindanum, president of the CCA, said that they are making the final preparations for the first day of school at the Angeles City Library, where the college will temporarily be housed. The city library currently has 4 lecture rooms where the first batch of students can have their classes. Laquindanum confirmed that they have come up with a scheduling plan this semester to accommodate all the students of the college. “There will be a total of ten block sections that will take up classes in the morning, afternoon and until 9:00 o’clock in the evening,” he said. Campus facilities and administrative offices Apart from the classrooms, the temporary campus site has also different facilities for the students to use which will supplement their studies and specific courses. “This includes our computer laboratory, the library, speech laboratory and a tourism promotion & tour guiding laboratory that resembles a front desk as seen in different hotels, functions and establishments,” Laquindanum added. “These facilities guarantee our students’ employability even after the 1st semester, where they can acquire a certification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) stating that they have undergone the appropriate training and are equipped with the core competencies which will match the needs of the community – more specifically the locators in Clark,” he explained. The temporary site also holds several essential administrative offices such as a dean’s office, registrar’s office, office of the prefect of discipline, faculty lounge, office of student affairs, and dental & medical clinic, among others. High expectations Upon its inception, the City College of Angeles has received much praise and support from various educational authorities and organizations, including the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, who also acts as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the CCA confirms that the college won’t compete with the different educational institutions and universities in the city. “The city college will offer different programs and alternative courses which will specifically target the immediate needs of the community,” Pamintuan said. He added that, next year, they expect that the college would admit 1,400 students in the three-storey building located at Barangay Pampang. “There are high expectations for our city college, and the administration is truly looking forward in fulfilling the dreams of many Angeleños who deserve to finish their education. For those who are not capable of doing so, due to financial constraints – the CCA will see them through,” Pamintuan said. Laquindanum said that, apart from the classrooms, the public college campus will also have a library area, a 2,000-person-capacity covered court, speech & computer laboratories and proposed hotel rooms for tourism-related course purposes. Courses offered Currently, the college offers 3 associate degree courses in Computer Science, Information Systems and Tourism Management plus a diploma course in Contact Centers. “With the ladderized scheme of the associate courses, they can choose to continue their education to Bachelor of Science (BS) programs which will soon be a part of the school’s course offerings,” Laquindanum added. The proposed additional 7 degree programs for the next school year are: BS in Computer Science, BS in Information Systems, BS in Tourism Management, Bachelor of Library and Information Science, BS in Sports Management, BS in Entrepreneurship and Bachelor of Teaching Technology for the K-12 educational program.

Dolphins, Uni-bikers prime up for semis

By The Philippine Star


MANILA, Philippines - Baseball action returns to Rizal Memorial stadium today with three matches, including the Cebu-Manila duel, closing out the elimination round in Baseball Philippines Series 9.

After seven weeks of play at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, the Community Sports Inc.-organized league goes back to its old home for the rest of the season with a promise of slam-bang action among the top four teams gearing up for the semifinal round.

The top-seeded Cebu and No. 2 Dumaguete, assured of twice-to-beat edges in the semifinals, hope to get into the next round on a winning note as they battle the Sharks at 10:30 a.m. and the Alabang Tigers at 1:30 p.m., respectively.

Meanwhile, cellar dwellers Batangas and Taguig clash in the 7:30 a.m. opener of the league sponsored by Gatorade, Emperador Light, Clark Development Corp., Harbour Centre, Philippine Transmarine Corp., Summit Water and Eagle Sky Inc.

The Dolphins clinched the No. 1 spot with a 7-6 win over the Uni-bikers and a 14-4 romp over the Patriots last week for a 11-3 record.

Despite their loss, the Uni-bikers secured the second spot with an 11-5 victory over the Bulls for a 10-4 slate.

Manila settled for the No. 3 spot with an 8-6 card and will face the Uni-bikers in the semifinals.

Alabang stunned Manila, 7-3, last week for a 7-7 mark in the league backed by Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association and the Philippine Umpires Association.

Airline links Clark to 130 destinations worldwide

By Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, June 16 (PIA) -- Dragonair, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways has joined the growing family of international airlines at the Clark International Airport linking Clark to 18 cities in China and some 130 destinations worldwide.

Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano and Dragonair's General Manager Wilson Yam recently led the start of the daily Clark-Hong Kong flights of Dragonair at the Clark International Airport in a simple send-off ceremonies held at the Clark International Airport Passenger Terminal Building here.

The entry of Dragonair will further boost the growth of the Clark International Airport because "this airline offers travellers seamless connections to some 130 destinations worldwide," according to Luciano.

Luciano noted that "Dragonair is a renowned China expert. The airline has routes to mainland China and to some 130 destinations all over the world."

The integration of Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair linked their international destinations and domestic routes to China which brought forth significant benefits to the travelling public. It also further improved Hong Kong's position as a leading international aviation hub.

The Cathay Pacific Group, including Dragonair and Air Hong Kong, now operates more than 150 aircraft. Its fleet is being significantly modernized with a total of 30 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft set to arrive this year.

The new Cathay Pacific aircraft will form the backbone of the airline's ultra-long-haul passenger fleet. It has also upgraded its inflight product with new cabin designs being introduced on the entire medium- and long-haul fleet. The new cabins are, uniquely, being fitted in First, Business and Economy Class taking the travel experience to new highs.

"Clark has positioned itself as a hub for low-cost carriers but now attracting legacy carriers. These are now taking a serious look at Clark airport," said Luciano.

The CIAC chief added that Dragonair will be the second legacy carrier that will operate in Clark airport. South Korea's Asiana Airlines is the first legacy carrier to locate in the Clark airport.

Dragonair is an affiliate member of the Oneworld Airline Alliance. It has an all Airbus fleet of 31 aircraft consisting of A320s, A321s and A330s. Dragonair, together with its parent, Cathay Pacific, operated over 56,000 flights, carried nearly 25 million passengers and over 1.52 billion kilograms of cargo and mail.

The airline was established in Hong Kong on May 24, 1985 with its hub at the Hong Kong International Airport.

Luciano said Airphil Express also started their thrice-a-week Clark-Singapore and four-times-a-week Clark-Hong Kong international flights on May 17 and 18 respectively at the Clark Airport. Airphil Express is the budget carrier of the country's flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL).

"We welcome Dragonair and Airphil Express as the newest members of the international airlines operating at Clark International Airport," Luciano said.

South East Asian Airlines (Seair) has also recently launched its Clark-Kalibo flights at Clark Airport which will further increase passengers going to the world famous Boracay Beach Resort. Aside from Kalibo flights, Seair-Tiger also flies to Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Kota Kinabalu.

He said that CIAC is targeting at least 1.5 million passengers before the end of 2012 due to the additional flights in the international and domestic operations contributed by Air Asia Philippines, Airphil Express, Seair-Tiger and Dragonair. Aircraft movements at the Clark International Airport is at 292 flights per week both local and international.

Clark Airport also caters Cebu Pacific Air operations through international flights via Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and Macau.The local carrier also has domestic flights via Clark-Cebu route. Other airlines operating at Clark Airport includes Asiana Airlines and Jin Air via Clark-Incheon in South Korea. Luciano cited the growth of domestic passenger volume to 73,791 from the period of January to May 15 this year compared with the 16,918 of the same period last year.

"There have been an exponential growth passengers especially in the domestic front were we obtained a 336 percent increase from January to May alone compared to the previous year," said Luciano.

This was due to the domestic flights of both AirAsia and Airphil Express that launched the Clark-Kalibo, Davao, Cebu and Puerto Princesa route last March 29. AirAsia Philippines also started their Clark-Davao and Kalibo flights last March 28 and Puerto Princesa last April 20. International passenger volume increased to 31 percent or 355,034 from January to May this year compared to 270,900 last year.


"The entry of AirAsia, Airphil Express and the expansion of Seair-Tiger has brought tremendous growth to passenger volume in Clark," said Luciano.

Luciano had earlier said that CIAC is fasttracking the construction of the P360 million Phase II project expansion of the Clark Terminal Building to accommodate the growing numbers of passengers using Clark International Airport. The current facility caters two million passengers annually.

Direct flights to KL to boost Philippine tourism

By Tonette Orejas


ANGELES CITY—Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said the direct flights of Philippines’ AirAsia from the Clark International Airport to Kuala Lumpur provide what he described as a “tremendous boost” to the tourism sector. Jimenez said the latest route being served by the low-cost carrier owned by AirAsia Inc. was one of the advantages being reaped under the pocket open skies policy of the Aquino administration. “For a long, long time, we had just one door[way] (referring to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport). Clark has been helping decongest Manila,” he told reporters after the Independence Day rites here. The Clark airport, located just outside Angeles City, spans 2,300 hectares and operates with two runways, which the US Air Force abandoned when it pulled out in 1991. AirAsia’s daily Kuala Lumpur flights began on June 9. The budget airline aims to draw clientele from the 24.5 million tourists that Malaysia hosts annually as gateway to 77 international destinations, said Maan Hontiveros, AirAsia Inc. chief operating officer, during the company’s inaugural flight launch in Clark. AirAsia Inc. is 60 percent owned by Hontiveros, Antonio Cojuangco and Michael Romero. Malaysia’s AirAsia International Ltd., a subsidiary of AirAsia Berhad, owns 40 percent of the firm. “We’d like the tourists to come in droves to the Philippines and enjoy our sights. Toni Fernandes, AirAsia Berhad founder, said the Philippines is the last missing piece of the puzzle (of vacation destinations in Asia),” Hontiveros said. AirAsia has been flying daily to Davao City, Puerto Princesa City and Kalibo via the Clark airport since March 28. Eduardo Malaya, Philippine ambassador to Malaysia, said AirAsia’s Clark-Kuala Lumpur flights are also expected to “balance the figures,” a reference to the need to improve Filipino trips to Malaysia.

Mayor: Museum to become benchmark for cultural properties

By Ian Ocampo Flora


ANGELES CITY — Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan is optimistic that the Museo Ning Angeles would become the benchmark of other soon-to-be declared national cultural properties of the Philippines by the National Museum.

Officials of the National Museum of the Philippines led the unveiling of a marker declaring the Museo ning Angeles as an “Important Cultural Property of the Philippines” on Tuesday.

It merited such distinction after being singled out from among the numerous cultural properties that are not sufficiently outstanding to receive the classification of "National Cultural Treasures" thus are considered important cultural properties.

The Museo Ning Angeles Angeles is the first cultural property to be given such a distinction.

Pamintuan said the declaration is a boost to the ongoing development and preservation of the museum, which was once the old municipal building of the city.

He said the management of the museum is a clear manifestation that the government and the private sector can work alongside for cultural preservation.

The Museo Ning Angeles is now managed by the Kuliat Foundation, Inc. (KFI), a non-stock, non-profit organization that is committed to work for the preservation of Angeles City’s history, culture and traditions.

KFI is the official administrator of the Museo ning Angeles. The KFI manages the museum with the help of donors and the city government.

“The Museo Ning Angeles can be a perfect example of how other places with cultural properties can manage their own with the help of their local government,” Pamintuan said.

National Museum of the Philippines executive director Jeremy Barns, for his part, said Museo Ning Angeles should now take steps in improving its museum services and ensure that the building is preserved for the next generation of Angeleños.

With the new distinction, the museum can avail of technical assistance from the National Museum of the Philippines and at some point, programs and funding.

Angeles City, Seo-gu sign pact

By Mark Anthony N. Manuel


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga ­- This city has forged a sister cityhood agreement with the Government of Seo-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City, a district of South Korea. Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Seogu District Mayor Kang Seong-Ho led the signing of the said agreement Monday at the City Hall in Barangay Pulung Maragul here.

The Angeles City Council has also approved Resolution No. 6147, series of 2012, which formalized the establishment of the sisterhood pact. “Angeles City and Seogu, Daegu Metropolitan City will share a common desire to promote and foster strong specialties, mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill through exchanges in science and technology, culture and arts, tourism, planning and urban development, commerce/trade and industry, youth, education and sports, environmental protection, aquaculture, agriculture, public health and social services,“ the sisterhood agreement said. Seo-gu is the center of transportation which connects four major expressways in the west of Daegu that is located inland, southeast of the Korean Peninsula.

Angeles City inks sister cityhood with Seo-gu in South Korea

By (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, June 12 (PIA) –- The City Government of Angeles City has entered into a sister cityhood agreement with Seo-gu, a district in western Daegu in South Korea.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed between Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Mayor Kang Seong-Ho to launch ties between the two cities where it reads “Angeles City and Seo-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City will share a common desire to promote and foster strong special ties, mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill through exchanges in science and technology, culture and arts, tourism, planning and urban development, commerce or trade and industry, youth, education and sports, environmental protection, aquaculture, agriculture, public health and social services."

Pamintuan said that “he is deeply honoured and happy with the agreement and was grateful that Angeles City has been chosen as one of their sister cities.”

Meanwhile, Seong-Ho said that “even though we have different nationalities, we both have similar painful historical memories and which we have shared and helped each other in times of trouble.”

Seo-gu is the center of transportation which connects four major expressways in the west of Daegu that is located inland, southeast of the Korean Peninsula. It plays a pivotal role in the economy of South Korea having industrial complexes, dyeing corporations and fiber laboratories.

Dragonair launches second flight service at Clark International Airport

By Nia Elyca Rabadam, Contributor


Hong Kong-based airline Dragonair launched its second flight service from the Philippines to Hong Kong via the Clark International Airport route in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

An inauguration ceremony and send-off of its first passengers happened on May 29. Present during the ceremony were Wilson Yam, regional manager for Southeast Asia of Dragonair and Cathay Pacific; Department of Tourism (DoT) Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr.; and Clark International Airport Corp. president and CEO Victor Luciano.

Yam deemed that the introduction of the Clark service and Dragonair\'s further expansion in the Philippine market are important in terms of its airline development. Moreover, it will help boost tourism and business in the Philippines.

\"We hope to strengthen our ties with the Philippines and support its fast-growing economy and rapidly-expanding tourism market by providing travelers the opportunity to visit and explore other nearby top destinations and business districts in this country. Meanwhile, with the extensive global network of Cathay Pacific, travelers are also offered more options in flying from the Philippines to Hong Kong or more than 160 worldwide destinations via the Hong Kong hub,\" Yam said.

Bengzon emphasized the developments that this new service will bring.

\"It marks a very important development in our efforts to improve international air access to the Philippines, which is a vital component to our country\'s five-year national development plan,\" he said.

Luciano assured the public that Clark International Airport plans to create better facilities for its passengers.

The Clark flight service is the second scheduled flight service to be offered by Dragonair since it entered the Philippine market in 2008 with the launch of its Manila flight service.

Korean NGO to donate 500 computers yearly to schools

By CAMILLE LOPEZ


CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga: Good People International, a Korean non-government organization and the Philippine Red Cross signed a memorandum of understanding for the donation of some 500 computers for various schools in the Philippines.

PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon represented PRC while Kim Chang Myung signed for the Korean NGO in a formal rites Friday at the Holiday Inn here.

Gordon said the NGO has agreed to donate computers annually to be distributed to various schools in the Philippines.

P1 B allotted for People's Survival Fund

By Ding Cervantes


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – Amid uncertainties posed by climate change worldwide, the creation of a People’s Survival Fund (PSF) that will get a P1-billion budget yearly looms, after the congressional bicameral committee ironed out the law for it before Congress recessed.

Sen. Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate committee on climate change and one of the authors of Senate Bill 2811 proposing such fund, said at a press conference here that she expected President Aquino to sign the law when he arrives from the US.

“It will provide the seed capital as the sister law of the Climate Change Act of 2009,” Legarda told local media after speaking before government officials from various parts of Central Luzon during a regional forum on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Legarda said the bicameral committee ironed out the final version of the PSF bill which she, along with Senate Pres.

Juan Ponce Enrile, Sens. Ralph Recto, Franklin Drilon, and Lito Lapid pushed in the Senate. The Lower House version was authored by Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III.

The Senate version was passed way back in December last year. Under the bill, some P1 billion shall be used for the fund under the General Appropriations Act (GAA). This will be to improve the country’s forecasting and early warning systems against climate change-related hazards. It shall also improve the monitoring and prevention of diseases triggered by climate change.

Legarda said the fund will also be managed by the People’s Survival Fund Board headed by a commissioner and representatives from the Climate Change Commission, and representatives from the Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, National Economic and Development Authority, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, government financial institutions, business sector and non-government organizations.

The board, she said, will also approve project proposals submitted by local government units and community-based institutions for funding. “The PSF bill will help achieve the objectives of the Climate Change Act of 2009 by providing funds to local governments and communities to support their adaptation activities,” she added.

Audit of LGU compliance with environmental laws sought

By Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon


CLARK FREEPORT—The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will start an audit of local governments to monitor their compliance with various environmental laws, especially on waste management. Interior Undersecretary Austere Panadero said the agency would heed the recommendation of Senator Loren Legarda for an environmental audit. Legarda, chairperson of the Senate committee on climate change, made the proposal after she answered a question on the sanctions that should be given to local officials who fail to enforce the segregation of solid wastes. The media briefing that Legarda attended was held for a forum that the DILG organized to prepare local governments in mobilizing communities in dealing with the impact of climate change and to reduce risks from disasters. Legarda said local officials who do not comply with the provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act No. 9003) are liable for administrative and criminal charges. She suggested to Panadero that the DILG monitor how local governments were complying with the law. The compliance rate, according to her, was only about 20 percent. The audit, she said, should cover the governors of 80 provinces and mayors of 138 cities and 1,496 towns. “What right do they have to be voted when they cannot protect the environment?” Legarda said.

DILG secretary urges Central Luzon LGUs to aspire for the Seal on Disaster Preparedness prize

By Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu


CLARK FREEPORT, June 7 (PIA) -- Department Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo urged local government units (LGU) in Central Luzon to aspire for the Seal of Disaster Preparedness (SDP) prize, as it will be the true measure of the effectiveness of their calamity risk reduction efforts.

Speaking before governors, mayors, sanggunian members, and LGU personnel during Wednesday’s Tapatan Roadshow in Clark Freeport, Robredo said, “If the Seal of Good Housekeeping was our barometer of transparency in local governance, the SDP will be our standard in determining a disaster-resilient province, city and municipality as it tests their leadership structure and guide to action, operational readiness and innovative practices.”

Under leadership structure and guide to action, LGUs are checked on their compliance to the provisions of Republic Act No. 10121 otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act of 2010 namely having a local DRRM council and office and a well-communicated and understood Calamity Contingency Plan.

Meanwhile, operational readiness refers to the minimum tests of readiness immediately before a calamity such as regularly tested early warning system, fully disseminated family guide to action on warning, regularized emergency drills, designated evacuation centers and pre-deployed or location-specific assigned rescue equipment and transport.

Moreover, innovative practices pertains to a culture-bound, community or indigenous knowledge or practice on disaster preparedness.

Robredo stressed, “Every criterion is not assigned a numerical score or weight, thus averaging or indexing is not factored into the assessment. It is simply one or zero for each criterion, that is, pass or fail. A province, city or municipality must pass all criteria to be conferred with the seal.”

Apart from the seal, winners will be conferred with cash incentives plus be given the privilege to use 70 percent of five percent of their calamity fund to buy equipment or organize disaster-response training. (WLB/CLJD-PIA3)

City college classes start on June 18

By Reynaldo G. Navales


ANGELES CITY -- A total of 400 student-Angeleños will troop to the temporary campus site of the City College of Angeles (CCA) on June 18 for the first semester of academic year 2012-2013.

Averell Laquindanum, president of the CCA, said they are making the final preparations for the first day of school at the Angeles City Library, where the college will be temporarily housed.

The city library currently has four lecture rooms where the first batch of students can have their classes.

Laquindanum confirmed that they have come up with a scheduling plan this semester to accommodate all the students of the college.

“There will be a total of 10 block sections that will take up classes in the morning, afternoon and until 9:00 p.m.,” he said.

Apart from the classrooms, the temporary campus site has also different facilities for the students to use which will supplement their studies and specific courses.

“This includes our computer laboratory, the library, speech laboratory and a tourism promotion and tour guiding laboratory that resembles a front desk as seen in different hotels, functions and establishments,” Laquindanum added.

“These facilities guarantee our students’ employability even after the 1st semester, where they can acquire a certification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), stating that they have undergone the appropriate training and are equipped with the core competencies which will match the needs of the community – more specifically the locators in Clark,” he explained.

The temporary site also holds several essential administrative offices such as a dean’s office, registrar’s office, office of the prefect of discipline, faculty lounge, office of student affairs, and dental and medical clinic, among others.

Clark International Airport DMIA

By clarkphilippines.com


The Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) is located at the heart of Central Luzon, making it the most viable and convenient airport of choice for travelers from North-Central Luzon and the northern Metro Manila area who wants to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city streets. It is easily accessible by shuttle bus from various points of Metro Manila and North Luzon.

The Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) is one of the biggest aviation complexes in Asia with two (2) runways in parallel configuration that can easily be extended to 4 kilometers to accommodate new generation wide-bodied aircrafts.

DOT, ACTO to hold an on-site accreditation for tourism-related businesses

By (CLJT/with reports from AC-CIO/DOT R3-PIA3 Pampanga)


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, June 4 (PIA) -– The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 3, in coordination with the Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO) will conduct a simultaneous on-site accreditation workshop on June 6 to all tourism-related hotels and resorts, travel agencies, and tour operators doing business in this city.

DOT Regional director Ronaldo Tiotuico said an on-site accreditation will be held at The Coffee Academy in Balibago, Angeles City.

Tiotuico explained, “the program aims to comply with the provision of Republic Act 9593 (National Tourism Act of 2009) by making it easy for tourism-related businesses to file their application using DOT’s on-site “enhanced online accreditation procedure.”

“As provided for under RA 9593, primary tourism enterprises such as hotel /resorts and other accommodation facilities including travel and tour establishments are required to seek accreditation from the tourism department in order to ensure the maintenance of their international standards of excellence, and thereby promoting the country as a safe and wholesome tourist destination,” Tiotuico added.

Applicants are advised to bring the following items: laptop, broadband Internet device as back up to existing wi-fi access (Smart, Globe or Sun) plus the following documents (preferably including scanned copies in pdf format saved on USB): valid Mayors Permit, SEC registration / articles of incorporation or DTI Business Name Certificate for single proprietorship, valid Fire Safety Inspection Certificate, valid Comprehensive General Liability Insurance Policy, and valid visa from BID, and working permit from DOLE for foreign nationals, if applicable.

Hotels and other accommodation establishments (hotels and resorts) are invited to come in the morning at 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. while travel and tour agencies are to come in the afternoon at 1:00 p.m. up to 5:00 p.m. Snacks will be served and there will be no registration fee.

Participants will be required to pay some P1,000 as initial fee for accreditation in which, an official receipt will be issued. Laptops will be made available to those who will not be able to bring one.

For more information and inquiries, interested parties may contact Erwin (DOT-R3) in telephone nos. (045) 961-2612 / 5617 or email tamy_win@yahoo.com, or Jinggoy (ACTO) with contact nos. (045) 625-2286 or email jinggoy.acto@gmail.com.

COA hit for allowing government spending on illegal dumps

By clarkphilippines.com


ANGELES CITY — A group of environmentalists has assailed the Commission on Audit (COA) for allowing some local government units in Pampanga to spend on illegal dumpsites. Sonny Dobles, president of the Alliance for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), said the Office of the Ombudsman for Central Luzon should conduct an investigation regarding the issue. “Why is COA allowing local government units to spend in illegal activities?” Dobles said. Dobles lamented that some local government units are maintaining illegal dumpsites, which the mayors stressed in earlier interviews as transfer stations and material recovery facilities. Dobles said that majority of the LGUs in Pampanga still throw their garbage in open dumpsites, despite this being prohibited under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Based on studies conducted by the Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC), LGUs in Pampanga maintain 34 illegal dumpsites. The MCWMC runs a 70-hectare sanitary landfill at the Clark Special Economic Zone and requires LGUs to pay a tipping fee of P800 per metric ton of garbage, Dobles said. But MCWMC officials said the LGUs are disposing only a minimal amount of

14 Clark firms hire workers

By clarkphilippines.com


CLARK FREEPORT — The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has announced that at least 14 firms inside the Freeport have a total of 3,255 job openings which they intend to fill up within the next three months.

In a report to CDC President Benigno Ricafort, Assistant Vice President for Business Development Group Bernardo Angeles Jr. said most of the job positions that are available here are for customer service representatives and call center agents.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Angeles said the firms will be conducting a job fair at the SM City Clark event center on September 30 in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), Pampanga Employment Services Federation, and SM City Clark.

He said that NCO Philippines and Sutherland Philippines are hiring 1,000 customer representatives each.

Other firms looking for applicants are Cyber City Teleservices, 500 customer services agents; 320 apprentices and 300 engineers and production staffers (regular positions) at Texas Instrument Philippines; 50 customer services agents at UPS Clark Philippines; 41 production staff positions at Apex Intec Philippines, C. Ltd. Inc; 25 casino managers, supervisors and staff at Hotel Stotsenberg; 10 administrative staffers and engineers; nine cutters and other positions at O&G Leather Manufacturing Inc.

The Clark Freeport now has a total of 55,500 workers.

Authorized personnel who will be assisting in the job fair are Jhoy Santiago of SMK Electronics Philippines; Sharon Ray Sagansay of WALLEM Innovative Solutions Phils. Inc.; Raides Garcia and Timothy dela Cruz of Yokohama Tires Philippines; Glenda Cerdenola of Fontana Development Corp.; and Christian Mesina of Global Standard Learning Center, Inc.

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