Angeles City News September 2013

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Official Seal of Angeles City
Interactive Google Satellite Map of Angeles City, Pampanga
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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.

Emirates starts Clark-Dubai flights

By Jess Malabanan


CLARK FREEPORT–Emirates will begin its Clark–Dubai flights on Tuesday at the Clark International Airport, country manager Gigie Baroa said.

The first wide-bodied aircraft to on the route is expected to touch down 3 p.m., aiming to tap Middle East-bound passengers.

“This daily non-stop service from Dubai to Clark will benefit thousands of overseas Filipino workers, especially those based in Northern Luzon,” Baroa said in a statement.

The Clark route, Baroa said will also serve as the new exit point for the millions of Filipinos working in the Middle East, which has the most number of temporary overseas Filipinos at 2.7 million, with 1.5 million in Saudi Arabia and 680,000 in the UAE.

“A two-class Boeing 777-300ER will operate on the new route. The two-class configuration variant allows the airline to add more seats to the aircraft in the economy and business classes while the aircraft’s first class will be scrapped.” she said.

This move makes Emirates the only international full service carrier operating westbound from Clark, according to Baroa. And with the Manila and Clark route, Emirates has four daily flights between Dubai and the Philippines.

The airline, which flies to over 120 destinations worldwide, first flew to the Philippines in 1990 via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Recently awarded ‘World’s Best Airline’ by Skytrax at the 2013 World Airline Awards, Emirates was cited for its in-flight perks featuring Wi-Fi connectivity and Digital Widescreen.






British businessman donates P1.7M for Angeles City bridge

By Joey Pavia


ANGELES CITY—A British businessman has donated at least P1.7 million for the construction of a steel footbridge in Barangay Anunas here.

Mark Savino of Kandi Realty said he made the donation “to give back something to the good city and its very cooperative officials.”

He joined Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Anunas Barangay Captain Edgar Agapito in the opening of the footbridge on Friday.

Agapito said that schoolchildren and students are the “ones really benefiting from the [new] bridge.”

The old bridge, which connects Purok 10 to Purok 5 of Anunas, was destroyed during one of the many typhoons that hit the province every day.

Agapito said the students and his constituents “have to walk for many extra miles and spend more on transportation without the bridge.”

Savino, who has some 300 condominiums and 200 workers in the city, said “doing business in Angeles is good and my realty during the time of Mayor Pamintuan.”

“I was looking for something to give. The mayor advised me to donate the funds for the bridge,” said Savino, who was joined by his partner Matt de Paoli, chief executive officer of car-restoration business BMT Restoration Inc.

Savino’s company is currently building a condominium in Malabanias, Angeles City.

On the firm’s web site, Savino said the reservation fee is at P100,000 and that the company can put the property under a foreigner’s name.

Savino sells a 35-square-meter unit for P2 million, a 70-sq-m unit for P2.8 million, and a 140-sq-m unit at P3.8 million.

For his part, Pamintuan credits Savino’s donation as stemming from his initiative of creating “a good climate for businesses.”

“No hassles in getting business permit and relatively clean environment plus peace and order [is good],” he added.

Pamintuan said: “I asked to donate for the footbridge instead of giving something to me.”






TRC chief: P500-M ‘pork’ channeled to Napoles NGOs

By Ding Cervantes


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga , Philippines – A government official implicated in the pork barrel scam yesterday revealed some P500 million worth of pork barrel funds of lawmakers coursed through his agency went to Janet Lim-Napoles.

Technology Resource Center (TRC) director general Dennis Cunanan said his agency got some P2.450 billion worth of pork barrel funds from lawmakers from 2007 to 2009, of which P500 million was channeled to non-government organizations (NGOs) put up by Napoles.

Cunanan told a press conference here that in 2010 when he assumed the TRC post, he had blacklisted 44 of the erring NGOs, including eight linked to Napoles.

He said he examined the records that showed “questionable transactions” of the NGOs with the TRC.

According to Cunanan, the Commission on Audit (COA) took notice and conducted a special probe on the pork barrel funds that were coursed through the TRC.

He said COA confirmed the failure of the 44 NGOs to report how the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers were spent and where it went.

Cunanan had been deputy director general of the TRC from 2007 to 2009 with Antonio Ortiz as his boss.

Cunanan recalled that in 2007, Ortiz issued a circular limiting him to handling funds for projects costing no more than P1 million.

“In December of the same year, even this power was stripped from me and was transferred to our legislative liaison officer,” Cunanan said.

Apart from Cunanan, Ortiz was also implicated in the scam with Napoles.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended the filing of charges of plunder against Napoles before the ombudsman for allegedly conniving with several lawmakers in putting up fake NGOs to embezzle funds.

Cunanan also claimed former Pampanga representative Mikey Arroyo was among those who coursed his PDAF through TRC.

Cunanan though admitted he could not remember how much Arroyo had allocated for a local NGO.

“What happened was that the NGOs approach politicians to find out whether any PDAF is available from them. The politicians then choose which agency they preferred to course the funds through. TRC is included in this menu. The NGOs come to us or any agency of their choice with a recommendation of the politician who (will) authorize (the) SARO (special allotment release order),” he explained.

As for his being implicated in the case, Cunanan said he immediately went on leave to dispel any suspicion he would use his post to influence the outcome of the investigation.

Cunanan stressed he had nothing to do with pork barrel funds that were coursed through the TRC.

“Records will show that when I was appointed as TRC director general in January 2010, I immediately directed non-government organizations and people’s organizations which had pending accounts and deficiencies with the TRC to liquidate their accounts and settle their deficiencies,” he said.

Cunanan said the COA even appreciated his move, in its Special Audit Report No. 2012-03 Annex D page 279, released in August.

Before the pork barrel scam broke out in the open, Cunanan said he issued orders to be strict in processing projects covered by PDAF.

On June 21 last year, Cunanan said he again issued a similar memorandum even though the TRC no longer received any PDAF from lawmakers.

Cunanan said he cut short his trip in the US for his election as incoming secretary-general of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) after learning he was among those implicated in the scam.

“I would like to assure the Office of the Ombudsman and the authorities that I have no plans of evading the charges against me as my conscience is clear,” Cunanan said.

Malampaya training center enhances Filipino capability to world-class standards

By Philippine Daily Inquirer


The Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project has formally opened the Malampaya HSSE (Health, Safety, Security and Environment) Training Center in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, recently. The facility offers world-class training on HSSE to equip local workers with competencies necessary to execute fabrication yard and offshore work for Malampaya Phase 3 (MP3) efficiently and with no harm to people and the environment. The MP3 and Malampaya Phase 2 (MP2) are the next phases of development of the Malampaya Project’s gas advocacy. MP3 involves the installation of a Depletion Compression Platform to sustain the level of natural gas production from the reservoir in northwest Palawan using deepwater technology. The keynote speaker at the event was Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla. “This [Malampaya] vital undertaking of the Philippines acts as a model by which we can measure our vision to become an energy sufficient nation in the future,” he says. “As a country that is developing its hidden power potentials beneath its rich soil, it is quite apparent that facilities dedicated to the awareness, health and proper safekeeping of our hardworking workers as well as of the environment is needed and more so, essential.” The energy chief further called the Malampaya Gas Project “one of the country’s premier ventures in addressing energy security.” It is one of the most significant industrial endeavors in the Philippines that promote gas advocacy by utilizing innovative gas technology to develop cleaner-burning natural gas sources for power generation. More than providing power, Malampaya also facilitates the transfer of technology and industrial expertise to Filipinos to help upgrade the country’s capability to compete with global standards of industrial and technological self-sufficiency. Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) Managing Director Sebastian Quiniones affirms that the Malampaya Gas Project is not only steadfast in developing new energy sources to meet future energy demand, but is also committed to building sustainable growth in the Philippines by establishing facilities that will develop Filipino capability to world-class standards. Aside from enhancing employability, a principal aim of the training center is to promote the well-being of people by imparting the core values of HSSE. “Apart from the immediate training needs of the Project, the facility aims to raise the HSSE standards in the local workforce while helping enhance their employment opportunities in both local and international oil and gas industries,” explained Neil Burton, Malampaya HSSE Lead. The Malampaya HSSE Training Center is located within the SITE Skills Training Center, owned by Australian firm SITE Group International Limited, renowned as one of Asia’s premier training facilities. Among its key beneficiaries are scholars of the Bridging Employment through Skills Training (BEST) program, implemented by the Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI), Malampaya’s social arm that provides skills training to unemployed individuals and out-of-school youths from Palawan and Subic. Since the center’s inception in September 2012, close to 3,000 workers have benefited from its trainings.

Filipino welcome awaits maiden Emirates flight

By Ding Cervantes


CLARK FREEPORT - Small Philippine flags will be waved, rondallas will play festive native music, and firetruck hoses will let flow water in a welcoming arc as Emirate Airlines’ widebody aircraft lands here at 4 p.m. Oct. 1, carrying mostly overseas Filipino workers on its first of daily Dubai-Clark-Dubai flights.

“We at Emirates have always seen the need of our kababayans from Northern Luzon who have to travel three or more hours just to get to Manila, so we decided to open up a new hub in Clark International Airport,” Emirates Philippines country manager Gigie Baroa said in press briefing here yesterday.

Baroa noted that “whether they are business savvy individuals or OFWs, they are now assured a convenience of flights through our newroute.” The Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) which manages the Clark International Airport (CIA) said the pilot of the inaugural Emirates wide-bodied aircraft is expected to wave the Philippine flag from his cockpit soon after landing here, amid arcs of water from firetruck hoses.

Baroa said Emirates’ first daily flight here on Oct. 1 has almost been fully booked and would unload mostly OFW’s whose families reside in provinces north of Metro Manila. She said the same aircraft is expected to fly back with another batch of passengers back to Dubai.

Baroa said Emirates is expected to open to tourists “travel and leisure opportunities, especially for international travelers who would like to explore another side of the Philippines apart from Metro Manila.”

Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, has received more than 500 international awards for excellence and has over 9 million worldwide members of Skywards, the airline’s frequent flyer programme.

It fl ies to 134 destinations in 76 countries and operates 203 wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

The airline has orders for an additional 190 aircraft, worth more than USD$71 billion. Renowned for its excellence in service and innovation, both on board and on the ground, Emirates holds an impressive array of prestigious awards most recently including, the ‘Best Airline Food and Wine’ by Frequent Business Traveler and the highly coveted 2013 ‘World’s Best Airline’ award presented by Skytrax.







Clark Dev't Corp to pitch Freeport as family-oriented destination via first Grand Festival

By Marie Joy Simpao


CLARK FREEPORT, September 25 (PIA) -- Clark Development Corporation (CDC) will pitch its Freeport as a family-oriented destination via its first Grand Festival that is slated on November 16 and 17.

“Preparations are now in full swing. We have partnered with stakeholders namely Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA), Greater Clark Visitors Bureau (GCVB), Philippine Air Force (PAF), and locators like Global Gateways and Logistics Center (GGLC), Nayong Pilipino, and El Kabayo to ensure the success of the event,” CDC President Arthur Tugade disclosed.

For her part, CDC Tourism and Promotions Office manager Noemi Garcia urges everyone to grace the festival, saying that its kick-off activity will be highlighted by skydiving and marching band exhibitions courtesy of PAF; as well as cultural presentations from Nayong Pilipino.

“There would also be competitions at stake like the majorette, marching band, cowgirl, soccer and football competitions. In addition, various demonstrations will be showcased including cooking demo and jungle survival exhibitions and the 2013 Horse Festival Exhibitions. Live band performances, native dances, musicale, Korean orchestra and fireworks display will also add to the festive atmosphere of the first day,” Garcia added.

Fun bike ride, Palarong Pilipino, dog and animal shows, battle of the bands, rugby and Frisbee competitions, second installment of the 2013 Horse Exhibitions and fireworks display are slated on the second day.

Simultaneous activities, which are also part of the said festival, include the North Philippines Travel Expo at SM City Clark; Clark Speedway Motorcycle and Vintage Car Grand Prix; Export Overruns sale; organic market, food and non-food bazaar; static display at PAF; golf tournaments at Mimosa Golf and Country Club and F Korea CC; and the Great Clark Sale which offers 50% discount on selected duty-free products, hotel accommodations, restaurants, resorts, shops and theme parks. (CLJD/MJLS-PIA 3)

7th victim in Pampanga massacre dies in hospital

By Bernard Galang


CITY of San Fernando, Pampanga -- The seventh victim in the massacre at a posh subdivision here last Sept. 20 died while undergoing treatment at the hospital in Angeles City.

Chief Insp. Bienvenido Reydado, head of Pampanga Criminal Investigation and Detection Team, said Nicolas Edejer, 49, died at Sacred Heart Medical Center at around 4:30 a.m. due to a gunshot wound in the head and other injuries.

Edejer was among the seven persons victimized by undetermined armed men who entered his house at 19 Molave St., L&S Subdivision in Bgy. Telabastagan.

The massacre occurred between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The motive was apparently robbery as the money vault was found at the sala of the Edejers. The suspects even drove away with the victims’ Toyota Hi-Lux pick-up (TFO 540).

Found dead were Corazon Edejer, 47, wife of Nick; Kenneth Nolan, 19, eldest son of Nick; Nelson Dominico, 17, houseboy; Morena Dayrit, 27, maid; Teresita Lansangan, 40, maid; and Benigno Villanueva Ingar Jr., 50, the Edejers’ masseur.

Police provincial director Senior Supt. Oscar Albayalde said his men found the bodies of the victims in different parts of the house, except for Nicolas who was found still alive and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Albayalde said the robbers failed to cart away the vault because it was probably too heavy. They also failed to get the some P1 million at the attic. But they brought with them the CCTV recorder inside the house.

Edejer’s black Toyota Hi-lux pick-up (TFO-540) was later found abandoned in Bgy. San Nicolas Balas in Concepcion, Tarlac.

Angeles City councilor proposes Housing Program Funds Allocation Ordinance

By Marie Joy L. Simpao


ANGELES CITY, September 23 (PIA) -- Angeles councilor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. recently proposed an ordinance, which mandates the allotment of ten percent of the city government's total annual budget for the urban poor.

According to Lazatin, Angeles' urbanization prompted him to propose such, citing that in 2010 alone, the National Statistics Office reported that 93.7 percent of the total population resided in urban areas.

"As a city becomes urbanized, more people are drawn to it because of the job opportunities and this tends to lead to the disproportionate growth of the population relative to housing," Lazatin explained.

"It saddens us to think that many families, especially those living along the Abacan River, lost their homes due to typhoon and consequent flooding. I believe that if we will allot a bigger budget for housing programs, there will be a consequent decrease in informal settlers, especially in high risk areas," the councilor added.

Lazatin clarified that the Housing Development Fund will be solely used to finance land acquisition for socialized housing programs as well as the development of community sites such as road networks, pathways, and drainages.

He also specified that no expenditures arising from the hiring of personnel and release of salaries and other similar privileges should be appropriated from the fund.

In addition, the ordinance also mandates the city government to cooperate with the Local Urban Poor Affairs and Housing Office and other concerned departments in the allocation and usage of the fund. (CLJD/MJLS with reports from Anne Shayne Halili-PIA 3 Intern)

Emirates’ maiden flight brings bright prospects for Clark, Subic

By Ashley Manabat


CLARK FREEPORT—With the arrival of the inaugural flight of Emirates Airlines from Dubai to Clark on October 1, more investors are mulling over of moving into this vibrant free port which was once a former US military facility located some 80 kilometers north of Manila.

Economic indicators show that this free port and Subic, a former US naval base which lies some 50 kilometers west of this free port, are beginning their transformation into world-class business and travel hubs with the overhaul of the Clark International Airport (CIA) in preparation for Emirates Airlines and as the Philippines’s new international gateway.

“The renewed and increased economic activity and the positive future of tourism up north of Metro Manila make investors bullish about investing,” Gigie Baroa, Emirates Philippines country manager, said. This renewed development has also prompted the First Philippine Industrial Park Inc. (FPIP) of the Lopez group of planning to develop industry parks here and in Subic, complementing the rise in investor confidence.

Business indicators also show that industrial parks, offices and residential developments are on the rise, further fueling the area’s potential for economic and tourism development.

The same is true with the upcoming investments and expansion of manufacturing and business-process outsourcing (BPO) firms, which in turn, drive higher demand in the retail market.


SM City Clark expands with BPO buildings, hotel

THE grand opening of the expansion of SM City Clark, located on the southeastern area of this free port, is scheduled to held next month, offering a bigger mall with more local and international brands.

SM Prime Holdings Inc., which operates 47 malls in the country including Clark, as well as three in China and Guam, will also inaugurate two buildings with three storys each inside the leased property of SM City Clark in November to serve as BPO offices for Arvato Services, a company which offers customer support through telephone, the development and execution of customer loyalty programs, processing financial transactions and logistics, among others. It has approximately 63,000 employees in more than 40 countries.

SMPHI is also set to inaugurate the Radisson Hotel, an international hotel company that operates in 470 locations in 73 counties, at the leased area of SM City Clark in 2015.

Property developer CBRE Philippines reportedly said businesses from Metro Manila have begun to expand because of infrastructure developments, making Central Luzon a major investment destination.

Already, Hausland Development Corp., which developed the Fiesta Communities, has recently broken ground on a new 27-hectare housing development site in nearby Mabalacat City and has ongoing projects in Subic and Tarlac City.

Travel and leisure opportunities are also open to travelers, especially international travelers who would like to explore another side of the Philippines apart from Metro Manila.

Pampanga SP asked to accelerate PPP code to fasttrack dev't

By (PNA)

LAM/ZST/MDDR/PS


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Sept. 20 — Governor Lilia G. Pineda has called on the provincial board to expedite the public-private partnership (PPP) code which aims to improve all aspects of governance and fast-track the economic development of the province. During a gathering on the executive-legislative agenda of the province held at Hotel Stotsenberg here Thursday, Pineda reiterated the benefits of the PPP to ensure effective and efficient implementation of programs and projects of the different local government units (LGUs). The governor also urged local officials to cooperate with the province for the welfare of the Kapampangans. She said the government cannot do it alone with the very limited funds of the municipalities and cities. She specifically mentioned the province’s plan to enter into a PPP scheme for health programs to unburden LGUs’ “excessive health expenditures”. The joint executive-legislative agenda meeting was attended by local chief executives and local legislators. It is aimed at developing a policy framework that will guide the LGUs in the province guide to come up with programs and projects synchronized with that of the provincial government. Pampanga Councilors’ League (PCL) president Mike Tapang, for his part, said the activity provided executives and legislators a holistic approach in formulating legislative agenda focused on human resource management, job creation, food security, peace and order, disaster management, infrastructure, education, health, environment and other needed social services. Myrvi Apostol Fabia, provincial director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), reminded officials to complete and pass ordinances and codes in compliance with the requirements of the Local Governance Performance Management System. Fabia gave a listing of towns that are recommended to prioritize the passage of needed legislative codes.

Korean robbed of valuables in Angeles break-in

By Jess Malabanan


ANGELES CITY – A Korean visitor was robbed of his valuables in his short stay at Timog Park Subdivision in Barangay Pampang hereTuesday. Hyun Park, 40, occupant of an apartment along Camia Street, sought police assistance after his rented place was stripped-off by suspected robbery group operating in Angeles City and nearby Pampanga areas. The suspects, police said, scaled the concrete wall at the backdoor and stripped the screen window of the kitchen which was made as their access and fled with the looted items. Police said the incident was discovered by Park himself when he went downstairs past 4 a.m. to answer the call of nature. Police said the victim was surprised as the kitchen door was opened and all his valuables placed on top of the dining table were missing. Declared missing include a laptop computer, wireless phone, three pieces of USB, gold pen, driver’s license, leather wallet with different international credit cards and P10,000 cash. Police said the incident might had happened between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. Tuesday while the victim and his Filipina live-in partner Marianne Labiano, 24, were sleeping upstairs. Senior Supt. Eden Ugale, acting director of the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO), ordered all police units in the city to heighten police visibilities in areas prone to robberies.

Miranda gains crucial victory at Clark

By The Philippine Star


CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines – Never-say-die Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier scored a crucial victory that preserved his hold of solo leadership recently in the 2013 Coca-Cola Karting Super Series at the Clark International Speedway here.

Miranda, 15, was bogged with problems at the start as he ended fifth in the qualifying heat and further slipped down to eighth place in the pre-final race.

But after his mechanics fixed the problems, he quickly climbed up to third on the third lap and grabbed the front seat from CJ Tsui of Formula-E Racing who was looking forward to a sweep after topping both the qualifying and pre-final heats.

A three-way dicing among Miranda, Tsui and Bobby Domingo ensued in the next laps before the Cebuano hotshot took control of the lead for good in the final two laps.

He completed the 12-lap final race in 14 minutes and 0.959 of a second, narrowly escaping by just 0.499 of a second ahead of runner-up Domingo to capture both the ROK senior and ROK overall titles.

Tsui, who ruled the Enchanted Kingdom leg, took third place, with young SeaOil-DC-Kilton karter Gabe Cabrera and Raymond Cudala of Tough Gear Racing checking in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Tsui bagged third place honors in the ROK Senior division, with lady karter Sacha Feliciano and comebacking Archim Lagman claiming fourth and fifth, respectively.

The event is sponsored by Coca-Cola Philippines and Yokohama and sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines.

Dairy Queen opens first branch in Pampanga

By Charlene A. Cayabyab


CLARK FREEPORT–American-based ice cream shop Dairy Queen (DQ) opened its first ever branch at the SM City Clark over the weekend. DQ opened its first branch in Pampanga on June 15 offering some of its bestseller products like Blizzard, an ice cream served upside down, the Dilly Bar and its signature ice cream sandwich. DQ’s history traces back its beginning in Kankakee, Illinois in 1938 when a father and son team experimented a frozen dessert. With the help of a good friend Sherb Noble, they were able to hole an “all you can eat sale” in Noble’s walk-in-store to introduce the new product. More than 1,600 servings of the new dessert within two hours and DQ was born. In January 1998, International Dairy Queen Inc. and its subsidiary companies were purchased by legendary investor Warren Buffet. Aside from ice cream, DQ offers a myriad of cool drinks such as smoothies and citrus coolers. Also a favorite among coffee lovers is the Moolatte, a blend of DQ soft serve and coffee. DQ Philippines opened in 2006 and is owned and operated by the Araneta Group, the same owners of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. DQ has 6,000 stores across the world.

Clark airport prepares for long-haul flights

By (PNA)

JBP/ZST/MDDR/PS


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Sept. 16 (PNA) -- The Clark International Airport is preparing for the entry of long-haul flights of Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways next month, despite the temporary suspension of local and international flights of Air Asia Philippines.

“The expansion of the passenger terminal is to accommodate the coming of the long-haul flights from the Middle East, the wide-body planes of Emirates and Qatar, and Clark is being readied for the coming of more of these long-haul flights,” Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) president and chief executive officer Victor Jose Luciano said in a statement.

Emirates Airlines will start its non-stop daily flights via Dubai-Clark-Dubai on October 1, while Qatar Airways on October 28, via Doha-Clark-Doha daily flights to Clark airport.

Emirates will use a Boeing 777 aircraft with a capacity of 438 passengers, while Qatar will use a Boeing 330-300 aircraft with a capacity of 308 passengers in their operations at the airport in Clark.

Air Asia Philippines has earlier announced the temporary suspension of local flights to Davao and Kalibo starting on October 8, and international flights to Hong Kong and Taipei on November 6. Hong Kong flights will resume in December, in time for the Christmas Season.

Luciano stressed that the suspension of local and international flights by Air Asia Philippines is only temporary.

“Clark acknowledges the challenges confronting Air Asia Philippines, made more daunting with the acquisition of Zest Air while the latter is in the midst of hurdling regulatory issues,” he said.

“Clark will continue to give full support to its airlines, and will give all the encouragement to Air Asia to increase flights out of Clark. Clark believes in the capability of the management of Air Asia, not only to overcome its present difficulties but even grow the airline soon,” Luciano added.

The CIAC management is also preparing the expansion of the P360 million passenger terminal currently undergoing construction.

The facility is expected to accommodate 5 million passengers annually once completed.

The ‘senakulo’ in Angeles City (audio slideshow)

By JO A. SANTOS


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — In Barangay Lourdes, large crowds gathered to watch the Senakulo, the reenactment of the Passion of Jesus Christ, performed annually during the religious holiday of Good Friday. The tireless chanting of the Pasyon filled the air, as the procession of Roman soldiers, Jesus and his disciples and other Biblical figures culminated under the mid-day sun. Up and down the streets, devotees could be seen carrying crosses or engaging in self-flagellation to emulate the suffering of Christ. Here, sights and sounds of religious traditions mingled with present-day reality, where the extremes have become ordinary and layers of truths are revealed.

Clark Green City: Next PH metropolis

By Ian Ocampo Flora


CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A top official of the Bases Conservation and Development Authority (BCDA) on Friday described the Clark Green City as "Smart, Green and Global," and projected it to be the next Philippine Metropolis after Bonifacio Global City.

This was gleaned during the 42nd General Membership Meeting of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry held at the Widus Convention Center, Clark Freeport, where BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova, presented to PamCham the Master Development Plan of the Clark Green City.

The more than 150 members and guests present were delighted to hear from the BCDA president that the seven provinces of Central Luzon – Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Aurora - are vital economic drivers in the development of Central Luzon.

The presence and availability of seaports, airports and excellent road infrastructure have been the major reasons for the region's economic viability as cited by Casanova.

The central theme of the Clark Green City, according to Casanova, is the layered integration of all the essential components of a metropolis -- with commercial and business multiplexes proximate with government offices and research and development centers; and residential areas just walking distances from industrial complexes, Wellness & Eco-Tourism centers, and Centers of Excellence.

He indicated that the Green City will be a well-planned cluster development project that will include a Government Center with a land area of 514 hectares, a 2,690-hectare Central Business District, a Center of Excellence of 598 hectares, an Agri-Forestry Research and Development Center with a land area of 3,135 hectares and a Wellness & Eco-Tourism Center of 2,513 hectares that will be built in phases.

He disclosed that Phase 1, with a five year timeline from 2014 to 2019, will have a total development cost of $1.3 billion, covering an area of 1,300 hectares to be implemented under the government’s Public-Private Partnership mode of development.

He also underscored the importance of the Clark International Airport (CIA) as an essential gateway for Central Luzon and as a critical infrastructure that will sustain the economic gains realized by the country in the last three years.

He affirmed that CIA is more than capable to accommodate huge international passenger airlines on account of its two runways with more area to spare for a possible third one. He further mentioned that Clark is the practicable solution to NAIA’s congestion and expansion dilemma.

He said there is a need to decongest Metro Manila and distribute economic opportunities to the emerging urban centers in Central Luzon that has sufficient land areas for development, existing road infrastructures for easy access and exceptional human resource capabilities to accommodate the manpower demands of investors.

In a JICA study commissioned by the Neda, traffic congestion in Metro Manila was attributed to be the cause of nearly P2.4 billion in potential income loss which could have been channeled, captured and optimized in the comparably developed urban hubs in the countryside like Pampanga.

Addressing the arguments of some airline industry doyens on Clark’s distance from Metro Manila, he noted that several international airports of first world countries located considerably farther from their metro centers have continued to thrive and successfully triggered development in their contiguous areas, effectively expanding economic wealth and opportunities.

He also mentioned in jest that with the Clark Green City, the BCDA is moving the metropolis closer to the airport rather than the other way around.






World-class Malampaya HSSE training center opens in Clark

By (PNA)

HBC/ZST/MD/PS


CLARK FREEPORT, Sept. 13 (PNA) -- A world-class Malampaya training center was formally opened here Friday.

The center aims to build the competencies of its workers to meet the high health, safety, security and environment standards of construction and oil and gas industries.

Malampaya HSSE lead Neil Burton said the putting up of the training center is to significantly raise the HSSE competencies of workers employed by the fabrication yard and offshore execution work of the project’s next phase of development, Malampaya phase 3.

MP3 involves the design, fabrication and installation of a depletion compression platform to sustain gas production of the Malampaya gas field.

By significantly raising HSSE standards, Burton said the center aims to realize the objective of achieving ‘goal zero’, or no harm to people and the environment, in the fabrication yard and offshore executions of MP3.

He said that apart from the immediate training needs of the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project, their long-term vision is to raise the benchmark of HSSE in the local workforce and help enhance employment opportunities both here and abroad.

"The Malampaya training center brings us a step closer towards our sustainable development goals and leaves behind a lasting legacy that will continue to empower people," Burton said.

He said Malampaya is committed to sustainable social and environmental development in areas where the Malampaya projects operates, working with groups and communities in various projects geared towards skills development and education, the betterment of the environment, among others.

Malampaya's social arm, the Malampaya Foundation, Inc., (MFI), provides skills training to unemployed individuals and out-of-school youths from Palawan and Subic through its Bridging Employment through Skills Training (BEST) program.

The BEST Palawan scholars were previously trained at the center and are now employed at the Keppel Subic Shipyard as part of the Malampaya phase 3 projects, while the BEST Subic scholars are currently undergoing their three-day training at the center.

The center began training workers in September 2012 and now has close to 3,000 completing the mandatory HSSE training.

BEST scholar Diesebel Rubi said that "the skill of welding has become a treasure that no one can take away from me. It's my way to a better life."

She is currently employed with Keppel Subic Shipyard, Inc., Malampaya's contractor in building the depletion compression platform.

The Malampaya HSSE training center is located within the SITE Skills Training Center here, which is owned by Australian Firm Site Group International Limited.

The 300,000 square-meter campus is one of Asia's premiere training facilities, and is a fully contained campus that delivers a wide range of standards-based vocational trade training, HSSE and specialist skills training, among others.

A joint undertaking between the national government and the private sector, the technologically innovative Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project is spearheaded by the Department of Energy, and developed and operated by Shell Philippines Exploration, B.V. (SPEX) on behalf of joint venture partners Chevron Malampaya LLC and the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation.

Pamintuan Mansion soon to be ‘museum’

By Reynaldo G. Navales


ANGELES CITY -- The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) said the Pamintuan Mansion will be converted into a museum that will showcase the ingenuity and craftsmanship of Filipinos, and will feature a collection of local photographs, artworks, artifacts and the culinary expertise of the Kapampangans.

NHCP Chairperson Maria Serena Diokno said the Pamintuan Mansion will be called the "Museum of Philippine Social History."

She revealed that the uniqueness of the museum will be the display of old textiles used by Filipino designers.

"Also with the support of Beatriz 'Patis' Pamintuan Tesoro, the 'Grand Dame of Philippine Fashion,' we can expect indigenous Filipino materials like Abaca, Abel Tiniri, Mindanao Silk and Piña (extract fiber from pineapple leaves) to be exhibited in the museum," Diokno added.

In line with this, a group of French designers and curators recently conducted an ocular inspection at the Old Pamintuan Mansion, signifying their intent to assist the national government in developing the said historic edifice into a museum.

The group was headed by Ariane Tricaud, cultural attaché of the French embassy in the Philippines.

The visit was facilitated by Diokno and Rosalie Naguiat of Kuliat Foundation Inc.

The Pamintuan Mansion is the ancestral house of the Pamintuan clan, built by Don Mariano Pamintuan, whose prominent members include Tesoro and Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.

The mayor expressed his gratitude to the French delegation, saying the assistance to be extended in the conversion of the Pamintuan Mansion will open the gates of cultural relationship between the Philippines and France.

Pamintuan said his administration will also help the NHCP in developing the Pamintuan Mansion into a historical center and museum for the people of Angeles City and Pampanga.

"We are willing to help in making the Pamintuan Mansion a museum for the people of this city. It is a historical site that we could be proud of and with the mansion under the care of the NHCP, we are sure that it would be given its rightful respect as a historical structure," Pamintuan added.

The mayor said the Pamintuan Mansion, which used to be a clearing house of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) was officially named by NHCP as a "heritage site."

In the course of the fledgling Philippine Republic's struggle against the United States, President Emilio Aguinaldo temporarily moved the seat of government from Kawit, Cavite to Pampanga to what is now known as the Pamintuan Mansion.

The historic house changed ownership several times since 1899. The edifice also served as the town’s municipal hall. Later, the property was acquired by the BSP.

With the BSP branch moving to a bigger location in the City of San Fernando in 2010, the BSP decided to turn over the property to the national government, through the Department of Finance by way of a property dividend.

The DOF recently transferred the Pamintuan Mansion to the NHCP.

Fun run to open Clark's First Grand Fiesta

By Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu


CLARK FREEPORT, Sept. 11 (PIA) -- A fun run will commence Clark's First Grand Fiesta on November 16.

Co-organized by Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) and Clark Development Corporation (CDC), it is open to all enthusiasts as well as employees and family members of those working inside the Freeport.

"It will have four categories namely 3 kilometer for beginners, 5 kilometer for novice and locators, 10 kilometer open, and 1 kilometer for children," CILA President Rene Banzon said in a statement.

"The event starts at exactly 6 a.m. in front of the CDC offices near the flagpoles. Medals and gift certificates shall be given to winners for each category. There will also be a raffle draw," Banzon added.

Portion of the proceeds to be generated will go to CILA’s Public School Feeding Program. (CLJD-PIA 3).

‘Dual Airport’ program gets AOC nod

By Reynaldo G. Navales


CLARK FREEPORT -- The Airline Operators Council (AOC) expressed support to the government's plan to develop both Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila under the "Dual Airport" program.

"The AOC supports the principle of the 'Dual Airport' movement in the island of Luzon. We have always expressed concern that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has reached its maximum capacity with the increasing number of passengers annually," the council stated.

"The government and the private sector must cooperate if we are true to our commitment that 'it's more fun in our Philippine airports,' the 14-member AOC said during a visit in Clark Tuesday.

The AOC and the airline industry are excited about recent developments in government to pursue this principle, it added.

There is no question that the runway system in Clark is far more capable of handling numerous inbound and outbound aircraft, according to the AOC.

"We are hopeful though that a new passenger terminal would soon turn into reality to encourage our members to schedule regular flights into and out of Clark," the AOC members said.

Clark International Airport Corporation president Victor Jose Luciano informed the AOC officers and members that Emirates Airlines will start daily flights (Dubai-Clark-Dubai) on October 1.

Qatar Airways has also commissioned daily flights (Via Doha-Clark-Doha) on October 28, 2013.

Luciano said Emirates and Qatar is expected to attract passengers especially Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Northern Luzon, who will have a direct to countries in the Middle East.

He also said that Emirates and Qatar will also bring European and Arab tourists in Clark and other parts of the country.

The AOC members expressed optimism to the government plan in the light of the regular flights to and from Clark initiated by two airlines.

AOC Chairman Florante Isidro expressed confidence that Clark Airport will play a major role in the aviation industry saying that "there is room for growth (for Clark) and everything is here."

Florante said that he was impressed by the developments at the airport particularly the on-going construction of the P360 million Phase 2 expansion of the Passenger Terminal.

The terminal is expected to be completed by the end of September in time for the operations of Emirates and Qatar in October.

The facility can accommodate 5 million passengers annually.








DILG orients Angeles village officials on Kasambahay Law

By Marie Joy L. Simpao


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, September 9 (PIA) -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in partnership with the Angeles Gender and Development and Public Employment Service Offices, recently convened barangay officials of the city for an orientation on Republic Act 10361 otherwise known as the "Kasambahay Law."

"Pursuant to the implementing guidelines of the law, each village must establish a Kasambahay desk for the registry of household workers. They must likewise maintain a masterlist of such,"DILG City Director Remedios Rodriguez said.

In the orientation, Maria Regina Agustin of Department of Labor and Employment discussed the salient features of the law namely formalization of transactions between employers and workers including an employment contract, pay slips, and a certificate of employment; and enrollment in insurance programs specifically Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG.

"The Kasambahay law serves as the country’s compliance mechanism to the Domestic Workers Convention (C189) of the International Labor Organization (ILO). This extends the ILO standards to a sector that continues to be poorly regulated and remains largely part of the informal economy,"Agustin explained.

"Aside from that, this is one of the government interventions designed to benefit at least 2.5 million household workers in the country,"Agustin added. (CLJD/MJLS-PIA 3)

SCTEX REOPENING

By Franco G. Regala


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova announced yesterday that the damaged portion of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) Bailey bridge has been fixed and will be open to traffic beginning Tuesday. Last August 19, the strong river current at the height of monsoon rains intensified by tropical storm “Maring” collapsed the segment of the toll road that serves as an approach to the Pasig-Potrero Bridge. But beginning 2 p.m. on September 10, motorists on Class 1 or light vehicles only can already pass through the Clark-Porac segment of the SCTEx through the Bailey bridge. Clark Development Corporation (CDC) welcomed the temporary bridge as this will help ease traffic and reconnect Clark to Subic.

Clark locator holds feeding program at Angeles school

By Ian Ocampo Flora


ANGELES CITY -- The undernourished children of the Pineda-Gutierrez Elementary School here are the beneficiaries of the Yokohama Tire Phils., Inc. (YTPI)’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which involves a supplemental feeding program starting from September 4 until November 26, 2013.

Trainees from Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC), YTPI’s mother company, and Yokohama India (YIN) also participated in the event by immersing with the locals, helping feed the children, and distributing giveaways.

In coordination with the Angeles City Nutrition Action Office, 50 children from the target beneficiary school that were identified as undernourished (low weight) will be given hot meals and milk, as well as food supplements five days per week, Monday to Friday for 60 days.

The supplemental feeding is a school-based program and will be supervised by the Nutrition Action Office, school staff, and volunteer parents and YTPI employees to monitor, evaluate and document the development of the program.

Through the initiative, YTPI aims to contribute to the well-being of children by addressing malnutrition. Volunteers are still welcome to participate in the feeding program by coordinating to YTPI’s PR-CSR team.

BFAR solving 15-year backlog in fishers’ registry

By Tonette Orejas


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has revived the establishment of municipal registries for fishermen, which many local governments failed to put up in the last 15 years as prescribed by a 1998 law. The registries were designed to bring more government services to coastal communities. The National Municipal Fisherfolk Registration Program, now ongoing in seven regions, was initiated in Central Luzon on Thursday. Section 19 of the Philippine Fisheries Code (Republic Act No, 8550) requires towns to build their registries. But some local governments have not seen it as a priority, BFAR Director Asis Perez said. He said an updated and complete registry would allow the national government to make “targeted interventions” among the poor. BFAR is spending P50 million to finish a national registry. According to Perez, the fisheries database has been enriched by the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture started by the Department of Budget and Management. The registry will help design programs that will aid towns in managing, regulating, conserving and protecting fishery resources and establishing a comprehensive fishery information system, said Remedios Ongtangco, BFAR director for Central Luzon. Around 100,000 fishermen are targeted to be registered in the region, Ongtangco said. Aurora, a province facing the Pacific Ocean, has a preliminary list of fishermen, according to Victoriano San Pedro, provincial fisheries and aquatic resources officer. Currently enlisted there are 2,736 fishermen, 1,360 registered motorized bancas and 651 non-motorized ones. Pedro Calivara, a leader of fishermen in Casiguran, Aurora, said he appreciated the registry because it could help specify the conditions and needs of a certain area. At least 312 fishing boats in Casiguran were destroyed at the height of Typhoon “Maring” two weeks ago. In his latest State of the Nation Address, President Aquino said the government is “now steering our fishermen towards more productive waters.” “Think about it: our fishing industry contributed P193.65 billion to our economy in 2012. In spite of this, based on a study conducted in 2009, 41 percent of our fisherfolk still live below the poverty line. They are the ones who catch the fish, but all they have on their dinner tables are fish bones,” he said.

DOLE calls on Clark Freeport locators to set up lactating rooms in their workplaces=

By (CLJD-PIA 3)


CLARK FREEPORT, September 5 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) called on Clark Freeport locators to set up lactating rooms in their workplaces.

“Our ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life of our workers. And with respect to RA 10028 otherwise known as Expanded Breastfeeding Act of 2009, our women workers should be provided safe working conditions, taking into account their maternal functions by giving them access to facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare in order for them to be productive, likewise promote and encourage working mothers to continue expressing their milk and/or breastfeeding their infant or young child through the provision of lactating stations at the workplace,” DOLE Pampanga Provincial Director Arlene Tolentino said during an Orientation on Workplace Lactation Station for representatives of 30 locators.

Attendees included Aderans Philippines which was recently cited by DOLE for promotion of lactation at their workplace, Fontana Leisure Park, Sutherland Global Services, Texas Instruments Philippines Inc., Clark International Airport Corporation, United Parcel Services Landside, and Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines Corp.,

“This is one of the priorities under our Family Welfare Program (FWP). Others include Reproductive Health/Responsible Parenthood; Gender Equality; Spirituality and Values Formation; Income Generation, Livelihood and Cooperative; Medical Health Care, Nutrition, Environmental Protection, Hygiene, and Sanitation; Sports and Leisure; Housing; and Transportation,” Tolentino added.

Millicent Santos, a company nurse of UPS Landside, expressed support and cooperation in behalf of the locators for the FWP and Breastfeeding/Lactating Program under RA 10028.

“We’re on the verge of setting-up a lactating station in our company because more than half of our total workforce which is 700 are working women and mothers. We are hoping that more discussions on the FWP and Breastfeeding/Lactating Program will be undertaken by the DOLE and Clark Development Corporation Health Services in the near future,” Santos said.

KEB opens new office in Philippines

By Yi Whan-woo



Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) has opened its branch office at Clark Freeport Zone in the Philippines, the company said Wednesday.

With the opening of the new office, KEB now runs 54 branches in 23 countries.

KEB is the only domestic lender the Southeast Asian country after setting up its office in Manila in December 1981. And the bank said it launched its second Philippines office at the international business district in Pampanga to enhance its sales network in the region.

“I expect KEB’s second office will accelerate our overseas business expansion, and serve as a cornerstone in raising our revenue from abroad up to 15 percent by 2015.”

Located some 60 kilometers from Manila, Clark Freeport Zone was used as a U.S. air base until December 1991. Since then, the region in particular has been undergoing fast economic development along with the capital city of the Philippines, according to the bank.

A large number of international companies seek to make investments in the zone. They include 100 Korean companies such as shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries that operate in and around the district, KEB said.

“We believe we can provide quality services to Korean enterprises and our nationals, as well as to Filipino business owners through our new branch office,” the bank said.

The Philippines has emerged as a key market with its economic growth rate reaching 6.6 percent in 2012 in spite of the global economic crisis, KEB said. The figure stood at 7.8 percent in the first quarter, which is the highest among all Asian nations, the bank added.







Food and Beverage in Clark

By clarkphilippines.com


Clark is fast becoming a city of luxurious fine dining accompanied by fine vintage wine. Not only must a 5-star Italian, French or Continental restaurant offer good food, nice ambience and immaculate service the restaurant wine list must be equally exciting to make the evening of wine and dine a memorable one.

Favorites of frequent diners, foodies and wine lovers are steaks, Wagyu, Foie Gras, seafood, lobsters, venison, kangaroo loin, osso buco, veal chops, Kurabuto pork, escargots and a good selection of cheeses to enjoy with fine Vintage port and Sauternes. Cuban cigars such as Monte Cristo, Cohiba, Upmann, Partagas, Romeo Julieta and Trinidad are also available in the Cigar and Wine bars in Clark. These outlets are ideal for before and after dinner relaxation. A good selection of Armagnac, Cognac, Single Malt, Vodka and other liquor is served in addition to the wine vintage wines some served by the glass.

P2-M bounty vs. Delfin Lee

By clarkphilippines.com


CLARK FREEPORT–President Benigno Aquino III, over the weekend, raised the reward to P2 million against Globe Asiatique owner Delfin Lee, for his imme-diate arrest in connection with the syndicated estafa case filed against him over the Xevera housing projects in Bacolor and Mabalacat City, both in Pampanga province.

In a statement, Aquino said he raised the bounty for Lee’s arrest in order to give justice to the latter’s housing scam victims.

Lee is listed as one of the most wanted fugitives in the country now, along with pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles’ brother.

Aside from Lee, his son Dexter, and three officers of Globe Asiatique have standing warrants of arrest for the alleged syndicated estafa in the Xevera housing projects.

On May 22, Pampanga Regional Trial Court branch 42 Judge Maria Amifaith S. Fider-Reyes found probable cause against Lee and his co-accused resulting in the issuance of arrest warrants with no bail recommendation for their temporary liberty. Earlier, Lee was accused of using “ghost borrowers” and fake documents to obtain billions of pesos in loans from the Home Development Mutual Fund for the Xevera housing project.






Dispute over Clark Aeta lands settled

By Reynaldo G. Navales


CLARK FREEPORT -- Officials of Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Mabalacat City Government, and Mabalacat Aeta Tribal Association (Mata) agreed to settle the issue involving the use of ancestral lands by a golf course and water park developer inside this Freeport.

During a meeting initiated by Mabalacat City Mayor Marino Morales and CDC president Arturo Tugade with leaders of tribal communities at the Clark Freeport subzone last Friday, Tugade asked the cooperation of the Aetas, who said they are being harassed and prevented from passing and visiting their territory near the Clark Gate 14 at Sitio Haduan.

Ruvielane Margarito, tribal chieftain of Sitio Bilad, said they erected a makeshift center near the Gate 14 to monitor the ongoing development of a water park by Taiwanese firm BB International (BBI).

“Itinayo po namin 'yun hindi para sa kaguluhan kundi para maproteksyonan ang aming karapatan at bantayan at mapanatili ang katahimikan at kaayusan sa aming lupaing ninuno,” Margarito said.

Margarito said that CDC failed to implement programs guaranteed under an agreement forged between the state-owned corporation and the tribesmen in 2007.

Some of the programs include the livelihood for Aetas, and construction of facilities like church, basketball court, health center and others at the relocation site at Sitio Bilad.

Within six years, BBI failed to develop less than 10 hectares of ancestral lands, which are covered by the P2.5-billion project. Tugade vowed to implement the projects that CDC failed to implement under the agreement.

He, however, said that he was informed that the corporation compensated the Aetas, who were properly resettled and the facilities and buildings were paid prior to the relocation of families affected by the project.

“Kung may kakulangan, madali po nating ayusin 'yan,” he said.

Tugade said the Aeta leaders should sit down with CDC officials to reconcile facts and settle the issues.

“Pagtugmain natin ang datos kasi po ako ay nasabihan na 'yung chapel, basketball court ay nabayaran,” Tugade told the Aetas.

He also appealed to the Mata officials not to delay the ongoing project.

The BBI has vowed to implement the project with a time table, he added.

“Pag hindi po tumupad [sa timetable] ang BBI ay ako na mismo ang magte-terminate ng kontrata,” Tugade said.

A ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled on September 29, Tugade added.

Morales thanked Tugade for his effort to address the problem of his constituents.

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