Makati City News December 2016

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The Seal of Makati City
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Mission, Vission of Makati inscribed on a plaque
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Makati City Hall

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.

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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.
Makati City Ninoy Aquino Monument.jpg
Monument of Ninoy Aquino

DOT ends year with new targets

The 65th edition of Miss Universe pageant activities kicked off with the rousing visit of beauty titlists from 12 countries recently, who altogether provided a fitting climax to this year’s Philippine tourism program.

“It gave a sneak-peek of the Philippines’ best-kept secrets as a world-class tourist destination, an ideal and safe haven for international visitors,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo was quoted as saying.

The country’s hosting of the prestigious beauty contest in January 2017 has been the focus of the Department of Tourism (DOT) under Secretary Teo as part of her plans to boost visitor arrivals to the country since assuming office in July.

The Miss Universe candidates’ trip to Oslob, Cebu, for one, defied a travel advisory against visits to Southern Cebu.

Despite the warnings against visiting the Philippines, tourist arrival figures have risen as the country hits its target of six million tourist arrivals this year, based on data gathered at international airports.

Teo said, with already 4.7 million arrivals logged as of September, the country stands to surpass last year’s total of 5.4 million international visitors.

“More tourists will come next year because the Miss Universe event has placed us on the world map. After the President Duterte’s state visit, China lifted the travel advisory and Chinese arrivals have increased,” Teo said.

The DOT chief said she also expects up to 3 million Chinese tourists to visit the country in 2017 after her successful trip to Beijing, China in October, during which, a Memorandum of Agreement on Tourism Cooperation between the Philippines and China was signed which will give the tourism department a better opportunity to market the Philippines to potential Chinese travelers.

To enhance air connectivity, several direct flights to the different regions of the country were launched this year.

Since November, Laoag has been welcoming around 400 Chinese tourists per week through China Eastern Airlines’ Guangzhou-Laoag chartered flights.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) also took its maiden flight from the Changi International Airport to Cebu in December.

PAL inaugurated its daily Cebu-Caticlan and Cebu-Clark (via Caticlan) flights, bringing the total of domestic destinations it flies to and from Cebu to 10. It also launched its first direct flight between Cebu and Singapore, its sixth international destination served from the Visayan gateway city.

The Philippines is also preparing to welcome more tourists from Cambodia, as the DOT and the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia just recently signed an agreement that will start a series of programs that aims to revitalize tourism relations between the two countries.

To better position the country’s tourism industry, which lags behind those of East Asian neighbors, the DOT has raised its target annual visitor arrivals over six years until the end of the Duterte administration’s term in 2022.

And to sustain the momentum gained in staging the Miss Universe Pageant, the DOT has also sealed the deal to host Madrid Fusion Manila, a culinary festival that will draw the world's best chefs to the country.

This early, the DOT is already preparing for the country’s hosting of the 50th ASEAN Summit.

The Tourism Chief also committed active involvement in hosting high-level conferences of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

With continuing partnerships, massive marketing campaigns, and increase awareness on different Philippines destinations, the tourism department has just concluded another great year for the industry.

Makati to set up Ayala BRT lane

By Joel E. Zurbano

A BUS rapid transport lane system has been proposed for Makati City to decongest traffic in the Central Business District and enable residents, workers and visitors to go from one place to another without spending too much time on the road.

The proposal for the BRT project, according to Makati Commercial Estate Association governor Manuel Blas II, has been submitted to the Department of Transportation.

“Our estimated cost is between P800 million to P1 billion,” said Blas, adding the BRT lane will be situated at the center island of the Central Business District of Makati.

“Our center island now where we have the [Christmas] decors, those will be replaced by the BRT lane, physically segregated lane just for the buses and cars can’t enter it. Stations will be at the center and the way to access that, from sidewalk go down the underground walkway then go to the middle,” said Blas.

The master plan for the project, according to Macea, was shown to DOTr Secretary Arturo Tugade.

“In our current plan, subject to approval, we put the dedicated BRT lanes, stations and the access to stations. Then we are going to pulse the buses that are going to turn right to Ayala from Edsa [Epifanio de los Santos Avenue] because the concept of BRT, you think trains but use buses,” Blas said.

Macea vice president architect William Coscolluela said the BRT project would give convenience to the public, especially to the people working at the Central Business District.

“If you notice, most people hanging out on Ayala Avenue during peak hour [form] a long line, they’re going to Edsa, to Taft Avenue. With the cooperation of the city government to work on BRT system, everything is in place. We have Mr. Tugade, let him know that we might go ahead with this. It will be the first in Manila if we do the BRT system. Like in Cebu and Indonesia which are very successful. We’ll soon work on this development,” he said.

The project was proposed in 2011 but it was not pushed during the term of then President Benigno Aquino III.

Then Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay even wrote a letter to former DoTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and sought urgent action on the proposal, which he had favorably endorsed to Abaya’s predecessor Jose de Jesus.

The mayor also expressed concern about the “inexplicable delay” it has taken the DoTC to formally respond to the proposal.

Based on the original proposal, the BRT will connect Metro Railway Transit Ayala Station to the Light Railway Transit Buendia Station, starting from the corner of Edsa and Ayala Avenue and traversing Ayala Avenue, turning left at Gil Puyat (Buendia) and ending at the LRT Line 1 Buendia Station along Taft Avenue.

The project is envisioned to help alleviate traffic congestion within the city and provide a world-class mass transit facility to the residents and employees working in Makati CBD.

Makati's elevated walkway is now country's longest

(ABS-CBN News)

MANILA - The elevated walkway in the central business district of Makati City is now the country's longest elevated pedestrian walkway with the inauguration of the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway.

The extension, which connects V.A. Rufino to Salcedo Street, brings the total length of the walkway to 1.1 kilometers long.

The De La Rosa Elevated Walkway has served hundreds of thousands of pedestrians since it was first built from Enterprise Center in Paseo de Roxas to Greenbelt. Now that the walkway has been connected to Ayala Center, commuters can now walk from the Ayala MRT station all the way to Makati Medical Center without worrying about the sun and rain.

"The walkway offers workers, residents, and transients safety, comfort, convenience and protective cover on their short trips to the commercial center and back. There are many benefits to walking, and savings on gas and the vehicle’s wear and tear. Reduced vehicular traffic in the district will also have a positive impact on the environment,” Makati Commercial Estate Association (MaCEA) president David L. Balangue said.

According to MaCEA, the 305-meter De La Rosa Elvated Walkway was built at a cost of P11.0 million over a year and eight months.

It also said that a total of P497 million has so far been invested in the city's pedestrianization program.

A primary mover in the district's development, MaCEA is composed of all the property owners within Makati Central Business District (MCBD). It is expected to invest around P150 million for the project in 2017.

"We envisioned the program as a network of tri-level pedestrian pathways composed of underground passageways, on-grade covered sidewalks, and elevated walkways,” Balangue said

"Ultimately, it will encourage motorists to leave their cars and join the pedestrians on short trips to the commercial center and back, which is the core objective of the pedestrianization program," he added.

Aside from the elevated walkway, MaCEA will also be implementing sidewalk enhancements for De La Rosa and Valero streets, among others. A covered walkway along Valero, V.A. Rufino and De La Rosa streets near Makati Medical Center, and a pedestrian crossing at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue are also under construction.

MaCEA will also be redeveloping Legazpi Village and Washington Sycip parks, and will be upgrading existing facilities in the area.

MMDA expects light traffic near bus terminals until 2017

By Kristian Javier (philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila Development Authority is expecting light traffic near the bus terminals until the end of the year.

According to Emma Loristo of the MMDA, there is none of the usual traffic in Cubao, Quezon City where most bus terminals are located.

She said the MMDA is expecting the large volume of traffic on January 2, when most Metro Manila residents who went on Christmas vacation in the provinces return to Manila.

She added that the traffic in Cubao is manageable, with traffic on the northbound and southbound lanes being moderate to heavy.

Additionally, the underpass from Cubao to Santolan has light to moderate traffic then lightens up going to Makati.

Makati rules out tax increase

By MICHAEL JOE T. DELIZO, TMT

THE Makati City government gave assurances that it will not increase business and real estate taxes next year as it reported higher revenue collections in the third quarter this year.

In a report submitted to the Office of the Mayor, the city treasurer said actual revenue collections increased by 12 percent from July to November compared to the same period last year.

The bulk of collections came from business tax with P2.5 billion, followed by real property tax with over P1.0 billion.

The business tax collection increased by seven percent, while the real property tax was up by 25.6 percent.

“Landowners and investors in Makati need not worry about any impending tax increase. We will continue giving quality services without increasing taxes by means of good governance, proper fiscal management and efficient collection system,” Makati Mayor Abby Binay said in a statement.

Jesusa Cuneta, officer-in-charge of the City Treasurer’s Office, said Makati’s total revenues reached almost P4.3 billion from July to November.

The other components of the city’s income for the said period include P169.8 million from miscellaneous fees and charges, P81.7 million from economic enterprises, P75.8 million from interest income and P393.3 million from internal revenue allotment (IRA).

On an annual basis, the city’s total revenue collection from January to November, amounting to P14.38 billion, is eight percent higher compared with the same period last year, and has exceeded the full-year target by 10 percent. The total estimated income of the city for 2016 is P13.06 billion.

Makati is one of local government units with high revenue collection from local sources and per capita income. It is also one of the few localities that are not dependent on the IRA from the national government.

Despite maintaining its tax rates for the past ten years, Makati has remained deficit-free for 30 years, Binay said.

Discounted Metro Manila Film Fest tickets available for students, PWDs, senior citizens

(MMDA)

MAKATI CITY, Dec. 24 - In order to ensure the success of MMFF 2016, some producers have proposed to the MMFF Executive Committee to adopt measures to attract more viewers to watch all the entries in the Festival.

One of the promotional activities suggested is to make available an option to all movie producers to option to grant thirty-percent (30%) discount on tickets to students, PWDs and senior citizens, in cooperation with cinemas and other stakeholders of the movie industry.

The MMFF Executive Committee gave due course to the said proposal on the grant of thirty-percent (30%) discount on tickets to students, PWDs and senior citizens, at the option of the producers and with the cooperation of cinemas and other stakeholders of the movie industry. The Execom further resolved that the said option of giving thirty-percent (30%) discount shall be implemented only starting on the third day of the Festival or December 27, 2016 until January 3, 2017.

Meanwhile, the MMFF Execom dispelled reports that Star Cinema is pulling out its entry, “Vince & Kath & James,” purportedly due to the 30 percent discount on ticket prices.

“Just like all the other producers, they have been supportive of the MMFF initiatives in bringing more people to the Festival every year,” Chairman Tim Orbos stressed.

Makati City suspends number coding on December 26, 30 and January 2

(PNA), FPV/ABP-PR/

MANILA (PNA) -- The Makati City local government has suspended the number coding scheme for private vehicles on December 26, December 30 and January 2.

Makati City legal officer and spokesperson Atty. Michael Camina explained that lifting the suspension on December 23 and 29 in the city might worsen traffic congestion as these are regular working days.

“Makati has a daytime population of four million. This includes those who work, do business, shop or visit Makati during work days. December 23 and 29 are regular work day. Lifting number coding on these days would only worsen the present traffic situation and further inconvenience motorists and the general public,” Camina said.

The Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) has earlier announced that the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVRP) or number coding scheme for private vehicles is suspended on December 23, December 26, December 29 and 30

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Thomas Orbos said the number coding scheme was suspended for these days in anticipation of the exodus of Metro Manila residents going to the provinces for the Christmas vacation.

Beware of ‘bocha’ in Makati markets, city warns

By Joel E. Zurbano

The Makati city government on Tuesday warned residents of buying “bocha” or double-dead meat being sold by unscrupulous individuals during the holiday season.

Makati’s Veterinary Services Office issued the warning to consumers to be extra cautious when buying meat products to keep their families safe from food poisoning during the holidays.

MVSO chief and city veterinarian Ma. Katherina Mangahas said vendors may be selling meat from carcasses at low prices to entice consumers, such as a meat stall at the Kalayaan wet market that was found selling ‘buto-buto’ or meat on bone at only P30 per kilo.

“We urge the buying public to be extra careful some vendors are taking advantage of this time of the year to fool consumers by mixing double-dead meat with fresh ones. Unusually low prices should warn consumers to think twice before they buy any product,” Mangahas said.

The MVSO chief also warned the public against buying frozen meat products on display outside the freezer.

“Selling of frozen meat is legal. However, it should be kept inside the freezer because decomposition and contamination happens when the frozen meat starts to thaw,” Mangahas said.

The National Meat Inspection Service prohibits the sale of frozen meat in the market when the stall is not equipped with freezers, chillers or refrigerators, she added.

On December 8, inspectors from the Meat, Livestock and Fish Inspection Division of the MVSO confiscated more than 60 kilograms of frozen meat being sold at the “talipapas” of Rizal-Pembo, Kalayaan and Sacramento.

A week prior to the inspections, all markets of Makati City were notified of the provisions of City Ordinance No.

During the inspection, a fresh chicken stall in Rizal-Pembo was reprimanded for selling chicken from a locally registered dressing plant in Taguig City. “It is a violation of the city ordinance because locally registered meat establishments are not allowed to transport their products outside their city,” Mangahas said.

Confiscated from the same stall were 3.2 kilograms of displayed frozen meat and 4.4 kilograms of adulterated chicken intestines.

At Kalayaan, 5.7 kilograms of displayed frozen meat and 9.3 kilograms of “buto-buto” being sold at P30 per kilo were confiscated from a meat stall. In the Sacramento market, 25.5 kilograms of displayed frozen meat and 15 kilograms of imported frozen meat were also confiscated.

The city veterinarian reminded meat distributors to observe the regulations under Article VII-Meat Inspection of the ordinance.

Meat vendors acquiring meat and meat products from slaughterhouses outside the city’s jurisdiction and to be sold within Makati are required to secure a Meat Inspection Certificate issued by NMIS-accredited slaughterhouses outside the city’s jurisdiction.

Meat vendors, meat stalls and other meat establishments found to be selling imported meat products are also required to secure a Certificate of Meat Inspection of imported meat and meat products for domestic transport issued from an accredited NMIS cold storage facility.

Violators face as much as P5,000 in fines, confiscation of their produces and a one-month suspension of their establishments.

No tax hike in Makati in ’17

By Joel E. Zurbano

The city government of Makati on Monday assured residents there will be no business and real property tax increases in 2017.

“Landowners and investors in Makati need not worry about any impending tax increase. We will continue giving quality services without increasing taxes by means of good governance, proper fiscal management and efficient collection system,” said Mayor Abigail Binay.

In a report submitted to the Office of the Mayor, the City Treasurer’s Office said the actual revenue collections increased by 12 percent during the first five months of Binay’s administration, from July to November, compared with the same period last year.

The bulk of collections came from business taxes at P2.5 billion, followed by real property taxes at over P1 billion.

“We achieved a remarkable 25.6-percent increase in revenues from real property tax, while business tax collection increased by seven percent since I assumed office in July,” Binay said.

City Treasurer Jesusa Cuneta said Makati’s total revenues reached almost P4.3 billion in November from the time Binay assumed office last July. About P2.5 billion came from Business Tax, while P1.06 billion was generated from realty taxes.

The city also earned P169.8 million from miscellaneous fees and charges, P81.7 million from economic enterprises, P75.8 million from interest income, and P393.3 million from its Internal Revenue Allotment.

On an annual basis, Makati’s P14.38 billion in total revenues from January to November is eight percent higher year on year, and have exceeded the full-year target by 10 percent. The total estimated income of the city for 2016 is P13.06 billion.

Earlier, Binay vowed to use technology to make the services of the city government more efficient and to promote transparency as well.

Beyond aiming to be a premier city, Binay said she wanted Makati to become a “smart city” that incorporates and embraces technology in its policies, programs and activities.

Binay said her administration will use technology to implement a “no physical contact” policy in transactions with city hall, particularly in tax payment and processing of business permits and licenses. Among her priorities is the establishment of a one-stop-shop that will eliminate the need for clients to go to several buildings to transact business with city hall.


Makati awards Most Child-Friendly Barangays for 2016

By Jerome Paunan (ICRD/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)

MAKATI CITY, Dec. 20 (PIA) -- The local government, through the Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC), has proclaimed the five winners of the Search for this year’s "Most Child-Friendly Barangay" of the city.

Mayor Abby Binay, the LCPC chairman, congratulated the officials and residents of the winning barangays, namely, Poblacion, Guadalupe Viejo, South Cembo, Kasilawan, and San Lorenzo Village. The mayor also and exhorted them to continue their efforts to promote the rights and welfare of children.

“I salute the leaders of these winning barangays for their extraordinary efforts in support of our vision of a truly Child-Friendly Makati. May you carry on with your laudable initiatives, and inspire the other barangays to replicate them,” Binay said.

Each of the winning barangays received P200,000 cash prize and a plaque of recognition declaring the barangays as “Most Child-Friendly Barangay of Makati for 2016.”

Poblacion headed by Capt. Benhur Cruz won in Category A, while Guadalupe Viejo chaired by Capt. Dennis Almario topped Category B. The other winners were South Cembo under Capt. Carlo Papa, Category C; Kasilawan chaired by Capt. Kristine Mae Casal-Reyes, Category D; and San Lorenzo Village led by Capt. Ernesto Moya, Category E.

Other winners that received plaques of recognition were as follows: Category A - West Rembo, 2nd place and East Rembo, 3rd place; Category B - Pembo, 2nd place and San Isidro, 3rd place; Category C - Carmona, 2nd place and Sta. Cruz, 3rd place; Category D - Pinagkaisahan, 2nd place and Post Proper Southside, 3rd place; and Category E - Dasmariñas Village, 2nd place and Magallanes, 3rdplace.

The LCPC has categorized the 33 barangays based on their similarity of potentials and capabilities to level the playing field.

Category A is composed of barangays with both elementary and high schools. They are: Bangkal, Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pio del Pilar, Pitogo, Poblacion, San Antonio and West Rembo.

Category B are barangays with income of 26M and above, with either elementary school or high school: Guadalupe Nuevo, Guadalupe Viejo, Olympia, Palanan, Pembo and San Isidro.

Barangays with income of P25M and below and with elementary school but without high school fall under Category C, namely, Carmona, La Paz, Singkamas, South Cembo, Sta. Cruz and Rizal.

Barangays without elementary and high schools make up Category D: Kasilawan, Pinagkaisahan, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, Tejeros and Valenzuela.

Category E consists of the six villages in the city, namely, Barangays Bel-Air, Dasmariñas, Forbes Park, Magallanes, San Lorenzo, and Urdaneta.

According to Ryan Barcelo, Makati Social Welfare Department officer-in-charge, the barangays were assessed by a selection committee using the tools designed for each category.

Items evaluated during the on-site assessment included the barangay’s Situationer on Children, Threats to and Issues of Children; enacted Resolutions and Ordinances related to BCPC and children’s fundamental rights; list of innovative programs, projects and activities; minutes of BCPC regular meetings; and other documented child-related activities.

The annual search for the Most Child-friendly Barangay aims to promote the right of every child to survival, development, protection and participation in the barangay level.

Why a Makati Staycation this Christmas Season is everybody’s best option!

By Lorelei Aquino (ADVT)

It’s that time of the year again. With the Yuletide season already upon us, everyone is all agog with excitement and anticipation. People will have a few days of respite from the monotony of everyday life. They are thrilled at the prospect of being surrounded by family and friends, of spending time with each other, of having some fun, of touching base, of catching up with each other’s lives, and of creating beautiful experiences that will make for priceless and lasting memories.

With all the festivities, though, come the monumental traffic jams, the annoying noise and crowds, and the long queues. People are looking for the perfect way to balance the perks and the inconveniences of this magical season. Well, you need not look far.

At the heart of the metropolis is the city that could make it all happen for you.

Taking a staycation instead of an out-of-town vacation may be what you need. It’s a lot cheaper and it does not involve travel planning, travel time and travel stress. You’ll have ample time to enjoy the things that you want to do with the people who truly matter to you.

Join me in exploring the dazzling city of Makati with everything that it has to offer. (For more information, visit www.makeitmakati.com)

1. Festival of Lights. Delight in Makati’s holiday atmosphere with a visit to the Ayala Triangle Gardens where blazing lights transform the place into a magical paradise. With more than a million lights that twinkle, flash and change colors to the beat of Christmas musical medleys, the hearts of the revelers –both kids and grown-ups– will surely be filled with holiday cheer. This lights and sound show was hailed by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the 7 Most Spectacular Light Shows in the World.

2. Circuit’s Christmas Tree. Bask in the wondrous season as this 56-foot outdoor Christmas tree, the most interactive of its kind in Makati, lights up and looms high from Nov. 18 to January 8, 2017. Heavily laden with the bright and merry feels of Christmas, the immersive Christmas Tree installation will undoubtedly bring the unmistakable Christmas spirit alive.

3. Ultimate shopping experience. Makati is dotted with shopping malls perfect for all your Holiday shopping needs. It also boasted of the biggest outdoor bazaar, the Circuit Makati Bazaar, that featured over 500 merchants offering a wide array of gift items, food, clothes and other holiday delights, plus celebrity booths, musical performances, and outdoor games. 4. Superb dining destinations. All that walking and Christmas shopping will leave you with a growling stomach. Worry not because Makati is brimming with restaurants (fine dining, cheap eats or romantic lounges), coffee shops, drive-thrus, stands and kiosks. Experience the celebrated Makati nightlife with all its bars, pubs, clubs, bistros and watering holes. You will definitely have a good time with your colleagues and friends. And Mastercard has some amazing offerings for their cardholders. March to Spectrum at Fairmont Hotel for their 3+1 offer on their delightful lunch and dinner buffet and, then, to Long Bar at Raffles Makati during their Happy Hour to enjoy one (1) complimentary choice of their sumptuous tapas.

5. Spas and wellness centers. If you need to slow down and relax, drop by these sanctuaries for the weary where you will be pampered and rejuvenated. With their soothing spaces and natural therapies, your body, mind and spirit will get the royal treatment and indulgence that they deserve. If you have a Mastercard, go to Willow Stream Spa as they offer 30% off on regular spa treatments. Consider this life’s simple pleasure your Christmas gift for yourself.

6. Accessibility. Don your most comfy shoes because you won’t need your ride in going around — to the parks with friends to breathe some fresh air, to the cinema to support your favorite MMFF movie entry, to the museums and art galleries for a quick educational trip, and to the Greenbelt Chapel or to the Ayala Triangle Gardens. To give meaning to the season, Thanksgiving masses will be held daily from December 15 – 23 at the ATG Fountain Area every evening at 6pm.

7. Finest hotels. You’ll never find Makati wanting when it comes to accommodations. This Christmas season, treat your family to a staycation. There’s a host of activities that will keep you entertained while bonding you as a family even closer. You can go swimming, get some exercise at the gym, play board games, or engage in a movie marathon. Hotels can also be a private party venue for your barkada. If it’s just you and your partner, though, you can enjoy your little romantic rendezvous by dancing to slow music, snuggling while watching your favorite holiday romantic flicks, whispering sweet nothings, and making slow, sweet love. If it’s alone time you’re after, your staycation will see you catching up on your reading, meditating, downloading songs and updating your holiday playlist in your ipod, or wrapping the gifts you meticulously picked for family, friends and colleagues.

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Two-time Palanca winner Conchitina Cruz to hold basic creative writing workshop in Jan.

(PNA), CVL/PR/LOR/EDS

MANILA (PNA) -- Poet and two-time Palanca awardee Conchitina Cruz will conduct a basic creative writing workshop at the Ayala Museum in Makati on Jan. 10, 17, 24 and 31.

Cruz, who is also a literature and creative writing teacher at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, will teach her students the basic skills of creative writing. She will give them writing exercises, guide them how to develop their drafts into finished pieces, give them pointers on how to be critical readers, and help them use feedback productively in improving their work.

Cruz, who earned her Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York in Albany, won the Palanca Award for her poetry collections “Second Skin” (1996) and “The Shortest Distance” (2001). In 2006, her book “Dark Hours” won the National Book Award for Poetry. Her most recent book is “elsewhere held and lingered”, published by High Chair in 2008.

The workshop will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The workshop fee, inclusive of materials, handouts, snacks, a certificate, and a one-day free admission to the museum and one-day free access to the library, is PHP6,750 for regular participants, PHP6,412.50 for the early bird, and PHP6,075 for Ayala Museum members and AGC employees. Deadline for the early bird rate is December 23.

For inquiries and reservations, call 759-8288 loc. 8284 or email education@ayalamuseum.org and contact Marj Villaflores.

MaCEA investment for Makati pedestrianization now at P497 million

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

THE Makati Commercial Estate Association (MaCEA) revealed early this week said that some P497 million so far had been invested in the Makati Central Business District’s pedestrianization program.

MaCEA has been a primary mover in the district’s development, building at least seven underpasses, on grade covered sidewalks, and the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway.

MaCEA’s latest project has extended the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway 305 meters more, from V.A. Rufino to Salcedo Street. The extension was built at a cost of P110.6 million over a year and eight months. This brings the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway to about 1,100 meters long, making it the country’s longest elevated pedestrian walkway.

MaCEA, composed of all the property owners within the Makati CBD, expects to invest approximately P150 million more for its pedestrianization program in 2017.

“We envisioned the program as a network of trilevel pedestrian pathways composed of underground passageways, on-grade covered sidewalks and elevated walkways,” MaCEA President David L. Balangue said.

“Ultimately, it will encourage motorists to leave their cars and join the pedestrians on short trips to the commercial center and back, which is the core objective of the pedestrianization program.”

The De La Rosa Elevated Walkway has serviced hundreds of thousands of pedestrians since its first phase was built from the Enterprise Center in Paseo de Roxas to Greenbelt. Today, with the elevated walkway’s connection to Ayala Center, commuters have the option to start from the Ayala MRT station on Edsa and comfortably walk all the way down to Makati Medical Center fully protected from the sun and rain.

“The walkway offers workers, residents and transients safety, comfort, convenience and protective cover on their short trips to the commercial center and back. There are many benefits to walking, and savings on gas and the vehicle’s wear and tear. Reduced vehicular traffic in the district will also have a positive impact on the environment,” Balangue added.

Makati now taking biz permit renewals

By Joel E. Zurbano

The city government of Makati has started accepting applications for the renewal of business permits and tax payments in anticipation of the Jan. 20, 2017 deadline set by its Business Permits and Licensing Office.

BPLO chief Maribert Pagente said they have started receiving application forms from licensed professional offices and other establishments in the city to renew their permits.

Most of the offices that applied early were dental and medical clinics, representative offices, non-stock and non-profit organizations, regional headquarters and regional operating headquarters, merchandisers, real estate lessors, law offices and other professional practices, cooperatives, and common carriers.

For the convenience of real property owners, the Office of the City Treasurer has released the schedule of the Computerized Real Property Tax Payment in the barangays, which will start on Jan. 3, 2017.

The city government also offered a 10-percent discount on realty taxes paid on an annual basis, and five percent for quarterly payments made during the first 20 days of the quarter.

However, annual realty tax payments made after March will be charged an eight percent penalty, while late quarterly payments will incur a penalty of two percent per month.

Beginning January 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on scheduled dates, satellite payment centers in barangay halls linked to the City Treasury are scheduled to accept realty tax payments. To date, the program covers 31 barangays, excluding the two disputed barangays.

Scheduled to accept realty tax payments for the first week of the New Year are Bel-Air and Dasmariñas (January 3 and 4) and Magallanes and San Lorenzo (January 5 and 6).

On the second week, payment centers will be opened in the following barangays: Forbes Park and Urdaneta (January 9); Bangkal, Pio del Pilar, San Isidro, Palanan, and San Antonio (January 10); La Paz, Sta. Cruz, Singkamas, Tejeros, and Kasilawan (January 11); Carmona, Olympia, Valenzuela, Poblacion, and Guadalupe Viejo (January 12); Guadalupe Nuevo, Pinagkaisahan, Pitogo, Cembo, and South Cembo (January 13).

The last batch to open payment centers will consist of West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo, and Rizal (January 16).

RPT collection starts on the first working day of January until January 20. The succeeding quarterly payments shall be made until April 20 (second quarter), July 20 (third quarter, and October 20 (fourth quarter).

Meanwhile, penalties on late payments of business taxes include a 25-percent surcharge and a two percent penalty per month of delay until the amount due is fully settled.

DTI’s Go Lokal signs MOA with Enchanted Kingdom

(DTI/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

MAKATI CITY, Dec. 14 (PIA)--The Department of Trade and Industry signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the biggest and leading theme park in the Philippines, Enchanted Kingdom (EK) for its Go Lokal Store Project.

EK is one of the first retail players that supported the Go Lokal Store Project of DTI which primarily aims to extensively promote products through provision of store space that will offer locally-made quality products of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from across the country.

At present, EK selected 25 MSME suppliers from various regions that will be featured in the said theme park.

The Go Lokal project is an initiative to give greater market access to MSMEs. It makes available the best of Philippine products to the domestic market and growing demand from the tourism industry.

The Go Lokal Project is part of the One Town, One Project (OTOP) program of DTI. Go Lokal stores will be soon located in malls, ports of entry and tourists spots in partnership with the private sector.

DTI Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado led the signing ceremonies with Mr. Mario O. Mamon, Chairman and President of Enchanted Kingdom.

Also present during the signing ceremonies were Mrs. Cynthia R. Mamon, COO of Enchanted Kingdom, DTI- Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion Director Rhodora M. Leano and Assistant Director Marievic M. Bonoan and Ms. Cheri Consunji, Merchandising Head of Enchanted Kingdom.

“DTI has been working to bring Go Lokal to different consumer-frequented areas to further showcase to the domestic market the quality and world-class MSME products from various regions,” said Undersecretary Terrado.

The signing ceremony will be followed by the formal launch of the Go Lokal store at the Pugad retail area of Agila Theater on December 14 in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Enchanted Kingdom will simultaneously launch the Agila Theater which boasts of the largest screen in Southeast Asia and the latest immersive 4-D motion theater technology that will feature the stunning beauty of the Philippines while simulating an interactive flying experience.

Makati holds Appreciation Day for employment services top partners

By Jerome Paunan (ICRD/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)

MAKATI CITY, Dec. 13 (PIA) -- The local government has handed out recognition to some 49 private companies for being top hirers and consistent partners in the various programs being implemented by its Public Employment Services Office (PESO).

Dubbed, “Partners in Service Appreciation Day,” Makati Mayor Abby Binay commended the city’s top partners in providing employment services to the public, particularly to unemployed or underemployed city residents.

“We in Makati fully recognize and appreciate the indispensable role of our partners from the business sector in promoting genuinely inclusive progress in our city,” Binay said.

The mayor thanked the honorees for providing city residents, who she fondly calls ‘Makatizens’, much-needed job opportunities through active participation in job fairs and placement programs of Makati PESO.

“We highly value your partnership with us. We salute you for your strong commitment to help people be empowered to help themselves and contribute to nation-building,” Binay said.

According to PESO manager and city personnel officer Vissia Marie Aldon, the 49 awardees have been recognized for the substantial number of applicants hired during job fairs and for active participation in the city’s local and overseas job placement programs last year.

Director Rowella Grande of the Department of Labor and Employment - Makati-Pasay Field Office also attended the ceremony.

Plaques of recognition were awarded to the top ten partner-companies in terms of the number of hires, namely, Jollibee Food Corporation with 626 applicants hired; Golden Arches Development Corporation, 609; SM Mart, Inc.-Makati, 496; Innovative Strategic Resource Marketing Inc., 282; Rustan Supercenter Inc., 197; Metro Rail Stores Group Inc., 175; Rustan Coffee Corporation, 164; Alorica Philippines Inc., 140; Am-Phil Food Concepts, Inc., 118; and Cash and Carry Mall, 115.

A plaque of recognition was also given to Eastwest Placement Center Inc. for hiring 53 applicants.

On the other hand, 16 companies received certificates of recognition for hiring between 50 to 99 applicants each. Another 12 companies that hired 49 and below, and 10 companies with the most number of on-the-spot hires made during job fairs last year, were given certificates of appreciation.

Certificates of recognition were also given to PESO partner-companies that also posted significant hiring rate, including Mirof Resources, Inc., North Asia Central Manpower Services Inc., Super 8 Retail systems, Inc., Topspot Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Omni Security Investigation & General Services Inc.; Fieldmen Janitorial Services Corp., Puregold Price Club Inc., Romeo V. Austria Trading, SM-Hypermarket-Makati, and Altaserv, Inc.

Other awardees included Elixer Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Corporate Solutions Manpower & General Services, Inc., Walter Mart, Ace Hardware Philippines, Max’s Group Incorporated, and Staff Search Asia Cooperative.

Meanwhile, certificates of appreciation were given to Asiapro Cooperative, Service Resources Inc., Rustan Marketing Specialist Inc., Burlington Industries Philippines Inc. Desserts Plus Inc., North Park Noodle House, Inc., Juana Work Manpower Services, Inc., MDS Call Solutions Inc., Philcopy Corporation, Smartjob Management & Employment Services, ANR Unlimited Cooperative, and SM Supermarket-Makati.

The top ten companies with the most number of on-the-spot hires were Expercs, Inc. with 16; Jada Infinite Workforce Service, Inc., 12; Japan Home Inc., eight; Pro-John Manpower Services, eight; Dunkin Donuts (Golden Donuts Inc.), six; Reliable Workforce and General Services, Inc., six; Service Resources, Inc., six; Sky Cable Corporation, six; SM Supermarket-Makati, six; and Convergys Philippines Services Corps, five.

Makati PESO holds bi-annual mega job fairs, every July and every November of the year. Last November 11, over 32 companies participated in the city’s mega job fair, while around 60 companies participated last July 15. Pre-employment offices like Social Security System (SSS), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig) and PhilHealth are also present during its job fairs to provide assistance for applicants.

From 2013 up to the present, Makati PESO already has a total of 855 partner-companies in the NCR.

Feature: Seeds of Success: The Philippine Mango Flour Innovation Project

(DTI)

MAKATI CITY, Dec. 12 - “Seeds of Success: The Philippine Mango Flour Innovation Project” is a story of collaboration between the government, academe and the private sector to generate income opportunities and decent jobs for Filipinos by commercializing viable bi-products from mango wastes such as seed, peel, and kernel.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), the DTI Regional Operations and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL), brought together the local entrepreneurs, the community and the University of San Carlos (USC) of Cebu City to work together to develop bio-refinery plant that converts mango wastes into useful raw materials for processed food and cosmetic products, among others These products were the product of research of the USC’s BioProcess Engineering and Research Center which was supported by the Department of Science and Technology and the USAID. Through this discovery, a business enterprise called Green Enviro Management Systems (GEMS) was born.

GEMS enrolled to the DTI-EMB’s Regional Interactive Platform for Philippine Exporters Plus (RIPPLES Plus) Program which seeks to expand the supply base of internationally competitive Philippine export products and services by extending firm-level interventions to participating companies.

RIPPLES Plus, helps push the domestic industries to widen their distribution scope by exploring the possibilities of exporting their products. To increase the Philippine exporters’ capacity and make them ready to take on the opportunities the global market offers, the RIPPLES Plus is centered on various interventions such as training and capacity building, access to markets, product development, assistance in starting a business and commercializing new/innovative products and services

Today, the scavengers of mango waste in the community are employed by GEMS to process products such as the mango flour, mango pectin and polyphenols, feed mix, seed husks, briquettes, etc. and sold in the markets.

Mango flour is now an export product and is used for the production of healthy food bars and pastries for the health-conscious customers. Mango flour is used as a substitute for other flour. It is unbleached to retain its natural food color and healthy as it is devoid of gluten, genetically modified organism (GMOs), and cholesterol or transfat.

GEMS is a Board of Investments-registered company.

Makati rewards cleanest barangays

By Joel E. Zurbano

The Makati city government named this year’s cleanest and greenest local government office units in the city.

In the barangay category, Barangay San Lorenzo won first place in Cluster I, followed by Bel-Air and Forbes Park in second and third, respectively. Barangay Guadalupe Viejo topped Cluster 2, followed by San Antonio and Pembo. Barangay Southside led Cluster 3, followed by San Isidro and La Paz. In Cluster 4, Barangay Pinagkaisahan won first place, followed by Kasilawan and Carmona.

The 33 barangays and villages were grouped into clusters according to economic status and area size.

In the public-school category, Maximo Estrella Elementary School was named the city’s cleanest and greenest school in District 1. La Paz Elementary School was second, and Makati Elementary School placed third. In District 2, Makati Science High School placed first, followed by Pitogo Elementary School and Comembo Elementary School.

The cleanest and greenest health center was Guadalupe Viejo Health Center, followed by Cembo Health Center and East Rembo Health Center in second and third.

In the fire sub-station category, Station 6 in Valenzuela won the first prize, Station 10 in Comembo was second and Station 9 in Tejeros was third.

Police Station 5 in San Lorenzo bagged first in the Police Community Precinct category, followed by PCP 7 in Guadalupe Nuevo and PCP 9 in Comembo.

“I would like to commend all the winners of this year’s search. The city government greatly values your efforts and contributions to the continued success of this project,” said Mayor Abigail Binay during the awarding at the Makati City Hall on Thursday.

She also told the officials of the participating agencies not to settle for what they already have, but should exert more efforts to surpass what they have already done. “You do not compete with others, you compete with yourselves,” Binay added.

The winners of this year’s search, spearheaded by the Department of Environmental Services, were awarded with plaques and cash prizes. In the barangay and public school categories, the winners each received a plaque of recognition and a cash prize of P175,000 for first prize, P75,000 for second, and P50,000 for third.

Winning health centers were also given a plaque and cash prizes of P150,000 for first, P75,000 for second and P50,000 for third.

For the fire sub-station and police community precinct categories, winners got a plaque and a cash prize of P150,000 for first prize, P60,000 for second prize, and P45,000 for third prize.

The city also awarded plaque of recognition to the winners of “3B sa Pasko: Basura’y Bawasan, Balik-Gamitin at Baguhin ang Anyo sa Pasko,” an exhibit of environment-friendly products made from recyclable materials that ran from November 7 to December 2.

DES chief Leopoldo Parumog said for the Best Product-Barangay category, Barangay Carmona was adjudged first with its flower mache made of magazines and papers, followed by Pinagkaisahan in second with its Christmas decor made of plastics and tin cans. Guadalupe Viejo placed third with its boat made of yellow pages.

For the Best Product-School and Non-Government Organization category, Pembo Elementary School bagged first with its lantern made of peanut shells. A bag made of textile earned second place for Pitogo Elementary School, and Makati Science High School landed third with its jacket made of plastics and disposable plastic spoons.

Under the Best Booth-Barangay category, Barangay Cembo won first prize with its beautifully designed booth made of empty juice sachets, followed by San Lorenzo Village’s booth designed with plastic cups from PET bottles and Kasilawan’s booth made of PET bottles.

For the Best Booth-School and NGO category, Pembo Elementary School bagged the first place with its booth made of saw dust, followed by Makati High School booth made of recyclable materials, and the Persons with Disability booth made of aluminum cans.

A special award was given to New Life-Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo as Best Seller for having earned a net profit of P31,200 during the entire exhibit.

City officials, barangay officials, school principals, health center physicians, police officers and fire marshals attended the awarding ceremony.

Makati Shangri-La sparkles this holiday season

By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez

Standing in the heart of the country’s luxury district, Makati Shangri-La shone even brighter as it hosted its annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, held again at the five-star hotel’s grand lobby. The merriment ushered in Shangri-La’s own welcome celebration of the Yuletide season with this year’s theme “The Grand Getaway: Holiday Sparkle”.

In an evening of good food and good music, Director of Communications Patricia Javier shared that hotel guests can now surround themselves with the joyful sights of Christmas as it shimmers and sparkles.

The hotel’s grand lobby now houses a silver castle adorned with touches of crystal and classic pieces, sparkling trees and glowing chandeliers. “We have illuminated it with grandeur and elegance in mind, in celebration of the brightest season,” Javier said.

“We have especially selected an all-silver and sparkling theme to match the hotel’s grandeur and timeless elegance,” added Alain Borgers, the general manager of Makati Shangri-La and the area manager of the Shangri-La’s Philippine properties.

What’s more is, for this year, Makati Shangri-La has partnered with Danish jeweler Pandora and luxury watch manufacturer Philip Stein to add to the hotel’s finely curated holiday offerings. Pandora is showcasing its 2016 Christmas collection, while Philip Stein is highlighting its 2016 Legacy collection. As a holiday treat to lucky guests, Makati Shangri-La will raffle off Philip Stein Horizon Bracelets and Pandora Gift Sets for bookings and stays from December 16 to January 8, 2017. The raffle draw is set on the following day, January 9.

In the spirit of giving, Christmas hampers are also now available at the hotel’s lobby.

Of course, Christmas is not Christmas without children receiving treats from Santa Claus. To celebrate this tradition, Makati Shangri-La is bringing Santa to give out candy canes to good little girls and boys on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

“Throughout December, we hope you can join us in the activities for the kids and the kids-at-heart. Each dining experience is sure to bring you back to your most loved Noche Buena memories with your family. As they say, the best gift around the Christmas tree is the presence of family wrapped in love. And your Makati Shangri-La family is here to stay,” Javier said in closing.

DOTr to put up additional P2P bus routes by 2017

(Autoindustriya)

Positive consumer reaction to P2P bus service prompts more routes

If you’ve been pleased with the service and performance of the government’s Point-to-Point (P2P) bus service, you’ll be overjoyed to hear that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is considering more routes by 2017.

Due to the positive response from commuters and in order to encourage motorists to leave their vehicles at home and use public transportation, the DOTr is mulling routes that will go as far east as Antipolo and as far down south as Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The latest P2P bus route is the Ayala Malls South Park Alabang-Muntinlupa to Ayala Center Makati route and it adds to the existing Trinoma to Glorietta 5 route (operating 24 hours/day); SM North EDSA to SM Megamall route (operating 24 hours/day); Alabang Town Center to Greenbelt 1 route; Robinson’s Galleria to Park Square and Fairview to Makati route.

In order to service other locations, the DOTr has announced that it is studying putting P2P bus routes in the following:

• LRT Line 2 Santolan Station-Masinag
• LRT Line 2 Santolan Station-Cainta/Taytay
• LRT Line 2 Santolan Station-Cogeo/Padilla
• LRT Line 2 Santolan Station-Antipolo town proper
• Caloocan-Makati
• Marikina-Ortigas
• Marikina-Makati
• Antipolo-Ortigas
• Antipolo-Makati
• Cainta-Makati
• Sucat-Makati
• Bicutan-Makati
• Alabang-Bonifacio Global City (Taguig)
• Nuvali (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)-Makati.

The application for operators will be the same and so will the requirements, which include Euro 4 or Euro 5 emission standards, entry and exit doors that can service persons with disabilities (PWDs), elderly and pregnant women, Wi-Fi ready and their units should be less than five years.

“They (bus operators) should modernize the bus fleet, get their routes from the LTFRB and service them,” said DOTr spokesperson Cherie Mercado.

Makati starts distribution of Christmas bags to 81,121 public schoolchildren

By Jerome Paunan (ICRD/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)

MAKATI CITY, Dec. 8 (PIA) -- The local government has started distributing Christmas bags containing nutritious food products to some 81,121 public schoolchildren from kinder to senior high school, including Special Education (SPED) students, as part of its traditional “Pamaskong Handog” project.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay said she has ordered the early delivery of the bags to the schools to ensure that students will receive them before their Christmas break begins on December 22.

“We want our students to receive their Christmas bag of goodies before the holiday break so they can enjoy them at leisure. On school days, they tend to eat in a hurry to get to school on time,” Binay said.

The delivery of the bags to schools has started, and target date for full delivery is on December 16.

Kindergartners and grade schoolers will each receive a bag containing raisins, instant oatmeal, cheese, hotcake mix (double choco flavor), arroz caldo mix, champorado mix, choco milk powder, tonic food drink, choco cereal, fruit cereal, choco flakes cereal, crackers, stick biscuits, biscuits, and assorted fruit flavored jelly.

On the other hand, high school students will each receive a bag containing instant oatmeal, cheese, hotcake (double choco flavor), arroz caldo mix, champorado mix, choco milk powder, tonic food drink, crackers, instant pancit canton, canned pineapple tidbits, and canned pineapple juice.

According to DepED-Makati officer-in-charge Dr. Dominico Idanan, at least three to six schools will be covered on every scheduled date of delivery. He said that for the top two schools in terms of student population for elementary and high school, delivery was being made in two batches.

These are Fort Bonifacio High School (FBHS) with 7,262 students, and Benigno “Ninoy”Aquino High School (BNAHS) with 4,721 students. At the elementary level, Rizal Elementary School has the highest student population with 5,449 pupils, followed by Pembo Elementary School with 4,855 pupils.

To date, two batches of deliveries have been made to BNAHS, Rizal ES, Pembo ES, Comembo ES, East Rembo ES, Fort Bonifacio-Tibagan HS Annex, and Tibagan ES.

The succeeding delivery schedules are as follows: Today, December 8 - West Rembo ES, Fort Bonifacio HS (Batch 1), and Fort Bonifacio ES.

On December 9, delivery will be made to four schools: Fort Bonifacio HS (Batch 2), South Cembo ES, San Jose ES, Nemesio Yabut ES, and Makati Science HS. On December 12, Christmas bags will be delivered to Pitogo HS, Pitogo ES, Cembo ES and Guadalupe Viejo ES.

On December 13, Bangkal HS, Bangkal ES, Bangkal ES II, San Isidro HS, and Palanan ES; December 14, Hen. Pio del Pilar National High School, Hen. Pio del Pilar ES (Main), Hen. Pio del Pilar ES I, and San Antonio Village NHS; December 15, San Antonio Village ES, Lapaz ES, Francisco Benitez ES, Francisco Benitez ES III; Maximo Estrella ES; and December 16, Jose Magsaysay ES, Nicanor Garcia ES, Makati HS; and Makati ES.

This school year, Makati has registered a total of 81,121 public schoolchildren, consisting of 50,407 in the primary level and 30,714 in the secondary level. The former includes 4,692 preschoolers, 44,829 elementary pupils, 251 SPED pupils, 629 Alternative Learning System (ALS) pupils. The latter includes 30,387 junior and senior high school students, 95 SPED students, and 232 ALS students.

Makati has 27 public elementary schools, 10 high schools and two stand-along senior high schools.

Makati fetes 49 firms for job hires

By Joel E. Zurbano

Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay has named 49 private companies as the top business establishments that have partnered and helped the city government in its job-creation and employment-generation programs.

“We in Makati fully recognize and appreciate the indispensable role of our partners from the business sector in promoting genuinely inclusive progress in our city,” said Binay during the program dubbed as “Partners in Service Appreciation Day” held at the Session Hall of Makati City Hall.

Plaques of recognition were awarded to the top 10 partner-companies in terms of the number of hires. Jollibee Food Corp. led the list with 626 applicants hired, followed by Golden Arches Development Corp. (609), SM Mart Inc.-Makati (496), Innovative Strategic Resource Marketing Inc. (282), Rustan Supercenter Inc. (197), Metro Rail Stores Group Inc. (175); Rustan Coffee Corp. (164); Alorica Philippines Inc. (140); Am-Phil Food Concepts, Inc. (118); and Cash and Carry Mall (115).

Eastwest Placement Center Inc. also got a plaque of recognition for hiring 53 applicants.

Sixteen companies received certificates of recognition for hiring between 50 to 99 applicants each. Another 12 firms that hired 49 employees and fewer, and 10 companies with the most number of on-the-spot hires made during job fairs last year, were given certificates of appreciation.

Mirof Resources Inc., North Asia Central Manpower Services Inc., Super 8 Retail Systems Inc., Topspot Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Omni Security Investigation & General Services Inc.; Fieldmen Janitorial Services Corp., Puregold Price Club Inc., Romeo V. Austria Trading, SM-Hypermarket-Makati, and Altaserv Inc. also received certificates.

The Public Employment Services Office implements the city’s various employment programs.

Binay commended the top private business partners in providing employment to the public, particularly to unemployed or underemployed city residents.

The mayor thanked the honorees for providing city residents, who she fondly calls “Makatizens,” much-needed job opportunities through active participation in job fairs and placement programs of Makati PESO.

“We highly value your partnership with us. We salute you for your strong commitment to help people be empowered to help themselves and contribute to nation-building,” Binay said.

Other awardees included Elixer Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Corporate Solutions Manpower & General Services Inc., Walter Mart, Ace Hardware Philippines, Max’s Group Inc., and Staff Search Asia Cooperative.

Asiapro Cooperative, Service Resources Inc., Rustan Marketing Specialist Inc., Burlington Industries Philippines Inc., Desserts Plus Inc., North Park Noodle House Inc., Juana Work Manpower Services, Inc., MDS Call Solutions Inc., Philcopy Corp., Smartjob Management & Employment Services, ANR Unlimited Cooperative, and SM Supermarket-Makati took home certificates of appreciation.

The top ten companies with the most number of on-the-spot hires were Expercs Inc. with 16, Jada Infinite Workforce Service Inc. (12); Japan Home Inc. (eight), Pro-John Manpower Services (eight), Dunkin Donuts/Golden Donuts Inc. (six); Reliable Workforce and General Services Inc. (six); Service Resources Inc. (six); Sky Cable Corp. (six); SM Supermarket-Makati (six); and Convergys Philippines Services Corp. (five).

PESO manager and city personnel officer Vissia Marie Aldon said the 49 awardees have been recognized for the substantial number of applicants they hired during job fairs and for active participation in the city’s local and overseas job placement programs last year.

Director Rowella Grande of the Department of Labor and Employment Makati-Pasay Field Office also attended the ceremony.

Makati PESO holds mega job fairs every July and November. Last November 11, over 32 companies participated in the fair, while 60 companies participated last July 15. Pre-employment offices like Social Security System (SSS), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig) and PhilHealth are also present during its job fairs to assist applicants.

From 2013, Makati PESO has a total of 855 partner-companies in the National Capital Region.

Makati holds 38th Likhang Kamay Exhibit-Sale in Glorietta

By Jerome Paunan

MAKATI CITY, Dec. 6 (PIA) -- The local government, through its Museum and Cultural Affairs Office (MCAO), opens today the 38th Makati Likhang Kamay Exhibit-Sale that will run until 4 Dec. 2016, from 11AM to 12-midnight at the Glorietta 3 Activity Center.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay said the 38th Likhang Kamay Exhibit-Sale aims to highlight and put on sale various arts and crafts made by artisans and craftsmen from different parts of the country. It is also being held to help Filipinos market their world-class products and services.

“Through Likhang Kamay Exhibit-Sale, we will be able to help our small and medium scale entrepreneurs promote their products. We invite everyone to come to the exhibit and support our local entrepreneurs. Let us patronize our local products,” Binay said.

Likhang Kamay, a project of MCAO since 1978, is being presented in cooperation with Ayala Center, Ayala Malls, and Glorietta.

The exhibit-sale will feature fabric, furniture, home decors, accessories and other handicrafts designed and manufactured by Angie’s Yakan Cloth, Caritas Margins, ChiEVS Stones & Crystals, CM Bamboo Crafts, Golden Arts & Furnishings, Island Finds, Narda’s Handwoven Arts & Crafts, Inc., Parchment Pleasures, Pinagmulan and Reyes House of Piña.

Also featured in the exhibit-sale are Yssa’s Crafts, Gifts and Graces Fair Trade Foundation, Inc., Rurungan sa Tubod Foundation, Vallehermoso Helping Hands Foundation and Villar SIPAG Foundation, Inc.

Other participants include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Design Center of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts and De La Salle College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education & Applied Studies.

The food caterer for the said event is the Kitchen City.

Makati starts handing out cash gifts to over 75k seniors

Joel E. Zurbano

The city government of Makati on Monday started the distribution of year-end cash gifts to 75,565 senior citizens as part of the Blu Card program during the holiday season of the city’s Social Welfare Department for the elderly.

The distribution, City Social Welfare chief Ryan Barcelo said, will run from December 5 to December 14. He said the qualified beneficiaries are set to receive their cash gifts on scheduled dates from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at designated venues.

On the instructions of Mayor Abigal Binay, the MSWD will also hand out tickets for the traditional Pamaskong Handog bags to the recipients of the cash gift. The bags can be claimed at the City Hall Quadrangle starting Thursday, December 8.

This year, each gift bag contains assorted canned goods, including imported luncheon meat, tuna flakes, corned beef, spaghetti packs, fruit cocktail, cheese, condensed milk and two T-shirts.

Scheduled for distribution yesterday were BLU Card holders from barangays Bangkal, Carmona, Dasmariñas and Pinagkaisahan. The elders got their cash gift at their respective barangay halls.

The gift distribution for those from San Miguel Village in Poblacion was done at their multi-purpose hall, while seniors of Barangay Comembo got theirs at the village covered court.

On December 6, the distribution for barangays East Rembo and Poblacion will take place at their respective covered courts. For barangays Guadalupe Viejo and Southside, it will be done at their barangay halls.

The barangay halls of Pitogo, San Lorenzo and Singkamas will be the venue of the gift distribution on Dec. 7, while recipients from Guadalupe Nuevo can claim their cash gifts at their covered court.

On Dec. 8, Thursday, distribution will be done at barangay halls of Bel-Air and San Isidro, while West Rembo and La Paz beneficiaries will line up at their barangay covered courts.

Elders from barangays Forbes Park, Cembo and Northside will receive their gifts on December 9 at their barangay halls, while those from Palanan and San Antonio Village will get theirs at their covered court.

Beneficiaries from Pio del Pilar (San Isidro High School) and Sta. Cruz (barangay hall) are scheduled on Dec. 10

After a break on December 11, the distribution will resume on December 12 at the Elderly Wellness Center in Tejeros, as well as at the barangay halls of barangays Magallanes and Olympia for their respective residents.

On December 13, the South Cembo covered court and barangay halls of Rizal and Urdaneta will be the distribution sites for their respective residents.

Lastly, on December 14, BLU Card holders from Valenzuela and Pembo can claim their cash gift at their respective covered courts, while recipients from Kasilawan can get theirs at their barangay hall.

The BLU Card Program was launched in 2002 initially to provide financial assistance amounting to P3,000 to beneficiaries of a BLU card holder upon his or her demise. It was later expanded to include financial assistance in the form of a cash gift to augment their budget for daily needs like food and medicine.

In claiming the cash gift, beneficiaries who are unable to come in person can send their duly authorized representative, whose name appears at the back of the BLU Card, to the Cash Division at the 3rd floor of Makati City Hall. The representative should be able to present a medical certificate as proof of the beneficiaries’ condition, whether bedridden, disabled or confined in a hospital.

Authorization forms are available at the SWD office at the fifth floor of Makati City Hall. Senior citizens who are out-of-town or abroad during the distribution of the cash gift are not entitled to claim the benefit, and authorization presented by a representative will not be honored by the Cash Division.

ePLDT pushes for digital transformation to enable smarter gov't

(PNA), CVL/ABP

MANILA, Dec. 3 (PNA) -- Local cloud data services provider ePLDT Inc. has partnered with Asia Cloud Computing Association and PLDT Enterprise to promote cloud computing and data center use in the country’s public sector.

The initiative was done as governments around the world are utilizing digital transformations to speed up their core functions.

Jovy Hernandez, First Vice President and head of PLDT Alpha Enterprise, emphasized that the government needs to strengthen its processes with robust infrastructure just as businesses do.

“Similar to how enterprises are starting to shift their internal and external operations and services over to digital, the public sector has now realized that solving real-life problems with the use of technology is vital to serve today’s ever-changing citizen,” Hernandez said during the recently concluded Tech Brunch: Digital Transformation for Smarter Government event at the New World Makati Hotel.

“We at the PLDT group have embarked on a similar journey. We have partnered strategically with both local and foreign organizations to advocate global best practices, such as what we have today,” he added.

ePLDT, Inc., the digital enterprise enabler of PLDT, delivers digital business solutions that use purpose-built cloud and data center facilities, connected through PLDT’s network infrastructure nationwide.

It provides the country’s first Big Data Analytics services and infrastructure as an initiative to help organizations harness the power of big data, and use this as a means to achieve business goals faster.

Makati CBD’s extended elevated walkway to lessen dependence on cars

(Philippine Daily Inquirer)

On Monday (November 26), Makati Mayor Abigail Binay and officials of the Makati Commercial Estate Association (MaCEA) inaugurated an extended De La Rosa Elevated Walkway that provides pedestrians and commuters a safer way to their destination.

MaCEA’s latest project extended the walkway by 305 meters more, from VA Rufino Street to Salcedo Street. Built at a cost of P110.6 million over a year and eight months, the walkway now spans to about 1,100 meters, making it the country’s longest elevated pedestrian walkway.

The De La Rosa Elevated Walkway has serviced hundreds of thousands of pedestrians since its first phase was built from the Enterprise Center in Paseo de Roxas to Greenbelt. Today, with the elevated walkway’s connection to Ayala Center, commuters have the option to start from the Ayala MRT station on EDSA and comfortably walk all the way down to Makati Medical Center fully protected from the sun and rain.

“The walkway offers workers, residents, and transients safety, comfort, convenience and protective cover on their short trips to the commercial center and back. There are many benefits to walking, and savings on gas and the vehicle’s wear and tear. Reduced vehicular traffic in the district will also have a positive impact on the environment,” MaCEA president David L. Balangue said.

MaCEA, composed of all the property owners within the Makati Central Business District (MCBD), revealed that about P497 million have been invested so far in Makati CBD’s pedestrianization program. The group has been a primary mover in the district’s development, building seven underpasses, on-grade covered sidewalks and the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway. MaCEA expects to invest approximately P150 million more for its pedestrianization program in 2017.

“We envisioned the program as a network of tri-level pedestrian pathways composed of underground passageways, on-grade covered sidewalks, and elevated walkways,” said Balangue. “Ultimately, it will encourage motorists to leave their cars and join the pedestrians on short trips to the commercial center and back, which is the core objective of the pedestrianization program.”

The project was inaugurated in rites led by MaCEA vice president Arch. William V. Coscolluela and Mayor Abigail Binary.

MaCEA has more ongoing and upcoming projects to benefit residents, workers and visitors to the country’s premier finance, business and commercial district. Sidewalk enhancements for De La Rosa and Valero streets as well as its connecting streets are under way. An on-grade covered walkway along Valero, VA Rufino and De La Rosa Streets near Makati Medical Center,and an above-grade pedestrian crossing at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue are also under construction.

An escalator replacement program will soon upgrade existing facilities. The installation of a wayfinding system in key areas, and the re-development of the Legazpi Village and Washington Sycip parks will also be undertaken.

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MMDA, LTO, PNP-HPG, private sector join forces for strict implementation of anti-drunk driving law

By Aerol B. Patena (PNA), FPV/ABP

MANILA, Dec. 1 (PNA) -- The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has partnered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the PNP Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), LGU traffic enforcement units and the private sector to strictly implement the anti-drunk driving law in order to maintain road safety in Metro Manila.

The initiative known as the Partnership for Road Safety was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Thursday at the MMDA office in Makati City.

The project seeks to help ensure the enforcement of the anti-drunk and drugged driving law in Metro Manila and establish the system for its adoption, implementation and monitoring at the local government units (LGUs).

Among its objectives are: deployment of 500 MMDA enforcers deputized by LTO; develop and promote the adoption of the drunk driving law in 17 LGUs and create public awareness on the law.

It aims to conduct 12 batches of deputation training of MMDA enforcers until June 2017; approval of resolution for the adoption of the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Law at the local level; work for the purchase of alcohol breath analyzers; establish coordination with LTO and HPG for apprehension of operations and establish partnerships for the promotion of anti-drunk driving campaign.

“The MMDA is the only agency which functions within the bounds of its mandated functions and limited resources. It needs the help of partners who can collaborate towards the attainment of ensuring that the roads of Metro Manila are safe and that road crashes are substantially reduced,” former MMDA General Manager Corazon Jimenez said in her address during the event.

Jimenez appealed to the mayors of 17 LGUs in Metro Manila to train their respective traffic management enforcers in support of the program and reiterated that its full implementation relies on the 500 MMDA traffic enforcers that will be deployed on major roads in the metropolis.

For his part, LTO chief Asec. Edgar Galvente hopes that the agency would be able to acquire more breath analyzers with the support of the private sector. He stated that the campaign against drunk driving is being hampered by the lack of sufficient procurement of alcohol breath analyzers (ABAs) and lack of trained law enforcement officers. Thus, road accidents which are caused by drunk driving are not recorded because there is no available ABA at the time of apprehension.

Meanwhile, MMDA Chairman Thomas Orbos expressed his gratitude for being deputized as the lead agency in the intensified campaign against illegal drunk driving. He assured that the MMDA will do its efforts in preventing road accidents especially for the upcoming holiday season.

“We have coordinated with the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic and the private sector to prevent accidents caused by drunk driving for the Christmas season,” Orbos said in an interview with reporters.

Republic Act No.10586 otherwise known as the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013 penalizes persons driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and other intoxicating substances. It also inculcates the standards of safe driving and the benefits that may be derived from it through institutional programs and appropriate public information strategies.

Violators of the said act will have their motor vehicles flagged down if they show signs of intoxication such as overspeeding, lane straddling, making sudden stops, swerving, among others. They will undergo field sobriety test and breath analyzer test. The driver will be arrested and have their vehicle impounded if they failed the tests.

Early last year, former MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino announced that he wants a strict implementation of the law against drunk driving in Metro Manila. The MMDA has sufficient personnel to help the LTO enforce the law against drunk driving.

In June 2016, the Global Road Safety Partnership granted the project to MMDA to help intensify its efforts in the implementation of the anti-drunk driving law.

In the Philippines, accidents of all types including road traffic crashes rank fifth among the causes of mortality in all ages. According to the DPWH’s Traffic Recording and Analysis System (TARAS), 1,513 people have died in 2013 due to road accidents. The World Health Organization (WHO), however, has put the Philippine estimate much higher at 10,379 fatalities. In 2012, the PNP-HPG recorded 375 car accidents involving drunk drivers nationwide; 390 in 2013 and 498 in 2014.

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