Business operators violate guidelines for ‘clean and green’ Boracay

[ Published by : tribune.net.ph ] February 16, 2008

Commercial establishments and some uncooperative residents in Boracay island have allegedly violated requirements and guidelines of a “clean and green” Boracay according to Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).

In a press statement, PTA said business operators have been diverting the public’s attention from the real matters at hand to avoid accountability for their non-compliance and violations.

“They violate simple sanitation codes like the installation of grease traps. Imagine on such a small island, we also have illegal water connections,” the PTA said. > > > [ full story ]
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It’s integration or bust for Subic and Clark

[ Manila BulletinOnline – mb.com.ph ] February 16, 2008

By JONAS REYES

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Secretary Eduardo Pamintuan, head of the SubicClark Alliance for Development Council, (SCADC) said the Subic and Clark freeports zones should integrate their development strategies or face failure in their mandate to become an international service and logistics hub.

"We don’t have any choice, it’s integration or bust," Pamintuan said.

Pamintuan, who is also tasked to oversee the development of the two freeports as head of the SCADC, said Subic and Clark must exist as complementary entities in order to fully realize their potentials. > > > [ full story ]

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The real issues in Boracay

[ journal .com.ph ] February 15, 2008

So many issues have been cropping up regarding Boracay Island, but with the drafting of the Boracay Comprehensive Master Development Plan by world-class planners Palafox and Associates commissioned by the Philippine Tourism Authority, tourists, businesses, and residents are expecting to see a brighter future for the premiere tourist destination.

“To ensure Boracay’s stature as the best beach in the world, we in the PTA made sure that the development plans, which included neighboring Carabao Island and the municipalities of Nabas, Buruanga, and Caticlan, were environmentally sound and ecologically considerate. It seems too narrow-minded to look at and plan only for Boracay when we all know its proximities will always be affected by whatever development we bring onto Boracay Island...,” rejoined Mimi del Rosario, Boracay Environmental Infrastructure Project engineer, when asked about the different issues besetting Boracay Island. > > > [ full story ]
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World Bank sets aside $7M for conservation of 11 sites

Vol. XXI, No. 140 [ Business World Online ]
Friday, February 15, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

DAVAO CITY — The World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF) has set aside $7 million for the preservation of 11 sites in Mindanao. The funding will form part of the $90-million Mindanao Rural Development Program, which the bank is supporting and whose primary goal is to address poverty on the island.

In a program statement, the $7 million fund would support seven sites in Western Mindanao, two in the Caraga Region and two others in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

In Western Mindanao, the projects are in the towns of Olutanga, Mabuhay and Talusan in Zamboanga Sibugay; Vencinzo Sagun and Margosatubig in Zamboanga del Sur; and Sibutad and Rizal in Zamboanga del Norte. In Caraga, the identified municipalities are Marihatag and San Agustin and in the autonomous Muslim region, the towns of Lamitan in Basilan and Datu Blah in Shariff Kabunsuan. > > > [ full story ]
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SBMA unit may close due to financial woes

Friday, February 15, 2008 [ philstar.com ]

By Bebot Sison Jr.

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Freeport Service Corp. (FSC), a subsidiary of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), may have to close because of a financial crisis, the new company president revealed recently.

Antonio Rex Chan, who was appointed last month as FSC president by President Arroyo, said “urgent measures” are necessary now to prevent the closure of the 15-year old company that provides services to both the SBMA and business locators here.”

At the root of the financial crisis, Chan said, are a deficit of P7 million incurred by the firm as of January 2008, and more than P70 million in outstanding loans and debts that have to be paid. > >> [ full story ]
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RD Realty to construct GenSan CBD

Vol. XXI, No. 139 [ Business World Online ]
Thursday, February 14, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

GENERAL SANTOS-based RD Realty and Development Corp. is planning to develop a 106-hectare central business district (CBD) in the province for an initial outlay of P300 million.

In an interview, RD Realty Managing Director Roy C. Rivera said the development would be handled by its subsidiary, Richmond Land Innovations, Inc.

"The project will be called Richmond Global City which I view to be a prime central business district with a ’city-within-a-city’ concept," Mr. Rivera told BusinessWorld.

He added that the first phase of the development would include restaurants and gasoline stations. Funds for the construction would be generated internally as well as from bank loans. > > > [ full story ]

Boracay Crown denies reclamation charge; Marvella Hotel ceases operations

Vol. XXI, No. 139 [ Business World Online ]
Thursday, February 14, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

CEBU CITY/Koronadal City — The Boracay Crown Regency Hotel & Convention Center yesterday refuted the findings of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that it has encroached on a wetland area in Barangay Balabag in Boracay.

"That is not true. Boracay Crown Regency[’s] property is not a swamp and the project proponent did not reclaim. To reclaim is one thing, backfill is another. Boracay Crown Regency did the usual backfill as part of normal civil works," said legal counsel Deolito Alvarez.

He clarified that the wetland, which is about 5,000 square meters, is located across the hotel property.

"What happened was the residents around the natural wetland diverted the water from the wetland by placing a culvert that cuts across the road and illegally diverted the overflow from the wetland to the hotel property. When Boracay Crown bought the property, it had to close the culvert," Mr. Alvarez said.> > > [ full story ]

Robinson's mall to rise in Bajada

Thursday, February 14, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Grace L. Plata

ANOTHER mall will be rising in the Bajada area of Davao City.

According to Councilor Peter Laviña, the building of a Robinson's mall here was announced by Frederick Go, president of Robinsons Land Corporation in his recent visit to the city.

Long rumored after its land banking in Davao, the Gokongwei group will be the third major mall developer to venture here after Henry Sy set up SM City Davao almost a decade ago.

Ayala Land earlier entered into partnership with the Floriendo's for the development of the latter's 10-hectare property in front of the Redemptorist Church.

The Robinson's mall would be located also at Bajada near the Water District. > > > [ full story ]
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Two developers told to stop construction in Boracay

Vol. XXI, No. 138 [ Business World Online ]
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

BY ERIC B. DORENTE

THE ENVIRONMENT department has stopped two companies’ construction activities in the island resort of Boracay, Aklan.

In an interview, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said the two companies, Boracay Crown Regency Hotel and Gorgeous Holdings were building development projects in two reclamation areas in Boracay.

In building the projects, the two firms violated a moratorium imposed on construction on the island.

"I have ordered the provincial officer on the ground to find out how they were given the permit, what documents they had, and to cancel whatever these are," Mr. Atienza said.> > > [ full story ]
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Leyte not imposing higher taxes to attract investors

[ Manila Bulletin Online ] February 13, 2008

‘Higher taxes would make province unfriendly to business’

By JACK C. GADAINGAN

TACLOBAN CITY — To make the province "investor-friendly," Gov. Carlos Jericho "Icot" Petilla said the province will not impose higher taxes, especially to private business.

Instead of imposing higher taxes, the provincial government will embark on a more efficient and intensified tax collection campaign to increase revenues needed to deliver more public services to the people.

"Imposing higher taxes might only make Leyte unfriendly to business," Petilla said.> > > [ full story ]
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SBMA eyes Subic as regional hub

By Ric Sapnu
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 [ philstar.com ]

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said it will establish Subic as a regional development center in Southeast Asia in the next 20 years.

The move would also spur the development of municipalities around the free­-port, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said.

“Our big long-term goal would be to transform the greater Subic Bay area into a First World eco-urban center in 20 years,” said Arreza. He said that the project is expected to bring significant investment, financial, and business opportunities. > > > [ full story ]

New Mindanao inter-regional road network part of infra surge

[ Published by : PIA ] 2008/02/12

by RG Alama

Davao City (12 February) -- The P1.59 billion road network that aims to connect Regions X and XI through the provinces of Davao del Norte and Bukidnon is part of the P200-billion that the Government will invest for infrastructure programs in the whole country.

"This is P1.599 billion of the P200-billion we will spend for infrastructure." President Gloria Macapgal Arroyo said during the groundbreaking rites for the 57.7 kilometer Kapalong-Talaingod Boundary-Valencia Bukidnon Secondary Road.

"This is part of our infrastructure surge." the President said during a very short message during the project briefing during the groundbreaking ceremony held last Friday (February 8) in Kapalong. > > > [ full story ]

Cebu emerging as a world-class tourist destination

Monday, February 11, 2008 [ philstar.com ]

CEBU CITY: The city’s hosting of another high profile international tourism event this October is seen to strengthen the province’s quest to be a world-class destination for global conferences, reported the Philippine News Agency.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said tourism stakeholders are preparing for the United Nations-World Tourism Organization’s (UN-WTO) Sixth International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians to be held in Cebu on October 22 to 25.

Cebu received international recognition for its hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in January 2007.>>> [ full story ]

[ Published by : manilatimes.net ] February 11, 2008
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