Bill creating Cebu economic zone OK’d by House panel

Vol. XXI, No. 145-A [ Business World Online ]
Saturday, February 23, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

CEBU CITY — The House committee on economic affairs has approved a bill proposing to declare the entire province of Cebu as a special economic zone.

Deputy Speaker Raul V. del Mar, main proponent of the bill, said the measure was approved on Thursday. It will be forwarded to the appropriation and ways and means committees for approval because the bill calls for P1-2 billion in start-up funds from the national government.

In the meantime, Mr. del Mar said they would sit down with all city and town mayors as well as the Cebu governor to discuss the bill. The consultations will be scheduled as soon as the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), which had initiated the proposal, completes a pre-investment study.

"We don’t want to go to plenary with the bill without the stamp of approval by the local government officials. If we don’t get their unanimity, we hope to get at least the majority of the LGUs," Mr. del Mar said. > > > [ full story ]
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C. Luzon sees potential in retirement industry

Saturday, February 23, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Albert B. Lacanlale

MEXICO -- Central Luzon is now strengthening its potential in the worldwide retirement industry, targeting a huge share of market that takes to various parts of the globe 60,000 retirees all over the world every year.

Albert dela Cruz, regional coordinator for the Housing Sector of the Central Luzon Retirement Industry Enhancement Team (CLRIET), said the region's potential to woo in a sizeable pie of the country's 10,000 to 20,000 annual visiting retirees could no longer be underestimated. > > > [ full story ]
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P300-m resort to rise on Samal Island

[ manilastandardtoday.com ]

By Roderick T. dela Cruz

DAVAO City—The Bangayan Group of Companies is building a nine-hectare resort-residential complex on Samal Island that is expected to boost tourism activities in Davao.

Under construction is the Holiday Oceanview Resort & Spa, which includes a 120-room hotel, a 400-room condominium complex, a marina, and a subdivision.

The project is expected to be completed by 2009. . > > > [ full story ]
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More Filipinos to experience Boracay with add'l flights landing at Caticlan airport

PIA Press Release
2008/02/22

by Venus G. Villanueva

Kalibo, Aklan (22 February) -- More Filipinos are expected to visit and experience Boracay with more flights now landing directly at Caticlan Airport in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, Aklan, the jump-off point to Boracay Island.

The latest to join the bandwagon of flights to Caticlan Airport is the Cebu Pacific (CEB) Airline, which will have its maiden Manila-Boracay (Caticlan) flight starting February 29 of this year and the Cebu-Boracay (Caticlan) route starting March 28. > > > [ full story ]
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Bulacan folk nix relocation of Metro informal settlers

By Dino Balabo
Friday, February 22, 2008 [ philstar.com ]

STA. MARIA, Bulacan – Hundreds of residents here, including students from private high schools, staged a rally last Wednesday afternoon to oppose the relocation of informal settlers from Metro Manila to their town.

The protesting residents were joined by local leaders like Mayor Bartolome Ramos and Rep. Reylina Nicolas, who vowed to support them. > > > [ full story ]
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NiHao subsidiary gets exploration permit for Zambales project

Friday, February 22, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

NiHAO MINERAL Resources International, Inc. said on Wednesday that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has granted its wholly owned subsidiary, Mina Tierra Garcia, Inc., exploration permit EP-001-2008-III for its mining claim in Botolan, Zambales.

The permit was issued in the name of the original applicant, Saprolite Mining, Inc., which assigned its interests to Mina Tierra Garcia on July 31, 2007. > > > [ full story ]
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ATO asked to issue height limits near Clark airport

Thursday, February 21, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]

ANGELES CITY: Local businessmen and foreign investors yesterday called on the Air Transportation Office (ATO) to make public the height limitations for buildings around the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

This developed in the wake of a “building frenzy” in and around the Clark area in anticipation for the DMIA’s full operation as the premier international airport of the country. > > > [ full story ]
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RP, Sokor okay funds for construction of fish processing plant

[ sunstar.com.ph ] February 20, 2008

THE South Korean and Philippine governments have already signed the agreement for the funding of the construction of the Fish Processing Facility at Bonuan Binloc in Dagupan City.

The record of discussions (ROD) was signed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) through Koica resident representative Kim In. > > > [ full story ]
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HK Express set to launch Clark flights

Thursday, February 21, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]

CLARK FREEPORT -- The Hong Kong Express has announced its thrice-a-week flight at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), which will start on March 5.

The airline will conduct its open-chartered flights to DMIA for the next three months in a bid to attract Chinese tourists as well as investments into the freeport. > > > [ full story ]
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DENR starts rehabilitation of Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System with support from Bulacan LGUs

The rehabilitation of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando (MMO) river system started today, February 20, following Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza’s declaration of the major waterway as a water quality management area.

The classification of MMO as a water quality management area means the implementation of an integrated action program to ensure the rehabilitation of the water system. The activity has the full support of the provincial government of Bulacan and mayors of towns through which the river traverses. > > > [ full story ]
[ Source : www.denr.gov.ph ]
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Pesina mulls probe on P1.3M city hall demolition

[ Iloilo City ] Wednesday, February 20, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]

By Jay D. Balnig

COUNCILOR Antonio Pesina is considering investigating the bidding of the P1.3-million demolition work of the old Iloilo City Hall building in Plaza Libertad.

Pesina said he has long been puzzled of the City's Bids and Awards Committee's (BAC) bidding, where the V. Solis Construction was awarded the P1.3 million contract.

Pesina said the BAC, which City Legal Chief Edgar Gil heads, failed to furnish him the copy of the minutes of the reported bidding of the P1.3 million demolition works. > > > [ full story ]
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DENR cancels tax declarations on Boracay wetlands

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Jocelyn Uy
Visayas Bureau, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- Environment Secretary Lito Atienza on Friday ordered the cancellation of tax declarations issued to claimants of a four-hectare wetland in Barangay Yapak and a one-hectare wetland in Barangay Balabag, both on Boracay Island.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources noted that the two areas were up for commercial development.

“While Boracay is synonymous to white beaches, we must not forget that there are other ecosystems on the island that must be accorded utmost protection and conservation measures,” Atienza said in a statement Sunday. > > > [ full story ]
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50-year-old Magsaysay law stalling developments in Davao reservation area

Vol. XXI, No. 142 [ Business World Online ]
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

DAVAO CITY — A more than 50-year-old law signed during the administration of President Ramon D. Magsaysay has given the city government headaches as modernity and migration threaten to swamp one of the city’s reservation areas.

Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said he is not inclined to demolish the multimillion-peso "baywalk" behind Queensland Motel in this city’s Matina Aplaya despite an order from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA). > > > [ full story ]
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Arroyo bares master plan for Pangasinan

[ sunstar.com.ph ]

BINALONAN -- The National Government finally announced its master plan for the province of Pangasinan.

Thanks to former President Fidel Ramos' "Pangasinan as Gateway of Opportunity" column at Manila Bulletin that came out last month.

In her speech last Saturday here, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited five major medium-term projects, which she said are integral part of the North Luzon agri-business quadrangle super region. These are airports, expressway, railroad, irrigation and seaport. > > > [ full story ]
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PAL, Macroasia to infuse $50M in Clark Airport

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]

The memorandum of understanding represents a framework for development in Philippine aviation services

By Joey Aguilar, correspondent

CLARK FREEPORT: Airline magnate Lucio Tan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) officials and Macroasia for the development of a 30-hectare area in the Clark civil aviation complex. > > > [ full story ]
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Property developer starts selling fourth Pampanga project

Vol. XXI, No. 142 [ Business World Online ]
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

GOKONGWEI-OWNED Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), through its housing and land development division, yesterday introduced its fourth project in Pampanga.

In a statement, the company said the project named Fernwood Parkhomes will be developed jointly with the Prieto family. > > > [ full story ]
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PEZA cuts power rates in ecozone

[ Manila Bulletin Online ]

By MYRNA M. VELASCO

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has started reducing power rates for locators in government-run special economic zones in January this year by a range of P0.15 to P0.20 per kilowatt hour.

PEZA director general Lilia de Lima said the first ecozones to be granted rate cuts are those in Bataan and Cavite. The next wave of reductions would be in Baguio and Mactan (Cebu) Export Processing Zones.> > > [ full story ]

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City moves to revive old business district

Monday, February 18, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]

ILOILO City: Save Calle Real. For decades, business used to flourish at the old central business district here. But in recent years, the entry of big investments in other areas of the city has taken its toll on the once-famous Calle Real.

Mayor Jerry Treñas has acknowledged that Calle Real suffered but said the entry of bigger malls should also be encouraged under the spirit of free enterprise.

He, however, has not lost sight of the fact that Calle Real— that stretch of Iloilo City covering the streets of JM Basa, Aldeguer, Iznart, Guanco and portion of Ledesma—is priceless.> > > [ full story ]
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Boracay environmental fee controversy stand-off rages

[ Manila Bulletin Online ]

By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

MALAY, Aklan — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan is trying to resolve the impasse on the controversial P50 environmental fee charged on non-Aklanon tourists at the Caticlan jetty port.

SP member Plaridel Morania said a special joint session with the Malay Sangguniang Bayan (SB) is slated on Feb. 22 in the island of Boracay to resolve the environmental entrance fee issue. > > > [ full story ]
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Lucio Tan group plans expansion in Palawan, may build hotel-resort

Monday, February 18, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]

THE Lucio Tan group is looking at the possibility of expanding its hotel business in Palawan where it already has presence through its mining concern, MacroAsia Corp.

Joseph T. Chua, MacroAsia president and chief executive, said the group is looking at the prospect of putting up a resort-hotel in the island that is famed for its pristine beaches and excellent diving sites. > > >[ full story ]
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Abacus unit enters into JV for Batangas project

Vol. XXI, No. 141 [ Business World Online ]
Monday, February 18, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

AN INVESTMENT house subsidiary of listed Abacus Consolidated Resources and Holdings, Inc. inked a full joint-venture agreement for a real estate development in the Batangas province.

In a disclosure, Abacus said Philippine Regional Investment Development Corp. (PRIDE) executed an agreement with Solar Resources, Inc. to develop upscale residences and townhouses on a property adjacent to the Montemaria Shrine in Batangas City. > > > [ full story ]
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Second phase of Casiguran airport project gets P157 M

By Manny Galvez
Monday, February 18, 2008 [ philstar.com ]

CASIGURAN, Aurora – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has allocated P157 million for the second phase of the airport project in this northern coastal town.

Engineer Wilson Mirabona, director of the airport maintenance section of the Air Transportation Office (ATO), said the fund, approved by DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, will be utilized for the construction of a 36,000-square meter concrete runway, 4,800-square meter concrete apron, concrete taxiway, terminal and administration buildings, fire station, parking spaces and other structures. > > > [ full story ]
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SBMA eyes $2.5-B investments in 3 yrs

By Bebot Sison Jr.
Sunday, February 17, 2008 [ philstar.com ]

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – After breaching its $5-billion investment target last year, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has increased its goal to $7.5 billion, or $2.5 billion more in fresh investments within the next three years.

SBMA administrator and chief executive officer Armand Arreza made this announcement the other day as he revealed a $250-million investment commitment in Subic by Jafza International FZE, the global economic zone operations arm of Economic Zones World, which is owned by the government of Dubai.

“Now that we have exceeded our original target of $5 billion when Subic investments reached $5.4 billion in 2007, we have adjusted our 2010 goal to $7.5 billion,” he said.> > > [ full story ]
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PGMA eyes Binalonan as future investment and dev't center in North Luzon

BINALONAN, Pangasinan (16 February) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured residents of this town that she would help them make Binalonan more attractive for investment and development within the North Luzon Agri-Business Quadrangle.

The President made the assurance in her speech at the inauguration this morning of the Binalonan Airfield owned and managed by Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico and family and on the occasion of the annual town fiesta.

But the President was quick to add that before Binalonan could be made more attractive for investment and development, there is a need to improve its airport and seaport. > > > [ full story ]
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Davao City corners biggest slice of foreign direct investment

by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (16 February) -- Davao City cornered the biggest slice of Foreign Direct Investments of newly registered corporations where it posted a 144 percent increase last year.

Securities and Exchange Commission Davao extension office head Atty. Javey Paul Francisco said that total paid up capital under FDI last year amounted to P45.7 million from 82 registrants against P18.7 million for 54 under new investments in 2006.

Francisco noted that about 60 percent of these foreign investors are from Korea. > > > [ full story ]
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