Bizmen see Davao City's construction boom

PIA Press Release 2008/03/01
By Prix D. Banzon

Davao City (1 March)--Business leaders see a boom in the construction industry of Davao as more infrastructure projects are in the pipeline for the next three years.

Engr. Ramon Allado, president of Allado Construction Company Southern Philippines Construction Core Group revealed in a briefing during the opening of the 2nd International Building Materials, Interior Products, Construction Equipment and Services Exhibition that with government spending in infrastructure more projects are coming for the Davao Region. > > > [ full story ]
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500-year-old Agusan tree becomes a tourist stop

[ manilastandardtoday.com ] March 1, 2008

BUTUAN CITY—The Philippines’ oldest tree has become an official tourist destination after the tourism department and local officials opened a tourist center near it in Magallanes, Agusan del Norte.

Officials inaugurated the center last week near the 500-year-old Bitaog tree, and it is expected to accommodate 200 visitors daily in the village of Caloc-an.

The tree was declared the Philippine Centennial Tree in June 1998 after a local historian, Florante More, nominated it as the country’s oldest tree.> > > [ full story ]
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Durano optimistic on Davao

[ Manila Bulletin Online ] March 1, 2008

DAVAO CITY — Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano is optimistic about the prospects of Davao City as one of the best tourist destinations in the country.

He said Davao City will be highlighted at the International Tourism Fair ITB, the world’s biggest tourism fair, to be held in Berlin, Germany on March 5-9, 2008.

Durano made this statement during the 2nd Davao Travel Show held recently here.

"One thing Davao can look forward to this coming ITP fair in Germany is that our new product, the Adventure Philippines package, will prominently highlight Davao City and the rest of Mindanao," he said.> > > [ full story ]
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Philippine Eagle Center gets boost from Tourism department

Saturday, March 01, 2008 [ manilatimes.net.ph ]

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has donated five million pesos for the construction of a new entrance lounge to the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) in Davao City.

The PEC is the home of 36 Philippine Eagles as well as the center for research and breeding of the Philippine Eagle, one of the critically endangered eagle species in the world. The area was established and maintained by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), a non-profit organization established in 1987, > > > [ full story ]
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Davao City to make available spaces for call center operations

PIA Press Release 2008/02/29

by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (29 February) -- Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) head Engineer Roberto Teo during the Davao Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Property Forum on Thursday said that the city in the next few months will make available some 20,000 sq. m. for call center operations.

Teo said some of these projects are ongoing and they expect the available the spaces to be ready toward the end of the year.> > > [ full story ]
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DAR XI to distribute 8,500 has. farmlands

2008/02/28 [ PIA ]

Davao City (28 February) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Region XI aims to distribute this year 8,500 hectares of private agricultural lands to CARP farmer-beneficiaries in the region.

DAR regional director Datu Yusoph B. Mama said that this number of hectarage is the region's contribution to the nationwide target of 130,000 hectares as directed by Agrarian Reform secretary Nasser Pangandaman for the year 2008. > > > [ full story ]
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Dev't of IT parks in Davao to be tackled

[ sunstar.com.ph ] February 28, 2008
By Joy Romares-Sevilla

THE new chairperson of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Committee of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) announced Wednesday that a business process outsourcing (BPO) property forum will be held Thursday at the Davao Convention and Trade Center.

Lizabel "Wit" Holganza, DCCCII ICT Committee chair, said in Wednesday's edition of the Club 888 press forum at the Marco Polo Davao that the one-day summit, which will start at 9 a.m., would bring together property developers and partner agencies to tackle issues in developing IT parks in Davao City. > > > [ full story ]
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Ancestral claimants appeal to stay in Wangal

[ sunstar.com.ph ] February 28, 2008

ANCESTRAL land claimants within the 54-hectare government lot at Wangal in La Trinidad are appealing to the Benguet Provincial Government to allow them to stay in their ancestral properties.

This came following the Provincial Board's (PB) move to investigate the approved survey under the name of private persons within the provincial lot.

In a petition addressed to Governor Nestor Fongwan and members of the PB, the claimants asked the Provincial Government not to evict them from the properties they have been occupying "since time immemorial." > > > [ full story ]
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Subic-Clark road to open end of April

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Albert B. Lacanlale

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) clarified that the opening of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) will be by the end of April and not on April 5 as earlier reported.

The bases agency, which implemented the construction of the 93.77-kilometer toll road, said the final touches are still being done for the project and it will be completely operational by the end of April. > > > [ full story ]
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Two lanes on flyover stretch closed starting Wednesday

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]

CEBU CITY -- Heavier-than-usual traffic is expected starting late Wednesday and for the next six months, with the closure of two inner lanes of the four-lane Gov. Mariano Cuenco Ave. in Banilad for the construction of the P89.6-million flyover.

The public is advised to "avoid the area as much as possible" and bear with the inconvenience.

The 390-meter flyover will span the road from the Mahiga Bridge area and beyond the A.S. Fortuna St. junction. > > > [ full story ]
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Davao ICT sector seeks more space for expansion

2008/02/27 [ pia ]

by Prix D. Banzon

Davao City (27 February) -- The ICT sector of Davao is finding ways to respond to the need of prospective investors in the IT business.

Andrei Fournier, trustee of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) in an interview said a consultation with landowners in Davao City will be held on February 28 at the Davao Convention Center from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.> > > [ full story ]

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TRC cuts rent in Central Luzon technoparks

By Tonette Orejas
[ Philippine Daily Inquirer ] 02/26/2008

MABALACAT, Pampanga, Philippines -- The government’s Technology Resource Center (TRC) has reduced by 20 percent the rent in nine techno centers it manages in the Central Luzon region.

This is to provide some relief to exporters hurt by the strengthening of the peso, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro said here.

The rate reduction has benefited at least 32 locators in the provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, Alabastro said. > > > [ full story ]
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DENR, LGU in reforestation program covering 50,000 hectares

[ manilatimes.net ] February 26, 2008

THE Natural Resources Development Corp. (NRDC), the corporate arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), will partner with local government units to rehabilitate 50,000 hectares of denuded forests.

“We are encouraging the planting of industrial trees, which yield hardwood, and the establishment of agro-forestry projects to enhance the rehabilitation of the country’s denuded forest areas and to create more income-generating opportunities in the country­side,” Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said. > > > [ full story ]
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No conflict seen in efforts to protect Boracay

[ Manila Bulletin Online ] February 26, 2008
By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

BORACAY — Eminent Persons Group (EPG) secretary Virtus Gil is hoping for the support and commitment of the local government of Malay to implement the existing municipal ordinances.

The EPG secretary was invited by the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay in a joint session in the island on Friday to clarify the role of the Inter-Agency Committee, the task force mandated by the Letter of Instructions (LOI) 1298 to "take actions to prevent the proliferation of all illicit activities that would downgrade the ecosystem and destroy the natural attractions of Boracay Island." > > > [ full story ]
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DENR okays 7 mining exploration permits

[ philstar.com ] February 26, 2008
By Marianne V. Go

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose L. Atienza has approved seven exploration permits and is set to approve five more plus four mineral production sharing agreements (MPSA).

In an interview with The STAR, Atienza said that he has approved the issuance of exploration permits to Century Peak Corp; Minprocess Group, Inc.; Oceana Gold (Phils.) Resources Corp.; Sagitarrius Mines, Inc.; Masbate 10 Phils., Inc.; Masbate 13 Phils., Inc. and that of Saprolite Mining Inc.> > > [ full story ]
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Accor Group building bed and breakfast facility in Cebu

By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio
Monday, February 25, 2008 [ philstar.com ]

European leader in hotels the Accor Group is developing a multi-million peso bed and breakfast facility in Cebu.

In an interview, Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines chairman and president Humphrey O’Leary III said investments in the local hotel industry continues as evidenced by the interest of the Accor Group.

In fact, O’Leary said the development in the industry is concentrated outside Metro Manila. “The investors are looking at building hotels in places outside Metro Manila,” he said. > > > [ full story ]
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Boracay Island task force prepares for peak season

Monday, February 25, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]

BORACAY ISLAND: The Bantay Boracay Task Force, marking March 1 as the start of the peak season in this resort island, is now busy preparing for the arrival of tourists who usually come for their Holy Week and summer vacation, reported the Philippine­ News Agency.

Nieven Maquirang, Caticlan Port administrator and a member of the task force, said that starting March 1, the Land Transportation Office will be implementing a traffic rerouting plan for all types of vehicles bound for Caticlan Jetty Port—the gateway of this resort island. > > > [ full story ]
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CEZA, private groups spend P11 B in ecozone infrastructure

[ Manila Bulletin Online ] February 25, 2008
By BERNIE C. MAGKILAT

The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and a consortium of private sector groups are investing P11 billion for the construction of infrastructure projects particularly an international airport and seaport to jumpstart the development of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport in Santa Ana, Cagayan.

CEZA administrator and CEO Jose Mari Ponce said they are looking at the completion of all the infrastructure facilities by 2010.

Of the total investment requirement, Ponce said between P5 billion to P6 billion would be used to for the construction of the international airport and P4 billion to P5 billion for the construction of the container port. > > > [ full story ]
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Aurora emerging trade, tourism hub – Loren

February 24, 2008 [ journal.com.ph ]

BALER, Aurora ?" This province will soon emerge as a major hub not only for tourism but also for commerce and trade owing to its abundant natural resources, tourist spots and investor-friendly projects, Sen. Loren Legarda predicted.

Legarda, Senate economic affairs committee chairperson, said the province is teeming with promise with the setting up of a special economic zone which is a key ingredient in making the province the next investor’s haven in the country.

“Its tourism potential is not actually potential but for real. And what's also interesting is it’s environmentally secure,” she said. > > > [ full story ]
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Eastwood-inspired mall to open in Malolos

Sunday, February 24, 2008 [ philstar.com ]

MALOLOS CITY – A P120-million Eastwood-inspired mall development is set to open in this city next month, thereby opening hundreds of job opportunities to new graduates.

Envisioned to become the new destination in this historic city, The Cabañas is owned and developed by Doña Rita Realty Corp. It is located in a 2.3 hectare land along the MacArthur Highway in Barangay Longos here and surrounded by numerous housing subdivisions, large provincial universities like the Bulacan State University, Centro-Escolar University-Malolos campus and the University of Regina Carmeli. > > > [ full story ]
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