Clark to have direct link to SCTEx, BCDA assures

[ Manila Bulletin Online ] March 6, 2008

CLARK FREEPORT — The government-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) gave yesterday assurance that Clark Freeport Zone will definitely have direct access to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).

The BCDA said the construction of the Panday Pira Road which serves as a vital link from the SCTEx to the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) through the Clark North-B Interchange will start as soon, adding the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has released a supplementary loan for the SCTEx. > > > [ full story ]
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Davao construction industry prospects upbeat after slump

Vol. XXI, No. 154 [ Business World Online ]
Thursday, March 06, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

DAVAO CITY — The city is experiencing a construction uptick following a slump caused by a spike in imported construction materials three years ago.

Ramon Allado, president of Allado Construction Co., former president of the local chapter of the Philippine Constructors’ Association, said the growth could have been higher if local firms merged and partnered to corner lucrative contracts. > > > [ full story ]
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$ 4B in investments eyed in Clark in ’08 executive says

[ Manila Bulletin Online ] March 6, 2008
By FRED ROXAS

CLARK FREEPORT— Some big-time foreign investors, including a global information technology (IT) firm, will pour in some $ 4 billion in fresh investments on this freeport, starting this month.

Bernardo Angeles Jr., assistant vice president of Clark Development Corp. (CDC), said that foreign businessmen have shown great interest in investing in various big-ticket projects and expansion programs here.> > > [ full story ]
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Trade, tourism in Sultan Kudarat

By Joji Ilagan- Bian
Philippine Daily Inquirer 03/06/2008

April will be a busy month for the province of Sultan Kudarat, with several activities lined up.

These include the 2nd Sultan Kudarat Business Week Celebration (April 7-11) to be hosted by the Sultan Kudarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (SKCCIFI), Federation of Mindanao Business Chambers of Mindanao and Isulan Chamber of Commerce and the 2nd SocSarGen (South Cotabato, Saranggani, General Santos) Area Business Conference on April 16-21.

The province is composed of 11 municipalities and one component city; its coastal areas and towns are directly facing Australia and the three major Asean partners of Mindanao—Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. > > > [ full story ]
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Electrification of remote Benguet sitios readied

[ Manila Bulletin Online ] March 6, 2008

Beneco gets P21-M loan from NEA to energize non-viable areas
By DEXTER A. SEE

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Rural electrification is a major backbone of development in remote communities, and so the national government is supportive of projects of electric cooperatives to provide power supply to non-viable areas.

This statement was made by Edith Bueno, administrator of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), during the recent turnover of a P21-million check to the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) here for its projects to energize many still unlighted sitios in this vegetable-producing province.> > > [ full story ]
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Pollution, slums, janitor fish threaten Laguna de Bay — study

03/05/2008 [ tribune.net.ph ]

Pollution, slums and an invasion of foreign fish species are threatening the Philippines’ largest lake, one of the nation’s major fish farming regions, according to a study published yesterday.

Laguna de Bay on the outskirts of eastern Manila covers more than 90,000 hectares but since 1965, fish pens and cages have been built out across some 15 percent of the lake. > >> [ full story ]
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Foreign investors eye P120-M cable car project in Aurora

By Manny Galvez
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 [ philstar.com ]

DINGALAN, Aurora – A group of Japanese, Korean and Filipino investors are eyeing a P120-million cable car project in this coastal town, which could help promote the province as an investments and tourism haven and perk up the local economy.

Businessman Romeo Callanta, chairman of the RC Electric Corp. (RCEC), told The STAR that the cable car project will be the first of its kind in the country and will be similar to the cable car line in the Hong Kong Ocean Park. > > > [ full story ]
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Mati's Waniban Island now a certified tourist destination

PIA Press Release 2008/03/04
By Neela G. Duallo

City of Mati, Davao Oriental (4 March) -- Unmindful of the big potential it has for the local tourist industry of the City of Mati, Waniban Island remains picture perfect of it's white sand, oozing blue waters, sight refreshing mangrove trees, surrounded by the grandeur of nature.

As such, Davao Oriental Vice-Gov. Mayo Almario instructed Provincial Secretary Chito Gregorio to get a certification from the Dept. of Tourism-Region 11. > > > [ full story ]
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Baguio zone eyes doubling new projects to P6.8B in ’08

By Ayen Infante
03/04/2008 [ tribune.net.ph ]

The Baguio Export Processing Zone (BEPZ) seeks to attract P6.8 billion worth of investments in the first semester or double the P3.6 billion total investments for last year.

In a report submitted to Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) director general Lilia De Lima, zone administrator Tereso Panga said Baguio remains bullish in attracting new locators with declaration of 6 additional sub-zones in the area. > >> [ full story ]
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Clark forecasts substantial rise in investments

Vol. XXI, No. 151 [ Business World Online ]
Monday, March 03, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Talks ongoing for $3-B project --- CDC exec

CLARK DEVELOPMENT Corp. (CDC) expects investments to be robust this year given prospects for new big-ticket projects as well as locator expansions.

About P8-10 billion in investments could come in this year, up almost 70% from 2007’s P5-6 billion, CDC assistant vice-president Bernardo Angeles told BusinessWorld.

"Prospects are good for 2008. Clark’s biggest competitive edge is faster turnaround time because you can cut down on costs when shipping." Mr. Angeles said. > > > [ full story ]
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Security Bank OKs P500-M loan to Aboitizland

By Doris Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:58:00 03/02/2008

MEDIUM-SIZED SECURITY BANK Corp. has provided a P500-million loan facility to Aboitizland Inc., the real estate arm of the Cebu-based Aboitiz conglomerate.

In a statement, SBC said it entered into the loan agreement to fund Aboitizland’s latest property development foray in the Queen City of the South.

“The growth prospect for the property industry in Cebu is truly phenomenal. The increased demand for both residential and commercial development is prompting leading real estate companies to expand their portfolio to match the needs,” said SBC senior vice president Patricia May Siy.> > > [ full story ]
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Comprehensive anti-smoking ordinance ready

Sunday, March 02, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Ernie Olson Jr.

[ Baguio City ] MANY Baguio residents and visitors are looking forward to the forthcoming implementation of the city's Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance, after Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. recently approved it.
The ordinance, before Bautista's approval, was passed on third and final reading by the City Council last Monday afternoon. > > > [ full story ]
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Gawad Kalinga reaches out to Aetas

By Patricia Esteves
Sunday, March 2, 2008 [ philstar.com ]

In a Gawad Kalinga village in Burog, Bamban town, Tarlac, neatly dressed Aeta children gather inside a Sibol classroom, GK’s pre-school facility, listening intently as their teacher reads books and counts numbers.

Their parents, meanwhile, are out in the field, harvesting fruits and vegetables or tending to livestock.> > > [ full story ]

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Construction of P5-B Cagayan Int’l Airport to start this year

By Charlie Lagasca
[ philstar.com ] March 2, 2008

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The construction of another international airport is set to start this year as part of the national government’s continued efforts to transform this country’s northernmost part into a world-class tourism and business investment destination.

Jose Mari Ponce, administrator of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), said that the construction of the airport, with an initial funding of P5-billion, would be a joint venture between CEZA and a multinational private firm with technical and supervisory assistance from the Department of Transportation and Communications.> > > [ full story ]
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Japanese firms top list of Clark foreign investors

[ sunstar.com.ph ] March 1, 2008

CLARK FREEPORT -- Japanese firms has topped the list of foreign investors here as of January this year, the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) said.

CDC president Liberato Laus said the corporation's marketing department reported that 26.72 percent or 35 out of the 66 companies inside the freeport are owned by Japanese.

Next to Japan is the US with 25 companies (19.08 percent). Followed by Korea with 17 companies (12.98 percent), Taiwan and Australia which both have 10 companies or (7.63 percent). > > > [ full story ]
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