Newsletter_March-April 09 Save PDF

Gov’t pins hopes on Subic,
Clark to save Luzon economy
by Ayen
A
Infante | reprinted from The Daily Tribune | 26 March 2009
The country’s economic managers are pinning their hopes on the Subic Bay
Freeport
por zone and Clark Economic zone to keep Centr
t al Luzon’s economy humming
amid a global economic slowdown.
The projected 6.9 percent economic growth in the region is “highly
attainable” with the presence of Subic Bay and Clark free port zones in the area, they
said.
The forecast was made during a recent briefing held at the Subic
International Hotel, where the country’s top economic officials
f
held back-to-back
presentations on the governme
r
nt’s strategies to override the eff
ffects of the fi
f nancial
crisis.
Finance Secretary Margarito Teves,
T
Socio-economic Planning Secretary
Secretar
Ralph Recto, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) director Iluminada Sicat led the
group of economic managers in the assessment of the economy’s strength amid the
global turmoil.
Also present in the forum were Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo
Serrano, Budget and Management Undersecretary Laura Pascua, Energy
Undersecretary Roy Kyamko,
K
T
Trade
and Industry Region 3 director Blesila
Lantayona, and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 3
director Remigio Mercado.
During the briefing, Teves
T
said the government’s fiscal reform has generated
revenues that are now being invested into two economic sectors which are public
infrastructure and social services to pump-prime the national economy.
He specifically cited the Subic-Clark growth corridor as being “steps ahead”
compared to neighboring areas because of major infrastructure already in place.
These include the modern seaport in Subic that has given rise to a 600,000TEU (20-foot equivalent unit) container terminal, the Diosdado Macapagal
International Airport
rpor in Clark, and th
t e Subic-Clark-Ta
T rlac Expressway (SCTEX) th
t at
now links the two free ports.
W this advantage, Central Luzon, which made the third largest
With
contribution to the country’s gross regional domestic produ
od ct at 8.3 percent in 2007,
“can foc
f us on other economic arenas like attracting investments, and streamlining the
process of doing business in the region,” Te
T ves said.
Neda’s Mercado said the agricultur
lt e and services sectors will stay resilient
and provide avenues for regional economic growth amid the global economic
slowdown.
He added that the industrial sector’s output in Region 3, however, is expected to go
down further since manufacturing, which employs 20 percent of the people in the
industrial sector, had been the hardest hit by the financial crisis.
“Manufacturing is still expected to grow, but comparatively lower than that
of 2007 figures,” Mercado added.
On the other hand, Mercado said that growth in the services sector — now
Central Luzon’s biggest sector at 40 percent — may be pushed higher if the region
could take advantage of the expanding industries in new growth areas.
Mercado said these include the fields of information and communications
technology, business process outsourcing, health and wellness, logistics and port
r
development, food processing, agribusiness, aquacultur
lt e, tourism, and ancillary
r
services and products to locators in industrial estates and ecozones.
The economic team also concluded that with the increase in government
spending, strong domestic consumption, declining inflation rates, and cooperation
from the private sector, the country may attain economic growth of from 3.7 to 4.4
percent this year.
2
IN THIS ISSUE:
Gov’t pins hopes on Subic,
Clark to save Luzon
economy p.2
SCTEX opens Clark
South interchange p.3
San Fernando Airport
inaugurated p. 4
SCTEX cuts travel from
Clark to Subic p.6
SCTEX users peak
during Lenten break
p. 7
BCDA partners with Petron
for Lakbay-Alalay in SCTEX p.7
BCDA to dispose
North Bonifacio lots
p.8
Consultants drawing up
masterplan for Fort
Bonifacio lots p. 9
Clark airport firm reports
increase in passengers p. 9
BCDA joins Earth Hour in
Bonifacio Global City p. 10
R. SANTOS
Chairman
GEN NARCISO L ABAYA (RET)
President and CEO
is a bi-monthly publication of the
Bases Conversion and Development Authority
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
Editorial Director
LEILANI BARLONGAY-MACASAET
Managing Editor/Layout Artist
RHONA L. RAMOS
News Editors and Senior Writers
ROY VICTOR R. ROSALES
MARICAR S. SAVELLA
Writers
GARRY A. CATIVO
MICHELLE S. SAN JUAN
Photographer
AGEM O. ALFAFARAS
Circulation
IRAH F. DAVID
BCDA Corporate Center
2/F Bonifacio Technolgoy Center
31st., Crescent Park West,
Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City
Telephone no.: (632) 816-6666
Fax no.: (632) 816-0996
e-mail: [email protected]
www.bcda.gov.ph
Milestone
from left: Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura,
fr
Clark Development Corporation Director Nestor
Mangio, BCDA President and CEO Narciso Abaya,
Clark International Airport Corporation President
and CEO Benigno Ricafort, and BCDA Chairman
Aloysius Santos discuss the benefits of the new
interchange which provides another faster access to
the Diosdado Macapagal Airport inside the Clark
Freeport zone.
from left:
f Japanese Ambassador Katsura, BCDA
Executive Vice President and SCTEX Program
Director Isaac Puno III, BCDA President and
CEO Abaya, and BCDA director Jorge Banal
await the arrival of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo.
from left:
f Tollways
T
Management Corporation Vice
President for Corporate Management Nathaniel
Fernandez, SCTEX Program Manager for
Operational Support Services Robert Gervacio,
and SCTEX Program Manager for Engineering
Eduardo Lena welcome the first vehicle
entering the newly-opened interchange.
Left
f photo: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally opens the Clark South Interchange during a ceremonial run held on 5 April 2009. Joining her are (from
left) BCDA President and CEO Narciso L. Abaya, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, BCDA Chairman Aloysius Santos, Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura and
SCADC Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan. Right photo: a portion of the newly-opened interchange which provides another direct access to the Clark Freeport Zone.
(
(pho
to by Marlouie
r
Ramire
r z)
z
SCTEX opens Clark
South interchange
T
he Bases Conversion and
Development Authority
(BCDA) opened the Clark
South Interchange on April 5. The
said interchange is one of the three
additional facilities of the SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX)
scheduled fo
f r completion this year.
The Clark South Interchange opened at 3:00 p.m.
following the Inaugural Drive by
President Gloria MacapagalArroyo.
The Clark South Interchange
serves as the entry and exit points
to and from the main zone of the
Clark Freeport Zone and the
SCTEX. The main zone of the
Clark Freeport Zone comprises
some 4,000 hectares where the
Clark Development Corporation
(CDC), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) and
Diosdado Macapagal International
Airport (DMIA) are located. Also
located within the main zone are
SM City Clark, various hotels,
resorts, duty free shops, tourist
areas as well as manufacturing and
aviation-related complexes.
Motorists from Manila
entering SCTEX through the Clark
Logistics/Mabalacat Toll plaza are
advised to head towards the
direction of Subic. The Clark
South Interchange will be the first
interchange to the right.
Motorists from Subic and
Bataan who want to go to Clark
are advised to go straight until
they reach the Clark South
Interchange (between the
Dinalupihan and Clark Logistics/
Mabalacat Interchanges).
(continued on page 6)
6
3
Cover stor y
San Fernando
Airport
inaugurated
PORO POINT FREEPORT ZONE—President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led the inauguration rites of the newly upgraded San
Fernando Airport in La Union that is seen to boost tourism and investment opportunities in the region. The said ceremony
was held on March 16, 2009.
The President landed at San
Fernando Airport accompanied by
members of her official family.
On hand to welcome Mrs.
Arroyo were Bases Conversion and
Development Authority (BCDA)
President and CEO Narciso Abaya, La
Union Gov. Manuel Ortega, Rep.
Victor Ortega, San Fernando Mayor
Pablo Ortega, and the BCDA and
Poro Point Management Corporation
(PPMC) Board of Directors.
The San Fernando Airport is
part of the Poro Point Freeport Zone
being managed by the Poro Point
Management Corporation (PPMC), a
subsidiary of the BCDA. The BCDA
funded the half billion peso airport
upgrade project.
Underscoring the significance
of a fully developed Poro Point
Special Freeport Zone, BCDA
President and CEO Narciso Abaya
said the resumption of operations of
the San Fernando Airport will further
4
strengthen Poro Point in attracting
more investments and tourists leading
to more jobs generated for the people
of La Union. “Increased investments
and tourist spending will augur well
for the economy of La Union,” Abaya
said.
PPMC President Felix Racadio
said the half billion peso airport
upgrade project includes the hill
removal and leveling, runway
widening, overlay of taxiway, fencing,
construction of a new control tower,
renovation of fire station, provision of
aeronautical ground lighting system,
automated weather observation system,
and air traffic control console
equipment.
“The upgrade meets the
International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) standards and
will now accommodate larger planes
like the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320,”
Racadio said.
PPMC Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer
Anthony C. Manguiat said with the
resumption of operations, passenger
as well as cargo traffic is expected to
further increase and boost the
economy of La Union and its
neighboring provinces.
“The San Fernando Airport
will complement the already existing
international seaport, thus making Poro
Point an ideal site for commerce and
tourism,” Manguiat said.
PPMC Vice President for
Airport Operations Catherine Bada said
that at present all flights to San
Fernando are chartered flights. She
noted that PPMC is now negotiating
with commercial airlines for regular
domestic flights from Manila-San
Fernando. A Manila-San Fernando
flight averages some 50 minutes.
She added that there are now
15 flying schools that are using the
Cover stor y
airport for their cross-country training
flights.
For her part, Thunderbird Resorts
Director for Marketing Cheryl Arnold said
the resumption of flights will bode well for
the tourism industry in La Union, Baguio,
Pangasinan and Ilocos. Of the P565
million allocated by the BCDA for the
upgrade of the San Fernando Airport,
Thunderbird contributed P55 million.
It would be recalled that last May
2008, President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo
led the inauguration of Thunderbird
Resorts–Poro Point’s luxury hotel and a
world-class nine-hole golf course meant to
put La Union at the world map of major
tourist and recreation destinations. Prior to
the completion of the hotel and golf course
in Poro Point, Thunderbird has already
completed and operates a 75-seat fine
dining restaurant and entertainment
complex. Thunderbird has leased some
65.5 hectares of real estate in the Poro
Point Freeport Zone that it is developing
into a leisure resort, sports, entertainment
and tourism complex.
The San Fernando Airport upgrading
project is in line with President Arroyo’s
agenda to transform Northern Luzon into a
super region. The San Fernando Airport is
expected to serve as the country’s gateway to
the North together with the Poro Point Seaport
and is seen to create wider opportunities for
investment, trade and employment.
San Fernando airport
airpor
to host direct flights
from Korea
The expanded San Fernando
Airport in Poro Point, La Union, marks
its first milestone by opening air link with
the Cheongju International Airport in
South Korea.
Direct flights between the two
airports are set to commence soon, with
an initial passenger traff
f ic volume of
some 20,000 Korean tourists, mostly
students, their parents and other family
members wanting to explore La Union,
Baguio City and Benguet province.
Ranking off
f icials of Poro Point
Management Corp. (PPMC), a
subsidiary of the state-run Bases
Conversion and Development Authority
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leads the ribbon-cutting to formally open the San Fernando
Airport. Assisting her were (from left)
f former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, BCDA
President and CEO Narciso L. Abaya, Department of Communications and Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, La Union Governor Manuel Ortega, and Rep. Victor Ortega.
PGMA is assisted by DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza in unveiling the marker for the opening of
the San Fernando Airport.
(BCDA), made this announcement upon
arrival from their recent visit to
Chungcheongbuk-do province in South
Korea.
The delegation, headed by
PPMC executive vice president and
chief operating off
f icer Anthony C.
Manguiat, came back last April 2 from a
highly fruitful visit to South Korea.
The BCDA, which spearheaded the expansion and upgrading of
San Fernando Airport facilities,
expected substantial increases in
tourist arrivals and investments in
Northern Philippines.
The direct flights between the
two airports are also expected to
increase the stream of tourists to La
Union and other northern provinces.
The group met with their
Korean counterparts headed by Jang
Soon Ja, director of the Korean Air-
port
r s Corp., as well as with tourism and
aviation off
f icials of Chungcheongbuk-do.
Poro Point’s development
alongside San Fernando Airport’s
expansion, are part of BCDA’
A s sustained
conversion program where former U.S.
bases are transformed into centers of
socio-economic development.
Chungcheongbuk-do (North
Chungcheong) is a province in the centre
of South Korea, and was formed
f
in 1896
from the northeastern half of the former
Chungcheong province. Its provincial
capital is Cheongju.
The main attractions in the
province are Mount Songni (1,058 m) in
the Sobaek Mountains and its national
park. Beopjusa, the site of one of the
oldest temples of Korea, is located in
this national park, as in Guinsa, the
headquarters of the Cheontae sect. There
is another park around Mount Worak.
5
In the news
SCTEX cuts
travel from
Clark to Subic
Reprinted from Manila Bulletin | 8 March 2009
IBA, Zambales – Less than a year into its opening, the Subic-ClarkTarlac Expressway (SCTEX) is fast gaining prominence among
tourists and businessmen, and a great number of investors within
the Subic Freeport Zone are giving nothing but praises to the tollway
project.
John Corcoran, president of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of
Commerce, Inc. (SBFCCI) said the SCTEX will provide local and foreign
visitors with better and faster access to Subic’s recreational facilities as
well as commercial and industrial establishments.
“SCTEX has brought positive impact all over the Freeport because
it has significantly cut travel time to Subic from Clark and soon from
Tarlac,” said Corcoran.
“I am sure that we will see more development along the SubicClark growth corridor,” added Corcoran, who is also president of Ocean
Adventure, a popular marine theme park here.
The SCTEX, which covers a total distance of 93.77 kilometers and
touted to be the longest four-lane expressway in the Philippines today, is
also expected to open up more investment opportunities along the SubicClark growth corridor.
The tollway project is the backbone of the Subic-Clark Mega
Logistics Hub and part of the priority infrastructure projects of the Arroyo
Administration designed for the Luzon Urban Beltway (LUB).
“Our resolve to provide the necessary infrastructure for growth
and prosperity has heightened investors’ confidence in our ability to slug
it out in the global arena,” said PGMA during the Luzon Urban Beltway
(LUB) Infrastructure Conference in Subic two years ago.
6
SCTEX opens Clark South...
continued from page 3
Likewise, for motorists
coming from the direction of Tarlac
T
,
the Clark South Interchange is the
next interchange after the Clark
Clar
Logisitics/Mabalacat Interchange.
“The interchange will bring
motorists from the SCTEX right to the
main artery of the Clark Freeport Zone
at M.A Roxas Avenue,” BCDA
President and CEO Narciso Abaya
said.
He said the interchange augurs
well for locators in Clark, Subic and
even the Central Techno Park in Tarlac
who plan to take advantage of the
airport in Clark or the seaport in Subic.
“We now have a seamless connection
between the two major freeport zones.
This makes the country more attractive
to foreign investors,” Abaya noted.
He added that the Clark South
Interchange is also the launching pad
for residents in Angeles City to access
the SCTEX on their way to Zambales,
Subic, Bataan, Cabanatuan Tarlac and
the North.
Last December 23, 2008, the
state-run BCDA inaugurated the Clark
North Interchange, the first inter-change
that provides access from SCTEX to
Clark, and vice versa. The interchange is
connected to the 3.8-kilometer Panday
Pira access road, which leads to the
northern area of the Clark Freeport
Zone. The Clark North Interchange, on
the other hand, is the most appropriate
entry and exit points to and from
Clark’s sub-zone and the SCTEX.
With the prospects of the
North and South interchanges in place,
entry and exit to the 94-kilometer
SCTEX connecting three key economic
zones in Luzon—Subic Bay Freeport in
Olongapo City, Clark Freeport in
Angeles City and the Central Techno
Park in La Paz, Tarlac—has been made
much easier and faster.
The two other SCTEX interchanges—one each in Porac and
Floridablanca towns in Pampanga—
are due for completion by the middle
of the year.
In the news
SCTEX users peak
during Lenten break
Vehicles exit at the Clark Logistics toll plaza which
connects to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)
T
he average vehicle volume in SCTEX during the holy week
break went up to an average of 30,000 vehicles per day. The said
figure translated to a toll collection of P2 million each day for the worldclass expressway.
The influx came about as
motorists took advantage of the long
working holiday. SCTEX program
manger for operational support
services and spokesperson Robert C.
Gervacio said “we know that in the
month of March until the end of the
Lenten Season, people from the city
will peak all the way to the north or
west to visit their families or just to
enjoy their summer vacation.”
The state-run Bases
Conversion and Development
Authority (BCDA) which
spearheaded the construction of the
four-lane, 93.7-kilometer SCTEx,
guarantees unimpeded journey that
takes only about 40 minutes from
Clark to Subic and 25 minutes from
Clark to Tarlac
T
.
The BCDA and the TMC
have laid out stronger motorist and
travelers’ assistance along the entire
stretch of the SCTEX. This involved
the deployment of more patrol cars,
seasoned lane management and law
enforcement teams, emergency
medical crews, and automotive
mechanics, as well as ambulances,
tow and flat
f bed trucks.
For speedy passage at the
toll plazas, ambulant tellers were
also dispatched to avoid long queues
and speed up toll fee
f collections.
BCDA partners with Petron for
Lakbay-Alalay in SCTEX
On March 26, the BCDA, Petron Corporation and Tollways Management Corporation, signed a
Memorandum of Agreement that enabled the three companies to work together in providing public service during
the Holy Week.
The Lakbay-Alalay 2009 offered free roadside assistance to motorists traveling along the SCTEX during
the Lenten break. Booths were stationed near Clark Logistics Interchange and Floridablanca service area on April 8
(Holy Wednesday), 9 (Maundy Thursday), 11 (Black Saturday) and 12 (Easter Sunday) from 7:00am – 9:00pm.
Services offered included basic car check-ups, trouble shooting and medical assistance.
Left photo: the Lakbay Alalay station near the Clark Logistics toll
plaza Top photo: Lakbay-Alalay volunteers which included BCDA,
TMC and Petron employees
7
In the news
BCDA to dispose
North Bonifacio lots
T
he state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA)
is set to dispose one of its remaining properties in Bonifacio Global
City covering 8.38 hectares with a minimum value of P2.789 billion. The
disposition of the property will be via a competitive challenge mode,
popularly known as the “Swiss challenge,” following the receipt of an
unsolicited proposal submitted by one of the country’s top real estate
developers.
Under the National Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA)
Guidelines and Procedures for
Entering into Joint Venture (JV)
Agreements between Government and
Private Sector Entities, a government
entity may follow Annex C of the
NEDA Guidelines entitled Detailed
Guidelines for Competitive Challenge
Type Procedure for Public-Private
Joint Ventures — when it receives an
unsolicited proposal.
BCDA President and CEO
Narciso L. Abaya highlighted the fact
that a credible unsolicited proposal
submitted to and accepted by BCDA
demonstrates continuing investor
confidence in the economy and the
strength of the real estate industry in
the Philippines.
“We are highly optimistic that
the proposed joint venture will
materialize because it is market-driven,
having gone through detailed
evaluation and to be further subjected
to a Swiss challenge,” Abaya said.
BCDA Vice President for
Business Development Aileen Zosa
said the BCDA, after an evaluation as
prescribed in the NEDA JV
Guidelines, earlier accepted the
unsolicited proposal submitted by
Megaworld Corporation as the
Original Proposal to be subjected to
competitive challenge by comparative
proponents.
Under Annex C of said NEDA
Guidelines, “an acceptance shall not
bind the government entity to enter
into a JV activity but shall mean that
an authorization is given to proceed
8
with detailed negotiations on the terms
and conditions of the JV activity. In
case of non-acceptance, the private
sector entity shall be informed of the
reasons/grounds for non-acceptance.”
Ms. Zosa said that following
BCDA‘s conditional acceptance of the
Megaworld’s proposal and after
thorough detailed negotiations, BCDA
and Megaworld issued a signed
certification for the following: a) that
an agreement, subject to conditions,
has been reached on the scope, terms
and conditions, financial and technical
aspects of the joint venture; b) that
Megaworld has been found to be
eligible to enter into the proposed JV
activity; and c)BCDA shall commence
solicitation for comparative proposals.
The BCDA published the
notice of invitation to interested
proponents and will issue the Terms of
Reference of the Competitive
Challenge procedures, particularly the
Eligibility Requirements, from April
29 to May 8, 2009. “The BCDA will
apply the 2-step process of first
determining the eligibility of
interested “challengers” and thereafter,
the receipt, submission and evaluation
of the financial and technical
proposals, under a clear, transparent
and competitive evaluation criteria,”
Zosa explained.
Ms. Zosa further explained
that Megaworld has to match better
offers from “challengers” to be
awarded the project. If Megaworld
does not match, the project shall be
awarded to the challenger. “The
subject of the competitive challenge
will be Present Value of net cash
inflows to BCDA amounting
P33,283.88 per sq.m., which is set as
the Minimum Value/Price of the
Property,” Zosa noted.
Ms. Zosa said Megaworld’s
proposal for North Bonifacio Lots is a
mixed use development of more than
500,000 sq.m. of Gross Floor Area
(GFA) and is predominantly
residential. Investment commitment
will reach at least P15.6 billion, a
significant contribution to the
government’s economic stimulus
program, considering the job creation
and multiplier effects arising from the
development.
The Bonifaico Global City (BGC) boasts
of a well-conceived masterplan that has
turned the former US military installation
into the country’s fast-raising premiere
business district. Already in place are (a)
Serendra, a residential complex built and
managed by Ayala Land, Inc. ; (b) Net
Group series of buildings at the Ecommerce section of BGC; (c) St. Luke’s
Medical Center; and (d) Bonifacio High
Street which is a mall-park complex also
managed by Ayala Land, Inc.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
In the news
Consultants drawing up
masterplan for Fort Bonifacio lots
By Jessica Anne D. Hermosa | reprinted from Business World | 8 April 2009
CONSULTANTS Filipinas
Bravo Corp. and Parsons Brinckerhoff
Philippines, Inc. have been chosen to
draft the masterplan that will guide the
development of military lots in Fort
Bonifacio, Taguig, the Bases
Conversion and Development
Authority (BCDA) said.
The two firms — which had
jointly proposed a contract price of
P9.948 million for the masterplanning
— formally entered into a contract
with the state agency on March 27 as
the winning bidder, BCDA VicePresident Aileen R. Zosa said in a
telephone interview.
Filipinas Bravo and Parsons
Brinckerhoff will draw up the
masterplan for a 119-hectare area
composed of nine adjoining lots which
include six that form South Bonifacio.
The rest are nearby lots for the
Philippine Army depot and dental
dispensary, the National Mapping and
Resource Information Authority, and
“consular areas,” the BCDA said in a
notice dated March 17 and posted on
its Website.
The plan is expected to be
completed by the first week of June as
the BCDA aims to start bidding out
the lots by the third quarter.
Clark airport posts 35%
rise in passenger flights
Clark International Airport Corporation Press release
The Diosdado Macapagal
International airport (DMIA) has
posted a 35 percent increase in
international passenger flights from
January to March this year amid the
global economic slowdown.
Clark International Airport
Corporation (CIAC) President and
CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano attributed
the increase in passengers, despite the
economic situation in the world, the
airport is going strong and CIAC is
committed to give our traveling public
a world-class service for them to enjoy
their flights at our airport,” Luciano
said.
Based on records of the CIAC
Corporate Planning Department,
DMIA posted a 35.60 percent increase
in the international passenger flights
with 659 flights from January to
March compared with only 486 flights
for the same period last year.
Luciano also noted a 20
percent increase in the international
passenger volume at DMIA for the
same period compared to last year
saying that the airport continues to
attract passengers despite the current
economic situation prevailing all over
the world.
President Gloria MacapagalArroyo designated DMIA as the
Premiere International Gateway in the
country as well as the center for
services and logistics hub in the Asia
Pacific region.
“This only shows that DMIA
is fast becoming the premiere airport
of the country as envisioned by
President Arroyo,” Luciano stressed.
Luciano also said CIAC is
currently holding the “North Luzon
Road Show” to promote the
international and domestic flights at
DMIA which started last March 20
were it covered Pampanga, Zambales,
Tarlac and Pangasinan provinces.
CIAC is now moving further North by
going to Ilocos in Vigan City and
Laoag City and then onwards to
Tugegarao, Isabela, Cagayan
The area is eyed for mixed use
“with a significant portion for
residential areas,” the BCDA official
said.
“We are disposing of them.
We have a schedule. But it depends on
the market because we’re under the
global financial crisis,” Ms. Zosa said.
Ms. Zosa had said a
masterplan for the 119-hectare area
would boost the property prices of the
covered lots.
The two firms had worked for
BCDA before, providing masterplans,
engineering designs and traffic routing
drafts, Ms. Zosa said.
provinces and the summer capital of
Baguio City to introduce DMIA as the
“Airport of the North Philippines.”
“This road show is part of
CIAC’s thrusts of introducing to the
people of the North of the availability
of international and domestic flights at
DMIA were they can have an access of
cheaper air fares provided by budget
carriers operating at the airport,” he
said.
DMIA plays host to various air
carriers that flies out of Clark, among
them is Asiana Airlines of South Korea
that flies daily via Clark-Incheon with
connecting flights to the United States
and Europe; Tiger Airways of
Singapore via Clark-Singapore; and
Air Asia of Malaysia via Clark-Kuala
Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.
Local carrier Cebu Pacific, the
first major local carrier to locate at the
Clark airport also flies the South East
Asian Region via Clark-Singapore,
Hong Kong, Macau and Bangkok.
Cebu Pacific also flies domestic
operations at the airport via daily
flights to Cebu. South East Asian
Airlines (Seair) flies the ClarkCaticlan route in the world famous
Boracay Island Resort.
9
Special feature
BCDA joins
Earth Hour at the
Bonifacio Global City
Taking up the advocacy in environmental consciousness and rallying behind the need to save the
planet earth amid the threats of global warming, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority
(BCDA) participated in the Earth Hour on March 28, 2009 at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
The Bonifaci
f o High Street at
the BGC inTaguig City was one of
the major venues in the country for
the ceremonial countdown of the
Earth Hour. The monumental event
was simultaneously held in 80
countries. Earth Hour calls for
global unity in raising awareness on
climate change.
Establishments at the BGC
altogether switched off
f their lights
for one hour to decrease energy
consumption to symbolize the
crusade to save mother earth.
The BCDA was represented
by Aileen Zosa, Vice
V President for
Planning and Business Development.
She is also concurrent vice president
of the Fort Bonifacio Development
Corporation (FBDC) which oversees
the developments at the BGC.
In her message, VP Zosa said
that “we stand proud that Bonifacio
Global City is one of the key venues
of the Earth Hour ceremonial
countdown. We,
W who give fruition to
BGC as the home of passionate
minds, as greener and cleaner BGC –
in events like the Earth Hour.”
She also emphasized that
“individually, we can start simple
initiatives. Collectively, we can save
planet earth.”
She further enj
n oined the
participants to “let the Earth Hour be
a celebration and a tribute to the
billions of people, like you and me,
who are committed to a better planet
earth.”
T
Taguig
City Mayor Freddie
Tinga on the other hand, acknowledged the efforts
f
of the private
sector in saving the environment.
He said that “I really
appreciate the fact that we have
people from the private sector who
are also pushing the environmental
agenda. We
W can’t do it alone, this
has gone beyond the realm of the
NGOs. Environmentalism used to be
From left:
f Noel Kintanar, FBDC Head for Commercial
Operations; Meean Dy, FBDC Executive Vice President;
and BCDA Vice-President Zosa
BCDA Vice President for
f Planning and
Business Development Aileen Zosa enjoins the
participants in Earth Hour to make steps, no
matter how small, to save the environment.
10
Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga views
T
the Earth Hour wall where organizers
and participants signed to pledge their
commitment to save the environment.
Special feature
Bonifacio Global City before and after
f
the lights were simultaneously shut out to observe Earth Hour.
something cute, but now it’s a
necessity.”
He also stressed that
“activities like this address two
major problems – ignorance and
apathy. We’re
W
excited to see more
people realizing that we’d better do
something about the environment
now.”
While the vigorous city
mayor acknowledges the fact that
the process of saving the
environment will take a very long
time, he declares that “we gotta start
somewhere.”
The city mayor also gave
emphasis on the environment-related
programs that his off
ffice has been
implementing such as making
available electric-generated tricycles
which ply the major roads of BGC.
They also have street rangers who
see to it that waste segregation is
implemented.
In the meantime, Noel
Kintanar, FBDC head for
Commercial Operations, narrated
that their organization has been
doing its share to solve global
warming by ensuring that its
developments comply with the
Department of Energy and ASEAN
energy standards and makes it a
conscious effort
f
to observe best
practices.
He also stressed that “we
continuously strive to seek new
technology and programs which will
contribute to energy efficienc
f
y.”
Prior to the countdown to the
Earth Hour the World
W
Wildlife
ildlif
Foundation (WWF) provided a video
screening of the beginnings of the
Earth Hour – from just one city two
years ago before it progressed to an
international movement. It was
followed by another film produced
by the Presidential Task Force on
Climate Change which educates
about the dire eff
ffects of climate
change and the proactive actions
that everyone can do to solve the
problems of global warming.
There was also an Earth
Hour wall where the organizers and
participants signed to signify their
commitment to saving the Earth.
The BCDA joined key
off
fficials of Ta
T guig City
it led by Mayor
Tinga, the FBDC, Bonifacio Global
City
it Estate Association, Inc.
(BGCEAI), and some of the key
movers of the event led by the Ayal
A a
Foundation, Inc.(AFI), WWF, and
Miss Earth Foundation. Major
sponsors were Italianni’s, TGI
Friday’s, Tetra
T
Pack and the Net
Group. (Photo credits: FBDC and Lawson
Camera Club)
11
BCDA top level planning.
BCDA and its subsidiaries met on March 6 to 7 at the Holiday Inn in Clark Freeport Zone for a
strategic planning workshop meant to identify business directions and to draw up medium-term plans with a common goal: make
the subsidiaries more productive and financially self-sustaining while pursuing their property development projects. Photo show s
BCDA officials led by chairman Aloysius Santos; president and CEO Narciso L. Abaya; executive vice president Isaac Puno III; vi ce
presidents Aileen Zosa, Victor Zablan and Nievelena Rosete; Directors Renato Valencia, Jorge Banal Sr., Gerard Seno, and Alvin
Capino. Other participants included Clark Development Corp. president and CEO Benigno Ricafort, Clark International Airport
Corp. chair Nestor Mangio and president and CEO Jose Luciano, John Hay Management Corp. chair and CEO Ma. Cristina Corona,
Poro Point Management Corporation P/CEO Felix Racadio and EVP/COO Anthony Manguiat, Bataan Techno Park Inc. President
Commo. Amado Sanglay, and BCDA Management and Holdings Inc. Vice President Georgina D.J. Jota.
Joining hands for a fast and hassle
fr ee tr avel in SCTEX during Hol y
Week. BCDA officials led by President and CEO Narciso
L Abaya (center) and Executive Vice President and
SCTEX Program Director Isaac S. Puno III (2nd from left);
Petron Corporation Chairman Ramon Ang (2nd from
right) and General Manager for Reseller Trade Ramon
Del Ros ar io (le ft); and To ll w ays Ma nagement
Corporation (TMC) President Ramoncito Fernandez
(r ight) jo in hands as a si gn o f pa r tne r shi p for the
upcoming “Lakbay-Alalay 2009.” The Lakbay-Alalay 2009
offer free roadside assistance to motorists traveling along
the S CTEX du ring the Le nten b reak. BCDA, Pe tr on
Co rpo ra ti on and TM C si gned a Me mor andum of
Agreement that will enable the three companies to work
together in providing public service during the Holy
Week. Lakbay-Alalay project volunteers were stationed
along the SCTEX on the following dates: April 8 (Holy
Wednesday), 9 (Maundy Thursday), 11 (Black Saturday)
and 12 (Easter Sunday) from 7:00am – 9:00pm.
Par tners to promote SCTEX.
The
B CD A a n d H o l c i m P h i l i p p i n e s I n c. s i g ne d a
memorandum of agreement (MOA) to seal their
partnership in promoting the country’s longest
expressway, the 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac
Expressw ay (S CTEX). Holci m, makers of Holci m
cement, used 4.5-million bags of cement for the
construction of the 50.5-km Clark-Subic segment
of SCTEX. Representing BCDA at the MOA signing
are BCDA president and CEO Narciso Abaya, and
B C D A e x e c u ti v e v i c e p r e s i d e n t a n d S C T EX
program director Isaac S. Puno III (3 rd and fourth
from left). Holcim was represented by senior vice
pres ide nt for sa les mar keting di stri buti on and
t e c hn i c a l s e r v i c e s E d ua r d o S a h a g u n a n d
marketi ng manager Mi nor u Espartero (s eco nd
and 1 st from left).