President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law bill renaming Ramon Magsaysay Technological University (RMTU) in Zambales to President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU).

Republic Act No. 11015 approved on April 20 said that PRMSU, as a comprehensive state university, shall primarily provide advance and higher professional, technical and special instructions in education and technology, engineering and architecture, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and public administration and management.

The University shall also offer courses on business and accountancy, economics and finance, tourism, hospitality and culinary management, creative industries, humanities, arts and sciences, information and communications technology, maritime education, law and legal management, medicine and health-related programs, peace and security programs and other related fields of study.

“It shall also undertake research and extension, as well as income generation programs, for the sustainable development of the Province of Zambales, the region and the country,” said the new law, a copy of which was released by Malacanang only on Wednesday.

The governing board of the University shall be the Board of Regents.

The University shall be headed by a President, who shall render full-time service and shall be appointed by the Board.

In order to effect a smooth transition to a comprehensive university, the incumbent president of the RMTU shall serve as the first president of PRMSU until the end of his current term.

The Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

source: centralluzon.politics.com.ph

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Hanjin shipyard at Subic town in Zambales province. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Central Luzon has ordered a subcontractor of Korean shipbuilder, Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines, at Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales province, to stop work after a worker died and three others were hurt on May 12.

Zenaida Angara-Campita, Dole Central Luzon director, issued a stop order to Binictican I-Tech Corp. on May 15, after receiving an accident investigation report by the agency.

Campita said four workers fell from a scaffolding on Saturday, at the shipyard’s Dockheed 6 P11-A02C.

Before the incident, investigators learned that nine workers spent their break under the scaffolding. Ferdinand Leuterio, a worker, died due to internal injuries, while Gerry Bayuta, Johnny Alegre and Vailian de la Cruz were treated at a hospital in Subic town, Zambales.

Dole’s safety inspectors reported that the “concentrated weight of the workers and raw materials and equipment” might have caused the scaffold to tilt before it crashed.

Only two workers were authorized to work in that area, the inspectors learned. They also observed that the bolt of the scaffolding’s bracket was cut.

Campita said the subcontractor failed to strictly implement and monitor safety procedures. —Tonette Orejas

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

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MANILA, Philippines — In celebration of its 19th inaugural anniversary, Asia International Auctioneers, Inc. (AIA) further strengthens its partnership with ORIX Japan to continue providing world-class services to its clients.

Photo Credit: Asia International Auctioneers FB page

Asia International Auctioneers, the premier and pioneer trucks and equipment auctioneer in the Philippines, and ORIX Japan, the global powerhouse in the financing sector, recently convened a strategic meeting at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines to discuss further collaboration and offer new opportunities and solutions for its customers.

Asia International Auctioneers has been a strategic partner of ORIX Metro Leasing & Financing Corp. for more than 16 years and AIA is proud to be a part of its league of esteemed associates. Over the years, ORIX has remained as AIA’s primary financing partner for its proven track-record in delivering efficient financial services, making it a trusted name among AIA’s clients.

ORIX Corp. is a diversified, innovation-driven company with proven profitability. Established in 1964, ORIX at present operates a diverse portfolio of businesses in operations, financial services, and investment spaces. ORIX has also spread its business globally by operating in 40 countries and establishing more than 2,100 locations across the world.

Asia International Auctioneers, Inc. is the largest and leading auctioneer of trucks and equipment in the Philippines, registered and operating inside Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Established in 1999, AIA has consistently provided the best quality, widest range, and reasonably-priced trucks and equipment that contribute to the various infrastructure development projects across the country. Today, AIA is the first and only trucks and equipment auctioneer with the most prominent and latest ISO 9001:2015 Certification, the highest version of the globally recognized Quality Management System standards, certified by AJA Registrars, Ltd.

Asia International Auctioneers, Inc. conducts professional unreserved public auctions five times a year, specifically in the months of February, April, June, September, and November. Get the best quality transport trucks, construction equipment, heavy machineries, and industrial items for all your construction and business needs only from AIA.

Source: philstar.com

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A rendering of New Clark, a planned city for the Philippines. BCDA Group

Manila, the hyper-dense capital of The Philippines, is known for its traffic jams. In a 2016 survey, navigation company Waze ranked Manila as having the “worst traffic on Earth.” The city’s reliance on cars also exacerbates its growing air-pollution problem.

As a possible solution to Manila’s smog and gridlock, the country plans to build an entirely new, more sustainable city called New Clark.

Plans for the $14 billion development — which will measure larger than Manhattan — call for drones, driverless cars, technologies that will reduce buildings’ water and energy usage, a giant sports complex, and plenty of green space.

Take a look below.

Over the next three decades, the Philippines aims to build out New Clark about 75 miles outside Manila.

Source: CNBC

According to the development’s plan, the city will eventually stretch 36 square miles — a land area larger than Manhattan — and house up to 2 million people.

Source: The Inquirer

New Clark will be divided into five districts, each with a specific function: government, business, education, agriculture, and recreation.

 
While New Clark’s exact design is not fleshed out, developers say the urban plan will prioritize environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

 
With a minimum elevation of 184 feet above sea level, the city will likely not see much flooding.

To reduce carbon emissions, two-thirds of New Clark will be reserved for farmland, parks, and other green space.

Source: Reuters

The buildings will incorporate technologies that reduce energy and water usage.

Driverless cars, running on electric energy rather than CO2-emitting gas, will roam the streets.

Additionally, the city will feature a giant sports stadium and an agro-industrial park.

New Clark’s developers, BCDA Group and Surbana Jurong, plan to start construction in 2022.

The new city will serve as a “twin city” to Manila, alleviating congestion in the capital, Surbana Jurong CEO Heang Fine Wong told CNBC.

People shop ahead of New Year celebrations at a street market in Divisoria, Manila, Philippines, December 29, 2017. Source: CNBC

“You’ll gradually see Manila becoming a different type of city … and in New Clark City, you’ll see new technology companies coming through,” he said.

A view of a busy street at the Mall of Asia Arena on November 27, 2014 in Manila, Philippines. Getty Images/Clive Brunskill.

The vision for New Clark certainly sounds utopian.

But the ambitious plan faces several challenges, including persuading Manila residents to move there. A new railway line could reduce the travel time between the two cities in half.

The Philippines also struggles with economic development, and building an eco-city from scratch will come with a hefty price tag. According to Wong, public-private partnerships will help finance the project.

In recent years, countries around the world — especially China — have unveiled plans for pie-in-the-sky urban developments. A number of realized projects have failed to attract a significant population, and turned into ghost cities.

Construction sites and vacant streets in Xiangluo Bay, a new biggest central business district under construction in Tianjin. Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images

Yujiapu and Xiangluo Bay, a metro area that was supposed to be known as “China’s Manhattan,” is half-built and largely empty.
 
Building cities from scratch rarely solve existing problems, but designing them can help urban planners imagine what’s possible.

source: businessinsider.com

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Manila, Philippines – Maaaring umabot ng hanggang 40 percent ang dagdag-singil sa toll ng mga expressways gaya ng NLEX o at SCTEX o Subic – Clark – Tarlac Expressways.

Sa gitna ito ng inihaing petisyon sa toll regulatory board o TRB na taas singil sa mga expressway.

Pero nilinaw ni TRB Spokesman Bert Suansing, hindi pa nila inaaprubahan ang naturang hirit at dadaan pa ito sa masusing pag-aaral.

Tiniyak naman ni Suansing na magiging makatwiran ang ipapataw nilang dagdag singil para hindi ito maging mabigat sa bulsa ng mga motorista.

source: rmn.ph

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