Clark Freeport, Pampanga ? The Bases Conversion and Development Authority and the Clark Development Corporation have launched a new Clark brand integrating four major investment districts here, namely Clark Freeport Zone, Clark Global City, Clark International Airport, and New Clark City.

Dubbed as “Clark: It Works. Like A Dream,” the launching of the Clark brand was held at the ASEAN Convention Center here led by BCDA chairman Gregorio Garcia III and BCDA president and CEO Vivencio Dizon, in collaboration with the CDC.

“Everyone wants to move to the big city. Good money, good jobs, a place to be productive. But the paradox is that cities don’t work for people, even though they’re full of them. It’s a pressure cooker of congestion, pollution and rent you can’t afford,” in a manifesto read by Dizon.

“Clark is different. Because it was built from scratch, crafted, to be built for people. To have the vibrancy of a city without the pressure of city life. And the energy of a culture that is happy and inclusive. It’s amazing what you can do when you’re in the right place,” he said.

The event was also graced by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade.

Other attendees included Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan, Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, and representatives from BCDA’s development partners such as AECOM, MTD Philippines Inc., Budji+Royal Architecture+Design, and Udenna Corp., the owner of Clark Global City.

Clark Freeport Zone, managed by the CDC, has continued to fuel growth not just in Pampanga but in the whole of Central Luzon as well.

Within it is the 177-hectare Clark Global City, being developed by Udenna Corporation, which is becoming the new business hub of the country.

The Clark International Airport is envisioned to be the next premier gateway to Asia.

The airport’s new terminal building, expected to operational by June 2020, will increase passenger capacity by 8 million per year.

The 9,450-hectare New Clark City, located 100 kilometers north of Manila, will be the first smart, green, resilient, and sustainable metropolis in the country.

The Phase 1A of New Clark City involves the construction of the National Government Administrative Center, which includes world-class sports facilities for the SEA Games next year.

“Clark is a city that works. It’s a perfect mix of business, lifestyle, leisure, and modernity,” Dizon added.

Source: manilastandard.net

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A 23-year-old Filipino inventor has just won a multi-thousand dollar prize for designing a cheap bamboo house that could be assembled in 4 hours.

Earl Forlales, who is from Manila, designed his “CUBO” housing as a means of solving the housing crisis in his home country. He drew inspiration for the innovative design from his grandparents’ bamboo cabin outside the city.

This week, the engineering grad was given the top $64,000 prize by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for their Cities for Our Future competition. Forlales plans on using money to begin construction on the houses during the coming year.

Materials for the modular CUBO homes cost just $64 (£50) to manufacture—and growing the sustainable material will release 35% more oxygen than trees would, without causing soil degradation. He estimates being able to rent the housing for 0.20£ per person per day.

“The world’s cities are growing all the time and there is a real need to make sure they are safe, clean and comfortable places to live for future generations,” said John Hughes, the competition’s head judge and Rics president.

“There were many exciting, original designs among the submissions. However, Earl’s idea stood out for its simple yet well thought through solution to the world’s growing slum problem.

“As we look at our entrants, who are our next generation of leaders, I believe that real progress will be made in tackling the world’s biggest issues.”

Source: Good News Network

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Photo Credit: economistsjournal.com

GRAB Philippines has expanded its operations to now include Subic Bay Freeport Zone, bringing the total cities where it is present in the Philippines to 12, officials said on Tuesday.

Brian P. Cu, who heads Grab Philippines, said his group is introducing the GrabTaxi service to Subic to support the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) vision of transforming Subic into a smart city.

“As the everyday app, we at Grab believe in the smart cities of tomorrow, and introducing our technology to Subic brings it closer to its vision of building its very own smart city,” he said.

So far, Grab as has equipped 120 taxi drivers with the Grab application, which, according to the SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, “will greatly help the hundreds and thousands of employees of over 1,600 business locators in the free port.”

“We share the same goal of providing convenience to Filipinos. GrabTaxi can make a difference in the lives of locals and tourists in Subic,” she said.

With Grab now in Subic, Cu said, the company is now in a “larger position to enable more micro-entrepreneurs to be successful.”

“Our vision as an everyday super app is to be present where we are needed, all while providing the best services to our customers,” Cu said.

Aside from Subic, Grab is also available in 11 cities in the Philippines, namely Manila, Cebu, Davao, Pampanga, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Baguio, Bataan, Naga, Iloilo, and Tacloban.

Source: businessmirror.com.ph

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Twelve employees from various companies in this premier free port made it to the list of the 10 Outstanding Freeport Workers for 2018, joining the growing body of awardees who made their mark in their respective workplaces year after year.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, along with other SBMA officials, presented the awards during a recognition ceremony on Nov. 23 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here.

Winners of the 10 Outstanding Freeport Workers Award show their trophies during the recognition rites at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. (MPD-SBMA)

“It never fails to amaze me how we have gone such a long way,” Eisma said in her message, referring to the 26 years that the Subic Freeport existed and recalling the services of the more than 8,000 volunteers who helped establish Subic during its infancy.

“We are honoring 12 outstanding Freeport workers today and it only shows that excellence and malasakit continue to live with us here,” Eisma added.

The SBMA chief also thanked the awardees, as well as all stakeholders in the Subic Freeport “who had given that dedication to Subic to move us forward, so that investors continue to come by providing them a safe and clean place for their business.”

Lawyer Severo Pastor Jr., who heads the SBMA Labor Department and also serves as president of the Subic Bay Workers Development Foundation (SBWDF), which organizes the annual event, said the awards started out 17 years ago with “an urgent need to celebrate and recognize those who have excelled in their companies while continuing to thrive in their service to the community.”

Pastor explained that out of the more than 300 nominees this year, the board of judges selected 10 candidates whose score ranged between 90% and 98%. However, four candidates garnered the same scores in two spots so that 12 winners emerged, he added.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma joins the winners of the 10 Outstanding Freeport Workers Award along with (L-R) DA for Administration Ruel John Kabigting, OIC-DA for Legal Mike Quintos, and DA for Port Rani Cruz. (MPD-SBMA)

This year’s outstanding workers are: Maximo Bello, Jr. of FBM Systems and Electronics, Inc., Maria Lorena Aguania (Nicera Phils.), Gary Manglicmot (Pacific Ocean Underwater Solution, Corp.), Roberto Duran, Jr. (Phil. Coastal Storage and Pipelines Corp.), Marilyn Mae Martinez (PayAsia PA Support Subic Ltd.), Jefrene Sarmiento (PTT Phils. Trading Corp.); Simeon Carlos, Jr. (Nicera Phils. Inc.), Arnel Faminialan (Phil. Coastal Storage and Pipelines Corp.), Menandro Magcale (SBMA Media Production Department), Alfredo Cerezo (Subic Enerzone Corp.), Dominica Cureg (Subic Water and Sewerage Corp.), and Ruffy Gonzalez (Wistron Infocomm Phils. Corp.).

For her part, Olongapo City Police Office Superintendent Avelina De Guzman, who headed the board of judges, reminded the awardees that while they may experience disappointments in work, these should only help them grow.

“Brace yourselves for the many challenges ahead, and remember to learn from them,” she said. “Continue to work towards your dream, be proud of your accomplishments and be especially proud that you were awarded as top workers of the year.”

Meanwhile, two other activities organized for the benefit of local residents were simultaneously held at the Harbor Point mall here to coincide with the 26th SBMA anniversary celebration on Nov. 23-24: a mobile passport processing and a job fair.

Thousands of jobseekers lined up for the job fair that offered some 4,500 openings in various locator-businesses in the Subic Bay Freeport. (MPD-SBMA)

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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BATAAN. Police operatives join the three Grade 4 students who went missing in Limay, Bataan on November 23, 2018 after their successful rescue. (Photo courtesy of PRO-Central Luzon PIO)

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga- Police authorities have located the three Grade 4 students who went missing in Limay, Bataan on November 23.

Based on reports and accounts of the children’s parents, the said children aged 10 and 9, all students of Carbon Elementary School in the said town went to school in the afternoon of Friday but failed to return home.

Operatives of the Limay Municipal Police Station together with members of the local government unit (LGU) of Bataan conducted non-stop search and rescue operations and found the missing minors at Sitio Aradia, near the mountainous area of Limay, Bataan on Sunday, November 25.

Police Regional Office-Central Luzon acting Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Joel Napoleon Coronel said the children went on a stroll and were not aware that they were already at the foot of the mountain.

He said the children were scared to go back because it was already dark.

“Through the concerted efforts of our police and members of the Limay LGU, the missing children were located and we are fortunate to have found them alive,” Coronel said.

Source: sunstar.com.ph

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