CLARK CITY, Philippines – Clark International Airport (CRK) has surpassed its passenger target accommodated this year, CRK Corp. President Alex Cauguiran reported.

Clark International Airport, in file photo by bworldonline.com

From January to 30 December 2017, the airport registered more than 1.5 million passengers, surpassing its highest record of over 1.3 million passengers served last 2012.

Cauguiran attributed the significant rise to President Rodrigo Roa Durerte’s declared policy to distribute development outside the peripheries of Metro Manila, which was then pushed into reality by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade.

“This achievement proves the high level of our public’s trust and confidence in President Duterte’s vision for a multiple gateway under the administration’s Build Build Build program,” Cauguiran said. “Secretart Tugade, although very silent, worked very hard to turn the President’s vision into reality. That is why from only seven domestic flights a week in the previous years, we now have 200 international and domestic flights from Clark. All these happened in the first year of the Duterte administration,” he added.

On assuming office, Tugade encouraged airlines to launch more flights from Clark in order to decongest NAIA, and also transferred some general aviation activities there. He likewise instructed CIAC to provide incentives to airline operators willing to fly from Clark.

Apart from improvements in policy decisions, Cauguiran cited strict implementation of security measures by airport personnel, as well as improved customer service, passenger comfort and convenience, among those that attracted travellers to flock to Clark. The former baselands – home to America’s largest overseas air base – is envisioned to be a premier gateway to both local and international destinations.

Recently, top government officials, such as former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Senator JV Ejercito, Senator Dick Gordon, Executive Secretary Savador Medialdea, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vince Dizon graced the groundbreaking ceremony of the new CRK passenger terminal building.

During the ceremony, Tugade said the new terminal will complement other infrastructure projects in the area: Manila-Clark Railway, Subic-Clark Cargo Railway, and the New Clark City.

“Ikakabit po natin ang proyektong ito sa Manila-Clark Railway. Not later than 06 January 2018, we will mobilize the construction of the first segment from Tutuban to Malolos, and hopefully we will complete the entire line to Clark before the end of President Duterte’s term,” Tugade said.

For his part, BCDA President and CEO Dizon said the CRK expansion project will decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as the new passenger terminal would accommodate an additional 8 million passengers per year.

House Speaker and former transportation secretary Pantaleon Alvarez also expressed excitement over the opportunities the new terminal will be bringing to the Philippines.

Senator Gordon, who played a vital role in establishing freeport zones in Luzon, likewise expressed his joy in finally seeing the airport being fully-utilized, calling it “a new beginning for our country.”

“Infrastructure is not a project of a government. It is a project of the people. It is a project of vision. This is about opportunity, the great equalizer. This is about making the future our friend,” he said.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez noted,
“Before, projects take an average of 30 months under PPP. I assure you that this will not happen in the infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration.”

He said the Clark expansion project is considered the fastest to be implemented by the national government. It broke ground just six months after getting NEDA Board approval.

Former President and now Pampanga Representative Arroyo, whose term saw the building of the CIA, was the special guest at the groundbreaking.

The construction of the new terminal is the first hybrid project under the BuildBuildBuild Infrastructure Program of the Duterte administration. Under the hybrid model, the government will build the infrastructure using its own funds to ensure fast delivery of the project.

source: interaksyon.com

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SAIPAN — A transnational youth group organized a medical mission and Christmas gift-giving to fishermen in Scarborough Shoal and their families at Baranggay North Poblacion, Masinloc, Zambales on December 9.

The National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea (NYMWPS), led by its Saipan-based Global Chair and Founder Dr. Celia Lamkin distributed medicines, multivitamins and Christmas gifts and packages.

Scarborough Shoal fisherman and his son receive Noche Buena package and multivitamins given by the NYMWPS during the Medical Mission and Christmas Gift giving in Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines. On the right: Barangay North Poblacion Treasurer, Diana Hao. CONTRIBUTED

Volunteer doctors Luison Nang, MD and Allysa de la Cruz, MD led volunteers in giving free medical services to some 155 patients — fishermen, their spouses, children and the elderly.

National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea (NYMWPS) Officers, members and volunteers, Scarborough Shoal fishermen and Barangay North Poblacion , Masinloc, Zambales officials, pose for a group photo after the Medical Mission and Christmas gift giving on December 9.

Free refreshments were provided as well as Noche Buena packages for families.

The sponsors of the Medical Mission and gift giving included Ronald Lamkin; Vickie Estella NYMWPS Makati Chapter Chair; Prof. Cesar Torres, NYMWPS Adviser; Romeo Belocora, NYMWPS Rizal Regional Chair and Cainta chapter Chair;Bontella Food Truck Builders Inc.; Mister Donut; Tokyo Tokyo; BAYANi-Bayan Bago Sarili.

According to Dr. Celia Lamkin, NYMWPS will conduct medical missions next year in Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan Islands (Spratlys) Palawan and Scarborough Shoal fishermen in Pangasinan and Bataan.

Source:
Inquirer.Net

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by: Danessa Rivera

MANILA, Philippines — The power generating unit of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has invested P3.5 billion for its two power projects currently under development, company officials said.

Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) president and CEO Rogelio Singson said the company has poured in billions of pesos for the immediate construction of its two power projects in Quezon and Zambales once the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) grants their respective power supply agreements (PSA).

So far, MGen has spent P2.8 billion for the 2×300-megawatt (MW) circulating fluidized bed coal-fired power plant in Subic, Zambales under Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy), MGen senior vice president Angelito Lantin said.

Meanwhile, Lantin said P700 million was already spent for the 2×600-MW ultra supercritical coal-fired power plant under wholly-owned subsidiary Atimonan One Energy Inc. (A1E).

Supply contracts of these two power projects are still hanging with the ERC.

In April 2016, Meralco signed a power supply deal with RP Energy for a 225-MW supply and with A1E for the plant’s full output once completed.

RP Energy is a consortium composed of MGen (47 percent), AboitizPower unit Therma Power Inc. (25 percent) and Taiwan Cogeneration International Corp. (25 percent).

RP Energy has signed a construction contract with local company Azul Torre Construction Inc. and supply contract with Korean firm Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd. to build the power project.

On the other hand, A1E’s first 600-MW unit is expected to be completed by 2021. It has an estimated project cost of around P135 billion.

For the Atimonan project, MGen has signed a mandate letter for a loan of up to P107.5 billion from eight banks.

It is also tapping Irish firm ESB International, a wholly-owned firm by the Electricity Supply Board, Ireland, to become its operations and management partner for the Atimonan plant.

Under the deal, ESBI will also provide knowledge transfer to MGen in running the Atimonan plant.

MGen said it is also evaluating bids from three potential engineering, procurement and construction contractors and is scouting for prospective partners in the project.

Source:
PhilStar Global

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SUBIC BAYFREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is keen on positioning its port to become the next playground for Royal Caribbean cruise ships starting next year.

by: Ruben Veloria /PNA -northboundasia.com

Phot by: express.co.uk

SBMA chairman and administrator Wilma T. Eisma, who met over the weekend with Dr. Zinan Liu and other officials of Royal Caribbean International (RCI), on Tuesday said that the Subic community is hoping to generate more investments in the growing cruise ship tourism industry in the Asian region.

“We hope that Subic would be the next cruise ship playground. And we are very excited over this prospect,” Eisma said, adding that Subic can offer the best tourism facilities and services for cruise passengers and crew, highly memorable and tailored tourism experiences to meet the expectations of the cruise’s clients, and a safe environment that would be very conducive to the cruise business.

The RCI, which is a cruise line brand based in Miami, Florida and owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), a global cruise vacation company which controls 22 percent of the cruise market worldwide, is said to be scouting for newer attractions for the growing Asian cruise ship market.

Eisma stressed that her administration is positioning Subic as the new Asian destination to meet such growing demand.

During the preliminary meeting with another RCI team headed by Capt. Nikolaos Antalis in November this year, it was noted that because of its gigantic size, Oasis of the Seas could only use the Port of Subic, among the many ports in the Philippines.

The MS Oasis of the Seas is said to provide some of the most modern cruise experiences today with facilities like the Central Park, Boardwalk, Royal Promenade, Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place, and Youth Zone, which features a surf simulator, cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean, and zip line.

The ship can carry over 6,000 passengers and 3,900 crews and officers in its 16 passenger decks.

Eisma also said that the RCI officials were impressed over the potential of the Subic Bay area, noting that it has attractions in culture, history and religion, aside from modern amenities.

Last July, RCCL vice president for New Business Development John Tercek also visited Subic to assess its readiness as a cruise ship destination.

Eisma said Tercek similarly cited the potentials of Subic and advised the SBMA to step up efforts in developing the free port to address the demand.

source:northboundasia.com

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Members of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Law Enforcement Department (SBMA-LED) pin down suspects during a recent simulated hostage rescue operation at the Subic Bay Freeport.

The department exercise, which is held periodically to bring Subic police officers on alert at all times, involved elements from Traffic, Special Weapons and Tactics, and K-9 branches.

Members of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Law Enforcement Department (SBMA-LED) form an assault team during a recent simulated hostage rescue operation at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Source: SubicNewsLink

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