Photo Credit: klia2.info

Legacy carrier Philippine Airlines has announced it is set to open three new routes to and from Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

The new routes are Clark-San Vicente (Palawan), Clark-San Jose (Mindoro) and Clark-Cauayan (Isabela) where PAL will utilize its brand-new 86-seater Bombardier Next-Generation Q400 turboprop aircraft which is fitted with six Economy Plus premium seats and 80 roomy Economy Class regular seats.

The Q400NG flights are operated by PAL’s affiliate airline PAL Express.

Services to San Vicente and San Jose begin Oct. 28, 2018, while flights to Cauayan start Oct. 30, 2018.

The PAL flights to San Vicente will commence with five weekly flights (on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday), and will increase to daily flights by Dec. 18, 2018. Flights depart Clark at 7 am, arriving in San Vicente one hour and 40 minutes later.

PAL is pioneering regular flights to the newly opened airport at San Vicente, a first class municipality and gateway to El Nido in north Palawan. San Vicente’s 14-kilometer, white sand Long Beach is a fast emerging tourist attraction.

Meanwhile, San Jose in Occidental Mindoro will have four weekly flights (on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), leaving Clark at 11 am.

The return flight departs San Jose at 12:05 noon.

Vacation spots in San Jose include Aroma beach, Ambulong and White islands, ancient burial caves and shell divers at Ilin island and Mt. Iglit National Park.

Beginning Oct. 30, 2018, three times weekly flights (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) to Cauayan in the center of Isabela are intended to help hasten economic growth in the country’s second biggest province.

The Q400NG will leave Clark 11 am, arriving Cauayan 45 minutes later.

PAL used to fly the Manila-San Jose and Manila-Cauayan routes several decades back as two of the so-called missionary routes operated out of Manila.

The decision to make Clark the origin for new routes to Mindoro and Isabela reflects the flag carrier’s confidence in the emerging popularity of Central Luzon as an economic center and strategically important aviation gateway in its own right, observers said.

“PAL made a big decision to invest in Clark. The Clark International Airport is not just a stop-over or refueling station. Clark is our fastest growing hub airport, center of a network of flights that connects the country,” said PAL Express President Bonifacio Sam.

Source: manilastandard.net

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Phot Credit: carmudi.com.ph

A COMPANY engaged in trading of motor vehicles at the Subic Bay Freeport has sealed an agreement with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) for the training of workers in the automotive industry.

Subictrak International Inc., a Subic-registered enterprise engaged in importation, remanufacture, rebuilding and re-export of motor vehicles and heavy equipment, will join TESDA for an in-plant Dual Training System to help increase standards in truck rebuilding.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the partnership exemplifies the culture of community involvement that the agency is cultivating among stakeholders in the Subic Freeport.

Under the agreement, TESDA will execute the training program designed by both parties in accordance with the Dual Training System Act of 1994, while Subictrak will provide the facility for the in-plant Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC2 class and Automotive Servicing NC2 class.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by Subictrak president Ferdinand Tangan and TESDA provincial training center administrator Eugene Peñaranda.

TESDA Zambales provincial director Benhur Baniqued lauded Subictrak for partnering with TESDA to help address job mismatch in the community.

Baniqued said TESDA Zambales encourages such partnerships to strengthen the interaction between the industry and the academe. “By doing so, we are able to somehow minimize the so-called job mismatch, if not eliminate it,” he added.

Subictrak’s chief executive, meanwhile, expressed support to the government’s objective of improving the quality of life of the Filipino workforce through the development of technical skills and proper work values.

He said the Subictrak-TESDA partnership will ensure that the employees they will hire in the future would be well-trained for the job.

“We expect that with this partnership we will improve a lot in the company, as we expect TESDA to teach us well. And we will gladly accept the trainees you will bring to us,” Tangan also said.

Subictrak is a 40-percent Chinese and 60-percent Filipino-owned corporation registered in the Subic Bay Freeport since July 2004. (Ric Sapnu)

Source: sunstar.com.ph

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Top professionals gearing up for bigger battles and triathletes specializing in short distances mix it up for the inaugural Black Arrow Express 5150 on Nov. 4 in Subic Bay.

The Olympic distance 1.5-kilometer swim-40K bike-10K run event in the country’s triathlon capital has lured triathletes from 21 countries, with competitions up in the Pro, Asian Elite and various age-group categories. Also on tap are relay events for male, female and mixed.

“Subic has been incredibly cooperative in helping ensure the successful staging of each triathlon event,” said Wilfred Uytengsu, president of the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc.

Black Arrow Express 5150 is billed as the answer to triathletes seeking to step up for tougher races or get the hang of the tri-sport, depending on their skill levels.

The second Sunrise Sprint short distance race series (S2) will also be staged—750-m open water swim, 20K bike ride, 5K run.

Source: sports.inquirer.net

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By: REYNALDO G. NAVALES

Photo Credit: new.goisrael.com

CLARK FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is working on visa-free tourist arrivals in Subic Freeport, said SBMA chairperson and administrator Wilma Eisma when she met with officers and members of the Pampanga Press Club at Park Inn by Radisson Clark last Tuesday.

Eisma said the visa-free scheme is one of the strategies to attract cruise ship liners to dock in Subic Bay.

“One of the strategies is the visa-free for tourists passing through Subic Freeport and airport. We are currently working with Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, and Office of the President for a possible executive order that will amend the existing one where tourists who come to Subic via the seaport and airport can come visa-free for 14 days provided that they will stay within Subic and contiguous areas,” she said.

The SBMA head expressed optimism that the visa-free proposal for Subic tourists will be granted soon.

“I’m very, very hopeful that it will be granted soon because once it happens, I can guarantee you it might be us refusing tourists,” Eisma said.

She described the cruise ship tourism in Subic as bullish.

“Right now, we have already confirmed 50 cruise ship arrivals for 2019 and we are working for more,” Eisma said.

Another strategy is to sell Subic as the port destination and contiguous areas like Clark as cruise ship tourist stops.

“The first strategy that we did is to ask Zambales, Bataan and Pampanga and CLark to be part of the corridor. So that is the picture for all of us. So cruise ship tourist who arrive in Subic are also taken in Clark. I’m in very close coordination with Noel Manankil of Clark Development Corporation. I am also working with Governor Abet Garcia to sell Bataan and of course the provincial government of Zambales,” Eisma said.

Source: sunstar.com.ph

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Photo Credit: http://philippineslifestyle.com

A bill filed at the Senate proposes requiring prospective car buyers to show proof of availability of parking space before they can buy a vehicle, according to a report on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Tuesday by Athena Imperial.

Senate Bill No. 201 (Proof of Parking Space Bill) was filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to address the problem of illegal parking which worsens traffic.

Those found lying about having a parking space will also be penalized.

The bill also aims to ensure that emergency vehicles will have ample space on the roads.

Some Filipinos interviewed were not in favor of the bill.

“Unfair po. ‘Yung may gustong bumili ng sasakyan ngayon ‘di na makabili kasi walang parking,” said Lovely del Rosario.

“Ang tinitira niya ‘yung mga civilian. ‘Yung mga company na nagbebenta ng sasakyan, wala,” said Jonie Serbito.

Gatchalian, however, clarified that the bill does not intend to prevent people from buying vehicles.

“Ang intention ng bill hindi para pagbawalan ang pagbili ng sasakyan. You can buy 10 cars, you can buy 20 cars as long as you have 10 parking slots and 20 parking slots of your own,” Gatchalian said.

A citizen, Edwin Saclayan, is in favor of the bill, saying, “So it’s about time na merong mag-open niyan. Siguro matagal na dapat ginawa ‘yon.”

Loopholes

Meanwhile, lawyer Inton Luna, president of Lawyers for Commuters Safety & Protection, said the proposed bill has good intentions but still needs some revision.

Interviewed on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, Luna said the bill should not cover only Metro Manila, but should extend to outlying areas where traffic buildups are experienced.

He also mentioned that some condominiums are being allowed by the local government to bypass the building code’s provision concerning parking spaces.

“Inallow sila ng local government na ang kanilang parking [space] ay hindi ma-extend dun sa itinatalaga ng building code, ” Luna said.

He also believes that an “actual proof” of parking space is needed and that mere affidavits would not be enough. “Napakadali po ‘yan, pag magpaparehistro ka, nakalako lang po ‘yan sa notaryo tapos tatanggapin naman po ng LTO ‘yun kasi ang sabi sa panukala, saka palang magkakaroon ng penalty ‘pag nalaman na nagsinungaling ka sa affidavit but at the point of registration, nairehistro mo na kahit na ang affidavit mo ay false ang nakalagay.”

Likewise, Luna underscored that the issue of illegal parking prevails because the enforcement of traffic laws lacks teeth.

“Kaya po maraming nagpa-park sa mga kalye eh dahil hindi nae-enforce po ng mabuti ng mga enforcer yung mga batas po natin,” he said.

He said that their group will reach out to Gatchalian so that senator may take their suggestions into consideration. — Dona Magsino/KG/RSJ, GMA News

Source: gmanetwork.com

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