SENATOR Richard J. Gordon is pushing for the reopening of the Subic Bay International Airport before the year ends.

In a statement sent to Sun.Star Pampanga Friday, July 13, the senator called “for a deep sense of urgency to reopen Subic Bay International Airport to finally fulfill the full conversion of the former US bases in Central Luzon for the benefit of the country.”

Gordon, who envisioned and led the successful conversion of the former US bases in Subic and Clark as Freeports, wants to fast track the reopening of Subic International Airport.

He led the rehabilitation of Subic airport for heavy laden aircraft and made it the Asia One hub of Federal Express (Fedex) in 1995. Because of that, Gordon got UPS to follow Fedex in Clark and DHL in Manila immediately thereafter.

Unfortunately, Gordon noted, all the international overnight air cargo operators left the Philippines for a hub in China. Subic also then maintained regular international passenger flights in Asia.

“We cannot lose our second chance of decongesting Metro Manila and getting more investments in Central and Northern Luzon to get jobs and a greater tax base for our country and people. We must operate the airports there aggressively. We have three airports and three seaports between Manila and Central Luzon and we have heavily invested in road connectivity throughout Central and Northern Luzon such as North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarla Expressway and the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (formerly Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo Road). Soon we will have the cargo railway between Clark and Subic, not to mention Clark and Manila,” he said.

Gordon and Central Luzon congressmen have concluded hearings for the Regional Investment Central Luzon Hub (RICH) which will coordinate investment promotion and maximize the lands, infrastructure, and free ports, Tiezas and Pezas with the local government units and create jobs, new housing, schools, transportation, communications, and energy activities.

“With flights often delayed because of the congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, I have long been calling for the reopening of Subic Bay International Airport so that it, along with Clark International Airport, could be used to create more flights for the Philippines and avoid delays,” he said.

Gordon lauded Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade who disclosed last week that the Subic Bay International Airport could return to operation in the second quarter of 2019 under a revival program.

To bring back the operation of Subic Bay International Airport, which used to be the one of the country’s best airports, Gordon, with Senator Loren Legarda, got funding for its rehabilitation. (JTD)

source: sunstar.com.ph

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CANDELARIA, Zambales –– A P10-billion world-class tourism project will soon rise in this tiny mineral-rich northern part of the province, which would spark another attraction not only for local tourists but as well the international community, authorities said.

Uacon Lake (photo from Choose Philippines)

The project called Uacon Lake Resort Complex Project (ULRCP) will be put up right into Uacon Lake, a scenic laden scape for leisure, pleasure and living, and a potent gateway support to the now famous Potipot Island of Candelaria.

Funded through Private Public Partnership which is a joint venture initiative by the government and its partners -the Chinese state-owned company Shanghai Dredging and Development Corporation and that of the International Retirement Village Corporation or Home Care, a Japan-based subsidiary, the giant project would eventually become a haven to all nature loving tourists especially the environmentalists.

Town Mayor Napoleon Edquid has confirmed the multi-billion peso project, saying that this flagship tourism project under the Duterte administration’s build-build program will jump start in September this year.

“We were able to gain the resident’s nod after a long, tumultuous dialogues and public hearings regarding the project and importance into their lives in terms of livelihood, income and progress to their community, the town and the country as well” he said.

The project site is a natural lake approximately 1.9 sq. kilometers (190 hectares in area) which is strategically located in the northwest part of Zambales that lies parallel to Gapan-Olongapo -Bugallon Highway link. It is more or less some 100 kilometers away from Olongapo City and the Subic Freeport Zone.

Only about a kilometer away from West Philippine Sea coastline, the site is connected to an all-weather navigable river towards the sea and 10-15 minutes boat ride to Potipot Island. The eastern side portion of the lakeshore is predominantly rural and hectarage of farms abound. Five kilometers away lies the mountain ridge of Zambales where several caves are present and some need to be rediscovered while the mountain goes ready for reforestation.

Lake Uacon is also a fish sanctuary that hosts many sea fishes species and other marine product like sea-weed varieties.

Edquid said the project is envisioned to become a world-class tourist destination and is expected to substantially boost socio-economic growth in the area.

Councilman Bernard Barrera, local Chair of Tourism committee revealed that once the project is completed, the amenities to be offered are first class beach resorts such as; Marina; International Golf and Country Club (36-hole); 1st class hotels; service Apartments; townhouses; world-class retirement homes ; scuba diving facilities; sports fishing (dragon boat competition); specialty restaurants; water sports; convention centers; housing projects for support communities and vital livelihood projects.

“A down-to-earth and real slam-bang showcase for tourism activities,” Jimmy Mon, a realtor leader and partner of the Department of Tourism here emphasized.

photo: whiterock watersports

Source: Manila Bulletin

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Top officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) have released information on their financial position and business interests in connection with the government’s transparency and accountability initiatives.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said 12 of the 15 SBMA directors had already signed a data privacy consent form that allowed the agency to release their latest statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) to the public.

The annual filing of SALN is required under the 1987 Philippine Constitution and under Republic Act No. 6713, also known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.” The SALN should contain the true, detailed, and sworn declaration of one’s assets, liabilities, net worth, business interests and financial connections.

According to the statements on file, Director Julius Escalona has the highest net worth among the SBMA officials at P50.16 million. The businessman from Hermosa, Bataan declared total assets of P67.36 million, but has liabilities of P17.2 million.

Escalona’s biggest asset consisted of a batching plant valued at P30 million, and several units of houses and condominium units he acquired in 2015 and 2016 worth more than P20 million.

Chairman Eisma has the highest declared assets at P69.74 million, but her liabilities totaling P25.98 million gave her a net worth of P44.45 million, the second biggest among the SBMA officials.

Eisma, a lawyer who served as a corporate manager with the Philippine affiliate of Philip Morris International before taking over as SBMA administrator in January 2017, listed her biggest assets as condominium units she acquired in 2005, 2013 and 2016. She also has some real estate business in Olongapo City.

Third in the list with the biggest net worth is former Bataan Vice Governor Rogelio Roque, who declared total assets at P27.35 million and no liabilities. Roque’s assets are mostly in the form of residential lands acquired from 1983 to 2008. He now has three relatives in the government, including daughter Maria Margarita, who is a council member in Limay, Bataan.

Director Brian Patrick Gordon of Olongapo City, meanwhile, listed total assets of P16.96 million and liabilities of P.92 million to end up with a net worth of P16.04 million, the fourth highest among the SBMA top brass. The son of Senator Richard Gordon listed three business interests in Olongapo City.

Next comes Director Jan Joshua Khonghun of Subic, Zambales, with total assets of P14.42 million, liabilities of P.41 million, and net worth of P14 million. His biggest assets consisted of four dump trucks used in his logistics business that are worth P11.8 million.

Khonghun has a construction business in Subic, Zambales and listed five relatives in government service, including his father, Congressman Jeffrey Khonghun of Zambales First District.

At No. 6, Director Edwin Enrile, a former member of the Bataan provincial board, has total assets of P18.5 million, liabilities of P6.5 million and net worth of P12 million.

A lawyer, certified public accountant and farm owner, Director Tomas Lahom III declared assets totaling P14.7 and liabilities of P2.68 million, thereby leaving him a net worth of P12 million. His biggest assets consisted of residential and agricultural lands, motor vehicles and farm equipment at the Lahom Farms that he operates in Nueva Ecija.

Director Maria Cecilia Bitare, an executive in international shipping and logistics, has total assets of P7.19 million, liabilities of P.3 million, and net worth of P6.89 million. She has two relatives in the government in Legazpi City.

On the other hand, Director Marvin Ted Macapagal from Olongapo City listed total assets of P3.8 million and no liabilities. He is connected with First Reliance International, a trading firm in Makati.

Not all SBMA officials, however, had net worth in millions. Director Cynthia Co Paulino, the wife of Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino, declared total assets of P450,000 and no liabilities. Aside from the mayor, she also listed two other relatives to be in government service.

Meanwhile, newly appointed directors Rolando Ampunin of Subic, Zambales and Teodoro del Rosario of Olongapo City had similarly signed a consent form to release their SALN, although their statements would have to be filed only at the end of the year, as required by law. (Ric Sapnu)

source: sunstar.com.ph

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The complaint against Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino, Vice Mayor Aquilino Cortez Jr, and members of the city council stems from the city government’s approval of the long-term lease of government land to SM Prime Holdings Incorporated

Photo credit: Mapio.net

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines – The Office of Ombudsman has ordered the 6-month suspension of Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino, Vice Mayor Aquilino Cortez Jr, and members of the city council for “simple misconduct” over the city government’s lease agreement with the largest mall operator in the country.

The Ombudsman ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement its decision “immediately, upon receipt of the order.”

Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Jane Ong, who penned the resolution, found the respondents “administratively liable for simple misconduct” for failing to follow standard procedures before approving the long-term lease of government land to SM Prime Holdings Incorporated (SMPHI).

Aside from Paulino, other officials covered by the suspension order are city councilors Elena Dabu, Benjamin Gregorio Cajudo II, Eduardo Guerrero, Noel Atienza, Alruela Bundang-Ortiz, Edna Elane, Emerito Linus Bacay, Randy Sionzon.

Also ordered suspended were Egmidio Gonzalez Jr, Tony-Kar Balde III, Cristiflor Buduhan, Anna Marin, Florentino Sison, Mamerto Malabute, and Joy Fernandez Cahilig.

The Ombudsman said they violated Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Section 3 (e) of the law lists as a corrupt practice any acts of public officers “causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”

The provision applies “to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions.”

The Ombudsman dismissed charges of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, abuse of authority, and neglect of duty against the respondents.

The resolution said that if the penalty of suspension cannot be enforced in case the respondents are no longer in the service, it shall be converted into a fine equivalent to their salaries for 6 months payable to the Office of the Ombudsman, and may be deducted from their retirement benefits, accrued leave credits, or any receivables from their office.

Paulino’s camp is expected to file a motion for reconsideration to stop the suspension order because the case [misconduct] is “punishable” only by reprimand or a letter of discipline.

As to this posting, Paulino had not received the copy of the suspension order.

source: rappler.com

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By: Allan Macatuno

TOURISM BOOM The tourism industry of San Narciso, Zambales, has benefited from sand and lahar from Mt. Pinatubo, as sections of the town’s coastline have become friendlier to beachgoers. —REM ZAMORA

SAN NARCISO, Zambales — Over two decades ago, Mt. Pinatubo’s massive eruption dumped thick ashfall over 2,000 square kilometers in Luzon, altering the vast landscape of the provinces of Zambales, Pampanga, and Tarlac.

The shoreline of San Narciso town in Zambales, however, has become an accidental beneficiary of that deadly fury unleashed by the volcano in 1991.

Mayor La Rainne Abad-Sarmiento has recognized the fourth-class municipality’s potential as a haven for tourists. This side of the West Philippine Sea is ideal for swimming or surfboarding, and other water sports.

“Sandbars cropped out of the tons of lahar, creating a new beach and extending the shoreline to about 100 meters more” La Rainne Abad-Sarmiento, San Narciso Mayor -NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Rows of “agoho” trees against a backdrop of crystal blue seas greet solo wanderers, groups of travelers or families who love to spend a quiet day or two in the town, now known as Zambales’ surfing capital.

Favorite destinations

The beaches of San Narciso and nearby towns are the go-to destinations of people who love to enjoy a sparsely crowded shoreline.

Even before Pinatubo’s eruptions, San Narciso has been the prime destination of surfers and travelers, according to local guide Nestor Trinidad.

Thick ashfall, soaked and made heavier by rains, and mixed with mudflows (lahar) overran the coastline, Sarmiento said.

“Sandbars cropped out of the tons of lahar, creating a new beach and extending the shoreline to about 100 meters more,” she said.

In Barangay La Paz, lahar collected from the shores widened the coast.

The town boasts of some of the popular beach resorts in Zambales.

For one, the 7-hectare Crystal Beach Resort has been attracting local and foreign tourists. It features thatched nipa huts that offer shade, hammocks of all sorts hanging from trees, and picnic tables.

Surfboards of varying sizes are on display at the entrance, inviting guests to try surfing. Surfing instructors guarantee that the beach is safe for this sport.

Crystal Beach got its name from the glistening surface of both the sand and sea, whether in bright sunlight or under the moonlight. It has a mix of modern native cottages, which can accommodate up to six people, and a barracks-style dormitory for up to 20 people.

Camping adventure

The beach area has also become a safe campsite for adventure seekers who are looking for affordable yet fun ways to spend their vacation.

Resorts also offer camping tents to guests. They can also set up their own tents.

San Narciso is fast becoming a favorite surfing spot in Luzon, not only because of its nearness to Metro Manila but also because of its natural waves that reach as high as 3.05 meters (10 feet), especially during surfing season starting in May.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

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