OLONGAPO CITY: President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Michael Ted “Mike” Macapagal, Olongapo-Zambales PDP-Laban chapter president, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC).

BY PATRICK ROXAS, TMT

Photo by: pbs.twimg.com

Macapagal took his oath of office before former president and now lawmaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday.

“I feel the burning need to deserve the trust and confidence given by President Duterte in me,” he said after his oath-taking.

“I intend to carry out the President’s vision, and execute his orders faithfully so as not to fail him,” Macapagal added.

He vowed to work closely with the rest of the CDC board and executive officers, as well as the rank-and-file, acknowledging “they have made great strides in tapping the CDC’s great potential, while doing a wonderful job in running this government-owned and -controlled corporation.”

“I have such high respect in the ability of Chairman Jose “Ping” de Jesus, the CDC board and the executive team,” Macapagal said. “I also commend the leaders of the BCDA [Bases Conversion and Development Authority] . I intend to build on their remarkable record of accomplishments.”

He said the objective is to make Clark an investment hub for light industries and a world-class tourist destination.

“I have heard a lot of talk about the new city being built in Clark. The Green City is an interesting concept, perfectly in line with the President’s decentralization agenda. Its an area where we can find a lot of shared ideas and common sense approach.”

Hence the priority, according to him, “is to attract more foreign and domestic investments. “Ultimately, our goal is to position the CDC in a strategic way that it is able to provide better jobs and economic opportunities for the people of Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac and Nueva Ejica.”

“Our mission is to make Central Luzon the next Metro Manila. And Clark, I firmly believe, is the golden gate bridge that will connect us there,” Macapagal said.

He used to be division president of Stewart Title, one of the world’s largest title insurance companies. The firm, publicly listed on NASDAQ, has offices in the United States and several countries.

Macapagal disclosed that he had lived and worked in the US for many years but that he never became an American citizen.

As president of the PDP-Laban Olongapo chapter, he was in charge of the local party in the entire province of Zambales in the 2016 elections.

He lost when he ran for congressman in those elections.

He is the eldest son of the late Olongapo Mayor Teddy Macapagal, PDP-Laban founder in Central Luzon and a renowned pro bono lawyer.

His brother, Marvin Ted Macapagal, is serving as a member of the board of directors of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

source: manilatimes.net

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: Shipbuilding giant Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC-Phils) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Alyansa ng Manggagawang Pilipino Organisado-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (Amapo-TUCP) for a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the company’s 18 subcontractors and its counterpart labor unions.

BY PATRICK ROXAS, TMT

Photo by: Manila Bulletin

Lawyer Ana Dione, Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE)-Region 3 director, witnessed the MoA signing between Kim Kyung Moon, representing the 18 Hanjin subcontractors and Roberto Flores, Amapo-TUCP president.

According to the agreement, Amapo-TUCP and Hanjin subcontractors will negotiate and enter into a CBA for the promotion and protection of the workers’ rights and welfare after the labor union completes the requirements for recognition and certification as exclusive bargaining agent in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines.

It said that upon signing of the MoA, Amapo-TUCP will withdraw all pending petitions for certification of election of labor unions while Hanjin subcontractors will create a grievance committee to cater to all conflicts and disputes arising from labor concerns and grant of benefits, among others.

Also included is for Amapo-TUCP to refer cases of unfair labor practice (ULP) and pre-termination of employment disputes to the grievance committee.

Hanjin management, on the other hand, is committed to refrain from harassing workers over union-related activities.

Earlier, Hanjin was reported to be planning to terminate thousands of its employees under a retrenchment program.

Dione, however, clarified that Hanjin cannot just implement a retrenchment program without consulting DoLE and the labor department will address the issue with the company.

Hanjin employs more than 30,000 workers in its Subic shipyard mostly on contractual status.

source: manilatimes.net

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Miggy Quirino narrowly edged out Clifford Pusing for the men’s Super Sprint title in the opening leg of the 2018 National Age-Group Triathlon (NAGT) series on Sunday at the ACEA Resort area at San Bernardino in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Quirino won the men’s Super Sprint (500-meter swim – 10 Km bike – 2.5 Km run) title with a time of 41 minutes and 30.1 seconds while Pusing registered 41 minutes and 30.4 seconds resulting in a razor-thin time difference of 0.3 seconds between them. Adian Dionisio won the bronze with 42:22.

Meanwhile, Moira Erediano won the women’s Super Sprint title with 45:27 followed by Jana Macalalad with 46:30 and Marielle Estreba at 48:04.

The winners in the Paratriathlon competitions of the race sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Gatorade, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Tourism Department, Harbor Point Ayala Mall, Standard Insurance and Asian Center for Insulation Philippines were Jerome Nelmida with 1:42:06 (category PT5) and Alex Silverio with 1:34:03 (category PT4), respectively.

The top finishers in the Standard Distance (1.5 Km swim – 40 Km bike – 5 Km run) race were Neil Aynera (Men 18-24), Andrea Villanueva (Women 18-29), Melvin Santiago (25-29), Michaela Barinova (Women 30-34), Jet Ramos (Men 35-39), Francis Peralta and Mary Grace Olfindo (40-44), Edward Luna (Men 45-49), Celma Hitalia (Women 45-over), RJ Lorenzo (50-54), and Eduardo Francisco (55-over).

National team member John Chicano handily outperformed teammate Nikko Huelgas 2:05:27 to 2:08:11 while on the distaff side Kim Kilgroe took advantage of the retirement of Claire Adorna during the bike leg to finish first with 2:22:41.

Winners in the Sprint Distance (750 meter – 20 Km bike – 5 Km run) were Kim Remolino (Men Elite), Karen Manayon (Women Elite), Charles Jeremiah Lipuria and Veronica Deldio (16-19), Rogelio Visconde and Janina Garcia (20-29), Nik Roxas and Bernadette Agor (30-39), Peter Gonzales and Alfie Yu (40-49) and Jo Mlez (Men 50-over)

The trio of Jojo Santos, Christian Sabinorio and Jan Dennis Borbolla won the All-Men relay title with 2:41:08 while the team of Heinrich Gasacao, Renz Formoso and Lou Aguion bagged the Relay-Mixed title with 3:00:20.

Source: Manila Bulletin

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With February (and Valentine’s Day!) just right around the corner, it would seem that romance is in the air. In addition to playing the cheesiest love songs over speakers, commercial establishments have also started decorating their shops with red-colored ornaments and heart shaped décor.

And it would seem that even the night sky itself has decided to join in on the festivities. A rare event, that last happened about 150 years ago, will grace tonight’s sky. Known as a super blue blood moon (what a mouthful, eh?), this occurs when a blue moon and a lunar eclipse both happen while the moon is at its closest point to our planet (also known as perigee or super moon).

Despite it’s name, a blue moon does not necessarily imply that the moon will be blue colored as it refers to the rare occurrence of a second full moon within the same month. A blood moon, on the other hand, is the result of the moon taking on a reddish color due to the sunlight reflected by the earth’s atmosphere during a lunar eclipse. The super moon results in the moon appearing 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual.

All three combining will surely result in quite a spectacle. In fact, at least five telescopes have been set up in the PAGASA Astronomical Observatory on the campus of the University of the Philippines Diliman for use by the public. It will also be visible from other parts of Asia, Middle East, Russia, Australia and portions of western North America

Thankfully, the celestial event may possibly be seen by the naked eye in any place in the Philippines – assuming that the skies remain clear for the rest of the evening. The super blue blood moon is expected to begin around 6:49 PM tonight and should last until 9:29, according to PAGASA.

The last time that this phenomenon was visible was on May 31, 1844 in the eastern side of the United States of America. While a variation of the spectacle occurred in 1866, it happened while the moon was at its most distant from the earth. Scientists predict that the next time a similar occurrence will happen will be on 2028, but by then, it will not be coinciding with a super moon.

The moon has ever been a source of inspiration for many poets and the subject of a lot of romantic music. And indeed, there is something haunting about the pale light from the moon. Something about the way that it changes as each day passes but in time, returns to the way it was. Every night, it becomes a different version of itself, sometimes weak and ashen yet sometimes intense and dazzling.

But waxing sentimental aside, tonight’s super blue blood moon is something that cannot be missed! So who will you be watching the super blue blood moon with?

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By Mar T. Supnad

From the usual 4-5 hours of travel by land from Bataan to Pasay City, travelers can now reach the Mall of Asia (MOA) in exactly 50 minutes with the launching of the air-conditioned Fast Ferry boat via Manila Bay.

Operated by the 1Bataan Integrated Transport System under its president Goody Ilagan, commuters will also be given free shuttle service from Orion Port all the way to Dinalupihan in the North and AFAB-Mariveles to the South, making travel easier and more convenient.

Governor Abet S. Garcia initiated the establishment of a reliable, safe and speedy ferry service between Bataan and Metro Manila with the help of Ilagan, a known hotelier, to serve public commuters through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

Source: Manila Bulletin

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