CANDELARIA, Zambales – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) declared this town as the first drug-free municipality in the province.

PDEA officials said all of the 16 villages in the town complied with the parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3 series of 2017.

The awarding of the formal certification was held in Camp Olivas in San Fernando City, Pampanga on Monday and was attended by the town’s officials led by Mayor Napoleon Edquid. Joanna Rose Aglibot (Editor: Leti Boniol)

Source Inquirer

Continue Reading

OPPOSITION. Mayor Estela Deloso Antipolo says the development will leave San Antonio as one of the smallest towns in the Philippines. Photo from San Antonio FB

ZAMBALES, Philippines – Residents of San Antonio here declared their opposition to the plan of the Department of National Defense (DND) to transform almost 300 million square meters of land in the municipality into a naval facility.

Mayor Estela Deloso Antipolo leads residents and other local officials, including village chiefs, in opposing the DND’s plan to convert 289,051,550 square meters of land in Redondo Peninsula into the proposed Subic Naval Reservation.

“We strongly object and have conveyed our disapproval of the plan of the Department of National Defense. The proposed Subic Naval Reservation will encompass the entire Redondo Peninsula, leaving only 30% of our present land area. This will make San Antonio the smallest town in Zambales and one of the smallest towns in the Philippines,” Antipolo said.

The mayor said the development would disrupt their local tourism industry since they “stand to lose the Camara and Capones islands and the 5 coves for which San Antonio is famous for, which will all be under the direct supervision, control, and use of the Philippine Navy.”

Redondo Peninsula is divided between the municipalities of San Antonio in the west and Subic in the east. The west coast of the peninsula is indented by several coves and bays, namely Silanguin Bay, Nagsasa Cove, Talisain Bay, Agnaem Bay, and Anawangin Cove.

These areas are the prime tourism sites of the province.

Islands such as the Capones Island, Tabones Island, Silanguin Island, and Los Frailes Islands are also found near the Redondo Peninsula.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier sent a letter informing President Rodrigo Duterte of the department’s plan of converting the said parcel of land located in Redondo Peninsula, which can be acquired through a presidential proclamation declaring the land into a naval facility.

“I wish to inform the President that ownership of the aforesaid location is an immediate solution to a long-term challenge of fulfilling strategic basing that addresses the improved deployment of forces, accommodating current, and future naval assets and enhancing logistics and maintenance system,” according to the DND correspondence dated April 16.

“This location places the AFP in a better position to defend the countrys interest in the West Philippine Sea that is emphasized by the need to stage, launch, and sustain naval operating forces in one of the most critical deployment areas,” Lorenzana said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) then asked the local government of San Antonio to comment on the DND’s proposal.

“Sinagot na po natin ang sulat na ito ng DENR. Magkaisa po tayo na tutulan ang proposal na ito. Nakababahala na ang ating natural resources at ang ating tourism industry ay maapektuhan ng proposal na ito,” Antipolo said.

(We have replied to the DENR’s letter. Let’s unite in rejecting this proposal. The effect of this proposal on our natural resources and our tourism industry.) – Rappler.com

Source: Rappler

Continue Reading

Photo Credit: supertravelme.com

Duty Free Philippines Corp. signed a partnership with Donggwang Clark Corp., the Philippine subsidiary of Sun Valley Group of South Korea, to open a Duty Free outlet at Hilton Sun Valley Resort inside the Clark Freeport Zone.

The agreement will launch the construction of a 370-square-meter outlet operated by DFP and designed and constructed by DCC.

The outlet which is expected to open in the first quarter of 2020 will be the second DFP store in Pampanga province in addition to a branch at Clark International Airport.

“This partnership is part of our ongoing efforts to accelerate DFP’s presence in major tourism and economic destinations to tap the increasing number of foreign tourists and expatriates in the country,” said Duty Free Philippines chief operating officer Vicente Pelagio Angala.

“We strategically chose the location at an integrated tourism estate that includes condo units and commercial spaces,” said Angala.

The said outlet will highlight Filipino export-quality products through Go Lokal! kiosk and regular tax-exempt items such as perfumes and cosmetics, health and beauty, fashion, confectioneries, liquor, and tobacco.

Angala said they would work on partnerships with the organizers of international events hosted in Clark.

DCC committed to supporting the business operations of DFP through advertising and marketing efforts and gift certificates as giveaways to their hotel and casino guests.

Clark Freeport Zone is becoming the next economic haven of Luzon with unprecedented gains in investments, revenues, employment and other significant achievements.

Clark Development Corp. said locator-firms in Clark Freeport Zone reached 949, most of them in the information communication technology, service and developers’ industries. Employment in the Freeport exceeded 108,000 jobs.

Passenger traffic at Clark International Airport in 2018 hit the 2.5-million mark supported by 390 domestic and 184 international flights weekly.

Source: manilastandard.net

Continue Reading

Taiwan Economic Cultural Office (TECO) is batting for the Philippines to become a destination for Taiwanese investors whose favorite relocation sites in southeast Asia are mainly Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.

Alfred Y.H. Wang, TECO Economic Counselor, told reporters during a press conference for the “Meet Taiwan,” networking event that aims to promote Taiwan as hub for Meetings, Incentive, Travel, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE) industry, that many Taiwanese investors who have been in China for the past 20 years are moving out of mainland China because the Chinese government is “not so friendly to foreign investors” and are relocating to some areas in ASEAN.

“These Taiwanese firms are coming to ASEAN countries like Thailand and Indonesia but their favorite is Vietnam,” Tseng said.

“We tried to make it the Philippines for Taiwanese investors.”

Taiwanese investments to the Philippines last year went down 61 percent to P4 billion from P10 billion in 2017.

Tseng expressed hopes that once the free-visa program is extended, more Taiwanese firms would consider the Philippines as a good relocation site.

The free-visa program will expire on July 31 this year. Taiwan authorities are expected to make an announcement soon if it will be extended or not.

This program, which also includes Thailand and Brunei, has boosted travel by Filipinos. Last year, there were more than 410,000 Filipino travelers to Taiwan. TECO is hoping to exceed that record number, targeting 500,000 travelers this year.

Another favorable factor that may entice Taiwanese to consider the Philippine is the new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulation which now allows the registration of One Person Corporation, a corporation with a single stockholder.

Tseng cited this new SEC rules for relaxing the 60-40 foreign equity ownership rules for foreign investors in the country.

These factors should help boost the chance of Philippines to become a choice for Taiwanese companies.

“In my economic division at TECO, we try to help Taiwanese firms find the land and local partners,” he said adding that they facilitate Taiwanese firms with the help of investment promotion agencies such as the Board of Investments, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and the SEC.

According to Tseng, some of the Taiwanese investors are engaged in manufacturing operations are mainly located in the industrial zones in Batangas, Cavite and Carmona. Some are also looking at Clark and Subic.

Tseng further noted that many small Taiwanese firms are already considering the Philippines. “They maybe small but they are many, which I think is better than having one big investor,” he said.

Source: business.mb.com.ph

Continue Reading

Subic Bay has since evolved from a naval base into a favorite leisure and sports destination. But despite its popularity, the Freeport continues to repackage itself.

Anchored on its slogan, “It’s More Fun-tastic in Subic,” it has successfully reinvented itself into a duty-free center, a theme park, a convention place, a food trip destination, a sports hub, and a tourism zone, to name a few.

Subic International Golf Club

Adding excitement, especially to golfers, is the recent opening of the long-dormant greens which have been resurrected as the world-class Subic International Golf Club.

The Desmond Muirhead-designed 18-hole, par 72 golf course, measures over 7,100 yards and blends with the natural environment for perfect swings and Instagram-worthy shots. The club also boasts a bevy of charming caddies, who are conversant on various topics other than golf, thus spicing up the game.

Guests are treated like royalty with its delectable international dishes, Filipino favorites, desserts, and drinks at its classy clubhouse restaurant. Admittedly pricier than its counterparts in Central Luzon, the club takes pride in its first-rate amenities and the consummate golfing lifestyle it offers.

Subic is also reclaiming its old claim to fame—that of being a major naval and maritime hub since the 1800s when the galleons and merchant ships sought shelter in its tranquil coves.

This rich maritime history is chronicled at Vasco’s Maritime Museum which has a remarkable compendium of ancient Chinese jars, Spanish cannons, and other relics from sunken ships put together by Australian scuba diver Brian Homan, one of the Freeport’s pioneer locators.

The rich maritime history of Subic is chronicled at Vasco’s Maritime Museum.

This maritime tradition is also kept alive by Subic Sailing Club based at the Lighthouse Marina Resort, which organizes regattas to promote tourism and enhance “yachtsmanship” for international competitions and foster camaraderie among its gentlemen sailors.

Early this year, the group spearheaded the Subic Bay Around Verde Island Passage Race, which is part of the prestigious Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit, and the Chairman’s Cup Regatta, which saw the biggest assembly of sailboats in Philippine waters.

A reboot of the Commodore’s Cup, the sailfest was highlighted by the FarEast 28R One-Design Race, and keelboat divisions of IRC Class 1, IRC Class 2, and Cruising Class. Adding color was the Dinghy Division composed of Optimist, Streaker, and Oz Gooze classes for greenhorns and young sailors, as well as categories for stand-up paddleboards and kayaks to entice more Filipinos to get into water sports.

According to SSC executive director and Philippine Sailing Association vice president Zed Avecilla, the sailing events aim to breed the next generation of sailors who will bring honor to the country in international tournaments.

Subic Bay will host the sailing events in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Subic Bay hosted the recent Chairman’s Cup Regatta, which saw the biggest assembly of sailboats in Philippine waters.

Avecilla said that outside the competitive sport, sailing is a unique means for family bonding and a fun way of discovering our maritime roots. He noted that sailing and other related activities are also geared at positioning Subic as the country’s premier yachting destination and sailing haven.

But apart from swinging and sailing, many tourists are content in splurging on the cozy boutique accommodations that offer a blend of countryside allure and modern living.

A noteworthy hotel in Subic is Camayan Beach Resort which is designed for nature lovers who like to escape city life but still have fun things to do—such as water and beach recreation, scuba diving, trail hiking, all surrounded by a gorgeous rainforest and blue waters.

Its affiliate, Camayan Divers, a 5-star PADI center, offers guests the thrill of exploring the bay’s wrecks and reefs, and interacting with dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and jackfish.

Meanwhile, foodies can check out the wide array of homegrown restaurants such as Rotunda Bar and Grill at Moonbay Marina Resort which is noted for its grilled and tender Bulalo Steak, and Coco Lime Specialty Asian Cuisine, a restaurant which attracts families and Freeport workers.

Rotunda Bar and Grill’s famous Bulalo Steak

Other noteworthy casual dining haunts are 1925 Gastropub known for its western food and spirits, Dayrit’s Kitchen at All Hands Beach for its Pansit Bataan, and Magic Lagoon Bar for its Pinoy comfort food and cozy lakeview.

Source: manilastandard.net

Continue Reading