La Union Infrastructure and Urban Planning [Archive]

hugodiekonig

May 6th, 2011, 08:07 PM

The Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway is an 85-kilometer four-lane expressway currently under construction north of Manila, in the Philippines. It involves the construction in two phases of an 84.5-kilometer, four-lane expressway from La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union. The project is expected to be ready for full operation by 2013.

The first phase will involve the construction of two lanes while the second phase entails its expansion into four lanes to accommodate 25,000 vehicles. The first phase of the Tarlac-La Union Toll Expressway started in January, 2009, and the expressway is being built to boost trade, tourism, and speed up transportation in the provinces of Tarlac, Eastern Pangasinan and La Union.
The proposed superhighway will be built parallel to MacArthur Highway, passing through the municipalities of Victoria, Pura, Anao and Ramos in Tarlac, Nampicuan and Cuyapo in Nueva Ecija and Rosales, Villasis, Urdaneta City, Binalonan, Pozzorubio and Sison in Pangasinan and Rosario, La Union.

The resolution recommending the awarding, financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Tarlac-La Union Toll Expressway Phase 1 to Private Infra Development Corp. (PIDC) has been approved.

Phase 1 La Paz, Tarlac to Rosales, Pangasinan
Phase 2 Rosales, Pangasinan to Urdaneta City, Pangasinan
Phase 3 Urdaneta City, Pangasinan to Rosario, La Union

The right-of-way (ROW) for the project is situated in the left part, unlike in other projects, as this is the most logical alignment. The Philippine government is still in the process of determining the number of families to be affected by the acquisition of the ROW and the cost it will entail as some parts of the detailed engineering are incomplete.
The project will be implemented through public-private partnership using the built-operate-transfer (BoT) scheme in which the project proponent is responsible for the design, financing, and construction of the initial two-lane expressway.

Once the toll road is completed, it will be turned over to the government. The government will then grant the proponent the franchise to operate and maintain the toll road, after which the proponent, after a certificate to commence toll operation issued by the Toll Regulatory Board, shall operate the road on behalf of the government under a long term concession agreement.

from: wikipedia.com

hugodiekonig

May 6th, 2011, 08:09 PM

http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/news/img/08/Tarlac%20La%20Union.jpg

net find

hugodiekonig

May 6th, 2011, 08:12 PM

Miguel R. Camus, Business Mirror
Posted at 04/07/2011 7:42 AM | Updated as of 04/07/2011 7:42 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) may hold the planned share sale next month, company president Ramon S. Ang said on Wednesday.

Ang, who spoke to reporters yesterday while in Bataan, declined to provide additional details on the said equity offer and planned convertible bond sale approved by the company's board on Tuesday.

SMC shares added 0.82 % to P171.40 each during yesterday's trading.

Ang said earlier the company is looking selling up to 1 billion common shares priced between P200 and P250 each, valuing the offer to as much as P250 billion.

The sale, originally scheduled in the first quarter, was postponed due to volatile market conditions. It was earlier reported that issue managers for the share sale are Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Standard Charted Bank and UBS AG.

Proceeds are seen to fund SMC’s ongoing expansion outside its traditional food and drinks business.

Since announcing an aggressive diversification strategy three years ago, SMC has made investments in power, toll roads, railways, airports, telecommunications, oil refining and mining.

SMC’s 2010 profits fell sharply to P20.09 billion, from P57.8 billion the previous year, on the absence of one-time gains such as the 2009 sale of a significant stake in its brewery unit to Japan-based Kirin Holdings.

The company's recurring net income, however, more than doubled last year buoyed by gains from its power unit.

SMC now has four power plants—the Limay combined-cycle, the Ilijan natural gas-fired, Sual coal-fired, and San Roque hydroelectric power facilities—which generated an estimated 11.1-million megawatt hours last year.

SMC also owns a minority stake in Manila Electric Co., the country's largest power distributor. It also has interests in infrastructure projects, including Caticlan Airport, the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, and the MRT-7 Railway.

SMC also owns three coal mines in South Cotabato, Mindanao and a tenth of Australia’s Indophil Resources NL, which owns a third of the $5.9-billion undeveloped Tampakan gold-copper project

SMC is 47.5 % owned by Top Frontier Investments Holdings Inc., a private company led by the group of former Trade minister Roberto V. Ongpin. The conglomerate also owns a 49 % stake in Top Frontier.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/04/06/11/san-miguel-share-sale-may-be-held-may

hugodiekonig

May 6th, 2011, 08:15 PM

http://houses.forsalephilippines.com/wp-content/uploads/the-point-residences-dev-map.jpg

repost from thread archive

hugodiekonig

May 6th, 2011, 08:21 PM

By Rimaliza Opiña
Wednesday, April 27, 2011

THE public will see more of this call center company.

Soon, fare matrices, garbage cans, jeepney sign posts, vests of street sweepers and garbage collectors and waiting sheds will bear Sitel’s logo, a call center company based at the Loakan economic zone.

Post your prayers and condolences for Cebu Vice Governor Greg Sanchez's family.

Considered Baguio City’s biggest employer Sitel regional Human Resources manager Emil Ching said the donation is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

He said this is Sitel’s way of giving back to the Baguio community, which contributed to its success since it began operating in 2004, with only 35 employees.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Sitel, the City Government and transport officials was formalized in simple ceremonies yesterday in Camp John Hay.

Ching said the donation is to also expand the call center’s marketing capacity and possibly to invite more people to apply in the call center.

Ching said the company is not threatened by the increasing number of call center companies in Baguio, as it helps steer Baguio’s economy.

“It is not something we are afraid of. We are just making our presence felt,” Ching added.

Sitel vice president for human resources Haidee Enriquez said a more aggressive marketing campaign this year is part of their growth strategy this year.

After Baguio, Enriquez said they are branching out in Poro Point, La Union and in Manila for those who could not be accommodated in Baguio.

In its MOA with the City Government, Sitel will repaint 15 waiting sheds at the CBD and will sponsor the tailoring of 169 vests for street sweepers and garbage collectors.

The City Government, on the other hand, is under obligation to prepare the design and color of the vests as well as choose the color of the waiting sheds.

In its agreement with the Public Transport Affairs Office Sitel will pay to a billboard producing company P225,000 for the production of 90 PUJ loading and unloading signages.

Sitel will also be paying P80,000 to a company, which manufactures stickers for the production of fare matrices which will be distributed to all jeepney drivers after printing.
source (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2011/04/27/city-inks-pact-call-center-152285)

hugodiekonig

May 6th, 2011, 08:22 PM

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/49140_1217478970_4744_n.jpg

Sitel digs deeper into north’s
human resource pool

BY IRMA ISIP
BAGUIO CITY. - Sitel is expanding further to the northern part of the country, harnessing the area’s rich human resources.

Sitel is currently the biggest employer in Baguio City and the Cordillera Autonomous Region dislodging electronics manufacturing giant Texas Instruments located at the Baguio economic zone.

Sitel will build a fourth site in the area, this time in Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union, just two hours away from Baguio City where its three sites now employ 3,800.

Michael Oliver dela Pena, Sitel vice president for operations, said the Poro Point facility which would be built by the fourth quarter and will initially have 500 seats while Baguio 3 will add 500 more seats until the end of the year.

Dela Pena said Sitel has four other sites all located in Metro Manila but the company is now eyeing two more cities for future expansion. He said Sitel would be the first to set up a business process outsourcing (BPO) facility in Poro Point where it would follow the strategy for the Baguio operations.

"It’s close enough to Baguio where we can tap more supplementary talent pool," he said.

Baguio City itself was chosen by Sitel when it first established its call center in 2006 being a good university town.

He said the success of the Sitel Academy, its in-house skills training, has helped in tapping quality talent pool along with its partnerships with universities. The Academy has sites in Manila, Tarlac and San Fernando, La Union.

Sitel’s Baguio operations also registering one of the lowest attrition at 2.5 percent compared to the double-digit rate average of the industry.

About 40 percent of Sitel Baguio’s operations are in technical support. These sites now maintain 10 clients mostly American firms among them the Tribune group of newspapers and RCN cable.

The operations contribute 35 to 40 percent of the revenues of Sitel in the Philippines.

Despite the crisis last 2009; Sitel has posted a 25 percent growth in headcount.

Dela Pena said Sitel Baguio offers very competitive compensation package including a basic entry-level pay of P8, 000 which is way above the region’s minimum wage.

Sitel Philippines’ seven facilities are located in Pasig City, Quezon City, Mandaluyong City, and Baguio City. Sitel is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and has 60,000 associates in over 140 domestic, nearshore, and offshore call centers in 26 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia Pacific.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/04232010/info1.html

hugodiekonig

May 6th, 2011, 08:24 PM

BOC to develop Port of San Fernando into cargo hub

05/02/2011 | 04:47 PM

The Bureau of Customs on Monday announced plans to transform the Port of San Fernando in La Union into a major cargo hub.:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::cheers:

By the end of the month, a containerized vessel is set to sail its maiden voyage to the Port of San Fernando, Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said.

The plan to turn the port into a cargo hub is not new — the bureau in the early 1990s planned to introduce a container system in the port for big companies such as Bacnotan Cement, San Miguel Corp. and Philipps Mining. The plan however, did not push through because of the lack of funds to upgrade its structural foundation.

The port can only support bulk and break-bulk shipments but not container van shipments.

This time, the bureau plans to use a mother vessel to gather Region 1-bound shipments from the Port of Manila where they will be transshipped to San Fernando via smaller containerized feeder vessels. The smaller vessels, Alvarez said, would require smaller equipment for loading and discharging.

Alvarez said that these developments are expected to attract investors and create more job opportunities.

The vessel that will sail for the Port of San Fernando at the end of May will be supported by the Poro Point Industrial Corp., a company with a 25-year contract as an exclusive cargo handler at the pier.

Port authorities have offered to reduce port-related fees, a container yard that accommodates 1,000 twenty-foot equivalent and a provision for reefer containers, dangerous cargo area and other cargo trucks.

The Poro Point Management Corp., the management arm of the Bases Conversion Development Authority for the Poro Point Free Port Zone has also pledged to provide a holding area and a Customs examination are for the container shipments.

Companies such as Thunderbird Pilipinas Resorts & Hotel and Casino, LATIMCO and the Mama Sita Corp. are expected to benefit from the new system, the Customs Bureau said. — BC/VS, GMA News

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/219362/business/boc-to-develop-port-of-san-fernando-into-cargo-hub

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::righton::righton::righton::righton::righton::righton::righton::righton:

NOVO ECIJANO

May 6th, 2011, 10:31 PM

To transform,to make,to put up,:lol:sana nga

hugodiekonig

May 7th, 2011, 07:28 AM

Thanks mods! naging sticky thread na pala ito. I would just want to emphasize the Poro Point area lang sana dahil dito lng ang may significant developments sa ngayon sa La Union, pati narin ang TLUEx, pero still ginawa ninyo parin itong sticky thread. salamat talaga!:cheers::banana::banana::banana:

hugodiekonig

May 7th, 2011, 07:30 AM

To transform,to make,to put up,:lol:sana nga

yup, sana tuloy tuloy na ang developments sa aming Poro Point:cheers:

hugodiekonig

May 7th, 2011, 09:26 AM

The Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ) is formerly known as the Wallace Air Station. Subsequently, Proclamation No. 216 issued on July 27, 1993, transferred the lands to the BCDA and declared the area as a Special Economic and Freeport Zone.

The zone is home to the San Fernando Airport, which recently completed a P550-million peso upgrade into a regional airport of international standards that can accommodate larger aircrafts, such as Boeing 737 and Airbus 320. Also, the 30-hectare San Fernando international seaport can accommodate all types of vehicles such as: cruise ships, roll-on roll-off vessels, motor tankers, barges, cargo vessels, motor tugboats, passenger vessels and fishing boats.

Tourism

The Thunderbird Hotel and Resort offers the best in dining, leisure and entertainment activities. Golf aficionados will surely enjoy the world-class nine-hole golf course, while families will enjoy the water activities at the Boardwalk and Promenade.

Getting There

Poro Point is located at the northwestern tip of North Luzon, west of the City of San Fernando in the province of La Union. It is accessible by land via the NLEX and SCTEX, sea and air; with approximate travel time of 5 hours from Manila and more than an hour from Baguio City and about 50 minutes flight-time to/from Manila.

Investment Incentives

The Freeport Status was affirmed through the enactment of Republic Act 9400 on March 2007. The presence of an airport and a seaport makes it an ideal location for commerce, distribution center and export-oriented activities. Its strategic location and close proximity to the thriving economies in Southeast Asia also makes the Freeport an ideal springboard for access to these markets.

PPFZ offers liberal tax laws and incentives such as: a) tax- and duty-free importation of machineries, raw materials, supplies, and all other articles including finished goods; b) its management as a separate customs territory, ensuring free flow or articles within the Freeport zone; c) unlimited purchase and consumption of tax- and duty-free consumer goods within the PPFZ; d) no local and national taxes. In lieu of local and national taxes, PPFZ enterprises shall pay a preferential tax of 5% of gross income earned.

From: Bases Conversion and Development Authority
http://www.bcda.gov.ph/freeport_and_ecozones/show/10
http://www.thunderbirdresorts.com/info/philippines/en/resorts.poropoint.aspx

hugodiekonig

May 9th, 2011, 10:04 AM

From San Fernando City and La Union Province Thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1351243&page=45)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/thunderbird/IMG00356-20110508-0617.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/thunderbird/IMG00357-20110508-0619.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/thunderbird/IMG00358-20110508-0620.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/thunderbird/IMG00359-20110508-0621.jpg

hugodiekonig

May 10th, 2011, 05:21 PM

Desludging: The Challenge Begins

With the successful passing of City Ordinance 2010-014, it is now official: every septic tank in the City of San Fernando will be desludged on a five year schedule.

The ordinance – amending chapter 16 of the city's sanitation code – mandates the contracting out of the desludging task to private desludger(s) and proper treatment and disposal of the collected septage (septic tank contents). With current desludging fees among the highest in the country at PhP 7500, the city's septic tank desludging program brings with it a much lower cost. A Wastewater Management Fee will be charged at the following annual rates, beginning January 2012:

1. Residential building: Six Hundred Pesos (PhP 600.00)

2. Commercial Establishments (excluding malls): One Thousand Pesos (PhP1,000.00)

3. Malls and Institutions: One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (PhP1,500.00)

4. Industrial: Two Thousand Pesos (PhP 2,000.00)

The fee will be added onto the Real Property Tax (RPT) bill. The desludging schedule will be made public in the barangays as soon as it is drafted, so that residents and establishments will know in which year/month they can expect their septic tanks to be desludged.

Septic tank owners will also be able to request an “out-of-schedule” desludging by contacting the CENRO and paying a one-time fee to the City Treasurers Office in the amount of:

1. Eight Hundred Pesos (PhP 800.00) per household

2. Three Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (PhP 3500.00) per commercial establishment

To comply with environment and health regulations, the city is currently building a septage treatment facility in Barangay Dallangayan Oeste that will clean all the septage removed from the septic tanks. Construction has started on several lagoons, with financial support from Congressman Victor Ortega. Funding from the USAID-Rotary San Fernando City Sewerage and Septage Management Program will be used to hire a contractor to build the rest of the facility. The contractor is scheduled to start work before April 1st.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWtPCjb3KqE/TYHD-3_A9PI/AAAAAAAAAB0/8QR4d-IuhHc/s1600/lagoon%2Bpic.JPG

http://sfluseptage.blogspot.com/2011/03/desludging-challenge-begins.html

hugodiekonig

May 10th, 2011, 05:38 PM

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207544_1616452503860_1612790914_31163831_2840147_n.jpg?dl=1

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222930_1652802132578_1612790914_31208428_1979710_n.jpg

Hugo Le Roi

hugodiekonig

May 11th, 2011, 06:19 AM

posted by ergit222 on San Fernando City and La Union Province Thread 7 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1351243&page=20)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/skyscraper/IMG00272-20110414-1936.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/skyscraper/IMG00274-20110414-1938.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/skyscraper/IMG00273-20110414-1937.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/skyscraper/IMG00270-20110414-1936.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/skyscraper/IMG00269-20110414-1936.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/skyscraper/IMG00271-20110414-1936.jpg

:banana::banana::cheers::cheers:

hugodiekonig

May 13th, 2011, 05:42 PM

http://hphotos-snc6.fbcdn.net/221301_215505455134727_204145946270678_813223_3061547_o.jpg

Gov. Manuel C. Ortega assured La Union’s preparedness to become springboard for progress in Northern Philippines. He expressed his enthusiasm to open the Port of San Fernando to containerized shipping during the opening program. Attended by Customs Deputy Commissioners Ma. Caridad Manarang and Peter Manzano, as well as officials and stakeholders of Region 1, the event took place at Thunderbird Resorts, Poro, City of San Fernando, La Union on May 11, 2011.

Photo by: Wendell B. Tangalin, Provincial Information and Tourism Office

La Union Information and Tourism Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=215505455134727&set=a.208595342492405.55111.204145946270678&type=1&theater)

:applause:

nebelwerferXXX

May 22nd, 2011, 01:34 PM

http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/news/img/08/Tarlac%20La%20Union.jpg

net find
More progress to come in Rosario, La Union.

nebelwerferXXX

May 22nd, 2011, 01:36 PM

http://houses.forsalephilippines.com/wp-content/uploads/the-point-residences-dev-map.jpg

repost from thread archive
Okay ang Master Plan ng site ng Thunderbird Resort Hotel.

victorlachica

May 22nd, 2011, 03:16 PM

I am from Rosario LU. naging stagnant ang town na eto.

hugodiekonig

May 22nd, 2011, 10:22 PM

More progress to come in Rosario, La Union.

yup, hopefully this sleeping town will soon wake up. stagnant ang growth kasi ng town na ito

hugodiekonig

May 22nd, 2011, 10:23 PM

I am from Rosario LU. naging stagnant ang town na eto.

the local government must do something in order to attract businesses rin sa town na ito. Agree, napaka stagnant ng town na ito

nebelwerferXXX

May 24th, 2011, 03:00 AM

http://poropointfreeport.org/images/map.jpg

http://poropointfreeport.org/map.html
Okay ang Zoning, pang-world class standard na. Kaya lang wala pa masyadong nag-iinvest. Sana may SM na rin.

hugodiekonig

May 24th, 2011, 10:34 AM

Okay ang Zoning, pang-world class standard na. Kaya lang wala pa masyadong nag-iinvest. Sana may SM na rin.

yup, kaya nga. kailangan then ng PPMC, LGUs ng San Fernando at La Union Government para i-market ang poro point as investment area. Ang dami pang bakanteng lote rito na nakatiwangwang, pinamamahayan na ng mga informal settlers mula pa sa ibang probinsiya

hugodiekonig

May 25th, 2011, 04:01 AM

Yung voice of America iyon ata ang industrial at infotech park

nebelwerferXXX

May 25th, 2011, 04:27 AM

More progress to come in Rosario, La Union.
Sana mag-build ng Shell or Caltex or Petron gas station ng may meron McDonald, Jollibee, 7-Eleven, Chowking and Mall etc. etc. sa may malapit ng Toll Gate ng TPLEX sa Rosario, La Union gaya sa NLEX.

hugodiekonig

May 25th, 2011, 08:28 AM

Sana mag-build ng Shell or Caltex or Petron gas station ng may meron McDonald, Jollibee, 7-Eleven, Chowking and Mall etc. etc. sa may malapit ng Toll Gate ng TPLEX sa Rosario, La Union gaya sa NLEX.

darating din yan!:banana::cheers:

hugodiekonig

May 25th, 2011, 05:58 PM

As the construction of the Septage Treatment Facility continues, the partners in the Septage and Sewerage Management Project continue to iron out details of the operations of the septage management program. To assist this process, on May 12 and13, 2011, USAID sponsored a study tour of the wastewater treatment facilities in Dumaguete and Bayawan Cities for key members of the government, civil service and Rotary Club of San Fernando, La Union.

The purpose of the trip was to facilitate sharing of knowledge and experience between LGUs. Dumaguete City and Bayawan City have both already constructed septage treatment facilities and are at varying stages in implementing their septage management programs. In Dumaguete, the participants toured the Septage Treatment Facility, which is already operational and processing its full capacity of 80 cubic meters of sludge per day. They also saw the wastewater treatment facility at the City Market. On May 13 the participants travelled to Bayawan City to see the sanitary landfill and septage treatment facility, a wastewater treatment facility for the Fishermen's Village, and a biodiesel processing plant.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dtJiIXDOT_w/TdRuoxyY60I/AAAAAAAAAro/pbIOtXZnTGI/DSC00923_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dtJiIXDOT_w/TdRurzTqlCI/AAAAAAAAArw/Q-0hHFeBNCk/DSC00932_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800

http://sfluseptage.blogspot.com/2011/05/learning-by-example.html

hugodiekonig

May 25th, 2011, 05:59 PM

Mayor Pablo Ortega expressed his enthusiasm about the tour and his commitment to sanitation in San Fernando. “We learned a lot by coming here, and seeing their systems,” he said. On the topic of septage management, Mayor Ortega went on to say, “People often ask me, 'why are you doing this now?' Several barangays in San Fernando already have groundwater so polluted that you cannot dig an uncontaminated deep well. If we start now we can prevent it from getting even worse.”

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dtJiIXDOT_w/TdRuvMmjGhI/AAAAAAAAAr4/7mg3FXyCbTA/DSC00951_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800

Vice Mayor Gualberto also was convinced of the value of the tour. “This is very important for us, we need to compare our [sanitation] ordinance with other LGUs, and identify good practices that we can learn from. In this way we can ensure our septage management project is feasible and workable for us,” he said.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dtJiIXDOT_w/TdRuycQAxcI/AAAAAAAAAsA/ae815BRKBzo/DSC00956_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800

http://sfluseptage.blogspot.com/2011/05/learning-by-example.html

:applause: Kudos to SFCLU Officials! Sana ay mai-apply na agad sa San Fernando ang mga natutunan mula sa out-of-town trip na ito:cheers:

mucho

May 27th, 2011, 12:37 PM

http://poropointfreeport.org/slides/golf.jpg

http://poropointfreeport.org/index.html

looks like cliffs in ireland.........stunning view

hugodiekonig

May 27th, 2011, 01:02 PM

looks like cliffs in ireland.........stunning view

Whoa thanks a lot! And a greek part at the right side of the photo:cheers::)

nebelwerferXXX

May 28th, 2011, 12:33 PM

http://poropointfreeport.org/images/map.jpg

http://poropointfreeport.org/map.html
Mag-June 2011 na, very very slow ang investment dito. Hangang Thunderbird Resort Hotel and Casino pa lang.

hugodiekonig

May 28th, 2011, 12:42 PM

Mag-June 2011 na, very very slow ang investment dito. Hangang Thunderbird Resort Hotel and Casino pa lang.

hindi lang nama yun. marami rin. incoming narin ang SiTel at hopefully New Carcar Inc., isang supplier ng billet products para sa Steel Asia. Malalaking companies ang mga iyon

nebelwerferXXX

May 28th, 2011, 02:14 PM

hindi lang nama yun. marami rin. incoming narin ang SiTel at hopefully New Carcar Inc., isang supplier ng billet products para sa Steel Asia. Malalaking companies ang mga iyon
Good news yan, dumadami ang new investors sa Poro Point. Marami din ang mga taong matutulongan nito...

hugodiekonig

May 28th, 2011, 03:14 PM

^^ Repost ko lang ito mula sa thread archives, though unrelated sa thread

SteelAsia to invest P10.6 B for 3 billet production plants

MANILA, Philippines - New Carcar still Billet Manufacturing Corp., which is majority-owned by the Yao Group of SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp., is investing P10.57 billion for the establishment of three steel billet production facilities in Carcar Cebu in the Visayas, La Union in Luzon, and Davao del Norte in Mindanao in what is deemed as the company's strategic move to take advantage of the current construction boom in the country by making steel products available to their clients nationwide at their convenience and at cheaper cost.

The Board of Investments has already approved the project with tax and fiscal incentives as this activity is listed in the current Investment Priorities Plan of the government.

Lucita P. Reyes, BoI executive director told reporters these new still billet plants would utilize scrap metals from SteelAsia. The agreement is covered under a memorandum of agreement between the two companies.

Reyes explained that each plant has a project cost of P3.523 billion or a combined cost of P10.57 billion for the three projects. Each plant has also the same production capacity of 400,000 metric tons or a combined registered capacity of 1.2 MMT per year, all to be supplied to the local market.
These plants will have simultaneous start of commercial operation in January 2014 with 513 workers.

''For easier administration of incentives and monitoring the BoI has approved the three steel billet projects as one single registration,'' Reyes said.
This makes the Yao Group the biggest steel billet producer in the country with plants strategically located in three regions. In case, one plant bogs down the other plant can fill up the slack, Reyes said.

''They spread out the location so they can be readily available to their clients and to save on freight cost,'' Reyes said.

Reyes pointed out that iron and steel industry is a major economic contributor because of its various applications in the construction industry.
''Production of steel billets will make us competitive because they will be sourced locally,'' she added.

At present, Steel Asia is using imported steel billets to produce rebars.
''The steel billet operation is part of their backward integration,'' Reyes said. SteelAsia is a joint venture between Philippines steel industrialists, Yao and Go families, and NatSteel Holdings Limited of Singapore.

The Yao and Go families have partnered in steel manufacturing for the past 45 years.

NatSteel Holdings Pte. Ltd. is one of the largest steel enterprise in the South East Asia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel of India, the 6th largest steel company in the world.

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/steelasia-invest-p10-6-b-3-billet-production-115702322.html

hugodiekonig

May 28th, 2011, 03:19 PM

^^ With that rin, I am certain na hindi lalayo sa Poro Point ang possible site ng magiging factory ng billet supplies dito sa La Union, or sa Poro Point mismo. 40% ng buong billet supply ng Steel Asia ay mula sa Pilipinas, tapos ang 60% ay import pa mula Russia. Ang supply ng billet ay nagmumula sa Pampanga, saka idedeliver sa Bulacan Plant nito which is the nearest Steel Asia Plant. The other 60%, which are imports, ay itinatransport through cargo shipping, siyempre via Manila Port. If they (Steel Asia and New Carcar) would want a stronger business activity, syempre kailangang mag-expand. sa 3 strategic areas around the country na nabanggit, lahat ng mga ito ay may reasonable/considerable size ng port area na pwedeng pagpadeliveran ng mga imports na billet.

hugodiekonig

May 28th, 2011, 03:51 PM

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/252970_1700148956219_1612790914_31266388_7906772_n.jpg
Poro Point

nebelwerferXXX

May 29th, 2011, 08:10 AM

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/49140_1217478970_4744_n.jpg
Nice and Cool...

hugodiekonig

June 4th, 2011, 06:00 AM

Friday, June 3, 2011

THE Philippine Construction Association (PCA) has been granted a T-plex loan facility of P11.5 billion to finance local Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.

"It is high time that the public sector does its part in the development construction. The pronouncement of the government in promoting PPP will further improve the economy and the GDP for years to come," said Levy Espiritu, president of PCA and Datem Inc.

In a press conference for the launch of the PhilConstruct Mindanao 2011 Friday, Espiritu said the t-plex loan facility has been readily offered by the Banco De Oro, Development Bank of the Philippines and Landbank to finance infrastructure projects within the PPP scope.

"We will be starting to build hard and soft infrastructures like airports, toll ways, sea ports then we will be moving on to education and health sector for construction of schools and hospitals," Espiritu added.

Espiritu said they have forged an agreement with the Bankers Association and Investment House Association of the Philippines to promote infrastructure development in the country.

PCA will start the construction of the expressways in Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Union.

With this endeavor, he said, they would like to limit the use of loans or funds from Japan International Cooperation Agency, Espiritu believes that the Philippines is capable and rather intends to use local resources.

"Why do we need money from abroad if we are capable of funding on our own," Espiritu noted.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on June 04, 2011.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2011/06/03/construction-group-gets-p115-billion-loan-grant-159245

hugodiekonig

June 4th, 2011, 06:01 AM

The local government of San Fernando City, La Union has been making great progress in developing a city-wide septic tank maintenance and wastewater treatment program. As required by law, all septic tanks in the city will be emptied regularly and the contents (called Septage) properly treated and disposed of to protect public health and the environment.

The city is receiving assistance in planning and implementing the program from Rotary International, the Rotary Club of San Fernando, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with additional assistance from Sustainable Cities International in Canada. This partnership has also resulted in the development of small sewage treatment systems (called 'Eco-tanks') in Barangays Poro, Catbangen, and San Francisco. Installation of the Ecotanks is already underway in Barangay Poro.

http://www.sanfernandocity.gov.ph/news/photo/news227a.jpg

Regular emptying of septic tanks, referred to as septage management, is seen as an affordable, short-term solution to the Philippines' sanitation challenges. Poor sanitation results in 55 deaths per day, and more than P78 billion in economic losses, according to a study done by the World Bank. Septage management is being implemented in Metro Manila, Dumaguete City and Alabel, Sarangani to comply with the Clean Water Act of 2004. Many other cities and water districts are also developing these programs because of the many benefits. In terms of health benefits, the program will reduce contamination of well water. A study of well water in San Fernando showed that 56 out of 59 wells were contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria, which causes serious illness.

Septic tank maintenance will also result in cleaner rivers and lakes, reduction of foul odor caused by overflowing septic tanks, and an improved image for the City of San Fernando. Given the large amount of money lost each year due to poor sanitation, including health costs and reduced fish catches, proper sanitation saves money in the long run. Indeed, the City of San Fernando seems to be taking a step in the right direction.

With assistance from USAID and Rotary, a septage treatment facility will be built next to the landfill with construction beginning in the coming months. Once the facility is completed, the city plans to hire a local desludging company to empty the septic tanks throughout the city using a vacuum truck. All septic tanks should be emptied once every five years in order to lower the risk of overflowing and the subsequent contamination of groundwater. The schedule of desludging will be posted at all barangay halls so that residents are aware when their septic tanks will be desludged. The City is encouraging residents to become aware of where their septic tank is located within their home, and how it can be accessed so that the desludging can be done quickly and efficiently.

http://www.sanfernandocity.gov.ph/news/photo/news227b.jpg

The City will also begin collecting a new Wastewater Management Fee to pay for the operation and maintenance of the septage treatment facility, the collection of the septage using vacuum trucks, and other wastewater management projects including future expansion of the treatment facility and other decentralized treatment options like the Ecotanks. The fee will be added to the yearly Real Property Tax (RPT) bill and although the amount has yet to be finalized, residents of San Fernando canbe assured that it will fall well below the current rate of P7,500 that they are currently paying for septic tank desludging - one of the highest prices in the country! For comparison, residents of Dumaguete are paying about P50 per month on average, while Metro Manila residents pay about P42 per month.

To learn more about the Septage Management Program in San Fernando, visit http://sfluseptage.blogspot.com (Contributed Article by: Meghan Larson and Kate Letizia)

http://www.sanfernandocity.gov.ph/news/news227.php

nebelwerferXXX

June 8th, 2011, 02:53 AM

May balita ako ang SM daw ay nagko-conduct ng feasibility study along Pennsylvania Ave. for a possible site I guess. True ba ito ?

hugodiekonig

June 9th, 2011, 03:57 AM

May balita ako ang SM daw ay nagko-conduct ng feasibility study along Pennsylvania Ave. for a possible site I guess. True ba ito ?

Sana nga magcoconduct uli. Pero noon noon noon noon noon pang balak ng SM magpatayo diyan ng mall.

hugodiekonig

June 15th, 2011, 08:56 AM

Construction of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) is under way even as another bypass from the North Luzon Expressway is being planned, according to Trade Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio

This developed as the government is set to bid out the operation and maintenance (O&M) for the linked up Light Rail Transit line 1 and Metro Rail Transit line on July11.

Panlilio said earth-moving and soil compacting works are being done up to Gerona, Tarlac, from the end of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway in La Paz, Tarlac.

He said the target is to have that stretch asphalted and operational by the middle of next year

Panlilio said right-of-way problems in the TPLEx have been solved, paving the way for the ground works of the road construction.

TPLEx is an 88.58-kilometer toll road being built by the Philippine Infrastructure Development Corp. (PIDC), the consortium which holds the 35-year contract to build, operate and maintain the road

The four-lane highway runs from La Paz, Tarlac, to Rosario, La Union and connects to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

The new highway, originally set for completion in 2013, is expected to cut travel time by an hour for farmers and traders carrying agricultural products to Manila from Northern and Central Luzon.

PIDC is composed of San Miguel Corp., DMCI Holdings Inc., First Balfour Inc. and EEI Corp.

Panlilio said another major infrastructure project is expected to ease travel in Bulacan.

Panlilio said earth moving and soil compacting are also under way between the Tabang and Sta. Rita exits of NLEx to give way to a diversion road that will bypass the towns of Plaridel and Baliuag on the way to San Miguel, Bulacan.

According to Panlilio, this will particularly benefit commuters going to Nueva Ecija.

The proponent of the project is the Department of Public Works and Highways, which recently announced that efficiency in its bidding processes has reduced the cost of projects by 30 percent.

source link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/june15/busi7.html

makatiprime

June 15th, 2011, 02:56 PM

may plano ng tayuan ng sm ang san fernado, tawag nga nila sm city san fernando(la union) 2015

hugodiekonig

June 15th, 2011, 07:46 PM

may plano ng tayuan ng sm ang san fernado, tawag nga nila sm city san fernando(la union) 2015

Really? Matagal pa yan ha? Sure na ba yan?

ergit222

June 16th, 2011, 04:51 PM

may plano ng tayuan ng sm ang san fernado, tawag nga nila sm city san fernando(la union) 2015
i hope this is true. ang dami na kasing haka-haka na darating ang SM sa SFLU pero wala pa rin naman. sana totohanan na nila eventually.

hugodiekonig

June 16th, 2011, 07:23 PM

sana nga talaga ito na ang inaabangang sm sa la union

hugodiekonig

June 19th, 2011, 05:11 PM

A June 17, 2011 press release by the Department of Public Works and Highways
Infrastructure projects for Region 1 under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) CY 2011 infrastructure program are focused on the rehabilitation and improvement of national arterial and secondary national roads along the Manila North Road (MNR) to speed up mobility.
DPWH Region 1 has about 80 infrastructure projects under the CY 2011 General Appropriations Act (GAA), most of them are intended for the rehabilitation and widening of Manila North Road from Pangasinan to La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte.

To date, of the 80 projects in Region 1, 13 projects have been completed, 18 are ongoing and the remaining projects are for implementation.
DPWH Region 1 Director Veniedo O. Reyes said that this is consistent with the President Benigno S. Aquino III’s national development thrust and Secretary Rogelio L. Singson’s policy and strategy of upgrading the quality and safety features of the national roads and bridges.

According to Director Reyes, the completion of three major bridges, namely Bagulin Bridge along San Fernando -Bagulin Road; Banela Bridge along San Nicolas-San Quintin-Umingan Pangasinan-Guimba,Nueva Ecija Road, and the Aluling Bridge in Cervantes Ilocos Sur will interconnect the inner municipalities of the Ilocos Region.

The Aluling Bridge, which is expected to be completed this year 2011, will also connect Region 1 to Mountain Province of the Cordilleras.

The project will facilitate easy movement of people, goods, and services from the highlands to Candon City in Ilocos Sur.

Meanwhile, to mitigate flooding and relieve the anxiety of the stricken communities in eastern Pangasinan, which had been devastated by previous typhoons particularly Ondoy and Pepeng, Director Reyes personally monitors the progress of activities and quality of works of completed and ongoing restoration/rehabilitation of major flood control projects along the Agno River.
The flood control projects are part of the Post Ondoy Pepeng Short-Term Infrastructure Rehabilitation Projects (POPSTIRP) under loan agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

“We should not let great devastation happen again, that’s why, we in the DPWH Region 1 are very strict in the implementation of rehabilitation works and inspections are being done regularly,” said Director Reyes.
Joining Director Reyes in his inspection at the ongoing restoration and rehabilitation of the flood control structures along Talingkapor Dike in Santa Maria East, San Nicolas, and Sitio Departe, Barangay Bantog, Asingan are Agno Flood Control Project Director Edgardo C. Paragas, OIC-District Engineer Emmanuel W. Diaz of Pangasinan 3rd District Engineering Office and Regional Maintenance Chief Cornelio G. Amita.

dpwh.gov.ph

hugodiekonig

June 21st, 2011, 01:20 PM

A hump at expressway’s endpoint By Inquirer Northern Luzon, Vincent Cabreza 8:31 pm | Monday, June 20th, 2011

ROSARIO, La Union—The 88-kilometer Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx), which the Aquino administration intends to complete in
two to three years, will end in a proposed interchange here, but will it be at
the doorsteps of the Cordillera, or the Ilocos region? Baguio City Rep. Bernardo Vergara prefers an exit of the P11-billion TPLEx to
be built closer to Kennon Road, so that tourists can go straight to the
Cordillera. Vergara and Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan, chair of the House committee on
public works, have been lobbying for an exit near Barangay Saytan, the
junction used by motorists to reach Baguio via Kennon, or Marcos Highway. “The TPLEx project is important for Baguio and Benguet, but its exit must lead to Kennon Road and Marcos Highway,” Cosalan said in a a text message sent to the Inquirer from Switzerland. Heavy traffic But former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, wants it past the town proper,
Cosalan said. This would mean that “those going to Kennon and Marcos Highway will pass through heavy traffic in Rosario, which is why I and
Representative Vergara objected.” It was during Cojuangco’s term as Pangasinan’s fifth district representative that the TPLEx took shape. The district is now represented by his wife, Kimi,
the former mayor of Sison town. Work on the TPLEx, which extends the North Luzon Expressway and the
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, started in 2010. The project features eight
interchanges in the towns of Victoria, Gerona, Paniqui and Moncada in
Tarlac; the towns of Carmen and Pozorrubio and Urdaneta City in
Pangasinan; and this town. According to Vergara, the proposed road link would cut travel time from
Metro Manila to Baguio from six to three hours, provided it exits near
Kennon. This would not only help improve Baguio tourism but also stabilize
vegetable prices in Metro Manila because it would provide shorter routes for
truckers hauling produce from Benguet and Mt. Province, he said. Access to Ilocos But Cojuangco said he wanted the Rosario interchange to follow the Manila
North Road or the MacArthur Highway which would locate it 7 kilometers
from the town center. This would provide a smooth access to San Fernando
City in La Union, as well as to other coastal towns of the Ilocos, he said. “This new route would kill two birds with one stone, ” Cojuangco said. It allows the government to widen the TPLEx lanes by 30 meters and grant
work crews a more cost-effective way of designing a flyover that would link
Kennon Road to the new Rosario interchange, he said. But the proposed realignment would entail building a single-lane flyover at
the new exit point for the Rosario interchange that is dedicated to
northbound vehicles traveling to Baguio, he said. Cojuangco is a son of business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., chair of San Miguel Corp., which has a 25-percent stake in Private Infrastructure Development Corp. (PIDC), the company developing TPLEx. PIDC is a joint venture between DM Consunji Inc. and DM Wenceslao &
Associates Inc. Vergara believes that Cojuangco’s idea would raise bigger social problems for the government because it would have to expropriate more private lots for the project. He adds that he is banking on President Aquino’s wish to modernize Kennon Road during his term. Emmanuel Diaz and Alfredo Doctolero, acting district engineers in Pangasinan
and La Union, respectively, will submit a report about the officials’ positions to Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson.

newsinfo.inquirer.net/16628/a-hump-at-expressway’s-endpoint

kalbongdad

June 22nd, 2011, 12:37 PM

hugodiekonig

June 22nd, 2011, 03:35 PM

i agree that is should serve the baguio, cordillera area....yung ilocos ay accessible na through air.....dapat ma develop nman ang cordillera kawawa ang mga tao dito....para itong mga taga mindanao din na naiwan sa progreso ng pinas....

actually, the expressway would benefit not only cordillera but also the ilocos region. ang nangyayari kasi kontra na sa re-aignment ang mga baguio oficials, kung may exit man na gagawin patungong kennon road edi waang problema

I really don't know also kung paano rin i-manage ng cordillera officials ang region nila. mas malaki pa nga ang ipinupuntang pondo sa region na ito kaysa sa Ilocos Region pero still parang wala paring significant progress sa region na ito, only at baguio

hugodiekonig

July 6th, 2011, 05:12 AM

from a blog at langyaw.com
source link: http://langyaw.com/2011/05/14/santorini-inspired-architecture-at-poro-point/

http://langyaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/thunderbirds_2.jpg

It was ubiquitous as the blue domed white structure got visible from the distance. Thunderbird Resorts sits, ensconced at the tongue of land that is the peninsula of Poro Point in La Union, the only five star resort in Northern Luzon as of this writing.

It was a great relief as we finally, after 5 hours on the road from Manila, drove up the main building in all its white washed glory whose architecture has been inspired by the traditional structures of Santorini Island in Greece. Mention of that far off place not only brings historical facts of one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in recorded history but more for its beautiful bleached whited buildings that are perched on the rugged terrain of that ancient caldera.

http://langyaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/thunderbirds_1.jpg

Like its inspiration, Thunderbird Resorts is also atop a promontory spanning 65 hectares of undulating hills, 100 foot cliffs and giving a beautiful view of the sea that, at the time we were there, was rather dramatic as dark clouds pregnant with rainwater hovered above. The sight was just memorable. Like impressionistic paintings of the masters.

I just like its architecture. The smooth clean lines, block like with its arcade. An open air structure that is both inviting and invigorating to the tired soul and body. Despite its minimalistic approach, there are still surprises. The dome itself seems to be the piece de resistance, where everything else revolves around. Inside, a peek up does provide a beautiful monochromatic (blue hued) artwork.

http://langyaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/thunderbirds_6.jpg

http://langyaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/thunderbirds_5.jpg
Spacious rooms of the resort.

http://langyaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/thunderbirds_4.jpg

The area is large. With its casino, restaurants with good food, golf course and sports facilities, and eventually, the residences that will be built later on. From the main building going to the sea, is a swimming pool in an aptly landscaped area while the sea is untouched left to its rugged state.

http://langyaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/thunderbirds_3.jpg
Pool area with a view of the hotel building.

But its not all beautiful and rosy though. The benches and sheds along the coastline can be an eyesore and a bit garish even with its tri-toned color scheme. It would have been better if the structures were built in consonance with the minimalist architecture of the main building or in harmony with the environment but what you have is rather detached and imposing.

The place is actually still in development and many areas are barren or undeveloped considering that this is a five star hotel and resort. It can be a bit untidy to look at but I think, a few years from now, it will be transformed into one big landscaped area.

If given a chance to linger more, I would have just sat on a chair at the verandah of the main building or at the rooms and stared for hours at the sea, contemplating on the vagaries of life while observing nature: the changing tides, the brooding sky and fading sun as day turns to night.

Thunderbird Resorts
Poro Point, La Union
www.thunderbirdresorts.com
(+6372) 888-7777

hugodiekonig

July 13th, 2011, 05:28 PM

by Abe N. Libadia

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, July 13 (PIA) -- Ilocos Region’s infrastructure sector is focusing on providing adequate and reliable infra support for agriculture, industry, tourism and human resources development for the next six years.

As envisioned in the medium term regional development plan 2011-2016 (MTRDP-2010-2016), infrastructure support facilities shall be provided to the various sectors in the region in accordance to appropriate design standards, plans and specifications.

MTRDP-2010-2016

Ilocos Region’s MTRDP-2010-2016 is a blueprint which laid down the goals, targets and strategies paralleled with the thrusts of the new administration in attaining its economic vision for the next six years.

Transportation Sub-sector Plan

The subsector on transportation as specified in the MTRDP plans to put up more alternate and access roads and bridges to ensure accessibility to seaports and airports to affect reliable inter-modal transport system.
These roads and bridges will likewise serve as alternate routes in case od road cuts or unpassable bridges caused by massive flooding and landslides.
The sub-sector will also improve and maintain key inter-regional road networks to perk up economic activities between and among neighboring regions.
The length of the region’s paved national road increased from 1,509.66 kilometers in 2009 to 1,549.33 kilometers or 39.67 kilometers more in 2010.
Among the major road sections completed were the Laoag-Sarrat-Piddig-Salsona road in Ilocos Norte; widening of Pangasinan-Tarlac road Carmen Junction-Manat road and the Urdaneta Junction-Dagupan-Lingayen road in Pangasinan; Sta. Lucia-Salcedo road in Ilocos Sur; and the San Fernando By-Pass road extension in La Union. The total appropriation spent was P166.57 Million.

Upland access roads and bridge projects connecting the region’s road network to the Cordillera region were the Abra-Ilocos Norte road; Phase V of the Aluling bridge along the Tagudin-Cervantes road junction Santiago-Banayoyo-Lidlidda-San Emilio-Quirino road, and Sta. Maria-Burgos-Lidlidda road in Ilocos Sur; and the Rosario-Pugo road in La Union.

The Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Toll Expressway, a breakthrough Build-Operate-Transfer project undertaken by the Private Infrastructure Development Corporation, started construction in 2010. The 88-kilometer 4-lane expressway providing a comfortable and safe travel experience of motorists going to North Luzon is expected to be completed soon.

Power Sub-sector

As contained in the MTRDP, the power subsector is expected to provide adequate power supply for agriculture, tourism, commercial and industrial use. Alternate power supply facilities such as solar power projects are also expected to provide the much needed electricity particularly in remote and upland villages in the Region.

All towns and villages in the region have access to electricity in 2010. However, 305 of the region’s 7,290 sitios mostly in remote upland barangays have yet to be electrified. For household connections, the sector has yet to address the electricity needs of some 79,552 households were unserved in 2010. The region has approximately 857,100 households.

Water Resources Sub-sector

The construction of flood control structures including dredging of rivers form part of the strategies for water resources subsection in the MTRDP to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change in the farm production of the region.

Repairs of typhoon damaged irrigation systems as well as the generation of new irrigation areas shall be pursued. This would contribute in the increase of rice production to maintain sufficiency and improve food security of the region.

The Contract Package 2 of the Agno river Flood Control project, Phase 2 in Pangasinan is already 99.45 percent complete, promising a more disaster-resilient community in the area.

In terms of irrigation support, three multi-billion irrigation projects in the region were implemented in 2010. The Banaoang Pump irrigation Project in Ilocos Sur has been completed while the Lower Agno River irrigation System and the Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project were 68.37percent and 53.53 percent complete respectively. The three projects which was a combined coverage service area of 34,450 hectares were implemented at a cost of P14.66 billion.
After several years of constant decline in the region’s irrigation service, a significant growth was achieved in 2010. Irrigation service area went up from 127,571 hectares in 2009 to 159, 736 hectares or 25.21 percent higher in 2010. As a result, the regions irrigation coverage significantly soared to 50 percent of the total potential irrigable area from just about 40 percent in 2009. The increase was attributed to the generation of an additional 1,240.88 hectares and the restoration of another 1,682 hectares and the rehabilitation of some 7,423 hectares in 2010.

Achieving Sustained Growth In 6 Years

The goals, targets, strategies including the infra projects spelled out in the MTRDP 2010-2016 are geared towards achieving sustained growth, employment generation, improvement in health and education facilities for better quality and manpower, and build capabilities for resilient communities in Ilocos Region. (ANL-PIA 1 La Union)(Abe N. Libadia/NEDA-R1 Report)

Source link: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=43227

hugodiekonig

July 15th, 2011, 04:43 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Toll Expressway (TPLEX) project, one of the country’s most important infrastructure undertakings to date, has wrapped up its financial closing, with BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) providing the bulk of its debt component.

The financial closing was formalized through the recent signing of a P11.5-billion term-loan facility among the lenders and the project’s proponent Private Infra Dev Corp. (PIDC), an all-Filipino consortium led by Rapid Thoroughfares, Inc., DMCI Group and D.M. Wenceslao & Associates, Inc. Apart from BDO, the other participating banks were Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines.

The TPLEX project, with an estimated cost of P19 billion, is being undertaken via a build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract between the government -- through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) -- and PIDC.

It is an 88.58-kilometer (km), two-lane travel way (with provisions for widening) traversing from La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union. Once completed, it will reduce significantly the current travel time from Manila to Baguio.

Phase 1 or the construction of the two-lane travel way would be completed in five years.

“TPLEX is a momentous project because it has many firsts to its credit. It is the first all-Filipino owned public-private partnership (PPP) project; the first PPP project funded by all-Filipino banks; and, the first toll road project under the PPP that completed its financial close,” said BDO president Nestor V. Tan.

source link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=66&articleId=706156

hugodiekonig

July 26th, 2011, 07:52 AM

TPLEx toll plaza transfer rejected

TPLEx toll plaza transfer rejected
By DEXTER A. SEE
July 25, 2011, 3:56pm

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines — The House Committee on Public Works gave its thumbs down on a proposal to relocate the toll plaza of the 84-kilometer Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) to the town proper of Rosario, La Union.

Benguet Representative Ronald M. Cosalan, the committee chairman, said the proposed transfer of the expressway’s toll plaza to Rosario from its original site near Marcos Highway and Kennon Road was impractical.

Cosalan said one of the purposes of the P27-billion expressway is to enhancing the growth of the tourism industry through improved travel time.

He said that to transfer the toll plaza approximately 7 kilometers away from its original site which is close to two major roads leading to Baguio, Benguet and the Cordillera, will no longer serve the purpose of providing convenient travel to motorists visiting tourist destinations in Northern Luzon.

The lawmaker said that once the toll plaza is transferred to Rosario, as what some Pangasinan politicians want, it will be more expensive on the part of the government because more infrastructure such as flyovers will be built from the toll plaza leading to Marcos Highway and Kennon Road in order to accommodate the huge volume of motorists wanting to go up to Baguio and Benguet and enjoy the cool and romantic climate there.

The TPLEx will form part of the expressways that strand from Metro Manila up to Northern Luzon in order to improve and reduce travel time which will be beneficial to the agricultural, economic and tourism development of provinces located north of Manila.

Cosalan said the proposal of some Pangasinan congressmen to transfer the location of the expressway’s toll plaza will just be an added burden for the national government, considering that it will again result to more expenditures which is unlikely to happen, thus, the need to stick with the original plan of having the toll plaza right at the mouth of Marcos Highway and Kennon Road.

Once the highway will be completed in the next two to three years, the lawmaker claimed more foreign and domestic tourists will be enticed to visit Baguio and Benguet and the different parts of the Cordillera because they will have more time to go around the tourist destinations due to the significantly reduced travel time.

From the regular four to five hours travel from Baguio to Manila and vice versa, motorists will be able to go to their respective points of destination in Baguio and Manila in just a little over three hours passing through the TPLEX once it will be completed.

Cosalan claimed appropriate representations were already made with concerned officials of the DPWH.

source link: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/328225/tplex-toll-plaza-transfer-rejected

hugodiekonig

August 6th, 2011, 07:46 PM

The waning interest in toll roads

Some one and a half years ago, proposals, plans and funding interest for new expressways was at an all-time high. The success of the SCTEx, NLEx, SFEx and STAR extension to Batangas, plus the impending completion of the SLEx-TR3 (better-known as the SLEx-STAR link) and Skyway Stage 2 proved attractive to local conglomerates like Metro Pacific Tollways, San Miguel and PIDCo, along with foreign investors like MTD of Malaysia and Citra of Indonesia.

Hopes were high that a new administration would carry on and improve upon the track record of the past in adding more expressway kilometers. Finally, the infrastructure backlog that had accumulated since the debt-torn ’80s was being addressed. There was no lack of vision.

Metro Pacific Tollways was already designing the Valenzuela-Port Area NLEx link and was looking forward to the government’s completion of C-5 linking NLEx-Mindanao Ave. to Luzon Ave. and the MWSS end of Katipunan Ave. A stacked elevated expressway linking the NLEx to Skyway Buendia via the PNR right of way was being proposed.

Expressways for Cebu and Iloilo were being planned. There were plans for the extension of the NAIA Expressway to link all four terminals of the complex to connect all the way to the Coastal CAVITEx.

Not to be outdone, San Miguel was wisely taking a holistic approach, targeting not only the building of new expressways but also the income of long-term operation which attracts funders. The STAR tollway was given a look-see and San Miguel joined the PIDCo consortium that was already breaking ground on the TPLEx. It even dared to announce plans to take the expressway beyond Rosario, La Union to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. San Miguel also surveyed their options on Ausphil’s planned North Luzon East Expressway and LRT-7 that takes off from Commonwealth Ave. to reach Norzagaray in Bulacan.

Despite being victimized by the government indecision on applying the agreed toll rate for the new SLEx and the delayed turnover by the PNCC, MTD still made plans for a scenic expressway that links Saimsim, Laguna on Toll Road 3 to Pagbilao, Quezon. Citra, while still finishing Skyway Stage 2, was already planning links to C-5, C-6 and the Bulacan-Rizal-Cavite Expressway. The BCDA, builders of the SCTEx and its financier, JBIC, were still raring to build more expressways: to Sta. Rosa-Dingalan Bay on the Pacific coast and the Central Luzon-Nueva Ecija-Aurora Expressway.

The commercial viability of Philippine toll expressways also attracted interest from international toll road operators and soft loan funders. As a result, DPWH plans for the Laguna Lakeshore and the Cavite-Laguna expressways were dusted off and offered for BOT packaging to attract financing. Belatedly, local banks found it feasible to finance toll road projects though their 10-year terms paled in comparison to the 20-plus-year terms of the ADB and the JBIC’s 40 years.

Two SONAs later, what has the new government got to show?
First, the good news. The Skyway Stage 2, SLEx, TR-3 and STAR extension is already benefiting thousands of motorists everyday. Ditto for all those motorists going north via the NLEx and SCTEx.

Long-suffering residents of Cavite now have a complete coastal expressway. TPLEx is already building the Tarlac-Gerona two-way section. The NAIA-3 Expressway has been in operation for one and a half years, even if the government hasn’t allowed the investors to charge toll.

It’s a national habit that with every change of government, the need to review all those proposed projects from the previous administration will always find some justification. Anyway, whoever the project proponent is, all infrastructure projects must pass the NEDA’s guidelines to determine the impact on economic growth. It also must ensure that the government’s debt ceiling is not breached. This is where unsolicited projects become useful when private investors propose to finance, build and operate a toll road while the government’s role is to purchase the right of way and allow the private investor a reasonable span of time to recover its investment. With the new public-private partnerships, all proposed toll road projects, including unsolicited proposals, had to be vetted again and opened up to competing bids.

read more (http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=20&title=The-waning-interest-in-toll-roads&id=35770)

hugodiekonig

August 11th, 2011, 01:12 PM

Author:
Posted: August 08, 2011 | Category: Freeport And Ecozones

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova recently disclosed the agency’s directions to synergize the special economic zones in Luzon. Casanova believed that the synergy among economic zones can maximize economic potential that ultimately benefits the Filipinos.

Casanova sees the great potential if all of BCDA’s subsidiaries will move beyond promoting themselves and push for a collective effort for progress. “The operational directive for BCDA is to bring synergy between Bonifacio Global City and Newport City in Metro Manila, Clark and Subic in Central Luzon, and John Hay and Poro Point in North Luzon,” he said.

In Manila, there is a proposal to build a Mega Central Business District (CBD) to interconnect all the CBDs in Makati, Taguig and Pasay through a monorail. Casanova said that it will “pave the way for the rise of a Mega CBD with greater accessibility and faster flow of commerce which will further bring progress and development in Metro Manila.”

The Newport City in Pasay, known to be the country’s premier and urban integrated tourism resort complex with a strong information technology component and airport related business blends well with the prime bustling hub of commerce and development at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

“The synergy between these two prime economic hubs will create huge revenues and greater job opportunities that will help boost the country’s economic stability in the coming years,” Casanova said.

In Central Luzon, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) has become the catalyst for increased tourism in Central Luzon. When the expressway was built, travel time from Clark to Subic was cut to a mere forty (40) minutes, bringing interconnectivity to the two major economic zones including other economic zones and commercial centers in the region.

The recent signing of the SCTEX Concession Agreement with the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC), also the concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), will bring in a more seamless connection between the NLEX and the SCTEX.

In North Luzon, the Poro Point Freeport Zone, which aims to become a commercial light industrial and tourism hub in Northern Luzon became feasible upon the completion of the upgraded San Fernando Airport in La Union. Casanova believes that the San Fernando Airport should not be a stand alone airport. “For an airport to be sustainable, it must be able to partner with other airports such as the Clark International Airport. San Fernando Airport can be a major airport in Northern Luzon as a substitute to Loakan Airport.” The synergy between these airports can improve tourism and business developments within and nearby areas.

Not far from Poro Point, the John Hay Special Economic Zone (JHSEZ) offers prime accommodations and various leisure facilities for the tourists. Camp John Hay Manor, Mile-Hi Inn and Treetop Adventure are nestled within JHSEZ. JHSEZ also has a business process outsourcing (BPO) techno hub that can hold about 3000 BPO employees. This additional work force not only provides better career opportunities but also helps uplift the standard of living of the workers and their families.

A synergy between John Hay and Poro Point would give a boost to tourism in North Luzon. Tourists can enjoy a game of golf in the midst of pine trees and fresh mountain air in John Hay in the morning, then in the afternoon, they can take a 45-minute ride down to Poro Point to inhale the sea breeze and have a cozy night at the beach.

Casanova is optimistic that the synergy between economic zones is always possible. “As an organization, we have to move together. Ecozones must serve as catalysts of national development and this can be done if they complement each other. This is in keeping with BCDA’s primary mandate as a development company.”

“If BCDA and all its subsidiaries would work together to achieve that synergy among the economic zones, then it will help propel our economy forward,” he stressed. “This shall be our commitment for the next six years.”

source link: http://www.bcda.gov.ph/news_articles/show/133

hugodiekonig

August 11th, 2011, 01:15 PM

From San Fernando City and La Union Province Thread 8

“Tsupiteros,” or marginal traders who have been feasting on the shares of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. for so many months, have plenty of reasons to be more bullish these days, despite the recent global stock market bloodbath. Lepanto’s prospective foreign partner, Gold Fields Ltd. of South Africa, appears to be dead set on acquiring a 60-percent interest in the Philippine company’s undeveloped gold-copper deposit in Mankayan, Benguet province.

Gold Fields Ltd., through wholly-owned Gold Fields Switzerland Holding AG, has initially set up its Philippine headquarters at the 37th floor of Philamlife Tower, presumably in preparations for its formal investment in Lepanto’s prized asset. The world’s fourth-largest gold producer has incorporated local unit Gold Fields Philippines Corp. and started recruiting key personnel to man its future operations.

Gold Fields recently went headhunting by placing an ad in Jobstreet.com for a “licensing and permitting manager,” who “must be willing to work in Makati City and to frequently travel to Benguet,” and who has “concrete knowledge of mining-related legislations in the Philippines.” The company, in a separate ad placement, offered a job for a site human resources manager, who is willing to work and relocate to Mankayan, Benguet.

The grapevine said Gold Fields was also setting up a second office in the Poro Point Freeport Zone in San Fernando, La Union province, presumably to handle and monitor copper and gold ore shipments from the Benguet mine. The economic zone, formerly known as the Wallace Air Station, has a 30-hectare international seaport that can accommodate cruise ships, barges and cargo and roll-on roll-off vessels.

Option agreement

Gold Fields in September last year signed an option agreement to acquire a 60-percent interest in the Far Southeast gold and copper mine of Lepanto. Gold Fields has 18 months to exercise the investment option and proceed with a drilling program to establish the mine reserves of the Mankayan mine.

The South African mining company was also given the option to invest $120 million to acquire a 20-percent stake in Far Southeast Gold Resources Inc., the Lepanto unit that has concession over the deposits.

Gold Fields, by all accounts, is bullish on the transaction and on the prospect of the Far Southeast mine. The company’s Web site said several drillings on the area “indicate the presence of a large, concealed gold-copper mineralized porphyry system.”

Says Nick Holland, chief executive, of Gold Fields: “This transaction provides Gold Fields with a unique and exciting opportunity to gain exposure to what will undoubtedly prove to be a world-class deposit. It also advances our strategy of growing each of our three international regions to 1 million ounces, either in production or in development, by 2015.”

source (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideBusop.htm?f=2011/august/11/rayenano.isx&d=2011/august/11)

hugodiekonig

August 23rd, 2011, 01:49 PM

From San Fernando City and La Union Province Thread

by Jenniffer B. Austria

A consortium led by San Miguel Corp. and the Consunji group plans to open half of the 88.5-kilometer Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway to the public by November next year.

DMCI Holdings president Isidro Consunji said the first phase of the project covering a 44-kilometer stretch from Tarlac to Carmen in Pangasinan would be partly operational. The Tarlac-Gerona stretch would be operational by April while the Gerona-Carmen phase would open in November 2012.

The second phase covering 44.5 kilometers from Carmen to Rosario in La Union will be completed by 2014.

The consortium has obtained a term credit facility worth P11.5 billion from a syndicate of banks led by Banco de Oro Unibank to build the project. Other participating banks are the state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines.

The proponent of Tarlac-La Union is Private Infra Dev Corp., an all-Filipino group composed of San Miguel through unit Rapid Thoroughfares Inc., DMCI Group and D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc.

The project is expected to cut travel time from Manila to Baguio to three hours from the present six hours at an average speed of 80 kilometers per hour.

Meanwhile, DMCI may also join Metro Pacific group in bidding for the P1.8-billion Daang Hari-SLEX Road Project, one of the infrastructure projects under the Public-Private Participation programs of the Aquino administration.

Consunji said the company was in talks with Metro Pacific to be part of the group that will bid for the project.

The project involves the construction of a four-kilometer, four-lane toll road from Daang Hari in Bacoor, Cavite to SLEX near the Susana Heights interchange, passing through the New Bilibid Prison Reservation.

The project will provide an alternative route from Cavite to Metro Manila, aiming to increase the competitiveness of the Southern Luzon region as an investment destination. The road project will reduce travel time from Daang Hari to the Alabang interchange and decongest traffic in some parts of Cavite, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa.

The Daang Hari Road connects Las Piñas to neighboring Bacoor town, Muntinlupa City, and San Pedro town in Laguna.

The public works and highway department earlier said interested bidders must submit all qualification documents on September 19.

hugodiekonig

August 26th, 2011, 04:29 PM

Poro Point Urban development by Arch Palafox soon!

hugodiekonig

September 1st, 2011, 03:11 PM

Philippines to raise port interconnectivity during presidential visit

THE PHILIPPINES will be firming up a proposal to develop a nautical highway system in the region during the visit of President Benigno S. C. Aquino III to China, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel "Mar" A. Roxas II said yesterday.

Talking to reporters at the airport before departing with the presidential entourage, Mr. Roxas said a roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) system will be proposed to be established between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China. He noted the target destination would be on "the coastal ports of China towards the western seaboard especially Subic and Poro Point," referring to the Subic free port and another facility in La Union province, further north.

The Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity was adopted last year during the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Strategies include establishing an integrated inland waterway network as well as a maritime transport system.

"This was an initiative that the President started in his last meeting with the ASEAN leaders plus China last year so we will be taking it to the next step where we will be signing an agreement, an understanding to physically explore the setting up of this South China Sea Ro-Ro," said Mr. Roxas.

The proposed agreement, the official further said, "will just mean that both governments will now direct their appropriate agencies to undertake such steps so that whoever, whether government side or private, will want to implement this project will be clear on the rules especially for immigration, custom, and other specialized needs for international transfer of goods."

Meanwhile, among the joint agreements to be signed today in China will be investments in specific projects including shipping, geothermal and public-private partnerships, said a Trade official yesterday.

Trade Undersecretary for Industry and Investments Group Cristino L. Panlilio said that the President’s meetings with several Chinese businessmen this morning will solidify certain investments.

"The significance of this trip as I said is focused on business promotion, investment promotions. This is really a big, a major significant way of getting the focus of China," said Mr. Panlilio, based on the official transcript of a press conference on Tuesday at Traders Hotel, Beijing.

For instance, China Trend is looking into investing several million dollars into the country, said Mr. Panlilio.

"Many of these investment funds are big funds, but they’re allocating only a certain sum of money like, for example, the China-ASEAN investment fund. It’s a $1-billion fund and growing, but for the Philippines initially they are allocating only something like $200-$300 million based on the projects that they have identified which they’re already analyzing right now," said Mr. Panlilio.

In addition, he said there will be a signing of a joint agreement between the Philippine Contractors Association and its counterpart on a broad range of ventures.

"They’re looking at, one, an industrial park in Clark; they’re looking at geothermal; they’re looking at the PPP (public-private partnership). So, again, it’s a broad range…," said Mr. Panlilio.

However, the Trade official noted that meetings between Mr. Aquino and China Petroleum, as well as Sinopec, will not push through.

China Petroleum, in particular, was not "able to get their required permits in time" for the meeting, Mr. Panlilio said. -- JPDP

source link: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=Philippines-to-raise-port-interconnectivity-during-presidential-visit&id=37463

hugodiekonig

September 1st, 2011, 03:15 PM

From San Fernando City and La Union Province Thread

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino left on Tuesday night for his state visit in China with the hope he and Chinese President Hu Jintao will be able to ease the ongoing tension between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/files/2011/08/noynoy-china-300x225.jpg

“President Hu and I will meet to resolve the controversies in the West Philippine Sea,” President Aquino said in his departure speech before he boarded a special Philippine Airlines flight to Beijing after 6 p.m. Tuesday night.

The President said he and the Chinese President would also witness the signing of key agreements on trade, infrastructure, media exchange and economic and cultural matters.

Aquino described China as an important neighbor and expressed Manila’s intention to continue giving value to, and taking care of its ties and cooperation with Beijing.

“And like in other trips we’ve taken before, we will tell China that we have a different Philippines now, more organized, more bent on putting up reforms and it has a better investment climate…” the President said.

Among the agreements to be firmed up in the President’s visit include one that will see both nations eventually setting up a South China Sea roll of, roll on system or RORO to ensure the smooth transport of goods between them, according to Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas said.

Speaking to reporters before he left with the President and his delegation, Roxas said the agreement would pave the way for both Manila and Beijing to set up a SCS RORO by next year that would see products of the two nations being transported “from the coastal ports of China towards the (Philippines) western sea board” like in Subic, Zambales and Poro Point in La Union.

Roxas said the agreement would be important in making the Philippines “part of the manufacturing juggernaut that is China.”

But he made it clear that the agreement to be signed in Beijing would not yet see any money or contract changing hands as it would only “directly appropriate agencies to physically explore the setting up of the SCS RORO.”

“The agreement doesn’t involve only China and the Philippines but other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,” he said, adding this venture was initiated by President Aquino in talks with Asean and Chinese leaders in 2010.

Asked whether the SCS roro was also called West Philippine Sea, “It’s an Asean document…we consider it as West Philippine Sea RORO.”

source (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/10919/aquino-flies-to-china-for-state-visit-bats-for-asean-roro-system)

hugodiekonig

September 2nd, 2011, 11:52 AM

Phl seeks to rebid NorthRail project
By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated September 02, 2011 12:00 AM

BEIJING (via PLDT) – The Philippines is seeking to re-bid the NorthRail contract between the government and Chinese firm China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEC) in the hope of getting better terms.

Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II told reporters that the Chinese have agreed to “reconfigure” the NorthRail project, but the terms would have to be discussed by his department and his Chinese counterpart. He said this development became apparent during the meeting between President Aquino and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Roxas, in an ambush interview while on a tour of the Forbidden City with Aquino and his delegation, said the project would have to be redesigned and that CNMEC would be compensated for its efforts.

He said CNMEC had completed only one kilometer of the 90 kilometers in the contract and the advance payment of the Philippine government would likely even exceed the amount that would be paid to the contractor. He said engineers and finance experts would determine the amount.

Based on its records, CNMEC’s expertise is in dams and other projects and not in railways.

In 2004, China agreed to provide some $400 million to begin the project, initially the phase connecting Caloocan City and Malolos in Bulacan.

Considered as the largest Chinese project in Southeast Asia, the NorthRail project was also planned to extend to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark freeport, Pampanga.

Its second phase was designed to cover the Subic Freeport Zone in Zambales while its third phase would cover Caloocan City to the Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

The fourth phase, based on plans, will pass through Pampanga, Tarlac, and Pangasinan until San Fernando, La Union.

According to its original proposal, the company will install a double-track system using narrow gauge tracks compatible with those being used by the Philippine National Railways.

Once completed, the 32-kilometer railway is expected to carry 350,000 commuters daily, including those coming from the Light Rail Transit and the Metro Rail Transit in Metro Manila, which will later be connected to NorthRail.

Read full version at: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=722871&publicationSubCategoryId=63

hugodiekonig

September 2nd, 2011, 12:44 PM

^^ I hope this will push through immediately to boost up the economy of the province

hugodiekonig

September 12th, 2011, 05:08 AM

Posted on September 05, 2011 11:46:15 PM at Business World

THE HEAD of the agency tasked to oversee the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme has quit, Cabinet officials yesterday said even as they stressed that the resignation would not have an impact on the government’s already-delayed centerpiece program.

Philamer C. Torio, executive director of the PPP Center, was not immediately available for comment but his superior, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr., said a resignation letter was submitted last week.

President Benigno S. C. Aquino III has yet to give his consent, Sec. Ramon “Ricky” A. Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office said.

“It (the resignation) has not been formally accepted, but it will be soon,” Mr. Carandang said.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail D. Valte said education reasons were behind Mr. Torio’s departure.

“He is pursuing higher studies overseas,” Ms. Valte said.

Mr. Paderanga said he did not expect the PPP program to be affected, declaring that “the important thing in fact is that the office is now operating fully”.

The PPP Center, which is in charge of reviewing and endorsing all projects for bidding, was placed under the National Economic Planning and Development Authority last year. It was formerly under the Department of Trade and Industry as the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) Center but was transferred and renamed under Executive Order 8.

Sought for comment, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive Director Robert M. Sears said, “If they have a good team, the resignation should not mean any delay in the projects.”

Mr. Torio was appointed head of the office last November. His second-in-command, deputy executive director Cosette V. Canilao, said that in addition to the sole deal on offer, four projects would be added this year:

• the P20.181-billion North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) connector, a 13.4-kilometer, four-lane elevated thoroughfare from Caloocan to Makati;

• P10 billion worth of schoolbuildings;

• the P1-billion vaccine self-sufficiency program of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the Department of Health; and

• the rehabilitation of Palawan’s Puerto Princesa airport.

Only the Daang Hari-SLEx auction process is up and running out of the two PPP deals that have been formally offered by the government, with 18 firms having bought bid documents for the P1.956-billion toll road project. The first, the P15-billion combined operations and maintenance contract for Metro Manila’s Light Rail Transit-1 (LRT-1) and Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3), has been placed under review following a leadership change at the Department of Transportation and Communication.

The PPP program, launched last year by the Aquino administration as a means of addressing the country’s lack of critical infrastructure, has been hit by delays traced to the need for further project reviews. Cabinet officials initially said the scheme would help achieve the 2011 economic growth target of 7-8% as 10 projects would be bid out this year.

Growth, however, has so far been lackluster, slipping to 3.4% in the second quarter from a year earlier. The result was also lower than the 4.6% notched in the first three months of the year.

Ms. Canilao, meanwhile, listed projects set to be offered next year:

• the P947.7-million Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway Phase II;

• Cavite-Laguna Expressway;

• Calamba Expressway;

• Central Luzon East Expressway;

• Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway;

• C-6 extension;

• Bohol Airport Development project;

• LRT-1/MRT-3 deal;

• LRT-1 south extension project;

• new Legazpi airport development;

• privatization of the Laguindingan airport; and

• the LRT-2 east extension project.

Feasibility studies are still being finalized, Ms. Canilao said. -- reports from N. M. Gonzales, J. P. D. Poblete and A. E. Barrameda

source link: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=PPP-Center-chief-resigns&id=37791

hugodiekonig

September 23rd, 2011, 05:30 PM

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/15954_104529359562316_100000157582651_130931_5041281_n.jpg

From: ThePoint Residencies Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=104529359562316&set=a.104529332895652.9965.100000157582651&type=1&theater)

hugodiekonig

October 7th, 2011, 05:45 PM

AGOO, La Union: For fear that upcoming typhoons may cause more disastrous damage to their homes, Agoo residents, particularly in barangay Sta. Monica and neighboring villages, appealed anew to the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office here, under Regional Executive Director Veniedo Reyes, to act on a destroyed dike that has been the cause of flooded homes lately. This was the same complaint aired by La Union Second District Cong. Eufranio Eriguel to the DPWH earlier but has not been acted upon since the said dike on Principe River, a national river, was damaged by Typhoon “Mina.” It was learned that from Eriguel that the DPWH had vowed to conduct an emergency repair by the time a next typhoon occurred until Typhoons Pedring and Quiel arrived and devastated Luzon. DPWH has said earlier that they were still waiting for repair funds from its national office to start the construction. WILLIAM JUN GARCIA

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/8632-dpwh-inaction-on-damaged-dike-hit

hugodiekonig

October 13th, 2011, 02:47 PM

PIA Press Release
Thursday, October 13, 2011

by Jennilyne C. Role

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Oct. 13 (PIA) -- The executive committee of the Regional Development Council here recently approved agri-business and eco-tourism industry as two major projects for area development planning.

According to senior economic and development specialist Raquel Atawe, information officer of the National Economic and Development Authority-Regional Office 1, the council identified the Agno River Basin Watershed-Coastal Area Management Program (IARB-CAM) and the Tri-City Tourism Development within the Lingayen Gulf to better managed local resources and yield higher revenues in the region.

For the IARB-CAM, an inter-regional management program will be created to cover the affected upland, lowland and coastal areas for the Agno River Basin Watershed. Specific and interregional programs/projects in the said areas will be identified and implemented to ensure sustainability of the project in terms of conservation, protection and rehabilitation.

Components of the project for implementation include watershed resources improvement, watershed protection, disaster/hazard mitigation, wetlands and coastal area management, livelihood opportunities, and legislative and policy agenda.

The Tri-City Tourism Development Project will closely link the development and promotion of the tourism destinations in the cities of San Fernando in La Union, and Alaminos and Dagupan in Pangasinan, including adjacent municipalities.

Atawe said that the realization of these two major projects entails a collective and unified support of all stakeholders in the region, both public and private, with NEDA-RO1 overseeing the ultimate implementation of said projects, being the secretariat of the RDC-1. (ANL/JCR-PIA 1 La Union with reports form NEDA-1)

source link: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=58969

hugodiekonig

October 13th, 2011, 02:55 PM

Title : SUBIC-CLARK-TARLAC EXPRESSWAY EXTENSION PROJECT (SCTEX2) renamed as Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Project (TPLUEP)

Objective : 1. To provide a direct, reliable and faster road link between facilities of BCDA in Subic, Clark, Baguio and Poro Point to encourage investments and support economic activities therein; 2. To provide an alternative roadway to meet increasing vehicular traffic plying between central and northern regions of Luzon and Metro Manila and in the process, derive critical mass for infrastructure cost recovery and maintenance; and 3. To stimulate activities and investments, production and productivity in areas traversed by the expressway to build the auxiliary resource base for BCDA facilities in Subic, Clark, Baguio and Poro Point and encourage ancillary businesses therein.

Description : The project involves - 1. Construction of 84.5 km 4-lane elevated expressway from Tarlac to Rosario, La Union, passing through Tarlac City/La Paz-Victoria-Gerona-Paniqui-Moncada in Tarlac Province; -San Manuel-Carmen-Urdaneta-Binalonan-Pozorrubio-Sison in Pangasinan Province and Rosario in La Union Province inclusive of: 2 bridges crossing Agno and Bued Rivers totaling 3.66 km; 12 interchanges; and intelligent traffic management system and one lane per direction electronic toll and cargo monitoring. 2. Right of Way Acquisition; 3. Subsidiary facilitation of agricultural producitivity, agro/agri -industrial investments and social development through coordination and convergence of various agency programs to communities along project corridors.

Implementing Agency : BCDA
Funding Source : Japan - STEP
Sector/Subsector : INFRA/Transportation
Region/Location : Interregional
Sub-Regions : 1, 3
Grant/Loan Amount :
GOP Counterpart :
Total in Million US$ :
Project Status : PIPELINE
Pipeline Level : ICC-CC

source link: http://www.neda.gov.ph/odamon/ProjectProfile.asp?ProjectId=820

hugodiekonig

October 26th, 2011, 06:20 AM

Photo by: Happy Travels from http://superhappytotravel.blogspot.com/2011/10/thunderbird-resort.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G20X47wbDVY/Tp1RNbrNZfI/AAAAAAAACVU/6f2YTm4ox_4/s640/IMG_1933.JPG

absinthe_888

October 26th, 2011, 06:37 AM

^^ Thunderbird ba yung asa rightmost photo?

hugodiekonig

October 26th, 2011, 07:42 AM

^^ Thunderbird ba yung asa rightmost photo?

yup Thunderbird iyon:cheers:

hugodiekonig

October 30th, 2011, 01:49 PM

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/388992_2047052468590_1612790914_31584589_909168390_n.jpg

my photo

hugodiekonig

October 30th, 2011, 02:37 PM

Thursday, 27 October 2011 19:36 Dr. Jose Ma. J. Fernandez / Free Enterprise

Clark Development Corp. and other assets under the aegis of BCDA will surely benefit from the incoming and outgoing traffic, and demand for hotel rooms and amenities will soar. But more than Clark is the vision that those concerned have for making the entire area north of Metro a tourist destination. Already, plans are afoot to tie in the golf courses and other assets under BCDA in a seamless arrangement (Clark, Poro Point, John Hay) with other promising tourist spots in the region like Subic and Baguio. CIAC is going to promote a commuter airline or airlines that will sponsor flights to Poro Point in La Union with buses or ongoing flights to Baguio’s Loakan airport to bring visitors to the BCDA-owned John Hay property. If this pans out, the small planes will also ferry in passengers from the Metro area.

read more at: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/banking-a-finance/18508-clark-as-the-inevitable-choice

hugodiekonig

October 31st, 2011, 03:40 PM

Monday, 31 October 2011 17:59 Liza T. Agoot
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SAN JUAN, La Union—Public transportation owners in the Ilocos region and the Cordillera Autonomous Region do not need to proceed to the Central Luzon Land Transportation Office (LTO) to have their vehicles tested for roadworthiness prior to the vehicles’ registration starting January 2012.

The Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (MVIC) in San Juan, La Union, is complete and expected to start operating by January 2012, when the registration of vehicles starts.

LTO Ilocos region assistant regional director Francis Ray Almora said that the center is almost complete, with all the equipment already in place.

Upon installation, the only remaining activity is the training of personnel who will operate the center.

The MVIC is in Urbinztondo in this town via the diversion road from San Fernando City to the municipality of San Juan, away from the busy national highway frequently used by all vehicles in the locality and those proceeding to the Ilocos.

Read more at: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/18633-lto-motor-vehicle-inspection-in-la-union-to-serve-puvs-in-northen-luzon

hugodiekonig

November 1st, 2011, 03:43 PM

For the first time, the top executives of the state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and its subsidiaries are set to meet October 24-26, 2011 to forge an overall vision of creating a seamless business environment by which they can assist and complement each other’s plans and programs with the end goal of boosting the economy by attracting more investments and generating more employment in their respective areas of operation.

The subsidiaries of the BCDA are the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Clark International Airport Authority (CIAC), North Luzon Railways Corporation (Northrail), John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC), Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC), Bataan Technology Park Inc. (BTPI) and BCDA Management Holdings Inc. (BMHI). These are ably led their respective presidents, namely: Atty. Felipe Antonio Remollo of CDC, Col. Conrado Tolentino, (ret) of Northrail, Dr. Jamie Eloise Agbayani of JHMC, Mr. Victor Jose Luciano of CIAC, Ms. Aileen Zosa, OIC of BMHI, Commo. Amado Sanglay, (ret) of BTPI and Mr. Florante Gerdan of PPMC.

He added that air travelers can benefit more with the synergy generated by CIAC, which operates the Clark International Airport, and PPMC, which operates the San Fernando Airport in La Union, by working together to increase the frequency of flights in their respective areas and at the same time complement each other to attract more airlines to come in.

source: http://www.bcda.gov.ph/news_articles/show/152#

hugodiekonig

November 1st, 2011, 04:24 PM

May website din pala ang San Fernando Port. HEto: http://www.sanfernandocustoms.net/web/

http://www.sanfernandocustoms.net/web/images/stories/portfiles/containerized1.jpg

The Port of San Fernando basically handles Bulk and Break Bulk cargoes and receives most of its containerized shipments thru transshipments. The inadequacy or limitation of the pier gives rise to a higher inland freight or transportation cost and puts the transshipped cargoes at risk from hijackers and diversion. The solution is sea-freight transport with the use of self-sustaining feeder vessels that could be accommodated by the existing piers thus lowering inland freight or transport cost and affording cheaper merchandise to the general public or constituents of Region 1.

hugodiekonig

November 1st, 2011, 04:25 PM

More:

The controversies or the intra corporate issues/disagreements hounding the port operations are now being resolved by BCDA and the regular courts. The resolutions of cases by the BCDA and regular courts shall free the litigated properties available to new stakeholders, locators, importers and exporters. In the master development plan of Poro Point Management Corporation a Cold storage facility and that of a yatch/fishing vessel manufacturer are foremost since it could serve the fresh produce storage and preservation requirement of fishermen and vegetable farmers alike, yatch/fishing vessel manufacturer with fish finder could be build and made available for loan/financing (bank) to fishermen cooperatives.

This cluster approach for economic development thru the containerization of the seaport and international operations of the airport, and development of TPLEX in consonance with the Anti-poverty campaign (MDG) of the Aquino administration shall boost prosperity, business development, progress and tourism for region 1.
The containerization project aims to lower transport cost (35%) by substituting inland transport/freight to sea-freight (cost saving in terms of freight change). It is estimated that 10-15% of the 75,000 combined containerized cargoes in the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port are intended for Region 1 and if directly transported instead of transshipped from manila would generate almost half a billion pesos in monthly revenues at an average Php 65,000 D/T per container. The direct importation thru containerization shall likewise be a stimulus to other businesses who are reliant with other importers (manila based) to be direct importers (local) themselves with regards to their merchandise and raw material importation requirements and could lead to expansion either thru direct import (consumption) or warehousing system. This shall not only result to additional generated revenues but increase in business activity (Mama Sita’s, Ayala Call Center, Cold Storage Facility, Retail Outlets, Food, Lodging and Entertainment establishment etc.) resulting to job generation (conservative estimate 15,000 to 20,000). The estimated transition period is from six (6) months to two (2) years.

The locators, stakeholders, importers and exporters of Poro Point, John Hay and Sub-Ports of San Fernando (Sual, Pangasinan & Salomague, Ilocos Sur) are the direct beneficiaries. Even overseas contract workers and balikbayans from the region numbering in the millions (estimated: 900 thousand – Pangasinan, 250 thousand – Ilocos Sur, 200 thousand – La Union, 150 thousand – Abra, 100 thousand – CAR) most of whom are based in the US, Europe, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and the Middle East shall benefit with their consolidation or door to door cargoes due to expediency, accessibility, proximity and cheaper rates. The consolidated cargoes is estimated from 8,000 to 12,000 containers annually which would generate estimated revenue of more or less half a billion pesos annually. Likewise, returning residents who are entitled under the DTI-BIS import permit can cause their motor vehicle importation (one (1) vehicle per family every five (5) years) thru Poro Point seaport.

Other Benefits from containerization

1. Increased trade/exports of Region 1 Agri-Agua products with neighboring countires )china, taiwan, singapore and other trading partners), thereby boosting agriculture production and improved fisheries or aquatic enterprise.
2. The poro point can be a hub or center of agri-aqua based industries to sustain and maintain supply against demand requirements of the region/country and other international market.
3. Poro point will define San Fernando, La union and that of the face of Region 1.
4. Increased interest of investor/locators for Poro Point Special Economic Freeport Zone, John Hay Freeport Zone and the other sub-ports of Region 1.
5. Increased investments on logistics, related trades and businesses such as trading, warehousing, consolidation and forwarding business.
6. The transformation of Poro Point as granary reserve for food supply and oil supply.

source: http://www.sanfernandocustoms.net/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51:containerazation&catid=25:about-us&Itemid=56

hugodiekonig

November 1st, 2011, 04:27 PM

On March 13, 1992, Republic Act 7227 created the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. Proclamation No. 216 was signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos, on July 27, 1993 which created the area covered by the former Wallace Air Station and contiguous areas as Poro Point Freeport Zone.

On October 3, 2002, Executive Order No. 132 was issued by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and created the Poro Point Management Corporation as the estate manager of the Poro Point Freeport Zone.

Benefits/Advantages

* For Existing Registered Enterprises (RA 7227)
* Exemption from national internal revenue taxes and customs and import duties
* Exemption from local taxes
* Exemption from value-added tax
* Preferential income tax treatment on income earned/derived from business operations within the JHSEZ which is (5%) of the gross income in the follwoing percentages:
To the National Government 3%
To the Local Government Unit 2%

For Future Registered Enterprises (RA 7916)

* Exemption from taxes under the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC)
* Exemption from local taxes except real property taxes
* Transactions are Zero-rated
* Preferential income tax treatment on gross income earned within the economic zone which is five percent (5%) of the gross income earned in the following percentages:
To the National Government 3%
To the Local Government Unit 2%

source: http://www.sanfernandocustoms.net/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=59

hugodiekonig

November 1st, 2011, 04:27 PM

http://www.sanfernandocustoms.net/web/images/stories/portfiles/seaport.jpg

The Port of San Fernando seaport facility can accomodate all types of vessel not exceeding 150 meters in length,Cruise Ships (MV Calypso, MV Astor), Roll-On, Roll-Off (RORO) Vessel , Motor Tanker, Barges, Cargo Vessels, Motor Tugboat, Passenger Vessel and Fishing Boats (Motor Banca)

* TYPES OF CARGOES: In- bound (Cement, Gypsum, Coal, Clinker, Rice, Sugar, Cigarettes, Fertilizers, Logs, Salt)
* Out-bound (Concrete Aggregates, Copper Concentrate)
PIER STRUCTURES
* PIER 1: 150 m x 21 m with a draft of
4 m to 15.1 m
* PIER 2: 200 m x 21 m with a draft of
4 m to 14.32 m
* BCC PIER: 200 m x 19 m
* 2 Storage Facilities
Six warehouses with a Total land area of 8,225 SQ. M.
* OPEN STORAGE AREAS: 173,460 SQ.M.

The present pier operator is Poro Point Industrial Corporation (PPIC) which is entering into a subcontracting agreement with Poro Point Container Terminal Service Inc. (PPCTSI), some unresolved financial issues are being threshed out prior to the maiden voyage of containerized cargoes and is expected to be resolved within two (2) weeks. The MOA or contract entered into by PPIC and PPCTSI however, should be approved by PPMC and this pose as a problem since there is a leadership vacuum in the said office due to suspension (ombudsman) of its President and the pending appointment of new set of Directors and President/CEO. Solution is to appoint the new set of Officers so as to fasttrack the containerizatrion project.

source: http://www.sanfernandocustoms.net/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=57

hugodiekonig

November 17th, 2011, 03:36 AM

MANILA, Philippines — State-owned Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) has consolidated all its assets under the so-called “Bases Group” as it plans to unveil a roadmap 2012 for all its big-ticket infrastructure projects.

In its statement, BCDA said Bases Group will launch and implement a unified masterplan by 2012 covering all its properties and harnessing its vast land holdings driven by these identified infrastructure assets. The Group will maximize its assets including airports, seaports, tollways and railways to bring the greatest impact to the national economy.

The Bases Group is composed of the BCDA and its subsidiaries Clark Development Corp. (CDC), Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), John Hay Management Corp. (JHMC), Poro Point Management Corp. (PPMC), North Luzon Railways Corp. (Northrail), Bataan Technology Park Inc. (BTPI), and the BCDA Management and Holdings Inc. (BMHI).

Under the plan, the Group will harness and develop centerpiece infrastructures consisting of the Clark International Airport, San Fernando Seaport and Airport in La Union, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and several railway systems, including the monorail loop system in South Metro Manila, and the high-speed rail system connecting Metro Manila and Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles, Pampanga.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/341446/bcda-prepares-unified-roadmap-2012

hugodiekonig

November 21st, 2011, 08:12 AM

http://www.bcda.gov.ph/file_attachments/0000/4463/Manifesto0001.jpg

http://www.bcda.gov.ph/file_attachments/0000/4468/Manifesto0002.jpg

http://www.bcda.gov.ph/file_attachments/0000/4473/Manifesto0003.jpg

source: http://www.bcda.gov.ph/news_articles/show/159

hugodiekonig

November 21st, 2011, 08:22 AM

http://www.bcda.gov.ph/file_attachments/0000/4498/PPMC_BOD_Oath_Taking_Photo_1.jpg?1321257388

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Chairman Felicito C. Payumo (right) administers the oath of office to the newly appointed Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC) Board Members: (from left) Ambrocio L. Valero, III; Jorge L. Banal; Elmer Na. Cadano; Louis Funa-Ay Claver, Jr.; Amparo M. Aspiras; PPMC Chairman Ives Q. Nisce; PPMC President Florante S. Gerdan; Celia V. Guzman; Nicolas R. Tabora; and Mitchel I. Versoza. The PPMC is the management arm of BCDA for the development of Poro Point Freeport Zone in San Fernando, La Union.

photo source: http://www.bcda.gov.ph/news_articles/show/160

hugodiekonig

November 23rd, 2011, 04:56 PM

MONDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2011 21:19 MAX V. DE LEON / REPORTER
The government is seeking to generate about P26 billion worth of investments from 51 projects in 10 different sectors that will be presented to potential investors at the Luzon Investment Conference (Licon 2011) on Thursday at the New World Hotel in Makati City.

“Our target is to have takers for these 51 projects during the event. These are triggers that will allow investors to discover the different provinces in Luzon. The P26 billion in investments that we hope to generate from Licon 2011 will just be the start because right now, investors are not really aware of the opportunities in the provinces,” Trade Undersecretary Merly Cruz said.

Infrastructure projects have a total value of P14 billion and include the P1.2-billion Cesar Lim Rodriguez Airport in Palawan, the Batanes Port Development Project and privatization of the San Fernando, La Union Airport.

LGUs are also looking for JV partners for the Antipolo City Government Center, the Ligao City Commercial Center, the Aplaya de Sta. Rosa Waterpark, and a tourism park in Ilocos Sur.

source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/19638-government-seeks-p26-b-investments-for-51-luzon-projects

hugodiekonig

November 24th, 2011, 04:56 PM

Poro Point Freeport Zone

The Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ) is formerly known as the Wallace Air Station. Subsequently, Proclamation No. 216 issued on July 27, 1993, transferred the lands to the BCDA and declared the area as a Special Economic and Freeport Zone.

The zone is home to the San Fernando Airport, which recently completed a P550-million peso upgrade into a regional airport of international standards that can accommodate larger aircrafts, such as Boeing 737 and Airbus 320. Also, the 30-hectare San Fernando international seaport can accommodate all types of vehicles such as: cruise ships, roll-on roll-off vessels, motor tankers, barges, cargo vessels, motor tugboats, passenger vessels and fishing boats.

Tourism

The Thunderbird Hotel and Resort offers the best in dining, leisure and entertainment activities. Golf aficionados will surely enjoy the world-class nine-hole golf course, while families will enjoy the water activities at the Boardwalk and Promenade.

Getting There

Poro Point is located at the northwestern tip of North Luzon, west of the City of San Fernando in the province of La Union. It is accessible by land via the NLEX and SCTEX, sea and air; with approximate travel time of 5 hours from Manila and more than an hour from Baguio City and about 50 minutes flight-time to/from Manila.

Investment Incentives

The Freeport Status was affirmed through the enactment of Republic Act 9400 on March 2007. The presence of an airport and a seaport makes it an ideal location for commerce, distribution center and export-oriented activities. Its strategic location and close proximity to the thriving economies in Southeast Asia also makes the Freeport an ideal springboard for access to these markets.

PPFZ offers liberal tax laws and incentives such as: a) tax- and duty-free importation of machineries, raw materials, supplies, and all other articles including finished goods; b) its management as a separate customs territory, ensuring free flow or articles within the Freeport zone; c) unlimited purchase and consumption of tax- and duty-free consumer goods within the PPFZ; d) no local and national taxes. In lieu of local and national taxes, PPFZ enterprises shall pay a preferential tax of 5% of gross income earned.

source: http://www.global-arena.com/en/Location-Directory/Asia/South-Eastern-Asia/Philippines/Ilocos-Region/poro-point-freeport-zone/

Ugac Norte

November 29th, 2011, 08:04 AM

hugodiekonig

November 30th, 2011, 04:30 AM

WOW!
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1374603

Ang daming plans! Wala bang nabanggit na plans sa Bauang, La Union? Hehe
Hometown ng Dad ko. We might spend again our Christmas there. Family reunion, na miz ko ung beach na pinuntahan namin dito nung bata pa ako.

So far wala. Sa ngayon sa La Union ang center of development palang ay ang Poro Point sa San Fernando. Ang bago lang sa ngayon sa Bauang ay yung town proper (mas maliwanag at mas marami na ang business establishments), Toyota La Union, tapos pinaganda narin yung mga resorts sa Paringao) Yung nasirang dike sa Bauang River di pa inaayos sa ngayon

wala ako gaanong mailagay sa thread na ito. wala naman kasi gaanong developments dito sa amin. Naipatayo naman na ang seaport, airport, bridges, by pass roads, so La Union is currently enjoying the reslts of its past progresses

hugodiekonig

November 30th, 2011, 04:35 AM

Sa ngayon din puros redevelopment nalang sa existing infras na lalo sa Poro Point. palalakasin ang kalakaran sa Seaport, idedevelop uli ang kadedevelop lang na airport, at some Urban development narin sa Poro Point.

hugodiekonig

November 30th, 2011, 05:08 AM

San Fernando Seaport

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/skyscraper/IMG_6637b.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/skyscraper/IMG_6653.jpg

reposted from thread archives (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=367465&page=102)

hugodiekonig

November 30th, 2011, 07:34 AM

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/182057_1578000694489_1369775036_31277570_2220083_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/181557_1578002214527_1369775036_31277580_3099761_n.jpg

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http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/182033_1578002574536_1369775036_31277583_3845673_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/182729_1578002734540_1369775036_31277584_6544981_n.jpg

Photos by: Danica Jean Caluya

hugodiekonig

November 30th, 2011, 07:39 AM

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/182733_1578002374531_1369775036_31277581_4096044_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/181985_1578002494534_1369775036_31277582_3219201_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/168377_1578002974546_1369775036_31277586_4000724_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180519_1578004174576_1369775036_31277591_1421593_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/180896_1578004254578_1369775036_31277592_3171210_n.jpg

photos by: Danica Jean Caluya

hugodiekonig

November 30th, 2011, 07:41 AM

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180507_1578004454583_1369775036_31277594_3743799_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180854_1578004614587_1369775036_31277596_2392511_n.jpg

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http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/181902_1578005934620_1369775036_31277602_6896845_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/180875_1578006254628_1369775036_31277604_5526057_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/179886_1578007974671_1369775036_31277613_636376_n.jpg

source: Danica Jean Caluya

hugodiekonig

November 30th, 2011, 07:44 AM

Airport Control Tower

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/181593_1578008254678_1369775036_31277615_4565621_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/182033_1578009494709_1369775036_31277621_7407578_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/182849_1578009974721_1369775036_31277623_893224_n.jpg

Photo by: Danica Jean Caluya

hugodiekonig

November 30th, 2011, 07:47 AM

Airport Control Tower

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/180557_1578014214827_1369775036_31277644_3169847_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/179848_1578012974796_1369775036_31277637_3272221_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/180517_1578012494784_1369775036_31277636_6084284_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/168092_1578014614837_1369775036_31277646_4373093_n.jpg

Photo by: Danica Jean Caluya

hugodiekonig

November 30th, 2011, 07:50 AM

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http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/182686_1578016054873_1369775036_31277653_5502810_n.jpg

Photos by: Jean Caluya Facebook

hugodiekonig

November 30th, 2011, 08:25 AM

CONSUNJI-led DMCI Holdings, Inc. is eyeing more construction contracts for possible public-private partnership (PPP) road projects to boost its revenues next year.
“Although delayed, we believe the infrastructure development programs of the current Philippine government will inevitably materialize. As such, the company, through [construction unit] D.M. Consunji, Inc., is very much interested in the construction and engineering of these initiatives,” the conglomerate disclosed, as its nine-month construction revenues fell by 16% to P756 million from P903 million realized last year.

“The company believes it is well positioned to be a driver and a beneficiary of the country’s infrastructure progress,” DMCI Holdings added.

The PPP program, a major initiative being pushed by the present administration, has been hampered by the delay in the rollout of specific projects. Only the P1.96-billion, four-kilometer Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) project is scheduled for bidding next month, with awarding set for next year.

DMCI Holdings also said the 84.5-kilometer Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, which is currently under construction, is on track to begin initial operations in 2012. “We should be finished by the second or third quarter next year,” Mr. Limlingan said.

source: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=DMCI-Holdings-seeks-boost-from-PPP&id=42004

hugodiekonig

December 1st, 2011, 03:07 PM

The plan will focus on upgrading and linking Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone (CFSEZ), Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ), John Hay Special Economic Zone, and Bataan Technology Park which are all managed by BCDA through subsidiary firms.

As a result, coordination of plans and projects is expected to ensure complementary development and unproductive competition among the four ecozones.

He added that the economic zones concerned are being positioned to “become beacons of globally competitive and sustainable centers of economic activities that shall ripple and spread throughout their respective regions.”

BCDA has identified Clark International Airport, San Fernando sea and airport in La Union, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, the monorail loop system in southern Metro Manila and the high-speed rail connecting the national capital to Clark as infrastructure thrusts of the master plan.

Moreover, all business processes and procedures within the four economic zones will be harmonized and simplified by 2013. -- E. J. Diaz

source: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=Unified-development-plan-for-four-ecozones-pushed&id=41673

hugodiekonig

December 2nd, 2011, 05:27 PM

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Regional Operations and Development Group (RODG) today opens to the public the 1st Luzon Investment Conference (LICON) 2011 at New World Hotel in Makati.

Five more projects are on the billion peso mark. These are the Rice Husk Power Project in San Juan City, Nueva Ecija, the Privatization of the San Fernando La Union Airport in San Fernando, La Union, the Commercial and Hospital Development Project in Dasmarinas, Cavite, the Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Cesar Lim Rodriguez Airport, the Silverado Retirement Village in Morong, Bataan, and the San Juan Convention Center and Resort Development Center project in San Juan, Batangas. The Luzon Investment Conference is targeting around P3 billion pesos worth of investments. Should it be successful, it would be a wonderful way to cap the year 2011.

source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/columnist1/11893-51-investment-projects-up-for-grabs-in-1st-luzon-investment-conference

Englehart

December 4th, 2011, 01:25 AM

San Fernando Seaport

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/skyscraper/IMG_6637b.jpg

reposted from thread archives (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=367465&page=102)

para san yan yung ramp?

hugodiekonig

December 4th, 2011, 02:31 AM

para san yan yung ramp?

I think para rin sa mga pasahero iyon ng mga dadaong at aalis na barko, though puro mga cargo ships lang ang dumadaong rito(minimal na yung gamit ng ramp). sa seaport rin na ito umaalis at dumadaong ang mga barko ng Philippine navy dito sa North Luzon

hugodiekonig

December 6th, 2011, 03:17 PM

http://www.pia.gov.ph/press/image/111206-ncr-dpwh.jpg

MANILA, 6 Dec (DPWH) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways has reported an actual accomplishment of 42.52% on the construction of the initial phase of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Toll Expressway (TPLEX).

DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said that the P11.594 billion worth PPP project involves the construction in two phases of an 88.58 kilometers toll expressway from La Paz, Tarlac (terminus of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) to Rosario, La Union.

"The completion of this expressway will greatly contribute in improving traffic condition along McArthur Highway and will provide faster, safer and more comfortable means of transportation to northbound vehicles and vice versa," Singson said.

Director Rebecca Garsuta of the DPWH Built Operate Transfer - Project Management Office said that Phase 1 is the construction of new 2-lane expressway, 23 viaducts, 8 interchanges, 2 central toll plaza, 1 toll operations center building, 12 bridges and 63 underpasses, while Phase 2 will be the expansion into 4 lanes to be undertaken when capacity reaches 25,000 vehicles.

The alignment runs parallel to McArthur Highway, passing through the municipalities of Victoria, Gerona, Paniqui, Moncada and San Manuel in Tarlac; Carmen, Urdaneta, Binalonan, Pozzorubio and Sison in Pangasinan; and Rosario in La Union.

The national government will provide funding support of P3.7 billion corresponding to the amount of P793 million for right-of-way acquisition and P2.907 billion cash subsidy for civil works.

The consortium of six construction firms which were awarded construction contract for TPLEX are R.D. Policarpio and Co. Inc. for Sta. 0+712.17 to Sta.7+260; New Kanlaon Construction, Inc. for Sta. 8+920 to Sta. 16+500; D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc. for Sta. 16+500 to Sta. 23+920; D.M. Consunji Inc. for Sta. 26+320 to Sta. 49+360; C.M. Pancho Const. Inc. for Sta. 7+260 to Sta. 8+920; and J.E. Manalo & Co. for Sta. 23+920 to Sta. 26+320. The project concessionaire is Private Infra Dev Corporation (PIDC). (DPWH)

source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=66965

hugodiekonig

December 8th, 2011, 01:59 PM

http://www.dar.gov.ph/images/stories/dar/articles/news28/dar%20web%20news%20pix%201%20dec.%205%202011_400.jpg

Some 500 farming households from three mountain barangays in La Union are now benefiting from the P32.8 million infrastructure projects of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The infrastructure projects include the 5.4-kilometer Lacong-Lipay farm-to-market road and a potable water supply system both in Lacong, San Gabriel, La Union.

DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Ma. Anna Francisco said with the completion of the P30 million Lacong-Lipay farm-to-market road project last May, farmers’ agri-products from barangays Lacong, Lipay Proper and Lipay Sur are now being transported to the market in Bacnotan faster and a lot easier.

“Before this road was constructed, the farmers carry their farm produce by foot to the town of Bacnotan. It takes them at least two hours to the main road where they will hire a tricycle to bring them to the Bacnotan trading center,” Francisco said.

The completion of the road spurred the establishment of two new schools near the communities: the Lacong Elementary School Annex and the Lipay Barangay High School.

According Romeo Colbengan, chairman of barangay Lipay Proper, “before [the road was constructed] children would have to go around Lipay and pay for transportation fare that is twice as much. Now, they don’t have to go to the poblacion because of this new schools,” she added.

Aside from the road project, potable water supply system projects in San Gabriel are currently in the pipeline.

The P2.8-million potable water systems will benefit around 144 households and is expected to be operational by the end of the year. The water system was designed to boost the vegetable production of farmers.

“These water systems help our farmers produce vegetables especially during summer time when there is not much water in the pipelines. These adds to their income aside from planting rice and corn,” said Francisco.

The projects are funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented under DAR’s Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Services (ARISP).

http://www.dar.gov.ph/images/stories/dar/articles/news28/dar%20web%20news%20pix%202%20dec.%205%202011_400.jpg

source: http://www.dar.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=229:farmers-derive-gains-from-dar-infra-projects&catid=65:latest-news&Itemid=239

:cheers:

hugodiekonig

December 9th, 2011, 10:28 AM

Malabo nang makamit ng BoC ang kanilang ‘collection target’ na P282,931 bilyun sa taong ito, bunga naman ng pagbagsak ng koleksyon ng halos lahat ng BOC collection districts sa buong bansa mula Enero hanggang Nobyembre ng taong kasalukuyan. Pero ’di dapat isisi ang pagbagsak ng koleksyon nito sa kasalukuyag pamunuan ng bureau.

Bumagsak ang koleksyon ng bureau mula Enero hanggang Nobyembre ng taong kasalakuyan matapos na sila ay makakulekta lang ng P234,695 bilyun kontra sa kanilang target na P282,931 o mababa ng 17 porsyento ngayong buwan ng Nobyembre at imposible na nilang ma-attain ang mataas na koleksyon ngayon Disyembre na papatapos na ang taon.

Sa kabuuan, apat na collection district lang ang nakahigit sa kanilang mga target mula sa 18 collection district ng BOC mula Enero hanggang Nobyembre 2011 at ito ay kinabibilangan ng Limay, Bataan Port na nakahigit ng P562 million sa kanilang collection target na P27.264 billlion nang makakolekta ng kabuoang P27.816 billion;

Legazpi Port na nakakulekta ng P198 million mula sa target nilang P108 million o sobrang P90 million; Zamboanga Port na may P46 million collection kontra sa target nilang P37million o surplus na P8.8 million at Davao Port na may sobrang P318 million nang makakulekta ng P4.956 billion kontra sa target nilang P4.639 billion.

Ang anim na major ports na bagsak ang collection ay ang Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Manila (POM), Ninoy Aquino International Airport distirct port (NAIA), Batangas Port, Port of Cebu at Subic Freeport. Bagsak din ang koleskyon ng maliliit na collection districts tulad ng Cagayan de Oro Port, Iloilo, Tacloban, Surigao, San Fernando, Davao, Clark, Aparri at maging ang Office of the Commissioner (OCOM/TEF).

Sinasabing ang pagbagsak ng collection ngayong taon ay bunga ng kapabayaan at kaliwa’t kanang smuggling na naganap sa panahon ni dating Customs Commissioner Angelito A. Alvarez at Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Filomeno Vicencio.

Ayon sa impormasyong aking nakalap, mula Enero hanggang Nobyembre 2011 ay kumulekta lang ng kabuuang P51.378 billion ang MICP mula sa target nilang P74.383 billion o kapos ng P10.899 billion sa kanilang target. Ang POM na dati-rati ay nakakahigit ng target nila buwan-buwan ng nakaraang taong 2010 ay may kakapusan ngayong P10.683 billion nang makakulekta lang ng P51.378 billion mula sa target collection nilang P62.061 billion.

Ang Batangas Port ay nakakulekta lang ng P42.667billion mula sa target nilang P56.673 billion o kakapusang P14.006 billion. Ang NAIA ay nakakulekta lang ng P18.748 billion mula sa target collection nilang P20.774 billion o kapos ng P2.205 billion sa kanilang target. Ang Cebu Port na nakakulekta lang ng P7.225 billion mula sa target nilang P8.276 billion ay kapos ng P1.051 billion sa kanilang target.

Nakakulekta lang ang Subic Port ng P5.435 billion sa target nilang P6.619 billion o kakulangan P318 million. Ang Cagayan de Oro ay may shortage collection na P421 million matapos makakulekta lang ng P4.573 billion mula sa target nilang P4.994 billion.

Ang Iloilo ay may kakulangang P1.054 bilyon matapos makakulekta ng P278 milyon mula sa P1.332 bilyon collection target. Ang Tacloban ay may deficit collection na P236 milyon matapos makakulekta ng P191 milyon kontra sa target nilang P426 milyon at ang Surigao port na may target na P40 milyon ay nakakulekta lang ng P5 milyon o kapos ng P35 milyon sa target.

Samantala nakakulekta naman ang Clark district port ng P1.306B mula sa target nilang P1.344 billion o kakapusang P37 million sa kanilang target at ang San Fernando,La Union port ay may koleksyong P1.582 billion mula sa target nilang P1.942 billion o kakapusang P360 milyon.:ohno:

Kabuoang P500 million ang target ng Aparri Port subalit sila ay nakakulektsa lang ng P127M kung kaya’t may collection deficit silang P373 milyon. Ang OCOM/TEF na may target na P11.530B ay nakakulekta lang ng P4.679B kung kaya’t kapos ito ng P6.851B sa kanilang collection target mula Enero hanggang Nobyembre ng taong kasalukuyan.

source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/opinion/18614-kudos-kina-biazon-at-alino

hugodiekonig

December 9th, 2011, 05:01 PM

also posted at Tarlac Thread

by Joel E. Zurbano

The Public Works department is almost halfway through the first phase of the P11.5 billion Tarlac – Pangasinan -- La Union Toll Expressway, which will cut travel time from Manila to Baguio City by one-and-a-half hour.

The Tplex project, which is being implemented through public-private partnership using a variant of the build-operate-transfer scheme, is now 42.52 percent complete, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said on Monday.

The tollway spans 88.58 km.from La Paz, Tarlac (end of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) to Rosario, La Union.

“The completion of this expressway will contribute in improving traffic condition along McArthur Highway and will provide faster, safer and more comfortable means of transportation to northbound vehicles and vice versa,” Singson said.

Phase 1 involves the construction of new two-lane expressway, 23 viaducts, eight interchanges, two central toll plaza, one toll operations center building, 12 bridges and 63 underpasses. Phase 2 will entail the tollway’s expansion into four lanes to be undertaken when capacity exceeds 25,000 vehicles.

source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNation.htm?f=2011/december/7/nation3.isx&d=2011/december/7

hugodiekonig

December 9th, 2011, 05:02 PM

ROSARIO, La Union—Two lawmakers have commended the Department of Public Works and Highways for keeping the toll plaza of the P27 billion Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway near Kennon Road and Marcos Highway.

Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan, chairman of the House committee on public works, said Secretary Rogelio Singson ruled out any transfer due to cost constraints.

Pangasinan officials were pressing for locating the toll plaza within the province but the change would require more than P2 billion on top of the approved project cost.

Baguio City Rep. Bernardo Vergara said the planned route is meant to cut travel time from Metro Manila to the summer capital by three hours and any deviation would not only bungle traffic but bloat infrastructure cost as well.

A tourism official in the Marcos regime which gave top priority to the travel indusry, Vergara hailed Singson’s resolve to stick to the original TPLEX masterplan and avoid added expenses particularly on road right-of-way claims along the Pangasinan-La Union stretch.

During the recent deliberations on the proposed DPWH 2012 budget, Cosalan expressed optimism over the targetted completion of TPLEX in two to three years, noting Singson’s view that moving the toll plaza seven kilometers from Rosario town proper was impractical and would entail more expenditure of public funds.

source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNation.htm?f=2011/november/3/nation1.isx&d=2011/november/3

:applause:

hugodiekonig

December 9th, 2011, 05:03 PM

^^ tapos ang diskusyon. stick to the original plan. pinupulitika uli ang expressway. Let La Union and Baguio progress!

hugodiekonig

December 10th, 2011, 09:12 AM

by Monette H. Herrera

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Dec. 9 (PIA) —- Philippine Coast Guard-Northern Luzon (PCG-NL) personnel inspected Wednesday morning the MV AOLI 6, a Hongkong-registered general cargo vessel that ran aground last Tuesday at around 6:30 p.m. to check for any possible of oil spill.

The PCG divers inspected the extent of the damage to the hull of the vessel, which carries 9,097.192 tons of chromite ore.

According to the Coast Guard, the entire bottom hull is resting on a sandy and partly rocky bottom and there was no sign of oil spill. The rudder and propellers are the only portions below waterline not touching the seabed.

source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r01&id=67486

hugodiekonig

December 13th, 2011, 02:52 PM

TUESDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2011 20:37
MAX V. DE LEON / REPORTER

THE state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is “unlocking” at least P50 billion more in revenue streams for the government by tapping nonperforming assets that include some 30,000 hectares of unutilized lands.

Arnel Paciano D. Casanova, president and CEO of BCDA, said the agency will conduct an inventory of all land and other assets that are under its jurisdiction, including former military bases, underperforming airports, seaports and economic zones, and a mothballed renewable-energy power plant in Baguio City.

For Poro Point in La Union, Casanova said the BCDA will seek partners that will develop the area as a regional hub for tourism in tandem with Baguio City.

source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/economy/20644-govt-eyes-to-generate-p50-b-revenues-from-idle-assets-says-bcdas-casanova

hugodiekonig

December 15th, 2011, 02:09 PM

By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT
December 15, 2011, 3:37am

MANILA, Philippines — The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) plans to maximize the potential of its unutilized assets spanning over 35,000 hectares of land with estimated value of over P10 billion.

BCDA president Arnel Casanova told reporters during its year-end press conference.

“Next year we will validate all masterplans of our assets because we have to unlock the value of these properties and offer these assets to the private sector and to develop this in joint venture with the private sector or privatize these properties,” Casanova said.

These properties include Clark airport, some areas in Camp John Hay Special Economic Zones that are unutilized, the abandoned power plant in Camp John Hay, the promotion of Poro Point as a regional hub and the development of San Fernando airport as an alternative to the Loakan airport of Baguio.

BCDA is thinking of adopting a public-private partnership scheme for the Port Point airport.

“With a strong business process outsourcing in Baguio and in San Fernando in La Union, we need to provide with a better airport facility,” Casanova said.

According to Casanova, there has been no flight in Poro Point airport because the navigational facilities and terminal are not yet there.

“Zest Air used to fly there, so we need to have a more strategic approach,” he said.

continue reading: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/344892/bcda-s-idle-assets-worth-p10b

:cheers:

hugodiekonig

December 16th, 2011, 09:49 AM

By: Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
11:48 pm | Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority expects to generate at least P45 billion through the planned offering of idle state assets to the private sector for development.

In a briefing Tuesday, BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said about P35 billion of the projected proceeds would come from the sale of two major assets in the Fort Bonifacio complex—the 33.1-hectare Bonifacio South property and a 25-ha land, which is still contested. The remaining P10 billion represented the estimated initial amount BCDA expects to rake in from offering other idle assets to the private sector. This, Casanova said, could be higher.

Casanova said BCDA was set to revalidate next year the master plan for these assets to identify and “unlock the value” of all unused assets.

“All our economic zones are covered. We’re going to identify which of the areas are not generating the revenues that are we are expecting. We want to optimize the use of these assets and we will offer them to the private sector for development in partnership with the BCDA,” Casanova said. “The overall vision is to unlock the values of all these assets so that BCDA could really serve as a catalyst for development in every region,” he added.

Among the areas he identified to have idle assets were the Clark Ecozone, Poro Point, John Hay Special Economic Zone and the Bataan Technopark. The plan was to make these areas key growth centers in their respective regions.

source: http://business.inquirer.net/34977/bcda-expects-to-raise-p45b-from-assets-offering

hugodiekonig

December 22nd, 2011, 11:44 PM

By Jun Elias The Philippine Star Updated December 23, 2011

AGOO, La Union, Philippines – La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel yesterday said President Aquino, through the Department of Public Works and Highways, has approved the widening of the national highway (Manila-North Road) covering the six towns in the province’s second district with a total cost of at least P350 million.

Eriguel said the bidding for the project is now ongoing and construction is expected to start in January.

With a stretch of at least 50 kilometers, the existing two-lane highway would be widened to become a four-lane road that would pass through the towns of Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Agoo, Sto. Tomas and Rosario.

source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=67&articleid=761195

:rock::rock::rock::rock::righton::righton::righton::righton:

ruiboi07

December 23rd, 2011, 04:24 PM

hugodiekonig

December 23rd, 2011, 04:36 PM

Hey, I have been here before. This area is leased by Philex Mining right?

I still have to research on that since im browsing this site through phone

But what i know is that they have their own pier,not among those 3 piers at the seaport,but not far (those 3 piers)from the pier philex

Again,i still have to research on that

ruiboi07

December 24th, 2011, 05:21 AM

I have been there twice. Mejo familiar lang kc ung lugar.

hugodiekonig

December 24th, 2011, 12:30 PM

I'm right. Philex Mining has indeed its own pier does not utilize the 3 piers of the seaport

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/401176_2287341475665_1612790914_31683131_1793024897_n.jpg

the first photo you quoted therefore is the pier for Philex Mining :okay: You are right!

hugodiekonig

January 1st, 2012, 05:04 PM

By Rhodina Villanueva (philstar.com) Updated January 01, 2012

MANILA, Philippines - Some 500 farming households from three mountain barangays in La Union are now benefiting from the P32.8-million infrastructure projects of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Ma. Anna Francisco said the infrastructure projects include the 5.4-kilometer Lacong-Lipay farm-to-market road and a potable water supply system, both in Lacong, San Gabriel, La Union.

Francisco stressed that with the completion of the P30-million Lacong-Lipay farm-to-market road project last May, agri-products from barangays Lacong, Lipay Proper and Lipay Sur are now being transported to the market in Bacnotan faster easier.

“These water systems help our farmers produce vegetables, especially during summer time when there is not much water in the pipelines. This will then add to their income, aside from planting rice and corn,” said Francisco.

The projects are funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and implemented under DAR’s Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Services.

source: philstar.com (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=763830&publicationSubCategoryId=473)

hugodiekonig

January 11th, 2012, 01:35 PM

By: Vincent Cabreza
Inquirer Northern Luzon

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority ushered in 2012 by starting infrastructure work that would link Subic, Clark, Bataan, La Union and Baguio City, after consolidating all of its subsidiaries in 2011 under a new brand—the Bases Group.

BCDA president Arnel Paciano Casanova said an efficient transportation backbone connecting all BCDA-run economic zones would help the agency develop underutilized assets in Clark and Bataan, as well as encourage the movement of people and goods, spurring economic growth.

BCDA turns 20 years old on March 13. Republic Act 7227, the law that created the agency, tasks BCDA to convert all former US military property into government economic centers, and finance major projects, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program.

The construction of roads connecting Metro Manila to the Clark and Subic freeports in Central Luzon, and the new highway linking these to La Union and Baguio by 2013, was the start of the process, Casanova said in a briefing here last month.

read more (http://business.inquirer.net/38555/on-20th-year-bcda-zooms-in-on-infrastructure)

hugodiekonig

January 19th, 2012, 02:38 AM

by Lito Dar

BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 18 (PIA) -- “Rest assured that we, your representatives in Congress, are doing our best to complete the road networks in North Philippines especially here in Cordillera.”

This was said by Mountain Province Congressman Maximo Dalog Sr., chairman of Congress’ Special Committee North Luzon Growth Quadrangle (NLGQA), during the recent Regional Tourism Congress spearheaded by the Department of Tourism.

“One matter that North Quad has been taking up relates to the infrastructure support program of the government particularly to support the development of the area, including the tourism sector,” Dalog stressed.

He reported that one infra project they are currently monitoring is the TPLEX or the Tarlac-Pangasinan- La Union expressway, which will connect the North Luzon Expressways from Tarlac City up Rosario, La Union right in the mouth of Kennon road under phase 1. The project’s phase II will extend the expressway farther north up to Bacnotan, La Union.

The project, if completed, will boost tourism promotion in the north Luzon area.

source (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=car&id=73159)

:cheers:

hugodiekonig

January 24th, 2012, 02:09 AM

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/397918_10150540663823830_566343829_8688298_1130730645_n.jpg

source (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150540663823830&set=a.10150362160488830.374778.566343829&type=1&theater)

hugodiekonig

January 24th, 2012, 02:14 AM

by Miriam P. Aquino

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Jan. 17 (PIA) -- A ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the P6 million La Union Provincial Disaster Preparedness and Evacuation Center (LUPDPEC) was held recently at the provincial capitol compound.

This was led by La Union Provincial Governor Manuel C. Ortega, together with Vice. Gov. Aureo Augusto Q. Nisce, and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and other government officials.

Victor Dacanay of the Provincial Information and Tourism Office said that funds for the two-storey building will be drawn from the P3-million prize the province received as national finalist in “Gawad Pamana ng Lahi”; and the rest from the province’s development funds for 2012.

The LUPDEC will serve as evacuation center and venue for the repacking and storage of relief goods.

The event was graced by Usec. Proceso T. Domingo from the Office of Civil Defense Special Concerns Office who represented National Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction Management Council of the Philippines (NDPRRMC) Executive Director Benito T. Ramos.

Usec. Domingo commended Governor Ortega and the province of La Union for being the first among the few provincial governors to seriously respond with concrete action to RA 10121, the law establishing the NDPRRMC and other subsidiary disaster preparedness and risk reduction management councils.
Director Julie Daquioag of the Department of Interior and Local Government- Regional Office 1 also said that the center is a manifestation that La Union is taking serious steps to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction activities. (ANL/MPA-PIA 1 La Union with reports from VDacanay/PITO-LU)

source (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=72869)

:cheers:

hugodiekonig

January 24th, 2012, 02:18 AM

STATE-RUN Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) expects to double its full-year revenues in 2012 as it prepares to sell off more military lots in prime areas, an official said late last week.
“At the minimum, we are expecting -- on a cash-flow basis -- revenues of around P4 billion, to be driven mostly by dispositions and asset sales. Last year, I think we already remitted around P2 billion to the government,” Arnel Paciano D. Casanova, BCDA president and chief executive officer, said in a chance interview.

Already, the BCDA has a drafted a list of its “crown jewels,” whose auctions will be prioritized this year.

“We really want to fast-track everything. We believe 2012 must be a breakout year,” Mr. Casanova added.

The priority list includes the development of the Poro Point Freeport Zone’s San Fernando International Seaport and San Fernando Airport, with the airport seen as an alternative to Baguio City’s small Loakan Airport.

“We want the bidding [for Poro Point] to happen this year. We will soon call a conference for interested parties,” Mr. Casanova said without elaborating.

source (http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=Revenues-from-privatization-of-military-lots-seen-to-double&id=45429)

hugodiekonig

January 28th, 2012, 01:05 PM

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426129_2479996251914_1612790914_31757673_1019864268_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

February 1st, 2012, 01:47 PM

http://www.bcda.gov.ph/file_attachments/0000/4631/Bases_Group_Ad_-_Inquirer_19.72x40.5_FA.jpg

http://www.bcda.gov.ph/file_attachments/0000/4621/Bases_Group_Ad_-_Star_19.72x40.5_FA.jpg

source: http://www.bcda.gov.ph/news_articles/show/183

hugodiekonig

February 5th, 2012, 01:43 AM

NEW LU PDRRMC building

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/425124_10150532338068883_780738882_9043396_1072106984_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

February 11th, 2012, 01:33 AM

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/417669_2557947800654_1612790914_31784016_1134765432_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/426213_2557949600699_1612790914_31784026_28895802_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

February 11th, 2012, 01:33 AM

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/420926_2557952400769_1612790914_31784042_679466873_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/424268_2557955200839_1612790914_31784060_1196511009_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

February 15th, 2012, 12:42 AM

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404840_2582518774913_1612790914_31792135_1113832403_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/421681_2582520734962_1612790914_31792136_862854735_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

February 15th, 2012, 12:43 AM

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424346_2582522415004_1612790914_31792138_1387399466_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/420348_2582546695611_1612790914_31792172_1593342074_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422519_2582548375653_1612790914_31792174_1348411468_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

February 22nd, 2012, 01:39 PM

Posted on February 19, 2012 11:04:02 PM at bworldonline

JAPANESE FIRMS were invited on Friday to engage in public-private partnerships (PPP) in the transport and road sectors, particularly on projects in the pipeline.

In a seminar organized by the Japan External Trade Organization and the PPP Center, Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said outside the indicative list of PPP projects lined up for this year, the government is looking into the construction or rehabilitation of national bridges and two major roads in Luzon that may form part of the list.

Mr. Singson said the Research, Education and Institutional Development Foundation is conducting field validation of 139 national bridges to be proposed for PPP, with the Department of Public Works and Highways eyeing an invitation to bid for the projects in October.

The government is also expected to conduct a business case study in July to include in the program the improvement, operation and maintenance of Kennon Road and Marcos Highway -- two major links to Baguio City from La Union province in Northern Luzon totaling 80.86 kilometers.

source (http://www.bworldonline.com/searchresult.php?cx=004532060860096015900%3Aasdluufycnm&cof=FORID%3A9&q=la+union&domains=www.bworldonline.com&sitesearch=www.bworldonline.com&check_desc=ON&sel_section=All&sel_year_start=1994&sel_year_end=2011&sq=all&order=daterec&sort=desc&start_row=0&list_pages=10&page=1&limit=0&sa=Search)

hugodiekonig

March 10th, 2012, 10:49 AM

Bypass Road Reconstruction - Biday, SFC

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/430255_2713424887484_1612790914_31837922_1252282018_n.jpg

shot at 2pm

hugodiekonig

March 10th, 2012, 10:50 AM

08-Mar-12, 5:55 PM | Abigail C. Kwok, InterAksyon.com
The Supreme Court has allowed a Makati City regional trial court to try a civil case against a Chinese firm that will build a railway system from Metro Manila to La Union.

In a 23-page decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno dated February 7 but was released to media only this week, the High Court ruled that Chinese firm China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation Group (CNMEG) does not enjoy immunity from civil suit since it is engaged in a proprietary and not in a governmental function.

The doctrine of immunity from suit has been restricted only to sovereign or governmental activities (jure imperii) and cannot be extended to commercial, private, and proprietary acts, the decision said.

The High Court based its ruling on evidence including the memorandum of understanding (MOU) entered into between Northrail Corp. and CNMEG dated Sep. 14, 2002; the letter of Ambassador Wang Chungui dated Oct. 1, 2003 to then Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho; and the loan agreement entered into by both parties.

read more at source (http://www.interaksyon.com/article/26360/sc-allows-civil-suit-vs--chinese-firm-that-will-build-manila-la-union-railway)

hugodiekonig

March 13th, 2012, 03:58 PM

Bauang Highway Road Rehabilitation (Paglalagay ng pavement sa shoulder)

Orifinally Posted at San Fernando City and La Union Province Thread

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417061_10150581543688204_336893718203_8873191_93766343_n.jpg

Widening sa Bauang

hugodiekonig

March 13th, 2012, 04:00 PM

Plans international gateway for Northern Luzon
By: Paolo G. Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
11:57 pm | Monday, March 12th, 2012

http://business-cdn.inquirer.net/files/2012/03/san-fernando-airport-300x224.jpg
The government plans to privatize the San Fernando airport in La Union and transform it into a world-class international gateway. PHOTO FROM SKYSCRAPERCITY.COM/DANICA JEAN CALUYA :cheers1:

The government has announced plans to develop the San Fernando Airport in La Union’s Poro Point special economic zone into a world-class international gateway for millions of Filipinos living in Northern Luzon.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Monday said it was finalizing the terms of reference to be used for the privatization of the San Fernando Airport.

“We want to turn it into something similar to the Changi Airport in Singapore, which is a combination of a commercial shopping mall and an airport,” said BCDA Chairman Felicito Payumo, a former congressman from Bataan.
Payumo also served as chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority under former President Estrada, and later under former president Arroyo. He is currently a member of President Aquino’s ruling Liberal Party.

In an interview, Payumo said the San Fernando Airport would serve the demand from Northern Luzon. In particular, he said the facility would provide both international and domestic passengers easy access to Baguio City, the country’s so-called “Summer Capital.”

read more at source (http://business.inquirer.net/49025/gov%E2%80%99t-to-privatize-poro-point-airport)

hugodiekonig

March 14th, 2012, 02:13 AM

BCDA to tap private sector for Poro Point rehab

BCDA to tap private sector for Poro Point rehab
By Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) Updated March 14, 2012 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) plans to tap the private sector to rehabilitate and modernize the San Fernando Airport in La Union, even as they eye the further development of the Poro Point Freeport Zone into a tourism and information technology (IT) hub in northern Luzon.

Lawyer Arnel Paciano Casanova, BCDA president and chief executive officer, said that there were already several groups that have expressed interest in undertaking the development of the airport.

“We’re now working on the TOR (Terms of Reference) for the bidding which we expect to hold within the year,” Casanova told transportation reporters in an interview at the sidelines of a BCDA press conference held yesterday to announce major projects for the year as they mark their 20th founding anniversary.

“There are many groups interested, actually,” Casanova shared.

He said that the airport could be a hub for tourists heading for the Poro Point’s Thunderbird Casino Resort, the beaches of San Fernando, Baguio City, and the other tourist areas in northern Luzon, especially with the closure of Baguio’s Loakan airport.

Casanova said that the development of the San Fernando Airport would help spur development in the area, benefitting the Poro Point Freeport Zone, as well as surrounding areas.

Felicito “Tong” Payumo, Jr., BCDA chairman, said that with the rapid development of their land assets in Metro Manila particularly in the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, the BCDA is now also focusing their attention to their properties outside the metropolis, such as the Clark Freeport Zone and the Poro Point Freeport Zone.

With the Thuderbird resort already operating, the presence of a first-class golf course, and and the establishment of fiber optic cables in La Union, Payumo said the infrastructure is there to promote tourism and to lure business process outsourcing firms to set up shop in the Poro Point ecozone.

“As you know, right there in Poro Point, the fiber optic cable of the telcos have already been established and developed. So we think it’s also a good area for BPOs, and IT related businesses,” Payumo said.

Aileen Zosa, BCDA executive vice president, said the BCDA has 35 hectares of lands ready for development in Poro Point, under their subsidiary Poro Point Management Corporation.

source (http://www5.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=786779&publicationSubCategoryId=66)

hugodiekonig

March 15th, 2012, 04:33 AM

By Paolo G. Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
11:08 pm | Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

An increase in toll on Kennon Road looms as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) prepares to take over the road and sell it to the private sector.

“If you look at Kennon Road, it takes a lot of money to maintain that,” said Arnel Casanova, the BCDA president.

“That’s year-round because of landslides. We need money for that,” Casanova said.

He said the plan to hand over maintenance and supervision of Kennon Road to the private sector was proposed by Baguio Rep. Bernardo Vergara and supported by Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson.

Kennon, said Casanova, would be connected to the proposed Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx).

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) currently collects P15 per vehicle passing through Kennon.

Like the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), BCDA designed the TPLEx to link the Camp John Hay Special Economic Zone here and the Poro Point Special Economic Zone in San Fernando City, La Union, which the agency administers, said Casanova.

“[TPLEx] will be connecting two ecozones the same way we did for Clark Freeport and Subic Bay Freeport with the construction of SCTEx,” said BCDA chair Felicito Payumo in a statement.

read more at source (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/161609/hike-in-toll-on-kennon-road-looms)

hugodiekonig

March 15th, 2012, 04:20 PM

Manila North Road - Bauang Road Widening has started at Paringao area. Lately last February, road widening has started at Urayong Bauang northwards

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/423284_2738547475533_1612790914_31849031_2130641314_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/418989_2738548995571_1612790914_31849032_1737432429_n.jpg

my photos

hugodiekonig

March 17th, 2012, 07:00 AM

Thursday, 15 March 2012 10:45
Maricel Halili

In 2005, the petition filed by the group of Atty. Harry Roque before the Supreme Court was dismissed.

They wanted the high court to nullify the government’s deal with the China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation Group (CNMECG), which won the contract to build the US$503 million North Luzon Railways (Northrail) project.

Roque said the deal failed to comply with Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. This law requires all firms interested in a government contract to enter into a competitive bidding.

In Full Swing
“The government and CNMECG continue to work on the project,” a North Luzon Railways Corporation (NLRC) official who requested anonymity said. The NLRC has already begun the construction of embankment areas and retaining walls of the Northrail project.

The Northrail project has three phases. Phase one-section one will run from Caloocan to Malolos, Bulacan; phase one-section two is from Malolos to Clark; phase two is the branch line to Subic; and phase three will connect Clark to San Fernando, La Union.

NLRC wanted to finish the first phase of the project by February 2010. The government, however, has no definite deadline yet for the completion of all three phases of the project. The NLRC official said the completion of phases one and two would depend on the viability of phase one.

read more at source (http://chinabusinessphilippines.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1272%3Acontroversial-northrail-project&catid=83%3Aissue&Itemid=72)

hugodiekonig

March 19th, 2012, 02:29 PM

By Jennilyne C. Role
Friday 16th of March 2012

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Mar. 16 (PIA) -- The P30.6-million Lacong-Lipay Norte farm-to-market road in San Gabriel town will be inaugurated today to be led by Agrarian Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes and will be eventually turned-over to the local government unit.

The project was funded and constructed under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA). It was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways – La Union District Office.

Since its completion in May 16, 2011, the FMR has been serving 4,674 beneficiary-residents, of which 465 belong to DAR’s Agrarian Reform Community.

According to a DAR report, the FMR has significantly improved the lives of the residents in terms of reduction of incidence of asthma and other related respiratory diseases and literacy rate has increased hand in hand with the construction of more classrooms to accommodate more pupils/students.

San Gabriel Mayor Divina Velasco and barangay captains Dominador Lilan of barangay Lacong and Romeo Culbengan of barangay Lipay Norte will lead local government officials in the inauguration rites. (JCR-PIA 1 La Union)

source (http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=301331846836)

hugodiekonig

March 20th, 2012, 02:35 AM

Monday, 19 March 2012 19:31 Jonathan L. Mayuga / Correspondent
E-mail Print PDF

FARMERS in San Gabriel, La Union, are now enjoying the advantage of a P30.6-million farm-to-market road to transport their produce while their children are benefiting as well from a three-classroom building, both constructed through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

DAR Secretary Gil de los Reyes aside from making transportation of farm products faster, easier and a lot cheaper, the 5.5-kilometer road has also helped the people access to other basic services, such as health care and education.

The road, jointly funded by the DAR and the Japan International Cooperation Agency-Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (Jica-Arisp), connects Barangays Lacong, Lipay Proper and Lipay Sur in San Gabriel to Bacnotan town.

read more at source (http://businessmirror.com.ph/component/content/article/53-agri-commodities/24740-farmers-families-benefit-from-road-school-constructed-by-dar)

hugodiekonig

March 20th, 2012, 03:24 PM

Road widening at Quinavite, Bauang

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/486240_2762359430817_1612790914_31860609_1507846467_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

March 20th, 2012, 03:42 PM

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/420676_2743621882390_1612790914_31851177_1130057260_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/421607_2743633482680_1612790914_31851188_1303276453_n.jpg

my photos

hugodiekonig

March 28th, 2012, 03:58 AM

LUNGSOD NG SAN FERNANDO, La Union, Marso 27 (PIA) -- Upang matugunan ang malawakang pagsasaayos, pagpapabago at pangangailangang palawakin ang kongkretong kalsada sa rehiyon at maiwasan ang trapikong sanhi ng ilan sa sirang kalsada rito, ang Kagawaran ng Pagawaing Bayan at Lansangan o DPWH ay naglaan ng P3.9 bilyong pondo para dito.

Ayon kay Jose Ginete, Jr. ng DPWH La Union Engineering District 1 , ang pondong ito ay gagamitin sa rehabilitasyon at konstruksiyon ng mga kalsada pati na rin sa mga daluyan ng tubig sa may bandang Biday at Sevilla dito sa Lungsod.

Kabilang din sa mga isinasaayos na mga kalsada ngayong kasalukuyan ay ang San Fernando Bypass Road kung saan matatapos nitong ika-29 ng Agosto ngayong taon at ang ang pagpapatuloy sa Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Phase 1.

source (http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1901332816046)

hugodiekonig

March 29th, 2012, 02:05 PM

Thursday 29th of March 2012

$800K Septage Treatment Facility launched in San Fernando City
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Mar 29 (PIA) -- After the project groundbreaking in July 16, 2010 by U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas, the San Fernando City Septage Treatment Facility (STF) located in Barangay Dallangayan Oeste was finally launched on March 26 which aims to improve water sanitation in the city and ensure a healthy and environment for all.

The Facility is a collaborative project of the city government of San Fernando with the USAID – Philippine Sanitation Alliance (USAID-PSA), the Rotary International, the Rotary Club of San Fernando La Union Chapter, and Congressman Victor F. Ortega, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environment and Management Bureau and the Department of Health.

“This is a project we longed to realize to avoid water contamination in the household, thus improving the water sanitation in the city by requiring every household and business establishments to dislodge their respective septic tanks every five years pursuant to the Environmental Code of the Philippines,” city mayor Pablo C. Ortega said during the launching.

source (http://www.facebook.com/messages/100000790406567)

janstud19

March 29th, 2012, 05:01 PM

Hi! everyone just new here. Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point will be opening its newest villa for reservation this April! The Athena House, property that worth 11.5 million pesos open for reservation PHP 25,000.00 overnight stay (6 persons inclusive of breakfast at Olives restaurant) features of the house includes 3 rooms (1 master bedroom and 2 rooms with 1 queen bed and twin beds) with private balcony each room fully equiped kitchen amenities and dining and most of all a breath taking view of the whole san fernando bay, golf course and infront of the hotel on its athena roofdeck.

janstud19

March 29th, 2012, 05:05 PM

GOOD NEWS! Robinsons LA UNION is coming over.

helorider14

March 30th, 2012, 01:42 AM

Oh yeah?

janstud19

March 30th, 2012, 01:25 PM

you know the open lot near san agustin elementary school. robinsons developer already surveyed the land almost two weeks na, laying all the plan and proposal for developement of constructing the said mall.

helorider14

March 30th, 2012, 02:01 PM

hugodiekonig

March 30th, 2012, 02:49 PM

hugodiekonig

March 30th, 2012, 02:50 PM

hugodiekonig

March 30th, 2012, 02:57 PM

San Agustin school is located near Brgy Poro, proximate to the Airport

hugodiekonig

March 30th, 2012, 02:57 PM

Is that final already/closed deal?

hugodiekonig

March 30th, 2012, 04:00 PM

By Monette H. Herrera
Thursday 29th of March 2012

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, March 29 (PIA) -- This city continues to implement the Septage Management Program to help protect people and the environment. A local ordinance mandates septic tanks in the city are dislodged on a five year schedule.

Other areas in the country implementing this, in compliance with the Clean Water Act of 2004, are Metro Manila, Dumaguete City, Alabel, and Sarangani.

The USAID, Rotary Club of San Fernando La Union Chapter, Rotary International, Sustainable Cities International in Canada today continues to provide assistance to places like San Fernando City.

Thus San Fernando City has stepped initiatives on health and sanitation as manifested by the recent launching of its Septage Treatment Facility located in Barangay Mameltac, for a healthy life along with proper sanitation.(JCR/MHH-PIA1 La Union with reports from http://www.citynet-ap.org)

source (http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1901332945354)

janstud19

March 31st, 2012, 01:21 PM

My grandma is a broker, I ask her again "is it true that close deal has been made?" she replied with a YES, there was a a team who surveyed the land for a couple of times i know the broker who made the deal with the robinsons.

hugodiekonig

March 31st, 2012, 01:27 PM

^^ wow great update! Thanks! Hope Robinsons will start its construction very soon. :banana: Welcome to the thread :hi: :cheers:

janstud19

March 31st, 2012, 01:32 PM

Here's one more! La union will offer a festival in upbeat with the Hot Air Ballon of Clark!, Panagbenga of John Hay! Sillag Festival (Festival of Lights) for Poro Point of LU! This will be the first time that PPMC will do such an activity like this to promote the tourism industry of the city of san fernando.

It will be an annual event! Fluvial Parade of Lights! Grand Fireworks Pyromusical at the center of san fernando bay! Trade Fair! and Night Concerts!

April 28!

hugodiekonig

March 31st, 2012, 01:46 PM

^^ omg thanks for the updates! that's soooo great!

by the way, I invite you also to join us La Union forumers in this thread: San Fernando City and La Union Province Thread 14 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1501262)

hugodiekonig

April 5th, 2012, 03:37 AM

Originally Posted at Transportation Forums

Anyway ho, pntahan naman ho natin sa imprastraktura marami tayong kailangan kayo kada mauwi siguro pag nadaan kayo ng Edsa papasok ng Edsa alam niyo eto na traffic maski anong oras traffic. Magkakaorn ho tayo ng NLEX SLEX connector ang pangalan Northern Luzon Expressway Southern Luzon Expressway halos tapos nap o iyong pag aaral dyan ang maganda lang hong ibabalita ko sa inyo nagtatalo ngayon iyong ating mga local na mga business groups ha kung sino ang magkakaroon ng karapatan itayo. Nung araw ho kasi nung kulang tayo ng kuryente talagang nakaluhod tayo, nagmamakaawa tayo bibigyan natin ng kung ano anong insentiba hindi ba para pumasok sa atin, ngayon ho nag aagawan doon sa imprastraktura natin.

So, baka ho mangyari nyan hindi lang isa iyong connector nyan baka maging dalawa yung TIPLEX ang ngalan Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway kokonekta po iyon doon sa SCTEX yung Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway ang pangako ho sa akin 2014 nakatayo na po iyan. (applause) Iyong sa Batangas naman po ganun rin iyong tinayo ho iyong CDCP nagpagawa ng kalsada ang gobyerno iyong NLEX ngayon ibinigay doon sa CDCP sabi kayo ang magpapatakbo pero mayron kayong obligasyon na paabutin ito hanggang Carmen Rosales sa Pangasinan at hanggang Lucena sa Quezon. Sa awa ng Diyos hanggang ngayon eh hindi pa umaabot sa Carmen Rosales Pangasinan at hindi pa ho .. ng mga taga Lucena Quezon. Pero iyong kausap ho natin nagpapatakbo nung STAR at iyong Lucena mukhang maliwanag na sa kanila Lucena Quezon talagang tutuloy marami pa hong ibang kalsada doon pero pati na rin ho iyong Carmen Rosales syempre lumampas na ho doon talagang ginagawa na nga ho hanggang La Union. Kaya nga ho iyong L nung TIPLEX La Union po iyan. Okay.

PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III’S SPEECH
MEETING WITH FILIPINO COMMUNITY, CAMBODIA
APRIL 4, 2012

http://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CE8QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Frtvm.gov.ph%2Fmain%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F04%2FCambodia-Filcom-Speech1.doc&ei=G8x8T-nXEaqtiQfZsojFCQ&usg=AFQjCNFW_a451J4feMlziN06TAWgIYnTOw

hugodiekonig

April 11th, 2012, 06:46 AM

Wednesday 11th of April 2012

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, April 11 (PIA) -- The P49-million San Fernando Bypass Road in La Union Province is now 15 percent finished, and is expected be meet its August 29 target completion date, according to an interview with OIC District Engineer Jose Ginete Jr., of the La Union Engineering District 1 of the Department of Public Works and Highways 1(DPWH 1) recently.

The project was started on January 16 this year. The work completed so far are on the widening and reconstruction of the said road, Ginete, added.

Road improvement works undertaken included asphalt paving of concrete paved road to prevent further deterioration, crib wall type slope protection, reblocking and road shoulders concrete paving particularly at barangays Sevilla and Pagdaroan section here.

Constructions of drainage system were also conducted in barangays Sevilla and Biday.

source (http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1901333521573)

hugodiekonig

April 11th, 2012, 06:48 AM

Naku siguradong magmamahal uli ang presyo ng manok dahil rito:

LA UNION - Ilang poultry farm ang nangangamba na dahil sa epekto ng tindi ng nararanasang init ng panahon sa lalawigan ng La Union.

Sa naging panayam ng Bombo Radyo La Union sa caretaker ng isang poultry farm sa Barangay Dallangayan Oeste sa lungsod ng San Fernando sa lalawigan na si Noel Rubis, sinabi nito na isa o dalawang alagang manok ang namamatay araw-araw sa binabantayang kulungan dahil sa matinding nararanasang init ng panahon.

Ayon kay Rubis sa 10,000 bilang ng manok na kanyang inaalagaan ay halos aabot na sa 900 ang mga namatay nang magsimula ang panahon ng tag-araw.

Gayunman, normal lamang aniya ang ganitong pangyayari sa isang poultry farm na kahit sapat ang suplay ng tubig at bitamina para sa mga manok dahil hindi naman pare-pareho ang resistensya sa katawan ng mga ito.

Samantala, nagpaalala si Dr. Flocy Decena ng San Fernando City Veterinary Office na tiyaking nasa tamang bilang ang mga aalagaang manok na pangangasiwaan sa farm.

Payo pa nito, kailangan din na may sapat na inuming tubig upang hindi tamaan ng heatstroke ang mga ito.

source (http://www.bomboradyo.com/news/latest-news/105813-maraming-manok-sa-la-union-namamatay-dahil-sa-heatstrokehttp://www.bomboradyo.com/news/latest-news/105813-maraming-manok-sa-la-union-namamatay-dahil-sa-heatstroke)

ergit222

April 14th, 2012, 01:03 AM

hugodiekonig

April 15th, 2012, 08:55 PM

the Salangas of SFC owned the wide lot near San Agustin Elem School. I heard the lot was brokered by a realty company, The Right Choice. Excited to know that Robinsons has finally decided to purchase and develop this property. I am hoping it will be mixed use development (commercial/residential/convention etc). thanks for the info janstud19

according to the September 2011 Robinsons report, their plan for la union is residential development (see page 37 of this pdf file: http://www.robinsonsland.com/downloads/download-annual-report/RLC_17A_Sep2011.pdf) I think in this way, the Robinsons management can save costs in acquiring the lot (taxes from residential use is way lower than taxes from commercial use) but could later on develop a mall depending on market demand

hugodiekonig

April 15th, 2012, 09:17 PM

Road re-Construction at Km 299, Balaoan

janstud19

April 20th, 2012, 08:26 AM

hugodiekonig

April 20th, 2012, 02:49 PM

land from san agustin already surveyed and done for robinsons, the salangas and realty corp who handle the said land and robinsons is on "undergoing negotiation status" to acquire the land and fast track the said development plan.

thanks for the update janstud! :banana::banana::banana: by the way, will it be a residential development, or commercial (mall) or mixed? I hope negotiations will be okay

hugodiekonig

April 20th, 2012, 02:52 PM

Over the years, the Company has invested in a number of properties located
across the Philippines for existing and future development projects. All of these
properties are fully owned by the Company and none of which are subject to any mortgage, lien or any form of encumbrance. The Company also enters into joint venture arrangements with land owners in order to optimize their capital
resources. Not only does this encourage raw land development for future projects but it also provides them exclusive development and marketing rights.

The following are locations of the Company’s properties:

Luzon

La Union Residential
Pangasinan Mall
Bulacan Mall
Nueva Ecija Mall
Pampanga Mall
Tarlac Mall
Batangas Mall/ Residential
Cavite Mall/ Residential/ Mixed-use (mall/hotel/residential)
Laguna Mall
Palawan Mixed-use (mall/hotel/residential)
Rizal Residential
Luzon area Land bank

That is their Sept 2011 report. baka this year or next year na matuloy ang Residential project nila sa La Union.

Source: 2011 Report: Page 37 http://www.robinsonsland.com/downloads/download-annual-report/RLC_17A_Sep2011.pdf

hugodiekonig

April 23rd, 2012, 05:04 PM

continued...

Proposed development plan at Poro Point

It is also proposed in the UP Planades Development Framework Plan for the area that a multi-level observatory/viewing decks ending in circular platforms will be built that would serve as access points to water sports activities.

The six-hectare area will be built with restaurants, specialty shops, and green and open spaces, Gerdan said.

Other scheduled activities for the festival are concert featuring two bands; pyromusical show; children’s show featuring clown, magicians, jugglers and others to create a more festive atmosphere.

To draw more tourists, the scheduled one-day initial festival offers free rides to the area which is expected to be more complex and more exciting the coming years. (JCR-PIA 1, La Union)

source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=301335087265

hugodiekonig

April 28th, 2012, 07:32 PM

A simple way to mitigate daily traffic jam in San Fernando - footbridge in front of Lorma Colleges

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/556199_2965994801574_1612790914_31942836_646005773_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

April 29th, 2012, 05:06 PM

Robinsons Land??

Brgy San Agustin, San Fernando City
beside San Agustin Elementary School, before entering Poro Point Management Corporation

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/581107_2966006641870_1612790914_31942855_1628389118_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/528579_2966007681896_1612790914_31942856_80154248_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

May 4th, 2012, 06:39 PM

04-May-12, 4:02 PM | Darwin G. Amojelar, InterAksyon.com

http://www.interaksyon.com/assets/images/articles/interphoto_1336121250.jpg
Poro Point, or the former Wallace airbase of the US military in San Fernando, La Union. Courtesy of global-arena.com

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is set to privatize a former US military airbase in Northern Luzon, with a plan to build a shopping mall complex early next year.

On the sidelines of the 45th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank Board of Governors, Arnel Paciano Casanova, BCDA president and chief executive told reporters that funding from the PPP Center would finance the feasibility study for the San Fernando Airport - previously called the Wallace airbase - in La Union.

"Our vision is to make it viable for a PPP project. Our plan is to transform the airport into an airport mall just like in Changi Airport in Singapore. The terminal is actually a mall itself, you generate revenues from the mall operations aside from the revenue you get from traffic revenue," Casanova said.

Classified as a community airport, the San Fernando Airport is part of the Poro Point Freeport Zone.

Casanova said no airline serves the airport in the absence of passenger traffic.

Once developed, the airport would serve domestic and regional flights, he said.

source link (http://www.interaksyon.com/article/31063/philippines-plans-changi-type-of-airport-shopping-mall-complex-for-former-us-airbase)

hugodiekonig

May 9th, 2012, 02:55 PM

By Frank Cimatu
Philippine Daily Inquirer
11:42 pm | Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

SAN FERNANDO CITY—While going up the steps of the Poro Point lighthouse, former Mayor Mary Jane Ortega of San Fernando City in La Union was loudly saying, “Oro. Plata. Mata.” (Gold. Silver. Death.). It is an old Spanish superstition that if one’s last step falls on either gold, silver or death, it will mean the fate of the house or its occupants.

Having negotiated 96 steps, Ortega was aghast that it ended at “mata.”

“So the first step of the rehabilitation is to put an extra step,” she said while atop the 76-foot lighthouse built in 1970.

Poro Point Management Corp. (PPMC) signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Coast Guard to repair and rehabilitate the lighthouse as well as the much older Spanish lighthouse a few meters away.

Ortega said the older lighthouse, built on Nov. 28, 1885, and enshrined by the National Historical Institute as a historical structure, would be rebuilt using old drawings.

read more at source (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/190047/lighthouse-rehab-seen-to-ignite-tourism-boom)

reposted from San Fernando City and La Union Province Thread 14

hugodiekonig

May 19th, 2012, 03:10 AM

La Union 2nd District - Manila North Road widening update

Road widening in Rosario is on-going. Kakaumpisa lang ng road widening sa Santo Tomas. Bauang gets the bulk of the road widening project

At Bauang

Pottot, Dili

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/319827_3078553135462_1612790914_31983979_137954033_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546618_3078554775503_1612790914_31983984_2085381069_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

May 19th, 2012, 03:12 AM

Almost Completed - Paringao-Pagdalagan

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/389196_3078547335317_1612790914_31983963_1592848225_n.jpg

Ongoing - Baccuit Norte, Baccuit Sur, Dili and Quinavite
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/560737_3078559535622_1612790914_31983999_1793102479_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/525599_3078508014334_1612790914_31983910_766936888_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

May 19th, 2012, 03:12 AM

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/166727_3078558535597_1612790914_31983996_1807002121_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

May 21st, 2012, 03:25 PM

Province of La Union

Project ID
a) Name of Project / Location
b) Contractor
c) Implementing Office
d) Source of Funds

+a) Program Amount
b) Contract Amount
(Php'000)

Implementation Schedule
a) Date Started
b) Original Completion
c) Actual Completion

Status
%

010312H00023
a) Nagsaoang Bridge along Manila North Road RETROFITTING/REHABILITATION/STRENGTHENING/DistrictWide,La Union 2nd District Engineering Office,Region I
b) BONIMAR CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES
c) La Union 2nd District Engineering Office,Region I
d) DPWH

a) Program Amount: 9000
b) Contract Amount (Php'000): 8295

Implementation Schedule
a) 2/21/2012
b) 6/19/2012
c)

Status
c) 18 %

010312H00006
a) Widening of San Fernando Bypass Road Including RROW, San Fernando City, La Union PAVED (CONCRETE) TO PAVED (CONCRETE)/DistrictWide,La Union 1st District Engineering Office,Region I
b) ARCINUE COMMERCIAL
c) La Union 1st District Engineering Office,Region I
d) DPWH

a) Program Amount: 49000
b) Contract Amount (Php'000): 0

Implementation Schedule
a) 1/19/2012
b) 9/16/2012
c)

Status
c) 37 % Complete

010312H00019
a) Manila North Road, PAVED (CONCRETE) TO PAVED (CONCRETE)/DistrictWide,La Union 2nd District Engineering Office,Region I
c) La Union 2nd District Engineering Office,Region I
d) DPWH

Implementation Schedule
a) 1/12/2012
b) 9/7/2012
c)

Status:
c) 18 % Complete

source: http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/infrastructure/pms/01.asp?es=ong
Note: Several contractors are working for the MNR widening Project in La Union 2nd District