wow! huwaaaaaw!!! wow! OMG! ^^ :eek2:

http://www.visitclark.com/Images/JPG/Main-zone-map.jpg CLARK

http://www.visitclark.com/Images/GIF/why-clark-text.gif

Clark is over 33,000 hectares of prime land located in the culture-rich Central Luzon, the Philippines new productivity center. It lies only 80 kilometers north of the City of Manila and 60 kilometers east of Subic Bay, a former US naval facility that has been redeveloped into a major Freeport.

A natural entry point to the Asia Pacific Region, Clark is only 3 ½ hours flying time away from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Korea and other key points in Asia.

http://www.visitclark.com/Images/GIF/asian-map.gif

Clark possesses a location so strategic and unique. The American military forces maintained it as its largest air base outside of the US Mainland.

For almost 100 years, it was the United States’ beacon in the region, until 1991 when the benefits of Clark’s extraordinary place in the map were extended to the rest of the world as a Special Economic Zone.

http://www.sbma.com/freeport-files/img-005.jpg SUBIC

Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) is located southwest of the Luzon Island in the Philippines. The harbor is mapsandwiched by the Zambales Mountain Range at the east and the Subic Bay at the west and opens up to the South China Sea. It is northwest of the Bataan Peninsula and southwest of the Zambales Province. SBF is 110 kilometers north of Manila. Manila Bay and the Bataan Peninsula separate SBF from Manila. The mountain ranges around the Subic Bay area and the deep natural harbor provide excellent and protected anchorage. In addition, these features make SBF naturally sheltered from typhoons as well as from the effects of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.

SBF belongs to Region III or the Central Luzon Region. It is one of the points in the growth triangle and is an engine for economic development in the region. SBF is a supplier of services and products for the Central Luzon Development Program (CLDP), a regional growth area composed of the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales.

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Welcome to
CLARK and SUBIC:
Tomorrow's Bright Future
(Thread 2)
Previous Thread(s): 1 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=103546)

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Credits to:
SBMA Official Website
CSEZ Official Website

SBMA approves 21 projects worth P16.848 billion in June

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has approved 21 projects for the month of June with combined investments of $ 324 million or approximately P16.848 billion led by the $ 300-million investment of Hebei Jingnui Crystal Bull Co. Ltd. for its industrial glass production plant.

Complete Article: http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2006072870268.html

Thread 2: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=378221 :lock:

SBMA reports investment approvals surge

By NIEL V. MUGAS, The Manila Times Reporter

Approved investments of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for the first half grew exponentially following the entry of more projects in the free port.

In an announcement Thursday, the SBMA said its approved investments have totaled $1.35 billion, an exponential growth from only $9.2-million investments it approved in the same period last year.

SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga said the huge jump in investments for the first half was mainly due to the entry of big-ticket foreign direct investments (FDIs).

"A huge part of these FDIs, which made the current economic indicator in the Subic Bay Freeport to surge this high, [come from] Korean shipbuilder Hanjin with $1 billion and Chinese glass manufacturer Hebei Jingniu with $312 million," Salonga said.

He added that there were a total 68 new projects approved by the Board of Directors during the first semester, compared with last year’s 17 approved projects.

Of the total approved investments in the first half, about $9.983 million were poured in by local companies, the biggest being the $6.3-million capital infusion made by a subsidiary of Globe Telecom, Innove Communications Inc.

In the first quarter of this year, the SBMA bested three other investment promotion agencies (IPAs) in the country, posting $1.013 billion, which accounted for 70.8 percent of the total $1.4 billion, according to the periodical report by the National Statistical Coordination Board.

NSCB is a policymaking and coordinating body on statistical matters in the country mandated to promote and maintain an efficient government statistical system.

During the same period this year, the SBMA remitted a total of P2.2 billion to the national coffers from combined cash collection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs, which rose 23 percent compared with last year’s P1.8 billion. A total of 686 locators are currently operating in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Taken from the blog Another Hundred Years Hence


Time Out: Whatever Happened to Subic?

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http://www.ktaweb.com/works/image/sbf/sbf03.jpg

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The image above is the original masterplan for the Subic Freeport by Kenzo Tange and Associates. It was proposed back in the heady days when Dick Gordon was chief cheerleader for the port and when APEC put Subic in the spotlight and the leaders of the 40% of the world's population (and, back then, 56% of the global GDP) signed the 1996 Subic Declaration (which was ironically titled "From Vision to Action").

Subic back then was supposed to be our answer to Singapore and was meant to eclipse the port of Hongkong and rival Malaysia's Multimedia Super Corridor. The masterplan shows an intense CBD style development with a tall central spine and a strong sea-to-mountain visual axis.

Unfortunately, because of internecine politicking the the vision seems to have died on the vine. The second image shows the Freeport now. True, Subic is still getting the Subic-Clark Expressway and that $215 million container port and its industrial core is expanding, albeit by fits and starts.

The strategic question that Subic must answer is what role will it play in the megalopolis when the expressway and northrail finally connect Metro Manila with Clark and the freeport. Will it just be the overflow for Manila's port traffic? An alternative to the industrial sites in Cavite and Batangas? Will it just be the gateway to central luzon - and be another export processing node? What key niche will it serve in (GMA's) "urban beltway"?

The current economic strategy seems to be following a 1970's-80's, export led development track. Get factories, low-cost labor, then build from there. Great, except now you're competing with China.

Maybe Subic should rethink its strategy. It should start looking at post industrial strategies that leapfrog the export-led, labor infrastructure and jump instead to the growing business process outsourcing industries and IT and biotech industries. This is also the new paradigm in urban planning.

In the industrial age, physical infrastructure -access to road, rail, air -was the guarantor of urban economic success. Hence the explosive growth of port cities, and consequently the heavy investment in physical infrastructure from the 20's to the 80's. The mantra of export led development also preached low-cost labor as the competitive advantage

In the new paradigm -it is connectivity by bits -access to the information as well as investments in human capital that is the edge. Creativity trumps low cost labor. Cities are pursuing creative industries - and attracting creative talent as part of the economic strategy. So rather than investing in industrial parks and ports, cities are investing in livable downtowns and arts districts and in broadband and fiber optics. Several cities (Philadelphia, San Francisco) are opening up citywide wifi access. -Apart from asking "What will make it easier to do business here?" cities are asking, "How do we get young people to live and work here?" Instead of investing in industrial muscle, cities are looking for enriching intellectual capital.

The new success stories are Bangalore, Portland, Seattle, Austin. (Singapore knows that it must attract the creative class to retain its competitive edge and is investing heavily in educating for creativity.)

Subic Freeport wants to become gaming haven
By Marianne V. Go
The Philippine Star 09/11/2006

Subic Freeport wants to become a gaming haven for Chinese players, attracting Las Vegas casino developers and operators who are eyeing the potentially lucrative Chinese market.

According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand C. Arreza, the SBMA has actually had a number of feelers from interested casino developers and operators who see the potential of Subic as an ideal destination for Chinese players who are looking for alternative gaming sites aside from Macau in Asia.

The huge potential of the Chinese market, Arreza pointed out, has not been lost even on conservative Singapore which has finally allowed the development of a casino on the island nation. It has been estimated that Chinese tourists will reach 100 million by 2015.

Subic already attracts Taiwanese players, but a recent dispute with the Malaysian-controlled Legenda Hotel and Casino has caused a drop in Taiwanese arrivals to the former US naval facility, Arreza admitted.

A new casino has been opened, but unlike the Legenda which used to advertise its casino, it is not attracting enough foreign players yet, Arreza said.

Furthermore, Arreza said, interested casino investors are wary of the franchise life of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) which is the only entity authorized to extend gaming licenses.

The PAGCOR’s 25-year franchise granted in 1983 is set to expire in 2008 and it is not certain if Congress will renew the franchise. With that uncertainty, Arreza said, interested investors are adopting a wait and see attitude before securing a license to operate a casino in Subic.

Arreza computes that an investment in a casino would be a minimum of $100 million.

Subic’s proximity to China, Arreza said, would be more convenient to Chinese players who would otherwise head to Singapore which is farther from China.

Developing a gaming industry in Subic, Arreza said, would also solve the current under-employment problem in Zambales and Bataan particularly for workers aged 30 and above.

Most of the manufacturing activities in Subic, Arreza said, limit their hiring to workers aged from 18 to below 30.

Previously, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila had welcomed the entry of foreign investments in the gaming industry.

Favila is even amenable to granting flexibility on the ownership ceiling for such investments.

At present, however, Favila said, Philippine law allows only up to 40 percent foreign equity for all forms of gambling operations.

According to Favila, the gaming industry is a major contributor to job creation, particularly in the services sector.

The gaming industry, likewise, Favila said, could be a catalyst for tourism promotion.

Thus, Favila would encourage the establishment of gaming centers in all resorts such as in the world-famous Boracay.

Government, Favila said, should look into the possibility of opening up the gaming industry to top global players.

According to Favila, "these foreign investors can develop large-scale projects such as world-class resort casinos which offer both gaming and non-gaming leisure facilities."

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/news200609110701.htm

Laus: Clark has potential as 1st class trade site
By Reynaldo G. Navales


CLARK ECOZONE -- Newly-installed president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Clark Development Corporation Levy P. Laus has cited the potential of Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) as a world class investment site.

“There is an illustrious and promising future that beckons us. I have the highest hopes and huge confidence that we can work together as a world-class team to make that dream come true,” Laus said in his speech during Monday’s flag-raising and turnover ceremonies.

Laus asked for the cooperation of CDC employees to achieve the vision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the economic zone.

Angelo Lopez, Public Relations Department manager of CDC, said most of the locators and other stakeholders in Clark welcomed Laus’ appointment to CDC.

“Next to President Macapagal-Arroyo, we expect Mr. Laus to be the best marketing and promotions expert for the zone,” Lopez said.

Laus, the eighth president and CEO of CDC, said “no one is smarter than all of us put together. Each of us has enough intelligence, training, good attitude and a personal vision that, in the context of synergy, can really do wonders for CDC and Clark.”

“What we do here, individually and collectively, is what we invest in the future not only of this place and its people, but of a much bigger community,” he said.

“I have gratefully accepted my appointment as CDC president fully aware of the enormous and colossal challenges of the task. I am very confident that with your full and unwavering support and commitment, we can move ahead,” Laus said.

Armed with 30 years of experience in corporate work, business management, entrepreneurship, community development and civic works, corporate governance and government policy making, Laus said he does not bring any promises.

“I came here with commitment and visions that will held us continually shape the image, the direction and future of this region and country,” he said.

He also vowed to champion the vision for productive employment and vigorous economic activity.

Laus had been appointed directors of various government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) including the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation, and Bataan Technology Park Incorporated from 2001-2003.

He is also the chairman of various companies under the Laus Group of Companies, which owns most of the auto brands such as Mitsubishi CarWorld, Ford Pampanga, Premier Cars BMW, GM Pampanga, Izusu and Kia; a non-life insurance firm; food chains; among others.

At present, Laus is the chairman of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, San Fernando Heritage Foundation, and Pampanga Investment Board.

The appointment of Laus as CDC top official was earlier lauded by the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC). “This is a signal of what could be an unprecedented working partnership between local chief executives and the state-owned corporation,” said Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales who is also the co-chair of the MCAC.

Laus’ business expertise could be a plus factor in running the corporate affairs of CDC in line with President Arroyo?s vision of the Luzon Urban Development Beltway where Clark is among the areas that would generate economic growth, Morales said.

Francisco Villanueva, Jr., president of Clark Investors and Locators Association (Cila), said they are “elated” by the appointment of Laus because he will bring his years of experience in running the LGC to the state-owned corporation.

“It will be a plus factor in running a government-owned corporation. He is one of the most successful businessmen in Pampanga or even in the entire country. This would be good to CDC because he can apply his business and at the same time political savvy in running the corporation,” he said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2006/10/03/news/laus.clark.has.potential.as.1st.class.trade.site.html

UPS expands Clark facility into an Intra-Asia hub



By FRED ROXAS

CLARK ZONE, Pampanga — United Parcel Service (UPS) has expanded its headquarters here for $ 1.4 million and converted it as Intra-Asia hub.


The formal conversion of UPS-Clark as Intra-Asia hub last Saturday was highlighted with the launching of UPS’ fourth annual global volunteer week conducted in barangay Cauayan here with some 300 of its Philippine-based employees participating.

UPS which delivers almost 15 million packages and documents to doorsteps in 200 countries daily conducted its global volunteer week last Oct. 14 to 22 which is planned to be extended to November for some Asian cities, according to UPS-Philippines managing director Tim Gohoc.

UPS officials said that their employees spend some 100,000 hours volunteer work in 50 countries undertaking community services such as painting houses, landscaping and cleaning grounds.

In barangay Cauayan, Ken Tork, UPS president for Asia Pacific region said that "we are truly inspired to see our employees extending helping hand to communities where we operated."

UPS records showed that its week-long community service initiative has grown from roughly 1,000 volunteers in 2003 to over 20,000 expected globally this year. This service will continue to be extended from Asia and Latin America to the United States and Europe, according to Gohoc.

Volunteer community service program this year, UPS said would include volunteer efforts such a 500 hours of coordinating baseball tournaments for blind and visually impaired children in Taiwan, about 2,000 hours renovating schools and shelters in Germany, some 6,500 hours across the United States providing logistics supports to raise funds for breast cancer research and some 100 hours for sorting food for food banks in Montreal, Canada.

http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2006102578028.html

alin ang mas mganda clark or subic?

personallly.. I like Subic Bay Freeport more that Clark....

Subic Bay Freeport is closer to nature and cleaner environment... going into the Freeport is also clean and not crowded.. It also has themed parks inside it.. and traffic is low and organized... traffic implementation is very strict as well and they follow the American traffic rules where you need to fully stop on stop signs..

Clark is accessible by the crowded and congested Angeles City...its surrounds are also very urban... and Clark only has the Clark Expo which is supposed to be a theme park but it not fully operational now... I think the last event held there was just the Big Brother finals night early this year...

personallly.. I like Subic Bay Freeport more that Clark....

Subic Bay Freeport is closer to nature and cleaner environment... going into the Freeport is also clean and not crowded.. It also has themed parks inside it.. and traffic is low and organized... traffic implementation is very strict as well and they follow the American traffic rules where you need to fully stop on stop signs..

Clark is accessible by the crowded and congested Angeles City...its surrounds are also very urban... and Clark only has the Clark Expo which is supposed to be a theme park but it not fully operational now... I think the last event held there was just the Big Brother finals night early this year...

clark kase is more an industrial ecozone... halos mga factory andun... pero ngayon may mga malls na, may fontana naman and ibang hotels...

Diba it's supposed to bring a synchronized progress to Central Luzon? I mean the port in Subic complements the Airport in Clark? And between those two towns, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressways would bring in more progress from MM. Along this expressway, different kind of developments would grow. Not to mention that the source of food is very near since Central Luzaon is the rice basket of the Philippines. So comparing the two would be a mismatch isn't it?

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UPS eyes Clark for intra-Asia warehousing hub
http://business.inq7.net/money/topstories/view_article.php?article_id=29433
By Riza T. Olchondra
Inquirer
Last updated 00:11am (Mla time) 10/30/2006

Published on page B2 of the October 30, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

CLARK, PAMPANGA -- United Parcel Service (UPS), a $42.6-billion package delivery and supply chain solutions provider, is considering putting up a warehousing hub in the Philippines to serve the growing demand for supply chain solutions in Asia-Pacific.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

UPS country manager for supply chain solutions Mark B. Khambatta said in an interview that management was very much interested in expanding in the Philippines. He declined to reveal how much investment was being considered, but said “a substantial amount” would be needed to put up a warehousing hub at the Clark Special Economic Zone.

Khambatta said the warehousing hub would complement the company’s existing sorting and distribution center in Clark.

The 5,900-square-meter facility is currently focused on coordinating package deliveries to and from Asia-Pacific, accommodating up to 11 cargo planes during peak hours from 12 midnight to 4 a.m. daily.

On a weekly basis, Philippines deliveries account for only 10 percent of the hub’s massive sorting and distribution tasks from 120 cargo flights.
UPS’ move is in stark contrast with that of Federal Express (FedEx), another global delivery and logistics company, which is closing its regional transshipment hub at the Subic Freeport Zone in December 2008.

Khambatta said UPS believed the Philippines’ strategic location, the highly developed language skills of the people and government support would make further investments bring positive results for both the country and the company.

Its location, alone, makes the Philippines very attractive as it enables UPS to deliver a package to any Asian country from anywhere in the world within 24 hours of receipt in Clark.

^^^So Subic will be their Asian Hub? I hope UPS will absorb FedEx employees who will loose their job when FedEx finally moves to China this 2008.

Korean developer starts construction of P495-M condo-type hotel in Subic
By Marianne V. Go
The Philippine Star 11/14/2006

Korean developer MGfnd Subic Inc. recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to signal the start of the construction of it P495-million condominium-type hotel at the Subic Freeport.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Feliciano G. Salonga lauded the new project as a sign of continued confidence from Korean investors in the Philippines.

Salonga said that the inflow of new investments is a significant boost to the country’s thriving economy.

"We welcome MGfnd Subic Inc. to the Freeport. Their arrival marks the strong bond forged between the two countries and shows the continued confidence of Korean investments in the Philippines, particularly in the Subic Freeport," Salonga said. Salonga believes the new condotel would help with the SBMA’s campaign to promote tourism in the Freeport.

"Once the new condotel rises, we foresee that it will attract more Korean tourists to come and get a taste of what the Freeport can offer them," Salonga said.

The condotel called MG Dream Village would be constructed in a 2.5-hectare lot on Perimeter road inside the Subic Bay Industrial Park (SBIP)

The Village would include a 150-room hotel complemented by other facilities like a health and wellness spa, a golf driving range, a 25-meter swimming pool, gift shops, medical clinics and a fusion restaurant-bar.

According to MGfnd Inc. chairman Chang Young Ryu, they are very excited with the start of the project.

He said that the decision to invest in the Subic Freeport was a good choice for MGfnd.

"We are happy to finally start this project. Our decision of setting it up in the Subic Freeport was based on an extensive research in the Korean and Philippine tourism market. This is an excellent place to visit and there is also a strong Korean business community that helped us establish our presence here," Ryu said.

Ryu added that the Philippines is one of the most visited spots by Korean tourists and the idea of having a hotel in the Subic Freeport that would cater to this market complements the presence of other tourist spots already present in the area.

MG Dream Village will cater to the growing Korean tour junkets that visit the Philippines, particularly the Subic Freeport. And during their stay, they can visit the other attractions here like the beaches, theme parks and the entertainment centers," he said. Ryu revealed that they will also try to attracting tour groups from the USA, Japan and other foreign countries.

MGfnd Inc. is one of the many companies under the MG Group conglomerate from Korea, whose other ventures are in the fields of telecommunications and advertising.

Helping finance the project is Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), while the design and concept is being handled by MAM Engineering Services.

The Dream Village is expected to open in November 2007.
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200611140709.htm

Magapagal airport bags low cost award
By Reynaldo G. Navales
Sun Star Pampanga, Thursday, November 16, 2006

CLARK ECOZONE -- Citing its contribution to the regional aviation industry, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) recently recognized the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) as "Low Cost Airport of the Year 2006."

Clark International Airport Corporation (Ciac) president Victor Jose Luciano received the award for excellence during the recent gala dinner of the Aviation Outlook Summit in Singapore.

Luciano received the plaque of recognition from Capa executive chairman Peter Harbison.

Airlines based in Asia Pacific and airport chief executive officers (CEOs) attended the summit and Capa Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner delving on key strategic issues facing the aviation industry. Among the issues tackled include outlook for the pace of liberalization, short- and long- haul competition, airport charges, growth markets of China and India, human resources shortage and fuel.

Luciano said DMIA has come a long way since its inception just a few years after the cataclysmic eruptions of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. The airport, tagged as the "Budget Airlines Capital of the Philippines", is now the second busiest airport in the country.

Tiger Airways of Singapore was also adjudged as "Low Cost Airline of the Year 2006."

The Ciac is planning to expand the existing terminal to increase passenger capacity from 500,000 a year to around 2.1 million passengers a year in 2008.

At present, DMIA has posted around 380,000 passengers for this year alone. There are 43 international passenger flights, 70 international and domestic cargo flights and 21 domestic passenger flights.

Among the budget airlines servicing Clark include Tiger Airways of Singapore, Air Asia Berhad of Malaysia, Asiana of South Korea, South East Asian Airlines, and Cebu Pacific. The leader in express shipping United Parcel Service (UPS) is also located at DMIA.

Senate to OK Clark bills by yearend

By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga—Clark stakeholders expressed gratitude over the assurance of some senators that the Senate is set to approve before yearend two pending bills that would restore duty-free privileges, and declare tax amnesty for locators in the Clark Special Economic Zone.

During the budget hearing of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) under the Senate Finance Committee chaired by Sen. Franklin Drilon, Sen. Sergio Osmeña Jr. said Senate Bills 2259 and 2260 have been scheduled for deliberation and could be passed before the end of the year.

Senate Bill 2259 calls for the declaration of a one-time amnesty on taxes and duties, including fines, penalties and interests incurred by locators in special economic zones and freeport, while SB 2260 calls for amendments to Republic Act 7227, or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, particularly Sec. 12 that provides tax and duty free privileges only to the Subic Freeport. This time Clark and other areas will be covered.

“We join locators and the other Clark stakeholders in expressing gratitude to our legislators in the Senate as they expedite deliberations on the tax measures. We are happy that the Senate has responded positively for the government to continue to honor its commitments to foreign and local investors,” Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president and chief executive officer Levy P. Laus said.

Laus, CDC employees, locators and Clark stakeholders have been leading lobbying efforts at the Senate, including “door-to-door” meetings with senators. Laus, joined by CDC executives, was present during the hearing for the proposed 2007 proposed budget of the BCDA.

During the meeting, Osmeña assured that the pending bills will be immediately deliberated upon in the Senate, noting that the legislative remedies for tax and duty-free issues would improve the BCDA’s financial standing.

Other BCDA subsidiaries present during the hearing include the CDC, and the management arms of the Poro Point Economic Zone, the John Hay Economic Zone, and the Bataan Economic Zone, all of which were affected by a Supreme Court decision in July 2005 that scrapped the tax perks and duty free privileges due to the lack of expressed provisions in Republic Act 7227 at the said zones.

The SC voided the granting of duty-free privileges and tax incentives to locators and investors based on Section 5 of Executive Order 80 as well as Section 4 of BCDA Board Resolution 93-05-032 that allowed the Clark Special Economic Zone to grant the same privileges available at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The ruling has imperiled the standing of Clark as a major investment and employment center around which the economy of Central Luzon is anchored.

“I’ll give you that by the end of the month,” Osmeña said, referring to the approval of SB 2259 and 2260, after learning of the severe effects the SC ruling could have on investments in the BCDA subsidiaries during the Wednesday budget hearing.

CDC executive vice president Philip JB Panlilio said the approval of the bills is crucial to CDC because this will lessen the apprehensions of the majority of investors in Clark.

Panlilio said Osmeña has included amendments to RA 7227 that will protect the development of the Clark airport complex as the Cebu lawmaker considered the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport as the “primary gateway of the future.”

Panlilio said Osmeña would not like the 2,500-hectare airport area in Clark to be compromised so as not to incur the same fate as that of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and the Mactan International Airport in Cebu which are no longer expandable due to limited land area caused by the unforeseen development near the two premier airports.

Once the amendments to RA 7227 are passed, it will cure once and for all the infirmities of the law by providing the same fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, under RA 7916 or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995, to duly-registered business enterprises located at the Clark, John Hay, Morong and Poro Point Special Economic Zones.

New law seen needed to boost operations of Clark airport


By Tonette Orejas
Inquirer
Last updated 10:35pm (Mla time) 11/17/2006


CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE -- There’s Republic Act No. 7227 that sets the rules for the transformation of Clark and Subic from military bases to industrial hubs. State corporations also exist to oversee that thrust. Master plans are drawn.

Then, there are four executive orders on what to do with the airports there, providing policies on how to enhance their potentials. A highway is set to link the zones and make this an economic corridor.

Fifteen years into the base conversion process and despite the teeming initiatives and pronouncements, one thing was missing, at least for what is now the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, officials said.

Its development entails a new law, according to Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan, chair of the Subic-Clark Alliance Development Council and head of the Luzon Urban Beltway super region program.

Alex Cauguiran, executive vice president of the Clark International Airport Corp., suggested the crafting and enactment of a law declaring the DMIA as the country’s premier gateway, consolidating the policies and programs to realize that and setting the timeframe and other requirements to make that happen.

“After RA 7227, the push has come largely from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. We need to get the DMIA more into the legislative agenda, to get it beyond executive and corporate concerns,” he said.

He said executive orders like Executive Order No. 174 which designated Clark as the “future site of a premier international airport,” are “subject to changes of administration.”

This had already happened, he noted, citing the campaign of the Move Clark Now, an Angeles City-based lobby group.

He recalled that after former President Fidel Ramos signed EO 174, he went on to sign the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 contract that provided restrictions in the construction of an international terminal at DMIA and increase in passenger quota.

The same restrictions were found in the amended contract that former President Joseph Estrada signed, he said.

Cauguiran said he hoped that the new law would settle the controversy arising from Ms Arroyo’s EO 500-A. Aviation consultant Benjamin Solis viewed this as a reversal of the air liberalization policy applied at Clark because it required airlines to get designated status.

The new law, Cauguiran said, would give strength to Ms Arroyo’s vision of making Clark and Subic the “best international service logistics hub in the Asia-Pacific region.”

According to him, it could also be an “antidote to conflicting interests,” referring to parties that did not want to branch out of the Naia or oppose the DMIA’s development.

“If the law sets 10 years as the phasing-in period to the DMIA, then airlines, agencies, other companies would have to work within that timeframe to shift operations here,” he said.

Pamintuan said the new law should also help secure DMIA’s land area, which spans a total of 2,500 hectares, against encroachment, which had happened at Naia.

Citing results of consultations, Pamintuan said the need for a new law was a view “shared by foreign and local business chambers, investors, workers and other stakeholders.”

The Naia, Pamintuan said, has a “fixed physical handicap” because its 600 ha leave no more room for expansion to take in wide-bodied aircraft or handle more traffic.

Both Cauguiran and Pamintuan clarified they were not seeking the closure of the Naia but wanted it to have a “symbiotic relation” with the DMIA.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/metroregions/view_article.php?article_id=33294

^^Good news for Clark. I remember them having such a hard time to get their law. I hope their plans all push through now with this.

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i hope they dont screw up these places... make tougher guidelines on the housing, structures etc that are gonna be put around the area so that it would look really organised... rather than just a messy place... -_-

I am surprised that nothing is being mentioned about the Hanjin Ship yard being built across the bay.

umaasenso na talaga ang subic! :)

yey,go subic! go clark!

Beautiful Subic

maganda talga.punta na kayo dito... hehe

Philippines hopes to win $1-B Texas Instruments project


By Abigail L. Ho
Inquirer
Last updated 02:16am (Mla time) 12/08/2006


THE government and local industry stakeholders are optimistic that US semiconductor giant Texas Instruments Inc. will choose the Philippines over China for a $1-billion Asian expansion, an Inquirer source in the industry said.

The new plant is expected to create 4,000 jobs, the source said.

If it chooses the Philippines, TI will likely build the plant in the Clark Special Economic Zone, north of Manila, the source added.

A major factor that favors the Philippines is the high efficiency of the TI plant in the northern city of Baguio, which produces around 40 percent of the TI group’s global output, the source said. The products go to the world’s biggest makers of mobile phones.

“The Baguio plant is one of the most efficient plants that the TI group has in the world," the source said. "Although China should have been a favorable choice for them, since they have yet to establish their presence there, they’re opting for the Philippines and that’s because of the efficiency of their Baguio plant.”

If the expansion plant will be built in the Philippines, it could bolster development of the Northern Luzon region, the source added. “Right now, most of the developments are in the south. We think that the whole area [of Northern Luzon] will really grow, especially with TI locating there."

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila expressed optimism that the TI investment would come the Philippines but refused further comment.

The industry group Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) meanwhile said more than 10 companies had expansion plans for next year.

“Those are just indications, but we’re really expecting a lot of expansions since global business has been good," SEIPI executive director Ernesto Santiago said. “We thought the business was overheating, as we saw signs of that around October, but now the market is growing again."

Investments in the industry from January to October reached $674 million for 98 projects, compared with $456 million in 80 projects in the same period last year, he said.

“If TI comes in, that will be $1 billion. They have yet to make an announcement," Santiago added.

The SEIPI expects industry growth of 10 percent this year and another 10 percent next year, he said. With INQ7.net



Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

wow go clark


up up and away

wala naman pic ang clark..pic naman dyan sa clark,may mga bagong hotel na open this dec. sa clark pa updated naman plssssssss ....LIPAD CLARK LIPAD!!! I WAITING FLIGHT DERECT TO U.S...

Oxford Hotel

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Clearwater country Club

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thanks :) emesber sa mga pic..sa updated :) wala naba!!!:cheers:

thanks :) emesber sa mga pic..sa updated :) wala naba!!!:cheers:

you are welcome, I'll see if I have time to drive inside Clark and take photos of the progress of SCTEX, Mimosa and Oxford Hotel the newest hotel inside Clark.

Clark Monitor the Official Publication of Clark Development Corporation.

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i thought that train project was abolished

ey emesber how how come everytime u post a pics, u always leave those IMG quoted thingy

i thought that train project was abolished

ey emesber how how come everytime u post a pics, u always leave those IMG quoted thingy

I cannot get .... ano yaong IMG guoted thingy ?
do you mean thin grey border ?

12 Dec 2006

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Mabalacat Gate of Clark Special Economic Zone. Looking westward.





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Still under construction - Bridge of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway spanning the Mabalacat River. Looking towards the north or towards Tarlac.






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Still under construction - Bridge of SCTEX spanning the Mabalacat River.
Looking towards the north or towards Tarlac.





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Mabalacat Gate of CSEZ. Looking southward or towards Angeles City.




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Just after entering the Mabalacat gate, looking southwesterly direction.
You can see the still unfinished SCTEX with it's elevated portion and the underpass road
beneath for incoming and outgoing traffic of Clark.





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Clark's picnic ground along the Gil Puyat Avenue the road originating from Mabalacat Gate. Near the picnic ground is the Kamikaze Airfield used by the Japanese.





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Picnic ground.





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Road leading to Centennial Expo Filipino - the multi billion pesos white elephant. Built during the term of President Ramos, it was half completed when it was opened.





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Road leading to Centennial Expo Filipino - the multi billion pesos white elephant. Remember the Expo Centennial Scam of year 2000.





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Centennial Expo - Like a haunted castle in the middle of nowhere.





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The Centennial Expo





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Looking towards the northwest from Centennial Expo Filipino. You can see the vast expanse of the military reservations which is outside the CSEZ.





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Still the Centennial Expo Filipino a white elephant which was used for Singing concert perhaps 2 times a year.





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Areas near the Centennial Expo Filipino.

that huge tent (called Amphitheater?) looks nice.

thanks for the photos, emesber:)

about those [IMG] tags, i guess you have the image tags twice. so you can delete one opening and one closing tag on each of your photos so that those extra "[IMG]" don't appear any more. :)

that huge tent (called Amphitheater?) looks nice.

thanks for the photos, emesber:)

about those [IMG] tags, i guess you have the image tags twice. so you can delete one opening and one closing tag on each of your photos so that those extra "[IMG]" don't appear any more. :)

okey thanks I will try and see

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Marcos Village - The resettlement area of Negrito inhabitants of the Clark Area.





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Beyond the bridge I reckoned is the Crow Valley where the USAF before is using as
target area for bombing. It was the home of the Negritos our cultural minorities of
African descent. According to the history they reached our land during the Ice Ages.

Beyond the bridge is where there were many incidents in the past where US military
personnels shoots the Negritos when they were collecting the spent bullets and bombs
during the Americans firing and target exercises. During their Military Court Martials
the American soldiers usually give the same statement that they thought the Negritos
were boars or other wild animals.

In the sign before the bridge you can see a fine print warning visitors to beware
of people selling Fake Gold Bar on the other side of the Segovia Bridge.





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The bridge spanning the Segovia River. During the Mount Pinatubo eruptions the Lahar
from the volcano passed this bridge in great volume. The length of this bridge is about
500 meters more or less. There were lots of security guards on the entrance of the bridge
and they let me enter when I told them that I will just take the photos of the river and
not the bridge.





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The Segovia river looking towards the east.





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The Segovia river looking towards the east.






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The Segovia river looking towards the east.





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View towards the west.





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View towards the west. After taking photos in the middle of the Segovia bridge,
I decided not to continue driving towards the other side of the bridge. Macapagal
Village which is also a home of the Negrito is also nearby this bridge, on the right side
of the road leading to Segovia Bridge. The Kapampangan term for Negrito is " Baluga ".





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View of Expo Filipino after leaving the Marcos Village and Segovia Area.
The Expo is near the Marcos Village.



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Fontana Leisure Estate Complex




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Fontana Leisure Estate Complex







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Mimosa golf course as seen on the road passing Fontana Resort.






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Fontana Leisure Estate Complex







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Fontana Leisure Estate Complex






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Fontana Leisure Estate Complex






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Fontana Leisure Estate Complex






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Fontana Leisure Estate Complex







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Fontana Leisure Estate Complex





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Mimosa Resorts





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Mimosa Resorts





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Mimosa Resorts





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Mimosa Resorts





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Front Gate of Mimosa Resorts - Holiday Inn Hotel is inside the Mimosa Resorts.





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Service gate or the back gate of the University of the Philippines at Clark.





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A Korean factory at the back of U.P.





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One of the buildings in U.P. Complex.





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UP Clark





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Main entrance of UP Clark





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The main street infront of UP Clark





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Clearwater Country Club





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Clearwater Country Club





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Proceeding towards the Mabalacat Gate. You can see the SCTEX with the elevated
road and the underpass for traffic going in and out of Clark.






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Proceeding towards the Mabalacat Gate. You can see the SCTEX with the elevated
road and the underpass for traffic going in and out of Clark.

Clark booming both in international arrivals and foreign investments
By Cornelio R. De Guzman

CLARKFIELD, Angeles City – Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) president Victor Jose Luciano said yesterday international arrivals in this former US military base may reach the half-a-million mark by the end of this year.

The newly-appointed DMIA president said the unprecedented increase in tourist arrivals may be attributed to the success of budget airlines plying between Clark and Singapore and other destinations in East-Asia.

In an interview, Luciano also announced that foreign investments, mostly movables like airplanes and aviation-related businesses in Clarkfield has already reached P35 billion

He said the increase in both numbers of visitors and amount of foreign investments has created 46,000 new jobs or almost double of the 18,000 jobs created in 2001.

"The big development in Clark today is the budget airlines. If you go abroad the price of air tickets now are amazingly low. Airlines have reduced the air cost by eliminating travel agent fees and other incidentals. And because of this, instead of coming home to the Philippines, OFWs buy members of their families air tickets to visit them in their country of work, like Hong Kong and Singapore," Luciano said.

He said because of low price of air tickets more and more people are traveling now resulting to the development of other airports in the country.

Luciano expressed the hope that by next year, after the construction of additional passenger buildings, Clark may increase its capacity to one million passengers. He said airport capacity is based on the size and number of its passenger buildings and aprons or parking areas for airplanes.

He said DMIA will be inviting Middle East-based airlines, like Etihad, Gulf Air, and Emirates to land in Clark.

He said Clark will soon establish flight catering to service foreign airlines. He said only recently President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated Clark’s Foreign Institute of Aviation because of world’s shortage of pilots. Next month, a simulator for the institute will arrive. He said Asia alone needs 4,000 pilots a year. "There is aviation boom all over the world."

Luciano said the aviation institute is expected to generate thousands of personnel to maintain airplanes offering salaries higher that ordinary.

To prepare Filipinos who are out of jobs for job placement abroad, Clark is also establishing a polytechnic or training school for electricians, carpenters, and other blue-collar jobs which are in great demand in industrialized and developed countries, like the US, Canada and Australia.

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GMA opens P1-B BPO facility at Clark
By Ding Cervantes
The Philippine Star 12/20/2006

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200612200706.htm

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga – President Arroyo inaugurated yesterday a new P1-billion facility owned by the Sutherland Global Services (Sutherland), one of the world’s leading multi-national business process outsourcing (BPO) providers.

During the inauguration rites, Sutherland chairman and chief executive officer Dilip Vellodi turned over to the President a check for P2.5 million for the victims of recent typhoons in the country. He said the amount was raised from donations of some 15,000 employees of his company worldwide.

Briefing the media, Vellodi said Sutherland’s BPO facility here is the third in the country and "has increased the company’s employee base in the Philippines to over 2,000." Sutherland has two other such facilities in Metro Manila.

Vellodi said Sutherland is investing some P1 billion in its facility at the Clark special economic zone.

Sutherland provides business consulting, back-office processing, account management, customer care and technology support to a global client base, 70 percent of which are listed among the Fortune 500.

Sutherland also announced its partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) "for delivering advanced BPO training in Quezon City and Clark".

Vellodi said about 300 individuals have undergone such training and about 60 percent of them have already been employed by Sutherland. He said that such "training initiatives" as well as his company’s expansion support the Medium Term Development Plan of President Arroyo.

The President lauded the establishment of the Sutherland facility here, saying this meant "addition to many high value jobs for the province (of Pampanga). This is a real boost to this community and a vote of confidence to the talent pool available in the Philippines".

"Within the first year of its operations, Sutherland has clearly emerged as a leading BPO player in the Philippines," the President said.

For his part, Vellodi said "the Philippines continues to exceed our expectations as a world class BPO delivery destination, offering advantages of high value solutions at competitive costs for our global clients."

"Following the success in Manila, we are extremely pleased that we were able to leverage our 20-year information technology enabled services (ITES) legacy and move into the provinces as planned," he added.

Sutherland is a multinational IT-enabled and BPO company specializing in customer management and back-office services for Global 1,000 clients. It was established in 1986 in New York and now employs about 15,000 professionals offering "right-shored, blended services" from its 18 delivery centers in India, the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Philippines.

$200-M aid from Taiwan eyed for

industrial park expansion


By Max V. de Leon

Reporter

THE Philippines is bidding to secure $200 million in official development assistance (ODA) from Taiwan to finance the needed expansion of the 305-hectare Subic Bay Industrial Park, which is partly owned by the Taiwanese government.

Antonio I. Basilio, Philippine resident representative to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) in Taiwan, said the government has been asked by the Taiwanese side to make a formal proposal for the ODA after they opened up the matter in previous discussions.

The proposal, Basilio said, will be discussed by the two parties during the RP-Taiwan joint economic conference slated in the first quarter of 2007.

The ODA that the Philippines is seeking, Basilio said, is from Taiwan’s “Rong Bang” or Prosperity Fund financing program, which the Taiwanese is offering to countries that have close ties with them.

“The Philippines and Taiwan are close neighbors and there is now an economic complementation between the two countries,” Basilio told reporters.

Basilio said the ODA will be used to finance the second and third phase of the Subic Bay Industrial Park, which is partly owned by the Taiwanese government through its 49-percent stake in the industrial enclave’s developer—the Subic Bay Development and Management Corp.

Currently the industrial park houses 46 Taiwanese firms, the biggest of which is notebook maker Wistron Infocomm (Acer).

It is exclusive to Taiwanese investors and is now fully occupied.

With this, Basilio said expanding the industrial park is needed since it is an important backbone of the RP-Taiwan Economic Corridor Agreement.

In the pipeline is the industrial park’s Phase Two, which is a 37-hectare expansion at a cost of $8 million. The third phase is also in the drawing board.

Aside from this, the ODA will also be used in building testing facilities for Taiwanese products and other required infrastructure support.

Meco deputy representative Romulo Manlapig said the expansion of the industrial park will open the gates for more Taiwanese investments in Subic.

Currently, combined Taiwanese investments in the area total $350 million.

However, Manlapig said the ODA would, of course, entail a lot of political and economic balancing act on the part of the Philippine government considering the situation that Taiwan and mainland China is in and how they are treated separately by the Philippines.

“Every thing would redound to economic benefits anyway. Besides, Taiwan has its own membership in the Apec (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and WTO (World Trade Organization). We are trying to push the edge of the envelope and see where it will lead us,” Manlapig said.

Earlier, the Taiwan Cooperation and Development Fund granted the request of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority for the seven-year extension of the grace period on its $23-million loan incurred in 1994

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/12272006/economy02.html

Chinese to perform FedEx maintenance in Subic Bay

Subic Bay Freeport Zone - China's Guangzhou Airport Maintenance Engineering Co. Ltd (GAMECO) will be setting-up its aircraft maintenance facilities for courier giant Federal Express (FedEx) with US$730,000 worth of committed investments.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Feliciano G. Salonga said that the SBMA board has approved the business proposal of GAMECO for the setting up of a 3,200 aircraft maintenance facility, here.

Mr. Salonga said that the proposed setting-up of the repair facilities at the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) would be a part of its global marketing strategies to attract more investors in the aviation industry.

"The strategic location and the availability of highly trained workers are major factors which make Subic Freeport more conducive for regional hub operations in the Asia-Pacific region," Mr. Salonga said.

GAMECO, a joint venture between China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. and Hutchison Whampoa (China) Ltd. from Hong Kong, is based at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

SBMA administrator and CEO Armand C. Arreza said that in its proposal, GAMECO will be providing "all line maintenance and aircraft parts storage and handling functions" associated with the operations of FedEx.

Mr. Arreza added that GAMECO general manager Thomas Tsiang has committed in its business development program submitted before the SBMA board to invest US$729,000 and will initially employ 60 workers in this premier Freeport Zone.

GAMECO being an outsourced aircraft maintenance provider of FedEx will be occupying building 8045 which is part the leased areas of FedEx.

SBMA Investment Processing Department head Ronnie Yambao said that GAMECO has entered into an Aircraft Maintenance and Storage Agreement with FedEx which also allowed the use of building 8045 without any lease consideration.

Mr. Yambao said GAMECO would likely further expand to accommodate other international and even local clients to provide aircraft maintenance services.

"GAMECO is setting its sight to improve future operations in Subic Freeport and a regional aircraft maintenance hub for other clients is being pushed by the SBMA," Mr. Yambao said.

GAMECO was selected to provide heavy maintenance service for several customers outside China such as the contracts for B757-200 aircraft modifications and painting service for Rolls-Royce Aircraft Management Limited.

Another B757-200 from Orient Thai Airline is also undergoing maintenance services with GAMECO while local airline, Cebu Pacific Air has contracted the company to perform Landing Gear replacement and modifications in one of its B757 airplane.

GAMECO was also awarded the maintenance contracts by Asiana Air from South Korea for maintenance and painting service for two of its B737-400 aircraft. In June 2006, GAMECO completed the first conversion of B737-300 passenger airplane to more useful cargo aircraft for China Postal Airlines.

Authorities here have set alternative plans to avert the perceived socioeconomic and business impact with the scheduled pullout of air courier giant, Federal Express (FedEx) by end of 2008. As part of its contingency plans, the SBMA is currently holding talks with Hong Kong based airport operators to have tie-up with different airlines servicing regular cargo terminals.

"For SBMA to successfully replace FedEx, we should be building air traffic like in Clark which has been accommodating up to 45 flights daily because innovative programs like the introduction of budget airlines," Mr. Arreza said. The SBMA is likewise exploring the potential of SBIA not just a cargo hub but also a gateway for foreign tourists.

SBMA eyes ‘Subic-Clark synergy’ in 2007
By Henry Empeño
Correspondent

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—With two multimillion-peso infrastructure projects scheduled for completion in Subic in 2007, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officials are painting a rosy economic picture this year not only for this growing industrial center but also for the nearby Clark Special Economic Zone.

The two huge investments — the $215-million Subic Port Modernization Project and the $425-million Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway — are both expected to be operational this year: the first phase of the port project in June and the whole 94-km expressway by the third quarter.

According to SBMA administrator and chief executive officer Armand Arreza, the first of the three berths for the Subic port project has been laid out while the expressway is now 57-percent complete.

“These should provide Subic and Clark with a better competitive edge and help realize the potent alliance between these two economic growth centers,” Arreza said.

“The expressway would facilitate access to and between Subic and Clark, as well as the Luisita Industrial Park in Tarlac, while the port would open up opportunities for local manufacturers to trade with foreign markets,” Arreza added.

P200-M hospital to rise in Subic free port
By Max V. de Leon, Reporter
and Henry Empeño, Correspondent

A P200-MILLION state-of-the-art hospital will rise in the Subic Bay Free Port near a row of restaurants, bars and hotels that now line the seafront tourism complex of Moonbay Marina and will cater to medical tourists, workers and executives in the area.

To be called the Bay Pointe Hospital and Medical Center, the facility will initially have 100 beds with complete medical advances and therapeutic modalities.

The hospital project aims to boost medical tourism in the country and provide first-rate health care to residents of the Subic Bay area and parts of Central and Northern Luzon, said Dr. Amado Manuel Enriquez Jr., president of Bay Pointe Hospital and Medical Center Inc.

Enriquez signed on Saturday a lease contract with estate developer Marianito Fernandez, chairman and chief executive officer of Subic Coastal Development Corp. (SCDC), for a 3,000-square-meter area that previously housed a duty-free shopping center.

Bay Pointe will eventually expand to an adjacent lot to complete the planned one-hectare medical facility and expand the hospital capacity to 300 beds, Enriquez added.

Enriquez, who is a cardiovascular surgeon at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manila, said the company decided to invest in a medical center here after building 10 similar projects south of Manila.

“This project will be a good opportunity for the community and local residents, as well as medical specialists in Northern Luzon who will be part owners and investors in the hospital,” he added.

At least 10 prominent doctors in Olongapo City, as well as specialists from Manila, will be joining the initial hospital staff, said Enriquez.

Dr. Roberto de Leon, who will be the hospital’s medical director, said the hospital will have a comprehensive range of the latest and most sophisticated technologies for diagnosing and treating diseases such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) scanner, advance ultrasound machine, high-tech cardiograph apparatus and other modern medical equipment.

“We also plan to have cardiac surgery and transplant operations here, with the assistance of foreign doctors,” de Leon said.

De Leon, an aesthetic surgeon, added that Bay Pointe would offer health and welfare services designed to promote medical tourism such as executive check-up program, cosmetic surgery, dental and eye-care services, wellness center, international care packages and other “customized” treatment to meet the needs of the patient.

“These special services and the state-of-the-art equipment that we will bring in would enable us to compete not only with hospitals in Manila, but also in other parts of the world,” he added.

Meanwhile, officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) welcomed the hospital project as a big boost to SBMA’s health program.

“This project certainly dovetails with our social responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy environment in the free port,” said SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga, who witnessed the contract signing on Saturday.

SCDC’s Fernandez also expressed elation for “being able to convince this group of doctors” to put up the hospital project at Moonbay Marina, which is now a popular leisure and entertainment attraction in Subic.

“This is an integral part of the Moonbay Marina concept,” Fernandez said, pointing out that they had incorporated a retirement home with both medical and health-care facilities in Moonbay’s development plan.

SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said the Subic free port is an ideal place for medical tourism because of its clean environment and beautiful surroundings.

With high level of medical professionalism that the Bay Pointe would be offering, Arreza said the project will surely succeed.

The new hospital, he added, will also service the health-care needs of the more than 62,000 workers and executives of multinational companies operating inside the zone.

^^^So Subic will be their Asian Hub? I hope UPS will absorb FedEx employees who will loose their job when FedEx finally moves to China this 2008.

Don't worry...everybody...and I mean everybody who does business in china pulls out or moves to another country after investing in China. From what I've heard, it is always a one way traffic with China...with them getting richer and the investor not earning...yes labor is cheap..but that's all....you lose your copyrighted materials, smuggle your goods, etc....and they can't speak english...

Environmental
From press release by Ramon Lacbain
http://www.bayanihan.org/html/article.php/20061231103559948
A group of businessmen in the Subic Bay Freeport has opposed the construction of a 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant on the freeport's Redondo Peninsula, saying the cheaper electricity was not worth the environmental trade offs.

In a position paper submitted to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority on Friday, the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) said the plant's operation would cause irreversible damage to an area it described as having "extremely high biodiversity values and high species endemism."

This, the group said, would lead to the reduced commercial potential of the Freeport.

The Subic Bay Resorts Association in Subic, Zambales, also joined the protest to protect the town's beach, the area's prime attraction.

John Corcoran, SBFCC president, told SBMA officials in the petition's cover letter that the coal plant would be the "final step in the degradation of Subic Bay, reducing the potential to attract tourists."

"It will pollute the air, the land and the water, removing the key ingredients in Subic Bay's prime assets--clean air, clean water and the proximity to nature," Corcoran said.

SBMA Chair Feliciano Salonga said the P100-million project was a joint venture of the SBMA and the Taiwanese-led Co-Generation. It would initially provide power to the Korean shipbuilder Hanjin and eventually to the entire freeport, he said.

"It would make business more competitive. The high cost of power is one of the problems of industrial locators," said Salonga in a telephone interview.

Subic Enerzone, the current electricity provider, charges P5 per kilowatt-hour, he said.

Salonga, however, calmed fears of environmental degradation, saying the project would "comply with all rules."

Corcoran said the "only official beneficiaries would be Hanjin and a handful of Taiwanese investors in the Subic Industrial Park."

As the proponent assured in its memorandum of understanding that "all emissions will meet the regulations," the SBFCC reminded SBMA that a pollution study in 1997 showed that Subic Bay, a protected area, has fresh and clean water.

The chamber also expressed skepticism on the capability of local authorities to regulate the project.

The SBFCC recommended the use of gas-fired combined cycle technology that it said was more efficient.

Opposition to coal power plants has been tested in Pangasinan where villagers succeeded in blocking a plan to build a coal plant in one of the village there.

The monitoring of environmental pollution in Subic has been tight following an oil slick that smudged coastlines of Olongapo City recently.

In a recent slick, plastic bags containing oil debris apparently from the Petron oil spill in Guimaras were found floating in the city's coastline.

The garbage bags, containing what may be used bunker oil, appeared to have been deliberately dumped and were ruptured by waves, according to Olongapo officials.

^^oh well, typical, NIMBY. Anyway let's see if this plant can get up, perhaps Hanjin should be make it at the other side of the peninsula.

my thesis site is Clark... i'll post my google site here soon... i think clark is a good place to build a structure like a cultural center that focuses on kapampangan/pampanga culture. this will boost the tourism i guess, knowing that there is a hotels/resorts/ and airport. this will be a tourist stop too!!! waahhh... excited na ko sa thesis ko!!! helpful ang thread na 'to kaya keep them coming guys!!!

my thesis site is Clark... i'll post my google site here soon... i think clark is a good place to build a structure like a cultural center that focuses on kapampangan/pampanga culture. this will boost the tourism i guess, knowing that there is a hotels/resorts/ and airport. this will be a tourist stop too!!! waahhh... excited na ko sa thesis ko!!! helpful ang thread na 'to kaya keep them coming guys!!!

WAIT NAMIN YAN HAH,ishtefh03...O.K NA O.K YAN SA DAHIL CLARK MAY SHOGEE STUDIO NA RIN AT MAY GAGAWIN PA NA CLARK INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY...:cheers:

KAILANGANG YUN BAGONG GOOGLE EARTH MO HHA, KASI LUMA NA YUN NASA SITE NILA EH LAST 2004 PA!!!KAYA WALA PA YUN BAGONG TERMINAL SA BAYANIHAN PARK.....PATI SM WALA PA RIN

Turn off your Caps Lock, please?

Salamat:)

^ Haha, yes please do not shout :yes:

my thesis site is Clark... i'll post my google site here soon... i think clark is a good place to build a structure like a cultural center that focuses on kapampangan/pampanga culture. this will boost the tourism i guess, knowing that there is a hotels/resorts/ and airport. this will be a tourist stop too!!! waahhh... excited na ko sa thesis ko!!! helpful ang thread na 'to kaya keep them coming guys!!!


hintayin namin yan...
isa pang kulang siguro, basketball gym, ung pwdng paglaruan ng PBA.. hehehe
dabest talaga ang clark sbi nga ni pareng Levi Laus,, kung pupunta ka dun dapat nakashades ka.

KAILANGANG YUN BAGONG GOOGLE EARTH MO HHA, KASI LUMA NA YUN NASA SITE NILA EH LAST 2004 PA!!!KAYA WALA PA YUN BAGONG TERMINAL SA BAYANIHAN PARK.....PATI SM WALA PA RIN

google lang ng site na plan ko na duon itatayo... :D

http://www.clark.com.ph/news/news.asp?newsID=206

Laus says BCDA okays P230 M fund for road access to Clark
CDC - Public Relations Department:
12/13/2006:



CLARK, Pampanga – Clark Development Corporation President Levy P. Laus announced that the Bases Conversion Development Authority has allotted P230 million for the fundng of the access road to Clark Special Economic Zone in the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

During the flag raising ceremonies Monday, Laus announced that immediate allocation of BCDA fund to the project was made to include the additional budget before the onset of election ban on government projects.

Laus said BCDA, who is now in constant consultation with CDC for the immediate construction of the access road, will complete the project before the December 2007.

The construction of the access road for Clark to the 93.77-kilomenter long expressway project is part of President Arroyo’s vision to connect seaport of Subic Bay Freeport Zone and the airport of Clark Special Economic Zone. The connection will be made complete with the construction of an interchange inside the economic zone here.

Laus said that ensuring the construction of an access road to Clark served as one of the top priorities after assuming the top post in CDC last month.

“We are thankful that BCDA immediately acted on our request, although the agency will have to infuse additional budget for the access road which may run up to millions,” Laus said.

Laus also informed the members of the Metro Clark Advisory council (MCAC) that BCDA has allotted funds for the construction of interchange that will connect Clark to the SCTEX.

The transit access (ingress-egress) here will be constructed at the logistics center at the Industrial Estate 5 near Clark’s main gate.

In the original design, motorists will have to travel additional 12 kilometers from Clark (main gate) to the next transit access in Dolores, Mabalacat in Pampanga or at the North Expressway before the SCTEX can be accessed. Also, motorists opting to exit from the SCTEX will also have to negotiate 12 kilometers in order to enter Clark.

Laus said the idea of the expressway was to make Clark-Subic-Tarlac accessible, “but without the transit access, we are defeating the purpose of the infrastructure.”

Laus, a former BCDA director for three years, said the access road for Clark must be constructed to boost the economic and business potentials of Clark and neighboring areas of the economic zone.

He said the interchange in Clark will also help improve traffic situation in Angeles City and Mabalacat town once it is completed.

“If there will be no traffic outside at the main entrance of Clark, there’ll be influx of investors and tourists coming in,” Laus said.

http://www.clark.com.ph/news/news.asp?newsID=205


CDC approves use of CLARK EXPO as official site of ANCOM 2007
CDC - Public Relations Department:
12/13/2006:



CLARK, Pampanga— Clark Development Corporation President Levy Laus has signed an agreement with the organizers of the Annual Communication 2007 (ANCOM 2007) on the use of the Clark Expo (formerly Expo Pilipino) inside Clark Special Economic Zone as the official convention site of the event.

Laus said he welcome the event after learning that close to 4,000 Mason delegates from the country and other Asian countries under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines will be attending the convention.

The ANCOM 2007, to be held on April 26-28, 2007, is the annual convention of the Free and Accepted Masons (F&AM).

The agreement was signed by Laus and Deputy District Grand Masters Danilo Sigua of Masonic District RIII-A and Christopher Gococo of Masonic District RIII-G who are co-chair of the event.



The CDC president said that Clark is capable of holding big event, such as the ANCOM 2007, because of the available facilities inside the economic zone, including other support facilities within the immediate vicinity of Clark.

“This is also one way of promoting Clark to everybody not only as one of the top tourist destination and investment site in Asia, but also a convention site for big event,” Laus said.

Witnessing the signing of the agreement are members of the Freemasonry in Pampanga and Tarlac present are VW Rene Henson, VW Martin So , VW Alfrito Mah, WB Dale Barsy all of Leonard Wood Lodge 105, WB Armando Uy of Isagani Lodge, Par Pamintuan of Pampanga Masonic Lodge 48 and Eric Jimenez of Jose Abad Santos Memorial Lodge 333.

this is the weblink for Clark Development Corporation - the govt entity that oversee the Clark Special Economic Zone.

http://www.clark.com.ph/


http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/CDC.jpg

Thursday, January 18, 2007
Clark chalks P5.1B in new businessBy Dante M. Fabian
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2007/01/18/news/clark.chalks.p5.1b.in.new.business.html
CLARK ECOZONE -- Over P5.1 billion was committed in 2006 to be invested in new businesses in the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ), an official of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) said.

"Notwithstanding changes in management in 2006 and the ongoing debacle on the Supreme Court's (SC) decision to scrap tax incentives and duty privileges of investors, 101 projects were approved last year, committing over P5.1 billion worth of new investments inside CSEZ," said CDC public affairs officer Angelo Lopez Jr.

Lopez said the approved projects last year also eclipsed the 91 projects that were signed in 2005, which would infuse P1.6 billion committed investments. At present, Clark has a total of 641 investment projects, of which 405 are local firms, 113 foreign, while 123 are firms with foreign and local equities.

A report submitted to CDC president Levy Laus by the firm's corporate planning department (CPD) showed that the committed investment last year has increased by 212 percent compared to the single-digit percentage growth rate in 2005.

With the committed investments, the CDC marketing department also reported that the signed investment projects of 101 committed for 2006 -- a 12-percent increase from the committed employment generation of 4,617 in 2005 from the 91 projects signed.

The CPD annual report also stressed that the number of investment projects signed in 2006 also increased by about 26 percent compared to last year's levels wherein CDC signed the 91 projects. There were 87 projects that were approved in 2004.

The record-breaking feat was capped by the signing of several big-ticket items led by the signing of an agreement with the BB International Leisure and Resort Development Corporation with P2-billion investment for the construction of hotel, resort, recreation, amusement, entertainment, casino, and other tourism-related projects.

Aside from the BB International, there are also several tourism-related projects that signed with CDC which are expected to pour multi-million peso investments. These are the Widus International Leisure Inc. (Wili) which will engage in the operations of resorts golf course, hotel and other similar sports and entertainment facilities; New Well Being Spa City Corporation for the establishment of spa and boutique inside the Red Wood Villa; and RPQ Rides and Amusement which will develop another amusement park and carnival rides and games.

The CDC Marketing Department also reported that the new tourism projects signed last year have combined committed investments of more than P267.47 million.

The Transglobal Airways Corporation, a China-based cargo firm, has signed a P41.3-million project with CDC for its support facility for air passenger and cargo transport operations via Asian Pacific Region countries, and Sutherland Global Services Philippines, Inc., another multimillion-peso Business Process Outsourcing firm that will process consulting, technology support services, account management services, technical support/help desk services, customer care services and back office processing for operation call center.

Other firms that have signed a multimillion-peso agreement with CDC last year were the Great Fortune Promise Company which will manufacture candles for export; Philippine Global Optic Media, Inc. which will manufacture compact discs (CDs) for export; dBc Technologies Corporation which will manufacture high RF and Microwave components; and Sonimetric Inc. which will manufacture electrical audio transducer which is a component of an electric guitar.

The CDC also signed new agreements with Snow Joe Ice Cream Factory, which will produce ice cream, cones, confectioneries, juices, and different dairy products to be marketed in the Philippines; and Smartdesign Inc. which will engage in the manufacturing of custom design resin products for export, among others.

RP gears towards becoming a major economic, industrial hubs of ASEAN, Asia-Pacific region
Thursday, January 18 2007

In its bid to reduce poverty in the country, the government is now implementing programs that would make the Philippines through Subic and Clark economic zones a major economic and industrial hubs not only in countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) but the entire Asia-Pacific region.

During the opening of the two-day Anti-Poverty Summit on Thursday held at the Clark Museum, Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan, Luzon Urban Beltway (LUB) chief and Subic-Clark Alliance Development (SCAD) chair, said the two ecozones and the corridor in between them are now in the midst of intense development.

"Massive infrastructures are now being simultaneously fasttracked inside and outside the two former US military bases. Soon, we shall see the emergence of a new world-class hub for logistics, investments and industry which we foresee as a major nerve center of economic activity not only for the country, but for the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

Pamintuan said the concrete steps towards the integration of the ASEAN economy, as adopted in the recently concluded ASEAN Summit in Cebu, "offer great opportunities for Clark and Subic as a valuable air and sea superhighway for the supply chain that serves the ASEAN integrated economy."

He said at least 15 mega-projects, including two seaports, two airports, six expressway projects, four rail systems and one water project amounting P200 billion, are now being fasttracked and will be completed by 2010.

Pamintuan said the 93.7-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway which would link Subic and Clark will be finished by November.

Also expected to be completed by May 2008 is the Southern Luzon Expressway which involves the construction of the Alabang viaduct, widening of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) from Filinvest in Alabang to Calamba, Laguna to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road.

All these projects, he said, would have direct impact on the poor by way of job creation and better services. They were also designed to enhance the investment climate in areas under the LUB, which was considered the biggest among the five super regions created by the government to boost the economy nationwide.

LUB covers most of Luzon provinces including Metro Manila, Central Luzon, the CALABARZON (Calamba, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Marinduque and Mindoro where more than 40 million Filipinos or about 30 percent of the country's labor force live.

It also contributes about 55 percent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Once these mega infrastructures are completed, in addition to the country's highly skilled labor and professional force, Pamintuan projects the Philippines becoming the main transhipment point not only for ASEAN countries but the entire Asia-Pacific region.

^^oh well, typical, NIMBY. Anyway let's see if this plant can get up, perhaps Hanjin should be make it at the other side of the peninsula.


Politicians and big business will use NIMBY to protect their respective interests, however, investors have learned how to play the game in the Philippines. They know which buttons to push and usually get what they want. Those who really have a stake on things get the short end of the stick.:ohno:

is there a construction of a seaport on going now in subic area? what location?

is there a construction of a seaport on going now in subic area? what location?

yup meron..ang alam ko tapos na un.. malapit yata sa fedex.. d ako sure..
tagarito d alam.. hehehe

meron malapit sa airport

ports visit namen dati sa subic around july to august year 2006
nakatulog ako sa bus e kya pag gising ko andun na sa location
kya di ko alam yung exact place

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4018/port20constrructionqv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

brand new gantry crane nila with some mapuan students..

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1640/cargo20crane2yj9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

aus ah.. d kc ako mciado nakakapasok sa loob..
FYI nga pala,, pag andito ka sa gapo pag cnabing loob, it means ung SBFZ un. pag cnbing subic,, ung bayan ng subic un.. in case u dnt know

okay... di ko talaga alam e....("j)... salamat tol.

magkaibang location to e... di ko maalala...
kya nga ask ko kung alam nyo e....("j)
(pasensya na magpopost lang di pa alam yung exact location....hehehehe)

yung pictures with students katabi nun is a resort....

New Clark business park to create 20,000 jobs

By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent

CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE, Pampanga—A leading business park in the Clark Special Economic Zone has set the groundbreaking for the development of another multimillion-peso project expected to employ at least 20,000 workers once operational.

Berthaphil Business Park Inc., Clark’s leading Information Communications Technology (ICT) property developer, will break ground on January 31 for its project to be known as “The Center at Clark.”

Berthaphil president and general manager Elizabeth Castro said the flagship property is the third Berthaphil project in Clark. The Center will be located at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Jose Abad Santos Street.

Castro, however, did not disclose the project cost. The Industrial Parks 1 and 2 are hosts to several prestigious locators such as Rolls Royce, Pacific Carpet, Nanox, H3 Technology and other IT clients such as Sutherland Global Service and Intellirisk Management Corp. (IRMC), two US-based business process outsourcing (BPO) firms.

The groundbreaking for The Center, which will officially start construction, will be led by Clark Development Corp. (CDC) chairman Rizalino Navarro, CDC president Levy Laus, CDC executive vice president Philip Panlilio, Berthaphil Inc. founder and chairman Andre Hercz and Castro.

The construction of the 14-hectare project, designed by Palafox and Associates, will feature state-of-the-art facilities and a park-like setting for multinational IT-enabled services companies.

Castro said Berthaphil was founded by Hercz, who came to Clark with his brother-in-law and partner Jack Nasser in 1993, at the request of former President Ramos.

It was in 1993 when the former chief executive asked Hercz to be the first investor in Clark, a move that spurred the transformation of Clark into a bustling ecozone after being ravaged by twin calamities, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in June 1991 and the pullout of the American troops in its aftermath after staying for almost a century in the former US air base.

Hercz’s dedication and commitment to the success of Clark is contagious and he is perhaps the best spokesman for what it means to care about Clark and what Clark means to the Philippines.

Castro said Hercz’s vision and his highly venerated reputation for doing what he says he will do continue to inspire Berthaphil as evidenced by the upcoming “The Center at Clark.”

Anxiety pervades at Clark as lawmakers decide ecozone’s fate
By Ding Cervantes
The Philippine Star 01/29/2007
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200701299902.htm
CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — Anxiety pervades at the Clark special economic zone as a bicameral committee decides today what stakeholders here have described as a "zoom or doom" scenario for them.

A contingent from the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) and other local groups is attending today’s hearing of the bicameral panel at the Senate building to lobby for a "freeport status quo" for the Clark ecozone.

CDC employees have been holding daily prayer vigils since last week amid apprehensions that the state-run firm would be abolished.

Their fears stemmed from Senate Bill 2260 which proposes to place some 2,200 hectares of the 4,400-hectare ecozone under the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) and the other half — covering the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) — under a Clark freeport authority.

Under the present setup, the CDC manages and operates 2,200 hectares of the ecozone, while its subsidiary, the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), takes care of the 2,200-hectare aviation complex, including the airport.

For CILA president Frankie Villanueva, the final version of SB 2260 would spell the "zoom or doom" of the Clark ecozone.

He said House Bill 5064 almost retains Clark’s present status, while SB 2260 exempts public utilities, tourism firms and industrial park operators from tax incentives.

"This means many of the investors will be charged more for electricity and water and have to cut down on their expenses. This could mean layoffs," he said.

Initially, SB 2260, filed by Sen. Ralph Recto, sought a status quo at Clark, but its final version accommodated the PEZA takeover and the creation of a freeport authority, as proposed by Sen. Serge Osmeña.

Despite this, Recto, however, told The STAR that hundreds of CDC employees are assured of their jobs regardless of the outcome of the congressional deliberations.

"I assure them (CDC employees) that none of them will be dislocated," he said.

Still, Recto said that while Osmeña has so far stood pat on his proposition, other senators in the bicameral panel, particularly Sen. Richard Gordon, are batting for a freeport status for the entire ecozone.

"I don’t know yet the stand of Senators Mar Roxas and Loi Ejercito," he said, but expressed confidence that the bicameral committee would eventually settle for the status quo.

He said majority of the bicameral committee members seemed to share his proposal for a "freeport status quo" for the entire 4,400-hectare ecozone.

At present, Clark investors pay only five percent of their gross income earned (GIE) to the government, instead of the usual national and local taxes. They are also exempt from import and other duties.

HB 5064 provides tax incentives not only to companies at the 4,400-hectare main ecozone, but also to those at the 29,000-hectare Clark sub-zone which has remained largely undeveloped.

The House bill is similar to what Recto and Gordon have been batting for in the bicameral committee.

The bicameral panel earlier reconciled House Bill 4900 and Senate Bill 2259 granting a one-time tax amnesty to Clark investors.

The bills were filed after the Supreme Court, in its July 2005 decision, ruled that investors at Clark and other former US military facilities turned into ecozones are not entitled to tax privileges, saying that Republic Act 7227 or the Bases Conversion Law mentions only the Subic Freeport.

The tribunal affirmed its decision "with finality" last December.

New !!! For further discussions, visit our community board.

Clark freeport status okayed
By Reynaldo G. Navales Tuesday, January 30, 2007

CLARK ECOZONE -- The bicameral committee on Monday approved two pending bills converting the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) into the Clark Freeport Zone.

"It feels like we just won the championship in a world football match. Clark now has the same status with that of Subic," said Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president Levy Laus, who exclaimed minutes after the bicameral committee passed the two measures.

Laus, who has been lobbying for the granting of tax incentives to Clark investors and locators, said Congress' decision "will have a tremendous impact not only on Clark but on the whole of Central Luzon."

"It will be the start of a bigger and far-reaching growth and development for Clark and the whole Central Luzon," he said. "Now we can really say that the future of Clark is so bright you have to wear shades," he added.

CDC vice president for corporate services Pepito Galang confirmed the reconciliation of Senate Bill (SB) 2260 and House Bill (HB) 5064 with the freeport status at Clark, which prevailed over a proposal to declare half of the economic zone under the Philippine Export Zone Authority (Peza).

"It will be the CDC which will still administer the ecozone," he said.

Joining Laus in a celebratory mood were CDC directors, executives and employees as well as members of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) who trooped to the Senate.

"We are thankful to our good senators and congressmen who have supported the bills and our advocacy from the very start and the people of Central Luzon owe them a huge debt of gratitude for their wholehearted support," Laus said.

Under the present system, the CDC manages and operates 2,200 hectares of the zone, while its subsidiary Clark International Airport Corp. (Ciac) takes care of the other 2,200-hectare aviation complex that hosts the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

Among those who gave their all-out support were Senators Manuel "Lito" Lapid, Richard Gordon, Mar Roxas, Ralph Recto and Sergio Osmena III, and Representatives Francis Nepomuceno, Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, Rey Aquino and Anna York Bondoc-Sagum.

Recto and Gordon fought for the freeport status of Clark by sponsoring the Senate bills in Congress.

Laus also thanked CDC chairman Rizalino Navarro, CDC directors, executives and employees for their hard work and prayers for the approval of the bills.

"Every one really gave their best for this and we thank God for hearing our prayers," he said.

The Senate version, which sought freeport status for Clark, however, later accommodated a proposal for a Peza take over of half of the economic zone area. The House version, which also largely batted for a status quo at Clark, was authored by then Representative Jesli Lapus who is now the education secretary.

The bicameral committee members also earlier reconciled HB 4900 and SB 2259 granting a one-time tax amnesty to investors at the CSEZ.

The bills were filed after the Supreme Court (SC), in its decision in July, 2005, declared that investors at Clark as well as other former US military facilities that are now economic zones are not covered by Republic Act (RA) 7227 or the Bases Conversion Law.

The same law cites only Subic Freeport as being entitled to such privileges. The High Court affirmed its decision "with finality" last month.

Cila president Frankie Villanueva thanked the senators and congressmen who supported freeport status at Clark as he expressed confidence that this would finally remove "the feeling of uncertainty among current and prospective investors" at the economic zone.

He said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to sign the bill into law soon as this would boost her plans to make the Clark-Subic corridor into a major investments hub in the Asia Pacific region. He also lauded the leadership of Laus who had been leading in lobbying efforts for the passage of the Senate bill as initially proposed by Recto.

Since the CDC was created in 1993 to administer the entire CSEZ, 389 foreign and domestic investors have moved into Clark, pumping in P24.33 billion worth of investments. Last year alone, investors here exported worth US$1 billion of various items.

Over 47,000 people, mostly from Pampanga, Tarlac, and Bulacan, are now employed at Clark.

^^nice series of post parang movie na suspense. and yes finally back to normal !

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/Clarkmap.jpg

Clark Special Economic Zone

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/Clarkmap.jpg

Clark Special Economic Zone

wala ka bang pix ng mga locators jan???

kung may digicam lang ako mangu2ha ako ng mga pix dito sa subic

wala ka bang pix ng mga locators jan???

kung may digicam lang ako mangu2ha ako ng mga pix dito sa subic

in my free time I will just search the Internet for photos of any of the 600 Locators.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/Clarklocator.jpg

Aviation school now operates in Subic
Sunday, February 04, 2007

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- A new business venture in the country's premier freeport came with the entry of Subic Aeroflite Corporation that will infuse US$3.2 million to operate an aviation training school and aircraft charter services here.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Feliciano Salonga announced that the entry of Subic Aeroflite to the Subic Freeport will place the Subic Freeport's name in Philippine aviation history by producing world-class pilots. This will certainly boost the tourism industry in the region with its aircraft charter flight services, he said.

"Manned by aircraft factory trained instructors, Subic Aeroflite is going to train future pilots in a cost-effective way without compromising flight safety using modern training aids and actual aircraft and components hands-on," Salonga said.

Among the courses offered by Subic Aeroflight include two-year Aircraft Mechanics Course, two-year Aircraft Avionics Course, Flight Attendant Course, Airline Management Course, six-month Specific Aircraft Type Training Course, and six-month Specialized Training Course at Building 8313 of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) Complex.

"Our company is the first-of-its-kind in the Philippines and 100-percent Filipino-owned and controlled. With the expected investments and tourist arrivals in the Subic Freeport this year, we will be utilizing the Subic Freeport as our new hub for operations," said Subic Aeroflite executive vice president and chief operations officer Jerome John Valera.

Valera said many foreign students are already training in the freeport with three planes to subsequently augment the aircraft fleet after the installation of Aeroflite's state-of-the-art facilities and aviation instrumentations.

"We will be bringing in most of our planes here. We intend to build a long lasting institution here in the Subic Freeport that would provide the trained pilots the career break as we aim to provide an adequate protection and growth to investor's resources," he added.

Meanwhile, SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said Aeroflite will also help boost the tourism industry in the area with the introduction of a new way -- by air -- to behold the beauty of Subic Bay and various destinations inside the freeport and its nearby provinces.

"Recently, tourists only had the option to enjoy the many wonders of the Subic Freeport by land and by water only. With Subic Aeroflite, they could have a very unique and exciting experience traveling to these wonderful spots from the sky," he said.

Subic Aeroflite Corp. is an affiliate company of Manila-based Aeroflite Aviation Corporation, owner and operator of Aeroflite Airways which charter tourists to Baguio, Clark, Boracay, Alaminos, and now Subic Bay.

Pls note that the Photos of the Hotair Balloons Festival at Clark I have posted
in the Thread Hotair Balloon at Samahan of Philippine Forum with the below
link :

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=428932&page=2
________________________________________
Last edited by TheAvenger : Today at 05:24 AM. Reason: Photos of Hotair Balloons Festival - Clark 8th 11th Feb. 2007

galing may rolls royce company sa pinas
i know its for the airlines
gumagawa din ba sila ng kotse dyan?

galing may rolls royce company sa pinas
i know its for the airlines
gumagawa din ba sila ng kotse dyan?

engines for aircrafts lang ata

[QUOTE=TheAvenger;11592771]in my free time I will just search the Internet for photos of any of the 600 Locators.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/Clarklocator.jpg[/QUOTE sino may kakilala sa CDC para ma update naman nila ang site nila sa wedsite...aba last dec. 13 2006 pa yun hah nakatulog yata sila **** gising naman!!! plsssssssssssss:bash: buti pa ang SBMA updating sila:)

Clark ecozone expects new investors

By FIL C. SIONIL

Entry of more foreign investors is foreseen in the former American military stronghold of Clark Airbase following the moves by the lawmakers to restore fiscal incentives and other perks.

According to Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and Chief Executive Officer Levy P. Laus, the decision of the legislators to reinstate the incentives and other array of privileges will be a catalyst that would further perk up inflow of foreign investments.

Laus estimated some P20 billion worth of new potential investments will come in this year as offshore investors, among them, Koreans and other foreign locators in partnership with local businessmen have already signified their interest to put up businesses in the area.

He said "at least nine" new investors will be coming in and are interested to build retirement village, additional hotel, casinos and entertainment outlets.

Up for development is some 600 hectares, of which 320 hectares have been identified for tourism. This will be done either through negotiations if not competitive bidding.

The thrust is to make Clark as an alternative tourism destination.

Laus admitted CDC was hamstrung in its marketing program to promote Clark as an investment haven with the Supreme Court ruling in 2005 stripping Camp John Hay of any incentives, which apparently were not spell-out in details under the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) mandate.

The High Tribunal’s decision was the basis in removing the perks earlier enjoyed by Clark since both former US military camps have not been classified in the BCDA charter as economic zone in contrast with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

With latest development in the legislative front this month bringing back the privileges and "elevating" Clark into a Freeport status will reverse the trend and could further attract foreign locators.

In 2006, Laus said CDC had difficulty bringing new investors or locators.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to sign into law or issue an order that would make Clark a Freeport, making it par with SBMA, which consequently, will mean more jobs with the entry of additional foreign investments inflows in CDC.

-----

Clark eyes P20-B new investments

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
Contributor

CLARK FREE PORT—The Clark Development Corp. is projecting additional investments of P20 billion this year with the restoration of the economic zone’s status as a free port.

In an interview with select reporters over the weekend, CDC president Levy Laus said he was “extremely jubilant” over the congressional approval of the bill restoring Clark’s free port status “as it restores the incentives and elevates the status (of the area) to a free port at par with Subic (Bay economic zone).”

A bicameral conference committee on February 1 ratified the reconciled version of two bills filed by the House and the Senate converting the 4,400-hectare special economic zone into a free port. The ratified version also restores investment incentives and duty-free privileges to its locators, as provided for in Republic Act 7227 or the Bases Conversion Development Act of 1992, ruled illegal by the Supreme Court in 2005.

Laus said the ratified bill is expected to be enacted by President Arroyo “anytime soon . . . in the next two weeks. . .This is a big celebration for locators and people of Central Luzon, especially those from Pampanga and Tarlac.”

He noted increased investor interest in the area, which still has big tracts of land that can be developed into golf courses, casinos, a retirement village, among others.

He said there are “at least nine [investor groups] interested in investing in Clark. . . Koreans and Filipinos with foreign partners.” He declined to identify them pending completion of negotiations.

At least 320 hectares have been reserved as a tourism area, and CDC has committed to invest P3 billion for its infrastructure. “We want to make [Clark] into a tourism hub [and a] golfing and casino capital.”

There are two 18-hole golf courses at the Mimosa Leisure Estates while two 18-hole courses are being constructed at the Fontana Leisure Parks; along with four more by different groups.

Clark is playing catch-up with the sudden growth in tourist arrivals, such that more hotels and casinos are in the pipeline. The 250-room Fort Stotsenberg Hotel and Casino and 250-room Oxford Hotel have just opened; still on the drawing board are Paradise Resort and an additional 60 villas at Fontana.

A Korean group wants to build an entertainment city called Widus, featuring a condotel, casino and amusement park.

Some 600 hectares are also available possibly for a “logistics and aviation hub” around the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

Other areas in the free port are being eyed for a central business district and the expansion of industrial parks. “The fourth engine of growth (in Clark) is the ICT (information and communications technology) industry, and the technical industrial park,” said Lauz.

Clark is also expected to play host to more call centers, business process outsourcing companies, and light manufacturing industries.

On the SC decision, Laus said, “The decision made it difficult to bring in investors last year.”

In the interim, Clark was placed under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and extended Peza incentives to cover its 356 locators. While these incentives were generous, these fell short of the original incentive package offered to the area’s locators.

At present, Clark is drawing up an investor incentive plan to be patterned after the Subic free port.

Aboitiz partners with Taiwan firm
to build coal-fired plant in Subic

By Paul Anthony A. Isla
Reporter

ABOITIZ Equity Ventures (AEV)-led Aboitiz Power Corp. (APC) said Monday it has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Taiwan Cogeneration International Corp. (TCIC) for the building and operation of an independent coal-fired power plant in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), AEV said APC and TCIC have agreed to form a joint venture company that will serve as vehicle for the implementation of the proposed Subic Bay coal-fired power plant.

The proposed Subic Bay coal-fired power plant is expected to supply electricity to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and other economic zones around the country.

AEV noted that SBMA is expected to experience high growth in demand from new locators. AEV also added that the plant will also offer its power to utilities adjacent to SBMA.

Meanwhile, environmental groups earlier expressed opposition to the construction of the proposed a 300-megawatt coal-power plant in the Subic Bay.

The power plant, being built by TCIC and APC, will primarily serve the needs of Korean shipbuilder Hanjin.

Environmentalists said Subic Bay is home to more than 70 species of fish, including important varieties of reef fish, including the world’s rare and endangered Olive Ridley turtle, and Hawksbill dwell still survives in Subic Bay.

The area is also blanketed by a 9,0000 hectare virgin triple-canopy rainforest that provides the area with some of the highest air quality in the region.

Under the current proposal, this spectacular natural setting will be host to one of the most polluting types of energy production available.

Greenpeace said coal is a form of energy that pollutes comprehensively, from the time the coal is extracted, to its transportation across the sea or land, to the pollutants it pumps into the atmosphere.

“Fly ash samples taken from coal- fired power plants in the Philippines and Thailand over the course of the last three years have shown the presence of hazardous substances such as mercury and arsenic,” Greenpeace said in a statement.

“Laboratory and technical analyses indicate that a far greater amount of these toxins is likely being released to the environment and thus pose huge risks to population centers,” the group added.

“Mercury is capable of causing severe brain damage in developing fetuses, tremors, mental disorders and death,” the group continued. “It is so toxic that it takes only 1/70th of a teaspoon to contaminate a 10.11 hectare lake to the point that fish caught in the lake are considered unfit for human consumption.”

Business groups and resort owners in the area have reacted with outrage to the proposal to bring such a facility into an area that counts tourism as its lifeblood.

The Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, the Subic Bay Resorts Association, as well as other groups have said that the plant’s operation would cause irreversible damage to the area.

“It will pollute the air, the land and the water, removing the key ingredients in Subic Bay’s prime assets—clean air, clean water and the proximity to nature,” the group said.

[QUOTE=TheAvenger;11592771]in my free time I will just search the Internet for photos of any of the 600 Locators.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/Clarklocator.jpg[/QUOTE
sino may kakilala sa CDC para ma update naman nila ang site nila sa wedsite...aba last dec. 13 2006 pa yun hah nakatulog yata sila **** gising naman!!! plsssssssssssss:bash: buti pa ang SBMA updating sila:)

Actually the website is under the Public Information Office of CDC and perhaps you can jsut email them, I will look for the email address and will post here later tonight.

thanks avenger,kasi kita mo,last year pa dec.13 2006 pa eh ano na ngayun feb.07 na!!!at saka dami na bagong open dyan sa clark like fort stotsenberg hotel...salamat uli hha theavenger

Cyber City Teleservices to create
1,000 more call-center seats
By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent


CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE, Pampanga—Cyber City Teleservices, one of the pioneer call centers in the Philippines, disclosed it posted a 52-percent revenue growth for 2006 even as the company revealed expansion plans that will create an additional 1,000 seats for this year.

Cyber City chief executive officer Jonathan Rosenberg said Thursday the revenue growth for 2006 was preceded by a growth of over 45 percent in the previous years as he revealed that his company is not just a contact center anymore but has expanded to being a business process outsourcing company providing solutions for their customers.

“We are now also a solution provider and not just a contact center. We provide our customers with better tools and capabilities to enhance their business models which we accomplish by leveraging on our various business units and affiliates, Call Center Services Marketing, Call Center Operations, CRM Education, Call Center Technology and Cell Center Telecoms-USA,” Rosenberg said.

He also announced that Cyber City will expand operations as well as the company’s facilities to create an additional 1,000 seats for 2007.

Cyber City has eight contact centers operating in several locations here and in Davao, employing more than 3,000 which they expect to exceed more than 4,000 by the last quarter of 2007 with the expansion plans.

The company had been operating in Clark since 1999 and is one of the pioneers in the industry in the economic zone. In 2006, it was the first company in the Philippines to be given the ISO 27001 rating for its Information Security Management System.

The company serves global multinational firms around the world, and has unique telecom, information systems and CRM software infrastructure that keep it ahead of its industry rivals by leaps and bounds.

Clark continues to create jobs
with 48,500 workers now employed

By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent


CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE, Pampanga—This economic zone is gradually making waves as it has become Central Luzon’s employment capital following the hiring of another 1,047 workers in the first month of this year, increasing the number of workers to 48,528 as of January 31.

In a report submitted Wednesday to Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president and chief executive officer Levy P. Laus, the CDC’s Customer Service Department (CSD) said the number of Clark workers had increased by 11,059 compared to the year-ago figure of 37,496.

Laus said the generation of employment at the Clark ecozone is the Clark body’s top priority to contribute to the thrust of President Arroyo to create more jobs.

The CSD report showed the biggest job contributor is the garment sector that hired 14,064 as of January 31 while business process outsourcing (BPO) and IT firms also contributed largely as they employed 6,052 workers in the same period.

The number of workers in Clark has more than doubled compared to more than 22,000 Filipino workers employed at the height of the American’s control over the former Clark Air Base.

The increase in the number of workers in Clark was also reported by Laus during the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC) with the Manpower Pooling Office being handled by the CSD supported by the CDC’s Public Relations Department (PRD).

“Complementing CDC’s socio-economic accomplishments, our PR department, with the help of our MCAC coordinators, was able to facilitate job placements for 974 persons in 2006 in off-zone establishments such as Trust International Corp. (Tipco), Masipag Corp. Romac Services, SM (San Fernando) and other firms in Pampanga,” Laus said.

“While our CDC coordinators also complemented our efforts by coordinating the functions of our CSD and the local PESO offices in their respective LGUs,” the CDC chief added.

Laus also said the picture is encouraging as the number of direct lease contract signed rose from 33 in 2005 to 40 in 2006, sublease agreements signed totaled 61 in 2006 from 58 in 2005 and committed investment in 2006 totaled P5.1 billion against P1.6 billion in 2005.

“There are 5,360 committed jobs for 2006 from 4,617 in 2005. Committed monthly revenues increased 66 percent, from US$67,354 in 2005 to US$111,916,” his report added.

As of December 2006, there are 389 active locators in Clark, 121 of which are industrial firms, 101 service-oriented, 42 warehousing, 30 IT-related, 28 aviation-related, 10 commercial establishments and five agro-industrial firms while another 52 are engaged in various business activities.

Total committed investments of Clark investors as of December 2006 is P22.3 billion for the first year and P84.4 billion within five years.

Roxas: Rescinding of P21-B Subic-Clark road contract feared
By Fred Roxas Saturday, March 03, 2007

The 21-billion contract awarded to Japanese constructors on the P21-billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) may be rescinded if they continue on delaying its construction.

Earlier, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) warned that the Japanese contractors have already incurred a combined negative slippage pf 8.31 percent. A 15 percent delay can be a ground for rescinding the contract, it added.

Reports said some road-right-of way problems recently developed along the expressway project in Dinalupihan, Bataan which delayed its construction.

Nevertheless, BCDA authorities have been coordinating with the landowners in the Dinalupihan area who have been assured they would be paid as soon as necessary documents are completed.

Some BCDA officials said that construction of the expressway was also being hampered by old and inefficient equipment allegedly being used in the project.

Because of this observation, Rene Romero, chair of the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) has asked Japanese contractors "to apply their highest standards in the construction project and invest in modern equipment as stipulated with their contract with BCDA."

According to Romero, also president of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ADCL would not allow the construction to be stalled by gross negligence and inefficiency of the contractors.

Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan of Subic Clark Alliance for Development and Luzon Urban Beltway (LUB) chief, said SCTEX should be completed in a pre-determined timetable. He added that the expressway will link Subic Freeport and Clark Airport and provide a seamless corridor envisioned to be a world-class hub for logistics, investments and industry in the Philippines and Asia.

In addition, the expressway is a major infrastructure project of the government and forms a major component of the larger P200 billion LUB program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Clark International Airport Corp. president Victor Jose I. Luciano has welcomed as a major aviation project the launching at Clark zone of the cadet pilot program by Cebu Pacific (CEB), the country's low fare leader and leading domestic air carrier.

The Cadet Pilot Career Program was launched at Clark to train commercial pilots to crew CEB's rapidly increasing fleet of new Airbus aircraft.

Clark Aviation has is currently installation the first A320 flight simulator to train cadet pilots. It will also be available for airlines to carry out their by-annual recurrent training for their existing pilots. The second simulator is scheduled to be installed also at Clark in the last quarter of 2007.

*****

Pamintuan also reported that LUB which he heads has added 10 priority infrastructure projects bringing to 25 the projects that are expected for completion by 2010. The super-region covers Central Luzon, Metro Manila or National Capital Region, the Cavite-Laguna, Batangas-Rizal-Quzon corridor.

One of the 15 infrastructures on the original list are set to be completed within the year. These include the P29.33 million Terminal Radar Approach Control and P68 million Passenger Terminal expansion at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

*****

A total of 1,602 pump priming projects under President Arroyo's Poverty Alleviation Program have been completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) all over the country as of this month.

The projects which were started early last year included 193 water supply facilities, 743 school buildings, 92 irrigation systems, 129 farm-to-market roads and a number of desilting and flood control projects, according to public works undersecretary Florante Soriquez.

Soriquez inspected last weekend some of the on-going anti-poverty projects in Central Luzon to see to it they are being fast-tracked according to schedules.

DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan at the same time ordered the bidding of other anti-poverty projects especially in the Central Luzon home-region of the President. Soriquez said that additional funds have been appropriated in order to expedite the bidding of other projects before the election ban.

DPWH regional director Alfredo G. Tolentino said other anti-poverty infrastructure projects in Central Luzon were being rushed particularly for the benefit of farmers and fishermen.

Public works district engineer Rico Guilas of Pampanga said farm-to-market roads and irrigation facilities were being rushed in Camba, Arayat with a P1 million appropriation, Sta. Maria Road in Mexico with another P1 million budget and the San Roque - San Nicolas road with P2 million fund.

Another road and irrigation projects worth P15 million are nearing completion in Lubao, hometown of the President.

Clark will have 7 new world-class golf courses
within 3 years

By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/03052007/economy03.html
CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE, Pampanga—Clark Development Corp. (CDC) officials have announced the construction of at least seven world-class championship golf courses by 2010 in an effort to boost tourism in this special economic zone.

The announcement was made by CDC president and chief executive officer Levy P. Laus during the presentation of 50 new Yamaha golf carts purchased by the state-owned firm as part of the improvement activities for the Mimosa Golf and Country Club.

“We are optimistic that in the next two to three years, we should have about seven golf courses in the making,” Laus said during his speech at the simple ceremony at the Hilltop Garden in the Mimosa Leisure Estate last Wednesday.

Aside from the existing 36-hole Mimosa golf course and the Philippine Air Force-owned Mekeni golf course, groundbreaking activities were already held yesterday for the 36-hole golf course for the Fontana Leisure Park.

Two world-class golf courses are being planned for development by the Eagle Corp., while a group is set to develop the Hacienda golf course.

There are also plans to revive the True North Golf and Country Club as he revealed that as of the cut-off date of February 14, the CDC has received no less than six proposals to make it a 36-hole golf course.

Laus said that these developments will make Clark the “Golfing Capital of the Philippines,” pointing out that the golf courses—that are under the CDC’s Leisure, Entertainment, Recreation and Tourism program—are essential to the development of the economic zone.

“Golf is the anchor of tourism in Clark because it will bring in more tourists, hotels will have more guests, casinos would be properly supported as well as the auxiliary businesses in the area.

We believe that Clark will become the golfing capital of the Philippines. This is achievable and doable,” Laus said.

Meanwhile, the 50 new Yamaha golf carts would further address the needs of the members and golfers of the 36-hole Mimosa Golf and Country Club.

The presentation was attended by CDC officials led by executive vice president Philip Panlilio, vice president for finance Noel Manankil, Mimosa general manager Noli Reyes, Pampanga Golfers’ Association president Tony Mamac, Mimosa Golfers’ president Senen Quiambao and Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales.

The launch of the new golf carts is part of the improvement program of the CDC for the Mimosa Golf and Country Club as Laus said CDC needs to improve the golf course and the estate as well before it is opened up for bidding

Seven golf courses? Isn't that a bit much? Is there even seven golf courses in Metro Manila? Around 2-4 I think would be great, but more than that would be sort of a waste of valuable land.

Seven golf courses? Isn't that a bit much? Is there even seven golf courses in Metro Manila? Around 2-4 I think would be great, but more than that would be sort of a waste of valuable land.

oh absolutely, there are a lot of golf courses in and around Metro Manila. There is probably close to a dozen in just the south (Alabang to Calamba).

7 is quite a lot but not surprising...lots of newly developed areas get a lot of golf courses these days; anywhere in the world. But otherwise i agree that too many is not good environmentally since they use a lot of water and pollute nearby water sources.

wow

mag tayo tayo ng golf course sa tabi at gilid ng PNR......("j)

mag tayo tayo ng golf course sa tabi at gilid ng PNR......("j)

cge mag-tayo ka kung kaya mo!!

kse sa dami ng walang tirahan at sariling lupa... nag iisquat sila sa gilid ng PNR or ilalim ng tulay.... tapos dumadami naman ang golf courses..... parang may mali.... hayaan mo magtatayo ako balang araw libre......("A)

hmmm people don't have houses not because there are many golf courses, but because they are poor. There's lots of land in and around MM, plus we still haven't really started building up in big way the way we should be.

We were interested very much in building a golf course there too. There's tons of unused land, specially lahar land which is not utilized perfect for something low density like this. 7 in an area is really nothing, if you were in a tourist area you could literally have hundreds of them. Mission Hills Golf Club in China has 10 18 hole courses, alone on it's grounds. And the old misnomer about water use in golf course is basically bad PR, you can have a golf course which does not even use water except for rainfall!

^^true...I'd expect more golf courses to be built once the highway and airport are completed.
7 + many more.

kse sa dami ng walang tirahan at sariling lupa... nag iisquat sila sa gilid ng PNR or ilalim ng tulay.... tapos dumadami naman ang golf courses..... parang may mali.... hayaan mo magtatayo ako balang araw libre......("A)

anu naman ang mali dun... eh hindi naman residential area ang clark.. alangan namang dun magtayo ng bahay ung mga sinsabi mong squatters

kse sa dami ng walang tirahan at sariling lupa... nag iisquat sila sa gilid ng PNR or ilalim ng tulay.... tapos dumadami naman ang golf courses..... parang may mali.... hayaan mo magtatayo ako balang araw libre......("A)

sige magtayu ka sa tabi nang bahay mo:lol: eh bakit sila nagpunta sa luzon,nasa probinsya ang mga lupa nila noh hina mo naman pre:banana: siguro taga riles ka noh hahhahaa:lol:

anu naman ang mali dun... eh hindi naman residential area ang clark.. alangan namang dun magtayo ng bahay ung mga sinsabi mong squatters

sa tingin ko ang punto niya riot, dapat may kaakbay na programa upang magpatayo ng mga tirahan at ilang serbisyo na dapat ilaan sa mga taumbayan. Nakakatakot din magpatayo ng mga golf courses dahil malaki ang kinokonsumo nitong tubig araw araw, malaki ang kukunin nitong tubig mula sa lokal na source ng tubig.

sa tingin ko ang punto niya riot, dapat may kaakbay na programa upang magpatayo ng mga tirahan at ilang serbisyo na dapat ilaan sa mga taumbayan. Nakakatakot din magpatayo ng mga golf courses dahil malaki ang kinokonsumo nitong tubig araw araw, malaki ang kukunin nitong tubig mula sa lokal na source ng tubig.

may tama kaa.. pero dba malaki din aman ang pakinabang pag may golf course...

kay pareng ano... wag mong isiping piangtutulungan ka namin..
lahat tayo dito magbabarkada

^^ well sa akin lang, hindi worth it ang risk at ecological degradation na maidudulot ng golf courses. unless ibahin na a ng setup ng mga golf courses na dapat laging madamo. Ang ginawa sa Afghanistan para hindi kumunsumo doon ang isang international hotel chain sa golf course nila ay gawing natural aghan terrain ang hitsura ng golf course nila para hindi nila kailanganing gumamit ng daan daang gallong ng tubig araw araw.

may tama kaa.. pero dba malaki din aman ang pakinabang pag may golf course...

kay pareng ano... wag mong isiping piangtutulungan ka namin..
lahat tayo dito magbabarkada

eh sino lang ba ang nakikinabang sa mga golf course? kakauntin lang rin naman ang nakakagamit nyan. saka ilan din ba ang trabahong magagawa ng isang golf course?

Clark investors, LGUs assail CAB for blocking
GMA’s development plans for Clark airport
By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent

CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE, Pampanga – Indignant investors here and local government officials in the area lashed at the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for thwarting President Arroyo’s grand vision to develop the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) into a world-class logistics hub and passenger terminal.

The stakeholders’ move came after the CAB recently cut the Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) of Singapore-based low-cost carrier Tiger Airways from six months to three months.

Tiger Airways’ current, three-month FACP is expected to lapse in early June whereas before, it was renewable every six months.

The stakeholders urged President Arroyo to direct CAB to grant Tiger Airways a six-month or longer FACP to help sustain the momentum of growth at the DMIA, that posted over 470,000 international and local passengers last year.

Cutting Tiger Airways’ FACP to three months would seriously affect the plans of the national government for DMIA, the stakeholders said, adding CAB’s existing policies on FACPs are against President Arroyo’s plans for the Clark airport in the Luzon Urban Beltway.

The issue has also affected the expansion plans of Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) to increase domestic and international routes in its bid to expand flights to and from the DMIA. SEAIR plans to acquire Airbus 320s to service international routes such as Macau, Taiwan and South Korea.

Frankie Villanueva, president of the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA), said the government’s intent for the DMIA is to provide a liberalized air policy.

“If airlines such as SEAIR wish to expand, then we welcome that. But if other companies think of it as a competition, then why don’t they offer the same? The problem with these groups is that they hide in the notion that this is against national interest when, in fact, they are more concerned with personal interests. We should promote the true spirit of the declaration of an open skies policy at the DMIA,” Villanueva said.

The local governments of Angeles City and Mabalacat echoed the views of Clark investors, saying the development of the Subic-Clark corridor as a “competitive international logistics center” will be President Arroyo’s legacy not only to her province but also to the entire country.

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin lauded the expansion program of SEAIR.

“That is good news for the people. I am very much in favor of more flights at DMIA. Any airline is welcome, just to service our people,” Lazatin said as he challenged those who are blocking the permit of SEAIR at CAB to conduct operations at the DMIA.

“I hope they put their own flights at the DMIA instead of complaining about it (SEAIR’s application),” the city mayor said.

Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales backed Lazatin’s statement, saying the DMIA should be developed into a world-class logistics hub as President Arroyo wants, adding that more jobs will be created at the airport if more budget and legacy airlines are allowed to operate in Clark. A substantial number of workers at the DMIA are from Mabalacat.

Arroyo set to sign Clark Freeport bills
By Dante M. Fabian
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2007/03/20/news/arroyo.set.to.sign.clark.freeport.bills.html
CLARK FREEPORT -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will arrive here on Tuesday to sign bills that would declare portions of the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) a freeport zone.

With Arroyo's move, several vital provisions of the Bases Conversion and Development Act would also be amended.

Levy Laus, president of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), said the bills, once signed, would grant tax and duty-free privileges to locators thereby preventing their leaving the zone and rendering 40,000 workers jobless.

CDC is the implementing arm of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

The amendments contained in the Clark bills include the granting of tax amnesty to business enterprises in Clark zone and other economic zones in Luzon, including:

* Poro Point Special Economic and Freeport Zone
* John Hay Special Economic Zone
* Morong Special Economic Zone

Laus said the activity would be held in front of the flagpole of the Clark Parade Grounds.

Locators will also issue a statement of support to President Arroyo after the signing of Senate Bills 2259 and 2260 into law.

Laus said establishments within a 30-hectare area (22 hectares commercial and 7.5 hectares of Bayanihan Park) from the freeport zone were excluded from the tax incentives.

Among those excluded from the privileges is the SM City Clark complex.

Also, goods within the freeport zone brought to other parts of the country would be subjected to customs duties and taxes, Laus added.

In lieu of taxes, businesses within the freeport zone would pay a five percent tax on their gross income. This would be shared between the National Government, 3 percent, and the municipality or city where the locator is located, a provision in the bills state.

In the amendments, several other areas -- such as Bataan, Poro Point, Morong, and John Hay -- would be declared special economic zones and enjoy the same tax and duty free privileges.

Senator Ralph Recto, chairman of the Senate ways and means and bicameral conference committees, sponsored the two Clark bills that resolved the impasse the resulted when the SC ruled as unconstitutional the tax incentives and duty free privileges of the locators inside the Clark freeport zone.

About 4,400 hectares of Clark special economic zone is presently under the administration of CDC while the rest of the 29,000-hectare base lands is located in Angeles City and Mabalacat and Porac towns in Pampanga, and Capas and Bamban in Tarlac will be under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

Clark, 3 sites new freeports (http://businessmirror.com.ph/03212007/headlines01.html)
OFFICIALS HAIL ‘GIANT STEP’ TO ATTRACT INVESTORS
By Jacob Cunanan and Mia Gonzalez

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga—President Arroyo signed two bills here Tuesday amending several provisions of Republic Act 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act.

One, RA 9399, grants a one-time tax amnesty to Clark locators and four other economic zones that were earlier removed by a ruling of the Supreme Court.

The other measure, RA 9400, declared, in consonance with the Supreme Court decision, the 4,400-hectare Clark and three other economic zones as freeports to give them permanent tax benefits.

The other economic zones are the Camp John Hay in Baguio City, Poro Point in La Union, and the Bataan Economic Zone in Morong.

Antonio Abaya, president of the Bases Conversion Development Authority, said the new laws would provide “giant steps” in helping the administration achieve its priority programs by attracting more investments to the newly declared freeports.

“Before, prospective locators were wary because they are not sure whether they will be getting the tax incentives. With this new law, all of a sudden there were a lot of inquiries in CDC, especially those who want to build golf courses. This is going to be the golf capital of Luzon,” Abaya said.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said that RA 9400 provides a sense of “comfort for locators and future investors that the incentives are permanent in character instead of again having to handle this administratively. This puts Clark on a par with Subic as an investment site and together with the other infrastructure that is being put up now and in the future. . . . The direction should be more or less a level playing field.”

Under the law, Clark and the four others like Subic will have in lieu of national and local taxes, a 5-percent tax on gross income earned, broken down as 3 percent to the national government and 2 percent to the treasurer’s office of the host municipality or city.

The one-time amnesty for those affected by the High Court decision need only to pay a P25,000-amnesty tax within six months from the effectivity of the law.

Clark Development Corp. president Levy Laus said that 389 foreign and domestic firms are located in Clark, bringing in P24.33 billion in investments. In 2006, these locators exported $1 billion worth of items.

The 4,400-hectare Clark Freeport is administered by the CDC, the implementing arm of the BCDA, while the rest of the 29,000 hectares of reverted base lands located in Angeles City, Mabalacat and Porac towns in Pampanga, and Capas and Bamban in Tarlac are under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

“This positive outlook is, no doubt, shared by the other free ports and special economic zones in North and West Luzon that will benefit from these laws. These are the Morong Special Economic Zone in Bataan, the Poro Point Free Port Zone in La Union, and the John Hay Special Economic Zone in Baguio City,” said Laus.

“We are all part now of an unfolding development that will usher in new hopes, new opportunities, and new dreams for millions of people not just in the region but beyond. After this event, let it be known that the Clark Freeport Philippines beckons to one and all to propel the country to new heights of progress and prosperity,” he added.

hmmm people don't have houses not because there are many golf courses, but because they are poor. There's lots of land in and around MM, plus we still haven't really started building up in big way the way we should be.

We were interested very much in building a golf course there too. There's tons of unused land, specially lahar land which is not utilized perfect for something low density like this. 7 in an area is really nothing, if you were in a tourist area you could literally have hundreds of them. Mission Hills Golf Club in China has 10 18 hole courses, alone on it's grounds. And the old misnomer about water use in golf course is basically bad PR, you can have a golf course which does not even use water except for rainfall!

Golf courses are the new trend for development in the Phils now. It was malls in the nineties. Remember when malls were mushrooming everywhere and right beside each other? ;)

eh sino lang ba ang nakikinabang sa mga golf course? kakauntin lang rin naman ang nakakagamit nyan. saka ilan din ba ang trabahong magagawa ng isang golf course?

cnong makikinabang.. kaming mga mayayaman.. hehe joke

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SBMA bidding out CT1 contract in Subic Bay (http://businessmirror.com.ph/03262007/nation03.html)
By Max V. de Leon
Reporter


THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is now bidding out the 30-year contract for the operation of the soon-to-be-completed Container Terminal 1 (CT 1) inside the Subic Bay Freeport that is projected to rake in about $6 million in annual revenues for the agency.

SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said the terms of reference (TOR) is already available at $2,000 and the announcements for the invitation to bid will be published both in the country and abroad.

Arreza said the SBMA will seek a $1.5-million minimum fixed annual lease and concession from the would-be operator of the new container port, which has a capacity of 300,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) for the 14-hectare CT 1 expected to be finished within the month. It was constructed with a $60-million loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

Arreza said the SBMA also wants a 10 to 12 percent revenue sharing per container that will go through the facility. Including wharfage fees, he said CT 1 “has a potential $6 million in annual revenues.”

He said the annual lease for the port, which has a lifespan of 50 years, will be enough to shoulder the JBIC loan.

The Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), a joint venture of Royal Port Services Inc., Subic Bay International, which is 83-percent owned by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), and SBMA, has the right of first refusal for the CT 1 as a result of a concession deal it forged with the SBMA in 2000 for the operation of the Navy Supply Depot, the Freeport’s existing port.

Arreza said this means the SBITC can still snatch the contract for the CT 1 even if it loses to another bidder.

03 - American firm to develop new theme park
Tuesday, April 03 2007 @ 08:04 AM BST

Business
American firm Subic FamilyLand Inc. is infusing $ 200,000 to develop an amusement park where the whole family could get together at the heart of the Subic Bay forest area.

"This new theme park will offer fun and learning for the whole family, especially the children, with its complete facilities," said Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator and chief executive officer Armand C. Arreza.

Among the amenities of the theme park include toddlers' playground, kids' ballpool fun center, kids' playground, bouncy castles and obstacle courses, and two tracks of pedal go-carts.

There will also be a miniature golf course, train rides, 1.5-kilometer themed jungle trek and the permanent carnival area as well as areas for mature visitors like the Jungle Assault Course which is patterned to a military obstacle course.

Deemed as a complete day trip in one, FamilyLand will be built in the spacious Group 3 of the former US Naval Magazine Area at the Ilanin Forest.

Arreza noted that Subic FamilyLand has competitive advantage over other amusement parks in the country due to its proximity to other tourist facilities inside the Subic Bay Freeport such as the Jungle Environmental and Survival Training (JEST) Camp, Ilanin Forest and Mangrove Trail, Ocean Adventure, and a few minutes drive from food chains, beaches and duty free shops.

"It is a truly good place to visit and spend weekends or vacation with your family and friends where they could spend quality time together," he added.

The new theme park will initially open more than 200 direct-hired personnel and create more indirect job opportunities for the residents of nearby communities. (PNA)

200,000 dollars? our football field at school cost 800,000 to refurbish... how big is this?

:lol: ^good example. 200k is rather small...but its something big for the people who get jobs from it.

Really good news for Clark and for the country as a whole!

RP to ask Taiwan to finance devt
of industrial estates in Subic, Clark (http://businessmirror.com.ph/04102007/economy02.html)

By Max V. de Leon
Reporter


THE Philippines will ask the Taiwanese government to finance the development of industrial estates in Subic and Clark and at the same time market them to the prospective locators in Taiwan to make the two countries’ economic corridor agreement more effective.

Armand Arreza, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator, said this will be among the topics that will be discussed by the two parties when they meet this month in Taipei for the mid-term Joint Economic Conference (JEC).

Taiwan and the Philippines are exploring more opportunities to further their exchange of trade and investments through the Subic-Clark-Taiwan economic corridor deal that they signed last year.

As it is now, Arreza said the government does not want to engage in more borrowing to be used for the development of industrial parks in Subic and Clark and then just wait for the Taiwanese investors to locate to them.

He said it would be more effective if Taiwan’s Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) will fund the development and then “we will contribute the land and the incentives for the locators.”

“We want EPZA to invest for the development and then market us in Taiwan,” Arreza said.

He said this is the more logical course since the idea of the economic corridor anyway is for the Taiwanese government to find off-shore export processing zones for its industries that will also grant them incentives.

Among the perks beings asked by Taiwan from the Philippines are the tax breaks, free lease for the first four years and 50-percent off in the next six years, lesser financing interest rates, and the lowering of the required local content to 25 percent from the current 40 percent, which is the rule set in the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA).

In pursuing the development of industrial estates using Taiwanese funds, Arreza said a company should be set up that would serve as the implementing arm.

Right now, Arreza said there is no development company that oversees the implementation of joint initiatives for the economic corridor.

He said they would be needing $50 million to $75 million in developing new industrial zones.

Taiwan, through the economic corridor, is also bidding to use the Philippines as its point of entry to the Asean market, which is why it is seeking the lowering of the local content requirement.

Under the AFTA, a product will only get the much lower Common Effective Preferential Tariff rate once it passes the 40-percent local content rule, meaning at least 40 percent of its materials originated from Asean member-countries.

Taiwan losing control of Subic Bay to South Korea, China - report

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/business/news/article_1296102.php/Taiwan_losing_control_of_Subic_Bay_to_South_Korea_China_-_report

Taipei - Taiwan, the main player in developing the Subic Bay Export Processing Zone of the Philippines, is losing its competitiveness to South Korea and China, a newspaper said on Wednesday

The China Times said that while Taiwan helped launch the Subic Bay free zone and made huge investment, it is now being edged out by later comers, especially South Korea and China.

'A South Korean hotel is being built in front of Taiwan's Wistro Corp and China's Jingniu glass company will start building a 320-million-dollar glass factory in May,' the daily said.

South Korea's Hanjin Heavy Industry and Construction Co is building a 1.4-billion-dollar shipyard across the bay from the Taiwan Industrial Zone.

'Hanjin said it will hire 20,000-30,000 workers by 2010. It will certainly look like a Korea Town,' the paper quoted Wistro Manager More Chuang as saying.

The paper said the biggest threat was that the competition could eventually drive out Taiwan, whose investment has been dwindling.

Subic Bay, 110 kilometres north of Manila, used to be a US naval base but was returned to the Philippines in 1992.

Taiwan moved into Subic Bay in 1994 by forming a joint venture with the Philippines to develop it into a free port, agreeing to develop 300 hectares in three stages.

The project was politically motivated because former president Lee Teng-hui wanted to develop unofficial ties with the Southeast Asian nations and was encouraging Taiwan manufacturers to invest in Southeast Asia under the 'Go South Policy.'

However, due to changes in Taiwan's policies and the difficulty in attracting Taiwanese manufacturers to open plants in Subic Bay, Taiwan's development reached only the second phase, and the number of Taiwan factories has dropped from 300 to 50.

'China's investment in Subic Bay has strategic considerations. But the Subic Bay is close to Taiwan and is our gateway to ASEAN countries. Taiwan should have a more open-minded view when considering investing in the Subic Bay,' the paper quoted Wu Hsin-hsing, Taiwan's trade representative to the Philippines, as saying.

:wave:

Slightly off-topic: Are there any buses within Clark-San Fernando, La Union route? I'm hoping (I wanna try DMIA).

^^ yes, several bus companies ply the Manila-La Union route which passes Dau/Sta Ines Mabalacat Pampanga. Take a jeepney to Clark which is 15 minutes away. Hope this helps.:)

^^ yes, several bus companies ply the Manila-La Union route which passes Dau/Sta Ines Mabalacat Pampanga. Take a jeepney to Clark which is 15 minutes away. Hope this helps.:)

I'm confused. Ito ang plan ko: Cebu Pacific from Cebu to Clark kasi I wanna experience Clark and DMIA. Yung prob ko kung ano ang sasakyan ko from Clark or Angeles City going to San Fernando, La Union.

^^I think malapit naman na yung Dau Terminal from Angeles. Yung mga bus papuntang north dumadaan sa Dau Terminal. Siguro may taxi papunta sa terminal.

start na rin yata ang genesis transport bus,from dmia to baguio city..check muna lang sa terminal :)

I'm confused. Ito ang plan ko: Cebu Pacific from Cebu to Clark kasi I wanna experience Clark and DMIA. Yung prob ko kung ano ang sasakyan ko from Clark or Angeles City going to San Fernando, La Union.
Hi @Czarina! Clark DMIA is a very short 10-15 minute drive to Dau, Mabalacat Pampanga. Im sure you can take public transportation from DMIA to Dau where all buses going north including La Union pass. :) You can then take the bus from Dau to La Union.

Thanks sa mga sumagot.:wave:

:banana: Gov't confirms Texas Instruments to build $1-B plant in RP

The Philippine government confirmed on Thursday that U.S. semiconductor firm Texas Instruments Inc., the world's biggest maker of mobile phone chips, would build a $1-billion plant in the country.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the plant would be located at the Clark economic zone north of Manila.

It will be the U.S.-based firm's second production plant in the Philippines.

The sources said a formal announcement on the plant was likely to be made later on Thursday.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has called a news conference at 10:30 am and will announce the deal.

The company currently has a 25-hectare complex in Baguio City in the northern Philippines, and has been scouting for a new site in either the Philippines or China. The investment is likely to be around $1 billion, government officials had said previously. - Reuters

Hi @Czarina! Clark DMIA is a very short 10-15 minute drive to Dau, Mabalacat Pampanga. Im sure you can take public transportation from DMIA to Dau where all buses going north including La Union pass. :) You can then take the bus from Dau to La Union.

from the DMIA there is a passenger jeep going to Transport/Jeepney Interchange just near the main gate and also near the SM Clark.

from the Transport/Jeepney Interchange there is a Jeepney for Angeles City,
for Dau and for Mabalacat. The Dau-bound Jeepney will disembark passenger intending to take bus, at the (Petron Gas station) corner of MacArthur Highway and the NLEX access road.

From that jeepney passenger disembarkation point adjacent to Dau Petron Station (corner of MacArthur Highway and NLEX Access Road) you have to walk about 100 meters for the Dau Bus Terminal. There is a Bus at the Dau Bus Terminal even at night (24 hours) for places to provinces in the North up to Baguio and Ilocos and to Manila. There is also many tricycles from that disembarkation point if you have some baggage.

But if you have baggages it is better to just take the Taxi (Simpson Taxi is the only taxi operating there at Clark) from the airport to the Bus Terminal.

Texas Instruments to build $1B Clark plant
The world's biggest maker of mobile phone chips, will build a second production plant in the Philippines for $1 billion.

The new facility would be located at the Clark economic zone north of Manila.

Texas Instrument officials formally made announcement during a meeting with government officials at Malacanang Palace.

The US based company currently has a 25-hectare complex in Baguio City, and has been scouting for a new site in either the Philippines or China. This plant will provide for expansion and also as back-up to the existing facility, company officials have said.

The Baguio plant has undergone at least four expansion projects since its establishment in the 1970s and can no longer accommodate further expansion.

The Baguio plant manufactures digital signal processors and digital light processors for cell phones and liquid crystal displays.

^^Actually this is a bigger deal than most people make it out to be. Good news for everyone.

$1-M classy promenade to be set up in Clark (http://businessmirror.com.ph/05142007/economy03.html)
By Jacob M. Cunanan
Correspondent


CLARK FREE PORT—A $1-million promenade will be set up here after the signing of an agreement by Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president Levy P. Laus with a local tourism company at the Holiday Inn-Clark recently.

Laus said Global CD&P Corp., based in Angeles City, will pursue the first-of-its-kind project in the Clark Free Port Zone, which will be similar to the classy promenade in the Libis area in Quezon City.

Vilma Chivel Pangilinan, Global CD&P chief executive officer, said the company would venture into a “modest yet ambitious proactive business property development” in Clark.

Pangilinan said the proposed project, located at the back of the Clark Hostel along M.A. Roxas Highway, will complement the business operations of several business establishments in the tourism area here and would service the needs of their foreign and local clientele.

She said the project in Clark would bring a famous, world-renowned chain of coffee outlets, noted grills and restaurants, spa and massage parlors, fashion shops and video arcades, including the establishment of wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) connections all over the area.

The project is envisioned to create a convergence of tourists, businessmen, locators, travelers and residents in one place at the free port zone while trying to enjoy the ambience of Clark not only as an investment destination but a tourist hub as well.

Pangilinan said Global CD&P chose to invest in Clark because of the increasing number of inbound flights to the free port and the connectivity of Clark to Subic and Clark to Tarlac before the end of the year, among other reasons.

The project is scheduled for completion before the first quarter of 2008 in time for the opening of the P21-billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTex).

Pangilinan said Global CD&P and other CD&P-owned companies such as CD&P Enterprises (a design, planners and construction company), CD&P Builders Thailand Co. Ltd. (a construction firm based in Bangkok), and Perwira Travel & Tours (a Department of Trade and Industry-registered company concentrating on international marketing, travel and tours, and related tourism inbound business) will chip in financial resources for the Clark Free Port project.

The company’s expertise includes the construction of residential and townhouses, commercial buildings and road works and also offers expertise in careful planning, designing and building projects.

Clark fast becoming training center for A320 pilots (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2007/05/14/bus/clark.fast.becoming.training.center.for.a320.pilots.html)

CLARK FREEPORT is fast becoming a training ground for pilots of A320 aircraft, following the opening of the US$15.6 million Clark Aviation School at Clark Polytechnic here.

Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Levy P. Laus was impressed at the operations of the aviation school in Clark, which is being run by the Alpha Aviation Group comprised of world-class trained international airline personnel.

Clark aviation, which is being operated by AAG, is a first of its kind in Asia. It has modern aviation training facilities, particularly for aspiring A320 pilots.

Initially, the aviation training school firm has three flight training devices two fixed-base simulators covering the basic and intermediate phases of the flight instruction and the third being an A320 level d full flight simulator.

Laus said this is great news not only for Clark, AIG and the Philippines, but also for all of the airlines in the region that are in need of airbus pilots.

The Airbus A320 is known to be one of the most efficient regional aircraft. Currently, Asiana, Tiger Airways and Cebu Pacific which have flights to and from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport use this aircraft in servicing Clark and other destinations.

Market forecasts indicate that the Asian region alone will require 6,000 new pilots each year for the next 20 years to meet the growing demand for pilots.

Alpha aviation is creating a network of world-class international aviation training academies that extend from Europe, through Middle East, to South East Asia providing ab initio training for pilots, engineers, cabin crew and other skilled aviation personnel in addition to recurrent and aircraft specific training support for airlines.

sobrang mahal. hindi mura if u want to do a320 type rating. i think it will cost around P 750,000.

:bash: clark development corps. pls updated naman ninyu wedsite ninyu mahiya kayu sa sweldo ninyu magtrabaho kayu dyan..april 4 pa at saka dami nang bago dyan sa clark hah, talo pa kayu nag subic (SBMA).updated :ohno:

sobrang mahal. hindi mura if u want to do a320 type rating. i think it will cost around P 750,000.

Mahal pa ba ito, my nephew did a similar training for a the same rating and it was over a million Plus he's bonded to PAL for for the next few years! It does not really sound like a lot, I assum it includes basic all the way to A320 certification.

3-M condo by Korean firm to rise in Subic Freeport

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=78636
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - A 17-story condominium, the first high-rise building ever to be built in this premier Freeport, will soon be constructed by a Korean developer infusing a committed investment worth $3 million.

KT Global Subic Inc. is a company that will engage in the development, management and operation of real estate such as a 17-story condominium and hotel complex called the Subic Ampelos Tower.

“KT Global Subic Inc. is the tenth biggest committed investment among the approved projects in 2006. It will be the first high-rise building, which is 17 stories high, that we will ever have in the Subic Bay Freeport,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza said.

With its main office based in Korea, KT Construction Co., Ltd., which was named after its founder Kim Tae-Kyung, is engaged in real estate development and operation of condominiums, hotels and other related activities.

According to KT Global Subic Inc. president Hong Shik Kim, because of the company’s potential of expanding its horizons, it has eyed the Subic Bay Freeport to become its partner in the construction of high-rise buildings carrying the philosophy of customer satisfaction by providing high-quality, comfortable units and offer state-of-the-art living conditions.

The projectm, he said, is reflective of the rapid advancements in technology and a growing need for quality housing, hotel rooms and other amenities that will meet unmatched levels of customer satisfaction.

The Ampelos Tower will offer attractive and inviting amenities such as conference rooms that are ideal for formal and non-formal gatherings and gift shops. There will also be a recreation place with spas, massage clinics, swimming pools and sports facilities.

The rest of the building, will be the apartelle itself offering 36 high quality, comfortable household units on each floor. Each unit will offer balance safety, cutting edge features, positive atmosphere and state-of-the-art living conditions.

Hong said that the company is aiming to complete the first two condominium buildings within the next three to four years to be constructed in a 14,000-sq.m. lot inside the Subic Commercial Light and Industrial Park. Another four condominium buildings will be completed within the next six to ten years.

“Our company is dedicated to providing a hassle-free living environment where in our clients can enjoy all of the benefits of our safe, attractive, and inviting facilities. Unlike many other realty companies that are solely concerned with profit generation, our primary objective is to maintain the highest achievable level of customer satisfaction,” Hong assured.

The Ampelos Tower project will need 100 employees in its initial operations, and will augment workforce to 200 in five years’ time.

Mahal pa ba ito, my nephew did a similar training for a the same rating and it was over a million Plus he's bonded to PAL for for the next few years! It does not really sound like a lot, I assum it includes basic all the way to A320 certification.

everywhere in the world it will cost about as much as they charge. i'm a pilot myself and right now i'm looking the best place for my type rating. can i know how old is your nephew? how many years he has to service PAL. pm me.

thanks.

kev

Clark International Aviation

Learn to fly an Airbus in 1 year
By RONNIEL C. DE GUZMAN

If the vast potential of the newly-opened Clark International Aviation (CIA) at the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga would be realized, commercial pilots can well be the next professionals that Filipinos could be famous for.


Opened early this year, the CIA offers an intensive, integrated 12-month training of first-time pilots. At the end of the program, graduates would be qualified and certified to fly Airbus 320s, the most favored single-aisle aircraft in the world.

CIA chairman and chief executive officer Mark Pearson believes there will come a day, while on a flight from London to Paris, he would recognize the captain as a graduate of CIA - and a Filipino at that.

At the core of CIA program is an $ 11-million, state-of-the-art full flight simulator, the first of its kind in the country.

"We train pilots who have never flown an airplane before. They graduate from college and come here for the intensive, integrated, 12-month program. They come and live here at Clark. In the first five months, they spend their time in the classrooms to learn all the theoretical knowledge plus ground studies. They have to learn about aviation, meteorology, navigation, flight instruments and air law, among others," explained Pearson, himself a former pilot for the British airline Monarch.

From ground instructions, the pilot cadets move on to fly 70 hours in small light planes where they will learn "basic pilot skills.

Pilot-cadets live inside the CIA compound but are accorded comfortable accommodations. CIA has two types of accommodations the air-conditioned and serviced dormitory type (P5,000 a month excluding the food) which can fit 18 cadets in a room and apartments ( a night) for single and double occupancies complete with shower and baths, personal refs, DVD players, wireless internet, and TV. CIA also has a full-service gym, basketball gym and bar. Pilot-cadets may also bring their wives with them during the program.


ANSWER TO PILOT SHORTAGE

Now comes the best part.

At the end of the 12 months, the pilot-cadets not only graduate as commercial pilots but fully type-rated to fly the Airbus 320 which immediately made them eligible to enter the airline service.

Perhaps what attracts CIA to prospective pilots is the price of the training fees as against the high salaries a graduate can expect. At the moment, course fee is pegged at $ 80,000. But Pearson was quick to point out that this is a bargain compared to the facilities where similar programs are offered.

"We can actually deliver our training at the fraction of the price that it would cost to deliver, say in Europe for example. When the Europeans start this program it would probably cost double compared to that in the Philippines," said Pearson.

He noted that given the shortage in pilots of A320s, both in Asia and other parts of the world, prospective pilots stand to get a windfall in salaries once they get their certification from CIA.

"All of the pilots are guaranteed a job once they graduate from the program. There is global pilot shortage at the moment which requires 16,000 new pilots each in every year for the next 20 years. And we are here to train pilots in time for the delivery of new planes for these airlines," said Pearson.

CIA chose the Philippines as its area of operations because of its strategic location.

"It is accessible to all points in Asia. It has one of the lowest cost bases in Asia. Combined with that it has an abundance of highly-educated fluent English-speaking (English) personnel," he said.

Pearson added that what makes CIA’s program distinct is that it is the first school in the world which has actually commenced with the multicrew license program approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).


THE FUTURE OF AVIATION

CIA has also opened its facilities for the re-training of pilots coming from both local and foreign airline companies. It is a mandatory international requirement for a pilot, including seasoned pilots, captains and first officers, to retrain every six months for him to maintain his proficiency if he is to keep his license.

"This is the only opportunity they have to practice real emergency drills that I hope they will never see in real life like engine failures, engine fires, hydraulic problems. The kind of problems you can’t safely simulate on a real plane on the air with real passengers on board," said Rick Norman, head of flight operations.

Cebu Pacific currently has a group of its own pilots re-training at CIA.

As word about CIA spreads around, the Clark-based institution has seen a steady stream of pilot cadets as well as pilots who are on its re-training program.

"We have a new course intake every month of 18 cadets so in a full year we will have about 220 cadets in training in any one time," averred Norman.

He added that CIA is an international school and that majority of the pilot-cadets do happen to be Filipinos. But it does have students from Europe and India and is expecting a huge influx from the Middle East and China.

If the substantial investments in the country were not enough, Pearson said CIA would be bringing in three more simulators and two A-320s. There will also be two other different types of simulators called fixed-based simulators.



Sino ba ang gustong mag-piloto. It looks like a good deal :)

Foreign firms eye 30-year Subic contract (http://businessmirror.com.ph/05312007/headlines03.html)
By Max V. de Leon

Reporter

THREE foreign groups have so far made known their interest in bidding for the 30-year operations and maintenance of the new container port in Subic Bay Freeport, according to Armand Arreza, administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

He said the three, which he did not identify except to say they are European and Asian, will challenge the Subic Bay International Terminal Holdings consortium, which has the right of first refusal. The bidding is scheduled end-June.

The terms of reference for the bidding has been made available and the invitation to bid published in the country and abroad.

Arreza said the SBMA seeks a $1.5-million minimum fixed annual concessional lease for the container port, which has a capacity of 300,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).

The 14-hectare CT 1 is expected to be completed within the month. It was constructed with a $60-million loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

Arreza said the SBMA also wants a 10-12 percent revenue sharing per container that goes through the facility. Including wharfage fees, Arreza said CT 1 “has a potential $6 million in annual revenues.”

The right of first refusal of the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), a joint venture of Royal Port Services Inc., Subic Bay International, which is 83-percent owned by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), and SBMA, came from a concession deal with the SBMA in 2000 for the operation of the Navy Supply Depot, the existing port.

Arreza said this means the SBITC can still snatch the contract for the CT 1. “If a bidder meets the minimum requirements and beats SBITC, the joint venture can still get the contract by simply matching the offer of the winning bidder.”

The contract could also be awarded to SBITC as early as June should there be no other bidder. If there are other bidders, the awarding could happen in August.

Container Terminal 2, meanwhile, is scheduled for completion in June. The contract for its operation will be up for bidding after the operator for CT 1 has been chosen, Arreza said.

Korean firm to build $17-M hotel complex in Subic (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/44564/Korean-firm-to-build-17-M-hotel-complex-in-Subic)
05/31/2007 | 05:39 PM

KT Construction Co. Ltd., a Korean property developer, will be building a $17-million residential and hotel complex inside the Subic Bay Freeport, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said Thursday.

Through local unit KT Global Subic Inc., KT Construction is expected to complete the project's first two condominium buildings within the next three to four years and finish a total of four buildings within 10 years.

The development will sit on a 14,000-square meter lot inside the Subic Commercial Light and Industrial Park.

SBMA administrator Armand Arreza, said the Korean firm will also manage and operate the project.

KT Global president Hong Shik Kim said one of the buildings, the 17-storey Ampelos Tower, will have conference rooms ideal for formal and non-formal gatherings. The building will also house a recreation place with spas, massage clinics, swimming pools, and sports facilities.

The rest of the building, will be an apartelle with 36 units on each floor.

"Our company is dedicated to providing a hassle-free living environment where in our clients can enjoy all of the benefits of our safe, attractive, and inviting facilities. Unlike many other realty companies that are solely concerned with profit generation, our primary objective is to maintain the highest achievable level of customer satisfaction," Hong said. - GMANews.TV

‘Pocket open skies’ in Clark enforced soon (http://businessmirror.com.ph/0601&022007/headlines08.html)
By Rommer M. Balaba

Reporter

PRESIDENT Arroyo’s intention to reinstate the open skies policy in the airports in the Clark and Subic economic zones may be implemented soon, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri on Thursday.

He said the implementing order, Executive Order 500-B, “is ready for signing, which the President might do when she gets back” from visits to New Zealand and Australia.

The “pocket” open skies policy, limited to both airports, still faces stiff opposition from local airline operators, he added. This is due to the fact that foreign airlines that will use these airports are low-cost carriers serving the Asian region, and the locals have no corresponding privileges in their countries of origin.

Neri has been actively campaigning for a more vibrant airline industry, but claimed the Civil Aeronautics Board, which regulates the air sector, has been tied down by regulations that prevent entry of new airlines in the main international airports.

Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit and Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines have collectively branded EO 500-B a “threat to the national interest” because of privileges granted to foreign airlines without requiring them to grant reciprocal obligations to Filipino airlines.

Aviation industry expert Enrico L. Basilio said the issue of reciprocity had been the most contentious. He is cochairman of the National Competitiveness Council’s infrastructure group.

The limited open skies policy was one of four policy recommendations of the council to President Arroyo. The other three are designation of all Road-RORO Terminal System routes as part of the national road network, certification to Congress of the amendment to the Philippine Ports Authority Charter, and the fast-tracking of RORO port development.

Nearly 500,000 passengers arrived at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark last year, an increase of more than 110 percent from the 225,000 passengers in 2005, mostly tourists and businessmen from Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.

US-based cargo carrier UPS likewise made DMIA its main intra-Asian hub to link major Asian cities with the global operations center in Louisville, Kentucky and Cologne, Germany.

A threat to "national interest?" So what "national interest" are they talking about?

BAKA SARILING INTEREST NANG PHILIPPINE AIR AT CEBU PACIFIC..DAPAT SA MGA CIVIC AERONAUTICS BOARD NA YAN MALAWA NA EH MAGKANO BA BAYAD SA INYU NANG PAL AT CEBU PACIFIC MGA GAGO....:lol: kung pwde lang pumunta ang mga taliban sa pinas:bash: para sila na ang bahala sa inyu mga :lol: na CAB personel :lol: :lol:

it's actually their own interest....

baka interest ni Lucio tan

well.. maybe the national interest kasi if our local taipans becomes unhappy.. they may not proceed on helping the country on boosting tourism initiatives..

[QUOTE=pau_p1;13552617]well.. maybe the national interest kasi if our local taipans becomes unhappy.. they may not proceed on helping the country on boosting tourism initiatives..[/QUOT

national interest lang nila ang sabihin mo..bakit ano ba ang naibigay nila sa mga pilipino for tourist wala naman hah at saka alam mo ba maraming pilipino napasyal sa ibang bansa dahil sa mga low cost airline na yan..baka sa sirili sila dapat sa mga yan dalhin sa afghanistan lalo na yan mga CAB na yan :bash: talo nga tayu nang vietnam about the tourist eh..dapat sa mga yan :bash:

^that's bs...

[QUOTE=pau_p1;13552617]well.. maybe the national interest kasi if our local taipans becomes unhappy.. they may not proceed on helping the country on boosting tourism initiatives..[/QUOT

national interest lang nila ang sabihin mo..bakit ano ba ang naibigay nila sa mga pilipino for tourist wala naman hah at saka alam mo ba maraming pilipino napasyal sa ibang bansa dahil sa mga low cost airline na yan..baka sa sirili sila dapat sa mga yan dalhin sa afghanistan lalo na yan mga CAB na yan :bash: talo nga tayu nang vietnam about the tourist eh..dapat sa mga yan :bash:

ei... cool ka lang.. I was just giving a thought... di ko sila pinagtatanggol...

pero ang mga local taipans or businessman po natin eh tumutulong sa economy ng bansa hindi lang sa airline business... think of Lucio Tan.. he owns PAL, banks, may percentage ata sya sa San Miguel, may utilities sya, etc... Gokongwei owns CAB, Robinsons, a bank, food and beverage company, etc..

national interest kasi... baka pag nabwisit sila sa gov't eh ilipat nila yung ibang investments nila sa ibang bansa.... himbis magpamanufacture sila sa Pinas eh sa China na lang... like Ben Chan na nagmamanufacture na sa China...

that's why we also have to open our economy so that even if they leave (if that's really possible though), someone would replace them. Or there's a big possibility that another set of entrepreneurs in the country would replace them. I'm not a fan of Lucio Tan kasi. And he has several billion pesos of taxes that he owes to the government.

hindi sila lilipat, kahit ang baba nang pasahod nila sa mga tao din sila..actualy yun ibang piloto nang PAL nasa india na sila nang apply,mas mataas ang sahod po ...salamat kaibigay at akin lang naman ay para sa nakararami...at saka si lucio tan marami tax na hindi binayaran sa gov. noon pa panahon pa ni apo marcos...kawawa naman tayu, dto sa america kulong na yan ..

Subic builds biggest ship in the world (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news3_june23_2007)

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said yesterday the biggest tanker in the world, a $150-million floating mammoth, is now being built in Subic by the Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co.

“They are now building the biggest boat in the world right here in Subic,” said Mrs. Arroyo who visited Hanjin’s shipyard in the free port zone to check on the first 12 container vessels being built there.

“Indeed, this shipyard of Hanjin will transform Subic into one of the four largest shipbuilding facilities in the whole world,” she said.

Hanjin officials declined to give more details on the tanker, but sources said it would be bigger than the 260,851-ton Seawise Giant that was built by the Japan-based Sumitomo Oppama Shipyard and measures 1,604 ft. long and 226 ft. wide.

Hanjin’s shipyard in Subic cost $1 billion, and it made South Korea the single biggest source of foreign direct investment in the Philippines last year.

Mrs. Arroyo also opened the P653-million Subic-Cawag-Balaybay access road to the Hanjin Group’s shipbuilding facilities, which stretches for 16.15 kms. and is expected to create more jobs for the residents of Subic, Zambales and Olongapo City.

Hanjin is expected to gross $3.6 billion from its shipyard, which can make 60 ships worth $60 million each every year.

The Korean firm has also opened a $40-million training center for shipyard workers and hired 2,400 Filipinos to build its dry dock. It is expected to hire 30,000 more Filipinos in the next five years.

‘Pocket open skies’ in Clark enforced soon (http://businessmirror.com.ph/0601&022007/headlines08.html)
By Rommer M. Balaba

Reporter

PRESIDENT Arroyo’s intention to reinstate the open skies policy in the airports in the Clark and Subic economic zones may be implemented soon, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri on Thursday.

He said the implementing order, Executive Order 500-B, “is ready for signing, which the President might do when she gets back” from visits to New Zealand and Australia.

The “pocket” open skies policy, limited to both airports, still faces stiff opposition from local airline operators, he added. This is due to the fact that foreign airlines that will use these airports are low-cost carriers serving the Asian region, and the locals have no corresponding privileges in their countries of origin.

Neri has been actively campaigning for a more vibrant airline industry, but claimed the Civil Aeronautics Board, which regulates the air sector, has been tied down by regulations that prevent entry of new airlines in the main international airports.

Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit and Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines have collectively branded EO 500-B a “threat to the national interest” because of privileges granted to foreign airlines without requiring them to grant reciprocal obligations to Filipino airlines.

Aviation industry expert Enrico L. Basilio said the issue of reciprocity had been the most contentious. He is cochairman of the National Competitiveness Council’s infrastructure group.

The limited open skies policy was one of four policy recommendations of the council to President Arroyo. The other three are designation of all Road-RORO Terminal System routes as part of the national road network, certification to Congress of the amendment to the Philippine Ports Authority Charter, and the fast-tracking of RORO port development.

Nearly 500,000 passengers arrived at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark last year, an increase of more than 110 percent from the 225,000 passengers in 2005, mostly tourists and businessmen from Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.

US-based cargo carrier UPS likewise made DMIA its main intra-Asian hub to link major Asian cities with the global operations center in Louisville, Kentucky and Cologne, Germany.

Has the President signed this one? She needs our support for this.

Subic builds biggest ship in the world (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news3_june23_2007)

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said yesterday the biggest tanker in the world, a $150-million floating mammoth, is now being built in Subic by the Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co.

“They are now building the biggest boat in the world right here in Subic,” said Mrs. Arroyo who visited Hanjin’s shipyard in the free port zone to check on the first 12 container vessels being built there.

“Indeed, this shipyard of Hanjin will transform Subic into one of the four largest shipbuilding facilities in the whole world,” she said.

Hanjin officials declined to give more details on the tanker, but sources said it would be bigger than the 260,851-ton Seawise Giant that was built by the Japan-based Sumitomo Oppama Shipyard and measures 1,604 ft. long and 226 ft. wide.

Hanjin’s shipyard in Subic cost $1 billion, and it made South Korea the single biggest source of foreign direct investment in the Philippines last year.

Mrs. Arroyo also opened the P653-million Subic-Cawag-Balaybay access road to the Hanjin Group’s shipbuilding facilities, which stretches for 16.15 kms. and is expected to create more jobs for the residents of Subic, Zambales and Olongapo City.

Hanjin is expected to gross $3.6 billion from its shipyard, which can make 60 ships worth $60 million each every year.

The Korean firm has also opened a $40-million training center for shipyard workers and hired 2,400 Filipinos to build its dry dock. It is expected to hire 30,000 more Filipinos in the next five years.

hndi pa yata tapos ang shipyard nung pumunta ako last march... and they are now building the largest vessel in the world!!! :banana: ang bilis naman!

GOOD NEWS to sa Shipbuilding industry! sana kunin nila kami mga NAME :cheers:

hndi pa yata tapos ang shipyard nung pumunta ako last march... and they are now building the largest vessel in the world!!! :banana: ang bilis naman!

GOOD NEWS to sa Shipbuilding industry! sana kunin nila kami mga NAME :cheers:

I'm proud to say, this should not be new to us Filipinos in building big ships. If you remember we were building huge spanish galleons several centuries ago. :cheers: Can we say the legacy continues? :tongue2:

CDC grants permanent site for UP Clark
By Reynaldo G. Navales
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2007/06/26/news/cdc.grants.permanent.site.for.up.clark..html
CLARK FREEPORT— The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has granted a permanent site for the University of the Philippines (UP) Clark.

CDC and UP officials led the groundbreaking ceremonies recently at the permanent site of the government university at a 3.28-hectare area here.

Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage

View here the list of local winners

UP president Emerlinda Roman said Congress has appropriated P50 million for the establishment of the “university town” as UP’s global window for a better education.

CDC president Levy P. Laus and Roman led the groundbreaking ceremonies. They were joined by Clark International Airport Corporation chair Nestor Mangio, former Pampanga Governor and Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza and Pampanga Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao.

Both Mendoza and Guiao are alumni of UP.

The permanent site of UP is behind the Puregold Duty Free Store along the Claro M. Recto Avenue.

Juliet Mallari, UP Clark director, disclosed that the university would serve as the “intellectual capital for the development of Central Luzon.”

According to Roman, the UP management took 12 years before they were able to get a permanent campus in Clark.

Roman said the land granted by the CDC ended the long search for a new site since the UP Extension Program in San Fernando in Pampanga lost its campus due to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in October 1995.

The UP San Fernando moved to various locations at least thrice since it was established in 1979.

UP Clark offers undergraduate courses in business management, economics and psychology. Its graduate programs are in business and public and education management.

At present, UP Clark has more than 800 students for the first semester of Academic Year 2007-2008.

I'm proud to say, this should not be new to us Filipinos in building big ships. If you remember we were building huge spanish galleons several centuries ago. :cheers: Can we say the legacy continues? :tongue2:

it's more like the legacy was revived!:cheers:

it's more like the legacy was revived!:cheers:

True true!! Revived is the better word. :cheers:

it's more like the legacy was revived!:cheers:

If you look at it that way. It is more positive that shipyards are creating more jobs for the Filipino, but are we really the ones building the ships or the Koreans(Hanjin)? I mean, don't get me wrong I'm glad they are here (and soon the Chinese with COSCO) but I guess my question is how come we don't have any heavy industry companies building their own ships? We have the capabilities in labor shown by Hanjin employing Filipinos, but how come we're not able to compete in design and engineering? If we had heavy industries, wouldn't it help our countries industrialize even faster?

UP-Pampanga gets permanent
site in Clark Free Port (http://businessmirror.com.ph/06272007/economy05.html)
By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent


CLARK FREEPORT—Officials of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and the University of the Philippines led the groundbreaking ceremonies for the soon to be established permanent site of the UP Extension Program in Pampanga (UP-Pampanga) campus at a 3.28-hectares site here.

UP president Emerlinda Roman and CDC president Levy Laus led the groundbreaking ceremonies.

They were joined by Clark International Airport Corp. chairman Nestor Mangio, former Pampanga governor and solicitor general Estelito Mendoza and Pampanga Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao. Both Mendoza and Guiao are UP alumni.

The site is behind the Puregold Duty Free Store on C.M. Recto Avenue.

Roman said Congress has appropriated P50 million for the establishment of a “university town” as UP’s global window for a better education.

Roman said it took them 12 years before they were able to get a permanent site for the UP-Pampanga extension program in Clark.

She said the land granted by the CDC ended their long search for a new and permanent site since the UP Extension Program in the City of San Fernando (UPSF) lost its campus to Mt. Pinatubo’s lahar in October 1995.

Since then, UPSF moved to various locations at least three times since it was established in 1979. “The three hectares of prime property for UP here has narrowed the gap between our dream and its realization. This will be a permanent site this time,” Roman said in her speech during the UP Alumni Association Pampanga Inc. Annual Meeting and Homecoming at the Clark Museum here that followed the groundbreaking ceremonies.

UP Chancellor Dr. Sergio Cao has sought the assistance of the alumni for the UP extension program.

“We hope the alumni can assist in the development of the extension program in Pampanga. We hope to see modern buildings in the future.

We have gone over labor pains and we look forward to better and happier days for UP-Pampanga. We hope it stays here for a long time,” Cao said.

bakit kaya hindi na ma updated nang CDC ang wed site nila,last april 4 pa..nakalimut na yata porke talo ang kapatid sa election..hehehe hoyyyyyy mahiya kayung mga taga CDC......

If you look at it that way. It is more positive that shipyards are creating more jobs for the Filipino, but are we really the ones building the ships or the Koreans(Hanjin)? I mean, don't get me wrong I'm glad they are here (and soon the Chinese with COSCO) but I guess my question is how come we don't have any heavy industry companies building their own ships? We have the capabilities in labor shown by Hanjin employing Filipinos, but how come we're not able to compete in design and engineering? If we had heavy industries, wouldn't it help our countries industrialize even faster?

yes, your right! we do have the capabilities in labor! but i think we don't have our own homegrown technology in the heavy industry sector that is world class enough to build these world class ships. and at the rate technology is evolving and developing, we can't afford to start from scratch! china has just developed its own car and it did't start from scratch. couldn't have done it. it is the result of many years of parnership between local chinese car/car parts suppliers and foreign direct investments in the chinese automotive sector. despite the lack of our own homegrown heavy industry companies, these investments are still a welcome development. who konws, the technology transfer that could happen here will someday help us create our own technology for the our own heavy industreis especially regarding shipbuilding.

If you look at it that way. It is more positive that shipyards are creating more jobs for the Filipino, but are we really the ones building the ships or the Koreans(Hanjin)? I mean, don't get me wrong I'm glad they are here (and soon the Chinese with COSCO) but I guess my question is how come we don't have any heavy industry companies building their own ships? We have the capabilities in labor shown by Hanjin employing Filipinos, but how come we're not able to compete in design and engineering? If we had heavy industries, wouldn't it help our countries industrialize even faster?

tumpak! the SONAME's here in the Philippines are only involved in supervisory works on ships... the designs are all made by the foreigners... pwede kami sa design pero sa maliliit lng na shipyards catering to old japanese ships being retrofitted (SUPERFERRY, Sulpicio etc...) and mostly ship repair lng....

Keppel Cebu Shipyard... "Shiprepair" facility in Cebu...
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here in Cebu, Lockheed Martin designs the fastcrafts and provide the technology needed to build these high-tech ships... while the Japanese designs the BUlk carriers and other specialized vessels in its Tsuneishi Shipyard in Balamban town west of Cebu City.

2nd July 2007



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As an fyi- Pacific Pearl Airways, a new Philippine start-up airline arrived Subic yesterday afternoon. Photographs of the plane as she was being ferried and on the first leg of her island hopping journey can be seen at http://www.pbase.com/philippineaviation/pacific_pearl_airways . Photos were taken in Salinas, CA.

Foreign chambers urge masterplan for aviation, sea transport, logistics (http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2007071297611.html)

The Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (FCP) has called for a new masterplan to develop international and domestic aviation and sea transport for logistics in Central Luzon in order that the Philippines could cope up with the fast increasing volume of travellers,

In a statement, Roger J Dallas, FCP president, expressed particular concerns about the inefficiencies of several major airports to handle the expected growth of international and domestic air traffic. He cited the NAIA which he said suffers from two very serious constraints: (a) runway safety and capacity and (b) antiquated terminal facilities.

The foreign chambers also recommended the following:

1. Opening of the NAIA Terminal 3. It is extremely important that the terminal be opened at the earliest date and be available to all international carriers on a "level playing" field basis. The operation of the terminal should be bid out to the private sector, including international firms, to ensure professional management comparable to other international airports in Southeast Asia.

2. Operation of NAIA Terminal 2. The "new" domestic terminal (Terminal 2), financed by Japanese Official Development Assistance, has operated for a decade as the domestic and international terminal of Philippine Airlines and since 2006 as the domestic terminal of Air Philippines, a PAL affiliate. PAL pays lease payments to the government for Terminal 2, but has not paid the government aeronautical fees amounting to billions of pesos. The terminal should operate as originally intended as the new domestic terminal.

3. Expansion of DMIA Terminal (Interim). The current terminal at Clark is approaching capacity and needs to be expanded as soon as possible and completed by the end of 2008.

4. DMIA Terminal (Future) – Clark will need a large modern terminal for international and domestic traffic in around five years and the current master plan for Clark should be revised as part of the new Central Luzon Air and Sea Logistics Hub Master Plan. Then a design-build contract should be prepared for international bidding. Funding for the terminal might come from a bond issued by the Clark International Airport Corporation.

5. Construction of additional DMIA parallel Runway. Runway 02 R/20 L needs an additional parallel runway as an alternative runway as well as to allow eventual dual simultaneous operations. Runway 02 L/20 R can not be used by any aircraft because of the "crocodile cracks" which appeared on it after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. The construction of a runway takes 2-3 years, after a planning and bidding period of 2-3 years.

6. Manila-Clark Rail connection. A high-speed rail connection between Metro Manila and Clark will be essential.

All other domestic and international carriers have continued to operate from outdated, unsafe and increasingly overcrowded facilities, while awaiting the opening of the ill-fated privately-financed Terminal 3, which the current administration expropriated in 2005 over alleged corruption in the terminal’s contracting and construction. Current estimates suggest Terminal 3 will not open until sometime in 2008, if at all. Many foreign businessmen visiting the Philippines for the first time ask why the facility remains unused.

7. Clark should be developed rapidly. The Philippine Government is fortunate to control the former US military base at Clark (renamed Diosdado Macapagal International Airport) north of Manila which has two parallel international runways (of which only 02 R/20 L accommodates flights) and vacant space for a third to be built as an option, instead of rehabilitating the old runaway 02/L20 R. This would allow simultaneous use of two runways.

However, Clark lacks adequate domestic and international terminals and its ground transportation links to Manila are subject to congestion. Clark is about the same distance from the capital as the expensive new international airports and terminals built in recent years in Korea and Malaysia at some distance from city centers, which have highly efficient ground transportation links. For example, the high-speed train connecting Kuala Lumpur to its new international airport travels 57 kilometers in 30 minutes.
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Advisory council backs land-use plan for Clark (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV2007071898037.html)

Expected to spur further dev’t of sprawling former base land

By FRED ROXAS

CLARK FREEPORT — The Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC) has endorsed a land-use plan under the development agenda being pursued by Clark Development Corp. (CDC) in the Freeport Zone here.

MCAC co-chairman and Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales said the use of land in sprawling Clark zone would spur further economic development because this would attract more foreign and local investors to locate their businesses inside this former US military facility.

Among the major land-use sites in Clark are those for tourism, techno-industrial, aviation and the proposed Central Business District that was presented by CDC President Levy P. Laus during a recent MCAC meeting.

The projects proposed to utilize Clark areas are contained in MCAC Resolution No. 022007 which adopts and endorses the four-year development agenda of CDC for the Freeport here.

In an interview, Morales reaffirmed his support for the various undertakings of CDC in Clark. He said that proposed 300-hectare CBD is a welcome development for the Clark Freeport Zone as long as it would not interfere with the development of the airport.

Laus said that the plan to develop CBD in Clark is in line with President Arroyo’s vision to create a logistics hub in Clark under her 10-point agenda.

He said that the CBD will complement the vision of the President for the transformation of Clark into a haven of real estate investment and the country’s main gateway and a logistics hub in Asia with DMIA as the central point of the development plan.

Laus said that the concept of CBD will co-exist harmoniously with airport at Clark, adding that airport security would not be compromised.

As part of the terms of reference (in the development of CBD near the Industrial Estate 5 or IE5) is a section dealing directly with concerns about building heights and airport safety. This would implement the maximum allowable heights of structures as regulations of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Laus said.

The very essence of a CBD in the feasibility study is its functionality as an economic and financial center for a region or country, and not its characterization as a high-rise, high-density development, Laus said.

He said that the concept of CBD in Clark calls for a medium-density and medium-rise development.

At the core of a CBD is its concentration in development uses of business process outsourcing firms, corporate headquarters, and other financial institutions.

Morales said once the CBD is implemented, it would not only develop Clark, but it would also mean additional income for the municipality of Mabalacat under Republic Act 9400, the law that declared Clark as a freeport zone.

Included in the tourism sector in CDC’s four-year development plan are tourism estates, resorts, theme parks, and recreational areas such as golf courses.

In the techno-industrial sector will be projects on information, communications and technology, business process outsourcing (BPO) and related industries.

In the aviation sector will be the building of a new passenger terminal as Clark prepares to become a premier international gateway in the country.

All these projects are seen to attract and generate labor-intensive investment projects.

I don't like this plan of using airport land to put up a CBD. Give it back to DMIA!

ako din,kailangang nga natin nang malaking airport tapos gagawin lang CBD yun 300hect. CDC people HOYYYYYYYYYYY GISING KAYU SA NATUTUHANG...AIRPORT ANG KAILANGANG NATIN HINDI YAN CBD NINYU..PURO KAYU ???????????

ako din,kailangang nga natin nang malaking airport tapos gagawin lang CBD yun 300hect. CDC people HOYYYYYYYYYYY GISING KAYU SA NATUTUHANG...AIRPORT ANG KAILANGANG NATIN HINDI YAN CBD NINYU..PURO KAYU ???????????

siyempre iyong sariling interes ng iba ang nangingibabaw.bakit hindi sila gumawa sa ibang lugar na malapit diyan para makapagtayo pa sila ng high rise.

Philippines To Inaugurate Subic Port Modernization Project On Thursday (http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007935234)

Subic Bay Freeport, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the inauguration on Thursday of the first phase of the $215-million Subic Port Modernization project, a flagship infrastructure project of her administration.

The completion of the New Container Terminal-1 marks an important step in the implementation of President Arroyo's 10-point agenda which include the development of Subic Bay and Clark Freeport Zones as the most competitive international service and logistics centers in the Asia-Pacific region. This is intended to spur economic growth in the area and promotes these growth corridors as the most viable regional logistics hubs.

While the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark is being prepared to accommodate more local and international flights, the Subic port will be developed into a world-class seaport facility.

The construction of the entire port modernization project is being implemented under the auspices of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. It is designed to make the Subic seaport a major container port in the country.

"With the completion of NCT-1, our port facility can now accommodate Panamax vessels augmenting the cargo volume and handling capacity of the Subic Bay Freeport," SBMA Chairman Feliciano G. Salonga said.

He added that the alliance between Subic Bay and Clark is part of the long-term master plan that would be linked through the construction of the $425-million Subic-Clark toll road, and the $215-million port modernization program both funded by the Special Loan Package of JBIC.

"Both major infrastructure project will lead to increased economic activities in the hinterlands and generate additional employment opportunities throughout Central Luzon," Salonga said.

The construction of the port modernization project was started in 2004 by Penta Ocean Corp. and its joint venture partners Shimizu Corp. and TOA Corp. It entailed the installation of four gantry cranes from Japan, two of which were installed in May 2006, and the two others in March 2007. This will eventually position the Subic port as a world class maritime hub.

The newly acquired goose neck-type quay gantry cranes, with a capacity of 40.6 tons rated load each, is also part of a bigger plan of the Arroyo government for the Subic port to enhance its capacity from the present 100,000 TEUs to at least 600,000 TEUs.

Each of the container terminals has been provided with two gantry cranes. Also included in the package is the construction of the modern container terminals, and the two berths measuring 280 meters long with a depth of 13 meters

these are encouraging news...its nice to know that finally the philippines is moving in right direction...

I don't like this plan of using airport land to put up a CBD. Give it back to DMIA!


i agree. if any CBD should be put up in the region, why can't it be in Subic Bay? cos IMO Subic Bay is a better location and it has a sea front ideal for high rise development. being only 30 mins away from Clark by way of SCTX, Subic should be the main commercial hub and Clark, the world-class transportation hub.

tama ka dyan,dapat sa subic.kita nagyari sa brasil diba yun nang crush na plane..we need a big airport in the pinas ..

Can somebody post a google map of the new Subic port as well as the Hanjin project?

mas maganda kung sa clark kc sentro cia, ibahin na lang cguro ung location
i work here in subic.. la lang akong camera kaya d ako makakuha na pix

Can somebody post a google map of the new Subic port as well as the Hanjin project?

i'll try to post at midnight the google map, if i can download a new google program since i just reformat my PC.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/Subic.jpg

NEW CONTAINER TERMINAL. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurates the Subic Bay Container Terminal 1 at the Subic Bay Freeport Thursday. With her are (from left) Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki, Senator Richard Gordon, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza and Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia. Speaking before the Luzon Urban Beltway Infrastructure Conference at the Subic Bay International Airport, hinted she might run for congresswoman in her home province of Pampanga after she steps down from her post in 2010.INQUIRER/LYN RILLON


Arroyo calls anew on Congress to amend EPIRA

By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 04:26pm (Mla time) 07/19/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo renewed calls for Congress to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to pave the way for cheaper power even as reports said consumers of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) face a P1 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) increase in their bills this month.

At the same time, Arroyo instructed incoming Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to expedite the privatization of government's power assets.

Speaking at the Luzon urban beltway infrastructure conference at the Subic Bay International Airport in Zambales, Arroyo said: "I will ask Congress to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act for open access and more competition."

you may read further on the below weblink :


http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=77616

Hi

does anyone know, why they always write about the first phase when it comes to the newly built subic container terminal?

means to say, there must be other phases? i dont find any informations on that`??

anyone?

here an example of what i mean:


THE New Container Terminal 1 (NCT-1), the first phase of the $215-million government project to make the Subic Bay Freeport Zone seaport facilities into a major container port, was inaugurated yesterday by President Arroyo

Hi

does anyone know, why they always write about the first phase when it comes to the newly built subic container terminal?

means to say, there must be other phases? i dont find any informations on that`??

anyone?

here an example of what i mean:


THE New Container Terminal 1 (NCT-1), the first phase of the $215-million government project to make the Subic Bay Freeport Zone seaport facilities into a major container port, was inaugurated yesterday by President Arroyo

that is because from what i read ... there are 6 phases in the project....the just completed port is just one of them...to transform subic into an international hub....

New Subic container terminal opens (http://businessmirror.com.ph/0720&212007/headlines05.html)
By Robert I. Gonzaga

THE New Container Terminal 1 (NCT-1), the first phase of the $215-million government project to make the Subic Bay Freeport Zone seaport facilities into a major container port, was inaugurated yesterday by President Arroyo.

The NCT-1 was funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Its operation will be handled by Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), a joint venture partly owned by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Subic Authority chairman Feliciano Salonga said in his welcome remarks that the new container terminal represents “our President’s vision of transforming Clark and Subic into an integrated growth corridor for our country,” and is part of “our trying to catch up with other major Asian seaports, like Hong Kong” in terms of capacity and quality of service.

He added that the completion of the port modernization project, also funded by the JBIC, would complement and accelerate the completion of other major projects in the Freeport Zone, like Hanjin’s $1.68-billion shipbuilding facilities.

Armand Arreza, SBMA administrator, said, “The new container facility will help decongest port traffic in Manila, which is presently at 80 percent capacity already. In addition, this welcome development will attract more shipping companies worldwide to use Subic Port, not to mention create hundreds of new jobs for Filipinos.”

Japanese ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki noted the international cargo container volume increased 2.6 times in recent years, and that this creates a tremendous opportunity for the Philippines to improve its economy by developing its facilities to accommodate the demands of this huge market, which is why he is pleased that “both the Subic–Clark toll road and the Subic Port Modernization project are funded by Japan through JBIC.”

The terminal increases Subic port’s capacity to at least 600,000 20-foot container vans or [twenty-foot equivalent units-TEU] from 100,000 TEUs.

@kalbongdad

thanks, but you said, you read something about 6 phases.

the thing is, does anybody know about what the whole project will look like or contains? its kinda confusing, of what i understand, the whole 215 million us-dollar were used for the construction of phase 1, which means to built the terminal 1, so its all about the first phase. there are other phases, what will be the total amount of dollars to be spent on this subic project? what will happen next? what will they ... expand? construct? improve?

when will they start the other phases`? what does it include? what are these phases all about?

anyone???

Can somebody post a google map of the new Subic port as well as the Hanjin project?



http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/subic1.jpg





http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/subic4.jpg





http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/subicnolongapo2.jpg





http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/subicairport2.jpg





http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/olongapo1.jpg





http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/olongapo2.jpg





http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/olongapo5.jpg





http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/subica.jpg





http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/subicb.jpg

Subic port





http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/subicc.jpg

ship's drydock at Subic

Still which one is the Hanjin project, the newly opened highway to Hanjin Project and the New Container Terminal?

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/hanjinshipyard.jpg




http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/hanjinshipyard2.jpg




http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/hanjinshipyard3.jpg




http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/shipntug.jpg

a ship (of more than 50,000 tons DWT) and a tugboat on her starboard quarter.
it seems the vessel is going to dock alongside the wharf.




http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/gmahanjin.jpg


-----------------------------------------------------

i don't know the exact location of that new Container Terminal so I have to
check first before I can use the Google for the photos.

the white area near the runway....that is the just completed port.....the one that arroyo inaugurated a few days ago...its in the google pics...although it not completed yet....

the white area near the runway....that is the just completed port.....the one that arroyo inaugurated a few days ago...its in the google pics...although it not completed yet....

oh that one...
if completed already then perhaps Google is late in updating their satellite photos.


http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb244/jibrael865/newcontainerport.jpg

yup that one....google is not real time....so the pics that we can see of the subic container port ...is not current.....anyway...that is another completed project...not heralded in the papers....ang pinakikita lang ay ang kasiraan ng pilipinas...

Thanks Avenger and Kalbongdad.

exciting talaga ang lugar na ito....this is where people should buy real estate...na mention na naman ito sa sona...kahapon....galing...

Open-skies law sought for Subic, Clark airports
(http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2007073098941.html)

By EDU LOPEZ

The Congressional Planning and Budget Department (CPBD) has strongly advocated for the Philippines to adopt an open-skies policy for the international airports at Subic and Clark.

CPBD Director General Rodolfo Vicerra has recommended that Congress should put priority on the enactment of an open skies policy at least in its secondary airports at Subic and Clark to keep up with tourism competitiveness.

"Strong political will on the part of our legislators in this 14th Congress to put the national interest first before the interest of the local players, is necessary if we want to spread and maximize the benefits of air service liberalization to all stakeholders," said Vicerra.

CPBD’s latest policy paper entitled "Promoting a Pocket Open Skies Policy for RP: Expanding Economic Opportunities for Filipinos," said the right time has come to adopt an open skies policy at least in the country’s gateways.

The paper stressed that the economic gains presently enjoyed in Clark airport —the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) — in terms of tourism, jobs, exports and investments growth, could be replicated across the country by fully opening up the country’s secondary gateways from foreign airlines operations.

But despite such gains, the study stressed that Clark, along with Subic, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Poropoint, are among the country’s secondary airports which remained underserved mainly because local carriers have focused to operate the more profitable trunk routes.

To prove this, the study made a comparison between the number of flights booked by these secondary airports with those of Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesian airports. Fewer flights per week have been recorded in Cebu (68), Davao (15) and Clark (50) as compared to secondary airports in other countries like Siem Reap (191), Phuket (165), Penang (103) and Surabaya (72).

Liberalization particularly of Cambodia’s air services led to the significant increase in tourist arrivals in the country from a 24,000 in 1999 to 1.5 million in 2006.

Another success story cited was of Europe that adopted a deregulated international air transport which spurred economic growth and development of both travel and tourism sectors and other industries.

"Hence, developing the country’s secondary gateways through liberalization is imperative. Tourism is the key in combating unemployment and poverty."

"Open skies is as important as putting in place a seamless infrastructure network -roads and bridges, adequate power and water supply, and efficient ICT (information communications technology) facilities, to strategic tourism areas," Vicerra noted.

The study further pointed out that another compelling reason for the country to adopt an open skies policy is for the Philippines to take advantage of the booming economic growth experienced by East Asian economies and the robust global tourism expansion.

"Comprising at least one-fourth of the world economic output, 50 percent of the intra-regional trade and more than two billion potential market, East Asia and the Pacific is the prime market to develop to support a robust growth of the Philippine aviation and tourism industries," the CPBD stressed.

The National Competitiveness Council said the Philippines would greatly benefit in joining the ASEAN Open Skies for capital cities in 2008.

Such agreement allows flights between ASEAN capital cities. This would connect Manila to the regional hubs of Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia and the rest of the world.

By Tonette Orejas
Inquirer
Last updated 05:22am (Mla time) 08/12/2007


CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines—While officials here have agreed to let a feasibility study settle the issue on the suitability of building a central business district (CBD) at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, a Clark International Airport Corp. official just would not take the idea.

pls read further at the web link :

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=82007

.

Arroyo leads Texas Instruments-Clark ground-breaking
By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be the guest of honor and speaker in the groundbreaking on Thursday for the US$1 billion assembly and test facility of Texas Instrument (TI) to be established inside Clark Freeport.

Arroyo is responsible in encouraging the US-based firm to invest and construct its newest facility in Clark. TI will cover around eight hectares and is expected to employ more than 3,000 workers once fully operational.

Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Levy P. Laus said the TI production complex is the biggest single investment in the economic history of Clark and the initial production is expected to start by the second quarter of 2008.

TI designs and manufactures analog, digital signal processing and chip technologies that help customers develop products for the affordable mobile phones to classroom projectors that support remote learning, to prosthetic devices. TI technology powers new ideas and inspires better solutions.

TI’s Clark facility will incorporate many of the environmental and energy design features used by the firm in its newest semi-conductor facilities in the US.

TI will also give priority in reducing water, energy and waste from the start of building design and construction, and it will be the first ground-up facility to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) registered in the Philippines.

The Leed Green Building Rating System is a voluntary US standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings that assigns a score based upon a variety of factors, including the construction materials used, water and energy efficiency, waste recycling and indoor environmental quality.

TI first entered the Philippines in 1979 in Baguio City, which is one of TI’s most sophisticated assembly/test sites. It conducts final assembly and testing of semiconductors for customers in the computer, aerospace, telecommunications, and automotive industries in the United States, Asia, and Europe.

TI Philippines assembly and test operations are the final step in semiconductor manufacturing before chips are shipped to customers. Starting with bare silicon chips called “die,” assembly/test sites perform precise packaging operations that serve as the interface between the integrated circuit and the system it supports. Final tests are run on highly sophisticated equipment to ensure the packaged product is operating across a full range of specifications and is ready for shipment.

Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers’ real world signal processing requirements. TI is based in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.

By Tonette Orejas
Inquirer
Last updated 05:22am (Mla time) 08/12/2007


CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines—While officials here have agreed to let a feasibility study settle the issue on the suitability of building a central business district (CBD) at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, a Clark International Airport Corp. official just would not take the idea.

pls read further at the web link :

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=82007

.

I really, really, really, really hope that this plan for the CBD at the DMIA land does NOT go through. Move it somewhere else, please! Just don't prohibit the DMIA from becoming the future gateway of the Philippines.

^ True. We want a large DMIA! :D

15 - PGMA disapproves planned business district near Clark airport

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has finally disapproved the controversial planned development near the limited area of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) of a Central Business District (CBD) which feasibility study alone will cost the government some P100 million.

"They won't get it," President Arroyo assured top ranking officials of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), referring to the 300-hectare DMIA property which Clark Development Corp. (CDC) intends to use for its planned CBD.

The President made the remarks during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting in Malacanang.

CIAC officials led by its chairman Nestor Mangio, president Victor Jose Luciano and executive vice president Alexander Cauguiran were on hand to brief Cabinet members on DMIA's development as the country's next main international gateway and as an anchor of the President's vision of a competitive regional services and logistics hub out of Clark and Subic freeport zones.

The proposed location of the controversial CBD inside Clark ecozone is a 300-hectare lot known as Industrial Estate 5 (IE5) immediately adjacent to DMIA's twin runways built by the Americans.

Through Resolution No. 98-07-67 approved in July 1998, the BCDA set down CIAC's area to be around 2,500 hectares covering a "contiguous area within the Main Zone" of Clark ecozone, including the IE5 site.

Earlier, local leaders led by Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo 'Tarzan' Lazatin expressed apprehensions the planned CBD may adversely affect DMIA's position to become the country's premier main international airport.

Former CDC president Emmanuel Y. Angeles and Ruperto Cruz of the Angeles City-based civic group Pinoy Gumising ka Movement also have written the President opposing the CBD construction near the Clark airport.

"We need to preserve DMIA's land area in order to avoid the mistake of choking its development and future as a main gateway like what happened with NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport)," Lazatin said.

Similar observations were also made by Sec. Romulo Neri, the erstwhile Director General of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) who warned that "DMIA could lose its chances of becoming the country's premier international gateway if it repeats the mistakes of NAIA in allowing residential and commercial interests to eat into and encroach on its area."

The presence of high rise structures near DMIA's runways will downgrade its international rating to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft based on standards and recommendations prescribed by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), CIAC officials said.

Based on ICAO International Standards and Recommendations, vertical constructions as far as four kilometers from the center line of DMIA's runways should not be 45 meters higher than the runway itself to avoid flight obstruction.

During a meeting of the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC), CDC President Levy Laus described the CBD project as "something that would fit a Regional CBD, combination of malls, high rise hotels with casinos and financial centers."

"Basically, it is a replication of CBD of Metro Manila with additional elements of a Regional CBD," Laus explained. (PNA)

Woohoo! I hope it stays that way! :okay:

On to the development of Clark Airport!

^^ Tama lang yon... Kailangan maghanap din sila ng sariling lugar. Hindi yung kukunin nila ung para sa expansion ng DMIA..Ang luwag ng Pampanga dyan pa cila pupwesto...

mr. laus mag-isip ka naman po, o baka naman may balak ka na ilagay yun CARWORLD MO HAH nagtatanong mr.LAUS ka!!

By Tonette Orejas
Inquirer
Last updated 05:22am (Mla time) 08/12/2007


CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines—While officials here have agreed to let a feasibility study settle the issue on the suitability of building a central business district (CBD) at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, a Clark International Airport Corp. official just would not take the idea.

pls read further at the web link :

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=82007

.

oh thank God Arroyo didn't allow this to happen. its really stupid to put a CBD right beside a major international airport when its primary purpose is to keep it a certain distance from the metropolis and allow land and rail transportation to fluorish. It also defeats the whole purpose of putting up the SCTEX for Subic and North Expressway incl North Rail for Manila.

GMA says ‘no’ to Clark trade hub (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20070817100556.html)

Business district to affect DMIA dev’t into top int’l airport

By FRED ROXAS

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – President Arroyo has disapproved a controversial plan for the establishment of a Central Business District (CBD) near the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

"They won’t get it," President Arroyo told top officials of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), referring to the 300-hectare DMIA property which Clark Development Corp. (CDC) intends to use for its CBD project.

The President made the remarks during last Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting in Malacañang.

CIAC officials led by its chairman Nestor Mangio, president Victor Jose Luciano and executive vice president Alexander Cauguiran were in Malacañang to brief Cabinet members on DMIA’s development into the country’s next main international gateway and as an anchor of the President’s vision of competitive regional services and logistics hub for the Clark and Subic Freeport zones.

The proposed location of the controversial CBD in Clark ecozone is a 300-hectare area known as Industrial Estate 5 (IE5) which is adjacent to DMIA’s twin runways.

Through Resolution No. 98-07-67 approved in July 1998, the Bases Conversion Development Authority set aside some 2,500 hectares as CIAC’s territory covering a "contiguous area in the main zone" of Clark ecozone, including the IE5 site.

Earlier, local leaders led by Pampanga 1st district Rep. Carmelo ‘Tarzan’ Lazatin expressed apprehension over the planned CBD, saying this may adversely affect DMIA’s position as the country’s premier international airport.

Former CDC president Emmanuel Y. Angeles and Ruperto Cruz of the Angeles City-based civic group Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement have also written the President to inform her of their opposition to the construction of CBD near Clark airport.

Similar observations were also made by Seretary Romulo Neri, the erstwhile director general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) who warned that "DMIA could lose its chances of becoming the country’s premier international gateway if it repeats the mistakes of NAIA in allowing residential and commercial interests to eat into and encroach on its area."

The presence of high rise structures near DMIA’s runways will downgrade its international rating that would enable it to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft.

During a meeting of the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC), CDC president Levy Laus described the CBD projects as "something that would fit a regional CBD, a combination of malls, high-rise hotels with casinos and financial centers."

15 - PGMA disapproves planned business district near Clark airport

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has finally disapproved the controversial planned development near the limited area of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) of a Central Business District (CBD) which feasibility study alone will cost the government some P100 million.

"They won't get it," President Arroyo assured top ranking officials of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), referring to the 300-hectare DMIA property which Clark Development Corp. (CDC) intends to use for its planned CBD.

The President made the remarks during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting in Malacanang.

CIAC officials led by its chairman Nestor Mangio, president Victor Jose Luciano and executive vice president Alexander Cauguiran were on hand to brief Cabinet members on DMIA's development as the country's next main international gateway and as an anchor of the President's vision of a competitive regional services and logistics hub out of Clark and Subic freeport zones.

The proposed location of the controversial CBD inside Clark ecozone is a 300-hectare lot known as Industrial Estate 5 (IE5) immediately adjacent to DMIA's twin runways built by the Americans.

Through Resolution No. 98-07-67 approved in July 1998, the BCDA set down CIAC's area to be around 2,500 hectares covering a "contiguous area within the Main Zone" of Clark ecozone, including the IE5 site.

Earlier, local leaders led by Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo 'Tarzan' Lazatin expressed apprehensions the planned CBD may adversely affect DMIA's position to become the country's premier main international airport.

Former CDC president Emmanuel Y. Angeles and Ruperto Cruz of the Angeles City-based civic group Pinoy Gumising ka Movement also have written the President opposing the CBD construction near the Clark airport.

"We need to preserve DMIA's land area in order to avoid the mistake of choking its development and future as a main gateway like what happened with NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport)," Lazatin said.

Similar observations were also made by Sec. Romulo Neri, the erstwhile Director General of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) who warned that "DMIA could lose its chances of becoming the country's premier international gateway if it repeats the mistakes of NAIA in allowing residential and commercial interests to eat into and encroach on its area."

The presence of high rise structures near DMIA's runways will downgrade its international rating to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft based on standards and recommendations prescribed by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), CIAC officials said.

Based on ICAO International Standards and Recommendations, vertical constructions as far as four kilometers from the center line of DMIA's runways should not be 45 meters higher than the runway itself to avoid flight obstruction.

During a meeting of the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC), CDC President Levy Laus described the CBD project as "something that would fit a Regional CBD, combination of malls, high rise hotels with casinos and financial centers."

"Basically, it is a replication of CBD of Metro Manila with additional elements of a Regional CBD," Laus explained. (PNA)

Woohoo! I hope it stays that way! :okay:

On to the development of Clark Airport!

^^ Tama lang yon... Kailangan maghanap din sila ng sariling lugar. Hindi yung kukunin nila ung para sa expansion ng DMIA..Ang luwag ng Pampanga dyan pa cila pupwesto...

oh thank God Arroyo didn't allow this to happen. its really stupid to put a CBD right beside a major international airport when its primary purpose is to keep it a certain distance from the metropolis and allow land and rail transportation to fluorish. It also defeats the whole purpose of putting up the SCTEX for Subic and North Expressway incl North Rail for Manila.

That is really good news....tama na...CBD yung BGC nga nde pa puno...maglalagay sila ng CBD that will compete with existing CBD mawawalan ng focus nyan ang vision natin to become first world in 20 yrs time......unahin ang dmia airport...and the CBD idea will prosper on its own once the dmia airport is well in place...

SBMA to bid out new container terminal 2 (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0817&182007/economy01.html)

By Max V. de Leon
Reporter


THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will bid the new Container Terminal 2 (NCT-2) in October, with three foreign groups that failed to participate in the bidding for the Container Terminal 1 already expressing interest.

Armand Arreza, SBMA administrator, said the NCT-2 is expected to draw more international bidders since its capacity can still be expanded to 600,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), or double its current capacity, unlike the NCT-1, which is limited to its capacity of 300,000 TEUs.

The NCT-1 has been inaugurated with the Subic Bay International Terminal Holdings (SBITC) consortium as operator.

Arreza said the NCT -2 is already 96-percent complete.

With this, they expect to hold the international tender for its operation and maintenance in October and then award the contract by the second quarter of 2008.

“We will release the TOR [terms of reference] in October and it will probably one the same as the TOR for the NCT-1,” Arreza said.

For the NCT-1, SBMA sought a $1.5-million minimum fixed annual lease and concession from the operator.

The SBMA also wants a 10-percent to 12-percent revenue sharing per container that will go through the facility.

Including wharfage fees, Arreza said the SBMA sees potential annual revenues for the 300,000-TEU capacity at $6 million.

The annual lease for the port, which has a lifespan of 50 years, will be enough to shoulder the $60-million loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation that was used to partly fund the project.

Arreza still did not name the three foreign groups that expressed interest for the NCT -2. He earlier said, however, that they are of Asian and European background.

“These three parties that did not participate in the NCT-1 bidding will participate here,” he said.

These three foreign groups opted out of the NCT-1 bidding because the SBITC consortium enjoyed the right of first refusal to it for being the former operator of the Subic Naval Supply Depot.

Arreza said that since the NCT-2 will be completed by the time the contract is awarded, the operator will be enjoying a quick start-up.

Also, the operator has the option to double its capacity to 600,000 TEUs.

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/8154/ecopic01dk4.jpg

PRESIDENT Arroyo covers the time capsule laid at the P1-billion Texas Instruments (TI) assembly and test facility at the Clark Freeport Zone during Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremonies. With the President are (from left) Mabalacat mayor Marino Morales, Rep. Junie Cua, Clark Development Corp. president Levy Laus, Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Texas Instruments-Philippines president Norberto Viera (partly hidden), TI Technical and Manufacturing Group senior vice president Kevin Ritchie, US Embassy charge d’affaires Paul W. Jones and TI-Asia president Larry Tan.

RP's cargo handler may be located in Clark, Subic (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2007/08/24/news/rp.s.cargo.handler.may.be.located.in.clark.subic.html)

CLARK FREEPORT -- The Asian Terminals Incorporated (ATI), a world-class cargo handler in the Philippines, is looking into the possibility of locating in the Subic-Clark Corridor, which is being pump primed into a megalogistics and supply chain center.

"Our intention is to grow in the Philippines. There are a lot of opportunities," ATI executive vice president Suhail Al-Banna told Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council and some Clark and Subic officials.

"We are looking for opportunities in the Far East," said Al-Banna.

ATI currently operates in Batangas South Harbor, Mariveles in Bataan, and General Santos City. It is also affiliated with the Dubai Ports World, which is handling most of its international cargo.

Al-Banna arrived at the Clark airport where Clark International Airport Corporation (Ciac) vice president for finance Romeo Dyoco briefed him about the current development at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). He came along with representatives of ATI's affiliates -- Noel Gulliver of Jafza International and Philip Atkinson of Limitless.

Jafza is into the development of logistics and supply chain hubs while Limitless is into the development of cities.

"We are bringing a lot of knowledge and expertise in cargo handling," said Al-Banna noting that the Dubai Ports World is the fourth leading logistics provider in the world.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo envisioned the development of a megalogistics and supply chain hub in the Subic-Clark Corridor, with Clark as the site of an international airport and Subic as the site of a deep-sea port.

Subic Freeport Zone and Clark Freeport Zone will be interconnected by the 90-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

Logistics experts said the area in the Subic-Clark Corridor is suited for the development of Central Distribution Centers (CDCs) or temporary warehouses where goods can be stored with value-added activity.

they better hurry and join the bandwagon....else...they will have no more room to place their business when the time comes.....strategic ang pinas we are right in the heart of asia....we are 1 to 4 hrs...to most cities in the region....that is what makes us ideal as a logistics hub...hmmmm the time of the philippines has come.....watch out....we will be arriving soon... iba...iba ang arrive...:lol:

Asian Terminals eyeing
operations in Subic-Clark (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0824&252007/economy01.html)
By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent


CLARK FREEPORT—Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI), a Philippine world-class cargo handler, is looking into the possibility of locating in the Subic-Clark Corridor, which is being pump-primed into a megalogistics and supply chain center.

“Our intention is to grow in the Philippines. There are a lot of opportunities,” Suhail al-Banna, ATI executive vice president and director, said before Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council head Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan, Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) chairman Nestor Mangio, executive vice president and chief operating officer Alexander Cauguiran and general manager Bienvenido Manga.

“We are looking for opportunities in the Far East,” al-Banna said.

ATI currently operates in the South Harbor, Batangas, Mariveles in Bataan and General Santos. ATI is affiliated with the Dubai Ports World, which handles most of its international cargo.

Al-Banna was briefed by CIAC vice president for finance Romeo Dyoco on the current developments at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

He arrived with representatives of ATI’s affiliates, executive vice president for Asia-Pacific Noel Gulliver of Jafza International and Philip Atkinson of Limitless. Jafza is into the development of logistics and supply chain hubs, while Limitless is into the development of cities.

“We are bringing a lot of knowledge and expertise in cargo handling,” al-Banna said, noting that ATI’s partner, Dubai Ports World, is the fourth leading logistics provider in the world.

President Arroyo had envisioned the development of a megalogistics and supply chain hub in the Subic-Clark Corridor, with Clark as the site of an international airport and Subic the site of a deep-sea port.

The Subic and Clark free-port zones will be interconnected by the 90-km Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway that is currently undergoing construction.

Logistics experts say the area in the Subic-Clark Corridor is suited for the development of central distribution centers or temporary warehouses where goods can be stored with value-added activity.

with respect mr moderator, did you articles above before you post? Having two same post is anoyying.

wow:) ganda naman nang wedsite nang SBMA:cheers: lagi updated at maganda talaga:) clark:ohno: ang pangit na,hindi pa sila updated:bash: hoyyyyyymga CDC gisinggggggggg :bash: nakalimot na kayu dahil sa CBD ninyu:lol:

wow:) ganda naman nang wedsite nang SBMA:cheers: lagi updated at maganda talaga:) clark:ohno: ang pangit na,hindi pa sila updated:bash: hoyyyyyymga CDC gisinggggggggg :bash: nakalimot na kayu dahil sa CBD ninyu:lol:

you hit the nail right in the head.....mukhang mahina...webmaster nila dyan sa cdc...

Good news in a sense that the land will be develop and become useful. :) Bad news in that if it becomes succesful they might end up polluting their indeginous way of life. :ohno:
Monday, September 10, 2007
Clark firm, Aetas ink historic land pact

By Reynaldo G. Navales
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2007/09/10/news/clark.firm.aetas.ink.historic.land.pact.html
CLARK FREEPORT -- Aeta folks have finally agreed to allow the state-owned Clark Development Corporation (CDC) to manage 10,684 hectares of ancestral lands in the nearby north and allow investors to come in.

In exchange, the Aetas get 20 percent share in the net profits the CDC would generate from potential investors at the ancestral lands.

Leaders of the Bamban Aeta Tribal Association (Bata) and tribal chiefs from 12 villages in Pampanga and Tarlac signed an agreement allowing CDC to "co-manage" the 10,684 hectares already identified as ancestral lands of the Aetas under the Indigenous People's Rights Act (Ipra).

"This is a historic development for the Aetas at CDC," said CDC president Levy Laus.

Laus said the JMA would take effect for 75 years. "After that, all developments in their ancestral lands will again be reverted back to the Aetas," he said, adding though that the agreement is renewable.

The JMA will still be ratified by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which has jurisdiction over the lands.

Laus said the JMA has already been forwarded to the BCDA board.


For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila.

^^ The best up to date website in the whole world... www.pnr.gov.ph... :lol: :lol: :lol:

^^ The best up to date website in the whole world... www.pnr.gov.ph... :lol: :lol: :lol:

patay tau dyan....btw....may dagdag bawas ba dito...bakit number of posts ko nabawasan ng malaki....more than 300 na 2wks ago...ngaun 268 na lang...waaahhhhhhhh

patay tau dyan....btw....may dagdag bawas ba dito...bakit number of posts ko nabawasan ng malaki....more than 300 na 2wks ago...ngaun 268 na lang...waaahhhhhhhh

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Ako, sa umpisa nahalata ko rin na nabawasan ako ng 200 mahigit.. Ok, lang, lumakas pa nga ang pagputok ng botsi ko..he he he he....:lol: :lol: :lol:

^^ The important is pabilisan ng Thread!! O guys, you knew it already kung anong thread yun!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

MGA TAGA CLARK DEVELOPMENT CORP. HOYYYYY GISING:bash: UPDATED NAMA NIYU ANG WEB SITE NINYU, SA TOTOO LANG NAKAKHIYA TALAGA KAYU :lol: MR. LAUS ANO BA YAN,buti pa sa panahon ni mr. ng lagi updated sila :cheers: pero ngayun july pa yun nakalagay doon hah sept. na po:banana: kita ninyu SBMA lagi sila updated ganda pa website nila :) sana mabasa nila ito na taga CDC:bash: SALAMAT!

New hotel featuring water
theme park to rise in Clark
By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/10042007/economy01.html
CLARK FREE PORT—A Korean company is set to invest at least $70 million for the development of a condominium-type hotel, water-theme-park resort and casino complex at this sprawling free port.

Widus (pronounced “With Us”) International Leisure Inc. (WILI) has poured in an initial $13 million for the first phase of the Ananda Hotel after signing an agreement with world-renowned hotel management firm Fuego Hotels & Properties Management Corp.

Widus chief executive officer Daesik Han said Ananda is the first hotel being built by WILI, adding the two Ananda Hotel Towers with a combined 270 rooms will occupy 1.9 hectares of the 5.2-hectare prime property leased to Widus.

The construction of the first Tower started on March 1, 2007 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

“Widus envisions a one-of-a-kind resort-hotel here in Clark which boasts of amenities that will appeal to every member of the family, a hotel where quality dictates every aspect of its operations. With Fuego Hotels’ expertise, guests are assured of luxurious service and accommodations,” Han said.

Fuego Hotels & Properties Management Corp. is a management company with an established expertise in managing hotels, resorts and full and limited service companies.

Priding itself as a company that strives to achieve the highest standards of hospitality and efficiency, the properties Fuego Hotels manage are not only luxurious but are market leaders in their respective destinations.

Fuego Hotels manages famous resorts in the country such as the Pearl Farm in Davao, the Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay, Club Punta Fuego and the Terrazas de Punta Fuego, both in Nasugbu, Batangas.

“Ananda will be the new haven in the Clark Free Port Zone, as Widus International takes luxury to the next level. This development project aims to give our clients the vacation experience they deserve,” Han said.

“Like its name, that in Sanskrit means ‘bliss,’ and its palm tree logo that symbolize victory, peace and fertility, its employees will be ready to embrace and cater to the needs of every guest and offer immeasurable quality service and the best facilities for guests to enjoy,” he said.

Designed to provide the ultimate vacation experience for the whole family this side of the Asia-Pacific, Han also said Ananda will be the home of the Widus Vacation Club.

The Widus Vacation Club is Widus International’s timeshare program where club members get to own a unit from Ananda’s remarkable hotel, studio, one-bedroom, suite and two bedroom units.

“At a very reasonable price, members get to stay for free at their chosen unit for seven days a year for the next 25 years and avail themselves of exciting privileges only a Widus Vacation Club member deserves,” Han said.

At the same time, Han said Ananda is only the first phase of the Widus development project. The second and third phases will include the development of a vast water theme park, a state-of-the-art casino, and another five-star hotel tower.

Having only visited the Philippines a few times to play golf, the 38-year-old professional businessman from Chungbuk, South Korea, fell in love with the beautiful sights and tranquil environment of Clark.

Being a regular tourist himself, Han noticed the need for deluxe and five-star hotels in the area, especially with the influx of his fellow Koreans coming in through the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

From then on, Han became the person behind Widus, a 100-percent foreign-owned corporation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 15, 2006.

Firm to prepare new tourism plans for Clark
By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT -- Officials of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) will formulate tourism development strategies to anchor the growing tourism industry in Clark.

Vice president Ernesto Gorospe of the Business Development Group said tourism facilities in Clark are a key factor in boosting economic and employment generations.

Join forum on Sandiganbayan's guilty verdict on Estrada plunder case. Post comments here.

In his presentation during the 1st Clark Tourism Summit under the auspices of CDC, Department of Tourism (DOT), and University of the Philippines-Clark extension program at the Mimosa Convention Center on Monday, Gorospe said the formulation of tourism strategies is due to the fact that Clark has been identified as a one of the tourist destinations under the development plan for 2004 to 2010 of the tourism department.

Clark tourism creates vital peripheral and socio-economic benefits because of the income generated from the tourist expenditures, aside from being the site of the future international gateway of the country, Gorospe said in his presentation.

Also present during the summit were Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio, CDC president Levy Laus, Clark International Airport Corporation (Ciac) president Victor Jose Luciano, DOT Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico, UP director Juliet Mallari and UP professor Roberto Reyes.

Gorospe, who presented the Tourism Development and Prospects for Clark in the Areas of Recreational Tourism, Wellness Tourism and Education Tourism, also said there is a need to formulate wholesome family, entertainment, cultural and historical packages for Clark.

"We must enhance and preserve Clark's security and environmental friendliness, including the maintaining and upgrading of infrastructure and utilities to attract more local and foreign tourists inside the Freeport and its adjacent environs," Gorospe told delegates of the Summit.

Aside from airport development, the CDC will also enhance the aggressive marketing promotion to expand Korean, Chinese, Japanese and other Asians, European and North American market.

With the onset of winter season, Gorospe said CDC and Ciac should complement strategies in the development of airport- related infrastructures to take advantage of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark which attracts not only investors but also tourists who are looking for an alternative destination for relaxation, entertainment and play sports in an environmental friendly area.

President orders all gov't agencies to support Clark's P1.95-B power project

Manila (4 October) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered all heads of concerned government agencies to support the implementation of the government's P1.94-billion, 230-kilovolt power infrastructure project for the Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ).

The President likewise directed all government departments and instrumentalities to support the investment of the US-based Texas Instruments at the Texas Instruments Special Economic Zone and Baguio City Economic Zone (BCEZ).

The order, which was embodied in Executive Order No. 666, was signed by the Chief Executive last Sept. 25.

It also directed all state agencies to "give full support and assistance" to TRANSCO (National Transmission Corp.) and CDC (Clark Development Corp.) to expedite the implementation of the 230-kv Concepcion-Clark Power Transmission Project (CCPTP).

The CCPTP will provide the power infrastructure requirements of existing and future CFZ locators, and fulfill the government's commitment to provide the power requirements of TI's P1.7-billion expansion project at the Freeport.

"There is a need for all concerned government entities to fulfill the commitments of the Philippine government to TI in return for the latter's decision to locate in the CFZ," the EO said.

The President pointed out that the TI expansion project would "bring in numerous suppliers of TI and thus make the Philippines more attractive to foreign direct investments, thereby generating more locators in CFZ that will generate more employment, boost exports, and enhance the country's economic growth."

TI's additional investment in the country is expected to attract 500 of its suppliers to also locate at CFZ, thus the need to increase the industrial zone's power supply capability.

In anticipation of increased demand for power supply, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and TRANSCO have agreed to build a more reliable transmission system to meet the power requirements of existing and future locators at the CFZ.

The power project, which will be implemented in three stages, has an economic life of 30 years, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), which approved the project.

The First Phase, or Package A, will be implemented and financed by TRANSCO, while Package B will be implemented by CDC. Both packages, which will receive get full technical and financing support from TRANSCO, are scheduled to be completed in April next year.

Fifty percent of the cost of Phase 1 will be reimbursed by CDC to TRANSCO, the EO said.

The Second Stage, or Phase 2, will likewise be implemented by TRANSCO and CDC, but the total cost of the project will be shouldered by CDC.

Phase 2 is expected to be completed in May 2009.

"In particular, the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and CDC shall grant free access and free use of right-of-way in the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and inside the CFZ," EO 666 further stated.

In view of the urgent need to deliver to TI the Philippines' power infrastructure commitment in time with the scheduled commercial operation of the company at CFZ, the President also authorized the CDC, as the owner representative, to directly negotiate for the TI Load-End substation "subject to existing laws, rules and regulations," while TRANSCO will provide full technical assistance.

TI will also enjoy discounted generation and transmission rates for up to 10 years of its contract at CFZ.

The President stressed that TI's $1.7-billion expansion project at CFZ is the "single biggest investment in Philippine history," breaking "the China Myth" as the preferred TI investment destination.

Initially, the TI expansion project will cover eight hectares of land at CFZ and employ around 3,000 people at the start of the project. Once fully operational, the number of TI's employees at the zone is expected to increase to 10,000.

The power and other infrastructure projects in the area will also fulfill the President's vision for CFZ and Subic Freeport Zone as the premier logistics hubs in the Asia-Pacific region as outlined in her 10-point agenda.

Korean plans $103-M Subic condo-hotel complex

http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=92673
Inquirer
Last updated 07:24am (Mla time) 10/05/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- South Korean property developer KT Global Subic Inc. said it planned to build a 17-story, five-building condominium-hotel complex in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, northwest of Manila, and had increased its committed investment to $103 million from $3 million.

KT Global said in a statement that it had decided to advance the schedule for completion of the first building by two years to 2010 and that the other buildings would follow in six to 10 years.

Company president Hong Shik Kim also said KT Global, a unit of KT Construction Co. Ltd., wanted to help in the Subic Bay Freeport’s bid to become a retirement haven.

Dubbed Subic Ampelos Tower, the KT Global project will be the first high-rise building in Subic Bay Freeport. Ronnel W. Domingo; with INQUIRER.net

Subic to be featured as RP’s ‘Harbor City of Charm’ at China fair
spacer

Jonas Reyes

Link:http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20071010105355.html

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – This freeport, which is bustling with trade activities, will be featured as the country’s "Harbor City of Charm" when the Philippines joins the 4th China-ASEAN Exposition (CAEXPO) on Oct. 28-31, 2007 at the port city of Nanning in Guangxi, China.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza said, "the participation of the Subic Bay Freeport in the international trade fair was recommended by the Department of Trade and Industry."

"The CAEXPO secretariat decided to feature harbor cities in this year’s ‘Cities of Charm’ pavilion, which showcases tourism destinations in China and member-countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)," he said.

"This is a big opportunity for us because of our need to attract more investments from China, which is now recognized as an economic giant," he said.

"We would try our best to rise to the challenge of representing the Philippines in this event because our participation would also boost President Arroyo’s program to turn the Subic-Clark corridor into the most competitive services and logistics center in the region," he also said.

The exposition, which serves as a platform for trade, investment and tourism cooperation between China and the 10 members of ASEAN, features 5,000 booths for commodity trade, investment cooperation, agricultural technology, and "cities of charm".

The Philippines has traditionally set up booths for the commodity trade and cities of charm pavilions since the annual exposition opened in 2004, but it will be the first time for Subic Freeport to join the fair.

"We’d also be taking part in the ChinaASEAN Port Development and Cooperation Forum, which will be held as a side event in the exposition," Arreza said.

To promote Subic’s competitive edge at CAEXPO, Arreza said, SBMA will highlight Subic’s "best of both worlds" attractions — Its strategic location as a maritime hub and its pristine environment.

He said the Subic Bay booth in the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center will feature a floor display of a topographical map of Subic and a transparent dome onto which film clips about the freeport will be projected.

Photos taken Oct. 11, 2007

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Road to Subic - this is a shorter way since you will end-up in the Subic-Tipo Tollway the beginning of the SCTEX. The old road going to Olongapo and Subic is the long way.



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Subic-Tipo tollgate



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Have just passed the Subic-Tipo tollway... now nearing to Subic



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The wharf in SBMA assigned to US Naval ships.



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You can see on the horizon on the westward the new Container port terminal which is adjacent to Subic International Airport.



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The ferry for El Grande Island which is located near the entrance of Subic Bay.



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The office of SBMA



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The ferry going to El Grande island.



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http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic053.jpg



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic054.jpg



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic059.jpg



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic060.jpg



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic061.jpg



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic065.jpg



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic070.jpg



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic072.jpg



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic076.jpg



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic079.jpg

On the far-off horizon you can see the entrance to Subic Bay, on the left side is the newly built Container port.



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic087.jpg



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic094.jpg

A busy street inside the SBMA

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http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic097.jpg

The downtown area of Olongapo City



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic098.jpg

The downtown area of Olongapo City



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PEX%20juntahan/Subic/Subic099.jpg

The downtown area of Olongapo City

^^that street is so lively during Christmas season especially coz of that Night Market thingo..pageants etc..

Bizmen want Clark as
aviation, tourism hub (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/10302007/economy01.html)

By Max V. de Leon
Reporter


FILIPINO businessmen are asking the government to make Clark in Pampanga an aviation and tourism hub by allowing key countries to get traffic rights to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) on unlimited capacity.

Meneleo Carlos Jr., in a presentation for the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), said Malacañang should issue an administrative order (AO) directing the Philippine Air Panel to give priority to the DMIA every time it negotiates for the exchange of air rights for any air-services agreement with other countries.

“In all negotiations for traffic rights to DMIA, no restriction or limitation on capacity, type of aircraft and noncabotage traffic rights shall be imposed by the panel,” Carlos said.

Failure to do so, he added, should require a formal explanation to the Office of the President.

Carlos, who is private-sector champion for he NCC’s Seamless Infrastructure Network Working Group, said the DOTC and Civil Aeronautics Board should start accepting any offer for bilateral open-skies arrangement with any country and DMIA to further enhance the potential of Clark as aviation hub.

By pursuing this policy, Carlos said the government will also support the promotion of international trade, tourism and investments, as well as the development of a megalogistics hub in Clark and Subic.

“This initiative shall be pursued with a few countries of major market interest and where reciprocity, defined as the exchange of rights, freedoms and economic benefits or equal equivalent value, can be achieved,” he said.

Carlos said the possible partner-countries where this reciprocity concept can be achieved are China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, India and Russia.

For 2007 and 2008, however, Carlos said the Philippines should conduct and conclude air talks with Macau, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Russia, Brunei, Bahrain, Australia, Cambodia, China and Canada.

Also, to ensure that the country will be able to effectively pursue the establishment of the megalogistics hub, Carlos said a strategic study should be undertaken on the feasibility of Batangas, Clark and Subic as a logistics corridor.

On this, Carlos said the Center for Research and Communication is now collaborating with the Subic-Clark Alliance Development Corp. on the terms of reference for the development of the logistics master plan.

there is no doubt that clark is the way of the future......good that the gov't is able to recognize it as the next jewel....in its crown.....if you see the dev't happening near the clark vicinity you will not believe your eyes.....so you people with extra moohlaaaah....out there invest in that area

Hollywood‘ to rise in Subic and Clark?
(http://businessmirror.com.ph/11082007/headlines04.html)
By Henry Empeño
Correspondent

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Hollywood in Subic and Clark? Why not? says Funtasia, an all-Filipino company that plans to build movie-production facilities here and in the neighboring Clark Freeport.

Catherine May Jimenez, assistant executive producer of Funtasia Entertainment Philippines, said the new company formed by Viva International, Brains International Inc., and Philippine Films Inc. wants to set up a Universal Studios-type of film facilities in Subic and Clark to capitalize on the scenic location sites in the two economic zones.

Jimenez said the combined area of Funtasia, as the Subic-Clark facilities will be called, will be bigger than Hollywood, acknowledged as the movie capital of the world.

“What we plan for Subic and Clark are gated-type studio facilities that will serve as world-class location sites for local and international film producers,” Jimenez said in a recent meeting with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza.

Jimenez was accompanied in Subic by two other movie production executives and Ambassador Marita Magpili-Jimenez, a director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), who was also conducting consultation visits in key growth areas in the country.

According to the movie executive, Subic and Clark got the company’s nod because of their suitable film location sites and available facilities.

“As [Viva Entertainment president] Vic Del Rosario said, some of the sets made here are comparable to those produced in Hollywood,” Jimenez added, referring to production set-up for locally filmed international films like Apocalypse Now and Born on the 4th of July.

Production of the said two movies in the Philippines was reportedly facilitated by Philippine Films Inc., one of the partners in the Funtasia venture.

According to the Funtasia blueprint, the Subic and Clark facilities will be gated studios to be managed by different companies.

Subic was identified as an ideal site for location shoots, studio offices, and a water substage for shooting underwater scenes, Jimenez said.

She said the tank for Funtasia’s water substage will be an environment-friendly, open sea-type with an area of 3,000 square meters—the second of its kind in the world, apart from the first in Mexico.

In Clark, Funtasia will be using the Sandigan Expo and other historical attractions, as well as the eco-zone’s global city and fun zone.

Jimenez also revealed that Funtasia already has three foreign movie-production outfits on its list of prospective clients, aside from companies engaged in television and video production.

“These three foreign outfits are so eager to start their location shooting in the Philippines, that is why we were in a hurry to scout for the most suitable locations in the country,” she told Arreza.

In the end, Funtasia settled for Subic and Clark because they meet all the company’s requirements, Jimenez added.

Arreza, meanwhile, assured the movie executives that Subic “will be more than willing to accommodate your requirements,” and pointed out possible film location sites like the Nabasan Point, Hidden Beach and the Apec Villas.

“Subic has lots of suitable places for film location sites, that’s why it has become the setting for many local and international movie productions, even during the time when it was still a US naval facility,” he said.

Arreza said some of the films shot in Subic are the Marlon Brando-starrer Apocalypse Now, the post-US naval base drama Goodbye America, the local historical biopic Lapu-Lapu, and the foreign movies The Legacy and Too Late the Hero.

Arreza added that the Funtasia project would boost the emerging “film tourism” program of the Department of Tourism.

Very nice project for Clark & Subic. The name needs work though. What's up with these megaprojects in the Philippines with unmarketable names? Funtasia is a name for something like a kid's amusement park, not a mini-city that aims to be in the same league as Hollywood.

Anyway, I'd like to see this take shape. It would be a tremendous boost to Filipino cinema and opens the Philippines to more foreign studios to film here.

well.. this is a great addition to both Subic and Clark... plus a great chance to add more tourist destinations, plus help the improvement of local films...

as for the name... I think if this will be successful.. it will become a household name... and at least they didn't named it after Hollywood like India did for their Bollywood...

I like the offical website of Subic Bay Freeport Zone:)kumpleto sya:cheers:

hindi tulad sa Clark Freeport Zone ang pangit:bash::ohno:
sa Clark pala may Shogee Clark Studio rin like yun sa California U.S.A

Study on Subic-Clark-Batangas logistics corridor to start soon
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2007112222

The government’s dream of making the Subic, Clark and Batangas into a logistics corridor with value-added services is getting closer to realization as a strategic study for its development is scheduled to commence shortly.

Meneleo J. Carlos Jr., National Competitiveness Council’s (NCC) private sector champion for seamless infrastructure network working group, said “the Center for Research and Communication is collaborating with the Subic-Clark Alliance Development Corp. (SCADC) on the terms of reference for the development of a logistics master plan.”

This effort is in line with President Arroyo’s vision of establishing a mega logistics hub, particularly in Subic-Clark corridor, to serve the Asia-Pacific region. 

In preparation for such development, Carlos cited the need to fast-track the bidding and award of the Batangas International Port and Subic Bay International Port (Terminal 2).

“There is also a need to fast-track the completion of critical infrastructure projects that connect North (Clark and Subic) and South Luzon (Batangas),” he noted.

Carlos, also the chairperson of the Export Development Council-networking committee on transport and logistics, identified these priority projects as the South Luzon Expressway rehabilitation and extension project (SLEX); the Subic-Clark-Tarlac-Expressway project (SCTEP); the North and South rail projects, North-South linkage project; the Southern Tagalog arterial road phase II (STAR 2); and the C5-North Luzon Expressway-SLEX link.

Of these projects, the Subic-Clark portion of the SCTEP is scheduled for completion first quarter of 2008, along with the upgrading of the Subic seaport.

The full implementation of NCC’s proposed Batangas-Clark-Subic logistics corridor has been cited by the International Finance Corp. (IFC) and the World Bank as among the short-medium term reforms in improving the country’s overall ranking in terms of easing doing business, particularly in cross-border trading.

This came despite the fact that the Philippines has posted strong performance in cross-border trading, an indicator that measures the procedural requirements for trading a standard shipment of goods by ocean transport.      

Aside from promoting the Subic-Clark-Batangas corridor as logistics hub, the NCC is also keen on further reducing the cost of exporting a 20-foot container to $326 from the present $341.

Carlos said the lower cost could be realized by allowing chassis-container (Cha-Ro) as part of the roll-on roll-off (RO-RO) service; fast-tracking the development of ports along the Central Nautical Highway; and extending by another year the 90-percent discount on wharfage for export-import cargoes.

Ports comprising the Central Nautical Highway include Aroroy, Cawayan, Daangbantayan, Mambajao and Benoni.

“Cha-Ro will allow export-import containers to be transshipped domestically through RO-Ro at a lower cost,” he noted.

The scanning fee for 10-footer container vans will be reduced by 90 percent from $25 to $5 until December 2007 due to the immediate response of the Executive Department to the clamor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Philippine Exporters Confederation.

JB Cresta to establish $22 M tourism estate in Clark
CDC - Public Relations Department
12/3/2007



Indeed, Clark Freeport Zone is becoming Korean investors’ favorite investment site in their tourism-related projects in the country today.

This stemmed after officials of Clark Development Corporation announced that another Korean firm signed an agreement for the construction of another $22 million tourism-related project inside the freeport zone.

The memorandum of agreement was signed between CDC President Liberato P. Laus and JB Cresta Corporation President Lim Jang Bin in a simple ceremony held at the CDC President’s office here recently.

The firm plans to develop-construct housing and leisure town including villas, clubhouse, water park and other subsidiary facilities that will attract not only the growing number of Korean tourists and expatriates in the country, but also other foreign tourists and investors frequenting the economic zone.

Laus said the firm has leased about 12.36 hectares area for the construction of a new Korean town complex here.

JB Cresta indicated that about 100 new workers will be hired to complement the full operation of the newest tourism project that will soon rise inside the freeport zone, Laus said.

The new Korean firm is the fifth huge tourism investment to be signed during the term of Laus as CDC president.

Among the agreements sign earlier are Morning Calm Leisure Estate which will develop a P48 million multi-national retirement village; J&K Golf Development Group which will established a P127.9 million tourism project in Clark. J&K has been operating an international golf school inside the Freeport.

Laus also sign an agreement with the New Wellbeing Spa which initially poured P30 million for the spa project located at the Red Wood Villa clubhouse. At present, the same firm is constructing five-storey building for its hotel project. The hotel is expected to be completed earlier next year.

Also, Laus finalized the agreement with Widus International Leisure Inc. for the establishment of condominium-style hotel, casino and water theme park here. Widus has already poured in some $13 million for the initial phase of the condotel project.

12th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at Clark
CDC - Public Relations Department
12/18/2007


CLARK FREEPORT – Prepare for a weekend of everything that flies as the Clark Freeport would be hosting the 12th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta from February 7-10, 2008.

The 12th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is expected to outdo this year’s event, held at the ADAC of the Philippine Air Force from February 7-10, 2007. The event hoarded more than 100,000 spectators.

Clark Development Corporation President Liberato P. Laus said reports reaching his office revealed that this year’s balloon fiesta has doubled by more than 100 percent based on the more than 100,000 gate receipts collected by event organizers.

Business was also brisk during the 11th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta as concessionaires reported increased earnings due to the crowd that attended the aerosports event.

Laus said Clark’s tourism-related industries are also expected to benefit from the annual event as hotels and villas inside the Freeport and nearby Angeles City are usually fully-booked.

Aside from spectators, the 11th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta attracted 22 balloon pilots from 15 countries. Event organizers are also expecting the same number of participants for the February 2008 aerosports event.

Also expected to highlight the 12th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta are the following aerosports activities: sky diving, ultra-light fly-in, airplane rally and balloon bursting competitions, aerobatic stunts, aero-modelers flight exhibition from the Aeromodelers Association, helicopter fly-by and choreographed kite flying demonstrations by the Kite Association of the Philippines.

Other expected highlights of the event are mini-trade fairs, food plazas, automobile and airplane shows and exhibits, game booths, and live concerts – which were all mounted by the CDC’s Marketing Department and the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office.

For inquiries logon to www.philballoonfest.net or call +639293149191.

I found renderings of the expo filipino. They're probably old.
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/8936/grand.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/8936/expo.jpg

Sana they finished it. Ganda pa naman. If they do decide to complete it, how would it be affected by the proposed airport?

Sana they finished it. Ganda pa naman. If they do decide to complete it, how would it be affected by the proposed airport?

No, it will not be affected. Expo Pilipino has its part on the long term master plan of Clark Main Zone. Infact it seems that all infrastructure and stablishment are being built based on the master plan. Even SM Clark is part of it.

Here is the master plan I posted from the other thread:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/2140248822_e641cf0601_o.jpg

HK firm to invest P2B in Fontana

http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=110010
By Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:15am (Mla time) 01/03/2008



Close this Hong kong-based property investment firm Jimei Group Inc. plans to invest about P2 billion in the 200-hectare complex Fontana Leisure Park in the Clark Special Economic Zone, north of Manila, in the next two years, Fontana said in a statement.

Fontana said Jimei would spend about P1 billion to build a 500-room world-class hotel, which it said was scheduled for completion in 2009, and another P1 billion to complete construction of a 36-hole golf course and a clubhouse.

The first 18 holes will be ready in the first quarter of the year and the remainder of the project, including the clubhouse, will be ready in the third quarter, Fontana said.

Since the start of its involvement in the development of Fontana in October 2004, the Jimei Group has invested about P1.5 billion in the complex.

The first phase of the Fontana clubhouse, which was opened to the public in December, features a world-class spa, a 36-room hotel, a 400-seating Golden Pavilion Chinese restaurant, seven state-of-the-art KTV rooms, new VIP gaming rooms and a bar.

Being constructed at the back of the clubhouse is an Olympic-size swimming pool.

When fully completed, the clubhouse will house more specialty shops and restaurants, a bowling alley and a mini-theater.

Another major attraction at Fontana is its convention center, which features nine function rooms. Its biggest hall can accommodate up to 2,000 people (seminar-type seating arrangement) or 1,000 persons (sit-down dinner type).

Fontana now has 439 villas, more than 200 of which are newly constructed.

It also boasts of a bigger casino, which can accommodate a growing number of players from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea.

Jimei Group chairman Jack Lam said, “I am fully committed to support the Philippines’ development and its tourism industry. Jimei’s investment in tourism-related infrastructure in the Philippines is proof of that. It is not just investment funds that we can pull out anytime. Our commitment involves creating jobs and business opportunities in the country. We are here for the long haul.”

Fontana is Jimei’s second major investment in the Philippines. The first was in Fort Ilocandia in the northern city of Laoag in 2000.

Jimei also operates recreational facilities in Macau, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Korea.

More than 2,000 employees work in Fontana and Fort Ilocandia. Edited by INQUIRER.net

HK firm to invest P2B in Fontana

http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=110010
By Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:15am (Mla time) 01/03/2008



Close this Hong kong-based property investment firm Jimei Group Inc. plans to invest about P2 billion in the 200-hectare complex Fontana Leisure Park in the Clark Special Economic Zone, north of Manila, in the next two years, Fontana said in a statement.

Fontana said Jimei would spend about P1 billion to build a 500-room world-class hotel, which it said was scheduled for completion in 2009, and another P1 billion to complete construction of a 36-hole golf course and a clubhouse.

The first 18 holes will be ready in the first quarter of the year and the remainder of the project, including the clubhouse, will be ready in the third quarter, Fontana said.

Since the start of its involvement in the development of Fontana in October 2004, the Jimei Group has invested about P1.5 billion in the complex.

The first phase of the Fontana clubhouse, which was opened to the public in December, features a world-class spa, a 36-room hotel, a 400-seating Golden Pavilion Chinese restaurant, seven state-of-the-art KTV rooms, new VIP gaming rooms and a bar.

Being constructed at the back of the clubhouse is an Olympic-size swimming pool.

When fully completed, the clubhouse will house more specialty shops and restaurants, a bowling alley and a mini-theater.

Another major attraction at Fontana is its convention center, which features nine function rooms. Its biggest hall can accommodate up to 2,000 people (seminar-type seating arrangement) or 1,000 persons (sit-down dinner type).

Fontana now has 439 villas, more than 200 of which are newly constructed.

It also boasts of a bigger casino, which can accommodate a growing number of players from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea.

Jimei Group chairman Jack Lam said, “I am fully committed to support the Philippines’ development and its tourism industry. Jimei’s investment in tourism-related infrastructure in the Philippines is proof of that. It is not just investment funds that we can pull out anytime. Our commitment involves creating jobs and business opportunities in the country. We are here for the long haul.”

Fontana is Jimei’s second major investment in the Philippines. The first was in Fort Ilocandia in the northern city of Laoag in 2000.

Jimei also operates recreational facilities in Macau, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Korea.

More than 2,000 employees work in Fontana and Fort Ilocandia. Edited by INQUIRER.net

I believe that the entire Central and Northern Luzon will fly high in year 2008. Since the NLEx rehabilitation finished in 2005, the entire region benefited significantly and the development began immediately.

21 balloons to fly in 12th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
CDC - Public Relations Department:
1/9/2008:



CLARK FREEPORT – At least 21 balloons from 14 countries are set to fly Clark skies in the upcoming 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) to be held from Feb. 7-10 at the ADAC of the Philippine Air Force here.

Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President Liberato Laus said this year’s 12th PIHBF is a highlight of the “Clarksiyahan” – a “packet of activities” to be held from Feb. 8-10 at the CDC Parade Grounds.

Clarksiyahan, Laus furthered, would also feature a drag race, quiz bee, inter-school street dancing, PEP squad competition, locators’ product selling, bikini open, and the Johnny Walker rave party and fashion show.

Joi Roa, president of Air Ads and committee chairman of the PIHBF, said of the 21 balloons, 19 are flown by foreign pilots from 13 countries while the other two are flown by Filipino pilots.

Roa assured spectators that this year’s event would be highlighted by new and colorful balloons which include two novelty balloons – an octopus from Japan and a tiger from Germany.

The pilots participating in the event come from the Philippines, Sweden, United States, Hungary, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Finland, Japan, Switzerland, England, and South Korea.

Also, the event would feature four paragliders, three from Malaysia and one from France, who are flying thrice daily for the whole duration of the event, Roa said.

Aside from the paragliders, Roa said planes and a chopper from Kuala Lumpur and Thailand would be flown into the country to participate in the four-day event.

Other new highlights of this year’s PIHBF are carnival rides and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) where spectators would have the chance to ride an ATV in a dirt area that would also serve as an exhibit venue.

Laus said the 12th PIHBF is expected to outdo last year’s event, which hoarded more than 100,000 spectators.

He added that reports reaching his office revealed that last year’s balloon fiesta has doubled by more than 100 percent based on the more than 100,000 gate receipts collected by event organizers.

Can someone show where Fontana is in the map?

^^
No, it will not be affected. Expo Pilipino has its part on the long term master plan of Clark Main Zone. Infact it seems that all infrastructure and stablishment are being built based on the master plan. Even SM Clark is part of it.

Here is the master plan I posted from the other thread:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/2140248822_e641cf0601_o.jpg

Fontana is the Yellow area completely surrounded by the huge green area where it says "RESIDENTIAL, Area = 130.0"

Mimosa is the other Yellow area bordering the Southeastern part of the Green area. :D

clark and subic may rival metro manila if everything goes in order..

^^May or may not... AS the way I see it, Subic and Clark's future hangs on its freeports and airport. Now, if the government, like what is happening now, would not ba aggressive and sincere in its plans, people would just move out. Ang nakikita ko kasi urong-sulong sa policy. Tingnan mo yung open skies magulo. Obvious naman na nagdadala siya ng maraming tourists. But what happened? Oh ngayon ilang libo na lang dumating? Sayang diba? I hope I'm wrong though. At sana nga magtuloy-tuloy yung mga plano. But still, it would take 20 or more years for its goals to be fully or mostly achieved. Look at Southern Luzon, mas nauna nga ata yung development nun kesa sa Clark and Subic but they're developing rapidly only recently.

When the expressways are fully built, the megalopolis of Manila will be from Bauan to Bauang. There is just no escaping the claw of Manila.

P1-B tobacco warehousing in Subic in ’09 (http://businessmirror.com.ph/01152008/headlines05.html)

By Max V. de Leon
Reporter

SUBIC BAY FREE PORT—Philip Morris International (PMI), in ceremonies here, announced its plan to make the Philippines its regional center for the transshipment of tobacco leaf by putting up a P1-billion warehousing facility inside the free port next year.

Philippine subsidiary chief executive Chris J. Nelson said the Philippines bested Singapore and Malaysia for the investment after the company saw Subic’s advantages in cost and efficiency.

Nelson said they are now in the planning stage for the new “purpose-built warehouse” and aim to have it commissioned by next year.

On Monday PMI inaugurated its temporary warehouse in Subic’s Boton area, which has the capacity to store 6,100 metric tons. The company spent P30 million to refurbish the 10,000-square-meter warehouse, which will be on full capacity by March.

The planned P1-billion warehouse, on the other hand, will have a capacity of 24,000 metric tons of tobacco, which will come from PMI suppliers in Indonesia, Thailand and India, among others.

The tobacco leaf will then be shipped and processed to cigarette-manufacturing facilities in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. “The Philip Morris Subic warehouse also supports PMI’s strategy to increase tobacco purchases not only from the Philippines but also from other Asian countries.”

PMI, a part of the Altria Group Inc., has a 15-percent share of the global adult smoking market (excluding China). It also exports cutfillers (processed tobacco leaf) to South Korea.

In the Philippines, PMI brands such as Marlboro, Philip Morris, Bowling Gold, Stork and Miller are manufactured in the firm’s $300-million facility in Tanauan, Batangas.

Dave Gomez, public affairs and communications manager, said there is no plan yet to expand the Tanauan plant since it is still not running on full capacity.

The Tanauan plant produced 32 billion sticks of cigarettes last year, with 25 percent of them going to Thailand and the rest sold here. Gomez said the tobacco leaves they purchase in La Union, Isabela, and Ilocos go directly to the Tanauan plant.

Sen. Richard Gordon, who joined the rites, said the entry of a global brand like PMI into Subic made the Subic-Clark area more attractive as a logistics center and it will greatly increase the cargo traffic.

He said the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway—to be opened in March—will make Subic and Clark a virtual single manufacturing hub with multiple airports and ports.

12th Philippine International Hotair (http://www.philskies.net/library/pihabf2008/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2195973145_a78f6fe7dc_o.jpg

Subic shipyard's operations under scrutiny after deadly fire

The operations of the $1.7 billion Hanjin shipyard in Subic, Zambales was placed under scrutiny as authorities started to doubt if the shipyard followed safety rules after a fire killed two workers and injured three others Friday.

Malacañang has ordered government agencies to conduct an investigation into the incident at the Hanjin shipyard in Sitio Agusuhin, Cawag, Subic, while the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has given the company 72 hours to prove that they abide by safety rules in their workplace, ABS-CBN News correspondent RG Cruz reported.

Initial investigation conducted by the SBMA indicated that the fire occurred after the lubricant used in the construction of MV CMA CGM Quartz caught fire.

The fire was reportedly due to sparks caused by friction between metals inside the ship alley, a long corridor in the bottom part of the ship where the tubes that run the propellers are located.

Because the ship alley was usually underneath water, the area was enclosed, causing the fire to quickly spread in the area.

Friday's incident, however, was just one of several safety-related incidents that have reportedly been recorded in the shipyard in recent weeks.

Last month, a supplier was reportedly pinned down by steel while doing a delivery, while last week a worker was reportedly hit by a vehicle. There have also been cases of malaria and nightmares (bangungot) among the workers.

The ship was partially damaged even as half of the ship has already been finished.

Hanjin immediately took care of the expenses of the victims and they assured that they are following safety rules and regulations.

SBMA, however, were in doubt whether Hanjin is using subcontractors that have not undergone accreditation by the SBMA.

Authorities also were concerned that the safety facilities of the shipyard were not adequate for the 8,000 plus employees working there.

SBMA has given Hanjin 72 hours to prove that the shipyard complies with safety rules and regulations to prevent the $1.7 billion shipyard from being closed down.


from ABS-CBN news.com

12th Philippine International Hotair (http://www.philskies.net/library/pihabf2008/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2195973145_a78f6fe7dc_o.jpg

tol, pa update ng details dito ha.. gusto ko makanood:) tnx

may thread ba d2 about sa Clark-Subic Expressway? just wanna know the updates:)

may thread ba d2 about sa Clark-Subic Expressway? just wanna know the updates:)

Meron! :banana:

follow this link
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=125804)

^^
thanks chito!:D

POC also plans Clark village for RP athletes

By June Navarro
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:57:00 01/28/2008

http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20080128-115223/POC-also-plans-Clark-village-for-RP-athletes
MANILA, Philippines -- Like the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee also wants to build an athletes’ village as part of its proposed national training center in Clark Field, Pampanga.

POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. plans to request the Olympic Council of Asia to fund the developmental plan of the national training center project estimated at P2 million ($50,000) during his scheduled meeting with OCA president Ahmad Al-Fahad last night in Kuwait.

Cojuangco, accompanied by POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros and deputy secretary general Mark Joseph, will also present to Al-Fahad a POC proposal for new rules on judging and officiating in un-measurable sports like boxing and other martial arts disciplines to prevent bias and one-sided decisions in future competitions in the region.

“I had talks with some of the land developers and was told that it would cost P2 million to draw up the developmental plan,” Cojuangco, earlier designated as special adviser to the OCA president, said before his departure for Kuwait.

“This will be my next advice to him (Al-Fahad). He promised to give the POC another project and I will take the opportunity to get his commitment on the proposed training center.”

The proposed national training center occupies a portion of the 20,000-hectare government property in Clark located in the town of Sagovia.



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