san kaya 'to???

*****

NEWSTRACK

Zoom Motels to build township in Manila

Thursday, November 13, 2008, 13:00 Hrs [IST]
By HBI Staff | Mumbai

http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=2561&sid=1

According to a report in the Financial Chronicle, Mumbai-based hospitality firm, Zoom Motels has entered into a Public Private Partnership(PPP) with the Manila administration for developing a holiday destination. The destination will be called Pacific Coast City. It will be spread across 80,000 hectares and will have an 18-km long coastline.

The master plan for the project is being drawn by Pala Fox Associates. The township has been given the National Flagship, Special Economic Zone and Tourism Estate status. As per plans, the various industries in the Pacific Coast City would employ close to 3.6 million people upon completion.

^^ This is so huge..... employing 3.6M people???

^^wow! baka kumalahati ang unemployment rate dito sa pinas...

:lol: oo nga ano? can anyone confirm if it's really manila? baka ibang manila yun ah.

^^ It's by Palafox.

That says enough.

san kaya 'to???

*****

NEWSTRACK

Zoom Motels to build township in Manila

Thursday, November 13, 2008, 13:00 Hrs [IST]
By HBI Staff | Mumbai

http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=2561&sid=1

According to a report in the Financial Chronicle, Mumbai-based hospitality firm, Zoom Motels has entered into a Public Private Partnership(PPP) with the Manila administration for developing a holiday destination. The destination will be called Pacific Coast City. It will be spread across 80,000 hectares and will have an 18-km long coastline.

The master plan for the project is being drawn by Pala Fox Associates. The township has been given the National Flagship, Special Economic Zone and Tourism Estate status. As per plans, the various industries in the Pacific Coast City would employ close to 3.6 million people upon completion.

^^ I think this is along the coastlines of the province of Aurora under the jurisdiction of the Angara family. Senator Angara wanted to develop the coastline of Aurora into a tourist area and mentioned of a huge Indian investment in the area in collaboration with Palafox. They are even planning to develop the road infrastructure from Manila to Aurora to make the planned resort accessible to Manilenos. Also the name "Pacific Coast City" suggests that it may be facing the Pacific Ocean and Aurora is facing the Pacific Ocean.

^^ I think this is along the coastlines of the province of Aurora under the jurisdiction of the Angara family. Senator Angara wanted to develop the coastline of Aurora into a tourist area and mentioned of a huge Indian investment in the area in collaboration with Palafox. They are even planning to develop the road infrastructure from Manila to Aurora to make the planned resort accessible to Manilenos. Also the name "Pacific Coast City" suggests that it may be facing the Pacific Ocean and Aurora is facing the Pacific Ocean.

So if indeed Aurora why mention Manila? Oh well... maybe to them Manila = Philippines.

So if indeed Aurora why mention Manila? Oh well... maybe to them Manila = Philippines.

^^ Most likely they associate "Manila" with "Philippines". Also, the road network being proposed to direclty link Manila and Aurora may have added to the confusion. Obviously with such statistics like 80,000 hectares and a 18km coastline, Pacific Coast City will definitely not be located in Manila.

Here's an article which may suggest that it may indeed refer to Aurora:

Aurora’s tourism industry gets boost (http://http://www.hotfrog.ph/Companies/Advocacy-For-The-Development-Of-Central-Luzon/FullPressRelease.aspx?id=99)
19/04/2008

BALER, Aurora --- Senator Edgardo J. Angara recently led the inaugural flight of the South East Asian Airline (Seair) from Manila to Baler, marking the hope of more tourism opportunities and investments for the province of Aurora in the coming years. Last April 14, Seair launched its first regular flight to this capital town with a 20-seater aircraft, on board is no less than Angara and his guests, filmmaker Gil Portes, national artist Junyee of UP Los Banos and one Filipino expert in solar and wind energy. Seair will have two flights a week, Mondays and Fridays, from Manila to Baler and vise versa. Aside from his commitment to promote Aurora as a top tourist destination in the country, he also considers to put up an alternative source of energy as part of this province’s master socio-economic development plan. Just last month, Aurora held an investment summit in Clark where the Palafox Associates revealed Aurora’s huge potential to become a prime industrial and eco-tourism zone given its strategic site near the Pacific and its infrastructure and support facilities such as the seaports in Dingalan, Casiguran and Baler and its economic zone also in Casiguran. Angara also invited the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) last April 14 to draw up strategic plans for the realization of major road networks to Aurora, particularly the Tarlac-Nueva Ecija-Aurora Expressway. At present, the DPWH is already constructing the Rizal-Pantabangan-Castaneda-Aurora road that is expected to facilitate land travel to Aurora. But Angara said the proposed TNEA expressway that will be linked to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) will even cut down travel time from Clark to Aurora from 5 hours via the regular highway to only 2 hours. Also, the proposed expressway will serve as the major network for the mobilization of industrial cargo coming from the ports of Dingalan and Baler.ADCL president Renato S. Tayag said the TNEA expressway will complete the vision of the national government to make Central Luzon a megalogistics hub in Asia linking the east coast (Aurora) to the west coast (Subic), making the country more attractive to industries moving cargo from the US Pacific coast to countries in Asia. Tayag also said that Angara has several collaborative works with ADCL including agriculture and tourism opportunities for Aurora’s development. He added that the senator, with the help of ADCL, plans to put up an info-tourism office at the Clark ecozone to serve as a show window of Aurora’s magnificent beaches, impressive rock formations, natural and pristine waters, abundant rainforests and fauna. ADCL has already started talks with Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo and Baler Mayor Arturo Angara for the details of this promotional campaign and the eventual tour packages to Baler and Casiguran. Meanwhile, ADCL vice president Sonny Dobles said the senator also requested the assistance of ADCL for the establishment of a world-class resort and artist village in Baler. Through ADCL, Angara was able to tap one of the respected Kapampangan contemporary artists, Norman Tiotuico, to help design and create artworks for the world-class resort and artists’ village. As for environment, ADCL has several projects for agriculture with Aurora including the propagation of bamboo and establishment of meat processing in the area. “These projects are crucial for Aurora’s socio-economic development. We have to help them empower their people and give them economic opportunities to increase their cash flow. At present, the province is rich in natural resources, food and basic supply but the people have less money to invest on other opportunities such as education, small and medium businesses and other economic activities. The plans of Sen. Angara and ADCL’s commitment to help promote the province will definitely add up to Aurora’s huge potential to become an eco-tourism and industrial hub in the east coast,” Tayag said. (30)

^^the article says Manila Administration. this may be referring to the government, and not to the physical location. so it can be anywhere in the Philippines, and yes possibly in Aurora. :)

3.6 M employment generation is possible if the project will be completed. the 18-Km long coastline is exactly 4 times the length of Boracay's coastline. It's statistically possible IMO. and you guys are right it will reduce unemployment by half if this project completes.

although, far-fetched and IMHO not possible yet.

^^ Most likely they associate "Manila" with "Philippines". Also, the road network being proposed to direclty link Manila and Aurora may have added to the confusion. Obviously with such statistics like 80 hectares and a 18km coastline, Pacific Coast City will definitely not be located in Manila.

The article said "80,000 hectares".:)

The article said "80,000 hectares".:)

Just add the three zeros then.:)

this looks impossible! but sana talaga magawa. maybe yung nirerefer nilang "Manila administration" they are referring to the government officials in the Philippines. Kaso hindi ba ka-kumpetensya ng Zoom Motels ang VIctoria Court at Anito? haha

^^ It's by Palafox.

That says enough.

Sabi niya kasi Pala Fox. Hehe...So there goes, sa Aurora nga. :cheers:

Granted that this project is for real... why haven't any local newspaper picked up on the story?

san kaya 'to???

*****

NEWSTRACK

Zoom Motels to build township in Manila

Thursday, November 13, 2008, 13:00 Hrs [IST]
By HBI Staff | Mumbai

http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=2561&sid=1

According to a report in the Financial Chronicle, Mumbai-based hospitality firm, Zoom Motels has entered into a Public Private Partnership(PPP) with the Manila administration for developing a holiday destination. The destination will be called Pacific Coast City. It will be spread across 80,000 hectares and will have an 18-km long coastline.

The master plan for the project is being drawn by Pala Fox Associates. The township has been given the National Flagship, Special Economic Zone and Tourism Estate status. As per plans, the various industries in the Pacific Coast City would employ close to 3.6 million people upon completion.

according dito Manila eh. Kung sa Aurora talaga to, dapat Philippines na lang ginamit. baka they are panning to reclaim land.

Zoom Motels to build ‘Pacific Coast City’ in Manila

Mumbai-based hospitality firm Zoom Motels has entered into a public private partnership (PPP) with the Manila administration for developing a holiday destination. The destination, to be called Pacific Coast City, will be spread across 80,000 hectares and will have an 18-km long coastline. The company, according to a senior official, is also bidding tourism-related real estate projects in other parts of the world.

Rumneek Bawa, managing director, Zoom Motels said, “The Manila project will be executed on a PPP model, where we will hold equity based on development, and land will be the basis of equity for the local authority. We are also in advance negotiations for acquiring a project in the United States and another one in West Asia.”

The master plan for the project is being drawn by Pala Fox Associates. The township has simultaneously been given the National Flagship, Special Economic Zone and Tourism Estate status. “The Pacific Coast city would be positioned as a one-stop destination for learning, industry, leisure and a government and ecumenical centre,” Bawa added.

As per plans, the various industries in the Pacific Coast City would employ close to 3.6 million people upon completion. “The township has been designed to attract millions of tourists, who can generate the much needed foreign currencies. It has been constructed in a way that it can provide an easy access to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. It also entails a section where embassies of all nations can be located in a beautiful settings,” Bawa said.

The company has already won 22 out of the 31 sites announced by the Indian Railways for development of hotels on PPP model.

http://www.realtyplusmag.com/rpnewsletter/fullstory.asp?news_id=505&cat_id=1

Granted that this project is for real... why haven't any local newspaper picked up on the story?

according dito Manila eh. Kung sa Aurora talaga to, dapat Philippines na lang ginamit. baka they are panning to reclaim land.

^^ I think for the Thomases who still doubt that this project will be based in Aurora, then read on. The Article clearly mentions Pacific Coast City in Aurora.

Initiating RP’s Pacific gateway (http://http://www.inquirer.net/specialreports/propertyguide/buildingblocks/view.php?db=1&article=20081101-169566)
November 01, 2008 00:16:00
Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOR centuries, it has always been the western side of the Philippines—the one facing the South China Sea—that has enjoyed economic growth and development.

Proof, of course, is Metro Manila and the various ports and special economic zones located south of it, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales and recently, the Poro Point Freeport Zone in San Fernando, La Union.

Interestingly, the eastern area facing the Pacific Ocean has experienced quite the opposite as most of the provinces located along this side has remained among the country’s poorest and most isolated.

Unfortunate

“It’s unfortunate because there’s so much history along this side of the Philippines: (Portuguese explorer) Ferdinand Magellan reached our country through the east side, landing in the island of Homonhon in the province of Eastern Samar. The Allied and the Philippine Commonwealth forces saw the strategic significance of landing in Palo, Leyte in order to begin their mission of retaking the Philippines from occupying Japanese forces. Even smugglers ship their goods using the Pacific,” noted Felino Palafox Jr., principal architect and urban planner/founder and managing partner of Palafox Associates.

Talking with the Inquirer during the blessing of his new office at the corner of Ayala Avenue and VA Rufino Street, Palafox believes that developing the eastern side will create new opportunities for growth.

“While it has the potential to bring in billions of pesos in revenues to the country, it could also reduce settlement pressure as well as relieve existing traffic-saturated roads of Metro Manila and outlying areas. The development will also create an international gateway on this side linking up with the rest of the countries and cities around the Pacific Rim,” Palafox explained.

Impossible you say?

For Palafox, the task is not so much different from when he first arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates almost three decades ago.

Becoming the only Filipino member—and the youngest team leader—of a quality planning team, Palafox helped transform this once tiny fishing and pearling village into today’s major business and tourism hub.

Excellent example

“Dubai is an excellent example for the Philippines. A few decades ago, its ruler realized that they can’t forever rely on their oil, which is very little when compared to their other Arab counterparts. To confront this challenge, he created a welcoming social and investment climate, along with special zones with independent laws, that soon attracted investors,” he remembered.

The result was just phenomenal as Dubai successfully turned itself in a matter of decades, into a post-oil economy that feeds in part on the oil wealth of its neighbors, who are more than willing to invest in the city’s red-hot real estate market.

“Dubai’s property sector started its tremendous growth in 2002 when the city first announced that foreigners would be legally permitted to acquire freehold residential titles for designated areas. When that promise came to reality in 2006, an enormous wave of buying ensued,” he remembered.

Emulate

Palafox said the Philippines could emulate the Dubai experience and become one of the most successful business hubs in the region, offering topnotch facilities such as state-of-the-art container terminals, airport, seaports and free trade zones.”

“I recently met with Sen. Edgardo Angara who plans to set up similar infrastructures, coupled with tax incentives and transportation and telecommunications facilities in the province of Aurora. The planned Aurora Special Economic Zone (of which Palafox will help design) will establish the province as the gateway to the Pacific, and could even unlock the resources of its rich and fertile neighboring provinces like Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya,” he said.

Dingalan Bay, located in the southern part of Aurora, will have a pivotal role in this transformation.

Palafox also reported that Romeo Roxas, who owns 30,000 hectares of waterfront property running from Dingalan, Aurora down to Infanta, Quezon is planning to develop a property—Pacific Coast City—that would become an alternative site to Metro Manila for industries, homes, schools and recreation.

“Building an international port here, will put the Philippines ahead of its Asean neighbors as it could cut shipping time by several days for those coming from the Pacific,” Palafox said.

To connect this area to the rest of the Philippines, Aurora is now drawing the plans for road networks (Baler-Casiguran Road and the Pantabangan-Maria Aurora Road) as well as airports.

“Manila and Dingalan are just over a hundred kilometers apart in a straight line moving northeast. A road network via Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija or through the mountains of Montalban in Rizal could make Aurora accessible in just a few hours.

“If you build the roads, people and business will follow. In my experience, this is a foolproof way to jumpstart growth,” Palafox assured.

So there is a local news article. Thanks for posting it here. :)

^^ I think for the Thomases who still doubt that this project will be based in Aurora, then read on. The Article clearly mentions Pacific Coast City in Aurora.

Initiating RP’s Pacific gateway (http://http://www.inquirer.net/specialreports/propertyguide/buildingblocks/view.php?db=1&article=20081101-169566)
November 01, 2008 00:16:00
Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOR centuries, it has always been the western side of the Philippines—the one facing the South China Sea—that has enjoyed economic growth and development.

Proof, of course, is Metro Manila and the various ports and special economic zones located south of it, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales and recently, the Poro Point Freeport Zone in San Fernando, La Union.

Interestingly, the eastern area facing the Pacific Ocean has experienced quite the opposite as most of the provinces located along this side has remained among the country’s poorest and most isolated.

Unfortunate

“It’s unfortunate because there’s so much history along this side of the Philippines: (Portuguese explorer) Ferdinand Magellan reached our country through the east side, landing in the island of Homonhon in the province of Eastern Samar. The Allied and the Philippine Commonwealth forces saw the strategic significance of landing in Palo, Leyte in order to begin their mission of retaking the Philippines from occupying Japanese forces. Even smugglers ship their goods using the Pacific,” noted Felino Palafox Jr., principal architect and urban planner/founder and managing partner of Palafox Associates.

Talking with the Inquirer during the blessing of his new office at the corner of Ayala Avenue and VA Rufino Street, Palafox believes that developing the eastern side will create new opportunities for growth.

“While it has the potential to bring in billions of pesos in revenues to the country, it could also reduce settlement pressure as well as relieve existing traffic-saturated roads of Metro Manila and outlying areas. The development will also create an international gateway on this side linking up with the rest of the countries and cities around the Pacific Rim,” Palafox explained.

Impossible you say?

For Palafox, the task is not so much different from when he first arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates almost three decades ago.

Becoming the only Filipino member—and the youngest team leader—of a quality planning team, Palafox helped transform this once tiny fishing and pearling village into today’s major business and tourism hub.

Excellent example

“Dubai is an excellent example for the Philippines. A few decades ago, its ruler realized that they can’t forever rely on their oil, which is very little when compared to their other Arab counterparts. To confront this challenge, he created a welcoming social and investment climate, along with special zones with independent laws, that soon attracted investors,” he remembered.

The result was just phenomenal as Dubai successfully turned itself in a matter of decades, into a post-oil economy that feeds in part on the oil wealth of its neighbors, who are more than willing to invest in the city’s red-hot real estate market.

“Dubai’s property sector started its tremendous growth in 2002 when the city first announced that foreigners would be legally permitted to acquire freehold residential titles for designated areas. When that promise came to reality in 2006, an enormous wave of buying ensued,” he remembered.

Emulate

Palafox said the Philippines could emulate the Dubai experience and become one of the most successful business hubs in the region, offering topnotch facilities such as state-of-the-art container terminals, airport, seaports and free trade zones.”

“I recently met with Sen. Edgardo Angara who plans to set up similar infrastructures, coupled with tax incentives and transportation and telecommunications facilities in the province of Aurora. The planned Aurora Special Economic Zone (of which Palafox will help design) will establish the province as the gateway to the Pacific, and could even unlock the resources of its rich and fertile neighboring provinces like Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya,” he said.

Dingalan Bay, located in the southern part of Aurora, will have a pivotal role in this transformation.

Palafox also reported that Romeo Roxas, who owns 30,000 hectares of waterfront property running from Dingalan, Aurora down to Infanta, Quezon is planning to develop a property—Pacific Coast City—that would become an alternative site to Metro Manila for industries, homes, schools and recreation.

“Building an international port here, will put the Philippines ahead of its Asean neighbors as it could cut shipping time by several days for those coming from the Pacific,” Palafox said.

To connect this area to the rest of the Philippines, Aurora is now drawing the plans for road networks (Baler-Casiguran Road and the Pantabangan-Maria Aurora Road) as well as airports.

“Manila and Dingalan are just over a hundred kilometers apart in a straight line moving northeast. A road network via Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija or through the mountains of Montalban in Rizal could make Aurora accessible in just a few hours.

“If you build the roads, people and business will follow. In my experience, this is a foolproof way to jumpstart growth,” Palafox assured.

oh ok. since sure na sa Aurora to. Sure na rin na nasa maling thread to!

Ito ba yung Aurora na binabaha nang todo 'pag dinadaanan ng bagyo?

oh ok. since sure na sa Aurora to. Sure na rin na nasa maling thread to!

Since we now know that the Pacific Coast City project is in AURORA, this is the wrong thread (MM Proposals and U/C Thread) for talking about that project na.

Paging mod @thomasian... HELP! :)

There ya go. Moved all the posts related to it in a new thread :okay: Nangalahati tuloy yung Metro Manila Proposals and U/Cs thread. :lol:

Ito ba yung Aurora na binabaha nang todo 'pag dinadaanan ng bagyo?

Hindi Aurora Boulevard kundi Aurora Quezon sir:lol::lol:

Aurora Province. Hmmm. Odd place. It's a welcome development but the developer should ensure that it can stand up against typhoons and potential tsunamis.

Since we now know that the Pacific Coast City project is in AURORA, this is the wrong thread (MM Proposals and U/C Thread) for talking about that project na.

Paging mod @thomasian... HELP!

There ya go. Moved all the posts related to it in a new thread :okay: Nangalahati tuloy yung Metro Manila Proposals and U/Cs thread. :lol:

Hahaha. :lol: Thanks for this. :okay:

they are extending SCTEx expressway up to Aurora. Maybe to bring more people here.

Pacific Coast City, such a generic name. Why not give it a name in the local dialect?

But this is a good development for Aurora, it would really be a good thing for the economy if Eastern Luzon is developed more.

sana i-release na nila yung rendering ng masterplan soon

Is this project still a go?

This is a very promising project! It's about time Luzon's eastern seaboard also gets its fair share of economic growth and development.

medyo duda lang ako sa proponent ng plan na to. Zoom Motels ng India. walang masyadong result sa google e. maybe they are not that big company. anyone can give us information about them?

Motel is also a bad name. :lol: I prefer Hotel.

source (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3419:aurora-pacific-ecozone-to-boost-development-of-province&catid=33:economy&Itemid=60)

Economy
Written by Jacob Cunanan / Correspondent
Tuesday, 16 December 2008 21:37

CLARK FREE PORT, Pampanga—A well-planned economic zone aimed at developing a parcel of land in the province of Aurora has been designed to attract investors in various fields to help develop the province and provide jobs for local communities and revenues for the local government.

Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo said during the inauguration of the Aurora provincial government extension office here: “The Aurora Pacific Ecozone will be the Philippines’ gateway to the Pacific.”

Located at some 500 hectares of land in Casiguran town in Aurora, the Aurora Pacific Ecozone was master-planned to have diversified environment-sustainable industries supported by an airport, seaport and other vital infrastructure, including renewable sources of industry.

The economic zone is under the Aurora Special Economic Zone Authority (Aseza), a government agency under the Office of the President created by Republic Act 9490 on June 29, 2007, to oversee the development of the land in Casiguran. The master plan for the Aurora ecozone was drawn up by Palafox and Associates.

“It is the desire of Aseza to attract partners and investors in the areas of tourism, information technology, agro-marine food production, aviation and maritime services, warehousing and transshipment of goods, and other sustainable activities that utilize both indigenous and acquired resources in order to provide livelihood for the local community and revenues for the government,” Castillo said.

Castillo said the zone’s land area may be expanded to meet development objectives and the requirement of prospective investors, adding that engineering survey work is now being undertaken in anticipation of these needs.

The governor said apart form land-based projects, the development of around 320 hectares of foreshore waters will soon be underway for the culture of high-value fin fishes and crustaceans.

The project will complement the 200-hectare seaport and agro-marine processing facilities that would take the lead in creating a new export-oriented economy in the province.


^^ i believe palafox' pacific coast city is part of this aurora pacific ecozone...

Re-opening this thread.

Here's the website of Atty. Romeo Roxas, the landowner and proponent of the Pacific Coast City: Building the next Manila. (http://romeogroxas.com/next_manila.html).

This was master planned by Palafox, and it was supported by Ramos and Estrada, the only problem is the funding, it's gonna cost billions to build this thing.

Hope you guys can share more links or information regarding this project.

Some thoughts:

I don't know, there must be a major highway like the north and south expressways to connect the pacific coast with metro manila, and there must be something that should attract people or investors to that area. For me it takes more than physical planning, it takes more than "it must be this, it must be that", planning must be comprehensive, and merely building a new harbor won't necessarily spur growth, the building blocks must be there in preparation for this new city, like better education in the area for its future workforce, this is not some Dubai where most of its workers are foreigners. A strategy could be developing the present towns and cities there and make them the focal point to spur development, instead of Metro Manila spreading east, they should meet in the middle. Just my two cents worth, haven't seen the masterplan yet except from the website.

Im glad ive found this thread, i was searching this for along time.. If Im not mistaken this Pacific Coast City will try to copy Hong kong..?

Not sure, but they divided it into several "cities" or districts, there's a small rendering at the website, but I'm hoping someone can post a picture of the more detailed master plan.

Not sure, but they divided it into several "cities" or districts, there's a small rendering at the website, but I'm hoping someone can post a picture of the more detailed master plan.

drawing yata to

any updates sa thread dito?

Iba na talaga may batikang senador na naka pwesto, tsktsk,tsk, matapos ma-ihiwalay sa Quezon mga bayan ng Aurora ay mukang sa planong to ay tuloyan ng mabubura ang planong Metro REINA (Real, Infanta & Gen. Nakar) na syang mas malapit talga sa Metro Manila. Panahon pa ni Marcos planong Metro Reina-gateway to the Pacific, nasimulan na rin noon pa ang Marcos Highway ( Marikina-Infanta Road) di pa nga lang tapos hanggang ngayon. Plano ang international port sa Real, airport sa Infanta at bakasyonan naman ang Gen. Nakar.:ohno: Kainggit naman:cheers:

is this a real project? i thought it was just a study...

is this a real project? i thought it was just a study...

Di ko alam kung anong naging status, basta nong panahon ni Macoy ay inumpisahan Infanta_Marikina road, pero gaya ng mga project noong panahon ni Macoy inumpisahan lang tapos nawala na ang budget, hehehe, nagawa lang bale ay ilang kilometro bawat entrance, pero noong panahon ni Ramos ay binuhay, tinuloy nya yang road na yan, tapos pumunta pa si Ramos sa Real para sa groundbreaking ng port. Halos matatapos na raw road na yan dahil panahon ni GMA ay tinuloy rin nya.

Free port relocation labeled a scam (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20101112-302781/Free-port-relocation-labeled-a-scam)

Palafox: it’s ‘worse’ than C-5 road case

By Christian V. Esguerra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:25:00 11/12/2010

Filed Under: Infrastructure, Construction & Property, Conflicts (general)

MANILA, Philippines—A project realignment “worse” than the C-5 road extension controversy last year?

Architect Felino Palafox Thursday claimed that the location of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (Apeco) in Casiguran, Aurora province, was moved to a less advantageous site to benefit a property owner who was a provincial official.

Palafox, who was the original master planner for the project, said the new location was prone to “flooding and liquifaction,” but Apeco officials went ahead with the change of location, disregarding the better option of building the project closer to the heart of Casiguran town.

“Worse than C-5,” he said, referring to the controversial realignment of the C-5 road extension project in Parañaque City that allegedly benefited Sen. Manuel Villar’s real estate businesses to the tune of P400 million.

The original plan that his company presented would have avoided the need to build access roads, which was naturally more costly, Palafox told a budget hearing for the Apeco at the Senate Thursday.

He claimed that part of the land for the new location was purchased from a provincial environment and natural resources officer (Penro) whom he identified as Benjamin Mina, the Penro for Aurora.

“They directed us farther and farther away from the center so access roads would have to be constructed,” he said.

“It turned out that the owner of the property was a Penro, one of their own,” he said.

Angara implicated

The architect also questioned Sen. Edgardo Angara’s involvement in the project.

“I don’t know what he was doing in the project, but he was running the show,” Palafox said of Angara, who is a native son of Aurora.

On Palafox’s questioning his involvement in the project, Angara said: “I have a natural stake in Apeco because I was the one who shepherded that measure from inception to its passage. I believe it will benefit not just Aurora but also the entire region. It will bring the entire Luzon to the Pacific.”

“Palafox is a very boastful and dishonest person. We paid him P32 million for his work which was disapproved by government agencies we consulted,” he said.

Apeco, which covers 13,000 hectares in the bay area of Casiguran, was created through a bill sponsored by Angara at the Senate and by his son, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, at the House. The bill was signed into law by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June 27, 2007.

The zone, which aims to boost social, economic and industrial development in Aurora and nearby provinces, began operations in August 2008.

The Angara father and son, and the senator’s sister, Aurora governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, are members of the Apeco board.

The project is being opposed by various groups led by the Protestant National Council of Churches in the Philippines which claims that Apeco would lead to the displacement of at least 3,000 families, shift priority on land use away from food production and lead to human rights abuses.

At the budget hearing of the finance subcommittee that he presided, Angara countered just about every complaint raised by farmers, fishermen, priests and nongovernmental organization representatives opposing the P1-billion project.

“What you’re saying is a bit exaggerated,” he told Fr. Pete Montellana of the prelature of Infanta, Quezon.

“Are you from Aurora? I asked because many of those opposing are not from Aurora,” Angara told Montellana.

Angara said Palafox was fired from the project in August 2009. He said the architect had already been paid P32 million for the master plan but still wanted to do a supplemental plan worth P12 million.

“At that point, the board already judged that (he was) a dishonest planner,” he told the hearing.

Lacked studies

Palafox said the Apeco project lacked studies covering feasibility, business planning, engineering, hydrologic, airport planning and a seaport.

At the hearing, Palafox and former Apeco chair Vitaliano Sabalo accused each other of lying.

Palafox said that Sabalo had tried to “negotiate” a deal with him for the remainder of the payments owed to his firm.

^^

Palafox seems to be taking a lot of hits these days by going against these government officials and accusing them of corruption, which is probably true anyway, government officials, especially local government officials are as corrupt as hell. But Palafox's opinion is not gospel, he's a "cookie cutter" planner in the opinion of some of his peers, but part of being a planner is learning to play the political game, because if you don't, you won't get things done. And by going against these people, he's blacklisting himself from a lot potential projects. But I do admire him for going against these people, however by doing so, he will be losing a lot of potential income.

Pacific Coast City to the Rescue? (http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1038&Itemid=88889404)
Written by Gemma B. Bagayaua
MONDAY, 14 MARCH 2005

CAP's would-be savior also needs cash.

It was touted as the alternative to Metro Manila’s congestion and envisioned to be the “single largest development that addresses the economic needs and growth requirements of the country.” Recently, it was offered as a solution to the troubles besetting the cash-strapped pre-need company College Assurance Plan (CAP).

Spanning about 80,000 hectares of contiguous land—almost 20,000 hectares larger than Metro Manila’s current land area of 63,000 hectares—lawyer Romeo Roxas’ proposed Pacific Coast City is, at first glance, an impressive vision. It proposes to open up the country’s eastern seaboard and develop a new capital district within the next 20 to 30 years. The site identified for this grand endeavor is singularly owned by Green Square Properties Corp., a Roxas company.

Part of this grand plan is to develop, within the Green Square property, several component cities, among them a resort city, an industrial city, and a university city.

Roxas recently offered CAP the last component under its proposed “land against preferred shares” swap. The area offered to CAP is comparable in size to Pasig City which embraces around 3,100 hectares of land. It sounds like a good deal. But the proposal, skeptics have noted, could be just another effort to lull CAP’s worried plan holders into a false sense of security.

Some have questioned the value of the property Roxas is offering to CAP. At P6 billion for 3,000 hectares, CAP is actually paying Roxas around P200 per square meter for roughly one-ninth of total land holdings which as of 2002 were appraised at P5.2 billion.

The gamble may spell huge profits for the pre-need company if Roxas pulls it off.

But almost a decade since Roxas broached the idea to key government officials, doubts remain about the viability of his Pacific Coast City dream. Located in the middle of the Sierra Madre mountains, the proposed project has been a major concern for environmentalists who are worried about its potential impact on the area’s fragile ecology. Even Roxas’s ownership of the property has been questioned.

Of the area Roxas has chosen for his dream city, roughly 28,000 hectares were purchased by Green Circle Properties and Resources Inc.—another Roxas company—from Roberto Guaponsoy Sr. in 1995. The rest—roughly 50,000 hectares—is still part timberland and is therefore not alienable and disposable, forester Wilfredo Riñas of the environment department’s Region IV-A office told NEWSBREAK. Moreover, he said, a portion of the area is protected under Proclamation 1636, which declared it a national park and bird sanctuary. The only way the land can be reclassified and made available for titling is through an act of Congress.

The company claimed in an advertisement in major dailies that it purchased the land “through a tax sale by the municipality and the province of Quezon where we paid the total unpaid realty tax for 33 years.”

The area was actually part of what the Supreme Court has dubbed “the most fantastic land claim in the history of the Philippines.” The High Court, in its Dec. 18, 1996 ruling, nullified the Spanish title (Titulo Propriedad No. 4136) on which the claim was based, with finality.

Green Square tried to assert its right over the property by suing the municipal treasurer of General Nakar for refusing to accept its taxes. In October 2001, the Supreme Court dismissed Green Square’s complaint and upheld the nullity of the alleged title to the property.

Roxas spokesperson Arnold Querejero downplays the importance of the 50,000 hectares on the company’s plans. The Roxas company, he says, plans to prioritize the development of the titled portions of the proposed area for development. As for the rest, he says, various government commissions (now all defunct) have already proposed that these areas be opened for titling.

Granted that Roxas’s property claims to the area are in order, how the company plans to finance such a huge undertaking is a big question mark. In its latest financial statement submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Green Square has over P6 billion worth of assets—including “land held for future development”—but the company’s net earnings for 2002 amounted to only P276,010. Its sister company, Green Circle, which has total assets of P2.6 billion—including P2.2 billion investments in Green Square—posted a negative net income of P965 in 2003.

The proposed plan, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III noted, is just too far out. “They are selling this song and dance that it’s a whole new city,” he told NEWSBREAK. This is not the only grand idea that Roxas has come up with, Osmeña pointed out. Roxas also stirred up much debate in Soledad City, Monterey County, California, when he proposed to develop the place into a 5,000-acre “city of learning.”

Roxas has not included in his master plan the cost of developing his Pacific Coast Cities. NEWSBREAK asked Querejero for a ballpark figure and was told that the company would need at least P20 billion to build access roads to the area, a port in Dingalan, and the initial development of the three component cities. This is too small a budget for developing an area bigger than Metro Manila.

Roxas has tried to improve the viability of the plan by having it declared a flagship project. On Jan. 27, 2000, President Joseph Estrada obliged him by issuing Proclamation No. 233, declaring 30,000 hectares of the Roxas property a Special Economic Zone and Tourism Estate.

Despite these incentives, Roxas has yet to convince investors to support his dream city. The only possible income Roxas is getting from his land at the moment, according to Riñas, is derived from sale of wood cut from within his titled property.

How a company which needs such a huge capital infusion could possibly help another cash-strapped company like CAP is a mystery. Without the necessary investments, the Pacific Coast City could remain a pipedream. And CAP could be left holding 3,000 hectares of forest land in the middle of nowhere.

^^ This is so huge..... employing 3.6M people???

aba isang probinsya na yun ahh...pwede na dito mag vote padding pag election...teka tawagan ko Lakas:lol:

WALA NA TON!!!!!!!!!!MGA BOBO KASI MGA PULIKO NATIN!!!!!!!

WALA NA TON!!!!!!!!!!MGA BOBO KASI MGA PULIKO NATIN!!!!!!!

^^ not all sir...

eto technique ng mga politicians: magpapakita ng kasipagan, kabaitan, at katapatan (kuno) kasi may hidden agenda... xempre iboboto, desreving daw kc... tapos pag nakaupo na sa pwesto... pag may project namomodify, kung hindi sa lupa nila itatayo, in favor sa kanila... kahit nasa SACRIFICE ung interest ng nakararami... tapos tatawagin nila ung mga sarili nila na SELFLESS and HONORABLE. tsk tsk... GOD BLESS the PHILIPPINES.

Ito ba yung Aurora na binabaha nang todo 'pag dinadaanan ng bagyo?

Ito nga po yun Sir, parang Japan Lang, Parang Pampanga lang Parang Philippines:lol:

may latest n ba d2?

updates?

Pangarap Coast City

part ba to' ng Aurora Special Economic Zone ?