Aurora and Bataan Provinces [Archive]

allan_dude

March 1st, 2008, 09:53 PM

Jobs generated by DTI Bataan doubled in 2007

by William L. Beltran

Balanga, Bataan -- The provincial Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bataan gainfully ended year 2007 with almost 25,000 new jobs generated in its varied programs.

According to Yay Lasam, DTI provincial director, the bulk of the jobs generated mostly comprised One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) projects which included jobs on OTOP enterprises that are labor intensive such as mango growing, cashew production and food processing.

Lasam said the DTI provincial office is elated over the achievement, boasting that the employment generation target was overshot, in fact, more than doubled. Target was pegged at 11,930, making a 208% accomplishment with the actual jobs generated that reached an astounding 24,872.

In 2006, the provincial trade department generated a total of 11,556 jobs.

The overshoot in jobs target, Lasam added, is attributed in part to investments generated for the year which totaled to over P13-billion, a 1,421% accomplishment vis-a-vis the target of P727.59 million.

The bulk of these investments, Lasam explained, came from GN Power, a coal-fired power plant being established in Mariveles with an initial investment of $300 million or amounting to some P12 billion.

Small-and-medium enterprises (SME), on the other hand, assisted by the DTI thru loan financing and business matching, generated investments amounting to P10.47 million.

Meanwhile, in SME development, the DTI assisted 135 micro-small-and-medium enterprises (MSME) in 2007, a decrease of about 22% from the those assisted in 2006 which numbered 174 in total.

Ninety one new SMEs, however, were developed in different parts of the province, a far cry from the 10 in 2006. Most of these new SMEs are in the OTOP program.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080227.htm&no=88

allan_dude

March 19th, 2008, 04:11 PM

President inaugurates P53-M, 3-storey prov'l hospital in Bataan

PIA (http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080313.htm&no=20)

Balanga City, Bataan -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated the P53-million, three-storey provincial hospital building here. She later kicked off the Women's Month celebration in this province in ceremonies held at the provincial capitol grounds.

The President cut the ribbon and unveiled the project marker at the main entrance of the newly-completed ward building of the Bataan General Hospital, signaling its opening to the public. She was assisted by Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia Jr., Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia, Bataan Reps. Albert Garcia and Herminia Roman, and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

The President then toured and inspected the facilities of this lone tertiary government hospital in Bataan that has 300-bed capacity.

The hospital was built to address the problem of inadequate rooms for the confinement and accommodation of patients.

The construction of the hospital building was started in August 2005 and completed in November 2007. The building has a total floor area of 1,814.32 square meters. Private rooms are found at the groundfloor while ward rooms are located at the second and third floors.

At the launching of the Women's Month celebration held at the Bataan provincial capitol grounds the President distributed 30 "Buntis Kits" containing multivitamins, iron supplements and other items for pregnant women.

She also distributed 300 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarship certificates to the mayors of 12 municipalities, including Balanga Mayor Garcia and Dinalupihan Mayor Joel Payumo.

She also gave away 25 "Galing Mekaniko" and 25 "Galing Masahista Ako" kits, 11 certificates to operate "Tindahan Natin" and 60 PhilHealth cards to Bataan residents.

"Ako ay nasisiyahan na nagkaroon ng selebrasyon ng Women's Month dito sa Bataan. Nag-imbita si Governor Garcia para buksan ang inayos na provincial hospital. Naibahagi natin iyong mga biyaya kanina, iyong para sa mga training, PhilHealth at mga tulong para sa mga buntis. Magbibigay tayo ng ambulansiya para sa bagong hospital ni Governor Garcia," she said in her impromptu speech.

allan_dude

March 29th, 2008, 08:14 AM

Mariveles giant bag is candidate for Guinness world record

By Gilda V. Llames

Bataan -- A 20-foot-high backpack, produced by seven skilled bag makers from Mariveles, Bataan, may yet land for the municipality a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The giant bag symbolizes and showcases the main product of Mariveles under the "One Town, One Product" (OTOP) program, according to Yay P. Lasam, director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the province.

For the past several years, the municipality has been known as a producer of durable and export-quality bags. The endeavor started in the early 70's when multi-national firms were producing backpacks of famous brands like Jansport at the Bataan Export Zone (BEZ), Lasam related.

However, when the foreign-owned bag manufacturers closed down or had to transfer their operations to other areas, the sewers were displaced and had no where to go then, the DTI official recounted.

The closure of the companies proved to be a blessing in disguise for the affected workers because some of them soon ventured into their own bag-making business and sold their products locally using known brand names without realizing that it was against the intellectual property law.

Despite the infringement, many people still patronized the bags produced in Mariveles because they were of excellent quality and durability, according to Lasam.

Bag making in Mariveles received a big boost with the launching of the OTOP program in 2005. Lasam explained that OTOP, which is a priority program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, aims to promote the unique and competitive products or services of towns and cities in the country with the ultimate goal of alleviating poverty through the promotion of entrepreneurship and creation of jobs.

With the launching of OTOP, bag makers of the municipality were assisted through trainings on product development, marketing, financial management, packaging and labeling/branding.

Mary Adolfo, OTOP coordinator of Mariveles, recalled that the bag makers soon realized that for their products to generate wider acceptance and be well-known in other places, they have to have a unique brand that is easily identified with their town.

A series of consultations with designers of the DTI gave birth to the brand name "Mariveles Bags" which was subsequently adopted with a corresponding logo conceptualized and designed by DTI officer, Gerry Santos.

From then on, Lasam pointed out, the logo became the trade mark of bags made in Mariveles, including the giant OTOP bag now on display in front of the municipal hall.

The giant bag, unveiled last February 16 as part of the 63rd anniversary of the liberation of Mariveles, is made of 80 yards of tarpaulin material donated by Dong-In Group of Companies, a Korean firm operating at the BEZ.

Dr. Jesse Concepcion, mayor of Mariveles said that the bag can withstand strong winds and other elements because its frame is made of galvanized iron pipes, angular and flat bars.

The giant bag's pocket when opened serves as a view deck where visitors could view the sea in front of the town hall, Director Lasam pointed out.

A steel staircase inside the giant bag leads to a platform several feet high where the view deck pocket is located.

Lasam expressed optimism that the giant bag will not only promote further an already progressive industry, it is also expected to lure more tourists to the scenic coastal town of Mariveles. (PIA-Bataan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080228.htm&no=80

GearX

April 3rd, 2008, 09:40 AM

Abucay Mega Market and Trade Center

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/another/subdivisions/abucay1.gif

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/another/subdivisions/abucay2.gif

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/another/subdivisions/abucay3.gif

tracymack

April 3rd, 2008, 09:55 AM

^^Nice! Is this structure already under construction?

allan_dude

April 4th, 2008, 04:12 PM

Govt to spend $800m to revive Bataan nuke plant

SINGAPORE—The Philippine government may invite investors to restore the nuclear power plant in Bataan at a cost of about $800 million to meet rising demand for power, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said here yesterday.

“We are seriously considering rehabilitating our mothballed nuclear power plant to help in our efforts to move away from fossil fuels,” Reyes said.

But the energy secretary said the 600-megawatt nuclear reactor could only begin operations in five to six years because the feasibility study alone would take two years, and putting the plant into actual operation would take another five years.

Reyes said the International Atomic Energy Agency visited the Bataan plant in February and allowed the government to go ahead with rehabilitation.

The Philippines, which depends on oil and coal for a large portion of its energy needs, plans to focus on renewable energy and cleaner-burning fuels including natural gas, Reyes said. The country is selling part of the state power assets in a plan to open the electricity market.

“It’s one of the markets in Asia which is furthest in its reform of the power sector,” said Erik Knive, chief executive officer of SN Power Singapore, which has invested $850 million in two hydroelectric plants in the Philippines.

The government might pass a renewable energy bill this year to lay a framework for investments in non-fossil fuel, Reyes said.

“The bill will help attract foreign investments,” Reyes said.

The government might sell 70 percent of the state power assets by August to offer customers a choice of electricity providers, Reyes said.

The government had sold 49 percent so far and raised $2 billion, he said.

The Philippines will allow large industries consuming more than 1,000 megawatts to choose their power supplier starting next year, Rauf Tan, commissioner of the Philippines’ Energy Regulatory Commission, said on April 1. Smaller consumers could select their supplier in five years.

In February, Reyes led a planning session for a 20-year energy program for the country, and nuclear power is one of the options being considered.

He downplayed safety issues over the nuclear plant itself because South Korea, where Westinghouse built a plant similar to the Bataan facility, has been operating for 20 years and has been rehabilitated to operate for another 30 years.

“The $2.3-billion loan used to put up the country’s nuclear plant was completely settled in April last year,” he said. Bloomberg (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news5_april4_2008)

allan_dude

April 30th, 2008, 12:51 AM

Forum on SCAD mega-logistics hub held in Bataan

BALANGA City -- Sec. Edgardo Pamintuan of The Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) Council recently said that SCAD is implementing a master plan that will make the Philippines at par with other logistics center in the Asia-Pacific Region like Singapore, Hongkong, Bangkok, Japan and South Korea.

Pamintuan who is SCAD Center chairman, said that a SCAD corridor was created composed of areas in Subic and Clark Freeport Zones 17 municipalities and four cities in the provinces of Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga

As a logistics center, the council shall be utilizing the seaport of Subic and the airport of Clark linked by the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway that will be opened to the public this April, Pamintuan said.

The SCAD corridor with a mega-logistics hub has a single, contiguous geographic and economic growth corridor providing world-class logistics infrastructure and services.

Pamintuan said with the opening of the SCTEx, they have held meetings in Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan and soon in Pampanga to impart to the people knowledge about the program.

People just hear about SCAD but what it is all about is still not clear to them, he said.

Municipal officials and representatives of the academe, business and non-governmental organizations attended the discussion in Balanga City.

Gov. Enrique Garcia said that the SCTEx and the SCAD program are to benefit six existing industrial zones in Bataan, namely: Bataan Economic Zone and PNOC Alternative Fuels Corporation in Mariveles; Bataan Technology Park in Morong, Hermosa Special Economic Zone and DND Defense Industrial Estate and Petron Bataan Refinery in Limay.

Other petroleum industry players Total-Philippines, Unioil and LiquiGaz have also their respective operations in Limay or Mariveles.

Investors in the province instead of shipping their products or receiving raw materials through the Manila port or the Manila International Airport (MIA) will be making use of the Subic Bay Freeport and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Angeles City that is free from the monstrous traffic and only a few minutes drive, the Bataan governor said.

To conveniently connect the industries to the SCETEx, Garcia said that the rehabilitation of the Bataan Expressway and the establishment of a transshipment port in Mariveles have to be undertaken soonest.

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1446535/

allan_dude

May 4th, 2008, 06:29 PM

BOC to create 2 collection districts in Cagayan, Bataan

By Iris C. Gonzales
Friday, May 2, 2008

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will create two collection districts in Cagayan and Bataan due to the expected increase in investors in the two areas.

BOC commissioner Napoleon Morales said the agency is anticipating the influx of investors given the developments at the Cagayan economic zone.

As such, the BOC will create a collection district in Aparri in Cagayan and in the Port of Limay in Bataan due to the expected increase in investors.

Morales said the ultimate goal is to enhance revenues, facilitate trade and enhance trade security.

“We will try to plug all smuggling loopholes,” Morales said.

The Customs chief said the agency would issue a memorandum next month to implement the plan.

The BOC is under heavy pressure to meet its targets to enable the government to balance the budget this year as had been planned.

As of the first quarter of the year, the National Government incurred a budget deficit of P51.6 billion or P400 million lower than the P52 billion deficit recorded in the same period last year and P8.7 billion lower than the programmed deficit of P60.2 billion for the period.

Revenues in the first quarter increased by 6.8 percent to P253.5 billion from P237.3 billion recorded in the same period last year. This is also P4 billion higher or 1.6 percent above the revenue target for the period of P249.6 billion.

Of this amount, revenues generated by the BOC during the quarter went up by 21.5 percent to P48.9 billion from P40.2 billion, but short of the P51.8 billion target for the quarter by P2.9 billion or 5.6 percent.

In March, revenues of the BOC climbed 23.1 percent to P18.5 billion from P15 billion in the same period last year.

http://philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008050123&type=2

garzland

May 6th, 2008, 03:03 PM

barrera_marquez

May 8th, 2008, 05:51 AM

Oo nga, at sana naman hindi maging kasinggahaman ng mga IPPs ngayon ang magi-invest diyan. Big business kasi ang power production at saka para bumaba na rin ang presyo ng kuryente at maging possible na rin ang electrified Northrail.

Kung tutuusin nakakapanghinayang talaga ang Bataan Nuclear Power Plant kasi natapos siya pero hindi naman tumakbo pero mas delikado kung sasabog iyan ang lapit pa naman niyan sa Balanga City pati Metro Manila baka mawala sa mapa... tama si garzland, they should run it at the same time make it safe...

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

dark_knight_detectve

July 10th, 2008, 01:23 PM

BOC creates Port of Limay (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008070940&type=2)

By Iris Gonzales
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has created the Port of Limay in Bataan as the agency’s 16th collection district to help curb oil smuggling, which remains a major problem of the government.

In an order dated July 3, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the new port will have jurisdiction over the entire province of Bataan, except the areas controlled by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Morales said the ultimate goal is to curb smuggling, enhance revenues, facilitate trade and, enhance trade security.

Previously, the sub-ports of Limay and Mariveles were under the jurisdiction of the Port of Manila.

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allan_dude

July 22nd, 2008, 03:09 AM

San Miguel, Toyota unit eye P1-B grains terminal

By Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The beverage and food group San Miguel Corp. is in talks with trading giant Toyota Tsusho Corp. on a possible joint acquisition of the Mariveles Grain Terminal (MGT) in Bataan province, northwest of Manila, an important port for bulk grains and commodities handling, sources of the Philippine Daily Inquirer said.

Inquirer sources privy to the deal said the acquisition could be sealed in a month’s time and would be worth roughly P1 billion.

The Mariveles grains terminal is a major gateway for bulk grains handling such as flour, soy bean and corn.

Mariveles lies at the southern tip of the Bataan Peninsula by the mouth of Manila Bay. The grains terminal started operating in 1996, and is the first of its kind in the Philippines and one of the most advanced in Asia.

Under agreements entered into with the Philippine Ports Authority and the province of Bataan, listed port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) holds the right to develop and operate the Mariveles bulk grains terminal for 20 years through 2013, renewable for another 20 years.

An official of ATI declined to comment on the San Miguel plan, saying he had no knowledge of the deal.

On Dec. 17, 1993, ATI and San Miguel, with the blessing of the provincial government of Bataan, entered into a sublease agreement covering 2 hectares of the 10-hectare area originally leased by ATI. The property is being used by San Miguel for its integrated bulk handling terminal operations for malt.

Last Oct. 24, the permit to operate the grains terminal was transferred to Mariveles Grain Corp. (MGC), a wholly owned subsidiary of ATI. The terminal has four unloaders or port equipment that can discharge wheat at an average rate of 10,000 metric tons a day. The unloaders can also discharge at least 10,000 MT of soya bean meal a day.

From the vessels, cargoes are being transported to silos via conveyor belts and plastic bucket elevators.

The Toyota Tsusho group is one of the biggest trading groups in the world. Its main business is to support Toyota Motor’s automobile business and other Toyota group firms. It is comprised of more than 350 subsidiaries and affiliated companies.

The trading company is involved in sales of a broad range of products such as metals, machinery and electronics, automotive components, energy and chemicals, foodstuff and consumer products.

San Miguel was reportedly looking at taking over the Bataan port since 2003 to boost its logistics network, improve agribusiness operations and cut distribution costs.

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20080722-149872/San-Miguel-Toyota-unit-eye-P1-B-grains-terminal

dark_knight_detectve

August 9th, 2008, 07:12 PM

Bataan mayor sees job prospects for Pinoy laborers in Guam (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008080947&type=2)

Sunday, August 10, 2008
BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The looming relocation plan by American authorities to transfer its facilities from Okinawa, Japan to the Island of Guam starting next year would create a big demand for local skilled construction workers.

City Mayor Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III yesterday said during his Barangay Week affair held in Poblacion that some 20,000 highly-skilled Filipino construction workers are needed in the Island of Guam with the relocation of some 8,000 American servicemen and their families from the American Naval Base in Okinawa, Japan starting next year.

Garcia told The STAR that the newly installed officers of the Bataan Association of Guam led by its president Arsenio Santiago have informed him and his father Bataan Gov. Enrique “Tet” Garcia Jr. who flew to Agana, Guam to induct the officers and guest speaker of the 11th year anniversary, respectively about the expected construction boom which is reportedly budgeted at $15 billion worth to be spent between 2009 to 2014.

Various Filipino communities in Guam and the American authorities have endorsed the hiring of Filipino construction workers with their excellent performance and good working relations with the local inhabitants in the past.

Garcia said about 200 Bataeños, most of them professionals who have lived in the American island territory are working for stronger relationship between two historical islands of Guam and Bataan and to foster cultural and educational exchange and to hasten socio-economic ties.

Garcia said that Guam Gov. Felix Camacho is expected to visit Bataan in two months time for the formal signing of a sisterhood agreement and for closer cultural and economic cooperation between Bataan and Guam. – Raffy Viray

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allan_dude

August 10th, 2008, 01:18 PM

Balanga City newest RP bird-watching site

goodnewspilipinas.com

BALANGA CITY in Bataan is the latest bird watching site in the Philippines that will be promoted worldwide by the Department of Tourism.

A group of experts and the DOT gave the thumbs up to Balanga City after visiting the seaside villages of Tortugas, Puerto Rivas Ibaba and Sibacan. The team was composed of officials from the DOT, tour operators and the Wild Birds Club of the Philippines.

To promote Balanga, DOT is packaging a 22-day bird watching activity for tourists in 12 sites in the Philippines for $10,000 per person, inclusive of airfare and board and lodging. The sites are divided into clusters with Balanga City in the group composed of Subic and Candaba Swamp in Pampanga.

Stanie Soriano, manager of DOT’s Corporate Relations Department, said that Balanga City would be in the first volume of their Bird watching Guidebook that will be ready in time for advertising in London by November this year.

“It will be a worldwide promotion that DOT will undertake and it will begin with the production of the guidebook to be out by September this year to show foreign tourists various bird watching destinations in the country, Balanga City included,” she said.

Other bird watching sites are the Paranaque Critical Habitat in Las Piñas, Mount Palay-Palay National Park in Ternate, Cavite; Villa Escudero in Laguna, Nug-As Forest in Alcoy and Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, both in Cebu; Philippine Eagle Center in Davao, Candaba Swamp in Pampanga, Subic Bay in Olongapo City, Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos and Mangrove Marine Protected Area I in Bani, both in Pangasinan; and Rasa Island and Puerto Princesa Subteranean River National Park, in Palawan.

Soriano said that DOT is focusing on bird watching this year under its Adventure Philippines Campaign.

Dr. Joey Soriano, a member of the Wild Birds Club, said the proposed bird sanctuary in Balanga City will have an area of about 100 hectares consisting of mad flat (exposed portions of the seashore where birds feed), viewing deck, heights and picnic huts.

“Bird watching in the Philippines has a bright prospect because there are birds here that are endemic in given areas that will attract tourists from England, Germany, United States, Scotland and South East Asian countries like Singapore, Thailand and Japan,” the psychiatrist said.

He said that foreign tourists in groups of five to ten spend from $5,000 to $7,000 each in bird watching activities. The doctor said small groups are preferred so as not to drive away the birds.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080802-152249/Balanga-City-newest-RP-bird-watching-site

dark_knight_detectve

August 13th, 2008, 02:40 PM

Wounded sea eagle rescued in Bataan (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008081243&type=2)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
BALANGA CITY – A blooded baby eagle trembling in pain from a gunshot wound on its left wing span in the vast cogon field of the upland village of Duale in the Bataan industrial town of Limay was rescued by a former Army soldier Sunday afternoon.

Basilio Sadsad, chief of the volunteer village watchmen of Duale said that Joel Tacardon, a retired Army trooper, found the wounded rare sea eagle chirping in the hilly section of the Mariveles mountain ranges while he was crossing along a 38 radius slope.

Tacardon took the endangered eagle and turned it over to barangay officials who sought the help of a local broadcast reporter, Pat Villanueva, to find ways to save the sea eagle.

Barangay officials readied a makeshift cage to house the eagle inside the barangay hall and fed him with fish caught from nearby Manila Bay.

Villanueva has contacted the local Department of Environment and Natural Resources office in Pilar town, this province, about the discovery of a sea eagle suffering from a gunshot wound inflicted preferably by an unidentified hunter using a .22 caliber rifle.

Mila Ramirez, DENR’s wildlife officer in Bataan, said the bird is classified as juvenile sea eagle. She said that mature sea eagles have white feathers on their breasts but the captured eagle is still colored gray. – Raffy Viray and Ric Sapnu

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dark_knight_detectve

August 17th, 2008, 03:25 PM

8,000 hectares of public lands earmarked for bio-fuel project (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008081688&type=2)
By Raffy Viray
Sunday, August 17, 2008
BALANGA CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources here has earmarked some 8,000 hectares of public lands for the use of the government’s bio-fuel project.

Lawyer Ricardo Lazaro, DENR Bataan provincial environment and natural resources officer (Penro) told The STAR that the government had identified those areas previously leased to 26 transformed into more plausible energy project likely to “tuba-tuba” plantation.

Lazaro said the establishment of Jatropha farms in Bataan would be sufficient to supply the initial requirement of the proposed multi-million peso bio-fuel plant of the Philippine National Oil Co. Alternative Fuel inside the huge petrochemical complex in the coastal village of Batangas Dos, Mariveles town, this province.

He said tuba-tuba will be used as feedstock for biodiesel under the Biofuels Act of 2005.

Earlier, the Philippine Forest Corp. (PhiForest), a government owned and controlled corporation under the DENR is eyeing some 500-hectare public lands located at the back of historic Mount Samat in Barangay Liyang,Pilar and Barangay Parang, Bagac, as model Jatropha farms in Central Luzon for biodiesel project in the country.

DENR Undersecretary Eleazar Quinto for field operations and concurrently the president of PhilForest, had informed Pilar Mayor Charlie Pizarro and Bagac Mayor Ramil del Rosario last week that Celso Diaz, PhilForest consultant, will visit the selected model farm with Lazaro, to undertake ocular inspection and initial evaluation as to the viability of the said project.

“We hope to establish the Jatropha plantation as a show window for potential investors both local and foreign in the upland village of Liyang, Pilar town as first site of PhilForest-DENR plantation in Central Luzon and the creation of such plantation can generate additional revenues for upland farmers,” Quinto said.

According to DENR, the initial investment for commercial plantation for one hectare ranges from P32,000 to P50,000 and the fair return of investment ranging from 90 to 95 centavos per P1 and potential yield from 1.25 to 12.5 tons per hectare depending on the site, climate and tending operations.

The establishment of Jatropha plantation would also develop idle lands to root crop farming which would ensure steady income for the upland tiller aside from the employment opportunities generated by the bio-fuel project.

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dark_knight_detectve

August 25th, 2008, 02:48 PM

New GK community to rise in Balanga City (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20080824175&type=2)
By Raffy Viray
Monday, August 25, 2008
BALANGA CITY – The Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation will start the construction of housing units in the upland sitio of Bane in Barangay Cataning here, which is scheduled for occupancy early next year by some 150 indigent families.

Angel Pizarro, Gawad Kalinga project director and a prominent business executive in Bataan, told The STAR before the groundbreaking ceremony of the foundation’s new housing community last Friday that 120 to 150 houses have been planned to be built on the three-hectare land donated by Dr. Victor Abello and Grace Abello Consunji.

The site, about five kilometers away from the city proper, is a progressive agricultural community, facing the historic Mt. Samat in Pilar town, signifying that Gawad Kalinga is not just a work of charity but a mission to build the nation.

Pizarro said Dr. Fortunato Abello, a Balanga City resident based in San Antonio, Texas, has earmarked P2.5 million for the construction of 30 housing units in the GK Kanlungan ng Pag-asa project.

Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia Jr. and his son, Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III, and other officials boarded a wagon pulled by a tractor then traveled on a muddy, circuitous road to reach the site.

The younger Garcia promised to allocate some budget for the cementing of the 300-meter road that connects the main barangay road to the GK community so that occupants will not have to use the dangerous trail anymore.

He lauded the GK for leading a movement that envisions building 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years up to October 2010. GK villages have been built in Limay, Orion, Abucay and Orani towns in Bataan in the past five years.

The beneficiaries will undergo a three-month seminar on “membership training and values formation” for them to identify their common concerns and discuss among themselves the possible solutions to these problems.

The Couples for Christ-Gawad Kalinga Caretaker team will administer the values formation seminar.

Mayor Garcia said the project would at least minimize the number of informal dwellers living under bridges and along creeks.

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CGYanon

August 28th, 2008, 06:08 PM

one of my favorite places to visit (2 or 3 times a year) is Santa Fe, New Mexico. me and my friends always visit the Bataan Memorial Building in Santa Fe, its right next to the Capitol.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Bataan_Memorial_Building_Santa_Fe.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_Department_of_Cultural_Affairs

CGYanon

August 28th, 2008, 06:13 PM

Hollywood is remaking Bataan movie, Beast of Bataan with Hayden Christiansen and William Hurt.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0893394/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035664/

Igsuonnimo

September 24th, 2008, 11:37 AM

Palabas kagabi(23Sept) sa ABS-CBN-The Correspondents(Abner Mercado) ang Bataan.
Pinakita duon ang Pawikan Conservation Center sa Morong Bataan at ang Nagbalayong Elementary School.

allan_dude

October 9th, 2008, 06:33 PM

Subic bucks perk for Bataan port

R. A. M. Rubio, BusinessWorld

MANILA, Philippines - The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) opposes the proposed exemption from wharfage fee in a bill pending in the House of Representatives that seeks to covert Bataan’s Port of Mariveles into a special economic zone and freeport, making it a direct competitor of Subic.

The measure, House Bill No. 1425, was authored by Bataan Rep. (2nd district) Albert S. Garcia.

Ruel John Kabigting, officer-in-charge of SBMA’s business and investment group, said exempting the Port of Mariveles from wharfage dues would lead shipping firms and businesses to prefer that port rather than Subic Freeport, and, consequently, would "seriously affect and prejudice its [SBMA’s] capability to pay" its ¥16.45-billion ($149.545-million, or P5.875-billion) loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

"If we activate this provision of exemption from wharfage fees in the Port of Mariveles, we [Subic] will lose our revenues [due to lost business]. We will have difficult time paying this loan. We are not exempt from wharfage dues. We are collecting them from port users. This is our only objection to this bill," Mr. Kabigting said in a hearing last week.

The JBIC loan was used to build the new 600,000 20-feet equivalent units (TEU) container terminal. Listed International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is operating the first berth. SBMA will start paying its loans in 2010.

"Right now, we are already marketing this port and having difficulty convincing shippers and manufacturers to use the Port of Subic. We are [working] double time so we can meet our obligation to JBIC," Mr. Kabigting said.

"This is one of our sources of revenues. We are essentially a harbor. Our target is to be a maritime hub in the Southeast Asian region."

Mr. Garcia said the Bataan port has been operating since 1969, but its development has been stalled since 1986.

"It was placed in the backburner. That is when all these new freeports and economic zones emerged. It will be more disadvantageous for Bataan if we create something less than a freeport. With proximity to SBMA, investors will have to compare incentives and other attractions to these free ports. All the more we have to level the playing field and give these incentives to the Bataan economic zone," he added.

Noting the long impasse in the development of the Port of Mariveles, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) deputy director general Mary Harriet O. Abordo said in the same hearing that "the creation of the Bataan economic zone was not PEZA’s choice. If it were my choice, as an ordinary citizen, I would not have probably put an economic zone or a freeport in that area unless the government was already committed to fund it. There was no infrastructure to speak of in that place to begin with."

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/120489/Subic-bucks-perk-for-Bataan-port

allan_dude

October 20th, 2008, 05:52 AM

Subic Resists for Bataan Port

Written by Loren

SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) opposes the propose exemption from wharfage fee in a bill, authored by Bataan Rep. (2nd district), Albert S. Garcia, in the House of Representatives that seeks to covert Bataan's port of Mariveles into special economic zone and Freeport, making it a direct competitor of Subic.

Ruel John Kabigting, officer in charge of SBMA's business and investment group, said that if that provision will be activated, Subic will lose its revenues due to lost business. It will have difficult time paying its loan because it's not exempted from wharfage dues. And this is their only objection on the said bill.

Mr. Garcia said that the Bataan port has been operating since 1969 but its development has been stalled since 1986. So, Mr. Garcia proposed the bill for the port's and province' development.

http://www.mybataan.com/content/view/333/96/

icarusrising

October 21st, 2008, 08:45 AM

http://www.gmanews.tv/images/topstories/ZZZ_102108_2.jpg

Boatmen wait to ferry tourists on a sight-seeing tour of the Bagac, Bataan coastline at Montemar Beach on Sunday. Joe Galvez

Source (http://www.gmanews.tv/index.html)

allan_dude

October 22nd, 2008, 09:14 AM

Port operator seeks court action vs. Mariveles Grain properties auction

GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines - Listed port operator Asian Terminals Inc. on Friday disclosed that it has sought court intervention against the auction of certain properties at the Mariveles Grain Terminal.

In a disclosure, ATI said the company and its subsidiary, Mariveles Grain Corp., asked the regional trial court of Balanga, Bataan to "stop the intended public auction of certain real properties located at the Mariveles Grain Terminal."

The government has placed the properties for public auction for "alleged delinquent real property taxes."

However, ATI said it has religiously paid its taxes and remains confident of its legal position.

"ATI has likewise filed an appeal on the Notice of Re-assessment issued by the Provincial Assessor with the Local Board of Assessment Appeals," ATI said.

Besides the highly-automated Mariveles Grain Terminal, ATI, used to be called Marina Port Services Inc., also operates South Harbor.

Reports earlier said food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. and Japanese company Toyota Tsusho Corp. were in negotiation for their acquisition of the Mariveles Grain Terminal from ATI.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/123136/Port-operator-seeks-court-action-vs-Mariveles-Grain-properties-auction

allan_dude

October 22nd, 2008, 09:26 AM

Corregidor's Manong Pablito

Written by Loren

If you are tired so much of your life in the city, why don't you try travel and visit some of our historical places?

One of these places is the Corregidor Island when you can have the nice views of Manila skyline and the mountains of Bataan and cavite.

As you stepped in this historical place, an elderly tour guide named Pablito Matrinez will give you some information about the island. The man spoke flawless English and he certainly knew what he was talking about, from weapons to ships to historical dates and events.

Manong Pablito was an expert on historical data on the guns and cannons of corregidpr, he was also very professional about his work. He had s terrific sense of humor and was a stickler for punctuality to everybody.

Corregidor is a place worth visiting. You can also explore some of your hobbies in this palce. So, if you want to know Corregidor and Bataan and your country’s history better, just visit Corregidor and also try to look for the man with great passion on his work, Manong Pablito.

http://www.mybataan.com/content/view/329/96/

allan_dude

October 22nd, 2008, 09:27 AM

Bataan Supports Wine Production

Written by Loren

The Provincial Government of Bataan recently releases a P132, 937 financial assistance for the production of wine by an entrepreneur from Duale, Limay.

DOST Chief Rosalie V. Ona of Bataan said that the non-interest loan provided to Rosario M. Villaviray will be used to upgrade and standardize wine production from cashew, duaht and bignay. [via PIA]

http://www.mybataan.com/content/view/326/96/

allan_dude

October 22nd, 2008, 09:29 AM

ALI to Sell its Club Shares

Written by Loren

Ayala Land Inc. said that it would sell 2,450 club shares priced between P510,000 and P850,000 each for the construction of recreational facility.

The 320-hectare property in Morong, Bataan, which is the Anvaya Club, offers residential lots and exclusive villas as well as beach club and golf course facilities.

The company is to rise as much as P1.9B from the sale of the club shares.

http://www.mybataan.com/images/stories/anvaya-cove-morong.jpg

Ayala Land Inc. is constructing the project in 3 phases.

http://www.mybataan.com/content/view/330/96/

METROPOLITAN_ILOILO

December 24th, 2008, 08:24 PM

http://img26.picoodle.com/img/img26/3/12/24/f_christmasatm_a8eb058.jpg

garzland

December 25th, 2008, 03:33 AM

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5738/mapofnagave1.png

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Taz08

January 1st, 2009, 08:46 AM

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/bobtaz08/SSC.jpg?t=1230790298

venntro

February 10th, 2009, 03:02 AM

100 dolphins stranded off Bataan, 3 reported dead (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148054/100-dolphins-stranded-off-Bataan-3-reported-dead)
02/10/2009 | 08:31 AM

MANILA, Philippines - At least 100 dolphins were beached off the coastal area of Pilar town in the northern Philippines province of Bataan, Governor Enrique Garcia Jr. said early Tuesday.

In a radio interview, Garcia cited initial reports that at least three of the dolphins may have died, even as local residents tried to push them back into the water.

"Mahigit 100 dolphins ang stranded sa Pilar ... Report namin about 30 minutes ago tumawag ako sa SBMA at Ocean Adventure na magpadala ng rescue team dito [More than 100 dolphins were stranded in Pilar town. About 30 minutes ago I called the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and
Ocean Adventure to bring in rescue teams]," Garcia said in an interview on dzBB radio.

"This is a phenomenon, ngayon lang nangyayari ito [It is only now that this happened]," he added.

Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said he is coordinating with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to rescue the dolphins.

"Dinirect namin ang units namin sa Metro Manila [We directed our units in Metro Manila] to help out in this particular undertaking," he said.

Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. promised to send a team to the area. - GMANews.TV

venntro

February 10th, 2009, 04:56 AM

BFAR addresses ‘stranding’ of 500 dolphins in Bataan (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148067/BFAR-to-address-stranding-of-500-dolphins-in-Bataan)
SOPHIA DEDACE, GMANews.TV
02/10/2009 | 10:11 AM

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on Tuesday said its efforts are underway to respond to the reported "stranding" of about 500 dolphins off Pilar town in the northern Philippines province of Bataan.

In an interview on dzBB radio, BFAR director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. said he is on his way to Pilar town and that the agency’s patrol boats are preparing to go to the area as well.

"Ako’y papunta na rin. Onboard ako sa patrol vessel namin. Titignan namin kung ano’ng sitwasyon ito…Nagreready pa yung ating mga patrol boat at hinihintay ko pa yung ating mga eksperto sa stranding," Sarmiento said.

["I am on my way to Bataan onboard BFAR’s patrol vessel. We will look into the situation. Our patrol boats are also on their way to the area. We are also getting experts on stranding."]

In an earlier interview over dzBB, Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia Jr. said the number of dolphins stranded off Pilar’s coastal area reached about 500 while three dolphins were reported dead.

Sarmiento described the situation as an "unusual phenomenon," adding that the highest number of stranded dolphins the BFAR has recorded in the past only reached 20 to 30.

The BFAR chief said the situation may be caused by a sea quake that has affected the dolphins’ eardrums and sense of balance, leading to their "disorientation."

"Karamihan sa mga stranding ay dahil nagkakaroon ng sea quake o isang disturbance sa karagatan at ang mga dolphins na ito, bilang mga mammal ay may mga tenga po ito at mga eardrum. Pag nagkaroon ng malaking pressure underwater, masisira ang kanilang eardrum. Di na sila magda-dive sa malalim kaya palutang-lutang na lang sila," Sarmiento explained.

["Most strandings are caused by sea quakes or disturbances at sea. Such disturbances affect the pressure underwater, which subsequently affects the dolphins’ eardrums. The creatures then will avoid diving in deeper parts of the ocean and will swim to shallow areas."]

Sarmiento then asked the public not to inflict harm on the dolphins, which he said are considered endangered species.

"Huwag saktan ang mga dolphin. Pagbawalan yung mga tao na gustong manakit ng dolphins. Hulihin kung kinakailangan. Dapat ‘di saktan ang mga ‘yan dahil endangered na ‘yan," Sarmiento said.

["Please do not harm the dolphins because they are already endangered. The authorities should also prevent the people who want to inflict harm on the creatures. They should be arrested, if needed."] - GMANews.TV

venntro

February 18th, 2009, 04:42 AM

Party-list leaders back nuclear plant operation
(http://http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20090218148421.html)
By FA SISON ALMAZAN

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Abono party-list led by its chairman, Engineer Rosendo O. So and its president, Ponciano Onia Jr., has expressed support for the proposed operation of the mothballed Bataan nuclear power plant.

The two leaders said the members of the Abono party-list believed that the operation of the nuclear power plant could become a steady source of electricity, which could boost the development of the country.

"Naniniwala kami na malaki ang maitutulong at pakinabang ng sambayanan, lalo na para sa aming magsasaka ang pagbubukas ng nasabing nuclear power plant na panggagalingan ng enerhiya," Onia said.

He said the sectoral group respects the comments of the oppositors to the operation of the nuclear power plant and whatever concerns they have, it would be validated by the national government through consultation with nuclear experts.

Engineer So said that the operation of the nuclear power plant will be beneficial to the people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of farmers nationwide who are using electricity.

The chairman of the Abono party-list said that the Sual coal power plant in Pangasinan has been very advantageous as it generates income of R15 million a year for the barangay where it is located.

The Bataan nuclear power plant, when in operation, would also give income to the barangay where it is situated. Also, it would boost the energy supply for the people and would eventually lower the high cost of electricity.

However, the Abono party-list said that the operation of the Bataan nuclear plant should be strictly discussed in the House of Representatives and Senate to ensure that it is environmentally safe and economically viable.

The party-list lauded the statement of Lingayen-Dagupan City Archbishop Oscar Cruz who remarked that after reading scientific letters and hearing the words of Pope Benedict XVI and the Pope’s justice minister, Renato Martino, he was convinced for the operation of the Bataan nucelar power plant would benefit the people.

venntro

February 18th, 2009, 04:49 AM

B]'Bataan nuclear plant may become source of corruption' (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=440798&publicationSubCategoryId=63)[/B]
By Helen Flores Updated February 16, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas has expressed fear that the planned re-commissioning of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) might become another source of corruption in the country.

In a pastoral statement released yesterday, Villegas said the proposed $1 billion budget that would be used to rehabilitate the power plant might just be another source of graft and corruption.

“According to expert and reliable sources, 20 percent of the budget of any government projects mysteriously vanishes on the way to completion and ends up with graft and corruption,” he said.

“And given such data, Bataan Nuclear Power Plant carries a 10-year time plan, but the question is: how many people will get rich? Let us bear in mind that it is not the government that will pay for the project. It is the people,” the prelate said.

Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco is pushing for the passage of House Bill 4631 also known as the “Bataan Nuclear Power Plant Commissioning Act of 2008.”

The bill seeks to rehabilitate the power plant to free the country from its dependence on coal-powered plant.

Villegas stressed that the nuclear power plant has been paid from the taxes of the people yet they never benefited from it.

“The nuclear power plant has been paid from the taxes of the people. The amount was $2.3 billion for the plant, $460 million for the interest. Yet, we never had gotten anything out of it. And now, it is proposed that we spend another $1 billion only for its rehabilitation,” the bishop said.

Villegas claimed that only those who want to amass wealth and power would benefit from the project and not the people.

“This project was conceived not to really help but to serve as front for some people who wanted to gloat themselves with wealth and affluence at the expense of the poor people,” he said.

Villegas urged the public to join them in a prayer rally on Feb. 23 in front of the St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Balanga City.

“If you truly care for the country, come. Stand up,” said Villegas.

Proposals to re-open the BNPP have again sparked debates regarding its safety, economic viability and sustainability issues.

Various Filipino scientists have cautioned lawmakers and policy makers that these questions have to be clearly answered before making any decision on the rehabilitation of the decades-old plant.

But Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro earlier said the decision whether or not to push through with nuclear energy in the country “should be based on a thorough study of risks vis a vis benefits.” – With Katherine Adraneda

venntro

February 18th, 2009, 04:50 AM

Call to ‘bury’ Bataan Nuclear Power Plant heats up (http://http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/feb/18/yehey/prov/20090218pro4.html)

BALANGA City, Bataan: The call “to bury” the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in Napot Pt. at the Bataan mountain town of Morong has snowballed with the gathering of anti-nuclear veterans and new generation of advocates in a symposium Monday for a new fight against the re-commissioning of what they call as the “Monster of Morong.”

After the forum that lasted from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., about 500 people joined the torch parade around the major streets in the city of Balanga. Chants of “Tutulan BNPP” filed the air.

Monsignor Antonio Dumaual, lawyer Dante Ilaya, University of the Philippines Prof. Roland Simbulan and Gov. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga led the anti-nuke veterans in the forum with new crop of advocates. Some nuns were seen in the forum and in the torch parade.

Dumaual, former chairperson of the Nuclear Free Bataan Movement in the 1980s threatened to go back to the streets and conduct “welgang Bayan,” as they did at the height of the struggle against the nuclear plant then.

“Pero, sana naman makinig na ang gobyerno para hindi na maulit ang malawakang protesta tulad noon,” the priest of the Hermosa (Bataan) parish said. Speakers reminisced how they participated in mass actions all over Bataan. Some pictures of the protest actions were shown.

Dumaual said the call against the re-commissioning of the nuclear power plant began after bishop Socrates Villegas issued three pastoral statements condemning the revival of the BNPP. The pastoral letters were read during masses for two consecutive Sundays already.

The third statement would be read this coming Sunday after which the following Monday (February 23), a prayer rally would be held in front of the St. Joseph Cathedral in Balanga City.

Monsignor Dumaual said the International Atomic Energy Commission has found 4,000 defects in the BNPP “with some defects that can no longer be remedied.” The participants in the forum signed a giant “Statement against revival of BNPP.”

Among Panlilio said he has been against the nuclear plant since he was a seminarian. “Tutol ako noon at tutol pa rin ako ngayon,” he said. The priest-turned-politician said the BNPP was marred with anomalies after anomalies. He said the plant reportedly stands in an earthquake fault, which is dangerous not only for the people of Bataan but most in central Luzon.

“Wala pang kakayahan sa science ng nuclear ang Pilipinas at saan dadalhin ang nuclear waste,” the Pampanga governor said. He called on every one to unite and register their voices against the nuclear plant. “Hindi lamang mga taga-Bataan ang magbabayad ng uutangin na namang $1 bilyon kundi ang lahat ng mga Pilipinong taxpayers,” Panlilio said.

Gov. Enrique Garcia of Bataan has also registered his sentiment against the opening of the BNPP. “Tanungin muna natin ang taong-bayan at sila ang dapat masunod,” he said.
-- Ernie B. Esconde

venntro

February 23rd, 2009, 01:57 AM

Groups form 'human banner' versus nuclear plant revival (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=442770&publicationSubCategoryId=63)
By Katherine Adraneda Updated February 23, 2009 12:00 AM

Hundreds of environmental activists organized by Greenpeace form the words ‘No to BNPP’ at the Sunken Garden of the University of the Philippines campus in Quezon City yesterday. They protested a plan to revive the operations of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Boy Santos
| Zoom MANILA, Philippines - Groups opposing the proposal to revive the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) formed yesterday a “human banner” to express their protest against the plan and they urged lawmakers to reject the bill that favors the opening of the nuclear plant.

The environmental organization Greenpeace said at least 700 volunteers participated in the formation of the human banner spelling “No to BNPP” at the University of the Philippines Sunken Garden in Quezon City. The volunteers belong to Greenpeace and the Network Opposed to BNPP.

Greenpeace has been urging congressmen to reject the proposed bill to revive the BNPP because the re-commissioning of the nuclear plant would make Filipinos dependent on the “world’s most dangerous and expensive source of electricity.”

“Rep. Mark Cojuangco’s plan to ‘validate’ with the purpose of reviving and commissioning this nuclear plant, is the height of irresponsibility and arrogance. The BNPP was mothballed for safety reasons, which today still remain undisputed by any expert or study,” said Beau Baconguis, campaigns manager for the Philippines of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

The measure to revive the BNPP is currently being debated at the House Committee on Appropriations after it passed the Committee on Energy headed by Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, a co-author of the bill. Critics have noticed the “undue haste” with which the bill is proceeding in Congress.

The bill will require all energy consumers to pay at least 10 centavos more for electricity to partially shoulder the plant’s rehabilitation, and also allows the government to enter into a multi-million dollar loan for the plant’s revival, Greenpeace pointed out.

Greenpeace said aside from the “dubious monetary allocations” that are being debated in the Committee on Appropriations, it is questioning the entire premise of the bill, which it asserted is “falsely and misleadingly presupposes that the only way to stop climate change and achieve energy security is through nuclear power.”

“Our congressmen must face the simple, indisputable facts that nuclear power is the most dangerous way to generate electricity, there is also no known scientific solution to safely storing plutonium, its deadly radioactive waste-product which remains radiotoxic for 200,000 years,” Baconguis stressed.

venntro

February 23rd, 2009, 02:22 AM

Nuclear energy development better left in private sector hands - Mikey (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=442606&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Donnabelle L. Gatdula Updated February 23, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Congressman Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, chairman of the House committee on energy, believes that the development of nuclear energy should be left in private sector hands.

“Privatization is the direction of the government. I think we should go on with that even in the development of nuclear energy for power generation,” Arroyo said in a press briefing over the weekend.

But Arroyo admitted that there are several schemes to be explored on how nuclear power should be handled and developed.

“There are many ways to develop nuclear energy. It could be done through the private sector, by the government or by foreign institution initiatives. But the most important thing here is to ensure that the nuclear facility that we will put up would be safe and will bring reliable and efficient power to the people,” he said.

According to Arroyo, it is also prudent for the Philippine government to come up first with a concrete policy on nuclear energy.

He said it is also necessary for the legislative body to come up with an appropriate bill for nuclear energy development.

“All investors would want to pour in capital in a market where there is a concrete policy,” he said.

Accordingly, Arroyo said they would urged the Senate to closely coordinate with Congress to come up with an appropriate bill on nuclear energy development.

“It (Senate) should have a counterpart bill. We should work on this together,” he said.

Arroyo also said they believe the planned revival of Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) may be “feasible”. “Experts say the revival could be possible,” he said.

The Philippines plans to start up its first 600-megawatt (MW) nuclear power plant by 2025, a data from the Department of Energy (DOE) showed.

The DOE noted that the new nuclear power facility is expected to contribute 0.885 million tonne oil equivalent (MTOE) to the projected energy mix and reach up to 3.54 MTOE by 2035.

This means that the government had already inputted in its energy plan the power that could be generated from nuclear energy.

The DOE said it expects additional nuclear capacities of 600 MW to be in place by 2027, 2030 and 2034.

With this, the total capacity from nuclear under PEP 1998-2035 was projected to reach 2,400 MW by the end of the planning period.

The PEP said the Arroyo administration will be pushing for capability building and enhancement on the various aspects of nuclear energy which will specifically involve training of local manpower for the possible introduction of nuclear into the country’s energy system.

The DOE is currently looking at the possibilities of re-building local technical capability in nuclear sciences and engineering.

At present, the manpower capability of the National Power Corp., the state-owned power generating firm, in nuclear engineering has declined from the original number of 710 engineers who were trained by Westinghouse and EBASCO Overseas Corp. in the 1980’s to only 106 many of whom are now bound for retirement in the next five to 10 years.

As a long-term solution to meet future power demand, the government is exploring two options for nuclear energy development.

One option is to rehabilitate the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). If the government decides to rehabilitate BNPP, it plans to seek technical assistance from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

venntro

February 25th, 2009, 10:02 AM

House bill seeks options to BNPP (http://http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090225-190990/House-bill-seeks-options-to-BNPP)
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:04:00 02/25/2009

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) A bill has been submitted at the House of Representatives seeking a study of the possible options for sources of energy to replace the controversial measure seeking to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

The measure, filed by Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III, and Akbayan party list Representative Risa Hontiveros, mandates the National Power Corporation to “conduct and complete a technical, economic, environmental, and financial feasibility study comparing technology options for electricity generation and appropriating funds thereof...”

The proposed study will not focus on the viability of nuclear power but will treat it as one possible source of energy and seeks a P10 million appropriation from the Napocor and the Department of Energy.

If this is not acceptable, then the three lawmakers proposed that the pending bill to revive the BNPP be amended to insert provisions that would mandate and fund a feasibility study on the revival and commercial operation of the mothballed facility.

This study will cover the technical, safety, financial, economic and environmental aspects of running the plant, and would be a condition for its reopening.

The hearing by the appropriations committee this Wednesday was supposed to tackle the “appropriation language” for Pangasinan Representative Mark Cojuangco’s House Bill 4631, but was deferred after the proposed substitute bill was filed.

Quirino Representative Junie Cua, head of the committee, said that right now “there seemed to be no meeting of the minds as far as these proposed amendments were concerned.”

Faced with opposition from various sectors, Cojuangco announced that he was now open to have the BNPP “validated” to determine if it should be rehabilitated and operated commercially or remain mothballed.

Cojuangco’s bill previously called for the “rehabilitation, commissioning, and commercial operation” of the facility.

House Bill No. 4631 now seeks for the “immediate implementation of a validation process, which satisfies internationally accepted norms and culminates in either the immediate rehabilitation and commercial operation or the immediate permanent closure and salvage value recovery of the BNPP.”

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 05:10 AM

'Build new power plants now or face blackouts' (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=443669&publicationSubCategoryId=63)
By Jess Diaz Updated February 26, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - A Pangasinan congressman warned the nation yesterday that it would face long power outages in three years unless it begins building new electricity plants now.

Rep. Marcos Cojuangco told the House appropriations committee that the country would need an additional 3,000 megawatts of electricity in three years.

However, he said no one in government seems to be worried about the “impending power crisis.”

“It alarms me. Are we going to allow it? Are we going to have IPPs (independent power producers) again, IPPs that have made electricity here the most expensive in Southeast Asia?” he asked.

He said because of frequent brownouts during the Ramos administration, the government was forced to allow private investors to build power plants “at any cost.”

He added that he was leaving to his colleagues the decision on whether the nation would return to the era of frequent brownouts.

Cojuangco is the principal author of a bill seeking to revive the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which can supply Luzon with an additional 600 megawatts.

He said in many parts of the world, nuclear plants have been found to be a “reliable source of cheap and safe power.”

“Nuclear energy is better than fossil fuels, which destroy the environment,” he said.

Many of Cojuangco’s colleagues, including Representatives Edcel Lagman of Albay and Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro, are opposing the revival of the nuclear plant without new studies on its safety being conducted.

Lagman said a new study on the plant’s technical, economic and financial viability should be conducted.

Rodriguez warned of a “nuclear holocaust” should an accident happen if the plant’s safety is not assured.

Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit, a co-author with Cojuangco, protested Rodriguez’s use of the words “nuclear holocaust,” saying they give the impression that the proponents of the revival of the Bataan plant “are irresponsible.”

Certainly, Duavit said proponents do not want an accident to happen and are equally concerned about the plant’s safety and reliability.

Cojuangco said he would agree to a “validation” of the safety and reliability issues but not to new studies, “which imply procrastination and indecision.”

“If we cannot operate this plant, let us dismantle it and sell it for its salvage value. Let us stop spending P40 million a year for its maintenance,” he said.

During the hearing, Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia said most of his people are opposed to the operation of the plant because of unresolved safety concerns.

He said studies in the past have shown that the facility is located along an earthquake fault and that it had at least “40,000 defects.”

He said besides resolving these issues, the government, if it decides to operate the plant, must ask the people of Bataan and the public in general whether they are willing to accept nuclear energy.

Bataan Rep. Herminia Roman said her constituents in the first district are not opposed to the operation of the plant provided that they are assured of its safety.

“I will be the first one to object to its commissioning if it is not safe because Morong (where the plant is located) is in my district,” she said.

venntro

February 27th, 2009, 05:29 AM

CBCP rejects nuclear power plant revival (http://http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090227-191285/CBCP-rejects-nuclear-power-plant-revival)

Recommends Bataan facility ‘must be dismantled’

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:20:00 02/27/2009

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has thrown its weight behind the opposition to rehabilitating the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

In a pastoral statement, the CBCP urged Congress to “completely and irrevocably reject the opening of the nuclear plant as the most dangerous and expensive way to generate electricity.”

The statement was issued by the CBCP president, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

“Multiple risks and the possibility of corruption outweigh dreamed benefits. We recommend with other anti-BNPP congressmen and the Greenpeace Forum that the mothballed facility in Morong, Bataan, be dismantled as its revival will be most hazardous to health and life of the people,” read the CBCP statement.

The power plant was built by the Marcos regime in response to the Middle East oil embargo in the 1970s.

The $2.3-billion project, designed to generate 621 megawatts of electricity, was scrapped by the Aquino administration in 1986.

The Diocese of Balanga headed by Bishop Socrates Villegas earlier in the week staged a prayer rally against plans by some congressmen led by Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco to rehabilitate the nuclear plant to stave off an energy crisis.

The CBCP also strongly opposed the use of a coal-fired power plant as source of energy in Iloilo province and other parts of the country.

“We recommend the implementation of the approved bill on the use of renewable energy, such as solar, wind and water as safe sources of electricity,” the CBCP said.

No rush

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is in no rush to reactivate the nuclear power plant.

Malacañang Thursday said it would first await the study and series of consultations being done by the Department of Energy (DOE) before coming up with a firm position on whether to reopen the country’s only nuclear facility.

“The President will never compromise safety over speed,” Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesperson, told reporters in a briefing.

But Golez said that should the DOE study and consultations recommend reactivating the power plant, “then we would find no reason why we would have to delay.”

Asked if reopening the BNPP was a priority of Ms Arroyo, he said: “We know that her priority is that we should be energy-sufficient in the next few years.”

Golez said the government had “a lot of programs” to achieve this goal and that the BNPP was just one of them.

Last year, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said the government was seriously considering reopening the BNPP, noting that it had spent $2.3 billion to build the facility, which had generated not a kilowatt of electricity.

Rehabilitation cost

Reyes said a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had checked the facility and had pegged rehabilitation cost at $800 million for at least five years.

If it becomes operational, the BNPP will be one of the most dangerous nuclear power plants in the world, Greenpeace said Thursday.

The group said the BNPP, which has a light water reactor made by Westinghouse, did not conform to the current safety standards of the IAEA.

Outdated

Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Campaigns Manager for the Philippines, said the design of the BNPP was not only outdated but also faulty.

The BNPP’s compliance to IAEA nuclear plant construction and site selection protocols were already in doubt even before the BNPP was finished, Baconguis said.

Tessa de Ryck, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Nuclear campaigner, also said the BNPP was never evaluated according to standards of the IAEA which were raised after the 1986 Chernobyl meltdown.

The standard for nuclear reactors is “Generation 3,” which has double containment for its reactor and passive safety systems, according to De Ryck. The BNPP has a “Generation 2” reactor.

“We cannot be sure whether the BNPP can be upgraded to meet current reactor standards,” De Ryck said.

She said Westinghouse reactors were “breaking down with alarming regularity” because of design defects, including cracks in the main steam turbines, deterioration of the steam generator tube, and the reactor pressure valve turning brittle.

De Ryck also cited problems of other nuclear plants designed by Westinghouse and similar to the BNPP in Brazil and South Korea, which were plagued by outages and leakages of radioactive water.

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 02:09 AM

Global downturn costs over 10,000 jobs in Central Luzon (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=445242&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Ding Cervantes Updated March 04, 2009 12:00 AM

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The number of Central Luzon workers affected by the global economic crisis has reached 10,464 as of yesterday, but officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) noted a slowdown in the rate of layoffs and work rescheduling.

In an interview with The STAR, Region III, chief labor employment officer Geraldine Panlilio noted that of the total number of workers affected, a third or 3,443 totally lost their jobs while 6,539 others now earn less arising from such measures as reduction of their working hours and job rotation.

She also noted that 371 more workers were affected by the temporary shutdown of their companies, but noted she expects them to return to work in six months unless their companies opt to permanently close and give them their separation pay.

Of the 3,443 who permanently lost their jobs, 111 cases were due to the permanent closure of their firms in Bataan and Bulacan.

The figures were based on reports gathered from all over Central Luzon since last November, Panlilio said.

The number of the affected workers was a big jump from 3,368 workers who totally lost their jobs and 5,056 others affected by work rescheduling as of Feb. 11, but Panlilio noted that in the past week, after the abrupt rise in figures, her office did not receive any report on further layoffs.

She noted that most of the affected workers are those working for export-oriented firms, particularly those engaged semi-conductor and electronics manufacturing, steel manufacturing and metal plating, and furniture.

“High-end products are the most affected. It is easy to conclude that those employed in firms catering to local markets are not really that affected,” she said.

Panlilio said, however,that “we are still hopeful that we are not headed for the worst.”

Earlier, the DOLE said that nationwide, as much as 300,000 persons could lose their jobs over the next six months as the global crisis deepens.

The number of workers affected in Central Luzon, however, is smaller compared to about 62,000 workers laid off in Calabarzon or the Southern Tagalog region.

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 05:11 AM

Binay: Looming power crisis no excuse to reopen BNPP (http://http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20090304met1.html)

03/04/2009

The looming power crisis is not an excuse to reopen the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant or consider nuclear energy, Makati Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay said.

Instead, the government should explore geothermal energy since the Philippines has the second highest geothermal capacity in the world at the moment, he added.

“Nuclear energy poses a lot of safety questions that have not been answered fully. Instead of engaging in a protracted discussion on nuclear power, we should explore our full potential for geothermal power,” he said.

Binay added the national government should focus on geothermal power in the light of the looming power crisis, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao brought about by the unprecedented rise in power demand.

He said the Department of Energy had admitted power supply in the Visayas and Mindanao is already tight, with reports of brownouts in these areas last year.

But the national government should go beyond inviting foreign investors to develop the country’s geothermal resources.

In the long term, Binay said harnessing the country’s geothermal potential will attract an increasing number of investors who are looking for locations offering clean and renewable sources of energy for their factories, referred to as “green factories.”

He cited reports that Google, along with Microsoft and Yahoo, are already looking at Iceland to build massive “server farms” because Iceland’s geothermal technology and resources are one of the most highly developed in the world.

“The Philippines is up there with Iceland among countries with the most abundant geothermal resources,” he said. “In fact, we have the second highest geothermal power capacity in the world right now — next to the US. And we have enough geothermal power on our islands to more than double our current capacity,” he said.

He added geothermal power is abundant in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Southern Tagalog, the Socksargen region and Central Mindanao.

“Unfortunately, the Arroyo administration is being short-sighted in approaching the energy issue. Instead of merely looking for investors for geothermal power, national government should develop an investment plan anchored on promoting the Philippines as a location for green factories,” he said.

He urged government to include local government officials in developing an investment incentive plan to bring in green factories.

“Encouraging geothermal energy will not only address our power needs but also provide incentives for new investments. Government should meet local executives to discuss an investment strategy to induce foreign direct investors to build green factories in these regions,” he said.

venntro

March 6th, 2009, 07:19 AM

House approves P100 million for new Bataan Nuclear Power Plant study (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=445963&publicationSubCategoryId=63)
Updated March 06, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The House appropriations committee approved yesterday a P100-million allocation for a new study on the viability of commissioning the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, senior committee vice chairman, proposed the new “validation or feasibility” study as a “compromise” to the bill of Pangasinan Rep. Marcos Cojuangco seeking the “immediate rehabilitation and commissioning” of the nuclear plant.

The bill of Cojuangco is facing stiff opposition from many congressmen and civil society groups, as well as from Catholic bishops. The lawmaker is a son of billionaire businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. who has investments in power distribution and oil refining and retailing.

Lagman said a fourth study has to be conducted to determine whether the nuclear plant could still be operated despite its being mothballed since the Marcos years due largely to unresolved safety issues.

He said the results of three previous studies should be used as references by a group of local and international experts who would be commissioned to undertake the new study.

He said the P100-million budget would be taken from this year’s budget of the Department of Energy and the state-owned National Power Corp.

Lagman said a provision in the committee-approved allocation prohibits the commissioning of the plant ahead of the completion of the new study.

Rep. Cojuangco initially frowned upon Lagman’s proposal, saying a “feasibility study” is “politician’s language that connotes inaction and indecision.”

“We should decide once and for all whether we want to operate this plant or to sell it for its junk value,” he said.

He said at present, the government is spending P40 million a year for the upkeep of the plant, which has not generated a single watt of electricity.

Quirino Rep. Junie Cua, appropriations committee chairman, prevailed upon Cojuangco to accept the compromise.

After Lagman’s proposal was accepted, Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque suggested that portions of the Cojuangco bill that are “incongruous” with the compromise be deleted.

Golez said the “incongruous” portions include allowing the National Power Corp. to immediately rehabilitate and operate the nuclear plant.

He said this might be interpreted as an authority for Napocor to operate the plant even while the mandated new feasibility study is still underway.

“If these irrelevant portions are not deleted, this will be a ridiculous and a defective bill,” he said.

Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit, a co-author of the commissioning bill, said even if the new study finds the plant to be operable and viable, it would still go through a process of licensing by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“This process alone will take time and is usually more strict and tedious than a validation or feasibility study,” he said.

Protests continue

Groups opposed to the activation of the BNPP vowed to launch more protest actions.

“From now on, the public and the broad social movement against the revival of the BNPP will keep tabs on each legislator’s position, action and/or inaction on the said issue. However, special attention will be given to the 184 legislators who have rendered their support to the bill,” said Emman Hizon of the Freedom from Debt Coalition. Members of the group as well as of the Network Opposed to BNPP or No to BNPP picketed yesterday outside the Batasang Pambansa complex.

“Those who have put their signatures to the Cojuangco bill, their reasons notwithstanding, are now under the watchful eyes of the Filipino public,” Hizon said.

FDC appealed to the pro-BNPP lawmakers to withdraw their signatures, citing the “gross disadvantages” and “monumental folly” of operating the BNPP.

“Like the mothballed BNPP, we appeal to the highest sense of our legislators to also mothball Rep. Cojuangco’s bill. We believe such a detrimental legislative measure has no place in the halls of responsible lawmaking,” Hizon said.

NO to BNPP described the mothballed plant as “tremendously dangerous, economically disadvantageous and utterly defective.”

“The protest parade symbolizes the many reasons why the BNPP revival will bring death to the Filipino people if the bill is not put to a close once and for all,” Dr. Giovanni Tapang, spokesman of NO to BNPP said.

“The Arroyo administration and Cong. Mark Cojuangco are running out of reasons to justify the revival of the Bataan nuke plant. The majority of the people of Bataan and their provincial government have already signified their opposition to the plant revival. Even if it passed legislation, the people of Bataan are sure not to allow it,” Tapang said.

“Moreover, the Catholic Church has taken an anti-BNPP revival position and the general public is against this nuclear scheme of the Arroyo administration.” Tapang added. With Katherine Adraneda

venntro

March 9th, 2009, 07:47 AM

Bike protest versus BNPP rehab set today (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=446859&publicationSubCategoryId=67)
Updated March 09, 2009 12:00 AM

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Hundreds of cyclists will go around the towns of Bataan today to protest the proposed rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), which they call the “monster of Morong.”

Dubbed as “Peace Cycling for Nuclear-Free Bataan,” the 40-kilometer bike protest will start in Barangay Layac, Hermosa town and proceed to Balanga City and Bagac town, and finally in Morong. – Dino Balabo

venntro

March 10th, 2009, 02:21 AM

ASEZA chief: No displacement in Aurora ecozone (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=447128&publicationSubCategoryId=67)
By Manny Galvez Updated March 10, 2009 12:00 AM

CASIGURAN, Aurora , Philippines – A top official of the Aurora Special Economic Zone Authority on Saturday clarified that no massive displacement of farmers and landowners will take place in a 500-hectare site of the ecozone once support infrastructure facilities are set in place.

ASEZA Chairman and Administrator Joseph Delano-Bernardo told The STAR that contrary to reports, only around 300 tenant farmers and landowners will be relocated once the government has utilized the 500 hectares in barangays Dibet, Dibacong and Esteves for the initial development of the ecozone.

Earlier, it was reported that as many as 3,000 tenant farmers would be displaced from the three barangays as a result of the construction of buildings and road networks in the area.

Bernardo said that Sen. Edgardo Angara has started negotiations with the National Housing Authority for the allocation of housing units for an initial 20 hectares as relocation site with amenities for a complete community.

He said ASEZA is also negotiating with seven landowners for 200 hectares in the project site.

Bernardo said that the government would offer higher prices for landowners who would be moved out of the area compared to the prevailing prices. At present, he said, irrigated lands fetch at P100,000 per hectare while unirrigated lands cost P80,000. “Definitely, we are going to offer a higher price,” he said.

While admitting that the issue of the project site being rice lands has yet to be resolved, Bernardo said that the ASEZA might negotiate first with owners and tillers of non-irrigated lands. He noted that there is an administrative order suspending for two years the conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses but the ecozone, being a creation of law and a free port could be an exemption.

“But anyone who wants to sell in the irrigated areas, we would welcome them,” he said.

Bernardo, a former Philippine ambassador to Spain, said that the initial development for ASEZA over the next 18 months would include the construction of the administration building, corporate campus, a three-star hotel, fire department buildings, two cabannas, the road network and underground electrical installations.

Colonel Burger

March 10th, 2009, 08:01 AM

why were three threads merged into one?

garzland

March 10th, 2009, 11:15 AM

^^Because it's not an active thread...

kiretoce

March 11th, 2009, 03:20 AM

why were three threads merged into one?
Because it's not an active thread.

:yes: Correct. :okay:

When threads are not advancing as they should and are just idle and languishing, we merge them with more high profile threads for the sake of visibility and traffic. :colgate:

venntro

March 12th, 2009, 05:37 AM

Aurora native PMA class of 2009 topnotcher (http://http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/03/11/09/aurora-native-pma-class-2009-topnocher)
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 03/12/2009 12:04 AM

A native of Aurora has edged out 183 other cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Masiglahi Class of 2009 to claim the class's top spot, the PMA announced Wednesday.

Aurora native 1st Class Cadet Karl Winston Cacanindin led the graduating class's top ten cadets, who were formally introduced to the media in a press conference at the PMA on Wednesday.

Cacanindin, who will graduate Magna Cum Laude and will soon join the Philippine Air Force, said he is very thankful for having the honor of being the class topnocher.

Cacanindin, the son of a former PMA official, will also receive the Presidential Saber, the Athletic Saber, President Gloria M. Arroyo Achievement Award for Academic Excellence, and the Mathematics plaque.

He said that his achievement was brought by hard work, a sentiment echoed by his fellow top ten cadets.

He is followed by 1st Class Cadet Lemuel Manicdo, Philippine Army; 1st Class Cadet Roger Flores, Philippine Navy; 1st Class Cadet Nelson Liwanag, Philippine Navy; 1st Class Cadet Larry Mayao, Philippine Army; 1st Class Cadet Erick Ryan Mabborang, Philippine Army; 1st Class Cadet Carlito Santiago, Philippine Army; 1st Class Cadet Glenn de Ramos, Philippine Army; 1st Class Cadette Cynthia Forteza, Philippine Airforce; and 1st Class Cadet Christopher Ian Dupalco, Philippine Airforce.

The PMA graduation rites will be held on March 16, where President Arroyo will be guest of honor. With reports from Dhobie de Guzman and Kristine Addatu, ABS-CBN Baguio

caloy

March 27th, 2009, 04:39 PM

i never thought that aurora province thread existed until now. all i could say is, it is a nice place to live and very scenic ang area. sana, the progress will not wipe out the natural resources of the area para mamaintain ang pristine area.

caloy

March 31st, 2009, 07:40 PM

aurora needs some rehabilitation, the rivers needs to be dredged, still the river is more like a river of stones, there is no water in it, puro stones lang, but i am in love with the place. so peaceful and picturesque.

caloy

April 1st, 2009, 12:01 PM

Church leaders oppose Aurora Ecozone
AURORA Province, March 25, 2009—A pastoral statement of the clergy of the Prelature of Infanta opposing the Aurora Special Economic Zone Act (ASEZA) which is to be implemented in Brgy. Esteves, Dibet and Dibacong, Casiguran, Aurora was signed by Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona, OCD, DD, Bishop Emeritus Julio Xavier Labayen, OCD, DD, and 36 priests.

This was the result of the clergy meeting under the pastoral leadership of Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona OCD, DD and Bishop Emeritus Julio X. Labayen, OCD, DD, which was held last March 10-12, 2009, here in the Baler Valley.

The 3-day event has been concluded with the celebration of the Holy (KRISMA) Mass in the San Luis Hari Church in San Luis, Aurora.

According to the clergy there should be a proper consultation with the residents of the barangays of Dibet, Esteves and Dibacong who will be affected by the ambitious project which, according to proponents, was designed to spur economic progress in the province.

But the church sees it otherwise, saying that is only the foreign investors who will be benefited from it. They mentioned that the place is important for the legitimate residents who derived source of livelihood from farming.

The prelature expressed apprehension that fisherfolks will lose their source of income the moment the ecozone project commenced.

Based on the church analysis, the project is similar with other existing ‘economic zone’ wherein foreign investors will only be benefited and not the local populace, “Para kanino ba talaga ang pag-unlad sa lugar na nasasakop ng ASEZA”, they asked.
Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo however explains that the welfare of the residents who shall be affected by the project will not be compromised, saying that no displacement shall take place contrary to rumors of massive land grabbing.

A dialogue shall be conducted with those affected communities until such time that all grievances and apprehensions shall be addressed, Castillo said.

The ecozone which was authored by Aurora lone district Representative Juan Edgardo Angara is aimed at spurring economic growth not only in northern Aurora but as well as in the entire province. (Jason de Asis)

source: http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/8031
date of last access: 01/04/2009 11:01am

Rodel

April 3rd, 2009, 02:38 PM

caloy

April 4th, 2009, 05:21 PM

eto po, hindi akin pero he managed to take most of the pictures. hope you like it. i lived there for a month and the water is from springs and very potable.

http://lawstude.blogspot.com/2008/04/dingalan-rocks.html

http://lawstude.blogspot.com/search/label/Kalakbay%20Aurora

kiretoce

April 6th, 2009, 07:27 AM

Bataan Rising (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/april/03/yehey/life/20090403lif1.html)

When we look at Bataan through the lens of history, we think of its fall on that sad day of April 9, 1942, when more than 70,000 Filipino and American soldiers surrendered to the Japanese forces after prolonged battles. Then, we think of the cruel Death March, where the same soldiers were forced to march more than a hundred kilometers from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac —or more aptly to a huge number of them—to their deaths.

Defeat might have befallen our soldiers that day. But history tells us that three years after our historic fall, our country reclaimed victory. And more than two decades later, in 1970, a tall and proud structure rose in that very place where our soldiers fell—the Dambana ng Kagitingan (The Shrine of Valor).

Standing mightily at the summit of Mount Samat 555 meters above sea level, the Dambana ng Kagitingan is a fitting memorial to those young men and women who took up arms against the invading Japanese forces. And, in this present day when the realities of what took place in that historic battle are now just part of the lessons we learn from the pages of our history books, the shrine also stands as an apt reminder that six decades ago, fierce battles were fought and thousands of lives were sacrificed to defend our freedom.

The Shrine

More popularly known as the Bataan Shrine, the Dambana ng Kagitingan, designed by Lorenzo del Castillo and landscaped by Dolly Quimbo-Perez, is composed of a giant cross and a colonnade. Featuring an altar, a museum, and an esplanade, the colonnade is surrounded with historical depictions, including a stained glass mural by Cenon Rivera (design) and Vetrate D’arte Giuliani (execution); sculptural inscriptions and murals of the Battle of Bataan by National Artist Napoleon Abueva; bronze insignias of USAFFE Division Units by Talleres de Maximo Vicente, Leonides Valdez, and Angel Sampra and Sons; and bronze urns symbolizing eternal flame.

The Memorial Cross, a 92-meter marble, steel, and concrete structure, is composed of an elevator and a thirty-meter long viewing gallery (the arms), from where tourists can have a breathtaking view of the sprawling Bataan Peninsula, Corregidor Island, and Manila Bay. Its exterior, from the base up to about 11 meters, is capped with sculptural bas reliefs depicting significant battles and historical events, also by Abueva.

The Battle of Bataan in perspective

The significance of Bataan to World War II is better appreciated if we understand the overall war plan of the Japanese, and if we look at what the historic battle accomplished despite its eventual fall.

The Japanese intended to strike Indonesia and Malaysia, then territories of the Dutch and the British, to secure their natural resources. To accomplish this, they had to immobilize the American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and cut off US communication lines in the Pacific by attacking the Philippines.

The Japanese accomplished the first objective rather quickly. The second was not. At the time the Japanese were readying their attack, the Filipino soldiers were being trained principally for when they gain national independence and, secondly, to prepare for possible invasion by the Japanese, which seemed unlikely at the time. It was peace time in the Far East. Although there was a great war in Europe, one in which the United States was among the major players; and there was another closer to home, in China, which involved the Japanese; both wars seemed far off.

The American soldiers and the Filipinos were therefore caught halfway prepared for battle when the Japanese launched their attacks in different parts of the country. But while the allied forces were not ready for war—they were not yet fully armed and many of the Filipino soldiers were fresh recruits and thus not yet fully trained—they staged a strong resistance against the Japanese invaders. Lasting for three months, that battle is now known as the Battle of Bataan.

The Bataan resistance may have ended in tragic surrender, but without this last stand, it would have been easy for the Japanese to seize all of the US bases in the Pacific. The length with which the allies fought the invaders upset the Japanese war timetable and bought precious time for the United States to reinforce its military strength. It was only when it was apparent that no reinforcement was about to come (because the fleet at Pearl Harbor were paralyzed and the Philippines was isolated) that the allied forces—outnumbered, out-armed, and many of them already emaciated, starving, and very sick—surrendered. It was only then that Bataan fell.

The end of the long battle

World War II lasted only for four years in the Pacific theater. But in this war, the Filipinos suffered unthinkable forms of atrocity the memory of which would last them a lifetime. As though that wasn’t enough, the Filipino war veterans again had to endure another battle, and a much longer one at that. This time, in the form of delayed recognition and compensation for their heroic deeds at the battles of Bataan and Corregidor, in a war that wasn’t theirs to begin with, but which they were dragged into.

It has been more than 60 years. The Philippines has long since gained its independence from both the Japanese (1945) and the United States (1946). Several Philippine and US Presidents had come and gone. Many of the war veterans have long since died. Like the battles they fought, their battle for recognition seemed doomed to fall. But unlike in 1942, this time, our veterans are not prepared to surrender.

And with the signing of the $198 million one-time compensation for surviving Filipino war veterans in February 2009, 67 years since the Fall of Bataan, the long battle for recognition has finally come to an end. And with it, the Dambana ng Kagitingan stands taller and prouder than ever.

Bataan—and yes, Corregidor—have again risen.

jsl_bxu1206

April 11th, 2009, 08:43 PM

Virgin Forest of Sierra Madre, Aurora

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/108697186_2ffe092431.jpg?v=0

http://images.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/108697186_2ffe092431.jpg%3Fv%3D0&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/wpascualjr/108697186/&usg=__EpNRtOr0b221GgYfV2rIgKDfXo4=&h=500&w=375&sz=191&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=FR8Nv6dyZcPbAM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=98&prev=/images%3Fq%3Daurora%2Bphilippines%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1

jsl_bxu1206

April 11th, 2009, 08:44 PM

Ampere Beach, Aurora

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/jvokjv/Philippines/P1010162Large.jpg

http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/jvokjv/Philippines/?action=view&current=P1010162Large.jpg

jsl_bxu1206

April 11th, 2009, 08:45 PM

Digisit Rock Formation, Aurora

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa38/epevenise24/Wumbanano%20team%20building%20Baler%20Aurora/27f3scd.jpg

http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa38/epevenise24/Wumbanano%20team%20building%20Baler%20Aurora/?action=view&current=27f3scd.jpg

jsl_bxu1206

April 11th, 2009, 08:46 PM

Casapsapan Beach, Aurora, Philippines

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/MudpiesForKnuckles/casiguran%20summer%202005/DSCN0158.jpg

http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/MudpiesForKnuckles/casiguran%20summer%202005/?action=view&current=DSCN0158.jpg

venntro

May 7th, 2009, 04:13 AM

Groups eye Bataan plant that remains unsold after 2 failed bids (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/160162/Groups-eye-Bataan-plant-that-remains-unsold-after-2-failed-bids)
05/06/2009 | 08:59 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Two groups expressed interest in acquiring a Bataan power plant that remains unsold after two failed biddings last year, the government said.

Two interested bidders attended the April 30 pre-offer conference to discuss the negotiated sale of the 620-megawatt (MW) Limay Combined Cycle Power Plant, the agency tasked to sell the government’s power assets said.

A two-bidding envelope system will be employed to determine the plant’s future operator, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Psalm) said.

Deadline for bid submissions is on June 19 this year while documentary requirements will be accepted until May 15.

Both groups will have until June 17, 2009 to examine the asset and conduct due diligence.

Both groups were also informed that Psalm extended an agreement with Alstom Philippines Inc. to ensure the plant’s maintenance until its eventual turnover to its new operator, Psalm president Jose C. Ibazeta said.

The winning operator will have the option to pre-terminate the said operation and maintenance (O&M) agreement without incurring penalties as long as it guarantees that the sale transaction is completed, Ibazeta added.

The facility, which was designed to meet the Luzon grid’s minimum electricity needs, remains unsold after two biddings in April and September last year. On both occasions, only one bidder submitted documentary requirements.

In 1992, the National Power Corp. entered into an O&M agreement with ABB Power Generation Ltd.

In 2000, Alstom became the counter-party of National Power to the O&M agreement, which expired in April 2008 for Block A and in October 2008 for Block B.

Commissioned in 1993, the power plant is composed of two 310-MW modules – Blocks A and B. Each block consists of three 70-MW gas turbines and a 100-MW steam turbine, respectively.

The Limay, Bataan power plant is located 145 kilometers west of Manila. - GMANews.TV

Rodel

June 12th, 2009, 12:37 AM

di_mo_malaman

June 12th, 2009, 11:10 AM

ang ganda naman dito...where in aurora is this?

Sa baler yata o san luis

[dx]

June 20th, 2009, 10:42 AM

Casiguran airport to be upgraded (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=476091&publicationSubCategoryId=206)
Updated June 10, 2009 12:00 AM

CASIGURAN, Aurora, Philippines – The P157-million airport in this town, which is now undergoing construction, will be further upgraded into an international airport at an additional cost of P100 million.

Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo told The STAR that the airport, initially planned as a domestic airport, would become an international airport with a longer runway able to serve larger aircrafts that can travel to other destinations through connecting flights to other airports. She said that Sen. Edgardo Angara secured the funding for the upgrading of the airport into an international airport.

Cagayan Valley Construction, the contractor tapped to build the airport, said it expects to complete Phase 2 of the facility by next month. Phase 2 involves construction of the runway, a 480-square meter apron, a taxiway, terminal building, administration building and others.

Phase 1 of the project, involving clearing and grubbing, earthworks and construction of perimeter fence, was completed October 2007 at a cost of P15 million. To become an international airport, the 1.2-km. long airport will have to be lengthened into 1.5 kms. The project encountered some delays because the elevation at the project site has been raised from 0.9 meters to 1.5 meters, the same level as the site of the Aurora Special Economic Zone, Angara-Castillo said. – Manny Galvez

igi_master

June 22nd, 2009, 04:56 AM

Mayron pala byahe ang Genesis Baler Di ko lang alam kung saan galing Pasay Cubao or Manila Nasalubong namin sa SCTEX

Igsuonnimo

July 10th, 2009, 10:04 AM

E-village project launched in Baler
By Manny Galvez Updated July 10, 2009 12:00 AM
The Philippine Star

BALER, Aurora, Philippines – At least 1,200 farmers and fisherfolks from four central municipalities in this province would gain access to modern farming systems through information communications technology following the establishment of a P39.3-million Aurora e- (electronic) village.

A brainchild of Sen. Edjardo Angara, the e-village project, the first of its kind in the country and which aims to implement a successful ICT program for the agricultural and fisherfolk communities in the towns of Dipaculao, Ma. Aurora, San Luis and this capital town, was inaugurated at the Rice Processing Complex project of the provincial government and the Korean International Cooperation Agency in Barangay Reserva here recently.

A Mobile Internet bus for farmers, equipped with laptop computers, was deployed at the RPC to bring Internet service to the masses in the province.

Angara said the project would empower farmers and fishermen by providing them with new information and communications technology through modern ICT-wares. “These include commodity-specific production system, training and technical assistance, and linkages to existing research and training institutions,” he said.

Anna Marie Medrano, of the Aurora e-village project and of the knowledge systems of the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture said funding for the project, amounting to P39,297,700, was sourced from the 2008 e-government fund of the Department of Budget and Management.

E-village

Angara initiated the project in partnership with the ATI, the Philippine Rice Research Institute, the Development Academy of the Philippines and the provincial government under Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.

Angara said the e-village concept, which was first revolutionized in Indian agriculture, is an example of how modern ICT can be brought to the grassroots level. “The Aurora e-village is in response to the growing need to level up the access of our farmers to modern and well-sought information about agriculture. Through the development of this system, cooperatives, farmers, fishermen and organizations will benefit immensely,” he said.

The Aurora e-village would synchronize and implement a modern system for an effective and improved access to information that would train local folk on rice production technology, specifically orga*nic farming, managing costs, increasing le*vels of productivity and the establishment of an effective farmers’ cooperative.

lheling

July 18th, 2009, 03:57 AM

Help!!!!! I really would appreciate if somebody can give me NPC AURORA'S telephone no. I have a long lost friend that works there and I direly need to contact her. Please somebody out there .......huhuhu Thanks

diego

July 19th, 2009, 08:38 AM

;38517756']Casiguran airport to be upgraded (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=476091&publicationSubCategoryId=206)
Updated June 10, 2009 12:00 AM

CASIGURAN, Aurora, Philippines – The P157-million airport in this town, which is now undergoing construction, will be further upgraded into an international airport at an additional cost of P100 million.

Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo told The STAR that the airport, initially planned as a domestic airport, would become an international airport with a longer runway able to serve larger aircrafts that can travel to other destinations through connecting flights to other airports. She said that Sen. Edgardo Angara secured the funding for the upgrading of the airport into an international airport.

Cagayan Valley Construction, the contractor tapped to build the airport, said it expects to complete Phase 2 of the facility by next month. Phase 2 involves construction of the runway, a 480-square meter apron, a taxiway, terminal building, administration building and others.

Phase 1 of the project, involving clearing and grubbing, earthworks and construction of perimeter fence, was completed October 2007 at a cost of P15 million. To become an international airport, the 1.2-km. long airport will have to be lengthened into 1.5 kms. The project encountered some delays because the elevation at the project site has been raised from 0.9 meters to 1.5 meters, the same level as the site of the Aurora Special Economic Zone, Angara-Castillo said. – Manny Galvez

an international airport?
what area shall it serve? aurora lang?

Brandon32

August 5th, 2009, 02:35 AM

Aurora opens up to investments (http://www.visitmyphilippines.com/index.php?title=Auroraopensuptoinvestments&func=single&pid=102&tbl=2)

By Penelope Endozo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:23:00 08/01/2009

BUILD IT and they will come.

A new set of business coordinates has been plotted in Casiguran, Aurora province. On that site will rise the Aurora Special Economic Zone (Asez) – the country’s investment gateway to the Pacific and the rest of the world.

The 5,000-hectare ecozone, the newest in Central Luzon, will share its business operations in the region with Clark Economic Freeport, Bataan Economic Zone and Pampanga Export Processing Ecozone, among others.

But Representative Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara pointed out that Asez would be different from its neighboring ecozones.

For one, Asez is intended to be the country’s first “green” economic zone, with plans of harnessing wind power and solar cells for energy use in the future. At present, its main industry is led by agricultural products and food-processing.

And unlike Clark Freeport, where the former US base’s infrastructure had been retrofitted to suit an ecozone, Asez “will start from scratch,” says Angara.

Directly facing the Pacific Ocean, Aurora continues to suffer from a geographical identity crisis, according to the congressman of the province’s lone district.

“Some people think we are still part of Quezon province,” says Angara during a recent briefing.

He said that the need to establish Aurora’s identity would be necessary in developing the province.

But Asez will change all that, becoming Aurora’s ticket to progress.

It has already drawn prospective investors from Japan, Spain and other European countries, staking claims at the new ecozone, Angara said.

According to Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, the local government has taken into consideration how the infrastructure will affect the locals.

“Just in case we need to resettle some people whose lands may be affected by the special economic zone, meron na kaming designated spots na napili [we have already picked designated spots where we can relocate them],” Angara-Castillo said, referring to 22 families that, according to the first survey, would be directly affected by the project.

“Pero gusto naming malaman sa mga settlers kung acceptable sa kanila ’yun [but we need to find out first if the relocation spot would be acceptable to the settlers].”

Asez was created by law through Republic Act No. 9490 in June 2007.

A 198-meter Roll-On Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) port and a 1.5-kilometer airport runway will be established at the ecozone.

Angara added that an international port would be next in line.

[The port] would really give us an advantage,” Angara said.

The site is perfect for a port, he added.

“If you look at the map, even in ancient times, that’s where ships used to dock,” he said.

However, it still takes 6 hours to reach the province from Manila, with a kilometer left unpaved, according to the governor.

A road that will connect the ecozone to the highway system becomes a special concern, especially since Aurora will expect visitors to flock in the coming days, as the sun-kissed province plays host to the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant on Aug. 9.

Governor Angara-Castillo says that preparations are underway to accommodate the throng of visitors expected to attend the pageant.

She says that the local government has been cooperating with the pageant organizers led by Roberto de Venecia.

“I don’t mind admitting that Aurora is a poor province. That is why I am inspired to embark on developmental processes and projects that will really help Aurora,” says Angara-Castillo.

^^ ang galing nito!!!

hakz2009

August 5th, 2009, 05:22 AM

ALI unit plans additional projects in Bataan development (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/14008-ali-unit-plans-additional-projects-in-bataan-development.html)
Written by Miguel R. Camus / Reporter
Sunday, 02 August 2009 20:31

AYALA Land Premier (ALP), the high-end unit of listed property firm Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), continues to invest in new projects within Anvaya Cove which, company officials said, will help boost the pace of the development.

ALP senior vice president and group head Bernard Dy said new improvements such as the recent addition of the Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club, a leisure venue, has increased interest in the Morong, Bataan development. “We have [observed] very good sales in [Anvaya], and the interest level has been very high,” said Dy. “Especially after we opened the beach club, we saw strong market acceptance. Now that the club is completed, we expect sales to [move] faster.”

Dy spoke to reporters during an ALP event announcing Anvaya Cove as a one of the world’s most environmentally sustainable projects according to Hospitality and Design Magazine. Dy said Anvaya Cove bested 398 entries worldwide in its category.

Last week, ALP said it began preselling activities for the community’s latest project, a P150-million neighborhood called The Vistas at Mango Grove, which will offer 36 lots over six hectares with ocean and mountain views.

The Vistas at Mango Grove will be the sixth community within the 320-hectare Anvaya Cove, and will be marketed to an exclusive clientele. Prices here will average about P15,000 per square meter ( sq m) for land cuts ranging from 650 sq m to over 1,000 sq m.

ALP also launched in the first half of 2009 Seascape Ridge in Anvaya, which will initially have five two-story quadruplex structures. The total offering of 20 units with spaces averaging 187 sq. m is geared toward customers who prefer their dwellings already built up.

“It’s basically a large house split into four,” said Mike Jugo, project development head of Anvaya Cove.

Seascape Ridge, the community’s fifth neighborhood, will feature higher-value units costing an estimated P16 million to P18 million. The firm said it plans to launch additional structures in Seascape Ridge with larger spaces costing as much as P21 million.

Ayala Land president Antonio Aquino added that ALP plans to build more sports facilities in the area including a golf course, all of which will cost the firm “a little less than a billion pesos in total investments.”

Anvaya Cove’s first four residential developments are Cliffside Lots (139 lots), Wood Park (110 lots), Mango Grove (195 lots) and Bamboo Grove (67 lots). The company said property turnover for Cliffside is complete, while the same process is ongoing for Wood Park and Mango Grove. Bamboo Grove will be turned over by the first quarter of 2010.

Jugo estimates the initial developments covering a total of 511 lots are already 90-percent sold. He added that the construction of Subic Clark Expressway is helping boost sales, shortening the travel time to Anvaya Cove to only two hours from Makati,

Aquino said ALP has spent over P2 billion for this development since 2004. The company, meanwhile, said it has currently developed over 40 percent of Anvaya Cove, though the whole project will be completed within 10 to 15 years.

The ALI executive added that ALP is monitoring the tourism market, which will indicate future projects in Anvaya Cove.

up_mc

August 17th, 2009, 11:07 AM

ok bang pumunta sa Baler? I mean safe ba? gaano katagal ang byahe! dinidiscourage kasi ako ng friend ko kasi nakakatakot nga daw dahil may mga NPA daw tapos medyo mabangin daw yung daan papunta and all...

wise_zech

August 17th, 2009, 02:41 PM

garzland

September 21st, 2009, 01:11 PM

5th Philippine Bird Festival takes off in Balanga City on Oct. 9 (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/5th_Philippine_Bird_Festival_takes_off_in_Balanga_City_on_Oct_9.shtml)

BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Sept. 18 (PNA) – Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts are expected to flock in this city as the 5th Philippine Bird Festival, the country’s largest celebration of avifaunal diversity and bird lore awareness, is set to take off on October 9.

Balanga City holds the Philippine record for hosting the largest concentration of wintering shorebirds from the Asian mainland and Japan.

The festival will mark the arrival from the Asian mainland and Japan of wintering shorebirds with the official dedication of the Balanga Nature and Wetland Park, the first protected wetland park in the whole Manila Bay area.

With the theme Ibong Dayo, Kaibigan Tayo! (The Migrant Birds: Our Friends), this year’s bird festival aims to drum public support for the conservation and awareness of the Balanga wetlands where more than 15,000 individual birds were on record during the Asian Waterbird Census in January.

According to the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP), the country’s leading bird watching society and organizer of the Philippine Bird Festival, the wetlands of Puerto Rivas in Balanga City attract one of the largest concentration of migrant shorebirds and waterfowl anywhere in the Philippines,.

“The Balanga wetlands consistently land in the country’s top 5 wetlands with the most number of wintering water birds, which included Candaba Marsh in Pampanga and Olango Island in Cebu,” WBCP president Michael Lu said.

He said these three sites are on the Asian flyway, but the Balanga wetlands located across the Bay from Metro Manila continues to be a surprise.

“We hope to bring attention to the need to conserve the entire coastline and waters of Manila bay,” Lu said.

He also said the Balanga wetlands are being promoted as a bird watching destination by the Adventure Philippine campaign of the Department of Tourism and the Recreational Outdoor Exchange.

Bird Festival Committee chair Alice Villa-Real said the annual event hopes to raise the bar of awareness about the bird life of the islands, promote public interest in conservation and encourage the creation of more public green spaces.

Villa-Real said there are more than 600 species of birds in the Philippines, with no fewer than 200 are found only in the archipelago.

She said this year’s Bird Festival will open with the dedication ceremony at the Balanga Nature and Wetland Park in Tortugas, followed by street dancing by local troupes along the route to the new plaza Mayor de Balanga.

She also said there will be exhibit of bird photos, lectures and film screenings at the People’s Center in the capitol grounds, which will be opened to the public free of charge.

Organizers said an activity center featuring bird-themed games, arts and crafts and face painting will be on tap for the young and the young at heart.

She said the provincial government will also simultaneously stage a trade fair on the Capitol grounds that would feature the best products from the province’s 12 towns.

The Philippine Bird Festival was launched by local bird watching hobbyists in 2005 and has since brought the message of birdlife awareness and conservation to Cebu City and Puerto Princesa in Palawan, two of the country’s important bird areas.

She said similar events take place throughout the world each year, attracting large numbers of bird watchers, scientists and nature enthusiasts.

In Asia, some of the well-known events are the annual Taipei International Birdwatching Fair in Taiwan and Malaysia’s Raptor Watch Week.

Taiwan’s Wild Bird Society of Taipei, Kaoshiung Wild Bird Society and Chinese Wild Bird Federation, the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, Hong Kong Birdwatching Society, the Nature Society of Singapore and the Malaysia Nature Society are expected to participate in this year’s festival.

Local conversation organizations Philippine Eagle Foundation of Davao, the Katala Foundation of Palawan, World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines, Isla Biodiversity Conversation Foundation, the Polillo Island Biodiversity Conversation Foundation, Pederasyon sa Nagkahiusang mga Mag-uuma nga Nanalipud ug Napasig-uli sa Kinaiyahan Inc. Of Dumaguete, Birdwatch Palawan, Philippine Biodiversity Conversation Foundation and Cebu Biodiversity Conversation Foundation, the Municipality of Candaba Pampanga, the City of Bisling in Surigao Del Sur have also expressed their support for the Balanga event.
This year’s Philippine Bird Festival is sponsored by the City of Balanga and the Province of Bataan, Department of Tourism, Team Energy Foundation, Genesis Transport, primer Group, Recreational Outdoor Exchange (ROX), & Columbia Outdoor Wear. (PNA)

caloy

September 28th, 2009, 07:53 PM

lochinvar

September 28th, 2009, 08:04 PM

"an international airport?
what area shall it serve? aurora lang?"

What kind of international is it for $5 million? :ohno:

caloy

October 6th, 2009, 03:12 PM

"an international airport?
what area shall it serve? aurora lang?"

What kind of international is it for $5 million? :ohno:

that would be a 5 million dollar question. accessibility, if it would push through, i would go there then. ano ba pinakamalapit na airport sa nueva ecija?

TheAvenger

October 13th, 2009, 01:05 AM

caloy

October 26th, 2009, 12:43 PM

I am wondering how come Bataan province located in the western part of Luzon and facing the China Sea and Manila Bay were together in this thread with Aurora Province which is located in eastern seaboard of Luzon.

nasa mods na po iyun, naexplain niya na yan before, it is something with slow thread response. kaya ayun merging, i might be wrong.

TheAvenger

October 27th, 2009, 02:32 PM

nasa mods na po iyun, naexplain niya na yan before, it is something with slow thread response. kaya ayun merging, i might be wrong.

Perhaps it will be better if Bataan is merged with Zambales. And Aurora to be merged with Quezon Province or Nueva Ecija.

ruralvillage

November 7th, 2009, 12:33 AM

Seaport to be built in Aurora ecozone (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Business_19/Seaport_to_be_built_in_Aurora_ecozone.shtml)
PNM (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Business_19/Seaport_to_be_built_in_Aurora_ecozone.shtml)

MANILA, Nov. 7 (PNA) -- Senator Edgardo Angara, together with the Aurora Special Economic Zone (ASEZA), led the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Rizhao Development Corp. for the design and development of a seaport in Casiguran, Aurora that will harness the full potential of the province as the next investment hub in the Pacific.

The MOU between ASEZA and Rizhao Development Corp. was signed last November 3 by ASEZA's Deputy Administrator Mr. Vitaliano T. Sabalo, Jr. and Rizhao Development Corp.'s chief executive officer, Mr. Guanghai Shen.

ASEZA is envisioned to become a prominent transshipment hub in the Philippines as it is strategically located along the Pacific coast, close to major trade capitals in Asia.

To fulfill this vision, ASEZA will be equipped with an airport and seaport, creating a Trimodal Transport System of land, air and sea.

Rizhao Development Corp., a 60 percent Filipino and 40 percent Chinese company engaged in port design, construction and operation, agreed to generate the preliminary design for a seaport.

The design of the port is expected to be completed by January 2010.

"Aurora stands at the cusp of economic development. It is blessed with rich natural resources and great economic potential. It is a gateway to the Pacific, which makes it ideal for international commerce. This makes it a prime location for an economic zone, and more importantly, a Freeport. The free movement of goods and services lies at the core of every international success story. We have Singapore and Hongkong as local examples," said Angara, a proud son of Baler, Aurora.

Angara reiterated his call for the empowerment of provinces to become a cog in national development and create livelihood for local communities.

"We are again taught the value of decentralization and empowering our local governments. We must make them less dependent on the capital, Manila, which has become too congested," he said.

He added, "Each region must be able to stand on its own, not just as a unit of government, but more importantly as an engine of economic growth."

The Senator called on government to give the country's various provinces the opportunity to build and stimulate their own economies.
"We cannot just mouth words about self-sufficiency while continually denying the regions the tools needed to accomplish this task. Success requires investing massively in infrastructure, research, innovation, education and training the people who live in these regions. This formula will stimulate spending, and generate economic activity," said Angara. (PNA)

The MOU between ASEZA and Rizhao Development Corp. was signed last November 3 by ASEZA's Deputy Administrator Mr. Vitaliano T. Sabalo, Jr. and Rizhao Development Corp.'s chief executive officer, Mr. Guanghai Shen.

ASEZA is envisioned to become a prominent transshipment hub in the Philippines as it is strategically located along the Pacific coast, close to major trade capitals in Asia.

To fulfill this vision, ASEZA will be equipped with an airport and seaport, creating a Trimodal Transport System of land, air and sea.

Rizhao Development Corp., a 60 percent Filipino and 40 percent Chinese company engaged in port design, construction and operation, agreed to generate the preliminary design for a seaport.

The design of the port is expected to be completed by January 2010.

"Aurora stands at the cusp of economic development. It is blessed with rich natural resources and great economic potential. It is a gateway to the Pacific, which makes it ideal for international commerce. This makes it a prime location for an economic zone, and more importantly, a Freeport. The free movement of goods and services lies at the core of every international success story. We have Singapore and Hongkong as local examples," said Angara, a proud son of Baler, Aurora.

Angara reiterated his call for the empowerment of provinces to become a cog in national development and create livelihood for local communities.

"We are again taught the value of decentralization and empowering our local governments. We must make them less dependent on the capital, Manila, which has become too congested," he said.

He added, "Each region must be able to stand on its own, not just as a unit of government, but more importantly as an engine of economic growth."

The Senator called on government to give the country's various provinces the opportunity to build and stimulate their own economies.
"We cannot just mouth words about self-sufficiency while continually denying the regions the tools needed to accomplish this task. Success requires investing massively in infrastructure, research, innovation, education and training the people who live in these regions. This formula will stimulate spending, and generate economic activity," said Angara. (PNA)

caloy

November 17th, 2009, 01:00 PM

buti naman, pero dapat pangalagaan nila ang environment.

personal view ko lang naman po. kaya ko nga napiling sa aurora kasi tahimik. malinis. picture perfect.

ruralvillage

December 5th, 2009, 02:02 AM

Freeport to boost Bataan’s economy (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/232457/freeport-boost-bataan-s-economy)
By MAR T. SUPNAD
December 4, 2009, 4:09pm
Manila Bulletin (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/232457/freeport-boost-bataan-s-economy)

MARIVELES, Bataan – Representative Abet S. Garcia of the 2nd District, expressed optimism Friday that the province will become richer in the coming years with the creation of the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) with the expected pouring in of additional investments and the generation of tens of thousands of employment.

Rep. Garcia was the architect of the creation of the FAB after sponsoring Republic Act No. 9728, which converted Bataan Economic Zone (BEZ) into FAB, which is expected to become a major Freeport and Ecozone since the area is strategically located along the Manila Bay.

Governor Enrique “Tet” Garcia predicted that around 100,000 new jobs will be generated once FAB goes into full swing. Rep. Garcia is a son of the governor.

“In fact, right after the law was created, a number of investors, including foreigners, are getting in touch with us and expressed keen interest in investing in FAB, an indication that the newly created freeport will become bullish,” Rep. Garcia told this reporter.

Balanga City Mayor Joet S. Garcia, another son of the governor, is now also introducing a scheme to make Balanga as a World Class University town, urging his constituents to prepare for the FAB.

Rep. Garcia said that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of FAB is now being crafted and can be finished anytime soon.

Mayor Jesse Concepcion of this host town, also heaved a sigh of relief with the conversion of BEZ into FAB, saying this has saved BEZ from its imminent collapse and bankruptcy. Rep. Garcia and Mayor Concepcion blamed Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the umbrella organization of the country’s economic zones, for its total neglect of BEZ, resulting in the closure of a number of companies here and dislocation of tens of thousands of employers for the past several years.

Under the law, Rep. Garcia pointed out, FAB shall have an authorized capital stock of P2 B with the option to increase capitalization.

For his part, Mayor Concepcion said that thousands of dislocated workers inside BEZ have refused to leave Mariveles in anticipation that they will be rehired soon, saying these displaced workers can now have the chance to be employed with the conversion of BEZ into FAB.

“FAB will become a magnet for investors due to the various benefits, such as taxes and other emoluments not to mention its infrastructure which will be improved in the coming days and this means a lot of employment will be created,” added Rep. Garcia.

ruralvillage

December 7th, 2009, 02:16 AM

Experts welcome BNPP rehab prospect (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/19334-experts-welcome-bnpp-rehab-prospect-.html)
Business Mirror (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/19334-experts-welcome-bnpp-rehab-prospect-.html)
Written by Lyn Resurreccion / Science Editor and James Mendoza / Researcher
Thursday, 03 December 2009 22:22

EXPERTS welcomed the recommendation of Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) to rehabilitate the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), which has been mothballed for two decades.

“I hope they [nuclear experts rehabilitate] and open the nuclear power plant [as soon as possible],” Dr. Carlo Arcilla, director of the University of the Philippines National Institute of Geological Sciences, told the BusinessMirror at the sidelines of the national conference held by the Geological Society of the Philippines on Thursday.

Arcilla said Kepco has been running an “exact copy”—known as Kori 2—of the BNPP for two decades already, which explains the Korean company’s expertise on the same generation of the nuclear power plant.

“This [Kepco recommendation] tells me it is really feasible to run the plant [BNPP],” Arcilla said.

South Korea currently has 20 nuclear power plants and has six others being constructed, International Atomic Energy Agency data show. There are a total of 436 nuclear power plants in operation and 53 being constructed worldwide.

In the same conference, Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco said Kepco’s report confirmed the studies done in 1996 which said the rehabilitation of the BNPP is indeed feasible.

Kepco was commissioned by the National Power Corp. (Napocor) to do a feasibility study on the BNPP. Napocor president Froilan Tampinco told reporters on Wednesday that Kepco has submitted its report and recommended that “it is possible to rehabilitate” the nuclear power plant.

Asked by BusinessMirror on whether Napocor could go ahead with the rehabilitation and subsequent operation of the BNPP independent of the approval of his bill pending in Congress on the same matter, Cojuangco said, “My action [legislation] is independent of Napocor. The executive can decide on its own.”

But he quickly added: “A legislative mandate [which would allow the process go through public discussion] would make the people own it.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Alumanda de la Rosa, director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), told BusinessMirror in a separate interview that whoever will rehabilitate the BNPP will have to apply for a license with the PNRI.

“There should be a regulatory review. The PNRI is the regulatory body. They have to apply [for a license to rehabilitate the power plant]. They cannot rehabilitate and operate it on their own. There should be a regulatory oversight,” de la Rosa explained regarding the required process.

Kepco has not yet submitted an estimate of the cost and the time frame for the rehabilitation of the power plant.

De la Rosa said initial estimates of the rehabilitation cost were from $800 million to $1 billion.

Most of the equipment that need to be replaced involve the conventional side (control system and electrical), while the nuclear side (nuclear-reactor core) “is fine,” Tampinco told reporters earlier.

Asked if the Kepco recommendation was caused by its alleged desire to run the plant on its own, Cojuangco said Kepco is not interested.

“This is a small potato for them,” he said. “Kepco has 20 running plants, much bigger than BNPP in Korea today. They’ll be commissioning seven more in the next two years, and in the next five to seven years they’ll have a total of 38 running plants in Korea,” Cojuangco explained.

Cojuangco also dismissed fears on BNPP’s proximity to Mount Natib, a volcano.

“As it stands today Mt. Natib is considered an extinct volcano,” he said.

He explained that geologists who oppose the operation of BNPP could not find any evidence of any recent eruption of the volcano.

“They found a piece of charcoal carbon-dated to 150 years. We know in history that there was no eruption of the volcano between the last 150 years.”

He said that the charcoal could possibly be the product of wood burnt by forest fires in the area.

Arcilla said: “Personally I think it [volcanic danger to BNPP] is a nonissue.”

He said the two recorded dates of Mount Natib’s eruption was 27,000 years and 60,000 years ago.

He added that since studies have shown that no earthquake fault exists under or near the BNPP, “the issue should be laid to rest.”

Cojuangco said he is calling for a vote on House Bill 6300 but it is being hampered by the absence of a quorum.

“I believe that I can get it to a vote if I can get a quorum in the Congress. I can’t get a vote because everybody is now focused on the election,” he said.

Cojuangco authored House Bill 4631, which was consolidated with similar measures into House Bill 6300, that is seeking to recommission the BNPP. The solon argued that by 2013 the country will have a 3,000-megawatt energy shortfall that will put its economic activity to a halt.

He said renewable energy is “too expensive” for now and incapable of providing the country with the power of baseline capacity.

ruralvillage

December 8th, 2009, 01:40 AM

Bataan to become richer with creation of FAB (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/19411-bataan-to-become-richer-with-creation-of-fab-.html)
Business Mirror (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/19411-bataan-to-become-richer-with-creation-of-fab-.html)
Written by Butch Gunio / Special to the BusinessMirror
Monday, 07 December 2009 21:30

MARIVELES—Bataan Second District Rep. Abet Garcia expressed optimism that the province will become richer in the coming years with the creation of the Free port Area of Bataan (FAB), along with the expected pouring of additional investments and the generation of tens of thousands of jobs.

The solon was the architect of FAB, after sponsoring Republic Act 9728, which converted the Bataan Economic Zone (BEZ) into FAB, seen to become a major free port and economic zone because of its strategic location along the Manila Bay.

“In fact, right after the law was created, a number of investors, including foreign, are getting in touch with us and expressed keen interest in investing in FAB, an indication that the newly created FAB will become bullish,” Garcia revealed.

“FAB will become a magnet for investors due to the various benefits, such as taxes and other emoluments, not to mention its infrastructures which will be improved in the coming days. This means a lot of employment will be created,” he added.

The solon predicted that around 100,000 new jobs will be generated once FAB goes full-swing operation.

Garcia said the implementing rules and regulations of FAB is now being crafted and can be finished anytime. He added that the composition of the FAB sole authority is also being finalized.

The solon also said FAB shall have a capital stock of P2 billion coming from the national government.

He said he is working to include the initial release of fund for FAB in the General Appropriations Act next year.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority, umbrella organization of the country’s economic zones, has been blamed for the neglect of BEZ, resulting in the closure of a number of companies here and dislocation of tens of thousands of employees for the past several years.

JudeD

December 15th, 2009, 10:46 PM

is there a way to drive from bagac to morong without going back to roman highway and sctex?

TheAvenger

December 24th, 2009, 02:56 PM

.

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/bataana.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/bataanb.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/bataanc.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/bataand.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/bataane.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/scan0008.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/scan0009a.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/scan0009b.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/scan0010a.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/scan0010b.jpg

TheAvenger

December 24th, 2009, 03:14 PM

is there a way to drive from bagac to morong without going back to roman highway and sctex?

According to the newest map of Bataan, their is a road directly linking Bagac
to Morong, so that is the best way instead of making a long trip to SCTEX.

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/bagactomoronga.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/bagactomorong.jpg

lgseccionph

January 11th, 2010, 03:33 PM

Bataan cited for effective coastal management

BALANGA CITY—Bataan has been cited as among the best local government units (LGUs) in implementing a coastal-management program in the East Asian region.

Bataan is a peninsula with 11 of 12 towns surrounded by seas.

Butch Baluyot, officer in charge of Bataan’s project management office, said the province is the only LGU in the Philippines cited for effective coastal management in the recent East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009 held last November in the country.

The EAS Congress 2009 here was hosted by the Philippine government through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It was organized by the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (Pemsea) and the DENR, and supported by the Global Environment Facility, United Nations Development Program, United Nations Office for Project Services and the Coastal Management Center.

Bataan province, led by Gov. Enrique Garcia, has also been commended for the successful cohosting of the Pemsea Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development  (PNLG) Forum.

PNLG Forum was one of the side events of the EAS Congress 2009. In the forum, Garcia was also reelected as vice president of PNLG.

Baluyot said Bataan is the only province in the country with an effective public-private partnership in protecting its sea waters, marine resources and coastlines.

The Bataan Coastal Care Foundation Inc. (BCCFI) was formed by environmentally responsible companies operating in the province.

BCCFI serves as the catalyst and provides counterpart funding for the integrated coastal-management program here to build better governance, explore ways for a sustainable public-private partnership in environmental management, increase public awareness and promote community participation.

Bataan is also the first province in the country to implement a sea-use zoning plan, said Baluyot. A book was released by the BCCFI on Bataan’s sea-use zoning plan.

The establishment of fish sanctuaries in the municipal seas here is included in the sea-use zoning plan adopted by the Bataan provincial government.

The provincial government is also regularly conducting cleanup activities along its coasts. The installation of artificial reefs in the seas here is also a thrust of the provincial government.

In May 2007 artificial reefs were installed at the waters off sitio Marina, barangay Alas-asin, Mariveles town. The project was spearheaded by Total Philippines Corp. in coordination with concerned government agencies.

The project involved the setting up of 200 concrete reefs 60 meters deep into the water and 150 meters away from the shore to serve as shelter and breeding grounds for different fish species and other marine organisms.  

The governor is also seeking the closure of the Manila Bay to commercial fishing to reverse depletion and propagate fishes for small fishermen. Nine towns of Bataan are fronting the bay. [businessmirro]

hakz2007

January 13th, 2010, 10:28 AM

Aurora province now has its own economic zone (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/20799-aurora-province-now-has-its-own-economic-zone-.html)

SEN. Edgardo Angara on Sunday led the groundbreaking of the Aurora Pacific Ecozone in Casiguran, the northernmost municipality of Aurora province.

“Aurora stands at the cusp of economic development. It is blessed with natural splendor and great economic potential. It is a gateway to the Pacific, which makes it ideal for international commerce and investment. This makes it a prime location for an economic zone,” said Angara, who hails from Baler, Aurora.

The economic zone located in Casiguran town is composed of 24 hectares of land. It has allocated P437 million for its initial projects that include roads set for completion on May 18, a three-story hotel that will be home for investors and locators, and a two-story administration building targeted for completion by March or April 2011.

Angara said, “This will support our efforts toward decentralization and empowering our local governments. We must make them less dependent on the capital, Manila, which has enough problems of its own.”

The project aims to maximize local content, which means whatever the province has will be used in the development of the economic zone, including the labor force that will provide a maximum of 300 laborer jobs for its first phase.

The province is also aiming to be the center of development of northeastern Luzon after its international airport is finished. The airport is currently under construction and is based near the Aurora Pacific Eco-Zone. When completed, proponents hope to showcase a modern Aurora province.

Angara said each region must be able to stand on its own, not just as a unit of government, but more important, as an engine of economic growth.

He called on the government to give the country’s various provinces the opportunity to build and stimulate their own economies.

The groundbreaking was attended by 300 local government officials and townsfolk together with Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Rep. Sonny Angara, acting Aseza administrator Vitaliano Sabalo, New Kanlaon chairman Antonio Evangelista, Aurora provincial board members, and members of the Casiguran municipal council.
In Photo: From left is Head Eng.of the project Tony Evangelista, Aurora Gov.Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Congressman Lone District of Aurora Sonny Angara, and Sen.Edgardo Angara. (Nonie Reyes)

lgseccionph

January 18th, 2010, 02:44 PM

ATI moves to stop Bataan property sale

THE ASIAN Terminals, Inc. (ATI) has filed an appeal with the Central Board of Assessment Appeals in Bataan to stop the sale of some of its properties in Mariveles in Bataan.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Monday, the terminal operator said it “intends to pursue and exhaust all remedies available to it under the law” to prevent the sale of some of its properties at the Mariveles Grain Terminal. ATI is the operator of the terminal.

The company previously issued an appeal to prevent the sale of its properties but was turned down.

The properties were being sold due to ATI’s alleged failure to pay taxes. -- Emilia Narni J. David

watcher09

January 18th, 2010, 03:13 PM

Perhaps it will be better if Bataan is merged with Zambales. And Aurora to be merged with Quezon Province or Nueva Ecija.

This is my first time in this thread at naguluhan ako. Fact is, I visited this because it caught my attention- "Aurora and Bataan..." and I wanted to know if this Aurora was the Aurora province that I knew of.

TheAvenger is correct, Aurora should have been merged to Quezon thread or Nueva Ecija thread. Anyway, neighbors like to talk with each other's business.
Or, IMO, there must be a thread for provinces with slow response from forumers, say, all other Luzon provinces.

TheAvenger

January 20th, 2010, 01:22 AM

This is my first time in this thread at naguluhan ako. Fact is, I visited this because it caught my attention- "Aurora and Bataan..." and I wanted to know if this Aurora was the Aurora province that I knew of.

TheAvenger is correct, Aurora should have been merged to Quezon thread or Nueva Ecija thread. Anyway, neighbors like to talk with each other's business.
Or, IMO, there must be a thread for provinces with slow response from forumers, say, all other Luzon provinces.

By the way, Aurora provinces was formerly part of Quezon province.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/aurora.jpg

http://www.aurora.ph/history.html

TheAvenger

January 20th, 2010, 01:39 AM

JcnDCD6fD7g

-kabloTIt6s

bkm4XV0Dx6A

watcher09

January 25th, 2010, 02:00 PM

By the way, Aurora provinces was formerly part of Quezon province.

Yup! When there was a move to divide Quezon into two (Quezon Del Norte and Del Sur), the separation of the northern towns (to form Aurora) was brought out. Many have opposed the idea of dividing Quezon once again. Even when I was a child, I was dissappointed to know that Baler, being the birthplace of Manuel L. Quezon was not part of Quezon anymore. No offense meant.

hakz2007

February 15th, 2010, 07:42 AM

Baler emerged as fast-rising local travel destination (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=258848)

BALER, Aurora, Feb. 15 (PNA) -- This capital and oldest town of the province has been named the fastest-rising local travel destination during Google’s most-searched items in the Philippines in 2009.

Alipio Tuzon, executive assistant of Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, said this capital town emerged on top of the list of local travel destinations that include the Amana Resort (Pandi, Bulacan), Acuatico Beach Resort (San Juan, Batangas), Coron Palawan, Anawangin Cove (San Antonio Zambales) El Nido (Palawan) and 8 Waves Resort and Eco Park (San Rafael, Bulacan)

Tuzon said Baler’s new-found status as a potential tourism mecca was apparently spurred by the movie shown in late 2008 starring Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales which showcased this town as a surfer’s paradise.

The period film swept major awards during the Metro Manila Film Festival in 2008.

Tuzon said the provincial government, through the provincial tourism office, has been aggressive in promoting not only Baler but the entire province as a tourism destination by participating in various tourism-related activities, including the North Philippines Tourism Fair where it was declared best tourism booth for the past three years.

He said the inclusion of Baler in the Philippine Zeitgest of Google was no mean feat considering it had to compete with Filipino online viewers’ attention fixated with the likes of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, presidential candidate Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, controversial doctor Hayden Kho and social networking site Facebook.

Google’s 2009 Year-End Zeitgest report said it contained what was on the minds of most information-hungry Pinoy Internet users in the past 12 months.

Therese Lim of Google Southeast Asia said 2009 was peppered with events that got Filipinos searching for more information online from politics to sports.

“Google was there to provide them with unlimited access,” Lim said. (PNA)

hakz2007

February 16th, 2010, 11:47 AM

DPWH defends P100-M dredging project in Aurora (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=259175)

BALER, Aurora, Feb. 16 (PNA) - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has defended the P100–million dredging project in Casiguran town here, saying “it is an aboveboard project that is extremely necessary."

Elmer Dabbay, district engineer of the Aurora-DPWH, told newsmen that the dredging and re-channeling of the Calabgan, Minanga and Tabang rivers, all in Casiguran, were extremely necessary because of the severe flooding that always hits the northern Aurora town even during the slightest rain.

“How can funds for dredging and re-channeling be election funds when flooding has long been a problem in Casiguran? If we don’t re-channel the rivers, water has no way out and Casiguran would perennially be under water,” Dabbay said.

He made this reaction following reports that officials of Casiguran are investigating the project on suspicion it is being used to raise campaign funds.

Earlier, leaders and members of the Nuestra Señora dela Salvacion Parish submitted a petition to the municipal council of Casiguran seeking to investigate the project which they described as “questionable, dubious and anomalous.”

The program of work submitted by the DPWH and the contractors to the municipal council was reportedly “unsigned, undated and unapproved by Mayor Reynaldo Bitong.

Bitong said the work was done haphazardly, as if its proponents were into “campaign fund-raising.”

While he did not identify who was behind the supposed fund-raising, he was clearly referring to Governor Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo, who initiated the project and tapped the DPWH as implementing agency through a memorandum of agreement.

Dabbay said that the project, built starting last month by renowned multi-million peso contractor Boy Tan of Trans-Aurora and Cecille Uy of ZF Construction, would drastically ease flooding in Casiguran which has perennially been turned into a catch basin of floodwaters coming from nearby areas.

“Those opposing it just don’t understand its impact to the communities. In fact, residents in the beneficiary areas are ecstatic that we are doing this project because if we don’t, flooding would get worse in Casiguran,” he said.

He said it was unfair for critics to claim the project was election related just because the elections are fast approaching.

“Even in other areas, not only in Aurora, when projects are being undertaken during the period near to the elections, these kind of accusations are being peddled. It’s for the good of the people, yet they (critics) oppose it. I don’t know why,” he said. (PNA)

caloy

February 17th, 2010, 09:15 AM

Yup! When there was a move to divide Quezon into two (Quezon Del Norte and Del Sur), the separation of the northern towns (to form Aurora) was brought out. Many have opposed the idea of dividing Quezon once again. Even when I was a child, I was dissappointed to know that Baler, being the birthplace of Manuel L. Quezon was not part of Quezon anymore. No offense meant.

siguro by accessibility. kasi from dingalan town to baler, we have to pass through palayan, neuva ecija. from auroras two town, we have to pass through nueva ecija. how much more going to quezon? hirap ng mga daan, buti nga sementado na ang road going to dingalan eh. dati, pahirapan.

hakz2007

February 22nd, 2010, 09:37 AM

Bataan traders venture into malunggay, camote, squash noodles processing (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=260210)

BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Feb. 22 (PNA) -- Four entrepreneurs in the province have ventured into the processing of malunggay, camote and squash to pancit canton noodles under the veggie noodles project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Yay P. Lasam, DTI provincial director, said the nutritious noodles will soon augment the feeding program of the Department of Education for school children.

“We have promoted the use of the noodles to school officials who readily accepted its implementation to provide additional nutrients for the kids,” she said.

Lasam said the processors will soon make use of camote and squash flour from the present ordinary flour mixed with malunggay and squash to make the products purely organic.

Cindy M. Jaime, trade and industry development specialist, said the noodles in 250-gram pack are sold from P35-P40 in the market.

She said the noodles can be eaten raw like the common “chitseria.”

David’s Food Products of Balanga City processes squash and malunggay pancit canton noodles with daily production capacity of 95 packs of 250 grams per pack.

The Mt. View Veggie Noodles in Mariveles town, on the other hand, develops combination of squash-malunggay in one pack with production capacity of 64 packs of 250 grams per pack in a day.

Five Bro’s Bakery of Bagac produces 51 packs daily of squash pancit canton noodles in addition to its squash pandesal.

The Bagac Veggie Noodles Association on Banawang, Bagac processes combination of camote-malunggay in one pack.

So far, the four entrepreneurs have invested P770,000 and maintains 59 workers. (PNA)

TheAvenger

February 23rd, 2010, 11:57 PM

How about dividing this thread to Bataan and Aurora thread ? para magandang tignan. Tutal naman marami nang nagpo post mula Bataan and mula Aurora.

Madali namang ayusin itong thread na ito at paghiwalayin chronologically ang postings ng Bataan and Aurora.

hakz2007

February 24th, 2010, 08:57 AM

Grand mall to rise in Balanga soon (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22204:grand-mall-to-rise-in-balanga-soon&catid=45:regions&Itemid=71)

BALANGA CITY—The 25-year-old Balanga Plaza Arcade will give way to a five-story mall at the 5,000-square-meter business center right at the busy commercial district of this city.

Some 134 stalls in four one-story buildings that cater to various needs of customers for years from services to merchandise were closed and already knocked down. Fencing has been made around the arcade, just a stone’s throw from the St. Joseph Cathedral and the city hall. The site is ready for the construction of the new mall.

The newly renovated city plaza, known as Plaza Mayor, which is still undergoing finishing touches, sits in full view.

Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III said construction cost was placed at P250 million. Actual construction of the mall begins in March and is targeted for completion in one-and-a-half years.

The modern mall is touted to be the grandest in Bataan.

New San Jose Builders, owned by Jerry Acuzar, will build and operate the mall, and has agreed to pay the Balanga City government P10 million a year in rent, plus a 3-percent escalation fee for 25 years. Acuzar is a native of this city.

The mall, to be named Victoria Mall, will have basement parking good for 140 vehicles, hotel, restaurants, book and grocery stores, kiosks, and about 200 stalls catering to various services and merchandise.

The city mayor said Pure Gold, National Book Store and SM were among the first businesses that registered intent to set up shop in the mall. Butch Gunio

hakz2007

February 25th, 2010, 05:57 AM

NEDA approves infrastructure, social projects (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Business_19/NEDA_approves_infrastructure_social_projects.shtml)

MANILA, Feb. 25 (PNA) - The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC) has approved three infrastructure and social projects.

Approved were the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS): Operation for Barangay and Municipal Action project, the Secondary National Road Development Project (SNRDP), both with grant financing from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and the improvement of the Aurora MemorialHospital in Baler, Aurora.

The KALAHI-CIDSS-MCC project amounting to $ 168.5 million (P7.75 billion) is an expansion program of the KALAHI-CIDSS within Luzon and Visayas. It is geared towards empowering local communities through improved participation in local governance and involvement in the design and implementation of poverty reduction projects.

The project consists of capacity building and implementation support, barangay grants and project management and monitoring and evaluation.

Also, it will cover 4,439 barangays and 193 municipalites in Luzon and Visayas. These municipalities belong to the 50 percent poorest in their respective provinces and with at least 40 percent poverty incidence.

On the other hand, the SNRDP, that will construct a connection of roads across the cities of Catbalogan and Borongan in the province of Samar, will have a total length of 221 kilometers.

It will cost a total of $ 232.44 million (P10.6 billion) and also involves rehabilitation or upgrading of existing roads.

The SNRDP aims to increase the efficiency of road transportation in Eastern Samar, provide good connection to central Samar, and promote tourism development in the area. NEDA noted that improvement in welfare and poverty reduction can be expected if basic infrastructure like the SNRDP will be developed in the province.

The MCC, a United States Government corporation, was established in 2004 that works on the “principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom and investments in people.” Its mission is to reduce global poverty by promoting sustainable economic growth.

The NEDA ICC-CC also approved the improvement of the Aurora Memorial Hospital in Baler, Aurora.

It includes the construction of a new complex for the hospital, procurement of new equipment and facilities, and site development that will cost at an estimated P595.13 million.

The project is in response to the increasing maternal deaths in the area of Aurora compared to the rest of central Luzon.

It also aims to increase the number of medical and health professionals in Aurora and nearby provinces, the hospital’s bed capacity, and to be able to offer midwifery and BS Nursing courses in Baler in collaboration with UP Manila School of Health Science. The project is a proposed Japanese Government assistance under its Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Grant Aid Program.

Meanwhile, the ICC approved the request for increase in cost by PhP 107.38 million for the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project, Phase I (NSLP 1).

The ICC likewise approved the final nine-month extension of loan validity for the project from March 29, 2010 to December 29, 2010. The project covers the south line of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) from Caloocan to Alabang.

On the other hand, the ICC approved the proposed increase in cost by P1.59 billion for the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project, Phase II (NSLP 2) to finance some project changes which were recommended during the Korean Government’s Appraisal Mission.

The proposed project changes were approved subject to submission of ICC requisite documents and clarification of some issues by PNR. NSLP 2 covers the south line from Alabang to Calamba. (PNA)

hakz2007

February 27th, 2010, 05:35 AM

Aurora e-Village project beneficiaries receive ICT wares (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=261184)

BALER, Aurora, Feb. 26 (PNA) - Farmers in fifteen barangays of the province will now have an easier and greater access to new agricultural technology through online information.

This came as new information and communication technology (ICT) wares were recently turned over to the identified beneficiaries of the Aurora e-Village project.

The new computers that were distributed will be installed in the identified 19 access points.

Each computer was designed in an ATM machine-like kiosk coupled with database on rice and other commodities.

It will also have a system that is connected to the Rice Processing Complex (RPC) which will make transactions for farmers easy.

For the first phase of the project, four central towns of Aurora specifically Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis and Dipaculao benefited in the turnover of ICT wares.

The 19 selected access points were composed mainly of barangays and cooperatives in these municipalities.

In Baler, Barangays Suklayin and Buhangin together with the Glory to GOD Multi-Purpose Cooperative were selected as access points.

For the town of San Luis, Barangays Nonong Bacor, Bacong and Zarah together with Ditumabo Multi-Purpose Cooperative were the identified access points while for Maria Aurora the barangays of Detailen, Cabaticulan West, Bazal, Quirino, Florida, Debucao and Maria Aurora Development Cooperative will serve as the access points.

Also for the town of Dipaculao, the access points can be found in Barangays Punagi, Salay, Mucdol, Ipil and Dimabuno Kababaihan Producers Cooperative.

Antonio D. Kalaw, president of the Development Academy of the Philippines, Atty. Ronilo A. Beronio of Department of Agriculture (DA)-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Director Asterio P. Saliot of DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) were present to give inspiring words to over a hundred farmers and barangay officials who attended the event.

Kalaw, in his message, urged the farmers of Aurora "not to be afraid of new technologies."

Beronio, for his part, talked about the role of ICT in increasing rice yield.

"We could use ICT to increase our yield on rice of Aurora to one million tons per year," he said.

"The proliferation of these ICT wares somehow empowers our farmers and fishers and in general the agriculture and fisheries," Saliot said.

Aurora Provincial Administrator Alex Ocampo received the ICT wares for the province in behalf of Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.

"Aurora Province is very fortunate to be the recipient of this project. The Aurora farmers are not only traditional farmers but techno farmers too," Ocampo said. (PNA)

hakz2007

March 2nd, 2010, 07:48 AM

Bataan implements bamboo-development project (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22435:bataan-implements-bamboo-development-project-&catid=45:regions&Itemid=71)

BALANGA CITY—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has initiated the manufacture of engineered bamboo desks in public elementary schools here in line with the bamboo industry development project (BIDP), a flagship initiative of President Arroyo, said Yay Lasam, DTI provincial director here.

Lasam said Central Luzon aims to develop the project as a business model for Northern Philippines that will be replicated in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Lasam said the BIDP business model consists of 12 nodes or primary processing plants that produce bamboo slats as raw materials for the engineered bamboo, and a hub that will further process the bamboo slats into engineered bamboo and assemble into bamboo school desks and other furniture and wood products.

The business model resulted from various interventions of concerned government agencies and offices, she said.

Lasam said a provincial bamboo industry development core group was organized here, composed of the provincial government, the Environment Natural Resources Office, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Project Management Office, Department of Environment Natural Resources, Department of Education (DepEd), concerned local government units, community-based forest management groups, and other stakeholders to oversee the bamboo-project implementation.

She said core group members and farmer-members of CBFMs participated in the regional value-chain validation workshop, action planning workshop for nodes, and benchmarking missions separately held in the provinces of Abra, Iloilo and Tarlac.

The core group members also attended trainings on bamboo treatment, harvesting and selection, plus laminating and composing.

Lasam said two potential nodes were already identified in the province, which are Bagac and Mariveles.

A project proposal for the establishment of seven nodes in Central Luzon was submitted for funding to the National Economic and Development Authority awaiting approval and release of funds.

The DTI provincial director revealed that Bataan Second District Rep. Albert Garcia also approved in principle a proposal for the propagation and processing of bamboo in the province.

She said the advocacy for the use of bamboo products, specifically engineered bamboo school desks, was initiated in the region through the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), the Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation Inc., Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CLGCFI), Bamboo Teams and Councils and other environment advocates.

The DepEd is seen as the biggest market to be encouraged using engineered bamboo desks for at least 20 percent of its school desks requirement.

The Balanga Elementary School here has received 25 engineered bamboo school desks, which is part of the 175 bamboo desks donated by the CLGCFI, through the ADCL, to the seven provinces of Central Luzon.

Lasam disclosed that Garcia also donated fund to pay for another 25 desks to be given to another elementary school in Bataan.

hakz2007

March 3rd, 2010, 06:17 AM

7 engineering inventions/designs showcased in Bataan (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=262029)

BALANGA City, Bataan, March 3 (PNA) -- The Microcity Computer College in this city has recently showcased unique and interesting inventions and designs at the Bataan People’s Center here, which were personally conceived and fabricated by students espousing the principles of electronics and communications technology.

Engineer Saudino Lacsamana, Microcity’s dean of engineering department, said the exhibits are original designs of the students that can be paralleled to other schools in and out of the province despite the absence of outside financial support.

“The exhibit basically shows how intellectual the minds of our Filipino students especially in engineering, ” Lacsamana said.

The prototypes are the students’ visualization of solutions to problems encountered at home and the industry using automation and computers, the organizers explained.

Among the exhibits are a Mobile Robot that demonstrates robotics technology that picks up things and places in the desired area; a Line Follower Robot that follows a black line that will be interesting as toys for children.

A Time In and Time out and Locator System tracks the presence of an employee in a given place good for accurate recording of time as aid in precise computation of salaries; a TXT-Switch that turns on any home appliance or light bulbs through Short Message Service (SMS) technology;

Greenhouse in automated operation; a PC-Based Ferris Wheel that enables any rider to stop the ferries wheel at any given time; Electronics Sign Display good for announcements of offices and schools; Interfaced Elevator System and Automated Billboard that rolls up and down through SMS technology.

“This automated billboard will reduce nuisances to properties and lives that can be caused by collapsing billboards during typhoons,” a student explained.

An Automated Train Tracking System show how automatic and control systems work behind the operation of the Light Railway Transit.

Another interesting design is the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine assembled for only P200 but minus the safety features.

Many students from different schools in the province enjoyed the exhibits of Microcity highlighted with some heavily-applauded dance numbers. (PNA)

hakz2007

March 3rd, 2010, 09:42 AM

Bataan residents get ready for FAB (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22493:bataan-resdents-get-ready-for-fab-&catid=45:regions&Itemid=71)

MARIVELES, Bataan—“Are you ready for the FAB?”

This question is printed on signboards posted in various parts of Bataan, referring to the Freeport Authority of Bataan (FAB), the former Bataan Economic Zone (BEZ).

Tens of thousands of employment opportunities can be generated from the FAB, according to Bataan Second District Rep. Albert Garcia. The solon authored the bill seeking the creation of the FAB.

Garcia sees Bataan becoming richer with the FAB.

The solon said that in filling up the jobs to be created at FAB, residents, particularly the youth, must have the necessary education and training.

He pointed to the “Iskolar ng Bataan” program that he and Gov. Enrique Garcia implemented. Launched in 2004, the scholarship program has benefited more than 50,000 college scholars in the province.

The representative said the graduates of Iskolar ng Bataan program do not need to go far to find work, as jobs are available at the FAB.

He said high-school graduates and out-of-school youth can also start gaining technical skills as offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

There will be a domino effect in the progress here, said the solon. Sectors of transportation, housing, banking and services, among others, will flourish.

The representative said big businessmen and aspiring small entrepreneurs must get ready to penetrate sectors that will thrive as FAB goes into full operation.

Mayor Joet Garcia said Balanga City’s “University Town” vision is an apt response by the city in readiness for FAB as the education of the youth here is pushed to world-class level.

Garcia envisioned Balanga City to become a University Town by 2020, by becoming the center of political, cultural, economic and social influence throughout Bataan.

The city government has segregated an 80-hectare University Town area that bounds all the university, colleges, high schools and elementary schools here.

The city mayor outlined a mission of establishing a three-way partnership among the government, business and academe with the purpose of improving the quality of education in all academic institutions in the city.

The city mayor said the quality education provided to Bataan youth at the University Town will be used to the work positions available soon in the FAB.

Garcia also disclosed that he has already talked with Representative Garcia about the concept of industry matching to be able to come out with degree and short courses in the university and colleges here useful at the FAB and local tourism.

Mayor Jesse Concepcion in Mariveles, the host town of the FAB, is coming up with a scheme for the special skills training of local residents in tie up with concerned government agencies.

The mayor said they would get in touch with Tesda and other government institutions for the conduct of the special skills training.

Mariveles municipal administrator Luis Gonzales said the establishment of the FAB will arrest the continued slide down into irrelevance of the first economic zone in the country.

It will be recalled that the BEZ, then called the Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ), was the first public economic zone established in the country though Presidential Decree 66 in November 1972.

He said the 400-hectare zone, as originally projected, would accommodate at least 100 light, medium and heavy industrial firms.

He said the proximity of the FAB to the existing two ports of Manila, all along the Manila Bay, will be of great advantage for transshipment and dockyard commercial activities.

Gonzales said the displaced employees at the economic zone, most of whom came from other places that swelled the unemployed population of Mariveles, can be reemployed at the newly established FAB.

“We do not want the repeat of what happened in the past when the BEZ opened in early ’70s. Many workers came from other provinces because of the lack of preparation by the local leaders at that time. That is why Mayor Jesse Concepcion is coming up with a scheme to ready residents here for employment at FAB,” said Gonzales.

Gonzales said he and municipal consultants Ed Tario and Tito Catipon, as approved by Concepcion, will be initiating career-guidance seminars to help high-school students here correctly choose courses and skills trainings suitable to the soon-available jobs at the FAB.

The municipal consultant also said out-of-school youths here will also be encouraged and given guidance in undergoing skills trainings.

He revealed that at the public hearings in the conversion of BEZ into FAB, Mariveles officials led by Concepcion, batted that Mariveles residents be given priority in the employment at FAB.

Congressman Garcia said with a free port status, the FAB will be ready for foreign trading and is set to become an international logistic hub.

hakz2007

March 9th, 2010, 12:35 PM

Ferry service from Bataan to MOA resumes April 1 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=263203)

ORION, Bataan, March 9 (PNA) -- The operations of ferry service from this port to Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City via Manila Bay will resume on April 1.

Bataan second district Rep. Abet S. Garcia said that Aboitiz Shipping Lines will deploy its Super CAT ferry boats to ply the Orion-MOA route.

Garcia expressed optimism that the resumption of the ferry boat service here will be patronized by the public since it will bring directly the commuters to MOA, the largest shopping center in the country.

In the past years, a number of ferry boat companies put up services from Orion to Philippine International Convention Center in Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

However, they were not patronized by the commuters due to location and expensive fares.

Travel time from Orion port to MOA is approximately 45 minutes, which is shorter than taking a trip by land.

Garcia said ticketing offices will be put up in RCPI offices in Bataan.

There will also mini buses or jeepneys to ferry passengers in Balanga City, he said.

He also said that ferry service will soon reopen to Mariveles town to serve the investors and workers inside the Bataan Economic Zone (BEZ) now converted by law, into Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB). (PNA)

hakz2007

March 9th, 2010, 03:17 PM

PWU Balanga campus officials see growth of Philippine tourism (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22782:pwu-balanga-campus-officials-see-growth-of-philippine-tourism-&catid=45:regions&Itemid=71)

BALANGA CITY, Bataan—Officials of the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) branch here said they are expanding tourism-related courses to accommodate more students and help prepare for the expected growth of the Philippine tourism industry.

School officials said they expect the local tourism industry to grow, and need people educated and trained in tourism. “Compared to our neighboring Asian countries, we still lag behind in terms of the number of tourist arrivals probably because of the peace- and order problem in Mindanao, yet this will surely grow,” said Val Toral, the school’s administrator.

In the recent celebration of the school’s eighth Foundation Day, campus officials bared plans to widen tourism-related courses to accommodate more students.

As part of the strengthening of the campus tourism department, Toral said, the campus has been supporting the tourism activities and thrusts of the Bataan provincial government and the Balanga city government.

Recently, a pack of tour guides from the PWU Balanga assisted officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and bird experts in the conduct of a census of water birds in this city.

The five tour guides from the PWU Balanga campus were  faculty members Jayson Cayanan and Frances Rosselle Gonzales, and tourism students Chyrwin Field, Jinky Larion and Pamela Banzon.

The five underwent a series of tour-guiding seminars conducted by the provincial tourism office and the Balanga City tourism office.

Included in the training package was to develop the skill of identifying and naming the migratory and endemic birds found in the wetlands and mudflats here.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has included the areas in barangays Sibacan, Tortugas and Puerto Rivas in this city among the 12 official bird-watching sites in the Philippines.

The DOT has launched a tourism guidebook of the 12 bird-watching sites in the country.

The wetlands in this city attract one of the largest concentrations of migrant shorebirds and waterfowls anywhere in the Philippines, according to the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, the country’s leading bird-watching society.

The group of tour guides from PWU Balanga campus said tour-guiding in the bird census here was quite easy for they had accompanied bird experts.

The DENR and bird experts counted 18,679 migratory water birds present in the wetlands in this city compared to the 15,251 water birds recorded last year.