Baguio City and Benguet Province

[saintm]

Baguio to inaugurate ERS on Feb. 2; invites P-Noy as guest of honor

BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 7 (PNA)-- The city government is set to inaugurate on February 2 its P128-million engineered recovery system (ERS) commonly known as composting plant which is said to be the first of its kind in the Philippines.

City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the city has invited President Benigno Aquino III to be the event's guest of honor who will lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The plant which uses Japanese technology will efficiently handle the mountain resort's more than 166 tons of solid wastes generated daily.

As designed, the 66 tons will be composted into organic fertilizer.

The rest which are recyclables will be hauled to appropriate areas by the ERS contractor at no cost of the city government.

For almost five years, the city has already spent more than P300 million for the hauling of its solid wastes to Tarlac.

"With our new plant, the city will no longer be spending for the hauling and tipping fees for our solid wastes disposal," the mayor said.

Domogan added that the test runs of the facility will be January 11 and its full operations would be sometime on January 17. (PNA)

[saintm]

Baguio air quality cited
January 8, 2011, 7:17pm
BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) disclosed the city’s air quality is still good to fair even if several parts of the city registered abnormal air quality during several hours of the day.

Based on an air quality monitoring report recently released by the EMB-CAR, the city’s central business district area was able to record total suspended particulates up to as high as 320 micrograms per cubic meter during rush hour from 7 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. daily.

The normal total suspended particulates which is tolerable is around 150 micrograms per cubic meter. (Dexter A. See)

[saintm]

Camp John Hay development
back on stream
BY ALBERT RUELLE CASTRO

CONSTRUCTION in the Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CHJ Development) portion of the famous tourism destination in Baguio City gets back on stream as the operating company which first won the rights to develop the former military base starts on a new project that is expected to spruce up the area.

Alfredo R. Yniguez, CJH Development chief operating officer, said the company is now on the conceptual phase for an addition to the company’s condotel project which it has been developing in the area since it acquired the right to the property in 1996.

The company is set to spend between P300 million to P400 million to add another 166-200 rooms on the condotel complex which started with the 189-room The Manor.

Last year, the company opened The Suites, developed for an estimated P450 million, which added 289 rooms.

The opening of The Suites marked the resumption of development in Camp John Hay by CHJ Development, after it ran into conflict with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority which took away some of the tax incentives that the company was enjoying as part of the agreement to develop the former military base.

"We got all the way to the Supreme Court. Finally they ruled in our favor in 2008, that’s when we resumed the construction," said Yniquez.

"It was finally finished (in) November," added Yniquez.

As with The Manor, CHJ Development also offered buyers of units in The Suites a revenue-sharing scheme, 70 percent of net income, which assures owners of an annual dividend.

Yniquez said that based on their experience with The Manor, the condotel has been distributing as dividend between 8-10 percent of the prior year’s net profit.

"The reason that we can guarantee an 8 percent dividend is because we have a history on the performance of The Manor hotel which is similar. The Manor Hotel had been generating between 8-10 percent dividend per annum. The average occupancy is between 65-70 percent which is very high," said Yniguez.

"So it’s a very attractive investment for most people," he added.

Yniguez also said that since the property is just on a lease-agreement between CHJ Development and the BCDA, buyers of units are assured of getting their money back when the lease agreement expires.

"So they invest P3 million they get back P3 million at the end of the lease term," he said.

The Suites offer 40 sq.m. studio units, a one-bedroom 80 sq.m. unit, a 140 sq.m. two-bedroom unit, and a three-bedroom 165 sq.m unit, priced at P3.2 million, P6.4 billion, P11.2 million and P13.2 million, exclusive of furnishing costs.

CHJ Development has partnered with lender Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc. (Banco de Oro) for the borrowing needs of unit buyers in The Suites.

Yniguez said that only about 79 units are left.

Portions of the proceeds will be used for the development of the new expansion.

Yniquez said CHJ Development projects was popular with buyers of second homes, people who are looking for vacation homes as well as those who are looking for places to retire.

In the domestic market, the company has "a lot" of buyers from Manila and northern provinces like Pangasinan, and Ilocos.

"We have a lot of expats," he said.

For the new expansion, Yniquez said the company will do away with pre-selling to show to buyers the company’s commitment to complete the project.

"Our strategy now is we build. We pre-develop then we sell. We want to show that they (buyers) have a unit when we market it," he said.

CHJ Development, a consortium owned and managed by the Fil-Estate Management, Inc., Bank of Commerce in trust for College Assurance Plan Philippines, Inc. and the CAP Annuity Plans & Pension Corporation and Northwood Resources Corp., won the right to develop Camp John Hay in 1996. It entered into a lease agreement with the BCDA to develop 246.9967 hectares of the John Hay Special Economic Zone as a "world-class wholesome family-oriented eco-tourism destination, public tourism complex, multiple-use forest watershed and human resource development center."

But about 121 hectares are not allowed to be developed and are reserved for pine trees.

As part of the development CHJ Development has shared 18 hectares of the property with Ayala-led Ayala Land, Inc. (Ayala Land) for the latter’s business process outsourcing business.

Ayala Land, which is planning to put up 10 buildings in three years, is expected to finish its first BPO building by next year, with the property also having its own commercial component.

For the CHJ Development area, the property already carries developments for residential, tourism, and commercial, aside from the hotel component.

Yniguez said the tax holiday component of the development entices locators to the area.

"We have tax incentives for locators who have businesses here. It’s a tourism-estate that has different components --- residential, commercial, we have the hotel. It’s very family oriented that we want to promote," he said.

Yniguez said that if the pace of development in Camp John Hay would be continuous, the whole property could be completely developed in five to seven years.

"We are really fortunate that the US is in crisis right now, so all of the investment is coming to Asia. So we’re getting some of that. There are a lot of investors coming as alternative investments here," he added.

[hugodiekonig]

January 9, 2011, 3:55pm

BOKOD, Benguet, Philippines — The management of the SN Aboitiz Power Benguet (SNAPB) here revealed the 60-year-old Ambuclao dam will be operational by September this year to augment the rapidly growing power requirement of the Luzon grid in order to help reduce the occurrence of rotating power outages during the dry season.

Lawyer Miko Hosillos, SNAPB vice-president for external affairs, claimed one unit of the power plant will be operational by May this year while the two remaining generation facilities will be running by September in order to produce sufficient power that will be supplied to the Luzon gird.

Supposedly, the Ambuclao dam was operational last year but the rehabilitation of the 75-megawatt power plant was delayed because of the serious negative effects of the onslaught of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” over a year ago which was aggravated by the recent onslaught of supertyphoon “Juan” that affected the pace of upgrading the power plant.

Once the power plant is operational, SNAPB predicts that it could generate a maximum of 105 megawatts of power which is 30 megawatts higher than its original power output prior to its rehabilitation.

The Aboitiz-owned power firm won the bid for the operation of the Ambuclao and Binga dam complex and it paid the Private Sector Assets Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) the amount of $325 million in order to operate the same for a 25-year lease period.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/297497...rate-september

[hugodiekonig]

January 9, 2011, 3:53pm

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan here hailed the swift action of President S. Aquino III on the claim of the city government regarding its P125 million share from the national wealth tax paid by locators of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) that was wrongly remitted to the national treasury which he vetoed after the same was included as part of the P1.645-trillion national budget this year.

Apparently, Aquino gave instructions to the regional office of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to study and evaluate the claim of the city from the national government and come out with a report in order to guide him in future presidential interventions on the said matter.

The DBM-CAR and the city’s finance officers are reconciling their data relative to the said vetoed PEZA share of the city before submitting a final report to the Office of the President for his proper action.

Domogan said the matter was extensively explained to the President during their one-on-one meeting on December 31, 2010, thus, he is confident that the city government will gain headway in their relentless effort to collect the wrongly remitted share to the national coffers. (Dexter A. See)

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/297496...ion-peza-share

[hugodiekonig]

[sonofignatius]

baguio must be really cold these days. hoping to be back in BC early feb!

[william :D]

Originally Posted by sonofignatius

baguio must be really cold these days. hoping to be back in BC early feb!

kelan ba Panagbenga? sayang i'll be in Baguio this Jan. 20-22, di tayo magpapang-abot.hehe

[overtureph]

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http://pinoyshooter.org/bogs/

[saintm]

Vendors seek to nullify contract

AFTER failing to obtain a restraining order, a group of vendors displaced by the demolition of stalls at Block 3 of the Baguio City market filed another petition asking the City Council to nullify the contract between the City Government and EGB Construction.

The petition was addressed to Councilor Edison Bilog, chairperson of the committee on justice and human rights.

However, Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas opines the petition does not have legal grounds. He said the City Council is not the venue to resolve the issues raised by the group represented by Leonora Guinid and Lilia Calicdan, among others.



The group is claiming the deal should be voided because the P18.5 million earmarked for the development of the market did not pass confirmation of the City Council.

Proceeding with the development sans confirmation is a violation of the market code, the petitioners claim.

An April 2010 memorandum of the Commission on Audit prescribing prior approval of the City Council was also attached in the petition.

The petitioners claimed that what was approved by the City Council is an appropriation ordinance labeling the construction as mere “market development.” They maintain the contract did not specify which part of the market should be developed.

The same contract does not contain an express permission by Uniwide allowing improvements to be done by the City Government.

They reiterate any plans on improving the market should remain on status quo pending approval of the Court of Appeals.

The vice mayor, however countered, confirmation of contract is not needed in this case because the improvements are only temporary pending resolution of the main case.

Whether there is basis or none for the petitioners’ claim, it is best addressed in court, Fariñas said.

He also stressed, the real parties in interest are the ones who should be complaining.

“Uniwide should be the one complaining,” Fariñas said as he pointed out the real estate company is the party in interest in this case, having won the contract years earlier and confirmed by the regional trial court.

It is this judgment which is now on appeal at the CA by the same group.

Fariñas said the City Government’s resolve of improving the market is for the benefit of the majority, “not of a selected few,” whom he alleges have vested interests to protect.

[Naga City Deck]

woahhh this is really big



SLU Centennial FB

[sonofignatius]

SLU, after, all is BIG in baguio.
both in name and in population (28k!).

[hugodiekonig]

ako naman, true Blue! true Blue Louisian! Louisian ako from Saint Louis College in La Union

happy Centennial Anniv SLU! from: SLC!

[hugodiekonig]

By DEXTER SEE
January 13, 2011, 5:11pm

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — At least P221 million was released by the national government to fund the immediate implementation of five high-impact projects in this mountain resort city with bulk of the amount to be used to bankroll the deferred calamity rehabilitation projects.

Out of the released amount, P121 million will be utilized for the implementation of various calamity projects around the city, P30 million was partially released to continue the delayed implementation of the 21-kilometer circumferential road project while another P25 million will be used to initially start the declogging of the flood-prone City Camp lagoon.

With the revival of the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) rehabilitation projects after a thorough review by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara said government infrastructure previously damaged by natural calamities will be immediately restored purposely to mitigate the occurrence of weather disturbances that could aggravate the situation.

Vergara said the aforesaid funds were sourced out from the calamity fund of the national government and the savings of the DPWH for the rehabilitation of various national roads in the city.

Because of the release of the funds from the concerned government agencies, the lawmaker added a huge portion of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) this year will be used to fund the implementation of various infrastructure projects in the barangays that will directly benefit local residents.

In addition, Vergara revealed P35 million from his PDAF during the last quarter of 2010 was released and utilized to implement hard and soft infrastructure projects that benefitted a number of barangays.

Among the hard infrastructure projects that are on-going implementation include the construction of the Gibraltar road and repair of the road within Burnham Park as well as the roads within the surroundings of Session road, Magsaysay Road, Malcolm Square, Igorot Garden, Naguilian-Bokoawkan road and Marcos highway-BGH junction flyover.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/298273...rehabilitation

[hugodiekonig]

January 13, 2011, 5:10pm

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Amid initial setbacks on the preparations, it’s now all systems go for the 16th staging of the month-long Panagbenga, popularly known as the Baguio Flower Festival with lots of surprises for the millions of visitors expected to flock to this mountain resort city.

This year’s theme: “The Environment and the Community in Harmony” will focus on activities that will promote the preservation and protection of the city’s environment in order to sustain its cool and romantic weather, pine-scented air and scenic tourist spots.

The grand opening parade where thousands of elementary and secondary students from various private and public schools around the city and nearby places will thrill the public with their street-dancing prowess as it will kick off the festivities on February 1.

At the same time, the market encounter which will showcase various floral arrangements and landscaping will also open on February 1 and will end on March 6.

The much-awaited grand streetdancing parade where finalists in the street-dancing competition will showcase their choreographed dances along the city’s streets will be held on the morning of February 25 while the float parade and marching band competition will be conducted on February 26.

The fluvial parade that will showcase boats decorated with flowers will be done at the Burnham Lake on February 14, Valentine’s Day, which will precede the awarding of the cleanest and dirtiest barangays by the Alay sa Kalinisan, the city’s partner in its clean and green efforts.

Session Road, the city’s main thoroughfare, will be closed from February 27 to March 6 to pave the way for its conversion into a promenade area with the establishment of sidewalk cafès to cater to the needs of the thousands of people who will try to enjoy walking up and down the road.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/298272...011-panagbenga

[Naga City Deck]

Panagbenga is all set and i'm still here!!

too bad!

[sonofignatius]

forget about your work first, jo. pack up- and see you in the streets for panagbenga :-)

[saintm]

Philippine Tourism Ad "Panagbenga"



The first of a series of tv commercials created by ad agency DM9 JaymeSyfu for Philippine tourism which invites people to specific fiestas (festivals) celebrated in the different parts of the archipelago.

Panagbenga celebrates the beautiful flowers of Baguio City (the summer capital of the country) in the month of February where flowers are turned into floats and people dance in colorful costumes that parade all around the city.

Creative Directors: Merlee Jayme, Jerry Hizon
Copy Writer: EJ Galang / Art Director : Diane Taar
Production House: Unitel
Animation: Goriotik

[oanari]

Baguio currently has 128 barangays and area of 57.5 square kilometers.

if they could have sticked to the original plan for Baguio City with an area of 250 sq miles (645 sq km), hindi sana magiging over populated ngayon ang "kafagway". kaso they changed the plan and reduced the area to 25 sq miles.

[Naga City Deck]

darn!!! how i wish i'm really there in Baguio this Feb.

@Father Xave, i wish it's as easy as that. hahahaha


source