Pangasinan Infrastructure and Urban Planning

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May Agro export processing estate pala sa Villasis. Di ko man lang alam ha ha!

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‘Transform tourist spots into world class attractions’ -Gov Espino to Architects
by Amado Totaan Espino Jr on Sunday, August 7, 2011 at 9:31pm


Select dept heads, staff and representatives of SP members, BM Von Mark Mendoza, VG Ferdie Calimlim listen as Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) officials brief Pangasinan Officials. Positioning Pangasinan as the preferred investment destination.

LINGAYEN–-Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has urged members of the United Architects of the Philippines Pangasinan-Dagupan Chapter (UAP-PDC) to take an active role in developing the cultural and economic potentials of Pangasinan.

Speaking before the UAP members at their 37th induction and turn-over ceremonies last July 29 at the Star Plaza Hotel in Dagupan City, Gov. Espino asked the UAP-PDC to build livable communities for Pangasinan’s fast growing population, transform tourist spots into world-class attractions and develop the province’s economic zones and industrial estates into attractive investment locations and generators of worthwhile economic activities and employment opportunities for Pangasinenses.

Gov. Espino said the provincial government has remained focused on exerting best efforts to deliver the best possible service to the people as he said that “we are inspired to keep going because there are organizations such as the UAP that are ready and willing to go with us all the way.”

“Excellence is crucial factor for survival in this global village,” the governor said citing with pride the various achievements gained by the provincial government that made Pangasinan an acknowledged regional leader in the local governance following the receipt of awards as top winner in the recently concluded competitions launched by the Regional Development Council where Pangasinan emerged winner in 7 out of categories in local governance.

Towards this end, Gov. Espino thanked the architects for their loyalty and continuing support to the common vision of making Pangasinan as the “best place to invest, work, live and raise a family” even as he stressed the important role of the UAP in the collective effort to pursue the present administration’s proclaimed mission to make Pangasinan number one.

“It is such a relief that in the midst of the overwhelming demands for coping with this fast-paced, highly competitive world, you have managed to make room for service as the basic orientation of architecture,” the governor said.

As this developed, Gov. Espino reiterated his call to the UAP-PDC to continue to find creative ways and means to help transform and maintain Pangasinan as the best place to invest, work, live, and raise a family.

“Indeed, everyone including the UAP, has a unique role to play and can contribute significantly in this tedious task to develop and realize our collective dreams and aspirations for our province,” the governor said.

As he congratulated the newly elected officers of the UAP led by Joel F. Santos as new chapter president, Gov. Espino left the architects with a challenge as he said, “just remember that if you do not become the best performing chapter of the UAP, you will be guilty of dragging the entire province down with you. For if you do not become number one, then Pangasinan will not become number one.” (PIO/ Angeline D. Villanueva)

SOURCE: Facebook page of Gov. Espino

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PetroEnergy posts first-half profit of $1.3 M
By: Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:55 pm | Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
0share4 0
MANILA, Philippines—Publicly listed PetroEnergy Resources Inc. posted a 63-percent surge in its net income to $1.345 million in the first semester due largely to higher oil production and prices during the period.
In a report to the Philippine Stock Exchange, PetroEnergy explained that it registered total oil revenues of $6.688 million, up by 39.6 percent to $4.791 million year-on-year.
This increase can be attributed to the higher number of barrels produced (4.1 million barrels) at an average price of $111.15 per barrel as of end-June this year. In the first half of 2010, the company registered a production of 3.576 million barrels at an average price of $75.04 a barrel, the company explained.
PetroEnergy’s main source of revenues would be the oil fields in Gabon, West Africa, particularly Etame oil field, through its share in the oil production. The company currently holds a 2.525-percent working interest in the Etame Marin Production Sharing Contract.
Vaalco Inc., operator of this particular project, and the members of the consortium have already identified new wells that can be drilled in order to further increase production at the Etame oil field.
Operating expenses increased by 17.73 percent in the first half to $2.655 million due to higher royalty payments, brought about by higher production prices. General and administrative expenses almost doubled this year due to expenses incurred for the wind and geothermal projects.
Apart from its stake in the West Africa oil field, PetroEnergy also has interests in several projects. It currently holds renewable energy service contracts for its proposed wind farm projects in Sual, Pangasinan, and Nabas, Aklan, and for a planned 20-megawatt geothermal power plant on Mt. Makiling.
Through a vehicle company called Maibarara Geothermal Inc., PetroEnergy and its partners Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. and PNOC Renewables Corp. expect the P2.8-billion integrated steamfield and power plant to start commercial operations by late 2013.
PetroEnergy also has interests in four petroleum service contracts namely SC 6A (Octon Malajon block) and SC 14C2 (West Linapacan), both in Northwest Palawan; SC 47 in offshore Mindoro; and SC 51 in the East Visayan Sea.

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Tourists flock to Hundred Islands even during rainy days

ALAMINOS CITY, Aug. 16 (PNA) -- Tourists continue to flock to the Hundred Islands in droves notwithstanding the rainy season.

This was disclosed by Alaminos City Administrator Wilmer Panabang who estimated the daily arrival in the province's number tourist spot to 200 and more than 1,000 during weekends.

In fact, he said, the number of tourist arrivals in the Hundred Islands improved this year as compared to last year and in 2008 and 2009 which were marked by down trend in tourism due to the effects on the industry wrought by Tyhoons "Ondoy" and "Pepeng".

Thus, even during the rainy season, tourists--mostly domestic, are arriving in droves, he added.

The number of foreign tourists arriving has not increased though but there was no downtrend in their number too. Most of the foreign tourists are Koreans and Japanese and a few Americans and Europeans.

Panabang said that more tourists will come to the Hundred Islands if they can cut their travel time in going to Alaminos from Manila which is five hours to only 40 minutes by means of air travel.

This can only be realized, he said, if the Pangasinan Airport, which is now undergoing construction, will soon be completed.

The project, initiated by Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, has the backing of President Benigno S. Aquino III and Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas.

To date, land acquisition and earth movement are now ongoing at the proposed Pangasinan Airport using initial P200 million released by DOTC.

Panabang said of the amount, P50 million formed the first trance and the second trance amounted to P150 million. All these were used to acquire 80 hectares of land that will form part of the airport's runway of 150 hectares.

"Hopefully, the third trance of another P60 million will be released in the next few weeks, good for another 60 hectares of land to be acquired," Panabang said.

If completed, the Pangasinan airport will first serve domestic tourists and later expanded to an international airport. With a 150-hectare runway, excluding its access roads, the Pangasinan Airport will be bigger than the Laoag International Airport which is only 70 hectares.

He said a foreign investor is also keen on building an 18-hole golf course in Alaminos to complement the airport project. (PNA)

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HILING NG MGA NEGOSYANTE KAY PNOY:
‘Tapusin ang mga infra projects sa Norte’
By Dino Balabo

Aug 18, 2011

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS – Hiniling ng mga negosyante sa pamahalaang pambansa na tiyaking magpapatuloy at matatapos sa takdang panahon ang mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura upang magpatuloy ang kaunlaran sa hilaga ng kalakhang Maynila.

Ang kahilingan ay itinala sa isang resolusyong pinagtibay ng may 300 negosyanteng lumahok sa dalawang araw 20th North Luzon Area Business Conference na isinagawa sa St. Agatha Resort and Country Club sa lungsod na ito na natapos noong Biyernes, Agosto 12.

Kabilang sa mga proyektong tinukoy sa resolusuon ay ang Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) sa Clark Freeport, Proyektong North Railways, rehabilitasyon ng Macarthur Highway, konstruksyon ng Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEx), Sual Seaport at Alaminos International Airport.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi ng Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) na naging matagumpay ang kumperensya dahil sa aktibong pakikilahok ng mga negosyante na bumuo ng balanseng resolusyon.

Konstruksyon ng Lingayen Gulf Coastal Highway, pagpapalawak ng North Rail Project hanggang Pangasinan, pagtatapos ng Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), konstruksyon ng tunnel road o mono trail na mag-uugnay sa Gitnang Luzon at Cagayan Valley, at konstruksyon ng dagdag na dam sa Magat River na tutugon sa pangangailangan sa irigasyon.

Ayon sa mga negosyante, kapag natapos ang mga nasabing proyektong pang imprastraktura, higit na kaunlaran ang makakamit ng mga pamayanan sa rehiyon ng Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley at Gitnang Luzon.

Binanggit din nila na ilan sa mga nasabing proyekto ay matagal na dapat natapos at napakinabangan, tulad ng DMIA at NorthRail project.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi nina Felicito Payumo ng Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), at Ramoncito Fernandez ng Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) na ang pagkakaantala sa NorthRail na nagpapabagal sa kaunlaran ng DMIA at Gitnang Luzon.

Sinabi nila na hangga’t hindi natatapos ang NorthRail, hindi matutupad ang buong potensyal ng DMIA dahil wala pa ring pasilidad ng transportasyon na mag-uugnay sa nasabing airport at sa Kalakhang Maynila sa loob ng isang oras.

Bukod dito, sinabi nila na dapat desisyunan ng gobyerno kung gagawing high speed o commuter train service ang NorthRail.

Nilinaw ni Fernandez na kung magiging high speed ang NorthRail matitiyak na makakarating sa Maynila ang mga pasahero mula sa Clark sa loob ng isang oras.

Ang pagkakaroon ng isang pasilidad sa transportasyon na titiyak sa isang oras na biyahe sa pagitan ng Kalakhang Maynila at DMIA ay isa sa mga hinihiling ng mga malalaking kumpanya ng eroplano bago nila ilipat sa DMIA ang kanilang operasyon.

Bilang tagapamahala naman sa 20th North Luzon Area Business Conference, sinabi ng BCCI na naging matagumpay ito.

Ayon kay Mara Bautista ng BCCI, ang tagumpay ng anumang business conference ay masusukat sa mga gresolusyon ipinasa ng mga lumahok.

Sinabi niya na naging balanse ang pagbuo ng mga resolusyon dahil sa aktibong pakikilahok ng mga dumalo.

Lahat ay nagparticipate, kaya hindi lang concern ng Bulacan o certain areas ang nabigyang pansin, kundi concern ng bawat lugar na sakop ng North Luzon na lumahok,” ani Bautista.

Iginiit pa niya na ang mga kumperensiya na katulad ng NLABC ay nagsisilbing tinig ng mga negosyante.

“Hindi isang social club o social gathering ang NLABC, it’s the place where businessmen voice out their concern,” ani Bautista.

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PIA Press Release
Wednesday, August 24, 2011


Post Pepeng P300M dike rehab projects completed

by Danny O Sagun

ROSALES, Pangasinan, August 24 (PIA) -- Some P300 million worth of flood control projects has been completed under the Post Ondoy and Pepeng Rehabilitation Project.

The biggest project among the eight contract packages was the restoration of the damaged earth dikes in barangays Narra and San Vicente in San Manuel amounting to P120,264,380. It was completed in June, said Project Manager Edgardo Paragas.

The restoration of the damaged earth dike in barangay Bantog in Asingan town with a budget of P54 million was completed in May.

Protection works projects along the Banila river in Umingan town worth some P30 million was lately completed, he said.

Protection works projects along the Viray-Depalo and Ambayaoan rivers worth about P30 million in San Quintin and San Nicolas towns were finished in June.
Several rehabilitation projects for breached dikes amounting to P29.2 million were completed in May in the towns of Villasis, Balungao, Mangaldan, Mangatarem and this town, he said.

Completed also last May were several projects worth P12.7 million in the towns of Bayambang, Sts. Barbara, and Calasiao.

In Tayug town, P10.5 million was spent for the repair of the damaged earth dike in barangay Gozon last June.

Paragas said there are still many flood control projects to be done along the major river tributaries in Pangasinan.

He expressed hope that finally, the national government will be able to find foreign funding for the planned Phase 3 flood control project covering the section of the Agno river from San Manuel to Alcala town. The project needs at least P5 billion, he said.

The Japanese government funded Phase 1 and Phase 2. (ANL/DOS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=50785

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PIA Press Release
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Urdaneta-Sison national highway undergoes widening, asphalt overlay

by Danny O Sagun

ROSALES, Pangasinan, August 24 (PIA) -- Some P120 million worth of infrastructure projects for the rehabilitation of the Manila North Road (MNR) is now being implemented by the 3rd Pangasinan engineering district, the construction assistant chief said Tuesday.

Engr. Editha Manuel said P34 million was allocated for the asphalt overlay of the Villasis town road section.

Widening and concreting of the road shoulder are being done along the national highway sections in Urdaneta City with a budget of P32 million, in Pozorrubio (P29 million) and in Sison (P27 million), she said.

Funds were taken from the regular infrastructure budget of the district, which now has a new head in Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel Diaz.

District Engineer Leopoldo Mendoza has been reassigned to Mindoro, it was learned Diaz used to be Mendoza's assistant. (ANL/DOS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=R01&id=50638&y=2011&mo=08

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RDC endorses P6.5 B bio-mass project in Pangasinan

By Leonardo V. Micua

BANI, Pangasinan, Aug. 26 (PNA) — The Regional Development Council (RDC) has endorsed an integrated bio-mass project proposed here by a Spanish company as Region 1's project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concept.

Bani Mayor Marcelo Navarro Jr. confirmed the RDC's endorsement on the project, costing P6.5 billion based on the feasibility studies conducted by the proponent, Global Engineering Inc. of Spain.

Global Engineering proposed to bankroll 30 percent of the project cost by bringing in its technology and equipment while the 70 percent will be offered to private companies joining a consortium set to be organized.

Navarro said at this stage, three foreign companies has manifested keen interest in joining the consortium. These include the Global Energy, Asia Bio-Mass and a still unidentified company from Singapore.

The project seeks to generate 8.5 megawatt of power, produce 100,000 liters of precious ethanol and generate heat for a palay drier as tall as a three-story building, and also for a rice mill, with corresponding warehousing, that could process 17.5 tons of palay per day.

Navarro said the multi-billion peso project will spawn the massive planting of sweet sorghum in some 5,500 hectares of rainfed land in the First District of Pangasinan up to northern Zambales, which is a vital component of the project.

He said the project is ideal in the First District of Pangasinan where most of the land are rainfed and are planted to rice only during the wet season and stay idle during the dry season.

The sweet sorghum, he said, is a drought-resistant crop and thrives only during the dry months.

Once harvested after three months, the sweet sorghum will produce grains for the flour mill. Its leaves and stalks would be squeezed of juice to produce ethanol, an essential element added to motor oil.

The remainder of the squeezing process is called bagasse, which along with rice husks and other farm wastes, would be fed into a slow-burning plant to produce 8.5 megawatt of power.

The product of the burning process, said Navarro, can be used as plant fertilizers.

He said under the scheme, farmers would earn from their grains of sweet sorghum and also sell the leaves to the consortium so these can be converted into ethanol.

Since the sweet sorghum plant is ratooning after harvest, there is another harvesting of grains after three months, he said.

Navarro is confident that with the endorsement from the RDC, the project can be pushed next year as one of the PPP projects under the Aquino administration.

The municipality of Bani has already reserved three proposed industrial sites, either of which could be made as location of the bio-mass project, with a land area of 100 hectares each.

The project would only use 25 hectares which, Navarro said, is the municipality's contribution to make it go. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=2&rid=368824

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Bio-mass project proposal ready

BANI, Pangasinan — Bani Mayor Marcelo Navarro Jr. said Friday that the Regional Development Council (RDC) is ready to submit an integrated bio-mass project proposal worth P6.5 billion.

Navarro said the proposed facility that will generate 8.5 megawatt of power, produce 100,000 liters of precious ethanol and generate heat for palay driers has already caught the attention of foreign companies – Global Energy, Asia Bio-Mass, and a still-unidentified company in Singapore. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

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Major roads to Pangasinan open to light vehicles

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Aug. 28 (PNA)— The roads to Urdaneta, San Carlos City, Bayambang, Manaoag and San Fabian in this province are now open even to light vehicles even if some sections are under water, according to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC).

PDRRMC spokesperson Avenix Arenas said all the flooded areas can now be traversed even by light vehicles as early as 8 a.m. Sunday.

Arenas said that the situation in the flooded areas of Pangasinan had already improved with the typhoon warning sign already removed and rains have already eased a bit though the sky in the horizon remained dark.

She said there were 1,960 families or 9,740 persons affected by tropical storm "Mina" with several persons moved to evacuation centers in San Jacinto, Urdaneta City, San Fabian, Sta. Barbara and Manaoag.

The PDRRMC, however, remained on alert 24/7 at its tactical operations center (in Lingayen) until the situation stabilizes, said Arenas.

She said the areas still under water are Barangays Banaoang, Lasip, San Vicente and Talibaew in Calasiao; Minigding, Nilombot, Alibago, Dalongue, Guesangen, Matic-matic and Malanay in Sta. Barbara; some part of Inamotan, Manaoag; Osiem, Landas, Inlambo, Banaoang West and Navaluan in Mangaldan; Tocok, Mabilao, Binday in San Fabian, and some barangays in San Jacinto, Binalonan and San Nicolas.

Arenas said except for the two Bautista sibling, Rayjean,6 and John Rey, 5, of Barangay Rabon, San Fabian, who died when their house was buried by mud cascading from an adjacent hill loosened by the rains, no other victims were recorded in Pangaisnan. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=2&rid=369177

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Fund source for project sought
By MARVYN N. BENANING
August 26, 2011, 6:33pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) is seeking new funding sources for its P5-billion fish port rehabilitation projects after Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) backed out of it.

PFDA general manager Rodolfo Paz Jr. said that the agency is now compelled to search for new funding institutions after the JICA informed him last August 24 that Tokyo is no longer providing a grant for the project.

The explanation was that the Japanese government is engaged in the rehabilitation of all the areas hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami that devastated several prefectures in Japan and knocked out nuclear power plants on March 11.

However, Paz said JICA, which undertook a feasibility study on the project, advised Paz to ask South Korea, China and even Sweden and Norway to support it and stressed the study it completed will most likely find funding through official development assistance.

The PFDA chief is unfazed by the Japanese action and revealed that Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala may be able to tap $40 million in funds earmarked for the irrigation systems in Pangasinan that have not been used.

However, the ready cash will not be enough to cover the P5-billion project designed to improve regional fishports in Davao, Iloilo, Camaligan, Camarines Sur, and in Sual, Pangasinan.

Paz also doubted whether this project will be attractive as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) since the gestation period for regional fishports is five years, and this long duration is not attractive to private investors.

He revealed that the total cost for the rehabilitation and expansion of regional fishports is already P1-billion each while municipal fishports would need between P10 million and P50 million to build.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/332194...project-sought

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Most roads in Calasiao, Pangasinan not passable to all types of vehicles; forced evacuation on

CALASIAO, Pangasinan, Aug. 31 (PNA) — Most of the roads here are still not passable to all types of motor vehicles due to serious flooding caused by the overflowing of the Marusay River which is connected to the swollen Sinocalan River in Sta. Barbara.

Calasiao, Sta. Barbara and Dagupan are now the only remaining areas in Pangasinan still affected by serious flooding since the Sinocalan River overflowed its banks due to heavy rains spawned by typhoon “Mina” starting Saturday.

Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay reported that there are 14 barangays of Calasiao affected by serious flooding, some residents of whom were already evacuated to higher grounds.

Macanlalay said that since floodwater is still rising, they are now implementing forced evacuation of residents in all flooded areas to save their lives.

Water in some of the barangays of Calasiao, unreached by any motor vehicle, is from four to five feet.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) reported that the Calasiao Police station is still surrounded by floodwater.

Among the worst affected roads in the town is a portion of the national highway in Barangay Mancup here leading to San Carlos City and Malasiqui town which is not passable to all types of vehicles.

However, travel across the swollen portion of the national highway is facilitated by hand tractors called “kiliglig”, whose exhaust pipes are installed at a level higher than ordinary vehicles, thus unreached by water.

Converted as a transport vehicles during floods, ‘kuligligs” charge P20 per passenger. One hand tractor can load up to 15 persons per trip.

Operator of each “kuliglig” machine reported making an easy income of P1,000 per day just by commuting passengers across the swollen portions of highways.

Also not passable to any type of vehicles are barangay roads in Talibaew, Lasip, San Vicente, Banaoang and Pandayan-Gabon where commuters ride on paddled boats.

Meanwhile, the road in sitio Pogo to Barangay Nalsian, also in Calasiao, is not passable to light vehicles. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=2&rid=369516

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Phl seeks to rebid NorthRail project
By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star)

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

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

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

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

“There is what you call value engineering,” Roxas said, adding, “The key word that we are using is reconfiguration.”

“Both in substance and in form, reconfiguration has a difference with renegotiation. Renegotiation means the existing contract will be changed. Reconfiguration is the project itself will be changed,” he said.

On Wednesday, Aquino said they discussed the government’s appeal regarding the NorthRail project, with the Chinese expressing concern that one of their companies might be put at a disadvantage.

“I think the response basically was there’s a Chinese company that expended its time, its efforts, certain resources – their rights have to be respected. But no, our proposal is there so that would be taken care of and further discussions between our Department of Transportation and Communications and the responsible officials that the Chinese have. So that is yet to be resolved,” Aquino said during an interview with the media over coffee.

Asked if the Chinese side was open to renegotiation, the President said the answer was subject to interpretation.

“When they get to discussing the details, it would be the proper time for me to really stress and really emphasize what the details are rather than say something right now based on my interpretation of what they said, which is open to other interpretations,” Aquino said.

Reconfiguration

“Precisely it’s a reconfiguration so instead of going back and focusing on the problematic present, we will reconfigure the entire project, not just the contract. What’s important for us is a rail link north,” Roxas said.

“The NorthRail project is an attempt to operationalize that. We have problems with that and so we will reconfigure the project itself, not just the contract, so that it will go into the central business district of Metro Manila. Now it just stops in Caloocan, and it will go to the airport itself because now it stops in Mabalacat (Pampanga),” he said.



Roxas explained that what had originally been intended to link the two airports ended up being just a commuter system with about 10 stops.

“So obviously this cannot be used by the passengers at the airport. And it stopped in Mabalacat, which is about 15 kilometers short of the Clark airport facility, and then at the Caloocan port which is another 15 kilometers short of the Central Business District which is also quite important for us,” he said.

“Our intent is to write up a whole new project (for the same cost) – it will be what it will be. We will write the terms of reference. This is our desire and this is what the ministers will flesh out… we will write up a whole new project, the Philippine side will write up the terms of reference unlike the existing (contract) where the Chinese side will write the terms of reference,” Roxas said.

“In recognition of the Chinese financing, the accreditation will be among experienced Chinese rail companies, not just any contractor,” he said.

Roxas said the project “will be bidded out” if and when the talks with the Chinese government end successfully. He said he could not say if China was amenable to such terms.

“All we can say is that they are open and they said the ministers would have to go back and attend to the details,” he said.

Roxas said the development was significant because the Chinese side did not flatly reject the Philippines’ appeals.

Allegations of corruption have tainted Chinese projects in the Philippines, including the NorthRail and SouthRail projects as well as the national broadband network (NBN) project. Then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had to cancel the NBN deal in the wake of allegations that her husband and some of her officials received kickbacks from NBN contractor ZTE Corp.

“We will write specifically each other (his counterpart) maybe in a month’s time. But right now, there are no additional costs because the operations (for the project) were suspended,” Roxas said.

He said he didn’t know how much a reconfigured project would cost.

“It’s hard to tell, we leave it up to the engineers. The big difference is that what we want are as follows: number one, we will write the terms of reference unlike at present where the (Chinese contractor) wrote the terms of reference,” Roxas said.

“Secondly, we will determine the accomplishments, unlike now wherein the bank releases the (money) to the (Chinese contractor) according to what they said they had done when we will be the ones to pay for the debt,” he said.

Roxas said the debtor should be the one to determine the accomplishments.

“Thirdly, there should be a bidding instead of just designating any company,” Roxas said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transparency

Meanwhile, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano called on President Aquino and his delegation to reveal all the deals and transactions they made in China.

“In keeping with the administration’s avowed policy of transparency, all trade and business agreements should be bared and detailed,” Albano said.

“With over 300 businessmen accompanying the President, there is much public interest on possible new trade deals,” he said.

Albano is a colleague of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the House opposition bloc.

Arroyo made several trips to China during her nine-year presidency, including a lightning visit in 2007, when, according to a Malacañang press release, she “came and went like a thief in the night,” bringing home billions of dollars worth of deals.

One such deal was the $329-million NBN deal. At least two witnesses in the Senate inquiry into the NBN controversy claimed the contract was overpriced and laden with kickbacks.

On the other hand, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez – an administration ally – lauded Aquino for his successful China trip.

“The $60-billion worth of agreements signed during the Beijing visit will go a long way in helping the country develop its economy. The decision to ‘reconfigure’ the expensive North Luzon rail project will save us money,” he said.

Rodriguez said the discussions on the territorial dispute over the Spratlys group of islets laid down the basis for the eventual resolution of the conflict.

“The consensus was to settle this among claimant-countries with the involvement of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),” he said.

He added that he has no doubt that President Aquino protected the country’s interest in all the discussions and agreements he made with Chinese officials. With Jess Diaz

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx...bCategoryId=63

[saintm]

New highway from Pangasinan to Nueva Vizcaya proposed as PPP project

September 8, 2011 9:57 pm
By Leonardo V. Micua

DAGUPAN CITY, Sept. 8 —- A board member of Pangasinan has revived an old proposal for the construction of a highway from Barangay Carmen in Rosales, Pangasinan, all the way to Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya passing through the old Villaverde Trail that was carved out during World War II.

Sixth District Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani outlined the project as one of the highways to be built in Pangasinan under a consortium to be organized by several companies through the Public-Private Partnership concept.

Speaking during Wednesday's Media in Action Forum of the Pangasinan Press Club (PPC) here, Shahani said the old Villaverde Trail was the route taken by the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) when they chased the retreating Japanese forces towards the end of World War II during the liberation of Luzon.

Shahani said the new highway was proposed way back during the administration of former President Fidel V. Ramos as a shorter route from Pangasinan to the Cagayan Valley, passing the historic Dalton Pass in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya.

Incidentally, according to Shahani, the Maharlika Highway is now being built from San Jose del Monte in Bulacan all the way to Cagayan, perpendicular to the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

With the anticipated benefits of the proposed highway from Pangasinan to Nueva Vizcaya, the project is set to be recommended by Shahani to be included in the Pangasinan development agenda from 2011 to 2016 for endorsement by the Regional Development Council (RDC).

He said the project does not need Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) since it will be endorsed to be funded by a consortium of several businesses, like those backing the construction of TPLEx.

Shahani is optimistic that once the new highway is in place, the town of Rosales could boom and become the fifth city in the province of Pangasinan.

He said the proposed highway will also explore the potentials of Malico, a mountain barangay in San Nicolas, Pangasinan, which has a weather similar to Baguio’s and could be developed as an alternative summer capital of the Philippines.

“With a boundary dispute between San Nicolas, Pangasinan and Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya still unresolved, we can devise an acceptable scheme so that Barangays Malico and Imugan, Sta. Fe along the Villaverde Trail can be developed jointly by the provinces of Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya,” Shahani added.

The new highway that will be built, he said, can attract foreign investors who can put up mountain resorts, similar to Camp John Hay in Baguio, where tourists can make a visit year-round.

He said the area is still teeming with wild flora and fauna, making it ideal for eco-tourism and adventure tours. (PNA) DCT/LAM/LVM/rma

http://balita.ph/2011/09/08/new-high...s-ppp-project/

branch of TPLEX going to Cagayan Valley!!! (East Pangasinan Expressway???)

Lingayen Gulf Coastal Highway similar to Cavite Coastal Road (Tollway) under study, also connected to TPLEX..

Zambales-Pangasinan Mountain Highway link now completed, highland resort developents offerd to investors

[saintm]

Hope they also revive Sual-Pagbilao Expressway, from Sual, Pangasinan to Pagbilao, Quezon via Central Pangasinan,Nueva Ecija, Aurorra and Pacific Coast Cities, daba bongga beautifully called Sierra Madre expressway..

To backup my claim about the Sual-Pagbilao Expressway proposed

The Best Highway in The Philippines when undertaken!!! Hoping San Miguel takes notice of this...

Motoring

Posted on September 06, 2011 09:01:26 PM


Not So Fast -- Tito F. Hermoso

Partnership needed

Once upon a time in this troubled land presided a hopeful and universally admired administration that was annoyed by and allergic to unsolicited advice.

We are not the tut-tutting kind but one can only suppose that if that almost sainted administration wasn’t annoyed and allergic to unsolicited advice, all those destructive coups, infrastructure decay, power failures, foreign investor exodus along with unions and local governments empowered unto abuse could have been avoided.

To be fair, our status as a pariah in debt circles stunted the growth of our economy a quarter of a century ago. Being the ugly duckling of the ASEAN tiger economies, we managed to dig ourselves a deeper hole via a prevailing mood of jingoist nationalism, driving away foreign investors. Our democracy degenerated to ochlocracy. Justice was by viva voce and mass media lynching, courtesy of yellow journalism unchecked in its newfound power and freedom from censorship.

While all hell was breaking loose, there was still a dedicated cadre of technocrats, career civil service executives who earned their positions through merit. With the change in dispensation, bureaucrats of the political appointee kind decamped with their former masters.

Government at that time had infrastructure plans for the future and despite the malaise of the new amateur ochlocracy and the loss of credit standing, there was hope that the infrastructure backlog could now be planned without politicking. Besides, the cadre of career service executives already had established professional dialogue with international multilateral aid and development assistance agencies in the planning of infrastructure. There were blueprints that any NEDA five-year development plan would be proud off and projects that met the stringent economic impact criterion of the ICC (Investment Coordination Committee). Amid the ruins of a degenerating economy, there was hope.

Eight years after, the BOT Law came on stream and we were flooded with grand projects, solicited and unsolicited, with equally grand financing. Besides a whole new power grid and dozens of plants to tackle the power fiasco, there were dozens of toll road projects, with Hopewell’s Sual, Pangasinan to Pagbilao, Quezon scenic Sierra Madre expressway as the most spectacular. The momentum carried on to railways, airports and Ro-Ro ports. This youthful Asian exuberance was felled by the Asian financial crisis. Since then, however, infrastructure has picked up the pace, largely because of the determination and perseverance of the private sector.

Though still busy making infrastructure plans itself, the government could not match the access to credit, innovation, creativity and vision of the private sector, no doubt a result of decades of underfunding as such “planning” does not excite the popular vote of the ochlocracy.

Hence by default, most of the infrastructure plans were from the private sector. Aside from not being as risk averse as government, the private sector plans were also commercially astute. Of course the profit motive makes any institution more agile and imaginative. The BCDA, technically a government agency custodian-investor-rain maker of converted bases real estate, is run along private sector lines. Its notable successes are Clark, Subic, John Hay and Bonifacio. But the most successful out-of-box project that it ever dealt with was unsolicited: the SCTEx.

At inception, the Cassandras outnumbered the visionaries. Highways experts scoffed at the limited traffic it would generate and the loss it would incur. Its route, through Pinatubo’s virgin landscape, was nowhere linked to any DPWH network. The more suspicious looked at the project as a milking cow for the influential. But the SCTEx found a willing investor in the most conservative of Japanese institutions: the JBIC. It gave BCDA 40 years, terms that no local or Asian bank could match. The SCTEx was to be built and finished to Japanese dual carriageway standards. Local contractors applying for subcontract work were insulted when they did not pass Japanese standards. Several “demolition jobs” against the project sprouted in the tabloid press. But now, the SCTEx is a reality and a necessity. Having been successful, JBIC is willing to finance the BCDA to continue the dual carriageway SCTEx to La Union (TPLEx) and a spur to Dingalan Bay on the Pacific Coast. (Today’s TPLEx stage 1 reaching Gerona, Tarlac as a two-lane single carriageway highway is privately funded by PIDCo.)

The success of the SCTEx encouraged and revived other private sector businesses to offer unsolicited proposals not just for toll highways, but also for high-tech adjustable Ro-Ro ports, the dredging of silted lakes, hydroelectric dams, ports, railways, power plants, smart grids, nationwide broadband, integrated metro-transit intermodal systems, trams and commuter light railways.

Alas, all of this is in limbo. It would appear that in the course of investigating corruption, today’s government looks at unsolicited proposals as a corrupt practice. Corruption can and will happen if and when checks and balances are not triggered. In the BOT law and the PPP guidelines, there are strict conditions for a project to proceed and the final check-balance was the subjection of the project to a “Swiss Challenge”. Thus any unsolicited proposal will always have to pass scrutiny as international anti-corruption standards must be met to secure donor or foreign financing. Classifying unsolicited proposals as corrupt is like throwing the baby with the bathwater.

The government should consider that the flag-hugging private sector, which benefits if the country catches up with its infrastructure backlog, is as zealously motivated to make plans where the government has none. In some PPP projects, the government has insisted that right-of-way purchases be shouldered by the project proponent. As in BOT, the government is supposed to own the road right of way so why is it passing that burden to the private sector? Where’s the partnership there? Or is the government idea of partnership like that of a jail warden whose attitude is guilty until proven innocent? Or does the cash register mentality reigns, making demands so onerous that the proposer will have no choice but to walk away? Does the witch hunt have to creep into even matters as boring as planning for our future?

http://www.bworldonline.com/content....eeded&id=37823

[915bungohunter]

Originally Posted by saintm

Hope they also revive Sual-Pagbilao Expressway, from Sual, Pangasinan to Pagbilao, Quezon via Central Pangasinan,Nueva Ecija, Aurorra and Pacific Coast Cities, daba bongga beautifully called Sierra Madre expressway..

To backup my claim about the Sual-Pagbilao Expressway proposed

The Best Highway in The Philippines when undertaken!!! Hoping San Miguel takes notice of this...

Motoring

Posted on September 06, 2011 09:01:26 PM


Not So Fast -- Tito F. Hermoso

Partnership needed


http://www.bworldonline.com/content....eeded&id=37823

Hehehe bat di nalang bolinao-sual-pagbilao up to CALAUAG qzn hehehhee

[saintm]

Originally Posted by 915bungohunter

Hehehe bat di nalang bolinao-sual-pagbilao up to CALAUAG qzn hehehhee

Pwede rin! at least may possible extension if ever may investor na magtakeup po ng project na ito.. it is deemed feasible naman po kasi may studies made ang Hopewell Construction of Hong Kong..

[915bungohunter]

Originally Posted by saintm

Pwede rin! at least may possible extension if ever may investor na magtakeup po ng project na ito.. it is deemed feasible naman po kasi may studies made ang Hopewell Construction of Hong Kong..

Ang calauag kasi dun stop over ng mga bus byaheng bicol

[saintm]

Calasiao road widening bothers vendors, PUV drivers
Posted by Online on Sep 17th, 2011

by Venus H. Sarmiento

CALASIAO, Pangasinan, Philippines (PIA) – A road widening project in this town is set to start this month and fruit vendors are bothered with the prospect of relocation.

The road widening project of the national government will start from Marusay bridge until Mac Arthur Highway and will affect at least five barangays- Buenlag, Macabito Songkoy, Mancup and Talibaew.

The long line of fruit vendors in the affected areas are worried as to where they could sell their products as they face decline in sales.

Tricycle drivers plying the route would have to pass by a farther route which is an additional one kilometer. This prompted them to ask for additional P3 charge in tricycle fare.

Municipal Administrator Vivencio Vallo said the government has already laid out plans for the relocation of the vendors. During the construction period, fruit vendors could stay beside the puto vendors’ area where they initially sold their products.

Vallo said not all tricycle drivers will be affected. A simple turn to sitio Pogo in barangay Nalsian is just a kilometer away and they would be given the freedom to park in the plaza, he said.

As to the demand for fare hike, the concerned group could ask Sangguniang Bayan for a resolution, he explained.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2011/calasia...s-puv-drivers/

[saintm]

PIA Press Release
Monday, September 19, 2011


NIA to open San Angel dam soon

by Venus H. Sarmiento

DAGUPAN CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) -- A new dam built by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is set to operate in November to provide additional irrigation to rice lands in Pangasinan.

The San Angel Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP), located in Rosales town, is planned to be a small scale impounding reservoir project for irrigation and fishery.

NIA information officer Adoracion Soriano said the project will provide irrigation to 161 hectares of rice land mostly located in barangays San Angel, Calanutan and San Antonio.

More than 115 farmers are expected to benefit from this project with an incremental gross production value of palay estimated at 692 tons per year.

The impounded water will have a potential fishery development for at least 5.40 hectares in two production seasons. The fish culture in the reservoir is expected to give increased benefits to other project residents and farmers in the community, she added.

The major features of the project are the main dam, which is a modified homogenous earth dam, and its appurtenant structures such as the spillway and outlet works and the irrigation and drainage facilities for the service area.

The San Angel SRIP construction started in March 2010 and has a total project cost of P79.1 million. (ANL/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=54924