San Fernando City and La Union Province

[ergit222]

The controversial MARCOS BUST in Pugo, La Union (posted by Jadebench)

[ergit222]

The upland municipality of Bagulin offers trails and sites for trekking. Its terrain is predominantli hilly and mountanous with second growth forests and transversed by the winding Bagulin -Naguilan river. One passes through geological formations, scenic spots and some areas which are being threatened by environmental degradaton. Trekking time starts in October. Other sites recomemended for trekking activities are the Bebeco, Condura and Dacanay and reforestation in Sto. Tomas, Rosario and Pugo respectively.

[ergit222]

Bauang is a 1st class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. It is bordered by San Fernando City to the north, Caba to the south, Naguilian to the east, and the South China Sea to the west. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 63,373 people in 12,298 households.

McArthur Highway runs through this town junctioning with Naguilian Road, one of the mountain roads into Baguio City.

Origin

There are three (3) versions on how Bauang was named. First, the name came from the word “bua”, which in English mean beetlenut. Beetlenuts grew in abundance at the town site, now Barangay Nagrebcan where an old Spanish Church was built. Second, its name arose from the word “baoang” (garlic). The Spanish colonizers changed the letter “o” into “u”;, thus its present name “Bauang”. Third, it came from the word “buang”, which means “river split in two” before flowing to the sea. As it is, the Bauang River is split into two by a delta.

History

Bauang was established as a settlement in 1590. It was recognized as a town in 1765 as a part of Pangasinan when Don Francisco de los Reyes became the first gobernadorcillo. When La Union was created in 1850, Bauang was one of the twelve towns that formed the new province.



Before Boracay and Puerto Galera become household names , Bauang earned the appellation as the “Beach Capital of the Philippines” because of its calm waters, fine sand, and languidly swaying coconut trees along the shoreline of of Baccuit Sur to Pagdalagan Sur. Bauang is now famous for its delicious guapples and grapes.



La Union eyes ‘Guinness’
By Thom F. Picana and Eusebio Aguinaldo, Northern Luzon Bureau
Manila Times


BAUANG, La Union: This coastal town of known for its pristine beaches and resorts will try to register the world’s longest bico (sweetened glutinous rice) in the Guinness Book of World Records during the celebration of Baggak Festival on April 23, 2006.

Bico or inkiwar in Ilocano consists of glutinous rice, coconut milk and brown sugar cooked in a vat with charcoal or firewood.

Joel Macanaya, event promoter, said more than 500 meters of the streets around the town plaza will be filled with tables of bico that will be served to residents, visitors and balikbayan.

The organizing committee of Baggak (morning star) has invited representatives from Guinness to witness the event and evaluate if it could set a world record.

Mayor Martin de Guzman of Bauang said the Baggak Festival and the Balik-Bauang project will be the biggest gathering of the townsfolk.

“It will be a grand homecoming and an all-out promotion of our town as a viable investment site, an exciting tourist destination, and an attractive residential option. Above all, it will be an extended celebration of the most resounding kind. We will celebrate the beauty of our hometown, our identity and unity as true Bauangenians,” he said.

Various events have been lined up for the weeklong celebration, which will include street dancing, sports competition, a beauty pageant and cultural presentations.

[ergit222]

Eufrosina Heights Location Map

Eufrosina Heights is the newest subdivision in the botanical city of the north. Developed by the Eso-Nice Realty Corporation, This 10.3 hectare land is situated 7 minutes away from the central business and commercial district of the capital city of La Union . Envisioned as an economic and affordable subdivision, it has all the amenities and benefits that a growing family would ever need.



This 10.3 hectare subdivision is divided into several phases. The first phase is now available for viewing. Pre-selling of the limited lots is currently on-going. The first phase has 118 lots available, each ranging in size from 90 to 200 square meters, each easily accessible through the 6-10 meter wide roads.

Each lot is affordable, costing as low as P2,250 per square meter, depending on the location of the lot. Every effort has been made to make the lots more affordable and cost effective. It is possible for policemen, teachers, overseas workers, or anyone who is looking for an safe and affordable home to own a parcel of land within Eufrosina Heights .

Eufrosina Heights website

[jadebench]

A World-class subdivision in La Union

Mont Blanc Manor
...the first ever high-end subdivision in La Union. Located in the majestic hills at Sta. Ana, Agoo.

TREASURED MOMENTS.. BEST SHARED AT HOME!

Bienvana â Mont Blanc Manor!

Unfold the panorama of life while at the peak of MONT BLANC MANOR.

The first ever world class residential estate in La Union, where elegance and sophistication are within reach.

A French inspired community, blends with the beauty of nature and sea breeze to offer a wonderful experience.

SUBDIVISION FEATURES:
- Landscaped Entrance Gate with Guardhouse
- Concrete Curbs and Gutters
- Underground Drainage System
- Electrical Facilities
- 13 Meter-Wide Concrete Main Road
- Centralized Water System
- Clubhouse
- Basketball Court
- Tennis Court
- Leisure Garden
- Swimming Pool
- Perimeter Fence




Main Entrance Gate


Clubhouse


contact developer:
www.jamaica-realty.com

[ergit222]

jadebench, construction activities of mont blanc manor are still on going. Though the contractor has completed the main entrance gate as shown above. I hope more of this kind of development will sprout in La Union to accommodate housing needs of the ever growing population. Thanks for posting!!

[ergit222]

SHIPSIDE, INCORPORATED was organized in 1958 for the following purposes:


- To engage in handling bulk materials, products and supplies capable of being efficiently and expeditiously handled by any type of loading and unloading equipment or by other suitable means;

- To maintain and operate terminal facilities, terminal warehousing, terminal ways, terminal stations and stores and terminal factory and show room facilities, including power, light, heat and machinery;

- To engage in the operation, repair servicing, maintenance and overhauling of trucks, heavy equipment and all types of motor vehicles;

- To engage in a general lumber business, to buy, cut, haul, sell and deal in timber logs; and to operate sawmills, mini-sawmills, re-saws and other types of manufacturing plants for the manufacture of all kinds of lumber and articles of all types in the manufacture of which lumber or timber is used;

- To engage in the business of manufacturing hollow blocks, concrete or cement products for construction and other purposes; to engage in the manufacturing of wooden cases, container boards and crates for the packing of commodities;

- To engage in the business of exploration, development, processing and marketing of minerals that may be found anywhere in the Philippines either by original acquisition, joint venture of operating agreements with the other holders of existing mining rights;
- To engage in the business of operating a restaurant/resort;
- To engage in such other ventures and endeavors as may be proper and in keeping with the nature of the business of the company; and

- To do any acts and things relating thereto or connected there with, all to extent permitted by the laws of the Philippines.


SHIPSIDE, INCORPORATED is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LEPANTO CONSOLIDATED MINING COMPANY, incorporated in November, 1958. It is a service-oriented establishment located within the Port Area, City of San Fernando, La Union, Philippines.

ADDRESS:

Principal Office:
Pennsylvania Avenue
Poro Point,
City of San Fernando
2500 La Union, Philippines
Tel. Nos. : +(6372) 888 - 3411 to 14
: +(6372) 700 - 049 to 50
Fax No. : +(6372) 888 - 2369
E-mail : ssi_sflu@digitelone.com

Manila Office
20th Floor, BA - Lepanto Building
Paseo de Roxas, Makati City, Philippines
Tel No. : +(6372) - 815 - 9447
Fax No.: +(6372) - 812 - 0451

Sawmill Plant
Barangay Pugo
Bauang, La Union, Philippines
Tel. No.: +(6372) 705 - 1844

Sea Park Beach Resort and Restaurant
Shipside Housing Area
Bgy. San Francisco
City of San Fernando
2500 La Union, Philippines
Tel. No.: +(6372) 700 - 0281

Shipside Inc. Website

[ergit222]

by: William Jun Garcia

San Fernando City Mayor Mary Jane C. Ortega learned the positive effects of computer interaction and communication through experience, particularly between leaders and their constituents as she encouraged children in the city early computer literacy.

Mayor Ortega, who was invited to the 5th Information Communication Technology (ICT) Conference of Asia –Pacific in Tokyo, Japan last month, will help provide 200 more computers for elementary school children this year.

“I do not want our children to be left out in global competitiveness,” the Mayor said on the radio program.

At the start of her administration in 1998, the City Hall has only 10 computers used by its personnel, mostly of the Apple type, considered “Jurassic age computers” today, according to the Mayor.


http://www.sanfernandocity.gov.ph/ar...computers.html

She added that at present, over 200 computers are being used in different departments. Two hundred-eighty computers, donated by Ansan, South Korea, were recently distributed to different schools, non-government organizations and city government line agencies, through the city government.



"Now the City hall uses Pentium 3 and 4 computers, including several laptops,” Mayor Ortega said, lauding how quick city government personnel have flexed their skills on computer operation and communication.

She also expressed surprise when she learned that the San Fernando City government web page is often visited by net surfers both here and abroad. “Our news is up-to-date unlike other web sites.”

The mayor also revealed that the transaction used in the bidding on the construction of the engineered sanitary landfill was made through a computer communication and through her e-mail address, she has received letters from students seeking her help on their schools homework; application of marriage certificates; compliments from a Hongkong journalist and a foreign businessman in Makati City to complaints of theft, to cite only a few examples.

“I didn’t know that all of these (we do) are appreciated; I thought that to reply them (e-mail senders) is enough but out in the international field, these are the types of interaction that they are forward to,” the mayor said, adding that she is hoping that there is a continuing ICT program in the city to help transform society into better communicators, which is the key to community and universal unity.

[ergit222]

Administrative Subdivision
No. of Congressional Districts : 2
No. of Municipalities : District I: 8
: District II: 11
No. of Cities : 1
No. of Coastal Municipalities : 12

Land Resources, Uses and Sizes
Total Land Area : 149,309 hectares
Cropland (Irrigated) : 21,950 hectares
Cropland (Rain-fed) : 16,073 hectares
Forest Area : 12,669 hectares
Built-Up Areas : 9,146 hectares
Miscellaneous Areas : 2,468 hectares

Water Resources
Freshwater : 1,163 hectares
Brackishwater : 286 hectares
Marine Water Shoreline Length : 110 kilometers

Climate and Rainfall
Average Monthly Rainfall : 194.56 millimeters
Mean Temperature : 27.06 o C

Demography
Total Population (2000) : 657,945
No. of Households (2000) : 127,579
Average Household Size : 5.15

[ergit222]

By William Jun Garcia

San Fernando City, La Union—A city must know its ecological limitations and carrying capacity in terms of environmental factors and even development, Mayor Mary Jane Ortega, said here recently.

Mayor Ortega has been currently admitted to the executive committee of the International Council of Local Environmental Initiative (ICLEI), in Cape Town, South Africa, to represent Southeast Asia among 10 regions all over the world. Accompanied by city administrator Annjanette Dimaculangan, the conference focused on the continuing study on the effects of disaster due to climate change on our ecosystem.

The Mayor explained that through strict and careful analyses and eventual application, the need to know when a city is over-populated, is necessary or when a need to regulate vehicles plying around the city to offset the effect of pollution in the air.

Knowing the ecological footprints (carrying capacity) and enforcing ecological budgeting, the Mayor added, would improve the quality of life “but all should be measured.”

She cited the case of a river in Seoul, South Korea which was developed into a highway, that eventually became an everyday 5.2 kilometer-road –traffic jam showcase for its duration and contributed intense thermal heat in the surroundings with carbon monoxide emissions.

“Red was seen on a thermal satellite map but when the river was finally reactivated, green was all over again and the surroundings cooler,” the Mayor explained. “Progress must not be at the expense of the environment.”

Pollution decreased to 10% in the city based on the latest Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) air analysis, which, she said is not very significant but can still be seen as a sign of improvement since the City Government enjoined 1, 145 tricycle engines’ conversion into four-strokes from two-strokes, two years ago.

Meanwhile Mayor Ortega has been informed by a City Environment and Natural Resources Office analysis that a sunken canyon between Barangays Apaleng and Cadaclan happens to be a “big earthquake fault.” Luckily, the Mayor said, the site is unpopulated.

“Ï asked DENR what particular places to avoid so that residents can de advised and told to build or not to build their houses, I don’t want to sow panic,” Mayor Ortega said. “Like the 1990 earthquake, we were spared because it (fault effect) stopped at the boundary of Bauang and San Fernando and it went to the sea,”

The Mayor said that if the population is prepared and informed of the effects and consequences of such disasters then there is less panic and casualties.

[jadebench]

ergit222, I think..change the title of this thread to LA Union: Gateway to the Great Ilocano Heritage or anything...dont focus on San fernando only...

[ergit222]

About The City

San Fernando City is the capital for the entire Region I, also known as the Ilocos Region. It has been called the gateway and springboard of economic progress in the North because it acts as the center of trade/commerce, finance, health and education. The whole area itself boasts of various cultural tourism wonders.


Efforts for A More Breathable Environment



Mayor Jane Ortega initiated the phasing out of over 1,200 two-stroke tricycles, once she learned that they were a major source of air pollution because of the type of oil they burned. She also cited health concerns to the drivers. The city government also offered incentives for the upgrade or complete change of motorcycles by offering loans for the drivers to upgrade their units, some more than 30 years old, to the preferred 4- stroke engines. She offered two months moratorium, ten months to pay through equal monthly installments without interest and with a free driver’s uniform in the near future to protect them from the sun. After the first year the 25-30 year old two stroke cycles were phased out. This was based on the positive response of the drivers who seemed happy with the policy so much so that even those who were not required to change their tricycles opted to have new ones. The city government also came up with the proposal for a new terminal.

She proudly cited the Asian Institute of Management in its recent studies in competitive cites “Pinoy City on the Rise” in which San Fernando City came in number one in the quality of life concern for the environment. She stressed that being number two in the “Sector of Small Cities” for a better quality of life requires a good environmental policy.

[ergit222]

Originally Posted by jadebench

ergit222, I think..change the title of this thread to LA Union: Gateway to the Great Ilocano Heritage or anything...dont focus on San fernando only...

jadebench, that's a good suggestion, I've been scouring datas about other LU towns but unfortunately I can't find good infos to post. SFC has a lot of that. If you could also help me search some good news, superb images of other beautiful LU towns like Agoo, that would be great.

The initial goal of this thread is to promote SFC since the city recently ranked high in the AIM survey and some SSC forumers had been requesting for its thread. After a while, this thread needed to expand further to other LU towns with the same goal.

Just keep on posting and you could probably concentrate news development and images of other beautiful LU towns. Thanks again!

[jadebench]

if Im in La Union right now..I will get some photos and post it here...especially, some churches and beaches...

ergit222, you may post some of the developments here of Mont Blanc...you said that they completed the gate...I want to see the developments..thank you!!!

dont forget the Damortis-Agoo National Seashore Park (Im not sure of the name)..in my 10 years of living there...I havent seen this one...

and also the newly renovated Imelda Garden...cause the pics i posted here was taken 1980s...

[jadebench]

During the opening of Jolibee-Agoo



Old Filipino house look of Jolibee Agoo, preserving Spanish style structures in Agoo cause the town is once an 'ayuntamiento' during the Spanish era.

[ergit222]

San Fernando had signed sisterhood agreement with Ansan City in South Korea, Langley in Canada, Hezhou City of China, Kashiwara in Japan and Coatzocoalcos, Vera Cruz in Mexico

Ansan City of South Korea
Langley City BC, Canada
Hezhou City China
Kashiwara City, Japan
Coatzocoalcos, Vera Cruz, Mexico

[ergit222]

(Story of a rural bank that started half a century ago)

from Philipine Daily Inquirer Volume 21 no. 170 May 29, 2006
Business Monday page B2-2 by Peter La. Julian PDI Northern Luzon Bureau

San Fernando City- “DO NOT gamble. If a client sees you on the gambling table, he will always think you are gambling with his deposits.”

The advice still rings true in the mind of Ives Nisce, president and chief executive officer of Rang-ay Bank. It was given to him by his late father, Rodolfo, long before the scion took over the helm of Ilocandia’s most successful rural bank.

Ives Nisce

The young Nisce, a 1973 economics graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University, obeyed his father and stayed away from gambling, developing instead a liking for sports like golf which he plays with friends at a golf course in the former Wallace Air Station here.

In the fairways, ideas come to him on how to run a bank efficiently and how to make it responsive to the needs of the times.

The advice also served as a guiding principle for Nisce in steering the bank: Never gamble with the client’s money by going onto ventures other than those aimed at improving the socio-economic life of the people in the countryside.

“And the fulfillment of that mission is the secret of our success in Rang-ay,” Nisce tells the INQUIRER.

“We live up to our name,” he adds. Rang-ay is the Ilocano word for progress.

To maintain its position as number one in countryside banking in the Ilocos region, Pangasinan and the Cordillera, Rang-ay, set-up in 1956, tries to be “progressive” in its ideas

With him calling the shots, Rang-ay Bank has earned the moniker, the “hard-working bank,” as it puts on longer office hours, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., without noon break; and opens on Saturdays. Most Manila-based banks open at 9 a.m., close at 3 p.m. and are closed on Saturdays.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

The only gambling Rang-ay Bank was involved in was that done by its founders when they decided to put up a bank in the countryside - then considered a nonviable enterprise.

“But our pioneering incorporators were imbued with a sense of mission to serve the farmers, fisher folk, market vendors, even micro-entrepreneurs,” Nisce, now in his early 50s, says.

Rang-ay Bank’s first depositors and borrowers came from these sectors that were not considered “bankable” by financial institutions, he says.

The first branch was in the old Nisce ancestral home on Gov. Luna Street in San Fernando.

Depositors from the surrounding towns and villages would come to the bank carrying their ware in large bayong (native bags made of coconut fronds) laden with fish, vegetables and even live chicken, says Nisce, quoting his mother, Eufrosina, the bank chair.

There were only two banks in La Union at that time: Rang-ay Bank and the government-owned Philippine National Bank. But even with only one competitor, it was hard to convince people to deposit their money with Rang-ay, Nisce says.

BIRTH PAINS

Rang-ay Bank experienced the usual pains of growing up in its first year. But it has a built-in-advantage: The good name of Nisce’s family, who founded the bank. His grandfather, Antonio Querol, a native of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, was San Fernando’s first town doctor, while his grandmother, Numeriana Tavora-Querol, was a civic leader of Agoo, La Union.

Soon depositors and borrowers came marching in and increased in number. Eventually, Rang-ay Bank, which started operations on Jan. 12, 1956 with four employees, grew and was ready to expand to other areas where its services were needed.

Nisce’s father, Rodolfo, a lawyer and former member of the La Union provincial board, was Rang-ay Bank’s first general manager. He also acted as collector, inspector and appraiser.

Nisce’s mother, Eufrosina, was the teller who doubled as cashier, while Lorenzo Flores was the bookkeeper, and Melania Carmello was the secretary. The bank could not afford to hire a security guard.

LESS TRAVELED ROAD

Needless to say, what other bankers then avoided as a less traveled road (countryside banking) proved to be Rang-ay’s gold mine.

In 1962, with more depositors and borrowers, the bank moved to amore spacious building in the city.

That year, the Central Bank granted it the authority to accept demand deposits, making it one of the country’s rural banks to offer such facility.

Several years later, it was given the authority to offer other services like granting loans to small and medium entrepreneurs, farmers, especially those engaged in tobacco production.

For its operational efficiency and phenomenal growth, Rang-ay Bank would receive awards like the golden award of excellence bestowed on it by Equitable PCI Bank. On Oct. 16, 2003, the bank was cited as the most outstanding countryside financial institution in the Ilocos and the Cordillera.

For six years from 1996 to 2002, it was also cited by the Land Bank of the Philippines as the most outstanding participating financial institution of the countryside loan fund.

In 1976, Rang-ay Bank opened its first extension office at the site of the old market in this city, a walking distance away from its main office.

COMPUTERIZATION

In October of the same year, the bank, with then fresh graduate 23-year-old Ives taking over as president and manager, began computerizing its operations, the first rural bank in Northern Luzon to do so.

In 1982, a year after it inaugurated its new offices at the newly built Nisce-Querol building on Gov. Luna Street, another branch was opened in Tubao town.

In the 1990’s four more rang-ay Bank branches were opened in Baguio (1992); Dagupan (1995); Candon (1997), and Laoag (1998).

In the 200s, three more branches were put up in Agoo (2000); Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur (2003), and Vigan (2004). In July 2004, it acquired the Burgos Rural Bank of Burgos, Ilocos Sur.

This year, Rang-ay Bank, its application already approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, is set to put up branches in Bacnotan, Balaoan and Naguilian towns, all in La Union, and in La Trinidad, Benguet.

No other rural bank in the Ilocos region and the Cordillera could match the achievement of Rang-ay Bank.

“And we also proven that lending to farmers, fisher folk, the small and medium micro entrepreneurs can be a viable enterprise,” Eufrosina Nisce said in a message she gave during the bank’s 50th anniversary celebrations last January.

With its resources totaling P647 million as of 2005, Rang-ay remains the leading rural bank in the Ilocos region and Cordillera based on data of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.

Since 1956, it has granted loans amounting to P7 billion to more than 100,000 borrowers in the Ilocos provinces, Pangasinan and the Cordillera. Most of these loans were granted to agriculture and SME’s.

“Our success is not measured in terms of the assets we have amassed or the profits we have gained but by how far our depositors and borrowers have grown with us,” said Nisce, echoing the pro-active philosophy and meaning of the Ilocano word rang-ay.

Among those whom the Rang-ay Bank lent to include a Tondo boy who now owns a beach resort and restaurant; a bus conductor who acquired a fleet of buses; a poverty stricken stow-away (female) who is one of the biggest dealers of seasonal fruits, frozen products and eggs in San Fernando.

“All these enterprises are in the communities we serve, creating jobs therein, and so we play a vital role in the local economy, keeping its lifeblood flowing and empowering farmers, the fisher folk and micro-entrepreneurs with their successful ventures,” says Nisce.
Rang-ay Bank website

[ergit222]

Philippine Star
Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Taiwan is in need of gravel and sand to sustain its vibrant economy and is looking at Northern Philippines as a source of the materials, Taiwanese businessmen said, adding that the trade can bring in $225 million in annual revenues for the country.

Taiwanese businessmen along with some Filipino officials conducted recently an ocular inspection of the abundant sources of gravel and sand in La Union, which local officials would said would be an ideal shipment point owing to its proximity and the existence of good roads to and from quarry sites.

The Taiwanese delegation, however, noted that in its present condition the seaport would not be able to handle the required volume of gravel and sand for export to Taiwan, which is estimated at about 25 million metric tons annually.

"Poro Point must be developed," said Charles Chen, one of the Taiwanese businessmen who are actively looking for sources of gravel and sand in the Philippines.

President Gloria Arroyo also recently told officials about the need to develop Poro Point to spur economic development in Northern Luzon.

Local businessmen said that, indeed, La Union and nearby provinces are excellent sources of gravel and sand that are easy to quarry. They said exportng them would be doubly benficial since such materials are currenly causing the elevation of riverbeds that contribute to flooding.

Earlier, an official of the Board of Investments (BOI) said the country stands to earn some $225 million annually from the export of gravel and sand to Taiwan after an investment promotions visit by the BOI to Taipei.

Source

[ergit222]

BCDA Press Release
BCDA Public Affairs
Saturday, July 08, 2006

Taiwan is constantly in need of gravel and sand to sustain its vibrant economy and is looking at Northern Philippines as an inexhaustible source of the materials which can bring in $225 million in annual revenues for the country, but only if there is a viable way to transport them, Taiwanese businessmen said.

An ocular inspection of the abundant sources of gravel and sand in La Union and other areas in Northern Luzon was recently conducted by a group of Taiwanese businessmen along with some Filipino officials who confirmed that, indeed, the Philippines can easily meet the gravel and sand requirements of its northern neighbor.

During the same inspection trip, the Taiwanese businessmen visited the seaport at the Poro Point Special Economic and Free Port Zone in San Fernando, La Union, which local officials said would be an ideal shipment point for gravel and sand to Taiwan owing to its proximity and the existence of good roads to and from quarry sites.

The Taiwanese delegation, however, was reportedly disappointed by the state of affairs at the seaport, noting that in its present condition, it would not be able to handle the required volume of gravel and sand for export to Taiwan, which is estimated at about 25 million metric tons annually.

“Poro Point must be developed,” said Charles Chen, one of the Taiwanese businessmen who are actively looking for sources of gravel and sand in the Philippines. “Otherwise, the Philippines, particularly Northern Luzon, would lose out on this very excellent opportunity.”

The seaport is currently operated by a private contractor, Bulk Handlers, Inc. However, an ugly dispute with the government over the development of its lease area has left the Poro Point seaport deteriorating and without the needed expansion and improvements.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has also recently told officials about the need to develop Poro Point to spur economic development in Northern Luzon.

Local businessmen said that, indeed, La Union and nearby provinces are excellent sources of gravel and sand that are easy to quarry. They said exporting them would be doubly beneficial since such materials are currently causing the elevation of riverbeds that contribute to flooding.

Earlier, an official of the Board of Investments said the country stands to earn some $225 million annually from the export of gravel and sand to Taiwan after an investment promotions visit by the BOI to Taipei.

Source

[ergit222]

for me.....hehe