Central Luzón Region

[allan_dude]

$1-b Masinloc expansion

By Alena Mae S. Flores

AES Philippines, the winning bidder of the 600-megawatt Masinloc coal plant facility, is looking at investing another $1 billion to expand the capacity of the Zambales plant by another 600 MW, a company official said.

“We are intending to expand and double Masinloc’s capacity as soon as we complete the acquisition. We may spend up to another $1 billion,” Matthew Bartley, AES Philippines president and chief executive, told reporters.

Bartley said AES, one of the US’ biggest power industry players, was looking at a “greenfield” or an entirely new power project to meet the growing electricity demand in the Philippines.

He said AES might also participate in the bidding of the generation assets of National Power Corp. set to be auctioned by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

“We are a global company. We invest in whatever makes business sense. We may look at some hydro assets,” Bartley said.

Bartley said the company was focusing on closing the Masinloc plant acquisition. AES won the bidding with a bid of $930 million.

“We are hoping to get all the approvals [from PSALM] on the closing then start construction [of the expansion],” he said.

Bartley said the company hoped to close the transaction in the first quarter of 2008 or earlier.

AES is expected to come up with the 40 percent upfront payment as a pre-condition to the closing of the sale transaction.

Bartley said the company was working with several lending institutions, including International Finance Corp., to partly fund the acquisition.

“We are talking with international lenders, including IFC and several other multilaterals,” the AES official said.

IFC has expressed interest to provide up to $275 million to AES, including a possible equity investment.

AES is also working out a similar financing arrangement with the Development Bank of the Philippines.

The total acquisition cost of the Masinloc facility is estimated at approximately $1.1 billion, including funding for the debt service reserve account, transaction costs, refurbishment works and initial working capital needs.

The Masinloc plant is located about 250 kilometers northwest of Metro Manila, covering about 137 hectares, including 11 hectares of reclaimed land.

The power plant was designed and commissioned in 1998 as a two-unit, 600-MW plant. The plant utilizes refined coal from Australia, China, Indonesia and occasionally local coal.

AES is a leading global power developer and operator in the world. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company has 13 regulated utilities and 121 generation facilities, with total generation capacity of around 43,000 MW.

[3cr]

Study on Subic-Clark-Batangas logistics corridor to start soon
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bu...aid=2007112222

The government’s dream of making the Subic, Clark and Batangas into a logistics corridor with value-added services is getting closer to realization as a strategic study for its development is scheduled to commence shortly.

Meneleo J. Carlos Jr., National Competitiveness Council’s (NCC) private sector champion for seamless infrastructure network working group, said “the Center for Research and Communication is collaborating with the Subic-Clark Alliance Development Corp. (SCADC) on the terms of reference for the development of a logistics master plan.”

This effort is in line with President Arroyo’s vision of establishing a mega logistics hub, particularly in Subic-Clark corridor, to serve the Asia-Pacific region. 

In preparation for such development, Carlos cited the need to fast-track the bidding and award of the Batangas International Port and Subic Bay International Port (Terminal 2).

“There is also a need to fast-track the completion of critical infrastructure projects that connect North (Clark and Subic) and South Luzon (Batangas),” he noted.

Carlos, also the chairperson of the Export Development Council-networking committee on transport and logistics, identified these priority projects as the South Luzon Expressway rehabilitation and extension project (SLEX); the Subic-Clark-Tarlac-Expressway project (SCTEP); the North and South rail projects, North-South linkage project; the Southern Tagalog arterial road phase II (STAR 2); and the C5-North Luzon Expressway-SLEX link.

Of these projects, the Subic-Clark portion of the SCTEP is scheduled for completion first quarter of 2008, along with the upgrading of the Subic seaport.

The full implementation of NCC’s proposed Batangas-Clark-Subic logistics corridor has been cited by the International Finance Corp. (IFC) and the World Bank as among the short-medium term reforms in improving the country’s overall ranking in terms of easing doing business, particularly in cross-border trading.

This came despite the fact that the Philippines has posted strong performance in cross-border trading, an indicator that measures the procedural requirements for trading a standard shipment of goods by ocean transport.      

Aside from promoting the Subic-Clark-Batangas corridor as logistics hub, the NCC is also keen on further reducing the cost of exporting a 20-foot container to $326 from the present $341.

Carlos said the lower cost could be realized by allowing chassis-container (Cha-Ro) as part of the roll-on roll-off (RO-RO) service; fast-tracking the development of ports along the Central Nautical Highway; and extending by another year the 90-percent discount on wharfage for export-import cargoes.

Ports comprising the Central Nautical Highway include Aroroy, Cawayan, Daangbantayan, Mambajao and Benoni.

“Cha-Ro will allow export-import containers to be transshipped domestically through RO-Ro at a lower cost,” he noted.

The scanning fee for 10-footer container vans will be reduced by 90 percent from $25 to $5 until December 2007 due to the immediate response of the Executive Department to the clamor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Philippine Exporters Confederation.

[lightsaber46]

Modern hospital to rise in Subic

By RANDY V. DATU

IBA, Zambales — A world-class hospital will soon rise at Redondo Peninsula in Subic, this province.

This was revealed last Thursday by Zambales Gov. Amor D. Deloso, who, along with top officials of Korean Eximbank, People and Nature, Medipark Corp., and Hanjin Phils. Shipbuilding Co., recently inked the build-operatetransfer (BOT) .6-million medical facility project contract.

The hospital will be built at the site of the former US military target range some five kilometers away from the huge shipyard complex.

"The proposed twin seven story hospital center called Redondo Ko-Phil Hospital project will not only cater to the medical needs of Hanjin workers and other locators from nearby SBMA but to over 700,000 inhabitants of Zambales who are long deprived of modern medical cure and facilities," Deloso said

"That is why the present provincial leadership had decided to donate 40 hectares for this purpose, hoping that our people could taste or experience some kind of modern medical technology and treatment," he added.

Reports gathered here revealed that no hospital in Zambales is in the "quality" category and that the three district hospitals located in San Marcelino, Candelaria, and Sta. Cruz, including the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital in Iba, are way below standards.

"Saan ka nakakita na manganganak lang mamamatay pa?" Deloso asked.

[lightsaber46]

Korean company to undertake $ 22-M tourism project

CLARK FREEPORT—Executives of Clark Development Corp. (CDC) announced yesterday that a Korean firm signed a deal for the construction of a $ 22-million tourism-related project in the economic zone here.


The agreement was signed by CDC President Liberato P. Laus and JB Cresta Corp. President Lim Jang Bin in a simple ceremony held at CDC offices recently.

JB Cresta will establish a housing and leisure town with villas, a clubhouse, a water park and other amenities that are expected to attract not only Korean tourists and expatriates in the country, but also other foreigners and investors frequenting the economic zone.

Laus said the firm has leased a 12.36-hectare area for the construction of a new Korean town complex in the area.

Laus said JB Cresta indicated that some 100 new workers will be hired to complement the full operation of the project that will soon rise.

The Korean firm’s project is the fifth big tourism investment signed during the term of Laus as CDC president.

Among the agreements signed earlier are Morning Calm Leisure Estate which will develop a R48-million multi-national retirement village; and J&K Golf Development Group which will establish a R127.9-million tourism project in Clark. J&K has been operating an international golf school in the Freeport.

Laus also signed an agreement with the New Wellbeing Spa which initially poured in R30 million for a spa project located at the Red Wood Villa clubhouse. At present, the firm is constructing a five-storey building for its hotel project which is expected to be completed early next year.

Laus likewise finalized an agreement with Widus International Leisure Inc. for the establishment of condominium-style hotel and casino and a water theme park (Fred Roxas)

[frustratedarchitect]

Any updates on the Ampelos tower?

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by frustratedarchitect

Any updates on the Ampelos tower?

under costruction pa rin

[lightsaber46]

China’s Geely eyes Subic assembly plant
By Elaine Ruzul S. Ramos

Geely Group, the largest private car maker in China, is studying the possibility of setting up an assembly plant in Subic Bay for semi-knocked down units for low-cost vehicles.

Geely Philippines president Joycelin Torres Rodriguez said Geely cars were being positioned in the country for the B-C-D income brackets, which comprised 75 percent of the firm’s potential car buyer market.

The company has chosen the Freeport as distribution hub for the vehicles initially imported as fully-built vehicles from China.

The company will bring the cars—priced at P387,000 for the 1.1-liter MR hatchback, and P489,999 for the 1.3-liter CK sedan—duty-free to Subic distribution hub, just like the car imports of mainstream distributors.
Rodriguez said the firm would initially ship about 2,000 units of Geely hatchback and sedan models, through Subic for dealers and customers in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan and Dagupan City in Pangasinan.

The firm plans to eventually open up 12 dealerships in the country, with the main show room to be located in Quezon City.

“Our distribution office, however, will be here in the Subic Bay area,” Rodriguez said during the launching of the China-made automobiles.

The company chose Subic as the hub because of the newly completed container terminal in the Freeport and “easy communications and negotiations.”

[lightsaber46]

Hanjin Heavy opens first phase of $ 1.6-B Subic shipyard operations

http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.p...207110796.html

Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat

Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corporation yesterday opened for commercial operation the first phase of its $ 1.6 billion shipyard project at Subic’s Redondo Peninsula.


The inauguration was graced by vice-president Noli de Castro.

"Hanjin has been involved in the construction of, among others, highways, airports, and bridges in the Philippines for the last 30 years. That is why Hanjin has a good relationship with our government," De Castro said.

By 2010, Hanjin plans to employ 20,000 people.

Phase 1-1 of the Subic shipyard project involved the completion of key structures within the shipyard that are needed in ship production.

These structures include a dry-dock facility, hull shop buildings, a four-story administration building, a three-story production and design building, field offices, catering center building, and a guest house.

After a brief tour of the hull shop buildings where vice president De Castro took time to talk to Filipino workers, a formal opening ceremony was held in at the Hanjin hillside "guest house" — a modest name for an avant-garde manor inside the shipyard complex, where Hanjin’s European clientele, and, incidentally, government officials, were treated to a banquet and a panoramic view of the Hanjin shipyard complex.

Among those invited to the occasion were South Korean Ambassador Jong Ki Hong, Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan of the SubicClark Area Development Council (SCADC), Trade Undersecretary Elmer Hernandez, Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia, Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr., Subic, Zambales Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Feliciano Salonga, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, and Central Luzon Police Director Errol Pan.

In the same occasion, Hanjin chairman Nam Ho Cho acknowledged "the noble efforts by the Philippine government, especially SBMA Chairman Salonga and SBMA Administrator Arreza, in supporting the company’s business endeavors."

Aside from the Subic facility, Hanjin is investing an additional $ 2 billion for another shipyard in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
For its Subic project, Hanjin had initially earmarked $ 1 billion as capitalization for a world-class shipbuilding facility to produce some of the world’s largest sea vessels, including liguefied natural gas (LNG) supertankers, very large crude carriers (VLCCs), and container ships.

In June this year, Hanjin officials announced that the firm will invest $ 684 million on top of its original commitment to cover costs for several ship orders it has received.

So far, the Subic operation has pending orders for 40 units of cargo vessels including two tankers, each weighing 75,000-100,000 deadweight tons.

[lightsaber46]

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

BPO industry to draft road map to growth

BUSINESS-process outsourcing (BPO) firms will draft a road map that will address the challenges facing the sector them, according to an industry organization.

Oscar R. Sanez, chief executive officer of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), told reporters that call-center firms in the country are coming up with a three-year road map to help the industry achieve its target of having 500,000 agents by 2010 from the current 200,000, and an estimated $8 billion in revenue every year.

“This road map would help us determine how big we can get, or how much opportunity for the country does the BPO industry could give,” he said.

Sanez said BPO firms have identified three major constraints, including the country’s talent pool. “The challenge here is how can we sustain this,” he said.

“The reality is we were able to sustain the growth, but in order to grow beyond our average growth we have to ensure the availability of the call-center agents, supervisors and managers in order to go beyond th[at] phase,” he said.

Sanez said the industry is also pressed to identify new locations across the country as traditional sites become congested. “We are looking at Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, among others, to add more BPO offices,” he said.

Also a challenge is the range of incentives the government offers the industry, he said, adding the group will push for more perks.

Benedict Hernandez, director of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines, said the industry projects to have a million seats by 2010, to include knowledge process outsourcing, animation and information technology.

He said the industry needs to invest at least $5000 per agent in the next three years.

In a related development, a new information technology (IT) park will open at the Clark Special Economic Zone and would be available for business-process outsourcing (BPO) companies by end of July, a real property developer announced on Tuesday.

In a statement, Berthaphil Inc. said that the new building that would rise in the 14-hectare IT park would have about 3,000 square meters of office space for BPOs and can be expanded in 500-square-meter increments as the business expands.

The building would have two wings at right angles and each has two 500-square-meter floor areas.

“This provides great flexibility for BPO service providers that need to be prepared to expand operations quickly in response to client demand. We’ve provided a footprint that allows operators to add approximately 60 seats almost on demand, quickly and efficiently,” Peter Herman, an executive at Berthaphil, said.

To complement the new BPO building, the developer would be constructing the 3,000-square-meter Centre at Clark by the third quarter this year. The mixed-use development would include retail, food and entertainment establishments with serviced apartments for executives and dormitories for workers.

Berthaphil, which is developing 15 hectares of the Clark ecozone, previously developed an industrial park which has light manufacturers and semiconductor firms from Japan, Taiwan and the United States as locators.
--Katrina Mennen A. Valdez and Likha C. Cuevas-Miel

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/...70711bus8.html

[lightsaber46]

New Taiwan investments go to Subic


More Taiwanese investments including Tung Long Metal Industry Co. Ltd. and Medtecs Group. are expected to flow into the Philippines following a wave of "disaffection" among investors in China, whose foreign investment policies are being changed midstream.


Denny Yang, President and CEO of Tung Long, said they are transforming its Subic factory to become its production hub for door locks not just for Asia but also for North America.

The expansion program is expected to cost Tung Lung $ 10 million more in investments for the Subic facility.

By end of the year, Yang said the production capacity of its Subic plant is expected to hit 1 million pieces of door locks from the current 300,000 pieces, which mostly goes to the U.S. market.

"We are quite positive we will be able to reach that target," Yang added. With the expansion, the Philippines is now Tung Long’s biggest manufacturing plant outside of Taiwan.

The expansion will also necessitate the hiring of more workers from the present 500 people and the leasing of 3-hectare lot in Subic for its new factory on top of its existing 2 hectare factory.

The expansion is going to vertically integrate its existing operations as most of its suppliers would be following them in Subic Bay Industrial Park, a Taiwanese-owned industrial park.

Their suppliers, Yang said, would also be investing in Subic.

Medtecs spokesperson Timothy Shen said its Philippine operation is expected to play a more important role in the company, which is the biggest supplier of medical apparels in the U.S.

Shen said they expect the Philippines to increase its share of the total revenues from 40 percent to 45 percent. Its Bataan plant exports most its products to the U.S., which in turn represents 75 percent to 80 percent of its total business.

The company has already integrated all its operations in Bataan now to save on energy cost.

Shen said the company expects total revenue earnings of $ 120 million to $ 125 million next year from this year’s projection of between $ 100 million to $ 110 million.

Medtecs is also expanding into the services sector by leasing out linens and providing laundry services to the hospitality sector including hotels and hospitals. At present, this division accounts for 10 percent of its total business but has great potential.

[allan_dude]

image hosted on flickr
image hosted on flickr
image hosted on flickr
image hosted on flickr

Nueva Ecija is the largest province and the biggest rice producer of Central Luzon, thus, often referred to as the “Rice Bowl of the Philippines.” Its capital is Palayan City. Nueva Ecija borders, from the south clockwise, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Aurora.

Among its main attractions is the Pantabangan River, the country’s first multi-purpose infrastructure, which stands today as a phenomenon in Filipino engineering feats. Another is the Pampanga river, cutting across a rich valley floor, famed for irrigation, the generation of hydroelectric power, and the mitigation of flood damage.

Nueva Ecija is also the agri-tourism pilot site in Central Luzon due to the presence of the Central Luzon State University in the province.

Its other worthwhile attractions include the Minalungao National Park, Rizal Hot Spring, Burburayok Springs and Pajanutic Falls, Barrio Puncan in the town of Carranglan, among others.

HISTORY

In 1705, Spanish Governor General Fausto Cruzar created the province and named it Nueva Ecija after his hometown Ecija in Seville, Spain.

In 1818, Nueva Ecija annexed a long strip of territory facing the Pacific Ocean in the east that extended from Palawan (now in Isabela) in the north to Infanta in Tayabas (now Quezon) in the south. In 1848, it acquired the towns of Gapan, San Isidro, Cabiao. San Antonio and Casiguran were separated from Nueva Ecija and annexed to Tayabas. Palanan was transferred first to Nueva Ecija then to Isabela. With the subsequent separation of Infanta and Polilio Island, Nueva Ecija’s isolation from the sea became complete.

Nueva Ecija was one of the first eight provinces that took up arms against Spanish rule in 1896. During the Filipino-American War, General Emilio Aguinaldo retreated to the province and, on May 9, 1899, made Cabanatuan the temporary seat of his government until it was moved to Bamban, Tarlac. General Antonio Luna was killed on June 5, 1899 in the convent of the town’s church.

American forces, after occupying Nueva Ecija in 1899, established the provincial seat of government in San Isidro. Other provincial capitals had been Baler (now in Aurora), Bongabon, and Cabanatuan. On June 19,1965, Republic Act No. 4475 created the city of Palayan as the new capital.

GEOGRAPHY

The province is the largest in Central Luzon. Its terrain begins with the southwestern marshes near the Pampanga border. It levels off and then gradually increases in elevation to rolling hills as it approaches the mountains of Sierra Madre in the east, and the Caraballo and Cordillera ranges in the north.

POPULATION

According to the NCSO, Nueva Ecija has a population of 1,310,829 of which 13.16% are concentrated in Cabanatuan City. The rural population totals 799,280 while the urban population is 511,549.
Tagalog is predominantly spoken by the Novo Ecijanos, comprising 67.7%, followed by the Ilocano dialect at 29.93%. Other dialects are Pampango, Pangasinan, Bicol, and Ilonggo.

ECONOMY

Nueva Ecija is one of the top producers of agricultural goods in the country. Its principal crops are rice, corn, and onion. The province is often referred to as the “Rice Bowl of the Philippines.” Other major crops are mango, banana, eggplant, and garlic.

Fishponds are unevenly distributed throughout the province but the largest concentrations are in San Antonio, Sta. Rosa, and Cuyapo.

Several areas have mineral deposits. Copper and manganese have been found in Gen. Tinio, Carranglan, and Patabangan. The upper reaches of Carranglan and Palyan are said to contain gold.

Map:

Cities

• Cabanatuan City
• Gapan City
• Palayan City
• San Jose City
• Science City of Muñoz

Municipalities

• Aliaga
• Bongabon
• Cabiao
• Carranglan
• Cuyapo
• Gabaldon (Bitulok & Sabani)
• General Mamerto Natividad
• General Tinio (Papaya)
• Guimba
• Jaén
• Laur
• Licab
• Llanera
• Lupao

• Nampicuan
• Pantabangan
• Peñaranda
• Quezon
• Rizal
• San Antonio
• San Isidro
• San Leonardo
• Santa Rosa
• Santo Domingo
• Talavera
• Talugtug
• Zaragoza

Text source: wikipedia, DOT

ABOVE: Photo credits (L-R)
Flickr.com photos by Shubert Ciencia, DOT Region III & jaydigital

Flickr Finds
image hosted on flickr

Cabanatuan
Flickr photo by R. Refran

image hosted on flickr

Pantabangan Dam
Flickr photo by DOT Region III

image hosted on flickr

Nueva Ecija Sports Complex
Flickr photo by DOT Region III

image hosted on flickr

NE Pacific Mall
Flickr photo by DOT Region III

Sprawling over a 5-hectare prime property along Maharlika Highway in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, NE Pacific Mall is the first fully-integrated shopping center to rise in the central plains of Luzon.

NE Pacific Mall boasts of a combination of the finest elements of Metro Manila's bustling commercial hubs: a warehouse supermarket, a department store, mall shops, a family amusement center, a sit-down fastfood center, over 250 cluster stalls, state of the art cinemas, and a Brunswick-megged, 14-lane fully-computerized bowling center. (LANDCO)


Click image to enlarge

[tracymack]

Nice one allan_dude. Do we have something like this in the Pangasinan thread? I didn't know NE Pacific sits on just a 5 hectare lot. The SM Supercenter Rosales lot is 9 hectares, SM City Urdaneta at 15 hectares & SM City Dagupan at 14 hectares. The NE Pacific Mall at 5 hectares is already huge.

[tracymack]

Is the traffic along Maharlika Highway bad? Judging from the pic, it only has two lanes. MacArthur Highway in Urdaneta City is also two-lane but a lot of motorists treat it like a four-lane road. That's how bad traffic is back home. That is why it is being widened into four lanes (which motorists can then treat as six lanes ). Because of road widening activities, traffic has become even worse. I wonder if Cabanatuan City is experiencing the same thing. I guess officials did not expect Urdaneta to grow at a very fast pace.

[allan_dude]

None. Maybe we could request our moderators to help us add a "thread starter" in our local thread.

Traffic situation in Cabanatuan is pretty bad. One time we were on our way to San Jose and were caught in a traffic jam, It took us almost an hour just to cross the city.

This province is very unrepresented here in SSC considering it has five cities, it is the center for agri-business and agri-technology in the Phil, and is a part of the "Billionaires Club" in terms of IRA. Anyone from Nueva Ecija? Please post away here!

[tracymack]

Originally Posted by allan_dude

None. Maybe we could request our moderators to help us add a "thread starter" in our local thread.

That's a good idea!

Originally Posted by allan_dude

Traffic situation in Cabanatuan is pretty bad. One time we were on our way to San Jose and were caught in a traffic jam, It took us almost an hour just to cross the city.

Worse than Urdaneta? So Maharlika Highway has only two lanes?

Originally Posted by allan_dude

This province is very unrepresented here in SSC considering it has five cities, it is the center for agri-business and agri-technology in the Phil, and is a part of the "Billionaires Club" in terms of IRA. Anyone from Nueva Ecija? Please post away here!

Yeah. Start posting people!

[r93k401]

Hot springs in Rizal, Nueva Ecija. Where is that.... I grew up in Rizal when I was in elementary but my family moved out when I was in high school.. never knew there is one there..

[allan_dude]

Originally Posted by tracymack

Worse than Urdaneta? So Maharlika Highway has only two lanes?

Hmm I haven't experienced the infamous Urdaneta traffic. Maharlika is like MacArthur Highway, at one part there are two lanes each per direction.

[allan_dude]

Cabanatuan City
Courtesy of Nueva Ecija Journal
Digital photos by Ramon R. Valmonte



Cabanatuan City Central Transport Terminal


Part of Maharlika Road fronting the National Food Authority Compound


Primavera townhouses


Lakewood City


Maria Assumpta Seminary


NE Pacific Mall


Megacenter


NE Mall


Dr. Jose Rizal's monument


Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park


Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Medical and Research Center,


Nueva Ecija Doctors Hospital


Iglesia ni Cristo Cathedral.








Wesleyan University-Philippine


Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology


Nueva Ecija National High School


College of the Immaculate Conception High School Department

[barrera_marquez]

Palayan City as we know is a sleepy city. People even argue if it is really a city but do we have a city seal for Palayan City? I have never seen one. Thanks.

[tracymack]

Originally Posted by allan_dude

Hmm I haven't experienced the infamous Urdaneta traffic. Maharlika is like MacArthur Highway, at one part there are two lanes each per direction.

I see. Thanks for the info allan_dude. Hope you don't get to experience THE traffic.