Philippine Congress to hosts Asian Regional Consultative Meeting to Review the Common Principles for Parliamentary Development

MANILA-The Senate of the Philippines and House of Representatives, together with the Inter-Parliamentary Union, are hosting the Asian Regional Consultative Meeting to Review the Common Principles for Parliamentary Development on, August 28, 2014, at the Manila Hotel.

            More than 20 secretaries general of parliaments across the region and officials from parliamentary development institutes and international organizations are participating in the two-day consultative meeting (August 28 and 29, 2014) aimed at improving the quality of parliamentary development support through better cooperation and coordination.

            Senate President Franklin Drilon said that the Philippine Senate’s long history of active collaboration in the work of the IPU and the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments.  “I am again delighted that the Congress of the Philippines is hosting this IPU event which will harness the contribution of Secretaries General of Asian national parliaments, parliamentary officials and parliamentary development organizations to the proposed Common Principles of Parliamentary Development,” said Drilon.

            In November 2013, a drafting group composed of the European Parliament, the French National Assembly, the United Nations Development Programme, the National Democratic Institute, and the IPU began work on the Principles in response to requests from parliamentary development practitioners.  To ensure broad ownership, support and endorsement of the Common Principles, the IPU has invited national parliaments and organizations involved in parliamentary development to contribute to the document.

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, in a letter to secretaries general of national parliaments from the Asian Region and to officials of organizations that provide parliamentary development support said, “These Principles aim to provide helpful guidelines for suitable and effective parliamentary development assistance by strengthening cooperation, coordination and quality.  They are the fruit of the contributions by national parliaments, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and parliamentary development organizations.”

            The two-day Asian Regional Consultative Meeting in Manila is part of the process of broad consultation to invite final input to the draft Common Principles before it is presented for adoption to the IPU’s governing bodies in October 2014.

           

            The Philippine Congress contingent to the Asian Regional Consultative Meeting to Review the Common Principles for Parliamentary Development will be led by Senate Secretary Yabes and House of Representatives Secretary General Marilyn Barua – Yap.  Joining them are Senate Deputy Secretary for Legislation Edwin Bellen, Senate Deputy Secretary for Administration and Finance Arnel Jose Bañas, House Deputy Secretary General for Operations Artemio Adasa, and House Deputy Secretary General for Committee Affairs Arlene Dada – Arnaldo. 

PHO, PIA hold kapihan on health care in Tarlac

TARLAC CITY-Health care is important.

This was the notable advice of Develyn Florendo of the Provincial Health Office to around 60 residents of Gawad Kalinga (GK) Tibagan in the capital city during the Kapihan ng Mamayan (KNM): Isang Talakayan Para sa mga Tarlakenyo which it co-organized with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

“Proper health care ensures a healthy body, a healthy family, a healthy community, and a healthy nation,” Florendo said.

She encouraged family members to prioritize health and be as nutritious as possible by being an “active participant of one’s health care,”

“Proper health care is everyone’s responsibility. Talk to your doctor about healthy lifestyle tips and avoid engaging in habits or activities that have the potential to damage your body in any way,” the provincial health officer added.

She reminded villagers to regularly visit the health center for a check-up, to exercise healthy lifestyle tips, to take vitamins prescribed by doctors, and to avoid extreme exhaustion and pressure.

Florendo also gave a brief discussion on responsible parenthood, in relation to the recent symbolic awarding of the 100th millionth baby in the province.

“To be a good parent, you need to know how to make your children feel valued and loved, while teaching them the difference between right and wrong,” she said.

Meanwhile, GK Tibagan program director Ruben Puangco expressed gratitude on the first KNM activity held at the community, which strengthened the awareness understanding of parents on health care and parenting.

KNM is a two-hour communications activity of PIA that aims to serve as an avenue for government agencies to converse and gather feedback regarding their latest programs, projects and issuances. (Lorie Gene C. Cruz)

15 ambulant vendors in Sta. Cruz receive Nego Kart from DOLE

STA. CRUZ, Zambales-15 ambulant vendors in Sta. Cruz town recently benefitted from the P200,000 worth of livelihood assistance given by the Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego Kart) program of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

 

In a message, DOLE Technical Support and Services Division for Employment and Welfare Chief Nely Punzalan urged the recipients to work hard to make their businesses more profitable and successful.

 

“As chosen beneficiaries, we are hopeful that you would be able to transform your respective small scale enterprises into formidable and sustainable businesses in the future,” Punzalan stressed.

 

Aside from the kart, grantees were likewise provided with a startup capital while Mayor Consolacion Marty pledged that the municipal government would give them trainings on enhancing their skills as well as on entrepreneurship and business management. (Marie Joy L. Simpao)

1,000 Palayan households get P5-M water systems project

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija–Some 1,000 households in this city now have access to potable water following the launch of a P5-million water systems project in this provincial capital.

          The project involves a pumping station equipped with generator sets and other facilities which was unveiled here last Wednesday in Barangay Singalat, one kilometer away from the city proper.

          Mayor Adrianne Cuevas, who led the launch, said the water systems project is part of city government efforts to lay the infrastructure requirements for the influx of investments in the city.

She said that a “bagsakan” project will soon be launched within this month while a business hub will also launched next month.

          Aside from Cuevas, also gracing the inauguration of the pumping station were Local Waterworks and Utilities Administration (LWUA) chief Andres Ibarra, Palayan City Water District (PCWD) general manager Gerardo Calling and Singalat barangay chairman Fausto Lagisma.

          The project was financed through a P5-million funding from the PCWD.

          Cuevas said that the project poses a big relief to residents in Singalat since access to potable water systems  has always been a perennial problem in the city’s far-flung barangays. She said the acute lack of drinking water could be blamed for the outbreak of diseases in some communities because they only use shallow wells between six to nine meters deep.

          Cuevas said the city government has been exerting efforts to provide water to Palayanos, noting that next year, they will launch a program providing water systems to 50 indigent families per barangay in each of the city’s 19 barangays.

          “Gradually, we will be undertaking water provision projects so that eventually, we can have water for all Palayanos, with the help of LWUA through Administrator Ibarra and Manager Calling,” she said.

Ibarra said the city can avail of national government projects on water systems provision. He said one of these projects is the $60-million loan from the Asian Development Bank which can be used in water expansion in various areas of the country.

Among the areas which can be covered by the loan package are Koronadal, Metro-San Fernando in La Union, 15 water districts (WDs) in Bulacan and an additional 42-45  WDs in various areas of the country.

Ibarra said within the next two years, he expects the water coverage of the city to increase from the present 13 barangays to 16 barangays out of its total of 19 barangays.

Calling said that the PCWD was able to implement P23.7 million worth of water systems projects in the city. Of this, P15 million was used for the expansion of areas and “Lingap sa Mahirap” projects  in barangays Militar, Singalat and Aulo, benefitting 3,600 water concessionaires.

He said that they are eyeing four more pumping stations in Aulo and Singalat while in the next three years, four additional deep wells and lines will be installed in six barangays, including Bagong Buhay, Manggahan and Maligaya.       

Calling said provision of water is one of the priorities of the Cuevas administration which is eyeing to build at least 2,000 housing facilities in coordination with the National Housing Authority (NHA).

It is also preparing for the establishment of the government center, involving the transfer of offices of all government agencies from Cabanatuan City. (Manny Galvez)

Ecija cops nab murdered woman’s ex-lover

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Police operatives arrested in Angono, Rizal on Friday the former live-in partner of a 21-year-old woman suspected of killing her and dumping her body in an irrigation canal last Sunday.

          Police Superintendent Pedro Soliba, Cabanatuan police chief, identified the suspect as Melvin dela Cruz, 26, of Purok Ilang-ilang, Barangay Mayapyap Sur this city.

          Dela Cruz was arrested at Block 5, Lot 14, Herald Village, Angono by joint operatives of the Cabanatuan police and the Criminal Investigation Detection Team  led by Senior Inspector Ferdinand Mendoza. He did not resist arrest.

          Dela Cruz, a tricycle driver, was tagged for the brutal murder of Gladys Bernardo, 21, of Barangay Caalibangbangan who went missing on August 17. Her body was found floating in an irrigation canal of the National Irrigation Administration in the same barangay last Wednesday.   

          A day after, barangay officials went to the police station accompanying witnesses who executed affidavits and identified Dela Cruz as the one who murdered Bernardo. (Manny Galvez)

Kilo-for-kilo, Phl now Asia`s fastest rice producer

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija - Kilo-for-kilo, Philippine rice is the best in Asia. It is the fastest rice producer in the continent, believe it or not, based on world market data.

          Dr. Eufemio Rasco Jr., PhilRice executive director, citing data from the World Market and Trade of the United States Department of Agriculture said that the Philippines, which posted a 97-percent rice self-sufficiency status last year, registered a 4.04 percent average increase in milled rice production over the four-year period from 2010-2013.

          This after the country produced 10.99 million metric tons of milled rice from 9.77 million metric tons in 2011.  

          With this produce, the Philippines surpassed major rice exporters including  China and India, which showed an improvement of only 1.55 and 3.77 percent, respectively.

          Thailand, a leading rice exporter, only posted a 0.39-percent change difference in milled production.

          Tom Slayton, former editor of The Rice Trader and co-author of an article on how rice price crisis could be prevented from becoming a crisis of hunger, noted that Philippines - considered a key importer in the world rice trade - posted zero imports that was maintained at 1.50 million metric tons during the last two years.

          Bangladesh recorded a 0.25-change difference in imports from 2012 to 2013, while China, although one of the largest rice producers in the world, registered 0.10 difference.

          Relating the world rice production data to regional rice industry integration in Asia, researchers Tin Htut Oo, Tim Maung Shwe, and Larry Wong said the “increasing private sector efforts in integrating increasingly ASEAN-wide modern farming and modern economic activities along agri-food supply chains and international trading networks could and should be harnessed and leveraged to complement and supplement on-going government efforts [towards food security in Asia].” 

          Rasco said the institute and the International Rice Research Institute based in Los Baños, Laguna, recently signed a memorandum of agreement to collaborate on conducting researches and promoting technologies.

          The two rice institutes will also share information on researches conducted in the country, and provide intensive training among collaborators. 

CLARIFICATORY STATEMENT ON THE Php9.9B NIA BUDGET ALLOCATED TO NCR

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), through the Public Affairs and Information Staff (PAIS), offers this clarificatory statement to give light on the issue being circulated in the media about the supposed Php9.9B-fund allocated to NCR for “irrigation projects.”

The Php9,865,878.00 (to be exact) is not meant to fund irrigation projects in Metro Manila for a very obvious reason: there are no irrigation projects or systems in this very urbanized part of the country. The said amount, although it is stated in the DBM document that it is allocated to National Capital Region, is in fact for projects with Project Management Offices based at the NIA Central Office in Quezon City and/or activities undertaken by some sectors at the central office.

These projects/activities include the following:

I.                    Locally-Funded Projects

a.       Feasibility Studies, Detailed Engineering, and Pre-Engineering Activities of various projects. The conduct of Feasibility Studies requires specialists from various disciplines, and such positions are only available at the Central Office. (Php310.000M)

b.      Provision for the Non-Power Component of the San Roque Multipurpose Project, of which Php3.789B is for payment of unbooked obligations.

II.                  Foreign-Assisted Projects*

a.       Participatory Irrigation Development Project-Phase I (PIDP), nationwide (Php152.410M)

b.      National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP), nationwide (Php927.070M)

c.       Jalaur River Multipurpose Irrigation Project Stage II (Php1.190B)

d.      Adopting to Climate Change Impact Through the Construction of Water Impounding Facilities in the Philippines (Pasa SRIP in Isabela) (Php9.215M)

*These projects have Project Management Offices at the NIA Central Office in Quezon City.

III.                Programs

a.       General Administration and Support (General Management and Supervision) (Php1,642,973.00)

b.      Support to Operations (Irrigation Support Services [Php72.265M); Monitoring and Evaluation Activities for Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Project [Php5.361M]; and Quick Response Fund [Php500.000M])

c.       Operations (Construction of Irrigation Projects and Repairs of Irrigation System – Payment of Right of Way [Php939.002M]; Completion works and Unpaid claims and damages of completed projects [Php63.285M]; Irrigation Management Transfer Support Services [Php12.000M]; and Climate Change Adaptation Works [Php16.500M])

d.      CARP-IC (for the requirement of the Program Beneficiaries Development Component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program) (Php236.793M)

The amounts stated herein are either released or held at the Central Office to support the various activities included in each of the project/program and not intended for the actual construction and rehabilitation of irrigation projects/systems and other irrigation-related activities in NCR/Metro Manila.

It is hoped that we have provided you sufficient information regarding the issue at hand.  Should you have any other questions on the matter or other concerns regarding our agency, our office is more than willing to provide you with the most  objective and credible information that will better inform the public about NIA’s existence and efforts in agricultural productivity and nation-building.

Thank you.

PILIPINA P. BERMUDEZ

Department Manager A

Public Affairs and Information Staff, NIA

Palayan wages war vs wastes, crafts 10-year waste management plan

PALAYAN CITY – This city – Nueva Ecija’s capital – has waged a protracted war against wastes by formulating a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) intended to mitigate the impact of a worsening garbage disposal problem whose projected volume of 13.2 tons of waste per day could double over the  same period.

          Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas said the city government’s SWMP is in consonance with the provisions of Republic Act 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act which mandates local government units (LGUs) to prepare their respective SWMPs for the re-use, recycling and composting of generated waste and its efficient management and disposal.

          “This 10-year plan contains all the components provided in RA 9003 and a timetable for implementation in accordance with the national framework plan. It contains the direction, scope and the process by which the plan was developed,” she said, adding its main features are to provide a doable ecological solid waste management program, creating the necessary institutional mechanism and incentives, declaring certain acts prohibited, providing penalties among others.

          “It conforms to the city government’s vision of turning Palayan into a vibrant capital of Nueva Ecija with a well-managed environment, effective and efficient waste management system that addresses the waste problems not only through reduction and recycling but also through organic fertilizer production, establishment of material recovery facilities (MRFs) in the barangays and pocket green parks around the city,” she added.

          Anelyn Bongcawil, city environment and natural resources officer, noted that as early as 2010, the preparation of the city’s SWMP was already started and submitted to the National Solid Waste Management Council (NSWMC) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

          However, its approval was held in abeyance by these agencies due to inaccurate data and for failing to conform with the provincial and regional SWMPs.

          The Cuevas administration has since instituted various programs and measures such as the closure of controlled and open dumpsites in Barangay Atate, the adoption of clean and green programs and construction of a model MRF awarded by the NSWMC.

          At present, the city government has established barangay MRFs in six of its 19 barangays. These are located in barangays Aulo, Bagong Buhay, Caballero, Mapaet (formerly Manggahan), Militar and Santolan.

          Helen Grace Antonio, a consultant from the mayor’s office, said that based on their projection, the volume of the city’s waste could balloon from 13.2 tons per day (tpd) at the end of 2014 to 23 tpd by 2023.

          By 2015, this could go up to 14.2 tons per day, to 15.6 tpd by 2016, to 16.8 tpd by 2017, to 17 tpd by 2018, to 18.2 tpd by 2019, to 19.4 tpd by 2020, to 20.6 tpd by 2021, to 21.8 tpd by 2022 and finally to 23 tpd by 2023.

          Based on a report, biodegradable wastes form the bulk of collected wastes at 4,273.2 kilograms per day (kpd) followed by recyclables at 2,353.2 kpd, residual wastes with 5,086.8 kpd and special wastes at 288 kpd.

          Antonio said that the major sources of residual wastes are six urban barangays of the city (38.11%), the 13 rural barangays (36.48%) and non-households (14.74%).

          The most common residual wastes include diapers, sando bags, thin films, metallic, metallic foil and sachet, tarpaulin and broken ceramics.                

          The garbage problem has become a major issue during last year’s elections when Cuevas was accused by her political rival of reportedly supporting the establishment of a sanitary landfill in a 20-hectare site in Barangay Imelda Valley.

          The proposed sanitary landfill was contained in a 25-year lease agreement entered into in June 2012 by Cuevas’ predecessor, former mayor Romeo Capinpin with a waste-to-energy corporation.

          Cuevas denied she is supporting the landfill project, saying she was in fact instrumental in having the contract between the Capinpin administration and the firm Ecosci Corporation rescinded by the Sangguniang Panlunsod.

          Cuevas said it has consistently been her position to oppose the proposed sanitary landfill together with Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali not only because of the health hazards but also because of the stiff opposition by civic leaders and local residents.

          She said the city government is bent on pursuing the setting up of an economic zone in the city, a vision which it shares with the provincial government. – Manny Galvez

Energy, water bill of gov’t offices to rise to P13 B Recto files “Green Energy Government Offices Act”

MANILA-With the national government coughing up more than a billion pesos a month for electricity and water in its offices, calls for conserving utility use in the bureaucracy have been aired anew in the Senate.  

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said one way of cutting the annual P12.9 billion power and water bill of the national government is for public buildings to be installed with solar panels.

“When it comes to use of renewable energy, government must practice what it preaches,” Recto said. The Senate President Pro Tempore last week filed the proposed “Green Energy Government Offices Act” which prescribes measures to reduce carbon footprint of government buildings.

Recto’s bill requires two agencies - the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Energy (DOE) - to spearhead the installation of not only green energy systems in public buildings but also the popularization of practical energy conservation guides.

“Conservation is always a mix of the high-tech and the common sense,” he said.

Recto made the proposal after noting that utility expenses of the government have been on a steady rise, from P8.4 billion in 2011 to the projected P12.9 for 2015, which is the amount proposed in the P2.6 trillion draft national budget.

“If your utilities bill will go up by P4.5 billion in just four years, then you have to plan some cost-cutting,” he said.

This year, the allocated amount for utilities is P12.2 billion, but Recto said that going by the historical record, the amount set aside is always breached.

“In 2012, for example, while national budget documents reported an expenditure of P9.2 billion for utilities, actual amount spent according to the Commission on Audit was P11.1 billion,” Recto said.

Of this amount, P8.8 billion was for electricity, P2.2 billion was for water, and about P67 million was for cooking gas, the latter mostly by hospitals and camps of the uniformed services.

“The ratio is that for every 1 peso national government allocates for utilities, 80 centavos goes to power, and the rest mostly to water,” Recto said.

Explaining that P12.9 billion proposed for utilities covers national government offices only, Recto said the actual bill is way higher if utility expenses of local governments and government corporation are included.

While Recto called for a reduction of the energy use in public offices, he, however, called for “higher electricity consumption in one particular area  – on the streets where the installation of more street lights to deter crimes and prevent traffic accidents is clearly justified.”

In batting for solar energy use in his bill, Recto cited the DOE’s renewable energy assessment where it estimated solar’s annual potential average at 5.1 kilowatt-hour (kWh)/m2/day.

“Solar energy represents fuel input that is free-of-charge and will not affect our foreign currency reserves as imported petroleum and other fossil fuels do,” Recto stressed in his bill. 

The senator said placing more government buildings under solar power would create job opportunities.

He said “the current $800 million in direct investments in renewable energy in the country is expected to create 3,500 new jobs.” 

AFP Welcomes New ISAFP Chief

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed Brigadier General Arnold M. Quiapo who assumed as the new chief of Intelligence Service, AFP (ISAFP) today in a simple ceremony at the ISAFP Headquarters, here.

BGen. Quiapo formally replaced MGen. Eduardo M. Año who previously assumed as the commander of the Army’s 10^th Infantry Division last July 25.

Prior to his appointment as the new ISAFP chief, BGen. Quiapo was the Commander of 301^st Brigade, 3^rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army based in Dingle, Iloilo. He held the position from December 2011 to present.

During his tenure as commander, 301BDE conducted simultaneous signing of Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) Implementing Plan on Security  for  All  Vital Government and Private Projects, Undertakings, Facilities and Equipment with Iloilo Provincial  Police  Office,  Guimaras  Provincial  Police  Office  and  Iloilo  City  Police Office in July 2014. He also spearheaded numerous Bayanihan, and Community Development projects in the 301BDE area of responsibility.

He was also the Chief of Staff of the Training and Doctrine Command, PA in Tarlac; Group Commander, K-9 Company of the Army’s Intelligence Service Group; and Battalion Commander of 39^th Infantry Battalion, 6^th Infantry Division, Philippine Army in Mindanao.

BGen. Quiapo is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983. He took specialization courses and trainings both in military and civilian schools here and abroad. He graduated the Overseas Joint Warfare Course at the Australian Defense Force Warfare Centre; Counter Terrorism Training at PMA; and Command and General Staff Course at CGSC, TRADOC, PA. He also graduated Master in Business Management at the University of the Philippines and Master of Arts in Security Studies at the Australian Defense College.

A decorated military officer, BGen. Quiapo has received various military awards; noteworthy of which are five Bronze Cross Medals, Military Civic Action Medal, Silver Wing Medal and two Distinguished Service Stars.

JOBLESS GROWTH, INEQUALITY PERSISTENT IN PHL Translating economic gains to poverty reduction remains a challenge

MANILA-The Philippines’s steady economic growth has not been coupled by improvements in the labor market, creating a “jobless growth” where many sectors of the population are unable to benefit from prosperity, and where inequality remains persistent.

The country’s growth averaged nearly 7% in the last two years, higher than all the other countries in the region except China. However, economists both local and international noted that the economic surge has failed to create jobs that will result to gainful employment for majority of Filipinos, especially those in rural areas.

The expansion of the services sector, mainly the outsourcing industry, has been remarkable but experts were careful to note that this sector demands only highly skilled positions and accounts for just 1% of employment, leaving the rest of the labor force untapped.

Within this economic scenario, the Angara Centre for Law and Economics today presented the second roundtable discussion of the Andrew Tan Lecture Series on the topic “Towards Inclusive Regional Development in the Philippines: Lessons, Challenges and Policy Suggestions” at the Malcolm Hall, College of Law, University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

This lecture is part of a joint study undertaken by the Angara Centre with the World Bank to identify the areas of persistent underperformance and inequality in the Philippines.

Studies showed that economic growth has been largely supported by private consumption and consumer spending, owing to employment in services, construction and remittances from overseas Filipinos. The services sector, contributing 57% of the economy, grew even further as retail, finance, real estate, and business process outsourcing (BPO) posted strong growth.

Growth has failed to permeate the other sectors of the economy, most especially to the countryside that makes up 70% of the population. Agriculture growth was at a measly 1%.

The Philippines’ overall ratio of rural-urban wage gap at 67 percent has remained constant over the last decade.

Teams of economists and leading researchers from the Philippines and abroad presented their studies and recommended actionable policy initiatives. Leading this lecture are Dr. James Robinson of Harvard University, Dr. Pablo Querubin of New York University and Dr. John C. Nye, Frederic Bastiat Chair in Political Economy at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University and Research Director at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow.

They called for public investments to support agriculture, tourism and manufacturing so that infrastructure growth can crawl out of metropolitan centers and into rural areas. Raising millions out of poverty also requires investments in transportation and communication, and improving resilience against disasters that debilitate poverty reduction efforts and threaten to reduce the middle class.

Further, creating quality jobs and enhancing competitiveness through strategic partnerships with the private sector must also be prioritized in order to move more people from the fringes of income distribution.

Clark opens first container depot

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE-Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and chief executive officer Arthur Tugade said Monday that the three-hectare container depot inside the Freeport Zone is open to serve empty container vans congesting the Port of Manila and other ports in Northern and Central Luzon.

 

The operation of the container yard came into effect upon the signing of the lease agreement between Tugade and CargoHaus Inc. chairman Alberto Lina and President Rudy Fulo over the weekend.

 

“This is the first container yard ever in an eco-zone, and this is the first time in the history of CDC that we will be addressing issues on clogged ports and traffic congestion apart from settling the concerns of our locators,’’ said Tugade.

 

“I thanked CargoHaus for allowing me to perform for CDC and for Clark. I cannot be proud enough of this,’’ he added.

 

The lease deal mandates the use of the Freeport property near the airport as storage house of empty containers shipped from Subic to Metro Manila, Southern, Central and Northern Luzon or vice versa.

 

The agreement also states specific routes to trailers transporting the empty vans to avoid traffic along national McArthur hi-way or other national hi-ways. 

 

Lina said the removal of 20 to 40 footer containers off the road by bringing them directly to Clark will also ease traffic in Metro Manila by 10 per cent. It will also double the savings of importers from Clark to Manila, Bulacan and other Luzon areas as they do not have pay much for gas, parking and cargo fees.

 

Moreover, BCDA President Arnel Paciano Casanova hailed the strengthened partnership between CDC and CargoHaus through the lease agreement, as he called on others to follow suit.

 

“We at BCDA take pride that our family in Clark is doing well in uplifting our economy. You have seen how Clark has grown so fast and achieve a historical target that is not known before.  Hopefully others will follow suit,’’ Casanova said.

 

CDC is a member of the BCDA group, a prime mover of national development. (CDC)

‘Dramatic increase’ in 2014 Clark tourist arrivals

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE-The Tourism Promotions Office (TPO) of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) said Tuesday there has been a dramatic rise in tourist arrivals this year, attributing most of it to some high impact and well attended events such as the MICE Conference and various sports activities.

In her report to CDC president/CEO Arthur Tugade, TPO manager Noemi Garcia said that Clark tourist visitors both domestic and international increased to 947, 227 from January to June this year, higher by 19.65 percent from the 791, 599 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2013.

Garcia’s report also indicated that 568, 904 of the total arrivals had been accommodated in various hotels inside the Freeport.

“The occupancy rate was impressive as it increased by almost 60 percent from last year’s 283, 632 for the same period,’’ she explained.

The TPO report said the remarkable increase this year also attributed to massive promotions via liaising, high travel fairs participation, networking and distributions of promotional materials and improved data collection on tourism statistics.

A total of 137, 760 day visitors, 78, 636 events and 59, 124 educational tours has been recorded in the first half. Airport arrivals, on the other hand, were pegged at 240, 563.

The MICE Conference held last June was among the many well attended events at the Freeport, which gathered some 600 delegates and guests from countries like Australia, China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland and Russia.

Tugade was earlier commended by the TPO for the efficient handling of the conference.

Others that equally contributed to the surge in Freeport arrivals include sports activities such as the Clark Animo Run 2014, Milo Marathon, Run Tourism Clark and 2014 Regional Little League Asia-Pacific, which had 52 teams from 16 participating countries. (CDC)

Legarda Warns of Climate Risks Vs. Agri Growth, Poverty Reduction

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda raised concerns over the risks posed by climate change, which has been causing extreme weather events, in the growth of the agriculture sector and in addressing poverty in the country.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, said that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) already warned that climate change impacts will likely make poverty reduction more difficult, further erode food security, and prolong existing and create new poverty traps.

During the briefing by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on the 2015 National Expenditure Program (NEP), Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that the dismal 0.9% growth in agriculture for the first quarter of 2014 was partly due to disasters, particularly supertyphoon Yolanda.

In line with this, Legarda expressed support in improving public investments in agriculture, such as irrigation, and pouring more funds in research and development.

“The country’s agricultural adaptation program must ensure more investments in agricultural research and infrastructure, improved water governance and land use policies, better forecasting tools and early warning systems, a strengthened extension system that will assist farmers to achieve economic diversification, and access to credit and crop insurance to make significant improvements in the country’s food security goals,” she stressed.

Legarda has already warned of the ill effects of disasters and climate change to the country’s rice and crop production because both strong typhoons and droughts affect the agriculture sector.

The Senator said that past experiences have proven this fact. Typhoons, floods and droughts from 1970 to 1990 resulted in an 82.4% loss in total Philippine rice production; while the El Niño-related drought experienced in the country from 1990 to 2003 was estimated to have caused US$ 370 million in damages to agriculture.

Meanwhile, Legarda said she is hopeful that the government will be more proactive with its disaster resilience and climate change adaptation programs, as it has recognized that the war against poverty will be much harder if disaster vulnerability remains unaddressed.

“Disasters are greatly felt by the poor because the effects are magnified in their life. For many Filipinos, every single day of work is synonymous to survival. When impassable roads due to heavy downpour prevent a daily wage earner from going to work, it would mean no earnings for the day, no food on the table,” she said.

In this regard, she said that the government can look into how its social protection programs can be scaled up to not only address structural poverty, but also build resilience against the recurring impact of natural hazards.

“We cannot let disasters keep the poor forever poor. We cannot let recurrent disasters take away from our people the little that they have in life. Building resilience must be at the heart of the country’s social protection program,” Legarda concluded.