We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
MIAA to remove gang chairs at NAIA-3 arrival lobby
The Manila International Airport Authority is scheduled to remove all the gang chairs at the arrival lobby of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) after Holy Week, MIAA general manager Eric Ines said yesterday......»»
P146 billion airport contracts set for signing this year
The Department of Transportation will sign this year more than P146 billion worth of contracts for the privatization of four airports, freeing up fiscal space for the government and building up the public-private partnership landscape......»»
SMC launches PHL’s first complete biodiversity offset Site in Bulacan
San Miguel Aerocity, Inc. (SMAI), a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), has inaugurated its Saribuhay sa Dampalit project in Barangay Pamarawan, Malolos, Bulacan. This pioneering initiative marks the launch of the Philippines’ first Biodiversity Offset Program (BOP) — part of the company’s nature-based solutions to building its New Manila International Airport project (NMAI) in ….....»»
CAAP adopts Borongan’s airport-building style
BORONGAN CITY — It was the necessity of getting a direct flight started the soonest that prompted the local government here to build its own airport, albeit in a novel and most cost-effective way given its limited budget. But the novel idea of using a modular construction system in the construction of an airport terminal gave the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines the idea on how it will build airport terminals in the future across the country. Rupert Ambil, Borongan City Information Officer and Flights Operation Chairman of the Borongan City Airport, said the city is the first local government unit in the country to construct its own airport terminal. “Thanks to the innovative design by the engineering team and the remarkable speed at which this project was completed, the CAAP is now adopting the modular design for other airports in the country,” Ambil said. On Thursday, CAAP issued a statement that it will be expanding the use of its modular construction system to more airports across the country, following its completion at Borongan Airport. “CAAP is actively implementing alternative approaches to swiftly address the concerns of passengers such as check-in areas and passenger terminal buildings with limited spaces,” CAAP said. “To address these areas for development, CAAP aims to create more spacious, efficient, and passenger-friendly environments that meet international standards and accommodate the increasing passenger volume of airports,” it added. “The modular construction system, which initially piloted at Borongan Airport, offers a sustainable approach to constructing terminal facilities with passenger amenities, as it minimizes construction waste. It uses pre-fabricated structural steel, a sustainable and cost-effective approach that allows for flexibility in design and rapid construction.” CAAP said it has identified additional airports where the construction system will be implemented. One of them is the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro where construction aimed to increase passenger movement is set to start in December 2023 with a total budget of P36 million. The post CAAP adopts Borongan’s airport-building style appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Domestic aviation rebounds this year
The local aviation industry, which was badly hit by the global health crisis, is seen to achieve full recovery this year. This was according to the International Air Transport Association in a recent forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. During the Aviation Forum last week, Yuli Thompson, area manager for the IATA in Southeast Asia, said the Philippines and the rest of the Asia Pacific region’s aviation market is swiftly recovering and seeing a consistent rise in terms of growth in international and domestic travel. Thompson said passenger traffic trends for international flights in the Philippines were logged at 75 percent of 2019 levels as of June 2023. As for the Asia Pacific passenger forecast, Yuli maintained that domestic travel will fully recover in 2023, while international travel will occur sometime in 2026. Further, Asia Pacific will be seen to lead in traffic growth in the next 20 years. “However, overcoming current challenges riding on the current momentum, and meeting full recovery will require strong interventions from all players in the aviation sector,” he said. Infra investments For his part, Cebu Pacific Air chief executive officer Michael Szucs emphasized the need to invest in infrastructure, citing that “Philippine carriers will need to quadruple in size to cater to growing demand.” In her keynote speech, Secretary Grace Poe urged stakeholders to support necessary infrastructure investments, especially following the air system glitch incident earlier this year. The senator called for the acquisition of a new Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management. Poe also recommended the hiring of a third-party maintenance provider for the CNS/ATM system. “It is my hope that the government, the private sector, and other stakeholders can work together and collaborate on air transport projects which will not only generate economic growth but also provide our people with excellent and affordable public services that can improve the quality of life for all,” she said. Also filed by Poe is Senate Bill 1121 which proposes the creation of a Philippine Transportation Safety Board. Under the directive of the current Marcos administration, Department of Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim highlighted the government’s key priorities, including aviation safety and strengthening of learning institutions. Lim further noted the agency’s priority of strengthening the Civil Aviation Training Center and engaging with the private sector as close partners for Air Transport Skills Training and Development. “If we are able to train our air traffic controllers, we would not only meet our own requirements, but the requirements of other countries. We can develop this on an institutional basis,” said Lim. Open up the industry Kurt Edwards, director general of the International Business Aviation Council, also raised the fact that much could be gained “by opening the industry and making it more known to people.” In terms of managing safety risks, Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, shared initiatives to advance safety capabilities in the aviation sector through the State Safety Program. The program employs a risk-based approach to regulations, capacity building and integration of a new organizational structure for monitoring and evaluation. Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista stressed that the DOTr’s goal to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport through a public-private partnership agreement, which he said, will present a “landmark opportunity for economic growth, improved infrastructure, and a world-class travel experience.” Added Bautista, “We are also developing regional airports, such as the unsolicited proposals for the operations and maintenance of the Bicol International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Laguindingan Airport.” The post Domestic aviation rebounds this year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CAAP to explore alternative approaches for sustainability in airports
Following its completion at Borongan Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will extend the use of its modular construction method to two additional airports throughout the country. In order to quickly address passenger concerns, CAAP is aggressively implementing alternative strategies, such as check-in areas and passenger terminal buildings (PTBs) with constrained space. In order to address these untapped potentials, CAAP seeks to construct surroundings that are both compliant with international standards and conducive to travelers while also being more roomy, effective, and welcoming. CAAP said that the modular construction system, which was initially piloted at Borongan Airport, offers a sustainable approach to constructing terminal facilities with passenger amenities as it minimizes construction waste. It uses pre-fabricated structural steel, a sustainable and cost-effective approach that allows for flexibility in design and rapid construction. In addition, the extra modules will integrate perfectly with the current buildings, producing a unified and contemporary terminal environment. On the strength of Borongan Airport's accomplishments, CAAP has selected two new airports where this building system will be used. With a budget of 36 million pesos, Laguindingan Airport is scheduled to start construction by December 2023 and is anticipated to be operational after six (6) months. Ozamis Airport is also being considered for the new construction system in order to support the increased passenger traffic. CAAP Director General Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo shared his enthusiasm, stating, "We are keen on bringing the benefits of the modular construction system to more airports nationwide as it will pave the way for us to prioritize sustainability in our development projects." In addition to the expansion of the use of modular construction systems, CAAP also shares that turboprop operations in its airports do not require the use of boarding bridges, and these operations can be extended to principal Class 1 airports with the same aircraft type. DG Tamayo added that as passenger demands continue to grow, CAAP dedicates itself to ensuring that airports across the country are equipped to meet the changing demands of air travel while maintaining sustainability and innovation. The post CAAP to explore alternative approaches for sustainability in airports appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tacloban airport contract variations adverse, says council
TACLOBAN CITY — Members of the regional project monitoring committee of the Regional Development Council in Eastern Visayas has urged the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit to look into the contracts between the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the private contractor of the new terminal building of Daniel Z. Romualdez airport here. This comes as RDC private sector representative for multimedia communication Buenaventura Go-Soco disclosed that there were glaring red flags in the implementation of the project which should not be ignored as there are prescribed processes under the law on how this should be addressed. Go-Soco is referring to the variations made to the original contract to make the contractor appear compliant on schedule and the scope of work, adding that based on the CAAP report submitted to the RPMC, slippage of the project implementation was at 38.65 percent as of 27 July 2023. The contractor is the joint venture of MAC Builders and ML Builders. But in a press conference after the RDC meeting last 26 August, the National Economic and Development Authority regional office announced that the problem on the compliance of the contractor has already been fixed due to a variation order signed between CAAP and the contractor. “The negative slippage has been remarkably reduced to less than 1 percent. This is because of the approved catch-up plan approved by the CAAP central office, it being the implementing agency for this particular project,” said NEDA regional director Meylene Rosales. The post Tacloban airport contract variations adverse, says council appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Indonesia plans Bali light rail to ease congestion
Indonesia plans to start building a light rail transit system on the popular resort island of Bali next year to ease roadway congestion from the airport, a senior minister has said. Tourist-dependent Bali attracts millions of foreign visitors annually and the beach-dotted island's narrow roads have been clogged with traffic jams since its reopening after the Covid-19 pandemic. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan said Thursday the light rail transit (LRT) system would be built underground and connect the island's international airport to popular tourist areas Canggu and Seminyak. "LRT (in Bali) will be underground so traffic at Bali's airport... in 2025-2026 can be managed," he said in the capital Jakarta, according to local media reports. He said the airport is expected to receive 24 million visitors annually by that time. "If it's not being done, then in 2026 we can be stuck three hours at the airport," he told reporters. The project, ordered by President Joko Widodo, had courted investment interest in Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing, he said. "There are South Korea, Japan and China. We will take those who allow transfer of technology, fast and affordable," he said when asked who could help fund the project. Bar some exceptions, buildings in Bali cannot be constructed over 15 meters (50 feet) in height, according to local laws. A LRT was recently opened in Jakarta that Widodo said would help ease congestion in the megalopolis and lessen pollution. Next week a Chinese-funded high-speed rail from Jakarta to the Javan city of Bandung will also launch. In another planned move next year, Bali will impose a 150,000 rupiah ($10) tax on tourists to fund cultural preservation as the island tries to capitalize on its popularity and protect its tropical allure. The post Indonesia plans Bali light rail to ease congestion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Private sector hit by DZR airport construction delays
TACLOBAN CITY — The continued delay in the construction of the new passenger terminal at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport is hurting the private sector the most, with losses amounting to at least P10 million a day in tourist receipts alone. According to former National Economic and Development Authority in Eastern Visayas regional director Atty. Buenaventura Go-Soco, the delay is not only detrimental to the whole economic development of the region but is also incurring additional losses to the government due to variation orders to the awarded contract. “We have no big industries in the and agriculture is not producing much. We can only rely on tourism and information technology are the strategies that can uplift the region’s economic growth,” Go-Soco said. To recall, the plan to upgrade the DRZ Airport from a domestic to international started in 1997 with a study by Japan International Cooperation Agency indicating the need to upgrade it. A joint venture of MAC Builders and ML Builders won the bid in 2020 for the construction of a new terminal building amounting to over P699 million with a contract duration of 540 days with estimated completion date last 29 May 2022. The construction work started on 5 December 2020. But almost three years after the construction started, only the posts and some beams are the only visible structures on the site today — far from a terminal building that should now be standing if the construction was on schedule. The post Private sector hit by DZR airport construction delays appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sudanese desperate for passports
Since authorities inaugurated a new passport office in the eastern city of Port Sudan in late August, hundreds of people have lined up all day, every day. They are desperate to obtain paperwork that will allow them to leave Sudan’s deadly war behind. In five months of war, the violence has killed 7,500 people, displaced more than five million and eroded Sudan’s already fragile infrastructure, plunging millions into dire need. A million people have crossed Sudan’s borders since 15 April, fleeing from harm as the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces battle for power. Many civilians have flocked to the coastal city, which has so far been spared in the fighting and is now home to government officials, the United Nations and Sudan’s only functioning airport. But days go by and only a lucky few manage to get inside the building to hand in their paperwork, as others wait outside for their turn. Those lucky enough to get inside the building have to enter “a cramped room, terrible heat and no chairs,” an applicant, Shehab Mohammed, told Agence France-Presse. “It’s so crowded it’s hard to breathe. Imagine what these children and old people are feeling,” Fares Mohammed, another applicant, said. More than 2.8 million people have fled the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where the pre-war population was around five million. Some left immediately for safer places, but others spent months sheltering in their homes, rationing water and electricity while praying that the rockets were farther away than they sounded. More than half the country is in urgent need of humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations, and six million people are on the brink of famine. WITH AFP The post Sudanese desperate for passports appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Valiram eyes airport outlet expansion
Malacañang confirmed that the Malaysian retail specialist, Valiram Group, is eyeing the expansion of its operations in the Philippines by developing airport outlets for duty-free retail tourism. The commitment was made during the meeting of Valiram Group officials with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Singapore on Saturday, according to Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil. She said Valiram’s development priorities include having duty-free access at the airports. “The company is building more airport walk-through stores personalized to provide customers with a pleasant shopping experience,” she added. Present during the meeting with Marcos were Valiram Group executive directors Mukesh Valiram, Ashvin Valiram, and Sharan Valiram; Esquire Financing chairperson and chief executive officer Rajan Uttamchandani; and Ayala Corp. chief sustainability and risk officer Jaime Zobel Urquijo. Citing the statement of one of the Valiram executives, Garafil said the Malaysian retail specialist is seeking the immediate expansion of its operations in the Philippines in the next five years. She added that Valiram wants to bring some of its brands that are not yet represented in the Philippines, “in an effort to elevate customer experience to another level” by giving them more space at the nation’s gateways, removing the stress and hassles of security checks. “Things like… complementing Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works, and some of our partners’ work in Southeast Asia have expressed interest. Their business is small, currently in the Philippines. And they want to see if we can help us over there and try and amplify them in the local market,” Garafil said, quoting one of the Valiram executives. Marcos Jr. acknowledged the vital role of retail business in the Philippine economy, adding that Valiram could also help boost the country’s tourism industry. “It is an important sector of the economy. It’s what’s driving the economy now, it’s consumer spending,” he told Valiram officials, as quoted by the PCO. Philippine officials who were at the meeting included Garafil, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Special Adviser on Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, and Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo Antonio Macaraig. More investors Romualdez, for his part, expressed support for the President’s thrust to encourage more investors to come to the Philippines, noting that Congress is focusing on crafting legislation or laws that govern the treatment and appreciation of foreign investments into the country. Romualdez stressed that “Congress is moving under his leadership by streamlining those laws.” Established in 1935 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Valiram is Southeast Asia’s leading luxury goods and retail specialist with a presence in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam. Operating more than 350 stores, a number which continues to grow, the group represents more than 200 brands across various categories, from fashion and accessories, timepieces and jewelry, perfume, and cosmetics to confectionery and dining concepts. The post Valiram eyes airport outlet expansion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Palace: Malaysian-based Valiram eyes dev’t of airport outlets in Phl
Malacañang confirmed that the Malaysian retail specialist, Valiram Group, is eyeing the expansion of its operations in the Philippines by developing airport outlets for duty-free retail tourism. The commitment was made during the meeting of Valiram Group officials with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Singapore on Saturday, according to Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil. Garafil said that Valiram’s development priorities include having duty-free access at the airports. “The company is building more airport walk-through stores personalized to provide customers with a pleasant shopping experience,” she added. Present during the meeting with Marcos were Valiram Group executive directors Mukesh Valiram, Ashvin Valiram, and Sharan Valiram; Esquire Financing chairperson and chief executive officer Rajan Uttamchandani; and Ayala Corp. chief sustainability and risk officer Jaime Zobel Urquijo. Citing the statement of one of the Valiram executives, Garafil said the Malaysian retail specialist is seeking the immediate expansion of its operations in the Philippines in the next five years. She added that Valiram wants to bring some of its brands that are not yet represented in the Philippines, “in an effort to elevate customer experience to another level” by giving them more space at the nation’s gateways, removing the stress and hassles of security checks. “Things like… complementing Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works, and some of our partners' work in Southeast Asia have expressed interest. Their business is small, currently in the Philippines. And they want to see if we can help us over there and try and amplify them in the local market,” Garafil said, quoting one of the Valiram executives. Marcos acknowledged the vital role of retail business in the Philippine economy, adding that Valiram could also help boost the country’s tourism industry. “It’s an important sector of the economy. It’s what’s driving the economy now, it’s consumer spending,” he told Valiram officials, as quoted by the PCO. Philippine officials who were at the meeting included Garafil, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Special Adviser on Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, and Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo Antonio Macaraig. Romualdez, for his part, expressed support for the President’s thrust to encourage more investors to come to the Philippines. The house speaker noted that Congress is focusing on crafting legislation or laws that govern the treatment and appreciation of foreign investments into the country. Romualdez stressed that “Congress is moving under his leadership by streamlining those laws.” “And we are also looking at the totality of the body of laws and looking at older, or laws that are either obsolete or archaic, or those are so-called timely to encourage more foreign investors,” Romualdez said, partly in Filipino. He said the administration’s efforts are aligned with the “Foreign Investments Act and the details to open up the economy for foreign direct investments.” Established in 1935 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Valiram is Southeast Asia’s leading luxury goods and retail specialist with a presence in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam. Operating more than 350 stores, a number which continues to grow, the group represents more than 200 brands across various categories, from fashion and accessories, timepieces and jewelry, perfume, and cosmetics to confectionery and dining concepts. The post Palace: Malaysian-based Valiram eyes dev’t of airport outlets in Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SBMA takes over 3 Freeport properties
Subic Bay Freeport — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority revealed on Tuesday that it has seized three more properties in line with the agency’s thrust to reclaim lost assets. SBMA chairman and administrator Jonathan Tan said that the agency took over two buildings from Parabion Inc. at the Cubi Triboa District of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, adding that the area has a size of 1,176 square meters. “The company has made contractual defaults that prompted the SBMA to take over their properties. One is failure to comply with development commitments, and two for non-payment of lease rentals and common use service area fees,” he said. The company has amassed a debt in CUSA fees totaling P7,165,788.08 as of 28 July of this year. “We already sent them a final notice of default with demand to pay on 22 November last year, then we sent them a notice of pre-termination and repossession on 28 July that was served on 10 August. This is pursuant to the SBMA Board Resolution 23-07-0173 that was approved on 4 July,” Tan said. He also disclosed that the agency took over Building 8321 at the Zambales Highway, Cubi Triboa District, and Building 8359 at the Bataan Road, also in the Cubi Triboa District. Meantime, the third property that was taken over by the agency was owned by Ramphos Corporation, a company that manufactures and sells the unique amphibious ultralight aircraft. The property is a 966-square-meter portion of Bldg. 8045-C at the Subic Bay International Airport. “The company has already expired their lease agreement with the SBMA on 11 September 2020 and we already took over the area on 5 September,” Tan said. The chairman confirmed that the company has contractual defaults such as non-payment of lease rentals (building spaces), CUSA fees, ACC and SOA fees amounting P9,706,611.40 as of 28 July of this year. “We already sent them a notice of re-entry into, repossession and take-over of leased premises with demand to pay dated 22 August 2023,” Tan said. The post SBMA takes over 3 Freeport properties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoT chief seeks Rotarians’ support for tourism projects
A partnership with the Rotary Club of Manila, along with other Rotary Clubs in the country can realize the government’s objective of transforming the Philippines into a tourism powerhouse in Asia. [caption id="attachment_179067" align="aligncenter" width="2430"] Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, in her speech as guest speaker of the Rotary Club of Manila during the Club's weekly meeting at the Manila Polo Club last 31 August, said it was her ‘sincere hope that with the partnership of the Rotary Club, as well as its members and the captains of industry who contribute in one way or another to the project of nation-building, we can ensure that our country — through tourism — will have a more primary role in Asia as a tourism powerhouse.’[/caption] This was the call made by Tourism Secretary Maria Christina Frasco after presenting the stance of the tourism industry in the country before members and officers of the Rotary Club of Manila during the Club’s membership meeting at the Manila Polo Club last Thursday, 31 August 2023. Frasco reported that the efforts of the DoT, along with the whole-of-government approach ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in implementing the department’s projects with an eye to restoring the glory of the tourism industry has resulted as of 30 August 2023 into 3.6 million international arrivals, surpassing the total number of international arrivals last 2022. The figure is already 75.92 percent of the country’s target of 4.8 million tourist arrivals this year. “Philippine tourism contributed 6.2 percent to our gross domestic product in 2022; it is being hailed by our economic managers as the second growth driver in the first six months of this year,” she said. By the end of 2022, Frasco said the tourism industry has contributed over P1.87 trillion to the Philippine economy as a composite of international and domestic spending, representing a 67 percent recovery since 2019. “Tourism also contributed over 5.5 million in tourism employment, an 11 percent share of the national employment, and also represents over 93 percent in recovery from 2019 data,” she added. Frasco also said that the rallying of Philippine tourism after the battering it got from the pandemic stands at 66.3 percent, higher than the 54 percent average recovery of ASEAN nations in 2022. As per tourism receipts, Frasco said the industry has already breached P285.9 billion as of 31 July 2023. Pillars of Tourism The Tourism secretary stressed that to give the Philippines a fighting chance at standing shoulder-to-shoulder with its neighbors in the ASEAN region, her department had crafted the National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028, which does not only focus on the promotion of tourism alone but also in analyzing and understanding the essential pillars of tourism. Approved by President Marcos Jr. last May 2023, the NTDP provides a framework to guide the development and implementation of programs, projects, and activities towards a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and globally competitive tourism industry. NTDP’s seven strategic goals include improvement of tourism infrastructure and accessibility; cohesive and comprehensive digitalization and connectivity; enhancement of overall tourist experience; equalization of tourism product development and promotion; diversification of the tourism portfolio through multidimensional tourism; maximization of domestic and international tourism; and strengthening tourism governance through close collaborations with national and local stakeholders. Putting the Plan into concrete action, the DoT hopes to have an accumulated total of 51.9 million tourist arrivals and 34.7 million tourism-related jobs in the country by 2028. Frasco said in terms of infrastructure, the DoT has partnered with the Department of Public Works and Highways to improve accessibility in the regions with tourism sites. “This is by constructing, rehabilitating and adding tourism roads leading to tourist destinations. This year, over 158 kilometers of tourism roads have already been constructed,” she said. Aside from this, Frasco said the DoT has also coordinated with the Department of Transportation in improving connectivity, primarily in the country’s gateways for the improvement of flights and tourist journeys. With this, Frasco said the country is starting to see robust recovery of connectivity in the country, including a 100 percent increase in flights in Clark International Airport; a 614 percent increase in flights in Kalibo International Airport; and over a 300 percent increase in flights in Mactan-Cebu International Airport, among other airports in the country. Moreover, she said they also partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology for the purpose of improving internet connectivity across 94 tourist destinations in the country. Connectivity in 47 of these destinations have already improved, according to Frasco. e-VISA Furthermore, Frasco said the DoT has engaged with other government agencies, namely the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, the DICT, and the Bureau of Immigration for the streamlining of the visa application process, aiming to enhance convenience and accessibility for all international travelers, starting with Chinese visitors. Last 24 August, the DFA implemented the Philippine e-Visa system in Philippine Foreign Service Posts in China. The Philippine e-Visa will allow foreign nationals entering the country for tourism or business to apply for temporary visitor visas remotely through their personal computers, laptops and mobile devices. Other initiatives conceptualized by the DoT to improve the tourism experience include the “Hop in Hop Off” project; being part of the “Love the Philippines” tourism slogan; the “Philippine Experience”; facilitating a cultural tourism circuit development focused on heritage, culture, and arts to enhance current tour and domestic circuit offerings, which include Food and Gastronomy, Pilgrimage and Wellness, Living Cultures and Heritage, and an Arts caravan. In order to equip Filipino tourism workers, the DoT is set on training 100,000 of these workers and capitalize on the world-renowned Filipino hospitality. “We have already managed to train over 71,000 Filipino workers,” Frasco said. Optimistic “Frasco said the Marcos administration remains optimistic about tourism recovery and the resurgence of the nation. “Our numbers will indicate that tourism will continue to be a top economic driver that will provide massive employment and livelihood opportunities to Filipinos and our MSMEs,” she said. With the launch of the enhanced “Love the Philippines” branding, Frasco maintained that it would give the country a better opportunity to be reintroduced to the world. The post DoT chief seeks Rotarians’ support for tourism projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Immigration personnel undergo language training
The Bureau of Immigration recently announced that the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines Diliman and Chiang Kai Shek College are working together to offer Chinese language instruction for the BI’s staff. According to the Bureau, a total of 25 BI personnel from the head office and 25 from different airports are currently undergoing training sponsored by CKSC. A 50-hour curriculum makes up the Basic Mandarin Language Program Level 1 training. There are two training schedules: one at the BI Main Office, which started last 10 July and will end on 9 October, and the other at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which started last 11 July 11 and will end on 3 October. The BI added that the Confucius Institute has also started a 36-hour online program for BI personnel nationwide, which started on 29 August and will end on 16 November. BI commissioner Norman Tansingco said that this partnership reflects BI’s commitment to improving communication and efficiency, ultimately enhancing the immigration process for Chinese-speaking individuals. The BI chief emphasized the importance of the initiative. “Proper communication is not just essential for effective service but also for building trust with the public. This training equips their personnel with valuable language skills to ensure accurate and efficient interactions with Chinese-speaking individuals.” Tansingco also expressed his gratitude to CKSC and CI-UPD for their support, saying that the program would be beneficial to the agency’s delivery of basic public services. Prior to the pandemic, Chinese nationals ranked second among the highest numbers of foreign arrivals in the country. The BI’s Learning and Development Section organized this initiative. Tansingco said that this is just the start of a series of language-based trainings aimed at strengthening the capacities of their officers. The post Immigration personnel undergo language training appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Super Typhoon Saola sweeps towards southern China megacities
Tens of millions of people across southern China hunkered down Friday as Super Typhoon Saola swept toward the megacities of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, forcing the cancellations of hundreds of flights, shutting businesses, and closing schools. Packing sustained wind speeds at 210 kilometers (130 miles) per hour as it moved toward Hong Kong, Saola could be one of the most powerful typhoons to hit Guangdong if it makes landfall in the province. By 11 am (0300 GMT), it was 180 km east-southeast of Hong Kong, where the stock market canceled trading because of the T8 signal -- the city's third-highest typhoon warning level. By late morning, neighboring Shenzhen in Guangdong announced the suspension of work, businesses, and market activity from 4 p.m., while transportation will be halted in the evening. "Apart from emergency response personnel and livelihood protection personnel, people are advised not to go out," said the emergency response department of Shenzhen, a city of 17.7 million. "The city will open all shelters for the public to take refuge." Authorities had already issued the highest typhoon warning for the storm, which Chinese state media said would make landfall "in the coastal areas stretching from Huilai to Hong Kong" on Friday afternoon or evening. Across the mainland border in Hong Kong, the city's weather observatory warned that Saola could skirt within 100 kilometers south of the territory, causing a storm surge around Victoria Harbour. "There may be serious flooding," it said, adding that the eastern coastal areas could see water levels reach the heights of 2018 when Typhoon Mangkhut hit Hong Kong and injured more than 300 people. Streets were deserted as a drizzle blanketed Hong Kong Island, with wind and rain expected to pick up later. Businesses and homes around Hong Kong duct-taped glass displays and windows, while office buildings near the harbor barricaded their entrances to prevent water damage. Surfers took advantage of the high winds -- expected to reach 63 kilometers per hour -- and tackled the huge waves generated by the coming typhoon at a Hong Kong beach. Flights mostly normal A direct hit on Hong Kong is rare, but the observatory said it would "assess the need to issue higher tropical cyclone warning signals" in the evening -- with the possibility of raising the threat level to the highest "T10". Hong Kong's airport authority said the morning departing flights were "mostly normal" but from 2 pm, arriving and departing flights have "basically been canceled". "As of now, we have had 366 flights canceled and 40 flights delayed... Thanks to the support of airlines and our various service providers, we could ensure that 600 flights today operated normally," Wing Yeung, general manager of Airport Authority terminal operations, told reporters. Hong Kong's flagship airline Cathay Pacific had already canceled all flights in and out of Hong Kong between 0600 GMT Friday and 0200 GMT Saturday. Its subsidiary, budget airline HK Express, announced it was canceling 70 Friday and Saturday flights in and out of Hong Kong. Saola displaced thousands earlier this week as it passed the northern Philippines, but no direct casualties have been reported so far. Southern China is frequently hit in summer and autumn by typhoons that form in the warm oceans east of the Philippines and then travel west. While they can cause temporary disruption to cities like Hong Kong and Macau, fatalities have become much less common thanks to stronger building codes and better flood management systems. The post Super Typhoon Saola sweeps towards southern China megacities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Topping-off ceremony marks DoubleDragon milestone
Less than a year before its completion, the topping-off ceremony held Tuesday for the ASCOTT-DD Meridian Park marks a milestone for DoubleDragon, nearly five years after concluding a partnership with Singapore-based Ascott Ltd. The building structure and topmost floor of the ASCOTT at DD Meridian Park project have been completed. "ASCOTT-DD Meridian Park, with over 300 luxury serviced residences located right behind DoubleDragon Plaza, is expected to be operational and generate recurring revenues by 2024," the developer said. [caption id="attachment_175653" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Perspectiveof Ascott-DDMeridian Park.[/caption] The five-hectare DoubleDragon Meridian Park complex is expected to fully develop by 2024 and become a mature prime hard asset portfolio. The premium luxury development ASCOTT-DD Meridian Park will complete and further enhance the mix of the whole complex as it is positioned to be the Mini-CBD (Central Business District) in the Bay Area of Pasay City. The Ascott Limited is a subsidiary of Singapore-based property company Capital Land, which operates worldwide and will manage Ascott-DD Meridian Park. DoubleDragon Plaza is LEED Gold certified and currently houses two government agency headquarters, namely PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) and TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority), and expects to welcome an additional third government agency soon to relocate its headquarters in the complex, in addition to many private corporate head offices. Upon completion, the DoubleDragon Plaza at DD Meridian Park as a complex will bring a distinct advantage to a variety of office tenants, whether corporations, government agencies or BPO companies, given its prime landmark location with various top food chain brands. [caption id="attachment_175654" align="aligncenter" width="603"] DoubleDragon Plaza at DD Meridian Park is designed to be a mini central business district in the Bay area given its prime landmark double corner location at EDSA, Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Avenue.[/caption] These early, famous brands, such as Jollibee, Mang Inasal, and many others, are confirmed tenants. "DD Meridian Park is like a mini-CBD in the Bay Area, being the only complex in the area that has eight commercial banks (Landbank, RCBC, PNB, BPI, AUB, Unionbank, Chinabank and BDO), making it uniquely convenient for office tenants to complete their banking transactions all within their proximity," the developer added. These dining and banking options are further complemented by a full-sized supermarket, MerryMart Grocery, on the ground floor of DoubleDragon Plaza. The complex also houses thousands of parking slots, with a separate, conveniently located large parking area in the basement dedicated to outside customers who visit DD Meridian Park for business meetings or leisure. DoubleDragon Plaza is located in a landmark double corner location, just a 10-to-15-minute drive to NAIA airport via NAIAX, a few minutes drive to the top three convention centers in the Philippines (PICC, SMX, and World Trade Center) and not too far from other CBDs in Metro Manila. The post Topping-off ceremony marks DoubleDragon milestone appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoubleDragon’s subsidiary conducts Topping Off of ASCOTT at DD Meridian Park
DoubleDragon's subsidiary conducts Topping Off of ASCOTT at DD Meridian Park as the building structure and topmost floor of the project have been completed on Tuesday, 22 August. ASCOTT-DD Meridian Park, with over 300 luxury serviced residences located right behind DoubleDragon Plaza, is expected to be operational and begin to generate recurring revenues by 2024. [caption id="attachment_174149" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Perspective of Ascott-DD Meridian Park[/caption] The premium luxury development ASCOTT-DD Meridian Park will complete and further enhance the mix of the whole complex as it is positioned to be the Mini-CBD (Central Business District) in the Bay Area of Pasay City, Metro Manila. The Ascott Limited is a subsidiary of Singapore-based property company Capital Land, which has operations worldwide will operate and manage Ascott-DD Meridian Park. [caption id="attachment_174150" align="aligncenter" width="603"] DoubleDragon Plaza at DD Meridian Park is positioned as a mini central business district (CBD) in the Bay area given its prime landmark double corner location of EDSA, Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Avenue in the Bay Area, Pasay City, Metro Manila.[/caption] DoubleDragon Plaza is LEED Gold certified and currently houses two government agency headquarters namely PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) and TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority) and expects to soon welcome an additional third government agency to relocate its headquarters in the complex, in addition to many private corporate head offices in the complex. DoubleDragon Plaza at DD Meridian Park as a complex brings undeniable advantage to a variety of office tenants whether corporations, government agencies, or BPO companies, given its very prime landmark location with various top food chain brands on the Ground Floor such as Jollibee, Mang Inasal and many others. DD Meridian Park is like a mini-CBD in the Bay Area being the only complex in the area that has 8 commercial banks (Landbank, RCBC, PNB, BPI, AUB, Unionbank, Chinabank, and BDO) making it uniquely convenient for office tenants to complete their banking transactions all within their proximity. These dining and banking options are further complemented by a full-sized supermarket, MerryMart Grocery, located on the Ground Floor of DoubleDragon Plaza. The complex also houses thousands of parking slots, with a separate conveniently located large parking area in the basement solely dedicated to outside customers who visit DD Meridian Park either for business meetings or leisure. DoubleDragon Plaza is located in a landmark double corner location, just a 10-15 minute drive to NAIA airport via NAIAx, a few minutes drive to the top 3 convention centers in the Philippines (PICC, SMX, and World Trade Center), and not too far from other CBDs in Metro Manila. The 5-hectare DoubleDragon Meridian Park complex is expected to be fully developed by 2024 and to become a fully mature prime hard asset portfolio, generating optimum level of recurring revenues by 2025. The foregoing disclosure contains forward looking statements that are based on certain assumptions of Management and are subject to risks and opportunities or unforeseen events. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated in the relevant forward looking statement and DoubleDragon gives no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be correct or that such intentions will not change. This Press Release discloses important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from DoubleDragon’s expectations. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statements. The post DoubleDragon’s subsidiary conducts Topping Off of ASCOTT at DD Meridian Park appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Managers: Phl remains on track
Despite the lackluster 4.3 percent in the second quarter, growth this year is expected to reach the target range of 6 percent to 7 percent gross domestic product expansion, according to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. “To do this, we will expedite the implementation of government programs and projects, to provide fiscal stimulus to increase the productive capacity of the public and private sectors and address the adverse recent impacts of typhoons.” Diokno added. Economic managers gathered in Fort Ilocandia in Laoag City to hold the Post-State of the Nation Economic Briefing that discussed the country’s economic situation and plans on 14 August. Diokno said in 2022, GDP increased 7.6 percent from 5.7 a year ago and a 9.5 percent contraction in 2020. Diokno said the economic team is determined to pick up government expenditure in the third and fourth quarters. Revenue collections remain robust from January to June as these totaled P1.9 trillion up 7.7 percent or P132.6 billion year-on-year which is also higher than the mid-year program by 2.7 percent. Hence, Diokno said they have already pipelined 194 infrastructure flagship projects worth P8.3 trillion of which 132 are located in Luzon that will address irrigation, water supply, flood management, agriculture, digital connectivity, physical connectivity, health, and power and energy. Diokno also highlighted some of the projects like the Laoag International Airport Development Project, the EDSA Greenways, the TPLEX Expressway Expansion Project, the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project, the Ilocos Norte-Sur-Abra Irrigation Project, and the Naga Airport Development Project. “The Philippines is determined to be a world leader in the race to net zero and the Ilocos Region will be a strategic partner in this mission. Dubbed to be the renewable energy capital of South East Asia, Ilocos Norte is emerging to be a promising player in the clean energy arena. Being home to the first and largest wind farms in the country,” Diokno stressed. In his address, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr., said from a peak of 8.7 percent in January, headline inflation slowed to 4.7 percent in July due to improving domestic food supply conditions and lower global oil prices. However, he also admitted that core inflation remains high at 6.7 percent although it has already started to decline due to the monetary tightening. The BSP has responded to inflation by aggressively raising its policy rate, as of today, the BSP has raised policy rates by 425 basis points. Prices reined in “The good news is that inflation expectations are still well anchored. The markets continue to believe that we will hit our target range by 2024 and stay there in 2025,” Remolona said. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman also gave an update on the use pf the budget for 2023. Pangandaman said at the end of July, the total amount of the national budget that has been released already is around 93 percent. “And we expect all our government agencies including all the cabinet members present here, to spend your budget so we can help grow the economy,” Pangandaman said. While for next year, the government budget will amount to 5.768 trillion and it is 21.7 percent of the GDP it has already been submitted to Congress last August 2 and the budget is expected to be passed earlier than expected. The National Economic Development Authority said it wanted to lower the poverty level to single digit. For Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos, the government has effective regional development plans. In the Ilocos Regional Development Plan from 2023-2028, the NEDA expects the Ilocos region to have a 7 percent to 7.5 percent growth while lowering the poverty incidence by 7.3 percent. ‘Build, Better, More’ under BBM;s watch Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the “Build, Better, More” program of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is very much aligned with the medium-term development plan for 2023 to 2028 and is consistent with the 8-point economic agenda of the president. Bonoan said that from July 2022 to May 2023, the DPWH has built, maintained, rehabilitated, widened, and upgraded 4,082 kilometer of roads, 497 bridges, built 2,103 flood control projects, 55 evacuation centers, 216 kms farm to market roads, 8 kilometers of farm to mill roads, 138 kilometers tourism roads, 18 kilometers of roads to seaports, railway stations, and airports, 4,038 classrooms, and 6,002 rainwater collector system. “Because of climate change, we have to address and be building and developing resilient and sustainable communities in the 18 major river basins in the country,” Bonoan said. Some of the major projects that the department would like to continue are converting the Daang Maharlika which is actually now Asian Highway 26 which starts in Laoag City and will go around Cagayan Valley and has extended all the way to Zamboanga City. Bonoan says that they want to convert this backbone of the national highway into seamless travel. “In other words, there should be no major stops along the way, along this Maharlika highway,” Bonoan said. Bonoan said they’re going to build 12 major bridges, and the first bridge is the Cavite-Bataan Interlink bridge with a span of more than 32 km. Should it be completed, this will be the second-longest bay bridge in the world. The department also plans to start the Luzon Spine Expressway which will run from Laoag City to Bicol, Bonoan says that this will be 1,073 kms more. As for Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, major Department of Transportation projects like the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, Metro Manila Subway, EDSA Greenway Projects, EDSA Busway, MRT-3 Rehabilitation, LRT-1 Cavite, LRT-2 West Extension, MRT-7, and the modernization and capacity expansion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are proceeding. For the Department of Information and Communications Technology Ivan John Uy, there is already a cybersecurity plan for 2023 to 2028 which is a consolidated output of all the stakeholders in designing which includes the best practices all over the world. “We’ve ramped up in our cybercrime detection, we are busting cybercrime syndicates all over the country especially those that are dealing with scammers,” Uy said. Uy said agency is also enhancing cybersecurity status by designing courses to upgrade cybersecurity professionals. He admits that worldwide, there is a 3 million job vacancies on cyber security. DICT said by the end of the year, the department will have Two Terabits of capacity from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan all the way to Manila and we should expect very good Internet connectivity by the start of next year especially on the Luzon area. These structures also open opportunities to data centers and BPOs along the places mentioned which produces employment. DICT expects that foreign investment opportunities and interest in those areas will boom. The post Managers: Phl remains on track appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EEI touts rail deals done within 5 yrs
The construction arm of the Yuchengco Group, EEI Corporation has announced that new and current infrastructure and property development projects are awaiting completion, with the company’s aim to dominate the industry. In a statement, the company said that among the big-ticket projects it has lined up include the most recently awarded South Commuter Railway Project Package 7 which involves the construction of a 24-hectare depot in Banlic, Laguna that will support the operation of the 18-station rail project. The project is seen to improve and provide affordable, reliable, and safe public transport that will connect to all existing Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit lines in Metro Manila, including a connecting tunnel to allow the operation of direct trains from Calamba to stations on the future Metro Manila Subway system. The depot was awarded to the joint venture of Lotte (Korea), Gulermak (Turkey) and EEI and is set to be completed within five years. The Malolos-Clark Railway Project or MCRP Package 4 is another major EEI project that involves the construction of a 6.5 kilometers double-track railway with elevated, grade and underground sections. “Being one of the premier construction companies in the Philippines, EEI will continue to contribute to the economic growth and nation-building, shaping Philippine landscapes and communities through infrastructure, industrial, power, and property projects. We will aggressively pursue and deliver projects that will provide quality and safe living and workspaces and facilities for the people,” EEI president and chief executive officer Henry Antonio declares. The key components of the project are one underground station (Clark International Airport Station), one road underpass, a 1.2 km Depot Trackway line and a 3.8 km Service Road. The project was awarded to EEI’s joint venture with Acciona (Spain) and is expected to be completed within three years. EEI is also involved in MCRP Package 5 as a subcontractor of POSCO doing the majority of the earthworks, integral bridges, drainages, utilities, and perimeter walls. In congruence with the MCRP is the construction of the San Fernando Station, a part of Contract Package 2, in San Fernando, Pampanga. EEI serves as the subcontractor of Acciona and Daelim Joint Venture for this work package. EEI’s scope includes concreting works and supply, fabrication and installation of structural steel and is set to be completed in less than a year and a half. Flagship Metro Manila subway Another key infrastructure project is the Metro Manila Subway Project, in which the work package was awarded to the joint venture Shimizu Corp., Fujita Corp., Takenaka Civil Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd., and EEI Corporation involving the first 7.3-km section of the subway project comprising three stations namely Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora and North Avenue as well as the Depot and the Philippine Railway Institute Building in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela. For the project, EEI is supplying supervisory personnel and skilled workers on the Tunnel Boring Machine operations. This gives the opportunity to EEI and its employees to showcase its expertise and competitiveness in the international market. This joint venture is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2027. Also ongoing is the MMSP Phase I contract package for the construction of the Cut and Cover sections of the project located in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City. EEI scope shall be excavations and construction of reinforced concrete structures intended for the U-box and Cut and Cover sections of the subway track. The project will be completed in two years. Property remains core EEI is also working on high-rise buildings and properties such as The Grand Midori Ortigas Tower 2 and The Seasons Residences Tower D. The Grand Midori Ortigas Tower 2 is a 34-floor residential building development in Ortigas Center. The firm’s scope includes structural, architectural and plumbing works for Tower 2 and is set to be completed within three years. The other property development in the works is The Seasons Residences Tower D, a 55-floor residential building development in Taguig City with EEI’s scope covering civil, structural, architectural and MEPF (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection) works. The project is expected to be done within three years. EEI also bagged the Ecozone Properties Inc. project which involves the installation of process piping, utility piping and equipment as well as the completion of a storage tank farm facility and utility tanks at the Special Economic Zone in Bauan, Batangas. The piping and tank works are set to be completed in six months. EEI is also installing the additional piping works of the Natura and Premium Plant located in First Industrial Township Batangas. The post EEI touts rail deals done within 5 yrs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»