Holcim bags 8 environment awards

MALOLOS CITY—Cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines bagged eight awards including the highest honor for excellence in environmental management, safety and health, and social and community development in the recent  Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANSMEC) Awards.

Holcim’s plant in Lugait, Misamis Oriental received the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA), while the company’s facilities in Bacnotan, La Union, Norzagaray, Bulacan, and Davao City received Platinum Awards, the second highest honor.

It was the sixth straight year Holcim Philippines bagged the PMIEA. Its Bacnotan and Davao plants received the PMIEA last year, while its Lugait facility won this in 2009.

Aside from above awards, the Lugait and Norzagaray facilities of Holcim bagged the first and second runners-up honors, respectively, for Best Mining Forest-Non Metallic Category, while the Bacnotan plant was a runner up for Safest Cement Plant Operation.

Juanito Duron, a shift operations manager for Holcim Philippines’s Lugait plant, was named Best Mine Supervisor.

The awards were handed out on November 22 in Baguio City.

Ed Sahagun, Holcim Philippines Chief Operating Officer thanked ANSMEC  organizers for consistently recognizing the company’s commitment to responsible operations.

“I do commit that in the following years, our participation will not just be to win awards but to share with companies who would like to learn from our best practices, and for us to learn from other companies,” he said.

Noting that the ANSMEC’s theme for 2013 is “60 Years of Giving Back,” Sahagun said the industry should do more to help in the rebuilding efforts of Visayas, which was recently battered by natural calamities.

“On behalf of Holcim Philippines, I’d like to appeal to everyone to at least give more to the victims of Yolanda and spend more for the rebuilding of Visayas. We have some experiences to share, and we’d love to share them with all of you on how we have to rebuild lives, for them to become hopeful that the future will be there. And they will start rebuilding, so they can live in a sustainable community,” he said.

Considered as one of the world's leading suppliers of cement and aggregates as well as downstream activities such as ready-mix concrete and asphalt, Holcim holds majority and minority interests in more than 70 countries on all continents.

Holcim Philippines, Inc. (HPHI) is a Philippines-based cement manufacturer and a member of Holcim Group.

The company is involved in the manufacture, sale and distribution of cement to the domestic and export markets and  produces four cement productsnamely, Holcim Excel, Holcim WallRight, Holcim Premium Bulk and Holcim 4X.

Holcim Philippines operates four cement plants in La Union, Bulacan, Misamis Oriental, and Davao.  It currently has more than 1,700 employees in the country.

The PMIEA was established in 1997 through Executive Order No. 399 in compliance with the policy that mining activities should be pro-environment and pro-people.

Its selection committee is composed of the secretaries of the Departments of Environment, Trade, Interior and Local Government, Health, Science and Technology.

The other members are the presidents of the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association, Philippine Mineral Exploration Association and Chambers of Mines of the Philippines.  Dino Balabo

Napocor more stable in 2014?

MALOLOS CITY—The National Power Corporation (Napocor) is no longer fear shortage of fund and fuel for its power plants.

This came as Napocor successfully bid out fuel procurement for 2014 while it increased debt collection and secured government subsidy for its capital expenditures (Capex).

These are some of the highlights in the accomplishment report of Gladys Sta. Rita in her first 90-days as the first female president and Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of the Napocor.

Speaking to journalist during the weeklong celebrations of the 77^th founding anniversary of Napocor, the former Provincial Administrator of Bulacan said that for the first time, Napocor was able to bid out its fuel requirement three months in advance.

“Hindi na kami natatakot ngayon na kakapusin kami ng fuel because we were able to bid out our oil-based fuel requirement for small power utilities group (SPUG),” she said.

In the past, Sta. Rita said that the power company used to have the bidding in the month of February.

“This will ensure fuel availability and that the Romblon incident as thing of the past,” she said referring to brown out in the island of Romblon due to shortage of fuel.

Sta. Rita also noted that Napocor have completed its fuel operations manual and is coordinating with the Department of Justice for the filing charges against those involved in pilferage or illegal fuel transfer.

With regards to budget efficiency, she said that close coordination with the Department of Budget Management (DBM) and the Energy Regulatory Commission paid off.

She said that Secretary Florencio Abad of the DBM issued a letter expressing support to Napocor in case of projected shortfall in the operations of the SPUG next year.

For its part, the ERC approved Napocor’s Universal Charge for Missionary  Electrification (UCME) amounting to P7.4-Billion along with the P2.763-B for the same in 2014.

UCME is a subsidy approved by the ERC for the electrification of off-grid or missionary areas that are not connected to the main transmission grid.  This is passed on and

collected from all electricity end users nationwide.

For the Capex, Sta.Rita announced that a special allotment release order (SARO) for the national government subsidy of P969-M to Napocor has been issued with the Certificate of Availability of Funds.

She said that it would have not happened if not for the cooperation of employees in the last 90 days in preparing documents for release of the Capex.

Earlier, Sta. Rita said that DBM advised that that it was impossible for Napocor to complete all the requirements since it was already mid-year, but they did.

With regards to debt collection from electric cooperatives, Napocor’s efficiency improved from 23 percent to 33.7 percent which equivalent to P35-M collection to P72.5-M from Basilan, Sulu and Taw-tawi provinces alone.

In all, Sta Rita said the Napocor is chasing a totalof 4.4-Billion in outstanding receivables, of which, 77 percent or P3.4-Billion comes from the Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) provinces of Basila, Sulu at Tawi-tawi which are collectively known as BaSuTa.

Due to above accomplishments, Star Rita said that Napocor can not pursue long over due project.

This includes theP135.4-M for Codon-Virac Transmission line and the 10 MVA Marinawa substation; P119.3-M Cataingan-Mobo-Aroroy Transmission Line in Masbate; P4-M Abo-Abo-Quezon Rizal transmission line survey investigation, and the P24.3-M Transmission line and substation projects in Mindoro.

To increase power generating capacity, Napocor is investing a totalof P203.5-M; and another P28.9-M increase operating hours of its power stations by [priocuring spare parts.  Dino Balabo

Robinson's opens 35th mall

MALOLOS CITY—Robinson’s Land Corporation (RLC) and the city government of Malolos vowed mutual coordination for further development of this city during the grand opening of the Robinson’s Place Malolos on Thursday afternoon, December 12.

Frederick Go, president of  RLC expressed gratitude to the city of Malolos led by Mayor Christian Natividad for all the support in the establishment of their mall here.

Located along the MacArthur Highway in Barangay Sumapa Matanda here, the mall is the 35th established by the RLC in the country.

“We are very thankful for the support the city government extended to us,” said Go.

He also vowed to help Malolos in further development through job and investment generation and providing a venue for culture activities.

He also vowed to help tourism in the City of Malolos.

For his part, Mayor Natividad vowed to further support RLC saying “ we will not be a hindrance to you.”

He said that the establishment of Robinson’s Place in the historic city is not part of the many firsts.

Robinson’s Place Malolos is the first major mall to be established in this city that is proud for hosting the first Philippine Congress that gave birth to the first Constitution of the Philippines and the first democratic republic in Asia.

Natividad also said that the Malolos is the birth place of the University of the Philippines, the Philippine Military Academy and the first law school in the country.

At present, Malolos City is home to at least 240,000 residents, and serves as the economic and academic center in the province.

Natividad said that Malolos is home to 64 private schools and three major universities namely, Bulacan State University, Centro Escolar University and La Consolacion University Philippines, along with 41 banks.

The city is also home to the provincial capitol of the provincial government of Bulacan along with satellite offices of national government agencies.  Dino Balabo

CDC bonuses legal

 CLARK FREEPORT – The Performance-Based Incentives (PBIs) released to Clark Development Corporation (CDC) officials are “in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.”

The CDC maintained that the amount of the PBI that were released to some of its Board of Directors and other officials is in line with GCG Memorandum Circular No. 2012-14 or the “Interim Performance-Based Incentive (IPBI) system for appointive Directors/Trustees of GOCCs covered by R.A. NO. 10149).” 

Republic Act 10149 is otherwise known as “An act to promote financial viability and fiscal discipline in Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations and to strengthen the role of the state in its governance and management to make them more responsive to the needs of public interest and for other purposes.” 

According to the GCG (Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations) memorandum, “Section 23 of RA 10149 mandates the Commission to determine the ‘compensation, per diem, allowances and incentives of the members of the Board of Directors/Trustees of the GOCCs…, using as a reference, among others, Executive Order No. 24 dated February 10, 2011.’” 

The CDC clarified that EO 24, or the “Prescribing rules to govern the compensation of members of the Board of Directors/Trustees in Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations including government financial institutions,” was the basis for the amount of the PBI released to some of its officials. 

“It was not the CDC but existing government laws that had determined the amount of the PBI given to our directors and other officials,” the CDC stressed. 

In Item 1.1 (a) of the GCG memorandum, or the Conditions Precedent to Entitlement to PBI, the PBI shall only be allowed if “The GOCCs have met the requisite 90% rating in their MFOs (major final output) for Year 2012, which shall be validated pursuant to certifications issued by the GOCCs under the sworn signatures of their Chairpersons and Presidents, to be submitted not later than 30 November 2012.” 

In relation to this, Item 2 (Entitlement), states that “The grant of the PBI shall be based on a percentage of the Total Actual Annual Authorized per diems as provided under Sections 9 and 10 of EO 24 (s. 2011) received by a Director/Trustee…” 

According to Item 2, if the Major Final Output (MFO) Target Achievement is 100%, the Incentive Entitlement per Director/Trustee is 100% of the Total Actual Annual Authorized per diems received; for a 95% MFO rating, the incentive given is 90%; a 90% MFO corresponds to only 80%. No incentive entitlements would be given to those who got an MFO rating which is below 90%. 

As for the CDC, the corporation’s MFO rating is 96.82%, which allows its officials to get a 90% incentive entitlement. 

Aside from the 96.82% MFO rating, the other CDC performance targets include employment, 94.29%; economic development, 132.85%; Corporate Social Responsibility, 63.33%; support to operations, 97.50%; and general administration and support services, 830.76%.  

On the Key Result Area of National Government, the CDC accomplishments rated 105.27% in economic development and 98% on human development and poverty alleviation.

  

Notwithstanding the MFO ratings, the CDC also stressed that the corporation has submitted documents required by EO 24, which includes a “Board resolution authorizing the grant of IPBI to the GOCC’s appointive Directors/Trustees in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations,” among others.

Keeping people safe at work a priority for Holcim Philippines

  


The first thing that visitors notice when they go to a manufacturing facility of Holcim Philippines is how strictly the company implements its safety policies.

Plant visitors who need to go outside the administrative building are required to use “personal protective equipment” – hard hats, steel-toed boots and reflectorized shirts or vests. If they go to the manufacturing areas, they will also be asked to put on dust masks, goggles, gloves and something that looks like marshmallow candies but are actually ear plugs.

At the gate, all non-plant employees are given a safety manual and briefed on how to conduct themselves inside the facility. The reminders continue inside the plant, as signage after signage prompt them to stay alert.

Holcim Philippines exercises all these precautions because it is aware that like all heavy manufacturing operations, cement production necessarily involves safety risks. As such, it exerts tremendous effort to ensure that no one is harmed within its sites or even when its products and raw materials are transported to and from its facilities. Passion for Safety is how the company describes this organizational mindset.

“All companies say that people are their most important resource and they translate this through competitive compensation and benefits. We do this as well at Holcim Philippines but, more importantly, we believe that taking care of our people begins by creating a safe working environment for them. Everyone who enters our facilities must leave in the same healthy condition as they arrived,” said Carla Calimbas, vice-president for Occupational Health and Safety at Holcim Philippines.

Since 2007, the company has spent tens of millions to support its safety program – putting in the necessary infrastructure, systems and processes, organizational and training support necessary to ensure compliance to stringent Holcim global standards.

From a two-man operation, Holcim’s Occupational Health and Safety team has grown to a team of 35 dedicated safety professionals. Apart from in-site safety managers, the team also employs technical experts such as Safety Application Specialists who undergo intensive training in managing high-risk operations such as working at heights, demolition, excavation, and work in confined spaces. Each major facility has an emergency response team (ERT), whose members are trained in basic firefighting and medical rescue. As the plants also have their own fire truck and ambulance, it is not uncommon for the ERT to be the first to arrive in cases of emergencies or relief efforts in their surrounding communities.

But OH&S is the first to remind that workplace safety is not just the responsibility of their department, or even of management. “Safety has two critical components: a safety environment, and safety behavior,” reminds Calimbas. “Management works to ensure a safe environment, but each one is expected to look out for each other’s safety.”

Safety is always the first topic to be discussed in every management meeting – whether in the Board Meeting, Management Committee meeting, or plant operations meeting. Every month, the company’s top executives and plant managers set aside half a day to discuss nothing but safety, including updates on the programs being done at the various sites to monitor and improve safety. Safety indicators are likewise incorporated in assessing the performance of all of the company’s more than 1,600 employees.

Personal health and wellness is an important element of OH&S and employees are encouraged to take this seriously. Annual physical exams are not just encouraged, but required as an integral part of the performance metrics. Employees are also required to discuss their physical exam results with the company doctor. Those with health issues must submit a plan for improvement.

Holcim Philippines counts on its people to help track safety incidents in its facilities by encouraging them to report these. Employees are also taught to report potential hazards or “near misses” – that is, incidents that could have resulted to an accident. When a major incident occurs, the Safety department sends out a company-wide bulletin that provides details along with steps on how to prevent it from happening again.

“It is very important that safety incidents are reported to help us better understand risks and hazards and, in the process, come up with appropriate solutions,” Calimbas said.

The safety efforts not only cover employees, but also extend to contractors and customers. Safety is an important element of the Company’s contractor management program, and is integrated in its accreditation and performance monitoring processes. Suppliers who wish to be accredited must meet the same stringent safety standards that are followed by employees, and any breach will be cause for termination.

As vehicle-related incidents account for most safety incidents – in the company and possibly in the country – the Company especially focuses on its haulers. Among other requirements, truck operators must provide  personal protective equipment for their drivers and helpers, submit reports on the preventive maintenance of their fleets, follow specific rules on tarping and lashing, and ensure that their drivers complete a one-day Holcim-hosted training seminar along with a defensive driving course from an accredited trainer. Such requirements may seem excessive but in a country where road accidents are the fourth leading cause of death, these are certainly called for. At the very least, it is the Company’s way of helping professionalize the hauling industry and keeping our roads safe. 

“Our haulers are our business partners; we extend the same safe environment that we give to our employees and, at the same time, demand the same compliance. We may not able to exert control on them especially when they are outside our facilities, but we hope that our constant reminders and efforts to raise safety awareness will influence behavior. When they comply with simple safety guidelines such as following the speed limit, wearing seatbelts, taking breaks to prevent fatigue – these add up to help them stay away from harm,” she said.

Calimbas said Holcim Philippines continues to make headway in developing a Safety Culture, but knows there is still a lot to be done in continuously ensuring the company’s goal of Zero Harm.

“We cannot let up in our safety efforts because people’s lives are at stake,” says Calimbas. “But I think we are succeeding in driving home the point to our employees and business partners -- that all these safety regulations and policies are for their own benefit, as these are meant to keep them safe so they can go home to their families. “

PWDs, IPs leave Clark job fair with inspiration, encouragement

 

Former Isabela governor and Comelec Commissioner Grace Padaca (center) leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony formalizing the opening of the Clark Development Corporation’s (CDC) first-ever job fair for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) held on July 29 at the Mimosa Convention Center inside the Clark Freeport. Joining Padaca are (from left) CDC Director Manolo Feliciano (partly hidden), CDC President Arthur P. Tugade, CDC Chairman of the Board Eliseo Santiago, Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) President Rene Banzon, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Arnel Paciano Casanova. – Photo by CDC Public Relation Department

CLARK FREEPORT – The more than 400 applicants that participated in the Clark Development Corporation’s (CDC) first ever “Jobs Fair for PWDs and IPs” did not only leave the Mimosa Convention Center yesterday with newfound jobs but also with encouragement and inspiration.

 “Whenever a negative thought would strike me, I would immediately get a book, a magazine, or even a newspaper and read it to convert those negative thoughts into something positive,” said Commissioner Grace Padaca of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as she addressed PWD and IP applicants during her keynote speech here.

Padaca, a former governor of Isabela province, also encouraged the applicants to utilize their time in a productive way: “While waiting for the opportune time, prepare yourselves by doing something productive until the right opportunity knocks on your doorsteps.”

“My message to all of you is that wherever you are make yourselves strong by being a productive person, try to equip yourselves [with skills]. If your strengths lean towards painting or to any skill that you possess, make the most of that talent. Without you knowing it, these little things will prepare you for bigger opportunities in the future,” Padaca emphasized.

In yesterday’s job fair, the CDC Customer Service Department’s (CDC-CSD) initial list revealed that at least 482 registered applicants, composed of 321 IPs and 161 PWDs, participated in the state-owned corporation’s first ever jobs fair for the handicap and indigenous peoples.

The CDC-CSD also reported that 38 applicants (IP, 31; PWD, 7) were hired on the spot. Reports submitted by the 37 participating Clark-based locators showed that of the 1,045 applications they received, 350 job seekers are set for “trade tests” while 230 of them are expected to return for “further interview.”

“The total number of applications reached 1,045 because some applicants have submitted their bio-data sheets to two or more locators,” the CDC-CSD report clarified.

Padaca also said: “I am with you in thanking the 37 Clark locators that have participated in this job fair and for opening their doors to consider employing PWDs like us and likewise, indigenous peoples, who are also our brothers and sisters.”

“To all of you locators, thank you for considering us; thank you for giving us the chance. We guarantee you that if you give us the chance we will prove to you our worth as a human being and our perseverance as an employee,” Padaca added.

CDC President Arthur P. Tugade had, likewise, thanked participating Clark locators for their “contributions and support to the CDC’s corporate social responsibility projects”: “Thank you for reaching out to the helpless, the needy, and the deprived. I assure you that you have not made the wrong move but in fact, you are making the right move.”

 Tugade further said: “Many times you will find that the most efficient and the most hardworking [employees come] from the people who have been forgotten and forsaken, if you give them the chance.”

“Today, I hope that you will find the most diligent and the most hardworking employees that you will ever have because this breed of people have lived and had survived the arena of hardship,” he continued.

“To you all, our brothers – the PWDs, the physically-challenged, and the katutubos, our heart goes with you. Allow me to say one thing, perhaps not all of you will be employed today hence, do not be afraid. Do not falter. And do not lose hope. For the CDC will still provide you opportunities such as this. Come back and look for a job that will suit you well,” Tugade added.

Tugade also announced that the CDC Board of Directors had already approved the proposal to institutionalize the PWD, IP job fair, which will be an annual event here.

 For his part, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Arnel Paciano Casanova said the job fair sends strong message that ethnicity and physical disabilities are not obstacles or barriers for PWDs and IPs from seeking employment and other financial opportunities in the Clark Freeport.

“Believe that dreams do come true. Believe in yourself and in your capabilities despite your respective handicaps. Development and employment opportunities are for everybody,” Casanova said.

Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) President Rene Banzon also announced that his goal is to reach out to different investor/locator associations in Freeport zones nationwide “and spread what CDC has started and to share this concept for other Freeport zones to emulate.”

He added that the messages of Padaca, Tugade, and Casanova during the job fair did not only inspire PWDs and IPs but Clark investors, as well.

Peping eyes Air Force City for sports

Not only for business, investments

CLARK FREEPORT – The chief of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) said he is eyeing select areas of the 300-hectare Air Force City where he is planning put up various sports facilities for Philippine athletes.

In a dialogue with veteran journalists from the Capampangan in Media, Inc. (Cami) at the Bale Balita here, POC President Joe “Peping” Cojuangco said the Air Force City, a 300-hectare prime lot area here occupied by the Philippine Air Force (PAF), will be a good location to establish training facilities for national athletes.

Cojuangco’s announcement came in the wake of an earlier statement from Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Arnel Paciano Casanova, who said the government is planning to transfer the 300-hectare Air Force City here to Cubi Point in Subic to allow the CDC to lease more lands to future investors.

Originally, Cojuangco was eyeing the upland areas of Clark’s 29,000-hectare sub-zone in the Sacobia Valley after the CDC, in 2011, presented the Clark STAR project to the POC and the Philippine Sports Commission.

The Clark STAR project was supposed to be built on a 200-hectare land at the Northeast tip of Clark, between Mabalacat and the Sacobia River. Aside from having a sports academy and dormitories for athletes, it will have various stadia for indoor games, field events, and aquatic sports.

It will also feature a commercial complex, exhibit halls, convention center, promenade, central park, public transport terminal and a monorail link system around the facility.

Also, Cojuangco cited Sacobia’s geographical location saying its mountainous area forms a natural barrier that would prevent athletes from leaving their quarters prompting them focus more on sports. He added that the Sacobia’s climate and fresh air is ideal for athletes unlike the smoggy environment of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

But Cojuangco emphasized that once the plan to transfer the Air Force City to Subic pushes through, only select areas in the PAF area would be used for various sports facilities.

“I plan to put some of the sports [facilities] here since we have all the space in Clark,” Cojuangco said. “Part of the plan is to refurbish existing sports facilities at the Air Force City like its tennis courts, basketball courts, swimming pool, and Challenger football field.”

Cojuangco also announced that the Philippines will be hosting the general assembly for the Centennial celebration of Asian sports to be held in Boracay this coming November.

“The Olympic Council of Asia is composed of 45 countries and some of the member-countries will be landing in Clark. Also, the Executive Council of the Association of National Olympic Committees or ANOC Executive Council will also attend the general assembly,” Cojuangco revealed.

He said the event is a good opportunity to market the Philippines, particularly the Clark Freeport to potential investors.

“Most of the participants are members of royal families, ministers, multi-millionaires and what they would usually ask me is ‘What is the best place to invest in the Philippines?’ So I want these officials to see Clark to entice them to invest here,” Cojuangco said.

          

“For me, this will probably be the biggest aggrupation of big people of the world,” Cojuangco said.

He added that “The Association of National Olympic Committees is composed of 205 countries and is bigger than the United Nations.”

18 countries to compete in Clark little league games

CLARK FREEPORT – At least 18 teams from different countries in Asia will be competing against each other on the upcoming Asia-Pacific (ASPAC) Little League 2013 here, the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) announced.

CDC Tourism Promotions Office Manager Noemi B. Garcia said the event is slated from June 30 to July 8 and will be held at the CDC Parade Grounds.

Garcia added that the teams competing during the ASPAC competition are China, Chinese Taipei, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Jordan, India, Kuwait, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.

All teams from other countries are expected to arrive on June 30.

In anticipation of erratic monsoon rains, Garcia said the game schedules may change in case inclement weather disrupts the sports activities.

As part of Clark’s tourism activities slated for the second half of the summer season, Garcia said the hosting of the ASPAC games here is expected to boost the Freeport’s image as the choice sports tourism destination north of Manila.

For more details about the event visit the ASPAC Little League’s website at littleleague.org.ph, or contact +632-892-1800;+639175754740 and look for Sarah May Cayari or at scayari@relivinc.com.

INGASCO pours P1.35-b for air separation plant in Clark

CLARK FREEPORT – A leading Japanese industrial gas firm will be investing P1.35 billion for the establishment of an air separation facility here, the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) announced.

Masahiko Kitabatake, president of INGASCO, Inc., on Monday led the groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of an air separation facility project of Taiyo Nippon Sanso Clark, Inc., a whole subsidiary of INGASCO, Inc.

According to Project Manager Noel Ret Sampol, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Clark, Inc. will pour P1.35 billion for the project and will employ some 30 personnel during its initial construction phase and at least 300 workers once the facility is fully operational.

CDC President Arthur P. Tugade, in his speech, described the groundbreaking ceremony as a timely event. At the same, Tugade also pledged the CDC’s commitment and support to the company.

In 2011, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III witnessed the signing of a reservation agreement and term sheet between INGASCO and CDC during the Chief Executive’s state visit to Japan.

The fuel facility will be located in a 32,928-square-meter area along Panday Pira Avenue here.

The project would include the installation of mechanical and electrical equipment used for air separation such as cryogenic distillation column, column, multi-stage air compressors, pumps, electrical substation, cooling towers, and cryogenic storage tanks, among others.

Once fully operational, INGASCO will be capable of supplying nitrogen, argon, and oxygen to big Clark-based firms like Texas Instruments (TI) and Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines Corporation (PSPC), and other electronic and semiconductor companies.

The facility will have an output capacity of 10,100 Nm3 per hour for the production of liquid oxygen (LOX), liquid nitrogen (LIN), and liquid argon (LAR), including major process areas in filtration, air compression, pre-purification, liquefaction and separation/distillation, storage and product loading.

INGASCO is 70 percent owned by its mother company Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC), a major supplier of industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon to a wide range of industries, including the steel, chemical, electronics, automobile, construction, shipbuilding, and food industries.

The company also develops and manufactures gas-applied devices and equipment and plays a vital role in the frontiers of science and environmental preservation, as well as the Japan National Hydrogen Project.

Aside from its industrial gas business, the corporation is also involved in the supplying medical oxygen and other high-quality gases to medical institutions.

350 patients benefit from Korean firm's medical mission at Clark

CLARK FREEPORT – At least 350 indigent patients benefited from a medical mission spearheaded by a Clark-based Korean firm and civic group in cooperation with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC).

CDC Vice President for Operations and Technical Services Franco A.L. Madlangbayan said the International Association of Lions Club 354-D Korean Chapter Lions Club and Clark-based JB Cresta Corporation sought the assistance of the CDC for the conduct of a medical mission held in Clark Hills Village here from May 17 to 18.

JB Cresta Corp. Managing Director Jeano Bak said the event aims to boost the “interaction of the Korean organization with the Filipino people and provide medical services to local patients inside and outside” the Clark Freeport.

Bak added that members of the medical team were all from Seoul, Korea consisting of a dentist, dermatologist, general surgeon, internal medicine practitioner, and orthopedic assisted by 20 other staff.

Assisting the Korean medical team were personnel from the CDC Health Services Office and Community Extension Services Office (CESO) and provided various medical services to 200 patients on the first day and another 150 the following day, Madlangbayan also said.

Madlangbayan noted that the CDC “greatly appreciates” the service provided by JB Cresta and Lions Club and for their “intention to foster cooperation between the Korean Chapter Lions Club and local patients,” which he described as “a very worthy cause and gesture of friendship.”

Clark to host MICE Con 2014

CDC President Arthur P. Tugade (3rd from left) accepts the task of hosting next MICE Con at the Clark Freeport in 2014. Witnessing the turn-over ceremony are (from left) DOT Region III Director Ronaldo Tiotuico, CIAC President Victor Jose Luciano, Davao Tourism Officer Jayson Magnaye, BCDA President Arnel Casanova, OIC Philippine Tourism Promotions Board Stanie Soriano, CDC Chairman Eliseo Santiago, and CDC Tourism Manager Noemi B. Garcia. – Photo by CDC Public Relations Department

DAVAO CITY – The Clark Freeport will be next year’s venue for the annual Meetings, Incentives Travel Conventions and Exhibition/Events Convention (MICE Con), the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) announced.

During this year’s MICE Con farewell dinner on Friday (March 8) at the Waterfront Insular Hotel here, the annual corporate event was formally turned-over to CDC President Arthur P. Tugade, who readily accepted the challenge of hosting the 2014 convention.

In his speech, Tugade cited MICE Con’s advantage in forging better business opportunities for tourism stakeholders:

“I understand that yesterday (March 7) his Excellency, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, no less, together with the secretary of tourism and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Speaker [Sonny] Belmonte came here.”

“Their presence…underscored the importance of MICE Con. Today, the full and entire management of the Clark Development Corporation is here if only to underscore the importance MICE Con,” Tugade said.

Tugade opened his speech by thanking all MICE Con delegates who attended the farewell dinner and afterwards accepted the challenge and opportunity, in behalf of the state-run Clark Development Corporation and the Clark Freeport, to host next year’s convention.

“On behalf of the management of the CDC and on behalf of the Clark Freeport, we accept the opportunity and the challenge to host the next MICE Con this coming 2014. This is a single honor as it is a privilege and a golden opportunity,” the CDC president further said.

He added: “Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, for the opportunity. Just to show you how important it is [to us] today we have the chair of the Board of Directors [of the CDC] Eliseo Santiago, the president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Atty. Arnel Casanova, and of course, the president of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) Chichos Luciano.”

Tugade also assured MICE Con participants that Clark is now one of the perfect travel destinations in the North Philippines.

“We welcome you all to Clark and I hope you can all come to witness the sights and sounds of Clark. We hope you can all come to see the smiling people of Clark. We hope you can all come to experience the food, the hospitality, and the wonders of Clark as it is said for any reason whatsoever come to Clark – it’s more fun to do it all in Clark!”