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!”

RTC grants protection order to ‘doomed’ trees

ANGELES CITY – Score one for the trees!

A 72-hour Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) was signed on Monday afternoon by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Omar Viola after it was filed hours earlier for the protection of some 486 decades-old trees that are mostly acacias lining the MacArthur Highway from Barangay Pulungbulu in this city all the way to Mabalacat City.

The trees have been “doomed” to be cut by the Department of Public Works and Highways to make way for the widening of the Manila North Road.

Early Monday morning, the petition was filed by the Save The Trees Coalition (STC) headed by Cecille S. Yumul, Eugene T. Orejas, Louie T. Reyes, Dino Jose C. Doliente and Nole C. Acervo assisted by their legal counsel Atty. Francisco Yabut at the RTC versus Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje, Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson and Regional Director Lormelyn E. Claudio of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) III.

The petitioners said the trees along the MacArthur Highway have been “in existence since the early days of the colonial period or for more than 50 years now and have become part of our nation’s heritage.

Aside from the scenic view and clean air that these full-grown trees supply, they also act as natural canopies from the heat of the sun for motorists and the public.”

According to Yabut, a hearing was held at 3 p.m. Monday by Viola on the petition for TEPO. After the hearing at around 5 p.m., Yabut said Viola signed the TEPO which has a validity of 72 hours.

However, the TEPO was only served yesterday, Yabut added. The case will then be heard in the sala of RTC Branch 59 Judge Angelique Quiambao.

The petitioners are seeking a permanent injunction of the cutting of trees on the said stretch along the MacArthur Highway.

In 2009, the DPWH cut down more than 100 trees along the MacArthur Highway in the City of San Fernando in what environmentalist called the “MacArthur Highway Massacre.” The following year, 30 more decades-old trees were felled by the DPWH.

On August 6 this year, the DPWH issued a memorandum to its regional directors informing them that the permit for tree-cutting along the MacArthur Highway from this city to Mabalacat City for various infrastructure projects has been approved by the Office of the Executive Secretary.

However, under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2003-30, an environmentally critical project regardless of its location is subject to the conduct of a mandatory public hearing as part of the Environmental Impact Statement review.

Considering the huge number of trees that will be “killed” in the process, the road improvement project poses a major threat to the environmental rights of those directly and indirectly affected, the petitioners said.

No consultation or public hearing was ever made contrary to the claims of the DPWH, the petitioners said.

Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said he has not given any permit for the cutting of the trees and that he “is not inclined to give any.” The city’s environmental office along with the STC has put notices to this effect on each of the trees marked by the DPWH for cutting.

Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales has likewise vowed not to allow the cutting of trees along MacArthur Highway within his area of jurisdiction.

Some two weeks ago, Morales joined the STC and former Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio in painting human figures on the X marks on the trees targeted for cutting as a sign of protest against the DPWH action. (By Ashley Manabat)

(Note:  First published by Punto Central Luzon on December 12. 2012, www.punto.com.ph)

Ex-Gov. Panlilio slams PNP claim that CL is jueteng free

Former Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio slammed police claim that Central Luzon is jueteng free.

He stressed that increased collection on Small Town Lottery (STL) operations in the region is not a guarantee that the illegal numbers game is dead.

“Isang insulto ang sabihin ng PNP na jueteng free ang Central Luzon,” Panlilio told journalists in an interview on Friday night.

He added, “mukhang ang mga men and uniform na lang natin ang hindi nakakaalam na may jueteng pa lalo sa Pampanga.”

The former governor also showed journalists two pieces of paper showing proof that he himself was able to place bet on jueteng last October 23.

Panlilio’s disclosure and show of evidence strengthen suspicions by many that he is the alleged ‘mystery shopper’ cited by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas in an earlier meeting at Clark Freeport.

In the same meeting, Roxas asked police officials in Central Luzon led by Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao to immediatel;y submit report on  alleged jueteng operations in the region.

Last Wednesday, Ladao called a press conference at Camp Olivas in San Fernando City and announced that Central Luzon is jueteng free.

He was joined by Lawyer Ferdinand Rojas of the Philippine Charity Sweepestakes Office (PCSO), and STL franchisees in Central Luzon.

Ladao even told journalists that STL collections in the region has increase and noted that it is a sign that there is no more jueteng operations in the region.

But he admitted that there are pocket operations of bookies in the region which local police offices in seven provinces are addressing to eradicate.

For his part, Panlilio said that increased collection in STL operations is not a guarantee that jueteng is dead.

Citing earlier information he received, the priest-turned-politician explained that introduction of STL which was meant to replace jueteng, the illegal numbers game remain and was operated parallel to the STL or legal numbers game.

Panlilio said that he is not in favor of replacing STL with Loterya ng Bayan, instead, he suggested that government acquire operation of jueteng and make it legal.

Earlier on Friday, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda declined to comment on journalists questions with regards to alleged jueteng operation in her province. (Dino Balabo)

Pampanga to host 2012 Southern Luzon Cluster Science and Technology Fair

Department of Science and Technolgy (DOST) Region 3 chief Victor Mariano said the November 22-24 affair will showcase the recent scientific breakthroughs and advanced technologies developed by

government and private research institutions in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Bicol.

Guided by the theme “Science, Technology and Innovation: Working Together for Growth and Development”, people from all walks of life will be able to see the latest products and services on information and communication technology, electronics, and renewable energy among others.

Apart from exhibits, an academic contest, research colloquium, and seminar on Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards otherwise known as Project NOAH will also be featured.

“Project NOAH is a responsive program for disaster prevention and mitigation, specifically for the Philippines’ warning agencies, that is primarily intended to reduce casualties and property loss from

extreme hazard events” Mariano explained.

Its mission is to undertake disaster science research and development, advance the use of cutting edge technologies, and recommend innovative information services in government's disaster prevention and

mitigation efforts wherein its immediate task is to integrate current disaster science research and development projects and initiate new efforts within the DOST.

Project NOAH presently has eight components namely: Hydrometeorological Devices in hard-hit areas of the Philippines (Hydromet), Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation – Light  Detection and Ranging (DREAM-LIDAR), Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through LIDAR, Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge Assessment and Mitigation (CHASSAM), Flood Information Network (FloodNET), Local

Development of Doppler Radar Systems (LaDDeRS), Landslide Sensors Development, and Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP). (CLJD/JGB-PIA 3)