Tulabut: Good Start, Good Year

Saturday, January 14, 2012

SO WHAT’S in the so-called year of the dragon?

I am not exactly a believer of good and bad lucks as I believe that we make our own fortunes and futures. Whether they are going to be good or bad, that would depend on how we exert efforts to make them well for us.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

Going through the headlines in the first two weeks of the year, I guess we are in for a good year as many “glad tidings” are still coming in after the holidays. Let’s list down some of them.

DFA AT MARQUEE MALL. Government just got closer again to the people. Especially for those wanting to get a passport. At a more convenient fashion.

Our good friend, journalist-turned-diplomat Elmer Cato, who is responsible for putting up the Regional Consular Office in Clark (but was later on relocated to San Fernando) has done it again by successfully negotiating with the Ayala firm.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recently entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Ayala Land Incorporated for the hosting of its consular office in Angeles City under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.

Signing the MOA are Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and Ayala Land President Antonino Aquino.

Secretary del Rosario said the agreement with Ayala Land subsidiary North Beacon Commercial Corporation is the third PPP agreement the DFA entered into. It covers the transfer of the DFA Satellite Office at Clark Field and its hosting in a modern 800-square-meter facility at the upscale MarQuee Mall in Angeles City.

The move is expected. Save the government at least P50 million over five years.

The P50 million is in addition to the P250 million that the DFA will save over 10 years as a result of the PPP arrangements it earlier entered into with Robinsons Land Corporation and Pacific Mall Corporation for the hosting of 10 consular offices nationwide.

"The arrangements with Ayala Land would not only allow the DFA to upgrade its facilities and improve the delivery of consular services but would also allow the government to save as much as P50 million in the next five years," Secretary del Rosario said following the signing ceremonies attended by Mr. Aquino and Vice President and Commercial Business Group Head of Operations Rowena Tomeldan.

He stated that the applying public will be serviced in more modern, applicant-friendly consular offices that will be in place in major shopping centers across the country starting in the first quarter of next year.

CDC-CEBU PACIFIC DEAL. Things are looking up indeed inside Clark.

After having Agusto Zobel of Ayala and Andrew Tan of Megaworld and Resortsworld fame (throw in there the Emperador Brandy too), CDC President Ping Remollo got Lance Gokongwei this time to sign a P1.77-billion project inside the Freeport.

Like Zobel and Tan, the young Gokongwei of JG Summit Holdings personally went to Remollo’s office to sign a contract for the pilot training school project. This is not just a school for the pilots of the country’s flag carrier but for those who fly aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region.

The aviation academy is scheduled to start operations in the third quarter of 2012 in Clark and represents an approximate investment of US$40-50 million.

The agreement will support Cebu Pacific’s “growing fleet, expansion plans, and training requirements” and “help make Asia-Pacific’s vibrant aviation industry more appealing in the face of growing competition for well-trained aviation professionals,” said Gokongwei, who is also the president and CEO of Cebu Pacific.

He cited Airbus’ Global Market Forecast, which projects that more than 34 percent?(9,160) of total global airplane orders until 2030 will go to the Asia-Pacific region.

“By partnering with CAE, CEB once again underscores its commitment to enhance the Philippines’ tourism and aviation potentials by producing world-class pilots and crew,” Gokongwei added.

The joint venture will initially cater to Airbus A319/320/321 series pilot type-rating training requirements and will provide “wet” instructor-led type-rating training for Cebu Pacific’s current and newly hired pilots. Initial, recurrent, conversion and jet indoctrination training will be available to other Airbus operators.

QUARRY REVENUES. Governor Lilia Pineda has indeed made good her promise for more revenues for the province’s coffers.

Unmistakably, the bulk of the income from remittances from quarry operations where it has ballooned to P355.5 million in only 18 months after Governor Pineda assumed the governorship.

For year 2011, a total of P236,130,000 was recorded by Capitol.

In the previous year, revenues in quarry collections were at P119,385,000.

Joel Mapiles, Capitol’s information officer, attributed the success in quarry collection to the cooperation of the stakeholders, mayors, quarry operators and truckers like the Pampanga Truck Owners Association.

The monthly quarry collection for 2011 (in millions) are as follows: January – P20.2; February – P20.3; March – P21.7; April – P19.7; May – P23.1; June – P19.2; July – P20.4; August – P20.2; September – P17.5; October – P19.7; November – P18.9 and until December 26 – P14.6.

Congratulations to the Pineda Administration and the people of Pampanga. These revenues would mean additional funds for various projects in the province.

*****

I must cite here too Mabalacat Councilor Jerry Basilio for taking the initiative to rehabilitate the Imelda Marcos Boulevard in Barangay San Joaquin.

The good councilor took the opportunity in requesting for the repair of our village's main road when they met with Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos during the hearing for Mabalacat Cityhood.

Councilor Basilio presented photos of the dilapidated road which was named after her mother during the incumbency of my late father as Barangay Captain then.

In return, Senator Marcos has promised that the road will be repaired and even improved to include street lights and other features. Thanks Senator Marcos and Councilor Basilio.