IT firms call for support from gov't, academe, and business

Pampanga (16 Oct.) -- Information technology (IT) companies in Central Luzon such as call centers and design application software firms need the strong support of the local academe sector in producing highly-trainable and appropriately-skilled manpower who could immediately fill in the requirements of the industry.

This was the message reiterated by IT companies such as Cybercity Teleservices and Devco Phils. to the two batches of visitors composed of local academe and business sector representatives and officials of national line government agencies conducting walk-in tours at Clark ecozone recently.

The two batches of ICT visitors were organized by the Central Luzon Investment Promotion Center (CL-IPC) of the Department of Trade and Industry-3, in coordination with the marketing department of Clark Development Corporation (CDC).

DTI designed the said ICT walk-in tours to enable participants to have an exposure on the ICT industry and to generate awareness necessary in determining possible programs supportive of the full development of the industry in the region.

The groups were toured around the facilities of IT companies including that of CyberCity Teleservices, a customer care center and telemarketer of products servicing US-based customers; Sumidenso Automotive Electronics Asia Corporation, which designs software programs for automobiles and vehicles of Japanese firms; and Devco Phils., a business outsourcing center for seaforwarding , maritime and navigational companies; and America On-line, a backroom operations dedicated for AOL users worldwide.

The groups were able to witness how local call center companies and their agents address the needs of overseas customers who are thousands of miles away. Part of the tours also included consultations with the representatives of these companies, including top officials, and exposure on actual operations.

Devco, for instance, stressed the importance of providing highly specialized training on specific IT-based courses in the region.

Peter Evereart, Devco's managing director, noted that since the company is into navigational and sea forwarding business, they need very highly skilled engineers with years of experience. He noted that these engineers are sourced mostly from Manila or outside the region.

Evereart stressed that while there are a lot of good maritime and design engineers in the region, the level of expertise and training that the company is looking for is not quite prevalent in the region.

CyberCity, which is also a telemarketer of products to the US markets, confirmed that the reservoir of manpower who can serve as call center agents is not that large. The company has a rather high mortality rate among applicants who are graduates of IT courses from schools in the region.

According to CyberCity, while these graduates are basically skilled in some IT techniques, they should also develop their language proficiency and conversational ability adept to the American psyche as an important skill in the voice and data business for call centers. (PIA)

Pampanga farmers oppose SB 2553

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga (Oct. 15) -- In what is touted as the biggest gathering of farmers after the passage of Senate Bill 2553 or Farmlands as Collateral Bill in the Upper House, agrarian reform beneficiaries across the province staged their opposition recently to what they call as "the poison bill," saying, this is a prelude to the tragic conclusion of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The bill, sponsored by Senator Sergio Osmeña III, was passed on third and final reading last month in the face of overwhelming opposition during deliberations from various agrarian reform stakeholders including agencies of government like Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Anti-Poverty Farmers' Council and Bankers' Association of the Philippines. The bill, they say, will only result to a wholesale re-concentration and re-consolidation of agricultural lands previously awarded to the beneficiaries of CARP.

SB 2553 allows farmers to mortgage their lands to anyone the moment it is enacted into law. "This provision runs contrary to the wisdom of CARP which permits the transfer of ownership of agricultural lands only after a period of 10 years," Renato Herrera, DAR Region 3 Director, said.

"More importantly, the bill will allow former landowners to regain possession of their lands through farmers' default as it prescribes no limit on mortgaged lands," Director Herrera added.

"While it is true that credit support is vital to ensure farmers' productivity, the government should instead strengthen technical support and marketing linkages for farmers," Danny Carranza, Central Luzon coordinator for the Phil. Ecumenical Action for Community Empowerment (PEACE), stressed. In effect, SB 2553 will scrap the DAR's budget for support services since farmers can now use their lands as collateral, Carranza noted.

Leonardo Soliman, secretary of Malayang Magsasaka ng Candaba at San Luis, laments the anti-farmers provisions of Osmeña's bill. "We are fed up with loans," he said in Pampango. "What we need are support services and additional funding for CARP", Soliman pointed out.

It is widely perceived that SB 2553 is also a prelude to the derailed streamlining plan of government merging DAR, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture as it means dwindling funds for the DAR. Congress allotted only P500-million to cover compensation for former landowners out of the proposed P3-billion. (PIA)

Olongapo anti-truancy law worth emulating

By Erlie T. Yutuc

Olongapo City, Pampanga (Oct. 15) -- This city's ordinance is worth emulating!

Olongapo City, two-time national awardee as the most outstanding child friendly local government unit - highly urbanized city category, is effectively pursuing the implementation of its recently passed anti-truancy law for the promotion and protection of children's welfare.

The city ordinance aims to prevent truancy among students and ensure that they stay inside their classrooms and school premises during class hours. The ordinance specifically prohibits students from entering business establishments and playing video games and billiards during school hours.

Only less than a year after its passage, the anti-truancy law ordinance has already penalized close to 60 erring business establishments and a number of students playing video games and billiards during school hours, according to Genia Eclarino, the city's social welfare development officer.

Eclarino said that corresponding disciplinary measures and penalties are imposed to both erring owners of business establishments, truant students and their parents as well.

For first offense, owners of business establishment face automatic closure which will be lifted only upon completion of the necessary requirements - like attending a seminar with the city mayor and payment of fine.

For the second offense, however, the business permit of erring establishments will be revoked, Eclarino added.

Truant students are required to render community service and with their parents undergo proper counseling.

The success of the implementation of the anti-truancy ordinance, explained Eclarino, can be attributed to the active involvement and commitment of various sectors.

Prior to its implementation, meetings and orientations were conducted among parents, school authorities, city officials and owners of business establishments.

Subsequently, truant teams were organized in every school of the city, both public and private. The city has also tasked government officials and employees to monitor business establishments daily.

To date, the number of students playing truant has considerably lessened, Eclarino ended. (PIA)

Magalang, San Luis - cleanest and greenest in Pampanga

By Gilda V. Llames

San Fernando, Pampanga (9 Oct.) -- The municipalities of Magalang and San Luis in Pampanga have been declared the cleanest and greenest towns in the province for 2003 under the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran program.

Magalang topped all towns grouped into Category A (1st to 3rd class) while San Luis won over Category B municipalities (4th to 6th class).

The two local government units received P150,000 each from the Pampanga provincial government, through provincial legal officer Atty. Filmer Abrajano who represented Governor Manuel Lapid, during ceremonies held at the Partyland Restaurant in the City of San Fernando, last October 8.

On hand to receive the respective cash prizes and plaques for their municipalities were Magalang Mayor Pastor Guiao and San Luis Mayor Jayson Sagum.

Aside from Magalang, other Category A winners and their cash prizes are: Lubao, 1st runner-up, P100,000; Guagua, 2nd runner-up, P75,000; Macabebe and Porac, 3rd runners-up, P50,000 each.

Category B runners-up are: Minalin, 1st Sta. Ana, 2nd and Sto Tomas, 3rd. These LGUs received the same cash prizes as the runners-up in Category A.

The Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran came into being after the merging of the former Clean and Green and Linis Bayan programs.

Its objectives are to inculcate in the minds of Filipinos the values of discipline, self-reliance, resourcefulness, cooperation, cleanliness and environmental awareness, at the same time help transform rural and urban areas into clean and green communities that are healthy and pleasant to live in.

Members of the search committee tasked to evaluate the different LGUs based on a set of criteria are representatives from the Departments of Interior and Local Government, Education, Health, Environment and Natural Resources, Tourism, Philippine Information Agency and non-government organizations.

Undersecretary for Local Governance, Eduardo P. Soliman Jr. was guest of honor during the recent Pampanga Gawad award ceremonies.(Ugnayan News Service/PIA)

Philrice hosts peace process confab

By Maynard E. Valdez

Nueva Ecija (8 Oct.) -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) conducted the Nueva Ecija peace process conference at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) in the Science City of Muñoz, recently.

Governor Tomas N. Joson III, who was guest speaker, expressed his support to the three-day peace and development workshop attended by various sectors discussing action-oriented mechanisms and initiatives.

OPAPP Directors Severo S. Catura and Romulo B. Halabaso, together with Felina Delfin presented the Philippine Comprehensive Peace Process, Inputs on Rationale and the Peace and Development Agenda, respectively.

The first workshop tackled the assessment on the peace process in view of the current issues and concerns confronting the different sectors.

Participants were grouped into the business, religious, academe, NGOs, upland farmers and indigenous people, lowland farmers, landless agricultural workers, women and youth.

The second day sessions discussed the plan formulation and the establishment of partnerships in the determination of “doable” alternatives and “modes of engagement.”

The last day was highlighted by the prioritization of issues and concerns, the presence of so-called gaps and the commitment to deal with them, including the particular timeframe as well as responsible agency/groups.

The conference was held under the auspices pf the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the Nueva Ecija Provincial Government, Diocese of San Jose City, Cabanatuan City and Philrice. (PIA)

GMA launches Strong Republic Learning Program in San Jose City

By Enya M. Estabillo

BRGY. KITA-KITA, San Jose City – Some 476 pupils of Kita-Kita Elementary School will enjoy the distance learning program launched by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in line with the administration’s thrust in building a “Strong Republic School.”

In launching the program here, President Arroyo turned over one 36-inch television monitor, one video cassette disc (VCD) and one digital video disc (DVD) equipment to the school and other local officials.

The President said, “Malayo man ang barangay, hi-tech naman and mag-aaral dahil minamahal kayo ng ating pamahalaan”.

The Distance Learning Program (DLP) education through television, has been launched in 400 barangays nationwide with satellite installation for students to appreciate and enjoy education through visual aid, the Chief Executive said.

Luisa Divina, Kita-Kita elementary school principal, expressed her appreciation of the DLP, “maraming salamat sa ating mahal na Pangulong Arroyo sa pagbibigay niya ng pagkakataon sa malalayong lugar na lalo pang bigyang pansin ang edukasyon ng mga kabatan”.

Orlando de Leon, provincial planning officer of the Department of Education (DepEd), said the school, located at San Jose East District, has 13 instructional classrooms used by the pupils who would have the added benefit from the DLP audio-visual equipment from the President. (Ugnayan News Service/PIA)

KALAHI beneficiary in Bataan doing good

By Flor T. Caragay

Bataan (7 Oct.) -- Arrozcaldo was her specialty which she used to sell at the Philippine Refugee Processing center (PRPC) in Morong, Bataan until her Vietnamese friend taught her how to cook "hutieu", a soup concoction of rice noodle, meat and sauce they call "nucnam", and "boom tet nuong", a drier version of hutieu.

When the former refugee camp closed down in 1994, Relita Lim had no option but to open her own carinderia at her home in Brgy. Poblacion, Morong, Bataan where she served the Vietnamese noodles.

With a meager capital, it was a day-to-day existence for her mini snack house. For eight years, it was touch and go. There was no day that she didn't worry over the next day's subsistence or non-existence. She had to scrimp with the days' sales so she could cook again the following day. To top it all, she has a daughter to send to school.

Until she heard of the President's program on livelihood assistance under KALAHI or Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan. She availed of its re-lending scheme through the self-employment assistance program (SEAP) where she received P5,000 in cash.

The SEAP requires one beneficiary to pay the full amount in one year. In Lim's case, she pays P165 per week, P 100 of which goes to payment of capital, P 50 as forced savings, P 10 for operational expenses, and P 5 mutual aid fund.

It may not be enough to finance a restaurant that serves a variety of menu but it was a big help for Lim. Where before she cooks for just a few clients due to limited resources, now she could cater to serve various groups. Because her carinderia is just a stone's throw from the town hall, she is often called to serve snacks in meetings, functions and seminars. She has also expanded her business by serving barbecue and other local products. She's even into pocket book rentals and a few school supplies.

Aling Rely, as she is fondly called by her neighbors and customers, can just sigh with relief as she recalls how she would be through paying for the P5,000 cash assistance she availed of. Now she can smile with a hope of brighter future ahead.(Ugnayan News Service/PIA)

Pinatubo trek set November 30

By Gilda V. Llames

San Fernando, Pampanga (1 Oct.) -- Nature lovers will get the chance to scale the heights of world-renowned Mt. Pinatubo and view its spectacular 2.5-kilometer-wide crater this coming November 30.

Now on its fitth year, the Mt. Pinatubo trek, according to Director Ronaldo P. Tiotuico of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has a rejuvenating effect on participants.

More than 7,000 people, including President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, have already joined the trek to the 4,795-foot Pinatubo, one of 21 active volcanoes in the Philippines.

For only P1,000, a participant gets the services of a professional driver on board a 4x4 all-weather, all-terrain vehicle, free souvenir T-shirt, certificate of conquest, a chance to contribute to the Mt. Pinatubo conservation program, and free barbecue reception upon reaching the destination.

The DOT advises would-be participants to bring with them for the journey: back pack, about three liters of bottled water or health juice, sturdy walking shoes plus strapped sandals, extra clothing, light meal and snacks (banana, chocolates, etc.), sun protection, first-aid kit and camera with lots of film.

For those planning to stay overnight, Director Tiotuico said that in addition to the above, participants should also bring their own tent, sleeping bag, jacket, cooking equipment and full meals.

For the November 30 trek to Pinatubo, assembly will be at the Clark Field main gate (Salakot landmark) at exactly 5:00 in the morning.

Travel time from Clark to Sta. Juliana in Capas, Tarlac which is the gateway to the volcano's crater, is about an hour and a half.

Registration fees, according to the DOT, will go to the Sta. Juliana Tourism Council, Inc., for community conservation projects in the area which is populated mostly by aetas.

A squadron from the Philippine Air Force is on guard to ensure the safety of tourists. (Ugnayan News Service/PIA)

Medic sees brighter future for indigenous people of Bataan

By: Flor T. Caragay and Emma M. Arellano

Bataan (23 Sept.) -- Enduring desire to uplift cultural communities and commitment to public service make this steel-legged medical practitioner scale the wonders of Mt. Halcon in Oriental Mindoro and Mt. Natib in the historic peninsula of Bataan. More...

Dr. Ruby Ephraim Rubiano, head of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) in Bataan, is truly a gem in the hearts of some 3,000 aetas in 19 settlements in the province.

A true-blue nature lover with a genial personality from the village of Calaguiman, Samal town who took his medical course at the prestigious De La Salle University College of Medicine in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Rubiano unfurls his indelible 200 missions in the vast Mt. Halcon in the island of Mindoro and Bataan in his more than 10 years of unblemished record in the NCIP.

His trek to 60 mountains is no joke but it gained him a wealth of experience as he became skilled on how to commune with nature and its beautiful and culturally-gifted people.

Putting aside financially-rewarding medical practice, Rubiano in his prime at 37 years old is an extraordinary professional whose keen foresight is toward the total development in the near future of less-fortunate indigenous people.

Frustrations sometimes hit the NCIP provincial head, not on his multifarious tasks as implementor of government programs, but with the snail-paced integrated approaches to correct the historical blooper on the part of the natives.

He surmised that Aeta tribes are the most neglected major race in the country despite the proximity of the settlements to Metro Manila.

In reality, the need of indigenous people is still not acted on compared to others in mainstream society.

Dr. Rubiano sees a glimmer of hope with the introduction of educational facilities in the scattered settlements as a significant step towards rekindling dynamism of peace-loving indigenous people who have shared the pains and glory of this Republic in seeking what really belongs to them and for their future generations to live in harmony with their countrymen. (Ugnayan News Service/PIA)

RSCW to intensify child friendly movement in Central Luzon

By Erlie Yutuc

PAMPANGA (19 Sept.) -- The Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) in Central Luzon will give priority focus on the full operationalization and capability building of local councils for the protection of children as it vows to intensify the implementation of the child friendly movement in the region.

RSCWC Chair and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Director Florita Villar tasked the member-agencies to orient their respective frontline workers at the municipal and barangay levels on the child-friendly movement.

Villar, in a recent meeting with RCSWC members, stressed the need to advocate and promote the movement directly to the program implementors at the municipal and barangay level in order to ensure the establishment of child friendly environment.

Headed by the local government unit, program implementors include multi-sectoral representatives from the health, education, social services and protection, non-government organization and other concerned development sectors in the locality.

The child friendly movement, explained Villar, is the strategic framework of Child 21 whereby children are nurtured and allowed to grow and develop in dignity, protected from threats to their well-being and free to express themselves and participate in their development.

She added that the movement involves the active interaction and cooperation among the various sectors in the community to produce holistic, integrated and sustainable strategies that promote and protect child rights.

Likewise, it adopts the policy of "Children's First" especially in budget priorities and funds allocation as it considers the whole context of the child, both internal and external, from the family to the community.

Villar said that as an incentive to the program implementors, the RSCWC has institutionalized the annual search for the most outstanding child friendly barangay in the region.

Launched four years ago, the search aims to give due recognition to local government units which have adopted the Children's First policy and have ensured the promotion and protection of the rights of children to health and nutrition, education, participation and development.

Villar said that this year's competing entries will be evaluated and validated by the RSCWC technical working committee composed of technical representatives from the DSWD, Departments of Agriculture, Education, Labor and Employment, Health, Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police and Information Ageny.

Barangays Mulawin in San Jose del Monte City, Pulong Buhangin in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Marcos in Palayan City and Sta. Rita in Olongapo City are competing for this year's most outstanding child friendly barangay award, Villar said. (Ugnayan News Service/PIA)

Medic seeks more schools for aeta villages in Bataan

By Raffy C. Viray and Flor T. Caragay

SAMAL, Bataan (19 Sept.) -- The construction of more schools in 19 aeta settlements in Bataan is a positive step towards faster assimilation of the indigenous people to the mainstream of society.

Dr. Ruby Ephraim Rubiano, chief of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) in the province, said that of the present number of about 3,000 aetas scattered in 10 towns, only seven primary schools had been built for the past several years.

Rubiano, a medical officer from Barangay Calaguiman, in this town, and alumnus of the De La Salle College of Medicine, stressed that more than 50 youthful aetas are at present enrolled in municipal high schools and 20 others at the Bataan Polytechnic State College (BPSC) in Abucay town.

He said the NCIP is negotiating with school authorities of BPSC to grant special privileges to cultural minorities for them to acquire collegiate education.

Aeta villages are situated near their sources of livelihood – in the hinterlands and forested areas.

Rubiano said the absence of complete elementary and high schools in upland villages is the most pressing problem for Aetas in getting better education.

He identified settlements with one or two classrooms in Upper Bian, Barangay Balon-Anito, Mariveles; Sitio Kinaragan, Barangay Duale, Limay; Sitio Damulog, Barangay Bilolo, Orion; Barangay Pag-Asa and Sitio Bayan-Bayanan, Barangay Pita, all in Dinalupihan town.

Rubiano added that aeta tribal communities in Bataan namely, Magbikin, Ambala and Abelling comprising 700 families have recognized the value of education.

Known hunters of wild animals, majority of them, at present, have resorted to small farming, cottage industries, entrepreneurship and other livelihood activities to earn for their children’s education.

Rubiano is also seeking the local government and civic organizations’ assistance for the establishment of additional schools in aeta communities in Bataan. (Ugnayan News Service/PIA)

Tarlac farmers try sweet potato vines and roots for cattle feeds

PANIQUI, Tarlac (17 Sept.) -- Farmers in a lahar ravaged village in this town have been tapped to pilot test the use of sweet potato vines and roots for animal feeds, particularly for cattle.

Launched recently in Barangay Rang-ayan here, the project is a joint undertaking of the Lima, Peru-based Centro International dela Papa (CIP, or International Potato Center), the Department of Agriculture’s regional office for Central Luzon, the Tarlac College of Agriculture (TCA) in Camiling town, the provincial government and that of this town’s mayor, Elipidio Ibarra.

Dubbed as the “sweet potato-based feed system” for beef production, or the “fattening of cattle for meat purposes,” the pilot-testing of the project intends to find out the viability of using roots and vines of the root crop in “improving productivity and profitability of ruminant production (of cattle meat).”

Furthermore, its objective is also “to produce good quality feeds by tapping locally available resources,” but with the use of appropriate technologies.

The project’s team, headed by TCA’s animal nutritionist, Ma. Theresa Valdez, explained that sweet potato vines and roots will be combined with indigenous feed resources in Barangay Rang-ayan “to optimize their nutritional value and enhance health status of the animal.”

Ibarra described Barangay Rang-ayan as a village that has survived the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption and the subsequent lahar flows by way of “integrating crops and livestock production in their farming system.”

The TCA, on the other hand, noted that cattle production, together with sweet potato production, cover up for the farmers’ losses from rice production due to intermittent floods in the village.

Team members of the project explained in their feasibility study that they expect to come up with a new feed system for beef production by integrating sweet potato as a major component.

“Traditional practices of feeding fresh sweet potato vines and roots to cattle has been proven to provide additional benefits, not only to the economics of cattle production, but to the sweet potato production as well, they added.

The project is being introduced to Barangay Rang-ayan’s farmers through the provincial government’s Farmers’ Field School (FFS) program.

Gov. Jose Yap explained that the FFS “transforms farmlands into avenues of knowledge, where farmers have a first-hand experience in learning and implementing technological breakthroughs in agricultural researches.”

Early this year, Tarlac’s FFS program has been adopted as a model by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization in the implementation of a corn production project in Europe.

Each of the farmers who joined in the project’s pilot testing brought with them one-and-half-year-old cattle, even as they would also be providing the labor and materials, as well as share their own knowledge and skills in cattle-raising.

The project commenced last June with the formation of the team that would oversee it, and will culminate in May next year with a graduation ceremony for the farmers who participated in it.

Aside from determining the viability and profitability of using sweet potato in cattle feeds, the project’s team said that they also intend “to enrich local knowledge on feed utilization through the integration of appropriate scientific information that would enhance the farmers’ household knowledge and skills critical to wide decision-making.”

“I anticipate that this project will soon be adopted by all of our livestock producers, especially our farmers, so that they would not be overburdened by the high cost of commercial feeds, since they would be using an indigenous natural resource that is already available in their farms,” said Gov. Jose Yap. (Ugnayan News Service/PIA)

Central Luzon population growth rate higher than national level

San Fernando, Pampanga (12 Sept.) -- Central Luzon's population growth rate is one of five regions in the Philippines that surpassed the national growth rate of 2.36 percent.

As of 1 May 2000, Central Luzon or Region III had a total population of 8,030,904 with a growth rate of 3.20 percent.

One of the main reasons for this high growth rate is the influx of people coming from Manila and neighboring provinces. And to accommodate the burgeoning population, many agricultutal lands in the region, once known as the "Rice Granary of the Philippines," have been converted into subdivisions, according to Director Julie N. Magalong of the National Statistics Office (NSO).

Most of these subdivisions, the NSO official said, are located in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Tarlac.

Magalong also explained that even the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 and subsequent lahar flows that displaced thousands of families, people in directly hit areas like Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales just transferred to higher grounds or relocated to areas within the region.

The presence of former American bases in the region that have been transformed into industrial zones like Clark in Pampanga and Subic in Zambales, plus the Bataan Export Procesing Zone in Mariveles, Bataan, also serve as "pull" factors that draw people to work and permanently reside in Central Luzon, Director Magalong stressed.

At present, four out of six provinces in the region have already joined the so-called "Millionaires Club" or those provinces whose population have reached the million mark.

These provinces and their respective populations as of May 2000 are Bataan - 2,234,088; Nueve Ecija - 1,659,883; Pampanga - 1,618,759; and Tarlac -- 1,068,783.

Not included in the 2000 population of Central Luzon is Aurora, because the province was annexed to Region III only in 2002 and used to be part of Southern Tagalog Region.

Aside from Central Luzon, the other regions that have surpassed the 2.36 percent national population growth rate are: Region IV, 3.72 percent; Region VII, 2.79 percent; Region XI, 2.60 percent; and the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, 3.86 percent. (PIA)

Alternate to NAIA

DMIA is Philippine premier gateway

by William L. Beltran

CLARK ECOZONE (12 Sept.) -- To decongest air traffic in Metro Manila and to develop Central Luzon as an investment hub, the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here is now being groomed as the alternate international airport to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and as the country's future premier gateway.

The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has, since the renaming of the airport two years ago, initiated massive rehabiltiation and modernization measures to make DMIA world-class in standards and fit as the Philippine's premier gateway. DMIA was formerly known as the Clark International Airport (CIA).

The CDC has already taken moves as well to construct modern passenger and cargo terminal at the DMIA which is now considered as one of the biggest aviation complexes in Asia with its two 3.2 kilometer parallel runways that are unmatched by any other airports in the Philippines today. An $11-million Terminal Approach Control Radar system will, likewise, be isntalled to improve DMIA's air traffic control capabilities.

For the development, operation and management of the DMIA, a memorandum of agreement between the CDC and the Manila International Airports Authority (MIAA) was signed during Clark's recent centennial celebrations.

The MOA, according to the CDC, will be instrumental in the mobilization of more funds for the full improvement of the airport which, with DMIA's complete utilization as a premier gateway, is expected to spur economic growth in Central and Northern Luzon.

The DMIA, which is inside Clark's 2,500-hectare aviation complex and is acknowledged as ideal by investors themselves, currently offers flights that connect Northern and Central Luzon to Boracay. The port also serves as the Intra-Asian hub of the world's cargo delivery giant United Parcels Services (UPS) and other cargo services like SEAIR, Asian Spirit, Asian Aerospace, Eurocopter, Pacific East Asia Cargo and the Clark Airport Support Services firms. (PIA)