The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal-3 (NAIA-3) will start
accommodating international flights by August this year.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who arrived at the
airport from Cebu Province
on Thursday, inspected again the NAIA-3 to determine whether it is now ready to
accommodate international flights.
After checking on the improvements in the terminal after almost a month after
her first dawn inspection, the President said the NAIA-3 will be "the
gateway of our country from the rest of the world. It is our showcase for tourism and economic progress."
"Today's commercial opening is a result of our resolve and determination
to move this nation forward," she added.
Task Force NAIA-3 Chief Michael Defensor said the airport will start
accommodating more or less 28 international flights daily by August 8.
At present, only domestic flights by Philippine Airlines (PAL) Express, Air Philippines
and Cebu Pacific are being accommodated by the terminal.
Defensor said the NAIA-3 is expected to be fully operational by February next
year.
He assured that with the legal impediments slowly being addressed by the
government, passengers "will have a safe flight ahead."
"The cloud of legal turbulence that once hovered above it and darkened its
future is slowly going away," he added.
But above all, Defensor said the capability of NAIA-3's professional staff
guarantees the airport's bright future.
"Those who know how to run airports and not the lawyers who are good in
running circles around the law, will make this structure of glass and cold
steel a truly warm place, which would give our returning kababayans the first authentic feel of home," he said.
On the other hand, Alfonso Cusi, general manager of the Manila International
Airport Authority (MIAA), said "we are currently operating T3 to initially
service domestic flights of Cebu Pacific, PAL Express, and Air
Philippines."
"Hopefully, by early part of August, we will be able to service an initial
28 international flights per day," he said.
Cebu Pacific began operating at T3 last July 22. It operates 16 domestic
flights daily to five destinations -- Caticlan, San Jose
in Mindoro, Tuguegarao, Naga, and Laoag.
PAL Express, meanwhile, will operate services to Caticlan, Busuanga, Calbayog, San
Jose, Surigao, and Virac; while Air Philippines
will operate services to Bacolod,
Dumaguete, Iloilo, Naga, Puerto
Princesa, Ozamis and Tuguegarao.
Cusi said PAL Express is set to operate a total of 75
flights per week while Air Philippines
will have 56 flights per week from T3.
Asked how they were able to start operation in just so short a time since the
President ordered for the terminal's immediate opening last June, Cusi said
"perseverance and determination did it."
"We just had to find ways and explore strategies to be able to open it for
the benefit of airline passengers, in particular, and national interest in
general," he said. (PNA) Lilybeth G. Ison
* * * * *
Overseas Filipinos, retirees remain top buyers in RP
residential marketMANILA, July 23 (PNA) -- A top
official of an international real estate services company said on Wednesday
Filipinos overseas and retirees remain the most active buyers of residential
properties in the Philippines
thus boosting market demand.
Mike Mabutol, Director for Investment Properties and Capital Markets at CB
Richard Ellis Philippines said that the bulk of overseas Filipino workers and
retirees from around the world residing in the country or considering residing here invest in mid-end residential development
projects.
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have long been a lucrative market for
residential properties because of their desire to provide a better life for
their families.
According to Mabutol, OFWs prioritize investing their hard-earned income in
residential properties.
"Retirees have also ramped up property spending, mostly from life savings
and retirement benefits," Mabutol said.
"This trend started four to five years ago and now we see these retired
buyers becoming more active in the market," said Mabutol, despite property
woes in other parts of the world, particularly the U.S.
To address increasing demand by OFWs and retirees, real estate developers are
developing affordable housing developments and condominium projects, with
investments ranging from PhP 1-Million to PhP 2.5-Million, according to a CBRE Philippines report.
In the period 2008 to 2013, 28 residential condominiums are expected to rise in
Makati City,
providing more than 18,000 units.
In Fort Bonifacio,
33 residential condominiums are expected to be completed between 2008 and 2013,
which will provide more than 11,500 units.
High-end residential condominiums are also in demand. As a result of increased
demand, prices for high-end residential condominiums in Makati
City have risen from Php 90,000 per
square meter in 2006 to Php 100,000 to Php 130,000 per square meter this year. Low interest rates and flexible
financing terms have helped boost the residential property sector.
According to Trent Frankum, CBRE Philippines General Manager, mortgage rates
are hovering in a range of 8.5 percent to 12 percent.
Another bright prospect for the Philippine residential market is the
development and market positioning of retirement villages for expatriate
"empty nesters.."
Studies show that retirees from the US,
Europe and other countries in Asia,
such as China, South
KoreaJapan
are flocking to tropical countries like the Philippines
for their retirement. and
"The retirement market is a potential multi-billion- dollar industry, and
the Philippines
has stepped up efforts to entice foreign and local investments in such
projects," Mabutol said.
The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), a government owned and controlled
corporation, and the Philippine Retirement Institute (PRI) encourage local and
foreign investors to support retirement community projects. Road shows in Korea,
Japan, and the United
States, have promoted Philippine retirement
villages, offering tax incentives for pioneering projects in the country. (PNA)
* * * * *
PGMA to inspect operational NAIA Terminal 3 on Thursday
MANILA, July 23 (PNA) -- President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will disembark here at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
(NAIA) 3 at around 10 a.m., Thursday
(July 24) to inspect the now operational terminal which opened for domestic flights the other day, Tuesday.
President Arroyo will be flying in from the South where she inspected jathropa
and rubber plantations in central Mindanao, among other
activities.
It would be the second time for the President to inspect the third terminal of
the Ninoy Aquino
InternationalAirport
(NAIA-3). The first time was upon her arrival from the United
States at month-end last month.
President Arroyo's PR Flight # 105 la st June 30 aboard a Philippine Air Lines
(PAL) plane was the first-ever flight to be serviced by the `NAIA-3' which is
just across the Base Operations Center of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) where the President had immediately sent off
planes-load of relief goods for the then victims of super typhoon Frank.
The President shall be checking on the improvements in the terminal almost a
month after her first dawn inspection following her successful 10-day visit to
the United States where she was able to request instant assistance from the
United States government for areas battered by typhoon Frank which struck just
as the she was already on her way to the US.
For this second inspection, the President shall be joined by some 50
ambassadors to the Philippines,
and by leaders of foreign chambers of commerce, and representatives from travel
agencies.
The President shall be received at the NAIA-3 by Manila International Airport
Authority (MIAA) general manager Alfonso Cusi, Transportation Secretary Leandro
Mendoza, and NAIA-3 Task Force head Mike Defensor.
With its total floor area of 240,000 square meters that can accommodate 13
million passengers annually, NAIA-3 is now "the Philippines'
most modern airport terminal today," according to the MIAA.
In an earlier press release for the opening of the NAIA-3 for domestic
operations, the MIAA related that the new terminal was built to "address
the congestion in Terminal 1, the (NAIA's) first international passenger
terminal… which opened in 1982 with a design capacity of 4.5 million passengers
per annum, (and which) level was reached in 1991."
"Improvements raised its design capacity to six million passengers per
year but with the traffic passenger volume growing at an annual rate of nine
percent, a peak level of 7.7 million passengers was reached in 1997, causing an overflow of passengers that year.
"In 1990, the NAIA Master Plan Study conducted by Aeroports de Paris
included the construction of a much bigger and far modernized international
passenger terminal to accommodate the increasing volume of passengers going in and out of the country. This became the rationale behind
the construction of a new international passenger terminal," the MIAA
added. (PNA)
* * * * *
PGMA orders Marina to revise
shipping standards
CEBU CITY,
July 23 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has instructed the Maritime
Industry Authority (MARINA) to review and revise the Philippine shipping
standards to be at par with international standards so that the "brain drain" of competent Filipino
seafarers is kept to a minimum, Transportation undersecretary Ma. Elena
Bautista said today.
In a press conference at the Malacanang sa Sugbo (MSS) this afternoon, Bautista
said the President ordered a revision of the "salary standardization"
of Filipino seafarers to match with their international counterparts so that they will be more enticed to stay and work
here instead of abroad.
"The President has instructed MARINA
to revise shipping standards in the Philippines
kasi napaka-in demand ng ating seafarers abroad," Bautisata said.
"Kaya kailangan tingnan natin yung sweldo na binibigay ng ating mga
domestic shipowners kasi kung may oportunidad ang ating mga kapitan at mga
seafarers na doble o triple ang kita abroad, mas gugustuhin nilang mag-abroad
kesa mag-trabaho dito," she added.
As an example, a Filipino ship captain earning up to P60,000 a month could earn
as much as US$ 5,000 in the same capacity on a foreign owned ship.
Bautista stressed that adjusting the pay-grade of Filipino seafarers to that of
their international counterparts would ensure that competent shipping crews
would be hired because by then, the hiring standard for crew members would have also gone up thereby preventing
"undesireables" from being hired.
Bautista also cited the possible "upgrading" of the insurance
coverage for seamen to be "more comprehensive" to include better oil
pollution, salvage and third party liability coverages in the event of
accidents similar to that suffered by the M/V Princess of the Stars.
She said the President had instructed DoTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza to hold
discussions with Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS) president
Winston Garcia on the possibility of the state-run pension to fund such an
undertaking which she said would provide protection for those affected by
shipping mishaps. (PNA)
* * * * *
GRP, MILF close to signing an agreement on ancestral domain issueMANILA, July 23 (PNA) -- The Government
of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) are close to signing the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain
that would move the peace talks leading to a final peace agreement that would bring
sustained peace and development in Mindanao, Executive
Secretary Eduardo Ermita said today.
In his weekly media briefing in Malacanang, Ermita said a possible announcement
would likely take place between tomorrow and July 25th as negotiators are now
finalizing the draft of the MOA.
”And, if things stand out alright tomorrow there'll be an announcement of the
signing of the memo of agreement or the initialing of the memo of agreement in
Kuala Lumpur in the presence of the (Philippines) Foreign Affairs Secretary and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Malaysia," Ermita said.
Ermita said both panels have agreed on the terms of reference for future
negotiations leading to a final peace agreement.
If the MOA on ancestral domain is eventually signed, Ermita said this would be
incorporated to the draft compact or final peace agreement with the MILF the
timeframe of which is still subject to future negotiations.
Ermita said the signing of a final peace agreement would then lead to the
enactment of a law and then to a plebiscite before it can be fully implemented.
Ermita added that government has not yet given in to the proposed inclusion of
the 712 barangays in the expanded coverage of the ARMM as it is still subject to
negotiations within the framework of the Constitution just like when Basilan was included during the expansion of the ARMM
whenr Republic
Act 9054 was passed.
"…Even the timeframe for that matter is still subject to negotiation
towards reaching the comprehensive compact agreement which is the final peace
agreement,' Ermita said.
Ermita said the need for postponement of the ARRM elections, which requires an
enabling resolution or law from Congress, was largely influenced by the report
of GRP panel chief ret. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia on the positive outcome of the Kuala Lumpur
negotiations and even by the request of mediators.
"So, you can see that the higher consideration here really is to move the
peace process forward," Ermita said.
In a teleconference in Malacanang, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said postponing
the ARMM elections is crucial to the success of the peace process particularly
with the impending signing of the MOA on ancestral domain.
If the ARMM elections push through, Dureza said we have to wait for another
three years before the MOA can be implemented as we have to respect the mandate
and term of the new officials who would win in the elections earlier set on
Aug. 11 this year. (PNA)
--------------------------------------------------------
Speech of PGMA during the upgrading of Datu
Odin Sinsuat Municipal
Hospital
Odin, Sinsuat, July
22, 2008
On Social Services: "We allotted half a billion pesos for
the senior citizens who are not members of the GSIS or SSS, and half a billion
capital for the housewives and families of drivers and conductors, and another
half a billion for the improvement of facilities of small hospitals in the
provinces."
"And so now, we are launching this program, half a
billion program to upgrade and improve the facilities and capabilities of
primary care hospitals to become secondary care hospitals which can perform
simple operations, including Caesarean operations. These funds are from the
proceeds of VAT for the months of April to June. We chose to launch this
program here in Datu Odin Sinsuat because we prioritize the areas where there
are many poor who need utmost care and compassion. Your province is included in
our priority provinces to receive services to alleviate poverty. In our move to
upgrade your hospitals, we invest in your people."
Disaster Management: "Climate change is a key factor in
increasing frequency and intensity of typhoon. Over the last 36 years, it cost
the country 0.5 percent of the GDP. Our disaster management consists of
mitigation, preparation, response and rehabilitation."
Foreign Relations: "We must continue to build and
buttress bridges to neighbors, and strengthen ties with allies around the world
to bring in the rice we need to feed our people."
Peace and Order: "For decades, a comprehensive peace has
eluded us, but I am proud the talks will soon resume, and we are on the
threshold of peace. If we can truly move from arms to farms in Mindanao,
we can give the gift of peace and prosperity to Mindanao
and to the whole country. And so I expect for all your support for peace and
success of the peace talks."
Full text of speech at http://www.op.gov.ph/speeches.asp
* * * * *
PGMA optimistic peace and development in Mindanao
will be achieved soon
COTABATO CITY,
July 23 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is optimistic that Mindanao
will soon achieve peace and development in the region.
In her speech during the launching of "Katas ng
VAT" (value added tax) program in Shariff Kabunsuan Province where she
turned over P2-million check to Secretary Tahir Sulaik of the Department of
Health-Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (DoH-ARMM) for the upgrading of
the Dinaig Municipal Hospital from primary care to secondary care hospital, the
President said that despite having large agricultural land and high
productivity rate, "Mindanao has six or seven of the 10th poorest
provinces in our country."
She attributed this to the "endless conflict" in
the region which has affected its economy for many years.
"For decades, a comprehensive peace alluded us. But I
am proud that (peace) talks will soon resume (between the Philippine government
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front)," she said.
"We are on the threshold of peace," she added.
President Arroyo noted that if the Mindanaoans "can
truly move from arms to farms, we can give a gift of peace and prosperity to Mindanao
and to the entire country."
"Kaya inaasahan ko ang tulong ninyong lahat para sa
kapayapaan at tagumpay ng ating peace talks," she said.
Meanwhile, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said despite having
problems with regards to peace and security situation in the region, Mindanao
has improved its poverty incidence ratings based on the latest result of the
survey conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS).
"If you looked at the data, Mindanao
improves at a low 12.3 percent as compared to previous rating of 16
percent," he said.
"Alam nyo naman, Mindanao is
supposedly troubled with poverty and conflict or both. Pero yung results (in
the latest SWS survey) is indicative of a positive result," he said.
Dureza credited this to various government interventions in
addressing the challenge to improve the lives of the Mindanaoans.
"Ang focus ng Pangulo -- with all interventions she has
ordered implemented and are ongoing right now --we hope as we overcome this
challenge, eventually this will also improve peace and order in the region that
would lead to progress," he said.
Dureza earlier announced that members of the GRP-MILF peace
negotiating panel will be meeting again on July 24 in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia
to finalize the memorandum of agreement (MoA) on ancestral domain that they
will sign that would signify the resumption of formal peace talks.
Ancestral domain has been the key and thorny issue in the
negotiations between the government and the MILF since December 2004.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon
Jr. has said the three remaining contentious issues on territory and governance
of the Bangsamoro ancestral domain were resolved by both panels.
He said both parties have agreed to meet again on July 24 to finalize the draft
MoA on Ancestral Domain and its signing before the end of July. (PNA - Lilybeth
G. Ison) # # #
Information Section Philippine Consulate General 3600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500 Los Angeles, CA 90010
Visit us at www.philippineconsulatela.org
Email: info_pcgenla@yahoo.com
Related news items:
Newer news items:
Older news items:
|