Funds released to speed up land acquisition for Bicol Airport
by MA Loterte
Legazpi City (23 July) — The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has transferred to the Albay Provincial Government P85 million to pay for the 140-hectare prime land straddling the areas of Daraga and Camalig town to be developed for the Bicol International Airport.
DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza recently turned-over to Albay Governor Joey Salceda the funds for the purchase of the new airport site.
DOTC officials and Albay local officials, including Camalig mayor Irwin Baldo and Daraga mayor Cicero Triumfante, and officials of the five barangays on the actual site of the proposed airport witnessed the turn-over ceremony.
Mendoza said construction works on the proposed airport are expected to start shortly and set its completion within 30 months or two and a half years.
Salceda conceptualized the idea of the Bicol International Airport and has since pursuing the construction of the new airport in Albay province to fast track and catapult the region’s economic development.
He said the proposed airport and its facilities will answer the need for a modern airport in Southern Luzon that will cater to more business activities in the area and conveniently links Bicol to the rest of the country and the world.
He added the air transport facility would further improve the performance of the region in tourism arrivals, employment generation and business investment.
The Bicol International Airport easily qualifies as among the biggest and most ambitious government projects in the Bicol Region to date, with prospects of even greater returns on investment. (PIA V)
DBP loan jumpstarts missionary route in Luzon
Manila (20 July) — State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Northeastern Luzon Pacific Coastal Service, Inc. (NLPCSI) signed recently a P64.7 million loan agreement to finance the acquisition of two ferry vessels that will ply the missionary route in northeastern Luzon.
The ferry vessels will serve the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora, providing an affordable, reliable and convenient mode of transportation to move passengers, agricultural and marine products from coastal towns to mainland markets.
DBP president & chief executive officer Reynaldo G. David said the initiative is in line with DBP’s flagship project, the Sustainable Logistics Development Program (SLDP) and supports the national government’s Strong Republic Nautical Highway.
He added that the opening of a missionary route will improve economic conditions and harness the tourism potential of northeastern Luzon, subsequently generating more employment opportunities for residents of coastal towns in the area.
NLPCSI president and chief executive officer Sec. Jose Mari Ponce, who is also administrator of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) said the initiative will link two economic zones — the Aurora Economic Zone and the Cagayan Free Port. He expressed optimism that the initiative will boost economic activity in the three provinces.
Isabela Governor Ma. Gracia Padaca, on the other hand, said the project will also help in promoting eco-tourism in the area while supporting the campaign against logging activities in the Sierra Madre mountain range.
The project supports the Road Roll-on Roll-off Terminal System which is one of the three components of DBP’s Sustainable Logistics Development Program (SLDP). This is an investment financing facility for a comprehensive and integrated transportation system as well as related infrastructure and support services. The other components are the bulk grains highway which facilitates the transport of corn from Mindanao to Northern Luzon, while the cold chain highway is aimed at re-engineering the logistics system for perishables.
Founded in 2003, NLPCSI was formed by the provinces of Aurora, Isabela, and Cagayan, and the CEZA to establish a RORO system along the northeastern coast of Luzon. (PIA)
photo credit: Jun Acullador
DFA, VP Noli reiterate deployment ban to Afghanistan, Iraq
Manila (23 July) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Vice President and presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)s Noli De Castro are urging again Filipinos who wish to work abroad to avoid countries with work deployment ban, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
This, after 10 Filipinos were among the 16 who died in a helicopter crash in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
In a radio interview, VP De Castro called on the Filipino people saying, “sana sa mga nakikinig na naghahanap ng ikabubuhay sa ibang bansa, huwag niyong patulan ang Afghanistan.”
He explained that the main reason why the DFA is implementing the deployment ban is to keep OFWs from harm’s way. “Kapit sa patalim pero manganganib naman ang inyong buhay.”
De castro explained that Filipinos are forced to work in Afghanistan because of huge compensation offer. “Malaki kasi ang alok, gaya nitong isa – $1,300 ang suweldo bilang karpentero. Marami talaga ang trabaho doon kasi may ginagawang dalawang base military.”
The Vice President assured the public that assistance is being extended to the 10 OFWs who got involved in the helicopter accident earlier. “Tulungan natin itong mga biktima – legal o illegal man ang kanilang dokumento – kasi mga Filipino din ang mga ito. Hahabulin din natin ang kanilang mga employers para maibigay ang kanilang mga benepisyo.”
VP Noli also revealed that OWWA is also looking at possible benefits which can be extended to the victims. (PIA)
photo credit: Kakashi_Sensei [Carlo]
