METRO EXPRESS NEWS MAIDEN ISSUE

Metro 3rd Pacquiao-Marquez tussle still possible Sports, Page 9

City mayors vow support for P-Noy... Metro, Page 3

Express Issue #001

Manila, PHILIPPINES

January 17-23, 2011

LRT 1, 2 fare adjustment still subject to public consultations THE Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has approved a maximum P10 fare hike for the country's three railway system which is targeted to be implemented, subject to public consultations, starting March 1.

Daniel Velasco, spokesperson of the Department of Transportations and Communications (DOTC), said the LRTA approved a boarding fee of P11 plus additional P1 for every kilometer thereof for LRT Lines 1 and 2.

Velasco said Metro Rail Transit Authority (MRTA) will also implement the

same fare adjustment for MRT Line 3.

He said that the fare matrix for MRT 3 is yet to be released.

Velasco said the DOTC targets to implement the fare adjustment on March 1.

"There will be public consultations next month. We are expecting some reactions," Velasco said.

Given this, the new proposed fare from Baclaran in Pasay to Roosevelt, Quezon City will be P30 from the current fare of P20.

The LRT 1 consists of the 15-kilometer elevated railway system servicing the Taft

Avenue to Rizal Avenue route between Baclaran, Pasay City and the Bonifacio Monument in the City of Caloocan.

The average fare for LRT Line 1 will become P19 compared to the current average fare of P14.20. Velasco said a passenger travels an average of 8 kilometers.

This is slightly higher compared to the regular bus fare of P14.55 and P17.60 for aircon bus.

For LRT Line 2's Recto to Santolan route, the suggested fare will be P35 from the current fare of P25. The average fare

for LRT Line 2 will be P19.08 from the current P13.51.

LRT 2 is a 13.8-km elevated mass transit line that traverses Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, San Juan and Manila along the major thoroughfares of Marcos Highway, Aurora Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Legarda and Recto Avenue.

Velasco said the Department of Finance (DOF) has recommended the fare increase for LRT Lines 1 and 2 to cover the authority's operational expenses and reduce subsidy. The LRTA has not increased LRT fares since 2003.

NEDA sees modest economic growth for ‘11

P-Noy to offer nuke projs THE National Power Corp. (NAPOCOR) might offer nuclear power projects for private public partnership (PPP)if it decides to move forward with nuclear power development.

"Under the present scheme of the government, the PPP program, there can be a possible strategic partnership between the government and the private sector, in order to take care of handling a possible entry of nuclear facility," NAPOCOR president Froilan Tampinco said.

The government launched the PPP initiative last month wherein President Benigno S. Aquino III said his administration would provide investors with "protection against regulatory risk" and the specifics of such investor protection would be "part of the contracts to be entered into between government and winning bidders of PPP projects."

Tampinco, meanwhile, said that new nuclear projects that would be put up should be medium-sized power plants to ensure the reliability of the system. The

PADERANGA

THE MOTHBALLED BATAAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AWAITS

WITH the absence of election spending and with "quite fragile global economic recovery still hanging over our heads", the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) expects economic growth for 2011 to be more modest.

However, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga said with the right policies and continued confidence, "we are hopeful that we will achieve the government inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee’s real GDP growth target of seven percent to eight percent."

Gross national product, on the other hand, is projected to grow nine percent to 10 percent.

Paderanga, however, said that he is still optimistic that the country will achieve the seven percent to eight percent growth target next year due to the

(Cont’d on page 4)

WHITE ELEPHANT -- The mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is a classic symbol of the country’s failed bid to go nuclear in order to produce electricity while cause-oriented and environmental groups continue to oppose its re-opening.

HEADLINES INSIDE Katrina vows to continue fight... Entertainment, Page 7 4 local airlines oppose SEAir’s new route...

Aviation, Page 12

Ford PH marks milestone... Motoring, Page 10

PNR ridership grows...

Metro, Page 3

US$ 2.3 billion Bataan Nuclear Power Plant had a capacity of 600 megawatts but the power plant was mothballed in 1986 due to safety concerns.

"I believe that if we ever embark in a nuclear project, it will have to be confined to medium sized nuclear plants because if we go for large size nuclear power plants like 1,000 MW (megawatts), if such a plant gets out of the system, it will certainly, with that size, it will introduce a lot of instability in the network," Tampinco said.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras earlier said the Philippines would start moving with studies on nuclear energy as this was part of the agreement

QUICK LOOK Construction on the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant began in 1976. Following the 1979 Three Mile Island accident in the United States, construction on the BNPP was stopped, and a subsequent safety inquiry into the plant revealed over 4,000 defects. Among the issues raised was that it was built near major earthquake fault lines and close to the then dormant Pinatubo volcano. By 1984, when the BNPP was nearly complete, its cost had reached $2.3 billion.

A Westinghouse light water reactor, it was designed to produce 621 megawatts of electricity.

signed at the recent ASEAN ministers meeting.

"The department will be taking the lead (on the conduct of the study). But we will be working with all government agencies and ASEAN counterparts," he said.

He said ASEAN ministers agreed to come up with the terms of reference on nuclear energy development within the next 18 to 24 months.

Almendras said they had allocated P100 million that would partly finance the hiring of foreign and local consultants to undertake the study on nuclear energy development.

"We will get it from our own budget. It is part of the budget that we submitted to Congress," he said.

The government has already decided not to revive Bataan nuclear plant due to safety concerns but the Energy Department remains interested in nuclear power as an option for power generation.

"It's a policy decision of the President (Benigno S. Aquino III) that we are not going to open the Bataan nuclear power plant. Mainly because, in the opinion of the President, there are too much social complexities that have been caused by that," Almendras said.

"Secondly there is this issue on the safety considering the fault line and all," he said.

Almendras said the Energy Department was open to nuclear power as part of the country's future power generation mix.

MVP eyes modern railway system from DMIA to MM METRO Pacific Investment Corporation (MPIC) chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan wants accelerated talks with the Clark International Airport Corporation for the development of a modern railway system to link the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) to Metro Manila.

Pangilinan who met with CIAC President & CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano on January 3 over lunch in Clark Freeport had been anchoring their development plans on the viability of the Clark airport

to become the next international gateway of the country.

“During our discussion, he (Pangillinan) expressed support for the development of DMIA, particularly the establishment of a world-class railway system that would link DMIA to Metro Manila,” said Luciano.

Luciano said that Pangilinan “is fully supportive of the development of the DMIA. This is a welcome development for the airport that will benefit not only Clark Freeport but the rest of the country.”

Pangilinan was accompanied by Smart Sports Marketing Division Head Patrick Gregorio, Meralco Coach Ryan Gregorio, Bong Sta. Maria of Smart, and Lito Mercado, head of the PLDT’s Clark Telecom company and currently president of the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA).

Pangilinan was also introduced to Peregrine Development International Dennis Wright during the luncheon meeting.

Luciano told Pangilinan about the Global Gateway Logistics City (GGLC) be-

ing developed by Peregrine.

The GGLC occupies at least 167 hectares of land inside Clark were they would set up a world class logistics park catering to warehousing, distribution, and light manufacturing operations.

Pangilinan’s MPIC had earlier made its intention that it wanted to join in the development of DMIA’s Terminal 2. It was reported that MPIC is considering entering into a joint venture with Ramon Ang, chairman of San Miguel Beer Corporation for the Clark airport project.

MMDA arrests 14,208 litterbugs THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has apprehended 14,208 violators of its continuous anti-littering program in the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila from September 2010 to early January this year.

MMDA's Health, Public Safety, and Environmental Protection Office (HPSEPO) health program officer Betty M. Gendeve said of the total apprehension, 12,793 were from September up to December 2010 while 1,415 as of January 6, 2011.

Gendeve said that some violators chose to pay P500 fine while some opted to do community service as provided for by MMDA Regulation No. 96-009.

She added many of those arrested by the agency’s environmental enforcers were caught throwing cigarette butts and candy wrappers, spitting and urinating in the streets and throwing small pieces of papers or others.

Fines for litterbugs range from P500 for first time offenders to P1,000 for repeat offenders. They may also be ordered to perform a maximum of 16 hours of community service if they cannot afford to pay the fine.

Gendeve also reiterated the agency’s warning to violators to immediately settle their Environmental Violation Receipt (EVR) so as not to have problem when they get or renew their clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Likewise, she said they may even face charges before the metropolitan trial courts if they continue to disregard the EVR. MMDA Regulation Number 99006, approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making body of the agency, in 1996, prohibits littering, dumping, and throwing of garbage or any kind of waste in open or public places. It also requires all business establishments, public or private, to maintain the cleanliness of their frontages and immediate surroundings.

Nation Express

2

January 17-23, 2011

Prudent spending helps govt meet deficit target for 2010 -- Noynoy PRUDENT spending and belt tightening measures helped theAquino administration meet its deficit target for 2010.

In an interview after giving cash awards to the wounded soldiers confined at the V. Luna Hospital, President Benigno S. Aquino III said the country would experience a budget surplus, “the third and probably the best this year.”

The President said that the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) board met Monday to review projects proposed for implementation in the coming months.

“I asked for the specifics of two or three projects to determine if some have to be changed,” he said.

The President proposed programs under the Department of Agriculture headed by Secretary Proceso Alcala are eval-

uated on the basis of cost-benefit analysis and whether they meet the economic targets. If they do not match the goals and expected outcomes, then Alcala does not push through with them,” he said.

According to the President, the right way of using public funds enabled the government to fix the fiscal position of the country.

The President said he was told that the 2010 deficit would actually be below what had been projected because of the savings obtained from belt tightening and prudent spending.

“I always question the need for undertaking any foreign trip. I always ask what would be the return on investment of the trips to the Filipino people. If we can’t fully justify the cost of a certain travel abroad, I forgo it,” he said.

THE PROVINCES (Sum of all parts) Cebu City to introduce 'pockets of beauty' CEBU CITY -- The Cebu City Tourism Commission and the Cultural and Historical Affairs Committee (CHAC) are set to introduce “Pockets of Beauty,” a program that aims to have certain areas of the city landscaped to create beautiful sights to turn the city into a pretty one.

The program was discussed by Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña during the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s launch of it’s own tourism program.

Osmeña identified Plaza Hamabar, a small park on Mabini St. across the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Museum, as the first pocket of beauty that they will work on.

Since they are starting small, they are first going to work on a small area, starting with the heritage area in Parian, where most of the old houses in Cebu can be found.

She said they are inviting those who want to participate to adopt their own pocket and be responsible for beautifying it.

Western Visayas eyes P27-B bridge connecting Panay, Guimaras, Negros islands ILOILO CITY -– Several lawmakers and city dads in Western Visayas are eyeing a P27-billion bridge project connecting the islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that there will be two major bridges that will link the three islands in Western Visayas.

The first bridge, which will cost around P9 billion, will be 3.9 kilometers long and will connect the municipality of Leganes in Iloilo to the island province of Guimaras.

The second bridge, which is around P18 billion, will be spanning 9.5 kilometers.

It will connect Guimaras to the municipality of Pulupandan in Negros Occidental.

Mabilog said it is part of the 10-year development plan for the region, from 2010 to 2020. It will be submitted to the RDC for screening and eventual submission to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

NEDA is expected to seek sources of funds for the bridge projects.

Pampanga’s cities, towns to group into 'four highways' CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The towns and cities of Pampanga will be grouped into "four highways” based on their respective economic proficiencies.

This developed during the meeting of the Technical Working Group of Pampanga Development Plan (TWG-PDP) last Wednesday.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Remigio Mercado, who also acts as the chairman of TWG-PDP, said the four highways include; agri-green highway, agro-tourism industrial highway, marine highway and financial-services highway.

These “four highways” were originally proposed by the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Inc., (Pamcham) led by businessman Rene Romero.

Romero pointed out that agri-green highway shall embrace training, marketing and technology transfer in propagation of hi-value crops like fruits, vegetables, rice and other grains in towns of Mabalacat, Magalang, Arayat and Candaba Agro-Tourism-Industrial Highway shall deal with the eco-tourism development and promotion of Porac and Floridablanca. This includes the conversion of the 10-km radius next to the interchanges of the said towns into PEZA registered industrial zones.

Japanese firm on modern composting, now trains 3 local operators-Domogan BAGUIO CITY -- A Japanese firm has started with three city employees in the operations of modern composting machines which will deal with efficiently managing the city's 166 tons of solid wastes generated here daily.

City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said that the city expects not to be "spending millions of pesos just bring our garbage to an engineered sanitary landfill in Capas, Tarlac."

"We are spending at least P2,000 to effectively dispose one ton of our garbage.

A few days ago, we already received a demand for P6 million as tipping fee for the garbage disposal. The tipping fee does not still include the expenses for the hauling and other related expenses. Once we can operate these composting machines, we can generate income from the organic fertilizer produced and minimal non-biodegradable materials will be taken cared of by the company selling us the machines," he said.

Domogan expects that the start of operations of the composting machines will be February next year and "after May 31, 2011, we will no longer be hauling our garbage to Tarlac."

He said that efficient solid waste disposal here is important for the city's title as cleanest and greenest city in the country.

Baguio to keep on fighting illegal gambling/vices--Domogan BAGUIO CITY -- The Baguio city government shall continue in its fight against illegal gambling and other vices pursuant to the policy of maintaining high moral standards of its constituents.

City mayor Mauricio Domogan disclosed that the recent arrest of persons allegedly involved in numbers game even resulted to the filing of counter-charges against arresting officers.

Domogan remains steadfast in condemning a recent accusation against him being allegedly involved in the illegal numbers game known as "jueteng".

The mayor said, "To this day, the baseless accusation had caused suffering to me and my family as well."

"I ask my constituents to refrain from betting whether the gambling form is legal or illegal. To fully stop gambling is for all bettors not to bet. If we continue to bet, gambling will also continue on and on," he said.

APPROVED ON TIME-- President Benigno S. Aquino III signs into law Republic Act 10147, the P1.645-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2011 in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall in Malacanang. Witnessing the signing ceremony are members of the upper and lower house of Congress led by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (seated, 2nd from left) and House Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. (seated, 3rd from right).

NPA extortion reaches P1.5B --AFP THE Armed Forces said the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing New People’s Army have generated about P1.5 billion from their extortion activities for the past 12 years throughout the country.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said the extorted money, which the communist call as revolutionary taxes, were taken by the communists mostly from mining, logging, and plantation businesses as well as politicians.

“Since 1998, the estimated fund generated by the (communists) is P1.5 billion,” Mabanta told a press briefing, adding that for the first 11 months of this year, the military has recorded a P95.5-million collection by the insurgents, Of the P95.5 million collections this year, Mabanta said P39.5 million was from the Davao region, where many mining firms operate.

Mabanta said some politicians were among the sources of these extorted money “but the biggest part of it are these businessmen, involved in mining, logging and plantations.”

The official reiterated the military’s appeal to businessmen and to the politicians to stop heeding the extortion demands of the rebels even as he asked them to coordinate with security forces to put a halt to the practices of the rebels.

“The most important thing is to engage us, members of the security sector in a confidential way and we will discuss about it. That’s the most important thing,” said Mabanta.

Recently, Malacanang said government negotiators would raise the issue of rebel extortion before the negotiating table. Formal peace negotiations between the two sides are expected to resume in February in Norway.

The issue of rebel extortion was revived after seven mining firms in the Caraga region complained that the communists were asking as much as P25 million in revolutionary tax for next year – a P10 million increase.

According to the military, the firms were planning to shut down operations instead.

When asked if they expect the commu-

nists to stop with their extortion activities, Mabanta said: “It may be hard on their part to desist from extortion because these are the only fund sources that they have, from extortion.”

Mabanta said the communists had concentrated to extortion to raise funds for their organization because they had lost sponsors and benevolence from external sources, whom he said now thought that communist insurgency was no longer relevant.

“The CPP/NPA/NDF at this point we feel is not anymore a security threat.. However, , it is already considered a threat against development. Why do I say that? As long as they continue to exist, no matter how small, we will be still be considered as the so-called sick man of Asia,” he said.

“Businessmen, capitalists, those would like to put in funds will hesitate and will need to consider looking elsewhere because in the Philippines, there may be some security threat which says, or which particularly means that the CPP/NPA right now is a serious threat against development rather than security at this point,” said Mabanta.

Govt earmarks P10.179-B for CARP THE administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III has allocated in its budget for next year some P10.179 billion to acquire some 300,000 hectares of private and public estates for redistribution to farmer beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas said the P10.179 billion is 15.4 percent or P1.363 billion greater than this year's P8.816-billion allocation for the land acquisition and distribution plan of the government.

"The fresh funding will enable the DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform) to take over some 200,000 hectares of private land and 100,000 hectares of public land, and then parcel the estates out to small landless farmers," he said.

Gullas made the statement as government is preparing to renew formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF).

Confiscatory land reform -- the seizure of estates owned by

big landlords and the subsequent redistribution of the holdings to landless peasants -- formed part of the NDF's original 10-point program put forth in the 1980s.

The Cebu solon said the 300,000 hectares targeted for acquisition and distribution next year would cover around 20 percent of the residual undistributed lands.

Thus far, government has awarded a total of 7,558,777 hectares of land to some five million agrarian reform beneficiaries nationwide, leaving only 1,485,295 hectares still undistributed, according to the DAR. In August 2009, Congress passed Republic Act no. 9700, which extended by another five years the implementation of CARP, which included the land acquisition and distribution scheme.

Under the law, the DAR has up to June 30, 2014 to complete its land procurement and dispersal program and expand the economic opportunities of small farmers who currently do not own the land they are cultivating.

DepEd eyes January as enrollment for 2011-2012

DOJ releases P25.2-M for 664 prosecutors

THE Department of Education (DepEd) set an early schedule of enrollment for school year 2011-2012 next month or on January as part of its intensified efforts to achieve the 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets.

The DepEd urged students and parents to take advantage of the pre-registration undertaking of the department and enroll before the May to June enrollment rush.

“One of the greatest challenges DepEd faces is convincing parents to bring their children to schools, to keep them there and finish basic education.

"Since Christmas break gives families a time to bond, we encourage our present students to convince their parents to enroll their younger siblings who are already of school age during the pre-registration period set by the department early next year,” the DepEd said in a statement.

The DepEd added that this move is among the efforts of the department to ensure that it remains on the right track in hitting the Millennium Development Goal (Goal) targets and the Education For All (EFA) commitment as the 2015 deadline comes closer.

The DepEd also noted the government’s EFA commitment includes the provision of a quality program for pre-school and early childhood care and development for children aged three to five.

Research studies show that the critical years in a child’s life are from birth to six years. At this stage, basic character, values, abilities, personality, skills, aptitude, attitudes, and knowledge are formed.

JUSTICE Secretary Leila De Lima said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has authorized the release of P25,218,503 for the salaries and other compensation differentials of 664 prosecutors in the National Prosecution Service (NPS).

De Lima said that this development was in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10071 whereby 664 positions in the NPS were upgraded, hence entailing increases in the salaries and compensations of those benefited.

R.A. 10071 took effect on May 29, 2010.

De Lima noted that the 664 prosecutors were constantly in the front-line of the government's fight against criminality and lawlessness.

In a letter dated Dec. 23, 2010, the DBM advised De Lima that the amount has already been credited to the Department of Justice's (DOJ) account pursuant to the Notice of Organization, Staffing and Compensation (NOSCA) that formally authorized the legislated upgrade.

The Financial Service (FS) and Administrative Service (AS) of the DOJ have already been ordered to immediately process the salary differentials for the fiscal year 2010.

The differentials will be computed retroactively from May 29, 2010.

"We, in the Department of Justice, are delighted by this development. Not only will this amount be of considerable assistance to the individual prosecutor and their respective families, it is also a great boost for the National Prosecution Service as a whole," De Lima said.

Metro News 3

January 17-23, 2011

City mayors vow full support for Aquino PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III was assured by the 122-member League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) of their full support for his visions, plans and programs for the country’s growth and development.

The President was the guest of honor and speaker on the second day of the 58th general assembly of the LCP held at the Century Park Hotel, where he was presented with the LCP Strategy Map and two Memorandum of Agreements the group signed with the Department of Education and the Institute of Solidarity in Asia.

LCP president Oscar Rodriguez said the mayors’ league is committed to work side by side with the national government in reducing poverty incidence and ensure the delivery of basic social services in line with the Millennium Development Goals.

Rodriguez (San Fernando City Mayor in Pampanga) noted that the Philippine cities will be the “engines of sustainable development, champions of good urban governance and catalysts for nation-building committed to the improvement of the lives of our constituents.”

He said, the LCP will expand the capabilities of its members to enable them to implement measures to reduce poverty, increase their local income, expand small to medium enterprises and lower their unemployment rates. “We will constantly track these indicators to monitor our performance,” Rodriguez added.

The sharing of best practices will be improved and institutionalized in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the local and international development partners, the private sector, NGOs and people’s organi-

zations, added.

The LCP vows to enjoin cities to implement standards and reform policies and programs of the national government by strictly implementing the Anti-Red Tape Act in their areas.

“The League is your partner in creating a culture of good governance, of transparency and accountability,” Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, an urban poor group asked President . Aquino III to fulfill the campaign promise of on a comprehensive reform of the housing program for the poor and a moratorium on demolitions.

This developed after the group Kilos Maralita led human chain along EDSA from the corner of North Avenue to the corner of Quezon Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.

They also called on the Aquino Administration to push for a three-year moratorium on demolitions, evictions and foreclosures.

Some 300 urban poor from the constituent groups of Kilos Maralita such as the North Triangle Association, LUPA and Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) participated in the event.

The protesters linked arms in a human chain They also held a 30-minute noise barrage by banging on pots and pans.

Teody Gacer of Kilos Maralita and leader of the North Triangle residents asserted that “It is high time that President Aquino carry out his promise during the presidential campaign.

"We want government action on a thoroughgoing reform of socialized housing.

We demand a three-year moratorium on demolitions.”

Stronger measure vs ‘botcha’ traders urged TO GIVE more teeth to the fight against the selling of double dead meat or ‘botcha’, a Quezon City Councilor proposed that the city government should impose stricter rules and higher penalty on persons engaging in ‘botcha’ trade.

Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes of the third district said that botcha trade has been a perennial problem not only in Quezon City but also in other parts of the country.

He said there is a need to adopt stronger measures against individuals or groups discreetly selling double dead meat at the local markets because the city government has to protect the public from serious health hazards caused by eating botcha.

Under his proposed ordinance, all kinds of meat whether coming from within or outside of QC which are intended to be sold in public or private markets, grocery stores and other similar establishments in the city shall be subject to in-

spection by the City Veterinary Office.

Meat dealers and distributors coming from other jurisdiction shall secure a clearance as “inspected and passed” from the City Veterinary before the meat can be taken out for distribution in markets located in the city.

Any kind of meat without the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) mark, stamp, tag or label as “inspected and passed” or veterinary clearance in case of those coming from the slaughterhouses within the city shall be prohibited for distribution and sale in the market.

All costs for the proper disposal of the double dead meat shall be at the expense of the person, firm, corporation, association or partnership found to be in possession of the said products.

Reyes said penalties for any violation of this ordinance is a fine of P5,000 and imprisonment of not more than one (1)year or both upon the discretion of the court.

A passenger walks past a PNR train

PNR ridership grows THE ridership of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) commuter train, which runs from Tutuban, Manila, to Alabang, has increased by 220 percent.

In January, the PNR commuter train has a total ridership of 325,591 passengers. It increased to about 220 percent in November this year to 1,052,715 passengers.

In January 2010, an average of 325,591 passengers per month.

In March, 555,791 passengers; in July, 953,389 passengers; and in November, it reached to total average of 1,052,715 passengers.

Secretary Jose De Jesus said the increase of 220 percent is attributed to the

improved services and the rehabilitation and modernization of the commuter rail line.

The PNR Commuter Train, from Tutuban to Alabang, has been operational since 2007.

For the PNR’s main line south, which runs from Alabang all the way to Legaspi City, the section from Sipocot, Camarines Sur to Naga, Camarines Sur up to Ligao, Albay, is operational as a commuter line with an estimated ridership of 1,000 passengers per day.

De Jesus disclosed that the DOTC plans to rehabilitate the remaining sections from Alabang all the way to Legaspi and privatize the Operation and Mgt.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III receives a copy of the League of Cities of the Philippines Strategy Map (LCP Roadmap) and the Manifestation of Support from LCP national president and San Fernando City, Pampanga Mayor Oscar Rodriguez during its 58th General Assembly at the Grand Ballroom of the Century Park Sheraton Hotel in Malate, Manila. The LCP Roadmap crystallizes a single strategic direction that shall be pursued by the league in the immediate two years (2011-2012) and beyond to further unify its member cities in the pursuit of nation building. Also in photo are LCP national chairman and Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Makati give livelihood aid to displaced OFWs QC Council okays P10.25-B 2011 budget THE Quezon City Council has approved on third and final reading the 2011 budget of P10.25 billion, assuring the funding of the city government’s social and infrastructure development programs and projects.

This year’s approved budget, the first under Mayor Herbert M. Bautista's administration, is P830 million higher compared to the 2010 budget of P9.42 billion.

Bautista said on Tuesday the 2011 budget supports the financial needs and expenditures of the city government, particularly on his pet projects, like housing, which are aimed to alleviate the flight of poor families and enhance the city’s status as one of the premier cities in the country today.

The biggest chunk of the budget is for maintenance and other operating expenses of the city government amounting to P4,708,786,277, followed by personnel services (P2,599,244,766); property, plant and equipment P1,488,224,124); and lump sum allocation (P1,453,744,833).

By sectoral classification, the lion’s share of the city's annual budget for 2011 went to general sector totalling P4,640,198,680; social sector, P3,075,766,668; economic sector, P1,029,784,720; and legislative sector, P1,504,249,932.

Some of the appropriations for the mayor’s social services and programs and projects were incorporated in the general fund, including the five percent calamity fund, barangay development and infrastructure program and the 20 percent community development fund.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City government announced that the city’s business establishment owners can renew and pay their business permits fees up to January 31 and comply with the documentation and other requirements up to March 31 this year.

The statement is being issued to allow business firm owners operating in the city ample time to settle their obligations to the city government this year.

Earlier, Pacifico F. Maghacot officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) said all business establishments must renew their permits as the automatic renewal system is suspended.

He added that the move was made in a bid to upgrade the business database of Quezon City.

To facilitate the renewal of business permits, Maghacot said that business establishment owners should fill out a survey form and renewal form inside the BPLO offices at the ground floor of the main building with BPLO staff on hand to assist the business clients.

Maghacot urged the public to strictly adhere to the new business renewal rules to avoid penalties, closure of business establishments and other inconveniences.

THE Makati City government recently distributed goods and supplies to 10 former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through its livelihood assistance program in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment-National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR).

Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay Jr., DOLE-NCR officials and other city department heads joined in the distribution of goods, products and raw materials needed to start a business to the recepients who have decided to stay in the country for good.

“We want them to start the New Year right. Aside from the great opportunity to earn, they can also now stay with their respective families who are, after all, the very reason why they have aspired to make a decent living,” Binay said.

According to DOLE-NCR Director Nelson Hornilla, the 10 beneficiaries who each received business items worth P7,000 to P8,000, mostly came from middleclass barangays in Makati's District II. Seven of them opted to start a sari-sari store, one an e-loading business, another will start vegetable vending, and the last one will sell cold cuts.

However, the beneficiaries were reminded that though they were given a grant and not a loan, DOLE and the city government will closely monitor their businesses to check if they are aligned with project objectives, and if they will still qualify as future beneficiaries of the program.

For her part, Makati Public Employment Services Office (PESO) manager Vissia Marie Aldon said that aside from this livelihood and reintegration program for OFWs, the DOLE and the Makati government also have livelihood and employment programs for other residents of the city, including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and students.

She said among these are the Special Program for the Employment of Students or SPES held during summer, Government Internship Program or GIP, and Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Disadvantaged Workers or TUPAD.

MAXICOOL INDUSTRIES & CONTRACTING CORP. 4th Floor MaxiCool Building , P. Garcia H-way (C5) Blk 51 Pinagsama Village , Taguig, Metro Manila , Philippines Tel: 02-541-3060/67 Fax: 02-541-3482 E-Mail: maxicoolenggs@yahoo.com

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES APPLICATIONS · Fish/ Meat/ Poultry Processing · Ice Making (Block/ Tube/ Flake) · Chemical Processing · Comfort Cooling · Beverage/ Brewery · Freezing/ Cold Storage/ Chill Rooms Design and Construction · Food Service Commissary PROJECT MANAGEMENT · Planning and Scheduling · Estimating, Cost Engineering · Preparation of Specifications · Bid Document Preparation · Management of Bid Proceedings · Logistics · Quality Assurance · Progress and Cost Reports · Regular Clients Status Updates PROCUREMENT SERVICES · Specification Writing · Vendor Selection · Bid Analysis · Contract Negotiation · Purchase Order Preparation · Expediting · Shop Inspection OTHER SERVICES · Construction Permits Securance · Occupancy Permits Securance · As-built Drawings · Manuals Preparation · Plant Operation and Maintenance · Facility Start-up · Electrical System Troubleshooting Contact: ENGR. SONNY V. SANTOS GLOBE CELL# +63.917.559.3511 SUN CELL# +63.922.537.1943

Profiles Express 4

BUSINESS

January 17-23, 2011

Volun-'tourism' in the Philippines: Traveling for a cause FOR some people, traveling would mean traversing a famous city and having a taste of other people's culture.

Scenic and over-the-top destinations would come first into a person's mind who loves to travel. Others seek for a more profound purpose for travelling which means giving back to the environment or community and devoting time to help and promote humanity in destinations they have chosen.

Travel volunteering gives interested people an opportunity to enjoy the fun of traveling and serving others for charitable cause.

This is also called volunteer vacations or voluntourism which lets one give a little back on his travels. The volunteering side of voluntourism involves teaching projects, engaging in environmental activities, training locals for better livelihood, and youth building. These projects are offered by companies and other organizations.

Engaging in voluntourism could be a good respond to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon's call to strengthen the institutional frameworks that support volunteerism.

"It (volunteerism) is a powerful means of mobilizing all segments of society as active partners in building a better world,

" Ban said in his message during the celebration of International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on Dec.5.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is the prime agent in promoting travel volunteerism through Hands on Manila's

Volunteer Vacation.

Although the project is made to inspire and improve the lives of other people, it also helps the volunteers to cultivate greater sense of responsibility, caring and awareness.

Hands on Volunteer vacation projects

Priciest private jets *Airbus A380 $300 million-plus Although the name of the sole purchaser of the Airbus A380 remains a secret, the plane is widely thought to have been ordered by a member of Gulf State royalty. No doubt the owner will take advantage of the flying range. It can travel 9,000 miles nonstop, without refueling--the distance, say, from Chicago to Sydney, Australia. *Boeing 747-8 $270 million-$280 million Four people have already purchased the Boeing 747-8, and two of those lucky individuals ponied up the cash early enough to take possession by 2010, provided the Federal Aviation Administra-

tion certifies it for noncommercial use by then. The purchase price gets you only the basics. To outfit it with a suitably luxe interior, expect to pay $20 million more. *Boeing 767 $118 million-$165 million The Boeing 767 is favored by such billionaires as Chelsea football club owner Roman Abromavich and Google

IMF: PHL economy to grow 5% in 2011

founders Larry Page and Serge Brin. The wide-body airplane has a relatively low operating cost, compared with similar craft, which may satisfy more stingy investors. *Boeing Business Jet 3 $68 million Also known as the 737-900ER, this classic business jet is the latest updated version of the plane that pioneered the concept of converted commercial jets in

1996. Its state-of-the-art flight deck systems, such as Head-Up Display, Global Positioning Landing System and Vertical Situation Display, bring this model to the top the tech queue. *Airbus ACJ $65 million-plus Aviation company Privatair uses the Airbus Corporate Jet to accommodate several of its high net worth customers.

Heads of state--including French officials and the president of Brazil--use the plane as a main form of transportation, says CEO Greg Thomas. *Bombardier BD-700 Global Express $45 million The ultra-long, ultra-speedy corporate jet makes flying from New York to To-

kyo almost a breeze, thanks to a top speed of almost 600 mph. What's more, it's got a spacious 48.5-foot cabin. *Embraer Lineage 1000 $40.95 million The company calls this "the most accomplished and luxurious business jet ever brought to market," and it has launched a massive marketing campaign at high net worth individuals and heads of state. Announced in May 2006, this 19-passenger jumbo jet will take its first flight in the middle of next year. *Gulfstream G550 $36 million This business jet not only won the approval of London-based billionaire Lakshmi Mittal--it's also used by the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft's attributes include a satellite-based Global Positioning System, enhanced weather radar, autopilot and a military-style "heads-up" display that allows pilots to take their eyes off the control panel. *Dassault Falcon 900 $33 million-plus This three-engine corporate jet is one of the more technologically advanced airplanes out there and is one of the only corporate jets that offer more than two engines. Billionaire Sergio Mantegazza, president of Swiss tour company Globus & Cosmos, is a confirmed Falcon owner.

Candaba declared as bird sanctuary CANDABA, Pampanga -- Underscoring its claim as “Home of Migratory Birds”, the Sangguniang Bayan here has recently passed an ordinance declaring the entire municipality, including its wetlands and waterways as bird and wild fish sanctuary.

The ordinance is aimed at further bolstering the municipality’s program of harnessing and developing its eco-tourism potential.

The ordinance's passing is also in line with the existing Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as “the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act” and the Wildlife Law Enforcement Manual of Operations and related Memorandum Circulars of the Department of Environment and natural Resources

Migratory birds frequent the marshes of Candaba town in Pampanga.

aim at immersing the partipicants in activities involving the environment,livelihood and heritage of particular places in the country. Focusing on the environment is the best way to get away while giving something back to Mother Nature.

Activities for the improvement of livelihood quality involve training the locals to become productive in their daily lives using skills they can hone.

On the other hand, focusing on the heritage preservation and restoration will help the volunteer appreciate the history and culture of the different communities.

Volunteer vacation destinations include Manila, Oriental Mindoro, Alaminos Laguna, Aklan, Bohol, Boracay and more. Each destination project offers various activities depending on its needs.

Any capable person can join the Volunteer Vacations projects regardless of nationality, age, gender, race or social status.

Working with foreign volunteers, Filipinos living abroad or local volunteers provides diverse experience in serving local communities.

The participants can choose the length of volunteer work depending on their preferred schedule.The organizer of the project can customize the volunteer project according to their needs.

However, there are projects which require a minimum number of 3 days for the volunteer work.

More information on Hands on Manila's Volunteer Vacations project is provided on their website at www.handsonmanila.org.

(DENR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) Candaba swamps are very fertile due to its sustained deposits of humus and decaying vegetable residues.

Migrant wild ducks and various bird wildlife escape winter winds from China and Siberia making Candaba their yearly sanctuary.

Hunting birds in the swamp are a tourist attraction.

On October 17, 2003, the Sangguniang Bayan of Candaba also passed a resolution declaring Candaba as a Fresh Water Aquaculture Resource and Fish Sanctuary Zone for the purpose of protecting and preserving its flora and fauna; The Sangguniang Bayan likewise passed a subsequent resolution declaring the Candaba Swamp as bird sanctuary on September 27, 2004.

It has also become a leading advocate of environmental and wildlife protection.

MULTILATERAL lender International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday upgraded to 5 percent its 2011 growth forecast for the country's gross domestic product (GDP) from an earlier forecast of 4.5 percent.

IMF mission chief Vivek Arora said that the Philippines emerged well from the global financial crisis as strong financial liquidity and a sound financial sector helped cushion the economy against the worldwide economic crunch.

The IMF, however, decided to retain this year’s economic growth forecast to 7 percent.

The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) sees the country’s GDP growing by 5-6 percent this year and by 7-8 percent next year.

Arora said that the Aquino administration needs to sustain the recovery and strengthen the pace and quality of sustainable growth.

The government’s focus on governance and investment has resulted in high investor confidence and improved growth prospects, he added.

“Doing so will require preserving macroeconomic stability by carefully managing the exit from crisis-related stimulus policies in an environment that is

complicated by large capital inflows and fragile global economic recovery, and moving ahead with reforms," Arora said.

IMF said it already took into account the much-needed infrastructure projects under the public-private partnership initiative of the government in measuring the country’s economic growth forecast for next year.

Meanwhile, Arora believes that the country’s inflation would remain within the target range of 3.5-5.5 percent for this year and 3-5 percent for next year as set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

“Inflation should remain at around 4 percent this year and the next," he said.

The IMF acknowledged the BSP’s role in keeping inflation low while fostering economic recovery.

The multilateral lender reiterated that the central bank kept its key policy rates steady at record lows but lifted its crisisrelated measures to support economic growth.

Since July last year, the policy-setting Monetary Board has placed the overnight borrowing and lending rates at 4 and 6 percent, respectively.

However, there is a need for monetary authorities to tweak its key policy rates as output gap is starting to close and prices are starting to rise in Asia.

Outlook for world economy brightens -- HSBC ECONOMISTS at the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC) are upgrading their outlook for the global economy.

In a new report, HSBC says that the global economy “looks a whole lot happier than it did six months ago”, as fears of a double-dip have faded.

For 2011, HSBC is raising its growth forecasts for the world as a whole to 3.3%, up from the 2.9% it previously foresaw.

HSBC expects the emerging world to drive the global economy, with growth of 6.4% next year, compared with just 2.3% for the developed world.

However, within the developed world, HSBC has upgraded its numbers for the United States, thanks to the recently announced tax deal, which will support growth there for the next couple of years. HSBS is boosting its U.S. forecast for 2011 from 2.5% to 3.4%.

For Canada, HSBC is forecasting GDP growth of 3.0% this year, 2.6% in 2011 and 2.9% in 2012.

HSBC expects inflation to remain too low in the developed world, keeping interest rates low, too. “The Federal Reserve is likely to persist with its program of quantitative easing in 2011, desperate to prevent very low inflation from turning into deflation,” it says.

However, in the emerging world, the strength of economic activity has reignited inflation fears, HSBC says. It emerging economies pursuing various forms of ‘quantitative tightening’, in response.

Notwithstanding this brighter outlook, the report warns that “the structural position is a lot more disturbing.” HSBC says that, “Most Western economies are still a long way short of the paths they had been on before the crisis began so, although growth is picking up, the pace of recovery is still disappointingly weak: the high rate of U.S. unemployment simply emphasizes the point.”

Ghana is world’s fastest growing economy IF you think that China is the world's fastest growing economy, think again.

However, among the major (or large) economies, China does remain the fastest growing economy. But if you take smaller nations too in the list, China slips down the list.

Many economists believe that Africa is the next boomtown. Several African nations are now growing at a rapid pace, trying to make lives better for their people. None more so than Ghana.

For quite a long time, Ghana received many an unflattering adjectives to describe its economy: 'worst managed', 'disastrous', etc. However, the small African nation has since then come a long way and is the world's fastest growing economy today.

Ghana's economy is growing at a blistering 20.15 per cent, says Economy Watch. It's a $23.4-billion economy.

Blessed with rich reserves of natural resources, Ghana has suddenly turned around and is now speeding along the growth path.

Ghana suffered the most due to the ineffective economic policies of past military governments, says Wikipedia, but the new government has managed to bring the country out of economic doldrums.

Economic reforms, political stability, low crime rate, and an overhaul of earlier policies have made the nation very attractive to foreign investors.

Ghana is oil-rich, has large gold and diamond deposits, and has a booming tourism industry.

Congress Express

5

Your Press/Photo Releases get published here!

Please SEND THEM in thru esns03@yahoo.com!

January 17-23, 2011

Health care project eyes remote areas

ENGAGING IN REFORMS FOR EFFECTIVE PUBLIC GOVERNANCE Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente C. Sotto III speaks before the members of Personnel Officers Association of the Philippines, Incorporated (POAP) during its 35th National Conference on Public Personnel Administration at the Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City.

'Kuligligs' as part of mainstream transport eyed SENATE President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada today revealed that he is studying the possibility of having the "kuligligs" or motorized pedicabs of Manila as part of the mainstream transportation - registered, covered by traffic rules and regulations, meeting safety and public service standards especially for their passengers; and paying corresponding taxes and fees to the government.

The senator said that instead of looking at kuligligs as so-called "pests of the road," they could in fact be seen and appreciated as another fruit of Filipino ingenuity and as a neighborhood transportation means catering to the daily, shorttravel needs of community residents such as to and from the nearby marketplace and grocery stores, drugstores, health centers, schools and the main transport stops and terminals along the major highways.

This, he added, is on top of the concern about the livelihood and income opportunities that would be lost from the

hundreds of kuliglig drivers and operators if their industry would be limited in major degree, or worse, phased out totally.

"In resolving this issue, thorough studies of the matter as well as extensive consultations with all concerned sectors should be undertaken," said Estrada, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and the joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment.

He noted the information that kuligligs are not registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) because they do not have body serial numbers and they, at least their forerunners - those used in the farms - serve purposes other than simple transportation.

He likewise noted the laws in several countries recognizing the wide use of "mopeds" (motor-pedal vehicles) under which, he said, the kuligligs could be considered as categorized.

Estrada particularly mentioned one of the most recent enactments on this, the 2006 inclusion in the state of Iowa's Code, which includes, among others, the following provisions: *such vehicle must have a manufacturer's label attached to it, certifying that the vehicle meets all the safety standards, and indicating therein if the vehicle is to be titled and registered for use on a street or roadway; *with speed not exceeding 30 miles per hour; *complying with traffic rules and regulations; *securing a registration and appropriate licensing; an *paying corresponding taxes and fees.

"This issue about the kuligligs is indeed complicated, and needs balancing of all related concerns: the traffic rules and the problem with congestion and hazards in major roads, the safety of passengers, taxes and fees, the travel needs of communities which they cater to and the livelihood of the kuliglig drivers and operators," Estrada admitted.

THE Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) has identified Telehealth, which would help deliver basic medical services to remote areas, as a top national priority for 2011.

COMSTE reports a target of deploying 200 new telehealth clinics within the next 2 years. The commission is also targeting the development of new Biomedical devices / Subsystems - ECG, Blood Tests, Urinalysis, Disease Screening in coordination with local electronics industry partners.

Department of Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona, who is a member of the COMSTE health panel, noted that the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) would play an important role in making the move towards achieving universal healthcare.

The National Telehealth Project, which was initiated by the University of the Philippines, Manila National Telehealth Center (UPM-NTC), is seen as an ideal partnership between healthcare and technology, which would enable doctors to remotely diagnose patients in rural and far-flung communities.

Remote consultations include the use of SMS and MMS services, video conferencing, and email referrals.

The project has ten sites in four provinces, complete with workstations and training centers. In a 34 month period, there have 1,389 telehealth referrals from remote doctors.

A 2009 report of the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Commission on Science and Technology for Development acknowledges that ICT plays an integral role in implementing government services. Through the re-

‘Acts of God’ in comprehensive insurance pushed THERE'S an urgent need to amend the Insurance Code of the Philippines to ensure that natural disasters or fortuitous events are clearly enumerated in the coverage of comprehensive motor vehicle insurance, a neophyte lawmaker stressed.

"The figures that described the 2009 typhoons (Ondoy and Pepeng) are just devastating to the people and the economy," Rep. Teodorico T. Haresco, Jr., said.

Haresco is strongly appealing to Congress that his measure (HB 2672) be given the needed attention when Congress resumes session in January.

Last year, he recalled, "Ondoy" and "Pepeng" not only claimed hundreds of lives but also destroyed billions worth of public infrastructures and private prop-

erties including about P1-billion worth of insurance claims for motor vehicle damages.

Unfortunately, some insurance companies used the "Acts of God" clause in the insurance policy to avoid payments to insured car owners, leaving comprehensive insurance plan holders helpless in the midst of enormous losses, despite the fact that their motor vehicles are covered by comprehensive insurance policy, Haresco lamented.

The proposed amendment under HB 2672 seeks to propose that in case of a comprehensive motor vehicle insurance, no policy shall be issued and delivered in the Philippines unless it contains in substance the provision that

comprehensive motor vehicle insurance shall cover all fortuitous , such as floods, landslides, typhoon, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and other related natural calamities, provided that the accident, loss, damage or liability is directly or indirectly, proximately or remotely occasioned by, contributed to by or traceable to, arising out of, or in connection with the aforementioned natural events.

"However, such inclusion of fortuitous events in the comprehensive motor vehicle insurance shall be subject to additional fees, as may be prescribed by the Insurance Commission," the lawmaker clarified.

HARESCO

Copyright bill hurdles House committee level

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (2nd from left) warmly receives the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, H.E. Hye Min Lee, shown shaking hands with the Speaker flanked by Zambales Rep. Antonio Diaz (left) and Mr. Kee-sung Lee, First Secretary of the South Korean Embassy (right), during a recent courtesy call at the House of Representatives.

“A BIG step towards protecting and promoting the rights of artists, writers, performers, composers and the creative sector in general,” said Representative Albert Garcia of the Second District of Bataan and Chair of the House Committee on Trade and Industry, of the consolidated bill amending the provisions of Republic Act 8293 otherwise known as the Intellectual Property (IP) Code of the Philippines.

The consolidated copyright bill incorporated provisions of House Bill Nos. 47, 267 and 2040 filed by Representatives Rufus Rodriguez, Edgardo Sonny Angara and Irwin Tieng, respectively, which seeks to amend certain provisions of the IP Code.

Said three bills were referred to the

Solon bats for creation of Dept of Housing A LAWMAKER is pushing for the creation of a Department of Housing to effectively address the housing needs of the Filipino people.

Rep. Winston Castelo, (2nd District, Quezon City) said the country should have a department that is focused on the housing sector alone to coordinate and integrate all housing and development projects of the national government and the delivery of decent and affordable housing projects.

According to Castelo, the lack of decent and affordable housing for Filipinos is evidenced by the proliferation of informal settlers in urban areas.

The informal settlers are forced to take the risk of putting up shanties along the dangerous railroad tracks, floodways and riverbanks, Castelo said.

"The combined efforts of government housing agencies and

the private sector seem to be futile in meeting the demands for housing units," Castelo lamented.

Castelo filed House Bill 1231, otherwise known as the Omnibus Housing and Urban Development Act of 2010, to establish a sustainable housing finance system that ensures affordable housing through low down payment, long-term financing and low interest rates.

Under the bill, the housing department shall act as the primary agency of government to prepare, integrate, coordinate and supervise programs on urban planning, development, land use, zoning, housing provision and marginal settlement assistance.

The department to be headed by a Secretary will have four bureaus, namely the Financial and Institutional Development; Urban Development; Housing Technology; and Settlements and Social Housing.

Committee on Trade and Industry for deliberation, consolidated by a Technical Working Group (TWG) headed by the Committee Vice Chair on Intellectual Property, Representative Joel Duavit.

“We are a country blessed with literary, musical and artistic talents. It is but proper that we protect their rights and promote their interests while ensuring the public’s right to enjoy and benefit their works,” Garcia explained.

“While it is true that copyright is one of the intellectual property rights like patents and trademarks, it has not received utmost importance and attention which limited in a way the growth of our artists, writers, performers, composers and our creative sector,” added Garcia.

It is also worth mentioning that in a study conducted in 2000, the total contribution of copyright-based industries to the country's gross domestic product was estimated at almost five percent.

The Copyright Bill provides for the establishment of a Bureau of Copyright, clarifies acts constituting copyright infringement, award of statutory damages for copyright infringement cases and regulates collective management organizations, among others.

“The Copyright Bill not only institutionalizes support services for our artists, writers, composers, performers and their organizations but also serves as enabling mechanisms to implement our commitments to several treaties such as the Berne Convention for Literary and Artistic Works and International Convention for the Protection of Performers.

search of COMSTE's Health Sciences and ICT panels, Telehealth is seen as having strategic advantages for the Philippines.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of COMSTE, said that, "telehealth has the potential to become a game changer for the country. That is why I have set PHP 100 Million for funding from the 2009 budget for this program."

Angara said that aside from improving basic health care services and delivery to remote areas, telemedicine will create the foundation for digital medical records. By collecting data from patients all over the country, transitioning to a digital medical record system will become easier.

The collection of digital records also creates a centralized information system that can be utilized by PhilHealth.

By keeping track of its members, PhilHealth can make it easier for members to get the health care they need and at the same time sustain their membership, Angara noted.

PhilHealth is currently studying proposals for a project which would create an SMS payment collection scheme which would help address geographic issues for far flung areas.

The COMSTE health panel has also seen the use of Telehealth technology as becoming the basis for an innovative way for remote consultations and patient interfacing, which can provide the Philippines with a competitive edge in the medical tourism market.

COMSTE reports show that a large number of pregnant women go through term without receiving prenatal testing and an estimated 40% of the populace have never seen a doctor.

Angara calls for shift from basketball to football, baseball THE historic feat of the country's national football team should now serve as a wake-up call for the country's sports officials, sports philanthropists and school officials to shift their focus in developing sports where the country can most likely excel instead wasting funds on sports that gives immediate advantage for big and tall athletes like basketball.

"We should be into sports that gives emphasis on agility, strength, mental skills and strategy but somehow, many Filipinos are too much into basketball. There's nothing wrong with basketball but as far as the government's sports development policy is concerned, we should refocus our resources and energy on other sports like football and baseball," Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara said.

Angara noted that the even with the seeming anonymity of football as a sports in the Philippines, the country's national team continued to work and train hard to pull a historic championship win at the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup, defeating the defending champion and host Vietnam.

Angara said the Philippines have continuously tried but failed to win a gold during Olympic games because apart from the fact that Filipino athletes are illequipped and have no adequate training, the country's sports decision-makers field contingents in sports where there's practically no chance for victory.

"In view of the football team's success, I'm calling on President Aquino, our various sports agencies,sports philanthropists, our schools and even parents to promote football and baseball as alternatives to basketball. These two sports can easily be pursued by probinsiyano students even in far flung barangays," Angara said.

"Here we can succeed as shown by the Philippines team beating Vietnam, and we also won the Homeless World Cup . In baseball we also have had past successes including the poor children of Smokey Mountain. Thanks to the efforts of civic organizations like the Jaycees and Gawad Kalinga, we now have a good little league baseball team," he added.

Opinion Express 6

January 17-23, 2011

The Metro Express is published Weekly by Sanzibar Ent. & Dev’t Inc. with office address at Lot 4 Blk 30 San Antonio Heights, Phase 4A, Avida Sto. Tomas, Batangas (Region 4-A). For press and photo releases as well as adverttising inquiries, text or call Advertising Manager Eugene Labadan tru mobiles 0908-9874708 and 09175437729 or Hotlines Globe 0915-5517486 and Smart 09195794784. Email: metroexpressnews@yahoo.com & esns03@yahoo.com.

Ismael ‘El’ Amigo Editor-in-Chief

Fitzgerald Cecilio Executive Editor

Ana Montana Managing Editor

Eugene Labadan / Ram Buendia Base PR & Advertising Managers

Belt-tightening? Oh, c’mon It’s simply a pity if not a petty posturing by our government officials as they call on us to another round of “belttightening” when there seemingly has nothing more a room to tighten for an already cash-strapped if not starved populace. We consumers, already are hard-pressed up the wall.

So what’s more can we possibly scrimp just to make ends meet when prices of commodities are E D I T O R I A L already sky-high. Those living beyond the poverty line already have enough what their money can’t buy or can’t afford.

We are the “boss” we been told or made to believe. But what’s happening? We remain on the receiving end, shock absorbers from fallouts of assorted form of corruption in high places from way, way back,or it could also be happening now. Mega-contracts are made of these everybody knows and somebody almost always make a huge killing out of it while the rest or bulk of PH’s population of 90 million absorbs its impact through sky-high toll fees, fluctuating oil prices, sky-high prices of commodities and what have you. Secure your belts, we could be in for a tough ride.

Again? Yes, again. Let’s hope and pray it won’t break at the seams. But yes, we still believe P-Noy can make a difference. There’s no one else for us to turn to until 2016. A pity.

What’s going on?

As the New Year starts, everyone is hopeful for the coming year. When I was in grade school, our teacher, back then, encouraged us to make a list of what we should aim for the year or New Year’s resolutions that will help us in our studies. Our teacher asked us to recite it out loud for everyone to hear.

I wonder if we can require it to our government officials to practice the same. They were elected by the people because they hoped for better leadership.

Like how President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, Jr. promised in his inauguration “Kayo ang boss ko” (You are my boss).

Listing down the aims for the country, amend and instigate necessary changes for the much needed improvements will help boost our progress. However, progress can only be achieved if we can allow change to happen. If everyone will be willing to make that first step to grow for oneself, and collectively as a nation, we will be doing a great contribution to our country.

As our elders remind the younger generation that the only thing constant in this world is change, I just hope that these changes will be for the benefit of the nation and not for a few. *** In one episode of my radio program over DZBB 594 KHz, a listener texted me about Highway 54 now called EDSA. He was wondering if there are still traffic cops manning the major intersection controlling the flow of traffic with grace (I guess he was referring to a dancing traffic policeman.) It’s really nice to reminisce the good old days, when things were not as complicated. Drivers were courteous and disciplined and the even pedestrians follow street laws. The policemen nowadays were not as graceful. In fact, it saddens me to know what have they become.

Metro Express Waiver All commentaries and or opinions submitted by our columnists and herein published shall remain as personal opinion of any of Metro Express’ column writers.

As such, these cannot and never be construed nor considered as similar to that of this publication (ME)’s stand on issues discussed.

Be that as it may, ME shall not be held liable to any legal issues related to, or any column/commentaries that may appear herein.

Many Filipinos no longer fear God? ROTARIANS SET YOUTH SPORTSFEST: To commemorate its 25th year of continuously holding a sports contest for the youth under its jurisdiction, District 3810 of Rotary International (RI) under Global Gov. Tranquil Gervacio Salvador III is holding the “Rotaract/Interact Sportsfest 2011” on February 6, 2011 at the Philippine Sports Commission ULTRA track and field oval in Pasig City, Senior Deputy Governor Karen Tamayo, the public relations chair of District 3810, announced.

-oooMORE RAINS AND FLOODS TO COME: To understand why rains, floods and strong winds are wrecking death and destruction in the Philippines and many parts of the world nowadays, we must read Matthew 7:24-27 of the Bible, and see that Jesus Christ warned these calamities will come to anyone who no longer read the Bible and obey God’s commands. It seems unless we do what Jesus is asking us to do, more rains, floods and winds will come and destroy many.

-oooMANY FILIPINOS NO LONGER FEAR GOD? The way Caloocan City barangay councilman Reynaldo Dagsa was killed during the the New Year---

being fired upon in close range in the presence of his wife and children, while cohorts of the criminal stood guard--shows there is no more faith in, and fear and love of, God among many Filipinos.

It seems many Filipinos have developed a criminal heart and mind, even in their day-to-day lives, because they no longer fear God. Woe unto all of us!

-oooCORONATION OF MARY: The “Coronation of the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth” is the fifth “Glorious Mystery” in the Holy Rosary of Roman Catholic Christians, and, despite attempts by non-believers to discredit this aspect of Mary’s life, Catholics continue to hold on to it as part of their Christian faith.

Catholic leaders justify their belief about the coronation of Mary as the “Queen of Heaven and Earth” in the following manner: “(Mary) is the Mother of the Son of God, who is the messianic King. Mary is the Mother of Christ, the Word incarnate...Elizabeth greeted the Blessed Virgin, pregnant with Jesus, as `the Mother of my Lord.’ [Luke 1:41-43] “She is the perfect follower of Christ.

The maid of Nazareth consented to God's plan; she journeyed on the pilgrimage of

ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

It’s the law! faith; she listened to God's Word and kept it in her heart; she remained steadfastly in close union with her Son, all the way to the foot of the cross; she persevered in prayer with the Church.

“Thus in an eminent way she won the `crown of righteousness,’ [See 2 Timothy 4:8] the `crown of life,’ [See James 1:12; Revelation 2:10] the `crown of glory’ [See 1 Peter 5:4] that is promised to those who follow Christ….”

-oooREACTIONS? FREE ADVICE? Call 0917 984 24 68 or 0922 833 43 96 or email me at batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

BI, PNP at BoC konting pansin lang BENJIE ALEJANDRO

Voice Of The News In Manila, they were called (Manila’s) finest in the early days. Now, a certain policeman, our supposed-to-be guardians against harm is accused as a rapist. And that is alarming because roaming around the ‘City of Man’ as former First Lady Imelda Marcos called it, may not already be fit for mankind.

Just recently, in Pasay City a police officer slugged it out with his fellow enforcers. He nearly got killed in that incident. Tsk, tsk, a pity indeed because just how can we simple civilians be protected when our supposed “guardians” are now wreaking havoc and causing harm even to themselves? A pity, indeed! *** Yes, it could be that the P-Noy government is in dire need for cash. Imagine camps Aguinaldo and Crame and other military reserve lands in Metro Manila and suburbs are reportedly up for sale. What happened to the funds generated under the bases conversion program before? Part of it was supposed to go to the modernization of the Armed Forces.

Instead, we only have an Armed Forces pretending to be ‘modernized.’ *** I hope the arrest of Tirso Alcantara or Ka Bart of the underground movement will not affect the resumption of peace talks between the government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front which is set to start next month in Oslo, Norway. The arrest of Ka Bart, a high ranking rebel leader based in Southern Tagalog, came on the eve of preparations for the scheduled talks. Sympathizers of the captured leader insist that Ka Bart should be part of this process.

The peace process should not be hindered by any preconditions. If ever conditions will be made there, it should only be …peace.

MARAMI ang umaasa na gagawin ng Pangulong Noynoy Aquino ang sinabi nito na magkakaroon ng regodon sa kanyang Administrasyon ngayong 2011 at itatalaga nito ang mga Tao na hindi lamang may kakayahan kundi higit sa lahat ay may pagmamalasakit sa mamamayang Pilipino na siyang itinuturing na BOSS ng ating mahal na Pangulo.

UMAASA ang maraming Pilipino na ang isa sa Pagtutuunan ng pansin ng ating mahal na Pangulong Noy ay ang tanggapan ng Bureau of Immigration na umaabot sa anim na buwan na walang itinalagang Commissioner maliban sa OIC. MAY mga nagsasabing manggagaling sa labas ng Bureau ang itatalaga ni P- Noy na magiging Bureau of Immigration Commissioner ganyan talaga pana-panahon lang yan pero kung ang nais ng ating mahal na Pangulo ay ituloy ang pagbabago sa loob ng Bureau of Immigration ay tiyak na manggagaling sa loob ang kanyang itatalagang B.I. Commissioner.

MARAHIL kung ang magiging basehan ng pagtatalaga ng magiging B.I.D. Commissioner ay performance tiyak na papasok riyan itong si Immigration OIC- Atty Ronaldo Ledesma at ang kagandahan po riyan mahal na Pangulong Noy itong si Ledesma ay hindi estranghero sa Bureau of Immigration dahil itoy 25 ng nanilbihan diyan.

KUNG ang hanap ni P-NOY ay isang Tao na magdadala sa ahensiya tungo sa Landas na Matuwid malamang si Ledesma ang kanyang ilalagay na magiging permanenteng B.ICHIEF at tiyak hindi mapapahiya ang ating Mahal na Pangulong AQUINO kay Atty. Ronaldo Ledesma na hindi naman santo subalit tiyak na hindi magiging kahihiyan ng Administrasyong Aquino. oOo MUKHANG kailangan rin ng ating Pangulong Noynoy na tutukan hindi lamang ang mga non - perfoming officers ng Philippine National Police kundi higit sa lahat ay ang modernisasyon sa PNP upang hindi ito mapag iiwanan

ng husto ng ating mga kalapit na mga bansa na bukod sa husay at galing ng kanilang kapulisan sa usapin ng paglaban sa krimen ay mga moderno na ang kanilang mga kagamitan tulad ng armas at mga sasakyan.

MASAKIT harapin ang katutuhanan na dito sa Pilipinas ang ating mga Pulis ay hindi lahat sa mga ito ang may Short and Long Fire Arms lalo na sa mga probensiya kaya hindi katakataka kung bakit hirap sila na labanan ang mga krimenal sa ating Bansa dahil sa mas bago ang mga sasakyan at malalakas ang mga armas ng mga masasamang loob kay sa mga alagad ng Batas.

NAKAKAHABAG na Makita ang ating mga kapulisan na nagpapatrolya gamit ang isang Mobile Patrol na kung hindi karag-karag ay naglilimahid dahil sa hindi manlang magawang hugasan dala marahil ng kawalan ng panahon para hugasan ang kanilang mobile patrol.

MALAKI ang dapat ayusin ng ating Pamahalaan sa hanay ng ating PNP bago pa ito magiging ipektibo sa paglaban sa mga krimenal at pagpapanatili sa ating Peace and Order, idagdag mo pa ang mababang suweldo ng mga ito dahilan para magtiyagang mangupahan ang marami sa kanila sa mga eskuwater.

DAPAT na mapansin ng mga nasa Pamahalaan na kung mananatili ang kasalatan sa kagamitan ang ating PNP at hindi manlang ma itaas ang kanilang mga suweldo at iba pang mga binipesyo ay hindi tayo dapat umaasa na magiging epektibo ang mga kapulisan sa Paglaban sa ibat- ibang uri ng krimenalidad sa ating Bansa. oOo KINAPOS itong si Custom Commissioner Angelito Alvarez kaya lumagapak ang kanilang Collection performance noong nakalipas na taong 2010 kungsaan bilyon- bilyong piso sa kanilang target collection ang hindi nito na kolekta itoy sa kabila ng tuloytuloy na pag-dagsa ng importasyon mula sa ibang bansa.

MUKHANG mahirap ring tanggap

NILDO PABLE

Ok Yan Ha? -in ang ginamit na dahilan nitong ni Commissioner Alvarez na kaya hindi umano nito na abot ang target collection na 280 bilyong piso para sa taong 2010 dahil sa Asean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) at ang JEPIPA na sinasabing dahilan kaya hindi naabot ng BOC ang target collection nito.

TAMA ipinatutupad nga ang AFTA at JEPIPA sa mga iportasyong pumapasok dito sa ating bansa, ngunit hindi ito biglaan taon ang binilang bago po ipinatutupad ito, kaya walang dahilan para palabasing hindi nila ito napaghandaan? Katunayan lumagda ang ating Pamahalaan sa kasunduang yan pero taon- taon itinataas nila ang target collection ng BOC kahit na alam nilang iiral na ang naturang kasunduan umpisa noong kalagitnaan ng 2010.

HINDI ko po sinasabing hindi sensiro si Alvarez sa pag kolekta ng duties and taxes sa mga importasyong pumapasok dito sa ating bansa katunayan ay aligaga nga ito para habulin ang mga tusong importer, kundi ang tanung ay alam ba nitong si Alvarez na pina-iikot lang siya ng ilang tuso sa Bureau of Custom?

ANG sinapit ng BOC sa kanilang koleksyon noong 2010 sa Pamumuno ng isang outsider sapat ng basehan na mas mabuti kong ang ilalagay mong Commissioner ng BOC ay Carer official, bukod kasi sa alam nito ang mga pasikot sikot sa Custom ay alam rin nito kong ano ang gagawin upang maabot ang Target Collection may AFTA at JEPIPA man o Wala.

Entertainment Express 7

January 17-23, 2011

She’s not giving up fight

KATRINA HALILI

ACTRESS Katrina Halili sees as a challenge the court’s decision to dismiss the case she filed against cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho, her legal counsel Atty. Raymund Palad said.

In an interview, Palad revealed that Halili took the decision of the Pasig Regional Trial Court calmly when he informed the actress of what happened.

“Ang alam ko nasa taping siya.

Pero after ng hearing kahapon, umuwi muna siya sa bahay. Noong binulong ko sa kanya na nayari tayo, dinismiss 'yung kaso, ang first question niya is, siyempre hindi naman siya legalistic, tanong niya anong nangyari. Nung pinaliwanag ko, ang sagot niya lang sa akin ngumiti tapos ang sabi pagsubok lang. So parang siya pa 'yung nagsabi sa ‘kin na relax, pagsubok lang,” Palad recounted.

He disclosed that despite the

‘Captain Barbel’ soars this month with Richard G.

RICHARD GUTIERREZ

KAPUSO network's ultimate leading man Richard Gutierrez is set to wow everyone this January with his upcoming new series “Captain Barbel”.

The actor will star opposite one of the biggest names in showbiz, Cristopher de Leon, and other upcoming stars like Sam Pinto and singer Francheska Farr.

Survivor Celebrity Showdown castaways -- Sole Survivor Akihiro Sato, sexy actress Michelle Madrigal with boyfriend Jon Hall, and model Ervic Vijandre -- will also be part of the upcoming fantaserye.

With the latest development in his career, Richard is very happy with the upcoming series and the

people he will be working with.

He is also expected to grace the boob tube with TV's newest star and Survivor castaway Solenn Heusaff who is rumored to be his closest girl friend in showbiz.

Richard is certain that this will pave the way for Solenn's career in showbiz. “Solenn is very open minded and wants to learn. So, Solenn will definitely learn fast.”

He added a lot of work was put into this project and they are just happy to execute everything for the viewing pleasures of the audience.

“Captain Barbel” is expected to grace the primetime viewing of GMA Network this January.

stars Dating mistakes even smart women commit Aljur in ‘Machete’ TRYING to make your new relationship last or just looking to avoid a repeat of your latest dating mistakes? Follow our guide to finding Mr. Right. (No, it’s not impossible!)

Dating Mistake #1: Being Too Available WE'RE not suggesting you play games, but we are telling you to indulge your passions and resist the urge to abandon your social circle every time your new man sends an invitation. Take Sebastian, 34, from Chicago, for example: “When I was single, there were women I initially liked who seemed to be waiting by the phone for me to call, which let me know if I didn’t meet someone else I wanted to date, I had a standby. There just wasn’t anything to work for, and that turned me off,” he says. The more you engage in and enjoy your life, the more he’ll work to be a part of it.

Mistake #2: Trying to Rehabilitate a Bad Boy

Ending a relationship is rarely easy, and though flying solo might not be your longterm goal, being on your own is better than feeling alone in a relationship with someone who treats you poorly. Even when it might be tempting to give a toxic romance one more try, knowing when to cut your losses and move on leaves you available and baggage-free when the right guy comes along.

Mistake #3: Looking for Perfection Encouraging you to settle isn’t our style, but separating your desires from your dealbreakers can give your love life a major upgrade. “There are some qualities that your mate must have—being honest, for example—and others, such as movie-star looks, that should be thrown in the would-be-nice category,” says Elizabeth R. Lombardo, Ph.D., author of A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness. “Sit down and realistically figure out what characteristics are nonnegotiable and then be openminded about the rest.”

Mistake #4: Feeling Sorry Resist the urge to bemoan your single status (which will only make him wonder why you find yourself such terrible company) and use this time to date yourself.

Taking a dance class at the local studio, hitting up the exhibit you have been aching to see and trying out the new wine bar on the corner will not only offer you the chance to have more fun but will also leave you more likely to meet someone who shares your interests. So much better than sitting in your apartment waiting for someone to “wink” at your online profile picture, isn’t it?Another bonus? You’ll have far more interesting things to talk about over dinner than what your boss made you do on your lunch break last Friday.

Dating Mistake #5: Knowing His Thread-Count Before You Know His Phone Number Getting it on with a sexy stranger is your natural-born right, but according to many guys, it can be the wrong move.

CROSSWORD 7 Swing a scythe 8 Tennis star Monica 9 Mideast org.

10 Girls in the glens 11 Alpine peril 12 Winged goddess 13 Necklace component 18 Part of a brake 22 Brain test, for short 25 Loosen 27 Make slow progress 29 Flat replacement 31 Paint poorly 32 Aphrodite's lover 33 Actions at Sotheby's 34 Not many 35 Like some agreements 37 Leader in national affairs 40 Unit of force 41 Big birds 44 Virgin Atlantic, e.g.

Across 1 Celtic tongue 5 Galley implements 9 Fallback provision 14 Author Silverstein 15 Not in use 16 "___ en Rose" 17 Left-handed 19 Honshu seaport 20 Son of Cain 21 Fencer's sword 23 Kane's last memory 24 Solemn 26 Print tint 28 Circus sites 30 Brit actress Jackson 33 Barbara, to friends 36 Party concoctions.

38 Golden award 39 "___ Ruled the World" 40 Gave 42 Orange or lemon, e.g.

43 Stall 45 Metric weight 46 Girls in gowns

47 Suitors 49 Chopin composition 51 Halloween option 53 1962 Paul Anka hit 57 Rind 59 Unruly crowds 61 Knucklehead 62 Central courts 64 Self-restrained 66 Some medical procedures 67 Biology subj.

68 69 70 71

remake

ACTOR Aljur Abrenica will try to go daring and sexy as he stars in the remake of the 1990 movie “Machete”.

“Excited and sobrang saya kasi three years ko na nga siyang hinihintay. I'm getting into shape and attending Wu Shu workshops,” he said.

The actor shared they were able to shoot few scenes for the plug of the upcoming series.

He admitted he was a bit nervous during their first shooting day because of the "bahag" costume of Machete.

“Na-conscious po ako kasi yun ang pinaka sexy, pinaka daring na ginawa ko on TV,” Aljur said.

“Nakabahag talaga ako. Dumating ako sa point na nagisip ako kung kaya ko bang gawin to kasi hindi ako sanay eh. Pero nakita ko yung plug, dun ko na naramdaman na kaya ko.”

The role was originally played by action star Cesar Montano with veteran actors Rita Avila and Joel Torre.

Aljur said that when the project was offered to him, he immediately sought Cesar's blessing.

“Sabi niya take it easy. MasydawKerr akong seryoso kasi nate46 ado Actress tense ako sa machete eh. Nagpa48 America's Uncle pasalamat ako sa supporta na ib50 Rotunda feature inigay nya sa akin. Importante yun 52 Absolute eh.” for a lyricist 54 Muse 55 ___The voceupcoming television series will carry the highlights of the 1990 56 Upright movie, option but they will put modern 57 Bidder's twists the story.

58 Cut intoinmetal

case’s dismissal, his relationship with Halili as her legal counsel seemed to be not affected at all.

Palad explained that while the court junked their case against Kho for a sex video scandal that gripped headlines, the cosmetic surgeon still cannot be considered not guilty. This is because the case was only dismissed due to lack of evidence.

He also said that he would not advise his client to talk privately to Kho. “Hindi siguro, I would not advise. I would not advise. I think si Ms. Halili pati the family, I would not recommend na magkiss and make up sila na walang camera. He can do that kahapon

Metro Express Express Ad Rates: Metro 1. Colored Ads* A. Full-page Ads (Full Color / Size: 11x17 sq. ins.) – P158,000 only (Inclusive of 30% color separation charge) plus 1000 free copies B. Half-page Ads (Full Color) – P79,000 only (Inclusive of 30% color separation charge) plus 100 free copies C. ¼ Page Ads (Full Color) – P39,500 only (Inclusive of 30% color separation charge) plus 100 free copies 2. B/W Ads* A. Full-page Ads (B & W)/ Size: 11 x 17 sq. ins.) – P98,000 only plus 1000 free copies B.Half-page Ads – P49,000 only plus 100 free copies C. ¼ Page Ads – P24,500 only plus 100 free copies 4. Advertorials (Special Supplement on Founding Anniversaries, etc) A. Full-page Ads (Size: 11 x 17 sq. ins.) – P78,000 only plus 100 free copies B. Half-page Ads (B/W) – P39,000 only plus 50 free copies C.¼ Page Ads (B/W) – P19,500 only plus 50 free copies *Discounts on: One (1) Year Ads Contract – Less 35% 6 Months Ads Contract – Less 25% 3 Months Ads Contract – Less 15% The METRO EXPRESS Circulation (600,000 copies per issue/ week) A. All LRT passengers estimated to hit 1 million per week B. All of the 280 Offices of the House of Representatives C. All of the Senate Offices of the Philippines D. Malacanang & other Department Offices E. Select Newstands in Metro Manila Website Aside from hard copies, advertisers also get the privilege to have their ads displayed for seven (7) straight days on Metro Express website: www.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com For ad inquiries please contact our hotline Globe Mobile 0915-5517486 or email your materials to esns03@yahoo.com!

SUDOKU MASTER

60 It meant well to Caesar 63 African serpent 65 School-funding supporter

The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once.

Memo starter Lug, slangily Musical Horne Engine cover

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6

Massachusetts quartet German river Spanish title Draws forth Frequently, in poetry Attention-grabbing

SOLUTION NEXT ISSUE

sa korte. Dapat ginawa niya ‘yun eh,” he said.

According to Palad, they are not raising their white flag yet as they are still considering other legal remedies that could be done to keep the case on track. He also said other lawyers from established law firms have offered advice in support of their end.

“Hindi pa naman kami sumusurrender. Maraming lawyers na tumatawag kanina from big law firms nagbibigay ng thoughts on how to remedy the situation. I would not name names pero sabi nila ito ang tamang direksyon kung ano ang tamang gawin para manatiling buhay 'yung kaso.

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS

Customs Express

8

&

IMMIGRATION

January 17-23, 2011

PEZA, BOC expand automated system PHILIPPINE Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director-general Lilia B. De Lima and Bureau of Customs Commissioner Angelito A. Alvarez have signed Joint Memorandum Orders (JMOs) for the expanded implementation of the Automated Export Documentation System (AEDS) and Automated Cargo Transfer System (ACTS).

The expanded implementation of the AEDS and ACTS will cover all economic zone locator enterprises in all product sectors and cover export shipments loaded and import shipments discharged at all international airports and seaports starting January 2011.

“This will make shipments of all ecozone locators very convenient and very

transparent and at lesser cost. This expanded coverage will make it more difficult to use ecozone companies to smuggle goods into the country,” PEZA director-general Lilia B. De Lima said.

Under the system, the BOC and PEZA will share a database for better coordination.

“This will also make our work easier and for our locators, this means simpler way of doing business in the country,” De Lima said.

ACTS was first implemented in 2011 for import shipments of economic zone locators discharged at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with the issuance of BOC-PEZA JMO No. 012001.

On the other hand, AEDs was initially

launched in 2002 for export shipments of economic zone semiconductors and electronics export-producers loaded at the NAIA. AEDS was, subsequently, implemented to include semiconductors and electronics export shipments loaded at the Mactan International Airport in 2005 and at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in 2008.

Both AEDS and ACTS make use of Single Administrative Documents with system-generated encrypted barcodes which serve as the electronic signatures of the documents.

Use of the barcode eliminates human intervention in the processing of PEZA import permits and generation of export declarations/authority to load, thus en-

abling economic zone locators unhampered import and export transactions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays.

Scanning of the barcodes allows the accurate and facilitated verification of the authenticity of the documents presented, as well as the real-time monitoring of the status of the import and export shipments, which serve as vital safeguards preventing abuse of the tax and duty import privilege granted to economic zone locators and deter possible diversion of import or export shipments to the domestic market.

After years of efficient and effective use of both systems, the BOC and PEZA have decided that economic zone export

products in other product sectors should not be allowed to enjoy reduced documentary requirements and the transparent processing of the release and transfer of transit cargoes as well as loading of export shipments, at the same time, the systems contribute to customs efforts to achieve facilitative trade while at the same time, to safeguard the national revenue collection objective compliance with customs requirements.

The PEZA ACTS served as the model for the Enhanced Automated Cargo Transfer System (E-ACT) implemented by the BOC with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Clark Development Corp and the Authority o the Freeport Area of Bataan for Freeport zone locators.

Subic port scores with P501-M haul

DFA REPORT -- Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo cites several DFA accomplishments for the year 2010, which include the successful hosting by the Philippines of the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting (SNAMMM) on Interfaith Dialogue last March, the Philippine presidency of the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and the approval of the five-year, US $ 434-million Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Compact proposal for 2010-2014. He also noted the opening of the DFA-Office of Consular Affairs building at the Aseana Business Park in Paranaque City and the full implementation of the electronic passport (e-passport) system as key achievements for the year. The DFA has also responded to distress calls of Filipinos overseas and handled cases involving human trafficking, drug smuggling and piracy together with the Philippine government’s network of 63 Embassies and 27 Consulates General around the world.

PPA to bid out terminal project by Q2 PHILIPPINE Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Juan Sta. Ana has said that the agency will bid out its proposed bulk terminal facility near North Harbor by the second quarter of 2011.

Sta. Ana said the proposed 200-hectare bulk terminal aims to decongest the ports located in Manila. He added that they are now conducting technical study on how to best use the facility.

“The technical study will last up to three months, and then we will craft the terms of reference. We’ll probably do the bidding in the second half, towards the end of the year,” Sta. Ana said.

The PPA's technical committee is headed by Assistant General Manager for Operations Raul Santos.

The body will be tasked to review, evaluate and recommend a strategic framework for Manila Harbor Development that can be the basis of PPA actions and address the proposals from interested private sector groups.

The committee will establish guidelines on the qualification requirements of applicants, procedures for filing of application, criteria for evaluation and

approval, development and operational limitations as well as extent of restrictions imposed in present contracts with Manila-based terminal operators.

In November, PPA secured the green light from Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose De Jesus to reclaim around 200 hectares of the Manila Bay, but still within PPA's port zone delineation.

“The Manila Harbor Development will not only dramatically change the whole scale of commercial port development but will specifically contribute to reestablishing the Port of Manila as the country’s premier port capable of handling all types of seaborne traffic,” the PPA stressed earlier.

Sta. Ana said that the area between Pasig River and South Harbor, directly fronting the Engineering Island, offers huge potentials for commercial bulk operations.

“The strategic framework seeks to create additional space for hosting facilities that have not yet been made available in completed and proposed port projects in the Metropolitan Manila with-

out adding to the problem of congestion of ports,” he added.

The PPA chief declined to give figures on how much will the government or the private sector spend for the said project since all of these data will be determined by the technical study.

But he added that the proposed bulk terminal facility can accommodate the needs of investors who have already signified interests for long term operation of commercial ports to handle dry or liquid bulk cargoes such as wheat and flour, minerals, petroleum products.

At the moment, these goods are being rerouted to other sites or handled shipside as a result of the lack of or inadequate accessible Manila-based bulk handling facilities.

Ports in Manila are still the preferred shipping points of companies, but most of the facilities are already bursting at the seams.

During the previous administration, government wanted shippers to move out of Manila to areas such as Batangas Port and Subic Bay to decongest the ports in Manila.

Ledesma bans 96 fixers from BI premises IN A determined effort to prevent corrupt and anomalous transactions in the bureau’s main building in Intramuros, Manila, Acting Immigration Commissioner Ronaldo Ledesma banned from Bureau of Immigration (BI) premises close to a hundred individuals suspected of being fixers.

Ledesma said the crackdown is part of the ongoing drive of the BI to rid corruption and other anomalous transactions.

He ordered members of the bureau’s civil security unit (CSU) to strictly enforce the ban on 96 persons, some of whom are "notorious" in faking immigration travel documents.

Ledesma also directed BI guards to prohibit the suspected fixers, whose names and pictures were posted in conspicuous places, from entering the bureau’s building or loitering in the premises.

“It is about time that we conduct a serious crackdown against these unauthorized persons who prey on unsuspecting foreigners with impunity to the detriment of the bureau’s reputation,” the BI chief said.

Ledesma said many of the alleged fixers were already banned during previous administrations but the orders against them were never strictly implemented by the bureau’s securi-

ty guards.

Danilo Almeda, BI-alien registration division chief welcomed the directive of Ledesma, saying the ban was timely especially when foreigners are advised to make an annual report starting January next year.

Almeda, who supervises the issuance of Alien Certificate of Registration or I-card, said the ban will definitely reduce the number of people loitering around the main lobby.

For his part, BI administrative chief Felino Quirante Jr. said the move is part of the BI’s ongoing housecleaning against undesirable elements and personnel.

"These fixers have been the object of perennial complaints from the transacting public.

"Their presence here undermines our image as the agency tasked with processing the immigration visas and documents of our foreign visitors," Quirante said, adding he has already prepared the list of banned persons.

The administrative chief also said that fixers charge exorbitant fees and some are notorious for manufacturing fraudulent visas and other fake BI papers which they offer to unsuspecting foreigners who have problems with their immigration documents.

BI goes after vs foreigners in smuggling THE Bureau of Immigration has created an elite team that will track down foreigners involved in the smuggling of illegal aliens into the country.

BI Acting Commissioner Ronaldo Ledesma on Tuesday said the special team, composed of seasoned intelligence agents and immigration officers, would also go after foreigners and other persons involved in the trafficking of Filipinos

abroad, especially women.

Ledesma said the fight against human trafficking was a concerted effort of all government agencies involved, thus, the creation of the BI Trafficking in Persons Unit (TPU).

He also confirmed intelligence reports that some undesirable foreigners from Asian countries lead syndicates involved in the smuggling of illegal aliens in and

out of the Philippines, and in the trafficking of Filipinos to various countries worldwide. ”We are sending a strong signal to these syndicates, particularly the foreigners that manage, finance and operate them, that there will be no letup in bureau’s heightened campaign against human trafficking,” Ledesma said.

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- Despite the declining trend in Customs collections all over the country, the Port of Subic posted a whooping collection of P501 million last month, a P59-million excess over its target of P442 million.

The November collection brought the total tally for the last 11 months here to P4.52 billion — an all-time high in terms of actual cash haul in the Subic Bay Freeport, and already 5.33 percent more than the total cash collection of P4.29 billion recorded in 12 months last year.

Subic’s outstanding collection performance appeared to defy what officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) described as a revenue shortfall for the past five months all over the country, which resulted to total collections of only P18.2 billion, compared to the agency’s target of P26.9 billion in November.

Subic, along with Clark and Tacloban, registered the only positive record among the 17 ports in the country, with Subic as the best performer, the BOC said.

“At this point, without even reaching the P5-billion projected mark, the November figure is by far the highest since 1998,” remarked Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza.

He also noted that the BOC's P4.52-billion cash collection todate has already exceeded last year’s 11-month posting of P 3.85 billion by 17.44 percent.

The current figure also represents a total surplus of P234 million, or 5.5 percent, over the BOC’s 11-month target.

BOC records indicate that cash collections in the Port of Subic are derived from duties and taxes paid for ship calls, transshipment operations, and the importation of various inputs, including oil, motor vehicles, and other general merchandise.

Within the past 11 months, the BOC also recorded the highest monthly collection surplus of P145.9 million in

ARREZA

March, followed by P140.2 million in June, and P59.5 million in November.

Last month, the BOC also posted the highest monthly collection of P501.6 million in this free port, which is 52.7 percent more than that of last year’s P328 million, on a month-on-month comparison.

Aside from its cash collections, the Bureau also posted in Subic non-cash collections of P3.38 billion, an increase of 21.54 percent over last year’s P2.78 billion. These collections are mainly derived from government-to-government transactions.

According to BOC officials, the Subic collection district now utilizes the Enhanced Automated Cargo Transfer System (e-ACTS), which ensures fast, safe, synchronized and secure cargo transit between Subic and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), as well as the Port of Manila and the International Container Port Terminal.

Introduced in mid-September this year as an electronic protocol in lieu of faceto-face transactions, the e-ACTS not only boosted the government’s campaign against smuggling and diversion of cargo, but also enhanced the collection of proper Customs duties and other revenues.

BOC files smuggling raps vs 2 businessmen, 2 firms

ALVAREZ

THE Bureau of Customs has filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) four smuggling cases against two individuals and two companies as part of its campaign to boost government revenues.

BOC Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said the agency filed cases against: Lucia Chicco, a businesswoman based in Angeles City, for illegal importation of firearms; Kristofferson Manalo, a private broker for unlawful importation of compact-disc replicating machines and accessories; Goldrich International Exchange for facilitating the entry of unlawfully imported goods; and Kornets International Co. Ltd. for bringing in counterfeit products to the Philippines.

Alvarez recounted that Chicco tried to clear a 40-footer container van con-

taining household goods and personal effects, which arrived at the Manila International Container Port.

Upon examination, however, BOC officials found assorted rifles and ammunition, two revolvers, six pistols, and two safety deposit boxes containing assorted guns, he added. Aside from guns and ammunition, BOC authorities also found in the container one used 2003 model Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a used 1983 Kawasaki motorcycle, and a used 1999 Plymouth sedan.

The BOC filed a case against Kristofferson Manalo — a broker of logistics firm Kintetsu World Express — for unlawful importation of assorted units of compact-disc replicating machines and accessories, Alvarez said.

“The entire shipment was seized and the broker was charged with unlawful importation, because the machines were brought in without the required permit, clearance, and license from the Optical Media Board," he said.

The four units of replicating machines, various spare parts, and accessories carry a dutiable value of P280 million, according to the Customs commissioner. In the case of Goldrich International, the bureau filed a case against the company for being “a bogus business enterprise that was created mainly for the purpose of securing Customs accreditation and [for] facilitating the entry of unlawfully imported goods to the damage and prejudice of the government."

Sports Express

9

January 17-23, 2011

PFF lines up more int’l exposure for Azkals

NO. 1 FAN -- President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a football signed by the “Azkals” Pinoy booters and a jersey during the courtesy call of the Philippine Men’s National Football Team at Malacanang’s Reception Hall.

AFTER getting the much-awaited recognition from the International Football Federation (FIFA), Mariano “Nonong" Araneta buckled down to work quickly and laid out his program for next year.

Araneta, who will take over his new role as president of the Philippine Football Federation, plans to have a busier schedule for Philippine football in the coming year.

Araneta will take over the reins of ousted PFF president Mari Martinez, who was booted out by 26 of 30 voting members during the group’s national congress late last month.

The Philippine Azkals are scheduled to play Mongolia in the AFF Challenge Cup on Feb. 9 and 16. One of the scheduled matches is likely to be held at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City. There’s also a big possibility that both

matches will be played in Bacolod due to the weather condition in Mongolia at that time.

A qualifying event in the World Cup in July is also part of the PFF’s calendar, as well as the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia late next year. There's also a possibility of a pre-World Cup qualifying match being planned to be hosted by the Philippines, while a tournament for the Under-19 and Under16 divisions are also in the works.

The decision to provide the Azkals more exposure next year came on the heels of their impressive showing in the Suzuki Cup where they stunned defending champion Vietnam and made it all the way to the semis.

But the Azkals’ magical run ended when they lost to Indonesia in two hard-fought matches in the semifinal round. In defeat, the Fil-

AFTER MOSLEY FIGHT ON MAY 7

Nikki takes another shot at Guinness swim record

Pacquiao-Marquez III possible HALL of Fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach thinks that a trilogy between his ward, Manny Pacquiao, and Juan Manuel Marquez may still happen.

If it does materialize, it will be held only after the Filipino 8-division champ fights "Sugar" Shane Mosley next year.

"I'm not too worried. After Mosley, the Marquez fight will still be there. He'll be there after this fight," Roach told Boxingscene.com. "I don't see Marquez going anywhere."

Despite his preference for Mosley, the boxing Hall of Famer said he still is hopeful for another Pacquiao-Marquez rematch.

"We just have to keep winning and I think that fight will happen," he said.

The camps of Marquez, Mosley and Andre Berto have submitted their respective proposals for a Pacquiao fight.

Roach, however, is leaning in favor of Mosley. He said "Sugar" could prove to be a tough oppo-

Pacquiao's toughAManny third Pacquiaoest opponent date has Marquez tussletocould been Manuel still beJuan worked out.Marquez, who pushed Pacquiao to the limit in two hotly contested fights.

nent for Pacquiao.

Whoever stands out in the negotiations will face the Fighter of the Decade on May 7, 2011, which could be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

'He doesn't really want to fight' Roach also reacted to how Marquez reportedly demanded from Top Rank's Bob Arum a guaranteed sum of $5 million for a third fight against Pacquiao. The re-

quest is twice as big as his purse in his September 2009 fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. "Marquez just wants to say no by negotiating the way that he wants to negotiate. That's a polite

way of saying no," he said. "He doesn't really want to fight us."

Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) chief Richard Schaefer earlier said that his firm is willing to to be bought out by Top Rank.

Donaire eyes super bantamweight after Montiel

Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire shows off his titles

ONCE he disposed of world bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. is eyeing to conquer the super bantamweight class.

“Siguro after the Montiel fight, I think the best for me is 122 pounds (super bantamweight) so aakyat kaagad ako,” said Donaire, who will challenge Montiel for the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title on February 19 (Feb. 20 in Manila).

At bantamweight, Donaire only

has to make the 118-lb. weight limit.

It would be much easier for him to shed weight if he fights as a super bantamweight.

“I feel good,” said Donaire.

“My weight is definitely a plus to my ability to my speed and everything.”

“I'm expecting a good fight, that's all I can say. I'm gonna do my best,” he added. But he said he will have to beat Montiel first before climbing another weight class.

“He's been a champion for a long time. Alam ng mga tao, alam ng mga boxing writers na magaling ito," Donaire said.

The Filipino Flash is coming off a 4th-round knock out victory over former world champion Wladimir Sidorenko, a boxer who has never been knocked out prior to facing Donaire.

Montiel himself recently won a knockout victory. He stopped fellow Mexican Jovanny Soto in just 2 rounds. However, Donaire said Sidorenko is a tougher fight compared to Soto.

“Hindi naman magaling ‘yung kalaban niya, hindi naman ka-level ni Sidorenko. Eh ‘yung kalaban niya ni-knockout ni [AJ] Banal,” said the Filipino.

ipinos earned the admiration not only of our countrymen but also the international crowd.

"It was a great experience for us," said Chris Greatwich, who scored two goals in the tournament. “I think we were very tight and tentative against Indonesia and we didn't play to our full potential right until the second half of the second game."

"Ito ang biggest na naabot ko sa national team since nag-start ako.

Siguro nag-uumpisa pa lang kami ngayon para sa Philippine football," said co-captain Chieffy Caligdong.

"Kaya sana mag-finals kaso hindi binigay pero sana sa next tournament makuha namin."

"It's a very disappointing loss, but as a team, this is a step in the right direction and we're looking forward to the future," said Neil Etheridge, who impressed everyone with his goalkeeping skills.

Meanwhile, the Senate commended Donaire Jr. for his recent victory against Ukrainian pugilist Wladimir Sidorenko.

The Senate adopted Resolution 303, praising the Filipino "Flash" for bringing honor to the country by beating the Ukrainian and winning the interim World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight crown.

"He showed exemplary boxing skills and talent during his fight, which resulted in a technical knockout decision on the fourth round of the fight, giving Sidorenko his first knockout loss in his career," the Senate said.

FOILED the last time, organizers of the 'Great Pinoy Peace and Unity Swim’ are not conceding their bid to put the country in the record books.

Former Senator Nikki Coseteng bared plans of attempting another shot at breaking the current Guinness world record for the most number of swimmers in a non-stop 24-hour marathon relay.

Through her Diliman Preparatory School and the Susan Papa Swimming Academy, Coseteng organized a two-day event last December 10 to 11 in an effort to topple the existing swimming relay mark being held by Italy, which produced 5,028 people last July who swam 60 feet each inside 24 hours.

But organizers came 496 short of the world record as only 4,532 swimmers showed up.

The former Senator expressed her disappointment that the leadership of the Philippine Aquatics Sports Association (PASA) under president Mark Joseph, didn’t really extend its full support to the cause which aimed to unite as many people in a single place within a 24-hour span through the sport of swimming.

Although Joseph stood to his words that he won’t be suspending national swimmers who took part in the affair, Coseteng said the PASA president decided to hold time trial races among members of the Philippine team during the same day, and staged another event which the national pool members needed to attend.

“I believe the problem is within the swimming leadership and not among the swimmers themselves,” lamented Coseteng.

Maynilad, 3 others to join 1st-ever PBA D-League FOUR teams have expressed interest in joining the Philippine Basketball Association's Developmental League or D-League, a venue where former collegiate players and Filipino-foreign players a chance to showcase their skills before entering the professional league.

"Signs are very encouraging, as four teams outside of the PBA have expressed interest in joining," said PBAcommissionerAtty.ChitoSalud.

The PBA decided to form the D-League idea after the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), the former farm league of the PBA, merged with Liga Pilipinas.

Maynilad, one of the companies controlled by businessman/sportsman Manuel V. Pangilinan, might join the D-League next year.

This was relayed by Patrick Gregorio, Talk N Text's alternate board governor in the PBA. Talk N Text is one of the teams owned

by Pangilinan.

"Mr. (Ricky) Vargas told me Maynilad is open to the idea and might consider joining the DLeague," said Gregorio. "Who knows, another MVP group/team

will join because we have two slots."

Vargas, board governor of the Tropang Texters, is the president of Maynilad and also the head of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) being bankrolled by Pangilinan’s group.

The three-month-long tournament will open while the PBA's 37th season is ongoing. The games will be played every Tuesday and Thursday.

The D-League is patterned after the National Basketball Development League, where players can hone their game while waiting for a chance to join the National Basketball Association.

The NBDL Eastern Conference is composed of the Dakota Wizards, Erie BayHawks, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Iowa Energy, Maine Red Claws, Sioux Falls Skyforce and Springfield Armor.

The Western Conference is made up of the Austin Toros, Bakersfield Jam, Idaho Stampede, New Mexico Thunderbirds, Reno Bighorns, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Texas Legends, Tulsa 66ers and Utah Flash.

WINNERS -- Jam Mangio (right) and Paul del Rosario proudly display the trophies they've won in the recently concluded 2010 Jetski King's World Cup in Pitsanulok, Thailand. Mangio bagged the title in the Amateur Women's Ski Limited Edition while Del Rosario placed 2nd in the Pro-Am Runabout Division. Right photo shows Mangio in action against a Thai competitor.

SPORTS TRIVIA Highest paid NBA player in 1946 THE highest paid player during the first season of the National Basketball Association was Detroit Falcon's Tom King who made $16,500.

He managed this salary by not only playing for the team (salary $8,000 plus a $500 signing bonus) but also by convincing the team owner to hire him to be the publicity manager and business director for which he was paid an additional $8,000. Photos exist of King, still in his uniform with a typewriter on the bleachers, hammering out a press release after a game. In the regular season he compiled a 5.2 points per game average in 58 games for a Detroit team that finished in 4th place in the 5 team Western Division with a 20-40 record. Note: this was the inaugural season of the Basketball Association of American, the BAA, which merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to formed the NBA.

FIL-JAPAN FRIENDSHIP GAME -- Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) Vice President Ely Barradas shakes hand with a Japanese coach after the FIL-JAPAN Friendship baseball game at Rizal Memorial Baseball Field. PHOTO BY REY G. NILLAMA

Nadal rules tennis in 2010 LONDON — Just as tennis fans were busy debating whether Roger Federer is the greatest player ever, Rafael Nadal provided further evidence that the Swiss star might not even be the best of his generation.

Fifteen months after Federer became the sixth man in history to win all four Grand Slam titles, Nadal became the seventh in 2010 when he won the U.S. Open, his third major in a row after the French Open and Wimbledon.

During a dominant season, the 24-year-old Spaniard wrested back the No. 1 ranking from Federer, and racked up seven titles, including a record-breaking 18th Masters Series win.

With an Olympic singles gold and two Davis Cup titles already in the bag, Nadal is fast running out of major prizes to win.

In an average season by his very high standards, Federer saw his streak of 23 Grand Slam semifinals ended by Robin Soderling at the French Open.

Motoring Express

10

January 17-23, 2011

Ford PH marks 75,000 export milestone EXPORT VALUE OF TOTAL PRODUCTION REACHES $950M FORD Ford Motor Company Philippines (FMCP) recently celebrated the 75,000th vehicle manufactured for export from its Santa Rosa manufacturing facility.

The milestone was reached with a new Ford Focus that was part the latest batch of exports bound for aASEAN markets.

FMCP’s export business has grown significantly through November, increasing 42 percent from the same period last year to 9,092 Ford and Mazda vehicles.

Exports this year have accounted for roughly half of FMCP’s total production volume, worth an export value of more than $ 950 million.

"Everyone at FMCP is proud to continue building on the success of our export program here in the Philippines, and passing the 75,000th unit milestone is a significant achievement for all of us,” said FGP President Randy Krieger.

“The continued export demand for the Ford and Mazda vehicles from our Santa Rosa facility is driven by the worldclass quality and safety that our Filipino

workforce delivers, and an ongoing commitment to excellence," he said.

As the first and only volume exporter of vehicles from the Philippines, FMCP has supplied the Ford Focus, Ford Escape and Mazda3 to ASEAN markets that include Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia since 2002.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents.

With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

Mitsubishi shells out $535M to make new ‘world car’ in Thailand TOKYO -- Mitsubishi Motors Corp said it would spend 16 billion baht ($535 million) to build its new "Global Small" car in Thailand, announcing a new factory with initial capacity of 150,000 cars a year.

The plant, the Japanese automaker’s third in Thailand, will start production in March 2012 and create about 3,000 jobs, it said in a statement. Production capacity can be ramped up to 200,000 units a year in future, it said.

The Global Small car, which will have an engine of 1.0-1.2 liters, will become one of Mitsubishi’s core models, positioned as an entry-level car to meet growing demand for compact, fuel-efficient cars in both emerging and developed countries.

The new factory will be located about 100 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, in the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate in Chonburi, where Mitsubishi also makes the Lancer, Pajero Sport, Triton and other models at two factories.

A Mitsubishi Motors spokeswoman in Tokyo said investment for the new factory is estimated at 10 billion baht, while

Mitsubishi’s world car will carry the Colt brand

the company will spend another 6 billion baht to prepare it for production of the new car.

Mitsubishi Motors President Osamu

Masuko has said he also wants to build the car in either China, Brazil or India, and produce an electric-only version of the model for developed markets by ‘12..

Chrysler recalls thousands of trucks, SUVs WASHINGTON – Chrysler recalled about 150,000 trucks and SUVs on Thursday to address steering, air bag and potential stalling problems, while Ford recalled nearly 15,000 trucks and crossovers because of electrical issues.

Chrysler Group LLC said it was conducting three separate recalls to fix the problems, which were posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.

The first recall covers about 22,000 Dodge Ram trucks from the 2008-2011 model years to address steering problems. Chrysler said it had received 86 complaints over three years but was not aware of any crashes or injuries connected to the issue.

The second involves about 65,000 2009 model year Dodge Journey SUVs to fix side air bags that might not deploy.

Wires within the front door could break and interrupt the circuits for the side impact sensors, causing the air bag warning light to go off and potentially preventing the air bag from deploying in a crash, the car manufacturer told the government.

Chrysler said it has received 23 complaints from customers about the air bag lamp. There have been no reports of crashes, fires or injuries.

The last recall includes about 57,000 Ram 1500 trucks from the 2011 model year to fix components in rear axles that could cause the trucks to stall. Chrysler said it has received 20 reports of axle bearing noise or failure, most coming within 500 miles of driving. It has not received any reports of crashes or injuries.

Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co. said it was recalling some 2011 model year Ford F150, F250, F350, F450 and F550 pickup trucks and 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers to address potential electrical shorts that could lead to fires in unattended vehicles. A Ford supplier produced the modules during a six-day period in November.

Ford said it was aware of two vehicle fires at an assembly plant in Dearborn, Mich., but had not received any reports of fires in vehicles on the road.

The Escape is one of Ford’s top exports

South Korea eyes tax breaks for electric cars SEOUL -- South Korea is considering tax cuts on purchases of electric cars as part of its efforts to bolster the nation's green industry, government sources said Thursday.

Discussion is underway to provide purchasers of electric cars with exemptions in consumption, acquisition and registration taxes which are being applied to other types of vehicles, officials at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said.

"After completing research and an additional internal review during the first half of next year, we plan to prepare the tax support plan for electric cars by September when the government is to revise the nation's tax code," a ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

Currently, buyers of eco-friendly hybrid cars are given reductions on consumption tax and other taxes. The government is also planning to offer the same or even higher tax benefits to buyers of electric vehicles, the official added.

The envisioned tax support could reduce the price tag of an electric car by up to 3.3 million won (US$ 2,837).

The move is part of the government's efforts to bolster green business as the nation's next generation growth engine. Such tax cuts are expected to draw customer attention and boost sales of vehicles based on eco-friendly technologies, observers say.

It also coincides with intensifying efforts by other countries to take the lead in the green business sector, they added.

The government, however, is not likely to provide tax benefits any time soon for other types of eco-friendly cars, such as plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles as it needs more time to analyze feasibility on the fledgling markets, an official said.

INTERN ATION AL INTERNA TIONAL MO TORING UPD ATE MOT UPDA Mexican auto industry registers strong exports MEXICO CITY -- Mexican auto exports registered a 24.7 percent increase and a 17.5 percent increase in production year on year in November, the Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA) said in a statement Monday.

Auto export has become one of the key factors behind Mexico's 2010 export boom, accounting for more than 19.5 billion dollars, more than traditional sectors like oil, tourism and remittances.

More than 168,000 vehicles were exported in November, and the total number in the first 11 months of 2010 has surpassed 1.7 million. This number is nearly 58 percent more than that of 2009, when the auto market was unusually depressed, and 10.3 percent more than the same period in 2008, when the worldwide recession was just beginning to have an impact.

AMIA said some of the export growth comes from companies which moved manufacturing to Mexico during the recession.

The United States remains the largest importer of Mexican vehicles, making up almost 69 percent of the total, with the rest of Latin America only accounting for 10.6 percent and Canada for 7.8 percent.

Mexico's economy is growing, and has recovered the formal jobs lost during last year's steep recession. However, consumer confidence remains low when it comes to buying new expensive goods.

A Sport Coupe version of the E-mobile hybrid car is presented in Moscow. Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov unveiled the new hybrid car that is due to come on the market in 2012, a first in a country where motorists often show scant regard for the environment.

Billionaire unveils Russia's first hybrid car MOSCOW -- Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov has unveiled a new hybrid car that is due to come on the market in 2012, a first in a country where motorists often show scant regard for the environment.

The E-Mobile is a joint venture between Prokhorov's financial holding company Onexim group and the carmaker Yarovit-Motors. The hybrid operates on a combination of electricity and petrol (gasoline).

Mass production is due to be launched in the second half of 2012. The maximum price per unit will be 450,000 rubles (14,500 dollars), said Andrei Biryukov, the director of E-Auto.

The company's symbol is the Russian letter "Yo" written as an 'E' with two dots on top.

Biryukov said total investment will amount to 150 million euros (200 million dollars) for the construction of the first assembly plant.

The group expects to produce 10,000 units annually. Three prototype models were unveiled on Monday -- a two-door car, a mini-van with five seats and a small cargo van.

The new car is in line with President Dmitry Medvedev's call on business to innovate and help the country economy wean itself of a reliance on hydrocarbons for energy and transport.

Honda recalling Accord, Pilot over suspensions WASHINGTON — Honda Motor Co. is recalling about 10,800 Accord sedans and Pilot sport utility vehicles to prevent possible front suspension failure.

The Japanese automaker said the recall covers late model year 2010-2011 Accord sedans and 2011 Pilot SUVs in the United States.

Honda said problems with the machinery used to tighten spindle nuts on the front axles on both vehicles could cause the front suspension to fail.

The company said a flaw in the software for the equipment used in the assembly process was discovered at its plant in Alabama.

Honda said it expects to notify owners this week and the repairs will be conducted at dealerships.

Toyota expands IMV TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp. said it plans to spend 25.5 billion yen ($305 million) to lift production capacity of its global multi-purpose vehicle IMV by a combined 100,000 units a year, in Thailand and Argentina.

As a result, total production capacity for the global model will reach 900,000 units by November 2011, the world’s biggest automaker said in a statement.

Sales of the IMV series of vehicles, produced in 11 markets and sold in about 140 countries, are expected to reach a record 800,000 vehicles this year thanks to brisk demand particularly in emerging regions such as Asia and the Middle East, Toyota said.

At one of its Thai factories, Toyota will raise capacity by about 60 percent to 220,000 a year in August 2011, while in Argentina, capacity will rise by 20,000 units to 90,000 a year in November 2011.

Toyota will boost diesel engine production at its Thai engine factory to 330,000 units a year from the current 220,000 units.

Please SEND THEM in thru esns03@yahoo.com!

A breeze Sometimes, the 6-km stretch from end of SLEX in Calamba, Laguna to Sto. Tomas, Batangas would normally take two hours two traverse during peak hours or long holidays, a time when Manilabased families rush to southern hideaways to unwind from the hussle and buzzle of city life.

Indeed, it could really be a long trek as the snarl usually starts at the Calamba toll gate courtesy of slow processing toll fee changes and receipts thereat at toll booths.

“Whew, thanks God,” one would mut-

Motoring Express

11

Your Press/Photo Releases get published here!

January 17-23, 2011

ter to himself or herself after finally getting past there unaware that it was only some sort of a warm-up to one’s drying patience.

About another kilometer away from there, you’d put on the brakes again to join into the slow upward march right into the path of the road sign that says “TO LUCENA/BATANGAS.” The driver instinct in you would tell you you are now traversing Turbina (Calamba) where assorted bus terminals line up the right side of the road.

Nice and easy. Keep your cool, check your brakes, apply a smooth pressure on the clutch pedal and stop wasting fuel by revving up an already revved-up engine.

Slow as the traffic there, sleepy driv-

ers oftentimes dooze off behind the wheel and add spice to an already snail-paced, bumper-to-bumper traffic.

“Whew, thanks God again am past that part,” one would say unmindful of the next hurdle at Carmelray Light Industrial Park traffic light, which also oftentimes become an adventure especially during peak hours for workers as jeepneys have to fill up their 11-seater AUVs first.

And that’s only Stage 3. Stage 4 is right next at the Lyceum and Yazaki-Torrez area where jeepneys queue up for passenger employees and students alike making yet another traffic jam.

Then again just a breath away, the tail of the final hurdle that was the FPIP traffic greets your last ounce of patience.

But charge all those to the past or until December 14, 2010.

Now, or a day after that or since December 15, 2010, it’s a now breeze.

Thanks to the Alabang-Calamba-Sto. Tomas Expressway, an extension actually of SLEX that allows motorists to escape Turbina Ordeal and appreciate the joys of driving and perhaps, to some extent, thebrilliant initiative of the previous administration led by no less than PGMA. Just forget about accusations of mindboggling corruption during her administration, the breezy traffic must stand out now in the minds of Southern motorists whether they like it or not. WRP could only hope PNoy or his Bright Boys can top that.

el amigo

ISMAEL ‘EL’ AMIGO

Wheels, Roads & Places (WRP)

Toyota settles Fil-Am family for $10-M ADDED ATTRACTION -Japanese models add spice to the already sizzling Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

TOYOTA offered $10 million to settle out of court a lawsuit that followed an August 2009 Toyota car crash in San Diego, California, which killed in a fireball a family of four people, including two Filipino Americans.

The tragic crash allegedly resulted from the Lexus “accelerating on its own” while on the freeway.

The case against the Toyota manufacturer was dropped, but the civil case against Toyota car dealer Bob Baker Lexus will continue, according to the San Diego counsel of the families of the victims.

Toyota agreed to pay $10 million to settle the lawsuit that arose from the crash of a Lexus car in a San Diego suburb, which killed California Highway Patrol officer Mark Wesley Saylor, 45; his Filipina wife, Cleofe L. Saylor, 45 (a native of Nabua, Camarines Sur); their daughter, Mahala Manda Saylor, 12; and Cleofe’s younger brother, Christopher N. Lastrella, 38.

Lexus is the luxury brand of Toyota car models.

The amount was part of a settlement

reached in September between Toyota and the Saylor relatives, who had wanted the settlement kept under wraps. Toyota had opposed efforts of Bob Baker Lexus and several media organizations to make the settlement amount public.

“Toyota and the Saylor and Lastrella families reached a private, amicable settlement through mutual respect and cooperation without the involvement of the courts, so we are disappointed that the amount of this settlement has now been made public against the express wishes of these families and Toyota,” according to a Toyota statement.

The accident turned into a national debate as Fe Lastrella, the mother of Mark Saylor’s wife, Cleofe, was invited before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee of the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. to speak about the car crash.

It also got the attention of the world’s largest automaker and prompted Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the Japanese company’s founder, to testify in an extraordinary appearance before a committee of the U.S. Congress.

Toyota tops in U.S. car buyer consideration DETROIT -– Toyota Motor Corp has regained the top spot among U.S. consumers who are considering buying a new car, followed closely by Ford and Honda, Kelley Blue Book said.

KBB's study for the third quarter of 2010 said 25 percent of new car buyers consider Toyota, followed by 24 percent for Ford Motor Co and 23 percent for Honda Motor Co. In pickup trucks, Ford was the most considered, and in minivans, Honda was on top, KBB said.

The car results show "Toyota is slowly recovering from its public-perception crisis and regaining a position of prominence in the

minds of new-car shoppers," said James Bell, executive market analyst with KBB. But Bell cautioned that Toyota may not regain the standing it had before its recall and safety crisis.

About 11 million Toyota vehicles in the United States were recalled beginning in November 2009. Also, in early 2010, the company suspended sales and production of some of its most popular vehicles, including the Camry sedan.

Ford topped Toyota as the most-considered brand in the U.S. market in the KBB study for the three quarters prior to the 2010 third quarter. Toyota held the top spot from the first quarter of 2007 through

the third quarter of 2009.

In the third quarter this year, behind the top three, were General Motors Co's main brand, Chevrolet, at 19 percent, Nissan Motor at 16 percent and Hyundai Motor Co at 13 percent.

While the study showed Toyota was the most considered brand, its share of the U.S. market through November 2010 fell to 15.2 percent from 16.8 percent in the first 11 months of 2009, according to Autodata.

Autodata shows Ford's share of the U.S. market rose to 16.7 percent from 15.3 percent. The U.S. leader in market share remains GM at 19 percent, down from 19.7 percent in 2009.

Among luxury brands, BMW was the most considered in the third quarter, followed by Toyota's Lexus brand, Volkswagen's Audi, Honda's Acura and Daimler's Mercedes-Benz.

Chrysler and Dodge minivans gained slightly among minivan buyers in the third quarter, KBB said. Those brands are managed and partly owned by Fiat.

The KBB study followed 37 brands sold in the U.S. market.

The five top factors new car shoppers indicated were important to them were, in descending order, durability and reliability, fuel efficiency, driving comfort, driving performance and safety.

Toyota recalls 100,000 Sienna minivans WASHINGTON – Toyota Motor Corp. said it will recall nearly 100,000 Sienna minivans from the 2011 model year to replace a switch bracket on the brake lamp that could cause the brake lights to stay on.

The Japanese automaker, which has grappled with several safety recalls during the past year, said a driver's foot could hit the switch bracket and deform it while applying the parking brake pedal. Toyota said it did not know of any accidents or injuries related to the issue.

The switch bracket is welded on to the left side of the brake pedal assembly. The

brake lamp provides a signal to indicate that the brake pedal has been depressed and illuminates the brake lights.

Toyota has recalled more than 10 million vehicles in the past year to address a number of safety problems, including faulty gas pedals, floor mats that can trap accelerators, defective braking and stalling engines.

The world's No. 1 automaker faces dozens of lawsuits in the U.S. from family members of people who were killed or injured in crashes connected to unintended acceleration.

In this Dec. 2, 2009 file photo, the 2011 Toyota Sienna debuts at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles.

In the Sienna recall, Toyota said the bracket problem could lead to the brake lights remaining on. If the bracket was significantly deformed, the service brake could become partially engaged, causing brake

drag, noise and vibrations in the vehicle.

The brakes could also wear down faster.

Toyota told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the recall potentially affected 94,126 vehicles.

Ford joins US minivan market

Ford C-Max

DETROIT -– Ford Motor Co will introduce a seven-passenger C-Max minivan to the North American market in 2012, a vehicle that is smaller than most current minivans in an effort aimed at young families.

The C-Max minivan built on the same platform as the Focus small sedan will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

"When you look at the C-Max, it's really for young families, those folks that are moving up from a compact sedans and those kinds of things," said Mark Fields, president of Ford in North and South America.

The U.S. and Canadian versions of the C-Max are an adaptation of the C-Max Ford has sold in Europe.

Derrick Kuzak, Ford vice president for global product development, said the new C-Max is an example of Ford's executing its "One Ford" plan worldwide.

More than 2 million Ford vehicles will be produced worldwide with this "C-segment" small-car platform by 2012, he said.

Since Chrysler introduced the minivan in the early 1980s, different versions of it have evolved. The C-Max is 178 inches long, about the same length as the minivans of three decades ago, Kuzak added.

Chevrolet Sail

GM sees big rise in China-made Chevrolet Sail in 2011 GUANGZHOU, China -– Top U.S. automaker General Motors (GM.N) expects exports of its China-made Chevrolet Sail to jump 300 percent or more next year, a senior executive said.

GM started to export the Sail made at its flagship car venture with SAIC Motor Corp (600104.SS) in January, shipping 5,000 units as of the end of October mostly to Chile.

"Next year, the growth will certainly be many times more than our 2010 number," Terry Johnsson, vice president for GM's China operations, told Reuters on the sidelines of the week-long Guangzhou autoshow. "At minimum, our business will be 10,000 units export for Sail.

It could be 20,000 or even more."

Beijing unveiled tax incentives for small cars in 2009, a move which helped China eclipse the United States as the world's largest automarket in 2009 and continue to drive auto sales this year.

The incentives will expire at the end of the year and many industry insiders expect Beijing to scrap them in 2011.

Johnsson said he expected the Chinese vehicle market to continue to grow 10 to 15 percent in 2011 without the incentives.

The Sail shouts louder about its electric powertrain than the Cruze did, with unique wheel designs, a streamlined body and some fancy graphics, which GM said has been "inspired by leaves", though presumably not those of a Nissan variety.

GM has said before that they're going to start producing electric cars in small numbers "for testing purposes".

&

Aviation Express TRAVEL

January 17-23, 2011

Editor: Elami Go

1st-Apluma PAID AD

http://1st-apluma.yolasite.com unangapluma@yahoo.com

Cares!

Unang Alyansang Pag-asa ng Lahi’t Uring Mamamahayag-Manggagawa

Laser incidents worry aviation officials WASHINGTON – Federal Aviation Administration officials are worried about a substantial increase in the number of people pointing lasers at aircraft cockpits, saying the intense light can distract and temporarily blind pilots and has caused some to relinquish control to their co-pilots or abort landings.

This year, there have been more than 2,200 incidents reported to the Federal Aviation Administration, up from fewer than 300 in 2005. California, Texas and Florida have recorded the most, but the problem is widespread

across the country.

There hasn't been an air crash so far, but the incidents have aviation officials concerned.

"It sounds silly, but this is a serious problem," FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt wrote Wednesday in a post on a Transportation Department blog.

"We know that laser pointers are an important tool for astronomers and casual stargazers," Babbitt wrote.

"But we just can't stress enough the importance of being careful when you are shining them into the night sky."

CUSI’S REASON FOR RESIGNATION

‘Too much politics' at CAAP "DESPITE being autonomous, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is mired by politics".

This was Alfonso Cusi's reason why he had to resign from his post despite having a fixed four-year term as CAAP director general.

Reports have it that Cusi resigned his post allegedly due to pressure from certain quarters that have cast doubt on his integrity and management competence.

“As a director general, I have dedicated my efforts towards the transformation of CAAP from a government line agency to a government-owned corporation, as mandated by RA 9497, otherwise known as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines,” Cusi's letter stated.

There seemed to be a political infighting in the CAAP before Cusi resigned.

It was learned that one of the seven political appointees who were sent by Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose P. de Jesus to compose the new board of directors of the agency had an animosity with Cusi.

It was also learned that the new CAAP

CUSI

officials were opposed to Cusi’s leadership of CAAP. Cusi said in the letter that he had been steadfast for the upgrading of the status of the Philippine civil aviation, aiming for the immediate resolution of the Significant Safety Concern advise for the International Civil Aviation Organiza-

tion, the “watch list” directive of the European Community and, finally, the Category 2 rating of the US-Federal Aviation Authority.

“Substantial progress has been made since I assumed office on 8 March 2010 and this can be attested by the recent visits of the President of the International Civil Aviation Organization and the European Community delegation, who have both confirmed that CAAP is already moving towards the right direction and that it will only be a matter of time before the Philippines can regain its Category 1 rating. This had been the driving force of my administration and we have worked endlessly to achieve this goal.”

Cusi used to be the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager which is also under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) before he was appointed MIAA General Manager following the re-election of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

For its part, Malacanang welcomed resignation of Cusi Tuesday, saying that

the government is looking forward to an upgrade from Category 2.

“We welcome the resignation of Al Cusi. Now we can move faster in getting our country out of Category 2,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Lacierda said Cusi will be replaced by acting officer-in-charge Ramon Gutierrez.

Earlier this month, Malacanang had expressed optimism that the Philippines will be upgraded soon from Category 2 by the US Federal Aviation Authority, saying that it is appointing new officials at the CAAP to ensure that the country will no longer remain on Category 2.

“That’s why nag-appoint na tayo ng mga bagong officials sa CAAP na mga qualified technical people. One of the reasons kung bakit category two po tayo noon dahil wala po tayong mga qualified technical people,” he explained.

“Hopefully, pag dumating po ulit iyong [International] Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) dito, makikita na nila iyong improvement doon sa kakayahan po ng ating mga airports,” Lacierda said.

4 local airlines oppose SEAir’s new route FOUR local Philippine carriers braced themselves against the South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) Clark-Singapore new route operation, saying it will only benefit its partner Singapore’s Tiger Airways of cabotage access to the country.

The four local carriers, consisting of Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific Air (CEB), Air Philippines (AirPhil), and Zest Air, had filed their consolidated opposition before the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) questioning the route validity.

They also requested the CAB to issue a cease-and-desist order to refrain SEAir and Tiger Airways from selling and promoting the Clark-Singapore/SingaporeClark flights until the board had finished its investigation.

Tiger Airways, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has a Singapore-Clark/ Clark-Singapore service route prior to the partnership with SEAir. “We are constrained to respectfully beg for the kindness of the Honorable Board in considering our request for urgent and expedited action on this important issue, particularly since the SEAir/ Tiger Airways operations are slated to commence on 16 December 2010,” according to the letter of PAL SAVP-External Affairs chief Ma. Socorro Gonzaga to CAB chairman Undersecretary

Tiger Airways will take a big bite out of the Philippine local market.

Glicerio V. Sicat.

Gonzaga said that all four Philippine international air carriers took the unprecedented step of filing said consolidated opposition to determine if the SEAir and Tiger activities and operations fully comply with Philippine laws, rules and regulations.

“We believe that we are raising com-

pelling questions on whether the SEAir/ Tiger service may not actually be a Philippine carrier operation, but instead the first salvo of a foreign (Singaporean) air carrier operating a Philippine-bases international route network in the guise of a Philippine air carrier, and making use of Philippine carrier international traffic rights privilege,” the letter said.

Earlier, Tiger Airways had signed marketing arrangement with SEAir which allows the foreign airline to sell SEAir flights to passengers.

The SEAir started its international flights (Clark-Singapore) this month using two Airbus aircraft leased from Tiger Airways but its marketing and distribution will be handled by Tiger Airways through the Tiger website and internet booking system.

Gonzaga said in the letter that, although SEAir and Tiger are barred by CAB Resolution No. 51 (2008) from allowing Tiger to have any undue access to traffic rights or obtain any financial benefit from the supposed SEAir operation, “it is now evident that Tiger will be suspending entirely its own Singapore-Clark services by 15 December 2010, a day before SEAir will be launching its supposed Clark-Singapore service using Tiger’s aircraft.”

“We frankly do not see how Tiger can ‘gain a foothold in the Philippines’ market’ by suspending its regular SingaporeClark flights and ceding the route to SEAir, while expressing its excitement in the process. It is becoming apparent that Tiger has a direct stake and participation on the success of the new venture, which it excitedly views as an expansion of its role on the route,” according to the statement.

A SOARING PAL BOEING 777

TO CUT FUEL EXPENSES

PAL to use Boeing 777 for Vancouver flights PHILIPPINE Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it will use an extended range jet for its Vancouver flights by March next year to cut fuel and maintenance expenses.

Jaime Bautista, president and chief operating officer (COO) of PAL said the airline will be using Boeing 777-300ERs to Vancouver by March.

At present, PAL operates three flights per week to Vancouver, Canada.

"Boeing 777 is cheaper by 20 percent in fuel and maintenance [than Airbuus 340-300747]," Bautista said.

Its fleet of single-aisle aircraft—consisting of 22 Airbus A320s and A319s that fly domestic and short-range international routes—has an average age of only four years, or one of the youngest in the world.

Its long-range fleet include the Boeing 777-300ER, five newly refurbished Boeing 747-400s, four Airbus A340-300s and eight A330-300s.

PAL flies to 46 destinations comprising 20 domestic and 26 international points in 14 countries and territories.

The Lucio Tan-owned airline earlier reported a net income of $ 23.2 million in the July to September period, compared with losses of $ 54.1 million in the same three-month period last year.

The flag carrier’s revenues rose 33 percent to $ 399.5 million for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2010 to 2011 from the previous fiscal year’s $ 299.7 million.

Total expenses during PAL’s second quarter amounted to $ 371.2 million, a seven percent increase from the previous year’s $ 346.0 million.

Fuel comprises about 40 percent of PAL’s total expenses.

Airphil acquires airbuses to boost short-haul routes

CEBU PACIFIC’S AIRBUS A320

Cebu Pacific ready for competition THE Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB) is ready for more competition with international lowcost carriers here and in the region.

“We are lean-and-mean efficient, with a very young fleet of Airbus aircraft and a highly motivated team. This year, our financial performance ranks among the best in the world. We are ready for more competition in our own country and in theirs,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

“Our Airbus fleet will significantly increase in size by 2014, positioning us for further growth and stronger output, and of course for fair and legitimate competition which ultimately benefits the public,” she added.

CEB’s 13th brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft arrives today, and the airline will take delivery of its 14th Airbus A320 before the end of this month.

It will end 2011 with 10 Airbus A319, 19 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR 72-500 aircraft. This fleet of 37 aircraft will be the only 100% brand-new aircraft fleet in the Philippines. An additional

16 Airbus A320 aircraft will be delivered from 2012 to 2014.

“For November alone, we flew approximately 895,000 passengers, with an 89% load factor. Our on-time performance is at 88.3%, sustaining its streak above the global industry average,” Iyog said.

“We will remain consistent in offering the lowest year-round fares in all 33 domestic and 16 international destinations we operate in, and provide our passengers fun service and a highquality travel product,” she added.

CEB reported a net income of P4.8 billion for the first nine months of 2010, up 153.8% from the same period last year. The airline also flew the most number of domestic and international passengers in the 1st half of 2010, based on Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board data.

For CEB booking and inquiries, guests can visit www.cebupacificair.com or http://funtours.cebupacificair.com or call (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888. The latest seat sales can also be found on cebupacificair on Twitter and Facebook Fan Page.

PROMO fares are perhaps the first thing that draw consumers to book a flight but it represents only one aspect of value-for-money air travel.

Besides discounted plane tickets and the promise of a wonderful destination, passengers who want a delightful journey know that the kind of aircraft determines considerably the kind of experience one will have during the trip.

In a bid to wrest a significant traveling market share that demands higher costto-benefit ratio, low-cost carrier AirPhil Express has beefed up its fleet by investing in new aircraft, bringing to 14 its total number of planes, 6 of which belong to the modern Airbus A320 series.

The Airbus A320 units service some domestic flights across the country and the company’s international flights to Singapore from Manila and Cebu. The aircraft carries 180 passengers and raises comfort standards in the single-aisle jetliner category.

Travelers can look forward to an enhanced cabin experience in terms of wider seats, more legroom and elbowroom, and roomy carry-on baggage space within easy reach.

The A320s also ensure efficient fuel burn and decreased maintenance costs that translate to savings for the company

which they in turn pass on to its passengers. "People who take the bus for long hours of travel or take the boat to their destination are now seeing the value of shorter travel time at a minimal cost differential," said Alfredo Herrera, AirPhil Express Senior Vice-President for Marketing and Sales. "Everybody now has access to air travel," he says, partly because of growing OFW remittances and people’s confidence in the country’s improving economic climate. "Domestic air travel that was once prohibitive is now accessible to practically everybody."

Aside from the Airbus A320, the company owns several Bombardier Q300 and Q400, used for quick inter-island flights.

AirPhil Express in its drive to be the Filipino’s low-cost carrier of choice, will continue with the expansion of its A320 fleet for short-haul and regional flights.