D1
SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
Local Gov’t Units
mslocalgov@gmail.com
DPWH URGED TO RETROFIT ALL QC-BASED GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
Scan this icon to view the PDF
MANGROVE PLANTING. Personnel of the Bataan’s provincial environment and natural resources office plant a mangrove propagule during the 3rd Mangrove Planting Project of Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippine Corp. in Calaguiman, Samal, Bataan. Through the leadership of Penro officer Raul Mamac, Bataan has done massive mangrove planting in the past few years. Butch Gunio
ECOZONE IS CAGAYAN VALLEY’S ECONOMIC PROPELLER T By Brenda Jocson
UGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan—Despite difficult challenges in the world of business, the government-sanctioned Cagayan Economic Zone Authority has become the top economic driver of the Cagayan Valley region after 10 years of operation.
This is a result of the establishment in CEZA of international standard tourism, leisure and recreation, as well as information and communication technology-business process management or IT-BPM, ecozone officials said. CEZA public relations head Marie Joyce Jayme-Calimag said significant and successful accomplishments of the economic zone and freeport in 10 years of operation contributed to the region’s fast-growing economy. The tourism industry in Cagayan is booming after the massive promotion of its beautiful islands and white sand beaches, particularly in Sta. Ana town on the northeasternmost point of Luzon. “The Palaui Island here, for example, is ranked 10th among the 100 best islands in the world, and is one of the three best islands in the Philippines by ‘CNN Travel Blog,’” Calimag said. The ecozone has been hosting annual water sports activities like jet skiing, snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, and game fishing, particularly in Palaui Island and the beaches of Anguib, Gotan, Nangaramoan, and Pozzorobo all in Sta. Ana. Big and small private tour operators are mushrooming in the hotel and restaurant industry, which contribute much to the development of CEZA, Calimag added. The increasing tourist arrivals in the area is a result of the recent “Survivor America” television reality show filed on the island. In 2016, the Cagayan Freeport exceeded its target of 200,000 tourist arrivals, a significant increase from only 4,604 in 2007, both local and international tourists. The economic zone is now also tagged as Game Fishing Capital of the Philippines, Calimag said. Cagayan Valley also has the facilities and manpower resources that can accommodate small and medium business process outsourcing companies with its IT-BPM facilities at
the ecozone. While the country maintains its position as the first location for voice and second for non-voice services, the establishment of a “cyber park” in the ecozone is going to be one of the top 10 best in the world, she said. The ecozone’s telecommunications network “now boasts to be one of the best in Asia in terms of latency and capacity, and this is backed up by Cagayan province’s reputable schools and universities that groom the pool of labor for flourishing industries, like the IT-BPM, in the freeport,” Calimag said. Apart from converting the economic zone into the technohub center of the Philippines, she said CEZA is “also aiming to make it the gateway to Northern Luzon’s tourism frontier.” These developments also make CEZA a major job generator in Cagayan Valley, with more than 12,000 individuals employed in various sectors within the economic zone. In addition, the new P1.7-billion Cagayan North International Airport in Lallo town contributes much to the economy of Region 2, particularly in job generation. Last year, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines granted a new certificate to the CNIA, allowing it to cater to bigger commercial aircraft under the Global Express Aircraft Category and below with Code 3C. With it, the airport can now cater to 100-seater and below aircraft. “We can now invite bigger aircraft operators to operate in the Airport, which means more employment. That is why we have been aggressive in inviting investors to locate at the ecozone,” Calimag said. CEZA was created through Republic Act 7922 as a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Office of the President to manage and supervise the development of the economic zone and freeport.
THE Quezon City Council is urging the Department of Public Works and Highways to spearhead the structural retrofitting of all national government buildings based in the city. Under City Resolution No. SP-6926, S2016, Councilor Gian Carlo G. Sotto asked Public Works Secretary Mark Villar to facilitate the structural retrofitting of all national government buildings as a precaution against a major earthquake that may strike Metro Manila in the future. Sotto explained that part of the city government advocacy is instilling preparedness among the city’s populace. He said there is an imperative need to make major structures, particularly government buildings more calamities resilient specifically during earthquakes and super typhoons. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology had identified large areas in QC as traversing the West Valley Fault Line that poses grave risk and damage in the lives of the people in the eventuality of a major earthquake. Rio N. Araja
BLOCKAGE-FREE THOROUGHFARES IN MANILA EYED STARTING this January, the City of Manila will set up traffic discipline zones called “Pook Kaayusan” in at least 23 identified traffic choke points in the city’s busiest areas. “By the mere term itself means these areas will serve as our new model for traffic management—free-flowing vehicular and pedestrian traffic, it will be organized,” Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada said. “No illegal terminal or illegal parking, no trash … in other words, no blockage on the streets,” he added. The 23 identified zones, Estrada said, are the most congested areas in Manila that need extra attention. And these traffic zones will be manned roundthe-clock by traffic personnel who will be strictly enforcing traffic regulations. Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau chief Dennis Alcoreza said Pook Kaayusan is similar to Pook Batayan implemented during the administration of then President Corazon Aquino. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 312 on Sept. 1, 1988 identifying 19 areas in Metro Manila as strict traffic discipline zones. “Our Pook Kaayusan will be manned by our new traffic enforcers who will be equipped with communication radios, megaphones, traffic violation tickets… and they will strictly enforce the rules and regulations,” Alcoreza said. Sandy Araneta
STUDENT BEATS THE ODDS WITH INYDO SCHOLARSHIP Kaye Ann Domingsil thought she had a slim chance of qualifying for the Sirib Young Leadership Scholarship of the Ilocos Norte provincial government when she applied. Now on her third year at Northwestern University, Domingsil is on course to finish with a degree in business administration thanks to the scholarship grant.
“HMP, maalaka kad’ met?” [You think you’ll be picked?] Kaye Ann Domingsil’s family had reason to doubt she would pass the exams for the Sirib Young Leadership Scholarship. With about 200 applicants and only 31 slots available, her chances seemed slim, as she had never been a scholar during her high school years. So when the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office—formerly called the Sirib Youth Office—informed her that she was to be a beneficiary of the program, the Domingsils were overjoyed. “Naragsakanda met kasi daydiay ngarud, napagasatannak… adu met iti nag-apply’ak
a scholarship’ en, saannak a naala [They were happy because I was blessed to qualify this time. I’ve applied to many scholarships but was not selected],” Kaye Ann said in her native Ilocano. Nineteen-year-old Domingsil revealed that at the time, in her second semester of her freshman year in college, she had been worried about failing and struggling to maintain her grades. “But now, I am in my third year, and thank God I have maintained my scholarship.” Financially, her scholarship at Northwestern University is a great help to the Domingsils, as her father Alex works both in construction and on a farm, while her mother Lerma
mans a convenience store at their home. She has one sibling in second year college at the Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades. SYL scholars are also required to exercise a leadership position, whether at school, in the community, or at church. Domingsil thus holds the external vice presidency of the Philippine Association of Students in Office Administration-NWU Chapter, and serves as the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson in Barangay 20-Cabisuculan of Vintar, her hometown. “It’s not enough that you have a position to write below your name. [The INYDO] also requires photo documentation to prove that you are an active leader,” Domingsil shared.