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SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
mslocalgov@gmail.com
SUBIC AND CLARK
DU30’S ‘TWIN TURBO’ ENGINES OF GROWTH
By Dexter A. See
C
LARKFIELD, Pampanga—The two former US military bases in Central Luzon has been tagged by the Duterte administration as the country’s “twin turbo” engines of growth. State-run Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator lawyer Wilma Eisma together with Clark International Airport Corp. president and CEO Alexander Cauguiran have jointly expressed their optimism on the Duterte administration’s goal of utilizing the ready infrastructure and manpower capabilities of the twin freeport facilities in Central Luzon. In a joint meeting in Subic recently, both executives agreed that Subic and Clark could serve as the new economic frontier for the Philippines given its ready infrastructure and operational systems. “The Port of Subic and Clark international airport should serve as a super duo that can help alleviate
urban blights like vehicular traffic and port congestion in Manila,” the SBMA administrator said. She added that cooperation is vital in achieving President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to connect Clark and Subic free ports and turn Central Luzon into major logistics, economic and tourism hubs. Meanwhile, Cauguiran said Clark airport and its logistics hub paired with Subic seaport will complement each other in efforts to disperse economic activities not only in the regions of Luzon but for the whole country as well. Cauguiran said that “Since Day One, President Duterte has encouraged more carriers to utilize Clark airport, and with our more
than 21 million potential passengers from our catchment population, we expect more flights via Clark in the months to come,” Cauguiran said. With Subic’s deep seaport—that could easily cater to Northern and Central Luzon’s shipping and cargo handling needs particularly import and export requirements of domestic and international industries including parts of Calabarzon and Metro Manila—and in combination with Clark’s International passenger and logistics center capabilities, the two former largest US military installations outside of the United States are both more than ready and capable to help the country compete in the global trade and economy. Linked by an expressway (the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway that interconnects with North Luzon Expressway and the newly built Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway goods and services in two of the largest Luzon island regions could be transported seamlessly. In addition, the free port opera-
tions of the two economic hubs could easily attract more foreign investors to do business in the Philippines considering the incentives and privileges being provided to locators by both Subic and Clark Freeports. With an international airport that could provide ease of doing business for travelers and investors alike, including the conducive atmosphere of work and play in both Subic and Clark hubs, the corridor is an ideal investment hubs. The available vast tracks of lands—along the corridor that links Subic and Clark to the rest of Central and northern Luzon, including Metro Manila—that can readily be available for expansion, is an added feature that are similar in nature with other economic centers in Asia and the Pacific. Subic’s deep seaport can help decongest the shallow port of Manila as it could serve as the main international seaport that could efficiently cater to larger vessels deep seaport requisites.
PISTAY DAYAT PROMOTES SEA ECOSYSTEM Scan this icon to view the PDF
COLOR UNITY RUN. Thousands of people flooded the streets of Ilagan City on Sunday, May 28, to show their support to the ‘Mammangi’—the Ybanag word for corn farmer—at the Corn Farmer’s Festival. The mascot named ‘Mang Mangi’ has emerged as the brand icon for the country’s ‘Corn Capital.’ The city government has also passed the certification audit for Quality Management Systems or ISO 9001:2015. Abe Almirol
Local Gov’t Units
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—For the people of Pangasinan, merry-making is also a unique opportunity to pitch environmental protection concerns. This is what they do at Pistay Dayat, a traditional annual summertime festival held recently at Lingayen Gulf, one of the country’s biggest bodies of water. Dating back to decades ago—before street dancing became a popular attraction of traditional feasts—this summertime event celebrates the bounty of the sea in the Gulf which teems with marine life and rich colonial history. At one time, it was viewed as the “mother of all summer festivals.” The 206-kilometer Agno River, whose headwaters emanate from the Cordillera Mountain ranges, is the country’s largest river in terms of water discharge, draining around 6.6 cubic kilometers of fresh water into the Lingayen Gulf. Gov. Amado Espino III said that the river parade showcases Agno River, as one of the country’s cleanest and most navigable river systems. A major producer of freshwater fish, the river was cleared of fish pens and other obstructions to allow free flow of water. Millions of fresh water fingerlings were released to allow spawning and bring back its once abundant aquatic life. He added that Pistay Dayat also stresses the need to protect the natural resources, marine, coastal, river and mountain ecosystems for the next generation. He also cited the need to conserve the forest resources to sustain the voluminous water supply of the Agno River. A portion of it is called Limahong channel, named after the notorious 18th century Chinese pirate who sought refuge here after being chased by the Spanish authorities. Local folks from all over the coastal towns back then would troop to the nearest beach with their families and friends for spontaneous merry-making, picnics and unrehearsed festival activities. The excursions usually peak on May 1, being a national holiday, where the beaches get an influx from the urban areas. Through the years, more festival-related activities were added to the Pistay Dayat the annual event evolved into an exciting tourist-oriented festivity.
BFAR, QSU MAKE WATER RESERVOIR PRODUCTIVE DIFFUN, Quirino—Efforts get under way for the revival of a water reservoir into a healthy and attractive source of fish products inside the compound of a university here. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Quirino State University in this town will jointly implement the project intended to provide livelihood opportunities among the residents of this town. The reservoir, which absorbs water running from the drainage canal of the nearby public market, has discouraged any fishing activity for livelihood purposes. Apple Joy Ursua, project leader of the National Fisheries Enhancement Project, said the rejuvenation process was launched sometime in February last year. It was subsequently implemented through the NIFEP, a national program that aims to revive inland bodies of water such as lakes and small water impounding projects, as these resources offer potential for fish production and socioeconomic advancement. The one-hectare reservoir was further seeded with 5,000 pieces fingerlings, composed of different carp species and tilapia, during the project launch. Max Prudencio, BFAR information officer, said that eight months after the project was launched, the school administration headed by QSU president Dr. Samuel Benigno, decided to open the reservoir for fishing. Entrance fee was pegged at P100.00 per day which will go to the QSUs fund. Ben Moses Ebreo
NEA RESOLVES CRISIS THE National Electrification Administration fixed the power blackout in Masbate within 24 hours shortly after taking over the management of the Masbate Electric Cooperative Inc. The NEA sorted out the problem after deploying a team led by Edmundo Aguilar whom Administrator Edgardo Masongsong designated to serve as project supervisor/acting general manager of Maselco. Aguilar was tasked to oversee the operations and management of Maselco to ensure the efficient delivery of electric service to its member-consumers following the reported massive blackout on Wednesday (May 31). This developed as soon as Masongsong placed Maselco general manager Eduardo Margallo under a 30-day preventive suspension over allegations of gross inefficiency and mismanagement of the cooperative. The order is in response to the resolutions issued by the Masbate Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Maselco board vis-à-vis the demand letter of DMCI Masbate Power Corp. dated May 24, 2017, threatening to cut the power supply of Maselco for its failure to settle its overdue obligations.
BFAR EXPANDS VIZCAYA OYSTER FARMING By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ oyster production expansion project has helped villagers in coastal towns of Buguey, Gonzaga and Sta. Teresita boost their daily income. Funded by the National Shellfish Development Program and from the regular agency funds, BFAR’s threeyear massive establishment of 325 oyster culture raft demonstration and livelihood units has expanded and directly benefited residents of two more Cagayan towns recently and is seen to widen its coverage in the coming years.
Oyster Project leader Nathaly Piñera said oyster production is no longer dominated by Buguey town alone but has expanded in the neighboring towns of Sta. Teresita and Gonzaga. “The area from the mouth of the Buguey Lagoon in Minanga, Buguey eastward to Sta. Teresita and Caroan in Gonzaga meets the criteria for the establishment of oyster culture units, hence we decided to locate bulk of oyster demo allocation in said areas,” Piñera said. Leo Supnet of Barangay Villa Leonora in Buguey town said that there is an increase on oyster production since the project started three years ago. “Since February this year, I was able
to serve three bulk orders at 400 bottles oyster per order. Each gin bottle sells for P50,” he said. Production sites in the two expansion areas in Gonzaga and Buguey towns have the presence of indigenous spawners, brackish water with salinity of 17 ppt to 25 ppt, and temperature of 2732 oC, free from flood run-off and heavy siltation and with water depth 1.5 to 2.5 meters and natural barriers which made them an ideal project expansion area. Piñera said oyster can be harvested six to eight months from the date of establishment and harvesting can be continuous if the breeders are not harvested.
RIVER CLEANUP. The local government of Pagsanjan, Laguna, through the efforts of Mayor Maita Ejercito, staged a River Cleanup Activity in partnership with Laguna Water, DILG, DENR, PAGWAD, PGENRO, PNP Pagsanjan, MDRRMC Pagsanjan and other government line agencies. Photo shows water lilies being pulled out of the river bank as their overgrowth is one of the causes of flooding during the rainy season. Roy Tomandao