D1
SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
mslocalgov@gmail.com
HIGH DEMAND SPURS FIRMS TO RECLAIM MANILA BAY LAND By Kariza Aycocho
L
AND values in reclaimed areas in Metro Manila have risen sharply due to the growing appetite for office, residential, and retail projects, global real estate firm Colliers International said in a recent report. Coupled with the lack of developable land in established business districts in Metro Manila, this compels developers to look for alternative landbanking options, Colliers added. “The popularity of reclaimed developments in the Manila Bay Area such as Aseana City is gaining traction among developers and this reinforces the viability of reclaimed land as a highly feasible landbanking strategy,” the firm said. “The strong demand for office buildings will be complemented by residential and retail projects hence the need to reclaim more developable land,” said Paul Vincent Ramirez, Colliers International Philippines director for valuation. The leading Central Business Districts like Makati and Fort Bonifacio, Ramirez said, is only hovering between 1 percent and 3 percent
vacancies, which made the Aseana City areas in demand for the business process outsourcing industry to sustain the country’s 6 percent to 7 percent annual economic growth. “As developable land in Metro Manila’s major business districts becomes scarce and prices continue to surge, it is only practical for developers to look for viable landbanking alternatives such as reclaimed land in the Manila Bay Area,” Ramirez added. The Manila Bay area ranges between P200,000 to P250,000 per square meter, growing by an average of 30 percent annually over the past five years. Meanwhile, land in Makati CBD and Fort Bonifacio hovers between P500,000 to P600,000 per square meter, rising about 15 to 20 percent per annum during the same period. The cost of the reclaimed area is more viable compared to the land established in CBDs, Colliers said. At present, Manila Bay has five active reclamation projects—the New Manila Bay City of Pearl project; The Manila Solar City Project; Pasay City Reclamation Project; Navotas City Coastal Bay Development Project; and the Las Piñas-Parañaque Coastal Bay Reclamation Project. The “live-work-play-shop” lifestyle popularized by Aseana City added to the eagerness of the developers to reclaim the land. Additional to the viability of mixed-use projects is the proposed public infrastructure projects nearby, including the Naia Expressway, Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 Cavite Extension, Southwest Integrated Terminal, Sangley Airport, and Metro Manila subway.
Scan this icon to view the PDF
FISH FLOAT. A float designed like a tilapia fish—which is plentiful in Lake Sebu—steals everyone's attention during a parade for the 51st Foundation Anniversary of South Cotabato province and the 18th Tnalak Festival. Amiel M. Cagayan
OIL FIRM, RED CROSS GIVE OUT‘BAGS OF LIFE’ BLOOD shortage has been one of the most pressing problems experienced by many hospitals in the Philippines. For this reason, the Philippine Red Cross has been working double time to make sure there is ample supply of blood for Filipinos who need it. To encourage more blood donations, Red Cross ties up with different institutions from both government and the private sector for bloodletting activities. Among the private companies who yielded to the call of the Philippine Red Cross is Phoenix Petroleum Philippines through its foundation arm Phoenix Philippines Foundation.
“When we started, we were only able to donate 12 bags,” said Ben Sur, Phoenix Philippines Petroleum manager for corporate affairs. “But eventually, our employees gained an appreciation of the bloodletting activities and now we can donate at least 300 bags of blood.” Sur said the partnership with Red Cross has helped both institutions in times of need, in life or death situations. Red Cross Blood program coordinator Rizh Abellano said the roles played by the partners of Red Cross are crucial to the success of the mission of the institution. “A bag of blood can save a life, and we are
Local Gov’t Units
thankful to Phoenix Philippines Foundation for heeding our call,” said Abellano. Sur, on the other hand, hopes to increase the donation from its employees every year by providing appreciation seminars and other programs. He also said the foundation is tying up with its adopted communities as well as industry partners for blood donations. “When you give blood, you don’t give so much, but the impact of that one bag is significant to the person who requires it,” Sur said. “We wish that as we go on this journey, we can encourage more people to donate blood.”
HAGONOY: A TOWN OR A BODY OF WATER? THE town of Hagonoy in Bulacan has names of saints for almost all its barangays—San Jose, San Agustin, San Sebastian, Sto. Niño, San Miguel, San Pascual, San Nicolas, San Pablo, Sta. Ines, Sta. Elena, Sta. Monica, San Juan, San Isidro, San Pedro, Sta. Cruz, San Roque, and Sto. Rosario to be exact. The townsfolk have prayed to all these saints—and have sought more divine intervention—for a miracle for their seemingly eternal problem: flooding during the rainy season. Geographically, Hagonoy is on low-lying land near a coastal area —it sits on the northern shores of Manila Bay—which are primary factors for the community to submerge whenever it starts to rain heavily. The water released from the nearby Angat and Ipo Dams also cannot be held by the Bustos Dam, which caused the latter to overflow. The raging waters come down the Pampanga River (as its catch basin) and travels along different barangays on its path, including those in Hagonoy. With just a little downpour, the whole first-class municipality turns into a body of water. Another factor is the elevation of the town’s roads. The main roads were raised, but the residents who could not raise their homes to match them suffer. When it rains, the water flows back into the peoples’ homes, even if the rain is not falling anymore. Locals have also blamed the chronic flooding on improper waste management by some people. Even if the town is dismayed by the flood, the religious nature of the people in Hagonoy does not keep them from celebrating despite the natural calamity. There are still processions for the saints’ fiestas in the inundated streets, and devotees attend the church while dipping their legs into “normal” floods that sometimes reach two meters high. Visiting the muddied tombs, seeing fish on the streets, and watching children playing in huge “swimming pools” created by excess water from the dams, rivers, or by a monsoon rain, the people of Hagonoy have learned how to deal with this daily reality for almost four decades. According to the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, with the continued guidance of PRFFWC of Pagasa, they maintains and operates a network of rainfall, river and flood stage observation stations within the province as part of its flood disaster mitigation and management program. The local government unit in Bulacan claiming proper dam protocols can help to alleviate the perennial flood problems not just in Hagonoy but throughout the province of Bulacan. While the Municipality of Hagonoy, through its Environment Management Office in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress last 2012 made an “eco-bike” project which helps in collecting the garbages in different barangays. The former mayor of Hagonoy, Angel Cruz participated and emphasized the value of initiative, but the issue of improper waste management became worst this 2017. Orlan Mauricio and Kariza Aycocho
USWAG DAREPDEP 2017 WINNERS NAMED THE Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (Commission on the Filipino Language) recently announced the winners of Uswag Darepdep 2017, the literary contests for the youth using various languages in the Philippines. Uswag Darepdep is a competition organized by the KWF under the Office of the President for young writers aged 12 to 17. Every year Uswag Darepdep features four different languages to encourage the youth to use the native language in writing. The objective of the project is to cultivate the native language and to enrich the Filipino language. The winners received a medal and cash prizes worth P15,000 for the 1st prize, P10,000 for the 2nd prize, and P5,000 for the 3rd prize. These are the following winners categorized with the language used:
Kapampangan: Maikling Kuwento (Short Stories)— Darrel G. Sanchez for “Gintung Gracia”, First Prize; Carl Dave P. Santos won second place for “Ing Pamanyulapagpo Que Tune Mong Sarili; and Kisses B. Manalo for “Aldo King Dalumdum”, third prize. Tula (Poetry)—Janrey Chester M. Gomez for “Pamuntok” (1st prize); Christianne Nicole A. Giron for “Kopra, Mais at Palay” (2nd prize); and Angelica Sibal for “Crisotan” ( 3rd prize). Ibaloy: Maikling Kuwento (Short Story) —Misty Joy S. Tam-awen for “Sota Makina Nën Nanang” (first prize); Javier A. Galac for “Ayat Tan Namnaman Na’y Bulos” and Joefrey D. Toriano for “Ngantoy Kavol Na Shibaley Ni Bi-i Pengisi-Chaan Shani Kalon”(3rd prize). Tula (Poetry)—Avemichi A. Kilaban
para for “Adivay” (1st prize); Kertney M. Balagsa for “Biyag ni Aysshi’y Anak” (2nd prize); and Charlote Celo for “Eskweda Jën Medigdigat” (3rd prize). Waray: Maikling Kuwento (Short Story)— Van Raymond M. Ganaba for “ Duha Nga Kalibutan” (1st prize); Rocajane C. Salac for “Pama-agini Blogger” (2nd prize); and Kelly Jean Paolo M. Calapano for “Tugtog” (3rd prize). Tula (Poetry)—Renz Louie C. Caliwan for “Pagbulay” (1st prize); Johani T. Ceblano for “Pagsunod Han Uso” (2nd prize); and Dennis A. Carolino for “An Ato Makagarahom Nga Ginoo” (3rd prize). Bahasa Sug: Maikling kuwento (Short Story)— Darwisa J. Sahali for “Putli’ Bar’ Akkal” (1st prize) at Mershayna J. Sintin for “Maas’ Miskinan” (2nd prize).
DISASTER SUMMIT. Science Undersecretary and Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum (center) joins Director Olivia Luces of the Office of Civil Defense Region 4A (left) and San Pablo Diocese Monsignor Gerry Bitoon (right) during a press conference at the San Pablo Central School in San Pablo City, Laguna. The event held last Friday was part of a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management symposium and an exhibit of static and kinetic booths of various regional disaster management member agencies in the Calabarzon region. Roy Tomandao