Aquino inaugurates renovated Caticlan Airport
MALAY, Aklan: President Benigno Aquino III led Saturday the inauguration of the renovated Caticlan Airport saying that it will pave the way for more opportunities for the country.
“Ang bagong terminal na ito ay maituturing natin na isang malaking trangkahan na magbubukas ng maraming oportunidad. Hindi lamang para sa labas-masok na mga banyagang negosyante at turista ngunit higit sa lahat para sa patuloy na pagyabong ng turismo sa bansa,” the President said in a speech during the inauguration.
He said that the developments in the Caticlan airport will bring long-term economic benefits for the country particularly by creating more jobs for the people in the tourism sector. These developments in the Caticlan airport will make tourists more comfortable, according to the President.
“Ngayon kapag sinabi natin sa mga turista na ‘visit us again’ ay talaga naman pong mas marami na silang dahilan upang bumisitang muli sa Pilipinas. Malinaw po na ang pagpapasinaya natin sa Caticlan Airport ay tanda ng ating kahandaan na ipahayag sa mundo na ‘halina po kayo’ at dumayo sa ating pong bayan,” the President said.
Currently, around 700,000 tourists arrive in Caticlan Airport every year and with the planned widening and development of the airstrip, the government expects this annual tourist arrival to increase up to three million, or as the President noted, the renovations should result to a sudden 30-percent increase in the number of passengers arriving in the airport.
With the continuing developments at the airport, and if every tourist spends $1,000, for food, transportation and souvenir items excluding lodging and hotel, not less than P322.5 billion will be added to the economy of the province of Aklan, the President said.
The chief executive also said the country must not allow itself to be left behind by its Asian neighbors in terms of the quality of its airports.
And through the public-private partnership (PPP) program being spearheaded by the Aquino administration, he said he expects to have more airports and other infrastructures in the future.
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) through its affiliate, TransAire Development Holdings Corp., developed the Caticlan airport under a build-operate-transfer scheme. TransAire will operate the airport for 25 years based on the agreement with the government. The airport was renovated through PPP.
SMC modernized the airport by putting two X-ray machines, additional luggage area, provided ambulance and fire trucks as well as a computerized check-in counter. State-of-the-art scanners bolster security at airport, noted the President.
The airport can now serve night-time flights like big airports in the country because of the new airport navigation and runway lighting systems put up by SMC.
Aside from developing the airport, TransAire has proposed to rename Caticlan Airport changing it to Boracay Airport although the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has yet to approve it.
Among those who joined the President during Saturday’s event were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas, SMC president Ramon Ang, Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez and Malay, Aklan Mayor John Yap. (PCOO)
Aquino underscores importance of public-private partnership program
MALAY, Aklan: President Benigno Aquino III highlighted the importance of the public-private partnership (PPP) program saying it was part of the solution for the country’s problems.
“Ang public-private partnership program ay inaasahan po natin na magbibigay ng inprastruktura na kailangan ng bansa para po yung budget ay mailaan natin sa mga tinatawag na mga social concerns tulad ng ating health programs at conditional cash transfer program,” the President said during his address at the inauguration of the renovated Caticlan Airport here on Saturday.
The President thanked the San Miguel Corp. and its affiliate, the TransAire Development Holdings Corpration for modernizing the Caticlan Airport through the PPP program. Without the government’s partnership with SMC, the President acknowledged, the administration could have had some difficulty renovating the airport.
“Ang administrasyong pong ito ay nananabik pa sa mga susunod na mga proyektong itataguyod ninyo [SMC] kasama ang gobyerno,” he said, adding “Ang paliparang ito ay isang halimbawa ng mabuting bunga ng pagkakapit-bisig ng gobyerno at pribadong sektor para sa kapakanan ng bansa. “
Infrastructure projects that will benefit the tourism sector will continue through PPP, according to the President, noting that the government has started the bidding process to modernize airports in the Caraga region and Puerto Princesa.
With these big ticket projects, the President also made an assurance that his administration will be transparent as it can be to ensure that these projects are free of corruption.
“Muli kong bibigyang-diin na sa ilalim ng PPP program natin, hindi po tayo gumagawa ng mga kastilyong buhangin. Sa patuloy na pakikipag-tulungan ng pribadong sektor sa gobyerno makakapagtaguyod pa tayo ng mas maraming proyekto na tiyak na pakikinabangan ng taumbayan,” he said.
“Iisa po ang prinsipyon ng PPP at ng ating administrasyon dahil alam natin na hindi kayang pondohang mag-isa ng gobyerno ang mga paliparan, ang paggawa ng mga tulay, ang pagpapa-semento ng mga daan papunta sa mga kanayunan. Gumagawa tayo ng mga mekanismo upng magkaroon ng mas magandang ugnayan ang pribadong sektor at ang gobyerno upang
matulungan ang mamamayan.”
These projects will ensure that people have more jobs, health care and Classrooms, especially the poor communities, he said adding that PPP will give solutions to government problems so that these are not passed on to the next generation of Filipinos.
At the same time, the President encouraged the people to continue supporting his administration by following the righteous path that his government champions. (PCOO)
US statement of support for PHL will not agitate efforts to peacefully settle Spratlys issue
The statement of the United States regarding its readiness to provide the Philippines with military assets will not agitate the efforts to peacefully settle the ownership disputes in the South China Sea, a Palace official said on Saturday.
In a radio interview over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the United States’ latest statement will not agitate the Philippines’s relation with China. “It was just an affirmation of US-PHL commitment to a peaceful, stable environment in the region and to reiterate our stand for a multilateral approach in resolving issues,” she said.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. reported that US Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed readiness to strengthen the Philippines' capability in securing its maritime territory during his talks with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario at the Pentagon on June 24.
In a statement, Secretary del Rosario conveyed to U.S. defense officials that to complement the Excess Defense Articles which the U.S. traditionally turns over to the Philippines, he is exploring an option to access "newer U.S. military assets which the Philippines could acquire quicker but through a deliberate selection and, which hopefully, are more cost-effective."
U.S. National Director for Intelligence James Clapper emphasized that the U.S. "has a long association" with the Philippines and "we'll do whatever we can to help" even as he expressed concern over the recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea. (PCOO)
Aquino visits evacuation centers in Marikina and Malabon
President Benigno S. Aquino visited two evacuation centers in Marikina City and Malabon City Saturday afternoon and assured all evacuees that he was monitoring the situation and their condition.
Shortly after arriving from Caticlan in Aklan where he led the inauguration of the renovated Caticlan airport, the President went to Nangka Elementary School in Barangay Nangka, Marikina City.
Welcoming the President upon arrival at the Nangka evacuation center were Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman, 2nd district Representative Miro Quimbo and Vice Mayor Jose Fabian Cadiz.
“Umasa po kayo nakatutok kami sa inyong lahat. Kung meron mang problema iparating lang ninyo kaagad kay Mayor o kaya kay Congressman at kay Vice Mayor at aaksyunan po natin yan,” the President said in a brief message shortly after he distributed relief goods to the evacuees.
“Mag-ingat po kayong lahat, hindi pa tapos itong masamang klima natin. (Basta) magtulungan lang tayo, magdamayan tayo (at maiibsan din ang anumang problemang darating,” he added.
According to National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos some 4,000 individuals/evacuees are currently occupying Nangka evacuation center while in Malanday, also in Marikina, there are 8,000 individuals affected by floods due to heavy rains brought by typhoon Falcon.
After Marikina, the President also visited Potrero Elementary School in Malabon City and distributed relief goods to 800 individuals/evacuees.
The President also commended the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the local government units of affected cities and municipalities for their swift action to provide relief to affected families. (PCOO)
MALAY, Aklan: President Benigno Aquino III led Saturday the inauguration of the renovated Caticlan Airport saying that it will pave the way for more opportunities for the country.
“Ang bagong terminal na ito ay maituturing natin na isang malaking trangkahan na magbubukas ng maraming oportunidad. Hindi lamang para sa labas-masok na mga banyagang negosyante at turista ngunit higit sa lahat para sa patuloy na pagyabong ng turismo sa bansa,” the President said in a speech during the inauguration.
He said that the developments in the Caticlan airport will bring long-term economic benefits for the country particularly by creating more jobs for the people in the tourism sector. These developments in the Caticlan airport will make tourists more comfortable, according to the President.
“Ngayon kapag sinabi natin sa mga turista na ‘visit us again’ ay talaga naman pong mas marami na silang dahilan upang bumisitang muli sa Pilipinas. Malinaw po na ang pagpapasinaya natin sa Caticlan Airport ay tanda ng ating kahandaan na ipahayag sa mundo na ‘halina po kayo’ at dumayo sa ating pong bayan,” the President said.
Currently, around 700,000 tourists arrive in Caticlan Airport every year and with the planned widening and development of the airstrip, the government expects this annual tourist arrival to increase up to three million, or as the President noted, the renovations should result to a sudden 30-percent increase in the number of passengers arriving in the airport.
With the continuing developments at the airport, and if every tourist spends $1,000, for food, transportation and souvenir items excluding lodging and hotel, not less than P322.5 billion will be added to the economy of the province of Aklan, the President said.
The chief executive also said the country must not allow itself to be left behind by its Asian neighbors in terms of the quality of its airports.
And through the public-private partnership (PPP) program being spearheaded by the Aquino administration, he said he expects to have more airports and other infrastructures in the future.
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) through its affiliate, TransAire Development Holdings Corp., developed the Caticlan airport under a build-operate-transfer scheme. TransAire will operate the airport for 25 years based on the agreement with the government. The airport was renovated through PPP.
SMC modernized the airport by putting two X-ray machines, additional luggage area, provided ambulance and fire trucks as well as a computerized check-in counter. State-of-the-art scanners bolster security at airport, noted the President.
The airport can now serve night-time flights like big airports in the country because of the new airport navigation and runway lighting systems put up by SMC.
Aside from developing the airport, TransAire has proposed to rename Caticlan Airport changing it to Boracay Airport although the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has yet to approve it.
Among those who joined the President during Saturday’s event were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas, SMC president Ramon Ang, Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez and Malay, Aklan Mayor John Yap. (PCOO)
Aquino underscores importance of public-private partnership program
MALAY, Aklan: President Benigno Aquino III highlighted the importance of the public-private partnership (PPP) program saying it was part of the solution for the country’s problems.
“Ang public-private partnership program ay inaasahan po natin na magbibigay ng inprastruktura na kailangan ng bansa para po yung budget ay mailaan natin sa mga tinatawag na mga social concerns tulad ng ating health programs at conditional cash transfer program,” the President said during his address at the inauguration of the renovated Caticlan Airport here on Saturday.
The President thanked the San Miguel Corp. and its affiliate, the TransAire Development Holdings Corpration for modernizing the Caticlan Airport through the PPP program. Without the government’s partnership with SMC, the President acknowledged, the administration could have had some difficulty renovating the airport.
“Ang administrasyong pong ito ay nananabik pa sa mga susunod na mga proyektong itataguyod ninyo [SMC] kasama ang gobyerno,” he said, adding “Ang paliparang ito ay isang halimbawa ng mabuting bunga ng pagkakapit-bisig ng gobyerno at pribadong sektor para sa kapakanan ng bansa. “
Infrastructure projects that will benefit the tourism sector will continue through PPP, according to the President, noting that the government has started the bidding process to modernize airports in the Caraga region and Puerto Princesa.
With these big ticket projects, the President also made an assurance that his administration will be transparent as it can be to ensure that these projects are free of corruption.
“Muli kong bibigyang-diin na sa ilalim ng PPP program natin, hindi po tayo gumagawa ng mga kastilyong buhangin. Sa patuloy na pakikipag-tulungan ng pribadong sektor sa gobyerno makakapagtaguyod pa tayo ng mas maraming proyekto na tiyak na pakikinabangan ng taumbayan,” he said.
“Iisa po ang prinsipyon ng PPP at ng ating administrasyon dahil alam natin na hindi kayang pondohang mag-isa ng gobyerno ang mga paliparan, ang paggawa ng mga tulay, ang pagpapa-semento ng mga daan papunta sa mga kanayunan. Gumagawa tayo ng mga mekanismo upng magkaroon ng mas magandang ugnayan ang pribadong sektor at ang gobyerno upang
matulungan ang mamamayan.”
These projects will ensure that people have more jobs, health care and Classrooms, especially the poor communities, he said adding that PPP will give solutions to government problems so that these are not passed on to the next generation of Filipinos.
At the same time, the President encouraged the people to continue supporting his administration by following the righteous path that his government champions. (PCOO)
US statement of support for PHL will not agitate efforts to peacefully settle Spratlys issue
The statement of the United States regarding its readiness to provide the Philippines with military assets will not agitate the efforts to peacefully settle the ownership disputes in the South China Sea, a Palace official said on Saturday.
In a radio interview over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the United States’ latest statement will not agitate the Philippines’s relation with China. “It was just an affirmation of US-PHL commitment to a peaceful, stable environment in the region and to reiterate our stand for a multilateral approach in resolving issues,” she said.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. reported that US Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed readiness to strengthen the Philippines' capability in securing its maritime territory during his talks with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario at the Pentagon on June 24.
In a statement, Secretary del Rosario conveyed to U.S. defense officials that to complement the Excess Defense Articles which the U.S. traditionally turns over to the Philippines, he is exploring an option to access "newer U.S. military assets which the Philippines could acquire quicker but through a deliberate selection and, which hopefully, are more cost-effective."
U.S. National Director for Intelligence James Clapper emphasized that the U.S. "has a long association" with the Philippines and "we'll do whatever we can to help" even as he expressed concern over the recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea. (PCOO)
Aquino visits evacuation centers in Marikina and Malabon
President Benigno S. Aquino visited two evacuation centers in Marikina City and Malabon City Saturday afternoon and assured all evacuees that he was monitoring the situation and their condition.
Shortly after arriving from Caticlan in Aklan where he led the inauguration of the renovated Caticlan airport, the President went to Nangka Elementary School in Barangay Nangka, Marikina City.
Welcoming the President upon arrival at the Nangka evacuation center were Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman, 2nd district Representative Miro Quimbo and Vice Mayor Jose Fabian Cadiz.
“Umasa po kayo nakatutok kami sa inyong lahat. Kung meron mang problema iparating lang ninyo kaagad kay Mayor o kaya kay Congressman at kay Vice Mayor at aaksyunan po natin yan,” the President said in a brief message shortly after he distributed relief goods to the evacuees.
“Mag-ingat po kayong lahat, hindi pa tapos itong masamang klima natin. (Basta) magtulungan lang tayo, magdamayan tayo (at maiibsan din ang anumang problemang darating,” he added.
According to National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos some 4,000 individuals/evacuees are currently occupying Nangka evacuation center while in Malanday, also in Marikina, there are 8,000 individuals affected by floods due to heavy rains brought by typhoon Falcon.
After Marikina, the President also visited Potrero Elementary School in Malabon City and distributed relief goods to 800 individuals/evacuees.
The President also commended the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the local government units of affected cities and municipalities for their swift action to provide relief to affected families. (PCOO)
