Tourism Groups Hail 'Open Skies'

MANILA, Philippines - The Federation of Tourism Industries of the Philippines (FTIP) yesterday welcomed the signing of two executive orders allowing a partial open skies policy in secondary airports.



In a statement, FTIP president Alejandra Clemente said Executive Orders 28 and 29 signed by President Aquino last March 14 were aimed at liberalizing the entry of foreign airlines with a view to increasing air traffic into the country.

• Clemente said connecting the Philippines to the network of countries in Southeast Asia will also create livelihood opportunities in the countryside.
• “There are four billion people in the Asia-Pacific Region and at least 151 million outbound travelers per year,” she said.
• “There will be increase not only in air seat capacity but room capacity which will generate jobs and foreign exchange receipts which will help pump prime the Philippine economy.”
• EO 28 is for reorganizing the Philippine Air Negotiating Panel (PNAP) and the Philippine Air Consultation Panel (PACP), and EO 29 authorizes the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and the Philippine Air Panels to pursue more aggressively the international civil aviation liberalization policy.
• EO 29 gives secondary gateways outside of NAIA the opportunity to be connected to international and local markets and bring in tourists directly to destinations that will be developed under the National Tourism Development Plan.
• Clemente noted that EO 29 strengthens EO 219 signed by former President Fidel Ramos which liberalized civil aviation to encourage the entry of more domestic and international players.
• “Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Sea Air, Zest Air were established since this EO (219) was implemented. The competition they generated resulted in more services to several and underserved destinations, more choices for the traveling public, and cheaper air fares,” she said.

By Helen Flores
Source: The Philippine Star
Updated March 27, 2011 12:00 AM

[+/-] Show Full Post...

[+/-] Hide Full Post...

Operation of 2 Hydropower Plants in Catanduanes Now in Full Swing

LEGAZPI CITY, March 10 (PIA) — Two hydro power plants are now fully operational and are supplying the entire island province of Catanduanes with 3.6 megawatts (MW) of clean and renewable energy.


The two hydro facilities operated and owned by the Sunwest Water and Electric Co. Inc. (Suweco), an independent power producer (IPP), are among the three hydro power plants included in the pipeline projects that Suweco will put up in Catanduanes.

Suweco, a Bicolano-owned IPP, has put up the Hitoma power facility in Barangay Obi in Caramoran town with a rated capacity of 1.5 MW and the Solong plant in San Miguel town with a rated capacity of 2.1 MW.

The Hitoma plant has been operational since October last year while the Solong became in operation in January this year.

The third hydro power plant is being constructed in an upland village in San Miguel town in Catanduanes.

With an investment of P800 million, the two hydro power plants supply power to the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative (Ficelco) with a total of 3.6 MW.

This cheap, environment friendly and renewable energy reinforces the electricity supplied by the diesel-powered generators of the National Power Corp. (NPC).

Aside from the two Suweco hydro power plants, the island’s generating system is composed of two diesel power plants in the towns of Bato and Viga, the Balongbong hydro power plant operated by the NPC, Power Barge 110, four mobile gensets rented from Monark and the 3.6-MW bunker fuel genset operated by the private company Catanduanes Power Generation Inc.

With the operationalization of the two hydro plants and with other power generation suppliers, it would give Ficelco, the only power distributor in the province and its 35,000 consumers a sustained, reliable, and clean energy supply.

Ficelco data indicate that some 315 villages in all 12 towns in Catanduanes are fully energized, but these areas are not fully supplied with energy because of the deficient power generation facilities.

The full operation of the hydro power plants would help meet the island’s 6.5-MW power demand, Suweco president Jose Sylvestre Natividad said.

He said the cost of power from the hydro plants is cheaper than those from the ones being powered by bunker or fossil fuel, aside for being an environment friendly generating facility as these utilize water and and convert it to energy.

Suweco envisions a sustainable and reliable power supply to the province as the company believes that energy is a catalyst for any economic activity.

Elizaldy Co, board chair of the Sunwest Group of Campanies, said Suweco’s hydropower plants will help lessen the national government’s spending on missionary electrification by P80 million to P100 million a year.

The impact would be felt in terms of investments thus increasing employment generation while at the same time protecting the environment.

With the present energy potential, Catanduanes, a rich province for its natural resources, is now bullish in inviting prospective investors to engage in business ventures in field of tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing, Co said.

Natividad said hydro is a renewable energy thus it helps protect the environment against global warming because “you need to plant trees to sustain the hydro plant and it gives livelihood to the communities by employing people to reforest the area.” (MALoterte,PIA Albay)

Source: PIA Press Release
Thursday, March 10, 2011

[+/-] Show Full Post...

[+/-] Hide Full Post...

Bb. Pilipinas Press Presentation

The search officially kicked off last Tuesday at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza with the press presentation of 40 gorgeous ladies all vying for the prestigious titles of Ms. Universe and Ms. International.


Bb. Pilipinas 2011 Press Presentation at the Sofitel Philippines Plaza Luzon Ballroom. The girls included in this group are:

16. Sabrinne Al-Tawil, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
17. Girlie Lero, Catanduanes
18. Teresa Pamela Ludovice, Manila
19. Wendy Lucas, Jones, Isabela
20. Jenette Mieko Noguchi aka Jet Noguchi, Palo Alto City, California

[+/-] Show Full Post...

[+/-] Hide Full Post...

CMAS Ties-Up with CSC in Promoting Scuba Diving in Catanduanes

VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA)- The World Confederation of Underwater Activities – Philippines (CMAS Philippines) partnered with Catanduanes State Colleges in conducting an orientation on the prospects of establishing scuba diving not only as water sports but also as an avenue for promoting tourism, rescue operations and marine conservation in the province of Catanduanes.

CMAS Philippines initially briefed CSC students and employees on March 1 about the confederation’s services and advocacy and later co-organized with the CSC administration in holding an information dissemination program with key officials from local government units, national and line government offices and NGOs on March 3 at Kemji Resort.

The team is composed of Philip P. Rodriguez, CMAS – Philippines President; Noel L. Pura, CMAS Philippines Course Director; Reymonte Bienes, CMAS Philippines staff.

Rodriguez informed during the briefing that they have already established tie-ups with state colleges and universities in Zamboanga and Sorsogon to run the diving course.

Rodriguez emphasized that they are working directly with the academe, hence they coordinated initially with the Catanduanes State Colleges. Schools can eventually coordinate with local government units in implementing program.

The CMAS president provided the Catanduanes State Colleges and the TESDA-run Cabugao School of Handicraft and Cottage Industries copies of diving course training manual, course syllabus and other information materials.

CMAS Philippines also presented a video presentation of a successful community-based coastal resource management implemented by Apo Island in Negros Oriental.

Apo Island Marine Sanctuary is an area serving as an observatory and laboratory for scientists studying its undisturbed habitat – making it a place of learning as well as of recreation and leisure. It had been the project of Silliman University to convert the island into a protected marine reserve mainly because the mainland itself was fast degrading and its marine resources, also rapidly depleting.

CMAS Philippines is a part of the global Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques recognized by international organizations such as UNESCO, the World Conservation Union and International World Game Association.

CMAS is composed of the following: (1) Scientific Committee which to bring into focus the important issues related to the marine environment such as protection of coastal ecosystems, biodiversity conservation; (2) Technical Committee which provides certification courses for diving instruction, and (3) Sports Committee which oversees the development and promotion of aqua sports.

CMAS Philippines issues diving certification which recognizes a level of ability and knowledge in scuba diving. Divers carry a qualification record or certification card which is required to prove their qualifications when booking a dive trip, hiring scuba equipment or filling diving cylinders. (PIA Catanduanes/ CSC-GSR/mal)

Source: PIA Press Release
Friday, March 04, 2011

[+/-] Show Full Post...

[+/-] Hide Full Post...