Maniolas

Dear Editor: The Kalikasang Dalisay para sa mga Mamamayan ng Plaridel (KaDaMay Plaridel), an affiliate of the Diocesan Ecological and Environmental Program (DEEP) of the Diocese of Malolos, wishes to correct the information released by Steel Asia/Del Pilar Steel (DPSI) in its press release on your paper, Philippine Star Business Section  on March 9, 2015 On major issues about people support and transparency: 1. From March 3-9, 2015 alone, we gathered more than 5,300 signatures from residents opposing the DPSI steel mill. Many more are signing, overcoming their fear of reprisals from local influential entities. The Diocese of Malolos, together with Bishop Oliveros and 142 priests of all its vicariates in Bulacan and Valenzuela, has issued letters supporting our opposition, first on 11 November 2014 and then again, on 11 March 2015.  Please refer to attached file. 2. DPSI increased proposed capacity by 50 percent (from 800,000 MT/y to 1,200,000 MT/y) without informing the public prior to its DENR ECC application. Until now there are 50 unresolved issues in the EIS even after the EMB Review committee comments were claimed to have been integrated in their EIS. On major issues about land: Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 3. For the public’s information, the site where the steel mill is proposed to be sited is located in an Environmentally Critical Area, being surrounded by productive ricefields and NIA irrigation facilities, as well as households as close as 100 meters from the site. 4. The proposed site has Read More …

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – A congressional panel in the House of Representatives today voted for the approval of the merger of two government-owned banks. Batangas Province Representative Nelson Collantes, chairman of the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries as well, said panel members had voted unanimously for the merger of the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines with the latter as the surviving entity. Collantes said the merger seeks to fuse the two banks financial capabilities, improve the delivery of services, and achieve economic efficiency. “The merger will improve the balance sheet capabilities of the merged bank, thus resulting in a stronger bank which will have a competitive edge over other banks both in the domestic and global markets,” Collantes said. The lawmaker said the consolidated entity would be more effective, efficient and sustainable in carrying out the mandates of both banks, particularly in anticipation of the wave of foreign banks that may enter the Philippine market upon the Asean integration in 2015. 

MANILA, Philippines – Infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC)  has expressed interest in the government’s airport project, by purchasing bid documents. MPIC chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan told reporters yesterday the group bought bid documents for the airport projects, but noted that the firm would still need to study which package would be attractive. “We are in the process of assessing which package we would be more interested in,” he said. The government is set to offer for bidding the operation and maintenance (O&M) of six provincial airports worth P128 billion under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program. To ensure all airports are awarded to competent firms, the government has decided to split the bidding into two packages. Package A covers Iloilo and Bacolod-Silay airports worth P50.66 billion while Package B comprises of the Davao, Laguindingan, and New Bohol (Panglao) airports worth P66.9 billion. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Package A was supposed to include the P10.27 billion Puerto Princesa airport but it was removed until further notice.

MANILA, Philippines – The operator of Clark international airport has partnered with Robinsons Malls of taipan John Gokongwei and Genesis Transport Service for the establishment of a transportation hub to cater to airline passengers. Emigdio Tanjuatco III, president and chief executive officer of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), said the partnership with Robinsons and Genesis calls for the establishment of the hub with a ticketing lounge located at the Bus Terminal of Robinsons Starmills Pampanga. Tanjuatco led the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Robinsons Malls senior vice president and general manager Arlene Magtibay and Genesis Transport marketing head Loren Zubia, According to Tanjuatco, the new hub would cater to passengers and travelers using the Clark International Airport. Clark Airport is host to several airlines such as Asiana Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cebu Pacific, Seair, Tiger Air, Jin Air, Dragonair, Air Asia Berhad and Tiger Air Singapore.  “We all aim to give our customers the best service possible and one of the concerns of the passengers right now is the mobility of the passengers from terminal to destinations, and we are thankful that we have partners such as Robinsons and Genesis to address that concern,” Tanjuatco said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Tanjuatco also vowed to extend support to Robinsons and Genesis to make the partnership stronger in the long run. For her part, Magtibay said about 500 buses from various points of Luzon are picking up and dropping passengers at the Robinsons Starmills Pampanga. Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – Megaworld Corp. will launch three more residential projects in the Makati central business district (CBD) until next year. Eugene Em Lozano, Megaworld vice president for sales and marketing for Makati CBD, said the new residential towers will be part of the company’s efforts to increase its portfolio of property developments in the country’s premier financial hub to more than 30 towers by 2016. “As Makati continues to establish itself as the top location for real estate investment, Megaworld is poised to aggressively expand its residential condominium portfolio in this premiere city,” he said. Lozano said Megaworld remains bullish on Makati CBD ‘s residential market following a “remarkable” take up of its residential units in the area over the last three years. “The good economic condition that the country enjoys since last year is largely felt in Makati CBD. The office spaces are getting filled up and the retail industry is on its all-time high. That is why our residential condominiums, all located in premium addresses, are also on high demand,” Lozano said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1