March 15 2008

PGMA to inaugurate 94-km SCTEX Tuesday; free “toll fee” through Holy Week till March 24

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will inaugurate on Tuesday morning the 93.77-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) whose toll or fee will be free to motorists the entire Holy Week.

This was announced by Edgardo Pamintuan, head of the Clark-Subic Development Council (CSDC), when he came to Malacañang this morning for the taping of the latest edition of the TV talk show, “The Cabinet Speaks,” which is hosted by Press Undersecretary Martin Crisostomo.

Pamintuan, together with retired Gen. Narciso Abaya, president of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), guested in the said TV program to talk about the infrastructure projects and other developments in the Subic-Clark area which was mandated by Executive Order No. 504 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The CSDC chief said President Arroyo had noted as early as 2001 that the area “needs development”; and so she “provided the spark, she was the catalyst in the development” of the former military bases left behind by the Americans.

The President wanted a “seamless” development complete with infrastructure and information technology, said Pamintuan who stressed that President Arroyo had proved to be the “focal person” in the ambitious project to connect the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Pampanga with Subic’s seaport in Zambales with a backbone – the soon-to-be inaugurated SCTEX.

“Bagong terrain, nature, napakaganda,” further enthused Pamintuan about the expressway which, he said, cuts travel time by up to 80 percent.

In the Clark portion of the SCTEX, the roads are already passable, “overpass na lang ang ginagawa,” he added.

For himself, Abaya said the SCTEX – which starts at the Tipo junction in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and ends in Tarlac -- was conceptualized by President Arroyo as early as 2001 “to enhance seaport-airport synergy…”

Bidded out in 2003, the contract to build the expressway was approved in April 2005, and construction started April 21, 2005, related Abaya.

Funded by a “concessional loan” from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JIBC), the highway will be officially opened by the third or fourth week of April, said Abaya.

This will give the BCDA time to publish the toll rates in major dailies for three consecutive weeks, a requirement of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) which will also set the rates, according to Abaya.

The BCDA head explained that the toll or fee amount is now being negotiated by the BCDA with the TRB in the hope that the fee level will be “similar” to that for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) which is about P2.20 per kilometer.

Traversing Clark to Subic will now take only 35 minutes, said the Subic-Clark officials who both enthused about the shortened travel time that will benefit not only tourists but regular commuters as well.

Abaya said the SCTEX will be closed after Monday (March 24) to enable the contractor to “make corrections… and rectification works” to ensure quality and safety, and to complete an overpass in Concepcion, Tarlac which is being built to give an alternate route for the carabaos and tricycles of farmers in the area.

Aside from completing the SCTEX, Pamintuan revealed that it is also the dream of President Arroyo to connect the NLEX southwards with the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) via Commonwealth Avenue and Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City, and extend the NLEX northwards to Rosario, La Union via the towns of La Paz and Gerona in Tarlac.

Pamintuan stressed that the President hopes to complete the said dream highways before her term ends in 2010, “kaya despite all the political noise, trabaho ng trabaho, laser-beam focused -- sabi ng Pangulo (Arroyo), huwag kayong padi-distract… -”

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Bunye tours PGMA-funded New Muntinlupa City Hall

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye toured recently the New Muntinlupa City Hall the construction of which was funded by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Bunye -- former OIC mayor and then three-term elected mayor of Muntinlupa – was toured by Muntinlupa City officials when he went to the City Hall to pay his property taxes himself.

Also the first congressman of the lone district of Muntinlupa City, Bunye was met by City Administrator Roberto Bunyi, Budget Office Head Bill Orellana, Treasury Officer-in-Charge Romy Pucyutan and Florencio Ciriaco.

“We are deeply honored by his (Bunye’s) visit,” enthused Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro who revealed that Secretary Bunye was one of the earliest taxpayers in real property.

Bunye said he was just doing his civic duty by paying his taxes himself even as he is very busy with his job in Malacañang.

Designated as Officer-in-Charge of the then Municipality of Muntinlupa in 1986, Bunye was duly elected Muntinlupa mayor from 1988 to 1995, serving as the concurrent chairman of the former Metropolitan Manila Authority (MMA) from 1991-1992.

In l995, Bunye was reelected as Muntinlupa mayor for his last three-year term until 1998.

It was during Bunye’s 12-year stewardship that Muntinlupa metamorphosed from a fifth-class municipality into a highly-urbanized city. Adopting proven corporate practices that he gained from working in the private sector, Bunye streamlined operations and cut red tape, thus making Muntinlupa City the business-friendly community that it is today.

Bunye had also founded the Muntinlupa Polytechnic College, the city’s public college. Toward the end of his term as mayor in 1998, Bunye laid the foundation for the establishment of the Ospital ng Muntinlupa through the acquisition of a five-hectare lot within the Filinvest Corporate City, also the site of the future Civic Center Complex.

Barred by law to seek a fourth consecutive term as mayor, Bunye ran for Congress in l998 and became the first congressman of the lone district of Muntinlupa City.

Toward the end of the 11th Congress, he became the Senior Deputy Majority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives where he continued to champion the cause of local governments, especially in providing them with greater fiscal autonomy.

A lawyer by profession, Bunye had served in various executive positions at the Ayala Group of Companies, including as assistant vice president of the Ayala Investment and Development Corporation and the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

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Malacañang foresees Pacman win over Marquez

Malacañang is confident that Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao would be successful in his bid to dethrone World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in their 12-round rematch at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada Sunday morning (Manila time).

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said that the Arroyo government is joining the Filipino people in praying for the successful fight of Pacquiao against Marquez.

“Ipinagdarasal natin ang ating kababayan at naniniwala tayo na siya ay handang-handa na harapin itong kanyang laban sa Linggo. Let us hope for the best,” Bunye said in a press briefing Friday afternoon.

He expressed confidence that Pacquiao would win the fight because he is well prepared for it.

“But whatever the result, we know certainly that Manny Pacquiao had prepared very hard for this. I am sure that he will fight in a way that will make all Filipinos very proud of him,” he said.

Bunye considers the Pacquiao-Marquez fight as a special day that brings positive impact for the nation.

“Alam po ninyo, kapag mayroong laban si Manny Pacquiao, halos walang traffic at halos walang crime. Zero crime rate. That is a very special day for the Philippines,” he said.

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Lucena Archbishop rallies the people and lawmakers to support PGMA in her bid to rid gov’t of graft

PAGBILAO, Quezon - "Ang pagsugpo sa korupsyon ay dapat magsimula sa ating mga sarili."

Lucena Archbishop Emilio Z. Marquez made the statement as he called on the Filipino people and all lawmakers today to help President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her administration’s drive to weed out graft and corruption in both the public service and private transactions.

Archbishop Marquez told hundreds of parishioners who flocked at the parish church during the golden anniversary celebration of the canonical erection of the St. Anne Parish and Diocesan Shrine in Silangang Malicboy, Pagbilao, that the hard task to curb corruption is not only the responsibility of the top leader of the land but also the civilians as well, including the local leaders.

"Tulungan natin siya (President) na masugpo ang korupsyon," Archbishop Marquez said, noting that it is hard for the President to carry out the drive alone if the Filipino people and local leaders would not do their parts in the eradication of graft and corruption in the country.

In his homily, Archbishop Marquez thanked the President for lending her time to join them in the golden anniversary of St. Anne Parish in Barangay Malicboy, some 12 kilometers away from the town proper of Pagbilao.

"Akala ko nagbibiro kayo, Madam President, pero ngayon naniniwala na ako na bibisitahin mo kami. Kahit maliit ang St. Anne Parish, pinilit mo pa ring dumalo sa golden anniversary celebration ng parokya," Archbishop Marquez said, adding that it was only three days ago (Wednesday) when one of the presidential staff informed him about the President’s intention to attend in the occasion.

He also thanked the President for heeding the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) call to abolish Executive Order 464.

On the issue of executive privilege, Archbishop Marquez agreed that it is the President’s prerogative not to give up her exercise of that power which is mandated by law and the 1987 Constitution.

"Hindi puwedeng itakwil ng Pangulo, ang paggamit niya ng executive privilege dahil ito ay konstitusyunal. Bahagi ito ng kanyang kapangyarihan at ayon na rin sa Konstitusyon ay hindi puwedeng humigit ang legislative sa executive," Archbishop Marquez said, adding that the CBCP has decided to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court to come out on the motion for reconsideration filed by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Romulo Neri.

He also explained that the main reason the CBCP did not make any stand on the growing clamor for the President to resign is that the Vatican, under the stewardship of Pope Benedict XVI, ordered all Catholic bishops in the world not to get involved in a political issue.

"Ang gawain ng bishops ay magbigay ng guidelines at hindi sumasali sa isyu ng pulitika," Archbishop Marquez explained.

He added that the Catholic clergy visualized that it is not good for the booming economy, and for the country in general, to change the current leadership because nobody from the other camp is qualified to lead the presidency.

After the one-and-a-half hours Holy Mass, the President together with Archbishop Marquez and St. Anne Parish priest Fr. Jose Tolentino went outside of the church and led the release of doves and yellow balloons symbolizing the start of a year-long celebration of the Pagbilao parish’s 50th anniversary.

Quezon Gov. Raffy Nantes, Reps. Mark Enverga (1st District), Danny Suarez (3rd District), Proceso Alcala (2nd District), presidential son and Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo, and Pagbilao Mayor Venus Fortes accompanied the President in her visit here.

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15 MARCH 2008		.