Archive for the ‘Travel to the Philippines’ Category

Ayala Corporation recently declared that it has bag first the money allotted for PNoy’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program amounting 2 billion pesos for the project Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Link Road which is considered to be the very first project auctioned by the Aquino administration for its Public-Private Partnership(PPP) program; to be the winning bidder and were so very excited to bag more.

“We are delighted to have submitted a competitive proposal for the first project under the government’s public-private partnership program. This is a good initial foray in the transport infrastructure space and we believe this successful experience working within a public-private partnership framework would be helpful in pursuing future projects under the ppp program”, said by Ayala Corporation president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala.
They bag the fund last December 22,2011 hand over by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and were also expected to complete all the requirements for the right-of-way within six months upon signing the concession agreement.

However, the Ayala Corporation is not alone on this project but in partnership with a Spanish Engineering company, Getinsa; that will help the Ayala conglomerate in their expertise in infrastructure projects the detailed design of the project is expected to be complete within four months.

The Link Road project is named “Daang Hari” because the road will start at the Daang Hari if one is in Imus cavite and desire to enter the south Luzon expressway near the Susana Heights Interchange and would enter Cavite.

Actually, this road project is a major arterial road that will connect the towns of Imus, Dasmarinas, and Bacoor Cavite to Metro Manila via South Luzon Expressway (SLEx).It is a Cavite bound road or a road that will provide strategic access to Cavite.

This road project handled by the Ayala Corporation under PNoy’s Public-private partnership program is expected to start its construction by February 2012(segment 1) and will end on September 2012(segment 2)

The expected starting toll rate once this project is finally running or open: P17 for class 1 vehicles,P34 for class 2 vehicles and P51 for class 3 vehicles; all the toll rates are valued-added tax(VAT) inclusive or have already value-added tax(VAT) included on each.
This road project is advantageous to Ayala Corporation because through this road, their real estate properties within Cavite can now be easily accessible to their estate owners and clients.

Another road in the Philippines that is mostly the few rich clans in the Philippines has more advantage of.

“Mega Epal” case is what Bayan Muna party list Representative Teddy Casino see at Bohol Representative Rene Relampagos’ propose bill to rename again the main circumferential road and highway of Manila that stretched from Balintawak in Quezon City to Pasay City which is originally known as 19 de Junio (June 19) and then as Highway 54 and then EDSA; from Epifanio de los Santos Avenue(EDSA) into Cory Aquino Avenue which violates the “Anti-Epal” Bill of not attaching the name of any Philippine politicians in any government infrastructure.
Aside from violating the “Anti-Epal” Bill, Bayan Muna party list Representative Teddy Casino, said that what happened on People Power on the grounds of EDSA is not about Corazon (Cory) Aquino but the uprising that took place on EDSA is about the people’s struggle against “tyranny” of Ferdinand Marcos, according to him. Thus, according to him, it is not right to rename EDSA into Cory Aquino Avenue.

With the same sentiments, House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said that that it is difficult to erase the name EDSA because according to him, that is already an institution that Filipinos should honor rather than discard it and that should not be tampered. Moreover, he even suggest that the Aquino administration that wants highway that can be name in his late mother should instead rename the road that leads to Hacienda Luisita (perhaps, Lagman refers to SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway))

Filipino netizens also disagree about the proposed bill and utterly say “No” to it and even scoff Cory because Cory was not really present during the People Power but some says she is in Cebu during those times, as well Bohol Representative Rene Relampagos who propose the bill was scoff and label as “sip-sip” on the Aquino clan.

But Bohol Representative Rene Relampagos said that he has an idea to rename EDSA into Cory Aquino Avenue because according to him that one cannot think of 1986 EDSA Revolution without thinking of Corazon C. Aquino, thus, according to him, it is only fitting to give her the tribute.

However, actually, this idea of renaming again the Highway 54 into a new name or from EDSA into Cory Aquino Avenue was not originally an idea of Bohol Representative Rene Relampagos but rather it was first an idea of former senator Mar Roxas who propose it days after when Cory died of colon cancer.

By the way, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) was constructed during the presidency of Manuel L.Quezon and was originally named after the birthday of the famous Filipino hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, thus the highway got its first name as 19 de Junio or June 19.And then was renamed into Highway 54 under Republic Act No. 2140 in 1959 and again was further renamed in honor of a noted Filipino historian, Epifanio de los Santos. Thus, EDSA or Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

Hotel accommodation is very important if one travels and stay for tourism purpose on a foreign land compare to a little cottage or a hostel; hotel is a preferable place to stay and rest instead. However, it depends on what kind of hotel one will check-in; if these hotels have all the service one needs while staying on a foreign land.
In the Philippines, there are many first-class hotels, tourists both locals and foreigners could check-in; now lately a new first-class hotel has been erected to serve the tourist population of Samar Islands – the Ciriaco Hotel & Resort – which have opened last November last year.

The first class hotel and resort was erected to serve the tourist population of Samar Islands since Samar Islands is one of the best tourists places in the Philippines that have all the tourist spots and adventures, tourists would like to see, experience and enjoy. That is, Samar Islands have beautiful islets with white beaches, historical places to learn, have good surfing and diving sites, waterfalls, rivers; caves and other natural wonders of nature Samar Islands is blessed with.

Actually, Ciriaco Hotel & Resort is the only hotel of its kind in Samar Islands compare to others. For it offers first class Hotel accommodation that features many amenities and facilities which modern tourists could enjoy.

Among them are:

1. Spacious fully air-conditioned rooms with 37” LCD TVs with cable connection and phone connection. The rooms have of course own T&B with rainforest showers; rooms have also work desks and luggage racks and with high speed internet access.

2. A two function rooms

3. A Business Center with secretarial, fax, photocopying, computer rentals, presentation equipment rentals, and a courier service.

4. A Café Bar with bands playing nightly from Thursday to Sunday weekly.

5. A laundry and pressing service

6. A Money Exchange Service

7. A personalized wake up calls Service

8. A Free Breakfast
…and More..

If you are interested to check this first class hotel in Samar Islands, the next time you want to visit the islands, Ciriaco Hotel & Resort is located along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Bagacay, Calbayog City Samar.

By the way, Ciriaco Hotel & Resort is still ongoing improvement to make it more first class hotel in the Samar Islands wherein both local and foreign tourists could enjoy their tourist stay at the Samar islands and their tourist experience on the Samar Islands.

The Philippines is Not a Scary Place..Hehe

Just like Mindanao Philippines or should I say with bad reports and news which include largely the Mindanao region of the Philippines that besets the entire Philippines like too much politicking, reports of corrupt government officials, natural calamities, etc. the Philippines still remains the most safest place to live in the world with its balance weather condition, low-cost of living for foreigners, caring and hospital people, good medical facilities, natural attractions and beach places, good for business investment, no death penalty, though the Philippine is a predominantly Christian religion it still respect other religions or one is free to live by one’s personal beliefs, it is a democratic country, low crime rates so far and it should be, and the Philippines is in tune with what is the latest happenings in the world or have progressing civilization.

This report was said release through a foreign survey group, and if this is true then it could be a good news for the Philippines but though this kind of reports is not yet published, the Philippine has still of course good points that every Filipino must be proud of their country just what I enumerate above about some good stuffs in the Philippines despite of some bad news and activities going on compare to other countries that are really dangerous to live in because of high crime rates, too much poverty, anarchy, and bad weather condition.

So despite of the negative things happening in our country, let us count our blessings and be thankful about it. For money is not the only thing which makes a man happy, is not it? (We all know that the Philippines is not actually a financially rich country)

Issue on Private Roads

Not all highways and expressways in the Philippines are owned wholly by the Philippine government just like not all facilities and establishments erected were owned by the Philippine government though these were on the Philippine ground and utilize within the Philippine domains. Thus, for this reason, a tax exist on those private own properties in payment for using the privileges and land property of the Philippine government they use and access. This relationship does not only exist in the Philippines but also on every countries of the world. But sometimes, it does not go well on this kind of relationship because of conflict of interests of both parties wherein the innocent customers/people are the ones who suffers a lot.

Take for example, if the Philippine government tax greatly a private company, like the private roads in the Philippines (North Luzon Expressway[NLEx],South Luzon Expressway[SLEx],Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Coastal Road, and the Skyway) which the present administration (the Aquino Administration) have planned to do but was blocked by the Supreme Court of the Philippines – the private owners will transfer the burden of the government tax to the innocent civilian Filipinos by increasing the cost of their service, like the toll rates on private roads. Thus, the civilian Filipinos are the always innocent victims.

It seems, the Aquino administration have made mistake again in their plans to levied a 12 % VAT (value added tax) on private roads because it was blocked by the Supreme Court and some Filipino people wants the TRO (temporary restraining order) to be permanent, else the innocent motorists will suffer the increase toll rates.

If you are going in a Philippine vacation into the Philippine archipelago or rather to a particular island in the Philippines, you should consider some flight package rates before packing your bags and accessories and fly into the Philippines. Yes, of course, I know you already knew that, however, I am here to give some ideas about your Philippine vacation or Philippine travel or flights to Philippines.

Let us begin this by where in the Philippines you are planning to stay or to have a vacation. And then from where you will land in the Philippines or rather from what airports in the Philippines you will be coming from. This will assess your flights to Philippines or your budget.

For example, if you happen to be at Metro Manila Airport or at Nino Aquino International Airport:

1. If you are going to Boracay City Philippines, You can ride to SEAIR Airlines. This airline is the fastest and most advanced aircraft going to Boracay Philippines if you are from Manila Philppines or Metro Manila Philippines. It has a daily flight from Manila to Caticlan Philippines or to Caticlan Airport. Just look for flight schedules at SEAIR website or inquire about it at their hotlines. To inquire about how much is their flight package; you can browse their flight package at their website with respective rates at specific destination or location at Boracay.
2. However, if you like cold weather or if you are going to Baguio City Philippines, you can instead ride a bus going to Baguio city than booking for a flight. It is cheaper to go to Baguio city by land. You can ride a bus going to Baguio city at this following bus stations: Dagupan Bus Lines, which is located at New York Cubao, Quezon City Philippines; Partas transport, which is located at Aurora Boulevard Cubao. Quezon City Philippines, and at Victory Liner, which is located at EDSA, Pasay Metro Manila Philippines.
3. If Cultural adventure is your trip and you like to go to Vigan City Philippines, you can either choose a flight or a bus ride. If you choose a flight, you could buy a ticket at Philippine Airlines (PAL) which flies three times a week to Laog City Philippines. You can browse their flight package at Philippine Airlines website. Then, having landed to Laog city, you can commute a bus or by land transportation there going to Vigan City. It is estimated that Laog City is 8o kilometers away from Vigan City Philippines, or that is one and a half hour trip.

If you prefer to ride a bus, you can ride at these bus stations: Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines, which is located at Rizal Avenue, Manila Philippines or at EDSA; Dominion Bus Lines, which is located at New York Street Cubao, Quezon city Philippines; Partas Bus Company, which is located at Aurora Boulevard, Quezon Philippines; and at Maria De Leon Transit, which is located at Dapitan corner, Gelinos Street, Sampaloc, Metro Manila Philippines.

By bus transportation going to Vigan City from Manila Philippines is approximately a seven hours trip, so you should bring your pillows if you prefer to travel by land.