EU-based firm renews commitment to build shipyard in PH—Marcos

by Betheena Unite, MB

A French shipbuilding firm has renewed its commitment to pursue a P1.5-billion shipyard development in the Philippines.

(Malacañang Photo)

Malacañang said shipbuilding firm OCEA S.A. made the pledge during a meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday, Dec. 14. 

According to OCEA, the planned investment will create 500 to 600 direct and indirect jobs in the Philippines, as it eyes to build 15 to 120-meter boats for several markets intended for maritime safety and security, transportation and fisheries.

OCEA initially made the investment pledge for a shipyard project in the Philippines during the 9th Philippine-France Joint Economic Committee (JEC) meeting held in July last year.

The commitment was supported by the company’s letter of intent sent to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regarding the creation of OCEA Shipbuilding Philippines Inc.

The French firm also has ongoing discussions with potential associates and partners in the Philippines. 

The company has so far identified several locations for the planned shipyard, including Mariveles, Bataan; Batangas; Sual, Pangasinan; and Subic.

Currently, OCEA has new contracts under negotiation to build vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA).

Marcos thanked the company for its commitment as he expressed hope that it could contribute in the training of potential Filipino seafarers.

“Our seafarers are very important to us, especially as we start to recover and the training ship is going to be critical for the continuing [training] because I keep hearing now about the new technologies,” Marcos said.

“And the training ship is very necessary so that they can get the proper credentials from whatever maritime academy they are attending, the potential seafarers. So that is going to be a big help,” the President pointed out.

OCEA S.A., the builder of PCG’s BRP Gabriela Silang, is today’s French leader in aluminium shipbuilding, specializing in the design, building and support of aluminium vessels.

VP Sara tells Filipinos to be inspired by Bonifacio, rekindle patriotism

Published November 30, 2022, 12:45 PM

by Betheena Unite

Vice President Sara Duterte expressed hopes that Filipinos would take inspiration from Andres Bonifacio to rekindle their “deep sense of patriotism.”

Vice President Sara Duterte keynotes the 48th Philippine Business Conference (PBC) and Expo organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce (PCCI) at the Manila Hotel on Oct. 19, 2022. (Noel B. Pabalate/MANILA BULLETIN)

Duterte, who also heads the Department of Education (DepEd) in a concurrent capacity, joined the nation in commemorating the 159th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, also known as the Father of Philippine Revolution, on Wednesday, Nov. 30.

She enjoined the nation to emulate Bonifacio’s “courage and heroism” in overcoming the difficulties it faces.

“May his extraordinary love of our country continue to inspire us to be constantly united in overcoming the difficulties we face as a nation and realize our shared aspirations of a better life for all,” the Vice President said.

“And may the fire he started in the name of freedom rekindle a deep sense of patriotism among us as we usher in a future strongly forged by our unyielding solidarity and our own acts of selflessness, courage, and bravery for our country and our fellow Filipinos,” she added.

Duterte also urged the citizenry to keep loving the Philippines.

Palace moves Araw ng Kagitingan, Bonifacio Day to new dates; Jan. 2 is special holiday

Published November 16, 2022, 1:32 PM

by Betheena Unite

The dates of some regular holidays for 2023 have been changed, Malacañang announced on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

Proclamation No. 90

Through Proclamation No. 90 the following regular holidays were moved to another date:

• Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9 (Sunday) to April 10 (Monday)
• Bonifacio Day – November 30 (Thursday) to November 27 (Monday)

January 2 was also added as an special non-working day.

Other regular holidays and special non-working days previously declared through Proclamation No. 42, which was issued in August 2022, will remain unchanged.

According to the Palace, the changes were made to encourage domestic travel and increase tourism expenditures.

“There is a need to adjust these holidays pursuant to the principle of holiday economics wherein a longer weekend will help encourage domestic travel and increase tourism expenditures in the country,” the proclamation stated.It also explained that adding January 2 to the list of special non-working days is “in consideration of the Filipino tradition of visiting relatives and spending time with their families for this occasion.”  

Marcos ‘highly supportive’ of Metro Davao Dev’t Authority—Palace

by Betheena Unite, MB

Malacañang said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is “highly supportive” of the establishment of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA).

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. holds a situation briefing with various agencies during his visit in Davao City on Oct. 27, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the OPS)

Marcos recognizes the body’s role in pushing for the special development in the administrative region, it added.

The creation of the MDDA was discussed during a situation briefing with regional directors as part of the President’s visit to Davao City on Thursday, Oct. 27.

The body is currently in its formative stages, according to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Davao regional director Maria Lourdes Lim.

Lim noted that for the law to be implemented, there are still three things needed: the implementing rules and regulations; the approval of plantilla for the human resource; and the budget.

During the meeting, Lim said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has already approved the grant for the formulation of the master plan for Metropolitan Davao.

“In fact, next week we are expecting a survey team that will put together the work and the national plan for the masterplan project for Metro Davao,” she said.

The body was created through Republic Act No. 11708 or the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority Act, which was signed into law by former president Rodrigo Duterte in April 2022.

It is a special body mandated to coordinate and promote the socio-economic growth and sustainable development of Metropolitan Davao.

Among its services are development planning; transport management; solid waste disposal and management; flood control and sewerage management; urban renewal, zoning, land use planning and shelter services; health and sanitation and public safety.

PH to require eArrival card for airline passengers starting Nov. 1—Palace

by Betheena Unite, MB

Malacañang announced that the use of electronic arrival (eArrival) card for passengers will be implemented in the country’s airports starting November 1.

OFWs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Ali Vicoy/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The scan-and-go system, the Palace said, will ensure ease of travel for incoming travelers and at the same time, protect the public from Covid-19. 

“Starting November 1 this year, the Bureau of Quarantine will require all inbound travelers to have an e-Arrival Card within 72 hours prior to their departure from their country of origin,” it said in a statement on Monday, Oct. 24.

Arriving travelers should register for an e-Arrival Card prior to their departure via onehealthpass.com.ph or by scanning the QR code indicated in the poster released by the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH issued the advisory as the Bureau of Quarantine transitions from the One Health Pass (OHP) to the eArrival Card to streamline arrival requirements for travelers.

Malacañang further said that the adoption of the eArrival Card will make entry to the Philippines more convenient for travelers as it removes unnecessary information fields present in the previous OHP system.