Clark Chamber of Commerce’s letter to mayor questioned

ANGELES CITY -– The Office of the City Mayor said a letter from the Metro Clark Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MACCI), which asked for the reduction of the city budget, has been questioned by many of those whose names were included as signatories.
Marco Nepomuceno, regional director of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); Arsenio Valdes, past president of the Environmental Practitioners Association; Cynthia Gueco, past president of Rotary Club Kuliat; Gerry Tayag of Taguete Realty Inc.; and lawyer Alejandro Buan, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Angeles Chapter, denied signing the document or giving permission for their electronic signatures to be pasted in the letter.
Lawyer Buan said there is no IBP-Angeles Chapter but only IBP-Pampanga and Angeles City Lawyers League.
City Administrator Dennis Albert Pamintuan said the MACCI leadership, particularly its president, Frankie Villanueva, should explain why many of the group’s officers denied signing the letter.
“We understand the concern of MACCI, which we consider as a partner in the development of Angeles and we respect its position. However, there are certain realities that we must consider, even as we assure MACCI that we shall be very prudent in the disposition of our budget,” Pamintuan said.
Pamintuan said the increase in the budget of the city from P1.2 billion in 2012 to P1.3 billion this year is necessary to implement key programs and obligations of the city, including the last tranche of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL), the transfer of the City College of Angeles from its temporary location at the City Library to its new campus in Barangay Pampang, among others.
He lamented, however, that the issue raised has political undertones. Curiously, the MACCI letter has jibed with a recent media statement of Representative Carmelo Lazatin that the city budget has been “overestimated.”
Pamintuan said the approved 2013 budget is proportionately less compared to the budget increases of the previous administrations, considering the programs of the current administration, inflation and payment of loans by the past administrations of Lazatin and Nepomuceno and the reduction of the city’s share in the internal revenue allotment (IRA) from the National Government.
He said the implementation of the final phase of the SSL would require P150 million for 2013, while debt servicing is budgeted at P130 million annually.
City treasurer Juliet Quinsaat also denied that the city has not achieved its revenue collections target in 2012, contrary to the claim of MACCI. She said total collections in 2012 (as of November 22) was already P411 million.
“Even their figures on the city’s 2011 of P249 million was inaccurate as the actual collections based on records for that year for business taxes and licenses was P409 million,” Quinsaat said.
The group also asked why they were not invited in the budget deliberations. But contrary to their claim, Angeles City Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting clarified that the budget deliberations have been opened to the public and was even repeatedly announced over the radio.
“Members of the media were present during the deliberations, but they or any other private groups and individuals cannot participate in the discussions and approval of the budget as only the members of the Council are authorized to do so,” she said.
Vega-Cabigting said the budget was approved by the City Council after lengthy and careful deliberations, and has already reduced it.
The City Council also attached a provision to the budget that 10 percent of the Special Programs Fund may only be programmed if local tax collections increase, Vega-Cabigting said.
In compliance with the provision, Pamintuan said the Office of the Mayor already issued a memorandum calling for 20 percent of the Special Program budget as well as the maintenance and other operations expenses (MOOE) of departments be set aside as “reserved funds.”
“Further, we are still on austerity mode and continue to implement the Executive Order on austerity measures,” Pamintuan said, adding that there are obligations incurred by the previous administrations that must also be amortized.
Both the Lazatin and Nepomuceno administrations separately acquired loans from several government banks totaling to almost P1 billion.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2013/01/08/clark-chamber-commerce-s-letter-mayor-questioned-261800
Enjoyable place for traveler to hang out near Manila for family bonding is Clearwater Beach Resort

Highly recommended summer vacation destination outside Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark, a safe and convenient tourist spot that offers natural ambience for visitors to enjoy the outdoors with no stress.

Holy Week gives hard-working Manila residents a break from the stressful life at work. Many residents of Manila decide to go out of town to the North, to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines in search for a peaceful and tranquil lake and beach resort hotel for the family to spend some quality time together.

Manila residents travel out of town to the north to relax and unwind in a good resort in Pampanga that is suitable for family bonding. The best resort in Pampanga is Clearwater which is located in Clark.

Family bonding is a regular activity in the Philippines for families living in cities like Cebu and Manila where residents experience a lot of stress from work. Many choose to travel out of town to the north for family bonding in a resort in Pampanga. Clearwater Resort is the most popular destination for family bonding as well as team building because it offers over 10 exclusive venues for events and gatherings. This resort is Pampanga is highly recommended by event organizers and trip advisories for family bonding, company outings, retreats and team building near Manila.

Philippines Travel Guide just unveiled recommendations and tips for Holy Week and Easter Holidays in Philippines. The report covers highly recommended resorts and hotels in North Luzon, nice getaway destinations for families with children, safe and convenient place for tourists to relax and unwind, good restaurants, resto bars, pubs and fine dining establishments in Pampanga, frequently visited places as well as historical sites in Angeles City, Pampanga, Clark Philippines.

The best getaway destination vacation spot near Manila is the safe and accessible private resort Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark Pampanga, a 13-hectare property with lake, beach, picnic grounds and small number of cottages. Parents enjoy a good round of golf in one of the best golf courses in Pampanga while children enjoy the outdoor picnic facilities of the best hotel near Manila, Philippines.

Clark is already a popular destination for golfers from Manila. Clark Freeport offers some of the best golf courses in Pampanga and outshines many golf clubs and golf courses elsewhere in the Philippines.

For inquiries and bookings, Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort for inquiries and reservations now

Clearwater Resort and Country Club, Clark Pampanga
Creekside Road near Centennial Expo,
Clark Freeport, Pampanga Philippines 2023
(045) 889-5151 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177
Joanne or Jeremy or Loydha

Getting to this lake and beach resort in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines

After entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway MA Roxas, passing the stand-along wine shop called Clark Wine Center on the right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, one will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on the right just 200m down.

Family Bonding by the famous lake of Clark Pampanga

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort to reserve a venue for your upcoming event now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com

Hot Line for what’s happening in Clark: 045 889-5151 or 0927-940-2669 ask for Loydha

0915-542-6250 (Jeramie)