SMC’s airport project draws full support from Bulacan
4 Bulacan cooperatives in billionaire’s bracket
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — Governor Wilhelmino M.Sy-Alvarado said the province is fully supporting San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) proposed New Manila International Airport (NMIA).
The governor issued the statement after the Provincial Board’s unanimous approval of Board Resolution 316, which expresses support for the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)’s decision to approve the Bulacan airport project.
“We assure all Filipinos, especially the people of Bulacan that the province will do its best to support the nation’s dream of a world-class international airport, with all the modern amenities and safety features we have all been longing for,” Governor Sy-Alvarado said.
He added that the provincial government would be working closely with both SMC and national agencies once the airport project breaks ground.
Further, it said that it was willing to work closely with other local government units in Metro Manila and the Pampanga provincial government, to ensure a complementary and supportive role to existing airports.
Vice-Governor Daniel R. Fernando, who signed and affirmed the Bulacan board resolution, stressed that the building of a new airport in Bulacan will complement the massive public investments in Clark, Pam- panga notably the creation of the new Clark Green City.
“Having an international airport in Bulacan will drive more tourists and investors towards the New Clark City, considering that many Bulakenyos also visit the Clark Freeport Zone as domestic tourists,” Fernando said.
In the board resolution, Bulacan board members expressed support for SMC’s airport proposal because this would create more than a million jobs, while revitalizing, if not protecting, coastal towns that are hardest hit by floods and calamities.
Once complete, NMIA will feature up to four runways, with enough space to expand up to six when needed.
It will have modern, world-class airport facilities for passengers and cargo.
It is seen as a game-changer for the Philippine economy, raising the country’s attractiveness and competitiveness as an investment destination and boosting the tourism sector.
“We foresee the opening of new horizons in terms of job creation, new investments, and air transport safety and efficiency that would benefit all Filipinos, not just Bulacan residents. The Bulacan provincial government is willing to work closely with the national government and San Miguel Corporation once the green light to proceed (with) construction is given, to obtain full compliance with all existing national and local laws,” the Bulacan governor said.
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — Four Bulacan cooperatives made it to the list of groups with at least a billion pesos in assets.
The four billionaire cooperatives are St. Martin of Tours Development Credit Cooperative with 11.96 billion worth of assets, San Jose del Monte Savings and Credit Cooperative with 11.66 billion, Manatal Multi-Purpose Cooperative (11.52 billion) and Ligas Kooperatiba ng Bayan sa Pagpapaunlad (11.51 billion).
Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Executive Director Giovanni Platero, who represented Chairman Orlando Ravanera, said during the opening program of the Cooperative Month at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in this city on Wednesday, that cooperatives are instruments in uplifting the quality of lives of its members.
“Bilang makabagong kooperatiba, hindi lamang tayo tumatahak sa pangkabuhayang gawain, kailangang mai-transform natin ang mga kooperatiba bilang isang organization na tumatalima sa social issues at environmental concerns,” Platero said.
Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado added that cooperatives balance the trade competition between the huge corporations and the small and start-up entrepreneurs.
“Ganap na pinasigla ng mga kooperatiba ang ekonomiya ng Bulacan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalawig ng malayang kalakalan at komersyo sa lalawigan at pagbibigay ng pagkakataon sa lahat ng maliliit na mamumuhunan na kalauna’y naging integral na bahagi din ng malayang kumpetisyon sa mga merkado,” he said.
In line with the month-long celebration of Cooperative Month, which is anchored on the theme “Cooperatives: Partners for Building Resilient and Empowered Communities Towards a Better and Stronger Communities”, the 1st Central Luzon Regional Cooperative Congress on Gender and Development (GAD) and Cooperative Tax Exemption (CTE) will be held on October 16 to 17; Regional Kooplympics on October 19 and Gawad Galing Kooperatiba awarding ceremony on October 24 at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Pavilion Convention Center in this city. (Freddie C. Velez)