Inauguration of the upgraded Kalibo International Airport

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

While comfort, improved mobility, and connectivity are expected as results of various development projects in Aklan, more employment and tourism opportunities will likewise flourish to boost economic activities in the province, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade said during the formal inauguration of the upgraded Kalibo International Airport (KIA) today, 04 June 2021.

Taking cue from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s marching order to make the lives of Filipinos comfortable and convenient, Sec. Tugade took the order to heart and went on to deliver the promises made since taking office in 2016.

“Una, malakas ang loob ko na tapusin itong airport na ‘to. Pangalawa, kasama ko ‘yung buong Aviation sector, at kasama ang CAAP, kami po ay naniniwala na malaki ang maitutulong nng proyektong ito, hindi lang sa larangan ng turismo, kundi sa paglago ng ekonomiya dito sa lugar ng Kalibo, Aklan,” Tugade stressed during the inauguration of the newly-improved and renovated gateway.

Tugade said that at least 280 workers were employed during the renovation of the Kalibo International Airport, adding that it will further trigger more employment opportunities as the improved airport becomes operational.

“In other words, this airport will serve as a trigger for employment not only at a time when construction was being done and being made, but also at a time when construction will be completed because it will become an employment generator,” Sec. Tugade pointed out.

Tugade also explained that the improved Kalibo International Airport will promote tourism as it will not only serve local tourists but will also welcome international visitors.

“Ang isang karagdagan dito ay ang turismo. Mapapalaganap at mapapalago ang turismo. Pero hindi lang po 'yan sa kapaligiran ng Aklan, hindi lang ‘ho papuntang Boracay, o sa ibang lugar sa ka-Bisayaan. Ito ‘ho ay magiging international gateway ‘pagkat ang airport na ito ay of international standard,” Sec. Tugade said.

Completed on 15 September 2020 amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the airport’s expanded 2,633.40 square-meter International Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) can now accommodate 406 passengers from its previous 344 passenger volume. Prior to the upgrade, the airport grounds covered only 1,584 square meters.

With the airport terminal’s expansion, queuing passengers are provided with a 126-square meter covered section outside the International PTB for weather protection. Ample space for the operation of Customs, Immigration, and Pre-Screening personnel, has been provided to eliminate long passenger queues.

Airline check-in counters have also been extended to 468-square meters from the previous 216-square meters. Similarly, the passenger pre-departure waiting area now covers 608.40-square meters with the 284.40-square meters added space.

Also repaired during the airport’s renovation phase was the over 4,000 square meters of dilapidated pavement, removing unexpected hazards to parking aircraft.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Captain Jim Sydiongco added that the airport's improvements and renovations also resolved issues such as extreme congestion, dilapidation, and lack of efficient facilities.

“Realizing that a long-term solution is needed to develop this aged structure, CAAP, with the staunch direction of DOTr, launched the project to rehabilitate KIA’s grandeur as a premier airport. Overall repair and restoration of KIA have improved and restored KIA’s look and facilities as a whole,” DG Sydiongco said.

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores and Kalibo Mayor Emerson Lachica thanked Sec. Tugade for his strong resolve in upgrading and renovating the airport, which they said were not done by previous administrations.

“The development of the Kalibo International Airport started in earnest. What you see now is the manifestation of the commitment of Secretary Tugade and the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to really put Kalibo on the map of the country, as the prime gateway for Boracay and the tourism industry of Aklan,” Gov. Miraflores said.

“One may think at this moment is hard to achieve, but this significant project is one of the trademark services of the Duterte administration,” Mayor Lachica, for his part, said.

PLDT Enterprise powers hotline and connectivity of Bamban, Tarlac

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Being the southernmost town in the province of Tarlac, the municipality of Bamban has long yearned for a solid internet backbone that will connect the mountainous region and bridge the digital divide among its citizens and constituents.

In his ninth and final term as the highest-ranking official in the municipality, Mayor Jose Antonio T. Feliciano shares that Bamban's dream of becoming a connected and digitally transformed town has finally come true—thanks to its newest partnership with PLDT Enterprise.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank PLDT for enabling our dream which has long been forgotten. It's my last term, my ninth year, and ngayon lang po natupad ang pangarap namin," Mayor Feliciano says.

As part of its ongoing efforts to equip local government units (LGU) with digital services especially during the global health crisis, PLDT Enterprise strengthens Bamban's communications and connectivity infrastructure that will allow the municipality to further improve its public services and governance.

Prior to the partnership, the LGU had to contend with stand-alone setups, with its different departments using various ISP providers without the help of an IT Department to manage and troubleshoot problems. As a result, inter-departmental communications and connectivity became difficult and unreliable, and LGU constituents had trouble accessing government offices and services.

"Before PLDT Enterprise and Smart, marami po kaming mga service provider pero hindi po ganun katatag ang binibigay na services. Now that we have changed the norm, that we have to digitize, I opted to have the framework and the backbone to be established in Bamban," Feliciano explains.

Today, PLDT Enterprise’s iGate Premium, SIP Trunks, and Cabling services are being installed to replace the old copper lines throughout the whole LGU communications network. And with a new IP PBX for voice communications, internal and external calls will be clearer and much easier. In addition, with PLDT Enterprise’s #myNumber service, a single public hotline number is expected to be announced soon to bring the LGU closer to the community. It can accept calls from both landline and cellular units without incurring additional costs for both the LGU and its constituents.

"With the fast and reliable services of PLDT and Smart, we could dream of things which are unprecedented. For example, with the dedicated phone number services could be given to our people 24/7. We would like to reach out all the individuals who would be needing our help and it will be very simple and easy for us to reach our countrymen," Feliciano adds.

PLDT’s fiber optic connection centralizes voice and data network through PLDT SIP Trunks and iGate Premium. The single hotline number assigned to Bamban, on the other hand, will benefit those in need of financial help or emergency assistance—even making reporting COVID-19 related cases much easier.

"With the health crisis we continue to face today, the role of the government becomes all the more significant for the citizens. And we're thankful for the trust given to us by the Municipality of Bamban, Tarlac mainly to serve their constituents better through a reliable internet connection and a centralized hotline number," says Vic Tria, PLDT FVP & Enterprise Revenue Group Head.

"Citizens who need financial help, emergency assistance, or those with health-related reports or inquiries can easily get in touch now with the municipality. These services are invaluable to the citizens right now. We are really thankful for the trust given to us by the Municipality of Bamban, Tarlac. We assure you of our unbreakable commitment to support your advocacies in order to be of service to your constituents," Tria adds.

With iGate Premium, Bamban’s network will have a dedicated high-speed internet connection that provides a high availability bandwidth to support their mission critical applications particularly in this time of the pandemic. It also enables them to properly manage and distribute their connection evenly per department to support their business needs, and leveraging the flexibility of an IP-based telephone system allows them to expand and use only what they need at a low cost.

Mayor Feliciano notes that with PLDT's digital backbone is in place, the municipality will be able to reach and help citizens especially those in the far flung areas of Tarlac. "We won't be stopping here. With the digital backbone here in the municipality, with the help of PLDT, we will be bringing the technology right to the doorsteps of my countrymen. We're glad that PLDT and Smart are always at our back." Feliciano concludes.

For more information on PLDT Enterprise, visit pldtenterprise.com. 

First Time Parents Nico Bolzico and Solenn Heusaff are teaching Tili to love water

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

First-time Dad Nico Bolzico and first-time Mom Solenn Heusaff are teaching their one-year old daughter Tili, a very important health lesson this Father’s Day.

 

This is their second Father’s Day with Tili who may just grow up to be as active and as adventurous as her famous parents.

 

To keep her going, and to make sure she grows up healthy, they’re training her early to develop a water habit. Nico and Solenn both lead an active lifestyle and swear by water to keep themselves hydrated and detoxified.

 

Nico admits to being a water junkie who consumes about 5 liters of water a day, more than the average required amount of water per person per day.

 

“We can’t go without water. It flushes out waste from our bodies, regulates body temperature, helps brain function and gives us the energy we need throughout the day. What I do is drink 1 liter of water first thing every morning. And to make sure I don’t forget to drink, I always make sure to carry around a bottle of water all the time, even at home. Luckily Tili loooo-oves water, so I’m reminded to drink every time she does, confesses Solenn.

 

Nico is very determined to get their baby daughter to develop a water drinking habit, right here, right now. “Introducing your babies to love water is most important,” he says. “They are in the most important stage of their life where they are growing, and sometimes what you give them can get them sick very fast. So you have to make sure that they drink water often. And if they don’t wanna drink, you need to force them a little bit to take enough water -- because it’s one of the most important aspects of their growth. It’s not about the juice, It’s about the water.”

 

Adults need to make hydration a habit as well, according to Nico. “When you hydrate, your skin looks better, you feel better and you know, your whole body works better. You have more energy. I do a lot of sports and I work out every day, so if I’m not hydrated, I don’t have the energy to work out. The healthiest thing we can do is drink water. Look, if you’re sick, if you have the flu, you drink water so you flush the toxins out,” Nico explains.

 

Both Nico and Solenn have a water regimen that helps them to stay fit and active. “I drink water first thing in the morning because my metabolism shoots up if I drink water before I eat anything. So basically, I cannot imagine anyone not drinking enough water because that has so many negative implications for health, the way you look, the way you feel, the way you sleep. At the end of the day, water is life,” says Nico.

 

“Just make sure you trust the source of your water,” adds Solenn. “Know where that water is coming from — and that you trust the people behind the brand. We chose Nature Spring because they offer quality drinking products that are safe and affordable.

 

For Father’s Day, Nico and Solenn share some good news from Nature’s Spring Water: 

From June 18 to 20, 2021, use the promo code DADSDAY when you order at least P1,000 worth of Nature’s Spring products to get a discount of PhP100 from total purchase. Check out https://shop.naturespring.com.ph/ to learn more about Nature’s Spring products and promos.