Cable car system to link La Union, Baguio pushed

BAGUIO CITY – A top official of the Department of Transportation and Communications here said the best way to attract more foreign and domestic tourists to Baguio would be a cable car system from the lowland province of La Union to this mountain resort city.
The proposed cable car system will help shorten the one-and-a-half hour travel time from Baguio to La Union and vice versa to only 30 minutes, and would provide tourists a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside.
DOTC Undersecretary Giling Mamondiyong said there is no longer room for the expansion of Baguio’s Loakan Airport although it will still remain open for smaller planes. He said the development of the Poro Point International Airport in nearby San Fernando City, La Union will also help strengthen the local tourism industry.
Mamondiyong told local officials that he will request President Arroyo to allocate funds for a feasibility study for a cable car system, which he said will also address the perennial problem of major road closures between Baguio and the lowlands during typhoons and landslides.
The DOTC official admitted that the development of the Poro Point International Airport slowed down a bit because of marketing problems that could result to bigger problems in the future. He said appropriate remedies are being implemented to make the airport operational within the year.
The airport was supposed to begin full operations last October to cater to the increasing number of tourist arrivals in La Union, from where tourists usually motor up to Baguio.
Mamondiyong said the national government is not abandoning plans to rehabilitate and upgrade the Poro Point airport because it will serve as an air transport hub in Northern Luzon.
The official said establishing a cable car system between La Union and Baguio could be one of the best legacies of the Arroyo administration to the people of Northern Luzon who rely on tourism as a major source of income.

Investors roadshow highlights RP 'economic growth' story

NEW YORK - The Philippines' "economic growth" story took centerstage in the recently concluded Philippine Investors Roadshow in Boston and New York City, according to the Philippine Consulate General in New York.
Representatives of various financial and investment companies, fund managers, and rating agencies in the US reportedly met with Philippine finance officals, led by Finance Secretary Margarito Teves for a briefing on recent developments in the Philippine monetary, banking, financial and fiscal sectors.
Jose Ibazeta, president of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), also discussed the progress in the privatization of the power sector in the Philippines.
The PCGNY said in a release that US that the Philippine team also discussed short- and medium-term outlooks for the Philippine economy and gave assurances that the Philippines continues to be an attractive investment destination.

Marilyn Asok, Cotabato City

Mag-ingat sa Magnanakaw

Katulong Nagnakaw ng dollars sa isang bahay ng mag asawa sa La Union. Si Marilyn Culagbang Asok may asawa tubong Cotabato at ang kasama niyang si Cyndirella Alanza namasukan bilang isang katulong , pagkalipas ng 5 araw tinangay ang mga pera at iniwan ang kanilang mga damit para hindi masita ng mga sekyu sa kanilang pag alis. Ang dalawang ito ay maaring myembro ng isang sindikato na mamasukan muna bilang isang katulong bago magnakaw. More on this Story