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
Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Yats Leisure Philippines

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

Things to do in Subic and Clark Philippines: spend an afternoon in Clark to do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023

Tel: 0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Road, Ortigas Centger,
Metro Manila, Philippines 1605

Tel: (632) 637-5019 0917-540-3626 ask for Rea or Chay

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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. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. 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

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:

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Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
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Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Buy wine in Cebu, Philippines at good wine shops and boutique wine stores that offer good selection of good vintage wines at all price points. Wine lovers in Philippines can find good red wines in wine shops in Manila and Pampanga. Among the good selections of French red wines from Bordeaux are Chateau Gloria, Chateau Lafite, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Petrus, Chateau Lynch Bages, Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Cheval Blanc, Chateau Ausone, Chateau le Pin, Chateau Palmer, Chateau Pontet Canet, Chateau Carruades de Lafite, Chateau les Forts de Latour, Chateau Pichon Lalande. This makes it easy and convenient for wine lovers to buy wine in Manila. Manila wine and food lovers looking for things to do in Pampanga and Manila can consider attending one of these wine events. The best way to learn more about wine in the Philippines is to attend public wine tasting events that have no sponsors.

Buy wine gift baskets in Manila from leading wine supplier in Philippines
Wine lovers in Philippines can find good red wines in wine shops in Manila and Pampanga. Among the good selections of French red wines from Bordeaux are Chateau Gloria, Chateau Lafite, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Petrus, Chateau Lynch Bages, Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Cheval Blanc, Chateau Ausone, Chateau le Pin, Chateau Palmer, Chateau Pontet Canet, Chateau Carruades de Lafite, Chateau les Forts de Latour, Chateau Pichon Lalande. This makes it easy and convenient for wine lovers to buy wine in Manila. They are also great wines to include in wine gift baskets for delivery in the Philippines Manila wine and food lovers looking for things to do in Pampanga and Manila can consider attending one of these wine events. The best way to learn more about wine in the Philippines is to attend public wine tasting events that have no sponsors. These wine tasting events held by Yats are non-commercial. Yats Wine Cellars does not promote a specific winery, producer or a brand. These wine tastings and wine dinners held in Manila and Pampanga are all designed to let wine lovers explore more interesting aspects of wine.