How Much Perks did you enjoy in your City

Residents of Makati City get the best perks, according to data compiled by the National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB).

According to the NSCB’s monthly “Statistically Speaking” report, Makati City spent the most on education and health among all Philippine cities in 2007 to 2009.

On average, Makati City spent around P11,913 for every resident, or around P6.37 billion a year. Quezon City, which has a bigger population, spent more per year, an average of 7.28 billion.

Makati City spent around P2,541 on “Education, Culture & Sports/Manpower Development” for every resident–around P1.35 billion–each year.

Manila and Quezon City were the next top spenders on education, allotting around P1.148 billion and P799 million a year respectively. But because of their larger populations, neither city made it to the top three spenders on education per capita.

Tagaytay City, at Number 2, spent around P968 per resident, while Urdaneta City in Pangasinan was in third place at P832.

Manila’s per capita spending on education was around P640, putting it at tenth place, while Quezon City did not make the top ten at all.

Makati also spent P1,502 on “Health, Nutrition & Population Control” for each resident, or around P804 million a year. Slightly behind in per capita spending on health were Mandaluyong City at P823 and Manila City at P621 per resident. This, despite Manila spending around P1.1 billion a year on health, the most for any city in the Philippines.

“Surprising is the inclusion of one city in NCR (Taguig City) in the list of ten cities with the least per capita expenditures on health,” NSCB said. According to data from the Bureau of Local Government Finance, Taguig City spent around P59 per resident on health, NSCB said.

After Makati City, the city that spent the most for each resident from 2007 to 2009 was Tagaytay City at P8,502. Olongapo City (P6,974) is third, followed by San Juan City (P6,610), Mandaluyong City (P6,463), and Pasig City (P5,926). Puerto Princesa City in Palawan spent more per capita (P5,860) than Pasay City (P5,376), followed by Muntinlupa (P5,271) and Paranaque (P5,191).

NSCB made clear that the data used in its report is limited. “Aside from the timeliness issue, the BLGF data (is) based on unaudited submissions by the Treasury Offices of the LGUs,” it said.

The recent report “focuses on the performance of the city mayors based on the income and expenditure patterns of their respective cities from 2007 to 2009.”

“Hopefully, the city mayors will seriously and objectively look at these statistics to help them pinpoint areas of concern that they could focus on to improve the situation in their cities,” NSCB said.

ADB Delegates Impressed By Tagaytay

By ANTHONY GIRON
May 8, 2012, 4:09pm
TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite — About 1,000 delegates from the 45th Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors found Tagaytay City amazing with its scenic areas, cool and fresh climate, clean surroundings, and the good traits of local folk.

The delegates visited Tagaytay on their side trip after the four-day meeting in Manila. The meeting from May 2 to 5 gathered a record of more than 5,000 registered delegates including finance ministers and other key policymakers, business leaders and academics as well as a big number of civil society and media members.

The delegates went to Tagaytay in droves aboard buses and stayed for a while at the Taal Vista Lodge Hotel last Saturday. They were escorted by officials from the national tourism department and about 60-man security augmentation force.

The CNN (Cable News Network) reported that first-time visiting foreign delegates were amazed and virtually obsessed by the sight of the Tagaytay ridge overlooking the world-renowned Taal Volcano and Lake with most of them wanting to return to the area in the future.

CNN is an American 24-hour television news channel viewed by hundreds of millions of people in the United States and 212 other countries. The network featured the beauty and splendor of Tagaytay and the ADB delegates left in awe last Saturday (Friday in US).

Mayor Bambol Tolentino and the other city officials expressed elation over the news feature made by CNN which also touched on the beauty of Tagaytay and its people.

“The beauty of Tagaytay and the good traits of the citizens were viewed by a billion of people worldwide, thanks so much to CNN, other foreign networks, as well as local, for the promotion,” said Tolentino.

The CNN, citing reports, said that Tagaytay is scenic, relaxing and masterpiece of nature and visiting the area is an experience which creates lasting memory.

Tagaytay, a prime tourist destination nearest Metro Manila, has been adjudged by the national government as one of the cleanest and environment-friendly areas in the country. The city is also a shanty-free area, it was observed.

Holy Week Traffic

By: Rina Jimenez-David
Philippine Daily Inquirer

“I am told that traffic was horrendous along the main Tagaytay-Nasugbu highway. (We had a taste of it on the way down to Manila.) We had driven up late Wednesday evening, and fortunately found no hitches. But as we glanced out our windows the next day affording us a view of the highway, traffic gradually built up to the point that we would see vehicles in a stationary line.
Indeed, the traffic in Tagaytay and environs was one of the main topics of our conversation with Sonya. On Thursday, said Sonya, so many reservations were canceled simply because customers were caught in the crawling line from as far away as Sta. Rosa.
The traffic is fairly manageable most days, even if on Sundays vehicles are backed up for kilometers especially in such notorious choke points as Residence Inn, Bag of Beans and Lourdes Church. Signs also suggest alternative routes, although you will find, when you take these back roads, an awful lack of directional signs, which almost guarantees your losing your way.
I wonder what Tagaytay officials—along with LGU managers in surrounding towns like Sta. Rosa, Silang, Mendez and Alfonso—plan to do about the traffic situation. I mean, if a very popular and accessible tourist destination like Tagaytay, already on the radar of most government officials (especially MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino who was formerly Tagaytay mayor and whose brother Bambol is the present mayor) is allowed to deteriorate because of horrible traffic conditions, how will other tourist sites fare?
If we want to meet our fairly ambitious tourism goals until 2016, we need to work immediately on the infrastructure that will guarantee the arrival of tourists and their accessibility to sites both popular and yet undiscovered. But if even Tagaytay—so near to Manila, so popular among foreigners and locals alike—is neglected, how will more remote and less known destinations fare?
* * *
In fairness to MMDA officials, though, they showed they cared for travelers even outside of their jurisdiction by fielding roadside assistance teams along major expressways and routes patronized by many tourists.
We were fortunate that there was an MMDA team stationed in Tagaytay this last Holy Week because we ourselves faced a road emergency shortly after our arrival.
Many thanks to Edward Gonzales, head of the MMDA Road Emergency Group, who responded promptly and eagerly to our call for help to tow our stalled vehicle from Alfonso. His team, consisting of Gilbert Trinidad, Dennis Bagunu, Neptali Medina, Jonathan de Leon and Roberto Lacsamana, were quite professional, extending assistance above and beyond the call of duty.
To all who extended help—you know who you are—you made us realize the reality of Easter, filling our hearts with gratitude and joy.

Tagaytay Road project a success

Officials in Tagaytay City tagged as successful the “no helmet, no travel” policy being enforced in the area.

Colonel Celedonio T. Tibayan, chief of Tagaytay Public Safety Office, said that since the policy was implemented strictly, accidents involving motorcycle-riders became nil in the city.

“The no helmet, no travel policy does not only remind motorcycle-riders to wear safety head gears but to drive safely wherever they are in the city. Our concern here is accident prevention,” Tibayan said in an interview.

Tibayan said that Tagaytay has been a “no helmet, no travel zone” since the helmet-wear ordinance was approved by Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and the city council two years ago.

The ordinance prohibits anyone from riding a motorcycle without the required head gear. Otherwise, a fine of P1,500 will be slapped against violators

BIR shuts 11 enterprises in Tagaytay and Laguna

LAGUNA, Philippines – A businesswoman who allegedly refused to settle her tax debts compelled the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to close her 11 business enterprises located in Tagaytay City and other towns in Laguna, it was learned Monday.

Revenue Deputy Commissioner for Operations Nelson M. Aspe signed the closure order based on the recommendation of Biñan Revenue District Officer Julio Alcasabas.

Alcasabas identified the owner of these inter-related enterprises as Luzviminda Alon-Alon of Tagapo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

He said the businesses were padlocked after Ms. Alon-Alon ignored notices sent to her to pay the deficiency value-added taxes (VAT) totaling to more than P4.6 million including interests and surcharges.

The liabilities were incurred in 2008, 2009 and the first semester of 20010. Under the Tax Code a business is liable to be closed if it under- declares its sales by 30 percent, or more.

The establishments will not be allowed to reopen until the tax debts are paid and all other requirements of the BIR are complied with.

The establishments were identified as Magic Saver’s Supermarket in Balibago, Sta. Rosa; Cabuyao Mini Resort in Cabuyao; Bell Junction Commercial in Cabuyao; Starbright Inn in Tubigan, Binan; Radiant Star Apartelle in Tagaytay City; Goldengate Inn in Sta. Rosa; Montreal Lodge in Calamba; 727 Commercial Space in Calamba; Citrus Lodge in Sta. Rosa; MAA Building (leasing) in San Pedro and Tram Leasing in Sta. Rosa

Fire hits Antonio’s Grill

MANILA, Philippines – Fire broke out at Antonio’s Grill, a restaurant in Tagaytay City, on Monday morning.

No one was reported injured in the blaze that lasted for nearly one hour. Investigators are still determining the extent of the damage caused by the fire, which authorities said was caused by a clogged exhaust hood.

Antonio’s Grill is one of the 3 restaurants owned by chef Antonio Escalante. Antonio’s, his fine dining restaurant, is the fifth top restaurant in Asia, according to the latest edition of the Miele Guide.

Escalante also has a restaurant dedicated to breakfast specialties, which he aptly named Breakfast at Antonio’s. — abs-cbnNEWS.com, report from ANC

No accidents caused by firecrackers in Tagaytay

Tagaytay logs zero accidents
There was no report of firecracker victims or any New Year revelry-related fire incidents in Tagaytay City, a premier tourist destination in the country.

Police attributed the zero report to the strict firecracker ban imposed in the city. Tagaytay is the No. 1 tourist destination nearest Metro Manila.

The tourists frequent the ridge city to see the panoramic view of Taal Volcano and lake and enjoy its cool climate and relaxing surroundings.

Police Officer 1 Mariano Magat, Tagaytay police desk officer, citing a report of the station investigation and detection group, said that there were no casualties from firecracker explosions or fires reported in any of the city’s 34 barangays (villages) during the New Year’s revelry. (Anthony Giron)

Tagaytay Bans pedicabs

Tagaytay also bans kuligligs, pedicabs
Manila Bulletin – Thursday, December 2SendIM StoryPrint
MANILA, Philippines – Officials in Tagaytay City, Cavite, have implemented strictly the just-approved ordinance banning the operation of the so-called “kuliglig” (motorized pedicabs) on major thoroughfares in the area.

The city police led by Superintendent Dexter Rellora and the Office of Public Safety under (ret.) Col. Celodonio Tibayan were tasked to lead the enforcement of the ordinance against the “kuliglig.”

“Even as we have to see yet a kuliglig operating in the city, we have already an ordinance against the concerned vehicles,” said Leilani Diesta, Tagaytay public information and tourism officer.

The ban is contained in City Ordinance 2010-06 that the 11-man Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) ratified only last month. The ordinance, which was also approved by Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, prohibits “pedicabs” (pedal tricycles) and motorized pedicabs (kuliglig) from traveling on highways and other main thoroughfares of the city.

The ordinance against the pedicabs and “kuliglig” was filed by Councilor Alexander Zaide upon recommendation of Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Presiding Officer Celso de Castro. The decree was unanimously approved by the Sanggunian.

The officials made the move, citing the “Clean Air Act” and traffic woes, among others.

The concerned vehicles are not allowed to ply on Aguinaldo Highway, Jose P. Rizal Avenue, Tagaytay-Nasugbu, Mendez-Tagaytay, Tagaytay-Calamba and Tagaytay-Sta. Rosa Roads, among others.

Pedicabs, which are for domestic or business use, can travel only on barangay (village) roads or secondary streets. The ordinance specified that drivers of the vehicles must comply with the city requirements and secure a permit from barangay officials for them to use the three-wheel vehicles in the allowed areas.

Tagaytay, known as the “City of Smiles and Friendly People,” is a prime tourist destination nearest Metro Manila. Local officials are doing everything for the city in terms of cleanliness and peace and order.

The City of Manila also banned the “kuliglig” and pedicabs on major roads. The ban drew protests from the drivers, citing they were deprived of their “means of livelihood.”

MMDA and Tagaytay City

Fortunately for Metro Manila residents, Chairman Francis Tolentino, a philosophy and law graduate of Ateneo de Manila and a doctoral student of environmental law in Tulane University, is up to the task in addressing the challenges of Metro Manila. I have known Francis for 34 years, beginning when we were roommates as Freshmen in Room 205 of Cervini Hall in the Ateneo, and I have followed his political career as the long-time mayor of Tagaytay City where he has a good governance record. He has however been criticized, among others by former President Fidel V. Ramos, for allowing development in Tagaytay to go out of control. But while development in Tagaytay could have been better planned and managed, compared to other places I have seen (Boracay and Baguio, among others), Chairman Francis and his brother Abraham Tolentino (his successor as mayor) did or is doing as good a job as one can expect given the lack of a national land use policy.

The task of MMDA may be unenviable, but with a good leader at the helm, accompanied by good policies and supported by an effective team, I have confidence that it can done. It should be so that for generations to come, there will always be no place like Manila.

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Batang Tagaytay Cyling Team 2nd Overall

Team Batang Tagaytay placed 2nd overall on the recently concluded TOUR OF LUZON