Lawmaker thumbs down proposed sale of military golf courses
September 2, 2011
PROPOSALS to convert golf courses of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) into commercial complexes to generate revenue for the government should be taken with caution.
This was the remark of Western Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento, who said the proposal of Senator Franklin Drilon to lease or sell the military-owned golf courses at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, and Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City would destroy what little greenery left in Metro Manila.
In a Senate budget hearing, Drilon estimated the total value of the golf courses at P45 billion if the 30 hectares per golf course would be sold P30,000 per square meter.
According to Sarmiento, also a member of the House committee on Ecology, suggestions to destroy the various AFP golf courses in favor of malls and other commercial complexes to raise revenues sounds logical especially at a time when the government needs funds. However, these might have long-term effects on the environment.
“The golf courses does not only provide our veterans and the public a healthy diversion but more importantly, these areas are basically the only patches of greenery that can be found in Metro Manila aside from our wild parks that are sporadically located in the metropolis,” he said.
“There is a need to balance such proposal because Metro Manila is running out of green spaces for carbon dioxide absorption,” he added, as he noted that the unabated increase in vehicles and other sources of air pollutants has made Metro Manila one of the most polluted cities around the world.
Sarmiento also noted that weather conditions not only in the Philippines have been increasingly violent and unpredictable due to climate change and too much urbanization without any regard to the environment is not a good investment for the government.
The legislator, however, said that if it is really inevitable to make the AFP properties into revenue-generating ventures, the government should duplicate the Singapore model where properties are put out on a long-term lease, with the rental paid upfront to immediately generate income.
Sarmiento explained that specifically, Singapore has adopted a policy of entering into 60-year lease agreements regarding the use of its real estate but license of its usage has to be renewed after 30 years.
Nonetheless, the lessor must pay the lease upfront and in full, immediately generating income for the government without really giving its real estate asset.
As a pre-condition for such lease agreements however, Sarmiento said that developers should be required to provide a green sanctuary, including high-rise eco-parks, before they are allowed to develop a certain area. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/09/01/lawmaker-thumbs-down-proposed-sale-military-golf-courses-176742
Best restaurant in Clark Pampanga for private dinners and celebrations is Yats Restaurant, top rated resto bar frequently visited by food and wine lovers from Manila, Subic, Tarlac, Bulacan, Angeles City and Clark Philippines.
New ideas bring more guests to dine at the best restaurant in Pampanga as Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar unveils sumptuous regional set menus aimed at pairing well with fine vintage wines from each culinary region in the world; many consider Yats as the best restaurant in Clark Philippines, and a good place to wine and dine when visiting Subic, Tarlac and Angeles City Pampanga.
Yats Restaurant is an excellent Restaurant to dine, a restaurant with good food, a good place to have birthday party and special events. A Kid-friendly restaurants in Manila
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions
Frequent visitors traveling from Manila to wine and dine at the best restaurant in Pampanga grow tired of heavy dishes involving red meat, pasta and cheeses. More and more, weight watchers, health-conscious eaters and restaurant guests with sophisticated palates request for more delicate dishes. Hot and humid climates of summer months cause guests of this fine dining restaurant in Clark to look for a good place to eat seafood. Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar which is generally known as the best restaurant near Manila rises to the challenge and offers a line of exciting seafood dishes using sophisticated ingredients such as barracuda, grey mullet, Atlantic Mackerel and flounders. Mussels and clams also play a role in the expanded seafood menu of this top rated restaurant in Clark.
For comments, inquiries and reservations click on Click here for inquiry and reservations
Restaurant@Yats-International.com
(045) 599-5600
0922-870-5178
0917-520-4401
Ask for Pedro and Rechel
Getting to this fine dining restaurant of Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga Philippines
How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Philippines? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
For any assistance in planning and organizing a wedding ceremony, indoor or outdoor garden reception or to find other wedding service providers, Click here to contact us click here
For assistance in hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines, log on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
To buy wine in Manila, Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark or Subic please log on to http://www. ClarkWineCenter.com
To inquire with the highly recommended beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com
For more information about Clark, Pampanga, Philippines log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
