The Bicol International Airport (Southern Luzon International Airport) is currently under construction in a 140-hectare prime land straddling Bicol’s premier town of Daraga and neighboring Camalig. The new airport, targeted for completion in 2013, will answer the need for a modern airport in Southern Luzon, which should cater to more business activities in the area and conveniently link Bicol to the rest of the country and the world. Here are some aerial snapshots of the ongoing construction of the airport and a glimpse of the recently completed BIA access road.

Click on the photo to view high resolution version (Photos courtesy of Joel O. Monilla I):

Bicol International Airport runway, under construction (as of June 2010)

Bicol International Airport runway, under construction (as of June 2010)

Bicol International Airport access road

Bicol International Airport access road

Bicol International Airport Terminal Perspective

‘Albay to host modern Bicol International Airport’, balita.ph, July 15, 2009.

Article by Rhaydz B. Barcia, The Manila Times

LEGAZPI CITY: Gov. Joey Salceda is pushing Legazpi and the neighboring town of Daraga to become Metro Albay, a grand project that will make the metropolis a corridor of massive development in the region even before the completion of Daraga International Airport (Bicol International Airport) in 2013. “The Metro Albay, which is the twin cities of Legazpi and Daraga, will be the new urban center and economic capital of Bicol in the countryside,” Salceda declared. “This is the biggest project in the Bicol region which will be set up here, wherein Albay is expected to be the booming borough under the Aquino administration,” he added.

The estimated cost of the project is P854.2 million. The funding requirement for local and barangay roads is P739.5 million, while national roads require funds amounting to P114.7 million. According to Salceda, the Metro Albay project matches the Guicadale platform project that consists of a circumferential road and new arterial roads cascading from the urban centers of Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Legazpi and Jovellar.

Guicadale Platform | Source: The Green Economist

The project is designed to encourage new economic activities safe from the threats posed by Mayon Volcano eruptions, lahar flow, flooding and tsunamis. Moreover, this will also connect people to the Daraga International Airport. “Once the Daraga International Airport operates in 2013, the Bicol region, especially Albay’s economy, will be rocketing [a] few years from now,” said Salceda.

The Metro Albay project is consistent with the Regional Physical Framework Plan in terms of land use, settlement and infrastructure planning provided by the RDC. This framework “serves as guide to decisions on how land and natural resources may be put to the most beneficial use for the people.”

The feasibility study was completed by the provincial government of Albay in July 2008. Based on the study, the project’s Economic Internal Rate of Return is estimated at 23.65 percent. Meanwhile, the net present value is pegged at P872.54 million.

“This project will eventually realize our goals to make Mega Daraga and create Metro Albay. It will benefit a total population of 187,314 living within the remote and upland areas of the municipalities under the Guicadale,” Salceda beamed.

The expected benefits of the project include efficient access to the Bicol International Airport and safer relocation sites for families affected and threatened by typhoons, floods, Mount Mayon eruptions and tsunamis, to name a few.

Significantly, the endeavor will also bring in new economic investment opportunities; increased farm income through reduced transport costs; improved living conditions through efficient access to health and welfare facilities; linkage of agricultural areas to the market centers; and the integration of the economies of Albay and Sorsogon provinces.

The Legazpi Domestic Airport is the 13th busiest airport in the Philippines in 2009 according to data on passenger traffic volume released by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). For 2009, Legazpi Airport (IATA: LGP) registered 412,875 passenger traffic up from 282,431 in 2008 or equivalent to 46.2 increase. Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines increased their passenger traffic volume by 44.50% and 30% respectively. The entry of ZestAir in February 2009 also helped boost passenger arrivals. 

Photo by smorgasbord10

Philippine Airlines flies daily to Legazpi from Manila, with additional daily flights on peak season. Cebu Pacific Air flies  Legazpi thrice daily from Manila and thrice weekly from Cebu, with additional flights during the peak season. Meanwhile, ZestAir flies thrice weekly to Legazpi from Manila using its new fleet of Airbus A320s

In February 2010, CAAP released some P12 million funding to finance the rehabilitation works and installation of runway lights at the more than 2.2 kilometers stretch of the Legazpi airport runway. The airport has a single runway configuration with a length of 2,280 meters and a width of 36 meters. The runway orientation has two connecting taxiways with a width of 21 meters.

Edgardo Ramos, CAAP Legazpi chief, at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) “Ulat sa Bayan” forum said rehabilitation works will be completed by June this year. He said with the installation of new runway lights “we can expect planes of various types to arrive and depart at night time in the city airport.”

Meanwhile, a new airport of international standards is currently under construction on a plateau in nearby Daraga town. It is expected that the new Bicol International Airport will further boost tourist arrivals and passenger/cargo traffic volume to the Bicol Region. Click here to view recent updates on the Bicol International Airport.

Legazpi Airport Passenger Traffic Volume

Destination – Passenger Traffic Volume (year-on-year increase)

1. Ninoy Aquino (Manila) International Airport – 24,108,554 (8.3%)
2. Mactan – Cebu International Airport – 4,394,823 (20.6%)
3. Fransisco Bangoy (Davao) International Airport – 1,967,945 (16.2%)
4. Iloilo Airport – 1,324,148 (23.3%)
5. Lumbia (Cagayan de Oro) Airport – 1,110,668 (23.1%)
6. Bacolod – Silay Airport – 1,020,429 (21.0%)
7. Tacloban Airport – 831,650 (32.6%)
8. Kalibo International Airport – 639,797 (59.9%)
9. Puerto Princesa Airport – 587,753 (22.0%)
10. Zamboanga International Airport – 582,917 (24.1%)
11. Tagbilaran Airport – 562,787 (40.4%)
12. Caticlan Airport – 543,422 (-28.7%)
13. Legaspi Airport – 412,875 (46.2%)
14. General Santos Tambler Airport – 404,859 (33.7%)
15. Butuan Airport – 385,331 (24.9%)
16. Dumaguete Airport – 360,515 (17.7%)
17. Plaridel Airport – 222,525 (-4.9%)
18. Cotabato Airport – 199,133 (90.5%)
19. Dipolog Airport – 189,264 (31.6%)
20. Roxas City Airport – 173,132 (50.1%)

Source: Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines

The Embarcadero is Legazpi’s newest lifestyle hub, commercial and entertainment center offering retail shops, restaurants and cafes, bars, arcade, bowling alleys, promenade, Celebration Plaza and a lighthouse. Although more than half of the entire complex is still under construction, the Embarcadero has already made its mark in the Legazpi cityscape as a popular destination for both locals and tourists.

The Embarcadero has also pioneered eco-friendly transportation in the Bicol Region by introducing Electric Jeepneys or e-Jeeps. These e-Jeeps carry visitors to and from Embarcadero free of charge. There are currently four e-Jeeps in operation, with plans to add more in the future. With the e-Jeeps roaming around the city, it is very easy to get to Embarcadero from the Legazpi Port District.

The lifestyle hub and IT Park is part of a master-planned development that will cover almost 200 hectares in the city’s southern barangays stretching from the shapely Kapuntukan Hill. A new coastal road called Legazpi Boulevard is currently under construction, extending from the foot of the hill to Brgy. Lamba.

Photos of Embarcadero de Legazpi (Click on image to view larger version):

Photo Credits: Dexter Baldon

For leasing inquiries:
Please visit Bldg. 9, Embarcadero, Legazpi Port, Legazpi City or call (052) 821-1221 or 052)820-0473

For job vacancies:
Please contact Ms. Girlie Hernandez at glhernandez@sunwest.com.ph or call (052)820-0473

Established in 1936, Albay Pilinut Candy is the first pili nut candy factory in the Bicol Region. Today, Albay Pilinut Candy continues to serve high quality confections and candies made from Bicol’s famous pili nut. It remains a family business, giving its products that distinct quality and taste that makes people coming back for more.

Seeing the abundance of pili nut trees in Bicol, he used the native nuts to create mazapan, yemas, sugar coated, caramelitos, pastillas and pili coated with sesame seeds with excellent results. He then decided to establish the first pili nut candy factory in Bicol called Central Pilinut Candy along with a friend, a former Moroccan legionnaire.

Don Antonio married the late Purificacion Macapugay, and they had five children namely Angelita, Estelita, Erlinda, Antonio and Leticia. In 1975, he turned over the active supervision of candy factory to his daughter Erlinda Regidor-Diaz, who renamed it as Albay Central Pilinut Candy.

In 1985, his granddaughters Rosemarie, Angelica, Elizabeth and Agnes took over, upon the death of their mother, Erlinda. Then in 1996 (up to the present), the Candy Factory became the New Albay Central Pilinut Candy, under the management of Rosemarie Diaz-Battung. Don Antonio Regidor was the recipient of the 1971 Panday Pira Award of Excellence. He died on October 16, 1980 at the age of 89.

Albay Pilinut Candy Products

Baby Rose Bites
Crispy Pili with Honey
Mazapan de Pili
Pastillas de Pili
Pili Butternuts
Pili Crunch
Pilinut Brittle
Pilinut Choco
Roasted Pili
Roasted Pili Coated with Sesame Seeds
Roasted Sugar Coated Pili
Salted Pili
Toffee Rolls
Turroncitos de Pili
Yemas de Pili

Contact Albay Pilinut Candy
873 Rizal St., Old Albay District
Legazpi City, Albay.
Telephone: (052) 820-3529
Telefax: (052) 481-1161
Email: albay_pilinut@yahoo.com
Official Website: http://albaypilinutcandy.com

Albay Pilinut Candy Map:

View Albay Central Pili Nut Candy in a larger map

Mabuhay from Hotel St. Ellis — Setting a new standard in Legazpi City! Hotel St. Ellis, Legazpi’s newest hotel, is a modern day interpretation of timeless elegance. Located at the heart of Legazpi City along Rizal Street, Hotel St. Ellis is a mere 3 kilometers away from the airport and a 5 minute walk away from Embarcadero, business establishments, malls, places of worship and the pier.

Junior Suite

The hotel has 40 guestrooms classified into 9 standard rooms, 25 deluxe rooms, 3 junior suites, 2 executive suites and a royal suite. Each room is tastefully furnished with: 32 inch LCD television with satellite cable TV connections, in-room safe, telephone with NDD & IDD access, internet connectivity, electronic door lock system, individually controlled air-conditioning unit, coffee tea making facility, mini-bar and hairdryer. For added security, a closed circuit television system monitors hallways and public areas.

Hotel St. Ellis also offers a business center, spa, beauty salon, fitness center, swimming pool, gift shop and a kiddie activity room. There’s a coffee shop called Crossroads Cafe and a lounge that offers a variety of modern comfort food. Three function rooms make Hotel St. Ellis a perfect choice for meetings, conferences and even conventions: The Theater can cater up to 200 persons; The Meeting Point can accommodate 30 persons and Top of St. Ellis has a capacity of 300 persons with a magnificent view of Mayon Volcano.

Accommodations:

9 Standard Rooms
25 Deluxe Rooms
3 Junior Suites
2 Executive Suites
1 Royal Suite

Hotel St. Ellis is managed with distinction by Genesis Hotels and Resorts Corporation.

Gallery (click on image to view larger version):

Hotel St. Ellis: Elegance, Comfort, Location. The next perfect thing to Mt. Mayon’s cone
Rizal St., Legazpi City
Telephone: (052) 480-8088
Fax: (052) 480-1558
Email: hotelst.ellis@sunwest.com.ph

Legazpi continues to adapt ways to help mitigate the negative impact of climate change and global warming caused by pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. New electric-powered, non-polluting jeepneys now provide eco-friendly transportation in the city of Legazpi.

Photo by Simon Listana

The e-jeepneys were introduced by Bicolano businesman Elizaldy Co, CEO of Sunwest Group of Companies to provide free rides for the public from the multi-billion Embarcadero, Legazpi’s newest commercial and lifestyle center, to other points of the city. Currently, there are two e-jeepneys plying the city’s main thoroughfares but six more units are set to arrive to cater to tourists and locals visiting the Embarcadero.

“As we go on with business venture modernization for countryside development, we must also protect our environment for our children’s children future. Our very own Gov. Joey Salceda is very much abreast and strong advocate for the protection of environment therefore all stakeholders should work together because protection of mother earth is everybody’s business,” Co said in an interview with The Manila Times.

The e-jeepneys are powered by five-horsepower electric motor engines with 12 batteries that, at full capacity, allow the vehicles to run 120 to 140 kilometers at around 40 kilometers per hour. The batteries are charged for eight hours on ordinary 220-volt power sockets at a minimum cost of P120. In contrast, regular fume-spewing jeepneys guzzle P300 (US$6.50) or more of diesel each day. Each e-Jeepney costs at least P400,000 to build, around P100,000 more than most shop-built diesel jeepneys.

Bicolanos now enjoy e-jeepney rides, by Rhaydz Barcia, The Manila Times, December 10, 2009. Accessed December 11, 2009.
Electric jeepney rolls out in Makatihttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20070704-74800/Electric_jeepney_rolls_out_in_Makati, by Alexander Villafania, Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 4, 2007. Accessed December 11, 2009

The city of Legazpi is set to unveil a new integrated transport and lifestyle complex that will replace the old bus terminal. The P150-million modern terminal is touted as the first of its kind in the entire country – a showcase of what future transport terminals should be. The new terminal, dubbed as LKY Metro Transport and Lifestyle Hub, is built on a 3.9-hectare land located right in the geographical center of the city’s urban area.

Perspective of LKY Metro Transport and Lifestyle Hub

It will feature several structures comprising the jeepney and filcab terminals, bus terminal, commercial spaces, and a lifestyle hub that is envisioned as a new shopping and entertainment destination for locals and tourists alike. Wilbert Lee, president of LKY Group, said the new terminal “will become a one-stop-shop catering to all the transport and lifestyle needs of the Legazpi market.”

The LKY Metro Transport and Lifestyle Hub will have an avant-garde design and efficient layout. This will be the first transport terminal in the country with a computerized entry-exit system to ensure a fast, efficient and organized terminal operation. Every driver will be given a swipe card that will serve as access card into the terminal. The system is hooked to several TV monitors installed in the waiting areas that will inform passengers of the arrival and departure of their bus, jeepney or filcab.

A well-planned and efficient layout will ensure the free flow of all vehicles to and from the terminal as well as within. The terminal will be accessible via four entry and exit points: two along F. Imperial St., along Tahao Road and via the access road to the Landco Business Park. There are also ample spaces for ticketing booths. The terminal will be a regional transport hub servicing not only the province of Albay but also the entire Bicol peninsula and beyond.

Site Development Plan of LKY Metro Transport and Lifestyle Hub

The new terminal promises to make commuting a breeze, with its strategically located waiting areas, food stalls and fast food joints serving freshly-cooked meals, and three clean, and well-maintained toilets. A passenger’s lounge will also be built offering a clean rest area for a fee for businessmen on the go complete with pay showers, lockers and a lounge.

The central terminal will not just be a transit point but a destination on its own. A new lifestyle hub adjacent to the terminal is expected to become a place to relax and be entertained, not only for road-weary travelers but also for the locals of Legazpi. The lifestyle hub is inspired by the Bonifacio High Street development in the Bonifacio Global City.

Retail stores, restaurants, cafes, bars and other business establishments enclose a central courtyard with landscaping and fountain. Some of the restaurant/cafe locators that will reportedly open in the LKY Metro Transport and Lifestyle Hub include Jollibee (will be the fourth branch in the city), Chowking (will be the 2nd branch), KFC and Mocha Blends.

The lifestyle hub offers opportunities for local businessmen. Commercial spaces are available for lease with rates that are lower than in malls. No percentage of sales will be required from locators.

Architect’s Renderings (Click on an image to start slideshow)

The construction of the LKY Metro Transport and Lifestyle Hub was implemented through a build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement between the city of Legazpi and LKY Group. Thus, the terminal was built without a single centavo coming from the city government. As a BOT project, it is completely funded by LKY Group and will be turned over to the government after 40 years. Lee revealed that LKY Group will also build a similar terminal in Tacloban City.

For inquiries about leasing and other information, please contact the following:

Ms. Rochene Vergara
LKY Group Leasing Officer
Email: sheen.vergara@lkygroup.com
Mobile: +639157030497
Landline: +6352 437-3053

Construction updates (as of July 6, 2009)

Location map of LKY Metro Transport and Lifestyle Hub:

View Larger Map

One of the best ways to view any city is from above while aboard an aircraft. From up there, one can see the city and its surroundings literally from a different perspective. Those who arrive in or leave Legazpi via plane are treated to an expansive view of the city and the magnificent Mayon Volcano, especially when the weather is good.

Here’s a gallery of aerial photos of Legazpi City taken last March 2009:

Photos by Dexter Baldon

In February 1, 1814, Mt. Mayon began its most violent and deadly eruption to date. During the eruption, some 1,200 people took refuge in the stone church of Cagsawa. Unfortunately, all perished when lahar and pyroclastic flows engulfed the church. Only the belfry of the Cagsawa church remains as a grim and silent reminder of that fateful day. For almost two hundred years, it has withstood the test of time and the elements to become one of the most recognizable landmarks of Albay Province.

Late Afternoon in Cagsawa | Photo byStorm Crypt

Today, the site of the Cagsawa ruins is now a park managed by the municipal government of Daraga. It is actually the most visited tourist spot in the town. Visitors can enjoy the classic postcard view of Mayon Volcano with the Cagsawa belfry in front. Aside from the ruined belfry and the huge volcanic boulders around the area, visitors can also find several souvenir shops offering a colorful assortment of native products such as handbags, mats, shirts and handicraft made from indigenous materials like abaca. Exotic flowers and orchids are also on sale.

Old Cagsawa Church

One can also find young vendors selling postcard-perfect pictures of Mayon Volcano for P25 a piece. Some even provide informational guided tours of the area, which is quite amusing since most of them are still very young. The fee for the guided tour depends entirely on the generosity of the tourist.

A visit to Albay would not be complete without a stopover at Cagsawa. The town of Daraga is committed to keeping Cagsawa in the itinerary of all visitors to the province. In fact, the municipal government will rehabilitate the area around the ruins, which were heavily damaged during the recent typhoons.

Drying rice on the road to Cagsawa

How to Get to Cagsawa Ruins:

From Legazpi City: Cagsawa is approximately eight kilometers away from the Legazpi central business district.Take a jeepney (preferably the ones going to the third district (Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Libon, Polangui, Oas) and ask the driver to drop you off at the junction of the highway and the road going to Cagsawa in Barangay Busay, Daraga. Look for the large Cagsawa signage at the right side of the road