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Mimosa golf group: ‘No war with CDC’

March 26, 2011

ANGELES CITY — An official of the Mimosa Golf and Country Club Association Inc. (MGCCAI) said Thursday that they are not waging a war against the Clark Development Corporation (CDC).
The MGCCAI official also revealed that a possible “win-win solution” over the use of the golf course at the Clark Freeport is underway between their group and the CDC.
“We are not waging a war against CDC but rather maintain that cordial atmosphere with them and everyone else at Mimosa. We really are looking forward to finding a final solution to this concern,” lawyer Babes Infante, head of the 150-strong GCCAI, told Sun.Star Pampanga.
She said officers of the association on Monday raised concerns in an alleged confrontation with CDC executives why Koreans from “tour groups” were being prioritized in the use of the golf course over proprietary members.
Infante said a series of meetings has been set by CDC to address their concerns.
“We at MGCCAI ourselves will convene in an emergency meeting so members and the Board of Directors could properly voice out our position,” he said.
Infante added that the issue stemmed from a letter they received from CDC recently.
“Attached with the letter was a memorandum of agreement for another tour group, High Society Leisure. So, our members met and the general sentiment was to vehemently object the entry of another tour group. In fact, we were invited to a ‘fellowship’ and we assumed it was about the letter, so the alleged ‘confrontation’ that day,” said Infante.
She said that in her meeting with CDC president Benigno Ricafort, they agreed on a dialogue to find a win-win solution to the problem.
Last Wednesday, CDC Assistant Vice-President for Investment Bernie Angeles said the firm is moving for a “final solution” to the Mimosa issue by cancelling the contract of tourist groups.
Not the tourists but the golf course
Infante clarified that it was not the Korean tourists themselves that worried them but the condition of the golf course, which she described as one of the best in the country.
“We are worried about the condition of the golf course. It might not be able to hold more than 600 players at one time. Our members have to wait for as long as six hours for their turn to play. So, if another tourist group is added, hordes might affect the current condition of the golf course. Supposedly, it is the Mountain View course that it is to be used but even the Acacia course is already full as early as 4 a.m. when operations should start at 5 a.m. By that time, as we found out, carts and caddies have been reserved for the tourists,” she said.
Ricafort, in an interview over dwRW 95.1 FM’s “Talakayan,” said he had personally inspected the golf course with a CDC executive and found it still in good condition per his personal standards.
Fact-finding team, revenues
Infante said the association formed a fact-finding team, which discovered that many of the tourists do not follow rules.
Angeles himself told Sun.Star Pampanga that the CDC was imposing strict decorum for the visitors in the golf course.
“Our fact-finding team found out that these tour groups are allegedly ‘lording it over’ the golf course. There’s also a claim that there is allegedly ‘connivance’ between personnel there to facilitate the tour. We took pictures of what was going on. They told us there were just five tour operators but we found out there seven operating in Mimosa,” Infante revealed.
She said MGCCAI members understand that CDC must generate additional revenues from Mimosa, but this should be regulated.
“We are not strict proprietary members and we know we cannot own the golf course. But as proprietary members, we ought to be accorded the same rights. Our members pay their annual dues of P1,000 but they could not enjoy the golf course anymore. We comply with rules. That is why I am urging the general membership to join the association not only for the protection of members but non-members as well. Ours is simply to protect and uphold the rights of the members and ultimately the golf course itself,” Infante added.
Infante said MGCCAI members and the Board of Directors will hold a dialogue with CDC officials to come out with a final win-win solution.
“We will ask them to terminate the contract of other tour operators… We really are looking forward to finding a final solution to this concern,” she said, adding she greatly appreciates the gesture of CDC to give MGCCAI priority on the use of the golf course.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2011/03/25/mimosa-golf-group-no-war-cdc-146861

Manila residents and tourists spending a vacation in Philippines prefer to travel out of town from Manila to the north to visit Subic, Pampanga, Angeles City and Clark Philippines. While many areas of the Philippines are plagued by crime and security concerns, Clark continues to impress the travel and tourism observers with its immaculately low crime records. Other features of Clark that attract family tourists and those visitors that are health sensitive include low pollution, peace and quiet ambiance and a most welcome absence of traffic congestion.

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This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon.

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For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

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