BIZ BUZZ: Remembering Bong

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has honored Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr., former president and chief operating officer of its parent company, by naming its new headquarters on Andrews Avenue, Pasay, after him.

Tan Jr. died in November 2019 just a few weeks after taking the helm at PAL Holdings Inc.

He also held key positions in other family-owned companies including LT Group Inc., Philippine National Bank (PNB), Tanduay Distillers Inc., Asia Brewery Inc., Fortune Tobacco Corp. and Eton Properties Philippines Inc.

READ: Lucio Tan Jr., 53: Big dreams for PAL cut short

The flag carrier officially made its move to the four-level building just last month, leaving PNB Financial Center on Macapagal Avenue.

While they have already transferred their things into their new place, the tail fin of an A330 jet—a gift from Lufthansa Technik Philippines in 2016–has remained at the former office.

A source told Biz Buzz that PAL was still studying if they will move the iconic aircraft piece to the new building. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

New BGC access road gains ground

A proposal to open up an additional access road to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) via Quingoa Street beside Forbes Park North has gained support from the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chaired by Eduardo Yap, the same group that advocates for the Edsa Busway system and the appointment of a traffic czar, among other solutions to the gridlock in the metropolis.

As early as two years ago, Yap gave a PowerPoint presentation to the committee proposing the use of Quingoa Street but his primary purpose was to relieve severe traffic congestion along McKinley Road and overcrowding at the Edsa Ayala MRT 3 and Busway stations, not Kalayaan Avenue.

The proposed MAP solution also differs in how Quingoa Street will be used—not for private cars but primarily for BGC commuters to be shuttled to and from the MRT 3 and Busway stations at Edsa corner Buendia.

“This commuter orientation is consistent with MAP’s long-held view that the solution to traffic congestion in [Metro Manila] is to prioritize the finite road space for public transportation to move people, not private vehicles,” Yap said in a note sent to Biz Buzz.

“The recent MAP Holistic Plan to address the traffic crisis in Metro Manila articulates this view,” he added. Such plan was submitted to President Marcos on Feb. 1 and discussed in detail with Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and his team on Feb. 16.

READ: Slaying the Metro Manila traffic monster

“It urged a paradigm shift from car-centric usage of public roads. Hence, Quingoa Street must be efficiently and productively used to move people, not private cars,” Yap said.

The MAP proposal requires the opening of a gate at the BGC bus depot where Quingoa Street abuts it to provide a new access route to Edsa near Gil Puyat Avenue.

“Ideally, only electric-powered minibuses should be allowed in Quingoa primarily to shuttle commuters without generating high noise level and air pollution. This is to avoid objection from the community as the street is narrow and lined with residential houses,” Yap explained. —Doris Dumlao-Abadilla INQ