Taiwan firm unveils P2-B Subic seafront condo project

A Taiwanese construction company will be building a luxury beachfront condominium complex at Triboa Bay in this free port, eyeing the growing expatriate business community in the economic zones of Subic, Clark and Bataan as target market.

MSK Group Work Inc., which is into construction and subleasing of warehouses and factories, will construct the Triboa Majestic Bay Residences project near the APEC Villas, the site of the 1996 summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation nations. The project is set for completion in two years.

MSK has initially taken over the former APEC Villas clubhouse and used it as venue for the project launch last Saturday, October 14. The clubhouse will form an integral part of the beachfront condominium complex.

According to company spokesman Kelly Uy, the firm has committed an investment of P2 billion for the project and will be selling the property to the A and B-class market, specifically Asian expatriates and other foreign nationals.

The firm will be offering competitive prices for the 157 condominium units which will all be facing the Triboa Bay, Uy also said.

In the same occasion, Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines, noted that the proposed Triboa Majestic Bay Residences has “good timing,” as it coincides with the New Southbound Policy of Taiwan, which calls for greater economic and cultural ties with Southeast Asian countries.

The Taiwanese official also pointed out that Taiwan was the first country to invest in the Subic Bay Freeport, with a total of 52 Taiwanese companies now operating in the Subic Bay area.

Meanwhile, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Director Stefani Saño , who also graced the project launch, congratulated the investors for their confidence in the Subic Bay Freeport and assured them of full support from the SBMA.

SBMA OIC-Deputy Administrator for Business Kenneth Rementilla also pointed out that the MSK project would likely succeed because Subic is now the biggest free port in the country and is home to more than 1,500 companies with total investments of $10 billion.

The Triboa Majestic Bay Residences project is the first foray of MSK Group Work into residential properties. Officials said the firm will build a “personalized palatial home by the sea,” some of which will feature in-suite sky garage, a first in the country.

Aside from condominium units, MSK will also build public facilities like a 5,000-squre meter atrium garden, basement parking spaces, outdoor swimming pools, business center, conference room, shops and restaurant, library, playroom, gym, yoga room, and multimedia room.

The MSK Group, which is headed by brothers Michael, Simon and Kevin Su, has earlier committed P350 million to expand its warehouse and factory subleasing operations in the Clark Freeport Zone. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Michael Su of MSK Group Work Inc. (4th from right) and guests give the thumbs-up sign after viewing a scale model of the proposed Triboa Majestic Bay Residences project to be located in the Subic Bay Freeport. With him are former SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (5th from right), SBMA DA for Seaport Rani Cruz, SBMA Director Stefani Saño, and SBMA OIC-DA for Business Group Kenneth Rementilla. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

6-star cruise ship diverted to Subic port

The six-starred cruise ship “M/V Silver Shadow” dropped anchor here yesterday for a two-day visit as a “no sail zone” was declared at the Port of Manila due to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

Captain Ildefonso Gonzales, Port Captain and General Manager of the Sharp Port Services, Inc., the port of Subic was considered as its priority alternative port call since Manila South Harbor declared “no sail zone” on November 17-20.

The Silver Shadow is a cruise ship built in Italy that entered into service in year 2000, which can carry up to 382 passengers.

Being operated by Silversea Cruises along with seven other cruise ships, the Silver Shadow was brought to the Philippines through SHARP Travel Services Inc.

Silver Shadow, a cruise ship rated with six stars for its exceptional services, amenities, cuisine and accommodations, docked at the Alava Pier in Subic Bay Freeport straight from Coron, Palawan.

It has been in Philippine waters since November 16 and has toured Tagbilaran, Bohol; Boracay Island, and Coron, Palawan.

It will set sail toward Hong Kong when it leaves the Subic port on November 21. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTOS:
MV SILVER SHADOW IN SUBIC BAY

[1] Dock workers wait for the MV Silver Shadow cruise ship as it prepares to dock at the Subic Bay Freeport Thursday (Nov. 19) morning for a port call. The cruise ship, which carries around 700 crew and passengers, who are mostly European tourists, has been in various Philippine tourist destinations since Nov. 16 and will be sailing to Hong Kong today. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] School children perform a native dance to welcome the arrival of MV Silver Shadow, which docked at the Subic Bay Freeport Thursday (Nov. 19) morning. The cruise ship, which carries around 700 crew and passengers, who are mostly European tourists, has been in various Philippine tourist destinations since Nov. 16 and will be sailing to Hong Kong today. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.mb.com.ph/6-star-cruise-ship-diverted-to-subic-port/

Read More

LOOK: Prepping for Subic Volunteers Day

Filipino ground maintenance workers clean-up the Volunteers Park in Subic Bay Freeport in preparation for commemoration of the US military bases pull-out on November 24.

The park is dedicated to Subic volunteers, mostly women from near-by Olongapo City and Zambales province, who took the initiative to protect the military base from looters after the American withdrawal due to Mt. Pinatubo devastation and rejection of the Philippine Senate on the continuation of the bases treaty.

The Subic volunteers were also instrumental during the Philippine hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) in 1996 as they act as human barriers against militant groups trying to stage protests in Subic. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

‘Use Subic for canceled flights’

Flights canceled due to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit can use the airport in Subic.

Richard Gordon, a former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman, made the proposal yesterday in a post in his Twitter account @DickGordonDG.

Subic airport was used when the freeport hosted the APEC summit in 1996, Gordon said.

Twenty-four heads of economies attended the meeting at the time, he added.

Federal Express also used the airport for several years, Gordon said.

“We built Subic airport,” he said.

“APEC ’96 used it. Fedex landed 18 cargo jets there for several years. Why don’t we use it today for APEC canceled flights?”

As of October 30, a total of 1,364 flights have been canceled to give way to the arrival of APEC delegates.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has issued notices to airmen (NOTAM) setting certain restrictions on aircraft at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from November 17 to 20.

NOTAM B3227/15 restricts general aviation aircraft operations within 40-nautical mile radius of NAIA covering the vicinity of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) effective 6 a.m. of November 17 to 7 p.m. of November 20.

General aviation aircraft operations outside the 40-nautical mile radius of NAIA shall be limited to local operations, excluding Clark and Subic International Airports.

Training aircraft of flying schools are restricted to operate only outside the 40-nautical mile radius.

“Exemptions are Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) related operations with approval from APEC National Organizing Council (NOC) and duly coordinated with CAAP Operations and Rescue Coordination Center (ORCC) and aircraft on emergency mission,” CAAP said.

It also imposed the No-Fly Zone within two nautical miles from coordinates (PICC) due to special operations effective on November 17, 10 a.m. to November 20, 7 p.m.

Takeoff and landing of aircraft on runway 31 were also prohibited and no landing would be implemented on runway 13 during those dates. (Sheila Crisostomo, with Louise Maureen Simeon, Rudy Santos, Philippine Star)

PHOTO:
Subic airport was used when the freeport hosted the APEC summit in 1996, Richard Gordon said.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/11/13/1521346/use-subic-canceled-flights

Read More

APEC senior officials’ meeting starts in Subic (updated)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – Delegates from 22 countries are now in the freeport for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation First Senior Officials’ Meeting (APEC-SOM1).

The emergency preparedness working group and senior disaster management officials’ forum preparatory meeting started Wednesday while the counterterrorism working group workshop started Thursday, January 29 until Feb. 1.

The business mobility group workshop and management board meeting began January 30 until Feb. 2 while the electronic commerce steering group data privacy sub-group informal meeting starts on the 31st.

A preparatory meeting on high-level policy dialogue on human capacity building was held on the 29th until Feb. 4.

The Subic Bay Freeport was host to the APEC Leaders’ Summit in November 1996. (with Bebot Sison Jr., Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/01/29/1417758/apec-senior-officials-meeting-starts-subic

Read More

APEC avenue for improving RP’s tourism, claims Palace

Presidential communications secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. yesterday noted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) events as a way to promote the Philippines as a key tourist destination, saying that it will pave way to a robust economy and create livelihood for Filipinos.

“We should continue to build the image of our country as a favors tourist destination because this will be the way for a healthy economy and will create opportunities in livelihood for out citizens,” Coloma said.

The Palace official also said that efforts for ongoing talks in the Apec and the Philippines hosting it will help shape the economy in a better way, as preliminary talks begin in Central Luzon.

“The whole year, meetings will be held in different provinces and cities of the country to the point of the actual summit of Economic Leaders which will be held in Manila,” Coloma said.

The Apec’s Senior Officials’ Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM-1) — the Apec kick-off event — has begun earlier this week, where the Palace reiterated that the event would again tackle pursuing policies and programs on trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, and economic and technical cooperation.

Representatives from the 21 Apec member-countries are attending the Apec-SOM1 in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga and Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales. (Joshua L. Labonera, The Daily Tribune)

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/apec-avenue-for-improving-rp-s-tourism-claims-palace

Read More

First APEC senior officials’ meeting set

The Philippines will host the First APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM1) from January 26 to February 7 at Clark and Subic Freeport Zones.

As the first comprehensive Senior Officials’ Meeting for the year, SOM1 begins with a series of more than thirty working group and committee-level meetings covering various topics such as Trade and Investment, Economic and Technical Cooperation, Anti-Corruption, Counter Terrorism, Competition Policy, Ocean and Fisheries, Customs, E-Commerce, Services, Life Sciences, Health, Illegal Logging, and Services.

Following from the outcomes of the APEC Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) held last December 8-9 in Manila, the various meetings will also discuss how each APEC working group can advance the APEC 2015 priorities and the overall theme of “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.”

The series of working group and committee-level meetings from January 26 to February 5 will culminate in the Senior Officials’ Meeting to be held on February 6-7 in Fontana Leisure Park, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

As host, the Philippines will also hold a Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) on Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM), Creative Industries, and Research and Development Services on February 3. The PPD on Services is the first in a “Dialogue Series” which aims to guide the APEC Senior Officials and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in promoting trade in services in the Asia-Pacific region. (Voltaire Palaña, Manila Times)

http://allpinoynews.com/first-apec-senior-officials-meeting-set/

Read More

2 APEC conferences set in Subic

Two of four conferences of senior officials of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will be held at a newly opened hotel and resort here later this month.

The First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) of the 2015 APEC summit will take place at the P120-million Subic Grand Harbour Hotel, which has 70 luxury rooms, four suites, and an 800-seat capacity theater-type multi-function room.

At least 1,700 delegates from 22 countries are expected to attend the SOM1 from Jan. 26 to Feb. 7.

“They will use our conference facilities as well as other guest rooms, which may need refitting to accommodate requirements for the SOM1,” Bong Pineda, Subic Grand Harbour chief executive officer, told The STAR.

He said APEC national organizing council chief Marciano Parayno Jr. has tapped the hotel to be one the venues for the SOM1.

Pineda believes Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City will remain as favorite destinations for both local and foreign tourists.

The Subic Bay Freeport had hosted the APEC summit in 1996, which was attended by 24 heads of state. (Bebot Sison, Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/01/10/1411187/2-apec-conferences-set-subic

Read More

CL to host APEC 2015

Camp Olivas, Pampanga — All roads lead to Central Luzon when it hosts in 2015 the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders summit, participated in by 19 countries, with key venues identified yesterday as Clark Freeport in Pampanga, Subic Bay in Zambales, and a world-class resort in Bataan.

Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, Police Regional Office 3 director, said that as early as now the Philippine National Police (PNP) has started security preparations for the country’s hosting of the 2015 APEC Summit and its related ministerial and sub-ministerial meetings.

Describing the event as “another milestone in the country’s economic development,” Petrasanta said: “We had an ocular inspection and coordination meeting with officials of sites that are likely to host namely, Clark Freeport, Subic Freeport and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac town in Bataan.”

These efforts are being closely coordinated with the Departments of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and National Defense (DND).

Apart from the Philippines, other members of the APEC are Australia, Brunei Darrusalam, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Russia, and Vietnam.

In Bataan, Governor Abet S. Garcia and Mayor Ramil del Rosario of Bagac town expressed pride over the choice of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a 5-star resort hotel in the coastal town, as the venue for the APEC leaders – many of whom are critical decision-makers not just in the region but in the world economy.

“Las Casas is primarily eyed as a possible site for the activity of the spouses of visiting heads of state and government, while the leaders’ summit is ongoing,” said Petrasanta.

Las Casas, owned by construction magnate Jerry Acuzar, is famed for its centuries-old houses and world-class hotel rooms.

By the time the APEC 2015 unfolds, additional facilities like the Galeria Victoria, a fully-air-conditioned mall, will have been established through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) venture in Balanga City, Mayor Joet S. Garcia. (Manila Bulletin)

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/cl-host-apec-2015-164737975.html

Read More

Subic included in 10 Philippine sites short-listed for 2015 Apec meetings

TEN tourism destinations have been short-listed as various meeting sites for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum that will be hosted by the Philippines in 2015.

In an interview, Ma. Victoria Jasmin, undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation of the Department of Tourism (DOT), said the 10 “preselected” destinations are the National Capital Region, Tagaytay, Cebu, Clark, Subic, Legazpi, Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod and Boracay.

The DOT is a member of the Apec-National Organizing Council (NOC) set up by President Aquino to oversee the activities and programs that will be held under Apec in 2015 and ensure the successful hosting of the event.

Jasmin told the BusinessMirror “there are several meetings spread throughout the year, and I’m pretty sure that each [destination] will get at least one, barring some fortuitous events.”

The Apec summit which that gathers the heads of state of 21 member-economies, will be preceded by other activities throughout 2015, including the Senior Officials Meeting, the Ministerial and Sectoral Ministerial Meetings, as well as meetings of technical working groups that include the support staff for officials participating in the main Apec events.

Jasmin added there has been “no final decision yet” on where the summit would be held.

Separate government sources also said it was clear that the President “doesn’t want to build a separate facility” just for the Apec meetings.

The Philippines hosted the Apec summit in 1996 at the Subic Bay Freeport. Then-President Fidel V. Ramos built 18 Mediterranean-style villas in the so-called Apec Village, specifically for the use of the heads of state in the summit. The villas reportedly cost $50 million and used for only six hours by the Apec leaders.

But visitor arrivals finally crossed the 2-million mark in 1996, ending the year at 2.05 million, up 16 percent from the 1.76 million posted in 1995, indicating the increased attraction of a country as a tourism destination once a major international summit is held there, government sources noted.

The Philippines is targeting foreign arrivals to reach 10 million by 2016, by the time Mr. Aquino steps down from office.

A team from the NOC has been going around these past few months inspecting the 10 pre-selected Apec sites. Government sources said the inspection teams are checking the hotels in each destination, its MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions) facilities, the local organizing committee headed by the chief executives of the local government units, etc.

“Specifically, they check the availability of [hotel] suites, the quality and number of rooms, as well as the indicative rates, and renovation or upgrade plans,” one source added.

The Apec-NOC was set up by the President through Administrative Order (AO) 36 issued on November 28, 2012. It is chaired by the executive secretary with the secretary of foreign affairs as co-chairman, and composed of the heads of the regular line agencies.

Among the main functions of the Apec-NOC is to “approve and recommend to the President a master plan for the Philippine hosting of Apec in 2015, including an estimated budget for the proper hosting of the Apec meetings,” according to AO 36. (Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo / Special to the BusinessMirror)

Read More

SBMA, Resom sign P20-billion tourism project

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently signed a contract with Korean-owned Resom Resort Phils. (Resom) for the development in the Freeport of a world-class tourism resort complex worth P20 billion.

In a simple ceremony held June 13 at the Freeport, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia and Resom Chairman Sang So Shin signed lease development agreements that would pave the way for the construction of this landmark tourism project.

The first phase of the project involves the development of a prime waterfront property previously known as the mini-golf course with a gross area of two hectares and a buildable area of 6,000 sqm.

Resom is committed to invest P1.2 billion for the construction in this area of a luxury hotel with around 300 rooms, convention facilities, pool, spa, restaurants and other support facilities. This project is being targeted to be ready to serve the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in November 2015.

The second phase of the project will cover the development of the Resom City tourism complex involving several properties in the Naval Magazine area amounting to around 300 hectares.

This will include the construction of a world-class resort complex that will have hotels, condominiums, a theme park, luxury pool villas, casino and gaming operations, a waterpark and spa, health and wellness center, duty free shopping, and a championship golf course.

This phase involves an investment commitment of around P19 billion and is expected to take around 4 years to complete.

According to Resom Chairman Shin, the Subic Resom City project will be their centerpiece development.

Resom presently owns and operates four world-class resorts namely, Ocean Castle, Resom Waterpark and Spa, and the Forest Villa resort all in Korea, and a championship golf course and resort in Weihai, China. Resom operates a time-share membership chain and certain of their facilities are open to the public as well.

During the contract signing, Chairman Shin said that he loves nature and that Resom always develops their resorts by keeping and preserving the environment as a main priority.

He said the natural beauty of the forests and waters in Subic are the main features that convinced him that Subic is the ideal choice for their centerpiece resort.

On the SBMA side, Chairman Garcia welcomed this world-class resort project as a great tourist attraction that would draw millions more of local and international visitors to the Subic Bay Freeport and establish it firmly as one of the country’s major tourism destinations.

“This hopefully will contribute substantially to the country’s tourism campaign,” Garcia added. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto Garcia and Resom Phils. Chairman Sang So sign an agreement for the construction of a P20-billion resort complex in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Read More