Ret. US Navy educates SBF stakeholders on Box Jellyfish Awareness and Treatment

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Public Health and Safety Group (PHSD) has tapped the expertise of United States Navy retired Chief Petty Officer Michael Walls to educate stakeholders here on Box Jellyfish Awareness and Treatment.

 

Around 218 participants, mostly SBMA employees, locators, residents, guests, and other SBF stakeholders, Association of Ambulance Operators in Olongapo and Zambales, and other medical responders, especially locators in the beach resort business, took part in the seminar held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) on May 9, 2025.

 

"We are seeing more jellyfish now than in previous years," Wells said.

 

“Stings from the box jellyfish can be fatal, especially in children," Walls added. He expounded further by imparting ways on how to avoid incidents of jellyfish stings, as well as immediate treatment when subjected to such.

 

According to the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman-College of Science, the box jellyfish is known for its distinctive box-like appearance and potent venom that can cause potentially systemic effects, which if not immediately addressed, could be fatal.

 

The Chironex yamaguchii, a dangerous species of box jellyfish known to originate from Japan, is also present in Philippine waters, as well as in the Indo-Pacific and Western Pacific regions. Their tentacles can inflict extreme pain, cause skin injuries with welts, and even trigger heart attacks and death.

 

The Box Jellyfish Awareness and Treatment seminar, which aims to promote critical knowledge that could help save lives in case of a box jellyfish sting, is part of the SBMA’s Public Health and Safety Group’s Health and Wellness Caravan. (MPD-SBMA)

 

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SBMA, BSLI join hands to boost tourism in Subic

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Brighterday Subic Ltd., Inc. (BSLI) strengthened its partnership to help boost tourism inside this premier Freeport with the inauguration of the Tanawan view deck on Tuesday.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino said that the BSLI pledged to maintain cleanliness at the view deck located along  San Bernardino Road here as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) adding to the numerous attractions already being offered for tourists visiting Subic Freeport.

He also disclosed that the agency is drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the matter, citing that the Subic-based company is willing to provide much needed assistance to the SBMA.  It has further committed to provide maintenance personnel to keep the viewdeck area clean.

BSLI currently runs the renowned All Hands Beach Resort here, which for almost 2 decades has been  favored by  beachgoers especially during the summer.  

According to BSLI’s Alex Dayrit, the company is willing to provide the maintenance services as long as the SBMA needs their assistance. He added that since the view deck is near the All Hands Beach Resort, it is also quite fitting to beautify the area en route to the nearby tourist spots.

The Tanawan view deck is located at the San Bernardino road, overlooking Subic Bay, facing the Waterfront Area of Subic Bay Freeport. The site has been one of the favorite spots of recreational anglers, and a resting area for cyclists.

“With the company helping SBMA in providing maintenance to an area, we hope that other companies would follow suit,” Chairman Paulino said. (MPD-SBMA)

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Subic stakeholders, employees join Biay Dagat 2022 coastal cleanup

Employees of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and close to 2,000 stakeholders of this premier freeport joined the coastal clean-up on Friday as a culminating activity of Biay Dagat 2022.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, the SBMA Coastal Clean Up: Biay Dagat coastal clean-up is part of the agency’s effort to make Subic Bay Freeport attractive to tourists, and investors who intend to make it happen in the Philippines by infusing capital funds in Subic.

The participants conducted clean-up drives at the Waterfront Beach, Lighthouse Resort, Malawaan Beach, Triboa Bay Mangrove Park, Tago Beach, Nabasan Beach, Subic Bay Yacht Club (SBYC) Mangrove Area, Binictican Mangrove, and San Bernardino Road jetty area.

He added that some of the participants also conducted an off-shore cleanup, citing that these participants are called SCOOPsurero who were detailed at the  river mouths of the Subic Bay Freeport found in Matain, Kalaklan, and other nearby areas.

“The coastal clean-up is the culminating event of the Biay Dagat. We also conducted online lectures such as the importance and conservation of mangroves and corals, and the role of the public in marine conservation and preservation earlier this week, and a Pawikan online lecture was also conducted on Thursday,” he said.

An infomercial video making contest that started from August 26 and ended on September 19 was also an initiative of the SBMA to give more meaning to this year's ICC. Paulino said that contestants must adhere to the theme “Anong SilBay Mo?” that should focus on the importance of protecting marine biodiversity and the public’s role in protecting Subic Bay’s marine ecosystem.

The agency also took part in the International Coastal Cleanup 2022 on Saturday at the Lighthouse Marina Resort where more than 200 participants from various stakeholders here joined the coastal clean-up.

Lighthouse management, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Cubao West also launched a recycling machine that converts collected plastic trash into more durable everyday items such as chairs, trash bins, planting pots, and lumber. (MPD-SBMA)

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Coral garden nursery, pawikan preservation site to rise in Subic Bay Freeport

 

A coral garden nursery and pawikan preservation site will soon rise in this premier Freeport.

This is in an effort to preserve the nesting site of marine turtles and launch a coral garden nursery in the waters of Subic Bay, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and other stakeholders inside this premier Freeport signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the All Hands Beach Resort on Friday.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, the sea turtle nest preservation and coral garden nursery construction is in partnership with DENR’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), PNP Regional Maritime Unit 3, Brighterday Subic Ltd. Inc., and the Sangkalikasan Producer Cooperative.

“The SBMA aims to restore balance in our ecosystem, which will also be beneficial to our tourism industry. We want to preserve the wildlife inside the Subic Bay Freeport while maintaining the area as the number one tourist destination in Central Luzon,” he said.

He said that All Hands Beach Resort is one of the tourist destinations in Subic Freeport that has maintained a good balance between tourism and eco-conservation. The top agency official said that his first mandate was to clean the Boardwalk Area.

“It is not just the responsibility of the agency to clean and preserve the ecosystem of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. This should also be the responsibility of the various stakeholders here,” he cited.

PENRO Zambales Director Marife L. Castillo said that the month of May is the Month of the Ocean and what better way to celebrate the month than to establish a coral garden nursery. The garden is a coral augmentation project that aims to proliferate corals within an area.

She said that the agency will provide assistance in monitoring and managing marine turtle hatcheries, solicit active participation of stakeholders in the project, rehabilitate degraded marine turtle habitats by enhancing recovery of mangroves and coral reefs, and installation of a wildlife enforcement officer.

Brighterday Subic Ltd. Inc., the company that owns and operates the All Hands Beach Resort  has collaborated with the SBMA and the DENR in the implementation of the marine turtle nesting site project inside its resort.

Brighterday Chairman Mark Dayrit said that the resort has already released around 8,000 sea turtle hatchlings since it opened in 2012. Under the MOA, the company will ensure the vigilant monitoring of pawikan sightings and coral augmentations.

Dayrit added that the company will also provide logistical support to the SBMA Harbor Patrol in the conduct of maintenance and protection activities.

Meanwhile, Sangkalikasan Producer Cooperative is set to conduct baseline assessment and monthly monitoring of reef buds. The cooperative will spearhead the actual conduct of monitoring, maintenance and protection of the site of the coral nursery garden.

On the other hand, Regional Maritime Unit 3 chief Police Col. Fernando L. Cunanan Jr. said that aside from their usual mandate as police officers, part of their duty is to protect the environment.

He said that his unit has arrested thousands for illegal poaching, and 30 people involved in the illegal trade of wildlife. The official said they cannot do this without the help of the community, citing that to protect the community needs the involvement of each and every one.

The signing ceremony included the coastal cleanup drive wherein “Scubasureros” pick up trash in the waters near All Hands Beach Resort. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA welcomes probe on Grande Island development deal

Directly addressing the reported call by an advocacy group for the Senate to investigate the alleged sell-out to Chinese investors of the Grande and Chiquita Islands here in Subic Bay, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said it looks forward to such an official inquiry to resolve the long-drawn issue over the two tourism islands here.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said that the Subic agency would welcome any investigation over the falsely reported “sale” of the islands, which were leased in 2019 to a joint venture between GFTG Property Holdings Corp. and Sanya CEDF Sino-Philippine Tourism Investment Corp., as Chinese company.

“First of all, I would like to point out that Grande and Chiquita have not been sold—they are still the property of the Philippine government,” Eisma said. “But there is an investor-company renting the islands, and which has committed P180 million to build a five-star hotel, restaurant and recreational facilities on these properties.”

“If someone would want an investigation of the Grande Island investment project, then I say, by all means get on with it!” Eisma reacted on Thursday.  “In fact, we are highly encouraging this group calling for an official investigation so that this matter can be resolved once and for all,” Eisma added.

The SBMA chief noted that while the proposed project by the Chinese investor-company has been “in deep-freeze” after the SBMA objected to some of the development plans two years ago, “some people are maliciously using it as an example of ‘creeping Chinese invasion’ in the country.”

“As much as that group, the Pinoy Action for Governance and the Environment (PAGE), says it has had enough of intrusions into our country’s exclusive economic zone, I would say that the SBMA, too, has had enough of speculation over the nature of this tourism project here,” Eisma said.

From the viewpoint of the SBMA, which is one of the country’s top investment promotion agencies, the Grande Island development project is a legitimate investment proposal in a Philippine special economic zone where 100% foreign ownership of business enterprises is allowed.

The SBMA Business and Investment Group said the Grande Island development project started in July 2000 with Silver Dragon Cruises Inc. (SDCI) entering into a lease agreement with the SBMA to rehabilitate Pier 684 on Grande Island and operate a ferry service within Subic Bay.

In June 2002, SDCI entered into a Lease and Development Agreement (LDA) with the SBMA to develop Grande and Chiquita Islands, but soon assigned its leasehold rights to GFTG Holdings Corporation in September 2002.

The SBMA said that over the years, it has approved various amendments to the agreement with GFTG, including escalation of revenue shares, extended leasehold period, special provision for developing and marketing housing units, and changes in ownership of what has become GFTG Property Holdings Corp.

Eisma said the biggest change in GFTG occurred in January 2019 when it brought in Sanya CEDF as its biggest shareholder, with 79.99% ownership of the firm. However, in May 2019, the SBMA Board of Directors withdrew its consent to the change in the control and ownership of GFTG, noting that the changes were made without its approval, thus violating the LDA between SBMA and GFTG.

At that time, the SBMA also noted that the Sanya-controlled GFTG had proposed to build 80 ultra-high end housing units over the water along the coastline of Grande and Chiquita islands. This, Eisma pointed out, was not allowed due to Constitutional limits giving the use and enjoyment of archipelagic waters exclusively to Filipino citizens.

Eisma said that ever since 2019, the Grande project has been in a limbo—for the SBMA, as well as for the investor. “The company continues paying rent for the property, but no new development has taken place—which is sad because Grande is Subic’s tourism jewel and it’s just going to waste,” she stressed.

Eisma added that if there may be some security concern over Grande Island because of its strategic location, then this is the best time to bring out and resolve the issue. “We welcome the call for a Senate investigation, but let me add that let’s take it very seriously. I hope the call was made not only for the purpose of grandstanding,” she added. (MPD-SBMA)

 PHOTOS:

The Grande and Chiquita Islands on Subic Bay; part of the existing resort project 

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Issue permit to operate to locator, SBMA told

A local court has ordered the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to issue a certificate of registration and tax exemption (CRTE) to a locator, which filed a contempt case against SBMA.

In a decision dated Oct. 31, Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 74 Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde granted the petition of Brighterday Subic Ltd. Inc., operator of All Hands Beach, for a preliminary mandatory injunction.

Brighterday filed the petition last March, citing SBMA’s refusal to issue the CRTE because of a dispute on All Hands Beach’s supposed unpaid obligations.

The locator said SBMA refused to follow the terms and conditions of an earlier court ruling for the period of notices and observance of due process in case of any alleged violation to be taken into consideration and pre-termination to be exercised with caution by recognizing the right of Brighterday to seek remedy for 60 days.

SBMA administrator and chairperson Wilma Eisma and senior deputy administrator Ramon Agregado were among those named respondents in the contempt case.

Diosdado Rongcal, counsel for Brighterday, said SBMA refused to issue the CRTE even though the locator submitted the required documents and paid the prescribed three-year fees. (Bebot Sison, Jr., Philippine Star)

PHOTO:

All Hands Beach inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/11/17/1969388/issue-permit-operate-locator-sbma-told

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Subic visitors asked to keep safe from summer heat

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma “Amy” T. Eisma urged residents and visitors to this premier tourism destination to take extra precaution while enjoying the summer here.

“While we enjoy swimming in beaches, hiking and biking or camping in our forests, let us not forget to do the simple things, like drinking enough water to keep ourselves hydrated.”

She asked the Public Health and Safety Department (PHSD) of the SBMA to do an active information campaign on how to avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

The average temperature in Subic Bay according to the Weather Bureau is 34-37 degrees centigrade during summer. “And it can even go higher this year,” Eisma warned.

Dr. Solomon R. Jacalne, manager of PHSD, advised Subic summer visitors to wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing.

“We should use sunblock or sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30-50 and try to stay in shady and cool places,” Jacalne said. “Most important is to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, or fruit juices or drinks with electrolytes,” he added.

Dr. Jacalne also advised everyone to watch out for symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke like faintness or dizziness, light-headedness, nausea or vomiting, weak, rapid pulse, weakness or fatigue, muscle cramps, and loss of consciousness.

“We can also monitor the color of our urine. Darker urine is a sign of dehydration,” he said.

Reports indicated that a Hanjin shipyard worker fainted on at 9:00 a.m. Saturday while conducting waste segregation at the company’s scrap area.

24-year old John Mark Acdel, a native of Agusan Del Sur, was reportedly revived before being rushed to the Lourdes Hospital where he died around 2 p.m. Autopsy report states the cause of death is cardio respiratory arrest due to heat stroke.

Meanwhile, the body of Reanosa Tolentino Pabayan, a 35 year old from Pastolan Village, the wife of an Ayta, was found at the Malawaan River also on Saturday.

According to the family, Pabayan, who was an epileptic went fishing on midday. Medical personnel are still looking as to the cause of her death. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Summer visitors and tourists cooling off at the All Hands Beach in Subic Bay Freeport (photo from All Hands Beach FB page) 

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Ocean Adventure operator unveils water park in Subic Freeport

Another family-oriented theme park was unveiled here by the Subic Bay Marine Exloratorium Inc. (SBMEI), operator of the popular tourist attraction Ocean Adventure Marine Park, in time for children’s summer entertainment and family outings.

This is the Adventure Beach Water Park, packed with water slides, wading pools, artificial rivers, and other water-themed facilities in its 1-hectare location between the Subic Bay and the triple-canopied Ilanin Forest Reserve.

The new park was formally launched last Thursday by SBMEI Chairman Jack Lin, SBMEI CEO Robert Gonzaga, and guest of honor Chairman Wilma T. Eisma of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Gonzaga said the Adventure Beach Water Park project is part of SBMEI’s expansion program designed to further bolster the grip of Ocean Adventure, as well as that of its sister firm Camayan Beach Resort on the educational-entertainment tourism niche here.

“We want to dish out fun opportunities for family bonding that might as well be memorable and educational experiences for the children,” Gonzaga said.

“At the same time, we emphasize caring for the environment as the core value in the SBMEI complex,” he added.

The major attractions at the Adventure Beach Water Park are the three-story Twisters Slide, the Rainbow Falls at the Kidz Playground splash-and-play area, the swinging Viking ship, the Aqua Serein that simulates rain, and the River Bend artificial river that goes around most of the park area.

Aside from these, the park has Forest Grill, which serves snacks and a variety of grilled food serve in native bilao and an open-sea area for swimming and kayaking that older children and adults can enjoy.

All around the park are cabanas for visitors. These range from a pavilion that could accommodate 70 persons at P8,000 for the day, to the four-person square cabana rented out at P300. There is also one Tiki Tower good for up to 15 persons at P2,500 per day.

Gonzaga said the facility can easily take in 700 guests at one time, with admission rates at P528 for children seven years old and below, as well as for senior citizens; and P688 for adults.  (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

PHOTO:

Two twisting and turning giant slides are just some of the fun attractions at the newly-opened Ocean Adventure Beach Waterpark. (photo from Adventure Beach Waterpark FB page)

https://businessmirror.com.ph/ocean-adventure-operator-unveils-water-park-in-subic-freeport/

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LOOK: New batch of 'pawikan' hatchlings released

Hatchlings of the Olive Ridley specie of marine turtles (pawikan) head out to sea after being gently released by children at the All Hands Beach Resort in the Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday (Dec. 09).

A total of 120 newly-hatched turtles were released on Saturday, the first for this hatchling season, bringing to 3,877 the total baby sea turtles released from the area since All Hands initiated a pawikan hatchling release program.

Community Resources Officer Marife Castillo and SBMA Ecology Center manager Amethya Dela Llana, along with members of the local chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, release hatchlings of the Olive Ridley specie of marine turtles (pawikan) at the All Hands Beach Resort in the Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday (Dec. 09).

(AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Rescued ‘pawikan’ released in Subic Freeport on World Turtle Day

The Ocean Adventure Marine Theme Park here celebrated World Turtle Day last Tuesday (May 23) by releasing “George,” an Olive Ridley sea turtle that was found by a fisherman in Olongapo City eight years ago.

George was released at the Camayan Beach Resort under the supervision of animal experts from the Ocean Adventure Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (OARRC).

According to OARRC personnel, George was brought to Ocean Adventure in 2010 by Olongapo fisherman Rodrigo Poblete, who found the turtle at a beach when it was still a juvenile that weighed only two kilos.

Poblete kept the sea turtle as a pet for over a year until it eventually outgrew the kiddie pool where it was kept. Then Poblete turned over the sea turtle to the local government unit of Olongapo, which then referred him to the Wildlife In Need (WIN) Rescue Center.

WIN brought George to Ocean Adventure where he was rehabilitated and fed with the proper nourishment, and where veterinarians conducted monthly physical examinations to ensure his health.

And after several months of close monitoring, George was moved to a large natural lagoon where other rescued sea turtles were rehabilitated.

SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma lauded the effort in saving the sea turtle, pointing out that it “certainly makes a huge difference in the preservation of the pawikan, which are known to lay their eggs in beaches at the Subic Bay Freeport.”

Eisma added that the SBMA has been working hand-in-hand with local government units and private organizations in rescuing endangered animals such as sea turtles.

The OARRC had so far accepted 62 sea turtles that were rescued in the Freeport and various towns of Zambales and Bataan. These included 19 Hawksbill sea turtles, 16 Green Sea turtles, and 27 Olive Ridley sea turtles.(JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

“George,” a sea turtle rehabilitated at the Ocean Adventure Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is released to the sea on Tuesday by Ocean Adventure OIC Robert Gonzaga, Community Environment Officer Marife Castillo and SBMA public relation manager Armie Llamas. The release coincided with the celebration of World Turtle Day, which aims to provide awareness for turtles and tortoise and to encourage human involvement for their survival. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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LOOK: New bale of baby turtles released

Children watched with thrill as they released the first bale of Olive Ridley baby turtles, which is part of around 200 hatchlings at All Hands Beach Resort in Subic Bay Freeport Saturday (Dec. 10).

The releasing of hatchlings has been attracting tourists to Subic Bay as visitors are given the opportunity to participate in preserving this highly endangered turtle species.

The All Hands Beach regularly hosts turtles on its shores and the owner of the beach has ensured that they return to their nesting ground without being “disoriented” and the eggs laid will be protected until they hatch and are ready to make their trip to the open sea. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings released

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: Ninety-six Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings, a seriously endangered species of sea turtles, slowly crawled their way to the sea after they were released at the beach here last Saturday.

Amethya dela Llana Koval, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Ecology Center manager, said the ritual is a tradition these turtles must follow for them to remember their footprints when they decide to come back to the same place years later to nest and lay their eggs.

The All Hands Beach, like most other coastal areas in this former US naval base that is now a bustling freeport and economic zone, regularly hosts turtles on its shores and the owner of the beach has ensured that they return to their nesting ground without being “disoriented” and the eggs laid will be protected until they hatch and are ready to make their trip to the open sea.

According to experts, these turtles have a very small chance of survival once they are in the sea and only a mere one percent of them are likely to survive the perilous journey.

“There are actually 105 in this batch of turtle eggs but six did not make it that’s why only 96 are being released now,” says Nick, a turtle expert at the beach who watches over the eggs throughout their hatching period.

According to him, female turtles lay about a hundred eggs but may nest up to three times in a year.

The nesting season starts somewhere in the latter half of the year and lasts until December.

Aside from SBMA Ecology Center officials and other Subic investors, beach goers joined in releasing the hatchlings.

Koval said more people should be encouraged to help in preserving the endangered pawikan turtles as well as other sea creatures by avoiding the use of plastics and throwing them in the sea.

“These turtles sometimes mistake the plastic for jellyfish and ingest them, resulting in their death,” she added.

The Olive Ridley, which has a lifespan of up to 50 years, feeds on jellyfish, snails, crabs, shrimp and occasionally eat algae and seaweeds. (Patrick Roxas, Manila Times)

PHOTO:
newly-hatched baby turtles scurrying their way to the sea at the All Hands Beach in Subic Bay Freeport (photo from Ameth DL Koval's FB page) 

http://www.manilatimes.net/olive-ridley-turtle-hatchlings-released/296541/

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Triathletes help release pawikan hatchlings in Subic Bay

Participants in the upcoming Century Tuna 70.3 Triathlon take time off from training to help release into the sea Olive Ridley sea turtle hatchlings in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, ​last ​Wednesday morning, along with Environment Specialist Rhea Jane Mallari (center in blue shirt) of the SBMA Ecology Center.

Around 150 newly-hatched Olive Ridleys, which are among the endangered species of sea turtles or “pawikan”, ​have been​ released at Dungeree Beach, which will be the kick-off site for the Century Tuna 70.3 Triathlon on Sunday, March 6.

(AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic gears up for summer sports crowd

Subic Bay is now gearing up for the summer crowd with tourist spots enhancing the fun factor with not just the usual leisure amenities but hardcore sports facilities, as well.

One of the many great tourist destinations here is the Zoobic Safari. Tigers, lions, crocodiles, and other exotic wildlife are found at the facility, making the experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see animals that are not endemic in the country. A ride on a caged jeepney lets you peek into the tigers’ habitat as they roam around in an enclosed area.

Another great place to go to in Subic is the Ocean Adventure Marine theme park. Dolphins, sea lions and other aquatic animals will entertain you while educating you on the importance of wildlife preservation.

And if thrill is what you’re seeking, then you could always go to Tree Top Adventure. Tree Top Adventure boasts of having the first motorized zipline in Asia, making sure that safety is the facility’s number one concern.

But in recent years, Subic’s many beautiful beaches are attracting more and more health buffs with major triathlon events held here. Camayan Beach Resort for one has been the area for the country’s prestigious triathlon event Yellow Cab Challenge Philippines.

International triathletes were at awe over the pristine waters of Subic Bay and vowed to return to the area next time Yellow Cab Challenge Philippines is held here. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
SPORTS TOURISM — Local and international triathletes hit the water in Subic Bay at the recent 2015 Yellow Cab Challenge Philippines Subic-Bataan. Subic Bay Freeport is poised to become the triathlon capital of the country, assuring that sports tourism is alive here. (Jonas Reyes)

http://www.mb.com.ph/subic-gears-up-for-summer-sports-crowd/

More photos:

A maintenance worker plows through a heap of fallen leaves during a clean-up drive by the SBMA Maintenance Department at the Mini-Golf Course in the central business district of the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday (March 6). The clean-up project is in anticipation of the influx of tourists this summer. (Jun Dumaguing)

Participants in the “Century Tuna Superbods Underpants Run” start the two-kilometer run at the Remy Field in the Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday morning (March 7). (Jun Dumaguing)

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59 baby sea turtles released in Subic Bay

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Zambales—Tourists took time off from the holiday revelry at a local beach to release 59 olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) hatchlings into the Subic Bay on Saturday.

Around 50 tourists, some of them children, gathered on the shore of All Hands Beach here at 8 p.m. to set the sea turtles free.

Marife Castillo, officer of community environment and natural resources office, said several adult olive ridley sea turtles laid eggs on the resort’s beach last month.

Castillo, who witnessed the release, said All Hands Beach is among the seven major beach areas inside the free port that had been identified as nestling sites for marine turtles (pawikan).

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Ecology Center identified the beaches of Waterfront Area, Dungaree, Edgewater, Grande Island, Camayan, and Minanga as the other nesting sites for sea turtles.

Emerita Sebial, chief of protected areas, wildlife and coastal zone management service in Olongapo City, said three of the seven species of sea turtle in the world could be found in Zambales province.

Aside from the olive ridley, Sebiang said they received reports that green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) have been seen in the province.

Sebial said they released the baby sea turtles at night because fewer predators roam the sea at that time.

SBMA Chair Roberto Garcia asked residents and visitors of the free port to support the agency’s marine turtle conservation program.

“These are gentle creatures that need our protection, for without our help they would likely face extinction,” Garcia said in an earlier statement.

He said the SBMA recently launched its “Guard My Nest” sea turtle conservation program to make Subic establishments more “pawikan friendly.”

“This is why we discourage pavement constructions on the beach where the turtles lay eggs, and urge establishments to minimize lighting at night because this disorients the pawikan,” Garcia said.

Angel Bagaloyos, officer in charge of the SBMA Ecology Center, said sea turtles lay eggs mostly during the cold months, from September to February. (Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon)

59 baby sea turtles released in Subic Bay

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SBMA urges stakeholders to guard pawikan nests

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia made a personal appeal to residents and visitors in Subic Bay Freeport Zone to be mindful of nesting places of sea turtles in the free port, and report any sighting and nesting to the agency’s Ecology Center.

“These are gentle creatures that need our protection, for without our help they would likely face extinction,” Garcia pointed out.

“So I’m making a personal appeal to everyone to support our marine turtle conservation program. The presence of these sea turtles or pawikan makes Subic a very special place,” he added.

Garcia said that the SBMA recently launched its “Guard My Nest” sea turtle conservation program to enjoin stakeholders’ participation in making Subic establishments more pawikan-friendly.

“This is why we discourage pavement constructions on the beach where the turtles lay eggs, and urge establishments to minimize lighting at night because this disorients the pawikan,” Garcia said.

“Most of all, we are asking everyone to help keep our beaches clean so that they remain suitable for nesting,” he added.

At least seven beach areas in the free port have been identified as nesting sites for marine turtles. These are the beaches at the Waterfront area, All Hands, Dungaree, Edgewater, Grande Island, Camayan, and Minanga.

“All of these areas, however, contain beach resorts and other commercial tourism establishments, which makes it really important for Subic stakeholders to join us in this campaign,” Garcia also said.

According to Angel Bagaloyos, officer in charge of the SBMA Ecology Center, one out of the six marine turtle species, the Olive ridley, visit Subic Bay to lay eggs, and mostly during the cold months from September to February. Sightings of two other species have been reported here, as well.

This nesting season, the SBMA Ecology Center has already recorded sea turtle nesting at All Hands Beach, with a total of 268 eggs laid; Grande Island, with a total of 835 eggs laid; and Camayan Beach, with a total of 314 eggs.

The eggs are expected to hatch starting this month, and until February, said Rhea Jane Pescador-Mallari, project coordinator of the “Guard My Nest” program.

To help protect the marine turtles, the SBMA Ecology Center tags visiting nesters to add to a global database, guards known nesting sites from predators, and, along with local stakeholders, releases hatchlings to help ensure their survival. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] An Olive ridley sea turtle comes to Subic Bay to lay eggs

[2] A marine turtle nest

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National triathlon set in Subic

A showcase of new talents of the Philippine triathlon and duathlon team will serve as the highlight of the opening leg of the 2014 National Age-Group Triathlon (NAGT) series which will start at sunrise on Jan. 19 at the Dungaree Beach, Subic Bay Freeport.

The new PHI team members composed of Jared Macalalad, Claire Adorna, Nestor Cagas, Vicky Deldeo, Justin Chiongbian, Baltazar Valencia and Nancy Papaya will compete against tough competitors in the special elite category which will determine their rankings as well as their preparations for this year’s Asian Games, Asian Beach Games and the Youth Olympic Games.

Also competing are national standouts like Nikko Huelgas, Jon Chicano, Km Mangrobang, Kevin Eijansantos, Robeno Javier, Pawee Fornea, Mirasol Abad and Magali Echauz.

The elites along with seasoned age-groupers will endure the Standard Distance 1.5 kilometer swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run course which will take them from Dungaree to Argonaut Highway (until Corregidor) and to Naval Mag in the freeport.

The event is sponsored by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc. (ACIP), Gatorade, Standard Insurance, Green Triathlon, Lifestyle Subic Bay and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

The age-groupers (20 and above) and the 16-19 participants will handle the Sprint Distance course (750 meter swim – 20 Km bike – 5 Km run) while teen participants aged 13 to 16-years-old will engage in the mini-sprint course of 350 M swim – 16 Km bike – 2.5 Km run). Lastly, a SuperTriKids aquathlon side-event
will be held for participants aged 9-10 years (200 M swim – 400 M run) and 11-12 years (350 M swim – 1.5 Km run).

At around 8:30 a.m., participants will be allowed to take their post-race meal followed by the event’s awarding ceremony at about 10 a.m. Medals and gift items will be award to the Top 3 Male and Top 3 Female winners of the different categories covering all distances. Meanwhile, race participants will be entitled to finishers’ medals and t-shirts.

Registration is ongoing until Jan. 12 with entry fees set at P3,500 for standard distance events, P3,000 for sprint distance, P2,500 for mini-sprint and P1,000 for STK aquathlon races. BIKEKING (Bonifacio High Street) and SPEEDO Concept Stores (Alabang, SM Megamall, The Podium, Glorietta 4 and Bonifacio High Street) are the registration centers.

For inquiries, interested parties may contact the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) via numbers 0915-6394233, 710- 8259, 399-6598, fax 809-3136 and email fabiedavid@yahoo.com and AFC_0412@yahoo.com. (Tempo)

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Subic Freeport stakeholders set monthly river/coastal clean-up

Thousands of volunteers joined on Saturday the kick-off ceremony for the monthly river and coastal clean-up, a multi-sectoral project that aims to maintain beauty and biodiversity of rivers and coastal areas in the Subic Bay area.

The activity is a joint project of the Subic Bay Metropolitan authority (SBMA), the city government of Olongapo headed by its Environment Sanitation and Management Office (ESMO), the Subic Bay Workforce Development Foundation, Inc., the Department of Education (DepEd), and other volunteer organizations.

The first activity drew around 2,000 students, company workers, government employees and members of community organizations from the Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City, who undertook clean-up in various areas of assignments.

These included the beaches of Subic Bay, and the coastline of two main channels of freshwater from the city of Olongapo that empties into Subic Bay: the Kalaklan and Kalalake river channels.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the project is part of a comprehensive program of the agency, in cooperation with stakeholders, in maintaining the cleanliness and healthy eco-system of all water bodies that flow into Subic Bay.

“These channels bring into the bay whatever is carelessly thrown into them. Some of these debris are snagged along the river banks during low tide, so we’ll pick them up before they reach the beaches,” Garcia said.

Garcia explained that a large part of tourists coming down to the Subic Freeport and Olongapo City go to the beaches either for swimming or some form of water sports.

“A vacation in Subic or Olongapo will never be complete without the sea and the beach. These are our major attractions here,” he said.

That is why, Garcia added, stakeholders here are putting great effort into maintaining and preserving Subic Bay by conducting coastal clean-up drives regularly.

SBMA Labor Department manager Severo Pastor, Jr. said that after this weekend’s kick-off clean-up, the activity will regularly take place every second Saturday of the month.

“People are joining because we will not only be cleaning our rivers and beaches; we will also be ensuring a better future for our children, their communities and their livelihood here,” Pastor said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Participants in the river/coastline cleanup comb beaches in the Subic Bay area during the kick-off of a monthly cleanup program initiated by stakeholders in the Subic Bay Freeport area. The project is being supported by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the Olongapo City government, as well as various locator companies, schools and community organizations in the Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City.

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‘Pnoy Pawikans’ released at Subic Freeport

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – A total of 114 turtle hatchlings were released into the sea here by students on the occasion of President Aquino’s birthday on Wednesday.

According to All Hands Beach Resort official Mark Dayrit, the turtles which hatched at about 12:30 a.m. on February 8 were collectively nicknamed “PNoy Pawikans” as their birth coincided with the President’s birthday.

The baby turtles were released by some students from the Brent International School in Subic Freeport, employees of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and members of local community organizations.

Cynthia Robles of Greg’s Waterworld, a tourism establishment in this free port, said that the hatchlings that were released into the wild belonged to the Olive Ridley species, one of the three species of sea turtles that lay eggs along the Zambales coastline.

The Olive Ridley is described to be a small sea turtle, with an adult carapace length averaging from 60 to 70 centimeters. Olive Ridley turtles are best known for their behavior of synchronized nesting in mass numbers.

The All Hands Beach is among the few known turtle nesting sites in the Subic Freeport, leading the management of the resort to pledge give its assurance to preserve the area as a turtle conservation site.

Dayrit said five of the nine clusters of sea turtle eggs laid at All hands have already hatched and released into the sea without having been endangered by predators. Among the recent hatchlings were those of a Hawksbill, a critically-endangered species.

“We contacted the SBMA Ecology Center to ask their support in caring for these animals,” Dayrit said, adding that the resort staff also signified willingness to help in the conservation of these vulnerable animals especially during their nesting season.

He said that the Ecology Center has given them tags to identify the turtles that lay eggs at the resort, as well as a chart to record the number of eggs laid, along with a guide on how to relocate eggs to safer places along the beach.

The resort staff have also given free lectures among visitors, helping make elementary and high school students aware of the need to protect the marine creatures. For this, the management is giving free rides to lecture participants, from the Subic Freeport main gate to the resort, which is about 20 kilometers away.

“We want to make sure that our children get first-hand experience on how to handle these animals. Awareness among people is the key in the protection and survival of the sea turtles,” Dayrit said. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
Newly-hatched Olive Ridley turtles are released into the sea at the All Hands Beach Resort in the Subic Bay Freeport.

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Subic’s Lighthouse Resort goes green with beach clean up, Eco-Art

Hundreds of residents and stakeholders in this free port joined hands to protect the environment during the Annual Summer Beach Clean-up organized here by The Lighthouse Marina Resort and the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR).

The clean-up, held during the early hours of March 25 at the beach front area of the Moonbay Marina Complex, was joined mostly by students from local schools like the Mondriaan Aura College, St. Joseph’s College, and Olongapo City National High School.

Representatives from civic groups, locator companies, and tourism-related establishments also took time to help clean up the beach area.

The activity was followed by a junk art workshop conducted by environmental artists from Baguio City known as the “Junk Artists”, who coached student-participants in creating art works from junk.

The participants used trash collected during the clean-up as materials for their junk art. The artworks will be judged by a panel composed of IYFR leaders.

According to Jun Avecilla, CEO of The Lighthouse Marina Resort, organizers of the cleanup want to spread the mission of taking care of the environment.

Avecilla said that the Lighthouse group and the IYFR are committed to preserving the environment and have conducted tree planting activities across the Philippines, including about 1,000 trees at the Angat watershed and the La Mesa Ecopark.

During the Subic activity, the group also planted coconut trees along the beach front area near the Lighthouse Resort.

A day before the clean-up, the organizers also opened the Eco-Art Exhibit, which featured Nature paintings, including artworks by Filipino watercolorist Adriano "Boy" Valino. The activities were held in a run-up to the Earth Hour, which was held the following day, March 26.

Ameth Dela Llana-Koval, manager of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Ecology Center, said in a message delivered during the Eco-Art Exhibit launch that people “should take baby steps to stop climate change.”

She also noted that activities such as planting trees and participating in the Earth Hour by turning off electrical appliances maybe considered small steps, but these would make a big impact if people would do it together.

The Subic Bay beach clean-up was made possible in cooperation with the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, various RotaryClubs, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
Stakeholders help clean up Subic’s waterfront during the annual summer beach cleanup organized by The Lighthouse Marina Resort in the Subic Bay Freeport.

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