SBMA brings “plogging” to Subic to evoke environmental 'malasakit'

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is bringing to Subic a new way of boosting both human and nature’s health — “plogging.”

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said plogging, a new term that blends the English word “jogging” and the Swedish phrase “plocka upp” or pick up, started in Sweden and is now becoming popular in parts of Europe and the United States.

“Essentially, plogging is about doing your regular jogging routine, but you have to bring with you a trash bag where you can put all the litter you can pick up along the way,” Eisma explained.

She added that through its Ecology Center, the SBMA will be launching the first Subic Bay Plog Down — a combination of jogging, fun run and picking litter, on May 4 at the Boardwalk Events Center here in line with its “War On Waste” initiatives.

The event is open to public with ages seven years old and above.

Ecology Center manager Amethya Dela Llana explained that Subic Bay Plog Down aims to promote plogging as an exercise that promotes endurance, muscle firmness and harmony, and to stimulate environmental understanding by encouraging communities to suggest solutions on reducing trash in the Freeport.

“Plog Down aims to evoke environmental malasakit by exposing nearby communities to Subic Bay Freeport clean-up,” Dela Llana said.

Under the Plog Down project, all registered participants would pick up trash along their chosen route:
within one hour for Route 1 which has a 2-kilometer distance, or one-and-half hour for Route 2 which has a 3-kilometer distance.

Trash placed in the sacks should only be those considered as litter under the No Littering Policy of the SBMA. All trash thus collected by individual participants will be weighed and recorded.

Dela Llana added that the Subic Bay Plog Down project is just one of the many environment-awareness programs that the SBMA Ecology Center has lined up under its War On Waste initiatives.

Coinciding with the Plog Down event, SBMA will be celebrating Earth Day 2018 in the Subic Bay Freeport with its international theme “End Plastic Pollution” through the conduct of the 4th Recyclables Collection Event (RCE), also on May 4 at the former Legenda Blue Building along the Boardwalk Area.

RCE is a semi-annual event that lets companies inside the Freeport dispose of everyday hazardous workplace wastes properly. Items brought to the event will be bought by accredited recyclers.

Some of the waste materials that can be submitted for collection during the event are laboratory chemicals, solvents, aerosols, batteries, fluorescent tubes, garage waste, household hazardous waste, oils, paints, pharmaceutical waste and photographic and printing waste.

The waste collectors would also accept electronic wastes such as busted washing machines, electric fans, and ovens.

Proceeds of the event will go to Lingkod Kapamilya Bantay Kalikasan ABS-CBN Foundation, which has community-based eco-tourism projects. Meanwhile, the PET bottles collected will be sent to the Tahanang Walang Hagdan. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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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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SBMA inks accord with Asian aviation group to develop Subic airport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) to further develop the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) for business aviation.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the agreement was signed during the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition 2018 on April 17 in Shanghai, China.

Under the MOU, AsBAA will help develop infrastructures at the SBIA, as well as assist in operations at the airport, while offering business aviation services in the Philippines through Subic.

AsBAA Philippine Chapter chairman Benjamin Lopez said that AsBAA “will support and advise on the initial design and ongoing operation of the SBIA to bring about an immediate and reliable facility that regional business aviation and general aviation operators can access as another option to operate from in the Philippines.”

Lopez, who is also the president of Inaec Aviation Corp., said that the country’s focus on infrastructure development to help decongest Manila in the aviation sector is most welcome.

“Plans have long been discussed and now is the time for action. We are delighted to assist the authorities in advising on these vital enhancements to Philippine aviation infrastructure,” he added.

The AsBAA Philippine chapter was launched in September 2017 and is the newest addition to AsBAA’s regional committees. The chapter started 2018 by leading a delegation of its members on a site visit and investment trip to Manila, Clark and Subic Airports to meet with regulators, airport operators, and aviation stakeholders.

On January 27, AsBAA president Max Motschmann led an ocular inspection of the SBIA to determine the business potential of the area.

The MOU for SBIA was the second agreement that the association signed this year to help develop airport infrastructures in Southeast Asia. The first agreement was with the Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).

Eisma said that she wants to make SBIA a business aviation airport and to prepare it as well for general aviation; maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services; and charter flights. She added that passenger aviation should be focused in Clark Airport and not here in Subic.

“We can get spillover from neighboring airports like Clark, but I would rather court general aviation and business aviation heavily and have a niche for them to attract tourists with curated experiences,” Eisma added. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (left) concludes an agreement with AsBAA Chairperson Jennyn Lao for the development and operation of the Subic Bay International Airport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Azevedo tops Subic Bay International Triathlon

PORTUGUESE journeyman Filipe Azevedo ended the dominance of the Japanese in the 25th edition of the NTT Asia Cup Subic Bay International Triathlon held this past weekend at ACEA Subic Bay in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Azevedo used a strong kick to outrun Korea’s Min Ho Heo (1:50:55) and Japan’s Takumi Hojo (1:50:59) with a winning time of 1:50:50 in the grueling 1.5 Kilometer swim – 40 Kilometer bike – 10 Kilometer run Elite Men’s contest organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

On the distaff side in the event sponsored by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Arena, New Balance, Philippine Star, Gatorade, Omega Pain Killer Liniment, Standard Insurance, Lighthouse Marina Resort, Century Tuna, Gatorade, Subic Holiday Villas, Travelers Hotel, ACEA, Asian Center for Insulation and Solar Sports, China’s Zhong Mengying (2:01:19), Zhang Yi (2:03:44) and Yang Ling (2:04:49) swept the Top 3 positions in dominating fashion leading from start to finish from the swim leg to biking and superb runs of under 38 minutes under the sun.

The Philippines’ very own Kim Mangrobang settled for 8th place in the Elite Women’s race timing 2:07:09. The 2017 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist’s finish was good considering the very strong field of competitors.

The Philippines somehow salvaged its pride with the victories of JC Abad, Edward Macalalad and Julius Constantino in the Men’s Under-23 (U/23) contest. They finished with times of 2:03:33, 2:04:23 and 2:07:46 respectively.

On Saturday, April 21, Singapore, Hong Kong and China’s junior triathletes dominated the sprint distance events with Filipino boys grabbing the 13-15 category. 13-15 girls category was dominated by the Wright sisters of Hong Kong sweeping Top 3 posts while the boys 16-19 race saw Hong Kong at 1-2 and China at 3rd place. Most swimmers showed superiority in the swim leg.

The 2018 NTT Asia Cup Subic Bay International Triathlon attracted 800 participants and was supervised by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) with Kouji Koginasawa as technical delegate. Complete race results and lists of winners will be available through TRAP’s website and Facebook page. (Manila Standard)

PHOTO:

Filipe Azevedo wins the NTT Asia Cup Subic Bay International Triathlon 2018. (AsiaTriLive)


http://www.thestandard.com.ph/sports/sports-plus/263818/azebedo-tops-subic-bay-international-triathlon.html

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SBMA goes after debtor-firms, collects P148M

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s resolve to go after stale debts and past-due accounts of business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport is handsomely paying off in millions of fresh funds for the State-owned agency.

Figures from the SBMA Finance Group indicated that the agency collected a total of P148.6 million from rentals, sublease shares, common use service area (CUSA) fees and other accounts receivable in the last 15 months that an aggressive collection program was instituted by the new administration.

The collection included long-time debt payments by Freeport-registered companies in the amount of P101.9 million and $593,118, and housing payments of P6.5 million and $172,922.

SBMA accounting officials said some of these debts have been incurred as early as year 2000, but have remained unsettled in the past 17 years.

“This is proof that just by consistently applying existing laws and policies and actively engaging our stakeholders in Subic—listening to them and figuring out mutually-acceptable solutions, we can accomplish much,” said SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma.

“Besides, looking after the interest of the government as regards the operation of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is a duty we cannot shirk. we have to go after those who have debts, and we have to do this decisively,” she added.

Eisma said the campaign has only met support from business executives here who understood the purpose and approved the reform measures.

SBMA records showed that a lot of indebted companies have availed of payment schemes approved by the SBMA Board of Directors, allowing them to amortize past-due accounts over a certain period of time.

Some of the biggest locators that recently made upfront payments or availed of payment schemes included the Lyceum of Subic Bay, which paid P31.5 million for both arrears and advance rent; Global Daeil Subic, Inc., which signed a payment deal for P16.6 million; and Subic Bay Yacht Club, Inc., which availed of a similar repayment scheme for P11.8 million.

Meanwhile, SBMA records indicated that the agency issued billings to business locators totalling P3.88 billion from January 2016 to December 2017. From this, the agency was able to collect P3.12 billion, thus posting a collection efficiency of 80 percent.

On the other hand, the agency recorded a collection efficiency of 83 percent for its housing accounts in the same two-year period, when it netted P167.7 million from total billings of P201.4 million.

Eisma likewise said that as part of the agency’s collection thrust, the SBMA initiated an audit last year that had so far yielded P18.3 million in new billings for gross revenue shares from several business locators in the zone.

“The audit is still on-going, and everyone in the business community here can expect that they will be treated equally and fairly within the policy framework,” she added.

Earlier, the SBMA chief announced the strict but consistent implementation of existing policies covering the use of areas and facilities leased to business locators, which are operating in Subic under a tax- and duty-free regime.

She said that along this line, the SBMA has already repossessed facilities that some business locators have left idle and unimproved, revoked the lease and development contract of investors that failed to meet their obligations, and implemented a stringent policy to collect SBMA receivables, as approved by the Board of Directors.

Eisma explained that the strict measures, coupled with the streamlining of business processes in the free port zone, are meant to improve the business climate in Subic, and foster economic sustainability and equal opportunity for all. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA vows consistency for better business climate

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) vowed to continue instituting good governance measures and policy reforms to build a better business climate in this premier free port in consonance with national government efforts to keep the Philippines number one among the best countries to invest in.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said that aside from stressing the need for a consistent implementation of laws and policies governing investors in the Subic Bay Freeport, the agency is streamlining its permitting system in anticipation of greater investment yields here.

“Our primary thrust now is to improve our business processes because we want to be responsive to the needs of our locators,” said Eisma.

“We have just established a One Stop Shop where business processes are fully automated, and next month we will put into effect the 3-year validity for both the Certificate of Registration (CR) and the Certificate of Registration and Tax Exemption (CRTE), which previously had to be renewed annually,” she added.

She also said that her office has taken over the approval and release of CRTEs to further speed up the issuance of this important business document.

Eisma said the drive for a more investor-friendly climate in Subic is in keeping with President Duterte’s orders for transparency and good governance.

As a result of these initiatives, business processing time has been greatly reduced as of last year by 17% for admission permits, by 22% for declaration of admission, and by 83% for export declaration.

At the same time, the SBMA waived the $200 accreditation fee for all port-related businesses from October to December last year 2017, as part of its open-window access initiative. The same offer has been revived effective April to December this year to entice more businesses at the Port of Subic.

“We have made life easier for our locators, and we continue to strive towards this goal,” Eisma said, pointing out that the SBMA Board of Directors had already approved the reduction of documentary requirements for issuance of business registration, and, at the same time, allowed the off-site processing of SBMA ID’s to better serve investor needs.

She added that the SBMA “is working towards continuous improvement of its system, and we will implement necessary changes as long as they would not be disadvantageous to the SBMA and the government.”

At the same time, the SBMA chief clarified that the Subic agency would be strictly implementing existing policies that are meant to promote productivity and opportunity for all stakeholders in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Eisma said that along this line, the SBMA has already repossessed SBMA facilities that some business locators have left idle and unimproved, revoked the lease and development contract of investors that failed to meet their obligations, and implemented a stringent policy to collect SBMA receivables, as approved by the Board of Directors.

“There may have been some laxity in the past, but change has come, and the SBMA now strives to manage Subic with transparency, impartiality, and consistency,” Eisma stressed. “These, we believe, will bring about better business, economic sustainability, and equal opportunity for all — the very reason why the Subic Bay Freeport was created.” (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Chairman Eisma receives a token of appreciation from officials of the Subic Freeport business community after delivering her State of the Freeport Address last month. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA extends free accreditation fee for container-port related businesses

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) yesterday extended its free accreditation for container-port related businesses from April 13 to December 31, 2018 to encourage more enterprises to use Subic’s container terminals and decongest Manila’s ports.

The $200 accreditation fee waiver applies to the first 80 new business entrants and the first 20 accredited entities due for renewal of their accreditation certificate.

The waiver covers ship agents, freight forwarders, brokerage firms and trucking services.

Firms with an accreditation certificate should guarantee to bring at least one container within one month from filing or renewal of accreditation certification to be entitled to the waiver.

“The free accreditation initiative received positive feedback, that’s why we are bringing it back this year,” SBMA chairperson and administrator Wilma T. Eisma acknowledged.

It’s definitely an opportunity for more firms to invest in Subic and promote the Freeport, according to Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation (SBITC) president Roberto Locsin.

SBITC, the operator of the Subic Bay Freeport, pledged to ensure support and quality service to clients using its container freight station and container terminals.

Furthermore, the initiative will decongest the Ports of Manila, broaden industry awareness of the use of the Port of Subic Bay’s Container Terminal and increase container port traffic and utilization rate.

It can also accommodate more Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The Port of Subic has two modern container terminals, New Container Terminals 1 and 2, which provide on and off-dock marine port cargo as well container handling services. (Emmie V. Abadilla, Manila Bulletin)

https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/04/13/sbma-extends-free-accreditation-fee-for-container-port-related-businesses/

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One Subic Power signs P750-M 10-year lease extension

A lease extension agreement of ten years translating to P750 million in lease and revenue shares was recently approved by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for One Subic Power Generation Corp., which operates the 116-megawatt diesel generator plant here.

The power firm, which is a fully-owned subsidiary of PHINMA Energy Corp., initially committed $3.2 million-worth of investments and five per cent variable gross revenue shares (GRS) when it took over the diesel plant in 2011.

The firm’s original contract was effective until 2020, but the amended agreement granted the firm a ten-year extension of its operations until 2030.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma signed the new contract with PHINMA President and CEO Francisco Viray, and One Subic Power President Rizalino Santos.

During the signing, Eisma thanked the company for being a valued partner of the SBMA and for sharing the commitment for a better Subic community.

“I do appreciate the malasakit that you put in in your business here in Subic and the way you take care of your people. That kind of behavior is important for the future of Subic because your people are also my people,” Eisma told the company officials.

According to the SBMA Business and Investment Department (BID), One Subic Power Generation Corp. is one of the biggest revenue sources for the SBMA, having turned in a total of $7.2 million in fixed lease rate, P81 million in gross revenue shares, and P4.4 million in common user service area (CUSA) fees since it started operations in 2011 until 2017.

Meanwhile, the ten-year extension of the firm’s contract would also provide an additional five per cent increase in current lease rate for the first five years, and another five per cent increase for the remaining five years, for a total of P630 million in lease rates alone.

In addition, the company’s annual gross revenue share (GRS) of P12 million would translate to a total of P120 million over the 10-year extension period, an amount that will be part of the revenue shares given out by the SBMA to neighboring local government units. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

[2] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma and PHINMA Energy President and CEO Francisco Viray conclude a new 10-year lease contract for the power firm, with One Subic Power President Rizalino Santos (left) and SBMA Business and Investment manager Kenneth Rementilla (right). (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA’s Heaviest Butt Campaign Goes Viral

SBMA Ecology Center’s Heaviest Butt Campaign has gone viral in just 48 hours since it was posted online on Thursday, April 5, 2018. It garnered 6 million people reached, 45.6 thousand shares, 30.2 thousand likes and 19.2 thousand comments and questions.

People took interest when they read that SBMA is buying dry cigarette butts for 300 pesos per kilo. Most comments expressed surprise, “Is this true?” Some are curious “What will you do with the cigarette butts that you are buying?” Meant to be a local campaign, it has caught nationwide and even international attention. People as far as Metro Manila, Laguna, La Union, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro and as far as Davao are asking where and how do they send their cigarette butts.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator, Atty. Wilma T. Eisma said “We are very happy that our campaign has gone viral and is catching the attention of a lot of people. We are hopeful that the study in which these cigarette butts will be used on, would turn out positive as well.”

The Heaviest Butt Campaign was first conceptualized in response to the observation that cigarette butt is one of the top three litters collected during the yearly International Coastal Cleanup in Subic Bay. Statistics show that there are about 4.5 trillion butts littered worldwide every year.

Cigarette butts cannot be recycled because of the smell and the toxins they contain such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium. Some data say it takes 5 years for cigarette butts to decompose, still some say it takes 10 years. In the meantime, they contaminate our soil and our waters.

SBMA Ecology Center has partnered with a local company which has designed their own machine for litter or garbage recycling and upcycling. The cigarette butts collected through the Heaviest Butt campaign shall be given to this company as materials for testing and study to see if it is possible to remove the smell and the toxins so that these butts can be upcycled into bricks or hollow blocks. Ecology Center is collecting 20-60 kilograms of cigarette butts for the said study.

This campaign is part of SBMA’s bigger program dubbed as War on Waste. SBMA is also launching the Refuse Single Use, which is a campaign against the use of disposable plastics or one time use plastics, and Straw Sucks which is a campaign against using plastic straws and promoting the use of alternative materials such as bamboo or metal straws, or not to use straws at all.

Eisma says “we hope that with these campaigns, there will eventually be behavioral change among its stakeholders in order to promote environmental responsibility. It aims to strengthen partnership and collaboration with the local community in keeping a clean and healthy Subic Bay Freeport Zone as the place of choice to live, work, and play.” (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA employee Vincent Esteban of the Maintenance and Transportation Department points at the total weight of his and co-workers’ cigarette butts collection as SBMA Ecology Center Social Development Officer Patrick Escusa confirms the reading. The project, dubbed as “Heaviest Butt Campaign,” encourages everyone to collect used cigarette butts and sell it to the SBMA Ecology Center for P300 a kilo to be used in an up-cycling experiment that would use the toxic butts as components of cement bricks.

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Aussie ships in Subic for goodwill visit

Two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) vessels, Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Anzac (FFH 150) and the HMAS Success (OR 304), docked Thursday morning in this premier Freeport as part of a four-day goodwill visit to the Philippines.

The Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Emilio Jacinto (PS35) met the two ships off Morong, Bataan and escorted them to dock at the Alava Wharf here.

Philippine Navy (PN) Officer-In-Attendance Judith Palamos said that the arrival of the Australian Navy here “underscores the continuing efforts to further strengthen the ties between our governments and navies (and) fortifies the PN’s firm commitment to maintain good relationship with other navies.”

She said that personnel from the two naval services will conduct confidence-building activities aimed at enhancing maritime understanding and cooperation to further contribute to the promotion of peace and stability through naval diplomacy and camaraderie.

Defense Attaché of Australia to the Philippines Capt. Bradley White and the commanding officers of the two ships, HMAS Success Commanding Officer Grant Zilko and HMAS Anzac Commanding Officer Michael Devine, are scheduled for a courtesy call with Rear Admiral Allan Ferdinand Cusi, who is commander of the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) in San Antonio, Zambales.

Australian and Filipino sailors will also have luncheon aboard the HMAS Anzac, some goodwill games, and a “boodle fight.” A send-off ceremony with customary passing exercise will cap the goodwill visit, which will include a replenishment-at-sea operation with PN personnel invited to board RAN ships for observation.

HMAS Anzac is the lead ship of the Anzac-class frigates in use with the RAN and the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). Entering Australian service in 1996, the frigate operated as part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce in 1999. In 2003, she was involved in the Battle of Al Faw, and became the first RAN ship to fire in anger since the Vietnam War.

On the other hand, HMAS Success is a Durance-class multi-product replenishment oiler serving in the RAN. The ship was part of the Australian contribution to the 1991 Gulf War, and was deployed to East Timor in response to incidents in 1999 and 2006. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Crewmembers of the auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel HMAS Success (OR 304) of the Royal Australian Navy check moorings after their ship docked alongside the replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200), a support ship of the United State Navy. The Australian Navy arrived in the Subic Bay Freeport Thursday morning (Apr. 12) for a four-day goodwill visit. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Rail to enhance Subic port’s attraction

Subic port is increasingly becoming an important trade center pushed by and its attraction will be enhanced with government’s plan to build a P57-billion railway connecting the Freeport with Clark.

In a report, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said exports going out of Subic port rose 38 percent to $2.3 billion in 2017 from $1.7 billion in 2016.

Imports that passed through the port similarly rose 11 percent to $1.77 billion from $1.6 billion in 2016.

The report shows containerized cargo volume jumped 13 percent to 140,938 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from 124,707 TEUs in 2016.

In contrast, non-containerized cargo volume fell 6 percent to 6.6 million metric tons from 7 mmt in 2016.

Ship calls improved in the international front, outstripping domestic calls.

Foreign ship calls stood at 1,526, up 12 percent from 1,365 in 2016. Domestic ship calls however declined 27 percent to 1,252 from 1,704 in 2016.

As a result of these activities, port revenues in Subic in 2017 rose 6 percent to P1.21 billion from P1.14 billion in 2016.

Government is planning to build a railway connecting Subic with Clark airport, initially as a cargo and eventually as a passenger service.

Joshua Bingcang, vice president for business development and operations of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said a new alignment would be set up between Subic and Clark passing through Dinalupihan in Bataan and Floridablanca, Porac and Angeles City in Pampanga.

Bingcang said the establishment of the cargo rail will incentivize business to shift from Manila and decongest public roads.

He said hauling goods via rail could be cheaper by 25 to 50 percent than by land.

“This system will further bring down cost of movement of goods, an alternative to truckers especially those using Gapan-Olongapo road and the Subic-Clark Tarlac expressway,” said Bingcang.

The project, awaiting approval of the National Economic and Development Authority board, is one of the projects under official development assistance from the government of China.

Bingcang said the BCDA hopes to finalize the loan support this year and start construction next year.

Construction could take three years.

Subic-Clark railway is part of the Greater Luzon Railway System being planned by government. Malaya Business Insight)

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/rail-enhance-subic-port%E2%80%99s-attraction

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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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Subic Bay International Triathlon fires off April 21

The 3-in-1 2018 NTT Asia Cup Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) will unfold at the Acea in Subic Bay on April 21 and 22.

As an Asian Cup Series 2018 event under the supervision of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and Asian Triathlon Confederation, it offers to top local and international elite athletes ITU points for Asian and world rankings and qualification to major international competitions such as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics triathlon event and other international events.

To be held in conjunction with SUBIT sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Arena, New Balance, Philippine Star, Gatorade, Omega Pain Killer Liniment, Standard Insurance, Lighthouse Marina Resort, Century Tuna, Gatorade, Subic Holiday Villas, Travelers Hotel, Acea, Asian Center for Insulation and Solar Sports on the final day is the Subic Bay Southeast Asian Championships envisioned to alternate with the Southeast Asian Games Triathlon.

Serving as the curtain raiser on the first day of action is the local event for youth participants serving as a test race for the Asian Youth Olympic Games qualifier, which will be held on June 17.

Tom Carrasco, president of both the organizing Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and Southeast Asian Games Triathlon Association (SEATA) said, “This year’s staging of SUBIT will be one big celebration.”

“We will not only commemorate the 25th anniversary of SUBIT, by far the country’s longest running triathlon competition, and the partnership of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and TRAP. We will celebrate TRAP’s award bestowed by Philippine Sportswriters Association as the “National Sports Association of the Year 2017”.

“On top of that, SUBIT 2018 serves as the vehicle for the revival of SEATA which was founded in Subic Bay Freeport 10 years ago”, Carrasco stressed.

As of March 28, close to 800 triathletes have registered including 41 elite male competitors and 14 elite female competitors from 20 nations, namely Australia, United States, Portugal, New Zealand, Palestine, Israel, Japan, China, Korea, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Macau, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal and Philippines. (Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/subic-bay-international-triathlon-fires-off-april-21/389772/

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SBMA to open 112 summer-job slots to deserving poor students

A total of 112 deserving poor students stand to benefit from the Summer Hire Program of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) during this summer break, as business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport extended their support to provide employment.

SBMA Chairperson and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said that 15 Subic-registered companies have already joined the program to accommodate students from junior and senior high school, as well as college level, who are scheduled to be deployed in various job assignments starting April.

Eisma added that a total of 112 slots will be given to students who pass the qualification requirements under the program being implemented by the SBMA Labor Department in line with the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) of the Department of Labor and Employment.

“These applicants are poor but deserving students who excel in their classes. And as part of our community engagement, it is our task to guarantee that they will be able to enroll the next school year,” Eisma explained.

“These talented and brilliant students deserve our malasakit,” she added.

She noted that more business locators and investors are now expressing their intention to join the program. “I really hope that more students will be hired,” Eisma said.

SPES was created under Republic Act 7323, a law which aims to help poor but deserving students pursue their education by encouraging their employment during summer and/or Christmas vacations. The law was later amended by RA 9547.

SBMA Labor Department manager Severo Pastor Jr. explained that under the law, summer hires are to be employed from 20 to 50 working days and shall receive regular wages equivalent to those received by regular employees.

“Of this, 60% shall be paid by the employer-company, while the remaining 40% shall be paid by the DOLE through educational vouchers,” Pastor said.

Under the SPES program, the work period accumulated by summer hires may also be counted as their probationary period should they apply for a job in the same company or agency after graduation, and should earn academic credits as may be determined by the appropriate government agencies.

Among the companies participating in the SBMA’s Summer Hire program are fast-food restaurants, gasoline stations, utilities, and manufacturing firms where the students will perform work related to their respective courses. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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