SBMA woos call centers to Subic’s ICT Hub

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is now enticing call centers to locate in this free port, trumpeting its superb facilities for business process outsourcing (BPO) operations.

In an assembly meeting of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) and the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP), SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia expressed optimism that Subic Bay will become the next place to be for information and communication technology (ICT) businesses in the country.

The SBMA official, who was invited by BPAP and CCAP president Benedict Hernandez to present the many opportunities awaiting investors in Subic, also said that while BPO continues to grow as a successful industry in the Philippines today, Subic is preparing to become a new ICT destination.

“BPO is the most vibrant industry in the country today. And Subic is now ready to accommodate you as we gear towards becoming ICT hub,” Garcia said.

He added that Subic has complete ICT facilities “in an environment where you will love to stay.” Proof of this is the 44 BPO locators now in Subic Bay, which altogether employ some 2,400 call center agents, he added.

Garcia also stressed that the Freeport now enjoys three-way (global) connectivity, a link from fiber-optic cable network to satellite transmission system and microwave uplink services needed to set up an international call center.

Most of all, he said that the free port zone at present has a 116-megawatt power plant, supplying the national grid and is working to have a switch for this plant to supply the Freeport to ensure continuous and steady power supply should the grid goes down.

The SBMA chief further added that working in the Subic Freeport is enjoyable as the agency maintains the best security in the country, enforces traffic discipline which eliminates traffic jams, and promotes a clean and friendly environment that is conducive to good health and happy living.

To accommodate more BPO locators, Garcia is offering a former assembly building of computer-maker Wistron Infocomm (Philippines) inside the Gateway Park, an industrial estate managed by the Subic Bay Development and Management Corporation.

The building has plenty of office space in a 10-hectare lot, and is located near the Freeport’s Central Business District, Garcia pointed out.

Garcia also advised the BPO executives that they can source out manpower elsewhere to fill up the seats for their call center projects.

“You offer good jobs in one of the best places in the country, and you will attract people to come with you to Subic,” he said.

Garcia explained that because of the expected influx of thousands of BPO workers in Subic, the SBMA is planning to build a workers’ dormitory, which can accommodate 8,000 workers near the proposed ICT hub.

He added that the proximity of the dormitory to the ICT hub will mean some P4,000 monthly savings on travel expenses of call center agents, thereby making the cost of living in the Subic Bay Freeport about 40 percent cheaper than in Manila.

Meanwhile, Hernandez expressed optimism that Garcia’s vision for an ICT hub in Subic is not far away from realization. He noted that Subic is a beautiful place, which has attracted everyone.

Garcia closed his meeting with BPAP and CCAP members with an invitation to them to visit Subic for a first-hand view of the ICT hub program. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Hanjin breaks ground for P1.2-B housing project for workers

Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd., (HHIC)-Philippines Inc., which operates the world's fourth shipbuilding facility in this free port, marked another milestone in its corporate social responsibility program by breaking ground on Wednesday for a P1.2-billion housing project for its workers.

In a ceremony held at the project site, HHIC President Jin Kyu Ahn said the project will rise on a 30-hectare area in Barangay Nagbunga, Castillejos, Zambales, which the company has bought and donated to the housing project.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) welcomed the project, which aimed to provide shelter for shipyard workers and their families as part of the Agency's commitment to guarantee that workers in the Subic Bay Freeport get the best benefits they could from their employers.

A collaboration among the HHIC, Pag-Ibig Fund and real estate developer Fiesta Communities Inc., the housing project is part of a scheme to ensure that shipyard workers are given the opportunity to own affordable housing packages through the government’s Pag-Ibig Housing Fund, Ahn explained.

“This housing project is part of our mission to promote the welfare of workers by providing them with a dream house within their reach,” Ahn said, adding that workers can avail of the units with monthly amortizations as low as P2,392, making them cheaper by far when compared to units offered by other developers.

He said that shipyard workers with a minimum of one-year continuous work service are qualified to avail of the housing units with no down payment, but with low interest rates.

For the first phase of the project, the developer is expected to begin the construction of 1,000 housing units with three types to choose from: three bedroom units, two-bedroom units and one-bedroom units. The second phase is expected to be finished before the end of 2013.

The Hanjin Village site is about 19 kilometers from the shipyard. It is designed to have all the needed facilities for a model community, such as elementary school, bus terminals for free-shuttle buses, multi-purpose hall, as well as an extension office for the barangay, among others.

“All these features translate to better quality of life for the shipyard employees and their children,” noted Ahn.

To date, HHIC employs nearly 20,000 local employees who either live with relatives in the nearby communities of Olongapo City, Subic, and Castillejos. On the other hand, most of those from the nearby provinces of Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales opt to rent houses or rooms.

In the same occasion, Pag-Ibig vice president Malen Acosta welcomed the start of one of the biggest single housing projects in the country today, which can be considered a showcase of the public-private partnership (PPP) program.

“If there is one government agency that is very much happy today, it is the Pag-Ibig. And with the partnership between the local government of Castillejos, private corporation HHIC and Pag-Ibig, we are very glad to extend financial assistance to the employees of Hanjin and we expect to deliver 300 units by the end of November this year,” Acosta said.

For his part, Castillejos Mayor Jose Dominguez said that the project is a “dream come true” for his town because it will become a catalyst for further economic growth in his municipality.

“Once completed, the 3,000 housing units for 3,000 employees would mean at least 12,000 individuals living in a well-cared community. This will become the start of a bigger Castillejos which I am dreaming of long before,” he said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA lauds BOC’s seizure of P43-M smuggled rice

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) lauded the Bureau of Customs (BOC) following the recent seizure of smuggled rice worth about P43 million at the Port of Subic.

SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia also commended the efforts of both agencies, the BOC and the SBMA, whose joint inspection of 90 units of 40-footer container vans, which supposedly contained construction materials and gypsum boards, led to the discovery of 45,000 bags of rice from Vietnam.

In accordance with a memorandum of agreement between SBMA and BOC, the two agencies decided to conduct a joint inspection since the shipment had been left unclaimed for 30 days and did not have proper documents.

Last July 20, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon led the confiscation of the said shipment consigned to Masagana Import Export, Inc. of Binan, Laguna and Oriental Tradelink Express, Inc., both of which are not registered Subic Freeport locators.

Biazon said that the Bureau’s accomplishments in its fight against smuggling are the results of their enhanced monitoring of all shipment entering the seaports and airports.

The BOC, for their part, thanked the SBMA in providing assistance during the operations.

Meanwhile, Garcia said that the SBMA is looking forward to a closer coordination with the Bureau in successfully curbing illegal smuggling in line with the government’s thrust in fighting corruption. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic stages biggest-ever duathlon event

MANILA - More than 600 duathletes from around Asia are seeing action in the continent’s biggest duathlon event, the Subic Bay Asian Duathlon Championships (ADC) presented by Century Tuna on Nov. 25.

Organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the event highlights top continental honors for run-bike-run competitors at stake with the Elite, Under-23, Junior Elite and Youth (13-15) categories.

ASTC’s Balwant Singh Kler confirmed that the ADC will serve as an official qualifier for the 2013 World Duathlon Championships in Cali, Colombia.

The event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Fitness First, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP) and Gatorade, will take place around the Freeport area with a 10K run, 40K bike and 5K run standard distance course for Elite, U23 and age-group competitors. A sprint distance course of 5K run-20K bike-2.5K run will be set for Junior Elite and Youth participants. The organizers are designing a challenging and exciting course assuring a spectator-friendly configuration.

Expected to join in are world-ranked duathletes from 25 member countries of the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC), including Japan, South Korea, China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

On the local front, Robeno Javier and Mirasol Abad will lead the charge followed by their teammates Nikko Huelgas, Robin Estevez, Carlo Pedregosa and Kim Mangrobang.

The Subic Bay Asian Duathlon Championships (ADC) presented by Century Tuna is the third international multisport event to be hosted by the SBMA this year.

Registration is open. Contacts: TRAP (710-8259, 399-6598, 0916-504-6513, 0915-6394233); Triathlon.org.ph and Facebook. (The Philippine Star)

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Port experts to headline Subic maritime conference

The upcoming Subic Bay Maritime Conference & Exhibit will be headlined by experts in the maritime transportation and logistics industry, who will discuss trends and developments in sea-borne trade.

No less that Susumu Naruse, secretary-general of the International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH), will be among the guest speakers when the conference unfolds here on August 23-24 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

The IAPH, which was founded in 1955 in Los Angeles, has developed into a global alliance of ports, representing some 200 ports in 85 countries today.

It is now a non-profit and non-governmental organization headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with member-ports all together handling well over 60% of the world's sea-borne trade and nearly 80% of the world container traffic.

Naruse’s talk will focus on “Best Practices in International Port Operations”, including the most effective, efficient and productive practices applied by international ports to various aspects of their operations.

Naruse will join a list of local and foreign maritime and trade experts, including Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II, National Economic and Development Authority director general Arsenio Balisacan, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia, and Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) chairman Edgardo Abesamis, who will deliver presentations on topics ranging from Philippine economic prospects to Subic port’s viability as an alternative to Manila.

More than 300 domestic and international investors, shippers, and logistics and supply chain executives are expected to attend the maritime gathering in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Themed “Subic Bay: Asia’s Emerging Logistics and Investments Hub,” the conference is being organized by the SBMA and the SBITC, which operates Subic’s New Container Terminal.

The two-day event will highlight the advantages of investing in the Subic port complex, identify business opportunities in the area, give an update on government infrastructure projects, and pinpoint Subic Bay’s attractions as a transshipment port.

To register and get more details on the conference, please visit www.subicmaritimeconference.com. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

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ArenaBall goes to Subic

SEASON 3 of the ArenaBall Philippines goes out of town on Saturday when the Jaguars tackle the Wolves and the Rebels battle the Bandits in a doubleheader headlining the ABP-SBMA Games at the Remy Field inside the Subic Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, Zambales.

“There is a big American community in Subic, which loves the NFL-style American football that we play so we are bringing our games over there,” said ABL founder and president Dodi Palma in yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch in Manila.

Joining him in the session sponsored by Smart, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Shakey’s, was ABP commissioner Riel Banaria, who, however, pointed out that majority of the players competing in the league are native Pinoys. (Manila Standard Today)

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Market Forces To Dictate Shifting Container Traffic To Batangas, Subic

MANILA – Diverting container traffic to Batangas and Subic Ports to decongest Manila and maximize the two ports should not be mandated on business, and market forces be allowed to decide on this issue.

This was stressed by Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) president George Chua during a recent consultation meeting on the study to decongest Manila and divert container traffic to Subic and Batangas ports.

Earlier, the Export Development Council (EDC) and the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) claimed that one way to unclog the traffic jams in Metro Manila is to divert cargo trucks to Batangas and Subic.

This was supported by the findings of this study conducted by the Transport and Traffic Planners, Inc. (TPPI) engaged by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that Manila Ports are congested.

Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI) vice president Sean Perez stressed that there is no need to transfer cargoes from Manila to Batangas and Subic ports just to maximize the utilization of these ports.

Roberto Aquino, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) acting manager for port operations said that his office has already submitted the one-year 50 percent tariff discount proposal to the Office of the President to entice shippers to use Batangas and Subic ports.

Incentives and discounts in wharfage fees and tariff rates are also available at the Subic Port and yet shipping lines are not coming, said Captain Perfecto Pascual of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Several studies were conducted since 1994 to promote Batangas and Subic Ports. Recently, JICA conducted the Subic Port marketing study to trigger this port utilization by focusing promotions on logistics players in the Northern-Central Luzon areas such as Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pangasinan and Bulacan.

In explaining the results of the study, TPPI said that a 2010 study showed that port traffic for loaded containers reached almost 500,000 TEUs in Manila South Harbor and nearly 1.2 million TEUs in the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

On the other hand, in the same year, port traffic in containerized cargo reached nearly 6.2 million metric tons (MT) in Manila South Harbor and almost 17 million MT in MICT

In contrast during the same period, traffic for loaded containers at Batangas and Subic ports only reached 622 TEUs and 25,000 TEUs, respectively and nearly 9,000 MT and nearly 400,000 MT at Batangas and Subic Ports respectively.

The study further showed that the congestion in Manila ports is due to vehicles going to and from the port. Report from the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) last year showed that 43 percent of these vehicles is comprised of private vehicles, trucks or trailer at 20 percent, jeepneys, ten percent; and two-axle trucks, nine percent.

MICT has six berths, making it the largest port in the country. Meanwhile, South Harbor has only three, Batangas port with two and Subic port with one berth. Berths are support to provide sufficient distance for a ship to maneuver and help the seamless facilitation of the country's growing international trade.

The infrastructure has allowed MICT's annual capacity to grow to 2.5 million TEUs from 1.9 million TEUs, while South Harbor retained its 850,000 TEUs and 300,000 TEUs for Batangas and Subic ports.

To encourage port users to utilize the Batangas and Subic ports, the study team presented lower costs in stevedoring in Batangas and Subic with P4,985 and P1,801 for a 40-foot container, respectively compared with P5,584 for the same load in Manila ports.

Meanwhile, arrastre charges at Batangas and Subic Ports only cost P5,773 and P2,870 for a 40-foot export container compared with P6,077 in Manila ports.

Storage costs are however more costly in Subic Port with P224 for a 40-footer export container compared with P120 in Batangas and Manila ports. A 40-footer import container will cost P895 in Subic and P481 in Batangas and Manila ports. (Edu Lopez, Manila Bulletin)

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2nd Aboitiz Power Tour held in Subic Freeport

Subic Bay once again played host to another exciting race as the 2nd Aboitiz Power Tour of Subic concluded here over the weekend.

The two-day biking event organized by Bike King in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) attracted more than 300 cyclists who competed in four race categories.

The biking event, which followed the highly successful Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon on June 24, further reaffirmed Subic’s reputation as a sports venue of choice, said SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia.

“Subic offers sports enthusiasts and event organizers a challenging environment for different sporting activities. You can go biking, trekking, running, swimming, diving, or boating here and you’d have a wide variety of areas where you can conduct the races,” Garcia said.

In last Sunday’s bike races, tricycle driver Jason Banate placed first in the 90-kilometer men’s road race, finishing the course in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 28 seconds.

Banate, who represented the Arts, Business and Science Professionals (ABS) Party list, had to borrow a mountain bike in order to join the race and surprised everyone by beating some of the more experienced racers.

Meanwhile, Ricky Calla of Team Von Dutch placed second in the road race with a time of 2:30:56, while Robert de los Reyes of Team VG & E Trading finished third with 2:30:56.

In the women’s 90-kilometer road race, Nora Senn, an accomplished triathlete and marathoner from Switzerland, emerged victorious by finishing at 2:49:31.

For the men’s team category, Team Von Dutch bagged the top slot, clocking in at 4:20:49.

On the other hand, BGC Multisport team bannered by Monica Torres, Kim Mangrobang and LC Langit, won the female team division with 1:03:13.

The event was also sponsored by Unilab Active Health, Pocari Sweat, TIMEX, 3rd District of Bohol, Crystal Clear Water, Subic Holiday Villas and Orbea Corima. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)
PHOTO:
Members of the Von Dutch squad race to the finish during the two-day Aboitiz Tour of Subic where they ruled the men’s team division.

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SBMA firefighters train LGUs and firms in rescue operations

Firefighters from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) continue to expand their role in community service by providing essential training to search and rescue teams from various local government units (LGUs), as well as business locators in this free port.

On July 2-7, a team composed of 21 men and three women from Valenzuela City, participated in a seminar on Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) here.

Team leader Ma. Alona Ada said the ISSR seminar was crucial to their work, as they strive to be one of the fastest teams to respond for search and rescue operations in Metro Manila.

“The training was exciting as it was exhausting, but we really wanted to take it because as an auxiliary rescue unit in Metro Manila, we would be needing it for our operation and in preparation for calamities like earthquake,” she added.

After training, the team intends to conduct an echo seminar to share their newly-learned techniques with barangay rescue units in Valenzuela City, Ada added.

SBMA fire chief Ranny Magno said that Valenzuela City was the first to join the CSSR training among the LGUs who expressed interest in availing of special search and rescue training here.

He said the team even brought with them their self-contained breathing apparatus, and the SBMA only provided needed materials like stretchers and on-site training paraphernalia for actual demonstrations during the course.

Magno added that as the Philippines entered July, which is designated as Disaster Preparedness Month, the SBMA firefighting and rescue team recently completed a seminar on Hazardous Material Awareness (HAZMAT) with certified HAZMAT (fully encapsulated Level A Gas Suits) responder and instructor Nathan Russel.

Russel, who had served as firefighter in Australia for six years, agreed to conduct the seminar at no cost to the SBMA.

Magno said the SBMA intends to make HAZMAT awareness training a free port-wide project, and that his team has already started making a list and collecting samples of chemicals used by companies in the Subic Bay Freeport, to easily identify those present in various areas here.

Members of the SBMA Law Enforcement Department and the SBMA Public Health and Safety Department will also undergo HAZMAT seminars on July 30-31, as they are also likely to be exposed to various kinds of chemicals when responding to incidents and catastrophic occurrences.

The HAZMAT seminar will also be conducted among fire brigades at both the Taiwanese-owned Subic Bay Gateway Park and the Japanese-owned Subic Techno Park.

Magno added that although the SBMA Fire Department does not have enough equipment and special suits required in attending chemical-related incidents, “at least our men are equipped with all the safety precautions and knowledge that they would need in handling such incidents.”

Magno also said that he looks forward to having local rescue teams as partners in rescue operations and in making use of the skills they have learned together in the Subic Bay Freeport. (ILC/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Members of the Valenzuela City search and rescue team participate in a training on Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) at the Subic Bay Freeport.

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TESDA ink MOA with Central Luzon-based Freeport Zones

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Joel Villanueva on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with heads of Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for an active partnership toward the promotion of the agency’s various programs to locators in these Freeport Zones.

The MOA covers collaboration in job-skills matching, policy consultation, conduct of industry studies, assessment and certification of middle-level workers and implementation of the Dual Training System (DTS).

“TESDA is the college of jobs. We address unemployment and skills mismatch. We had been the refuge of companies who are in search of workers that fits their standards,” Villanueva said.

“The MOA signings are a huge step towards our agency’s goal to further develop meaningful collaborations with the industries thru relevant technical education and skills development programs and services in order to produce a pool of world-class middle-level workforce. With this, we will know extensively the skills requirements of companies in Central Luzon which in turn will lead to the economic boost of the region” he added.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto Garcia disclosed “the MOA signing is timely as the Philippines is now on the threshold of an economic takeoff thanks to the good governance program of President Aquino which has attracted investors. In Subic alone, we will need some 15,000 skilled workers in the next two years. Among the careers will be offering include plumbers, machine operators, carpenters and welders. We are hoping the DTS will be helpful in finding the people to fill these jobs.”

For Clark’s part, CDC Chairman and Officer-In-Charge Eduardo Oban said “this enhanced partnership with TESDA would allow us to attract more local and foreign firms to locate in our Freeport as they are given the assurance that the Filipino workers they would hire are competent and armed with positive work values that make them the best assets of any company.”

Meanwhile, AFAB Chairman and Administrator Deogracias Custodio noted, “the grand MOA signing signals how working together can help us realize our common goals toward meeting challenges of a changed global business environment. Globalization requires our workers to be more competitive and businesses now see the vast advantages of collaborations and I commend TESDA for initiating this move.”

An adaptation from the German model, DTS is a modality that combines theoretical and practical training as learning takes place in two venues: the school or training center and the company or workshop.

In DTS, the school and workplace share the responsibility of providing trainees with well-coordinated learning experiences and opportunities.

This close cooperation between the school and the company ensures that the trainees are fully equipped with employable skills, work knowledge, and attitudes at the end of the training.

On-the-job training in the workplace complements the general and occupation-related theoretical instruction provided by the school.

Trainees under the DTS spend at least 40 percent of the training/learning time in school and 60 percent for practical training in the company.

Coinciding with the occasion was the signing of around 70 companies and 30 public and private technical-vocational institutions across the region of their respective accord for the delivery of the DTS. (WLB/CLJD-PIA3)

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Aboitiz Power Tour draws huge field

Close to 300 cyclists and over 30 cycling clubs from around the country will slug it out for top honors in the second Aboitiz Power Tour of Subic at the Subic Bay Freeport this weekend.

Organized by Bike King in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department and presented by Aboitiz Power, the event features three different stages of cycling challenges that will take participants around the Freeport and as far as Bataan. Stage 1 (40km time trial) and stage 2 (45-minute + 2 laps criterium) will both be held tomorrow.

For the second day of the event sponsored by Aboitiz Power, Unilab Active Health, Pocari Sweat, Timex, the 3rd District of Bohol, Crystal Clear Water, Subic Holiday Villas, Orbea, Corima and Bike King, the 90km Stage 3 will fire off at 6 a.m.

The field includes members of PLDT-Bike King, Aboitiz Power, Fitness First, Von Dutch and Franzia.

The awards rites will be held at Subic Holiday Villas with medals, trophies and gift items to be given to winners in various categories.

For details, contact Bike King at 856-3362 or email raulm4@yahoo.com or visit Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BikeKingPhil. (The Philippine Star)

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PLDT, unit sign Subic telecom deals

TELECOM giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and subsidiary SubicTel firmed up agreements with 12 Subic merchants to provide the latter with wireless fidelity (WiFi) service.

The Subic establishments that signed the WiFi zone partnership agreement are Aristocrat Restaurant, All Hands Beach Resort, Bayfront Hotel, Eastern Gasoline Station, Meat Plus Restaurant, Networx Jetsports, Royal Duty Free Shop, Subic Bay Yacht Club, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Zoobic Safari, Pier One Bar and Grill, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

PLDT said with these agreements the number of establishments currently powered by its WiFi zones in the Subic Bay Freeport area have increased to 125.

“Subic is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the country and we are happy to provide WiFi service which enables tourists and residents to connect to the Internet that gives them access to various travel and news sites, as well as social networks like Facebook and Twitter where they share photos and videos of their travels with friends and family,” said PLDT Home wired data head Gary Dujali.

PLDT Home data acquisition senior manager Ma. Myla Margarita C. Villanueva said the WiFi zone powered by PLDT is a value-added service that offers a dedicated line with speed of up to 100 megabytes per second to partner-establishments.

Villanueva explained that one deciding factor for a customer to go to a restaurant, hotel,or any establishment, is to check whether it’s a WiFi zone area. “When you’re at home, you have the PLDT myDSL connection, when you go out, you also want to be connected and the WiFi zone makes this possible.”

PLDT representatives provide a WiFi identification (ID) number to customers which can be obtained by registering on the PLDT WiFi zone website.

Customers can use the ID number anywhere in the 3,500 WiFi hotspots nationwide.WiFi zones are equipped with robust, fixed-line infrastructure by PLDT so owners of establishments no longer need to invest on the infrastructure.

SubicTel president Dennis G. Magbatoc said “We are the only telco that is investing on this offering. We ourselves are putting up the WiFi zone infrastructure not just in Metro Manila but also in key cities like Subic and Clark. We are continuously enhancing this service to ensure that a stable, premium WiFi connection is delivered to our subscribers.”(Lenie Lectura, Business Mirror)

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Hospital ship USNS Mercy docks in Subic Bay

The US naval ship Mercy (T-AH-19), a floating hospital on a four-month Asian tour, docked on Monday at the Alava Pier here for a six-day humanitarian mission, as well as rest and relaxation for its crew.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila said that USNS Mercy is in Subic Bay as part of the Philippine leg of Pacific Partnership 2012, a U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance program held annually.

The Pacific Partnership program brings together U.S. military personnel, host and partner nations, non-government organizations and international agencies to build stronger relationships and develop disaster response capabilities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

US Navy Capt. James Morgan, mission commanding officer of Pacific Partnership 2012, clarified that the arrival of USNS Mercy in the Philippines does not have anything to do with the issues on Panatag Shoal in the Western Philippine Sea.

“It’s a scheduled mission. We’ve been planning this Pacific Partnership 2012 for over a year now and it has been in docket for a long time at the invitations of the government of the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia,” Morgan said.

Before going to Subic, USNS Mercy also conducted humanitarian and civic action missions in Northern and Western Samar, including the towns of San Isidro and Calbayog and the city of Catbalogan.

Meanwhile, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia welcomed the arrival of USNS Mercy here, saying the agency would like to help in missions such as this in any way it can.

He said the presence of USNS Mercy in Subic for both humanitarian and civic activities “will surely benefit the residents in the surrounding communities of the Freeport.”

“We are very grateful that Subic is playing a major role as host port for the hospital ship USNS Mercy for its humanitarian and medical mission,” he added.

Meanwhile, US Navy officers noted that Subic Bay is one of the best ports as far as logistics and relaxation are concerned.

“I think everybody has relaxation on their mind, and it is much needed. We’ve been working very hard and rigorously practically every day for the last month,” said US Navy Capt. Timothy Hinman, the commanding officer of the medical treatment facility for the USNS Mercy.

The hospital ship has a 1,000-bed capacity and is ready to respond to natural disasters or other contingencies in times of conflict. “This means anytime that we would receive a call,” Hinman added.

USNS Mercy has about 850 medical personnel and a total complement of 1,200 people who work as support staff in medical, engineering, construction and maintenance, and other related activities. (RAV/MPD-SBMA))

PHOTO:
Crew members of the hospital ship USNS Mercy man the rail as the ship sails into Subic Bay on Monday afternoon for a five-day replenishing of supplies and rest and recreation for its crew. The ship is participating in a medical and humanitarian mission in the Asia-Pacific region.

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DENR conducts public consultation on Subic coal plant project

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted a public consultation on the coal-fired power plant project proposed by Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy) last June 29 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

More than 5,000 participants composed of residents of Olongapo City and Subic, Zambales, as well as representatives from various stakeholder groups in the Subic Bay Freeport area, attended the consultation.

Region III DENR Director Lormelyn Claudio facilitated the consultation while David Evangelista, project development analyst from RP Energy, fielded questions from the public.

Also present were Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain II and several councilors from Olongapo and Subic town.

Among the issues raised in the forum was the project’s lack of social acceptability from communities in and around the Subic Bay Freeport, where the project is to be located.

Ebdane pointed out that DENR’s failure to conduct public consultation prior to the issuance of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the proposed 600-megawatt coal plant had clouded the project, even when it was designed to avert power crisis and help develop the local economy.

He also expressed concern on the lack of information about the safety and viability of the proposed plant, and urged the proponents to conduct further public consultations.

“Kung ano ‘yung totoo, ‘yun ang ipakita n’yo at nang makapag desisyon ang mga mamayan (Tell the truth, so that the people can decide),” Ebdane told RP Energy officials.

Another concern raised by forum participants was the availability of alternative employment opportunities for fisher folk and other residents whose livelihood may be affected by the project.

To this, Evangelista said that about 3,200 jobs will be created during the five years that the plant will be constructed, as well as about 300 positions when the plant starts operation. Residents of Subic town will be given priority for employment, he added.

When asked about the effects of the plant to the environment, Evangelista replied that the plant has a built-in pollution-control technology which will minimize the formation of pollutants produced by burning coal. The amount of emission that will be produced will also meet Philippine environmental standards.

Evangelista also said that a 24-hour Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) will be in place and this will provide 24/7 emission data that will be made available to the public.

He also explained that power sources like wind, water and hydrothermal are very limited and expensive, while coal is cheap and can generate power for sustained periods of time.

When asked about the source of the coal that will be used for the plant, Evangelista said that the fuel supply will be imported from Australia and Indonesia and will be shipped to Subic.

For her part, Claudio said that the public consultation has been successful because of the huge attendance generated and the actual participation of residents and stakeholders in the open forum.

She also noted that RP Energy had already conducted an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign in the barangays near the affected area and had gathered favorable response from the people in these areas. (ICL/MPD-SBMA)


PHOTO:
Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (right) discusses residents’ concerns on the proposed Subic coal-fired thermal power plant with DENR Region III director Lormelyn Claudio and Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II during a break in the public consultation held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

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Taiwanese trade mission visits Subic Bay Freeport

Officials representing some of the biggest manufacturing companies in Taiwan visited this free-port zone on Tuesday in a trade and investment mission that scouted for possible business projects here.

The delegates were led by Terry Lee, director-general of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, who said the mission was composed of the representatives of 66 of the biggest manufacturers in Taiwan today.

Officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Subic Bay Development and Management Center (SBDMC), which operates the Taiwanese-controlled industrial hub Subic Gateway Park here, welcomed the delegates and briefed them on business opportunities here.

SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia said in his address to the mission that their visit was very timely, as it is now the perfect time to visit the Philippines for investments.

“As you know, in the first quarter of this year the Philippines has achieved the highest GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate of 6.4 percent, which was second only to China. This kind of growth was previously unheard of in this country,” he said.

Garcia also pointed out that the Subic Bay Freeport is specially attracting more foreign investors, as the Philippines continues being one of the rising economies in Asia.

“I think the Philippines is now on the radar screen of the foreign investors. We have many investors visiting us here in Subic — from China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and the United States. There is so much interest in investing in the Philippines now,” he said.

The SBMA official also expressed optimism that the economic and social ties between the Philippines and Taiwan will continue to prosper further.

“We have a very long historical relationship with Taiwan,” Garcia said. “This park was established in 1998, so we have a long history of good and close economic ties with the Taiwanese and we would like to continue that,” he added.

Also present during the meeting were Jeff Lin, president of SBDMC; Clement Yang, chairman of Universal Joint International Corporation; Deogracias Custodio, chaiman and administrator of the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB); and Ed Zamora, vice president for marketing of the Hermosa Ecozone Development Corporation. (FMD/MPD-SBMA))

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia briefs members of the Taiwanese trade and investment mission on business opportunities at the Subic Bay Freeport. Also in photo areTerry Lee (left), director-general of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Clement Yang, chairman of Universal Joint International Corporation.

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