Triathlon highlights Subic Freeport’s ‘perfect’ eco-tour race course

Challenge Philippines, the latest addition to the 15-country Challenge Family triathlon series, kicked off here early Saturday morning and provided a window to the world of Subic’s unparalleled sports venue.

Along a race course that featured the pristine waters of Ilanin Bay, and the rolling hills and coastal forests that extended to some of the remotest parts of Bataan province, Challenge Philippines again showed why the Subic Bay Freeport is being hailed as the triathlon capital of the Philippines.

“The race course was designed by athletes for athletes,” said Dave Voth, CEO of Endurance Entertainment Asia, which manages the event.

“Arguably, it is one of the most beautiful courses in Asia,” he added.

Among the more difficult parts of the course is the “Killer Bike Route” that takes athletes through seven hills in Bataan. It comprises roughly two-thirds of the race with a 4-kilometer downward glide back to the Camayan Beach Resort in Subic before the 21-kilometer forest run that provides the finale.

Because of the challenging but scenic course, Challenge Philippines attracted some of the world’s top athletes, including four-time Challenge Roth champion Chris McCormack of Australia, Greg and Laura Bennet of Australia, 2013 Phuket Challenge male winner Rasmus Petreus of Denmark, Phuket female winner Melissa Hauschildt of Australia, Czech Republic’s national triathlete star Radka Vodick, up-and-coming triathlete star Till Schramm of Germany, and Olympian cyclist Emma Pouly of the United Kingdom.

Fil-Am Arland Macasieb was the lone Philippine representative in the elite professional category.

Prince Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad al Khalid of the Kingdom of Bahrain, who is also chairman of the Supreme Council of Youth and Sports and president of the Olympic Committee, also joined triathlon event, along with his brother Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

McCormack, who is also known as Macca, said Challenge Philippines will become one of the best events in the 2014 race calendar.

Vodick meanwhile said that he was very delighted by how the course was designed, thanking the organizers “for treating us with unique and completely new course.”

From Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Chairman Roberto Garcia said that Challenge Philippines “will surely push Subic’s status as Triathlon Capital of the Philippines.”

“We have a race course here with features you can’t find elsewhere—pristine waters, shaded roadside tracks, and undisturbed forest trails—all within an area that has no fumes nor traffic distractions and is considered very safe,” Garcia pointed out.

The official added that Subic also has modern amenities for athletes and their families—factors that led the Department of Tourism to recognize the Subic Bay Freeport as one of the “Top Destinations in the Country” and “Premier Convention Capital of Central Luzon.”

Challenge Philippines, which adopted the theme “Challenge Your Self, Race for a Cause,” is the concluding part of an entire weeklong celebration of lifestyle, cultural and community engagements and sports for the entire family celebrating the “Pinoy” spirit. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Challenge Philippines lure royalty, international triathletes to Subic Bay

Winning People’s Hearts: An ecstatic crowd greets His Highness Prince Shaik Nasser bin Hamad of the Kingdom of Bahrain as he negotiates the 21-kilometer run leg of the Challenge Philippines triathlon in Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday morning. The Bahraini royal earlier had committed some $3-million worth of humanitarian projects for survivors of Typhoon Yolanda. The projects include the construction of 500 houses and a vocational center for residents of Tacloban City, as well as a vocational and training center for the youth in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Australian Matt Burton celebrates after crossing the finish line and emerging as champion of the first Challenge Philippines Triathlon held on Saturday at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Read More

Bahrain, Philippines sign agreement for dev’t projects for Yolanda survivors

The Kingdom of Bahrain has signed an agreement with the Philippines to carry out two development projects for the country, including a shelter program for victims of Typhoon Yolanda, which devastated Eastern Visayas in November last year.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Mustafa Al Sayed, secretary-general of Bahrain’s Royal Charity Organization, and Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, at The Lighthouse Marina Resort here on Friday.

The signing was witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Vice President Jejomar Binay, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Roberto V. Garcia.

The development projects include the construction of 500 houses in a complex in Tacloban City and two vocational centers for the youth—one in Tacloban and another in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Sayed said the projects were the kingdom’s “additional response” to the Yolanda calamity, which nearly wiped out Tacloban City and other neighboring areas in Southern Philippines.

Sayed also said that it was the wish of Sheikh Nasser to look for ways to make his visit to the country worthwhile. The Sheikh was in Subic to participate in the Challenge Philippines triathlon held last Saturday.

“The first thing that came to his mind was not to win the triathlon. His mind was on how to link this event with something of charity, of humanitarian work and something that would encourage the youth to get the same value of winning the social responsibility challenges, as much as you win the sporting challenges,” Sayed explained.

“I think this is a fantastic principle and it assured that His Highness is already a winner. He has won the hearts of the people. That’s fantastic,” Sayed added.

Sheikh Nasser said for his part that he wanted to encourage the youth to have a healthy lifestyle by building the vocational centers.

He also said that he finds the Philippines, particularly Subic Bay, a beautiful place.

“I will try to be here more often, and this will definitely not be my last visit,” the Sheikh said.

Meanwhile, Gordon thanked the Royal Charity Organization and the Sheikh, and acknowledged their continuous support for the country’s rehabilitation efforts.

He noted that this was the first time for Bahrain and the Philippines to sign an agreement.

“This is a huge step because it not only alleviates human suffering, but definitely shows the kindness of the Bahraini people who have come here all the way from their country and even brought their prince to be with us here,” he said. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Bahrain Prince in Subic, signs projects with PNRC

His Highness Prince Shaik Nasser bin Hamad of Bahrain (left, standing), Vice President Jejomar Binay (center, standing) and SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, witness the signing of a memorandum of agreement by (left to right) Bahrain Red Crescent Society secretary-general Fawzi Amin, Royal Charity Organization of Bahrain secretary-general Dr. Mustafa Al Sayed, and Philippine National Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon, for two humanitarian projects to be carried out by the Kingdom of Bahrain for the people of the Philippines affected by typhoon Yolanda. The projects include the construction 500 houses and a vocational center for residents of Tacloban City, as well as a vocational and training center in the Subic Bay Freeport.

His Highness Prince Shaik Nasser bin Hamad of Bahrain (left) presents SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia with a gilded memento from the Royal Charity Organization of Bahrain to mark his visit to the Subic Bay Freeport. Looking on are Vice President Jejomar Binay and Philippine National Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon.

Read More

SBMA achieves rare feat in ISO certification leading to banner year

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority attained its ISO 9001:2008 certification with absolutely "zero minor and major non-conformities" on its first audit, a rare feat that no other Philippine government agency has ever achieved.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia said that when the agency began working for its ISO certification, it began paving the way not only for sustained world-class quality management system, but also toward superior financial performance. The agency started working to meet the requirements for an ISO 9001:2008 certificate from AJA Registrars in October 2012.

“Quality management is one of the reasons why 2013 became a banner year for the SBMA,” Garcia revealed.

Garcia said that unknown to the various departments that toiled hard to meet the standards, they were also working on something that would soon yield a record-shattering net income of P1 billion in 2013, the biggest in SBMA’s 21-year history.

“On the surface, we were aiming for quality certification, but deep down in the core of the organization we were building something more significant—a better system, and a culture of excellence that helped us achieve something big,” Garcia added.

“Now, with the quality management system in place and the SBMA reporting a net profit of P1.2 billion last year, more investors are showing interest to invest in Subic,” the SBMA official added.

Meanwhile, SBMA Total Quality Management (TQM) manager John Aquino said that the “zero major non-conformity, zero minor non-conformity” findings by AJA Registrars on its first surveillance audit can be considered a legacy in the history of government offices.

“It is a very rare situation that a government agency could maintain this level of conformance,” said Aquino, who is also an assessor of the Philippine Quality Award, a presidential project to recognize public and private institutions committed to quality and excellence.

Aquino also explained that because the SBMA not only maintained the quality management system but also has shown improvement by resolving one observation recorded during the AJA audit on October 3 2012, AJA recommended that SBMA continue with its ISO certification program until 2016.

The ISO 9001:2008 certification specifies requirements for a quality management system where an organization needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide product that meets customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

It aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

All departments of the SBMA completed the requirements in April 2013 in pursuance of the ISO 9001:2008 certification.

The scope of registration included the Internal Services Group with 10 offices or departments; Maritime, Business and Investment Group with seven offices/departments; Regulatory Group with six offices/departments; and the Chairman and Administrator-CEO Group, which has six offices and departments.

ISO certification and quality management in government institutions were required, respectively, through Executive Order 605 and Administrative Order 161, which were both signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Subic Bay hosts Asian Paratriathlon on April 26

THE Asian Paratriathlon Championships will be hosted at the Subic Bay Freeport on April 26, the first day of the K-Swiss ITU Subic International Triathlon.

This year a new classification system will be implemented in line with the International Triathlon Union’s standards for paratriathlon. Effectively, all athletes are required to undergo classification at a designated ITU competition. The ITU will send an official to conduct this classification.

Prior to the event sponsored by K-Swiss, Century Tuna, Asian Center for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, SPEEDO, Standard Insurance, David’s Salon, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department and Green Triathlon, the ITU will also conduct a technical course for paratriathlon officials on Apr 24.

Last year, Filipinos debuted at the paratriathlon event and acquitted themselves very well. Andy Avellana and Arnel Aba finished 1 & 2 in the the Tri- 2 (one /no leg, no prosthesis) and Sixto Ducay got the silver in the Tri-4 category (no/one arm). They will come back this year to improve on these performances.

Paratriathlon has been accepted for inclusion for the IPC’s 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Manila Standard Today)

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/02/17/subic-bay-hosts-asian-paratriathlon-on-april-26/

Read More

SBMA beefs up law enforcement capacity to enhance Subic’s investment climate

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is further strengthening its law enforcement capacity to make the Subic Bay Freeport more attractive to investors and more conducive to trade and tourism.

Towards this end, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the agency has acquired eight new service vehicles that will be used for patrol operations by the SBMA Law Enforcement Department. One of these will be used for emergency response by the SBMA Fire Department, as well.

The vehicles are black, four-wheel drive manual versions of the locally-available Ford Ranger pick-up trucks that can tow and carry huge loads, yet are easy to drive.

The trucks cost a total of P9.8 million and were acquired through the agency-to-agency procurement service of the Department of Budget and Management.

“It’s part of our desire to level up security and safety in the Subic Bay Freeport,” Garcia said of the procurement. “We need reliable service vehicles so that we can respond to security and emergency calls faster and safer.”

Garcia said the procurement of the patrol vehicles is just the start of the SBMA’s capital expenditure program this year, after the agency made an outstanding financial performance in 2013 with a recorded all-time high net profit of P1 billion.

“More good things are coming our way, because we now have the means to have them,” he said.

Garcia added that the SBMA also intends to buy new dump trucks, undertake road repairs and improve infrastructure as part of its investment promotion program.

During the symbolic presentation of the vehicles on Monday, Garcia told SBMA employees that seven units of the new pickup trucks will be assigned to law enforcers and one to the Fire Department as a reward for winning the Gawad Kalasag Award in October 2013.

The new vehicles “will surely augment our capability to respond to emergencies,” Garcia added.

The SBMA head also congratulated the SBMA Procurement and Property Management Department (PPMD) for successfully going through a complicated process to acquire the new vehicles.

According to PPMD manager Marco Estabillo, the agency-to-agency mode of procurement was made possible through R.A. 9184, which provides for the modernization, standardization and regulation of the procurement activities of the government.

Estabillo added that for this particular procurement, the SBMA saved P2.2 million from the approved budget allocation of P12 million.

He also disclosed that some P224 million is yet to be spent for 70 more units of service vehicles for 2014, which include some watercraft and fire trucks.

According to PPMD records, prior to this procurement, the last time the SBMA procured vehicles was in 2008 when it bought five new service vehicles worth P10.2 million. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

Photo:
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia inspects newly-delivered patrol vehicles for the SBMA Law Enforcement Department, as he announces the agency’s thrust to enhance security and safety in the Subic Bay Freeport to enhance investment generation.

Read More

Parade of classic cars in Subic Bay

[1] A vintage 1938 MG TA Tourer wows tourists along the Waterfront Road at the Subic Bay Freeport during a parade of classic cars held as part of the Asia Pacific Drive Tourism Conference.

[2] Miss Tourism International Angeli Dione Gomez waves while passing by the historic Spanish Gate landmark in the Subic Bay Freeport during a parade of classic cars held as part of the Asia Pacific Drive Tourism Conference.


 (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

DILG awards Olongapo with Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) awarded the city of Olongapo the Silver Grade Seal of Good Housekeeping for its exemplary standards of front line service, procurement and audit system.

No less than DILG Secretary Mar Roxas congratulated the city of Olongapo headed by Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino for the city’s effort in its full disclosure policy which encourages local government units to conform with transparency to minimize, prevent and completely rid out graft and corruption.

Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino said that the Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping only proves that the city is serious with it transparency and good governance stance.

“It’s very hard to get that award, it takes time, requirements and scrutiny by DILG, NGO and other groups and that is why I am very happy that we (Olongapo) got it.” Paulino said.

DILG Olongapo OIC City Director Amada Dumagat said that along with the citation, the city will have access to grassroots participatory budget process that would provide a P15million budget cap to LGU’s for priority poverty reduction projects and special local road fund.

She added that the city scaled up from being a bronze awardee to silver and that the next step for the city of Olongapo would be the Seal of Good Local Governance, which is the highest grade any city, municipality or Provincial government would receive.

The Seal of Good Local Governance covers a wider range of LGU performance such as good financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, social protection for the basic sector, business friendly and competitiveness, environmental compliance and law and order and public safety.

The DILG devised the Seal of Good House Keeping program to “aggressively scale up interventions to elevate the practice of governance that values transparency, accountability, participation, and performance.” (Olongapo City PAO)

Read More

SBMA posts new profit record of P1.2-billion

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has shattered its 2012 net profit record of P824 million when based on preliminary reports, it posted last year a net profit of P1.2 billion, the agency’s highest in its entire 21-year history. SBMA 2013 gross revenues of P2.09 billion and EBITDA of P992 million likewise posted the highest levels in the Agency's history.

Comparatively, the gross revenue of P2.1 billion that the agency generated in 2013 was 26.6 percent higher than the gross revenue of P1.6 billion in 2012. The growth in revenue came mainly from Seaport operations of P588 million an increase of 46% over 2013 and Regulatory operations of PP404 million which increased by a hefty 82% over the previous year.

While net income was buoyed by favorable exchange rates, Chairman Roberto Garcia noted that SBMA’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased significantly by 52.2 percent from P652 million in 2012 to P992 million in 2013. This is the true test of the Agency's effective strategic initiatives and the efficiency in the execution of such initiatives.

“This has made 2013 another banner year in succession for SBMA, and we are pleased to report that our financial performance continues to improve substantially while investments also significantly exceeded the 2012 level,” Garcia said. Approved investments in 2012 of P3 billion spurted to P24.7 billion in 2013 or an increase of 723%. This will provide over 10,000 jobs over the next few years as these projects get implemented.

Through the continuing austerity program and effective cost control measures, the Agency was also able to minimize the rise in operating expenses to 10%, thereby increasing its net income substantially.

To cap off 2013, SBMA was able to secure final approval of its USD27 million loan refinancing package. Garcia said that this will strengthen SBMA's balance sheet and will allow the Agency to invest in much needed capital expenditures to improve security and vital Freeport infrastructure. To this end, SBMA has programmed P617 million in capital spending for 2014.

Garcia is set to deliver the his State of the Freeport Address (SOFA) before the Freeport community and the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce Inc. (SBFCCI) on February 27 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC). (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Country’s first Road Safety Park to rise in Subic Freeport

Well-known for enforced traffic rules and road discipline and safety, this premier free port will soon be the home of the country’s first Road Safety Park.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., assisted by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia and Federation Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt, broke ground on Wednesday the construction of the park at the former US naval magazine complex here.

The park groundbreaking was part of the five-day Asia Pacific Drive Tourism Conference that opened at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on January 29.

Jimenez said the park project was “one of the most important part of the Drive Tourism conference in Subic.”

“Drive tourism” refers to tourists taking leisure trips to destinations in their own or rented vehicles. It is now a rapidly growing sector of the tourism market in the Philippines and abroad.

Jimenez described the park as a miniature community complete with established traffic rules such as traffic signs and pavement markings. It will also have buildings like fast-food restaurants, bank, supermarket, library and shops.

The park’s mission is to inculcate road safety values among children and to improve their knowledge, skills and behavior as road users.

“Safety is part of the sustainability that will make driving a most pleasurable part of going around the Philippines. When we are all safety-conscious, we will all feel the pleasure of the driving,” Jimenez also said.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, meanwhile, welcomed the construction of the Road Safety Park here, saying there is no other place in the Philippines where every motorist observes traffic signs and stops at the corner of the road even there is no traffic enforcer in the area to flag him.

“When in Subic, local motorists learn the way of road courtesy and follow traffic rules. That is why, Subic is the ideal place for the Road Safety Park where people will learn more about road safety,” Garcia added.

With the theme “Saving Lives, Saving Costs, Saving the Planet,” the Asia Pacific Drive Tourism Conference features discussions and presentations on the latest innovations in the automobile industry, road safety, mobility, motorsports, as well as travel and tourism from both local and international specialists.

The conference was organized by the Automobile Associa­tion of the Philippines (AAP), the country's largest auto club with over 50,000 members, the Department of Tourism, and the SBMA. (RAV/FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (left) and Jean Todt, president of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, lower a time capsule during the groundbreaking ceremony of the AAP Children’s Road Safety Park at the Subic Bay Freeport. Looking on are: Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, International School of Sustainable Tourism president Mina Gabor, and other delegates to the ongoing Asia-Pacific Drive Tourism Conference at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Read More

SBMA to release P81.3-M LGU share for 2nd sem 2013

Staying true to its commitment to “spur development” in neighboring areas, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will be releasing a total of P81.3 million in revenue shares to local government units (LGUs) in communities adjacent to and affected by the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the funds will be made available starting the first week of February.

The total amount to be released consists of P73.82 million, which is the net amount due for the current period, and P7.48 million, which serves as refund of the 10 percent retention withheld in the second semester of 2011.

The LGU shares to be released are part of the five percent corporate taxes paid by Subic Bay Freeport-registered enterprises from July to December 2013. Two percent of this is being paid directly to the SBMA treasury, while the other three percent is remitted to the national treasury through the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The direct payment scheme was implemented by the SBMA starting August 2010 to ensure the prompt release of LGU shares.

In the scheduled release, Olongapo City will receive the biggest share of P19.76 million, while Subic, Zambales will get P12.06 million; Dinalupihan, Bataan, P10.2 million; San Marcelino, Zambales, P9.84 million; Hermosa, Bataan, P8.3 million; San Antonio, Zambales, P7.17 million; Morong, Bataan, P7.03 million; and Castillejos, Zambales, P6.94 million.

The LGU shares, Garcia said, are intended to support developments projects in the recipient communities, specifically for health, education, peace and order, and livelihood generation programs.

The LGU share is determined according to the following criteria: 50 percent population, 25 percent land area, and 25 equal sharing.

Garcia said the SBMA is intent on helping neighbor LGUs attain a faster pace of development by providing regular and timely assistance.

“The SBMA continues to implement an intense marketing strategy to attract new investments, because aside from the jobs it will create for the residents, it will also generate revenue shares for the local government units,” Garcia explained.

Garcia also said that the SBMA is now eyeing to attract investors to the San Antonio Economic Development Area in Zambales. This is after the San Antonio municipal government converted a 10,000-hectare area in the municipality for development into an additional secured area of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA welcomes new board member

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) board of directors last Friday welcomed its newest member, Cynthia Co Paulino, as Olongapo City representative.

SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia introduced Paulino to the rest of the board members during the 256th regular meeting of the SBMA’s policy-making body.

Garcia said that with Paulino in the SBMA board, both the Subic Bay Freeport and its next-door neighbor Olongapo will benefit from closer coordination between the SBMA and the city government, especially in undertaking joint projects for the mutual benefit of the Subic Bay community and the city.

“I believe things will work out better for the two agencies now. We welcome this development, and we look forward to a successful team-up between the SBMA and Olongapo City,” Garcia said.

In October last year, Garcia and Olongapo City mayor Rolen Paulino discussed matters such as river clean-up, the night market, job fair and the perimeter fence that concern the local community.

Garcia added that with an Olongapo representative in the board, local concerns will be addressed immediately.

Paulino, who is the wife of Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino, replaced Anne Marie Gordon, the wife of former Olongapo Mayor James Gordon Jr., who resigned from the SBMA board early last year upon filing her candidacy for the 2013 mayoralty race.

Paulino who holds a degree in accountancy from Columban College in Olongapo is a native of Subic, Zambales. She has four children with Mayor Paulino.

Olongapo, which is a highly urbanized city with a population of more than 221,000 as of 2010, is among the communities adjacent to and affected by the operations of the Subic Bay Freeport.

It receives a little more than 24 percent of the total LGU share given regularly by SBMA to the eight affected communities. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Subic tourism prospects for 2014 ‘very positive’

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is expecting another “record-breaking year” in tourism this year, as it intends to ride on last year’s accomplishments and whip up greater momentum with bigger events and more attractions this year.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto Garcia said in a recent report to tourism stakeholders here that Subic faces a “very positive” period this year because of increasing tourist arrivals brought about by the hosting of more sports events, as well as meetings and conventions, in the free port.

“We have been gaining much ground in tourism in the past three years, and in 2014 we intend to do better as we host several major events here in Subic,” Garcia said.

“We have the product—the Subic Bay Freeport, and we just need to get it out there so that we can maintain, if not surpass, the big numbers we attained in 2013,” he added.

According to figures released by the SBMA last week, there was a 20-percent increase in sports-oriented events staged in the Subic Bay Freeport in 2013.

These major events included the Subic Bay to Boracay Race on February 16, the Commodore’s Cup Regatta from April 2 to 6, the Asian Triathlon Championship and the TRAP National Triathlon Championship from April 26 to 29, the Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon on June 23, the Safeguard 5i50 Triathlon on October 6 and the Subic Duathlon Open Championships on December 1.

Garcia said the unprecedented 134-percent increase in the number of participants joining sports events here has made Subic Bay “arguably the sports tourism capital of the Philippines.”

He added that Subic also hosted several meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) events in 2013, leading to a 52-percent increase in participants as of September, compared to the level of participation as of September 2012.

“Visitor, tourist and hotel guest arrivals have all increased respectively by 8.3 percent, 0.86 percent and 0.89 percent as of October 2013, as compared to levels as of October 2012,” Garcia also said in his report.

Garcia also said aside from aggressively promoting Subic Bay as a must-see tourist destination, the SBMA had undertaken regular projects to protect and enhance the natural environment of the free port, which is Subic’s core tourism product.

Among the measures SBMA had taken for the environment in 2013 was the full implementation of a “no plastics” policy in January, regular beach and river clean-up projects in coordination with neighbor-communities, and the holding of a water summit to ensure adequate clean water supply in the area.

To provide more momentum to SBMA’s tourism initiative for 2014, the agency had booked major events like the 1st Asia-Pacific Drive Tourism Conference, Auto and Travel Show, which opened here on Tuesday.

Subic will also be the venue of the Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014 scheduled from May 7 to 11, and is eyeing to host the International Table Tennis World Championships this year, Garcia said.

The “Drive Tourism” event, which will last until Sunday, February 2, is a joint project of the Department of Tourism and the Automobile Association Philippines.

The Ad Summit Pilipinas, which is touted to rock the core of the country’s advertising industry, is organized by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines. (Henry Empeno, Business Mirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/economy/26699-subic-tourism-prospects-for-2014-very-positive

Read More

Subic to host ‘Drive Tourism’ conference

Consistent with Subic’s image as a popular drive-in destination for tourists, this free port will be the venue for the Asia-Pacific Drive Tourism Conference, Auto and Travel Show slated on January 29 to February 2 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

The five-day conference will feature discussions and presentations on the latest innovations in the automobile industry, road safety, mobility, motorsports, as well as travel and tourism from both local and international specialists.

Capping the event are the Auto and Travel Show, which will begin on January 31, and the International Kite Festival on February 2.

For this project, the Automobile Association Philippines, the country’s largest auto club with over 50,000 members, and the National Auto Club have teamed up with the Department of Tourism and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Organizers said the event will be graced by Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt and Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr.

Drive tourism, where people take leisure trips in their own vehicles or hired vehicles, is a rapidly growing sector of the tourism market both here and abroad.

The event supports the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 with the objective to save five million lives and prevent 50 million road injuries through the theme, "Saving Lives, Saving Costs, and Saving the Planet."

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the “Drive Tourism” conference will be the first major conference to be held in this free port this year.

Another big event slated this year is the Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014, which will be held on May 7-11. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More