SBMA approves military bases inside Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has approved a resolution allowing the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Navy (PN) to set-up partial military bases inside the Freeport, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia announced on Monday.

PAF is planning to house about 25 fighter jets from South Korea in the Fedex area adjacent to the Subic Bay International Airport while the Philippine Navy is asking for the area encompassing the Alava Pier and the Juliet and Rivera wharfs where two naval cutter will be home ported.

With the ongoing Balikatan exercises between United States and Filipino forces and the newly-approved Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the planned air and naval bases inside the Subic Freeport zone will naturally also be used by American troops.

“We have to stress here that these are Philippine bases not American bases,” Garcia pointed out.

With regards to EDCA, the Garcia said that this is still being worked out. “Materials and supplies pwede siguro dito,” he said.

Garcia said the SBMA board has approved in principle the setting-up of the two bases for the PAF and PN “in the interest of national security.”

“But I have requested that locators be allowed to continue with their operation,” he said.

Two US C-130 planes were spotted at the Subic Bay International Airport while some American sea vessels were seen at the Alava Pier and near the Rivera and Juliet wharfs of the former American naval base.

Garcia said that the airplanes are part of the Balikatan. (Ernie B. Esconde, Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/sbma-approves-military-bases-inside-freeport/94476/

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SBMA revamped after key officials’ ouster

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has reshuffled several of its key managers after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of three agency officials in connection with a flawed port contract.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the SBMA board held a special meeting last Friday and approved the appointment of Joy Alvarado, officer in charge of the SBMA Regulatory Group, as OIC senior deputy administrator (SDA) for the SBMA Business Group; and Marco Estabillo, manager of the SBMA Engineering Department, as OIC SDA for operations and concurrent OIC deputy administrator for public works.

The SBMA board also appointed OIC Deputy Administrator (DA) for Business Reuel John Kabigting as OIC for regulatory; Ronnie Yambao as OIC DA for business development; Anna Joy Quinto as OIC for business accreditation; and Gary Fernandez as OIC for engineering department.

The appointments took effect on Monday.

Garcia said Alvarado replaced Stefani Saño as SDA for business, while Estabillo took over the post of Marcelino Sanqui.

Saño and Sanqui, along with SDA for support services Ramon Agregado, are the only sitting officials among the 18 SBMA officials indicted by the Ombudsman last month for allegedly rigging a joint-venture agreement (JVA) in 2010 for the development, operation and management of the Naval Supply Depot logistics area here and the ports of Boton, Alava, Rivera and Bravo.

Those indicted included former SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga; former Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Armand Arreza; ex-Senior Deputy Administrator Ferdinand Hernandez; ex-Deputy Administrator Ma. Cristina Millan; and ex-Board Members Edralino Cajudo, Antonio Rex Chan, Ricardo Coscolluela, Angelita Cruz, Teodoro del Rosario, Jorge Estanislao, Ma. Angela Garcia, James Lorenzana, Ma. Victoria Pineda, Saño, Jennifer Khonghun-Ting and Eddie Tamondong.

Businessman Reghis Romero and Michael Romero, chairman and chief executive, respectively, of Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. (HCPTI), which got the contract, were also charged as co-respondents.

The Ombudsman said the SBMA officials “displayed manifest partiality and evident bad faith in the performance of their functions,” and said the agency resorted to procedural shortcuts in awarding the contract to HCPTI.

The anti-graft body also noted the SBMA had lowered the cost of the contract to only P763 million to allow HCPTI to post a lower bid security of P15.26 million. However, the JVA originally cost P5.537 billion, which should have required the HCPTI to post a bid security of P100 million.

Garcia said the SBMA, under his helm, did not implement the JVA with HCPTI.

He said that upon taking over as chairman in 2010, he asked around and became wary of the contract upon learning that the National Economic and Development Authority had withdrawn from the project.

“So we didn’t take action [on the JVA]. We simply followed the court order declaring the JVA null and void,” Garcia said.

Pending the resolution of the case against the HCPTI contract, the status quo remains and the SBMA continues to operate all the 14 wharves and piers in the Freeport, Garcia said.

The newly appointed OICs will be serving in a temporary capacity, and without additional pay, until the graft case has been finally resolved, he said. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/top-news/31631-sbma-revamped-after-key-officials-ouster

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Subic celebrates Labor Day with job fair, fun games

Investors and workers in this freeport zone, along with their families, joined hands in the annual celebration of Labor Day here with a labor-recruitment activity and fun games to strengthen goodwill and camaraderie.

“While most of the labor organizations in the country join street protests and rallies, workers in the Subic Bay Freeport take part in what they believe is a more productive way to celebrate this global holiday,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said.

“The workers of Subic are going beyond mere display of flags and streamers during Labor Day. Here, we celebrate by building on the positive, by strengthening the workers and creating more opportunities for them,” Garcia said.

Organized by the SBMA Labor Department in collaboration with the Subic Bay Workers Development Foundation, Inc. and Harbor Point (Ayala Malls), the celebration started as early as 6:00 a.m. with a three-kilometer fun run participated in by company managers, workers and some family members.

After that, a talent competition was held at the Harbor Point Activity Center to see who were the best dancers, singers and muses among workers from various companies.

At the same time, 25 business locators in the Freeport organized a job fair at the Harbor Point Promenade.

SBMA labor manager Severo Pastor Jr. said the Labor Day job fair in Subic was the biggest in Central Luzon as more than 4,000 jobs were offered by the participating firms.

The labor official attributed the significant increase in the number of job openings here to the continuing effort of the SBMA management to attract more investors in the Freeport.

Pastor also lauded the workers in the Subic Bay Freeport, saying that the local workforce had helped make Subic a globally-competitive business center.

He added that quality performance by Subic workers is the result of not only good salary or company prestige, but also how workers feel about their employers or managers, as well as how investors feel about the SBMA and vice versa.

“We are different here in Subic. This is because Freeport workers and their managers choose to relax side by side, and also have friendly competition with other personnel from other companies. This makes for good camaraderie and goodwill, and ultimately good performance and good business,” Pastor said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Young jobseekers, most of them fresh from college, scan company announcements during a Labor Day job fair at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall in the hope of landing a full-time job at the Subic Bay Freeport.

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Worker dies in Subic shipyard accident

SUBIC, Zambales , Philippines– A worker died from burns in the latest accident that occurred at the Hanjin shipyard here, hospital sources said yesterday.

Randy Gacos, 29, a welder of Finback Corp., a subcontractor of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines Inc., suffered severe burns while working Wednesday. He was rushed to the Unihealth-Baypointe Hospital and Medical Center at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone but doctors failed to save him.

Sources said Gacos’ welding hose caught fire and the flames spread over his body.

Data showed Gacos is the 37th worker to have died while working at the shipyard.

Meanwhile, a labor group challenged President Aquino to uphold and protect the rights of the workers at the Hanjin shipyard.

Partidong Manggagawa chairman Renato Magtubo said the death of Gacos would serve as a test for Aquino who once thanked Hanjin for its P24-billion investment in the country.

“The Hanjin shipyard is a graveyard of workers. While capitalists are scrimping on protection for its work force and the government is sleeping on its job of enforcement, workers are dying in the workplace,” Magtubo said.

The group estimated that there are at least 21,000 workers at the shipyard but only a few hundreds are employed directly while the rest were hired through the subcontractors. (Bebot Sison, Sheila Crisostomo, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/05/04/1319113/worker-dies-subic-shipyard-accident

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Subic will not be part of EDCA – defense official

A defense official on Friday denied that Subic Bay, a former United States Naval base, is being eyed as one of the locations American troops can access under the newly signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

“No. This is for the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” said Defense Undersectary Pio Lorenzo Batino, a member of the Philippine negotiating panel on EDCA.

Batino said defense and military officials are currently coordinating with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) so that portions of Subic, a civilian property, can be turned over to the AFP for its use.

“The AFP is requesting for limited portions of Subic so that it can strategically locate Philippine Air Force equipment, Philippine Navy equipment, kailangan natin yan para sa ating concerns sa area na yun,” he said at a press conference in Camp Aquinaldo.

Batino said they are eyeing to open three to five Philippine military camps for the use of American forces under EDCA, but was mum when asked if Clark airfield in Pampanga, also a former US military base, is one of them.

“Right now, the discussions would be ranging from three to five AFP bases,” he said. “That's not the final but that is the starting discussion point.”

EDCA was signed Monday, hours before US President Barack Obama arrived in the Philippines for his first state visit.

The agreement grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, the right to construct facilities, and pre-position equipment, aircraft and vessels.

But the pact rules out permanent basing, as the Philippine Constitution bans foreign military bases in the country unless covered by a treaty. EDCA as an executive agreement has an initial term of 10 years. (Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News)

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/359308/news/nation/subic-will-not-be-part-of-edca-defense-official

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Philippines to offer renewed US military use of Subic

Manila (AFP) - The Philippines said Friday it plans to give the United States access to five military bases under a deal that could see US forces return to their giant former facility at Subic Bay.

An access deal signed last week would allow the US to rotate more aircraft, ships, equipment and troops over the next 10 years at unspecified bases in the territory of the Asian ally strategically facing the South China Sea.

The two countries are now in follow-up talks to select the Filipino bases, said defence undersecretary Pio Batino, the chief Filipino negotiator.

"Right now, the discussions would be ranging from three to five (Filipino military) bases," he told reporters.
"That's not the final, but that is the starting discussion point."

The Philippines is offering Fort Magsaysay, a sprawling army base about 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of Manila that regularly hosts annual large-scale US-Filipino military exercises, Batino said.

He added "limited portions of Subic" would also be offered, but declined to identify the three other bases under consideration.

The Philippines intends to conclude the discussions not later than September 30, Batino added.

The deal for increased US access is part of Philippine efforts to boost its weak military capabilities at a time of deep tensions with China over competing claims to parts of the South China Sea.

China claims most of the sea, even waters close to the Philippines and other countries in the region.

Subic, facing the South China Sea, was the former repair yard of the Japan-based US Pacific fleet.

American forces vacated it in 1992, along with nearby Clark Air Base, after the Philippine Senate refused to extend a bases treaty, ending nearly a century of major US military presence.

It is now a civilian free port, but maintains a US-era military runway and a deep harbour that is still used by American warships stopping over for military exercises or for regular provisioning.

Bound by a mutual defence pact, the US and the Philippines engage in regular war games that see thousands of US troops and state-of-the-art American military hardware brought to the Philippines.

The Philippines signed the bases access deal last week, hours ahead of a state visit to Manila by American President Barack Obama.

The deal also allows the US to build structures inside the bases for use by its forces, as well as to store supplies and equipment. (AFP News)

https://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippines-offer-renewed-us-military-subic-131859141.html

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Quality supervisor is SBMA Employee of the Year

A quality management supervisor responsible in initiating quality management systems in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has been named SBMA Employee of the Year for 2013 in a ceremony held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Juan C. Aquino, Jr., officer in charge of the agency’s Total Quality Management office and previously named as Employee of the Year for the Internal Services Group, bested five other finalists in the annual search for the agency’s outstanding employees.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia congratulated the finalists and said they have the admiration of their peers and the recognition from the whole agency.

Aquino, who has been with the SBMA since 2000, helped the agency achieve the ISO 9001:2008 certification, the international standard for quality management systems. He also set up the “Voice of the Customer” system, which allows customers to give feedback, thus making it possible for the SBMA to further improve customer service.

The other five finalists were shipping operations specialist Florence Basobas, investment analyst Marie Elaine Gonzales, utility worker Renato Ching, heavy equipment operator Nestor Manuel, and Ecology Center clerk Febie dela Cerna. They were also named Employees of the Year for their respective strategic business units.

Basobas, a licensed public accountant who represented the Aviation and Maritime Operations Group, was responsible in auditing liquidation reports of companies engaged in importation inside the Freeport.

Gonzales, who represented the Business and Investment Group, was nominated for her work in pulling in investments worth US$18 million for the SBMA. She was also responsible for handling investor concerns within the Freeport.

Ching of the Chairman and Administrator’s Group is currently designated as driver at the Media Production Department. He was recognized for doing tasks outside his job description, such as providing assistance during production work, and serving as alternate videographer and photographer for the department.

Manuel represented the Public Services Group and was responsible in implementing a system to make garbage collection inside the Freeport more effective.

Dela Cerna, from the Regulatory Group, served as clerk for the Ecology Center and provided assistance during project implementation done by her department.

During the awarding ceremony, Chairman Garcia also took the opportunity to recognize the contribution of the employees in achieving SBMA’s record-breaking income last year.

He proudly said that because of the employee’s collective efforts, the SBMA is now recognized as one of the best government agencies in the country.

“This brings back the pride in our work, because it is important that you take pride in your work, regardless of your position, especially if you are working in a company worth working for,” he said.

Garcia also assured the employees that the SBMA has a bright future ahead despite the challenges the agency faces, as the management is doing everything it can to improve its employees’ working conditions.

“The prospects for SBMA are exceedingly bright, and I promise you we will take advantage of these opportunities and make SBMA a much better place in the years to come,” he said.

The SBMA Employee of the Year Awards is a project of the SBMA Human Resources Management Department to recognize and reward exemplary services rendered by employees, in line with the Civil Service Commission’s PRAISE program. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)


PHOTO:
Quality supervisor Juan C. Aquino, Jr. receives his award as SBMA Employee of the Year from SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia during the awarding ceremonies held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

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Subic supports PH-US security agreement

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has expressed its support to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that would allow the increased presence of American troops in the country.

In a press briefing held here on Monday, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia told reporters that the Subic agency managing the former US military base is in favor of the new agreement as this would strengthen national security.

Garcia, however, stressed that although there are no details coming from Malacanang as yet, “clearly, no US bases will be put up in Subic.”

The pact merely allows increased presence of US military troops, ships and planes on rotation basis, Garcia added.

The briefing was held while US Pres. Barrack Obama and Pres. Benigno Aquino III met in Malacanang on Monday. The EDCA was signed by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

Obama arrived in Manila on Monday as part of his Asian tour that sought for the rebalancing of power in the region.

Garcia also noted that even without the EDCA, the Subic Bay Freeport already plays an important role in national security because it is now the home port of frigates BRP Alcaraz (PF-16) and BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15), the newest additions to the Philippine Navy fleet.

One squadron of combat planes of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is also expected to be stationed at the former Federal Express (FedEx) terminal inside the Subic Bay International Airport, Garcia said.

The SBMA official also contended that the new security agreement became necessary because of the series of incidents in the West Philippine Sea, especially in the area of the Scarborough Shoal, where Filipino fishermen were barred by Chinese Coast Guard vessels.

Garcia said, however, that he remains optimistic that the agreement will be a temporary arrangement that will serve the purpose of benefiting most Filipinos.

Meanwhile, some protesters staged an anti-US rally in front of the main gate of the Subic Bay Freeport to denounce the visit of Pres. Obama.

Garcia said the Subic authority let them finish the rally at their own time.

“We allowed them to express their sentiments, as that is their right. We did not disperse them, but we did not allow them to come inside the Freeport, as this is a rally-free area,” Garcia added. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Kim wins gold for PH

ASIAN Games-bound Kim Mangrobang delivered for the Philippines as the diminutive 22-year-old triathlete came from behind to rule the Elite Under-23 female category of the K-Swiss ITU Subic Bay International Triathlon for a gold-medal finish Sunday morning inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

Finishing second in the 1.5K swim leg, Mangrobang initiated a breakaway in the 40K bike stage, but could not sustain it and decided to stay with the lead pack until the final 10K run, where she took the lead right from the start and never looked back en route to a solo finish in 2:19.08.

She was followed by Taipei bets Wei Chen Chien (2:20.54) and Yi Hui Liu (2:21.57).

“Expected ko manalo. Maganda ang training at kundisyon ko para dito. Last year fifth lang ako. I am happy with my improvement,” said Mangrobang, who is eyeing a first-ever stint in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016, but admitted she has to compete in international races to earn points to qualify for the Olympics.

Another Filipino and top-ranked triathlete Nikko Huelgas missed a turn early in the final run leg and lost a few seconds. He paid the price as he settled for second place in the Elite Under-23 Male category 17 seconds behind Taipei’s Pei Yen Hsu (2:00.21). The 22-year-old Huelgas clocked 2 :00.38, followed by another Filipino entry in John Leerams Chicano (2:01.37) in the race also backed by Century Tuna, SBMA, Speedo, Standard Insurance, Gatorade, Davis Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation, and Harbor Point Mall where the race finished. (Manila Standard Today)

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/04/29/kim-wins-gold-for-ph/

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Industries assemble for Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014

Various industries have joined forces to advance the practice of advertising in the country by affirming their support for Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014 on May 7-10, the much-awaited ad and marketing event that is expected to rock the local scene this year.

Aptly themed “Age of Enlightenment,” the summit, which is scheduled from May 7 to 10 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, is expected to draw over 2,000 local and international advertising and marketing practitioners, who are set to gain insights on the ever changing landscape of the local and global creative scene.

From the telecommunications industry, PLDT Home, provider of trusted digital services in the country, sealed a partnership with Summit organizer—the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines (4As Philippines)—to be a major presenter of the event and to supply a powerful fiber broadband that will connect devices for seamless, simultaneous streaming during the convention.

Another major presenter, Smart Communications, Inc., will make mobile connectivity viable at the conference grounds.

“These new partnerships are perfect indications that there is a growing interest and support for our groundbreaking learning event. We are ecstatic to bring positive changes for the industry,” said Ad Summit chair Matec Villanueva.

Media organizations also forged deals with 4As Philippines after signing a memorandum of agreement as major sponsors. These include the Manila Broadcasting Company; ABS-CBN Corporation; Radio Mindanao Network (RMN: Radyo Mo Nationwide); The Philippine Star, and TV5. Official partners are 11FTC Enterprises, and Pioneer Insurance.

The Ad Summit also secured solid support from the advertising industry’s leading organizations, following a series of road shows it conducted. These organizations include the Advertising Suppliers Association of the Philippines (ASAP), Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng mga Pilipinas (KBP), Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA), Internet & Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP), United Print Media Group, Inc. (UPMG), to the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP).

First day speakers include Louie Morales, chairman of Image Dimension Advertising CID Communications Inc.; Chot Reyes, head coach of GILAS Pilipinas and Coachcom.inc; Marcus Rebeschini, CCO of Y&R Asia Pacific; Sandipan Roy, Regional Strategy Director of ISOBAR Asia Pacific; TV host/celebrity entrepreneur Boy Abunda; and Dick Van Motman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dentsu Aegis Network/Southeast Asia.

Second day speakers are Merlee Jayme, chairmom and CCO of DM9 JaymeSyfu; Cheuk Chiang, CEO of Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific; Tom Doctoroff, APAC CEO of JWT Asia Pacific; Simon Kemp, Managing Director of We Are Social; and Ariel Fermin, executive vice president and head of Home Business PLDT.

Speaking on the last day are Charles Cadell, regional president of McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific and one of the pioneers of the industry in the country, Emily Abrera, Chairperson of Board of Trustees Cultural Center of the Philippines. (Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/industries-assemble-for-ad-summit-pilipinas-2014/

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Amb. Goldberg: EDCA will not reopen US bases in PH

Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, left,
shakes hands with U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg
after signing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation
Agreement at Camp Aguinaldo, Philippine military
headquarters in suburban Quezon city, north
of Manila, Philippines on Monday,  April 28, 2014.
AP/Aaron Favila

After eight months of negotiations, both countries inked the 10-year Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Goldberg and Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin signed the deal hours before US President Barack Obama arrives in the Philippines for a two-day state visit.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg clarified, the EDCA will not reopen United States military bases in the Philippines.

“It will not reopen US bases. It is an agreement to enhance our defense relationships,” Goldberg said.

EDCA is set to enhance both countries defense cooperation and increase the presence of US soldiers in the country. It is supposed to increase training opportunities for Filipino and US forces, plus greater ability to respond to humanitarian operations.

“The agreement we signed today will be an important part of the existing MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty) and VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) frameworks. But it will also serve to update our security alliance to meet the increasingly complex challenges of the 21st century, whether it is terrorism, transnational crimes, or disasters like typhoon Haiyan,” he said.

Goldberg noted, the largest bilateral military exercise, Balikatan, will kick off next week.

Meanwhile, Gazmin said the Philippines will have better access to US military equipment, supplies and personnel because of the agreement.

"It enables us to do more by making necessary equipment and infrastructure available.Alliances evolve, partnerships develop, engagements mature, but all through out, it is the shared trust to move forward together that keeps what is in place such as the MDT and VFA. This is the essence of a maturing relationship," he said.

He added, "The document we signed only manifests the defense relationship between the Philippines and the United States but equally serves as a framework for furthering our alliance as encapsulated in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation. Underpinned by the common goal being able to meet the security challenges that both the Philippines and the United States share in common, our alliance has continued to evolve as both our countries continuously search for mechanisms that would enhance our individual and collective abilities to face such security challenges." (ANC/Yahoo News)

read more --> https://anc.yahoo.com/news/goldberg--edca-will-not-reopen-us-bases-in-ph-030909508.html

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US eyes return to Subic

MANILA - The United States is eyeing its former military base in Subic Bay, Philippines as one of the military facilities that will be covered by its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the Philippines (EDCA).

US National Security Council Senior Director for Asian affairs Evan Medeiros was asked about this in a late briefing in Malaysia, where US President Barack Obama is on the 3rd leg of his 2014 Spring Asia Tour. “There are a variety of facilities on the table. Subic Bay could be one of them."

Medeiros stressed that it’s not a basing agreement.

“This is not a sort of return to bases, so to speak. But rather what it does is it’s a framework that will allow us to train and to exercise with the armed forces of the Philippines on a range of missions, including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, maritime security; countering transnational crime, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, for example.”

The EDCA will be signed by US Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin hours before Obama arrives in Manila from Kuala Lumpur.

US Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes confirmed this in a briefing in Malaysia late Sunday night.

“We will be completing and signing with the Philippines a very important agreement that will allow the United States access to basing in the Philippines in a way that will build out our defense and security cooperation," Rhodes said.

Medeiros called the agreement the most significant. The Philippines-US bases treaty expired in the 90s after a 50-year lifespan.“This is the most significant defense agreement that we have concluded with the Philippines in decades. What the agreement is, is that it’s a framework that facilitates enhanced security cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines that will allow us enhanced rotational presence at facilities in the Philippines.”

However, Medeiros said there are still details that will be threshed out. "The agreement itself has been under negotiation for about eight months. We’ve had eight rounds of negotiation, but it’s part of a longer conversation that the U.S. military has been having with its Philippine counterparts over the last few years as they have started to shift from an internal security-focused mission to an external security-focused mission.”

Medeiros added, “the agreement itself is just a framework. It creates a legal and policy infrastructure. It’s sort of like the skeletal and the muscular infrastructure that over time, as we talk with the Philippines about what their needs are and what missions they want to work with us on, we will then work through what the specific nature of the training and the exercising will be.”

Rhodes said EDCA is “a flexible agreement that will allow us to position assets as necessary to provide that training and to do that type of joint effort with the Philippines.”

Medeiros confirmed the agreement will be valid for 10 years. “It’s 10-year with a provision for renewing.”

Rhodes also explained that the facilities covered by the agreement are fundamentally Filipino facilities. “So clearly they will be present and will have access to their bases.”

Rhodes said the EDCA is similar to the increased rotational presence agreement that has allowed the US to have some troops in Darwin, Australia.

DISASTER RESPONSE, CHINA

Rhodes attributes part of the impetus for the agreement to disaster response. Last year, central Philippines was battered by super typhoon Yolanda. "Because it was the United States that was able with our capabilities to reach affected areas much more effectively than any other country could. And this type of agreement that could allow, for instance, the U.S. air and naval assets to rotate through Filipino facilities would contribute to the ability to have a very nimble and effective response to a disaster like a typhoon, which tragically is not a non-common occurrence in this region generally that you have those types of natural disasters. It also will help us develop the Filipino capacity to respond in those types of disasters.”

Medeiros also stressed the EDCA has nothing to do with China, whose maritime dispute with the Philippines has exacerbated tensions in the South China Sea.

“They’re interested in stepping up our military-to-military engagement. There have been a variety of instances, as Ben pointed out, like Typhoon Yolanda, where it became clear that an enhanced rotational presence, a legal and policy framework for the U.S. military to work with their Philippine counterparts was something that was needed by the Philippine government.”

Rhodes added, “this isn’t an agreement designed at resolving maritime disputes with any particular maritime dispute as a focal point of why we did this. We have made very clear that we believe that there should be a cooperative approach to addressing maritime disputes consistent with international law, that there should be an avoidance of an escalation of tensions. At the same time, we’ve made clear we have an interest, a national interest, in for instance the free flow of commerce and open sea lanes.”

Rhodes emphasized the US has also increased military-to-military exchanges with China, in part to have greater transparency and in part to avoid any unnecessary and inadvertent escalation.

“And so that’s an important part of how we approach these issues, that we have that type of dialogue and exchange with China. The fact of these negotiations has been public and known in the region, so it’s certainly something that the Chinese have been aware of," he said.

Medeiros added, “we want a constructive relationship with China. We have made a serious effort at improving our military-to-military ties....we want all the countries in the region to have a constructive relationship with China, and we welcome them working with the Chinese on shared security and economic challenges. “

Medeiros, however, reiterated the US position against “ the use of intimidation, coercion or aggression by any state -- any state -- to advance their maritime territorial claims. And to the extent that our work with our alliance partners and our security partners helps them become more capable and not being vulnerable to intimidation, coercion or aggression, we think that’s a good thing. And that’s one of the reasons why we seek to modernize our alliances and our security partnerships when we come here in the region.”

Medeiros pointed out that the Philippines has found an ally in support of its chosen strategy of arbitration in resolving its differences with china.

“As you know, Malaysia is a claimant. And very significantly in the joint statement, for the first time, they actually came out in support of the principle of international arbitration, which has been a subject of some diplomatic wrangling in recent months as the Philippines has sought to pursue an arbitration case regarding its disputes with China." (RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News)

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/04/27/14/us-eyes-return-subic

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Shipping is said to be cheaper at Subic, Batangas ports

Shipping from Subic and Batangas ports would be cheaper for traders, according to Roberto V. Garcia Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator.

He said that importing from Subic would cost only $ 1,001.79 per 20 footer container compared with Manila’s rate of $ 1,142.26 per 20 foot container. To export from Subic also costs only $ 847.33 per 20 footer container compared with Manila’s rate of $ 990.81 per 20 Ft container.

Garcia cited Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) study which showed that out of the 2.8 million containers passing through the Port of Manila, 450,000 containers are destined for Central and Northern Luzon .

“We have the capacity of 600,000 TEUs so even if all the cargo that comes from Manila goes to Subic, we have the facilities to handle that , the location is very central. We are trying to promote Subic as transshipment hub” Garcia said.

Subic Bay Freeport Zone to date , has 1,800 locators with $ 9.3 billion total investments . It also has 90,092 active Freeport zone workforce, and 5.23 million visitor arrivals in 2012.

Asian Terminals Inc. operator of Batangas Port said that the port remain as the better alternative to Manila Ports for Calabarzon (Cavite,Laguna, Batangas , Rizal and Quezon) cargoes as it has enough capacity to handle the 300,000 TEUs going to Calabarzon annually .

Sean Perez ATI vice president said during his presentation at the recent transport summit that the customers from Calabarzon would save trucking cost of at least 16 percent for export and 13 percent import in choosing Batangas rather than Manila Port.

Batangas Port has 350,000 TEUs capacity per year , 12 hectares of terminal space can handle 7,152 TEUs (4 high) at any given day expandable facility is needed . The Port volume has more than doubled to 3,819 TEUs in the first quarter of 2014 compared to previous year same period of 1,564 TEUs .

In 2013, ATI said Batangas Port handled its highest number of outbound passengers at 3.06 million. It also facilitated the seamless transit of 230,173 vehicles via the Mimaropa ( Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon , Palawan) nautical corridor. Cargo operations which handled 580,054 metric tons of conventional cargo .

The government is promoting the use Subic and Batangas port as an alternative to Manila Port as the Manila City government plans to pursue the implementation of full truck ban in Manila by July this year.

Last February, Manila City government has implemented a truck ban gives a daytime window period from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm for loaded truck to ply in Manila. Empty container trucks, was banned to take to Manila’s streets. The daytime window period for trucks was expected to last for six months . (Myla Iglesias, Malaya)

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/shipping-said-be-cheaper-subic-batangas-ports

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Filipino bets strike gold in Subic

FILIPINO para-triathletes Sixto Ducay and Andy Avellana struck for gold in their respective categories in yesterday morning’s staging of the second Asian Para triathlon Championships held near the All Hands beach inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

As part of the two-day K-Swiss ITU Subic Bay International Triathlon, the event attracted 11 entries from Japan, which dominated the other categories, Malaysia and Korea aside from host Philippines.

Sorsogon native Ducay, 46 , exacted revenge against Malaysian Mohd Sabkibin Arifin in the Tri 4 category to take the gold, clocking 1:17.9 in the 750m swim-20K bike-5 K run race;

Arifin, who beat Ducay last year in the same race, finished in 1:18.12.

A minimal cerebral palsy victim in his right arm, Ducay posted a come-from-behind win.

“Buti nakabawi ako sa cycling at running legs. Masaya ako at na improve ko time ko last year kahit kulang sa ensayo, “ said Ducay, also a long jumper and middle distance medalist in previous ParaGames.

The other Filipino winner, 38-year-old Andy Avellana, who lost his left leg due to a bus accident, had the easiest time as he had no opposition in the Tri 2 category, completing the distance in 1:44.12.

“Malalakas ang mga kalaban dito at kumpleto sa gamit, naibaba ko ang time ko ngayon compared last year kaya masaya ako,” said Avellana after the race that was also backed by Century Tuna, Standard Insurance, Gatorade, Phil. Sports Commission, Harbor Point Mall, SBMA, David’s Salon, Speedo and Asian Center for Insulation Philippines.

Toshio Furuhata, a 52-year-old visually impaired entry from Japan, exerted just enough effort after only a week’s rest from a longer triathlon race. He led Japan’s charge as he took line honors and ruled the Tri 5 category race, with the best time of 1:08.14, followed by compatriot Nobuyuki Domon in 1:12.04, and Korean Lee Jun Ha in 1 : 24. 10. (Lito Cinco, Manila Standard)

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/04/28/filipino-bets-strike-gold-in-subic/

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Economies of scale to settle Subic or Batangas port option

WITH freight contracts mostly decided abroad, whether to call or not on the Batangas Port or the Subic Port is decided based on economies of scale and not as a result of state policies, according to the Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL).

AISL President Patrick Ronas said since freight deals are decided abroad, it is only natural that economies of scale factor heavily in the decision-making of foreign principals.

He added that premiums or the extra costs on operating in the ports of Batangas and Subic would disappear once the flow of trade takes progress in those areas.

The ports in Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, he cited, were historically having a premium of $350 to $400 per cargo at the time that international feeders were non-existent in those ports, but eventually the cost was eliminated after these ports experienced growth in trade.

Foreign shippers have also done their part to ease the current problem of truckers who are being charged with penalties for illegal parking when they could not comply with the truck ban during the hours to traverse Manila to their container yards.

Ronas said a lot of depots, contrary to the knowledge of many in the industry, were not owned by shippers but by private contractors. He added that shipping lines have to convince private contractors to operate their depots for 24 hours to accommodate truckers returning their containers.

He said there was a move by contractors to look for space in the North or South harbors as an alternative for locating the depots, but the only problem would be the distance.

Ronas suggested that the Philippine Ports Authority identify areas near the ports to put up new depots to allow cost efficiency in transporting cargoes.

At the recent transport and logistics summit, included in the private sector’s recommendations is the setting up of alternative depots to address congestion of cargoes.

Exporting and importing companies, as well as service providers of transport and logistics and allied services, contributed to the drafting of the resolution which aims to attain a sustainable solution on removing barriers in cargo transport and customs procedures.

Among the proposed measures include the creation of alternative depots, maximization of Batangas and Subic ports, 24/7 operations by the Customs bureau, removal of the truck ban, connection of the North and Luzon expressways, and facilitation of road-network constructions.

Ronas said shipping lines were caught with surprise when the truck ban was imposed, which resulted in additional costs. “For every four containers that come in, only one goes out. We were not spared of the additional costs,” he added. (Business Mirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/nation/31145-economies-of-scale-to-settle-subic-or-batangas-port-option

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