SC clears way for long-delayed Subic plant

THE SUPREME COURT finally cleared the way for a Meralco-led consortium to build its long-delayed 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Subic, Zambales.

In en banc session on Tuesday, justices voted 13-0 to uphold the validity of the coal power project of Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc. (RP Energy) in Barangay Cawag.

The ruling upheld the validity of the environmental compliance certificates issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on December 2008 and July 2010. It also upheld the validity of the June 2010 Lease and Development Agreement with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Associate Justices Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe and Mario Victor “Marvic” F. Leonen voted in favor of RP Energy, but with qualifications, Supreme Court Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Theodore O. Te said in a briefing.

The high court also unanimously voted to deny the petition for writ of kalikasan filed by former Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño and other individuals, as well as the organizations Advocates for Wildlife and Environment Protection, Wildlife in Need, Subic-Olongapo Cancer Foundation, Inc., and PAMALAKAYA (National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organization in the Philippines).

Associate Justices Arturo D. Brion and Francis H. Jardeleza took no part in the voting, with the former being on leave and the latter inhibiting due to his previous involvement as Solicitor-General.

A full copy of the decision has yet to be issued.

The decision reversed the January 2013 ruling by the Court of Appeals invalidating the project’s amended environment compliance certificate (ECC) due to RP Energy’s failure to conduct a new environmental impact assessment.

The appellate court’s earlier decision was also based on the supposed lack of consent from the local government and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to support the Lease and Development Agreement with SBMA.

RP Energy is a joint venture of Meralco PowerGen Corp., Aboitiz Power Corp., and Taiwan Cogeneration International Corp..

The project was originally expected to go online by the this year’s dry season but development was halted because of the writ of kalikasan filed against the project.

The Supreme Court first released a resolution on the writ dated July 31, 2010, against Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus P. Paje, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and RP Energy.

Such writs serve as a judicial remedy to protect against projects inflicting possible environmental damage that affects inhabitants.

The petitioners claimed RP Energy violated its environmental impact statement and environment compliance certificate (ECC).

The petitioners also claimed the ECC was issued without complying with the conditions of affected indigenous people and without prior approval of local government units.

While the project proponents have yet to receive their respective copies of the court’s decision, they welcomed the development saying this would help the energy industry.

“We have yet to read the decision. Assuming it’s all positive, then it’s good for the industry,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, senior vice-president of Manila Electric Co., the parent firm of Meralco PowerGen.

Stephen G. Paradies, senior vice-president of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV), also said AboitizPower has yet to receive a formal copy of the decision.

AEV is the parent company of AboitizPower.

“We intend to pursue this project. It’s very good news,” said Mr. Paradies. (Claire-Ann M. C. Feliciano and Vince Alvic A. F. Nonato, BusinessWorld)

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=sc-clears-way-for-long-delayed-subic-plant&id=102060

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Subic Freeport locators pledge to curb corruption

More than 150 executives from various locator-companies and investors in this free port signed the Integrity Pledge on Friday, marking another significant milestone for the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in its fight against corruption.

In a ceremony held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), SBMA officials led by Chairman Roberto Garcia administered the Integrity Pledge (IP) for representatives of investor firms here in support of President Aquino’s reform agenda and to strengthen the agency’s corporate governance initiatives, and create a more conducive investment climate.

“Good governance means good business, and we have seen the fruits of good governance,” said Garcia stressed during the ceremony.

“Aside from being a good corporate citizen, companies that sign this pledge will get certain perks given to clean and ethical companies,” Garcia pointed out.

He added that the SBMA’s Integrity Program has been endorsed by the SBMA Board of Directors through a board resolution last year.

The Integrity Pledge, which was introduced in the country by the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), is a document signed by heads of companies and government agencies to express their commitment to abide by ethical business practices and to support a national campaign against graft and corruption.

The pledge is regarded as an effective tool aimed at preventing corruption in public contracting, as it enables companies to abstain from bribing by providing assurances that their competitors will likewise refrain from bribery.

At the same time, it enables the government to reduce the high cost and distorting impact of corruption on private procurement, privatization or business licensing, and issuance of permits.

The IP stipulates rights and obligations to the effect that neither side will pay, offer, demand or accept bribes, collude with competitors to obtain contract, or engage in such abuses while executing the contract.

Garcia said that SBMA has institutionalized IP in the Subic Freeport with the creation of a Code of Conduct for all employees and officials of SBMA. With this development, the SBMA will now also require stakeholders like Freeport locators, neighboring local government units (LGUs), and suppliers to sign the Integrity Pledge before any transaction is made.

Garcia praised the Bureau of Customs (Port of Subic) Collector Arnulfo Marcos for joining the IP signing and for being the first to submit his accomplished and signed IP form.

Meanwhile, in his address, Dr. Edilberto de Jesus of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), said that of the hundreds of companies nationwide that applied and were assessed by the Integrity Initiative Office, only 33 had passed and only 12 were given Integrity Pledge certifications.

“Integrity is not easy to find these days,” De Jesus said. “What we have done today is the first step towards a fairly long journey. While the process is very difficult, it is the right thing to do and it should be done.”

In closing the ceremony, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business Joy Alvarado urged the locators and investors to “start in your heart and in your own office the practice of Integrity Pledge.”

“Fight corruption; start the integrity revolution and see how you will shine as days pass,” Alvarado added. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
Ayala Harbor Point manager Derrick Manuel (Photo 1) and Didet Danguilan, communications manager of Philip Morris Philippines, Inc. (Photo 2) present a signed Integrity Pledge to SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia during the mass signing ceremony for Subic Bay Freeport locators at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on January 30. Looking on are SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business Joy Alvarado, Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce president Rose Baldeo, and Dr. Edilberto de Jesus of the Asian Institute of Management. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

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SBFCC business expo slated

The first business expo will be held by the the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) at the Promenade area of Harbor Point Ayala mall, February 12-13.

SBFCC President Rose Baldeo said the event will feature locators inside the Subic Freeport Zone as well as businesses from adjacent communities such as Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan.

“The goal of the expo is to showcase the various businesses in and out of the Freeport Zone.

To show how dynamic our area is in terms of variations in business; from manufacturing, import-export businesses, to shipping, maritime, logistics, hotel and leisure, food and entertainment to wholesale and retail establishments,” she said. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/luzon-newsbits-for-february-3-2015/

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MNTC keeps SCTEX concession contract

Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC) subsidiary Manila North Tollway Corp. (MNTC) has finally won the concession of State-owned Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

This developed as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) did not receive yesterday any proposal matching MNTC’s P3.5-billion upfront cash bid for the rights, interest and obligations in the operation, maintenance and management of the SCTEX until 2043.

BCDA President Arnel Casanova said neither San Miguel Corp. nor the unidentified firm represented by the law firm of Aguirre, Abaño, Pamfilo, Paras, Pineda, and Agustin submitted proposals to match MNTC’s bid during yesterday’s deadline.

“This just proves that the latest improved offer of MNTC is the best offer in the market,” Casanova said.

As such, the SCTEX concession will be awarded to MNTC following the conclusion of the price challenge. Sought for comment, MNTC president Rodrigo Franco said they are ready to takeover the SCTEX anytime.

“We are happy that the process has finally concluded. We are ready to takeover anytime [since] our operational readiness is already there,” he said, stressing out that MNTC sister company Tollways Management Corp. (TMC) has been operating SCTEX since its opening in April 2008. TMC also operates the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on MNTC’s behalf.

For the government’s part, Casanova said the SCTEX Price Challenge Selection Committee will sit down with the BCDA Board in a meeting on February 4 to present the result of the price challenge.

“We still have to undergo the process and get the Board’s approval before we finalize the contract and award it to MNTC,” Casanova explained.

Asked if the awarding of the SCTEX concession to MNTC could still face hurdles, Casanova said “we do not see any reason for that,” adding that Malacañang has already approved the SCTEX concession agreement on the condition of a price challenge.

“We have observed all the transparency required for this deal and worked hard to preserve the integrity of the process. We are happy to move on and close this deal, proceed to working for the improvement of the service in SCTEX, and serve the public interest,” he added.

Casanova, however, did not disclose the definite timetable for the SCTEX concession awarding. Franco said the MNTC expects the issuance of the notice of award next week, shortly after the BCDA Board meeting.

To recall, the BCDA and MNTC have signed in 2011 a business and operating agreement (BOA) for SCTEX but the Office of the President has postponed the approval of the BOA and instead directed that the MNTC offer be subject to a price challenge in the interest of transparency and fair competition.

MNTC’s latest improved offer made in February 2012 include the payment of P3.5- billion upfront cash, a 50-50 sharing of gross revenues with the government, assumption of the operation and maintenance costs of running the SCTEX and assumption of cost for the NLEX-SCTEX toll collection integration.

The 94-kilometer SCTEX connects the province of Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac to the NLEX, which in turn links Central Luzon to the National Capital Region and Metro Manila. The world-class toll road has 34 bridges, eight interchanges and a four-lane divided toll road to connect the Subic Bay Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Zambales, the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga, and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac.

The SCTEX was built through a 59 billion yen (P28-billion) loan provided by the Japanese government, through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The loan used to finance the construction of SCTEx will mature in 2041. Since it was opened to the motoring public in 2008, the SCTEX recorded an average daily traffic of 9,302 vehicles, which rose to 30,855 vehicles in 2014. (Kris Bayos, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/mntc-keeps-sctex-concession-contract/

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Subic Bay shows solidarity during national day of mourning for 44 SAF members slain in Maguindanao (images)

 The huge Philippine flag in front of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administration building flies at half-mast on Friday in keeping with the National Day of Mourning ordered by President Benigno Aquino III in honor of the 44 police commandos who were killed in Maguindanao last Sunday. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

photos by Jun Dumaguing

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SBMA to release 41% higher LGU revenue shares

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is set to release next week some P105 million in revenue shares to local government units (LGUs) adjacent to and affected by the operation of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia announced on Monday that the funds will be made available to the LGUs starting February 6.

The amount consists of P98 million in total revenue shares culled from July to December 2014, and P7 million in refunds of the 10-per cent retention withheld in the second semester of 2012.

According to the SBMA Accounting Department, the P98-milion figure exceeds by 41 per cent the P74.5-million shares given for the same period last year.

Garcia said the distribution of the revenue shares is aimed at spurring development in the eight neighboring LGUs and helping achieve President Aquino's goal of inclusive growth.

In August 2014, the SBMA released a total of P93.7 million in revenue shares for the first half of 2014, for a total LGU share of P199 million last year.

For this period, Olongapo City will receive the biggest share at P25.5 million, while Subic, Zambales will get P15.7 million; Dinalupihan, Bataan, P13.2 million; San Marcelino, Zambales, P12.7 million; Hermosa, Bataan, P10.8 million; San Antonio, Zambales, P9.3 million; Morong, Bataan, P9.1 million; and Castillejos, Zambales, P9 million.

The LGU share is determined according to 50 per cent population, 25 per cent land area, and 25 per cent equal sharing.

The LGU shares come from part of the five per cent corporate taxes paid by Subic Bay Freeport-registered enterprises, of which two per cent goes directly to the SBMA treasury while the other three goes to the national coffers through the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The direct payment scheme was initiated by the SBMA some four years ago to hasten the release of LGU shares, which augment LGU funds for developments projects in health, education, peace and order, and livelihood generation. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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APEC senior officials’ meeting starts in Subic (updated)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – Delegates from 22 countries are now in the freeport for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation First Senior Officials’ Meeting (APEC-SOM1).

The emergency preparedness working group and senior disaster management officials’ forum preparatory meeting started Wednesday while the counterterrorism working group workshop started Thursday, January 29 until Feb. 1.

The business mobility group workshop and management board meeting began January 30 until Feb. 2 while the electronic commerce steering group data privacy sub-group informal meeting starts on the 31st.

A preparatory meeting on high-level policy dialogue on human capacity building was held on the 29th until Feb. 4.

The Subic Bay Freeport was host to the APEC Leaders’ Summit in November 1996. (with Bebot Sison Jr., Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/01/29/1417758/apec-senior-officials-meeting-starts-subic

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APEC avenue for improving RP’s tourism, claims Palace

Presidential communications secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. yesterday noted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) events as a way to promote the Philippines as a key tourist destination, saying that it will pave way to a robust economy and create livelihood for Filipinos.

“We should continue to build the image of our country as a favors tourist destination because this will be the way for a healthy economy and will create opportunities in livelihood for out citizens,” Coloma said.

The Palace official also said that efforts for ongoing talks in the Apec and the Philippines hosting it will help shape the economy in a better way, as preliminary talks begin in Central Luzon.

“The whole year, meetings will be held in different provinces and cities of the country to the point of the actual summit of Economic Leaders which will be held in Manila,” Coloma said.

The Apec’s Senior Officials’ Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM-1) — the Apec kick-off event — has begun earlier this week, where the Palace reiterated that the event would again tackle pursuing policies and programs on trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, and economic and technical cooperation.

Representatives from the 21 Apec member-countries are attending the Apec-SOM1 in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga and Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales. (Joshua L. Labonera, The Daily Tribune)

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/apec-avenue-for-improving-rp-s-tourism-claims-palace

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Subicwater sets P115-million capex projects for 2015

DM Consunji Inc. (DMCI)-led Subic Water and Sewerage Co. Inc. (Subicwater), which operates the water-service facilities in the Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City, has announced that it will spend a total of P115.12 million in capital expenditure (capex) projects this year to further improve its services here.

Subicwater President and CEO Apollo Tiglao said in a media briefing on Wednesday that the bulk of the expenditures will go to a P44.7-million sewerage-system project for the Boton area of the Subic Bay Freeport, and a P38.6-million water distribution rehabilitation project in Olongapo.

“The Boton project is part of our Sewerage Master Plan that was created in as early as 2006,” Tiglao said. “As we have projected long ago, businesses will thrive [in Subic], and the area will need a new sewerage system complete with a dedicated sewage treatment plant.”

Tiglao said that aside from the Boton project, the water firm will invest P8.82 million on new sewage conveyance pipes in Subic’s Central Business District; P9.8 million for the construction of two pumping stations for a newly developed well in the former Naval Magazine area; and P1.2 million for the installation of new water pipelines in the airport area.

Meanwhile, in Olongapo City, Subicwater will be investing P38.6 million on new water-distribution lines; P11 million on two new wells in Barangay New Cabalan; and P1.48 million to replace a portion of its raw-water line in Barangay Santa Rita.

Tiglao said the Olongapo investments will ensure continuous water supply to the city treatment plant, especially during summer.

“As you can see, the two wells we will start developing this year will serve the few remaining Olongapo communities without piped water, as they are located at the highest points of the mountains surrounding the city proper,” Tiglao said.

Still, he said Subicwater faces problems on the identified well sites in the remote barangay of New Cabalan, particularly on lot acquisition.

“We hope the city administration will assist Subicwater on these matters,” he said, adding that the firm wants to finish the wells as soon as possible to solve water scarcity in the hilly barangay during summer.

“We are ready to start the well-drilling anytime soon,” Tiglao said.

With the new capex schedule, Tiglao said the firm has put up more than P1.5 billion in capital expenditure since it started operations here in 1997, with about P605 million for infrastructure development in the period from 2011 to 2013 alone.

“Since Subicwater is operating under a build-operate-transfer [BOT] setup, all of our facilities, along with the improvements we have infused throughout the course of our operations, will be given back to Olongapo City and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority [SBMA] after our franchise term,” Tiglao said.

Subicwater, which implemented the first BOT scheme for a water-and-sewerage system in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia, was formed as a joint venture in 1996. It is now owned by Filipino construction firm DMCI, Singaporean water specialist Sembcorp Industries Ltd. (Sembcorp), SBMA and Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/subicwater-sets-p115-million-capex-projects-for-2015/

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NLEX, SCTEX integration pushed

Senate President Franklin Drilon has set deadline on the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) to approve and implement the integration of the North Luzon and Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressways to avoid travel dilemmas and inconvenience experienced by commuters from happening again, especially during peak seasons.

Drilon recently met with officials of the Department of Transportation and Communication, BCDA, MPTC, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) to iron out issues concerning the implementation of the integration plan for NLEX and SCTEX, which has been pending for years.

Drilon asked the officials to fasttrack the implementation of an integration plan, starting with the signing of the integration agreement scheduled on February 12 of this year.

“To expedite the process, the TRB will simultaneously monitor and review the toll collection systems integration agreement to make sure it will be in conformity with the policy of the government,” said Drilon.

He said the integration will simplify toll collection system and lessen the number of toll collection plazas.

“The integration of the NLEX and SCTEX toll systems will benefit commuters, especially in saving travel time and fuel and increasing convenience for those driving through the tollways,” Drilon said.

“The current setup is too complex and stands improvement. We cannot understand why we have to make five stops going to Subic and four stops going to Tarlac only to pay toll fees, when we can make things better and simpler by simply allowing commuters to pay their fares in full in only one toll plaza,” he added.

Given the dilemma faced by commuters especially during the holiday season, Drilon said it is only proper that changes are put in place, so that the public will not have to endure the same predicament over again.

Drilon said BCDA had informed him preparation will take seven to nine months to be finished, which will cover, among others, the removal of NLEX-Dau and SCTEX-Mabalacat barriers and deployment and commissioning of NLEX integrated toll collection system in all SCTEX and new NLEX toll plazas.

“With the system integration, motorists will no longer have to make several stops only to pay for fares. That means that everyone will soon only have to stop twice in paying tolls throughout NLEX and the SCTEX, as compared to the current situation where we have to stop five times just to pay our fares,” Drilon said.

At present, motorists have to make five stops just to pay toll fees in a trip to Subic. A motorist gets a transit ticket at NLEX entry point in Balintawak, and surrenders it and pays toll fees at NLEX Dau. He then gets a smart card at SCTEX Mabalacat and surrenders it and pays toll fees at SCTEX Tipo toll plaza, only to again pay new toll fees at Subic Freeport Expressway-Tipo.

Drilon said that the tollway authorities and relevant agencies must “exercise diligence” and hasten the reforms in the toll collection systems, given the expected surge of motorists and travellers in the Holy Week and summer season.

He said he is confident that authorities and companies involved in the management of NLEX and SCTEX will be able to introduce and agree on a new collection system to provide commuters seamless travel experience.

He concluded that this is only the first phase of the integration, as plans and discussions to make travel going to North more seamless and convenient are currently being done. These include the integration of NLEX and SCTEX with the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union expressway and the interoperability of the North and South expressways. (Malaya Business Insight)

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/nlex-sctex-integration-pushed

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SBMA partners with Coop-NATCCO, civic groups for Ayta outreach projects

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has joined forces with party-list Cooperative NATCCO Network Party (Coop-NATCCO) and civic groups in the Subic Bay area to bring medical assistance and donations to residents of remote Ayta communities.

Two separate projects coordinated respectively by the SBMA Public Relations Department and the Media Production Department, brought medical assistance to 200 residents of Kanawan village in Morong, Bataan; and clothes, toys and foodstuff to around 80 families in Barangay Naugsol in Subic, Zambales.

Both areas are communities populated largely by indigenous Ayta folks and have limited access to medical services and modern amenities.

In the first project held on January 15, Rep. Anthony Bravo of Coop-NATCCO, along with some representatives of Philip Morris, brought medicine for residents of Kanawan, while the SBMA sent doctors and nurses from its Public Health and Safety Department (PHSD) to provide free medical checkups. They were joined by some volunteers from the Philippine Medical Society (PMS) in Olongapo City.

Armie Llamas of the SBMA Public Relations Department, who coordinated the project, said it was Coop-NATCCO’s first time to go to Kanawan, and the group teamed up with the SBMA, which has conducted similar projects in the area.

A lot of elderly residents also took the opportunity for the free medical consultation, noting that the last time they received medical attention was some three years ago because of their remote location. The village is located about 30 kilometers from the Subic Bay Freeport and can only be accessed via a hanging bridge.

Rep. Bravo checked out the village for any area suitable for growing cacao, a tropical tree that yields cocoa beans, the main ingredient of coffee and chocolate.

On January 18, close to 200 children belonging to 80 families in Naugsol, Subic, received bags of goodies donated by residents and civic organizations in Olongapo City and the Subic Bay area.

The post-Holiday gift-giving project was coordinated by disc jockeys from 89.5 FM Subic Bay Radio, a broadcast facility under the SBMA Media Production Department (SBMA-MPD).

SBMA-MPD head Rhon Balingit said the donations included canned goods, rice, new clothes, and new toys provided by various donors.

Among those who joined the outreach project in Naugsol were representatives of Ocampo’s Mall in Olongapo City, members of Delta Isda radio auxiliary group, and officials of Barangay Naugsol.

Naugsol is a remote village located at the eastern fringe of the Subic municipality and has become the resettlement site for Ayta indigenous people uprooted by the Pinatubo eruption in 1991. (J. Castro, S. Viray, HEE/MPD-SBMA)


PHOTOS:

[1] Coop-NATCCO party-list Representative Anthony Bravo hands over medicines to a resident of the Kanawan Ayta village during a joint medical mission with the SBMA on January 15. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

[2] Organizers of the January 15 medical mission to the Kanawan Ayta village join Coop-NATCCO Rep. Anthony Bravo (3rd from left, standing) for a photo opportunity with SBMA Public Relations head Armie Lllamas and Dr. Eve Natividad (seated) of the Philippine Medical Society-Olongapo City Chapter. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

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First APEC senior officials’ meeting set

The Philippines will host the First APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM1) from January 26 to February 7 at Clark and Subic Freeport Zones.

As the first comprehensive Senior Officials’ Meeting for the year, SOM1 begins with a series of more than thirty working group and committee-level meetings covering various topics such as Trade and Investment, Economic and Technical Cooperation, Anti-Corruption, Counter Terrorism, Competition Policy, Ocean and Fisheries, Customs, E-Commerce, Services, Life Sciences, Health, Illegal Logging, and Services.

Following from the outcomes of the APEC Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) held last December 8-9 in Manila, the various meetings will also discuss how each APEC working group can advance the APEC 2015 priorities and the overall theme of “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.”

The series of working group and committee-level meetings from January 26 to February 5 will culminate in the Senior Officials’ Meeting to be held on February 6-7 in Fontana Leisure Park, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

As host, the Philippines will also hold a Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) on Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM), Creative Industries, and Research and Development Services on February 3. The PPD on Services is the first in a “Dialogue Series” which aims to guide the APEC Senior Officials and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in promoting trade in services in the Asia-Pacific region. (Voltaire Palaña, Manila Times)

http://allpinoynews.com/first-apec-senior-officials-meeting-set/

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Greek firm buys 2 Subic-built container ships

Two state-of-the-art container ships were launched in this free port by their Greek owner last week, as builder Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) aimed to further solidify its position as the fourth-largest shipbuilder in the world.

HHIC-Phil President Jin Kyu Ahn said in a statement on Tuesday that the newly built ships were both 6,800 twenty-foot equivalent units container vessels ordered in January last year by Athens-based shipping company Technomar Shipping Inc.

Each vessel weighs 70,704 gross tons, and measures 270.09 meters long and 42.8 meters wide.

Top officials of Technomar, headed by Managing Director George Youroukos, christened the new vessels MV UASC Bubiyan and MV UASC Yas during a naming ceremony at the Hanjin shipyard in Subic’s Redondo Peninsula.

The ships will be homeported on Marshall Islands, Tecnomar officials said.

“These are the first two ships christened here in 2015,” Ahn said, adding that both vessels showcase the craftsmanship of Hanjin’s Filipino work force.

He said the new ship deliveries capitalized on the firm’s “accumulated wealth of experience over the years, coupled by our unrelenting pursuit for technological advancement and innovative engineering in our core business.”

Hanjin is currently one of the biggest employers in the Philippines, with a work force of about 27,000 Filipinos to date.

Ahn said that since the Hanjin started commercial operations in Subic in 2008, it has already completed a total of 77 projects, ranging from bulk carriers, container ships, crude-oil tankers and barges, mainly for overseas clients.

Still, the firm is trying hard to maintain its status as the fourth top shipbuilder in the world, a position it had firmly cemented in 2014 by breaking the $1-billion mark in terms of sales revenue.

Ahn said this has been made possible by the huge capacity of the Subic shipbuilding facility, which is about 11 times bigger than its Yeongdo shipyard in Busan, South Korea.

With a reported backlog of 39 ships, Hanjin said it will hire 2,000 additional workers this year to keep the shipyard running at full capacity. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

PHOTO:
MV UASC Yas at the Hanjin shipyard in the Subic Bay Freeport.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/greek-firm-buys-2-subic-built-container-ships/

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2 APEC conferences set in Subic

Two of four conferences of senior officials of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will be held at a newly opened hotel and resort here later this month.

The First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) of the 2015 APEC summit will take place at the P120-million Subic Grand Harbour Hotel, which has 70 luxury rooms, four suites, and an 800-seat capacity theater-type multi-function room.

At least 1,700 delegates from 22 countries are expected to attend the SOM1 from Jan. 26 to Feb. 7.

“They will use our conference facilities as well as other guest rooms, which may need refitting to accommodate requirements for the SOM1,” Bong Pineda, Subic Grand Harbour chief executive officer, told The STAR.

He said APEC national organizing council chief Marciano Parayno Jr. has tapped the hotel to be one the venues for the SOM1.

Pineda believes Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City will remain as favorite destinations for both local and foreign tourists.

The Subic Bay Freeport had hosted the APEC summit in 1996, which was attended by 24 heads of state. (Bebot Sison, Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/01/10/1411187/2-apec-conferences-set-subic

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Maersk makes maiden voyage to Port of Subic

Maersk Line, listed among the largest container shipping companies in the world, brought to this premier Philippine free port the first good news for 2015, as it marked its maiden direct voyage from Singapore to Subic.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said Maersk’s MV Stadt Dresden arrived in the Port of Subic directly from Singapore at around 12:30 in the morning of January 3.

“This starts Maersk’s weekly service for a direct Singapore-Subic route,” Garcia said.

The SBMA official added that the entry of Maersk Line ushered in the new year here with good luck and good news.

Maersk Line, the largest operating unit of the Danish conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, is considered the biggest container shipping company in the world in terms of revenue and operates more than 600 vessels with a total container capacity of 3.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

MV Stadt Dresden, which started the direct Singapore-Subic route, is a registered Antigua Barbuda-flag carrier with a gross tonnage of 27,971.

According to Jerome Martinez, manager of the SBMA Seaport Department, the Stadt Dresden unloaded 12 cargo containers here. Of these, 11 were consigned to Keppel Subic while the other one was for Petron in Mandaluyong City.

Martinez further said that several international shipping lines have opened direct routes to Subic starting in November last year when China-based SITC Container Lines (Phils.), Inc. began a direct route from Xiamen, China to Subic.

SITC’s container ship MV Sicilia unloaded 22 containers at Subic’s New Container Terminal (NCT) 2 during its maiden voyage here.

This was followed by Japan-based Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Line, another one of the largest shipping companies in the world, which made its first direct route to the Port of Subic from Kaohsiung, Taipei.

NYK’s MV Jakarta Towers, meanwhile, also docked at NCT-2 in Subic and unloaded 110 containers destined to various consignees in Central and Southern Luzon, as well as Metro Manila.

SBMA officials also noted that the entry to Subic of new shipping lines with direct routes from foreign ports started after President Aquino issued Executive Order 172, which classified Subic’s NCT-2 and the Port of Batangas as extension ports to help ease congestion in the Port of Manila. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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