WIN holds fundraising for rescued animals in Subic

A fundraising event was held in this premier Freeport on Saturday to help support animals that were rescued by the Wildlife In Need (WIN) Foundation, a non-profit organization that operates a wildlife rescue center here.

Dubbed as “Unbridled at El Kabayo,” the fundraising event aims to get financial assistance from Freeport residents and visitors to help provide food for the 21 horses at the El Kabayo riding stables here and maintain the area in tip-top shape.

The event, which also served to re-launch the operation of the riding stables, showcased a quadrille by El Kabayo cowboys, a bull whipping demo, a show-and-tell of rescued animals by WIN, an Aeta cultural show, a horse jump exhibition, line dancing, barrel race, and other outdoor activities.

According to Ocean Adventure CEO Gail Laule, all the proceeds from the rides and other activities during the fundraising would go to the care of horses at the El Kabayo stables, which offer horse rides to paying tourists.

“We (WIN) have formed a great partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to provide care for the horses here while giving a great experience to tourists,” Laule said.

SBMA Chairman Robert Garcia, meanwhile, said that he was glad that the El Kabayo stables, which is one of the establishments synonymous with the Subic Bay Freeport, is still in operation.

He noted that during the early years of the Subic Bay Freeport, the El Kabayo stables were used to house the horses that were used during SBMA parades by former SBMA chairs like Senator Richard Gordon and Congressman Felicito Payumo.

The area used to be a commercial tourist destination, but is now under the WIN Foundation, which entered into an agreement with the El Kabayo stables in 2008 for the care of the 21 horse there.

In 2011, WIN signed a memorandum of agreement with the SBMA to take over the complete management of the horses and operations of the stables. Today, the stables offer horseback riding, riding lessons and educational programs to support the care of the horses.

WIN is a non-profit organization focusing on wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, the campaign against the wildlife pet trade, and community education. WIN operates and has headquarters at its Wildlife Rescue Center in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The WIN Rescue Center provides care and housing for sick, injured, and confiscated wildlife. Many of the animals that come to WIN were rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade. The majority of animals are successfully rehabilitated and returned to the wild.

However, for animals that have lost the ability to live on their own, WIN provides a permanent home for them at the Rescue Center.(JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
The cowboys of the El Kabayo riding stables in the Subic Bay Freeport show off the horses during the “Unbridled at El Kabayo” fundraising event on Saturday. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA launches awareness campaign on climate change adaptation

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), through its Ecology Center, has launched an awareness campaign on climate change adaptation in upland communities adjacent to the Freeport.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the campaign aims to educate residents on the impact of climate change world-wide, as well as in their locality, and how to minimize it.

The campaign includes educating residents on how to prevent forest and bush fires and what they can do to help bring back the healthy environment and the forests, Garcia added.

Accordingly, the campaign, which started at Barangay Mabiga in the town of Hermosa, Bataan, was a kick-off to a series of seminars to be held in four barangays outside the perimeter fence of the Freeport. These include the upland communities of Mabiga, Tipo, Bangal, and Pastolan, which serve as buffer areas under the SBMA’s “social fencing” program.

Participants in the one-day awareness campaign seminars included members of farmers’ associations in the four upland communities.

Garcia explained that the local farmers’ associations serve as a vital component of the SBMA Community-Based Forest Management (SCBFMA) system, which watches over the forests and helps protect them against bush and forest fires, illegal cutting of trees, and illegal hunting of animals and birds near and inside the fenced areas of the Freeport.

The SCBFM program also aims to promote the biodiversity of the forests through tree-planting projects and the implementation of livelihood programs that are not dependent on forests such as kaingin, and charcoal-making.

Hermosa Mayor Danilo Malana, who joined the launch of the awareness campaign, lauded the SBMA and the team from Ecology Center for conducting the awareness campaign, saying it was very timely.

“It is very important that we start protecting and preserving our fast diminishing forest areas that give livelihood and food to many of our farmers,” he said.

The mayor, who is known as an advocate of environmental protection, added that there is a need to boost the awareness of residents on how badly climate change affects people’s lives and livelihood so that they could start adapting to it to secure their future. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Community leaders and officials of Brgy. Mabiga, Hermosa in Bataan province pledge to protect the environment during a Climate Change Symposium conducted recently by the SBMA Ecology Center. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Freeport observes Fire Prevention Month

Fire trucks bedecked in balloons go around the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Monday morning, as the SBMA Fire Department mounts a motorcade to enjoin Freeport business locators, residents and workers to take safety measures in observance of the Fire Prevention Month. (AMD/MPD/SBMA)

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Subic unveils 1st motorized zipline in Asia

The Tree Top Adventure theme park has announced the upgrading of its facility in the Subic Freeport, including the introduction of the first motorized zipline course in Asia.

Tree Top Adventure CEO Ma. Camille Montejo said in a press conference on Saturday that their team-building facility at the Jungle Environment Survival Training (JEST) Camp here contains facilities for two slow-paced and four fast-paced activities.

These include the so-called “Superman Ride,” which is the only motorized zipline course in Asia, Montejo added.

“If you want to see the forest and appreciate nature from the top of the trees, you could try the Canopy Ride,” Montejo said.

The entire ride, she added, has a hanging bridge and five stations, which can carry three persons at a time. The ride transfers from one tree to another.

“Meanwhile, for heart-pounding action, try the Superman Ride. It’s a horizontal motorized zipline where you’ll be soaring back and forth in less than a minute,” she added.

One slow-paced activity in the park is the Trekking Adventure, which is basically a tour of the area. During the trek, however, the tour guide introduces the visitor to local plants and trees, and share interesting facts about them.

Another activity is the “Parachute Fall” wherein the tourist goes upwards slowly, and is then quickly dropped after reaching the height of 75 feet. This activity, like that stunt in the movie “Mission Impossible” brings you back to the ground in a matter of seconds.

Members of the media who were invited for the team-building activity noted that the new Tree Top Adventure facility provides a venue to teach and gain camaraderie and leadership. While the activities are all motorized, participants learn to help each other and to lift their own weight.

With the newest attractions, the Tree Top Adventure park aspires to be among the most popular tourism draws here as the Subic Bay Freeport gears up for summer.

Montejo added that while some of the rides are high-adrenaline, the facilities are safe for everyone.

“We want to assure everybody that the facility is as eco-friendly as it can be. Safety is certainly our main concern here,” Montejo added. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)


PHOTOS:

[1-2] Visitors try out the various rides at the Tree Top Adventure theme park (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[3-5] Tree Top Adventure visitors try out various team-building activities in the theme park (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA hosts job matching congress to address hiring problems

The Labor Department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) hosted on Friday the Subic Bay Freeport Labor Matching Congress to help reduce mismatch between labor demand by existing companies and the available workforce in this Freeport.

SBMA labor manager Severo Pastor said the congress served as a venue for dialogue among students, the academe, business locators, and the government to fill employment gaps in an overall effort to achieve industrial peace.

The congress was held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) and was attended by sectoral representatives from the Subic Freeport, Olongapo, and Zambales. The event also drew participation from the SBMA Business Group, which communicates with business locators in manufacturing, maritime, leisure, logistics, ICT, and general business and investment.

“It is a continuing activity of SBMA as part of its corporate social responsibility to extend to students and the community its services of finding or creating suitable jobs matching their skills,” Pastor said.

He noted that employment problems in the Philippines are often caused by labor mismatch, which results in underemployment, if not unemployment.

He recalled that when South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines, Inc. started its operation in Subic Bay, it asked the SBMA for 10,000 workers as welders, plumbers, electricians, painters, and others.

“Unfortunately, we could only provide a tenth of the number asked. And the rest had to undergo trainings,” Pastor said.

He added that with the SBMA’s target of creating 100,000 jobs by the end of 2015, the SBMA Labor Department is now intensifying its efforts with the help of business locators, schools, and related agencies of the government like the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

“This why we in TESDA recommend that all high school graduating students must undergo skills development training to develop skills and interest, and later choose the right college or vocational course after graduation,” explained TESDA Officer (R3) Nomer Pascual during the congress.

Meanwhile, some business locators in the Freeport pointed out their concerns about labor mismatch to help identify and address the problems.

Quintin Ellick, owner of Contex Call Center and concurrent vice chairman of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone ICT Advisory Council, admitted that most courses offered in local schools cannot be applied in most companies in the Freeport.

Nicera Philippines Inc. human resource manager Myra Concepcion, on the other hand, revealed that they have been experiencing difficulty in hiring new applicants because most of them failed simple tests and have attitude problems.

“In one hiring, out of 1,200 applicants only 25 percent passed the simple abstract reasoning and arithmetic items; and of those who passed only 38 percent passed the interview,” she said.

Given the problems faced in hiring new applicants, the company representatives suggested that the academe should enhance the teaching of English and mathematics subjects starting in high school and also offer courses in personal development, including 5S in the workplace. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Centennial III reigns in Subic-to-Boracay race

JUDES Echauz steered Centennial III across the finish for a win, edging defending champion Hong Kong’s Reichel/Pug 76 Jelik in the sixth Standard Insurance Subic-to-Boracay Race Sunday afternoon off Boracay in Malay, Aklan.

After sailing a highly and tactical battle, Centennial III topped the IRC Racing Class, with a time 27:37:39, while Frank Pong’s Jelik was a close second with 27:45:06.

The race was a 200-mile ISAF Cat 3 offshore one and started off the Lighthouse Marina Resort, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales, last Saturday noon.

Depending on the size of the boat, the race takes between 20 to 40 hours.

Finishing third was Malaysia’s Ulumulu, skippered by Troy Yaw and Jeremy Koo with 28: 11:52, while highly regarded Hong Kong sailor Geoff Hill and his Antipodes placed fourth with 28: 13:32.

American Race Officer Jerry Rollin said Ragamuffin 90-Dubois 90 Custom-designed and skippered by David Witt, arrived fifth with 28: 37:48 and veteran campaigner and 2013 winner Karakoa, led by Ray Ordoveza, was sixth overall with 28: 42:44.

Action in the waters of Boracay won’t stop upon completion of the SBBR as sailors will splash back into competition with the Boracay Cup Regatta, which started yesterday up to March 6.

Stakes in the race are high as, according to Commodore Ricky Sandoval, chair of the organizing committee, of the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing, it will be part of the basis for yearend honors in the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit.

Winners in the SBBR and the Boracay Cup Regatta will earn precious points in the race for the AY skipper and Yacht of the Year honors.

The twin event is organized by the Philippine Sailing Association and Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen’s Sailing Club, in cooperation with the Subic Bay Yacht Club, and The Lighthouse Marina Resort and in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Department of Tourism, Philippine Coast Guard, and Municipality of Malay.

Sponsors include Cebu Pacific, PLDT Alpha , Resort World Philippines, Tanduay, Seawinds Resort Boracay, Business Mirror and Manila Bulletin. (Manila Standard Today)

PHOTO:
Centennial III (left) of Judes Echauz leaves its rivals behind.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/03/03/centennial-iii-reigns-in-subic-to-boracay-race/

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SBMA 2014 record income up 40%

For the third consecutive year, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) hit new record highs in its 2014 financial performance, as it scored a net income of P1.556 billion vs the 2013 income ofP1.11 billion, a substantial increase of 40%.

“Revenues from port operations, tourism and industrial commercial leases rose to P2.442 billion or 21% vs 2013 figures, while EBITDA or operating profit hit P1.391 billion or 51% over the previous year,” SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia announced recently.

With the port congestion in Manila, many importers shifted to Subic, causing port revenues to hit P909 million or an increase of 45%. Significantly, containerized volumes jumped to 77,000 TEUs or an increase of 105%. Locator export volumes likewise increased to U$2.3 billion or a 59% increase from the previous year.

Tourism likewise registered substantial revenue gains with a substantial 61% jump driven by a 12% hike in tourist traffic. MICE events (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) chalked up an increase of 150% while sports events rose 75% to make Subic Bay the number one tourist destination in Central Luzon according to DOT records.

Industrial and commercial leases likewise hit P1.050 billion, up 13% from previous years, as more businesses flocked to the Freeport. These and other expansion projects of existing locators caused jobs to increase from 89,584 in 2013 to 96,958 in 2014, providing 7,374 new jobs or an increase of 8%.

Reflecting the Agency’s robust growth on all fronts are the cash collections of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s P1.8 billion and the Bureau of Customs’ P15.290 billion, which improved by 27% and 36% respectively in 2014.

Lastly, the 5% tax collected from locators in the Freeport rose to P497 million, or a 35% increase over 2013. SBMA remitted this amount with P199 million going to the eight local government units surrounding the Freeport, while P298 million was remitted to the National Government Treasury. The total contribution of SBMA to the national economy therefore amounted to P17.638 billion.

According to Garcia, the agency’s sterling three-year record performance could be attributed to good governance, the implementation of its strategic initiatives, and the hard work of the agency’s management and employees. (KMF/CorCom-SBMA)

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Aussie, Adorna top ULAH Tri United 1

Australian Mitch Robins put on a blazing show even as Claire Adorna, only on her second year in the sport, imposed her class to share the podium in yesterday’s ULAH Tri United 1 at the Dungaree Beach, Subic Bay.

Robins, 26, and Adorna, 21, drowned the opposition with their impressive performances in the swim leg to anchor their wire-to-wire victories.

A regular competitor in triathlon races in the country since 2012, Robins negotiated the 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run race organized by BikeKing headed by Raul Cuevas, in one hour, 55 minutes, 42 seconds.

A distant second and third were Unilab Active Health (ULAH) triathletes John Chicano (2:02:44) and Benjamin Rama (2:05:01).

“It was a fast course and very well organized race,” said Robins.

The event was sponsored by Unilab Active Health in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) tourism department and supported by Aboitiz, Enervon Activ, Active Health Sports Gel, Enervon HP and AboitizPower.

“I was not sure of winning because the Filipino triathetes are very fast. I will be spending more time in the Philippines and absolutely you can expect me to compete in the next Tri United races,” added Robins.

Two other foreign pros – Saranon Chantaraj from Thailand and Eneko Elosegui from Spain – failed in their bid for a podium finish in the race backed by Orbea, Shimano, Maxxis, TIMEX, Gardenia, Gerry’s Grill, Pocari Sweat, Lighthouse Marina Resort Subic, Camayan Beach Resort and Court Meridian Hotel.

Adorna, also from ULAH, primed up for a possible gold medal in the SEA Games in Singapore this June as she dominated teammates Anna Stroh and Ani Karina Brown.

A member of the national team and owner of the Philippine record in the female division, Adorna, the UAAP most outstanding swimmer on her last year with champion team UP, timed 2:15:55. She highlighted her showing with a surprising second place finish in the swim behind Robins.

“Our training for the SEA Games is intensive and that’s what I put into the race,” said Adorna, who like Robins, pocketed P10,000 in the race covered by Men’s Health, SBR.ph, Raceday, Multisport and SPIN.ph.

Series defending women’s champion Stroh finished second (2:23:40) while Ani Karina de Leon-Brown took third (2:33:05).

The first of four Tri United races for 2015 drew 780 participants in the race which also featured the sprint distance and titles also disputed in the different age groups and team competition. Sante Barley dominated Fitness First and Herbalife for the team championship.

Completing the winners in the standard distance were Mervin Santiago and Irish Ivy Domingo (18-24), Robinson Esteves and Karen Kate Pascual (25-29), John Mark Yamoyam and Chloe Ong (30-34), Jefferson Valdez and Alisa Dicaprio (35-39), Raymond Galdonez and Lezette Albarote (40-44), Mariela Powell (female 45-above), Jojo Macalintal (male 45-49), Frank Lacson (50-54) and Tatsuya Kanai (55-above).

Sprint champions were Samuel Ranque (16-17), Jimuel Patilan (18-29), Jeric Saclauso (30-39), Reuben Lista (40-49) and Albert Bartilad (50-above) in the male and Maria Antonniette Balagtas (18-29), Kareena Maclang (30-39) and Jennifer Soto (40-49) in the female class. (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/03/02/1429167/aussie-adorna-top-ulah-tri-united-1

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‘Green’ film fest in Subic

A FILM festival focusing on “green” films will be held this weekend at the Subic Bay Freeport.

The 1st Subic International Ecofilm Festival will be presented at the ISST FilAm Theatre on Feb. 27 and 28. This is a project of the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) together with Cinema Verde of the United States.

The two-day festival will screen six international films and three local award-winning independent films and will have the Cinema Verde founding director as the guest of honor.

According to ISST President Mina Gabor, the Ecofilm Festival intends to bring environmental awareness to the audience and inspire, educate and engage participants in sustainable business and lifestyle solutions.

“If the Cannes Film Festival is for commercial films, we intend Subic to be known for environmental films,” the former Tourism secretary said.

Among the foreign films to be shown is Love Thy Nature, directed by Sylvie Rokab and narrated by Hollywood star Liam Neeson. It is a cinematic immersion into the beauty and intimacy of human’s relationship with the natural world.

The other films that will be screened are: Confessions of an Eco-Terrorist, Deep Green (Final Cut), Silent Now (The Poisoning of the Arctic), El Perro del Hortelano, and Radio Love.

The Filipino films in the festival are Brutus: Ang Paglalakbay, which stars Ronnie Lazaro; indie film Batad, which won multiple awards at Cinemalaya; and the Batanes-inspired Kadin The Goat.

The festival will also hold group discussions on “Best Practices on Environmental Conservation,” and “Challenges in Producing Environmental Films,” as well as bird shows and photo exhibits by the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines. (BusinessWorld)

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Arts&Leisure&title=green-film-fest-in-subic&id=103403

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Hanjin-Subic hosts international work-safety evaluation exercise

Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHC-Phil Inc.) recently hosted an occupational safety evaluation exercise conducted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Occupational Safety and Health Network (Asean-Oshnet).

Min Hwan Choi, Hanjin’s deputy general manager for external trade, said in a statement here that the Hanjin management took great pride in hosting an exercise that provided “an opportune time for us to really showcase to the rest of the world that our occupational safety and health programs, including our facilities, are at par with international standards.”

“We are greatly honored that an occupational safety and health-related undertaking with global impact such as this [was] carried out in our Hanjin Subic shipyard,” Choi said.

“I guess there is no better workplace for this activity than our shipyard considering our very complex shipbuilding processes that entail enormous efforts to put in place more responsive safety policies to protect the well-being of our huge work force,” he said.

Senior officials of Hanjin welcomed 45 representatives from the ILO and Asean-Oshnet for the one-day General Workplace Evaluation and Risk Factor Identification Exercise that was held in connection with a three-day Training-of-Trainers (TOT) workshop held in the country from February 10 to 12.

The event was sponsored by the ILO and the Asean-Oshnet in collaboration with the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (Kosha) and the Philippine government, through the Department of Labor and Employment and the Occupational Health and Safety Center.

The participants in the workshop were headed by ILO Country Director Lawrence Jeff Johnson; engineer Ho Siong Hin, commissioner of Safety and Health at Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower; Ingrid Christensen, ILO-Bangkok senior specialist on Occupational Safety and Health; Kim Kyung Hun and Kang Dong Lee of the Kosha; Consuelo Manchon of ILO-Hanoi; Nguyen Thai Hoa of ILO Vietnam; OSHC Executive Director Ma. Teresita Cucueco; and Health Control Division chief Maria Beatriz Villanueva.

The TOT workshop was primarily organized for the Asean-Oshnet member-countries that included Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

In this training, however, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste were given an opportunity to learn from and interact with colleagues of neighboring countries in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH).

The Asean-Oshnet has been actively working to share experiences and knowledge on OSH and to enhance safety and health working conditions among the member-countries. It has also planned and implemented various OSH programs, including training for capability-building of government institutions and their officials.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the conduct of the trainers’ workshop “comes at a most auspicious time, as it will address the need to intensify the advocacy of having a safe and healthy working environment, not only in our respective countries, but in the entire Asean region and now including our Pacific Island partners of Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea, as well.”

She said the Philippines has been one with the Asean in recognizing that partnerships among the member-countries are essential in building competencies and skills in all aspects to enhance and propel the growth of the nations toward becoming first-class economies.

During the welcome ceremony at the Hanjin shipyard, Baldoz also expressed gratitude to Hanjin for allowing both local and foreign stakeholders to conduct the ocular visit and for showcasing the company’s best practices in addressing its safety and health concerns. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

PHOTO:
Representatives from the International Labor Organization and the Asean-Oshnet confer with safety officers during a tour of the Hanjin shipyard in Subic Bay Freeport.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/hanjin-subic-hosts-intl-work-safety-evaluation-exercise/

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Aquino OKs salary hike for SBMA employees

President Aquino gave the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) the go-signal to implement a 10-percent salary increase for its employees, SBMA Chair and Administrator Roberto Garcia said on Thursday.

Garcia said the President granted their request for the wage increase, which was submitted to Malacañang for approval in 2011.

“A 10-percent [increase] was approved but [there are] no details yet,” Garcia told the Inquirer in a text message.

Garcia met Mr. Aquino early this week to secure the approval for the salary adjustment, said Ameth de la Llana-Koval, manager of SBMA’s planning and development office.

Koval said the approval of 10-percent salary increase was “good news and a blessing.” It’s the first step to justice, she added.

Aside from the pay increase, the employees were also working to get the salary standardization law (SSL) enforced in SBMA. Koval said the SBMA employees’ request to be covered by the government salary standardization program was submitted to the Department of Budget and Management.

On Wednesday, a group of SBMA employees petitioned the regional trial court in Olongapo City for a writ of mandamus to compel Garcia to set their salaries according to the SSL.

Lawyer Michael Tezon, legal counsel for SBMA employees, said they went to court due to Garcia’s “failure to perform his ministerial duties to execute SBMA board resolutions that would pave the way for the workers’ salary adjustment.”

“We believe that a writ of mandamus is the best remedy because the duty of the administrator is ministerial in nature, and that is to execute and implement all policies, orders and resolutions of the SBMA board,” Tezon told reporters here.

He said the SBMA board passed a resolution on Dec. 11 last year approving the salary increase for SBMA employees based on the SSL. (Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon)


Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/674623/aquino-oks-salary-hike-for-sbma-employees#ixzz3SdFzj7Q2
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Spotted! Microsoft mogul's superyacht "Octopus" at Subic Bay Freeport

The massive yacht Octopus, a 414-foot mega-yacht reportedly owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is seen docked at the Nabasan wharf of the Subic Bay Freeport in the afternoon of February 21, 2015. Octopus is currently the world’s 15th largest super yacht and the largest expedition yacht. No detail was made available on the yacht’s port call at Subic, but a source in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said it would be heading towards Palawan the next day. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Sights: Challenge Philippines, Subic Bay

[1] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia, accompanied by grandson Kenzo Malig, prepares to flag off the elite class of professional triathletes during the Subic-Bataan edition of Challenge Philippines held at the Camayan Beach in Subic Bay Freeport ? on? Saturday (Feb. 22) morning. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] SPLASH! Triathletes competing in the foreign-studded professional category of the Subic-Bataan edition of Challenge Philippines triathlon rush through the pristine waters at Camayan Beach during the kick-off at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone ?on ?Saturday (Feb. 22) morning. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[3] Triathletes competing in the foreign-studded professional category of the Subic-Bataan edition of Challenge Philippines triathlon are seen through foliage as they negotiate the uphill forested areas of Morong in Bataan province? on? Saturday (Feb. 22) morning. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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ICTSI beefs up container handling equipment in Subic

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has deployed four new mobile container handling equipments to improve its port operations in Manila and Subic.

In a statement, ICTSI said four new generation reach stackers are now stationed at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and at the new container terminals 1 and 2 at the Subic Bay Freeport which are operated by ICTSI subsidiaries Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. and ICTSI Subic, Inc.

According to Antonio Coronel, ICTSI Purchasing Director, the new reach stackers are the first of their kind to operate in the Asia-Pacific region. Supplied and manufactured by Kalmar, the port equipment and technology unit of Cargotec Oy of Finland, the “Gloria” or “Generation G reach” stacker has a 45-ton total lift capacity, which is considered an “industry-best” for its class.

“They don’t just provide highly productive and reliable equipment; they appreciate the dynamics of the business and as a result, can provide solutions that boost productivity yet reduce our costs of operation. We have an ambitious development strategy to become one of the world’s leading port management companies and on the same global stage, Kalmar is clearly a trusted partner,” he added.

Explaining the features of the new “Gloria” stackers , Kalmar Asia Sales Director Björn Jonasson said that the equipment offers three ECO driving modes, namely power, normal and economy, making it the most energy efficient reach stacker in the market today. “Gloria” also sports an automatic stop-start function, which is responsible for reduced emissions and fuel efficiency of up to 10 percent.

Jonasson hailed the ICTSI for becoming “the first customer to specify Kalmar Gloria reach stackers in Asia and particularly so soon after their launch into the region. We have enjoyed considerable success in launching Gloria into other key territories and the product has now become the benchmark for reach stacker performance throughout the industry.”

MICT, ICTSI’s flagship operation and the Philippines’ largest international container terminal, has an annual capacity of 4.2 million twenty equivalent units (TEUs). Meanwhile, the New Container Terminal Compound (NCT-1) and New Container Terminal Compound (NCT-2) in Subic have a total of 600,000 TEU capacity.

ICTSI is an international operator of common-user container terminals serving the global container shipping industry. ICTSI is the largest port operator in the Philippines and has a portfolio of 29 container terminal operations in 21 countries across six continents. (Kris Bayos, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
The new Gloria 45-ton reach stacker lifts a container at the New Container Terminal-1 in Subic

http://www.mb.com.ph/ictsi-beefs-up-container-handling-equipment-in-subic/

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Passuello, Pooley top 2nd Yellow Cab Challenge Subic

Italian Domenico Passuello and British Emma Pooley endured the scorching heat of the sun and hurdled all the unexpected and challenging obstacles in the second edition of Yellow Cab Challenge Philippine Subic-Bataan last February 21.

The Italian athlete bagged his first Yellow Cab Challenge Philippines title in the Pro Men field after clocking 4:04:22, while her female counterpart snatched the Pro Women field championship after a recorded time of 4:41:51.

“[The race was] really tough and the course was really really hot and windy… but there are a lot of trees and a lot of station [where you can always refresh,]” said Passuello, a first-time racer in the Philippines.

Finishing just few minutes behind the new titleholder is Danish RasmusPetraeus who clocked 4:09:04. The two-time Challenge Phuket champion was leading the race early in the competition but was outperformed by Passuello halfway through the felt bike course.

“Rasmus was too strong today until the half of the bike so I was pretty scared about [that] but I knew I can beat him on the run. I didn’t know about my gap when I change here in transition [from biking to running] so I pushed a lot in the first 10km run,” said Passuello who has plans to compete again in the next Challenge race in the country.

Despite being unsatisfied with her performance in swimming, Pooley said she really enjoyed the beautiful corals and the two historic shipwrecks that Subic Bay offers. She, however, regained control with the bike portion which she considered as her strongest suit in this race.

“It was tough but [it’s a] beautiful course. I came back to try and win and I really had a good day!” said Pooley who made a comeback after a third place finish last year. The new titleholder and former Olympic silver medallist even owed her win to the volunteers who cheered for her during the race, making a tough race more bearable.

At third place in men’s pro category is Australian Mitch Robbins who clocked in after a time of 4:13:11, while Swedish Fredrik Croenberg finished with a record of 4:14:11 and last year’s second place Australian Michael Murphy landed fifth with a recorded time of 4:33:13.

Rounding up the Top 10 are American Brian Fleischmann (4:38:58), German Till Schramm (4:41:42), Spanish EnekoElosegui (4:43:28), Australian Eric Watson (4:51:56), and Hong Kong national Ivan Lo (4:55:46).

American Kelly Williamson also snatched the second place in Pro Women field with a recorded time of 4:52:14. Trailing behind are British Parys Edwards (4:53:19).(The Manila Times)

PHOTO:
Domenico Passuello

http://www.manilatimes.net/passuello-pooley-top-2nd-yellow-cab-challenge-subic/164704/

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