Coast Guard and auxiliary group hold Subic environment run

A helicopter flew overhead, raining down confetti on the assembled crowd as the fun run for a cause organized by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) kicked off on Saturday here.

Aiming to preserve the wellness of both the participants and the environment, the “Takbo Para sa Kaligtasan at Kalinisan ng Karagatan at Kalikasan” gathered close to 600 registered runners, both young and old, for the three kilometer-length categories — 10k, 5k, and 3k.

Philippine triathlete John Leerams Chicano led the first finishers in the 10k category, breaking the finish line with determination in his eyes. Chicano was followed by Christian Carl Denotua and Redgeth Linen for the second and third place, respectively.

In the 5k category, meanwhile, Clyde Supnet controlled the pace, trailed by Jimuel Patilan and Ruperto Dela Cruz Jr.

The 3k event was topped by Roel Bada, Rolly Innovero and Jason Villaruz for first, second, and third place, respectively.

All the top three finishers in each category received token cash and gift prizes. The third placers got P500 cash, second placers P750, and first placers P1,000.

The event was considered a success, as there were no losers — only runners who wanted to make a difference for the environment and for themselves.

Chicano, who was sick a week earlier, said he joined the run “to improve my health.”

A young boy echoed the motivation, saying “Para po makatulong sa kalikasan at upang makapag- ehersisyo na rin.”

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Deputy Administrator Randy Escolango, who helped organize the event as commander of the PCGA in Subic, said all the proceeds from the fun run would go to the group’s environmental projects for the preservation of the seas and coast, including shore clean-up drives, sea protection awareness campaigns, and other related projects.

“Events like these are being encouraged by SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, because he wants to emphasize that Subic Bay Freeport can better maintain its reputation as a sports capital if we maintain a clean environment to better attract sports enthusiasts," Escolango added.

All the top 3 of each category received cash and gift prizes - P500 for third place, P750 for second place, and P1,000 for first place. (ADP/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Runners take part in “Takbo Para sa Kaligtasan at Kalinisan ng Karagatan at Kalikasan” organized by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary at the Remy Field in Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Saturday. The run aims to raise funds for the local PCGA chapter’s future shore clean-up drives, sea protection awareness campaigns and other related projects.

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AboitizPower Tour of Subic slated

Over two hundred cyclists from around the country will converge at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to vie for honors and prizes in the AboitizPower Tour of Subic which will commence on Sunday at 6 a.m.

Organized by Bike King (headed by Raul Cuevas) and presented by AboitizPower, the event will have a 90 kilometer cycling course that will stretch from Maritan Highway in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone all the way to the turning point located at an area in Bataan province near the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

The competitive categories meanwhile are Category 2 Advance, Category 3 Intermediate, Category 4 Novice, Female Open and Non Competitive.

Teams that have confirmed their participation include the AboitizPower Cycling Team, Unilab Active Health Cycling Team, Sante Barley, Corratec, Bike King, Team Excellent Noodles and Giant Racing Team.

At stake in the event supported by SN Aboitiz Power Group, Sante Barley, WeatherPhilippines, Subic Holiday Villas, Gatorade, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), GU and media partners Multisport, RaceDay, SwimBikeRun.PH and SPIN.ph are trophies and giftpacks for all top 3 male-female category winners. The awarding ceremony will be held at the Subic Holiday Villas at 12 noon with lunch and drinks to be served to participants. (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/05/13/1454233/aboitizpower-tour-subic-slated

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Subic Grande Island Resort conducts underwater clean-up

Grande Island Resort, one of Subic Freeport's leading tourism players, recently held an underwater and coastal clean-up in the waters of Subic Bay as part of the international observance of Earth Day.

The volunteer divers were able to haul some 30 kilograms of non-biodegradable waste materials composed mostly of plastic wrappers.

Miss Subic Bay Tourism first runner-up Martina McKinsey also joined the volunteer divers in the recent clean-up as part of the pageant’s environmental advocacy.

According to Grande Island managing partner Thomas Garcia, who led the underwater clean-up, the resort conducts periodic clean-up of the beaches up to neighboring Chiquita Island.

He said that the resort’s diving program will incorporate clean-up of the seabed to maintain the balance of the island's marine ecosystem, which is one of the best in Subic Bay.

The island resort also plans to enhance underwater diversity by setting up a viable artificial reef system. Subic Bay is one of the dive sites closest to Metro Manila and is known for World War II shipwrecks and pockets of coral gardens.

Garcia noted that Grande Island's environmental and recreational activities will form part of its corporate social responsibility.

Formerly known as Fort Wint, a naval fortification during the American Occupation, Grande Island Resort is situated some kilometers off the Freeport at the mouth of Subic Bay. It offers a wide array of water sports and outdoor adventure activities such as horseback-riding, trekking, mountain biking and zip line.


PHOTOS:
[1] A volunteer diver holds a sackful of garbage collected from the bottom of the sea near Grande Island in the Subic Bay Freeport during an underwater clean-up.

[2] Volunteer divers, along with Miss Subic Bay Tourism first runner-up Martina McKinsey, show their collection of non-biodegradable waste materials hauled from the bottom of the sea during an underwater clean-up around Grande Island, a popular resort in Subic Bay Freeport.

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SBMA intensifies ‘climate change’ awareness campaign

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has intensified its grassroots information program to instill awareness of climate change and elicit positive response from communities around the Subic Bay Freeport.

The SBMA Ecology Center conducted a workshop-discussion at Sunset Cove Resort in Barangay Mabayo, a seaside village in Morong, Bataan.

The activity, which was attended by barangay officials, community elders, local police, and residents, was aimed at alleviating global warming from a micro-level point of view by spreading information top-down to make change more possible.

Previously, the SBMA team conducted similar seminars at the seaside community of Mabiga and the upland communities of Tipo, Bangal, and Pastolan in Hermosa, Bataan. These communities serve as buffer areas under the SBMA’s “social fencing” program.

The workshop-discussion tackled climate change adaptation, the importance of mangroves, forest fire prevention, and the SBMA’s social fencing program.

According to Environment Management Specialist Rhea Jane Pescador-Mallari, who explained how climate change affect small vulnerable communities, evident changes in global climate had been proven by tropical storms “Ondoy” and “Yolanda,” which devastated huge areas in the country.

“With global warming melting the polar ice caps, water levels rise and will affect coastal areas,” Mallari said, naming other foreseen problems.

She added that among the solutions suggested is monitoring the “carbon diet,” which is basically reducing the consumption of diverse products such as meat, electricity, and fuel for transportation, which all produce carbon gases that lead to global warming.

Mallari also explained the environmental benefits of planting mangrove trees, as these separate salt water from fresh water, serve as home for fish and shells, and act as natural wind breaks.

“Kung tayo ang dahilan ng problema, tayo din ang solusyon,” Mallari challenged the audience, citing how man has degraded his environment and caused his own problems.

Meanwhile, SBMA deputy fire chief Raul Zapanta gave the audience rudiment knowledge on forest fire prevention, starting off with the basic “fire triangle” of heat, fuel, and oxygen without which fire would not start.

Zapanta said that with Mabayo’s location near a forest, residents must be aware of ways to avoid forest fire. He also discussed how a “fire break” and “fire line” could help to prevent forest fire or stop its spread.

SBMA forester Patrick Escusa also discussed the agency’s social fencing program, a community-based forest management agreement that gives rights to those who are members of the program to stay in the land owned by SBMA.

Escusa explained that the program is for the mutual benefit of the SBMA and upland residents, as the occupants are tasked with guarding and caring for the trees and preventing the entry of illegal loggers and poachers.

The interactive workshop ended with an open forum during which community members were encouraged to speak their mind on the topics at hand and give suggestions.

While some Mabayo residents said that they were not aware of the changes in the local climate, more of the locals agreed that weather patterns have changed.

“Mas mahaba na ang tag-init at tag-ulan,” a local fisherman said. “Hindi na matimpla ang panahon, ‘di tulad nang dati.” (ADP/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] SBMA Environment Management Specialist Rhea Jane Pescador-Mallari explains the dangers posed by climate change to residents of small coastal and upland communities, urging them to help protect the environment to avert further damage. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] SBMA Forester Patrick Escusa discusses the SBMA social fencing program, pointing out how upland residents could help guard and care for the forest and prevent the entry of illegal loggers and poachers. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA, Lyceum-Subic sign new lease agreement

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Lyceum of Subic Bay (LSB) for the extension of the lease of school premises here for another 25 years.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia and LSB president and CEO Alfonso Borda signed the agreement at the LSB at the start of the month-long celebration of the school’s eleventh foundation anniversary.

The agreement grants LSB another 25-year lease of its present site, effective upon the expiry of its present contract in October 2015. The new agreement is renewable for another 25 years upon mutual consent of both parties.

Addressing officials and students who witnessed the event, Borda recalled that the school started out eleven years ago with just three rented spaces that served as classrooms.

“From three ‘carcass’ facilities, we have grown into a successful school complete with all the necessary facilities that our students need to have better education,” Borda said.

“For this, we are very thankful for the support of SBMA,” he added, noting that the new lease agreement is a testimony of the trust and confidence that the SBMA has bestowed upon Lyceum of Subic Bay as a partner in the provision of quality education for students and the labor force in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“To date, our population has increased to 1,500 students taking baccalaureate and TESDA-accredited courses such as travel management, auto-mechanic, hotel and restaurant management, among others,” Borda said.

He added that as part of the renewed lease agreement and to show gratitude for SBMA’s continuous support, Lyceum is opening up to 100 slots in the school’s scholarship program to students endorsed by the SBMA to attend any of the courses/programs offered by the school.

The signing of the new agreement was also witnessed by SBMA director Benjamin Antonio III, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Administration Fernando de Villa, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Legal Affairs Randy Escolango, SBMA HRD manager Lilia Elizabeth Hinanay-Escusa, and top officials and administrators of the Lyceum of Subic Bay. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia (left) shakes hands with Alfonso Borda, President and CEO of Lyceum of Subic Bay, after signing a memorandum of agreement for the 25-year extension of the lease for the Lyceum campus in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Also in photo is SBMA Deputy Administrator for Administration Fernando De Villa, who served as one of the witnesses. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA names airport engineer Employee of the Year

An engineer in the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) was named 2014 Employee of the Year during the awarding ceremony held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) on Thursday.

Engr. Aldrin Sadang, supervising airways communicator, who was also named Employee of the Year for the Aviation and Maritime Operations Group of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), emerged as the best candidate among the six finalists in this year’s search for the agency’s outstanding employees.

“I should admit that I was a bit stunned when I learned about my nomination. Immediately, I can only utter ‘Thank you, Lord’ because being nominated in a prestigious search like this is a big thing,” Sadang said during his acceptance speech.

“I am pleased to have received this award. To everyone, especially to our Chairman Roberto V. Garcia and the members of the Personnel Selection Board, thank you for your choice and for your trust in me. I will continue to do my best to justify your trust and contribute productively to SBIA and to SBMA as a whole,” he added.

Sadang, who has been working in SBIA since 1995, helped the agency in saving a hefty P41 million by restoring the 19-year old airport’s weather observation system (AWOS).

The MILOS 500 and MIDAS 600 environmental data collection system of the AWOS was declared “beyond economical repair and due for replacement” by its supplier, but was restored to usefulness because of Sadang’s ingenuity and persistence.

The other five finalists in the search for the SBMA Employee of the Year were: standards supervisor Czarina Fragata, planning officer Jaime Menor Jr., roads and bridges supervisor Engr. Edgar Reyes, head administrative officer Lourdes Edejer, and accounting specialist Regina Gloria. They were also named Employees of the Year for their respective strategic business units.

Fragata, representing the Business and Investment Group, was nominated for her effort in the implementation of the Environment and Tourism Administrative Fees (ETAF). The ETAF helped boost the agency’s revenue generation.

Menor of the Chairman and Administrator’s Group was instrumental in the agency’s qualification with the Performance-based Bonus (PBB) that employees benefitted from. He has also been constantly helping other departments with his technical skills in computer database and statistics.

Reyes, who represented the Public Services Group, was responsible for generating savings worth P484,100 for the first quarter of 2014 alone from initiatives like traffic signage fabrication, recycling of traffic barrier, and edge marking and line canal.

Edejer, of the Regulatory Group, serves as the head administrative officer for the Ecology Center and has provided clerical assistance during project implementations by her department. Ecology Center was one of the agency’s top performing departments in 2014.

Gloria, from the Support Services Group, facilitated the payment of reconciled accounts of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the National Power Corporation (NPC) amounting to almost P29 million.

SBMA Director Benjamin Antonio III lauded the all finalists, as well as the Employees of the Quarter on behalf of Chairman Roberto Garcia.

“It’s tough to work for an agency like the SBMA. We all know that SBMA is not your typical government agency whose concern is as vast as SBMA’s. We have an airport, we have a seaport; we take care of investors, we take care of our own infrastructure, and we don’t get subsidy from the national government, yet we even give back to the national government,” Antonio said.

“So working in SBMA is complex. Working in SBMA entails a certain type of persistence,” he added, stressing the dedication of the outstanding employees.

Now on its ninth year, the search for the SBMA Employee of the Year is a project of the SBMA Human Resources Management Department, in line with the Civil Service Commission’s PRAISE program, which is aimed at recognizing and rewarding exemplary services rendered by employees. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Engr. Aldrin Sadang of the SBMA Aviation and Maritime Operations Group receives his trophy from Atty. Ramon Agregado, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services, while SBMA Director Benjamin Antonio III watches, after Sadang bested other finalists during the search for the 2014 Employee of the Year held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] Engr. Aldrin Sadang of the SBMA Aviation and Maritime Operations Group shows his 2014 Employee of the Year trophy during the awarding ceremony for the search for the SBMA 2014 Employee of the Year held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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USS Fort Worth restocks, refuels in Subic

The USS Fort Worth, the United States' Littoral Combat ship (LCS 3), stopped at Subic Bay last Monday, May 4 to resupply and refuel, the US Embassy in Manila said Tuesday.

It was the first stop in the Philippines for USS Fort Worth, on its maiden 16-month rotational deployment to support the Indo-Asia-Pacific Rebalance, the embassy said.

“While this is a brief visit for Fort Worth, the ship will return to the Philippines later this summer to participate in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2015 with the Republic of Philippines Navy,” said Cmdr. Matthew Kawas, Fort Worth Crew 103 commanding officer.

After the refueling, USS Fort Worth will continue its routine operations in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

USS Fort Worth is the second LCS to deploy to 7th Fleet as part of an initiative to deploy up to four LCS in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region by 2018, the embassy said.

It said the third and fourth LCS deployments are planned in 2016.

"Fast, agile and mission-focused, littoral combat ships are designed to operate in near-shore environments and employ modular mission packages that can be configured for surface warfare, mine countermeasures or anti-submarine warfare," the embassy said.

It added the Fort Worth will use surface warfare (SUW) mission package for its entire deployment, augmenting a 57mm gun and rolling airframe missile launcher with two 30mm guns, two 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boats, and two six-member maritime security boarding teams.

USS Fort Worth will also have an embarked aviation detachment from Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 35, the Navy's first composite expeditionary helicopter squadron, which consists of one MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and one MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system.

The Fire Scout complements the MH-60R by extending the HSM-35's range and endurance, enhancing maritime domain awareness.

CARAT exercises

Meanwhile, the embassy said USS Fort Worth will conduct routine patrols in the 7th Fleet area of operations before it returns to Singapore for the International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) 2015.

During the summer and fall, USS Fort Worth will take part in most of the 2015 CARAT exercise series.

CARAT is an annual series of bilateral exercises involving the US Navy, Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste. (Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News)

PHOTO:
USS Navy's Littoral Combat Ship USS Fort Worth. (Agence France-Presse)

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/482314/news/nation/uss-fort-worth-restocks-refuels-in-subic

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Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 pageant launched in Subic Freeport

Twenty beautiful and fabulous mothers and married women from all over the country who took their chance to be part of one of the country’s biggest pageants, the Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015, were presented to the media on Wednesday at the Camayan Beach Resort and Hotel in Subic Bay Freeport.

National pageant director Morena Carla Cabrera-Quimpo said that this year's pageant candidates who selected from numerous hopefuls, embody the real strength of a Filipina mother.

“They represent a Filipina mother who is not confined by stereotypical notions, but rather a strong and bold individual who can fulfill her responsibilities as a mother and wife without compromising her own dreams,” Quimpo said.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto lauded the organizers for choosing Subic Bay as venue of one of the prestigious beauty pageants in the country.

“Subic is home to many beautiful things—we have the people, environment, the flora and fauna, and history—all these make Subic the preferred tourist destination among the best in Central Luzon,” Garcia said.

The official further noted that because of Subic’s natural attractions, it has become the home of various events, including the Century Tuna 5i50 and Iron Man international triathlons, as well as regular industry spectacles like the Advertising Summit.

Founded in 1996, the Mrs. Philippines-Globe pageant is touted as one of the biggest international beauty contests for married women, mothers and single mothers, recognizing them as movers of society, and a symbol of inspiration and beauty through their achievements, life stories and charitable causes.

“Not only that, the pageant celebrates beauty, goodwill, and tourism awareness through pageantry and competition; but more importantly, it promotes and supports the admirable strength of mothers by giving them a chance to step up, to reinvent and unleash their greater versions, and to communicate the deeper strength of every woman,” Quimpo noted.

This year, Mrs. Philippines-Globe’s set of lovely candidates include: Victoria Harnisch, Joana Krisanta La Madrid, Maria Aishelle Hwang, Sherry Lou Villaseñor, Yolanda Llamas, Joann Rosales, Jhunie Grace Lagman, Carina Guevara, Almira Zapanta, Maria Engracia Maniago, Jonalyn Agustin, Ruby Liboon, Jennifer Umali, Marilou Weir, Estrella Bobruk, Roscel Tala, Joe Ann Smith, Alodia Solis, Mary Ann Ternora and Grace Albonia.

The winner of Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 will receive up to P200,000 worth of prizes. She will also represent the Philippines in the prestigious Mrs. Globe 2016 World Finals at Shenzhen, China in November 2015.

Aside from the title of Mrs. Philippines-Globe itself, the candidates will also vie for the coveted Woman of Substance title alongside other special awards such as Achievement of the Year, Charity or Advocacy of the Year, Best Talent of the Year, Career Woman of the Year, Most Beautiful Face, Darling of the Press, Entrepreneur of the Year, Mrs. Body Beautiful, Most Elegant Woman/Designer of the Year, Personality of the Year, Husband of the Year, Calchews Supermodel Mom and Solane Mother of the Year.

The Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 coronation night will take place on June 20, 2015 at the Subic Bay Convention Center. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Candidates vying for Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 were presented during the pageant's press launch (photo from Mrs. Philippines-Globe Facebook page)

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Subic Freeport workers run, sing and dance to celebrate Labor Day

Members of the Subic Bay Freeport work force joined workers and employees worldwide in celebrating Labor Day (May 1) with fun, music, and dance in the annual Freeport Games and Sports Festival held at the Harbor Point Activity Center here.

The celebration kicked off with a 3-kilometer fun run joined in by more than 750 runners from 33 Freeport-listed companies.

This was followed by a singing contest, a dance competition, and the Search for Ms. Freeport Games and Sports 2015.

Daisy Princesa of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Labor Department said the event drew participants from various departments of the SBMA, as well as from business locators in Subic.

“We are happy that despite the fact that it’s a holiday and they could be enjoying a long weekend vacation with friends and families, they opted to participate in this once a year Labor Day celebration,” Princesa said.

Maricel Maturbo of Koryo Phils. was among those who participated in the fun run. She crossed the finish line with her two-year old daughter Olivia Mae on a stroller.

“It was so exciting joining your co-workers in celebrating Labor Day this way. At least, we promote friendship and we feel that our company and the SBMA are acknowledging our contributions to our country,” Maturbo added.

Officials of the SBMA Labor Department, which organized the celebration, said that some 3,000 job hunters were also expected to flock to a job fair that would offer jobseekers with more than a thousand job opportunities at various companies inside the Freeport area.

The jobs fair is a regular part of the annual Labor Day celebration in this free port, and attracts applicants from the neighboring provinces of Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga, as well as Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia earlier said that the Freeport’s workforce now number 97,000, with the 1,324 local and foreign companies in the Freeport that invested a combined amount of US$9.1 billion.

“Subic is now one of the major contributors to country’s improving economy and this is because of the professionalism and skills and expertise of the local manpower that are very important in business operations,” Garcia also said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
LABOR DAY FUN RUN: Workers from various business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone join a fun run in celebration of Labor Day. Aside from this activity, the SBMA Labor Department also organized song and dance contests, muse competition for the workers, and a jobs fair at the Ayala Harbor Point Mall. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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ICTSI-SBMA cargo processing cut to 4 hours

Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), together with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), have moved their offices under one roof to speed up cargo processing, an SBITC official said.

SBITC General Manager Roberto Locsin said port users could expect fast and smooth processing of their cargo as the three offices have adopted a one-stop-shop (OSS) system.

“Through the OSS, what we want to achieve is a seamless flow of transactions to the benefit of our customers,” Locsin said.

The OSS eliminates the need for port users to go to different locations within the Freeport zone for various transactions.

Average processing time has been reduced to four hours provided that pertinent document requirements are complete. Previously, port users spend up to one day to complete processing of their documents.

“Just imagine the convenience: out of the 16 steps before you get your container out of the terminal, 14 of them can be processed in the OSS facility,” Locsin said.

The OSS is part of SBITC’s initiative to lure potential customers to Subic. With its competitive rates compared with other ports in Luzon, Subic also offers flexibility, reliability and convenience.

With the BOC and SBMA under one roof, coordination has become relatively easier resulting in faster resolution of issues.

Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras led the launching of the OSS together with SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia and SBITC general manager Roberto Locsin.

Located inside the New Container Terminal 1, the OSS is next to the administration offices of SBITC and several satellite offices of shipping lines.

“After taking a good first step towards improving things here in Subic, the next step is to get the word out and get more customers to come to us,” Locsin said. (Rosalie C. Periabras, Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/ictsi-sbma-cargo-processing-cut-to-4-hours/180028/

PHOTO:
Cabinet Secretary Jose Almendras (left) and SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia officially open the One-Stop-Shop with SBITC general manager Roberto Locsin, SBMA Deputy Administrator Mar Sanqui and other port officials at the New Container Terminal-1 in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Zambales tops 2014 ICC volunteer turnout

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Zambales has been commended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Philippines as the province with the most number of volunteers who participated in the 2014 coastal cleanup project.

In an awarding ceremony held during the 45th Earth Day celebration last April 22, Commodore Gerry Reyes, director for marine environmental protection of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), said that Zambales turned out a total of 55,151 volunteers who joined the September 27 coastal cleanup last year.

This number was almost double the 30,000-participant target set by officials of the2014 International Coastal Cleanup-Zambales (ICC-Zambales), after the 27,000 turnout set in 2013.

The coastal cleanup project was held in more than 100 sites spread out across Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City, and along the length of the Zambales coast.

In the April 22 ceremony, Reyes, assisted by RAdm Valentin Prieto Jr. and Commodore Salvador Tiangco Jr., both of the PCGA, presented the citation to 2014 International Coastal Cleanup-Zambales (ICCZ) officials led by Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II, Lighthouse Marina Resort Legacy Foundation director Zedrik Avecilla, and Ayala Harbor Point Mall general manager Derrick Manuel.

Reyes noted that the ICC-Zambales came out with a heavy turnout despite the postponement of the project from September 20 to September 27 due to Typhoon Mario, which caused heavy flooding in large areas in Metro Manila, as well as parts of Zambales on September 19.

In the 2013 cleanup, ICC-Zambales came up with 27,000, the second biggest number of volunteers in the whole country. The Philippines itself, with a total of 182,408 volunteers, also had the second biggest number of participants among all the countries that joined the ICC in 2013.

The Zambales group began joining the ICC in 2007 when 30 volunteer-employees from The Lighthouse Marina Resort in the free port participated in the global event.

Since then, the number of participants in ICC-Zambales has astronomically grown to 800 volunteers in 2009, 2,000 participants in 2010, 4,000 in 2011, 14,000 in 2012, and 27,000 in 2013.

The ICC, an environmental event that is now celebrated every 3rd Saturday of September by volunteers from 92 countries and locations around the world, is being hailed as an effective project to raise awareness in environmental protection and to mobilize citizen action to effect changes toward this purpose.

Through the data collected from the annual cleanup, innovations have been made to develop materials, manufacturing processes and products that will interrupt the cycle of pollution. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
2014 International Coastal Cleanup-Zambales (ICCZ) officials led by Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II Zedrik Avecilla and Derrick Manuel, along with SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, receive recognition from Commodore Gerry Reyes and other PCGA officials for coming up with the biggest number of volunteers for the 2014 cleanup project. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Port sustains 3-year growth momentum

Following the well-attended 2nd Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibition last week, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia announced yesterday that the Port of Subic has kept up its growth momentum that began in 2012, on to the first quarter of the current year.

“For the past three years, the Port of Subic has continued to register positively in terms of revenues, gross registered tonnage (GRT), number of ship calls, and non-containerized and containerized cargos,” Garcia reported.

In 2011, annual port revenues were recorded at P371 million, which by 2014 had ballooned to P908 million, or a total growth of 126 per cent. Additionally, ship calls increased from 1,803 in 2011 to 2,591 in 2014, indicating a growth of 15 per cent.

Garcia added that the port’s GRT was only 14 million in 2011, but expanded to 40 million last year, growing by 186 per cent during the three-year period.

“Our port also enjoyed similar growth in terms of containerized cargo, which grew from 27,671 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), in 2011 to 77,177 TEUs by 2014, reflecting a 60 per cent growth. Non-containerized cargo volume also experienced a three-year build-up of 136 per cent, from 2.6 million metric tons in 2011 to 6.1 million metric tons in 2014,” he noted.

Garcia said that SBMA is anticipating further growth, given the positive outlook for the country’s economy. This optimism seems to be bearing out, as the Subic Port’s year-on-year performance for the first quarter of 2015 shows the same uptrend it has enjoyed in the past three years.

“Our port revenue has increased by 20 per cent, GRT by 12 per cent, non-containerized cargo by 15 per cent, containerized cargo by 28 per cent, and ship calls by 18 per cent,” he detailed.

According to Garcia, the entry of more domestic and foreign vessels that call regularly on the Subic has vastly improved the port’s connectivity to the world.

“We now have NYK Line, SITC, Maersk Line, APL, and Wan Hai vessels plying to and from major Asian ports like Kaohsiung, Tanjung, Singapore, Busan, Xiamen, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh, Shanghai, and Surabaya, among others; as well as to and from Japanese ports such as Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Chiba, and Kobe,” Garcia said.

Garcia also noted that the Subic Port successfully managed to accommodate the sudden surge in container shipments at the height of the Manila congestion last year, proving its capacity and readiness to handle volume shipments.

“This year we aspire to hit a target volume of 120,000 TEUs, or 20 per cent of the 600,000-TEU combined annual capacity of the port’s New Container Terminals 1 and 2, in line with our vision to make this Freeport the premier logistics hub north of Metro Manila,” Garcia revealed. (KMF/CorComm-SBMA)

Photo: The New Container Terminal 1 (NCT1) at the Port of Subic at night

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More shippers now prefer Subic port

More shipping companies and port users in Central and Northern Luzon are now preferring to use the Port of Subic as transshipment hub because of easy access and lower cost.

The shippers lauded the advantages of the Subic port during the 2nd Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibit, which was held here on Friday with no less than 500 delegates from shipping firms, trucking and forwarding consortia, customs brokers, import/export-related corporations, and other port users from Metro Manila, Central and Northern Luzon, as well as Southern Luzon.
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The conference, with the theme “Subic Bay: Your Gateway to Central and Northern Luzon,” was organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in cooperation with Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC).

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, who was keynote speaker in the event, said that “Most people are moving north and the number is up tremendously.”

Almendras, who is also head of the Cabinet Cluster on Port Decongestion, noted the successful transformation of Subic from a mere seaport with well-maintained facilities into an international seaport hub and the role it played at the height of the port congestion crisis and truck ban in Manila.

“The important part of the success in moving resources is the port. And when we turned to Subic in those times of crisis, there is no way turning back,” he said.

He said that delays in processing goods in Manila during the crisis had made companies turn to Subic in order to ship their replenishment stocks in less than two weeks.

Meanwhile, Vincent Gottman, operations manager of Hansa Creation, said that since they started using the Port of Subic for shipping in raw materials and transporting finished products to a factory in Manila, they never encountered a single problem.

“Since using Subic, our deliveries always arrived on time,” said Gottman whose company based in the Clark Special Economic Zone supplies toys to many zoos and wild parks worldwide.

He added that the government should tell stakeholders in the shipping industry about the changes that the Port of Subic underwent to provide better services, and to convince more companies to use Subic for their export and import operations.

For his part, Gary Algodon, the procurement manager of San Miguel Brewery, told delegates that as of 2014 San Miguel Brewery’s port operations had moved its transshipment to Subic because of the ease in moving goods in and out of the container yard.

“There was no problem that we encountered in transporting our shipments. Instead, we have a bonus from Subic and that is cost-saving,” Algodon said.

He noted that using Subic is more economical because of its easy access to Northern Luzon, adding that the company is now moving 80% of its product supply in Luzon, with only 20% contracted to Manila.

“Hopefully, this year, we can make that 100%,” he added.

For Anthony Eugenio, operations manager of Atlas Brokerage and Express Padala, Inc., using the port of Subic for receiving “Balikbayan” boxes from the United States has the same cost as in Manila—“Except that in Subic there is no problem about traffic and the threat of port congestion that might put the company’s service to test.”

Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PECI) in Region III president Cris Venzon, who spoke in behalf of his group, announced that PECI is supporting the initiatives of SBMA in improving the Port of Subic.

“We want to ship out (our products) through Subic,” Venzon said, adding that doing so will save them time and the cost of transportations compared to using Manila ports.

He explained that from anywhere in Central Luzon, Subic is accessible through major road networks, which are now undergoing widening and improvement to address the imminent increase of trucks and forwarders plying to Subic from various origins in the region.

For his part, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the continuous improvement of the Port of Subic has already resulted in the entry of four more shipping lines.

Garcia said that the Japan-based Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Line, one of the largest shipping companies in the world, made its first direct route to the Port of Subic from Kaohsiung, Taipei in November last year with its MV Jakarta Towers.

China-based SITC Container Lines (Phils.), Inc. has also opened a direct route from Xiamen, China to Subic.

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

“Subic, today, is the most preferred and most competitive gateway to Central Luzon and Northern Luzon with its newly opened One-Stop-Shop Center at the New Container Terminal 1 that can connect shippers to the SBMA-Bureau of Customs and SBITC for faster transactions,” Garcia also told the conference delegates.(RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] Cabinet Secretary Jose Almendras (left) and SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia prepare to cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the One-Stop-Shop at the New Container Terminal-1 to fast-track port transactions inside Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] Cabinet Secretary Jose Almendras (left) and SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia officially open the One-Stop-Shop with SBITC general manager Roberto Locsin, SBMA Deputy Administrator Mar Sanqui and other port officials at the New Container Terminal-1 in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic ready to serve as major port

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A Cabinet member said this free port is ready to serve as an alternative facility for international shipping companies to help decongest the Port of Manila.

“Subic Bay has so much potential because of its existing port, infrastructure, roads and electricity,” said Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, who heads the Cabinet cluster on port congestion.

He said the free port was ready to become a transshipment hub for foreign cargo.

“Subic will become more accessible with the exciting new developments in Central and northern Luzon,” Almendras told the Second Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibit here on Friday.

He said the North Luzon Expressway, the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway hastened travel time for trucks carrying cargo to and from this free port.

“Congestion is a reality in mega cities all over the world. The solution is to decongest the cities and this will open an opportunity for Subic,” Almendras said.

He said the government had to add port capacity elsewhere outside Metro Manila.

In a position paper presented during the conference, business groups in Central Luzon endorsed a co-loading bill, which would open interisland shipping to foreign vessels.

“The passage of the bill into law will broaden the market of the Subic free port outside Luzon,” they said.

The position paper was signed by the presidents of various chambers of commerce, exporters and investors in Pampanga and this port. (Allan Macatuno, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/687749/subic-ready-to-serve-as-major-port#ixzz3YT9udLql

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Canadian former ice hockey player is fastest man at Asian Triathlon Cup in Subic

A former ice hockey player from Canada was the fastest man in the 2015 ASTC Asian Triathlon Cup held at the Subic Freeport on Sunday.

Racing in the Philippines for the first time, Tyler Mislawchuk crossed the finish line in one hour 47 minutes and 56 seconds to rule the men’s standard elite race, 20 seconds ahead of Daniel Coleman of Australia who was just ahead of another Canadian, Alexis Lepage.

The 20-year-old Manitoba native swam through a school of jellyfish in the warm waters off Malawaan then built a huge gap in the bike stage - enough to hold off his closest pursuers with a blazing finish in the last two kilometers.

“The run part was the most difficult. I struggled through the first half with stomach pains – I might have taken too much liquids during the bike—but I was able to get my breathing down and digest a bit and was able to get back in the second half,” said Milawchuk, whose runner’s build of 1.7 meters and 125 lbs prompted him to shift from competitive hockey to triathlon four years ago.

Japan’s Chika Sato retained her women’s elite title with a time of 2:26:30 despite being stung by a jellyfish on her left leg in the swim course. Taking the silver medal was Hideko Kikuchi while Australia’s Laura Dennis earned the bronze.

The 29-year old-Sato came second out of the water and managed to maintain her positioning in the bike part before making a move in the run portion by using her knowledge of Subic’s streets and corners.

Japan's Chika Sato crosses the finish line to win the ASTC Asian Cup 2015 gold medal in the Women's Elite.

Japan's Chika Sato crosses the finish line to win the ASTC Asian Cup 2015 gold medal in the Women's Elite.

A total of 66 international elite athletes took part in the annual race on a standard race course covering a 1.5km swim-40km bike-10km run that also serves a qualifying event. The ITU-sanctioned event also had sprint and mini-sprint distances.

Olongapo’s John Leerams Chicano and recently arrived Fil-Am Kim Kilgroe led the Filipino effort in the absence of several members of the national team who are currently training overseas for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games.

SPIN.ph is a media partner of the event sponsored by New Balance, Standard Insurance, Gatorade, Century Tuna, Harbor Point, Ayala Malls, Asian Centre for Insulation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, Subic Traveler’s Hotel, East West Building Technology, Inc., Resort’s World Manila, Camayan Resort, Ocean Adventure, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Seafood Island, Magaul Bird Park at Jestcamp, OGIO, PTT, StatMed, Omega Pro, 2Go Express, RaceDay, Kikay Runner, SBR.ph, Multisport, PinoyFitness.com, Travelife Magazine and XPS TV. (Rhoel V Fernandez, Spin.Ph)

PHOTOS:

[1] Canada's Tyler Mislawchuk was the fastest man in Subic during the 2015 ASTC Asian Triathlon Cup. (Dante Peralta)


[2] Japan's Chika Sato crosses the finish line to win the ASTC Asian Cup 2015 gold medal in the Women's Elite.


Read more at http://www.spin.ph/multi-sport-events/news/2015-astc-asian-triathlon-cup-subic-tyler-mislawchuk-chika-sato-john-chicano-kim-kilgroe#OPEdsf47drtRHDsV.99

Follow the writer on Twitter: @rhoelfernandez

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