Russian, Indian GMs in three-way tie at Int'l Chess tilt in Subic

Three players remain unbeaten after the second round of the Philippine International Chess Championships held at the Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Russian grandmasters Anton Demchenko and Anton Shomoev and International Master Sunilduth Lyna Narayanan of India defeated their respective rivals to show the way in the second round of the tournament which has an averaged rating of 2434. Demchenko, one the champions in last year’s version of this twin events, stopped the Sicilian Scheveningen Keres Attack of Grandmaster Chakkravarthy Deepan of India in 60 moves while GM Shomoev beat our very own GM Eugene Torre in 79 moves of an Open Ruy Lopez as International Master Narayanan upset GM Lu Shanglei of China in 37 moves of a QGA.

The tournament is the first of two tournaments being organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and supported financially by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) headed by its Chairman, the Honorable Ricardo R. Garcia in cooperation with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) headed by its President, the Honorable Jose S. Cojuangco, Jr.

The other erstwhile leaders after the first round were held to draws by determined opponents starting with top seed grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta of India, who was held to a draw by International Master Lin Chen of China in 42 moves of a King’s Indian Saemisch, second seed GM Alexander Zuvob of Ukraine drew with fellow GM Vitaly Sivuk also of Ukraine in 33 moves of a Slav Defense Exchange, third seed GM Pavel Smirnov of Russia also drew his game with GM Nguyen Doc Hua of Vietnam in 33 moves of a Gruenfeld Exchange, GM Mikhail Mozharov drew with GM Joey Antonio in a Caro Kann Advance variation, 6th seed GM Vladimir Belous of Russia beat GM Tigran Kotanjian of Armenia in 28 moves of an English Opening. They are bunched in second place with 1.5 points.

PHOTO:
(from left) GRANDMASTERS Anton Demchenko and Anton Shomoev of Russia, and Narayanan Sunilduth Layna of India

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Subic to host 2 big int’l chess tilts

BARELY two weeks after holding its national championship, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines this time goes international, as it hosts two international chess tournaments in the next two weeks at the Subic Bay Freeport.

First up is the Philippine International Chess Championship (Open and Challenger Divisions) which will be held starting Nov. 9 and will end Nov. 14.

This will be immediately followed by the Philippine Sports Commission-Puregold Chess Challenge (Open and Challenger Divisions) to be held Nov. 16 to 21.

Both tournaments will be held at the Subic Peninsular Hotel located inside the Freeport.

NCFP executive director GM Jayson Gonzales said he expects at least 15 full-pledged grandmasters from Europe and Asia to join the tournament who will pit wits against local talents led by newly-minted national champion GM Richard Bitoon.

Based on the tentative list in the NCFP website, the foreign contingent will be bannered by GMs Ivan Popov Ivan of Russia (Elo 2661), Alexander Zubov of Ukraine (2630), Abhijeet Gupta of India (2629), Pavel Smirnov of Russia (2617) Lu Shanglei of China, Anton Demchenko of Russia, Mikhail Mozharov, Boris Savchenko, Vladimir Belous and Antoni Shomoev, all Russia, Chen Lin of China and Tigran Kotanjian of Armenia.

“This tournament will give our young players a chance to improve their game and their ratings as well. This will also give our national and international masters, both men and women, to achieve their goals of making it to the next level,” Gonzales said.

Aside from Bitoon, also expected to see action in the twin tournaments are National Chess Championship runner-up GM Joey Antonio, third placer IM Haridas Pascua, last year's champion and Asia's first GM Eugene Torre and fellow GMs Oliver Barbosa, Mark Paragua and John Paul Gomez and several up-and-coming players led by Fide Master Joseph Mari Turqueza and Jerad Docena, IM Paulo Bersamina, among others.

The women's side will be bannered by WIM Janelle Mae Frayna, newly-crowned women's champion WFM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza and WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego. (Peopleś Tonight)

http://www.journal.com.ph/sports/other-sports/subic-to-host-2-big-int-l-chess-tilts

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Metro Pacific officially takes over SCTEX

The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) expects up to 9% growth in the annual vehicular traffic of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), as it formally takes over the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the country’s longest toll road.

State-run Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) on Thursday, November 5, officially turned over the O&M of SCTEX to the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led MNTC. The concessionaire shelled out an upfront payment of P3.5 billion ($74.60 million) for the contract.

"We do expect that the operations of SCTEX will be viable from the start. Actually, the traffic has been building up because of the long delay. Between 2009 and today, the traffic has increased to over 30,000 vehicles daily from below 8,000," Jose Ma Lim, president and CEO of MNTC’s parent firm Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), said on the sidelines of the ceremonial turnover in Pampanga.

Higher traffic

"With the higher traffic, the difficult years when the operations were not yet profitable has already been passed," Lim added.

According to the MPIC executive, his group is expecting 8% to 9% growth in annual vehicular traffic.

Average daily vehicular traffic along SCTEX has grown more than threefold to about 30,855 from 9,302 when the road started operations in 2008, BCDA said.

To recall, MNTC submitted revised proposals for the SCTEX deal after Malacañang suspended the company's July 2011 business and operating agreement with BCDA for the 94-kilometer toll road.

Malacañang approved MNTC’s proposal in November 2014, but decided to subject it to a "price challenge" to get "the highest upfront cash value."

The contract required from MNTC a P3.5-billion ($74.60 million) upfront payment, inclusive of value-added tax. It is also required to share half of gross toll revenues with BCDA, as well as assume road operations and maintenance costs of SCTEX.

NLEX-SCTEX integration

For MNTC President and CEO Rodrigo Franco, the turnover "paves the way for the start of improvement of services on SCTEX," citing the integration of toll collection systems of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and SCTEX.

This is aimed at "removing toll barriers along NLEX and SCTEX so that instead of the current 5 stops motorists from Manila have to make to get to Subic, it will be reduced to just two,” Franco said.

With Japan’s assistance, BCDA spent P34.9 billion ($743.87 million) to build SCTEX, which opened in 2008. The 4-lane expressway cuts through Bataan, Pampanga, and Tarlac, and is directly linked to the NLEX, which is also operated by MNTC. (Chrisee Dela Paz, Rappler.com)

http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/208-infrastructure/111850-metro-pacific-sctex-official-takeover

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US Navy submarine USS Key West visits Subic Bay

SUBIC BAY, Philippines (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Key West (SSN 722) arrived in Subic Bay for a visit as part of its deployment to the Western Pacific, Nov. 4.

"I'm incredibly proud of the crew and what we've accomplished over the past couple of months," said Cmdr. John Thompson, Key West's commanding officer. "Their hard work to prepare for deployment was validated through a very successful execution. Now we have a new mission at hand - to represent the United States while enjoying the sights and experiences that the Philippines has to offer."

Master Chief Electronics Technician Eric Baker, chief of the boat aboard Key West, expressed similar sentiments.

"This has been a very busy year for Key West and these men have worked very hard," said Baker. "They are ready for this well-deserved port visit after a successful deployment and are eager to explore and take in the culture and sights of Subic Bay."

After more than a month at sea, the crew of Key West was very much looking forward to its first stop in Subic Bay.

Electronics Technician 3rd Class Zachary Cenit looked forward to reconnect with his family.

"I haven't seen my relatives in four years," said Cenit. "I can't wait to see them and eat and celebrate together."

Other Sailors, such as Electronics Technician 1st Class Joel Ignalla were just eager to return home.

"I was raised in San Pedro Laguna until I was 14," said Ignalla. "For me, the Philippines represent my childhood."

"I've heard a lot of great things about Subic Bay," said Sonar Technician 1st Class Robert Hatton. "I'm excited for the diving, especially the wrecks regarding our shared history between the United States and the Philippines."

A second-flight 688 submarine, Key West is outfitted with four MK 67 torpedo tubes and 12 Tomahawk cruise missile vertical launch tubes. The 360-foot, 6,900-ton vessel remains one of the stealthiest, most formidable submarines in the world. Key West is able to conduct anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. (Lt. j.g. David Oh, USS Key West Public Affairs)

PHOTO
A tug boat helps position the US Navy submarine USS Key West while its crewmembers secure its moorings at the Alava Wharf after arrival in the Subic Bay Freeport for a routine port stop on Wednesday morning. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91842

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UK-based company tapped for solar farm project in Subic Bay

A UNITED Kingdom-based solar energy company has been tapped as the engineering, procurement and management (EPM) provider for a 100-megawatt solar farm project in Subic Bay.

With the project, Proinso, a global leader in the photovoltaic industry, is looking to further increase its presence in the Asian market.

“The Subic Bay engagement is a complex project demanding a high level of capability support across many disciplines provided via our EPM program. Our EPM model is based on a collaborative approach working with local partners. This way, Proinso is able to deliver world class renewable assets and also invest in the development of a strong local industry,” Stuart Macfarlane, Proinso regional head for Asia Pacific, said in a statement yesterday.

Proinso is partnering with local firm Asiacrest Marketing Corp. for the Subic solar farm project, which is touted as the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Asiacrest Marketing President and CEO Lawrence Plata said the company will be Proinso’s exclusive distributor and country representative for the Philippine market.

“We are tapping experts from the UK, Spain and Australia to design and execute the project. These experts will also engage in a knowledge transfer program to develop the skills of our young and dynamic team of local engineers. We have more solar projects in the pipeline which we hope will help to speed up economic and social development,” Mr. Plata said in the same statement.

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in Manila had worked closely with Proinso for its entry into the Philippine market.

UKTI International Trade Adviser David Taylor said the Subic Bay project is one of the biggest by a UK company in the Philippines this year.

“The UK is committed to action on climate change and Proinso is a great example of our business expertise in renewable energy and low carbon initiatives. A project of this scale will utilize the abundance of solar energy in the Philippines and help the country develop a cleaner energy mix,” British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad said.

Proinso has extensive experience in systems integration in grid-tied, off-grid, storage and diesel hybrid solutions across residential, commercial, industrial and utility applications.

The solar energy company said international markets account for 88% of its sales. It currently has offices in Spain, Germany, Greece, Italy, USA, UK, Canada, China, Brazil, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Mexico and India. (CRAG, BusinessWorld)

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=uk-based-company-tapped-for-solar-farm-project-in-subic-bay-&id=117583

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Ship calls at Subic Port jump by 53% in September

Even more ships now call on the Port of Subic, as indicated by a 53 per cent buildup in its number of ship calls, as of end-September compared to the same month last year.

Living up to the promise of being an alternative port to Manila, the Subic Port saw a rise in the number of domestic and foreign vessels by 56 per cent and 47 per cent, respectively, for the month.

These vessels brought in a 10 per cent increase in gross registered tonnage (GRT), as domestic vessels mustered a substantial spread of 126 per cent in GRT and foreign ships, a modest gain of six (6) per cent.

“Our port likewise enjoyed a 55 per cent hike in revenues, from P63 million in September 2014 to P99 million last month,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia reported.

A major contributors to the Port’s revenue figures were port leases and rentals, which surged up by 126 per cent; and SBMA shares, which improved by 110 per cent, Garcia added.

Also contributing to this increase in revenues were cargo charges, which went up by 19 per cent; and processing fees and other charges, which expanded by 27 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively.

According to Garcia, the Subic Port also showed marked improvements in cargo volume at the end of September, as containerized cargo shipments swelled by 50 per cent in terms of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

“As of last month, we have already broken our 2014 yearend record of 77,000 TEUs,” Garcia disclosed, noting that total TEUs from January to September this year have already reached 93,757 TEUs.

Although transshipments went down from 65 TEUs in September 2014 to six (6) TEUs in September this year, this drop was compensated by a 51 per cent increment in import shipments and a 19 per cent upturn in export shipments, along with a 52 per cent and a 84 per cent growth in incoming empties and outgoing empties, respectively.

Similarly, non-containerized cargo volume registered a growth of 48 per cent in terms of metric tons (MTs) in September, as compared to the same month last year. These cargoes largely consisted of liquid bulk and petroleum shipments, which jumped by 99 per cent, followed by bulk and break bulk by 16 per cent, and heavy equipment, lo-lo, and ro-ro shipments by four (4) per cent.

Garcia attributes the port’s positive performance to several factors such as Subic’s one-stop shop, which is the only one of its kind in Luzon; SBMA’s port marketing programs, which includes two recent maritime summits; and the formation of a Maritime Technical Group.

“All these initiatives plus the fact that Subic Bay is the only port in the Philippines western seaboard that still has enough capacity to handle additional container volume have further sharpened our port’s competitive edge,” the top SBMA official explained. (KMF/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Containers unloaded at the New Container Terminal in Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Benedicto keeps title in Tri United 3

UNILAB Active Health’s (ULAH) August Benedicto displayed perseverance and determination to retain his Tri United 3 title Sunday at the ACEA Resort inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

The event organized by Bike King headed by Raul Cuevas was the toughest series this year since its main contest covers roughly 113-kilometers in distance (1.9-k swim, 90-k bike, 21-k run).

Despite the intense heat, Benedicto kept pace with teammate Benjamin Rana and early leader Ben Regan in the swim before slowly pulling away in the bike and run to clock the best time at 4 hours and 48 minutes in the Elite Male category.

“I was behind a few competitors coming from the swim but I managed to overtake them,” Benedicto said.

Rana eventually lost steam down the stretch and finished third (5:07:23) behind CamSur Tri Team bet Billy Biag (5:04:16).
Meanwhile Katelyn Kearney was the lone Elite Female participant and went on to claim the title with her overall time of 7:17:15.

The effort put in by the triathletes in the event supported by ULAH, Enervon Activ, Active Health Carb Gel, Enervon HP, NLEX-SCTEX Cycling, Orbea, Saucony, WeatherPhilippines, TIMEX, Gardenia, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Court Meridian Hotel and Suites and Oxford Hotel and Casino were rewarded with R10,000, R6,000 and R4,000 cash prizes.
The next race in the series – Tri United 4 – will be held at the Fontana Leisure Park in Clark, Pampanga on November 22. (Tempo)

PHOTO:
Tri United 3 has attracted some 80 triathletes seeing action in the Subic Bay race.

http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2015/10/27/benedicto-keeps-title/

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Subic a role-model for promotion of IP rights and welfare

The initiatives of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in uplifting the living conditions of the indigenous people (IP) living within the Subic Bay Freeport has become a model for other economic zones hosting similar tribal communities.

Recently, the Ateneo De Zamboanga University (ADZU) invited SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia to the forum “From Zamboanga to Subic, In Search for Partnership” that aimed to pick up insights from the SBMA’s experiences with the Pastolan Ayta tribe with whom the agency had signed a joint management agreement (JMA) for the use and development of tribal lands.

The forum, which also sought to deepen understanding of the Zamboangueños on the two-fold issue of land use and land ownership between the Subanon tribe and the Zamboanga Economic Zone was held at the Garden Orchid Hotel in Zamboanga City.

ADZU director Loreta Sta. Teresa said the SBMA inputs will “concretize the writings and the experiences summarized in the book report” developed after conducting a study trip in Subic and Clark free ports.

The forum, Sta. Teresa added, “will be a venue to materialize what ADZU envisioned for a new Mindanao where multi-cultural communities live in peace and harmony.”

In his presentation, Chairman Garcia explained that with the signing of the JMA between the SBMA and the Pastolan Aytas, the indigenous tribe started collecting five percent (5%) of the gross income paid by the investors for rent of the land, starting May 12, 2009, the date when the Ayta’s certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT) was registered.

Above this, the SBMA also has started to give each Ayta family P20,000 annually, an amount which is increased further on the 6th, 11th, 16th, and 25th year. The agency also donates P100,000 each year for the fiesta and Christmas celebrations at the Pastolan Ayta village.

Garcia also said that able-bodied Aeta workers are given priority in any job hiring for the construction of the US$450-million solar and wind project located at a 20-hectare area near Pastolan.

He added that the SBMA also turned over the management of the Pamulaklakin Tribal Park to the Aytas after completing the transition period for management training.

The Aytas also benefited from SBMA community development assistance programs, the construction of two schoolrooms for high school, and the establishment of a community clinic with detailed medical personnel from the SBMA Dispensary.

Garcia said the SBMA initiated the establishment of the JMA in recognition of the Ambala Ayta tribe of Subic Bay’s CADT, which proves the tribe’s ownership of the more than 4,280 hectares of land covering the Kalayaan and the Binictican housing areas, the Apaliin and the Pamulaklakin forest areas, and the El Kabayo tourism area, among others.

The JMA and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) were signed by the SBMA management and the Ambala Ayta tribal council in 2013.

The JMA upholds the rights of the Aytas to uplift the economic, cultural and social conditions of their tribe based on the programs being implemented by the government, and provide for a systematic management and development of the ancestral land, as indicated in the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, while ensuring the promotion of Ayta rights.

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Chairperson Zenaida Brigida Hamada-Pawid had commented that the JMA between the SBMA and the Ambala Ayta could “serve as template for all agreements entered by all indigenous people with regards to the use of their ancestral lands by any investors and business group.”

Pastolan chieftain Conrado Frenilla, meanwhile, said the JMA has become the culmination of the tribe’s long-fought struggle to gain recognition for their indigenous heritage. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (extreme right) explains the agency’s joint management agreement with the Ayta tribe in the Subic Bay Freeport during a forum at the Ateneo De Zamboanga University. Also in photo are (from left): Atty. Jonathan Adaci, head of the NCIP Ancestral Domains Office; Martin Guinilac, president of Labuan-Patalon-Limpapa-Subanen indigenous cultural community; Salvador Lazaro, head of the Project Office for Special Concerns; and Bonifacio Tolentino, Ayta elder at the Ambala Pastolan village in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (AMD/MPD-SBMA, ABL/PRD-SBMA)

[2] SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (second from left) and Subic Ayta leader Bonifacio Tolentino receive tokens of appreciation from Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME, (right) founder of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, at the culmination of a forum on cultural communities at the Ateneo De Zamboanga University. (AMD/MPD-SBMA, ABL/PRD-SBMA)

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SCADC renews push for Clark, Subic expansion

The Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC) is pursuing plans to expand the areas of the neighboring Subic Bay and Clark free ports to attract more investors and help solve the problem of congestion in Metro Manila.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia, who is also chairman of SCADC, said on Monday that council members have agreed to develop new industrial estates within the corridor between Subic and Clark.

“Accordingly, there are about 100,000 hectares of land suitable for development on both sides of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway [SCTEx],” Garcia said in a media briefing here.

“Initially, we’re looking for a 1,000-hectare pilot area. We’d allow Japanese or Korean investors to construct facilities there at their own expense to convince others that it’s beneficial to locate along the Subic-Clark corridor,” he added.

Garcia said that plans for the expansion of the Subic and Clark free ports have been in existence since the administration of former SBMA Chairman Felicito Payumo and former Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Rufo Colayco, but these did not push through.

The integrated development of Subic and Clark, as well as the vast corridor of flat lands between them, had been set as the objective of SCADC, which also seeks to harmonize programs and policies pertaining to Clark and Subic.

SCADC is composed of representatives from the BCDA, SBMA, Clark Development Corp., Department of Trade and Industry, Clark International Airport Corp. and, lately, North Luzon Railways Corp.

Subic, which has a total land area of 67,852 hectares, and Clark, which has 4,500 hectares, had since been developed into separate but complementary economic zones connected by the 94-kilometer SCTEx.

However, Subic, in particular, increasingly suffered from lack of space, as most of its mountainous territory is designated as a nature preserve and only less than 3,000 hectares have been put up for lease to business locators.

Garcia said that with the worsening traffic situation in Manila, as well as the diminishing space for industrial and commercial use in Subic, there is a need to find alternative investment sites to sustain economic growth.

“Foreign investors no longer find Manila attractive because of the traffic congestion,” Garcia pointed out. “But there’s no congestion, no truck ban and no flood in Clark and Subic.”

Garcia said it would be ideal for new investors to locate near Subic and Clark to make use of the distinct advantages the two free ports can offer.

“If investors need to deliver materials fast, there is Clark with its airport; and if they need to bring in heavy machinery, then there is the port of Subic,” he added. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/scadc-renews-push-for-clark-subic-expansion/

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Subic Freeport, overall winner in Asia of Global Free Zones of the Year 2015 award

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) adds another feather to its cap of achievements in the management and administration of the country’s first free port.

After the agency’s record highs for three (3) consecutive years, SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia announced today that the Freeport garnered two (2) major awards in the recently concluded survey for the Global Free Zones of the Year 2015 awards: overall winner in Asia and overall winner in the sub-region of South and Southeast Asia.

The Subic Freeport also received commendations in the form of bespoke awards for infrastructure developments and reinvestment. “Some locations, which were particularly outstanding, were acknowledged with honorable mentions and bespoke awards,” Garcia explained.

According to Garcia, the publication received a total of 76 entries from all over the world, which were individually studied by a panel of judges who then nominated their winning and runner-up locations in each region.

“Emerging as overall winner in Asia, as well as in South and Southeast Asia, is a significant indicator of Subic Freeport’s level of competitiveness among other zones in the region,” Garcia said.

Garcia added that the awards also underscore the Freeport’s attractiveness and potential as an investment site and validates the strategies that the Subic agency has been undertaken to spur the zone toward further growth.

The survey was conducted by the fDi Magazine, an 11-year old bi-monthly publication of The Financial Times, Ltd. of London, to acknowledge the most promising free zones across the world. Invited to join were free zones, government entities, and investment promotion bodies, which were asked to complete a short survey, detailing their zone’s attractiveness, facilities, and incentives offered to investors.

Survey questions included growth performance measures for 2013 and 2014; what multinational companies have chosen to locate in the zone and why; which tenants have chosen to undertake recent expansion of their presence in the zone; and what initiatives have been implemented to offered in the last 12 months to increase tenant numbers, including any special incentives, programmes, or facilities catering specifically to small medium enterprises or start-ups.

Also asked were infrastructure developments or facilities upgrades in the last 12 months, as well as major development plans to facilitate future expansion.

Wrapping up, the SBMA chairman pointed out, “These awards also mean that we’re on the right track and doing the right thing, and exerting our best effort as a team”. (KMF/CorComm-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia announces the “Global Free Zone of the Year” Award received by the Subic Bay Freeport Zone from fDi Magazine, a publication of the Financial Times of London. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA launches e-bills, payment system for locators

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently launched its electronic Billing and Payment System (e-BPS) to facilitate delivery of monthly statement of accounts (SOA) to locators and residents in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and remittance of payment, initially through the electronic banking services of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia said the SBMA e-BPS is the first such government system, and suggested other government agencies, particularly Clark Freeport Zone, and Freeport Area of Bataan, to consider adopting the same.

He said he expected the immediate deployment of the e-BPS Phase 2, which would include other payment transactions, including seaport charges and US-dollar denominated SBMA fees, and the remittance of payment through other BancNet member banks.

In lieu of the delivery of the monthly SOA, the SBMA will send email notification to locators and residents that their SOA has been posted online. With a hyperlink to the SBMA portal, locators and residents will be able to view their respective SOA, and authorize Landbank to electronically remit the payment of the outstanding amount from their account for credit to the SBMA account. Upon receipt of the electronic payment confirmation from Landbank, SBMA will update the e-BPS to reflect said statement.

The e-BPS is being implemented by the SBMA in collaboration with InterCommerce Network Services, Inc., a value-added service provider accredited by SBMA and other government trade regulatory agencies. (PortCalls.com)

PHOTO:
At the launching ceremony of e-BPS are SBMA officials led by Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (4th from left, seated) and lawyer Ramon O. Agregado (3rd from left, seated), along with LandBank representatives, Anthon C. Ferolino (left of Garcia), Vice-President, LandBank-Central Luzon Banking Group; Sylvia C. Lim (6th from left), Asst. Vice President of LandBank Subic Branch; Frank Lopez (extreme left, seated), President of Inter Commerce Network Services; Ninna Richelle H. Veran (6th from left, standing), Head of Cash Management Solutions Department and Paul Christian C. Cortez (9th from left, standing). (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.portcalls.com/sbma-launches-ebills-payment-system-locators/

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Royal Australian Navy ships in Subic Bay

Royal Australian Navy ships HMAS Arunta and HMAS Sirius are in Subic for a five-day visit, 7-11 October 2015. The short break from sea will give the ships’ companies an opportunity to continue their association with Filipino colleagues and experience Philippine culture and sights.

“Australia values the deepening engagement with the Philippine Navy,” said Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell, who welcomed the officers and crews of Arunta and Sirius at Subic, where the ships are docked. The Ambassador was accompanied by Defence Attaché Col Bruce Murray, AM.

Australia and the Philippines have a long-standing Defence Cooperation Program on counter-terrorism, maritime security and assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program. Recently, Australia gifted two operation-ready Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) from the Royal Australian Navy to help improve the Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) capacity of the Philippine armed forces.

The Royal Australian Navy played a vital part in the Australian Defence Force’s humanitarian efforts in the Philippines in 2013, carrying emergency supplies, water purifiers, generators, earth moving equipment and vehicles to areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

HMAS Arunta is an Anzac class frigate while HMAS Sirius is a fleet replenishment ship. The two ships have just completed successful exercises in the Indian Ocean.

HMAS Arunta is the second Royal Australian Navy ship to bear the name, and has historical ties to the Philippines. The first HMAS Arunta took part in the liberation of the Philippines in 1944, including pre-landing bombardments at Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Surigao Strait. In January 1945 the ship was suffered a near miss from a kamikaze at Lingayen Gulf. In July 1946 the first HMAS Arunta carried Commodore John Collins to Manila for the inauguration of the Philippine Republic.

The current HMAS Arunta has another link to the Philippines. Two Filipino-Australian sailors are currently serving as part of Arunta’s ship's company. Able Seaman Electronics Technician Aaron Scott and Able Seaman Boatswains Mate Matthew Parry will be taking some time off to visit with family in the Philippines.

“This deployment is especially important to me as I am able to visit the Philippines again, and I feel proud that my family will get to see me doing my job. It will also be a good opportunity to embrace, explore and remember what my background culture is all about,” Able Seaman Scott said.

This will be Able Seaman Parry’s first visit to the Philippines. "The port visit to the Philippines will be a great opportunity to meet family I have never met and to see what the culture and the lifestyle is like for my Mother and her family,” he said.

PHOTO:
HMAS Arunta and Sirius conduct a Replenishment at Sea while enroute to Subic Bay, Philippines

http://philippines.embassy.gov.au/mnla/MR151007.html

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Hanjin Subic Bay Yard Achieves 70% of 2015 New Order Target

With relatively good performance due to no unfavorable factors of offshore plants, Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction (HHIC) is happy about the performance of its overseas Subic Bay shipyard.

HHIC’s Subic Bay shipyard in the Philippines, which has been operating for six years now, has achieved 70 percent of the 2015 new order target with the orders of large container ships. In contrast, HHIC’s Youngdo yard in Busan, which is considered the beginning of the company, has shown some 20 percent of the new order achievement rate.

According to industry sources on Oct. 6, HHIC’s Subic Bay shipyard won contracts worth US$1 billion (1.17 trillion won) as of the end of last month. Accordingly, it is expected to achieve the 2015 target of US$1.2 billion (1.4 trillion won) with ease. The Subic Bay shipyard has received orders to build three 20,000 TEU container ships for the first time this year and six 11,000 TEU vessels. Considering the fact that the shipyard obtained the US$56 million (653.52 billion won) contracts to build a total of six ships last year, it has won orders, which are nearly two times as much as last year, in the third quarter alone.

The strengths of the Subic Bay shipyard are a large site, 10 times that of the Youngdo yard, and cost competitiveness, with labor costs lower than China. With a floor space of 80,000 peyong (264,000 m2), the Youngdo yard cannot build vessels with more than 6,000 TEU. Therefore, building ships with more than 10,000 TEU, which fits with the current mega ship trend, is only possible in the Subic Bay shipyard, said a HHIC spokesperson.

The labor cost also stands at 400,000 won (US$343) a month per person. The figure is much lower than an average of 5 million won (US$4,284) in Korea or some 1 million won (US$857) in China. An official from HHIC said, “As an alternative of the Youngdo yard, the company has invested in the Subic Bay shipyard for about a decade to make it technologically competitive. All our hard work finally paid off.”

Unlike the Subic Bay shipyard that has become stable, however, HHIC’s Youngdo yard seems unstable. The shipyard received US$69 million (805.23 billion won) orders for 15 vessels in 2013 when it resumed building ships. Last year, it saw a slightly better performance with 11 ships at US$77 million (898.59 billion won). However, the shipyard only won US$260 million (303.42 billion won) contracts for eight ships as of the end of Sept. this year. The cumulative figure is a mere 22 percent of the target of US$1.2 billion (1.4 trillion won). Of the eight ships, two ships are liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers, while another two ships are 1,900 TEU ships, and the remaining four ships are special vessels.

Despite poor performance in the Youngdo yard, HHIC’s performance prospects in the third quarter are not dim. This is partly due to the favorable turn in the construction sector and the company’s efforts to reduce deficits.

According to data from FnGuide, a securities information service provider, sales and operating profits of HHIC in the third quarter are estimated at 666.2 billion won (US$570.87 million) and 14.9 billion won (US$12.77 million). Although sales decreased from the second quarter, operating profits turned positive. FnGuide expects that Hyundai Heavy Industries will post 26.1 billion won (US$22.37 million) in operating profits, while Samsung Heavy Industries will post 29.7 billion won (US$25.45 million. However, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering is expected to see losses of 35 billion won (US$3 million). In terms of operating profits, HHIC surpasses the nation’s big three shipbuilders. (Jung Min-hee, Business Korea)

PHOTO:
Subic Bay Shipyard, a subsidiary of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction in the Philippines.

http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/industry/12380-almost-there-hanjin-subic-bay-yard-achieves-70-2015-new-order-target

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FVR lauds Subic for effective tourism promotion, jobs creation

Former President Fidel V. Ramos lauded the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for effectively promoting tourism in the Subic Bay Freeport and providing jobs to thousands of residents in Central Luzon.

Ramos was in Subic with Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengson for the Global Youth Forum 2015 held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) on Thursday.

Addressing over 700 students and members of the academe from various colleges and universities, as well as representatives from tourism-related businesses and organizations in as far as South Cotabato and Zamboanga City, Ramos cited Subic’s role in job generation, pointing out that the Philippine tourism industry has already provided jobs to millions of Filipinos.

“Tourism is a business where people make profit and create jobs,” Ramos said.

He pointed out that tourism is now one of the world’s biggest industries and that by the year 2020, there will be about 1.6 billion people traveling around the world and spending about US$2-trillion.

Ramos also said that despite the high prices of commodities, people can be thankful that there are government agencies like the SBMA and the Department of Tourism (DoT), which provide people with means of livelihood.

For his part, Undersecretary Bengson said that the tourism industry is the largest income generator in the country, with about P275 billion last year in terms of income by providing one tourism-related job for every ten Filipinos.

Bengson then urged everyone to continue supporting the tourism industry by helping promote local tourism attractions on their network accounts like Facebook and Instagram.

“If one will post on Facebook or Instagram the beautiful places they visited, he or she will actually be promoting the places with 10 of his or her friends, who then will share the same to their friends and so on,” he said.

The forum was organized by the International School of Sustainable Tourism, DoT, Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, and Agrea Agricultural System Intl., Inc. to create awareness among the youth of the many opportunities in the tourism industry, and to highlight lessons learned from successful tourism ventures and expose government workers to best practices and success stories.

The three-day activity featured five sessions that each focused on topics like “The Country’s Future- Getting Youth into Tourism Jobs”; “Sowers of Change- Education”; “Creating opportunities for Dialogue and Encounter- Social Media and IT”; “Economic Development in the Countryside versus Environmental Concerns”; and “Global Market for Local Talents- ASEAN Youth on the Move.”

Invited speakers included Efren Peñaflorida, the CNN Hero and founder of Kariton Foundation; Pocholo Gonzales, author and public speaker on youth culture, media and technology; and Durrie Hassan, executive director of Carlton Mansfield Ltd., Malaysia. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Former President Fidel V. Ramos views pictures on display at the SBMA office with SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia during a visit to the Subic Bay Freeport recently. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] Former President Fidel V. Ramos listens intently during a briefing with SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia during a visit to the Subic Bay Freeport recently. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Philippines' Subic seen as investment-worthy for Taiwan

Taiwanese businessmen are coming back to Subic Bay again after a previous investment craze in the 1990s, as the Philippines is once more being seen as an ideal springboard for tapping into the promising Southeast Asian market.

With lingering economic challenges in Europe and only moderate growth in the United States and Japan, developing Asian countries have become a major driving force for the global economy in recent years.

In particular, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economies seem to have brighter prospects because they are expected to transform into a single market and production base in the near future.

Jeff Lin (林繼武), president of Subic Bay Development Management Center Inc. (SBDMC), a joint venture between the local government authority and Taiwan's United Development Corp. (世華開發), told CNA that the ASEAN market looks promising in terms of its manufacturing sector and trade, thanks to the region's economic ties with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Lin suggested that Taiwanese businessmen should take advantage of the Philippines as a springboard to the ASEAN market, which has a population of 640 million and a combined gross domestic product of US$2.4 trillion.

In the Subic Bay Special Economic Zone (SBSEZ), there are no taxes for investors except for a 5 percent tax on gross income, which can help save costs for investors, Lin said. If at least 40 percent of the investors' products are manufactured locally, their products will be duty-free when sold in the ASEAN market, he added.

Roberto Garcia, chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, said in a recent press conference that the Subic Bay Special Economic Zone is expanding its scale to neighboring areas because of an increasing number of investors who need more industrial land.

The first-phase complex of the Subic Bay Gateway Park, operated by SBDMC, has almost reached its full capacity with more than 170 companies currently operating there, of which roughly 30 percent are from Taiwan.

Taiwanese investment in Subic Bay is estimated at US$700 million. (CNA)

(By Emerson Lim and Jeffrey Wu)

PHOTO:
SBDMC headquarters at the Subic Gateway Park

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aeco/201510040008.aspx

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