DENR inaugurates P10-M Air Quality Monitoring Station in Subic Freeport

A P10-million air sensor that measures real-time air quality was inaugurated here on Monday, providing a means to measure systematically the concentrations of pollutants in ambient air and provide a scientific basis for measures to reduce air pollution and protect the community’s health.

The Air Quality Monitoring Station (AQMS) was installed here as part of the Ambient Air Monitoring Network Project of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the assessment of air quality in the entire Philippines.

“The world is changing, and we really have to be very vigilant about how climate change is going to be affecting us,” said Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia during the launching.

“We are very fortunate here in SBMA to have this facility, for as you know we are very strict as far as our environment is concerned,” Garcia said. “And we really have to ensure excellent air quality in Subic, considering that we are the number one tourist destination in Central Luzon,” he added.

Funded by the DENR, the AQMS is expected to be a big boost to the Freeport’s environmental protection program as it could measure air pollution coming from motor vehicle emissions, as well as factories and construction sites in Subic.

“Once this is connected to the Internet, results of the air quality measurement will be sent to the DENR main office and the SBMA Ecology Center, and will be posted in airquality-embdenr.gov.ph site for its real-time measurement,” said Engr. Zaldy Pagador, Air Quality Management Division chief of the DENR.

The automated AQMS can give real-time measurement levels of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and ozone present in the air. It is also capable of measuring real-time meteorological factors such as wind speed, direction, humidity, and temperature.

The AQMS project is undertaken pursuant to Republic Act 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act.

Information from the AQMS will be useful to the SBMA in ensuring that air pollution within the area stays within the standard levels set by the DENR.

The air quality data gathered from the AQMS will also be useful in planning for pollution abatement strategies, Garcia said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (4th from left), along with Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Marife Castillo and SBMA Maintenance and Transportation Department head Angel Bagaloyos (2nd from left) inaugurates the Air Quality Monitoring Station (AQMS) at the Remy Field in the Subic Bay Freeport on Monday. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA workers to Aquino: Sign wage hike

The more than 1,500 employees of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) urged President Benigno Aquino 3rd to sign their salary adjustment based on the existing Salary Standardization Law.

SBMA Employees Association (SEA) president Elmer Libo said the approval of the salary adjustment will uplift the morale of all employees who have worked so hard for the agency.

A DBM Memo to Aquino recommends the adoption of Salary Standardization Law (SSL) III, 4th Tranche Salary Rates for SBMA employees effective January 1, 2016, which will make it at par with other national government agencies.

SBMA employees have been conducting noise barrages during their break time since Monday to express their sentiment and call attention to their plight. (Patrick Roxas, Manila Times)

PHOTO:
SBMA employees shared a simple meal of dried fish, tomatoes and rice during a boodle fight in front of the agency's administration building as they call on President Aquino to urgently sign their salary adjustment based on SSL III Tranche 4 before election ban begins. (Photos by Jun Dumaguing)

http://www.manilatimes.net/sbma-workers-to-aquino-sign-wage-hike/251458/

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LOOK: SBMA and Subic locators hold Fire Olympics 2016

Fire brigade teams from different companies at the Taiwanese-run Subic Bay Industrial Gateway Park participate in this year's Fire Olympics organized by the SBMA Fire Department and the Subic Bay Development and Management Corporation (SBDMC) Friday morning.

The fire olympics is an annual event held every March of each year in observance of Fire Prevention Month to promote safety awareness and preparedness among companies and their workers in Subic Bay Freeport.

SBMA Deputy Fire Chief Raul Zapanta said that companies join this annual activity “because it is not only fun to the participants, but also hones their skills in firefighting and enhances rapport among the designated fire marshals from different companies.”

“It helps the volunteers build teamwork and cooperation with other fire volunteers, and also provides and an opportunity to put their skills to test,” he added.

Photos by Jun Dumaguing/MPD-SBMA

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NLEX, SCTEX integrated, eases northbound travel

CLARK, Pampanga, Philippines – The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) have been combined into one seamless road network to accommodate the heavy influx of motorists for the Holy Week.

Senate President Franklin Drilon led officials in a ceremonial drive yesterday to the Sta. Ines toll plaza, marking the launch of the combined tollways.

The integration of the two expressways cost P650 million and involved the conversion of the NLEX and SCTEX toll collection into a single system.

This reduces toll collection stops to two instead of five from Balintawak to Subic and back, instead of four from Balintawak to Tarlac and back.

To unify the system of NLEX and SCTEX, the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) has constructed seven new toll plazas in Tarlac, Subic-Tipo, Sta. Ines and the northbound and southbound side of Dau and Mabiga.

MNTC president Rodrigo Franco said the seamless and faster travel can now be experienced at NLEX and SCTEX as toll collection stops are lessened and additional options are introduced at the SCTEX.

Franco added the integration speeds up the queues on the toll plazas. Motorists who will drive from Manila to Subic will just have to stop for toll payments at Balintawak and Subic or Tarlac.

“This will save them up to 40 minutes of travel time,” he said.

Drilon said he had temporarily suspended his campaign sortie to savor the launching of the toll integration project.

Drilon recalled the plan for the two expressways to be integrated was brought about by the 11-hour traffic ordeal he had on the two expressways in 2014.

To spare motorists from experiencing a similar fate, Drilon said he summoned officials of the MNTC and the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) to find a solution to the traffic congestion in the two expressways.

Drilon noted the integration project also features a unified ticketing system, electronic toll collection and magnetic payment methods, which are projected to increase up to 800 transactions per hour compared to manual lanes which could only service 200 transactions per hour.

On the other hand, BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano Casanova said the integration is a game-changer that will greatly benefit the motorists in terms of faster travel time and conveniences and set the standard for what is doable in the future.

Casanova said the NLEX-SCTEX integration is the first among expressways in the country.

With the integration completed, Franco added the MNTC is open to discussions to link NLEX to TPLEX, which is operated by San Miguel Corporation.

“That would be a natural next step to try to talk to the concessionaire or operator to see if that integration is possible, so that may be something we could eventually explore with the concessionaire of TPLEX,” Franco said.

For the Holy Week, MNTC will implement Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko 2016 motorist assistance program to enhance traffic management and toll collection services at the NLEX, SCTEX and CAVITEX.

From March 18-28, additional patrol vehicles and enforcers will be fielded to immediately respond to distressed motorists while ambulant toll tellers equipped with portable toll collection gadgets will be deployed and additional traffic informatory signs will be installed in strategic areas and road works will also be suspended to ensure smooth traffic flow. (Louella Desiderio, The Philippine Star)

PHOTO:
Senate President Franklin Drilon leads the inauguration of the NLEX-SCTEX integration system at the Sta. Ines toll plaza in Pampanga yesterday.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/03/19/1564423/nlex-sctex-integrated-eases-northbound-travel

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Subic traders recognize 10 outstanding SBMA cops and firemen

Ten police officers and firemen of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) were cited on Wednesday by the business community here as “heroes who confront dangers to save others’ lives.”

In a ceremony at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center following the State of the Freeport Address (SOFA) by SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, the Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce Inc. (SBFCCI) headed by its president Rose Baldeo, named the Outstanding Law Enforcers and Fire Fighters FY 2015-2016.

Baldeo, who is also president of Global Terminals & Development Inc. (GTDI), said the awards are a manifestation of gratitude from stakeholders of the Freeport for the heroism of police and fire officers of the SBMA.

“These officers are heroes in their own rights,” said Baldeo, noting the contributions of law enforcers and fire fighters in maintaining peace and order, and protecting lives and properties inside the Freeport and in nearby communities.

“They are always there when we need them anytime, anywhere. They sacrifice the time supposedly spent for their families, and, most of all, they face dangers to save other people’s lives,” she said.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia also congratulated the awardees, adding said that it was due to their courage, dedication, and “malasakit” that the SBMA and the SBFCC honor them.

“We are very happy to know that our locators and investors recognize the values every SBMA worker possesses. The courage, dedication, and malasakit, plus theintegrity of each and every SBMA employees are well represented by this year’s and our very own ten outstanding law enforcers and fire fighters,” Garcia said.

The 10 awardees are: Edmund Avecilla, who is a recipient of several awards and certificates of recognition by different organizations as resource speaker, instructor, and environmental and livelihood advocate;

Jay-Arr Basa, who showed extraordinary bravery and expertise in retrieval operations, including the immediate recovery of three drowning victims in Candelaria, Zambales, in September 2015, and risking his own life to help the victims of the great earthquake that hit Nepal last April 25, 2015.

Elsie Cabral, named one of the Unsung Women Heroes of 2014 by the Soroptimist International of the Philippines, handled cases involving violation of women’s and children’s rights, and was a recipient of commendations from Olongapo City Council and the Senate of the Philippines in 2014, and the organizer of the outreach project “My Rolling Paaralan” in Olongapo City;
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Johnny Co, assigned at the Special Reaction Division and an active member of the SBMA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee, was cited for being always at the scene of emergency wherein his skills and expertise are needed;

Hedion Esteban, with proven excellence in firefighting, water search and rescue (WSAR), urban search and rescue (USAR), and high-angle search and rescue, is one of the heroic rescuers who were sent to help in Nepal after the great earthquake that hit last April 25, 2015;

Richard Johnson conducts SWAT skills briefing, demonstration and firearms familiarization at various schools, government agencies and non-government organizations, and is part of the SBMA Emergency Response Team who actively supported the operations during the conduct of the APEC Summit in January 23-February 6, 2015;

Benigno Medina is a recipient of various certificates of appreciation and commendation from different organizations and agencies for his valuable efforts in traffic education and road networking discipline, force protection, as well as his active support during the APEC Summit in 2015;

Romeo Paulmino was part of the SBMA Emergency Response Team who participated in major rescue operations, such as in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan during Typhoon Lando, the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal, clearing and flushing operations in Olongapo and Subic after Typhoon Odette, and retrieval and clearing operations in Tacloban, Leyte for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda;

Jesus Payumo is a recipient of various recognitions and commendations for his outstanding performance in enforcing the law, including the apprehension of suspects of attempted robbery at Duty Free Superstore in August 2014 and the arrest of larceny suspects of cable wires at Pastolan Village, Hermosa, Bataan on February 4, 2014; he is also a recipient of commendation from the Office of Civil Defense Region 3 for his valuable support during last year’s APEC Summit; and

Edwin Santos, was part of the Philippine Rescue Team who went to the heavily damaged remote areas of Nepal following the devastation of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

The recipients were cited for performing their duties above and beyond the call of duty, and exemplifying the spirit of a true Filipino. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Ten employees from the SBMA Law Enforcement and Fire Departments selected as most outstanding by the Subic Bay business community. (AMD-MPD/SBMA)

[2] SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (fourth from left) joins the 10 Outstanding Subic Freeport Law Enforcers and Firefighters, along with other SBMA officials, during the awarding rites organized by the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday. (AMD-MPD-SBMA)

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Filipino, US soldiers start preparing for war games

Filipino and American troops are now preparing for the 32nd iteration of the annual US-PH Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercise to be held in Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, Panay, and Palawan.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said militaries from 11 other countries – Japan, India, South Korea, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste – have been invited to observe this year’s Balikatan exercises (BK 16).

The BK 16 opening ceremony is slated on April 4 and will run until April 15.

Filipino troops commenced preparatory works for the conduct of engineering activities and medical assistance programs in Panay and Palawan leading up to information exchanges and live training events over a 12-day period.

In the following weeks, US forces will join their Filipino counterparts as they work shoulder-to-shoulder during these engagements and throughout the exercise.

Balikatan is an annual Philippines-US military bilateral training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance, maritime law enforcement, and environmental protection.

Military service members from both countries will also conduct combined simulation supported events and operational events in three main commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Western Command (Wescom), Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), and Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) – as well as in other major Philippine military facilities such as Crow Valley, Fort Magsaysay, Clark Air Field, and Subic Bay to improve their ability to work together, partnering in capabilities and plan follow-on operations.

One of the main operations for this year’s exercise will be the implementation of a joint rapid reaction force as part of the distributed operations in the vicinity of Panay, demonstrating the partnered capability in rapid response.

Forces from the Philippines, United States, and Australia will also participate in all major exercise events, including the simulation supported event (SSE), operational event (OE), and humanitarian civic assistance (HCA). (Elena L. Aben, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:

Amphibious assault vehicles launch from the amphibious transport dock Green Bay during Balikatan 2015 in Subic Bay. (MC3 Edward Guttierrez III/Navy)

http://www.mb.com.ph/filipino-us-soldiers-start-preparing-for-war-games/

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SBMA stops tree-cutting by Taiwan firm in free port (INQ report)

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has stopped a Taiwanese company operating inside this free port from cutting trees for failing to secure an environmental clearance.

Warehousing firm MSK Group Work Inc. was issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) by SBMA’s Ecology Center on March 11, following a hazard call inspection on a lot being leased by the company inside the Subic Bay Gateway Park.

Lawyer Ruel John Kabigting, Ecology Center officer in charge, has notified officials of the Taiwanese firm about its violations, which included cutting 50 trees and proceeding with construction without obtaining environmental permits.

Addressed to Kelly Uy, MSK general manager, the cease order also required the firm to replace the fallen trees with 1,752 saplings “due to the gravity of the violation.”

Kabigting has also called for a technical compliance conference to discuss the company’s violations.

“The [conference] will allow [MSK] to explain the circumstances of the violation and [to] present a proposal to remedy the deficiency and assure future compliance,” Kabigting told Uy in the letter.

Kabigting also warned the firm that SBMA would suspend or cancel the company’s permit to operate if it does not comply with conditions set by the agency.

SBMA Chair Roberto Garcia said MSK has been clearing its leased area to build a warehouse but has failed to obtain necessary permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“The CDO will remain effective until the company complies with all the requirements set in the order and pays all penalties or fines associated with the violations,” Garcia said.

The replanting program, he said, is part of the sanctions that the DENR imposes on firms responsible for the illegal cutting of trees.

Garcia also said that MSK would be liable for possible landslides due to a weakened slope in the area that had been attributed to the firm’s construction work.

“The company should also have slope protection project in that area,” he said.

He said MSK officials have already apologized about the company’s violations.

“I’ve met with some of the company’s officials and they told me that they were sorry about what they did. But I told them that they should cease operation for now,” he said. (Allan Macatuno, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

PHOTO:
WAREHOUSING firm MSK Group Work Inc. has been issued a cease-and-desist order by the Ecology Center of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on March 11, following a hazard call inspection of a lot being leased by the company inside the Subic Bay Gateway Park. (Allan Macatuno / Inquirer Central Luzon)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/774449/sbma-stops-tree-cutting-by-taiwan-firm-in-free-port

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Emerging Power to upgrade Subic project

Renewable Energy (RE) company Emerging Power Inc. (EPI) is partnering with California-based tech firm Amber Kinetics for the Flywheel Battery Storage Technology in the 150 Megawatt (MW) solar and wind power project in the Subic Bay.

“Amber Kinetics’ technology will be very useful in smoothing out the energy generation of our Solar and Wind farm by taking out the variability. We are very excited to work with Amber and hopeful that this milestone deal will be replicated in future renewable energy projects in the country,” EPI Head of Marketing Alberto Guanzon said.

EPI is looking at acquiring 10-MW worth of Multi-hour Flywheel Battery Systems from Amber Kinetics for the Subic project. The company will be the first to use the technology for a utility scale power plant in the Philippines.

Flywheel energy storage works by rotating steel rotors at very high speeds, allowing the system to store energy. In effect the flywheel is a reservoir for kinetic energy which can be drawn out at any time.

Aside from dealing with the variability of solar and wind energy, Amber Kinetics’ state of the art flywheels will also provide multi-hour flexible capacity to the transmission.

Amber Kinetics’ technology has demonstrated the ability to store and release electricity for hours. It also offers unlimited cycling for a 30-year lifespan with no degradation. These attributes make it ideal for integrating utility scale renewable energy and transmission.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Emerging Power to integrate energy storage into the 150MW solar and wind farm in Subic Bay. We believe that our multi-hour flywheels are an ideal technology solution to help EPI smooth the variability of solar and wind generation into the transmission system. The EPI team is incredibly forward thinking and we are excited to be working together,” Amber Kinetics CEO Edward Chiao said.

EPI is majority owned by Nickel Asia Corporation, one of the country’s biggest mining firms. The miner has guaranteed up to P3 billion the loan facility of EPI over three years to finance the RE projects all over the country. (Voltaire Palaña, Manila Times)

PHOTO: Image c/o EPI

http://www.manilatimes.net/emerging-power-to-upgrade-subic-project/250791/

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Subic Freeport denizens honor former Senate President Salonga

[1] Olongapo City residents lay flowers and light candles at the Inang Laya Monument in Subic Bay Freeport to honor and to show respect for former Senate President Jovito Salonga who passed away last Thursday (March 10) at the age of 95.

[2] Flowers were laid at the handprint cast of former Senate President Jovito Salonga at the Inang Laya Monument in Subic Bay Freeport on March 11, to honor and show respect for the former statesman who passed away last Thursday at the age of 95.

Salonga is one of the 12 senators who voted for the rejection of the RP-US Military Bases Agreement in 1991, paving the way for the conversion of this former American naval base into a bustling industrial and tourism hub. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA reports P202-M revenue in trade facilitation

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced that it posted a total of P202 million in revenue from trade facilitation and compliance fees collected last year from importers, brokers, processors, and other stakeholders in this free port.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that based on the annual report submitted by SBMA's Trade and Facilitation and Compliance Department (TFCD), the department’s revenue for 2015 represented an increase of P51 million, or 34 percent, compared to the P151 million recorded in 2014.

Garcia said the increase in earnings is the direct result of the implementation of key objectives and strategies in all SBMA departments to deliver the best services to clients and to sustain the agency’s positive performance in the last three years.

The measures include promotion of good governance, where SBMA has institutionalized the integrity pledge (IP) among employees in support of the agency’s crusade against graft and corruption; transparency in communicating with importers, brokers, processors, and other stakeholders through consultative meetings; and fiscal responsibility by implementing stricter collection procedures and monitoring of the same.

“The satisfaction of our locators and investors with regards to the services they received from SBMA is to some measure reflected on the upward movement in our statistics,” Garcia explained.

“It’s good to know that the figures are all positive,” he added.

TFCD officer-in-charge Anna Joy Quito meanwhile said that better service to customers had, indeed, resulted in better earnings for the department.

She said that export value freight on board (FOB) reached a total of US$2.52 billion in 2015, which is 11 percent higher than the US$2.26 billion in 2014.

Quito explained that under SBMA’s good governance initiatives, the department has succeeded in providing services in a much shorter period of time than the minimum requirement.

She cited as example that while the target time for issuing an admission permit from time of application is 16 hours, the department has lately managed to shorten this to an average of 7.9 hours, or a decrease in processing time of 51 percent.

Another area where the TFCD successfully introduced faster processing time is in Export Declaration clearance, where actual processing time is now 30 minutes, or down by 94 percent from the target time of eight hours.

Quito added that the department will conduct benchmarking with other ports and ecozones in the country to establish and adopt best practices in trade facilitation to increase further the efficiency of the Subic port.

The TFCD facilitates admission of goods into the Subic Bay Freeport through efficient delivery of frontline services, such as processing of permits on imports and exports, and keeping locators or investors in step with all procedural guidelines implemented by the SBMA. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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LOOK: Scenes from Ad Summit Pilipinas 2016 in Subic Bay

[1] SBMA Director and Chief Operating Officer Joven Reyes (center) joins Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino (third from right) in cutting the ribbon to formally open the Ad Summit Pilipinas Trade and Exhibit area at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on Wednesday(March 9). Joining them are (from left): 4As Chairman Norman Agatep, SBMA Directors Cynthia Paulino and Raul Marcelo, and Ad Summit Pilipinas Over-all Chairman Alex Syfu.

[2] Subic Bay Freeport's radio station DWSB 89.5 FM joins exhibitors broadcasting live at Ad Summit's Tradex. Delegates and Guests play games and enjoy freebies from trade exhibitors.

[3] John Arcilla as Heneral Luna enters the stage to lead the Philippine National Anthem.

[4] Celebrated film director Jose Javier Reyes takes the stage for his inspirational talk as one of the speakers of the summit.

[5] The dabarkads of top-rated noontime variety Eat Bulaga hosting a dinner show for Ad Summit delegates.

[6] Maine Mendoza, famed 'Yayadub' of Eat Bulaga's 'Kalye Serye' performs onstage as Ad Summit delegates raise their cellphones to take videos and photos.

photo credits: AMD, RBB, DJBB/MPD-SBMA; Ad Summit PH Facebook page

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US submarine, warship in PHL for visit

A United States submarine and a guided-missile cruiser have arrived in the Philippines amid tensions caused by Chinese activities in Philippine-claimed territories in the South China Sea.

USS Charlotte, the submarine, moored at Subic Bay on Wednesday morning while the guided-missile destroyer, USS Antietam, docked in Manila on Tuesday.

A US military statement said USS Antietam is on "patrol in the 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific."

During the cruiser's stay in the Philippines, its crew will "participate in community relations events and tours and [will] have time to enjoy the city," the statement said.

The USS Charlotte, on the other hand, is currently on a "six-month deployment to the US 7th Fleet area of operations," according to an earlier US news release.

"Charlotte will conduct important missions to strengthen theater security with strong partners throughout the region," it said.

The visit of the USS Charlotte and USS Antietam came days after the arrival of the USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the US 7th Fleet that docked at the former US naval base in Subic on March 4 for a similar port visit.

China’s actions in the resource-rich South China Sea have worried its smaller neighbors, like the Philippines, due to its massive claim that encroaches on their sovereign territories. Beijing said its claims over the waters are “indisputable” and anchored on history that is backed by ancient maps and documents.

The Philippines challenged this claim before a United Nations-linked arbitral tribunal where a resolution is pending.

Although not a party to the disputes, the US has declared that it is in its national interest to ensure freedom of access to the region’s sea lanes and air zones and that disputes are resolved peacefully. It has recently sent a four-ship strike group to patrol the South China Sea. (GMA News)

PHOTO:
Los Angeles class submarine USS Charlotte (SSN-766) enters Subic Bay waters Wednesday morning as part of its six-month deployment to the US 7th Fleet area of operations (Photo by Jun Dumaguing, MPD-SBMA)

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/558433/news/nation/us-submarine-warship-in-phl-for-visit

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It's Time to Play at Ad Summit Pilipinas 2016!

Come Out and Play with the country’s marketing communications industry as the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines (4As) sets the stage to unleash our creativity, indulge our imagination, and introduce us to new playmates through Ad Summit Pilipinas 2016, happening from March 9-12 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Joining the event are business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan; award-winning director Jose Javier Reyes; AQKA Shanghai’s executive creative Director Eric Cruz; Opera Mediaworks managing director Vikas Gulati; leadership expert Tom Oliver; TBWA\Hakuhodo’s creative director Takahiro Hosoda; Hakuhodo Kettle’s creative director Kazuaki Hashida; Fox International’s VP for Ad Sales Yamini Ashish; APAC digital director for Havas Worldwide Todd Martin; Google SEA and India’s vice president and managing director Rajan Anandan; Mullen Lowe Group’s president of Creative Council Jose Miguel Sokoloff; Coca-Cola Phils. Integrated Marketing Communications director Jesus Ferreira; and Twitter's VP for online sales for Asia Pacific and Latin America Aliza Knox.

A panel of popular YouTube Influencers will also be assembled to discuss the topic of “Building brands through content.” Panelists include Mikey Bustos (Entertainment), Jako De Leon (Travel), and Say Tioco Artillero (Beauty).

This is the second time that the 4As is partnering with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to mount Ad summit Pilipinas. With its fun and progressive environment, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is said to be a fitting site for this creative event.

“We are proud to be hosting the Ad Summit Pilipinas in Subic, for the second time. We invite you to experience the sights and sounds that Subic has to offer, and we hope that you will enjoy your stay here,” said Roberto Garcia, SBMA Chairman and Administrator.

‘Play’ More

Another Ad Summit activity to look forward to is the staging of the "Kidlat Awards" of the Creative Guild of the Philippines, intended to institutionalize "Kidlat” as the country's most prestigious creative advertising competition. Expected to receive top honors are the most creative marketing communication materials harvested over the last year.

For an interactive expo experience, participants may also visit the Ad Summit Pilipinas Tradex 2016, where over 2,000 professionals from brands, media, agencies, and suppliers are expected to gather to showcase industry trends and business ideas, and build marketing relationships with delegates. More than 60 booths will be on hand to promote products and services, display brands, demonstrate state of the art technologies and equipment, and market test new product lines in a one-stop-shop marketplace.

All these are made possible by Ad Summit Pilipinas, which is presented by: PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. Major sponsors include: Manila Broadcasting Company; ABS-CBN Corporation; Radio Mindanao Network; Eat Bulaga/TAPE (Phils.), Inc.; TV5/CIGNAL, and The Philippine Star.

Minor Sponsors are AXN, Petron, Havas Ortega, OPERA Mediaworks, Adobo Magazine, Brand New Media, Kitkat, Ford Phils., Pioneer Insurance, Kopiko 78, Coca-Cola, Jollibee, and Philippine Daily Inquirer. Partners are Devant TV, AdRover, Royal Duty Free, Rainforest Natural Mineral Water, Destileria Limtuaco, Inquirer Mobile, Rappler, Max’s Group, Krispy Kreme, and Loudbox Studios.

For more information, visit facebook.com/AdSummitPH and follow twitter.com/@ADSummitPH and @adsummitpilipinas on Instagram.

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Palace: NoKor ship stays until probe is completed

MALACAÑANG yesterday said the North Korean vessel being held at the Subic Bay Freeport would remain under Philippine custody until the investigation is completed and a decision is reached on what to do with the ship.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Philippines is committed to upholding a United Nations Security Council resolution that restricts the movement of vessels that may be used in transporting equipment or armaments that the UN seeks to restrict.

“The Philippine government is complying with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270 on the imposition of sanctions pertaining to North Korea. For this reason, the M/V Jin Teng has been impounded in the port of Subic, Zambales...It was decided that the Coast Guard will continue to hold the vessel at port until the ongoing inquiry and investigation has been completed. It was also agreed that the crew may be allowed to leave if justified by the results of the investigation,” Coloma said.

He said an interagency body composed of the foreign affairs, transportation, and justice departments, along with the Bureau of Immigration and Philippine Coast Guard has met with the National Coast Watch Center to discuss further actions on the vessel.

Last Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said no date has been set as to when the 21 crew members of the vessel would be allowed to leave the country.

The Jin Teng is registered and flagged under multiple countries but is said to be one of the 31 listed vessels owned by North Korea. It arrived in Subic Bay on March 4 and was impounded by the Philippine Coast Guard.

The UN resolution, which was passed after a North Korean nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket test in February, requires all member states to inspect all cargo ships to and from North Korea.

It also bans all exports including coal, iron, iron ore, gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore, rare earth metals, and all types of aviation fuel to North Korea. (Jocelyn Montemayor, Malaya)

PHOTO:
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/palace-nokor-ship-stays-until-probe-completed

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SBMA, RP Energy partners for Women's Month

More than 300 employees of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), locators, and community partners marched in the Freeport to advocate for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.

With the theme “Pledge for Equality,” the activity was a partnership between SBMA – Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System and Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy) to raise awareness on the role of women in nation-building through various activities.

One of the highlights of the program was the women empowerment walk, wherein SBMA showcased the different facets of women in the Freeport. Local women advocates and movers participated in this activity.

Benefitting over 200 SBMA employees was the “KliniKaBabaihan” program, which involved a medical mission to promote women’s health and wellness. The activity covered free dental check-ups; random blood sugar and pressure testing; and distribution of reading glasses to SBMA employees, which are mostly women.

Regular community consultations led by RP Energy were used as a basis for these corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.

“During our field work, we noticed that there’s a lack of equal opportunity for women especially in grassroot communities. Because of this, we at RP Energy started crafting gender-responsive CSR initiatives to address this issue,” said RP Energy Head for External Affairs Victor Chan.

Among the gender-sensitive CSR programs of RP Energy, which it has been conducting since 2012, are KliniKababaihan and Usapang Babae.

To date, RP Energy has covered 200 trafficked persons which were oriented on their rights under the law and were informed on the available Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) services and programs.

The power company also established three Women’s Health and Wellness Center located in Barangay Cawag, Subic Municipality and Pastolan Aeta Village. And to ensure the physical and psychological health of women in the grassroot communities, they have trained more than 200 women Barangay Health Workers, enabling them to bring health services to women in far-flung areas.

The celebration of Women’s Month in the Philippines traces its history back in 1988 when, President Corazon C. Aquino signed Proclamation No. 224 “Declaring the First Week of March of Every Year as Women’s Week and March 8, 1988 and Every Year Thereafter as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day.”

On that same year, Ms. Aquino also signed Proclamation No. 227, “Providing for the Observance of the Month of March as Women’s Role in History Month,” which designated the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW which is now Philippine Commission on Women or PCW) as the secretariat to coordinate its nationwide observance.

On 10 April 1990, she signed Republic Act No. 6949, “An Act to Declare March Eight of Every Year as a Special Working Holiday to be Known as National Women’s Day,” to encourage employees from the government and private sector to participate in Women's Day activities.

The celebration has become an occasion for discussions on various gender-related issues, with activities such as Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action, the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015), the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (1995-2025), and the Framework Plan for Women.

PHOTOS:

[1] Reading glasses for SBMA Employees – RP Energy’s External Affairs Head, Victor Chan (left) helps in the distribution of eyeglasses to SBMA Employees as part of RP Energy’s advocacy in promoting women’s health and wellness.

[2] Woman of Courage - Elsie Cabral, Officer-in-Charge of SBMA’s Women’s Desk. She was recognized by Soroptimist International of the Philippines as one of their awardee for the Unsung Women Heroes Award in 2014).

[3] Woman of Strength - Joycelline Dela Cruz of the SBMA Law Enforcement Department-Women’s Desk during her runway walk for women empowerment. She is a PWD, Women Advocate and a Balikatan Movement Volunteer.

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