Hanjin Heavy delivers first Philippine-made VLCC

Subic Bay Freeport – Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction – Philippines (HHIC-Phils.) last week delivered the first Philippine-made Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) to its owner after being recognized as the country’s top sectoral exporter by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last December during the National Export Congress. Newly installed HHIC-Phil President Chung Gwang-Suk said: “We are very pleased to welcome the New Year with the...

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Subic Bay commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of Olongapo's first mayor

Olongapenos and Subic Bay volunteers gathered in this free port Tuesday (January 17) to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mayor James Leonard (Jimmy) Gordon, Olongapo's first elected mayor. Simultaneous wreath-laying activities led by the children of the late mayor were held in four significant areas in Subic Bay and Olongapo City: Marikit Park, led by the Balikatan Ladies; Kalalake Elementary School; Gordon Park/Kalaklan; and Tappan Park,...

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SBMA’s first lady administrator and CEO assumes post

Lawyer Wilma “Amy” T. Eisma assumes her post as the seventh administrator and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). A member of original volunteer corps who stepped up to protect the former naval base in Subic after the pull-out of the US bases in 1992, Atty. Eisma was warmly welcomed back to her “home” by SBMA officials and employees in a simple program held during the agency’s flag raising ceremony Monday...

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Eisma, four others take oath as SBMA officials before President Duterte

Lawyer Wilma T. Eisma took her oath of office as administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) before President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in a mass ceremony held in Malacañang Monday (January 9). Benny Diaz Antiporda, Maria Cecilia Bobadilla Bitare, Tomas Lahom III and Stefani Creer Saño also took their oath as members of the SBMA board of directors. The SBMA officials were among over 200 appointees who composed the second batch of...

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LOOK: Subic Bay radio Epiphany Sunday community visit

Residents of Sitio Alibang, Barangay Naugsol in Subic, Zambales benefited from the annual gift giving project of Subic Bay Freeport's radio station DWSB 89.5 FM held over the weekend. DJ MJ, DJ Jepsz and DJ Elton of 89.5 Subic Bay Radio led the giving of donations to around 100 households, including Aeta indigenous tribal members of Barangay Naugsol Sunday (January 08) morning. The activity was also participated in by donors and several radio communication...

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Olongapo bans plastic, styrofoam as packaging materials

OLONGAPO CITY - The use and sale of non-biodegradable plastic bags and styrofoam as packaging materials are now prohibited in Olongapo City as part of its efforts to protect the environment and mitigate flooding in the area. “Plastic bags and styrofoam are among the top trash collected during our yearly citywide cleanup, and is also one of the main reasons why our drainage clogs up. That is why we opt to ban plastic in the city.” Olongapo City Mayor...

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Japanese, American warships docked in Subic Bay

Two Japanese warships arrived in Subic Bay Wednesday (January 4) morning, joining five other U.S. navy ships docked in this Freeport since new year's day. The Murasame-class destroyer JS Inazuma (DD-105) and Akizuki-class destroyer JS Suzutsuki (DD-117) of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) docked at the port of Subic for a three-day visit. The ships are part of the Escort Division Four, commanded by Captain Atsushi Minami. JS Inazuma...

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DOTr approves Subic-Manila railway project

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said Wednesday it secured the green light from the Transportation Department to include a P100-billion elevated railway and expressway project from Subic Freeport to the port of Manila among priority projects. SBMA chairman Martin Dino said the 100-kilometer multi-modal elevated railway and expressway project would greatly relieve port and traffic congestion in Metro Manila and increase cargo transit in Subic...

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LOOK: Eisma named new SBMA administrator

LAWYER Wilma T. Eisma, a former executive of Philip Morris Phils. Manufacturing, Inc., has been appointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte as the new administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), replacing Roberto V. Garcia, who resigned as both chairman and administrator in October. In a letter dated Dec. 21, Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea transmitted Ms. Eisma’s appointment letter to SBMA Chairman Martin D. Diño. The...

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PCGA Gift-Giving Benefits 1,155 SBMA Contractual Workers

SOME 1,155 contract of service (CS) workers of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) were this year’s beneficiary of the annual gift-giving of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) 111th Auxiliary Squadron. SBMA’s CS workers do not receive bonuses, allowances and other benefits, which is why we want to cheer them up a little bit in the spirit of the holiday season,” said PCGA Captain Randy Escolango, Director of the 111th Auxiliary Squadron...

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SBMA signs in new investments worth $14.4 million

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Wednesday has approved 43 contracts of new investment commitments, as well as renewal of leases for investor-companies, worth some $14.4 million (P720 M). “SBMA is on its way to another record-breaking year in terms of investment generation,” SBMA OIC Administrator Randy Escolango said during a mass contract-signing ceremony held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. Escolango added...

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Subic expects increased port operations with Taiwan-based shipping lines

Port operations in the country’s premier Freeport is expected to experience increased activities as the Government of Taiwan expressed keen interest in forging a partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). In a recent visit to the free port, executive officials from Taiwan Maritime and Port Bureau led by Deputy Director General Lee Yuan-Wan manifested to SBMA OIC-Administrator Atty. Randy Escolango the possibility of building a...

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SBMA proposes 100-km coastal road

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority asked the government to build a multi-modal 100-kilometer coastal highway from Subic Bay to the Port of Manila to help decongest traffic in the metropolis at a cost of P100 billion. The “most viable and doable solution to the traffic congestion lies outside the metropolis,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Martin Dino said. He said the project’s indicative cost “is the equivalent of only 34 days of...

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China seizes US naval probe off Subic Bay, vows to return the device

WASHINGTON - China "unlawfully" seized an unmanned US naval probe in international waters in the South China Sea, the Pentagon said Friday, a move sure to heighten tensions around Beijing's military presence in the disputed area. The underwater vehicle was taken around 50 nautical miles (90 kilometers) northwest off Subic Bay in the Philippines late Thursday in a non-violent incident, said Captain Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman. The research...

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SBMA Board of Directors first meeting under Duterte Administration set

The Board of Directors of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is set to convene ahead of the holidays to take action on the growing number of business transactions that needed to be reviewed by the body. The board meeting, the first since the start of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, will be led by Chairman Martin Diño, with OIC, Office of the Administrator Randy Escolango as vice-chair. Expected to attend the meeting...

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