Extreme trail run returns to Subic Freeport

Even the rains cannot dampen fun and excitement in this premier adventure tourism enclave, as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced various events timed for the rainy season.

The biggest thriller scheduled so far this month is the Subic leg of Salomon Xtrail Pilipinas, an all-terrain running race that will take participants on July 22 along some of the wildest, wettest, and most wearying nature trails in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“Just when you thought Subic would rest because of inclement weather, it now hosts extreme adventure events to make your visit as enjoyable as during summer,” observed Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma.

“We also have races, animal shows, exhibitions, cruise-ship arrivals, and festivals practically the whole year round, so there’s never a long lull here even during the rainy season,” she added.

The upcoming Salomon Xtrail is one of the most anticipated races today, as it is reputed to be a more technical trail running race, with a mixture of different terrain surfaces including dirt, rocks, sand and concrete paths. It is held throughout Southeast Asia with countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines hosting the event.

SBMA Tourism Manager Jem Camba said they expect around 3,000 local and foreign participants this year for the event organized by Primer Group of Companies and Extribe, Inc.

After the Luzon leg in Subic, the race will be run in Davao on August 12 for the Mindanao leg, and in Iloilo on September 16 for the Visayas leg.

Camba said this year’s competition in Subic will involve two race categories – the Trail Run category for beginners with 6-km and 12-km distances, and the more technical Mountain Run designed for experienced runners with 24-km and 32-km distances.

It will take participants along rocky dirt roads, muddy mountain trains, and across swollen streams and overgrown grasslands.

“These trails might be technical and challenging to some, but they will always showcase the beauty of the forests, rivers and mountains in the Subic Bay Freeport,” Camba said.

Aside from the Salomon Xtrail, Subic hosted the Ironman Full Distance and 70.3 Triathlon on June 3, kicking off the start of the rainy season here with the first full-distance Ironman to be held in the country.

This was followed by the qualifying race for the Youth Olympic Games organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines on June 17; the Tri-United Leg 1 by Run Bike Swim, Inc. on June 29-30; and the Tri-United Leg 2 on July 1.

Meanwhile, the month of June also started out with a tourism bang with the return here of the cruise ship MV Costa Atlantica on June 5 and June 19, and the first arrival of Dream Cruises’ latest vessel MV World Dream on June 6, as well as Royal Caribbean International’s MS Ovation of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship operating in Asia, on June 8.

This month, Subic expects two more return of Costa Atlantica, its 11th and 12th arrival, after the cruise line Costa Crociere made Subic a part of the ship’s regular Asian itinerary.

In August, the SBMA has also calendared two more Costa Atlantica visits on August 14 and 28; the Feast of San Roque on August 16; and the arrival of another Royal Caribbean cruise liner, the MS Voyager of the Seas, on August 26. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

Salomon Xtrail participants rough it out in previous Subic editions of the trail run. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA urges locators: ‘Connect, or go extinct!’

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has urged business locators here to invest more in technology to remain competitive, or simply be left behind.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said companies operating in the Subic Freeport have to strengthen their capacity to interconnect computing systems and application platforms because it is the key to meeting the growing demands in the local and international markets.

“We should always be on the cutting edge,” Eisma said. “Investors in Subic, especially, should try to keep up with the changing demands of their clients and the global market through faster transaction and real-time monitoring.”

“If they don’t think about connectivity, they’d go the way of the dinosaurs—they’ll be just as extinct as far as competition goes,” she added.

The SBMA official made this exhortation at the side lines of the first Information and Communications Technology Forum held recently at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), where the country’s telecommunications giants PLDT, Smart Communications, Converge ICT Solution, and Globe Telecom/Innové showed off their latest products and services.

Among the new offerings by PLDT and Smart Communications were applications on cloud computing and hosting, co-location, and managed security and network services.


On the other hand, Globe exhibited its “Shopify” platform and vehicle tracker, while Converge ICT displayed its pure fiber internet system.

Eisma said the need for speed and computing power, as well as for improved locator operations and customer experience, were the reasons why the SBMA, through its Business and Investment Department for Information and Communications Technology, organized the forum.

“Things have changed by leaps and bounds in the last 20 years,” Eisma said, recalling that when she first joined the SBMA as volunteer in 1992 they were all using pagers and the bulky black mobile phones.

“Back then we thought that was really cool, but who would have known 20 years ago that we will now be chatting on Facebook, or video-conferencing on the phone?” she added.

Eisma said that in these days when virtual interface is already possible, the application of technology has become so essential to doing business anywhere in the world.

“Clearly, connectivity is the only way to go—and this is true in the various growth capitals of the world, as well as in Subic. We should be forward-looking because that’s how we will survive the competition,” Eisma concluded. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma underscores the necessity of technology in doing business at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA bares SALN of top officials

Top officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) have released information on their financial position and business interests in connection with the government’s transparency and accountability initiatives.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said 12 of the 15 SBMA directors had already signed a data privacy consent form that allowed the agency to release their latest statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) to the public.

The annual filing of SALN is required under the 1987 Philippine Constitution and under Republic Act No. 6713, also known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.” The SALN should contain the true, detailed, and sworn declaration of one’s assets, liabilities, net worth, business interests and financial connections.

According to the statements on file, Director Julius Escalona has the highest net worth among the SBMA officials at P50.16 million. The businessman from Hermosa, Bataan declared total assets of P67.36 million, but has liabilities of P17.2 million.

Escalona’s biggest asset consisted of a batching plant valued at P30 million, and several units of houses and condominium units he acquired in 2015 and 2016 worth more than P20 million.

Chairman Eisma has the highest declared assets at P69.74 million, but her liabilities totaling P25.98 million gave her a net worth of P44.45 million, the second biggest among the SBMA officials.

Eisma, a lawyer who served as corporate manager with the Philippine affiliate of Philip Morris International before taking over as SBMA administrator in January 2017, listed her biggest assets as condominium units she acquired in 2005, 2013 and 2016. She also has some real estate business in Olongapo City.

Third in the list with the biggest net worth is former Bataan Vice Governor Rogelio Roque, who declared total assets at P27.35 million and no liabilities. Roque’s assets are mostly in the form of residential lands acquired from 1983 to 2008. He now has three relatives in the government, including daughter Maria Margarita, who is a council member in Limay, Bataan.

Director Brian Patrick Gordon of Olongapo City, meanwhile, listed total assets of P16.96 million and liabilities of P.92 million to end up with a net worth of P16.04 million, the fourth highest among the SBMA top brass. The son of Senator Richard Gordon listed three business interests in Olongapo City.

Next comes Director Jan Joshua Khonghun of Subic, Zambales, with total assets of P14.42 million, liabilities of P.41 million, and net worth of P14 million. His biggest assets consisted of four dump trucks used in his logistics business that are worth P11.8 million.

Khonghun has a construction business in Subic, Zambales and listed five relatives in government service, including his father, Congressman Jeffrey Khonghun of Zambales First District.

At No. 6, Director Edwin Enrile, a former member of the Bataan provincial board, has total assets of P18.5 million, liabilities of P6.5 million and net worth of P12 million.

A lawyer, certified public accountant and farm owner, Director Tomas Lahom III declared assets totaling P14.7 and liabilities of P2.68 million, thereby leaving him a net worth of P12 million. His biggest assets consisted of residential and agricultural lands, motor vehicles and farm equipment at the Lahom Farms that he operates in Nueva Ecija.

Director Maria Cecilia Bitare, an executive in international shipping and logistics, has total assets of P7.19 million, liabilities of P.3 million, and net worth of P6.89 million. She has two relatives in the government in Legazpi City.

On the other hand, Director Marvin Ted Macapagal from Olongapo City listed total assets of P3.8 million and no liabilities. He is connected with First Reliance International, a trading firm in Makati.

Not all SBMA officials, however, had net worth in millions. Director Cynthia Co Paulino, the wife of Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino, declared total assets of P450,000 and no liabilities. Aside from the mayor, she also listed two other relatives to be in government service.

Meanwhile, newly appointed directors Rolando Ampunin of Subic, Zambales and Teodoro del Rosario of Olongapo City had similarly signed a consent form to release their SALN, although their statements would have to be filed only at the end of the year, as required by law. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA sees rosy prospects for Subic investments, employment

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) expects to continue attracting foreign direct investments and to generate more jobs this year, as it plans to expand into surrounding communities to accommodate major development projects.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said in a presentation at the recent Subic Labor Congress here that the agency is looking into some 21,000 hectares of land in nearby communities that could be developed for more business ventures.

“We continue to fulfill our mission of attracting investments and generating jobs, even as we are now practically running out of space in the Subic Bay Freeport,” Eisma said.

“We are now in consultation with officials of local government units nearby, so that we can develop more areas for trade and business operations,” she added.

Eisma said that foreign direct investments (FDIs) continue to pour into Subic because of the SBMA’s investment promotion program. The latest in the pipeline, she said, include at least four FDI projects worth $10 million from Taiwan, which are separate from the P866-million committed investments approved by the SBMA in the first quarter of this year.

“These companies, which are into manufacturing and recycling, will initially employ at least 260 workers, and these workers would come from our neighbor communities,” Eisma pointed out.

She added that more employment opportunities will be opened with the big-ticket investments that were approved this year. These are the redevelopment of the Binictican Golf Course by a Japanese firm for at least $30 million; redevelopment of the Triboa Clubhouse and facilities by a Taiwanese company for P2 billion; construction of a 400-room five-star hotel and resort for $20 million; and development of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) into a world-class business aviation center for $8 million.

Eisma explained that there are now 1,587 business locators with more than 134,000 workers in the Subic Bay Freeport, and with development largely suitable only within the fenced-in portion of the former Subic Naval Base, the SBMA has to expand into nearby areas to sustain local economic growth.

“It’s a good thing that the neighboring towns have pledged about 21,000 hectares for these future projects,” Eisma revealed.

She said these include 9,000 hectares in San Antonio, Zambales, which are ideal for resort development and leisure businesses; 10,000 hectares in San Marcelino, Zambales, for agriculture, mining and quarrying; 500-600 hectares in Subic, Zambales for factories, agriculture, and energy; and 500 hectares in Castillejos, Zambales for light to medium industry, and warehousing.

Meanwhile, the city of Olongapo pledged 900 hectares for housing, light industry and tourism, while Hermosa, Bataan allotted 505 hectares for light to heavy industry, renewable energy, metal industry, and vehicle assembly/auction.

SBMA records indicate that the Subic Bay Freeport Zone recorded a 14% increase in employment last year when its active workforce reached a total of 128,200, compared to 112,600 in 2016.

Most of the workers in the Subic Freeport come from the neighboring areas of Olongapo City, which accounts for 36%; Zambales, 27%; and Bataan, 12%. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1-2] SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma makes a pitch for Subic Freeport expansion in San Antonio, Zambales. The proposal earned the approval of local officials headed by Mayor Estela Antipolo and Vice Mayor Lugil Ragadio. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA eyes Zambales coves for cruise-ship holidays

The growing number of international cruise ships arriving in this premier Freeport is now spurring the growth of the local economy and opening up opportunities for other communities.

On Tuesday, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma met with Mayor Estela Antipolo and other officials of San Antonio, Zambales to discuss plans to utilize certain coastal areas of the municipality as high-end cruise-ship holiday destinations.

“Our plan is to make the area the next Amalfi or the next Turks and Caicos,” Eisma said, referring to the popular coastal destinations in Italy and the Bahamas.

“The project would make the area accessible to cruise ships, attract passengers who would spend a day or two in local resorts, and hence would provide viable economic opportunities to local communities and residents,” Eisma told the municipal officials.

Eisma said the SBMA is now talking with several private investors who are considering the development of the area, particularly the Nagsasa and Silanguin coves, which are located southwest of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

According to the development plan formulated by the SBMA, what are now essentially the fishing villages of Nagsasa and Silanguin will both become port destinations with world-class resort attractions that can cater to passengers of cruise liners.

Meanwhile, a coastal road will be built to connect the coves of San Antonio without having to cut through the hills in the area.

“The winding coastal road will have a great view of the coves, just like that at the Amalfi Coast along Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula,” Eisma said.

The Amalfi Coast is a popular holiday destination with sheer cliffs and a rugged shoreline dotted with small beaches and pastel-colored fishing villages, grand villas, terraced vineyards and cliff-side lemon groves.

Eisma said the rugged coastline of San Antonio could be developed into a similar attraction that would complement its clear, aquamarine water.

At least 20 cruise ship arrivals have been scheduled in the Subic Bay Freeport this year, with bigger vessels like the MS Ovation of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship in operation in the whole of Asia, promising more port calls. More are coming in 2019, Eisma said.

She added that cruise ship passengers have already visited local attractions to as far as the heritage site of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan. “So we are really in need of more attractions to sustain the demand,” Eisma explained.

Town officials of San Antonio have reportedly welcomed the proposal for the development of the local coves into high-end tourist destinations. Prior to this, the local government of San Antonio passed a resolution setting aside some 9,000 hectares of land in the municipality for development under the SBMA’s expansion program.

Other communities nearby have also allotted areas for the expansion of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. These include the towns of Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino and Olongapo City in Zambales, and Hermosa in Bataan. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Tourists marvel at the beauty of mountain and sea at a cove in San Antonio, Zambales

[2] SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma presents the development plan for the Nagsasa and Silanguin coves in San Antonio, Zambales

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Subic airport may be operational again by Q2 2019 - Tugade

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation on Wednesday floated again its plan to revive the Subic Bay International Airport, which could be operational before the first or second quarter of 2019.

Speaking to reporters, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said “serious talks” are ongoing on the proposed revival of Subic airport. He declined to give an estimate for the cost of the project.

Bird's eye view of the Subic International Airport

To “give life” to the airport, Tugade explained that Subic airport’s aviation instruments must be upgraded to ensure safe landings. There are no problems with the airport’s structures, he added.

“I think the airport will be operational in due time,” the Transportation chief said. “Perhaps it will be operational before the first... second quarter next year.”

In 2010, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority planned to convert the airport after US delivery giant Federal Express transferred its Asia Pacific hub from Subic to Guangzhou in China.

Tugade first mentioned the DOTR’s plan to restore the Subic airport in 2016. The proposal aims to decongest the overstretched Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Seeing the deterioration of the Manila airport, Tugade earlier said the government is “entertaining” proposals to build airports outside the capital. (Ian Nicholas Cigaral, Philippine Star)


https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/07/04/1830502/tugade-subic-airport-may-be-operational-again-q2-2019

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State-of-the-art CCTV system up in Subic Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has installed a state-of-the-art monitoring system that provides a live feed of images from remote surveillance areas all around the Subic Freeport to boost security operations and public safety here.

The system consisted of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in various areas of the Freeport that are viewed from a bank of monitors and a LED (light-emitting diode) wall at the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED) command center.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma inspected the new monitoring system on Sunday, along with SBMA Deputy Administrator Rani Cruz, LED Manager Vicente Tolentino, and LED Operations Chief Gerardo Johnson, and observed how the system is operated remotely.

Aside from watching the live streaming of videos taken from some of the busiest areas in the Freeport, Eisma also tried the public address system hook-up installed in areas like the Boardwalk Activity Center and the Malawaan Park, and reminded visitors to pick up their trash before leaving the area.

The system allows the simultaneous viewing of live images from 96 different camera angles.

“It’s quite impressive,” SBMA chief described the system. “And I hope that this will be something really effective not only in crime prevention, but also in promoting public safety and environmental protection in the Freeport,” she added.

Eisma also pointed out that the SBMA’s modern monitoring system was made possible with funding from Common Use Service Area (CUSA) fees collected by the Subic agency from business locators, residents, as well as tourists entering the Freeport.

“Now that we have this state-of-the-art monitoring system, violators can easily be detected and apprehended. Subic is known for its strict enforcement of traffic rules, as well as for its high level of security, and this system brings us to a higher level of police work,” she added.

According to SBMA police chief Vicente Tolentino, most of the tourist sites in the Freeport are now covered by the CCTV system that was recently installed by Wireless Link Technologies, Inc., a leading wireless technology provider based in Manila.

Aside from these, PLDT Subictel has also installed CCTVs at the sentry posts of three housing areas in Subic: Binictican, Kalayaan, and Cubi.

The SBMA will be paying for the system installation contracted out to Wireless Link Technologies, but the cameras provided by PLDT Subictel were for free, Eisma said.

All these CCTVs are monitored 24/7 by LED officers inside the command center, Tolentino said, adding that the system will allow police officers to closely monitor areas for any illegal activity and give them faster reaction time to apprehend suspects.

“We want people to know that the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is one of the safest places in the country, where they could relax without fear of being accosted by criminal elements. At the same time, we want criminal elements to know that we are ready for them and that we can monitor their every move here,” Tolentino said.

The SBMA police head added that the more security monitoring systems will be put in place in other areas of the Freeport under the second phase of the agency’s CCTV program. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma, along with other SBMA officials, views images fed live through a CCTV system at the SBMA Law Enforcement Department’s control room on Sunday.

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Subic Freeport gets new areas to host more investors

Subic Bay Freeport is getting additional 24,725 hectares, majority of which come from neighboring towns, to expand the former American naval base which has been running out of space it can offer to new investors and expanding existing locators.

Of this expansion area, five neighboring towns have initially allotted a total of 21,495 hectares of land to the Subic Bay Freeport, which has been running out of property to lease to more investors in the former American naval base.

Bird's eye view of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Data showed that six local government units have initially allotted these properties for Subic expansion. The biggest lot contributor is San Marcelino with 10,000-hectare allocation followed by San Antonio with 9,000, Olongapo with 900 hectares, Subic with 500-600 hectares, Hermosa 505 hectares, and Catillejos with 500 hectares.

Usually, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) leases out properties to investors at certain rates. Under the plan, the San Marcelino lot would be used for mining, quarry and agriculture projects while San Antonio has been reserved for resort development and leisure industry.

The Olongapo LGU allocation would be used for housing, light industry and tourism projects while the 500-600 hectares in Subic could be offered for factories, agriculture and energy facilities.

Hermosa may be developed to house light to heavy industry, renewable energy, metal industry and staging of trucks auctions. The Castillejos land allocation can also be used for light to medium industry warehousing.

The remaining properties would come from the Redondo Peninsula with 3,000 hectares; infill development of 150 hectares and reclamation of 20 hectares. (Bernie Cahiles -Magkilat, Manila Bulletin)

Read more --> https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/07/02/subic-freeport-gets-new-areas-to-host-more-investors/

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SBMA eyes collection of P144.8-M past-due accounts

Efforts by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to collect overdue rentals and other fees from business locators here are now paying off, with the agency expecting to collect some P144.8 million either through upfront settlement or payment scheme in the next five years.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, more than 30 investor-companies here have cooperated with the current administration to settle their long-due obligations and negotiated for payment arrangements that were approved by the SBMA Board.

“We’re gaining much headway in our collection program because our investors understand that we are serious in managing Subic with transparency, impartiality, and consistency,” Eisma said.

“They can see for themselves that we are applying rules uniformly in keeping with the thrust of President Duterte to fully utilize government assets and maximize their benefits,” she added.

Eisma pointed out that the current SBMA Board had approved staggered payment of accounts in order to collect debts that accumulated but remained unacted upon by previous administrations.

“We simply inherited these problems, but it is now incumbent upon us to set things right and prevent more losses to the government,” she said.

She added that the payment schemes approved by the Board of Directors since January 2017 had so far accounted for P102.45 million in peso accounts and $847,203 in dollar accounts, or a total of P144.8 million in principal alone.

These amounts cover payments for arrears in mostly land rentals and leases of facilities, as well as unpaid common use service area (CUSA) fees, deposits, performance bonds, and other charges.

The payment schemes will also yield more than P5.6 million and $53,000 in future interests, Eisma added.

Among the companies with approved payment schemes are Lyceum of Subic Bay, with P31.58 million in arrears, deposits, and other fees; Global Daeil Subic, Inc., P16.68 million; Subic Bay Yacht Club, P10 million; and Speed Subic Corporation, P6.77 million.

The latest firm to avail of a payment scheme was Japanese pioneer company Koryo Subic, Inc. According to the payment scheme approved by the SBMA Board, Koryo would pay $219,688 for lease rental of its three expansion areas, as well as CUSA fee amounting to P394,491.

The Board also called for upfront payments of $43,937 in rent and P78,893 in CUSA fee, as well as escalation rates for the computation of its back lease rentals.

Eisma said that alongside the SBMA’s program to collect overdue debts, the agency is also vigorously pursuing the recovery of unused assets that were previously contracted out for management by Subic-registered companies.

“We have, in fact, repossessed some SBMA facilities that have been left idle or unimproved by lessee- companies, and we have also revoked the contract of investors who failed to meet their contractual obligations,” the SBMA chief said.

“We have to do this because the SBMA and the government are losing money every single minute that these prime assets remain unproductive,” Eisma explained.

“Land, and the buildings and facilities on it, is a very precious commodity in the Subic Bay Freeport because of the limited space here, so we have to be diligent in optimizing these assets for productive economic activities,” she said.

Eisma added that an audit initiated by her administration in December last year had resulted in gross revenue billings amounting to more than P18 million from 13 companies in the Freeport.

“These are all part of our transparency drive, which in the long run would redound to a better business climate in the Subic Freeport,” Eisma said. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

The SBMA retakes possession of a facility left unimproved by a lessee-company in the Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA, DOLE, DepEd, investors unite to close labor gaps

Government agencies here are now working closely with the education sector and local business locators to harmonize efforts at closing the mismatch between available jobs and available manpower in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and nearby communities.

Some 1,200 officials from government and private sectors, as well as educators and students, gathered at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) here last week for the Annual Labor Congress organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to tackle the issue of labor gaps.

Among the attendees were representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE),
Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and local government units (LGUs).

SBMA Labor Department manager Severo Pastor Jr. explained that the one-day congress serves as venue to address employment issues, help students choose the right academic or technical course to take in college, and assist the education sector to determine what relevant courses or skills training they should offer.

“Most often, students enrolled in courses that are not suitable for jobs offered by investors in the Freeport, or that courses that would likely get more employment offers were not offered in schools,” Pastor noted.

As both these case result in employment gaps, Pastor said the academe should take necessary actions to address the skills-employment mismatch by offering courses relevant to the skills needed in the locality, particularly by Subic investor-companies.

“There should be a continuous flow of skilled or professional workers needed by investors in the Subic Freeport, so that we can sustain the local economy,” he also said.

SBMA records indicate that there are now a total of 1,587 business locators in the Subic Freeport, with more than 134,000 workers employed.

Meanwhile, Dir. Ben-Hur Baniqued Jr., head of TESDA- Zambales, revealed that as of October 2017, there are 7.8 million workers available in Region III. However, unemployment in the region is at 76%, which is way higher than the national average, he added.

“Underemployment (in the region) is tremendous,” Baniqued remarked. He said that while the government is considering Central Luzon as an alternative hub to decongesting Metro Manila, the industries, especially investors in the Subic Freeport, must help the academic sector by providing free training to students through on-the-job programs to further develop the local workforce.

At present, Baniqued said, there are about 430 private institutions in Region III that provide more than 2,000 Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs for aspiring job applicants.

In the same forum, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Kenneth Rementilla painted a rosy picture for job generation in the Subic Bay Freeport, pointing out that the SBMA has been actively promoting business in Subic through investment missions abroad.

He added that the Subic agency has been hugely successful in drawing new investments, mostly in manufacturing, as well as leisure and tourism sectors.

Rementilla also said that because the Subic Bay Freeport is largely located within the fenced-in portion of the former US military facility here, the SBMA is now looking into expansion schemes to address the shortage of land area for further business development and to create more jobs for local workers. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)


PHOTOS:

[1] Business locators, students and teachers, as well as concerned government agencies attend the Labor Congress organized by the SBMA on June 28 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Kenneth Rementilla (center) and PMAP-Subic President Edith Geniza hand over a certificate of appreciation to TESDA Provincial Director Ben-Hur Baniqued Jr. after he addressed the Labor Congress held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on June 28. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Chinese cruise port to connect with Subic Bay

Plans are afoot to connect the Subic Bay Freeport, an emerging cruise ship destination in Southeast Asia, to the Zhoushan International Cruise Port (ZICP), which is one of the five major cruise ports in China today.

According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, Zhoushan port authorities, cruise line executives, travel agents, and representatives from China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism visited here on Monday to look into prospects of connecting ZICP with Subic, along with Clark International Airport.

“ZICP targets more than 200 international cruises every year after opening their cruise port in 2014,” Eisma said. “Now they are looking at Subic Bay as their next target.”

She added that it would be logical for ZICP to connect with the Port of Subic “because the Subic Bay area is getting to be a popular cruise ship destination for Chinese tourists.”

Zhoushan, which is located in China’s Zhejiang province, is the only archipelago city in China and is considered the gateway to East China Sea.

Since its opening in October 2014, the ZICP became a departure point for cruises to Taiwan and other Asian destinations. Phase 1 of the ZICP development involved reclaiming land from the sea and building a berth for megaships. Total investment to date is reported at around $74 million.

Eisma said Subic could gain much from the proposed connection, as the Chinese cruise industry is expected to become bigger in the years to come.

“The link between Zhoushan and Subic would be mutually beneficial, since both areas have great offerings for cruise ship passengers and the potential to serve as jump-off points for other destinations in the region,” Eisma said.

“This could be the start of our version of a maritime silk road here,” she added.

At least 20 cruise ship arrivals have been calendared in Subic for this year, and some bookings have been made for 2019 and 2020. These include three arrivals each for the month of June, July and August this year.

Eisma said that another giant Royal Caribbean vessel, the Voyager of the Seas, has been scheduled to arrive here in August. Its sister ship, the Ovation of the Seas, which is the biggest cruise ship in operation in Asia, has called at the Port of Subic last June 8. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Delegates from the Zhoushan International Cruise Port and the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as officials of cruise lines and travel agencies, pose with SBMA officials during a courtesy call at the SBMA office on Monday. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Japanese firm to build robotic parts in Subic Freeport

A Japanese company known as the leading supplier of precision gearing solutions to the industrial automation marketplace is planning to set up operations here to manufacture key components for industrial robots.

Nidec-Shimpo Corporation (Japan), a wholly-owned company of Japan’s Nidec Corporation and sister-company of Nidec Subic Philippine Corporation, will build reduction gears which are considered vital in controlling the speed and traction of electronic equipment.

Nidec-Shimpo Corporate Planning Manager Tadahiro Togami, Corporate Planning Chief Manager Otoharu Tomita, and Vice President for Administration Tetsuya Nakao recently called on Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma to present their proposal.

They said that the proposed Subic operation will initially hire 100 workers, and eventually up to 1,000 workers.

Eisma said the proposed project will fortify the presence of Japanese companies here at the Subic Technology Park (STEP), which now hosts some of the leading innovators and manufacturers in the field of technology.

“Aside from proving the continuing investor confidence in this premier free port and economic zone, the entry of Nidec-Shimpo will further elevate Subic’s place in high-end manufacturing and increase the stature of local workers in the areas of precision engineering and technology,” she added.

The reduction gears that Nidec-Shimpo will produce in Subic will be intended for export to Europe, Eisma also noted.

The company, which has affiliated companies worldwide, is engaged in the manufacture and sales of variable speed drive and speed reducers, factory automation systems, ceramic equipment, electronic instruments, DC brushless motors, press machines and fee attachments, dies, and other machinery and tools.

Currently, Nidec-Shimpo has plants and marketing offices in the United States, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, India, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

According to SBMA Business and Investment Department for Manufacturing and Maritime (BID-MM) head Karen Magno, Nidec-Shimpo’s sister firm in Subic is now the world’s top manufacturer of small precision motors.

She added that Nidec Subic Philippines currently holds the largest market share in the world for spindle motors, which rotate disks and are at the heart of hard disk drives used in personal computers. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

[1] Nidec-Shimpo officials present their proposal to manufacture reduction gears for industrial robots in the Subic Bay Freeport to SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] Nidec Subic Phils Corp at the Techno-Park.

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Subic hosts Bike King TRI 2 on July 1

Over 500 triathletes brace for an unconventional long-distance multisport competition in the Bike King TRI 2 set on July 1 at Subic Bay.

After the 2km swim at ACEA Subic Bay, participants vie in the bike leg on the rolling 60km route of SCTEX until Dinalupihan before returning to Subic.

The final test of endurance is the 15-km run which includes the hills of Cubi Point.

The team competition will see large contingents from Century Tri Hard, FIT Phl, Herbalife, Pampanga’s Best Tri Clark, Sante Barley and Trimac vying for top honors.

Specially designed trophies will be awarded to the individual and team winners of the event supported by TAG Heuer, Biogenic Alcohol, NLEX-SCTEX, Standard Insurance, Vittoria, Smart, Gatorade, Nescafé Dolce Gusto, Saucony, Gardenia, Prohealth Sports and Spinal, ACEA Subic Bay, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Court Meridian Hotel & Suites, and Subic Holiday Villas.

Other events lined up by Bike King are the Bike King Duathlon presented by Clark Global City (Sept. 9), the Sun Life Aquathlon Series Championship (Oct. 14), and the MediCard Sprint Triathlon (Nov. 25). (Philippine Star)


https://www.philstar.com/sports/2018/06/25/1827722/bike-king-tri-2-slated-subic-july-1

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Grab eyeing Subic Freeport franchise; gets positive response

Southeast Asia’s leading internet-based ride-hailing and booking company is receiving positive feedback for its plan to expand operations into this premier free port.

Grab Philippines head for expansion Carlo Cu Unjieng recently outlined the firm’s proposal for a Subic franchise to key Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officials and asked for feedback on what riding platform would be appropriate here and benefit residents the most.

Cu Unjieng said the firm could position either a GrabTaxi or a GrabCar, or even a GrabBike operation in Subic, depending on the needs of the local riding public.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the proposal is welcome, as it would result in better transport services within Subic Freeport, especially now that a lot of foreign tourists are arriving via cruise ships.

“I am all for this, because it is an alternative platform for the riding public who would want ease and convenience, as well as competitive rates,” Eisma said.

“Of course this may pose a challenge to existing transport operators in and around the Freeport, but I happen to see it as an opportunity for everybody to step up and improve their services,” she added.

Eisma also advised the Grab official to talk to local government units around the Freeport, pointing out that the neighboring communities would constitute a huge sector of the potential customers.

She added that residents of Zambales and Bataan who work or do business in the Subic Bay Freeport would principally benefit should Grab gain a foothold into Subic and neighboring areas.

Based on responses to an informal survey conducted last week by a local-based social media account, most residents are in favor of the proposal to introduce Grab services in the Subic area.

The commenters said they have been waiting for an improved transport system that charges reasonable fare and provides fast, reliable service.

While some respondents worried that the move might cause more traffic in the Freeport, not a few suggested that the taxi service operating here be converted to Grab units.

Other respondents also expressed hope that Grab operations would be extended into Olongapo City and Subic, Zambales.

Grab, formerly MyTeksi, originated in Singapore, and is now present in seven countries—Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

In the country, Grab is operational in major urban centers line Manila, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Angeles City, and Balanga, Bataan.

Eisma said Grab is primarily need in the Subic Freeport to modernize the local transportation system and revolutionize how Subic business locators, workers, and visitors are being ferried in and around this growing business and industrial center. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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Ayta tribe gets title over ancestral land in Subic Freeport

After 14 years of bargaining, and hoping and praying, the Magbukun Ayta tribe of Sitio Kanawan in Morong, Bataan finally got approval on their claim for ancestral domain over some 12,000 hectares of land straddling parts of Morong town and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

During the third and final hearing on the Magbukun tribe’s petition at the Subic Park Hotel here on June 18, the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) en banc found their claim valid and passed approval of the same.

The application was approved by the seven NCIP commissioners: Chairperson Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo, Basilio Wandag, Norberto Navarro, Ramcy Astoveza, Dominador Gomez, Boi Era España, and Roy Dabuit.

The NCIP officials met with the Magbukun tribal council here to deliberate on the latter’s long-standing application for a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), which would formally recognize the rights of the indigenous community over their ancestral land.

According to Rodelio Tamundog, tribal chieftain of the Magbukuns, they started applying for a CADT way back in 2004.

“It feels good,” an elated Tamundog said. “Now we have the freedom to decide on the land that we inherited from our forefathers and determine our own future.”

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma, whose agency has operational control over a good part of the Magbukun territory, described the approval as a historic occasion for Subic Bay.

“It was also in June, 27 years ago, that most of the Ayta tribes in Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga, were displaced and dispossessed by the disastrous eruption of Mt. Pinatubo,” Eisma noted.

“But despite their sad plight, they were with us in protecting and preserving Subic when the Americans pulled out of this former US Naval Base,” she added.

Eisma also called for further assistance from the NCIP in the processing of a similar title for the Ayta tribesmen of Barangay Cawag in Subic, Zambales, whose land also form part of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The Magbukuns of Kanawan now has ownership of a total of 12,301.354 hectares. Of this, 11,769.054 hectares consist of hills and forests, while the remaining 532.300 hectares are water bodies.

NCIP officer-in-charge for Bataan Michael Baldonado said that a lot of hard work went into the Magbukun CADT. He recalled the years spent on preparing the claim, presenting proofs, producing evidences, as well as researching the tribe’s genealogies and checking available historical archives.

Betty Fielder, who heads the Subic Indigenous People Assistance Group (SIPAG) which is assisting the Kanawan Aytas, said she foresees better prospects for the tribe now that the NCIP has recognized their right over ancestral lands.

SIPAG, Fielder added, will be helping the Magbukuns in formulating a joint management agreement with the SBMA for the development of Ayta lands covered by the Subic Freeport.

The SBMA has entered into a similar agreement with the Pastolan Ayta tribe in Hermosa, Bataan, which was the first indigenous community within the confines of the Subic Freeport to be given a CADT.

The Pastolan tribe is now earning revenue for the use of their land by Subic Bay Freeport investors through remittances from the SBMA. (CAE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Members of the Kanawan Ayta tribe of Morong, Bataan celebrate with SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma following the approval of their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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