Aboitiz Power Tour draws huge field

Close to 300 cyclists and over 30 cycling clubs from around the country will slug it out for top honors in the second Aboitiz Power Tour of Subic at the Subic Bay Freeport this weekend.

Organized by Bike King in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department and presented by Aboitiz Power, the event features three different stages of cycling challenges that will take participants around the Freeport and as far as Bataan. Stage 1 (40km time trial) and stage 2 (45-minute + 2 laps criterium) will both be held tomorrow.

For the second day of the event sponsored by Aboitiz Power, Unilab Active Health, Pocari Sweat, Timex, the 3rd District of Bohol, Crystal Clear Water, Subic Holiday Villas, Orbea, Corima and Bike King, the 90km Stage 3 will fire off at 6 a.m.

The field includes members of PLDT-Bike King, Aboitiz Power, Fitness First, Von Dutch and Franzia.

The awards rites will be held at Subic Holiday Villas with medals, trophies and gift items to be given to winners in various categories.

For details, contact Bike King at 856-3362 or email raulm4@yahoo.com or visit Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BikeKingPhil. (The Philippine Star)

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PLDT, unit sign Subic telecom deals

TELECOM giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and subsidiary SubicTel firmed up agreements with 12 Subic merchants to provide the latter with wireless fidelity (WiFi) service.

The Subic establishments that signed the WiFi zone partnership agreement are Aristocrat Restaurant, All Hands Beach Resort, Bayfront Hotel, Eastern Gasoline Station, Meat Plus Restaurant, Networx Jetsports, Royal Duty Free Shop, Subic Bay Yacht Club, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Zoobic Safari, Pier One Bar and Grill, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

PLDT said with these agreements the number of establishments currently powered by its WiFi zones in the Subic Bay Freeport area have increased to 125.

“Subic is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the country and we are happy to provide WiFi service which enables tourists and residents to connect to the Internet that gives them access to various travel and news sites, as well as social networks like Facebook and Twitter where they share photos and videos of their travels with friends and family,” said PLDT Home wired data head Gary Dujali.

PLDT Home data acquisition senior manager Ma. Myla Margarita C. Villanueva said the WiFi zone powered by PLDT is a value-added service that offers a dedicated line with speed of up to 100 megabytes per second to partner-establishments.

Villanueva explained that one deciding factor for a customer to go to a restaurant, hotel,or any establishment, is to check whether it’s a WiFi zone area. “When you’re at home, you have the PLDT myDSL connection, when you go out, you also want to be connected and the WiFi zone makes this possible.”

PLDT representatives provide a WiFi identification (ID) number to customers which can be obtained by registering on the PLDT WiFi zone website.

Customers can use the ID number anywhere in the 3,500 WiFi hotspots nationwide.WiFi zones are equipped with robust, fixed-line infrastructure by PLDT so owners of establishments no longer need to invest on the infrastructure.

SubicTel president Dennis G. Magbatoc said “We are the only telco that is investing on this offering. We ourselves are putting up the WiFi zone infrastructure not just in Metro Manila but also in key cities like Subic and Clark. We are continuously enhancing this service to ensure that a stable, premium WiFi connection is delivered to our subscribers.”(Lenie Lectura, Business Mirror)

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Hospital ship USNS Mercy docks in Subic Bay

The US naval ship Mercy (T-AH-19), a floating hospital on a four-month Asian tour, docked on Monday at the Alava Pier here for a six-day humanitarian mission, as well as rest and relaxation for its crew.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila said that USNS Mercy is in Subic Bay as part of the Philippine leg of Pacific Partnership 2012, a U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance program held annually.

The Pacific Partnership program brings together U.S. military personnel, host and partner nations, non-government organizations and international agencies to build stronger relationships and develop disaster response capabilities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

US Navy Capt. James Morgan, mission commanding officer of Pacific Partnership 2012, clarified that the arrival of USNS Mercy in the Philippines does not have anything to do with the issues on Panatag Shoal in the Western Philippine Sea.

“It’s a scheduled mission. We’ve been planning this Pacific Partnership 2012 for over a year now and it has been in docket for a long time at the invitations of the government of the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia,” Morgan said.

Before going to Subic, USNS Mercy also conducted humanitarian and civic action missions in Northern and Western Samar, including the towns of San Isidro and Calbayog and the city of Catbalogan.

Meanwhile, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia welcomed the arrival of USNS Mercy here, saying the agency would like to help in missions such as this in any way it can.

He said the presence of USNS Mercy in Subic for both humanitarian and civic activities “will surely benefit the residents in the surrounding communities of the Freeport.”

“We are very grateful that Subic is playing a major role as host port for the hospital ship USNS Mercy for its humanitarian and medical mission,” he added.

Meanwhile, US Navy officers noted that Subic Bay is one of the best ports as far as logistics and relaxation are concerned.

“I think everybody has relaxation on their mind, and it is much needed. We’ve been working very hard and rigorously practically every day for the last month,” said US Navy Capt. Timothy Hinman, the commanding officer of the medical treatment facility for the USNS Mercy.

The hospital ship has a 1,000-bed capacity and is ready to respond to natural disasters or other contingencies in times of conflict. “This means anytime that we would receive a call,” Hinman added.

USNS Mercy has about 850 medical personnel and a total complement of 1,200 people who work as support staff in medical, engineering, construction and maintenance, and other related activities. (RAV/MPD-SBMA))

PHOTO:
Crew members of the hospital ship USNS Mercy man the rail as the ship sails into Subic Bay on Monday afternoon for a five-day replenishing of supplies and rest and recreation for its crew. The ship is participating in a medical and humanitarian mission in the Asia-Pacific region.

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DENR conducts public consultation on Subic coal plant project

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted a public consultation on the coal-fired power plant project proposed by Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy) last June 29 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

More than 5,000 participants composed of residents of Olongapo City and Subic, Zambales, as well as representatives from various stakeholder groups in the Subic Bay Freeport area, attended the consultation.

Region III DENR Director Lormelyn Claudio facilitated the consultation while David Evangelista, project development analyst from RP Energy, fielded questions from the public.

Also present were Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain II and several councilors from Olongapo and Subic town.

Among the issues raised in the forum was the project’s lack of social acceptability from communities in and around the Subic Bay Freeport, where the project is to be located.

Ebdane pointed out that DENR’s failure to conduct public consultation prior to the issuance of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the proposed 600-megawatt coal plant had clouded the project, even when it was designed to avert power crisis and help develop the local economy.

He also expressed concern on the lack of information about the safety and viability of the proposed plant, and urged the proponents to conduct further public consultations.

“Kung ano ‘yung totoo, ‘yun ang ipakita n’yo at nang makapag desisyon ang mga mamayan (Tell the truth, so that the people can decide),” Ebdane told RP Energy officials.

Another concern raised by forum participants was the availability of alternative employment opportunities for fisher folk and other residents whose livelihood may be affected by the project.

To this, Evangelista said that about 3,200 jobs will be created during the five years that the plant will be constructed, as well as about 300 positions when the plant starts operation. Residents of Subic town will be given priority for employment, he added.

When asked about the effects of the plant to the environment, Evangelista replied that the plant has a built-in pollution-control technology which will minimize the formation of pollutants produced by burning coal. The amount of emission that will be produced will also meet Philippine environmental standards.

Evangelista also said that a 24-hour Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) will be in place and this will provide 24/7 emission data that will be made available to the public.

He also explained that power sources like wind, water and hydrothermal are very limited and expensive, while coal is cheap and can generate power for sustained periods of time.

When asked about the source of the coal that will be used for the plant, Evangelista said that the fuel supply will be imported from Australia and Indonesia and will be shipped to Subic.

For her part, Claudio said that the public consultation has been successful because of the huge attendance generated and the actual participation of residents and stakeholders in the open forum.

She also noted that RP Energy had already conducted an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign in the barangays near the affected area and had gathered favorable response from the people in these areas. (ICL/MPD-SBMA)


PHOTO:
Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (right) discusses residents’ concerns on the proposed Subic coal-fired thermal power plant with DENR Region III director Lormelyn Claudio and Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II during a break in the public consultation held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

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Taiwanese trade mission visits Subic Bay Freeport

Officials representing some of the biggest manufacturing companies in Taiwan visited this free-port zone on Tuesday in a trade and investment mission that scouted for possible business projects here.

The delegates were led by Terry Lee, director-general of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, who said the mission was composed of the representatives of 66 of the biggest manufacturers in Taiwan today.

Officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Subic Bay Development and Management Center (SBDMC), which operates the Taiwanese-controlled industrial hub Subic Gateway Park here, welcomed the delegates and briefed them on business opportunities here.

SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia said in his address to the mission that their visit was very timely, as it is now the perfect time to visit the Philippines for investments.

“As you know, in the first quarter of this year the Philippines has achieved the highest GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate of 6.4 percent, which was second only to China. This kind of growth was previously unheard of in this country,” he said.

Garcia also pointed out that the Subic Bay Freeport is specially attracting more foreign investors, as the Philippines continues being one of the rising economies in Asia.

“I think the Philippines is now on the radar screen of the foreign investors. We have many investors visiting us here in Subic — from China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and the United States. There is so much interest in investing in the Philippines now,” he said.

The SBMA official also expressed optimism that the economic and social ties between the Philippines and Taiwan will continue to prosper further.

“We have a very long historical relationship with Taiwan,” Garcia said. “This park was established in 1998, so we have a long history of good and close economic ties with the Taiwanese and we would like to continue that,” he added.

Also present during the meeting were Jeff Lin, president of SBDMC; Clement Yang, chairman of Universal Joint International Corporation; Deogracias Custodio, chaiman and administrator of the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB); and Ed Zamora, vice president for marketing of the Hermosa Ecozone Development Corporation. (FMD/MPD-SBMA))

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia briefs members of the Taiwanese trade and investment mission on business opportunities at the Subic Bay Freeport. Also in photo areTerry Lee (left), director-general of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Clement Yang, chairman of Universal Joint International Corporation.

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Food Industry in Subic Up

The food industry here is increasing as more and more restaurants, cafes and fast food are popping up inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Public Relations Department Manager Armie Llamas said the increase in the number of restaurants signifies investor-confidence in the Freeport’s potential as a tourism hub.

“With the setting up of restaurants such as Sumosam, TGIFridays and the likes only means that entrepreneurs who invest heavily in the food industry believes that Subic will likely generate income,” Llamas said.

Recently, Japanese-fusion resto Sumosam opened its 12th branch inside the Harbor Point in Subic Bay Freeport. Owner Marvin Agustin was on hand during the opening. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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Subic Bay gaining ground in sports tourism

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia expressed optimism for the future of sports tourism in this free port, after it successfully hosted another international triathlon on Sunday.

Garcia said the first Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon, which drew more than 600 foreign and Filipino triathletes, will carry the torch for Subic in the international sporting circuit for the next three years.

“We are surely gaining ground as far as sports tourism is concerned,” Garcia said in after the inaugural run. “We’re very proud to have hosted this event, and we have a lot of foreign and local athletes, all of whom were very happy about the unique and challenging course,” he said.

The Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon was the first 5i50 distance event sanctioned by the World Triathlon Corp. or WTC in Southeast Asia. It was composed of a 1.5-kilometer swim, a 40-kilometer bike, and a 10-kilometer run that took participants along the most scenic routes in this free port.

Garcia said the SBMA has signed a contract with Sunrise Events, Inc. for the staging of the event until 2014.

“So we look forward to a bigger field next year, and as far as our sports tourism program is concerned, we will continue to promote triathlons, marathons, biking events and all other sports events which have chosen Subic Bay as their venue,” he added.

In last Sunday’s races, Australian triathlon veteran David Dellow emerged as the first 5i50 Subic Bay champion after finishing with a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes and 02 seconds. Dellow was also the champion in Ironman Cairns 2012 held on June 3, and was 5th placer at the Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship 2012 in Melbourne last March 24.

Following close behind Dellow was three-time Olympic Triathlon qualifier Csaba Kuttor of Hungary, with total time of 2:03:27. Kuttor finished eighth place in the 2012 5i50 in Klagenfurt, Austria.

In third place was Australian Xterra elite Ben Allen with 2:04:43, while Canadian Mathieu O’Halloran finished fourth with 2:05:23. Allen won first place in the 2012 Xterra Asian Triple Crown and first place at the 2012 Xterra Philippines, while O’Halloran finished first place in the Pico De Loro Triathlon 2012, first place in the Zambales Beach Games Triathlon in 2011, and first place at the Bantayan Beach Games Triathlon.

Another Australian, Belinda Granger, ruled the women’s category, clocking 2:22:35 overall.

Meanwhile, the relay category was led by the Wetshop Tri Team, which recorded an aggregate time of 02:16:27. Team Wetshop Para-Tri clocked 02:31:30 for a second finish, while Meralco Lightspeed Team 1 finished third with 02:32:35.

A total of 619 participants, including 45 relay teams of three members each, joined the race which totalled 51.50-kilometer triathlon distance.

The Subic Bay sports event also drew international professional triathletes like Canadian Ali Fitch, British Jacki Slack, and Justin Granger, as well as Filipino celebrities like Senator Pia Cayetano, TV hosts Kim Atienza and Drew Arellano, actor Matteo Guidicelli, and news anchor Raffy Tima.

Organizer Alaska Milk Corp. president and CEO Fred Uytengsu said the Olympic-distance triathlon race will be held here annually until 2014 and will be organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., the company behind Ironman 70.3 Philippines. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia raises the hand of Australian Belinda Granger, winner in women’s division of the First Century Tuna 5159 Triathlon held at the Subic Bay Freeport last Sunday.

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Maritime logistics confab set in Subic this August

A conference highlighting the Subic Bay Freeport Zone’s attractions as an investment and logistics hub and as gateway to Asia’s expanding market will be held here on August 23-24 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

The Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibit is expected to attract more than 300 investors, shippers, and logistics and supply chain executives and will look at the advantages of Subic as a vital investment area for shipping and logistics companies.

Themed “Subic Bay: Asia’s Emerging Logistics and Investments Hub,” the conference is being organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in cooperation with the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), which operates Subic’s New Container Terminal (NCT 1 & 2).

Organizers said prominent local and international speakers will be invited to give updates on projects and initiatives at the port complex, as well as provide insights on regional trade developments and their implications for the transport and logistics sectors.

There will also be discussions on the attractiveness of Subic Bay as a transshipment port and investment center, the synergy between Subic and Clark, trade facilitation initiatives by the Bureau of Customs in Subic, and the greater push to raise productivity and efficiency at the Subic container terminals.

The conference is also expected to tackle the impact of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus China free trade agreement and best practices among ASEAN seaport operators.

The Subic Bay Freeport, which rose from the former US Naval Base, is now being developed by the SBMA as a prime maritime logistics and services hub.

The upcoming conference is being supported by the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority, Association of International Shipping Lines, Maritime Law Association of the Philippines, Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council, Philippine Exporters Confederation, and the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, with Australia-based Baird Publications as media partner.

Interested parties may inquire on details of the Subic Bay Maritime Conference & Exhibit from event manager PortCalls at (632) 552-7072, 551-1775, 551-1972 or email info@subicmaritimeconference.com, info@portcalls.com. Regular updates will also be available at www.subicmaritimeconference.com or on Twitter @subicconference. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
A container ship unloads cargo at the New Container Terminal in the Subic Bay Freeport. A maritime trade conference to be held in Subic Bay in August will highlight the free port’s advantages as a maritime logistics hub and investment center.

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DTI Woos Taiwanese Electronics Firms, Formulates 5-Year Timetable Roadmap

MANILA -- The Department of Trade and Industry is crafting a five-year “Taiwan Roadmap” to attract electronics companies to relocate here as computer-maker Wistron Infocomm has substantially slowed down its manufacturing operation in Subic.

Trade and Industry for Trade and Investment Promotions Group Cristino L. Panlilio said that roadmap should highlight the Philippines’ competitiveness as a manufacturing location “We should be able to capture other electronics firms in Taiwan because of the rising cost in China,” Panlilio said adding the roadmap has a five-year timetable to bring in other Taiwanese firms.

Panlilio noted that Wistron, which used to manufacture most of its electronics products in Subic, has substantially reduced its operations as it relocated the bulk of its production in China because of competitiveness issues and the supply chain problem in the Philippines.

“Wistron is producing laptops only in Subic,” Panlilio said. It has reduced operations since the past three to four years.

Wistron Infocomm Philippines was the largest exporter in 2007 with freight on board (FOB) value of $448.7 million out of $971.7 million total Subic exports that year. In 2011, Wistron’s exports substantially declined to only $75.3 million.

But, Panlilio pointed out that the situation has reversed as cost in China has gone up substantially and some manufacturers like Taiwanese businesses are looking elsewhere. The Philippines is deemed gaining back its competitiveness as a manufacturing hub.

Panlilio said that Taiwanese could put up another economic zone although it has already an existing ecozone in Subic.

“Subic is always prepared to accommodate them,” he said.

In fact, he said, the 100 businessmen who joined in the one-day trade mission and business matching event yesterday at Dusit Hotel in Makati are going to visit Subic.(Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat, Manila Bulletin)

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US nuclear-powered sub on ‘routine port call’ arrives in Subic

A nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine of the US Navy arrived here on Monday for what American officials called a “routine port call.”

USS Louisville (SSN 724), which is currently stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, belongs to the Los Angeles class of attack submarines that are considered the backbone of the American submarine force in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

The 360-foot long, 6,900-ton ship is said to be armed with sophisticated MK48 torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

According to a statement from the US Embassy in Manila, the Louisville will be in port from June 25 to June 30 to replenish supplies and to give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation.

The visit also “highlights the strong historic, community and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines,” the embassy said.

The submarine’s arrival came 40 days after the USS North Carolina, another nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine of the next-generation Virginia class, docked in Subic amid tension between the Philippines and China over Scarborough Shoal, a resource-rich rocky outcropping some 130 nautical miles northwest of this free port.

According to the official US Navy web site, the Louisville’s mission is to “seek out and destroy enemy ships and submarines, and to protect our naval interests.”

Like 31 of the 51 Los Angeles types in the US Navy’s submarine fleet, the Louisville is equipped with 12 vertical US launch system tubes for firing Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles. It also carries Harpoon anti-surface ship missiles with a range of 70 nautical miles (130 km) and has mine-laying capabilities.

As an attack submarine, the Louisville has received awards for its role in the Navy’s Middle East campaign. It reportedly carried out the first war patrol conducted by an American submarine since World War II as Operation: Desert Storm began in January 1991, and also earned the distinction of being the first to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles against targets in Iraq, as well as having fired the first war shot of Desert Storm.

The submarine again participated in Operation: Iraqi Freedom in 2003, launching 16 Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea against targets in Iraq.

The US Embassy said the Louisville will not be open to any media activity during its stay at Subic Bay Freeport.

Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay, Philippine Navy spokesman, said there was nothing unusual with the submarine’s presence in the country.

Its “diplomatic clearance is only for replenishment. [It has] no involvement with the Philippine Navy,” he added.

Tonsay said the Louisville applied for clearance to dock at Subic as early as May this year. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

PHOTO:
Crew of the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS Louisville can be seen on top of its hull and conning tower, as it slides into Subic Bay Freeport on Monday. The US Navy ship is slated for a few days of resupply, and rest and recreation.

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Aussies click in Subic triathlon

Australians David Dellow and Belinda Granger showed they’re not just long-course race specialists as they topped the Olympic-distance Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon Series Philippines in contrasting styles at the tough course here at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

The 33-year-old Dellow needed one burst of speed in the final three kilometers to overtake former three-time Olympian Csaba Kottur of Hungary and another Aussie Ben Allen to wrest his first victory in this 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run in over a decade.

“It’s been a while since I last did short course races, maybe 10 years because I’ve been focusing my energy on doing long-course races,” said Dellow, whose long list of victories included Ironman Champion Cairns 2012.

“It’s two different sports really but I’m glad I won here, it’s unforgettable experience competing over here,” he added.

Dellow reached the finish line in two hours, three minutes, three seconds. Kuttor, who competed in the triathlon in Athens, Sydney and Beijing Olympics, was second in 2:03.27 while Allen was third in 2:04.43.

Granger, who topped the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 in Camsur last year, ruled the women’s pro side in 2:22.35, or a whopping five minutes ahead of second placer Ali Fitch of Canada (2:27.47).

“It’s always special for me competing here in the Philippines and winning makes it more special,” said the 41-year-old Granger, whose other notable triumphs were the 2012 Geelong Long Course and 2011 Ironman 70.3 Japan.

Charming Jacqui Slack, the women’s division leader of the European Xterra Off-Road Triathlon series who admits to be in a serious relationship with Allen, bucked a couple of flat tires by emerging with the fastest sprint run. She finished third in 2:52.33.

The day, however, belonged to a 20-year-old Olongapo City native and a relay team consisting of a one-legged swimmer, one-foot cyclist and one-armed runner.

John Leerams Chicano, representing local-based Tri-Monkey team, stole the thunder from the favorites by emerging the best Filipino finisher in 2:11.35, that is also good for fifth overall behind Dellow, Kuttor, Allen and Matthieu O’Halloran, who wound up fourth in 2:05.23.

“I’m not really surprised to win because I’ve been training hard for this race,” said Chicano, a member of the national youth team, in Filipino. “I’m just happy that I beat some of the favorites, I will never forget this.”

Among the victims of Chicano were top Filipino triathletes Neil Catiil of LBC Solutions (2:16.04) and Arland Macasieb (2:19.46).



Representing coach Vince Garcia’s Wetshop Para-Tri Team, tanker Arnel Aba, who swam with just a left leg, cyclist Godfrey Taberna, who rode despite having a right club foot, and runner Isidro Vildosola came through with a ride to remember, finishing second among 23 teams in the team relay.

The only other team to beat Aba, Taberna and Vildosola was Wetshop’s other team headed by three-time Tour champion Santy Barnachea.

“We just want to prove that disability is not a hindrance if you will just believe in yourself,” said the 26-year-old Alba, who has already collected five gold medals in the Southeast Asian Para-Games.

Alaska’s TBB team, which consisted of four pros and six locals, also made heads turn and was spearheaded by 16-year-old Banjo Norte who wound up 12th overall in 2:26.54.

Monica Torres, who is busy preaching the sport online, won the local female elite section in 2:36.33, barely edging former Phl No. 1 LC Langit, who came in second in 2:36.33 despite getting his rear tire busted at the start of the bike part of the event.

The event is being presented by Century Tuna and sponsored by Alaska Milk, Gatorade, David’s Salon, 2XU, Timex, Intercare, Oakley, SBMA, with The Philippine STAR and Multisport Magazine as media partners.

For updates, you may visit its website at www.5i50philippines.com.

5i50 Notes: A lot of celebrities both from showbiz and politics joined the race, including Senator Pia Cayetano, Kuya Kim Atienza, Erwan Heussaff, Drew Arellano, Ernie Lopez and organizer Fred Uytengsu ... Aussie Ben Allen and Brit Jacqui Slack built their love affair in the triathlon circuit and are going steady for a year now. Coincidentally, they both finished third in the pro section ... Mattieu O’Halloran has given up his chance to play for Canada to represent the country but his plan to get naturalized didn’t push through. He did it for love, particularly Joyette Jopson, whom he has been with for almost four years now. (Joey Villar, Philippine Star)

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$450M deal ends Hanjin’s order drought

HANJIN Heavy Industries & Construction (HHIC)-Phil, the local unit of the Korean shipbuilding giant, has won an order to build 10 mid-size container ships worth $450 million at its Subic shipyard, the first bid won by the company since last year.

HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard said it signed a contract with European shipowners to build the ships, which will be capable of carrying 5,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of container.

This is the first bid won by the company since last year as the debt crisis in Europe and budget problems in the United States, the world’s two biggest export markets, led to weak global trade that softened demand for shipping.

Shipowners have had to idle capacity or cancel newbuilding orders as freight rates fell to record lows in the past two years amid the demand slowdown, worsened by soaring oil prices and oversupply as vessels previously ordered were delivered.

HHIC said that despite the impact of the financial crisis in the West, the company moved to improve its management and performance, which paved way for the success of the bid.

“Based on recently dramatic improvements in cost-competitiveness, HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard has finally been able to win this bid,” the shipbuilder said in a statement.

The company said it is also in negotiations with other shipowners, and expect “good news may come soon.”

An official from HHIC said currently mid-size vessel orders have been rare due to increasing demand for larger, more efficient vessels as shipping companies aim to cut costs in view of escalating fuel prices.

“Due to economic slowdown around the world, it has been difficult for us to win a new bid,” the official said.

“However, we have been eventually able to win (the $450 million order) thanks to superior cost-competitiveness, high quality and great reliability,” he said.

“Empowered by this success, we are going to keep promoting our sales activities,” he added.

HHIC-Phil said its latest contract involves building state-of-the-art container vessels adopting the eco-design technology. The ship dimensions are 255 meters in length, 37m in width and 22m in depth, and with a maximum speed of 21.5 knots.

Early in 2007, HHIC opened a skills development center in Subic Bay, Olongapo City, and began construction of a shipyard in the first quarter of the same year.

In July 2008, HHIC delivered the first vessel order made from the Subic shipyard.(Jennifer Ambanta, Malaya)

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Unique races await cyclists

THREE unique races await cyclists from different sports clubs when the 2nd Aboitiz Power Tour of Subic is held on July 7-8 at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Stage 1 is a 40-kilometer time trial that begins at Causeway Road stretching out to two turnaround points (at Subic International Raceway and at Argonaut Highway and back.)

Stage 2 will be a 45-minute plus 2 laps criterium race for female racers, Category 4 racers, and Category 3 racers.

Stage 3 of the event sponsored by Aboitiz Power, Unilab Active Health, Pocari Sweat, Timex, the 3rd District of Bohol, Crystal Clear Mineral Water, Subic Holiday Villas, Orbea, Corima and Bike King will be a 90-kilometer road race for female, Category 3 and Category 4 entries that will begin at 6 a.m.

Entry fee is pegged at P1,200 per stage. Interested parties may contact Bike

King by sending an email at raulm4@yahoo.com or calling tel. no. 856-3362. (Malaya)

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Subic ‘back to school’ outreach grooms Aeta pupils

A total of 155 pupils at the public elementary school in the remote village of Kanawan in Morong, Bataan, learned how to look best in school during a lecture on proper grooming and proper hygiene undertaken by volunteers from this free port.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority-Public Relations Department (SBMA-PRD) facilitated the Kanawan outreach project, which was undertaken by the team-up of the Lighthouse Marina Resort in Subic Freeport and international personal products manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.

The school children, most of whom belong to the Aeta tribe, were taught proper bathing, grooming and wellness through an audio- visual presentation by Johnson & Johnson. The firm also provided grooming products so that the children could apply what they have learned in the lecture.

Aside from the hygiene products, the children also received books, umbrellas, slippers, medicine and other personal items that the children would need for school.

In return, the Kanawan youngsters expressed their appreciation for the gifts by doing traditional Aeta song and dance numbers.

After the gift-giving activity, the adults also took time for a tree-planting activity at the back of the schoolhouse where they planted hardwood tree species like Lauan in the rich soil of the area.

Rolando Lazo, Johnson & Johnson supply chain director for Southeast Asia, remarked that not even the rainy weather could stop the Subic groups from undertaking the project. “Our visit here seeks to improve the lives of others with our products,” he said.

Sitio Kanawan is inhabited predominantly by members of the indigenous Aeta tribe, who have built their homes on the grassy plateaus and mountain slopes.

The community is located about eight kilometers from the Morong town proper and can be reached only by crossing a 30-meter long hanging bridge which spans the Batalan River. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Employees of Johnson & Johnson’s Supply Chain Division distribute hygiene products to around 150 Aeta students during a joint outreach program with the Lighthouse Marina Resort and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority at SitioKanawan in Morong, Bataan.

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Environment Impact: Subic Power Plant Undergoes Review

The $1.28-billion 600-MW Redondo coal fired power project in Subic Freeport is facing another review as stakeholders and experts call for a 're-scrutiny' of the power plant, approved during the previous SBMA Board, largely on environmental impact issues.

The review of the Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc., which is 50 percent owned by Meralco PowerGen Corp.

Aboitiz unit Therma Power Inc. and Taiwan Cogeneration Corp., was called after the completion of the Social Acceptability Process (SAP) conducted by the SBMA in December last year.

The power plant’s construction was scheduled to start in 2009 and the initial commercial operation of the first phase 300 mw was supposed to commence this year and the second phase of 300MW to start three years after the commercial operation of the first phase.

“Based on their analyses of the subject matter, the specialists recommended that the SBMA re-scrutinize the coalfired power plant project,” the SBMA’s final SAP report released recently said.

Based on the report, a revisit of the project, which was already approved by the former SBMA Board under the then administration of President Gloria Arroyo, is meant to effectively determine the impact on environment and health; ensure comprehensive impacts zone study; properly determine actual and potential cost; and, to ensure the project is coherent and compatible with SBMA's mandate, vision, mission and development plans, including its protected area management plan. (Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat, Manila Bulletin)

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Subic ‘Independence Run’ to benefit Aeta children

Runners from communities around this free port literally ran the extra mile recently to raise funds for indigent Aeta children in the Subic Bay area.

This was made possible through a fun run dubbed as the “2nd Independence Run” held on June 12 in commemoration of the 114th Independence Day.

The event, which was organized by the Lincoln Lodge 34 of the Free and Accepted Masons in Olongapo City, was sanctioned by the Department of Education (DepEd) and supported by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Ayala Land’s Harbor Point mall here.

According to lead organizer Jordan Dizon, proceeds of the run will benefit some 200 Aeta children now under the care of the Saint Francis Learning Center School for the Aeta, a non-government organization run and operated by Franciscan sisters in Mangan-Vaca, Subic, Zambales.

He said that each peso raised from the registration fees in the fun run will be used to purchase school supplies and other necessities for the children in the Center.

“We expect that proceeds from this year’s event will surpass the P120,000 that we raised last year. This will be a big help to these children from various remote Aeta villages in Zambales and whose parents are so poor that they cannot afford to send them to school,” Dizon noted.

At the same time, Dizon lauded the DepEd for endorsing the event to public schools in the Olongapo City and Zambales, and also thanked the local police and the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) for sending participants.

“The remarkable support of the SBMA for the 2nd Independence Run has made the event bigger and more exciting for the participants, as well as for the spectators,” he also said, pointing out that the event drew a total of 1,570 runners.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, meanwhile, reiterated his agency’s commitment to help in the development of sports in the country by hosting sports events in this free port and assisting organizers in planning and implementing their events in Subic.

“As we gear up towards sports tourism in the Subic Bay Freeport, we also help develop discipline and good health, especially among the youth, and this is one contribution the SBMA is proud of,” he said.

Meanwhile, Olongapo City vice mayor and race director Rolen Paulino said the 2nd Independence Run was dominated by some of the best athletes in the country today.

Paulino said the winners in the 21-kilometer men’s division were Roveno Javier, first place, with a time of 1 hour, 23 minutes and 47 seconds; Ronny Rosete (1:25:14), second place; and Christian Denothia (1:33:03), third.

In the 21-kilometer women’s division, first place was won by Monica Torres (1:38:29); second, Karen Marie Bregger; and third, Jesselyn Morales (2:13:06).

On the other hand, the 10-kilonmeter men’s race was bagged by John Leerams Chicano, champion; Michael Abad, second; and Rogel Anajao, third. The women’s 10-kilometer run, meanwhile, went to Rinalyn Santos, first; Christine Levi Gaspas, second; and Jady Dine Cantores, third.

Those who led the 3-kilometer race for men were Alvin Dionisio, first place; Clyd Drefferd Supnet, second; and Florentino Navalta, Jr., third. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Participants in the 2nd Independence Run at the Subic Bay Freeport join to raise funds for Aeta school children.

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Women’s national team conducts basketball clinic in Subic Freeport

The Discovery Perlas ng Pilipinas national women’s basketball team conducted a three-day basketball clinic at the Subic Bay Gym on June 6-8 in an effort to promote the game among youngsters and develop better players among the youth.

The clinic was open for both boys and girls aged 15 and below, who wanted to learn the basics of the country’s most popular ball game.

Haydee Ong, head coach of Discovery Perlas, said the women’s team is making the rounds and conducting basketball clinics all over the country in the hope of finding future national players.

“We want to promote basketball and also women’s basketball. Pero para maiba naman, sa halip na ‘yung mga lalake ang magtuturo, babae naman,” she said.

“It’s also our own way of giving back something to the young basketball fans,” she added.

Hundreds of young basketball enthusiasts from Olongapo City and the Subic Bay area attended the clinic, grabbing at the chance to be mentored by members of a national team.

“Enjoy kami, at maraming natutunan, tulad ng defense at proper dribbling,” said Gabriel Dimaano, 12, who hurried to the Subic Gym right after classes at the St. Joseph’s High School in Olongapo.

Kid brother, Daniel, 11, admitted that the training was a little bit hard to a beginner like him, but he also enjoyed the clinic because it was fun.

While only a few girls joined the training, Ong said it was good enough that they were able to spread awareness regarding women’s basketball.

“Gusto namin siyempre na makahanap kami ng women players sa mga clinic. Kahit mga dalawa o tatlo para may ma-develop,” she said.

Ong added that the team has coordinated its clinic schedules with government units in order to gain support for the basketball clinic program.

“Nagkausap na kami ng mga local government unit katulad nung kay Governor Imee (Marcos) sa Ilocos, then sa Bacolod and Bataan, so hopefully this year makakatapos kami ng six or ten clinics,” she stated.

Ong said the Discovery Perlas team has been together for several years now, and has proudly represented the country in several international events. The team is also set to compete in an invitational tournament this November. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Members of the national women’s basketball team coach aspiring players on the basics of the game at the Subic Bay Freeport.

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SBMA to require permit to operate from locators

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will begin strictly enforcing on July 1 the requirement for all business locators in this free port to secure a permit to operate (PTO).

According to Stefani Saño, SBMA senior deputy administrator for business and investment development, the agency will require all locators to comply with this regulation in view of recent findings that some locators have begun operation when they have yet to comply with all the requirements.

“If you don’t have a permit to operate, you have no business operating in the Subic Bay Freeport. The rule is, you need to comply first,” Saño stressed.

“This new system is not only beneficial to the government; it is also for the protection and for the interest of private businesses here,” he added.

Saño explained that in the existing system, the Certificate of Registration and Tax Exemption (CRTE) given to new locators before they open their business is also being considered as PTO. However, as the CRTE does not spell out other requirements, like an environmental compliance certificate, the system allowed some businesses to go around these requirements.

“The new board of directors saw this flaw, so we would have to change the system and stress compliance first before operation,” he added.

Saño said the SBMA had conducted a public forum with the business community on May 31 in order to enlighten Subic Freeport locators about the new permitting system.

He added that the new business permit will be implemented by the SBMA in addition to the current regulatory requirements already in existence.

“If the businesses are compliant, the system is sustainable because there is order. This is the principle behind this,” Saño also said. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

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