Uzbeks among early arrivals for Asian boxfest

THE Uzbekistan youth team is flying in Thursday ahead of everybody else in preparation for the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships which fires off March 10-17 at Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) gym.

The Uzbeks are expected to be led by recently named national coach Mars Kucharov who steered the Korean boxing team to a silver medal finish in the London Olympics. Kucharov has also previously trained boxers in Taiwan and China.

“Obviously, they want to acclimatize early which is a sure sign of their earnest desire to win,” said Ricky Vargas, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, who is overseeing the tournament backed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, PLDT, Smart, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Tollways, Clarktel, Subictel, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Videogear Inc., Exile Lights and Sound, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Sports Coeammission.

The ABAP-PLDT Philippine team has drawn from the youth pool and will parade James Palicte (60 kgs), Jade Bornea (49 kgs.), Ian Clark Bautista (52 kgs), Jonas Bacho (56 kgs), and Eumir Felix Marcial (64 kgs).

Teams from Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka will arrive on Saturday followed by the main bulk of participating Asian countries, including China, on Sunday, said ABAP executive director Ed Picson.

After the accreditation at the Subic International Hotel and a technical meeting late Sunday, the medical and general weigh-in and the official draw will be held Monday.

A one-hour opening ceremony at 5 p.m. is wedged between two sets of preliminary bouts.

Aiba president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu is gracing the inaugural rites along with Asian Boxing Confederation president Gofur Rakhimov of Uzbekistan and ASBC executive director Aziz Kozhambetov. (Spin.ph)

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Subic to host ASBC Youth boxing tourney

Scenic Subic Bay will provide a breathtaking backdrop to the fierce action set to break out March 10-17 when the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships kicks off in this coastal municipality of Zambales.

With 26 Asian countries sending their fighters 17-18 years of age for the 10-weight division slugfest at the Subic Bay gym, no less than officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority are getting ready for the forthcoming ring combat and the influx of foreign athletes.

“We want to highlight this as a world class event,” said SBMA deputy administrator Raul F. Marcelo. “[SBMA] Chairman Bobby Garcia has given explicit instructions to fully cooperate with PLDT-ABAP in seeing to it that all efforts are made to impress upon our foreign guests our unique brand of hospitality, organizational savv, and the natural charm of Subic Bay.”

For the weeklong event, SBMA, according to ABAP executive director Ed Picson, has refurbished the air-conditioned Subic Bay gym with a fresh coat of paint, comfortable lounges and locker rooms.

“They will also be deploying ample security personnel to assure order in the event which has drawn over 130 boxers,” said Picson.

“We expect our guests to not only enjoy exciting and competitive boxing, but also everything that Subic Bay has to offer in terms of accommodation, entertainment and an environment of relaxation and the good life,” said Marcelo.. “We are proud to partner with PLDT, Smart and ABAP in welcoming all our guests.”

For his part, ABAP president Ricky Vargas expressed gratitude to SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto V. Garcia and deputy administrator Marcelo for the “enthusiastic support” they show for this national effort because “this is not just an ABAP venture but a national one.”

Powerhouse China, North Korea, former Soviet republics, and the Middle Eastern bloc, including war-torn Syria, are among the nations that have confirmed their participation. (PhilBoxing.com)

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TRAP program comes to the fore in Subic tilt

THE Triathlon Association of the Philippines’ successful technical resources development program comes to the fore when the K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships 2013 is staged on April 27-29.

Tom Carrasco, TRAP president and POC chairman, said the association has been “focusing on the development of technical officials since we started the Subic Bay International Triathlon in 1993 and its heartening the see fruits of our efforts.”

TRAP secretary-general Mon Marchan, a level 3 ITO (the apex of the International Triathlon Union technical official hierarchy) official, heads the local organizing committee, with Rachel Ribo Dumuk, also a level 3 ITO, acting as chief technical official.

Marchan, chairman of the Asian Triathlon Confederation technical committee, officiated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics while Dumuk, also an official of the Philippine Sports Commission, served as ITO in both Beijing and London Olympics.

Level 2 ITO Fabian David will be an assistant technical delegate to back up China’s Qin Jianqui (level 3 ITO). Daniel Sng (level 2) of Singapore is the assistant technical delegate for the ParaTriathlon (for the differently abled) and Kiriyo Suzuki (level 3) of Japan the referee

Balwant Singh Kler, the ASTC’s secretary-general, and treasurer David Hoong, both level 3 ITOs, will sit as jurors in the event sponsored by K-Swiss, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department, Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, Speedo, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, Fitness First and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Level 2 ITO Alex David takes charge of the run leg with Meinard David and Armand Fabi overseeing the swim and bike phases, respectively. Willie Pabuaya will be the top official at the finish.

The task of ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the results falls on the shoulders of TRAP vice president Red Dumuk, the race director of the ASTC when it was first organized by the TRAP in 1996.

Level 2 ITO Rick Reyes serves as protocol chief and ASTC Congress and Executive Board meeting project director Ting Joson, a member of the ITU and ASTC’s women’s committees, and Sarita Zafra will head marketing for the sponsors.

The David brothers, Dumuk and Reyes have been pressed to action in the Asian Games. (Malaya)

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Foreigners impressed with Subic’s transformation

Dignitaries from India and the Myanmar visited this free port on separate occasions recently and left visibly impressed with the transformation of Subic from a military base into a bustling economic haven.

Indian Ambassador Amit Dasgupta, who met with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia, said they are giving Subic high importance in terms of business potentials.

“It is a great place and I think it contributes much to our economic relations with the Philippines,” Dasgupta remarked during a courtesy call with Garcia on February 15, noting that several ships of the Indian Navy have already docked in Subic.

Dasgupta also suggested that the SBMA make a presentation for potential locators in business process outsourcing, adding that companies in Manila are now looking to expand their non-voice operations.

Garcia also welcomed last week visitors from Myanmar who sought to learn about how Subic was transformed from a U.S. military base into a premier business and logistics hub.

These included Khine Khine New of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Zam Cin Pao of Chin National Party; Thein Tun Aye of Paunku; Kyaw Win Khaing of Rakhine Thahaya Association; and Channisitha Mark of International Aler.

Garcia also briefed them on the programs and projects of the SBMA, the existing policies and facilities in the Subic Bay Freeport, and shared with them some the elements of a successful base conversion.

“Good leadership, an enabling law, a vision… these are some of the things you would need if you want a complete transformation,” Garcia told the delegates. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia welcomes Indian Ambassador Amit Dasgupta during a courtesy call last February 15 in Subic Bay Freeport.

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Tri United race returns to Subic

ANOTHER season of excitement and endurance is all set to start with the launch of Unilab Active Health’s 2013 Tri United series of races with Tri United 1 at Dungaree Beach, Subic Bay Freeport on March 10.

Other than an all-new, scenic location, endurance tests await 600 participants who have signed up to compete in the Standard Distance (1.5 Km swim, 40 Km bike, 10 Km run), Sprint Distance (750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run) and Teens Distance (750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run) events.

Swimming and transition will be at Dungaree Beach while the bike leg is set along Argonaut Highway and the run leg and finish line will be along San Bernardo Road.

At stake in the event sponsored by Unilab Active Health, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, Aboitiz Power, Enervon Activ, Enervon HP, I-on Energy Drink, Hydrite, BIKEKING, 3rd District of Bohol, Pocari Sweat, TIMEX, Crystal Clear Mineral Water and Orbea are medals and gift packs for all Top 3 winners of the Elite Male, Elite Female, Team Relay, Team Competition, standard and sprint distance age-group categories, and the Teen Male and Teen Female categories.

Organized by BIKEKING (headed by Raul Cuevas) in cooperation with the SBMA Tourism Department and presented by Unilab Active Health, Tri United 1 is the first of four races scheduled for 2013. (Journal Online)

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More Subic Bay Investors Eyed

The Subic Bay Development Management Center (SBDMC) disclosed that if this premier Freeport could provide an increasing supply of reliable and cost-effective power, more investors are expected to establish their businesses here.

According to SBDMC President Jeff Lin, administrator of the Subic Bay Gateway Park (SBGP), power costs represent a huge chunk of the cost of conducting business here.

The Subic Bay Gateway Park is a world-class industrial park offering approximately 150 hectares of prime industrial land, and is host to about 80 direct locators, and 60 plus sub-lessees made up mostly of manufacturing and production firms.

“The Philippines currently has one of the highest power rates in the Asian region. Foreign or even local businessman looking at locating and investing here will see this as a disadvantage. We believe we have to try to remedy this somehow,” he said.

At the same time, the SBDMC reiterated its support for the Redondo Peninsula Energy (RP Energy), a fellow SBFZ investor and locator.

Lin also disclosed that the SBDMC and its locators support the power project of the RP Energy, being developed within the Freeport.

They have actually been counting on the power to be supplied by the 600-megawatt power project to the Luzon Grid to help address the need for additional reliable and competitively-priced power.

The Department of Energy’s Philippine Energy Plan states that some 11,000-megawatt in additional capacity is needed until 2030 for the Luzon grid alone.

This projection is based on a 4.8-percent annual growth in energy demand.

This means a new 600-megawatt power plant needs to be online every year, starting 2016 onwards.

During the past, a group of Subic locators already projected the need to increase power supply in the Luzon area to keep up with economic development and avoid a power situation as that in Mindanao.

The Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) reminded local and national stakeholders to recognize the need to move forward with power investments in the Luzon grid.

According to the chamber, the government needs to fast-track the construction of base-load power plants to augment the capacity and provide cheaper power. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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2013 a productive year for Subic - SBMA chief

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Roberto Garcia announced several huge projects for Subic Bay Freeport this year.

Garcia said most of the negotiations with different investors done last year would be pushing through in 2013.

Resom Resort Co., Ltd project in Minanga, in Morong, Bataan was sidelined because of a land dispute but this year, but Garcia said it will pursue three major builds.

Garcia said the first will be a multi-million dollar luxury hotel at the former mini golf area along the famous waterfront road.

The second will be a hotel, casino and spa in Cubi and a golf course in Minanga in Morong, Bataan.

Resom will invest an estimated P600 million in the projects, Garcia said.

Ocean Nine, which was also side-tracked last year due to a legal problem will start to renovate the former Legenda Hotel.

“Included in their license which is expected to come out this week is for the operation and renovation of the former Legenda hotel and the El Centro Convention Center,” Garcia said.

“These two project will infuse $30 million,” he added.

Another company in the leisure industry which will be doing a project in Subic this year is Holiday Inn with an estimated investment of P1.8 billion.

The agency is also looking for an investor to lease out the current administration building along waterfront road.

The administration building is considered as a historic landmark in Subic to some because this building was the former command center of the United States Navy.

Talks are currently being held with companies into aircraft and maintenance service, he added.

“We are also talking to several Hong Kong companies who are considering to relocate operation in Subic.” Garcia said.

“One company we are talking to right now has 16 and the other one has 36 charter jets, if all goes well, the airport will be a busy place this year,” he said.

Vale, an iron ore transshipment company who brought around P60 million in revenues for Subic last year is looking at doubling its revenues this year, he said.

Subic’s port is also expected to be busy after Garcia said Purefood, San Miguel and another fertilizer firm expressed keen interest in it.

Black and Decker, a US-based powertool manufacturer, will also be setting up shop in Subic soon, Garcia said.

“With all this investments coming this year, we are confident that Subic will prosper this year and we hope that we can sustain all of this and add more,” he added. (Anthony Bayarong, Philippine Star)

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HK yachtsman wins Subic Bay to Boracay Race

Hong Kong-based yachtsman Frank Pong made mincemeat of the competition to snatch provisional honors in the Subic Bay to Boracay Race on Monday.

Pong steered his Reichel Pugh 76 Jelik to the unofficial victory with a time of eight hours and 59 minutes, just a fraction of the time it normally took a yacht to navigate the 210-nautical-mile course.

Jelik was ahead of Geof Hill’s Smith 72 Custom Antipodes. Filipino businessman Jude Echauz’s TP52 Standard Insurance Centennial III came in third after 23 hours and 14 minutes of hard sailing.

The Subic to Boracay Race is classified as a category 3 offshore race by the International Sailing Federation. The course takes from 17 to 40 hours, depending on the size of the yacht and sea and wind conditions in the route.

A total of 11 local and foreign entries in the racing-, cruiser racing- and cruising-class divisions left Subic Bay on Saturday for Boracay. The competitors vied not only for the Subic-Boracay Race Cup and the Boracay Regatta Cup, but also for the prestigious “Asian Yachtsman of the Year” and “Yacht of the Year” titles given by the Asian Yachting Circuit.

At the race’s end, however, only 10 yachts made it into the harbor of the island-paradise and two yachts retired from the race after encountering problems, organizers reported.

These included defending overall champion Jun Avecilla’s Benetau 36.7 Selma Star C! Calibre Rox, which limped with a broken spinnaker, and Sam Chan’s TP52 FreeFire, which was demasted while passing through Fortune Islands just four hours out of Subic Bay.

FreeFire, which shattered the Hainan-to-Hong Kong yacht race record in October last year, was one of the favorites in the IRC Racing Class, and along with Neil Pryde’s Hi-Fi, was expected to provide stiff competition to Jelik.

Following the end of the Subic-to-Boracay leg, the yachts continued with more races for the Boracay Cup Regatta from February 18 to 22.

The two races are jointly organized by the Subic-based Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing group and the Boracay Cup Organizing Committee. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

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PPA calls for serious study on decongesting Manila ports

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) yesterday sought a more thorough study on how to make “more utilizable” the largely under-utilized Subic and Batangas ports.

Such study, the PPA said, would balance the interests of such stakeholders as port and terminal operators, exporters and other shippers, shipping lines and cargo forwarders.

Decongesting traffic to and from the Manila ports and rerouting cargoes to Subic and Batangas ports “is a way to go forward,” PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana admitted in news briefing as he announced the holding in Manila of the 11th Asean Ports Association (APA) sportsfest on Feb. 25.

“We are not against it,” he said, adding that any policy advocating similar cargo diversion should put premium to market forces at play and should not place the exporters in harm’s way.

Sta. Ana issued this statement after newsmen pressed him into speaking about a set of policy recommendations, drawn up by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), that sought to decongest the overcrowded Manila ports by rerouting spillover cargoes to either Subic and Batangas.

In the same breath, Sta. Ana stressed the need to revive the cargo rail links that used to transport container cargo from Manila ports to container yards near economic zones and industrial parks in Laguna.

The cargo rail links which effectively removed the less desirable cargo trucks from Metro Manila roads, proved to be unprofitable for the private firm than the Philippine National Railways, prompting rail authorities to forgo the system.

Sta. Ana said the revival of the cargo rail system would help decongest Manila ports.
Meantime, the PPA announced it posted P8.9 billion in total revenues in 2012, or 2.01 percent bigger than that year’s income target.

Port revenues, or incomes derived from vessels and cargoes and remittances from terminal operators, were recorded during the same year at P8.61 billion.

The port authority attributed the growth in port revenues to, by and large, the country’s increased mining activities last year.

Last year’s economic growth enabled the PPA-run ports and terminals to handle cargoes totaling 181.49 MMT (million metric tons), up 1.8 percent from previous year.

According to the Jica-commissioned study, which was actually conducted by Transport and Traffic Planners Inc., Subic port’s usage in 2011 was 5.6 percent of its actual capacity, while Batangas port’s utilization was 4.2 percent, also during the same year.

The same study showed these ports’ combined cargo volume paled in comparison with the container traffic handled in 2011 by the Manila ports.

Sta. Ana said Subic port utilization did not move an inch even after it lowered two years ago its fees, such as wharfage and other charges.

Batangas port, he added, likewise adjusted its berthing fee. But these price adjustments seemed not enough, he said even as he called for a more comprehensive study on how to make both Subic and Batangas ports more appealing to shipping lines and shippers.

Sta. Ana said that Jica, in coming up with a more comprehensive study on improving Subic and Batangas ports’ usage, should also determine the requirements not only of shipping lines but also those of logistics companies.

The Jica study proposed a policy mix that also included a six-year delay in capacity-expansion investments at the South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal (MICP).

But Sta. Ana said these capacity-expansion projects were “on schedule” and could not be delayed any longer.

On the APA sports festival, which will be held from Feb. 25 to March 1 in various sports complexes in the Philippines, Sta. Ana said it would be a “very good avenue in promoting camaraderie” among the officials and employees of APA member-ports.

More than 500 delegates from Asean countries are expected to participate in sportsfest events like golf, futsal, badminton, mini-marathon, bowling and table tennis.


Sta. Ana said the sports festival would be open to the public. (The Daily Tribune)

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Subic Bay to Boracay race begins

The race from Subic Bay Freeport to Boracay Island is on!

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) deputy administrator for tourism Raul Marcelo sounded the horn here at 12:00 noon on Saturday to mark the start of the Subic Bay to Boracay Race, sending sailors to take advantage of a good easterly breeze of 20-22 knots to position themselves ahead of the pack.

Local and foreign yachtsmen from the Asian Yachting Circuit are participating in this competition, along with the succeeding Boracay Regatta, to vie for the prestigious “Asian Yachtsman of the Year” and “Yacht of the Year” titles.

The yachts, which are sailing under racing, cruiser racing, and cruising classes, are expected to finish the Subic-Boracay Race from 17 to 40 hours, depending on the size of the boat and the sea and wind conditions in the route.

Organizers said that to help race enthusiasts monitor the event, participating yachts have been installed with PLDT F.A.S.Track GPS live-tracking devices for the duration of the gruelling 210-nautical mile ISAF Category 3 Offshore race.

Fans and the public alike can be a part of the race by following the sailors online via the dedicated website http://www.pldtfastrackonline.com.ph/SBBR2013/, or they can fly with Cebu Pacific, the official air carrier of the regatta, to the exotic island of Boracay to catch the excitement in the Boracay Cup Regatta from February 18 to 22.

Overall winners in each racing class will bring home an impressive handcrafted solid-brass trophy designed by Ferdinand Cacnio, a multi-awarded visual Filipino artist, which was officially commissioned by the provincial government of Aklan.

Sailing in the Philippines, particularly in Subic Bay and Boracay, has evolved with growing popularity and interest over the last several years, catching the attention of Grand Prix yachts and top-notch local and foreign sailors.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the annual Subic to Boracay Race has catapulted the Philippines, along with Subic, among the high-ranked sailing destination with a lot of beautiful places to visit.

The Subic Bay to Boracay Race and the Boracay Cup Regatta are organized by the Subic-based Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen’s Sailing (SAGS) club and the Boracay Cup Organizing Committee in conjunction with The Lighthouse Marina Resort, the municipal government of Malay, the Philippine Coast Guard, the provincial government of Aklan, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and Watercraft Ventures Corp. under the auspices of the Philippine Sailing Association.

The Subic Bay to Boracay Race is supported by Subic Bay International Terminal Corp (SBITC), Standard Insurance, Cebu Pacific , PLDT Subictel, PLDT Alpha Enterprise, PLDT SME Nation, San Miguel Corp, Tanduay, R.O.X., TIEZA, and the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce.

The Boracay Cup Regatta is supported by the Department of Tourism, TIEZA, PCSO, Ibiza Beach Club, Movenpick Resort, Discovery Shores, Boracay Regency, The District Boracay, Boracay Beach Resort, 2GO, FILA and Ralph's Wines & Spirits. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA deputy administrator for tourism Raul Marcelo sounds the horn to start the Subic to Boracay Race, after which participants took advantage of favorable winds to exit Subic Bay.

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23 countries vie for ASBC Youth crown

Powerhouse China, North Korea, former Soviet republics, and the Middle Eastern bloc, including war-torn Syria, are among 23 countries that have confirmed their participation in the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championship set March 10 to 17 at the Subic gym.

As many as 25 nations, including host Philippines, are expected to send their finest boxing youths to the tournament, and this early Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Macau, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese Taipei, Turkmenistan, Iran, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh have already guaranteed a slam-bang affair with their confirmation.

The magnitude of the event is not lost on Abap officials.

“This is fast becoming a logistical challenge but we are meeting it head-on,” said Abap president Ricky Vargas Saturday on the eve of the PLDT-Abap National Championships at the Maasin City gym in Southern Leyte.

“We are getting good support from the Asian Boxing Confederation and even the International Boxing Association (AIBA). As a matter of fact, AIBA president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu has already confirmed that he will attend. Likewise ASBC president Gofur Rakhimov. SBMA has also enthusiastically helping, as our friends from PLDT and Smart. We’re looking forward to a great tournament.”

AIBA technical delegate Nieva Tesoro-Embuldeniya, a Filipina from Lal-lo, Cagayan and a University of Santo Tomas graduate, and Aziz Kozhambetov, executive director of ASBC, came away impressed from an ocular inspection of the venue last week, said Abap executive director Ed Picson, who is on tap for boxers 17 to 18 years old are 10 weight divisions from 49kgs light flyweight to 91kgs super heavyweight.

“We’re hoping to field bets in six divisions,” said Picson, who is currently overseeing action in the national championships.

Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco, an avid sports fan, and Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado have extended their full support for the Feb. 17 to 23 competition which is expected to draw 20 teams and 100 boxers from all over the country. (The Daily Tribune)

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Elite triathletes due for Subic event

A BIG field of more than 300 elite and age-group triathletes coming from 27 Asian countries will converge at the Subic Bay Freeport in late April to compete for honors in the K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships 2013.

Set on April 27-29, the event has attracted among others, 2012 SUBIT champion and London Olympian Bai Faquan (China), Yuichi Hosoda (Japan), Jiang Zhihang(China), Ryosuke Yamamoto (Japan), Harunobu Sato (Japan), Kim Ji Hwan (Korea), Shohruh Yunusov (Uzbekistan) and former ITU world champion Dimitriy Gaag (Kazakhstan).

Leading the women’s field are Asian No. 1 Zhang Yi, No. 2 Zhong Mengying and No. 3 Xin Lingxi of China, Tomoko Sakimoto, Yuko Takahashi, Hideko Kikuchi, and Kiyomi Niwata of Japan, Jang Yun Jung of South Korea, and Yekaterina Shatnaya of Kazakhstan.

The Under-23 and junior divisions of the event backed by K-Swiss, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department, Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, Speedo, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, Fitness First and the Philippine Sports Commission has also attracted a big field.

Leading the Philippine delegation is current national record holder and champion Nikko Huelgas who will compete in the elite category along with teammates John Chicano, Kim Mangrobang (U-23 Women), Mary Pauline Fornea, Kevin Eijansantos and Allen Santiago. Youth Olympic Games aspirants Magali Echauz, Vicky Deldeo, Kate Lagman, Jimuel Patillan, Justin Chiongbian and Louie Lalanto will see action in the 15-16 junior sprint competitions.

Registration is going on with entry fees pegged at P5,000 until Feb. 28 for the standard distance local participants and $200 (until Feb. 28) for foreign non-residents. For the sprint and mini-sprint distances, the entry fees for locals are P4,000 (until Feb. 28) and $150 for foreign non-residents.

Team relay entry fees (until Feb. 28) are P8,000 for 2-member teams and P12,000 for 3-member teams. Entry forms are available at Speedo Concept Stores and BikeKing.

Interested parties can contact the Triathlon Association of the Philippines through tel. nos. 399-6598, 710-8259, 0916-5046513 and 0915-6394233 or by sending an email tofabiedavid@yahoo.com. (Malaya)

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Futsal fever invades Subic

Futsal, the five-versus-five indoor variant of football, has reached Subic Bay with no less than Ayala’s Harbor Point Mall serving as venue for a 10-day football clinic for kids who wanted to learn what is touted to be the world’s most popular game.

Argee Gomez, Harbor Point marketing manager, said the Harbor Point Futsal Clinic will be held at the mall’s activity center from March 5 to April 4. It will be open to kids aged six to 12.

The twice-a-week clinic aims to introduce football game appreciation and techniques using drills and fun games and is being undertaken in partnership with the Subic-based Lighthouse Amihan Football Club (LAFC), Gomez added.

John Bayarong, LAFC manager, said this is the most comprehensive football clinic in the Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City area today.

“The best part of this is that coaches trained by the Asian Football Confederation [AFC] have agreed to share their knowledge with the local kids, so this will be a very significant event for football enthusiasts here,” he added.

The AFC is the football governing body in Asia and a member of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa).

Bayarong also said that it was futsal which has helped Brazil, Spain, Iran and Japan develop their football talents.

Esmaeil Sedigh, Philippine Futsal team coach, has earlier lauded the partnership between the LAFC and Harbor Point, saying these kind of linkages “strengthens the bond of local clubs, the supporters, and the community.”

“This partnership is a model that we must duplicate nationwide, not only to popularize the sport, but to ensure talent development in our communities,” Sedigh said.

Gomez, meanwhile, said that Harbor Point Mall shopper will also have the opportunity to join the clinic by simply purchasing items from participating mall merchants.

“There are 15 regular and five shopper’s slots available to ensure that the participants get the best experience and training possible,” he said. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

In Photo: A young futsal enthusiast dribbles around a cone during a recent futsal activity at Subic’s Harbor Point Mall.

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Subic Maintains Competitive Port Fees

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) decried reports claiming that shipping costs in this premier Freeport will increase as soon as the government reroutes their traffic from the port of Manila to here.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said contrary to figures being floated around, the SBMA services are as competitive as that of Manila’s.

He said that Subic’s rates are meant to attract ship operators to use the Port of Subic.

With an aggressive stance in promoting this premier Freeport as the go-to cargo and container port terminal in Central and Northern Luzon, the agency set out rates and incentives to be more competitive than in Manila.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya endorsed the Port of Subic, encouraging cargo shippers to use Subic Bay and Batangas ports to decongest the ever-growing traffic in the Port of Manila.

Recent study shows that the utilization rate of Subic Bay Freeport is 5 percent, while Batangas’ rate is 4 percent.

But Christian Gonzalez, general manager of Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and regional head of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) told reporters last week that the move will “make trade more costly.”

The suggestion (of using Subic and Batangas) goes against market dynamics, he claims and “the way to keep costs down in this port environment is to let the consumers decide.” (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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Strike Hampers Subic Port Operations

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – A strike by employees of the Malayan Towage and Salvage Corporation (SALVTUG), led by the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), almost crippled this seaport operations here over the weekend.

Six vessels, including a US naval supply ship, were left at the open sea waiting for their escort tugboats that were docked due to a strike initiated by SALVTUG employees. The loss of service to these vessels would have meant a loss of millions of pesos worth of income for the government.

In a text message, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia stated, “I hope strike is resolved soon.”

He added that both Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines (Hanjin) and Keppel are helping out with the predicament, ensuring that port operations here are not paralyzed and are normal.

According to an anonymous source, the strike stemmed from employees who want to have the same rate as that of their international counterpart. He added that the average salary of the employees there were more than R40,000.

He said that to them it was a question of principle, but to him, it was a question of patriotism. He added that if the employees could jeopardize the country’s port operations, the protesting employees will not only succeed in doing so but might also disrupt the country’s economic state.

SALVTUG was established in November 1974 with three (3) ocean-going coastal tugs and four (4) dry cargo and bulk oil barges. Over the years, the company has kept paced with the development of Asian Ports and has continued its modernization program. Presently, the fleet has grown to thirty one (31) multi-tasked tugs, two (2) specialized crafts, one (1) crew boat, thirteen (13) barges of various types and two (2) floating dry docks.

SALVTUG and its Western Pacific Associates specialize in Ocean Towage, Marine Salvage, Logistical Support, Cargo Recovery, Wreck Removal, Underwater Operations, Barging, Anchor Handling, Buoy Installation and Ocean-Spill Cleanup in the territorial waters of the Philippines, South China Sea and the Western Pacific Ocean.(Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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Subic Freeport hosts 1st SEA Marine Mammal Stranding Network Symposium

Marine biologists from ten Southeast Asian countries pooled their expertise here since Monday to establish a network that would effectively deal with the growing incidence of marine mammal stranding in the region.

The 1st Southeast Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network Symposium and Workshop held at Camayan Bay Resort here on February 4-9 drew 50 marine mammal stranding experts and scientists from the Philippines, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The symposium was organized by the Subic-based Ocean Adventure Marine Park, Hong Kong’s Ocean Park Conservation Foundation (OPCF), and Subic’s Wildlife in Need (WIN), in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology at the University of the Philippines (UP-IESM), and the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN).

Among the resource speakers were Dr. Lien Chen Chou (National Taiwan University), Gail Laule (WIN), Timothy Desmond (Ocean Adventure), Timothy Ng (OPCF), and PMMSN president Dr. Lemuel Aragones.

In a briefing, Ng explained that the ultimate objective of the symposium is to establish a regional stranding station for the marine mammal stranding network representatives to work together and effectively respond to stranding reports.

Ng said that the OPCF is supporting numerous conservation groups and marine mammal stranding chapters in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, by providing financial support and technical assistance.

“Ocean Park Conservation has a long history of conservation connection with the Philippines, and for this Ocean Park has donated HK$2.5 million to the Philippine conservation NGOs, various universities and different institutions to support their 30 conservation projects,” Ng said.

For his part, Desmond said that the symposium-workshop aims to engage stakeholders and experts in an exchange of knowledge about the current and future affairs of marine mammal stranding networks in the region, the diseases the animals are confronting, and the condition of the ocean in the area.

Desmond added that in the Philippines, when marine mammal stranding experts show up in the community, they interact with local people in such a way to transform residents’ attitude towards marine conservation.

“We point out that these animals are of value to the entire eco-system where they live in,” he explained.

Experts in the symposium also noted that in the past, stranded dolphins and whales were usually slaughtered by fisher folks for meat. Today, however, people are more aware of the importance of saving these animals, prompting them to report any stranding incident to authorities, they added.

Meanwhile, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia commended the initiatives of the symposium organizers, saying that Subic Bay and the nearby coastal areas would benefit from the establishment of a marine mammal stranding network, as they are among the local places where strandings occur.

Garcia added that Ocean Adventure and Wildlife in Need, both members of the PMMSN, have been playing important roles in saving and documenting incidents of stranded marine mammals in the area.

He also noted that Ocean Adventure has conducted workshops on marine mammal (cetacean) stranding for the local Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) professionals, technical personnel, veterinarians, and members of the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) nationwide.

Because of the efforts done by the Ocean Adventure in disseminating information on marine mammal stranding, members of local aquatic resources councils and residents in coastal communities have been at the forefront of rescuing stranded marine mammals, Garcia also observed. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Dr. Lemuel Aragones, president of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (right) stresses a point during a press conference in the on-going Southeast Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network Workshop and Symposium held at the Camayan Beach Resort in Subic Bay Freeport. Joining him are Timothy Ng, deputy director of Ocean Park Conservation Foundation-Hong Kong; Timothy Desmond of Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium Inc.; and Gale Laude of Wild Life in Need.

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Subic tourism school holds eco-kayaking course

Kayaking enthusiasts from various provinces in the country took to the water here recently, not to compete in a race, but to learn about how their favorite activity could help in promoting tourism in the Philippines.

The course, spearheaded by the Subic-based International School for Sustainable Tourism, consisted of a three-day training on kayak paddling, kayak guiding, and kayak safety with an emphasis on eco-tourism.

The course took advantage of the waters of Subic Bay, which varied from placid to choppy, and featured notable kayaking experts from here and abroad, who gave practical lessons on eco-kayaking.

According to Buzzy Budlong, a noted kayaking enthusiast who has led an 88-day kayaking expedition around the country, kayaking can be both a recreational activity as well as a boost to local tourism in the country.

“It can create jobs, boost sustainable tourism, and at the same time educate people about our coastal and marine resources,” Budlong said.

Ogie Empeño, a registered scuba diver from the local government of Masinloc, Zambales, said they joined the course because they would be expanding their eco-tourism program in Masinloc Bay, featuring several resort islands and a unique mangrove island.

“This would be a big help in our efforts to conserve the bay area, as well as promote it to boost the local tourism market,” he added.

The course was also attended by Bill Temby, a seasoned kayaking instructor from Australia, who gave lessons on basic kayaking skills.

Temby said that the Philippines has a very big potential when it comes to kayaking, given the lengthy coastline in the country.

But he noted the differences between kayaking in Australia and the Philippines.

“Well, the conditions are completely different to start with. I was teaching in Australian waters where we have issues like hypothermia,” he said. “In Australia, it is competency-based and we instruct only with proper certification. It’s much more regulated there.”

Temby said he hopes that kayaking would be recognized as a tourist activity in the Philippines and that it would be standardized to ensure safety.

“It all comes back to safety,” he said. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Participants in the eco-kayaking course at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone pose with kayaking expert Bill Temby (sixth from left)

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2012 BIR & BOC tax remittances hit P7.62 billion in Subic Freeport

Tax collection agencies in this country’s premier free port have turned over to the national treasury a total of P7.62 billion in taxes collected from January to December 2012.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia said the amount was derived from taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Garcia said the combined collection of BIR and BOC here has consistently increased in the last four years, showing growing profitability among Freeport-registered locators.

SBMA records indicated that the two agencies yielded a combined collection of P5.28 billion in 2008. This increased by 6.18 percent to P5.6 billion in 2009; by 19.25 percent to P6.68 billion in 2010; by 8.14 percent to P7.22 billion in 2011; and by 5.42 percent to P7.62 billion last year.

During the same period in review, the BIR alone collected a total of P1.29 billion from income, value-added, percentage and other taxes, with a 16.22-percent surplus over the 2011 collection record of P1.11 million.

The BIR collections included a portion of the five-percent corporate tax levied on the annual gross income of Subic-registered locator companies. The three percent of the five-percent corporate tax that the BIR collected from January to December 2012 reached P205.33 million.

BIR’s peak monthly performance was recorded in April 2012 when its collection reached P139.43 million. However, the BIR fell short of its goal of P1.3 billion by 1.21 percent.

Meanwhile, the Port of Subic-BOC posted collections worth P6.33 billion in January-December 2012. This record indicated a slight increase of 3.47 percent over the P6.12-billion customs harvest in 2011.

Subic-BOC also posted non-cash collections worth P491.22 million from government-to-government transactions.

Garcia expressed optimism that this year, more businesses will invest in the Subic Bay Freeport, thus paving the way for more business activities, employment opportunities, and tax returns. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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USS Stockdale to Arrive in Subic Bay

MANILA – USS Stockdale (DDG-106), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, will arrive in Subic Bay on Tuesday, February 5th for a routine port visit. This stop in Subic will permit the Stockdale to replenish supplies as well as offer its crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation.

“Visiting Subic Bay provides us with a great opportunity to continue the long-term relationship between the Philippines and the United States and that is very important to us,” said Cdr. Lex Walker, Commanding Officer, USS Stockdale.

Cdr. Walker also spoke about the diversity of his crew. “We have quite a few Filipino –American Sailors among our crew, and I hope that the citizens of the Philippines can look at our ship and see that their people and their culture are well represented and respected in the U.S. Navy,” said Walker.

15 Filipino-Americans sail aboard the USS Stockdale, among them Sailors with family ties to Baguio City, Manila, Marikina City, Orion, Olongapo City, Quezon City, and Santa Monica. Some, like Geno C. Uy (GSM2) and Ryan Angeles (AM2), were born in the Philippines and immigrated to the U.S. in recent years. Others, including Joel Marsigian (AM2) and Dean Rivera-Villanueva (ADAN), were born in the United States but still have relatives in the Philippines. Many of the Stockdale’s Sailors plan to visit family while in port.

This will be the Stockdale’s first visit to the Philippines. The visit is part of the ship’s nine month deployment to the Western Pacific that began in January 2013. (US Embassy Public Affairs)

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SBMA releases P72-million revenue share to neighbor LGUs

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will release this month a total of P72 million in revenue shares to the seven municipalities and one city that are located near this premier free port.

According to SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia, the funds to be given to neighboring local government units (LGUs) were derived from two percent of the corporate taxes paid by registered Subic Freeport enterprises from June to December 2012.

Since August 2010, the SBMA, under a new tax collection scheme, began directly receiving two percent of the five percent corporate taxes paid by Subic firms to help ensure the prompt release of these shares to neighboring LGUs.

The rest of the five percent, whichis three percent, goes to the national treasury through the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

For the second semester, Olongapo City has been allotted a total P17.5 million. In Zambales, the town of Subic will receive P10.69, while San Marcelino will get P8.7 million, San Antonio P6.35 million, and Castillejos P6.15 million.

In the province of Bataan, meanwhile, Dinalupihan will have P9.04 million, Hermosa P7.34 million, and Morong will get P6.22.

Garcia said the LGU revenue shares, which are given to communities that are contiguous to and affected by the Freeport, “are intended to augment local resources and enable stakeholder communities to undertake development projects in health, education, peace and order, and livelihood generation.”

The SBMA funds benefit an estimated 600,000 residents in the contiguous municipalities, Garcia added.

According to the SBMA Treasury Department, the allocation of the LGU revenue shares is determined according to population, which is accorded a 50 percent weight, land area for 25 percent, and equal sharing for another 25 percent.

A retention share of 10 percent is deducted from the actual allocations, but is refunded to the LGUs after a certain period.

Chairman Garcia said that the 10 percent retained amount from May to December 2010 amounted to P6.21 million and was included in the fund released this month.

The LGU shares are regularly released twice a year - the first semester share in August, and the second semester share in February of the following year.

For 2012, the SBMA released a total of P129.4 million in LGU shares, while it distributed a total of P132.96 million in 2011. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA Targets $800-M 2013 Investments

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) expects $800 million in investments this year, a strong turnaround from an estimated $200 million in 2012, with two new shipbuilding facilities to be established by EU firms and major tourism projects.

SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto V. Garcia said this year would be a turnaround year from the poor investments performance last year.

"We expect $800 million in new investments this year because more investors are coming in. Last year was poor because all we have were mostly inquiries from foreign investors," Garcia said at the sidelines of the Philippine Port and Shipping Conference.

SBMA has no official report yet on the investments inflow in 2012, but Garcia estimated it at only $200 million.

Of the $800 million projected investments this year, $600 million are expected to come from the two new shipbuilding facilities which will manufacture small crafts for the exports market. The rest of the investments projection would come from the tourism and gaming projects of major hotel and casino operators.

Garcia, however, refused to identify the company but said they are European investors, which are expected to locate within the year in the freeport.

At present, Subic Freeport hosts the $2 billion shipbuilding facility of Hanjin of Korea.

While SBMA was a laggard in investments generation in 2012, Garcia earlier reported that the freeport achieved the highest profit last year in its 20-year history.

The freeport posted a record profit of P789 million in 2012. This is a drastic turnaround from the P1.2 billion loss in 2011.

Garcia said that the turnaround was due to increased revenues, reduced operating expenses and a favorable exchange rate.

The revenue increase of 16 percent versus 2011 was brought about by new major projects in seaport operations such as the Vale ore transshipment project and the start of commercial operations of the Phase 2 of the new container port.

Coupled with an aggressive collection campaign on existing accounts, new revenue streams were created through increased admission fees on importations and the imposition of fees to defray municipal expenses that were previously subsidized.

Operating expenses decreased by seven percent versus 2011, as the Agency implemented a comprehensive austerity program. Salaries similarly dropped by seven percent. as a freeze hiring policy was implemented and manpower count decreased. Repairs and maintenance likewise decreased by 46 percent and advertising was slashed by 35 percent versus 2011. As a result, earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation (EBITDA) jumped from P329 million in 2011 to P629 million - a 91 percent increase.

Due mainly to favorable exchange rates, unrealized foreign exchange posted a gain of P1.1 billion in 2012 from the previous year's FOREX loss of P566 million.

In the meantime, the SBMA's 2013 Strategic Planning session focused on developing new initiatives to sustain and improvefurther SBMA's financial position in the coming years.

New strategic initiatives concentrating on the seaport, airport, tourism, and commercial and industrial leases were formulated, targets were set and detailed plans of action were submitted and approved by the SBMA Board. (Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat, Manila Bulletin)

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Patillan, Echauz Top YOG Elims

Olongapo bet Jimuel Patillan outlasted Cebu's Justin Liam Chiongbian in a wild rush to the finish to rule the second Youth Olympic Games (YAG) qualifying tournament yesterday at the Dungaree Beach in Subic.

In topping the event, Patillan summoned his remaining energy in the final 200 meters to beat out his rival.

Organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, the race was staged in a new distance of 500-m swim, 20-k bike and 2.5-k run with Patillan posting 55 minutes and 12.32 seconds.

Chiongbian, who settled for third in the Batang Pinoy National Finals last December in Iloilo behind Patillan and gold medal winner Sixto Louie Lalanto, clocked 55:12:79 while Mandaluyong City bet Samuel Ranque took third with 55:37.00.

Magali Bernasconi Echauz stamping her class anew in the women's with 1:01:25. A far second was local bet Victoria Deldio at 1:02:22 while Laguna's Jessica Salazar took third in 1:08:05 time.

Patillan was ahead after the swim and bike leg but Chiongbian and Ranque made their moves in the run event to make the contest more exciting. (Manila Bulletin)

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USS Cheyenne arrives in Subic Bay

USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), a Los Angeles-class submarine, arrives in Subic Bay today (February 1st) for a routine port visit.

This stop in Subic will permit the Cheyenne to replenish supplies as well as offer its crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation.

The USS Cheyenne, named after the town of Cheyenne, Wyoming, is assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet.

It is home-ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Cheyenne, commissioned in 1996, is the last Los Angeles-class submarine to be built by the United States. (U.S. Embassy Information Office)

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2 European firms to invest $600M in shipbuilding

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Roberto Garcia yesterday reported that two European companies will invest $600 million building small ships in Subic, encouraged by the success of Hanjin Heavy Industries.

Garcia declined to elaborate further, saying that inquiries were made last year. Garcia said during a break in the Philippines Ports and Shipping Conference at the Manila Peninsula yesterday that Subic has become an ideal investment destination for maritime and tourism.

He also reported that SBMA was able to turn around from 2011’s losses of P1.2 billion to profit of P789 million last year.

Garcia attributed the turnaround to increased revenues, reduced operating expenses and a favorable exchange rate.

SBMA raised 16 percent more in revenues last year than in 2011 on the entry of new major projects in seaport operations such as the Vale ore transshipment project and the start of commercial operations of the Phase 2 of the New Container Terminal.

Coupled with an aggressive collection campaign on existing accounts, new revenue streams were created through increased admission fees on importations and the imposition of fees to defray municipal expenses that were previously subsidized.

Operating expenses decreased by 7 percent versus 2011, as the SBMA implemented a comprehensive austerity program.

Salaries similarly dropped by 7 percent as a freeze hiring policy was implemented and the manpower count decreased. Repairs and maintenance expenses likewise fell 46 percent and advertising expenses were slashed by 35 percent from 2011 levels. As a result, earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation (EBITDA) jumped from P329 million in 2011 to P629 million – a 91 percent increase.

Due mainly to favorable exchange rates, SBMA registered an unrealized foreign exchange gain of P1.1 billion in 2012, versus the previous year’s forex loss of P566 million. (Irma Isip, Malaya)

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Subic Hosts SEA Marine Symposium

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - With the frequent stranding of whales and dolphins in the country, many wildlife conservationists will be holding the first-ever Southeast Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network Symposium and Workshop here.

Slated in the first week of February, the two-part event is made possible by the Ocean Adventure, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong and Wildlife in Need in collaboration with the University of the Philippines, Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology and the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

An officer of Ocean Adventure said the symposium and workshop aims to engage stakeholders and experts from the academic community, government, industry and non-government agencies in an exchange of knowledge about the current and future affairs of marine mammal stranding incidents in the region.

He added that it is also to advance a One World Health view in recognition of marine mammals as valuable sentinels of ocean and human health.

The tentative list of participants include marine mammal stranding experts, scientists and networks from the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan.

This event comes in two parts: the Symposium that will be held on February 4-6; and the Training Workshop that will be held on February 7-9. Participants have an option to attend both.

"The objective of the symposium is to share knowledge and experiences in marine mammal stranding activities from all over the region. It also aims to discuss and plan the formation of a Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Network/Association whose purpose would be to disseminate knowledge, best practices, and shared experience of marine mammal strandings, to advance a One World Health regional view and recognition of marine mammals and their strandings as valuable sentinels of ocean and human health," he said.

He added that the objectives of the training workshop are to impart knowledge about the various aspects of marine mammals strandings, including anatomy, biology, causes of stranding incidents, first response, rehabilitation, decision-making, and public concerns, among others. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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International sailing races return to Subic Bay

Subic will again host prestigious international regattas this year when the Subic Bay to Boracay Race kicks off here in February and the Commodore’s Cup promises to wow spectators and sailors alike in April.

The Subic Bay to Boracay Race, which is followed by the Boracay Cup Regatta, will be held on February 15-22. The two races are jointly organized by the Saturday AfternoonGentlemen Sailing (SAGS) group based at The Lighthouse Marina Resort here and the Boracay Cup Organizing Committee.

Organizers said the Subic Bay to Boracay Race and the Boracay Cup Regatta are acclaimed as among the best sailing competitions in Asia today. Both attract Grand Prix yachts and top-notch local and foreign sailors vying for the prestigious “Asian Yachtsman of the Year” and “Yacht of the Year” titles.

The Subic Bay to Boracay Race is a gruelling 210-nautical mile International Sailing Federation (ISAF) category 3 offshore race. It will start at noon on February 16 and will take between 17-40 hours, depending on the size of the boat and the sea and wind conditions in the route.

On the other hand, the Boracay Cup Regatta is expected to provide sailors with four glorious days of windward-leeward races and offshore races around the beautiful and exotic island of Boracay from February 18 to 22.

Overall winners in each class (racing, cruiser racing, and cruising class) of the combined Subic Bay to Boracay Race and the Boracay Cup Regatta series will bring home an impressive handcrafted solid brass trophy designed by Ferdinand Cacnio, a multi-awarded visual Filipino artist, which was officially commissioned by the provincial government of Aklan.

Last year’s overall winner of the combined regattas was Filipino businessman Ray Ordoveza on Karakoa. To give Ray a run for his money in this year’s foreseen tight race are former Yachtsmen of the Year Frank Pong on Jelik, Sam Chan on Free Fire and Neil Pryde on Hi-Fi.

Veterans and multi-titled Geoff Hill on Antipodes, Judes Echauz on his new boatCentennial II, Martin Tanco on Centennial III and Jonathan Mahoney on Zanzibarcomplete a formidable list of veterans to battle for the top division.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said the two races boost Subic’s claim as one of the best sports tourism venue in Southeast Asia today.
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“Undoubtedly, Subic is now ranked as among the premier sporting places in the world frequented by top-caliber athletes. These two regattas continue to put Subic on the sailing map, so these are very welcome events for the SBMA,” he added.

The Subic Bay to Boracay Race and the Boracay Cup Regatta are organized in conjunction with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, the municipal government of Malay, the Philippine Coast Guard, the provincial government of Aklan, and Watercraft Ventures Corp. under the auspices of the Philippine Sailing Association.

The competitions are supported by Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation (SBITC), Standard Insurance Company Inc., Cebu Pacific, San Miguel Corporation, Tanduay, Recreational Outdoor eXchange (R.O.X.) and the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Sailors race against the wind in the Subic Bay Freeport during the Subic Bay to Boracay Race last year.

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Budget allocation eyed for locators’ subsidy

The government will seek budget allocation to continue the subsidy enjoyed by three big projects in Clark and Subic.

Outgoing Trade Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio said the government is preparing a program that would effectively continue the industry competitiveness fund (ICF), providing it with a strong legal support like including it in the succeeding general appropriations act (GAA) of the country.

The ICF, which expired in March 2011, was granted to Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. Philippines in Subic Freeport, Texas Instruments Philippines in Clark Freeport Zone and Phoenix Semiconductors Philippines Corp.

Panlilio said the program is very specific to these projects and is not open-ended.

The subsidy was a quid pro quo and as an incentive for these big projects which hired a lot of workers.

One of the companies, Phoenix Semiconductors, is entitled up to 2020.

He said the plan is to allocate it in the GAA.

Panlilio added that government is trying to negotiate a rate acceptable to both parties. The suggested rate has to be approved by the Department of Budget and Management, after which it would have to be approved by President Aquino.

“The reason why we are (extending) that is because we want to ramp up manufacturing,” Panlilio said.

The three were given cheap power under the ICF support under executive orders signed by then President Arroyo.

The government is now looking for other hydropower plants like Bakun and Casecnan to source fuel from on a subsidized rate following the privatization of Angat. These two operate more expensively than Angat per reports from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management and the National Power Corp.

But the government still finds these two power plants as liable for the ICF but the power that they would produce would be more expensive than if the power is sourced from Angat.

This means government would have to shell out more to continue the ICF.

Based on computations, with Angat as the source of power, all-in cost would be below P5 per kilowatt-hour and above P5 for the two other hydropower plants.

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Subic solar energy firm gets DOE accreditation

A company based in this free port is gearing up to become a leading player in the country’s renewable energy program after receiving accreditation from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Bandacorp Solar, Inc., a registered locator here in the Subic Bay Freeport, was granted a DOE accreditation that entitles it to avail of incentives such as zero-percent value added tax rate, tax- and duty-free importation of components and parts and materials, and income tax holidays.

The accreditation was granted after a stringent evaluation and site validation by the DOE. It is valid for three years.

Bob Silvers, president of Banda Solar, said the company is the first small-business enterprise dealing on alternative energy projects in the Philippines that was granted such an accreditation.

This would help the firm promote its products better and in the process make alternative energy systems more accessible and affordable to the public, he added.

Silvers also said that the DOE certification will allow affordable products to be manufactured in the country, since the bulk of these products used in the Philippines are being imported from China, Germany and the United States.

“These incentives will be passed on to our customers to encourage them to use solar-powered products, thus helping in the improvement of renewable energy industry as well as achieving additional advantageous effects to the environment,” he added.

Banda Solar is also look at promoting the use of renewable energy in the Subic Freeport by working with Subic Enerzone, the local power distributor, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in the Tipo Expressway lighting project.

The company is also promoting alternative energy awareness among residents of local communities by installing a one-kilowatt power station in Iram, an upland village populated mostly by Ayta tribesmen.

Established here in 2010, Banda Solar focuses on the development of solar energy and has supplied renewable energy products across the country. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO: 
Bob Silvers, president of the Banda Solar Corp., proudly shows his company’s accreditation certificate from the Department of Energy.

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SBMA posts record profit

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has disclosed that the agency achieved last year the highest profit in its 20 year history.

Based on preliminary figures presented at the SBMA’s Strategic Planning conference last week, the Agency posted a record profit of P789 million in 2012. This is a drastic turnaround from the P1.2 billion loss in 2011

Chairman & Administrator Roberto V. Garcia said that the turnaround was due to increased revenues, reduced operating expenses and a favorable exchange rate.

The Agency revenue increase of 16% versus last year was brought about by new major projects in seaport operations such as the Vale ore transshipment project and the start of commercial operations of the Phase 2 new container port.

Coupled with an aggressive collection campaign on existing accounts, new revenue streams were created through increased admission fees on importations and the imposition of fees to defray municipal expenses that were previously subsidized.

Operating expenses decreased by 7% versus 2011 as the Agency implemented a comprehensive austerity program. Salaries dropped 7% as a freeze hiring policy was implemented and manpower count decreased.

Repairs and maintenance likewise decreased by 46% and advertising was slashed by 35% vs 2011. As a result earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation (EBITDA) jumped from P329 million in 2011 to P629 milliona 91% increase.

Due mainly to favorable exchange rates, unrealized foreign exchange posted a gain of P1.1 Billion from previous years forex loss of P566 million.

The 2013 Strategic Planning session focused on developing new initiatives to sustain and improve further SBMA’s financial position in the coming years. New strategic initiatives concentrating on the seaport, airport, tourism, and commercial and industrial leases were formulated, targets were set and detailed plans of action were submitted and approved by the SBMA Board.

SBMA wanted to ensure it was ready and able to take advantage of the present upsurge in the country’s strong economic performance especially in attracting foreign investments. (SBMA)

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Lions, SBMA partner for eye exam and free cataract operation project

Some 200 cataract patients from Olongapo City will be operated on for free by international team of doctors under a project organized by the Lions Clubs District 301-D1-Philippines and the Lions Clubs District 19-C, a counterpart district in Washington, USA.

Around 3,500 residents also benefited in the five-day optical examination and screening project jointly undertaken by the Lions International Foundation and the Olongapo City New Horizon Lions Club in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Some 2,000 pairs of eyeglasses were also distributed to residents of the city’s 17 barangays during the five-day project held from January 8 to 12 at the covered court of Barangay Pag-Asa.

The activity was funded by the Lions Club International Foundation and hosted by Barangay Pag-Asa, Olongapo City New Horizon Lions Club, Subic Tambuli Lions Club, Primera Lions Club, SR Executive Lions Club, Golden Heights Lions Club and Subic Bay Lions Club.

Jimmy Pasag, chairman of Brgy. Pag-Asa and Lions Club member, said the project is an important activity for the Lions Club because it is one of the major concerns of the group.

The Lions Club has several areas of service, namely: restoring sight, providing disaster relief, supporting youth and addressing other humanitarian needs such as health and disability.

During the screening, doctors, some of whom flew in from the USA, screened cataract patients inside a customized mobile eye-care clinic.

Organizers said the cataract patients will be operated on at a hospital in San Marcelino, Zambales.

Alex Tinagan, a councilor of Brgy. Pag-Asa, said they also reached the target for patients who availed of refraction glasses donated by the Lions groups. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
A patient undergoes an eye examination during an optical and cataract screening project jointly undertaken by the Lions Club in Olongapo City with the cooperation and support of the SBMA Public Relations Office.

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