Japanese firm sets $30-M to develop Subic Bay golf course

A Japanese company will be developing the Subic Bay golf course into a world-class venue for tournaments, coupled with a facility that will offer housing complexes and fulfilling lifestyle choices for retirees.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said the Subic agency had awarded the golf course development project to a firm headed by Japanese businessman Masafumi Miyamoto, founder of the Smart Community Co., Ltd., the first and largest continuing-care retirement community in Japan.

The Subic Bay golf course clubhouse

“This project is a game-changer for Subic,” Garcia said, noting that it will transform Subic’s existing fairways that had been left rotting in the past few years into a major year-round tourist attraction.

He added that the visiting friends and relatives of those who would reside in the retirement village would likewise generate more economic activities in transportation, shopping malls, medical facilities, hotels, tourist attractions, banks, restaurants, and other businesses.

The project would cost a total of $30 million, excluding a fixed annual rental fee of $350,000 and a five-percent gross revenue share payable to the SBMA for the entire 50-year lease period.

Garcia said that in awarding the lease development contract to Miyamoto, the SBMA considered the overall concept of the project, the proponent’s financial capability, market availability, and business plan presented to agency officials in December last year.

“This s a two-pronged development project that considered the best potentials for what could be considered a major asset in the Subic Freeport,” Garcia said.

Accordingly, the first component, at the cost of $3 million, would involve the renovation and re-development of the whole golf course within two years, from June 2016 to June 2018. This will cover clubhouse renovation, installation of sprinkler systems and repair of ponds, improvement of the golf course, and upgrade of machinery and equipment, golf carts, and service vehicles.

Garcia said the project proponent had promised that the golf course would remain operational throughout the renovation period through a rotational renovation plan that would keep a minimum of nine holes open at a given time.

The second component is the $27-million development of all allowable open areas for the Subic Smart Community within a six-year period. This would consist of the construction and development of an initial 200 condominium units from 2016 to 2018. Next would be the completion of about 1,800 condominium units with various amenities like gym, sports center, arts and crafts studios, karaoke or music rooms, function rooms, library, and bars and restaurants, among others.

Garcia said that Miyamoto’s proposal was based on a market study that showed Japan’s aging society as becoming a financial burden to both the Japanese people and government. This situation had reportedly led to the emergence of elderly care businesses that had rapidly grown to a $252-billion industry just in 2015.

“Subic Bay has been chosen particularly because of its relatively constant weather patterns conducive for year-round golf play and because of its untapped areas that have great potential for a retirement complex,” Garcia noted.

Aside from starting the Smart Community in 2004, Miyamoto founded in 1986 the Square Enix Co., Ltd., which is engaged in publishing, distribution, and licensing of digital entertainment content worldwide, including the highly successful Tomb Raider Final Fantasy.

Miyamoto also founded the Sunpia Golf Club, in Japan’s Tokushima City, which has a total of 100 hectares, with three helipads, 300 parking slots, and driveways lined with cherry blossom trees. (NBM/MPD-SBMA)

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US missile destroyer now in Subic Bay

The U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) arrived in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines August 8 as part of a U.S. 3rd Fleet Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG).

The port call marked Momsen’s midway point as part of the group.

Under the operational control of U.S. 3rd Fleet, the PAC SAG, which consists of the guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111), USS Decatur (DDG 73) and Momsen, with embarked Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 31 – is conducting routine patrols, maritime security operations and theater cooperation activities to enhance regional security and stability.

“Momsen’s presence here sends a powerful message to the world about our commitment to the stability of the region,” said Cmdr. Elaine Brunelle, Momsen’s executive officer. “We are skilled professionals committed to enhancing maritime security through bilateral cooperation with our partners throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific.”

While in port, Momsen will complete a voyage repair period and her crew will participate in community outreach events and take advantage of various tours offered by Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

Momsen Sailors participated in four community outreach activities during previous port calls in Busan, Korea, Sasebo, Japan, Singapore and Darwin, Australia. The projects ran the gamut of cultural interactions with senior citizens, children, disabled citizens and beautification efforts.

The crew aboard Momsen will also focus on mission essential maintenance during the voyage repair.

“Sometimes there is special equipment required that the ship does not have on board to calibrate gauges, valves, tools and so on,” said Chief Interior Communications Electrician Justin Hohlbein, Momsen’s maintenance manager. “Pulling into a port like Subic Bay offers us the chance to have these types of jobs completed and the accomplishment of corrective maintenance of mission essential items is necessary for a ship to deploy or to continue on its deployment.”

Spruance also completed its portion of the deployment participating in the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI). OMSI is a secretary of defense program leveraging Department of Defense assets transiting the region to increase the Coast Guard’s maritime domain awareness, ultimately supporting its maritime law enforcement operations in Oceania.

PHOTO:
An MH-60R Seahawk lands on the flight deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) in the South China Sea on July 29, 2016. (photo by US Navy)

https://navaltoday.com/2016/08/08/uss-momsen-visits-subic-bay-philippines/

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USS Greeneville sub arrives in Subic Bay

The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Greeneville (SSN 772) arrived at Subic Bay Aug. 5 for a port visit as part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment.

“I have been looking forward to this visit for some time,” said Cmdr. Gabriel Anseeuw, commanding officer. “Our Filipino partners are very important to us. I wish we could spend more time here, but our work remains at sea.”

Greeneville’s Filipino-American Sailors were anxious to visit and interact with their heritage.

Fire Controlman 3rd Class Marvin Pascua, a Subic Bay native, looks forward to visiting his family in Subic Bay. Pascua left the Philippines four years ago to join the Navy. Pascua said that he misses the Philippines and eating sisig and turon.

Greeneville measures more than 360 feet long and weighs more than 6,900 tons when submerged. It was christened Sept. 17, 1994 and commissioned on Feb. 16, 1996 at Naval Station Norfolk. The Greeneville arrived at its current homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in March 1997.

PHOTO:
The USS Greeneville (SSN-772), a Los Angeles class submarine of the US Navy, prepares to dock in Subic Bay Freeport for a routine port call Friday (Aug. 05) morning. (Photos by Jun Dumaguing, MPD-SBMA)

http://manila.usembassy.gov/press-photo-releases-2016/greeneville-visits-subic-bay-indo-asia-pacific-deployment.html

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SBMA releases P141.4-M to neighboring LGUs

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently released a total of P141.4 million to eight local government units (LGUs) adjacent to the Subic Bay Freeport.

The releases represented LGU revenue shares for the first half of this year.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia handed over individual cheques to mayors and other LGU representatives and announced that the latest of the semi-annual releases is 18.5 percent higher than the P115.23 million distributed for the second semester of 2015.

“We are proud to turn over to you the result of the hard work of our SBMA workers who made everything possible for the agency. They serve fastidiously as we continuously improve our performance for four straight years,” Garcia told the mayors.

Among the town executives who arrived for the turnover held at SBMA Boardroom were Mayor Rolen Paulino of Olongapo City; Bataan mayors Cynthia Estanislao (Morong) and Joseph Inton (Hermosa); and Zambales mayors Jefferson Khonghun (Subic) and Dr. Estela Antipolo (San Antonio).

Mayors Jose Dominguez (Castillejos) and Elvis Soria (San Marcelino) of Zambales, and Mayor Gila Garcia of Dinalupihan, Bataan were represented by their respective municipal treasurers.

The shares released to the LGUs were derived from the five-percent gross revenue taxes (GRT) paid to the SBMA by business locators and investors operating inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

From the five-percent GRT, three percent goes to the national treasury, while two per cent is distributed by the SBMA among the eight LGUs.

The LGU shares are computed based on the following criteria: population, 50%; land area, 25%; and equal sharing, 25%.

The revenue shares are to be used for community development projects, including those for health, education, peace and order, and livelihood programs to enable communities near the Subic Bay Freeport to keep pace with developments in the special economic zone.

The LGU recipients thanked Garcia for the continuous support given by the Subic agency to the neighboring LGUs through the revenue shares, as well as for its effort to generate employment opportunities for residents, and for assistance in various community projects. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Local government officials show the cheques they received from SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (fourth from right) during the turnover of LGU shares for the first half of 2016. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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P60-B project to boost Subic Freeport as logistics hub

A P60-billion investment project to be implemented by an Australian firm here is expected to push this premier free port into the ranks of top global logistics centers today.

This was announced by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Robert Garcia yesterday at a press briefing here, wherein he also cited other new investment projects that had been approved by the SBMA board of directors.

According to the SBMA official, Asian Institute of Aviation (AIA) will occupy seven hectares of land near the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) and will build hangars and food processing stations for its intermodal logistics business.

Garcia said that AIA will be joined by an Australian firm, which will buy into the company for the new operations.

“The business model of the company is to export from Australia to China, Japan, and other Asian countries, via airplanes,” Garcia said. “The company will import meat, sea food, and other agricultural products from Australia by plane or by ship to Subic Bay, and will process and package these products according to customer orders and then deliver them to customers.”

Garcia explained that the Australian partner has been doing the processing already in Australia, but because the processing in Australia entails higher labor cost, it has decided to do the processing in Subic.

The operation, Garcia said, will become intermodal. “They will ship out by air since they have seven jets; they will also ship out via seaport, and their volume for the seaport is 60 containers per month,” Garcia said.

Aside from the P60-billion investment, the project will generate 800 jobs, aside from those during the construction of facilities, and the company “has also shown interest in providing new equipment for the tower at the Subic airport,” Garcia said.

The new investor also plans to build hangars for maintenance and repair operations (MRO) that will cater to jets in Hong Kong. “Mahal magparada ng jet dun. You pay $3,000 just to park it outside without a hangar,” Garcia added.

The new investment has been approved in principle by the SBMA board after the proponents showed proof of funds, Garcia said, adding that the construction of proposed facilities will still be subject to detailed engineering design.

“This is a good project for us,” Garcia said. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA bats for free wi-fi in Subic Freeport tourist areas

With the Philippines in No. 13 among countries with the highest number of Internet users and sixth in the most number of people on Facebook, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is working on a plan to have more public wi-fi areas here where visitors can stay “connected” for free.

According to SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, the Subic agency is discussing with local Internet provider PLDT-Subictel the possibility of putting up free wi-fi connection for the whole Central Business District (CBD) in the Subic Bay Freeport, an area most frequented by tourists and visitors.

Garcia said that a meeting with PLDT-Subictel president Renato Castaneda has already yielded positive results: the provision of free wi-fi at Remy Field, a favorite spot for residents and practicing athletes because of its track oval and other sports facilities.

“Now I’m trying to convince them to turn the whole CBD into a free wi-fi area, just like what they are doing to airports, seaports, and other places where a lot of people go,” Garcia said.

The SBMA chairman added that he has also identified alternative spots in the Subic Freeport for possible free wi-fi connection. These are the Boardwalk Park, Malawaan Fishing Area, the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, and the Harbor Point mall.

“Aside from Remy Field, those are the major points where visitors would benefit the most from a public wi-fi system,” Garcia added.

Meanwhile, Garcia also announced that the SBMA board of directors is now studying a proposal to operate the Internet-based Uber taxi franchise in the Subic Freeport.

The transport system, which is franchised by the American multinational online transportation network company Uber Technologies Inc., operates through a mobile application that allows customers with smartphones to book trips online.

“Uber is very much interested to put up its business here, maybe because we have a different regulatory framework here. So, we’re working out the details like the requirement for professional drivers and third party liability insurance,” Garcia said.

“We have spoken with the Uber general manager, and they are very interested because they want to make Subic an example of their operations,” he added.

Garcia said that he sees much benefit from Uber operation in Subic: “Number one is it will provide additional jobs; and number two, it will force local taxis in the Freeport to lower their fares, which are really excessive.”

Garcia said the high cost of transportation inside the Freeport works against efforts by the SBMA to promote local tourism. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (right) and PLDT-Subictel president Renato Castañeda discuss the provision of free public wi-fi in the Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Fendercare Marine to start Subic Bay operations

Fendercare Marine, one of the world’s biggest ship-to-ship (STS) cargo transfer service providers, is opening its services in Southeast Asia by bringing its operation to Subic Bay.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said that among the investment projects approved by the SBMA board of directors recently was Fendercare’s proposal for ship-to-ship transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

A world leader in ship-to-ship transfers, Fendercare operates from a global network of over 50 bases

The operations, Garcia said, will generate a minimum of P50 million a year in terms of port use only. This does not include indirect fees like payment for tugboats, chandlers, bunkering, and food supplies, Garcia added.

Jerome Martinez, manager of the SBMA Seaport Department, said the company is planning to start its operation in Subic Bay in the last week of September this year.

In connection with this, he said that Fendercare Marine business development manager William Barker and the company's Asia Pacific commercial manager Capt. George Mills recently conducted an orientation for Subic stakeholders to answer queries and concerns related to the their operations in Subic Bay.

“It is because of the location, the logistics available, and the assistance that the company is receiving from SBMA that Fendercare Marine has chosen Subic as the location for its operation in Asia,” Barker said during the briefings.

Barker noted that the operation would initially involve two ships: MV LNG Excel, a mother ship anchored at Subic Bay and loaded with LNG from Australia, which it would feed to MV LNG Lerici, a daughter ship, which in turn would deliver the cargo to Asian destinations, especially China.

The same officials also briefed fisherfolk in the coastal communities of Subic, Zambales, and Olongapo City on the project.

In the said briefings, Fendercare representatives also allayed fears of adverse environmental impact, saying that LNG is a very safe form of fuel that is why it is widely used in Japan where one shipload of LNG is said to be unloaded every 20 hours.

“It burns slowly, evaporates rapidly, and does not mix with water or kill fish or any other marine life. LNG is very environmental-friendly,” company officials said.

Fendercare Marine, which is a part of James Fisher and Sons plc, has been awarded a certificate of excellence for STS operations throughout 2015 for its exemplary safety record without any environmental accident since it began STS services in 2013, involving LNG transfer.

The company has provided ship-to-ship services to the oil and shipping industries globally since 1995. Today these services are provided from a global network of 50 bases, currently handling in excess of 2,800 transfers a year, the company website said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic attracts P100-B new investments in first 7 months

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has generated new investments of about P100 billion in just the first seven months of 2016, recording one of the biggest half-year investment turnouts for this free port since its establishment in 1992.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said in a media briefing here on Monday that several big-ticket projects were approved by the SBMA board of directors in the first half of 2016, compared to the previous four years when the SBMA attracted only P42-billion worth of new investment projects.

SBMA Chairman & Administrator Roberto V. Garcia

Garcia said the biggest of the new projects is the P60-billon joint venture by an Australian firm with Asian Institute of Aviation, an existing locator at the Subic Bay airport.

“They would transport agricultural products from Australia, mostly meat and seafood, repack them here, and then fly or ship them out to customers worldwide,” Garcia explained.

He added that the partners would put up an intermodal cargo terminal, use both airport and seaport, and expect to turn out around 60 containers per month for the Subic seaport.

“So that is going to be a big help,” Garcia said. “Their investment is going to be P60 billion for this project alone, and it will generate 800 jobs, not counting those for the construction work.”

Garcia said the project would also involve building new hangars, as the investors would bring in seven jets for their operations and offer maintenance and repair operations for jets, mostly from Hong Kong.

Garcia clarified that this commercial operation, which would occupy the northeast corner of the Subic airport, would not affect the proposed use by the Philippine Air Force of the southwest portion of the Subic airport for military training and logistics under the Expanded Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca).

The SBMA board, Garcia added, has also approved an industrial estate project worth P34 billion in a 400-hectare area in the Redondo Peninsula, near the site of the Hanjin shipyard.

The proposed industrial estate project will include the development of a 200-megawatt solar plant and the construction of warehouses and logistics facilities, and the establishment of factories, and generate around 53,000 jobs.

Garcia also mentioned that Korean shipbuilder Hanjin has received the green light from the SBMA to put up its own 12-megawatt solar power plant at Redondo.

Another big project that was recently approved by the SBMA board of directors was the ship-to-ship transfer operation for liquefied natural gas, which will be worth another P5 billion.

“Things are looking good,” Garcia said, pointing out that aside from the big-ticket investments, the Subic agency has approved “a lot of smaller projects.”

“So as far as I’m concerned, we have a lot of activity in the pipeline for the next three to five years,” Garcia added. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic expects bigger cargo volume in 2016

WITH all the reforms that the seaport in Subic has implemented over the last few years, the volume of goods flowing in and out of the facility, deemed as the top international cargo shipping hub in Northern Luzon, should increase this year.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said the Port of Subic has shown “great potential, as more businesses utilize Subic as their entry point to the Philippines.”

Cargo unloading at the Port of Subic

“We anticipate a growth in volume as more and more companies capitalize on the services and facilities here and the much greater access and efficient transportation of goods the area provides,” he said.

Together with the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), the SBMA has opened a one-stop shop (OSS) in its new container terminal (NCT) 1, significantly reducing port document processing time from one day to a mere four hours.

Roberto R. Locsin, general manager and president of SBITC, said that, with the recent upgrades, the port would be more efficient in handling the expected surge in cargo volume.

“The upgrades will ensure that our clients, both local and international, will receive world-class port service at the shortest turnaround time,” Locsin said.

The OSS also provides a designated lounge where brokers are given access to Wi-Fi and workstations. The company also recently acquired from Finland Generation G reach stackers that have a 45-ton lift capacity.

To date, the port offers cargo-handling services for both 20- and 40-foot containers, as well as the bigger 45-foot boxes for a full container load (FCL) and especially-handled cargo. The terminal also allows 10-day free storage for cargo exports and imports.

In 2015 SBMA introduced lower harbor and berthing fees resulting in a 75-percent increase in regular port calls from shipping companies that have been doing business in the area for years and new ones ready to take advantage of the latest opportunities.

With strategic business partnerships, trucker costs are now more competitive amounting to almost only a third of the previous price.

“Our seamless and cost-effective transfer of goods allows port users to maximize their business operations,” Locsin said.

With an annual capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the terminal is projected to exceed last year’s 120,000-TEU cargo volume, now that more business enterprises from nearby Bataan and Clark Field in Pampanga course their cargo through Subic.

Garcia said his group believes that Subic is the best option for businesses that carry imported and exported goods to and from North and Central Luzon.

Garcia also noted that the SBMA has adopted a preadvise system for trucks to improve traffic flow in and out of the free-port zone. This system was first implemented in the Port of Manila and has already made significant improvements in minimizing the dwell times in the port. This is the same efficiency expected to benefit the companies in the Subic port.

“All of these developments in NCT-1 and 2 manifest our readiness to accept the much greater volume of cargo in the port,” Garcia said. “We continue to strive to deliver world-class service and management in our operations as part of our mandate and continued commitment to help drive economic growth in the country. The much greater volume will pose a completely new set of challenges.”

Subic has been making head-way in terms of transshipment and maritime logistics services, overshooting its 2014 port revenue of P908.6 million by 25 percent, with a P1.16-billion collection last year. The port has significantly grown in 2015, as it recorded a 123,558-TEU cargo volume, from just 77,618 TEUs in 2014. (Lorenz S. Marasigan, BusinessMirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/2016/07/30/subic-expects-bigger-cargo-volume-in-2016/

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SBMA, Globe Telecom hold WASAR training in Subic

Members of the SBMA Fire and Rescue Team and the Globe Telecommunication-Emergency Response Team (Globe-ERT) conducted a collaborative water search and rescue (WASAR) exercise at the Subic Bay Freeport waterfront area Thursday morning (July 28) to further enhance joint sea disaster and flooding rescue operations.

Around 30 personnel from the said company trained alongside SBMA rescuers.

Globe Telecom also pledged to donate an inflatable rubber boat with outboard motor to the SBMA Fire and Rescue Team for use in search and rescue operations. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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BoI approves Subic power plant

Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc., led by Meralco PowerGen Corp., received a certificate of registration from the Board of Investments for its 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Subic, Zambales costing P63 billion.

“The registration entitles RPE to duty-free importation of equipment, materials and spares used for the power plant for a period of five years from date of registration. Also income tax holiday for four years from commercial operation,” RP Energy project development manager Joselito Lantin said Friday.

Lantin said RP Energy would build the project in phases. The company is currently negotiating for the engineering, procurement and construction contract covering the first 300-MW phase of the project.

He said the EPC contract would include an option for a second 300-MW unit.

“Targeted to start construction for phase one is fourth quarter 2016. Expected commercial operation is late 2019/early 2020,” Lantin said in a recent briefing.

Electricity generated by the project is covered under a separate power supply agreement with Manila Electric Co. accounting for 225 MW and Aboitiz Energy Solutions contracting 75 MW.

The company signed an amendment to the power plant site lease and transmission line right-of-way lease agreements with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in February.

“We will do 300 MW and then [expand to] 600 MW, depending on our capability to interconnect with NGCP [National Grid Corporation of the Philippines]. It just takes a few months before you can start the phase two,” Meralco PowerGen chairman Manuel Pangilinan said earlier.

Meralco PowerGen is the power generation arm of Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor, and owns a majority stake in RP Energy. (Alena Mae S. Flores, Manila Standard)

Full story: http://thestandard.com.ph/business/211878/boi-approves-subic-coal-plant.html

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Asian tourists love Subic, Clark

Koreans and Taiwanese composed the majority of the 1.4 million foreign and local tourists who visited Subic and the 900,000 who trooped to Clark in 2015, according to Ronaldo Tiotuico, the regional director of the Department of Tourism in Central Luzon.

The tourists come to the Philippines for weekend casinos and golf courses, Tiotuico said. Subic attracts more tourists than Clark because it is a seaport with natural wonders, theme parks, white beaches and convention facilities that can accommodate up to 9,000 participants, he added.

Clark, a former air force base, also offers casinos and two golf courses and a convention center that can hold 1,000 persons. Outside the base, Angeles City offers culture, heritage houses and food tourism.

Clark will host a bicycle race on July 30 with 600 participants. The cyclists will visit tourists spots inside the base, which is being promoted as a biking hub. There will also be a two-day trade exhibit by bicycle producers and traders at the mall inside the base, Tiotuico said

Other tourist spots near Clark, Tiotuico said, are the Lahar 4x4 trail, the Mt.Pinatubo crater and the Sta. Juliana native village, which attracts 300 tourists a week.

Tourism authorities are anticipating the conversion of Clark International Airport into a dual airport, but the lack of infrastructure and traffic dampens their enthusiasm.

According to Tiotuico, the tourism gains of a dual airport system will spill over to Regions 1 and 2, including the Cordillera.

However, some sectors urged Tiotuico to first develop the rich tourism potential of Central Luzon to serve the expected increase in arrivals.

Some of these potential tourist magnets are the Death March trail dating back to the World War II, beaches, the Mango Festival of Zambales and Aurora, the planting season of Nueva Ecija and its Science City, the war memorial of Bataan, and the Giant Lantern Festival and the Via Crucis of Pampanga.

Lack of tourism information prevents foreign and local tourists from fully experiencing the treasures of these destinations, they said. (Romeo Dizon, The Standard)

PHOTOS: 
Fun-tastic activities in Subic Bay that attracted 1.4 million foreign and local tourists in 2015 (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://thestandard.com.ph/news/-provinces/211499/asian-tourists-love-subic-clark.html

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Olongapo City officials undergo drug tests in support of anti-illegal drug campaign

OLONGAPO CITY - Local officials in this city led by Mayor Rolen Paulino submitted themselves to drug tests Wednesday as part their support to the national government's campaign against illegal drugs.

There was no special treatment for the local executives led by Paulino. They underwent all procedures-- from filling out forms and physical examination, to submission of urine samples.

“Ginawa naming ito para ipakita at maging ihemplo para sa mga taga Olongapo, kung yung iba nating mga kababayan ay umamin na user or pusher, ito naman ang paraan naming para ipaalam sa taong bayan na malinis at hindi involve sa drugs ang mga namumuno sa kanila,” Paulino said.

Among those who underwent drug testing are Vice Mayor Jong Cortez and city councilors led by Lugie Lipumano, Bj Cajudo, Noel Atienza, Ed Guerrero, Winnie Ortiz, Edna Elane, Linus Bacay, Bas Palo and Jerome Bacay.

“It was a surprise drug test, I told vice mayor Cortez and the city council to meet me in a restaurant and then I led them to the drug testing center,” Paulino said.

All tested negative both for marijuana and Methamphetamine Hydrochloride locally known as shabu.

Last week, around 400 drug dependents, or what the Philippine National Police called reformists, surrendered to Mayor Paulino and the local police and pledged not go back using or dealing illegal drugs.

According to Paulino, the city will be providing them livelihood options like as casket-making, as well as making eco-bags since the city is now implementing the no-plastic policy and making caskets.

Paulino explained that the city will be providing free caskets to indigent residents who can not afford it. “It will save us a lot of money, instead of buying from private funeral homes plus it will provide livelihood to others,” Paulino explained. (SNL)

PHOTOS:

Left: Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino is assisted by a nurse at the drug testing center. Local official led by Paulino underwent a drug test Wednesday, with results yielding negative for illegal drugs.

Right: Olongapo City Vice Mayor pose for a picture before submitting his urine sample at the drug testing center Wednesday. 

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SBMA gives computers to schools ‘to even up learning field’

Talk about levelling the learning field for schoolchildren.

As part of its commitment to help catalyse growth and development in neighboring communities, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will be giving away desktop computers to various schools in Olongapo City and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan.

SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said the agency is looking forward to donating around 90 units of used but serviceable desktop computers to help schoolchildren undertake basic learning in information and communications technology.

“This is our way of taking up the cudgels for the youth who lack access to equipment that could boost their skills and learning potential, to level the playing field,” Garcia explained.

“We have tacitly given these children the responsibility to assume leadership in the years to come, but how could they improve themselves if they lacked the wherewithal to do so? These computers give them the fighting chance, so to speak,” Garcia added.

Garcia said the Hewlett-Packard computers were just replaced with newer models when the agency opted to upgrade its system to achieve greater computing power and to bolster systems efficiency.

According to Vergil Joseph Lansangan, head of the SBMA Management Information Systems Office, they have been putting to good working condition the computer units decommissioned from various SBMA departments prior to delivery to recipient schools.

He said that the units, while not top of the line, are just a few years old. “They’re certified A-Ok,” Lansangan added.

Lansangan said his office had recently delivered 37 computer units to Balanga City for the beneficiary schools. The rest have been allotted to schools in Olongapo and Zambales.

Nomer Alviz, an information technology officer at the SBMA-MIS, said the units have been bundled with basic software that students could readily use.

The software programs are all licensed, he added. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA-MIS head Vergil Lansangan (4th from left) and other SBMA staff delivers computer units for use of schoolchildren in Balanga City. Other units will be donated to various schools in Olongapo City and Zambales. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Government eyes Subic-Clark cargo railway system

The Department of Transportation will pursue a dedicated cargo railway line between Subic and Clark as part of reforms in the cargo sector that would help resolve the country's traffic crisis.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who was guest speaker at an event Tuesday organized the World Trade Center in Metro Manila, revealed the Subic-Clark railway line as among his plans for the transportation sector.

Tugade said connecting Subic port to Clark via a railway for carrying cargo, which he said has President Duterte's approval "in principle," will also be able overcome trucking costs.

The transport chief also vowed to build a passenger train line linking Metro Manila and the Clark freeport zone in Pampanga, where the alternative gateway Clark International Airport is located. The train line would connect Clark to Metro Manila either in the Trinoma Shopping Mall in Quezon City or the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, Tugade said.

These plans are among the campaign promises of President Duterte which form part of a massive effort to increase connectivity and cut road and air congestion via mass railway systems.

As part of a longer term goal, Tugade said all freight vehicles would travel around the country only via railway and roll-on/roll-off, or Ro-Ro, shipping systems, helping decongest roads.

Tugade said plans would still need to be studied by the National Economic and Development Authority, but it was the government’s intention to move swiftly. Tugade said his department would formalize plans within 90 days.

“The train will be there,” Tugade said.

Clark International Airport, despite excess capacity, has struggled to lure passengers due to the lack of mass transit options. By contrast, Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where expansion options are limited, is operating beyond its intended capacity.

The need for railway systems has been identified under previous administrations. The difficulty has been getting these projects off the ground, typically due to their complexity, high-cost and right-of-way issues. (Inquirer.net)

PHOTO:
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade

http://business.inquirer.net/212193/transport-chief-vows-train-line-to-clark

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Coast Guard continues patrol in disputed waters

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday it will continue patrolling in the West Philippine Sea following the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) favoring the Philippines’ case against China’s territorial claim to the disputed waters.

Coast Guard Spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said he has instructions on what action to take in the West Philippine Sea but for the meantime said the Coast Guard vessel BRP Pampanga will continue to patrol the area from Subic to Northern Luzon.

BRP Pampanga

Balilo said that although the vessel’s position far from the Scarborough Shoal, it is ideal that the BRP Pampanga is already at sea so it can immediately deploy once orders arrive.

Once the BRP Pampanga is deployed at the Scarborough Shoal, it will likely stay there for only a few days at a time, he said.

He recalled that when they went to the shoal in 2013, they stayed there with a vessel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for four days before another ship arrived.

“Vessels take turns at the Shoal every three to four days,” he said, adding that they have a smaller ship available for deployment.

He said that the Coast Guard has been conducting sovereignty patrols in the West Philippine Sea since 2013 but only covered 12 nautical miles as ordered by Coast Guard Rear Admiral William Melad.

“We have not been approaching Scarborough Shoal but BRP Pangasinan has been patrolling along the territorial waters. For national security reasons, Admiral Melad gave an order to not go beyond 12 nautical miles,” Balilo said. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/coast-guard-continues-patrol-in-disputed-waters/

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SBMA continues private sector partnership for mangrove management

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has continued its partnership with the private sector in the restoration and management of mangrove forests in this free port, gaining more support this year for planting and clean-up projects, as well as public awareness campaigns.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the agency has again successfully tapped business locators in the Subic Freeport for sustaining its mangrove restoration program, which was launched by the SBMA Ecology Center early last year.

He said the companies that joined SBMA mangrove projects in the first half of 2016 were Asia International Auctioneers, Philippine Coastal Storage and Pipeline Services, Chowking, Sankyo Denki Corp., and Anscor Swire.

The project participants since January also included the International School of Manila, international delegates to the Asia Forestry Week Convention, and SBMA employees.

“We’re evidently getting more support for this program,” Garcia said, pointing out that five business locators and two schools joined restoration projects last year.

“I believe that through our diligent information program, more and more stakeholders in the Freeport as well as other areas have come to appreciate the importance of mangroves not only in food production, but also in coastal protection and tourism,” the SBMA official added.

He said the project participants helped plant mangrove seedlings, clean mangrove areas and collect saplings, tag mangrove trees, construct seed plots and establish mangrove nurseries, donate nursery materials and equipment, and conduct lectures to local students.

According to Rhea Jane Mallari, senior forest management specialist at the SBMA Ecology Center, project participants have planted saplings at the Binictican, Malawaan and Maritan mangrove areas here.

Mallari said the SBMA mangrove reforestation program followed the natural zoning of species. Hence wildlings of the pototan, bungalon, and saging-saging species were planted at the Binictican site, bungalon wildlings at Malawaan, and nursery-propagated piagau and bakawang lalaki at Maritan.

Based on the Ecology Center’s monitoring, it was found out that nursery-raised seedlings had a higher survival rate compared to wildlings that were harvested from the planting sites.

The SBMA initiated the mangrove awareness and restoration campaign in early 2015 to increase public awareness on the importance of mangrove ecosystems; encourage stakeholder participation in mangrove management; protect and maintain the integrity of mangrove forests in the Subic Bay Freeport and ensure their sustainability; and attract research and ecologically-sound activities in the mangrove areas of Subic Bay. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Employees of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and volunteers from business companies at the Subic Bay Freeport plant mangrove seedlings at the Triboa Mangrove Park during the Earth Day celebration in Subic Bay Freeport last April. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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PAL supports plan to move private aircraft out of NAIA to Sangley, Clark or Subic

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines over the weekend expressed support on the plans of the government to remove private jets parked at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

"We declare our full support to the new government's decision to move the operation of general aviation of general aviation out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to either Sangley, Clark, or Subic," Chairman and CEO Lucio Tan said in a statement.

Sought for clarification, PAL said that general aviation refers to privately owned aircraft, charter services, and all other related operations.

"This declaration of support includes moving out of NAIA my small fleet of private jets as gesture of compliance to the Department of Transportation initiative," Tan said.

The transportation department earlier announced plans to move out all private operations in NAIA, leaving the airport to purely commercial operations in efforts to decongest it.

"The move of the Department of Transporation will significantly decongest the NAIA which currently shared by general aviation operators and scheduled airlines," Tan said.

"Any measure to reduce air traffic congestion at NAIA will not only improve airlines' flight schedule reliability but also enhance passenger convenience," he added.

The PAL in April announced it has inked a purchase agreement with Airbus for the firm order of six A350 XWBs, plus six options.

The airline currently has more than 70 planes with flight services to 30 domestic, and over 40 international destinations. (ALG, GMA News)

PHOTO:
The Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA)

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/574030/money/companies/pal-supports-plan-to-move-private-aircraft-out-of-naia

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Toyota dealership to open in Subic

TY family-led conglomerate GT Capital Holdings Inc. has entered into a joint venture deal to set up Toyota car dealerships within the former US naval base, Subic Bay Freeport.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday, GT Capital said it had obtained the go-signal from the Securities and Exchange Commission to incorporate Toyota Subic Inc. (TSI).

TSI is a joint venture between GT Capital Auto Dealership Holdings Inc. (GTCAD), a newly incorporated and fully-owned subsidiary of GT Capital, and JBT Global Holdings Inc. GTCAD will own 55 percent of the new company while and JBT Global will own 45 percent.

JBT Global is the holding entity of businessman Jose B. Tan, a strategic partner of Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. – the automotive subsidiary of GT Capital – in Toyota San Fernando, which operates Toyota dealerships in Plaridel, Bulacan and Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City.

TSI, for its part, will operate future Toyota dealerships of the joint venture within the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). (Doris Dumlao-Abadilla, PDI)

http://business.inquirer.net/212030/gtcap-to-open-toyota-dealership-in-subic

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US Navy missile cruiser docks at Subic following WPS patrol

The USS Shiloh, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy, docked at this premier Freeport yesterday after conducting routine operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The ship arrived here two days after the release of the United Nations (UN)-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that rejected China’s claims over much of the WPS.

The USS Shiloh was part of the group of the US Carrier Strike Group 5, including the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

The patrolling US Navy fleet also included the USS Chancellorsville, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer from Destroyer Squadron (DESRON), and aircrafts from Carrier Air Wing (CVW).

A report from the US Navy stated that the routine operations in the WPS are conducted to maintain and improve readiness and develop their cohesion as a strike group.

Meanwhile, the John C. Stennis Strike Group and the Carrier Strike Group-5 (CSG-5) conducted Dual Carrier operations.

According to the Rear Admiral John Alexander, commander of Task Force 70, the Dual Carrier operations is done to maintain interoperability between the ships and aircrafts.

He added that these forward-deployed ships are operating in the WPS to maintain the area “open for all to use.”

“The U.S. Navy has flown, sailed and operated throughout the Western Pacific in accordance with international law for over a century, and will continue to do so,” Alexander said. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
The USS Shiloh, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy, is moored at the Alava Wharf of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone for a routine port call Thursday (July 14) morning. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.mb.com.ph/us-navy-missile-cruiser-docks-at-subic-following-wps-patrol/

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STATEMENT OF SBMA CHAIRMAN & ADMINISTRATOR ROBERTO V. GARCIA ON “FLOATING SHABU LAB” SEIZED OFF SUBIC BAY

This is to clarify that the suspected “floating shabu lab” raided by PNP operatives Monday night (July 11) was intercepted within the municipal waters of the town of Subic, and NOT within the secured waters of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority/Subic Bay Freeport.

The vessel was seized off the coast of Calapandayan in the municipality of Subic, Zambales

Further, please be informed that SBMA, through our Intelligence and Law Enforcement offices, has been closely coordinating with the PNP during the surveillance of the vessel in question.

We assure our community and the public at large that the SBMA is always alert in securing the waters of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone against sea-going vessels that may engage in illegal activities.

The SBMA will continue to fully cooperate with our national law enforcers as we actively pursue our government’s fight against drugs and criminality in our country.

-end of statement-

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Floating shabu lab seized off Subic, 4 HK nationals nabbed

Authorities seized Monday night a 50-meter Chinese fishing vessel-cum-floating shabu laboratory off the coast of Subic in Zambales, arrested four Hong Kong nationals and recovered half a kilo of shabu valued at P2.5 million.

This is the second time that a shabu floating laboratory was discovered in Philippine waters. The first one was in 2013.

Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) spokesman Supt. Enrico Rigor said they learned about the floating shabu lab after the arrest of a member of a drug syndicate and confirmed by tipsters.

“I believe this is the first time that we encountered this — a floating shabu laboratory. We are yet to determine how large the production but we believe that this ship is supplying a big portion of the shabu consumption in Luzon,” said Rigor.

The raid on the fishing vessel which was docked 30 minutes away from the Subic Bay port was pulled before midnight Monday.

“It’s a fishing vessel. But when it was boarded, there is no trace whatsoever that it is being used or was previously used for fishing,’ said Rigor.

PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa motored to the area, inspected the ship and confronted the four Hongkongese identified as Shu Fook Leung, 49; Kam Wah Kwok, 47; Wing Fai Lo, 42; and Kwok Tung Chan, 29. One of them is a chemist.

Rigor said the vessel is equipped with high-tech navigation equipment which includes a sonar capable of detecting approaching ships.

Senior Supt. Albert Ignatius Ferro, AIDG director, said the K-9 dog of the Coast Guard sat down in one of the areas of the ship indicating traces of shabu inside.

Authorities seized a transparent plastic pack containing half-a-kilo of white substance suspected to be shabu and the hydrogenator which, according to sources is capable of manufacturing 25 kilos of shabu a day.

The travel record of the Hongkong nationals show that they arrived in the country by plane seven days ago. Kwok, according to Rigor had been to other countries, including Europe prior to his arrest.

“We believe that they are the chemists. They were there for the manufacturing of the shabu inside the vessel,” said Rigor.

Since May

Tipsters said the fishing boat has been in the area since May sailing in the areas of Ilocos, Cagayan and Subic area at least three times in the past months. Persons on speedboats and jet skis were also seen visiting the docked vessel.

Rigor said they are eyeing the possibility that the P1 billion worth of shabu which was dug up on a beach resort in Cagayan recently came from the fishing vessel. Cohorts may have already unloaded a shabu shipment when the AIDG operatives boarded the vessel which explains why they only seized a small amount of shabu.

Based on intelligence reports, Rigor said the vessel would get either finished product or raw ingredients in manufacturing shabu from China.

“It only takes two to three days to manufacture shabu. And this seems to be the safest for them to manufacture shabu in the sea,” said Rigor.

The Hong Kong nationals will be brought to the AIDG headquarters in Camp Crame and charged with violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act. The vessel is currently being guarded by the Coast Guard. ( Aaron B. Recuenco, with reports from Jonas Reyes, Franco G. Regala, Manila Bulletin and PNA)

PHOTO:
ON ALL FRONTS – What looks like an ordinary fishing vessel on the outside (left photo) is actually a floating shabu laboratory that was seized by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in an operation Monday in Subic Bay. PNP chief Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa (Inset) confronts four Chinese nationals nabbed in the 50-meter vessel which was said to have ferried drug shipments to Zambales, the Ilocos, Cagayan, and Pangasinan. (Jonas Reyes, PNP-Public Information Office Photo/mb.com.ph)

http://www.mb.com.ph/floating-shabu-lab-seized-off-subic-4-hk-nationals-nabbed/

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Four-in-one aquathlon up at Subic Freeport

The quest for glory in the run-swim-run aquathlon format of multisport fires off Sept. 11 when the first Philippine Aquathlon Championship is held at the Camayan Beach Resort in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The 4-in-1 event’s race courses will be composed of a 2.5K run-1K swim-2.5K run in the Standard Distance, 1K run-600m swim-1K run (sprint) at the Camayan Beach Resort, Subic and the Ilanin Forest Reserve.

The event will have national championships for high-school level and college level participants, the Youth and Junior competition (athletes born in 2001 to 2002 will be considered for 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina), the Age-Group Para-Aquathlon (for athletes with disabilities) and Open Age Age-Groupers.

At stake in the event supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Camayan Beach Resort, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department (SBMA-Tourism), Subic Holiday Villas, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Standard Insurance, Gatorade, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, RaceDay, SBR.ph, Multisport, Kikay Runner, SWIM and DZSR Sports Radio 918 are cash prizes worth P3,000, P2,000 and P1,000 plus medals for the Top 3 overall male/female winners, and medals for Top 3 winners of age categories as well as inter-school and para-aquathlon. The awarding ceremony will be held at Camayan Beach Resort at 9:30 a.m.

Registration is ongoing with early bird entry fees at P1,000 for Youth participants, P1,500 for Junior and individual age-group participants and P2,500 for the two-man relay until July 31.

Effective Aug. 31 entry fees will be P1,500, P2,000 and P3,000, respectively, for the various categories. Inclusive with entry fees are a swim cap, timing chip, event shirt, finisher’s medal and post-race meal.

Interested parties may call up the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) at tel. Nos. 710-8259 and 399-6598, email trap.aquathlon@gmail.com. (The Philippine Star)

TRAP logo c/o TRAP facebook page

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2016/07/11/1601727/four-one-aquathlon-subic-freeport

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Pakistani terror suspect arrested in Subic

A Pakistani fugitive wanted for terrorism was arrested Saturday night in a joint operation by law enforcers in Subic, according to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente.

Morente identified the man seized in Subic Bay Freeport Zone as Malik Muhammad Sharif alias Sharif Ahmad.

“The 39-year old Sharif, who was born in Sialkot, Pakistan, is wanted in Islamabad, Pakistan for double murder, attempted murder, terrorism and rioting. According to the Interpol Red Notice, subject carries a sentence of death penalty in Pakistan,” Morente said.

Elements from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Police helped the immigration agents, particularly the BI's Fugitive Search Unit, in their operation.

According to Morente, the operation, which was coordinated with the Anti-Terrorism Council, is part of the BI’s target-hardening campaign.

Morente earlier declared Friday, when he took office, that the bureau will focus on, among others, tighter border control, considering the intensifying, more frequent terrorist acts around the worldwide.

BI, stressed Morente, must “secure Philippine borders by shoring up border control, especially our anti-terrorism and anti-crime efforts, to guard against the entry of foreign terrorists or criminal elements who may want to hide in the country to escape prosecution in their home country, or who might try to engage in lawless activities.”

He gave assurances such violent elements "will not be able to make our country their safe haven.”

Sharif's arrest is just the start of the stepped-up campaign against lawless foreigners seeking to use the Philippines as sanctuary, Morente said. “More arrests will be done in the coming days and weeks, targeting not only fugitives from justice but also foreigners who are abusing their stay in the country by continuing to engage in unlawful activities or who continue to violate our Immigration laws.” (Jaime Sinapit, InterAksyon.com)

http://interaksyon.com/article/129880/pakistani-terror-suspect-arrested-in-subic

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SBMA cites robust Subic Freeport growth

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has successfully turned the country’s first free-port zone into a productive engine of growth, overperforming in the last four years in terms of revenue generation and remittances to the national treasury.

Figures released by the agency last week showed SBMA managed to reverse its dismal financial performance starting in 2012, when it posted a net income of P800 million, from a P1.1-billion loss the previous year and a negative record of P2.54 billion—the agency’s biggest beating—in 2008.

This was consistent with a gross income that started out at P200 million in 1993 a year after the establishment of the free port, then rising to P800 million in 1996; P1.54 billion in 2002; P1.57 billion in 2008; P1.63 billion in 2012; P2.44 billion in 2014; and P2.75 billion in 2015.

In terms of operating income, SBMA was “awash with cash” last year when it posted a P1.41-billion operating income, a far cry from the P329 million it worked with in 2011 following heavy losses in previous years.

SBMA was also able to reduce its total debt by 36 percent in the last five years, or from P10.39 billion in 2011 to P6.64 billion 2015.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, who presided over the agency’s financial turnaround in the last five years, said SBMA’s positive cash position has allowed it to undertake various infrastructure projects last year, including repairs of major roads here to the tune of P60 million.

“These are signs that SBMA is very healthy,” Garcia said in a recent news briefing. Meanwhile, the Subic agency further increased its contributions to the national economy by intensifying remittances in customs duties, taxes, dividends and shares to the national and local government units (LGUs).

Last year SBMA said it contributed a total of P19.3 billion to the national economy, broken down as P16.4 billion in collections by the Bureau of Customs (BOC); P1.73 billion in tax collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); P373 million in shares to the national government; P248 million in shares to neighboring LGUs; and P527 million in dividends to the national government.

This, as BIR collections here increased from P1.1 billion in 2011 to P1.73 billion in 2015, accounting for a 57.3-percent growth; while the BOC collections grew from P6.05 billion in 2011 to P16.4 billion in 2015 for a record-breaking 171-percent increase.

All in all, SBMA posted a 157-percent increase in various contributions to the national economy by increasing them from a total of P7.51 billion in 2011 to P19.32 billion in 2015, SBMA figures indicated.

With the unprecedented growth created in the last five years, the Subic Bay Freeport is now poised for more business and better income, Garcia said. He said Subic’s robust performance, current fiscal health and positive business outlook could be traced to the agency’s efforts in promoting transparency and good governance, aggressive marketing, as well as policies that fostered the protection of Subic’s natural environment.

“The only way for SBMA to go is up, and we can only expect better times,” Garcia confidently said in a statement.

“The Subic Bay Freeport is not only the first and largest free port in the country today; it is also the most progressive and the most successful,” Garcia said. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia in his recent the State of the Freeport Address (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/sbma-cites-robust-subic-freeport-growth/

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Subic volunteers plant 5,600 trees on Arbor Day

More than 1,300 volunteers planted about 5,600 seedlings of various fruit trees here in Subic Bay Freeport during the Arbor Day Celebration organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Friday, June 24.

Spearheaded by the SBMA Ecology Center, the tree-planting activity was conducted at the Pastolan Ayta village in this freeport.

The seedlings planted were mostly local species like cashew, calamansi, coconut, santol, pomelo, and kaong, which are endemic in the area and therefore beneficial even to local wildlife.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, who also joined the event, stressed that with the number of seedlings planted, about six orchards have been established that will soon provide additional sources of food and livelihood for the Ambala Ayta tribe living near the tree-planting sites.

Aside from SBMA employees, who made up the bulk of the volunteers, workers from locator-companies in the Subic Freeport, students, members of the Philippine Coast Guard, the local police, Boy Scouts, and some Olongapo officials joined the activity.

Most of the volunteers had earlier joined another SBMA activity during the Earth Day celebration last April that saw more than 500 representatives from various groups in the Subic community collecting talisay seedlings and mangrove saplings and planting them at the Apaliin Mangrove Trail at the former ​Naval ​Magazine area here.

Last Friday’s Arbor Day celebration started with a breakfast treat for participants at the SBMA administration building, followed by a hundred-vehicle motorcade to Pastolan village for the actual tree-planting.

Now celebrated worldwide, Arbor Day was founded in the Spanish village of Mondoñedo where the first arbor plantation festival in the world was documented in 1594. In 1805, another small Spanish village named Villanueva de la Sierra held the first modern Arbor Day, an initiative launched by the local priest with the enthusiastic support of the entire population.

Arbor Day in the Philippines was institutionalized in 1947 through Proclamation No. 30, which called for a nationwide observation of the event by planting trees and ornamental plants and other forms of relevant activities. In 2012, Republic Act 10176 was passed, which revived tree-planting activities “as yearly event for local government units.” (RAV-MPD/SBMA)

PHOTOS: (Clockwise from top left)

[1] SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (left) receives an Apitong seedling from Senior Forester Edward Sernadilla during the kick-off ceremony for the Arbor Day celebration in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 24. The Apitong is among the endangered dipterocarp tree varieties listed as vanishing forest tree species, which will be propagated by the SBMA Ecology Center.

[2] Volunteers plant seedlings of fruit-bearing trees at the Pastolan Ayta village.

[3] Volunteers enjoy a “boodle fight” after planting fruit-bearing tree species at the Pastolan Ayta village.

[4] SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (left) and other SBMA employees join Aeta tribal leaders Bonifacio Florentino and Conrado Frenilla in the Arbor Day tree-planting activity.

(AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic now most advanced logistics hub in Phl

The Subic Bay Freeport Zone is ready to accommodate rising demand in local and international trade with recent facility upgrades and enhanced logistics solutions, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said.

SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia said Subic’s facilities now stand as the most advanced of its type in the country.

Garcia said the freeport’s available services likewise give locators in Asia and around the world the perfect venue for exports and imports while offering dealers, institutions, and companies a stable and secure location to store and trade products.

“Some of the best-known and biggest freeports like those located in Geneva, Singapore and Luxembourg have effectively attracted investments from small, medium and large industries through seamless logistics solutions. These are the same solutions available now in Subic and we expect more and more companies to come here to take advantage of what we can offer them,” he said.

According to SBMA, freeports were originally intended only to provide space to store goods in transit, but this role soon evolved to include the complete conduct of trade and business both inside and outside the country.

With recent developments, SBMA said Subic Bay Freeport has emerged as the main logistics hub for business and industries in Northern and Central Luzon.

“We’ve consistently provided cost-effective logistics for foreign and local industries in Central and Northern Luzon. That is necessary for the country’s competitiveness so that we can attract more foreign direct investments and propel the Philippines towards continued growth. More than that, we want to provide the necessary support to all companies in the Philippines that need access to the rest of the world,” Garcia said.

Located in Olongapo, Zambales, the Subic Bay Freeport is the largest in the country and is supported by the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), a subsidiary of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. which operates New Container Terminals 1 and 2.

SBITC has terminals with a combined area of 28 hectares and an annual capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units or the total number of container vans ships can carry in the terminal.

SBITC’s New Container Terminals 1 and 2 have a combined 11.14-hectare container yard with a modern fleet of mobile container handling units for moving and hauling duties. (Richmond Mercurio, The Philippine Star)

PHOTO:

The New Container Terminal 1 (NCT1) in Subic Bay Freeport Zone (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/06/26/1596583/subic-now-most-advanced-logistics-hub-phl

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SBMA employees sign Integrity Pledge to stamp out corruption

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is confident of stamping out corruption in this premier free port, as officers and employees of the agency signed the Integrity Pledge to support the national campaign to eliminate graft and corruption.

Led by agency head Chairman Roberto Garcia, more than 1,000 senior officials and employees of the SBMA formally indicated their commitment to ethical business practices during a mass signing ceremony held at the start of the recent SBMA Mini-Olympics.

Garcia said that practicing good governance, such as eliminating red tape and undertaking transparent and faster transactions, goes a long way in promoting good business and building investor confidence.

“We have seen the fruits of good governance right here at the SBMA,” Garcia said, pointing out that with such practice SBMA was able to resurrect its finances from the brink of bankruptcy to become one of the top revenue contributors among the economic zones in the country.

Garcia said that the SBMA managed to remit a total of P572.9 million worth of dividends to the national government in 2015 after posting total revenue of P2.75 billion.

“Last year, we were ranked number 11 among all the government-owned or –controlled companies,” Garcia noted.

The Integrity Pledge is a document whereby an individual or company expresses commitment to abide by ethical business practices and to support a national campaign against graft and corruption.

Garcia signed the Integrity Pledge on behalf of the agency in June 2013 as a means to instill a culture of transparency and accountability in the Subic Bay Freeport.

The pledge is acknowledged to be an effective tool in preventing corruption in public contracting, as it stipulates rights and obligations to the effect that neither side will pay, offer, demand or accept bribes, collude with competitors to obtain contract; or engage in such abuses while executing the contract.

Garcia said that the SBMA has institutionalized the Integrity Pledge in the Subic Bay Freeport with the creation of a Code of Conduct for all employees and officials of SBMA, and encouraging stakeholders like business locators, suppliers, and the local government units surrounding the Freeport to sign the Integrity Pledge before any transaction is to be made.

The SBMA board has also passed a resolution recently making the Integrity Pledge a precondition to the renewal of business permits for all locators in the free port.

In January 2015, the SBMA sponsored a mass signing of the Integrity Pledge for more than 150 executives from various locators and investors here in Subic, making it the first Philippine free port to do so. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
SBMA employees sign the Integrity Pledge during a mass signing ceremony in support of the national campaign against graft and corruption. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic now key logistics hub for industries in Regions 1, 3

THE Subic Bay Freeport Zone is primed and ready to accommodate the increasing demands of both local and international trade by serving as the main logistics hub for business and industries based in northern and central Luzon.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) highlighted the free-port zone’s metamorphosis into one of the nation’s strategic gateways for international and local cargo shipping and handling, capabilities seen to boost efficiencies of business enterprises in Northern and Central Luzon provinces.

The free port is the largest in the Philippines and is supported by the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), a subsidiary of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. , which operates New Container Terminals (NCT) 1 and 2. These terminals are dedicated to providing the most cost-effective logistics solutions for foreign and local industries and the burgeoning tourism industry.

While SBMA continued to deliver seamless service as a partner in providing international cargo shipping services for multinational companies here in the region over the past years, it has recently shown eagerness in providing services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This interest is caused by the increasing opportunities for businesses and industries to capitalize on the nation’s continuing economic growth, along with various well-established locators and entrepreneurs who want to operate at a much faster, more efficient and highly productive way.

SBITC President Roberto Locsin said, “A lot of developments are happening now in Subic that provide immense business opportunities for SMEs, especially in the northern and central Luzon regions. Companies looking to broaden their networks and connect with markets and suppliers anywhere in the country, or the world for that matter.”

The opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses have the definite potential to usher in logistical improvements in the country and provide a seamless transport of goods from Subic to other parts of the country. This would then spur much higher growth and make business operations more sustainable, allowing productivity improvements and other innovative solutions.

Originally, free ports were only intended to provide space to store goods in transit, but this role soon grew to include the complete conduct of trade and business both inside and outside the country.

Located in Olongapo, Zambales, the Subic Freeport allows for the rapid and highly efficient transfer of a wide range of export and import products and other valuable items. It offers efficient and effective logistic services, storage rooms and business solutions ranging from big-bulk item and small cargo transportation to providing access to fully managed exclusive industrial parks.

Subic’s port operator, SBITC, has terminals with a combined area of 28 hectares and an annual capacity of 600,000 20-foot equivalent units or the total number of container vans ships can carry in the terminal. SBITC’s NTC-1 and 2 have a combined 11.14-hectare container yard with a very modern fleet of mobile container-handling units for moving and hauling duties.

Subic Freeport terminals can be accessed via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and soon, through a planned new connector and bypass road running through Bataan and into other parts of Luzon.

SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia said Subic’s facilities stand as the most advanced of their type in the country. Its available services give all locators in Asia and around world the perfect venue for exports and imports while offering dealers, institutions, SMEs, and other companies an efficient, stable, and secure location to store and trade products.

Garcia said, “Some of the best-known and biggest freeports like those located in Geneva, Singapore, and Luxembourg have effectively attracted investments from small, medium, and large industries through seamless logistics solutions. These are the same solutions available now in Subic and we expect more and more companies to come here to take advantage of what we can offer them.”

Subic Bay Freeport has become an emerging trade hub in the Philippines with its roster of resident companies that directly ship their goods to the many different parts of the country. It also allows the export of locally made products and the provision of logistics support to companies that export their products abroad. Truly, this is an ideal situation not only for many well-established companies but also for SMEs that need to reliably get their products to their clients while getting access to the best supplies from around the world.

“We’ve consistently provided cost-effective logistics for foreign and local industries in Central and Northern Luzon. That is necessary for the country’s competitiveness so that we can attract more foreign direct investments and propel the Philippines towards continued growth. More than that, we want to provide the necessary support to all companies in the Philippines that need access to the rest of the world,” Garcia said, adding SBMA has been consistent in its efforts to push the participation and presence of SMEs in regional and global markets as part of the Freeport’s commitment to the goals of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC of 2015 on building inclusive growth in the region. (BusinessMirror)

PHOTO:
A cargo ship full of container vans leaves the New Container Terminal in the Subic Bay Freeport, as authorities project the Port of Subic to surpass its record-breaking performance last year with more cargo transshipment from nearby economic zones. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/subic-now-key-logistics-hub-for-industries-in-regions-1-3/

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Global property portal lists Subic Bay among best PHL places for foreign retirees

This premier Freeport again made it to the list of top destinations in the Philippines for foreign retirees, as gathered by an online global real estate marketplace.

Online global property portal Lamudi issued its “Best Places in the Philippines for Foreign Retirees” where Subic Bay Freeport is listed among 15 locations offering the best retirement options in the country.

Sunset at Subic Bay (RFV via Commons)

Subic Bay Freeport is the only special economic zone in Lamudi’s list, as most of the areas that are in the roster are highly-urbanized cities. It is listed at number 7 by the portal.

“Renowned for being a former overseas U.S. military installation, the Subic Freeport Zone is perfect for foreign retirees who want to continue their American suburban lifestyle in the Philippines. Along with its duty-free shopping, there are also a number of great schools, hospitals, and hotels and resorts in the city,” Lamudi said.

“While there is plenty to do and see in the Freeport Zone, probably one of its biggest draws as a retirement area, is the location’s cleanliness and orderliness,” it added.

According to the portal, choosing from among the Philippines’ 7,107 islands can be challenging for foreign retirees, but taking into “consideration cost of living, the presence of basic necessities, and the overall retirement atmosphere in an area, it becomes just a little bit easier to narrow the list down.”

Other areas that made it to Lamudi’s list are Imus and Bacoor in Cavite; Santa Rosa and Calamba in Laguna; and the cities of Tagaytay, Cebu, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Baguio, Tagum, Lipa, and Batangas.

In 2015, Forbes Magazine, also well known for its lists and rankings, cited Subic Bay as a top retirement destination in the Philippines.

Forbes' list of 20 best foreign retirement havens in 2015 includes the Philippines, particularly mentioning Subic Bay as one of only two locations in the country that are popular retirement spots, the other one being Tagaytay.

Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. It is a real estate marketplace which offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online.

This fast-growing platform is available in more than 30 other countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 800,000 real estate listings across its global network. (RBB/MPD-SBMA)

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