Olongapo launches novel way to prevent recurrence of dreaded disease

OLONGAPO CITY - Cash for rats, this is the theme of the local government after it declared the month of August as Leptospirosis Prevention Month.

Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino said that the aim of the local government is to have a strong awareness campaign against the dreaded disease that once hit the city that infected more than 600 people and killed several others.

It can be recalled that the city was hit by a leptospirosis outbreak last year after a massive flooding.

Leptospirosis is caused by a strain of bacteria called leptospira found in rats and mice which can infect humans after a natural disaster, such as a flood.

“This campaign was not meant to be a livelihood for our residents, it is really an awareness campaign to let our residents know that rats equals to leptospirosis,” Paulino said.

He added that the target for this year is zero (0) leptospirosis cases.

Doctor Rodrick Bustamante, head of the Olongapo City Health Office said that the program would run for the whole month of August.

“We will be giving out P10 per big rat and P5 for small ones.” Bustamante added.

He added that residents could bring the dead rats at the city health office and then a health officer would bring the collected rats in an isolated place for proper disposal.

“Ayaw na naming maulet yung nagyare last year, and frankly speaking we have already sent out our health workers before the rainy season to give out medicines against common disease and leptospirosis,” Bustamante added.

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SBMA to release P93.7-million LGU revenue shares for 1st sem 2014

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is set to release a total of P93.7-million in revenue shares to local government units (LGUs) adjacent to and affected by the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the funds would be available for the eight adjacent and affected LGUs starting August 4.

The amount to be released consists of P87.32 million in shares for the first semester of 2014 and P6.38-million in the 10-per cent retention share for the first semester of 2012.

“This is part of our commitment to our neighboring LGUs to spur development in the local communities
and help achieve President Aquino's goal of inclusive growth,” Garcia said, adding that the amount is 26 per cent higher than the P74.5 million released in the same period last year.

The SBMA also released last February a total of P81.3 million in revenue shares for the second half of 2013.

For this period, Olongapo City will again receive the biggest share of P22.7 million, while Subic, Zambales will get P14 million; Dinalupihan, Bataan, P11.8 million; San Marcelino, Zambales, P11.3 million; Hermosa, Bataan, P9.6 million; San Antonio, Zambales, P8.3 million; Morong, Bataan, P8.1 million; and Castillejos, Zambales, P8 million.

The LGU shares come from part of the five percent corporate taxes paid by Subic Bay Freeport-registered enterprises, of which two per cent goes directly to the SBMA treasury while the other three goes to the national coffers through the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The direct payment scheme was initiated by the SBMA some four years ago to hasten the release of LGU shares, which aim to augment LGU funds for developments projects on health, education, peace and order, and livelihood generation programs.

The LGU share is determined according to the following criteria: population, 50 percent; land area, 25 percent; and equal sharing, 25 percent. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBITC waives port fees for ships bringing empty containers to Subic

Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has agreed to waive any port fees including stevedoring on all shipping lines bringing their empty containers to Subic port.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said that starting August 10, container empties will be transferred to Subic Bay’s new container terminals 1 and 2.

International shipping lines and port operators have agreed to send empty containers piling up at Manila ports to Subic port and in order to ease congestion brought about by the Manila truck ban.

Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL) President Patrick Ronas said as of July 11, there were 11,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) empty containers at Manila ports, down 21% from 14,000 TEUs recorded on July 7.

PPA said foreign shipping lines agreed to send “sweepers” to the Port of Manila to ship out empties to Subic Bay port following a July 7 meeting attended by representatives of the Bureau of Customs, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), port operators ICTSI and Asian Terminals, Inc, AISL and Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP).

PPA said all parties are looking at directly sending container empties originating from north of Manila to Subic instead of bringing them to Manila then sending them back to Subic via the sweepers.

Approximately 30% of cargoes passing through Manila ports are northbound. PPA said CTAP agreed to come out with a “favorable fare matrix” for this scheme. The transportation of container vans via trucks is on account of importers, which are clients of truckers.

PPA said for southbound cargoes such as Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, empty containers will be directly transported to Batangas Port. On the other hand, empties to and from Cavite will be transported back to neighboring Manila.

For exporters needing boxes for shipments out of Manila, they can secure containers stored in Batangas or Subic.

Aside from Subic and Batangas as temporary empty container depots, PPA is also looking at tapping a 21-hectare property of ICTSI in Cabuyao, Laguna as depository for empties.

The PPA expects yard utilization at Manila ports will normalize within a month’s time if all agencies acted their part. (Edu Lopez, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/sbitc-waives-port-fees-for-ships-bringing-empty-containers-to-subic/

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SBMA Fire & Rescue Team in Bulacan blaze (photos)

Members of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Fire and Rescue Team apply aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to put out a raging 10-hour fire that gutted a plastics factory in Meycauayan, Bulacan on Tuesday, July 22. The SBMA Fire and Rescue Team had received various citations for their volunteer work, including the prestigious Gawad Kalasag Awards in 2009 and 2013. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

Members of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Fire and Rescue Team gather together after helping to put out a raging 10-hour fire that gutted a plastics factory in Meycauayan, Bulacan on Tuesday, July 22. The SBMA Fire and Rescue Team had received various citations for their volunteer work, including the prestigious Gawad Kalasag Awards in 2009 and 2013. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA H1 earnings increased by 62% to P738M

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has recorded an increase of 62 per cent in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) during the first semester this year.

This was announced by SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, who also cited the added flexibility in the agency’s financial program as a result of its efforts to increase its earnings.

“Our EBITDA increased by 62 per cent - from P454 million in the first semester last year to P738 million in the same period this year,” Garcia said in a recent press briefing.

“This gives SBMA the desired spending power and fiscal flexibility to manage its various financial obligations,” he added.

Garcia explained that this year’s first semester earnings of P738 million was derived from a total of P1.2-billion in operating revenue, less the P461-million total in operating expenses.

He added that the increase in EBITDA can be attributed to a 27 per cent increase in total operating revenues and a 6 per cent decrease in total operating expenses.

According to a report from the SBMA Finance Group, the Subic authority posted operating revenues of P627,319,504.39 from leases; P380,800,701.72 from port services; P8,277,995.15 from tourism services; and P182,220,722.83 from other operating incomes.

On the other hand, the agency incurred operating expenses of P194,216,593.46 in manpower; P80,823,616.77 in bad debts; P43,504,924.73 in power; P17,459,000.74 in supplies, materials and fuel; P3,584,204.33 in water; and P121,145,435.64 in other operating expenses.

Records from the SBMA Accounting Department also revealed that the agency’s net income after tax to-date amounted to P322 million.

In 2013, the SBMA shattered its all-time record after posting P1.2 billion in net profit, along with the highest gross revenue of P2.1 billion and the highest EBITDA of P992 million in the 21-year history of the Subic institution.

The present SBMA administration headed by Garcia has been largely credited for turning around the agency’s financial standing from several years of non-profitability to attaining record earnings starting 2012.

Garcia said the SBMA is now committed to further improving its financial condition to develop facilities here and attract more investments in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO: SBMA Administration Building 229

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Clean-up after typhoon Glenda (photos)

Members of the 2013 ​and 2009 ​Gawad Kalasag Award​ee ​SBMA Fire and Rescue Team, along with utility workers, cut a huge fallen tree into pieces to clear the road​ and facilitate the restoration of power supply​ after Typhoon Glenda cut a swath of destruction in the Subic Bay Freeport as it exited the country on Wednesday last week. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Bay ports to be used as temporary container depots starting August 10

MANILA - Foreign shipping lines will soon be sending sweepers to the Port of Manila, composed of the Manila International Container Terminal and the Manila South Harbor, to ship out the empty containers to Subic Bay.

This setup was agreed upon in the cluster meeting on the Manila Port Congestion presided by Philippine Port Authority (PPA) General Manager Juan Sta. Ana.

It was attended by the Bureau of Customs, the Association of International Shipping Lines, ICTSI, Asian Terminals, Inc., the Trade Industry, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, among others.

According to the PPA, the move was to help reduce the number of empty containers piling up at the ports of Manila, which have been a major contributor to the Port's congestion worsened by the day-time truck ban.

In turn, Subic Bay International Terminal, Corp. (SBITC) and mother firm International Container Terminal Services, Inc., operators of Subic’s New Container Terminals 1 and 2, will not levy any port fee.

This includes arrastre and stevedoring, to all shipping lines that will bring their empties to these ports.

To give ample time for both parties to iron out the kinks of the process, both the foreign shipping lines and ICTSI agreed to start the process tentatively for August 10.

Meanwhile, instead of bringing it back to Manila and sending it to Subic via the sweepers, all parties are also eyeing at directly sending boxes bound for North of Manila to Subic once the consignees empties the containers.

Approximately 30 percent of cargoes passing through the Manila ports are northbound.

The Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines has agreed to come out with a favorable fare matrix for this alternative as shipping of containers via trucks will be in the account of the importers.

For Southbound cargoes, particularly those for Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, empty containers will be directly transported to Batangas Port while empties to and from Cavite will be transported back to Manila with other empties that will be pick-up immediately by the shipping lines.

Port rates, on the other hand, will be levied with an obscene discount.

For exporters needing boxes for shipments that will be ship-out via Manila can get boxes in Batangas or Subic before it will be transported to Manila.

As of the moment, there are about 17,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) empty containers occupying spaces at the Ports of Manila. Once shipped out of Manila congestion will greatly be reduced.

Containers are owned by the shipping lines. Shipping out these boxes from ports is the sole decision of the carriers. (PNA)

PHOTO: The New Container Terminal 1 (NCT 1) in Subic Bay Freeport Zone

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Phil’s Subic Shipyard holds a naming ceremony for five container carriers at the same time

HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard made history again in the world’s shipbuilding industry by holding a naming ceremony for five vessels at the same time, the company said in its press release.

Around the globe, it is very rare to hold a naming ceremony for five vessels at a time. In Korea, a large shipyard once held a naming ceremony for four ships at the same time. In fact, Hyundai Heavy Industries set the world record by holding a naming ceremony for five vessels at a time in March.

HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard finally held a naming ceremony for five vessels at the same time for the second time in the world and for the first time in the Philippines.

The five vessels are eco-friendly 5,400TEU container carriers ordered by the global investor ‘Oaktree Capital Management’. They were named ‘Wide Alpha’, ‘Wide Bravo’, ‘Wide Charlie’, ‘Wide Delta’ and ‘Wide Echo’.

The naming ceremony was held with the attendance of nearly 200 related officials and investors including Ahn Jin-gyu, President of Subic Shipyard, and Andrea Cramer, Vice President of Oaktree. At the ceremony, President Ahn said, “We are very pleased to go with renowned investors such as Oaktree.” He added, “We are going to keep moving forward to enhance our competence and maximize customer satisfaction with high-tech, environment-friendly vessels”.

HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard is a large-scale shipyard built in the Subic Free Economic Zone (3,000,000㎡) in the Philippines in 2009. It has strengthened its ground as a leading exporter since its establishment through promotion of related industries, job creation and contribution to a local society.

In particular, it entered the world's top 10 for the first time last month, displaying a sharp growth. This year, it has already won the bids to build 300,000TEU Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and very large container ships (more than 10,000 TEU). The global shipbuilder has already booked enough advance orders for three years of production (approx. US 3.2 billion dollars, 50 ships).

An official from HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard said, “Subic Shipyard targets to leap into the world’s leading shipbuilder by maximizing the efficiency of its production system through the establishment of a systematic two-track system which means that Subic Shipyard specializes in the production of large vessels and offshore plants while Yeongdo Dockyard focuses on mid-size and special-purpose vessels”. (PortNews)

http://en.portnews.ru/news/183631/

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Korean studes complete week-long outreach program in Subic Ayta community

Volunteer students and faculty coordinators from a university in South Korea ended a week-long outreach program in a tribal community inside this free port over the weekend, engaging in an exchange of cultural dance and music, and trying out traditional games with Ayta children.

The event provided the lighter side of a five-day immersion program at the Pastolan Ayta Village here that saw the foreign visitors repairing, repainting, and completing the tiled floor and electrical wiring of a day care center, as well as the roofing of the village’s multi-purpose hall.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia, who lent support to the project by coordinating with the Ayta leaders, said that a total of 44 student-volunteers and three faculty coordinators from Youngsan University (YSU) in Busan, South Korea, conducted the week-long cultural exchange and outreach program.

“This is the third time that Youngsan University volunteers visited Subic under their cultural exchange and outreach program,” Garcia noted.

Aside from fixing the day care center and the multi-purpose hall, the Koreans also replaced the basketball back boards at the community plaza with fiber glass, and concreted the pathway inside the local elementary school campus.

The Korean students also donated school supplies for Ayta schoolchildren, and taught them arts and crafts, as well as proper grooming.

The closing-day ceremony last Saturday turned out to be the most fun, as the visiting Koreans entertained the Ayta children with Korean songs, Gang-nam style dance, as well as taek-won do and drum exhibitions. The “party” was carried out under heavy rains.

Pastolan tribal chieftain Conrado Frenilla said the tribal community was “very happy” for the outreach program. “We really enjoyed their presence here,” he said.

Pastolan Elementary School principal Hilda Sayson said that the outreach program developed attachment among the Korean and the Ayta students, as they enjoyed each other’s company. Both the children and the volunteers alike were in tears as they hugged to bid goodbye.

“Although most of the Koreans cannot speak and understand English or Filipino, language was not a problem in understanding what the other was saying,” Sayson observed. “Apparently, friendship and the willingness to help overcame barriers of communication,” she added.

Meanwhile, in his letter to Garcia, YSU president Gu-Wuck Bu thanked the SBMA for the continuous support the agency has given to the university programs.

“With our partnership with the SBMA, Youngsan University teacher-coordinators and volunteer-students were able to donate school and community supplies, and render community services to indigent students,” Bu said.

Bu noted that aside from the community work undertaken at the Pastolan Ayta Village, his group also donated a total of 1,000 chairs for the Pastolan Elementary School, the Cabalan and the Columban elementary schools in Olongapo City; Payangan Elementary School, an Ayta community school in Dinalupihan, Bataan; and another school in Castillejos, Zambales. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
A student-volunteer from the Youngsan University in Seoul, South Korea, teaches origami or the art of paper-folding to an Ayta girl at the Pastolan Village, an indigenous tribal community inside the Subic Bay Freeport, during an outreach project coordinated by the SBMA Public Relations Department.

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Subic freeport colleges sign up for school-based PESOs

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the provincial government of Zambales recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with GIS Institute of Technology, Mondrian Aura College, and College of Subic Montessori for the establishment of school-based Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs).

“Our newly-established school-based PESOs are the latest addition to our 17 existing school-based PESOs here in Zambales. Our partnership with these schools will further boost our campaign in ensuring that our programs and services will be more accessible to our incoming entrants to our labor force,” Vice Governor and Provincial PESO Manager Ramon Lacbain II said.

For her part, DOLE Regional Director Ana Dione commended the strong partnership of DOLE, PESOs, and participating schools in ensuring that programs and services are readily available for graduating students.

“Being the first province in the country with 100 percent PESOs institutionalized and a Secretary’s Award recipient, I thank and commend the dynamic tandem of Governor Hermogenes Ebdane and Vice Governor Lacbain for their endless efforts in pursuit to make our programs and services more reachable to our youths. I’d also like to thank the support and cooperation of our new school-based PESOs in partnering with us in this endeavor. Rest assured that we will extend the necessary assistance to ensure that we will be able to empower our youths and make them the prime movers in the region’s competitive labor force,” Dione said.

Under the MOU, DOLE and provincial PESO shall exercise administrative and technical supervision by developing, administering, and managing area-based or region-specific employment projects and services; recommend requirements for human resources, equipment, facilities and other necessary resources for the effective management and administration; maintain computerized regional registry of skills as well as employment and business opportunities for easy access of the clients; make the Phil-Jobnet accessible and free of charge and assist in its operationalization whether off-line or on-line; and regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of the school-based PESO.

The partner schools, on the other hand, shall commit its available resources in maintaining and improving various PESO services to their students and graduates; provide required necessary resources, facilities, staff and operating funds for the PESO including a focal person charged with the Phil-Jobnet operations; provide labor market information services to their students and graduates; provide referral and placement services both for local and overseas employment for their students and graduates; support, utilize, subscribe and advocate the use of the Phil-Job net for the registration of their graduates as well as a source of employment opportunities and making the system accessible to their students and graduates; provide the concerned local government unit a copy of their encoded registry of their graduates under the off-line feature of the Phil-Jobnet on a regular basis for integration to the Computerized National Manpower Registry of Skills ;and provide inputs/feedbacks for greater usefulness of the Phil-Jobnet as well as other PESO programs and services.

Prior to this, DOLE has established this year school-based PESOs in Wesleyan University in Aurora, Center for Research and Technology in Nueva Ecija, Holy Cross College in Pampanga, and Kolehiyo ng Subic in Zambales. (CLJD-PIA 3)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=561404627688

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SBMA, Singapore’s Interflour Group close $30-M investment deal

Singapore-based Interflour Group Pte Ltd. (Interflour), one of the producers of the finest flour in the world, will be building its Philippine mill in Subic as part of its expansion program to meet flour demand in Southeast Asia.

This developed as Interflour Managing Director and Chief Executive Greg Harvey, Subic Bay Gateway Park President Jeff Lin, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia signed a 50-year lease contract paving the way for the construction of the flour mill facility.

The event was witnessed by SBMA COO Joven Reyes, SBMA Deputy Administrator Joy Alvarado and SBMA Investment Manager Ronnie Yambao. Representing Interflour were Group COO Jack Joseph Cwach, Group Marketing Director Angel Umali, Group CFO Ma. Cristina Piguing, Group General Counsel Mark Neo, Mabuhay Interflour Mill Inc. (MIMI) Board Members Jesus Alcordo and Edgardo Gallo, and MIMI General Manager Vicente Magbanua.

Registered under the business name Mabuhay Interflour Mill Inc, the new flour mill is part of the US$30-million committed project investment of Interflour in Subic.

Garcia said the new Subic entrant is proof that the Philippines is “in the screen” of foreign investors who are encouraged by the trust and confidence earned by President Aquino’s good governance program.

The new flour mill will be constructed in a 52,852-sq.m. lot inside the Subic Bay Gateway Park. It is expected to be completed in 24 months’ time.

The company will engage in milling of wheat into food flour for direct sale to consumers, distributors and retailers in the domestic and for-export markets.

Garcia added that the project would provide bakeshops and entrepreneurs in the country with the highest quality flour in competitive or much lower price, as the cost of hauling and transporting flour to parts of Central and Northern Luzon will be cut by as much as fifty percent.

This will also mean additional revenue for SBMA of about P5.5 million a year, for the use of ports by transport ships coming from wheat-growing countries like Australia, United States, Canada, as well as Europe and the Black Sea countries.

For Interflour, Harvey noted that Interflour Group is one of the biggest flour milling companies in the world with seven flour mills located in Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey. The combined wheat milling capacity of these mills is nearly 6,000 tons per day, which is equivalent to almost 1.5 million tons of flour produced each year.

He added that Interflour holds international certifications for its world-class technology, including Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), and a certification for producing Halal food products.

The proposed mill in Subic will be capable of producing 500 metric tons a day of flour. However, Interflour plans to expand its capacity with an additional 500 tons by 2019.

“The Philippines is an important market in Asia, with an estimated 25,000 bakeshops and with Gardenia as the largest. Interflour will be offering the finest flour for the local market, particularly in Central Luzon,” Harvey said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (center) signs a memorandum of agreement for the flour mill project with Interflour Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Greg Harvey (left) and SBDMC Inc. President Jeff Lin.

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U.S. PHL troops conclude CARAT with amphibious landing exercise

SUBIC BAY - Members of the United States and Philippine Marines concluded Monday the five-day Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise with amphibious landing at the beach in San Antonio, Zambales.

The marines were on board USS Ashland and landed on the beach by hovercrafts or Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) of the U.S. Navy.

On the beach were amphibious assault vehicles, also of the American Navy.

They conducted combat exercise on the beach and surrounding terrain unmindful of the heavy rains.

“The training is okay. There are lots of information from the U.S. about combat,” PFC Almond Estrada of the Philippine Marines said.

Corporal Chris Cavey of the United States Marines enjoyed working with their Filipino counterparts.

“They are good guys, it is fun working with them, good experience,” he said.

Lance Corporal James Martinez and his companions said they learned a lot like in martial arts with the use of knife techniques.

“I have great time here, they are very professional, no language barrier,” he said.

“We’ve learned a lot in the training like the first aid, combat and the use of their new equipment,” said Philippine Marines Sgt. Ramil Escandor. (PNA)

PHOTOS:

[1] San Antonio, Zambales - An amphibious assault vehicle arrives during an amphibious assault exercise with U.S. Marines assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, and Philippine marines held in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2014. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jay C. Pugh/Released)

[2] San Antonio, Zambales – U.S. Marines, assigned 1st Battalion 8th Marine Regiment, Bravo Company, conduct joint amphibious landing exercises with Philippine Marines during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2014.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gilbert A. Bolibol/RELEASED)

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SBMA, Jobin sign deal for $200-M solar/wind power project in Subic Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has signed an agreement with Jobin-SQM, Inc., an all-Filipino corporation, for the establishment here of a $200-million renewable energy facility that will produce electricity from both solar and wind power.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia and Jobin-SQM, Inc. President Nancy Tan signed an agreement reserving an 800-hectare property on Mt. Sta. Rita where the firm eyes to produce 20-megawatts (MW) of solar energy and 50 megawatts of wind energy.

Garcia said the project was formally committed during President Aquino’s state visit to China in September 2011.

The proposal is in line with Republic Act No. 9513, otherwise known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which aims to accelerate the exploration and development of renewable energy resources, increase utilization of such and promote their efficient and cost-effective commercial application, and effectively prevent or reduce harmful emissions protecting health and the environment.

The national government has declared the development and promotion of renewable energy as among its priority projects under the Investment Priorities Plan of 2012.

Garcia said Jobin has successfully satisfied the requirements set by the Department of Energy (DoE) in line with its intention to develop the solar and wind power project and has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the SBMA for the reservation of the project site prior to signing a lease agreement.

Thomas Garcia, Jobin-SQM Inc. stockholder, said the firm is keen on developing the Subic project, which is expected to turn on power by June 2016.

“Subic, we believe, is a progressive place and there’s a lot of potential. I like Subic,” Garcia added.

The renewable energy project has been in the pipeline since 2011 when Jobin entered into a joint venture agreement (JVA) with Hydrochina International Engineering Co., LTD. (HIECL) for the development of the said project.

Hydrochina Subic LTD Corp., which is the Filipino counterpart of HIECL, has been tapped to undertake the Subic project.

Meanwhile, HIECL will be in charge of the technical aspect of the project, including engineering, procurement and construction. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia shakes hand with Nancy G. Tan, president of Jobin SQM Inc., after signing a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of $200-million renewable energy project in the Subic Bay Freeport. With them are other SBMA officials and representatives of Jobin SQM Inc.

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