US assault ship arrives in Subic

One of the three battle groups assembled by the United States in the Asia-Pacific region arrived (yesterday) in Subic for this year’s launching of the joint amphibious landing exercises in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

Helicopter carrier USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) of the US Marine Corps’ air-ground task force, escorted by two frigates, dropped anchor at the former US naval facility at Subic Bay in Zambales with 2,200 US Marines on board.

The US Marines are slated to link up with their local counterparts for the joint mock amphibious landing operations as well as land-based exercises in Palawan and Zambales.

The provinces have territorial jurisdiction over the disputed Panatag Shoal and the Kalayaan Island Group in the Spratlys.

Dubbed as Phiblex 2013, the yearly Filipino-US Marines joint drill will be simultaneously launched on Monday in Zambales.

In a statement, the US embassy said the Bonhomme Richard is in the country for a goodwill visit.

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

The US Marine Corps air-ground task force is a powerful air, land and sea armada assembled by the US and has started operating in the Asia-Pacific region.

Aside from the 2,200 Marines, the US carrier is also carrying amphibious assault vehicles, light armored vehicles, helicopters and Harrier fighter jets.

The two others are the USS George Washington and the USS John S. Stennis carrier groups. (Jaime Laude, The Philippine Star)

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SBMA defers Subic airport conversion plan

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) had deferred its plan to convert the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) into a recreational theme park.

Some long-term programs adopted by the agency earlier this year are being modified in view of the current economic changes affecting the Freeport, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said.

SBIA is now being eyed as a forward base for the joint operations of the Philippine Air Force and the United States Air Force Pacific alliance to maintain regional balance in light of territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

The Freeport’s five-year strategic plan (2012-2016) was to convert the 200-hectare SBIA into a tourism hub with amenities such as hotel-casino entertainment complex, science and technology park, duty free shops, convention center, waterfront and luxury villas, family hotels, golf course, business process outsourcing (BPO) city, theme park, yacht club, condominiums and SBMA corporate headquarters.

Amid strong opposition from public and private sectors, the agency said then that it would proceed with the plan to recover the huge financial losses of the Freeport. (CLJD/AMV-PIA3)

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SBMA cites Ayta contributions to Freeport development

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has lined up activities highlighting members of the Ayta tribes in this free port, as the agency joins in the celebration of Indigenous Peoples (IP) Month this year.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the activities aim to show the agency’s appreciation of the role that the Ayta communities inside the former US military base have played in the conservation and development of what is now the relatively unspoiled forested portion of the Subic Bay Freeport.

“Owing to the presence of indigenous peoples within the Subic Bay Freeport, and in appreciation of their stewardship of their ancestral land, it is only but right to accord them the gratitude and recognition that they deserve,” Garcia said.

He also expressed the SBMA's appreciation of the cooperation and support given by the indigenous Ayta tribes here to the economic development programs and projects of the agency within the Ayta’s ancestral domain.

October of every year was declared National Indigenous Peoples Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation Order (PPO) 1906 signed by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on October 5, 2009.

The PPO is in pursuant of the earlier PPO No. 486, which Arroyo signed in 2003, and consistent with PPO No. 1124 issued by then President Fidel Ramos.

The order was created, “for the purpose of heightening nationwide peoples’ awareness and participation in celebration and preservation of indigenous peoples communities.”

In line with the IP Month celebration, Garcia has designated SBMA public relations manager Armie Belleza-Llamas to spearhead the preparation of a program to promote Subic Ayta culture.

This will commence with a flag-raising ceremony on October 8 in front of the SBMA main office on Waterfront Road, which shall be led by the members of the Pastolan Ayta community. Members of the Ayta Tribal Council of Sitio Pastolan in Hermosa, Bataan and the Council of Elders of Sitio Kanawan in Morong town will also be attending the ceremony.

In addition, a photo exhibit about Ayta culture and arts will be mounted at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall on October 26 to 31. Harbor Point will also be the venue of an Ayta cultural show to be highlighted by the “Ayta X-factor” singing contest on October 27.

Meanwhile, for the public to understand better the life and thoughts of the Aytas in the Subic Freeport, the SBMA radio station will conduct an interview with Pastolan tribal chieftain Conrado Frenilla and tribal elder Bonifacio Florentino.

The forum is expected to also touch on the benefits received by the Ayta tribes from the SBMA before and after the signing of the Joint Management Agreement by and among the SBMA, the Tribong Ambala Ayta ng Pastolan, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

The interview will be aired over radio station 89.5 Bay FM on October 15 and the Freeport cable TV station on October 26-31.

Llamas said the program is intended to heighten the awareness of the public on the presence of indigenous people in the Freeport, and to show how both parties have looked after each other through the years. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Members of the Pastolan Ayta indigenous tribe in the Subic Bay Freeport enact a tribal dance for the benefit of visitors.

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More US navy ships visit Subic

At least seven United States Navy ships—a submarine, amphibious assault vessels, a helicopter carrier, and destroyers —were expected to arrive in the Philippines in the next few days to take part in a massive joint military exercises involving the two countries, officials said on Thursday.

Lt. Cherry Tindog, director of the Philippine Marine Corps Public Affairs Office, said the 10-day exercises will kick-off on October 8 near Palawan and Zambales provinces, a highly strategic area because of the territorial row between the Philippines and China over a group of islands in the West Philippine Sea.

During the maneuvers, dubbed the PH-US Amphibious Landing Exercise 2013, a US Marine air-ground task force would link up with 1,2000 Filipino troops, Tindog said.

The USS Olympia, a Los Angeles class submarine, was the first to arrive in the country. The helicopter-carrier, USS Bonhomme Rchaird, an amphibious assault ship with 2,200 US Marines, and two destroyer ships were expected to arrive at the Subic Freeport on Friday.

The amphibious landing exercise could be one of the most massive activities compared to previous PH-US Balikatan Exercises under the visiting Forces Agreement. Other than the Marine contingents, the USS Bonhomme Richard will also be carrying amphibious assault vehicles, light armoured vehicles and Harrier fighter jets.

Philippine participants in the exercise will include the Marines, the Army, the Air Force, the Navy Air Group and Special Operation Group, Tindog said.

He said the exercises in the Palawan area—which has territorial jurisdiction over the Spratly’s and Zambales, which considers the Panatag Shoal as part of the province—were intended “to enhance the strong defense partnership between the Philippines and the United States.” (Willie E. Capulong, Manila Standard Today)

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Red Cross turns up new batch of health workers

Subic Bay Freeport - The Philippine National Red Cross Zambales Chapter trained 245 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), midwives and volunteers on basic mother and child care, disease control and first aid treatment, through a four-day workshop supported by Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy).

The series of lectures, dubbed KliniKaBarangay Health and Wellness Training, is in line with RP Energy’s thrust to improve health care services within the 16 barangays of Subic and Pastolan Village, an Aeta community in Zambales province.

The training program was able to establish 17 quick response teams that will become “frontliners” in providing maternal care and implementing disease prevention in their respective barangays.

The participants were awarded with KliniKaBarangay Health and Wellness kits composed of BHW uniforms, a cellphone, list of hotline numbers, first aid equipment, a maternal health starter set and KliniKaBarangay Quick Reference Guide for everyday operations.

“With the proper training and health equipment, these KliniKaBarangay health advocates can now effectively initiate health promotion and disease prevention as well as establish other quick response teams in their respective barangays,” said RP Energy project manager Grant Smith. (Anthony Bayarong, Manila Times)

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Another US submarine to dock in Subic

A submarine of the Los Angeles class design, USS Olympia (SSN 717), will arrive in Subic Bay Thursday for a routine port call, the United States embassy said in a statement.

The US Embassy said that the port visit highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the US and the Philippines.

This visit will allow the ship to replenish supplies as well as give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation.

The USS Olympia SSN 717 set sail in February 1986 to her home in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She is the second United States ship to bear the name in honor of the city of Olympia, Washington.

Original USS Olympia was commissioned in 1895 and, as part of the Asiatic fleet, became the flagship of Commodore George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898.

No further details were given to the media. (Anthony Bayarong, The Philippine Star)

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US aviation firm sees big growth in air ambulance

An American aviation company sees good growth prospects for the air ambulance service it started last July in Subic.

It just brought in a second aircraft for the air 911 service.

The Philippines, according to Scotty Watson, Carejet Assist program director, is central to the company’s service in Asian countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Vietnam and Guam.

Watson said they intend to cash in on a vast pool of clients in Asia-Pacific and in North and Central Pacific, particularly with the tourism boom in Asia.

“The way tourism is going in Asia-Pacific, particularly diving and fishing, we can make air ambulance work,” he said, adding their firm is receiving an average of two to three calls a week from clients.

He said the air ambulance business is ideal in the Philippines where medical treatment is cheaper while offering quality service.

“We have a good spectrum of medical professionals. Your doctors here are very excellent,” he said.

The firm also caters to AIG, considered the biggest insurance company in the world.

Carejet was tapped by American-owned Aviation Concepts, based in Subic to implement the air ambulance project.

Aviation Concepts is run by his friend, Terry Habeck, president and chief executive officer. Habeck said that they may also venture into potential markets like Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Air ambulance assets include a fixed-wing seven-seater jet converted into an intensive care unit which offers patients safe and on-time, bedside-to-bedside transport. It is manned by a team of doctors, nurses and is equipped with state-of-the art facilities providing basic life support, advanced life support, pediatric advanced life support, critical care transport and specialty neo-natal care.

While it is still a fledgling industry in the Philippine, air ambulance is a common transport facility in the US. It is considered a better aerial vehicle than helicopters since it is faster, more spacious, has less noise and vibration, less weather-dependent, less costly, can operate 24/7 and is highly recommended for journeys of up to 240 kilometers.

An air ambulance service is considered more significant as it can cover a large region, including remote areas where there are few hospitals, inadequate ground transport or other problems such as poor roads or communications.

Aside from providing medical services, air ambulance also provides repatriation through coordination with other commercial airlines. He said over the past two weeks, they have brought in patients from Copenhagen and London.

Watson said their West-Wind aircraft has a range of 2,000 nautical miles and piloted by American, Japanese and Filipinos experts.

Watson started the air ambulance business in his native New Zealand in 1991. He teamed up with Habeck who enticed him to put up a medical service company in Makati and working with insurance and medical companies.

In the Philippines he met his future wife, Gelmi at the Clark Freeport Zone and decided to settle here.(Jay Chua, Malaya)
Photo:
The air ambulance is a seven-seater jet converted into an intensive care unit which offers patients safe and on-time, bedside-to-bedside transport.

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Foresters urged to be vigilant

Stressing the need to protect the remaining forests in the country, Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. (SFFI) national council president Renato De Rueda urged fellow foresters to be vigilant in performing their duty as guardians of the environment.

De Rueda issued this challenge during the recent “National Summit Conference on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade”, which was held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here to mark the 64th founding anniversary of the SFFI.

De Rueda said that forests need to be protected from the abusive exploitation of natural resources, because they can yield so much beneficial products if properly taken care of.

“Kailangan nating mapangalagaan ito laban sa mga gustong sumira ng ating mga kabundukan, kasama na dito ang illegal na pagto-troso at pagkuha ng iba’t-ibang produkto ng kagubatan, at pagkakaingin,” he said as he addressed convention delegates.

“Kailangan po natin ng mga mabubuting pamamaraan para mapangalagaan ang ating kagubatan,” he added.

At the same time, De Rueda noted that forest protection is often a very difficult and dangerous job, and has claimed the lives of several foresters since 2010.

“Mayroon na po tayong labing-apat na kamatayan dahil sa pagtatanggol sa ating kagubatan, sa pagseserbisyo sa ating bayan,” he said.

Still, it is the foresters who should lead the people in protecting the environment, he insisted.

“Kung mayroon pong dapat na manguna sa pangangalaga ng ating mga kagubatan, dapat ay tayong mga Filipino foresters. Kailangan po nating magkaisa para tulungan ang Inang Bayan sa pamamagitan ng epektibong pamamahala sa mga natitira pang mga kabundukan at para tulungang lumago ang ating mga kagubatan,” he said.

De Rueda said that towards this end, topics like forest law enforcement that were tackled in the convention would help foresters in performing their duties.

Meanwhile, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) senior deputy administrator Ramon Agregado thanked members of the SFFI for doing their job in protecting the environment, and assured them that the SBMA will do its part as well.

“From our end we can assure you that SBMA will continue to do more than its fair share in protecting, preserving and managing this heavily-forested paradise that is Subic Bay,” he said.

The SFFI was founded in 1948 and aims to represent and promote the science, technology, education, practice and business of forestry in the Philippines. It currently has 8,000 members from across the country. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

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US Navy & Smart in reforestation efforts in Subic

Military servicemen joined Smart Communications, Inc. and its sister-firm Tollways Management Corp. in their reforestation efforts in Subic Bay as part of the US Navy’s community service.

The volunteer-sailors from USS Hawaii and USS Frank Cable were on a routine port visit in the Philippines recently.

Chief Select Jonathan Palmer said this was the first tree-planting activity that the Navy servicemen participated in as a group.

“Most of the time, we go to an elderly folks’ home and we do some cleaning and we entertain them. This is something really different from what we’ve done before as part of our program to help and give back to the communities. It’s good to help protect the environment and plant the national tree of the Philippines. I think everyone here will remember this.”

Narra seedlings were planted during the activity. (Kabalikat News & Features/Smart)

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RP and US Marines set for Phiblex 2013 in Subic Freeport

The RP-US Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2013 will formally begin on October 8 in this free port to further enhance the strong defense partnership between the Philippines and the United States.

According to 1Lt. Cherry Tindog, director of the Marine Corps Public Affairs Office, the exercise will give primacy to effective interoperability on humanitarian assistance and disaster response and relief preparedness, maritime security, and community development.

PHIBLEX is conducted annually to serve as a venue for joint and combined training not only for the Marine Corps of the Philippines and the United States militaries, but for the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy’s Air Group and Special Operation Group as well.

“Considering the massive effects of natural calamities that frequent the Philippines and the Asia Pacific Region year in and out, PHIBLEX 13 is designed to enhance interoperability on disaster response and relief operations,” a statement from the PHIBLEX Joint Information Bureau said.

The said bilateral exercise “also aims to formulate and assess concepts for the enhancement of the amphibious operations capacity of both nations, (and) envisions evaluating concepts for transition from Unilateral Defense Plan (UDP) to Bilateral Defense Plan (BDP) to Post-Conflict response, through the conduct of disaster rehabilitation and rural development projects,” it added.

The projects will be undertaken through the Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) and several Community Health Engagements (CHE), which will be conducted in Zambales and Palawan.

The PHIBLEX command said that thousands of local residents will benefit from the CHE and a total of four barangays in Palawan and Zambales will benefit from the ENCAP.

Even before the start of landing exercise, combined engineering personnel have already been deployed to the ENCAP sites to begin the construction of classrooms and toilets, the command also said.

Aside from these activities, PHIBLEX participants will also engage in community relations activities to bring about a “vigorous relation between the military and the civilian community.”

On the other hand, various military training activities will be held simultaneously in different venues including the Subic Bay International Airport; Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavite; Crow Valley in Tarlac; Naval Station Apolinario Jalandoon in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; and Naval Education Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales.

The PHIBLEX command also said that the conduct of PHIBLEX 2013 perpetuates a long and lasting partnership founded firmly on common heritage between freedom-loving countries committed to true service and the preservation of liberty and democracy.

The success of the RP-US military training exercises like the PHIBLEX can also be attributed to the diligent participation and cooperation of concerned local government units, it added. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic-BOC Tops Target By P141M

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) based here led all eight of the country’s ports in posting a surplus in collection of more than P141 million. It collected P683.79 million – way above its target of P562 million for August.

BOC-Subic’s District Collector Carmelita Talusan said the surplus in the target collection is a great start for the Port of Subic since it shows that the Customs officials and workers here are on the right track.

Other ports that surpassed their collection targets for August of this year are the Port of Iloilo that exceeded its target by P17 million; the Port of Cebu that exceeded by P1.5 million; the Port of Surigao, P78 million; the Port of Cagayan de Oro with a P400,000 surplus; the Port of Davao, P28 million; the Clark Freeport, P24 million; and the Port of Aparri, P400,000 in excess of its target.

Talusan said it is in their mandate to ensure proper collection in all areas that the BOC holds.

She added that their outstanding performance helped the Bureau in collecting a total of P22.307 billion in August, higher than last year’s P22.152 billion collected.

Last month’s collection on the other hand was P6 billion lower than the P28-billion target collection. This was due to the top tier districts who failed to meet their targets.

“Despite the holidays and fewer working days that affected our collection, we are still adamant in doing our duties to the utmost of our abilities. We want to show everybody that the Bureau of Customs, especially here in Subic, is working to make sure that professionalism is instilled in every customs official in Subic,” Talusan said.

Last month’s collection has brought the BOC’s eight-month take to P190.04 billion, around 10.5 percent higher than last year’s.

BOC Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said the agency needs to collect some P347 billion this year, a daunting task for the BOC.

But Biazon has not yet asked the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) to lower the target collection this year with next year’s target pegged even higher at P397 billion.

He said that he will step up the agency’s fight against smuggling by using the Run After The Smugglers (RATS) program of the BOC. The agency’s program is still keen on filing cases against smugglers as well as agency personnel and brokers scheming with them. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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Altas eye joint 3rd vs Pirates

Perpetual Help takes on ousted Lyceum today, seeking to catch Letran at third and post a one-game lead over fifth running Jose Rizal University even as Mapua fights for dear life against San Beda in the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which goes to Subic Bay for the league’s second out-of-town games.

The Altas are out to bounce back from a sorry 71-74 defeat to the Cardinals last week that dropped them to fourth spot with a 9-6 (win-loss) record, a shade behind Letran (10-6) but just ahead of Jose Rizal (9-7).

A win in their 6 p.m. duel with Lyceum, out of it all with a woeful 3-12 mark, would give the Altas added cushion in a spirited three-team battle for the last two semis berths heading to the crucial phase of the double-round elims.

The Las Piñas-based school, however, will play minus Nigerian big man Femi Babayemi, who was suspended for one game for a disqualifying foul in their match with Mapua.

"Our focus is to win all our remaining games for a Final Four berth," said Perpetual coach Aric del Rosario.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals, at No. 7 with a 6-9 mark, battle the Lions at 4 p.m., hoping to stay in the hunt with a sweep of their last three games although a Perpetual win would keep them out of the Final Four race along with Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (7-9).

The pacesetting Lions, with a 13-2 slate and assured of a twice-to-beat edge in the next round, are also expected to go all-out for a victory for the momentum and confidence they would need in the Final Four.

The Subic matches mark the second time the league is holding a pair of out-of-town games after the Sta. Cruz, Laguna stop last August. (The Philippine Star)

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Seniors form walkers club in Subic Freeport

Health-conscious senior citizens in this free port have formed a walkers club here in cooperation with a popular commercial facility, which has agreed to accommodate the daily exercise activities of the newly-formed group.

The “Subic Bay Six o’clock Habit Club,” which was organized by Atty. Severo M. Pastor, manager of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) labor department, has requested the use of the promenade area of Ayala Mall’s Harbor Point here.

Harbor Point operations manager Derrick Q. Manuel said that while the agreement is being finalized with top management, walkers may already use open alleys inside the mall except for those that are still restricted due to shop construction work.

Manuel added that while only the Coffee Bean shop opens at 6 am, Starbucks coffee shop had confirmed that they would start receiving customers at 7 am also to accommodate the walkers.

Pastor, who has been walking with friends as his early morning ritual, said the Harbor Point facility is perfect for senior citizens.

“Senior citizens can walk around at Harbor Point’s covered areas freely and safely even when it rains,” Pastor said. “In fact, because Harbor Point has large open spaces, we can also bring the whole family with us so that we can do some exercises while the shops are still closed.”

Pastor said the focus of the Six o’clock Habit Club is to promote health and wellness among senior citizens. “It’s a well-known fact that walking can add more years to life, so I’m sure that walking and interacting with other people would be a big help to senior citizens like me,” he added.

Aside from requesting Harbor Point for walking space, Pastor said that his group has also requested appropriate areas at the ground floor for tai-chi or calisthenics.

And, as some doctors and other medical practitioners are expected to join the club, Pastor said that he would also ask them to provide free medical services to the senior citizens, like blood pressure or blood sugar checks.

The group has initially agreed upon a three-day-a-week schedule — Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and more frequently thereafter until walking becomes a daily habit.

He added that residents, businessmen and workers from the Freeport and Olongapo areas are welcome to join the club.

Among those who expressed intention to join the club are acting SBMA senior deputy administrator for business and investment Atty. Ruel John T. Kabigting, and managers of other SBMA departments. (ILC/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Members of the newly-formed “Subic Bay Six o’clock Habit Club,” led by SBMA labor manager Severo Pastor (3rd from left), kick off an early morning walk at the Harbor Point promenade area in the Subic Bay Freeport.

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Officials cite gov’t employees’ role in Subic Freeport CSC rites

Officials from various local government units and national agencies acclaimed the role of civil servants in nation building, as government employees from Zambales and Olongapo City met here in the Freeport recently for the 112th anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) hosted the festivities here, as hundreds of government workers joined a fun walk in the early morning of September 15, and then participated in fun games at the Subic Gymnasium.

Atty. Ramon Agregado, SBMA senior deputy administrator for support services, welcomed the delegates on behalf of SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia.

During the welcome ceremony, Atty. Karin Litz P. Zerna, Region III director of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), said that Central Luzon has a lot of exemplary public servants good enough to make it to the list of national CSC awardees who will be recognized this month.

Among the recipients, she added, is Marilou Dungog of the SBMA Public Relations Department, who was cited for her work in helping establish alternative livelihood projects for fisher folk in the Subic Bay Freeport area.

Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr., meanwhile, said the Civil Service Commission had gone far in terms of improving the lives of the Filipino people, and public servants have proven themselves worthy of being in the service, as evidenced by the country’s economic growth today.

For his part, Zambales provincial administrator Engr. Jun Runstedt Ebdane described government employees as the “backbone of the government who make delivery of service to the people not only possible, but indispensable.”

“Dapat may yabang natin sabihin na kawani ako ng Pamahalaang Pilipinas; isa akong lingkod-bayan,” Ebdane also urged his fellow civil servants, reminding them to be proud of their role in nation building.

The CSC anniversary celebration also provided an occasion for government employees to bond and engage in fitness games, and promote local culture as well.

The celebration was headlined by a three-kilometer fun walk dubbed as “Race to Serve” which started at 6:00 in the morning. About 250 delegates from various local government units walked altogether from the Boardwalk Park here to the gym where they also held fun games.

Edwin Sunglao Sr., personnel specialist at CSC Zambales, said the games were made part of the program because social gathering is a rare opportunity among the public servants in Zambales and Olongapo.

The program was also interspersed with cultural presentations, like a dance number by delegates from Masinloc town.

In the same program, the Harbor Point mall in the Subic Bay Freeport and SM mall in Olongapo announced that they are offering a 5-10 percent discount privilege for government employees who will shop within the month of September, which has been designated as Civil Service month.

Meanwhile, the SBMA Human Resource department said that it has designated two buses to provide SBMA employees with a free ride from the Freeport gates to SBMA offices every Monday, starting September 3, in honor of public servants and in celebration of the anniversary of Philippine Civil Service. (ILC/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Hundreds of government employees from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and local government units in Olongapo City and Zambales join a fun walk in celebration of the 112th anniversary of Philippine Civil Service.

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ADB: ‘Philippines must take right road to inclusive growth’

The Philippines needs to ensure that economic development be felt by the masses, said an economic expert during the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Economic Forum held here in the Freeport on September 4 at the Lighthouse Marina Resort.

Norio Usui, ADB senior country economist, said that in order to fully enjoy the economic growth that the country is experiencing, key policy challenges should be discussed so that the Philippines can embark on a sustainable and inclusive growth.

Usui said that although the Philippines has a very strong services sector in the form of business process outsourcing (BPO), “it is not sufficient to address development challenges to inclusive growth.”

He noted that the services sector’s labor demand is only one percent of the total labor force and is biased towards the relatively skilled workers, thus leaving the majority of the labor force underutilized.

He said that the country should develop the industrial sector, since it can help create more job opportunities for the growing labor force.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia, who also spoke during the forum, shared this view and added that inclusive growth is critical now that foreign economies are moving to Asia.

“It appears that with the present situation now in Europe and America where the economies are very bad because of the Spanish and the Greek crises, they are now really looking at Asia,” he said.

Garcia also noted that the country is enjoying a very stable economic growth, something that the Philippines has not experienced for a very long time. He attributed this to the good governance of the present administration.

“It’s a very good time for the Philippines,” Garcia asserted. “As I’ve always mentioned, I think the main reason why the foreign investors are very interested in the Philippines now is because they perceive the new administration under President Aquino as a very stable one, a very transparent one,” he added.

However, Garcia said that this development should shift down to the masses, otherwise it would be meaningless.

“How can you sustain a growth rate constantly increasing? There is a lot of pressure; there are a lot of factors that come into that,” Garcia also said. “So are we just looking into a temporary situation wherein the Philippines is on the upswing, or are we going to expect a clash with foreign economies? We must consider these things,” he further noted.

The forum was attended by SBMA officials and representatives of locator companies in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Norio Usui, ADB senior country economist, explains the need for policy changes to bring about sustained economic growth in the Philippines during a forum at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

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SBMA Board Studies Airport Conversion

An official of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said the other day that the proposed $5-billion conversion of the Subic Bay International Airport into a world-class theme park is still being studied by the SBMA Board of Directors.

SBMA Board Member Francis S. Garcia said they are still deliberating on the proposal because it would impact on the entire region, particularly programs aimed at boosting tourism in Central Luzon provinces.

Earlier, the proposed conversion of the SBMA airport into a theme park drew flak from former senator and SBMA founding chairman Richard Gordon who described the proposal as “a high degree of mental slaught” if the government allows it.

Officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said converting the airport into a theme park may derail plans of provinces around the freeport to integrate tourism promotion programs and take advantage of the existing world-class sea ports and airports in the former American military bases.

Last Friday, tourism officers of seven provinces in Central Luzon gathered at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) to map out plans in promoting the region as a major tourist destination by highlighting idyllic white sand beaches, heritage sites and colorful festivals.

Region 3 Tourism Director Ronaldo Tiotuico said the forum aims to gather tourism officers in 120 local government units (LGUs) in the region to discuss a unified strategy to promote Central Luzon as a major tourism hub.

He said the two freeport zones in Subic and Clark are major assets that will contribute to plans of promoting tourism in the seven provinces of the region-Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Tarlac and Bulacan.

Gordon told newsmen the administration will be committing “a high degree of mental slaught” if it allows the plan to convert the Subic Bay International Airport into a theme park and recreation site.

Gordon, who also once served as tourism secretary, said global tourist destinations such as New York and San Francisco have many airports yet Palawan, now being promoted by the government needs an additional airport.

He said the SBMA should not waste the US$40-million government funds used to rebuild and modernize the SBIA.

Gordon criticized plans of current SBMA Chairman Robert Garcia to push for a US$5-billion investment proposal that converts the freeport’s 200-hectare prime real estate into a theme park with condominiums, malls and recreational facilities similar to Hong Kong Disneyland and Singapore’s Sentosa park.

“It’s very rare to have a world class airport and a seaport in one facility in our country. The government should instead develop it to decongest airports in Metro Manila and bring in more tourists and investors,” said Gordon in a telephone interview over the weekend. (Mar Supnad, Manila Bulletin)

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Customs sues Subic rice smugglers

The Bureau of Customs on Thursday charged before the Department of Justice six rice smugglers who figured in bringing into Subic contraband rice from Vietnam.

Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon said that sued for violation of Sections 3601 and 3602, in relation to Sections 2503 and 2530 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines were Jan Dexter Marfil, president of Masagana Import Export Inc., the consignee of the Vietnam rice shipment; board members Editha Arzola and Jeaneth Espeleta Vega, directors Gerardo Yaco Vega and William Tunog Quiohilag; and Masagana’s customs broker Mary Joy Sanchez.

Biazon added that the six were charged after the rice smuggling attempt at the Subic Freeport Zone of 20,000 bags rice from Vietnam worth about P30 million.

According to Biazon, the 20,000 bags of rice from Vietnam, which arrived at the Subic port on June 20, 2012, were stacked in forty 40-footer container vans and declared as “gypsum board” to avoid the import permit requirement from the National Food Authority.

“A subsequent alert order was issued by the bureau after the discovery of the misdeclaration upon inspection of the 40 container vans from Vietnam,” he said.

“This was a deliberative attempt to deceive our operatives to avoid the import permit requirement from the National Food Authority for all rice importations and to defraud the government of its appropriate revenues,” he said. (Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz, Manila Times)

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Foresters to draft national action plan for forestry

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The country’s top professional foresters converged at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here on Wednesday for a three-day summit with the end in view of drafting a national action plan on the management and promotion of the country’s forest resources.

The “National Summit Conference on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade,” according to a statement from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is expected to be a high-level meeting of local foresters from academe, the government and wood-based industry sectors to discuss how the forestry profession can elevate its role in the government’s anti-illegal logging campaign and improve the local wood-based industry by promoting the National Greening Program (NGP).

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, who will be the keynote speaker in the event, lauded the holding of the conference, saying it came at a time “when the profession finds itself on new paths forged in the crucible of rectification in the country’s policies on forestry program being pursued by President Aquino.”

“There’s no better time than now that we, as foresters, should take a deeper reflection on how much contribution the forestry profession have made to winning back the country’s forests which, to a great extent, mirrors the state of our profession,” said Paje, who has a bachelor’s degree in forestry science from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, Laguna.

The forestry conference was organized by the 8,000-strong Society of Filipino Foresters Inc. (SFFI) to mark their 64th anniversary celebration.

The SSFI is a non-profit organization formed in 1948, which is now working for the adoption of science and technology in forestry-related activities within the framework of sustainable forest management practices being implemented by the DENR.

Among the topics expected to be discussed in the three-day summit are measures on how the profession could strengthen and unify ongoing efforts to stop wanton forest destruction, and how local foresters could promote sustainable management of forest resources so that the forestry sector can fully contribute to national development.

Among the important outputs expected from the conference are a “National Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade” and an SFFI action plan to promote good governance among its ranks.

Organizers said the conference will feature papers about updates on Philippine forests. These include “Pagsasaayos Ng Kagubatan: Isang Hamon ng Pulitika at Hindi ng Teknolohiya” by Dr. Antonio Contreras; “The State of the Philippine Forests and Analysis of Key Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the Philippines” by Dr. Antonio Carandang; “Karanasan at mga Isyung Kinahaharap ng Bantay Gubat ng Mangatarem” by Ely Curimao; “The National Greening Program” by DENR-Forest Management Bureau Director Ricardo Calderon;  and “Binhi Tungo sa Tagumpay ng Community-Based Forest Management” by Mariano Saclauso Sr.

Five other papers will tackle enforcement of forestry laws to curb illegal logging. These are: “Forest Law Enforcement” by Gen. Renato Miranda (ret.), Executive Director of the Anti-illegal Logging Task Force; “Forest Laws Enforcement, Governance and Trade in the Philippines” by Philippine Wood Producers Association head Antonio Olizon; “Initiatives on Strengthening Forest Law Enforcement and Governance” by Generosa Mislang; “Holistic Evaluation and Approaches to Curb Illegal Logging in the Philippines” by forester-Lawyer Wilfrido Pollisco; and “Framework for a National Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade” by Dr. Manuel Bonita.

Other personalities expected to grace the conference are Party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones of Agham, Zambales First District Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr. and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chaiman Roberto Garcia. (Henry Empeno, Business Mirror)

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Over 13,000 Join Coastal Cleanup

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Zambales -- More than 13,000 volunteers from various sectors here and in Olongapo City participated in the recent annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) along the 10 sites of the entire coast of Zambales.

The coastal cleanup, organized by the Lighthouse Marina Resort is part of the international coastal cleanup effort organized by The Ocean Conservancy to protect the world's oceans from harmful debris making its way to coastlines from local beaches, waterways, and inland areas.

“We started four years ago with around 600 volunteers cleaning up mainly the boardwalk area. Now, the movement expanded to include the entire Zambales coast, including a pilot area for the inland clean up in Barangay Mabayuan, Olongapo City," Jun Avecilla, ICC Zone Coordinator said.

Most of the garbage collected by the volunteers comprised of plastic bags and containers, cigarette butts, sanitary napkins, diapers, and even old tires. (Franco Regala, Manila Bulletin)

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Century Tuna duathlon up at Subic Freeport

MANILA - Top duathletes from Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Syria and Iran clash for honors in the Century Tuna ASTC Asian Duathlon Championships Nov. 25 at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Records established during the 2006 Asian Duathlon Championships are expected to fall as a fast race course has been mapped out by ASTC (Asian Triathlon Confederation) technical committee chairman Ramon Marchan who led an ocular inspection of several roads and sites at the Freeport with TRAP officials Rick Reyes, Fabie David and coach Melvin Fausto.

The new race course, which will serve both standard (10K run - 40K bike - 5K run) and sprint distance (5K run - 20K bike - 2.5K run) events, was designed to ensure the safety of both participants and spectators and minimize traffic disruption.

With the Remy Field track oval as transition area, the two run legs will stretch out covering the commercial zones, Waterfront Road and reach the lighthouse as its turning point. The bike leg, on the other hand, will stretch from the oval to Rizal Highway, Argonaut Highway and San Bernardo Road.

At stake are cash prizes worth over $5,000, specially designed medals and gift items for winners of Elite, U-23, Junior Elite, Youth, Adult Sprint and age-groupers.

The Century Tuna ASTC Asian Duathlon Championships also serves as an official qualifier for the 2013 World Duathlon Championships slated in Cali, Colombia in mid-2013.

The event is sponsored by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Fitness First, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP), Standard Insurance and Gatorade,

Registration, details: TRAP tel. No. 710-8259, 399-6598, 0916-504-6513, 0915-6394233, Speedo Concept Stores, Bikeking Boni High Street, TRAP office and its official Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/TriPhil. (The Philippine Star)

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3 measures make Subic trade-friendly

Aside from infrastructures built near Subic Bay Port, there are three more reasons to do business at the Central Luzon port, Alberto D. Lina, former customs commissioner and now chairman of Air21, said.

In his presentation at the recently held maritime conference at Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, Lina identified three major measures that the Bureau of Customs has taken to make Subic viable for business.

“First is a non-intrusive container inspection system,” Lina said.

Second is accession to the international convention on the simplification and harmonization of customs procedures, and, lastly, the Citizen’s Charter.

Among the three, Lina emphasized the Citizen’s Charter.

He said in compliance with Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 and in pursuit of its mission to provide quality and performance level service to the public with professionalism and integrity, BOC issued the Citizen’s Charter was issued.

He also explained that the charter was created based on the recommendations of a study from the World Bank in 1993.

“(The BOC) adopted a number of recommendations in a 1993 World Bank study for the operation of the first freeport in the Philippines,” Lina said.

Lina also pointed out that Subic Bay is well equipped with online services that improve customs transactions by importers and other businesses.

“Services are available 24x7, 365 days, accessible anywhere through the internet,” he said.(Malaya Business Insight)

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Using Subic cuts costs saves time, says SBMA

Traders are most likely to benefit from using the Port of Subic as trucking costs as much as 20 percent lower, travel time is halved, and port fees are considerably cheaper, a Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority official said.

Norberto J. Sosa, SBMA director, said in a presentation at a conference at the Subic Freeport that traders win north-bound business are the ones to benefit the most from using Subic port.

He said, for example, the travel distance from Manila to Bataan is 123 kilometers, extremely far compared with the Subic-Bataan route, which is only 20 km.

“Subic to Tarlac is only 60 km while Manila to Tarlac is 125 km,” Sosa said. He also said that Subic is only 60 km away from Clark, compared with Manila, which is 85 km away from the former US Air Force base.

In terms of trucking fees, Sosa said that the costs are trimmed by at least 10 to 20 percent.

Sosa estimated that the fee for trucking via Manila-Clark-Subic is P14,000, while it is only P12,000 for the Subic-Clark-Subic loop.

He likewise pointed out that port fees in Subic are far lower than those charged by Manila’s ports.

Subic Bay charges P1,481.78 for every 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container and P3,402 for every 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU) box. Meanwhile, the Manila International Container Terminal and the Asian Terminal Inc. charge P2,677.12 per TEU and P6,918 per FEU.

“Bay has lower tariff compared with other ports in the Philippines,” Sosa said.

Sosa said the Port of Subic is on the western side of Luzon off the Western Philippine Sea. It is geographically located at the center of the Asia-Pacific region and is the first and premier freeport of the Philippines at the Subic-Clark Corridor and Metro Luzon Urban Beltway.

“The Subic Bay is surrounded by mountain ranges and provides deepwater harbor that is protected from typhoons,” Sosa said. (Jennifer Ambanta, Malaya Business Insight)

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SBMA signs cooperation agreement with Ulsan

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education (UMOE) in South Korea recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote understanding and cooperation between the two institutions.

The UMOE is located in Ulsan Metropolitan City, which is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis and considered as the nation’s industrial powerhouse.

The agreement, signed on August 30, primarily aims to develop cooperative projects concerning education, as well as culture, tourism, community welfare and development, human resource development, environmental protection, and science and technology.

SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said that under the agreement, SBMA and UMOE seek to formulate and undertake projects and activities for their mutual development and to advance their respective areas of interest.

The officials who represented UMOE during the signing were Kim Bok Man, director of curriculum management division; Hong Hung Goo, manager of internal education; Jeong Hwi, person in charge for international cooperation; Kim Sun Ae, chief secretary; and Han Kyu Chung, administrator.

Aside from Garcia, those present for the SBMA side were Raul Marcelo, deputy administrator for business; Maria Asuncion Fernando, head of corporate communications; and Armina Llamas, public relations manager.

In the signing ceremony, Garcia pointed out the “very close relationship” between the Subic Bay Freeport and South Korea.

“They (the Koreans) are our number one investors here, led by Hanjin which has proven to be one of the most successful business locators here in the Philippines,” he said.

Garcia added that many Korean nationals have chosen Subic as their place of business, or venue for schooling. “As you know, we have facilities here for different types of business, and we have many English-language schools that are popular to Korean students,” he added.

Garcia also recalled that, as an official in Subic, he recently signed an agreement with officials of the city of Daejung to encourage the exchange of information beneficial to both areas.

“So I would like to take this MOU as a sign that, again, we can work closer with the Korean community in attracting foreign investors to come and invest in Subic,” he said.

As a sign of their commitment to the agreement, UMOE donated 300 bags of relief goods for victims of the recent floods in communities near the Subic Freeport, as well as a brand new laptop and five used netbooks. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)
PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (right) and Kim Bok Man, director of curriculum management division of the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education, present a memorandum of understanding that they have signed to promote understanding and cooperation.

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SBMA to save P12.5-M this year as it goes virtually paperless

Here’s one good news for the environment: The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has embraced a new culture of a virtually paperless office. And it saves big money, too.

According to Marlo Zerrudo, officer in charge of the SBMA Information Technology Department, the Subic agency has introduced an in-house document management system that facilitates digital archiving and retrieval of office documents and forms.

Dubbed as the Structured Archive and Retrieval System (SARS), which was jointly developed by Ed Michael Cruz and Jan Aries Gomez of SBMA's Corporate Communications office, the new system is essentially scan-based and stores scanned memoranda, letters and forms used by the agency.

Under the system, all correspondence and forms are scanned and archived, with delivery and distribution to addressee-departments and employees done through the agency’s Google-powered corporate e-mail accounts.

Zerrudo also stressed that only documents and forms that require the signature of SBMA officials are printed for hard copies. This enables the agency to save on paper, printer toner, and photocopying services.

More importantly, SARS is web-based. Users of the system can access file documents and forms anytime, anywhere with the use of 3G-enabled PCs, tablets and even smart phones.

As part of the preparation for the full use of the system, each SBMA department has been assigned two document management officers who have been trained to use the system and are now responsible for their respective department’s document flow.

“With this system, the agency can enjoy cost savings of up to P12.5 million in operating and capital expenses this year, as we can do away with the procurement of an off-the-shelf document management system that costs P9 million,” Zerrudo said.

The remaining P3.5-million savings will be realized from the expected 50 per cent decrease in the agency’s P7 million annual budget for bond paper, printer toner and photocopying services.

With this, SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia urged all SBMA employees to help make the system work, so that the target savings could be achieved.

"We always welcome smart and innovative ways of doing work here, especially when they are developed by our own employees, and generate savings and faster turnaround time," Garcia said.

"Data are an essential component of effective management. With this system in place, we now have easy and faster access to high-quality and reliable information in support of more responsive decision-making and service delivery," he added.

Since the implementation of SARS in May of this year, close to five gigabytes of the Agency’s official documents and forms have been stored digitally in the system. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA task force to market Subic port

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) says it will create a task force specifically to market the facilities of the freeport to possible locators and port users.

The task force, the composition of which is yet to be determined, will have to make its own strategy outside of the measures being undertaken by the private operators of SBMA’s New Container Terminal (NCT) 1 and 2.

SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia, in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibit recently, said that the task force is needed to attract more shipping lines to call at Subic, as well as more port users to bring in cargo to the freeport.

“We are forming a group primarily to market Subic to possible users such as businessmen, shipping lines and other stakeholders,” Garcia said in his speech.

“Hopefully, with the task force, we could properly market Subic to both the local and international market,” Garcia added.

At the moment, the capacity of Subic’s NCT 1 and 2, is underutilized with only about 5 percent utilized out of its 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) annual capacity.

Aside from the Vale Group of Brazil, the world’s biggest iron ore producer which uses SBMA as its transshipment hub for ore exports to China, only limited containerized cargo vessels are calling at the port.

These container carriers include APL, Wan Hai and Greek shipping line Tiger Lines, which is a joint venture company of Avin International S.A. and Zeniba Shipping.

Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) and its parent, International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), operators of NCT 1 and NCT2, respectively, have already formed separate teams also to market the Subic facility to both local and international users.

So far, their marketing strategy has netted one shipping line, which intends to connect Subic to and from Singapore. However, no timetable as to when the shipping line will start full commercial operations was set.

Both SBITC and ICTSI, meanwhile, have already asked the SBMA to be ready with its incentives for truckers and brokers who will complement the operations of the shipping lines at the freeport such as free staging and marshalling area for truckers and investment incentives for brokers who will set up any facility at the port.

They likewise asked the Department of Transportation and Communications to give Subic one last marketing push to kick-start full commercial operations of the port and realize its dream to becoming one of the major shipping and logistics hubs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Shipping lines, on the other hand, led by the Association of International Shipping Lines, as well as their agents led by the Philippine Ship Agents Association, said the only way to lure more lines to call to Subic is enough cargo volume to sustain their operations.

Otherwise, the shipping lines will continue to shun the port unless the SBMA can provide the base cargo traffic for the carriers. (Jennifer Ambanta, Malaya Business Insight)

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TO DRIVE GROWTH: Private sector pushes Subic port

The private sector is calling for better utilization of the Subic Bay Port to enhance growth of the local shipping industry and economy of Central Luzon that is served by the freeport.

Ramon T. de Leon, chairman of the Pac-Atlantic Group, said during the recently concluded shipping industry conference in Subic that the private sector wants to improve utilization of the economic zone’s port not only to increase revenues but also to enhance its business potential.

De Leon said better utilization of the port’s facilities will bring more opportunities for the local shipping sector, which is mostly based in Manila’s North Harbor, and may even grab the attention of those who would want to set up new branches.

“More opportunities for freight forwarders, brokers and truckers in Subic, establish new or branch offices, promote fair competition, and local job creation,” de Leon said in his presentation.

He also pointed out that utilization of the Subic port will help de-congest Manila’s roads and ports, saying “this may lead to increased productivity, less pollution, and fuel savings.”

De Leon also urged the government to come up with facilities that port operators and shipping industry players can rely on for fast, credible statistical information.

“Determine accurate Central/Northern Luzon shipping data and present to shipping lines,” de Leon said.

De Leon also believes that a law should also be enacted to pursue the utilization of the port in Subic to fulfill commitments beforehand.

He also said the government should give firm authority and mandate to the organizations it had created to promote Subic.

According to de Leon, in 2011, Subic New Container Terminal 1 handled 27,671 TEUs.

He said this number can be improved further if the Subic port is highly utilized.

De Leon concluded that utilization of Subic Bay Port will bring about positive synergies in businesses related to shipping.

“The benefits extend to other stakeholders: locators, vessel operators, logistics service providers, port operators and the national government,” de Leon said. (Jennifer Ambanta, Malaya Business Insight)

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Another US sub docks in Subic; US spy plane joins coastal drill

Amid concerns over the frequent visits of United States naval assets in the country, another US submarine will dock today in Subic Bay for supposed routine port and goodwill visit, while a US Navy surveillance plane yesterday joined local security forces in an exercise aimed at safeguarding coastal areas in the strife-torn Mindanao.

In an advisory, the US Embassy in Manila announced the arrival of USS Hawaii (SSN-776), a Virginia class submarine, on Subic Bay, Zambales, where another US Navy asset, USS Frank Cable, an LY Spear class submarine tender, is docked since its arrival last Monday.

The US Embassy said USS Hawaii is in the country for “a routine port call and goodwill visit that highlights strong historic, community and military connections between the US and the Republic of the Philippines.”

Philippine Navy spokesman Col. Omar Tonsay said the USS Hawaii will be on Subic Bay until Sept. 12, primarily for “replenishment and rest and relaxation for the (US) troops.”

“It (USS Hawaii) has no engagement with the Philippine Navy,” he added.

Aside from the two submarines, a number of US naval assets had docked in Subic Bay during the past months, including the USS North Carolina, the USS Mercy and the USS Louisville.

A US guided missile destroyer, the USS Milius, also made a stop in Manila last month.


The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has scored the Aquino administration for the frequent visits of US military assets in the country, masquerading as “routine port calls and goodwill visits” but actually meant to impose the US military might in the Asia Pacific.

The communist group has accused Washington of using the South China Sea dispute to pressure China.

Relatedly, US navy surveillance plane PC-3 Orion flew over the Davao Gulf in the south from an airport in the central Philippines in a mock mission to help local authorities track a seaborne vessel, said Philippine Navy (PN) Capt. Robert Empedrad.

“The Orion was available, so we requested they take part and spot a vessel,” he told Agence France Presse.

“They (Orion crew) reported (the target vessel’s position) to us and after we determined the real position of contact, we instructed our ships to conduct an interception.”

PN and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol vessels also took part in the exercise, while the US aircraft flew back to an airport in Cebu City after its mission, he added.

The exercise will help the US Navy to coordinate with the PN, PCG, maritime police and other agencies in securing Mindanao, Empedrad said.

He added it would boost security and help protect the island from terrorism, piracy, drug smuggling, gun-running and human trafficking. (Mario J. Mallari, The Daily Tribune, with AFP)

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Perpetual dominates NCAA beach volleyball in Subic Freeport

The University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) dominated the 84th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) beach volleyball events held here by winning two of the three championship bouts on September 2.

UPHSD won the senior women’s title for the fourth straight time, as Norie Jane Diaz and April Anne Sartin defeated San Sebastian College’s Czarina Karen Berbano and Gretchen Soltones in two sets, 21-16 and 23-21.

Meanwhile, Jay dela Cruz and Sandy Domenick Montero, also from UPHSD, captured the senior men’s title by defeating Rudy Gatdula and Erickson Joseph Ramos of Colegio de San Juan de Letran in two sets, 21-17, 30-28.

In the junior’s division, however, UPHSD’s attempt at a championship sweep was thwarted by Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) when EAC’s Jopet Adrian Movido and Toshihiro Wada won over UPHSD’s Jherald Martinez and Christopher Soriano.

This year’s games gave the players a different feel from the past tournaments, since they had to play through strong winds and occasional rain at Subic Freeport’s Boardwalk Park.

According to Rev. Fr. Victor Calvo of Letran, who is chairman of the NCAA management committee, they decided to bring the beach volleyball games to Subic in order to achieve the genuine beach feel that the players should have while playing the sport.

“Talagang magiging beach volley kasi may beach eh. Sa Manila kasi puro artificial setting, hindi beach,” Fr. Calvo noted. “Alam mo ‘yung ambiance? Dapat ganito — malakas yung hangin. Saka para rin makapag-out of town ‘yung players natin, para sa excitement nila,” he added.

Fr. Calvo also said that they wanted to bring the NCAA outside Metro Manila in order to attract players in the provinces to join NCAA teams.

He also said that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is very receptive when it comes to sporting events because the agency promotes sports tourism.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, meanwhile, said he was happy that the NCAA had chosen Subic as the venue for this year’s championship.

“Sports tourism is a major feature of our strategic plan. Almost all of the sports can be played here in Subic,” Garcia said during the opening ceremonies. “We are very happy that collegiate beach volleyball has come to Subic and we hope that it would make Subic its home.” (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
With sea, ships and sky in the background, competitors in the 84th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) beach volleyball championship enjoy playing in a natural beach environment at the Subic Bay Freeport.

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LGUs get P57.4-million tax share from SBMA

Seven municipalities and a city adjacent to this premier free port received a total of P57.4 million in revenue shares as their portion in the taxes paid by Subic Bay Freeport-registered enterprises in the first half of this year.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the shares given to local government units (LGUs) are intended to augment local resources and enable stakeholder communities to benefit from Freeport businesses by augmenting the funds of nearby LGUs for development projects in health, education, peace and order, and livelihood generation.

The LGUs included Olongapo City, which received P13.88 million; and the Zambales towns of Subic, with P8.55 million; Castillejos, P4.92 million; San Marcelino, P6.95 million; and San Antonio, P5.06 million.

In Bataan, Morong town received P4.95 million, Hermosa P5.87 million, and Dinalupihan P7.21 million.

“This is basically the SBMA’s contribution to help improve the living conditions of residents in contiguous and affected communities,” Garcia explained.

“The intention is to create parallel development between the Subic Bay Freeport and its neighbors,” he added.

According to the SBMA Treasury Department, the shares released accounted for two per cent of the five per cent tax on gross income paid for by free port locators for the period January to June 2012. The other three per cent of the taxes paid are remitted directly to the national government.

The SBMA began releasing the shares directly to the LGUs, after a new tax collection scheme was implemented in August 2010 by the agency to ensure the prompt release of shares to the local government units.

Previously, corporate taxes were remitted straight to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which remitted the same to the National Treasury. Thereafter, the Department of Budget and Management would release the two per cent share to the concerned LGUs.

The LGU share is determined according to population (50 per cent), land area (25 per cent), and equal sharing (25 per cent).

Garcia said the shares given by the SBMA to the neighboring communities would benefit almost 600,000 residents in the said areas. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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US Navy submarine tender arrives in Subic Bay

An American warship that provides at-sea support to the US Navy’s attack submarines in the Pacific region arrived here on Monday, coinciding with the start of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 11-day swing of Southeast Asia to push for regional unity in face of increasing Chinese aggressiveness in the area.

According to a statement from the United States Embassy in Manila, the USS Frank Cable (AS-40) docked in this free port “for a routine port call and goodwill visit that highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.”

Clinton, who is scheduled to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is expected to offer strong US support for a plan to ease tensions over disputed islands in the South China Sea, where China has overlapping claims with other countries, including the Philippines.

Reports also said Clinton will urge Southeast Asian nations to present a united front in dealing with territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

The US Embassy, however, did not mention any connection between Clinton’s visit and the arrival of USS Frank Cable, and simply said that the ship would be here “to engage with their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and to allow the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation.”

 The statement released by the embassy’s Information Office also contained an invitation for media representatives join a tour of the ship on Monday, Sept.10, “where they may take photos and conduct interviews with senior officers and crew of the ship.”

The LY Spear-class USS Frank Cable (AS-40) was designed as a "submarine tender" for the nuclear-powered, fast-attack "Los Angeles-class" submarines, which are said to form the backbone of the US Navy’s submarine force.

The 664-foot, 23,000-ton “warship that fixes warships” can provide food, fuel, weapons, and other supplies to submarines, while carrying a full array of maintenance equipment and personnel.

The ship is home-ported at the Apra Harbor in Guam, where it was assigned after refitting to replace the USS Holland in the Western Pacific as Commander Seventh Fleet’s mobile repair and support platform.

It is now one of the only two submarine tenders in the US Military Sealift Command’s 26-vessel "Special Mission Ships" Program." (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

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