DoT declares Subic as ‘Premier Convention Capital of Central Luzon’

The Department of Tourism (DoT) has declared the Subic Bay Freeport as the “Premier Convention Capital of Central Luzon” under its nationwide campaign to promote the country’s natural tourism attractions and cultural assets. According to DoT Region III Director Ronaldo P. Tiotuico, the Subic Bay Freeport became the DoT’s “unequivocal choice” for the region’s convention capital following an assessment of all the convention facilities in Central Luzon. “We are looking at the Subic Bay Exhibition & Convention Center (SBECC) as the most logical...

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Top duathletes vie for Asian duathlon slots

MANILA - Over 100 top age-group duathletes from 19 countries vie for qualifying slots in the 2013 Elite Duathlon World Championships (World Games) in the Century Tuna ASTC Asian Duathlon Championships set Nov. 25 in Subic Bay. Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) members Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Syria and Iran have confirmed participation in the event organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) with Malaysia set to field in 20 entries. Duathletes from Brazil, Australia,...

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Hanjin Heavy Phils. Delivers 2 New Bulk Carriers Worth US$12OM

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE – Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd – Philippines Inc. (HHIC-Phil) has achieved yet another remarkable milestone when it unveiled simultaneously its two newly-built 205,000 DWT Bulk Carriers at the company’s 300-hectare, state-of-the-art Subic shipyard recently. The vessels “RTM Dampier” and “RTM Zheng He”, which was named after a British explorer and a Chinese navigator respectively, were the 3rd and...

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Korean ambassador, investors visit Subic to promote trade, tourism

A South Korean delegation visited this free port to help promote trade and boost tourism in the two Asian nations under the auspices of the ASEAN-Korea Centre. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia welcomed the Korean delegates headed by Ambassador Hae Moon Chung during a business-to-business networking last Friday at the Subic Gateway Park here. The event provided a venue for business discussions between the Korean...

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SBMA: Subic Bay area ready for ‘Undas’ 2012

Travelers planning to pass through or stay in this free port for the All Saints Day break can expect a comfortable and convenient ride along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark- Tarlac Expressway. This was the assurance given by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia after the management of NLEX and SCTEX announced new innovations at the said expressways to make travel safe and expedient for thousands of commuters expected to go home to their respective hometowns. Garcia said the SBMA is doing its share...

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SBMA employee returns found cheque worth P164,250

Just when we thought honesty was becoming a fading virtue, an employee of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) surrendered to the bank a P164,250-cheque that he found in a parking lot here. “I live a Christian life and as a Christian, it is the right thing to do. And one Christian practice I value is ‘do not take what is not yours’,” said Tristan Madi, a supply officer at the SBMA Tourism Department. Madi recalled that he was on his way to his regular workout at the Slimmers’ World on Saturday when he found a pay-to-cash cheque at the...

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Subic Freeport BoC, BIR post P95.34-M surplus in September

Two government collection agencies in this free port have reported a combined surplus of P95.34 million last month after posting a total collection of P760.14 million. According to their periodical reports, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) here collected a total of P677.18 million in September while the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) came up with P82.96 million. The combined BOC and BIR tallies represented a 14.34 per cent surplus over the total collection target of P664.8 million for September. The reports also showed that BIR slightly surpassed...

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Biggest Ore Carrier Calls In Subic

Vale SA, the iron ore producer operating the world's biggest ships, said one of them called at the port of Subic in the Philippines, extending the number receiving the vessels to seven. The Vale Minas Gerais, with capacity to carry 400,000 metric tons of iron ore, arrived at Villaneuva port yesterday, Vale said in an e-mail today. The company is spending more than $8 billion to build and control a fleet of 35 of the carriers to lower its freight costs and better compete with Australian miners, who are closer to the biggest consuming region. China...

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PHIBLEX 2013 a mutual learning experience

Participants in the on-going RP-US Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX 2013) have expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn from each other during the training exercises and civic action activities held in this free port and other nearby areas. About 3,800 military personnel from the US Marines and various units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are participating in the exercises, which are held variously at the Subic Bay International...

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Enercon program saves SBMA P1.8-M in August

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has saved a total of P1.8-million last August, its biggest power consumption savings since the agency started its energy conservation program last year. Rani Cruz, SBMA Utilities Department manager, said that barely ten months after the implementation of the agency’s power conservation measures, significant savings have become noticeable since last July. “From P6.98-million in July, the power consumption by SBMA departments and offices went down to P5.16-million in August, or a 26-percent reduction,”...

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Subic Bay gains recognition as superb triathlon venue

An internationally-circulated sports magazine has cited the Subic Bay Freeport as an outstanding venue for world-class racing events. According to the July-August issue of TriMag Asia, “Subic Bay, the Philippines with its interesting course and friendly atmosphere is increasingly getting a reputation for top notch races.” The magazine featured two big triathlon events held here in May and June, respectively – the 2012 K-Swiss ITU Subic Bay International...

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RP-US military exercise kicks off in Subic Bay Freeport

The RP-US Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2013 formally commenced here in the freeport Monday with a simple ceremony at the flight deck of USS Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious assault ship of the US Navy, which anchored at Subic’s Alava Pier for the 11-day exercise. The ceremony was witnessed by US exercise director Brig. Gen. Craig Timberlake, RP exercise director Brig. Gen. Remigio Valdez, flag officer-in-charge Vice Adm. Alexander Pama,...

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SBMA, Olongapo rescue teams continue earthquake training

With other rescue teams watching their moves, rescue operators from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Olongapo City showed off various techniques in earthquake search and rescue operations as part of their continuing training to improve their emergency command system and to impart new knowledge to fellow rescuers. At the recent earthquake simulation exercises held at the Columban College campus in Barangay Barretto, Olongapo City...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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