$70m pledged to Subic Bay Freeport in 2012

The Subic Bay Freeport recorded $70 million in committed investments in 2012 with a total of 351 new projects, raising its total cumulative investments since 1992 to $7.9 billion, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said in a recent speech.

In contrast, Subic’s net committed investments in 2011 only reached $51 million, Garcia said.

In 2012 it recorded a freight-on-board (FOB) value of $1.927 billion, or a 133-percent increase over the 2011 figure of $0.826 billion.

The biggest exporters in 2012 were South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Phils. with $1.1 billion, Japanese precision motor manufacturer Sanyo Denki with $0.144 billion and Japanese wood products specialist Juken Sangyo with $0.083 billion.

Garcia also announced positive figures in employment generation, with a total of 89,104 jobs created in 2012, compared with 88,957 in 2011. Most of the new jobs were in the services sector with 42.64 percent, and shipbuilding and marine-related sector with 30.61 percent.

The Subic free port remitted a total of P7.615 billion last year, of which P6.329 billion was collected by the Bureau of Customs, and P1.286 billion by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The SBMA recorded last year a 170-percent increase in net income, with P811 million, the highest profit the agency had made in its 20-year history. This also allowed SBMA to increase its net operating profit by 91 percent last year, or from P328 million in 2011 to P628 million in 2012.

In his speech, Garcia outlined a six-point strategic plan to fully turn the agency’s direction toward “building the new Subic.”

He said the plan calls for the SBMA, as manager of the Subic Bay Freeport, to maximize the land-use potentials of the free port; aggressively pursue the use of Subic as alternate port to decongest Manila; develop the airport for general aviation, aircraft repair, jet charters and other allied aviation activities; fully exploit tourism potentials by creating new attractions and destinations, promoting MICE, sports and theme parks to attract more tourists; invest in new equipment and infrastructure needed to support the SBMA’s strategic initiatives; and improve the agency’s financial performance to provide funds for the strategic plan.

Garcia added that the SBMA expects to further develop the tourism industry here this year, since most of the projects proposed for implementation in 2013 are tourism-related.

He said the free port, and the entire province of Zambales in general, was identified by the Department of Tourism in December last year as one of the top destinations in the country because of the availability of quality-standard tourist facilities in the area and the high volume of arrivals among local and foreign tourists.

The positive developments in the tourism sector, Garcia added, led to a 513-percent increase in the number of leisure-related new and expansion projects in 2012, the same year when the Subic Bay Freeport was cited by DOT-Region III as “Premier Convention Capital of Central Luzon.”

He reported that in order to maximize the land-use potentials of the Subic Freeport, the SBMA is expanding the Subic territory at the Redondo Peninsula to accommodate new shipbuilders, as well as in Hermosa, Bataan, for ecotourism projects.

Garcia said that because of the SBMA’s aggressive marketing of the Subic Bay International Airport, Astro Air International Inc. will open this June the Taiwan-Subic-Taiwan and Subic-Boracay-Subic commercial routes.

Aiming to duplicate its good financial performance last year, the SBMA is set to undertake more necessary measures to ensure profitability and sustainable operations.

These measures include creation of a joint SBMA-BOC Technical Working Group to more effectively combat smuggling; streamlining of business processes to reduce requirements and improve delivery of services; amending existing agreements with other agencies or implementation of new agreements; and enhancing safety culture through community watch campaign and installation of law-enforcement surveillance and security systems. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

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Central Luzon launches own Futsal League

Four of the region's top futsal teams will battle it out on the maiden edition of the Central Luzon Futsal league at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) on April 7th, 2013.

The regional league's top football clubs, Futbulakenyos of Bulacan and the Lighthouse Amihan FC (LAFC) of Olongapo City/Subic Bay, are set to renew their rivalry, this time in futsal.

Futsal, the five-versus-five indoor variant of football, is usually played inside a basketball court or a gym.

The league is the first of its kind in the country where all the three variants of football, association football (11vs11), Futsal (5vs5), and beach football are played on provincial representation in one league.

"The Central Luzon Futsal league is a football development experiment. We are slowly gaining support. The main attraction for clubs and teams is playing multiple match days at different venues with coaches able to strategize each game," David Bayarong, league commissioner, explained.

Bayarong added that teams from Central Luzon may still join the league.

The Philippine Futsal Committee (PFC) expressed full support for the league.

"This is a welcome development for futsal. It show that futsal is gaining headway into the various communities of the country," said Ismaeil Sedigh, chairman of the PFC and head coach of the national futsal team.

This year sees the entry of two football powerhouse, the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) Cobras representing Nueva Ecija, and the Tarlac State University (TSU).

"We are honored to host the opening of the league, our university president, Ruben Sevilleja even had the venue refurbished for the opening games," CLSU Cobra coach Francis Cruz.

The futsal league format presents each match day with the all teams will play that will be hosted by the home team. Each match day is at least 10 days apart.

On April 7th, teams will travel to Nueva Ecija to play the league launch in one of Central Luzon's footballing giant, the Central Luzon State University (CLSU).

"This gives us the opportunity to showcase football to the community, develop a fan base, and inspire kids to play the beautiful game," Bulacan's Futbulakenyos coach Emman Robles explained.

Bayarong noted that while the country is producing technically good players in the provinces, there is an observable weakness in tactics, both in players and coaching.

"The coaching staff are not able to introduce tactics because most of the league, even at the adult level, are one day tournaments," he explains.

Last year Bulacan took home the regional football championships trophy, the Sinukuan, in a thrilling come from behind victory over the LAFC Batang 'Gapo side, 3-2 at the Subic Bay Freeport before some 1,500 home fans. (John Bayarong)

PHOTO:
A Lighthouse Amihan Football Club (LAFC) dribbles the ball behind the 3 point line during the Philippine Futsal league game.

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SBMA announces 2013 plans

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia has disclosed on Friday a six-point strategic plan to fully turn the agency’s direction towards “building the new Subic.”

In his second State of the Freeport Address (SOFA), Garcia said that with the Philippine economy taking off in the past few years, the best is yet to come for the Subic Bay Freeport.

In sum, Garcia said the SBMA, as manager of the Subic Bay Freeport, would maximize the land use potential of the Freeport; aggressively pursue the use of Subic as alternate port to decongest Manila; develop the airport for general aviation, aircraft repair, jet charters and other allied aviation activities; fully exploit tourism potential by creating new attractions and destinations, promoting MICE, sports and theme parks to attract more tourists; invest in new equipment and infrastructure needed to support SBMA’s strategic initiatives; and improve the agency’s financial performance further to provide funds for the strategic plan.

Garcia said that of the six thrusts, the development of Subic tourism is expected to have full sway, as most of the projects planned this year are tourism-related.

He noted that in December last year, the Subic Bay Freeport, and the entire province of Zambales in general, was identified by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as one of the top destinations in the country due to its wide array of quality-standard tourist facilities and the level of visitation it generated from local and foreign tourists.

The recognition, Garcia said, was attributed to the 513% increase in the number of leisure-related new and expansion projects in 2012 led by the Ayala Land’s Harbor Point Mall.

Prior to this, DOT-Region III also chose the Subic Bay Freeport as “Premier Convention Capital of Central Luzon.” This milestone, Garcia added, was achieved after Subic recorded 293 meetings, incentives, conventions and events (MICE) held in the Freeport in 2012, surpassing the 141 MICE record in 2011 or an increase of 108%.

The 2012 MICE events in the Subic Freeport recorded a total of 129,000 participants, or a 20% increase over the 2011 figures.

To maximize the land use potentials of the Freeport, the SBMA is now expanding the Subic territory at the Redondo Peninsula to accommodate new ship builders. A similar expansion is being made in Hermosa, Bataan, and other areas that might be offered to prospect investors, Garcia said.

With regards to the JICA recommendation to use Subic as alternate port to decongest Manila, Garcia said the SBMA has been aggressively marketing its seaport for increased utilization of the New Container Terminals 1 and 2. This strategy also includes the opening of feeder lines to Singapore and Japan to open the Subic Port to ships sailing to and from Europe and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, SBMA’s aggressive marketing of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) paved the entry of Astro Air International, Inc. which will open the Taiwan-Subic-Taiwan and Subic-Boracay-Subic commercial routes starting this June.

In addition, the annual Balikatan exercises will be held at the SBIA’s southwest and southeast aprons, while another portion of the airport will be occupied by the Department of National Defense under commercial terms.

Chairman Garcia also revealed in his SOFA that the agency has also determined to further improve its financial position in the coming years, after increasing its net operating profit by 91 percent last year.

To ensure success and sustainability of this strategy, some necessary measures shall be implemented, Garcia pointed out in his SOFA.

These include the creation of a joint SBMA-BOC Technical Working Group to more effectively combat smuggling; streamlining of business processes to reduce requirements and improve delivery of services; amending existing agreements with other agencies or implementation of new agreements; and enhancing safety culture through community watch campaign and installation of law enforcement surveillance and security systems.

The SOFA is an annual event¬ organized by the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (SBFCCI) to give the SBMA chairman the opportunity to inform Freeport stakeholders and neighboring communities of the agency’s accomplishments, developments and action plan for the year. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia stresses a point during his 2nd State of the Freeport Address (SOFA) before business locators, and representatives from Local Government Units and the academe at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center .

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Supply officer named SBMA Employee of the Year

A supply officer who was responsible for the increase in collections of the Maintenance Department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has been named the agency’s Employee of the Year for 2012.

Marivic Seguiban bested five other finalists in the annual search for the SBMA outstanding employees held on March 15 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Seguiban was also named as employee of the year for the SBMA Public Services Group.

According to the judges, Seguiban received the award for being instrumental in increasing her department’s revenue collections by 240 percent.

She was also cited for reporting to work even during typhoons in order to assist maintenance personnel who rendered emergency services.

The other five finalists, office services clerk Enrique Aguila, land management officer Engr. Leonardo Agustin, information systems analyst Moises Concepcion, Jr., seaport department’s Engr. Dax Pascasio and senior communications development officer Engr. Ryan San Jose were also named as employees of the year of their respective strategic business units.

Aguila, who represented the Internal Services Group, has been with the agency for almost two decades and provided the maintenance of the printers and other machines used for processing identification cards, which ensured quick ID processing for SBMA employees and Freeport locators.

Meanwhile Agustin, who represented the Business and Investment Group, was nominated for creating a detailed report on the valuation of demolished buildings and the comparative valuation rate of SBMA properties between land asset management and accounting departments.

Concepcion, of the Chairman and Administrator’s Group, developed an application for tablets which will enable members of the SBMA board of directors to access board meeting documents. He was also responsible in weeding out irrelevant costs in an Internet service contract, thereby saving the agency a total of P800,000.

Pascasio represented the Aviation and Maritime Operations Group and was responsible for the repair of the new container terminal before it was turned over to the International Container Terminal Services, Incorporated. The turnover generated additional income for the SBMA.

San Jose, meanwhile, was credited for the improvement of the closed circuit television system of the agency, which saved the agency P500,000.

In the awarding ceremony, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia pointed out that the SBMA Employee of the Year program is unique because it includes “malasakit” – concern for one’s work – as part of the criteria.
“In other companies, they might not be even familiar with this trait,” he noted.

“This is really particular to SBMA and I think this is something that we can be proud of,” he added. “This is what sets apart the finalists here — having given much more than what is required of them by the agency.”

Garcia also expressed his wish that other employees who have given their malasakit to the SBMA as well, be also recognized under the Employee of the Year program.

The SBMA Employee of the Year Awards is a project of the SBMA Human Resources Management Department to recognize and reward exemplary services rendered by employees in line with the Civil Service Commission’s PRAISE program. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia applauds for Marivic A. Seguiban of the Public Service Group after the latter was proclaimed the SBMA Employee of the Year awardee for 2012.

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Subic To Host Food Festival

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is pushing the boundaries of tourism by offering foreign and local visitors a variety of tastes at a week-long food festival that will be held during the Holy Week.

SBMA Deputy Administrator for Tourism Raul Marcelo, the Subic Pascha 2013 food festival is the first of its kind inside this premier Freeport and would provide tourists the different cuisines that can be found here.

“The SBMA and restaurateurs here have come up with this food festival to further spur the tourism industry during the Holy Week. Tourists love to go to the Boardwalk area, so why not give them a treat?” Marcelo said.

Restaurateur Raymund Magdaluyo, who spearheads the festival’s operation, says that the Boardwalk area will also have live bands performing.

Magdaluyo said that the festival will incorporate the sacredness of the Lenten season by showcasing the different religious areas of Subic Bay Freeport such as the San Roque Chapel and the Holy Land theme park. A performance by artist Karylle will also be held at the food festival on Good Friday. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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Subic Bay triathlon slated

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) celebrate the 20th anniversary of their strong and robust partnership with the staging of the 2013 Asian Triathlon Championships cum 20th K-Swiss Subic Bay Triathlon (SUBIT) at the Subic Bay Freeport April 27-29.

It all began with the second National Triathlon Championship in 1993 and, later in the year, the inaugural 1.5-kilometer/40-km bike/10km run SUBIT ruled by Hong Kong’s Ian Rayson and our own Aurora Sinag Amado.

This year sees the Asian Triathlon Championships/SUBIT beginning near to SUBIT’s original start venue and ending proximate to the previous ATC’s finish line. 2013 marks the third time SUBIT and ATC are held simultaneously.

International Triathlon Union (ITU) Sports Director Gergely Markus leads the VIPs, including Asian Triathlon Confederation’s (ASTC) President Yu Kyung Sun, Secretary General Balwant Singh Kler and Treasurer David Hoong who will see action in the premier two-in-one triathlon sponsored by K-SWISS, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, SPEEDO, Garmin, Harbor Point Ayala Mall, Lighthouse Marina Resort, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP), Gatorade, Fitness First, Travelers Hotel and the Philippine Sports Commission.

SBMA’s Deputy Administrator for Tourism Raul Marcelo said “SBMA’s choice of the Subic International Triathlon as an anchor event in its thrust for the Subic Freeport to become international sports hub has been proven wise. SUBIT has grown stronger over a decade and a string of four SBMA Administrators.”

For his part, ASTC Senior Vice President and TRAP President Tom Carrasco, also the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Chairman, said, “We are very thankful SBMA has been very supportive to TRAP, mainly regarding SUBIT, through the years. (People's Journal)

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SBMA, stakeholders unite to plan for conservation of Subic Bay

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and other stakeholders in the Subic Bay area have joined hands to formulate a “doable” action plan for the conservation and protection of Subic Bay, a busy seaport which also provides for the livelihood of small fishers.

In the two-day “Subic Water Summit” that opened on Thursday, concerned community organizations, local government units, business locators, and national and regional government line agencies will discuss concerns and problems about Subic’s marine environment and hope to find solutions toward preserving Subic Bay and all its resources.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the multisector conference aims to translate into a viable program the commitment agreed upon by stakeholders during the first Subic Water Summit held in January 2010.

The declaration of commitment was signed by then-SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga, then-SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia, then-Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso, Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr., then-Subic Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun, Pastolan Ayta Chieftain Conrado Frenilla, then-Morong (Bataan) Mayor Cynthia Estanislao and other community leaders.

Garcia said through this year’s workshops and discussions, participants aim to formulate a three-year action plan that will define the steps to be taken collectively in conserving Subic Bay.

“There must be something we should do to rehabilitate Subic Bay and all other water resources not because we need clean water today, but to secure, preserve and conserve the healthy biodiversity of all of our water resources for the use of our future generations,” Garcia said.

The conference, which carries the theme “Isabuhay Natin ang Pangangalaga sa Ating Yamang-Tubig” opened on Thursday at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), with related activities scheduled at Ayala Mall’s Harbor Point here.

In the summit, speakers are expected to present issues and concerns surrounding the quality of water in Subic Bay and other water resources in the free port.

Garcia said the event will also serve as a venue for the creation of a preparatory body, to be called the Subic Bay Water Quality Management, which shall be composed of representatives from various sectors.

Summit participants are also scheduled to drop microorganism-laden “Mabuhay [Bokashi] Balls” into the polluted Kalalake River which separates the Subic Bay Freeport from Olongapo City and empties directly into Subic Bay. The microorganisms are supposed to eat harmful bacteria in the water and become food for fishes and shells.

Other activities lined up for the second Subic Water Summit include a photo contest and exhibition portraying the importance of water conservation (March 21); painting contest and exhibition (March 23); Earth Hour (March 23); and “Artists for Clean Water,” a portrayal of songs and dances (March 30), all to be held at the Harbor Point here.

Subic Bay, which previously hosted a United States naval base, straddles the boundary of Zambales and Bataan provinces. It was transformed into a special economic and free port zone in 1992. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

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Subic Bay hosts Asian Triathlon Championships

Subic Bay Freeport will stage the K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships on April 27, 28 and 29 with another banner field fighting it out for top honors in various divisions in the $12,000 event.

A joint project of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), the International Triathlon Union (ITU), the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, the three-day event marks the 20th edition of the longest running and premier standard distance triathlon in the country as well as the third time the Freeport has hosted the Asian Triathlon Championships.

In the event sponsored by K-Swiss, Speedo, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP), Gatorade, Fitness First and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), elite participants as well as those in the U-23, Elite Juniors, age-group sprint (750m swim, 20-km bike, 5.4-km run) and mini-sprint (350m swim, 9.8-km bike, 3-km run) categories will race on April 27.

The second day will have age-groupers and inter-club competitors race the standard distance (1.5-km swim, 40-km bike, 10-km run). Finally, the Asian Mixed Team Relay championships and the debut of the Paratriathlon competition will take place on April 29.

Over $12,000 in total prize money are at stake for winners in the elite, U-23 and Junior Sprint categories while medals and will be awarded to the top five finishers of the standard distance age-group categories, the top 3 finishers for sprint distance categories, and for the five members of the top three teams in the Inter-Club competition.

On starting the new year, the TRAP’s first two events slated are the PSC Aquathlon on Jan. 27 and the opening leg of the National Age-Group Triathlon (NAGT) series at Dungaree Beach, Subic Bay Freeport on Feb. 3. (Philippine Star)

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2nd Water Summit slated in Subic Bay Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will host a multi-sectoral conference in a bid to formulate a “doable” action plan for the conservation and protection of Subic Bay and all the marine resources therein.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the 2nd Subic Water Summit aims to translate the Declaration of Commitment agreed upon by participating agencies and local government units during the 1st Water Summit held January 2010 into a viable three-year program.

This year’s Water Summit will be held on March 21-22 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), with related activities scheduled at Ayala Mall’s Harbor Point here.

Garcia said that the summit, which carries the theme “Isabuhay Natin ang Pangangalaga sa Ating Yamang-Tubig,” will engage the broadest participation of all sectors. These include local government units, Subic Bay Freeport stakeholders, national and regional government-line agencies, civic groups, people’s organizations, and other concerned sectors.

During the summit, prominent speakers in the field of water conservation will present issues and concerns surrounding the quality of water in Subic Bay and other water resources in the free port.

The event will also serve as a venue for the creation of the preparatory body Subic Bay Water Quality Management, which shall be composed of representatives from various sectors.

“Through workshops and discussions, we aim to formulate a three-year action plan which will define our steps in saving Subic Bay and all of our other water resources. It will be based entirely on the Declaration of Commitment that was made during the 2010 Water Summit,” Garcia said.

Among the signatories of the 2010 declaration were former SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga, former SBMA administrator Armand Arreza, Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia, former Zambales governor Amor Deloso, Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr., former Subic mayor Jeffrey Khonghun, Pastolan Aeta tribal chieftain Conrado Frenilla, former Morong (Bataan) mayor Cynthia Estanislao, and other officials from government and non-government offices.

This year, one important part of the summit will be the dropping of life-giving “Mabuhay (Bokashi) Balls” into the now polluted Kalalake River in Olongapo City to help revive it. The river separates the Subic Bay Freeport from its neighbor city.

The technology for the so-called “Bokashi Balls” was developed in Japan and uses a mixture of clay, ceramic powder, brown sugar or molasses and rock salt, which are then infused with micro-organisms and formed into large balls and left to ferment for several weeks until coated with fuzzy white fungus.

The balls will then be dropped into polluted bodies of water so that micro-organisms can eat the harmful bacteria and will become food for fishes and shells.

Other activities lined up for the 2nd Subic Water Summit include a photo contest and exhibition portraying the importance of water conservation (March 21); painting contest and exhibition (March 23); Earth Hour (March 23); and “Artists for Clean Water,” a portrayal of songs and dances (March 30), all to be held at the Harbor Point here.

“There must something we should do to rehabilitate Subic Bay and all other water resource not because we need clean water today, but to secure, preserve and conserve the healthy bio-diversity of all of our water resource for the use of our future generations,” Garcia said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Four Phl boxers bag gold

SUBIC, Philippines – Perfect.

The Philippines went four-of-four as Jade Bornea, Eumir Marcial, James Palicte and Ian Clark Bautista all struck gold at the close of the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships at the Subic Gym here yesterday.

Bornea and Palicte escaped with tough wins over Japan’s Kosei Tanaka and China’s Liu Xiao Shuai while Bautista and Marcial pulled off easy wins over Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Murzahalilov and Mongolia’s Batzorig Otgonjorgal, respectively, in a blazing finish by the Filipino pugs in the regional youth slugfest.

“I just gave it all even though it’s hard and really painful. It’s really the country that I was thinking of,” said Marcial, a gold-medal winner in the 2011 World Junior Championship in Armenia.

First to deliver was Bornea, a World Youth Championship bronze medalist who bested the heavy-handed Tanaka, 15-13, for the flyweight gold.

“My opponent is strong but I’m in good shape and condition, and I was also a bit patient,” said Bornea, a proud son of General Santos City.

Bautista, who hails from Himamaylan, Negros Occidental who snared a silver medal in the President’s Cup in Indonesia two years ago, climbed the ring next and fashioned out a dominant 19-10 win over Murzahalilov.

Palicte, a Bago City native who trained for only eight days for this weeklong competition, fought Liu tooth and nail before coming through with crucial hits in the final round to emerge a close 17-13 winner.

“He’s strong but I used my experience against him,” said Palicte of Liu.

ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio awarded the gold medals to the victorious Filipino pugs.

“We’re proud of their accomplishments. It’s really a proud moment for the country,” said Gregorio.

The event was backed by MVP Sports Foundation and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Other backers were PLDT, Smart, NLEX, Maynilad, Clarktel, Subictel, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Videogear Inc., Exile Lights and Sound, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, Sony Philippines, Coca-Cola Bottlers and Nestle Philippines. (Joey Villar, Philippine Star)

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USS Emory S. Land to Arrive in Subic Bay

USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), a submarine tender, will arrive in Subic Bay on Friday for a routine port call that highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.

This visit will allow the ship to conduct maintenance, replenish supplies as well as give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation. The USS Emory S. Land is part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and is homeported in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

While in Subic, the ship’s crew will continue its subject matter expert exchanges with the Philippine Navy. The crew will also engage in several community service projects with schools, medical institutions, orphanages, and other local community centers, as well as community relations activities such as sports events.

The crew of the USS Emory S. Land includes 106 Filipino-Americans (out of 410 total) – 26 U.S. Navy Sailors and 80 Civilian Mariners. They hail from Botolan, Olongapo City, San Antonio, and Pasay City, and elsewhere in the Philippines. Below are some select profiles of the ship’s Filipino-American crew:

• Supply Corps Officer Lieutenant Junior Grade Officer Michael Agojo is an officer and a second generation Sailor, following in the footsteps of his father.
• Logistics Specialist Senior Chief Randy Mangohig oversees the professional growth and development of 35 enlisted personnel aboard the ship.
• Chief Petty Officer Nino Miranda is a Sports Community Relations Coordinator for the Morale Welfare and Recreation Office and is part of the Religious Ministries Team.
• Gunners Mate Second Class Veronica Connole helps trains the crew in safe deployment of the ship’s self defense weapons. She also helps with translations between the ship’s crew and the local community in Subic.
• Chief Petty Officer Enrico Manalac is a language interpreter for subject matter expert exchanges with the BRP Gregorio del Pilar. (US Embassy Public Affairs)

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4 PH boxers make semis

Four Filipino boxers have punched their way into the semifinals of the 2013 Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships set for Friday at the Subic Freeport gym.

The only Filipino to lose was bantamweight Jonas Bacho, who fell to the resilient Nursuitan Nisanbaev of Uzbekistan in their 56kg quarterfinal fight late Wednesday and lost by a slim 9-8 margin.

The quest for gold will continue through light flyweight Jade Bornea (49kgs), light welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial (64kgs), flyweight Ian Clark Bautista (52kgs), and lightweight James Palicte (60kgs).

Ricky Vargas, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines and of Maynilad Water, said his spirit isn’t dampened by the loss.

The former Philippine Basketball Association chairman Vargas and ABAP chairman Manny Pangilinan told the Manila Standard they will take a helicopter to Subic over the weekend to watch the competition. (Ronnie Nathanielsz, Manila Standard Today)

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8,000 Soldiers In Balikatan Exercises

A large number of soldiers from the United States and the Philippines will partake in this year's joint military exercises starting next month in Region 3.

Around 8,000 soldiers from the two countries will conduct their bilateral exercises in Subic Bay Freeport, Camp O'Donnel, Crow Valley in Tarlac, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija and other areas in Zambales.

According to a statement by the US Embassy, the annual exercises will begin on the fifth of April and will end on the seventeenth.

Included in these exercises are joint humanitarian assistance projects which will be conducted in Zambales. A preliminary work on some the infrastructures will begin this month.

According to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr, military medical personnel will offer free medical, dental and veterinary care. In selected communities, military engineers will construct and repair schools and other infrastructure.

The Balikatan series of exercises focuses on training both the US and Philippines armed forces to provide relief and assistance in the event of natural disasters and other crises that endanger public health and safety. Additionally, armed forces personnel from both countries will conduct combined staff exercises and field training to improve interoperability and contingency planning.

"The end goal of these exercises is to further promote and foster the existing friendship between the people of the Philippines and the United States and advance the security and stability of the region in the near future." Burgos said. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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Pinoy boxers make semis of Subic tilt

Philippine light flyweight Jade Bornea and light welterweight Eumir Felix Marcia advanced to the semifinals of the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships Wednesday after dominating quarterfinal opponents at the Subic gym.

Bornea shredded Rakhmankul Avatov of Kyrgyzstan, 16-6, in the 49kg. division while World Youth champion Marcial whipped China’s Wang Qingqui, 19-11, in the 64kg division.

Three other Filipinos were to climb the ring at press time and also eyeing seats to the semifinals. They were flyweight Bautista against Sagidyk Moldashev of Kazakhstan at 52 kilograms; bantamweight Jonas Bacho against Nursuitan Nisanbaev of Uzbekistan at 56kgs; and lightweight James Palicte against Nagesh A Kharare of India at 60kgs.

Marcial will take on Anvar Turamov of Uzbekistan in the semifinals. The Uzbek crushed Kyrgyzstan’s Izatillo Shermakhammadov, 18-9.

Bornea, the World Junior bronze medal winner from General Santos City, will face Turkmenistan’s Shatlykyrat Myradov — an 11-8 winner over Iran’s Houman Myradov i in the other quarterfinal fight — on Friday for a place in the gold medal round. (The Daily Tribune)

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Tough Opening Fights Loom

Three of the Fab Five of the PLDT-ABAP Philippine youth team drew tough opening day bouts late Monday in the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships at the Subic gym.

Ian Clark Bautista will debut against India’s Kavinder Bisht in the 52 kilogram flyweight division, James Palicte faces Japan’s Yuuta Akiyama in the 60kg lightweight class, and World Youth champion Eumir Felix Marcial opens against Turkmenistan’s Shamurat Cherkezov in the 64kg light welterweight category.

Two other Filipino boxers within the 17 to 18 years age bracket, Jonas Bacho (56kgs/bantamweight)and World Junior bronze medalist Jade Bornea (49kgs/light flyweight) are scheduled to climb the ring Tuesday as the tournament backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, PLDT, Smart, NLEX, Maynilad, Clarktel, Subictel, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Videogear Inc., Exile Lights and Sound, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Sports Commission, and supported by Sony Philippines, Coca-Cola Bottlers, and Nestle Philippines heats up.

“Magandang laban ito,” said national coach Elmer Pamisa. “Umpisa pa lang, magkaka-alaman na agad.”

Following the morning’s medical and general weigh-in at the Subic International Hotel, the official draw commenced at 10 a.m. The first set of preliminaries opens the curtains at 2 p.m. followed by a one-hour opening ceremony and the second batch at 7 p.m.

Four of the 26 countries that have originally assured their presence have backed out at the last minutes for various reasons – Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, and Syria.

A twin-engine PLDT chopper owned by telecommunications tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan was to fly Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu, president of the International Boxing Federation (AIBA), to this Zambales coastal town where he ASBC executive director Aziz Kozhambetov will be the guests of honor. (Tito S. Talao, Manila Bulletin)

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Garcia urges gov’t engineers to capitalize on economic boom

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia urged city and municipal engineers in the country to start improving infrastructure in their areas while the country is in an economic boom.

Chairman Garcia made the statement on Wednesday during the start of the three-day 9th CMEAP National Convention at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here.

Bannering the theme “Trends, Challenges and Innovations towards Green Engineering,” the convention featured exhibits and technical sessions on global technical development, as well as fellowship meetings among members of the City and Municipal Engineers Association of the Philippines (CMEAP).

“The convention of the CMEAP is very timely with our development as an economic power in Asia,” Garcia said, adding that in 2012, under the leadership of President Aquino, the Philippines was able to transform itself economically and is now considered one of the emerging economic dragons in the region.

He noted that in 2012, the Philippines made its best economic performance in so many years when its gross domestic product increased by 6.6 percent. This was the second highest in Asia for the period.

Garcia said that with this new economic climate, the government is spending billions of pesos in additional infrastructure, including roads, bridges and tourist facilities. City and municipal engineers should take advantage of this opportunity to create and implement development plans for their area, he added.

The SBMA official also urged CMEAP members to meet problems and challenges head on, and to help sustain and further improve the economic performance of the country.

He added that in Subic, the SBMA is already preparing for the coming of more foreign investors by improving both the image of the free port and the facilities located therein.

“We have to make sure that when the investors arrive, we have all the necessary infrastructure in place, so it would be easier for them to do business here and hopefully to become successful,” Garcia said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Asian Youth boxing tourney starts in Subic

Malaysia and three other teams–Pakistan, Syria, and Singapore–withdrew at the last minute but the Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championship will start as scheduled Monday at the Subic gym here.

After the competitors are weighed at the Subic International Hotel, the draw will be held at 10 a.m., with the first set of preliminaries starting at 2 p.m. and the second batch beginning at 7 p.m.

“It’s all systems go,” said ABAP president Ricky Vargas. “This is the culmination of ABAP’s resolve to put together a regional tournament of this magnitude.”

Representing the Philippines in the event ending on March 17 are James Palicte (60kgs), Jade Bornea (49kgs.), Ian Clark Bautista (52kgs), Jonas Bacho (56kgs), and Eumir Felix Marcial 64 kgs).

Fielding entries are North Korea (4 boxers), Turkmenistan (7), Macau (2), Kyrgyzstan (9), Sri Lanka (5), Hong Kong (1), Japan (7), Indonesia (4), Uzbekistan (10), Iraq (7), Iran (10), Bangladesh (2), Chinese Taipei (4), Vietnam (4), Kazakhstan (10 with 10 reserves), Jordan (4), Mongolia (6), China (10), Tajikistan (2), Nepal (2), and India (10).

Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu, president of the International Boxing Federation, will grace the opening rites along with Asian Boxing Confederation president Gofur Rakhimov of Uzbekistan and ASBC executive director Aziz Kozhambetov.

The tourney is backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, PLDT, Smart, NLEX, Maynilad, Clarktel, Subictel, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Videogear Inc., Exile Lights and Sound, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Sports Commission, and supported by Sony Philippines, Coca-Cola Bottlers, and Nestle Philippines. (Malaya)

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Sante Barley rules Unilad Active Tri United 1; PLDT is 2nd

SANTE Barley Tri Team aggregated 26 hours 36 minutes and 11 seconds as it emerged the inaugural team champion of the Unilab Active Health Tri United 1 series at the Subic Bay Freeport over the weekend.

PLDT Bike King clocked 26:47:27 at second spot, with Fitness First (27:11:53) rounding out the podium finishers.

Times of Mervin Rencel Santiago, Robinson Esteves, Jojo Macalintal, Jason Paul Gaviola, Junrox Roque, Lylian Grace Banzon, Julla Timan, John Patrick Rivera, Robert Jonah Rivera and Jesus Joey Marcelo counted for the winning squad.

Pre-race favorites national team members John Chicano and Kim Mangrobang ruled the elite men’s and women’s categories, respectively, of the standard distance. Chicano covered the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-km bike and 10-km grind in 2:02:02 and Mangrobang had 2:20:37.

“With the heart-warming turnout, we are happy to have provided our triathletes an avenue for their tune-up in the run up to the Asian Triathlon Championship next month,” said Lester Castillo, Unilab Active Health executive.

Gold medalists in the standard distance of the Tri United1 sponsored Unilab Active Health, Aboitiz Power, Enervon Aktiv, Enervon HP, I-on Energy Drink, Hydrite. Bike King, 3rd District of Bohol, Pocari Sweat, Timex, Crystal Clear purified water and Orbea included: men, 20 to 24–Mervin Rencel Santiago, Santi Barley (2:16:41); 25 to 29– Don Velasco, Secondwind Sun Broadband (2:19:04); 30 to 34–Joseph Ian Ramirez, Fitness First (2:20:53);

T12 Camelbak Tri Team C grabbed the gold medal in the relay in 2:18:42. Meralco-Smart Lightspeed A finished second in 2:21:47, with Fitness First third in 2:23:21.

Former RP team foreign coach Aussie Dan Brown (1:07:59) towed Allen Santiago (1:10:03) and Marc Altura (1:12:04) to the winners’ circle in the sprint (half of the standard distance) elite.

Unilab Active Health teammates Sam Ranque and Magali Echauz dominated the sprint teens 15 to 16 years, with respective times of 1:12:30 and 1:20:54 to lead sprint winners. Bea Hufana placed first in the 17-18 years. (Manila Standard Today)

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All Set For Tri United

Over 600 triathletes from across the nation will vie for supremacy in the Unilab Active Health’s Tri United 1 on Sunday at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Organized by Raul Cuevas’ BikeKing and held in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department and presented by Unilab Active Health, the event will officially kick off the 2013 season of the 4-leg Tri United series.

Events on tap are Standard Distance (1.5 Km swim, 40 Km bike,10 Km run), Sprint (750 M swim, 20 Km bike, 5 Km run) and Teens (750 M swim, 20 Km bike, 5 Km run).

As in the previous staging, organizers expect another intense showdown for various titles with the presence of elite triathletes as well as a large pool of age-groupers and triathlon clubs.

Also backing the event – the first of five events BikeKing has scheduled for the year – are Aboitiz Power, Enervon Activ, Enervon HP, I-on Energy Drink, Hydrite, 3rd District of Bohol, Pocari Sweat, TIMEX, Crystal Clear Purified Water and Orbea. (Manila Bulletin)

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Uzbeks among early arrivals for Asian boxfest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Subic to host ASBC Youth boxing tourney

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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TRAP program comes to the fore in Subic tilt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Foreigners impressed with Subic’s transformation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Tri United race returns to Subic

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

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

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

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

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

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More Subic Bay Investors Eyed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2013 a productive year for Subic - SBMA chief

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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HK yachtsman wins Subic Bay to Boracay Race

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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PPA calls for serious study on decongesting Manila ports

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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Subic Bay to Boracay race begins

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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23 countries vie for ASBC Youth crown

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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