Subic underscores importance of giant clams

At four o’clock in the morning, the sound of a motorized banca breaks the silence as personnel from various agencies start to move huge cases containing giant clams – for transfer from Barangay Calapacuan to Snake Island in Subic town.

At least 40 true giant clams wrapped in watertight plastic bags were planted on Snake Island after being harvested from Bolinao in Pangasinan on Tuesday.

The seeding of these giant clams is part of the “Launching and Seeding of Giant Clams” project of the Subic Marine Protected Area Management Council.

The council is composed of officials from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Subic, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Subic Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council, Philippine National Police, Provincial Maritime, Philippine Coast Guard, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and the local government unit of Subic under the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Program.

According to SBMA representative Marilou Dungog, the seeding program is expected to spur the growth of organism in the reef.

She added that these giant clams are an integral part of the reef, serving as nurseries for a host of fish and invertebrate species, including damsels, gobies, and tiny commensal crustaceans such as shrimp.

She added that sedentary organisms like sponges, tunicates, corals, and algae find giant clam shells perfect substrates for attachment.

Giant clams also act as filter feeders, sifting planktonic debris from the water for food, thereby improving overall water quality. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/subic-underscores-importance-of-giant-clams/

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Keeping pride alive (feature)

Subic Bay Freeport – In the Aeta villages of Pastolan and Kanawan in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, children are learning to merge the ways of the old and new.

Take, for instance, Francine Calubhay, who graduated valedictorian last year from Pastolan Elementary school. She went through the usual rigamarole of students all over the country—waking up at 5 a.m. to do her chores, while her mother prepared breakfast and readied her uniform. After the morning ritual, she would fix her hair, pick up her bag, and head for school.

This year, Francine is off to high school at the Olongapo City National High School.

But that doesn’t mean she will stop helping her elders and community catch fish, hunt game and fowl, gather produce in the forest, and attend to filial duties. She also will not cease nor forget how to perform traditional dances and display jungle survival skills to tourists, in the way her elders taught her.

Francine is her village’s pride. This year, 230 more Aeta kids might just make their families equally proud as they troop off to attend the elementary school inside the Pastolan Aeta Village found in Subic Bay Freeport. More than 20 of them will be graduating this school year and will subsequently take their secondary education at the OCNHS.

Aeta elders believe that educational advancement and development should not clash with the Aeta culture. The youth are reminded to hold on to their identity and be proud of their heritage.

Mizpah Diago, Pastolan Elementary School’s first Aeta teacher, is an inspiration to Francine, who also aims to help develop the education in the village. Like her, Diago started as just a student of the village, gaining honors during her elementary years. But, just like this new batch of graduates, she had to take her secondary education in Olongapo.

Francine’s and Diago’s advancement would not be possible without the help from the government and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). The SBMA is the benefactor of all indigenous communities within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. A part of the income generated inside the zone is allocated to the indigenous people here, as stated in the Joint Management Agreement (JMA) signed between the village captains and officials of the SBMA.

One of the SBMA’s plans for Pastolan Elementary School is to add a high school department so that its graduates don’t have to transfer to OCNHS.

It’s already achieved that for the fishing village of Kanawan, whose school now has a high school department. Just like Pastolan, Kanawan only had an elementary school last year.

Kanawan, which had around 150 students last year, produced 17 elementary graduates.

Stereotypically cast as nomadic vendors selling knickknacks to tourists in the Subic, it looks like Aeta kids are out to change that impression.

Next time an Aeta comes up to you in Subic, take a good look–he or she may just be one of the most hardworking students in the province, and the hope of his village. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/keeping-pride-alive/

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Hanjin Subic enters world’s top 10 shipyards

According to Clarkson Research Studies in the U.K., the world’s leading shipping services provider, HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard ranked 10th in the world for the first time in terms of Compensated Gross Tonnage (CGT) with 1,757,000. This landmark was hit in five years since it was launched in April 2009, the company said in its press release.

It has no doubt that HHIC has been a pioneer in domestic shipbuilding industry, building Korea’s first steel vessel, oil rig, Asia’s first membrane LNG carrier, air cushion vehicle, cable ship and icebreaker. Because of economic crisis in 2008, emergence of Chinese shipbuilders and competitive competition, however, it felt behind.

Thanks to the completion of HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard, the Korean shipbuilder was finally able to overcome its limitation in building high value-added vessels. Empowered by the improvement of mid- and long-term competitiveness, HHIC has established its ground to develop into the world’s leading shipbuilder.

Last month, HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard won the bid to build the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) for the first time. In the past, HHIC didn’t even attempt to participate in this kind of bid due to its narrow shipyard in Yeongdo.

Entering this year, in particular, HHIC has been successful in several bids including 300,000DWT VLCCs and over 10,000TEU VCLSs. So far, the company has book advance orders (nearly US 3.2 billion dollars, 50 ships in total) for three (3) years. Now, HHIC is treated as one of the world’s leading global shipbuilders.

HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard is a global shipyard (900,000 pyeong) situated in Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). It features all kinds of state-of-the-art facilities including two huge docks, 4km-long quay, four ultra-large gantry cranes and 1km-long automated assembly lines. In particular, the world’s largest dock (Dock 6, 550m in length, 135m in width, 13.5m in depth) is capable of building six container carriers at the same time.

An official from HHIC said, “We believe that we would be able to move higher with the Subic Shipyard.” He added, “We are going to develop HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard into a global hub for shipbuilding and make Yeongdo Shipyard concentrate on passenger & cargo carriers and special-purpose vessels to evolve into a global shipbuilder.” (PortNews)

http://en.portnews.ru/news/181257/

Photo: http://www.hhic-phil.com/aboutus/shipyard1.aspx

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Slowest in ASEAN: Faster internet speed pressed

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto is urging government to also mandate internet service providers (ISPs) and telecom companies to increase the minimum speed of their internet service to 10 Mbps (megabits per second) from the current internet speed of 3.4 Mbps.

Recto said with 3.4 Mbps, the country has the slowest internet speed in South East Asia followed by Indonesia with 4.1 Mbps, Malaysia at 5.5 Mbps, with Singapore as being the fastest in the ASEAN region with a lightning internet speed of 61.0 Mbps.

The global internet speed to download information and pictures from the worldwide web is 18.4 Mpbs.

“Unfortunately, the Philippines ranks at the tail-end of world broadband speed rankings and is also tagged as one of the most expensive,” Recto said.

The Senate leader added: “The national march towards a broader internet or Wi-Fi access should be in cadence with a decent internet speed. Aanhin mo ang Wi-Fi kung puro ka naman antay?”

Recto said Filipino internet users are also paying more than their ASEAN counterparts with a monthly average of $24.92 or roughly P1,120 compared to the fraction spent by other nationalities.

He said his Senate Bill (SB) 2238 dubbed “Bilis Konek Act of 2014” would empower the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to require a minimum internet speed for all ISPs and telcos offering internet service of 10 Mbps for mobile broadband/internet access.

The speed should be faster at 20 Mbps when it comes to fixed and fixed wireless broadband/internet access or those installed at home. The transition to a faster internet speed would be two years after the enactment of the law.

“This bill recognizes the importance of high-speed internet connections in increasing productivity and the growing demands for connectivity,” he said, noting that faster internet has correlation to economic growth according to a foreign report.

Recto stressed mandating a minimum internet speed makes sense since the country aside from being the "Texting Capital of the World" was also named by the Global Web Index as having the Fastest Growing Internet Population with a 531% growth in the last five years.

“If the Human Rights Council of the United Nations General Assembly declares internet access as a basic human right, internet users should also have the right to faster internet -- call it internet on steroids,” he said.

Recto has also filed SB 2232, which seeks the roll out of free Wi-Fi access to all public places in the National Capital Region (NCR) as a companion measure to his "Bilis Konek Act."

Recto said an NCR-wide free internet access would provide equal opportunity to all, especially the marginalized members of society and promote efficiency and productivity in businesses.

“Providing free internet access to public buildings and facilities in the national capital will also ensure that our growing labor force will be updated with employment opportunities,” Recto said in filing SB 2232.

He said a free internet access to the public would “mean providing access to the underserved in our society, including getting low-income people online.”

A free Wi-Fi service, according to him, would also give access to vital information available online such as school information for students; traffic reports and alternative routes for motorists; latest weather bulletins, basic goods prices such as oil and gas; and, updates on government services.

Recto said his proposed bill, if enacted into law, would mandate free internet use to the following public areas in the entire NCR:

· All national and local government offices
· Public health services and hospitals
· Public elementary and high schools, and state colleges and universities
· Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Terminals I, II, III and IV)
· Public libraries
· Tollways and expressways
· Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and other national roads
· Public transport terminals
· Port of Manila; and
· Rail transit stations (LRT Line 1, MRT Line 2, MRT Line 3, and PNR south rail).


He assured that once seamlessly in place in Metro Manila, other major cities in the country should be also accorded with free Wi-Fi service.

The Recto bill mandates the Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as the lead agency. (RBB/SNL)

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OPM Hitmen in Subic

OPM crooners Richard Reynoso, Chad Borja (front), Renz Verano, and Rannie Raymundo (back) motorcade around Subic Bay Freeport as part of their concert-for-a-cause, "An Evening With The OPM Hitmen sa Subic," staged at the Subic Bay Exhibition & Convention Center on Sunday, May 24. Proceeds went to the volunteer sweepers of the freeport and the Philippine Red Cross.

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SBMA task force recovers stolen marine artifact

A Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) task force formed recently to recover items stolen from some shipwrecks in Subic Bay has retrieved an anchor believed to be part of a stash hidden by looters.

According to a report from the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (SBMA-LED), Subic authorities mounted operation “Oplan Bawi Bakal” to recover artifacts and other items stolen from various shipwrecks in Subic Bay.

The operation was undertaken after an unnamed informant reported that scrap metals, including marine anchors, were stashed in the waters some 200 meters away from the shoreline off Barangay Mabayo in Morong, Bataan.

On May 14, the team composed of elements of the SBMA-LED, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Olongapo City, Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Maritime Unit-3, PNP-Special Action Force, and Morong PNP aboard two SBMA Harbor Patrol boats, the M/T Redondo and a vessel from the Boardwalk Dive Shop proceeded to the area identified by the informant.

After coordinating with the officials of Barangay Mabayo, SBMA-LED divers recovered an old common anchor full of barnacles, measuring approximately seven feet high, and three feet and five inches across.

The SBMA-LED stated that no other artifact was recovered from the area, as residents said the other items in the loot “were hidden away hastily the night before the operation was conducted.”

The recovered anchor is currently in the possession of the SBMA-LED for safekeeping.

SBMA officials said the Philippine Artifacts Commission will be notified for proper identification of the recovered common anchor.

Meanwhile, the NBI-Olongapo has assumed jurisdiction over the case and is set to conduct a follow-up operation for possible recovery of other stolen artifacts and for the arrest and filing of appropriate charges against the looters.

Last March, five suspects from Morong, Bataan, were apprehended in connection with the looting of the San Quentin, a Spanish-era shipwreck that is a favorite dive site in Subic Bay.

All were subsequently released, however, due to lack of evidence.

Among other shipwrecks within the Subic Bay waters are the El Capitan, USS New York, the hell ship Oryoku Maru, Seian Maru, and a Tank Landing Ship (LST). (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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Power supply a challenge to investors

Power outages across the Philippines amid shutdowns at electricity plants and increasing summer demand are raising concern the country’s stunted generation capacity will stifle investment and economic growth.

Two of the Philippines’ three main islands are on “Red Alert” after supply fell below peak demand this week as aging facilities shut for repairs and temperatures rise to near 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Delays in building new plants may slow the expansion of Asia’s second-fastest growing economy, according to Erramon Aboitiz, president of Aboitiz Power Corp., the nation’s second-largest utility.

“It’s time to worry,” Aboitiz said in an interview at the ASEAN Finance Ministers investor seminar in Manila on May 20. “Investors are always forward-looking and when they see projections of a potential power problem, they’ll decide to put their investments somewhere else.”

The strain this summer on power plants highlights how the Philippines’ under-performing electricity sector threatens the country’s economic growth, which is second only to China in the Asia-Pacific. Gross domestic product rose 7.2 percent in 2013 and is poised to remain among the world’s five fastest-expanding until 2016, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

As the economy expands, so has the country’s demand for electricity. Consumption jumped 50 percent in the 10 years to 2012, more than three times the 16 percent growth rate over that same period for the nation’s generating capacity, according to government data.

Some new projects are being delayed because of environmental concerns, such as Aboitiz Power and Manila Electric Co.’s 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant at the Subic Freeport zone north of the capital, which was blocked by a court order. The companies in July 2011 said the first 300 megawatts of the plant will be available by 2014.

“The power crisis is going to be costly,” Ronald Mendoza, executive director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center in Manila, said in a telephone interview yesterday. “It will affect manufacturing and services, so there will be implications on production. Investors may scale back or delay investments.”

With peak power demand forecast to grow about 4 percent annually until 2030, the country will need more than 13,000 megawatts of additional capacity, or 80 percent more than what’s installed, according to Department of Energy data. The government estimates that will require 2.8 trillion pesos ($64 billion) of investment. About 1,800 megawatts of new generation has been committed so far.

The central Visayas region, home to the famous beaches of Boracay island, had zero power reserves yesterday. The southern Mindanao region is on a reserve deficit of nearly 100 megawatts, according to data from National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, a transmission company. Mindanao has suffered from outages for years as a third of supply comes from hydroelectric plants that are unreliable during dry season and subsidized electricity prices discourage constructing new plants. Summer temperatures are driving higher air-conditioning use.

The “Red Alert” warning means outages are to be expected in the two regions. On May 16, the Philippine capital Manila and nearby provinces under Manila Electric’s franchise experienced an hour of rotating power outages.

Aboitiz Power may spend about $5 billion building 2,000 megawatts of new capacity in the next five years, adding to its current portfolio of 2,300 megawatts, Aboitiz said in the interview. Profit in the three months ended March fell for the fifth straight quarter, down 9 percent to 4.2 billion pesos after revaluing its dollar loans and power sales declined. (BLOOMBERG)

http://www.mb.com.ph/power-supply-a-challenge-to-investors/

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1st bird park in Luzon seen to boost tourism in Subic

Touted as the country’s premier survival course provider, JEST Camp opened its doors this month to bird lovers and enthusiasts all over the country with the launching of the Magaul Bird Park, the first bird park in Luzon, which is expected to boost tourism in this freeport.

Along with the introduction of the bird park was the launch of a bird show that showcased a hundred birds of different species, some of which belong to the endangered list.

Katrina Lacap, JEST Camp general manager said the bird park hopes to be recognized globally which also runs parallel with Subic’s aim of making it a world-class eco-urban center.

“JEST Camp is one with the local government in promoting both local and international tourism for Subic Freeport Zone while preserving the forest environment that is unique to the area. Companies in Subic including those involved in animal preservation are not competing among each other but rather working together to help promote Subic,” she said.

“Here (in Subic), we already have land (Zoobic Safari), marine/water (Ocean Adventure), and this time, we giving them Air (Bird Park). So kumpleto na kami dito. We want people to know that we’re promoting the province and not the individual businesses,” she added.

To achieve this goal, she said JEST Camp must become a center for sustainable living technologies and must create a haven for city dwellers inside a forest, a destination for nature lovers who want to learn about eco-friendly living.

Apart from the being the only bird park in Luzon, Lacap said it offers 10 other attractions, with three talk-and-feeding and two amazing shows. (Franco G. Regala, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
A bird park trainer shows off how a red-vented cockatoo follows orders from her using hand signals and a whistle at the JEST Camp inside Subic Freeport. 

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APO to operate ecozone in Subic

ANGLO Philippine Holdings Corp. (APO) will operate an economic zone from its property inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Bataan.

Adrian Arias, Anglo Philippine executive vice president, said necessary paperwork and representations have already been made with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to accredit the property, with a size of about 300 hectares. When completed, the development will be the country’s newest ecozone.

He said the company expects to secure the necessary approvals within the year. Arias said APO acquired the said property, situated in Tipo Valley in Bataan, from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority for about P250 million to P290 million. The company may spend the same amount to develop the area.

The said project is expected to attract locators from the Subic Bay Freeport, which is a favored destination of logistics and manufacturing companies as the area has a sea and air gateways, and direct access to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

Arias said many locators in Subic wanted to expand operations, while many more want to come in but the free port’s developed area is already full. “All of the available spaces in Subic are already [parceled in] smaller cuts. So we thought, why not develop since the land is already there,” Arias said.

“If we ever get into it, we will probably [develop the property in] phases,” Arias said, adding that it may take 10 to 15 years before the company will realize gains from the said project.

APO has a huge stack of cash in its coffers after the private placement of majority shareholder, the Ramos family’s Alakor Corp., resulted in about P4.2 billion in fresh funds.

The bulk of this amount—or about P1.6 billion—will be spent to buy additional shares in The Philodrill Corp. to increase shareholding to 34.3 percent from 11.8 percent.

The remaining cash will be used to pay maturing debts, acquire more dividend-yielding asset and boost other assets, such as APO’s economic interest in the TriNoma shopping mall in Quezon City.

The company has investments in United Paragon Mining Corp., Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp., Philodrill, North Triangle Depot Commercial Corp., MRT Development Corp., MRT Holdings Inc., Brightnote Asset Corp. and Filipinas Energy Corp. (VG Cabuag, Business Mirror)

http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/business/companies/32495-apo-to-operate-ecozone-in-subic

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Delos Reyes claims Subic bike fest title

Bike King’s Joey Delos Reyes showed his might in the road race as he topped the punishing 90-kilometer Stage three to also steal the overall individual title in Category 2 at the close of the Bike United Tour of Subic 2014 last Sunday at the Subic Bay Freeport.

The 26-year-old bike mechanic and Unilab Active Health’s Ben Rana pulled away from the peloton right after the first 25-kilometers before the two engaged in an exciting sprint finish won by Delos Reyes.

“Mas gusto ko ang ahon kesa sa flat kaya talagang plano ko na umatake agad,” said Delos Reyes who negotiated the race that saw stiff uphill climbs in two hours 38 minutes and 46 seconds.

Fresh from a second place finish in the 60-kilometer road race Stage two, Delos Reyes accumulated a total time of 5:08:58 to win the individual title in this two-day bikefest organized by Bike King headed by Raul Cuevas and presented by Unilab Active Health.

Cebuano rider Ramonito Espinosa who seemed headed for the title after topping the first two stages, suffered a mechanical problem in the middle part of the race and arrived 14 minutes behind Delos Reyes (2:52:56).

“Naputulan ako ng kadena at ilang minuto rin ako nahinto dahil nilagyan ko pa ng clip. Sayang, kungdi nangyari ito, makakasabay ako sa kanila,” said a dejected Espinosa who settled for seventh spot over with 5:22:31 time.

Rana, who was a second behind in stage three (2:38:47), finished second overall with 5:11:22 while Mervin Santiago of Sante Barley, who came in third in the final race (2:43:00), bagged the third overall with 5:13:44.

Franzia’s lady rider Marella Vania Salamat topped the race to complete a sweep of the three stage event also supported by Aboitiz, Subic Holiday Villas, AboitizPower, Orbea, Pocari Sweat, Crystal Clear Purified Water, Shimano, OtterBox, Maxxis Tires and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)-Tourism Department. (Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/delos-reyes-claims-subic-bike-fest-title/

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Delos Reyes edges Rana, rules Bike United Tour

Bike King’s Joey Delos Reyes dominated the road race as he topped the 90-km Stage three to likewise steal the overall individual crown in Category 2 at the close of the Bike United Tour of Subic at the Subic Bay Freeport last Sunday.

The 26-year-old bike mechanic and Unilab Active Health’s Ben Rana pulled away from the main pack right after the first 25kms before Delos Reyes outsprinted Rana in a thrilling finish.

“Mas gusto ko ang ahon kesa sa flat kaya talagang plano ko na umatake agad,” said Delos Reyes who negotiated the race that had stiff uphill climbs in two hours, 38 minutes, 46 seconds.

Fresh from a runner-up finish in the 60km road race Stage two, Delos Reyes posted a total time of 5:08:58 to win the individual title in the two-day bikefest organized by Bike King headed by Raul Cuevas and presented by Unilab Active Health.

Cebuano rider Ramonito Espinosa, who topped the first two stages, suffered a mechanical problem midway through the race and arrived 14 minutes behind Delos Reyes (2:52:56).

“Naputulan ako ng kadena at ilang minuto rin ako nahinto dahil nilagyan ko pa ng clip. Sayang, kungdi nangyari ito, makakasabay ako sa kanila,” rued Espinosa, who settled for seventh spot in 5:22:31 time.

Rana, second behind in Stage three (2:38:47), finished second overall in 5:11:22 while Mervin Santiago of Sante Barley, who came in third in the final race (2:43:00), bagged the third overall with a 5:13:44 clocking.

Franzia’s lady rider Marella Vania Salamat topped the race to complete a sweep of the three-stage event also supported by Aboitiz, Subic Holiday Villas,AboitizPower, Orbea, Pocari Sweat, Crystal Clear Purified Water, Shimano,OtterBox, Maxxis Tires and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)-Tourism Department.

The 20-year-old UE student taking up dentistry timed at 3:00:45 for an impressive total time of 5:36:06.

“My goal was to really go hard on the hills to determine who my rivals would be. I’m happy to have defended my title,” said Salamat.

Veteran cyclists Doray Ellis and LC Langit of Boys Get Chicked settled for a far second and third overall at 6:07:37 and 6:13:29, respectively, even as Jerard Estilo of ASG Quickspeed Philippines emerged champion in the men’s Category 3 in 5:16:17, edging Christopher Lobanon of Shell V-Power Nitro+ (5:17:12)and teammate Agustin Querimit (5:20:42).

Fitness First Cycling Team ruled the Team Competition event in 15:53:00 while Sante Barley Cycling Team took second place in 16:03:58 with Unilab Active Health Elite team finishing third at 16:21:36. (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2014/05/21/1325562/delos-reyes-edges-rana-rules-bike-united-tour

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SBMA eyes rehabilitation of Olongapo river

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is now eyeing the rehabilitation of the Kalalake River, which borders this free port and the neighboring city of Olongapo.

Atty. Severo Pastor, manager of the SBMA Labor Department, disclosed this on Saturday as the Subic authority spearheaded this month’s river clean-up project along the river from the free port’s 14th Street Gate to the Kalaklan Gate.

“Now that we have cleared the area, we are now planning to plant ornamental trees there, especially in those areas near the Harbor Point Mall and the Volunteers Park, since these places are being frequented by visitors,” Pastor said.

“We hope that by planting trees along riverbanks, we could help rehabilitate the river, which used to be the lifeblood of the fishing community that once thrived in Olongapo,” Pastor said.

As part of the continuing river clean-up program, the SBMA is planning to build floating platforms in the river that community volunteers can use during clean-up activities.

Pastor said that his office has already coordinated with the five barangays located along the winding Kalalake River for the proposed clean-up platforms.

Beginning November last year, the SBMA Labor Department has conducted monthly river clean-ups with the help of volunteers from Freeport locator-companies, schools and barangays in Olongapo City, as well as with various SBMA departments.

“In exchange for their help, the SBMA is providing livelihood projects for Olongapo residents, as well as scholarships for dual training in computer hardware and electronics for their children,” Pastor shared.

The SBMA official said they wanted the Subic Bay Freeport “to look good not just inside the fenced-in area, but also outside it.”

Pastor added that under the administration of Chairman Roberto Garcia, the SBMA has intensified its program to protect and conserve the local environment and encouraged neighboring communities to join eco-tourism projects.

“We wanted to give visitors a good first impression of Subic Bay and Olongapo City,” Pastor stressed. “These two neighboring areas, anyway, have shared the same aspirations and the same desire for progress all through the years.” (FMD-MPD/SBMA)


PHOTOS:
Volunteers from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, locator-companies in the Subic Bay Freeport, and barangays and schools in Olongapo City scour the riverside for garbage during a clean-up project last Saturday.

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Hong Kong, Singapore top int’l table tennis open in Subic

Hong Kong and Singapore emerged as victors in the men’s and women’s singles events in the recently concluded GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Philippine Open held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit defeated Singapore’s top- seeded Zhan Jian four sets to two (9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10) after overcoming third-seed Yang Zi, also from Singapore in the semi-finals.

Ho became the second player from Hong Kong to win an ITTF World Tour men’s singles title after Jiang Tianyi, who won the 2008 men’s singles title at the Brazilian Open in Belo Horizonte.

The 17-year old surprised everyone since Ho did not even place in the main draw, and was previously defeated by India’s Harmeet Desai during the qualification proceedings in Spain earlier this year.

"This competition was very tough. I did not have any expectations or baggage coming into the event, which helped; I had a lot of luck to win,” said Ho.

“At the beginning of the competition, it did not even go through my head that I could win the event. My plan was just to try my best in each match and see what happened,” he added.

In the women’s singles event, Singapore’s Feng Tianwei beat third-seed Elizabeta Samara from Romania, four sets to one (11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3, 13-11).

Feng, a bronze medalist in the 2012 London Olympics, outplayed Riyo Nemoto during the semi-finals.

Winning her first World Tour title since 2011, Feng said that her journey to the top was not that easy.

“It was a tough finals. I felt tired as I have been playing quite a fair bit of matches, including during the World Championships in Tokyo. Also, my knee is slightly injured,” Feng said, adding that she is hoping to win her next challenge in Australia next week.

In the Under 21 events, Singapore dominated the finals as Chen Feng defeated Wu Shikang in the boys’ singles event, four sets to two (11-7,11-4,13-11,11-13,3-11,11-9) while Lin Ye outclassed Zhou Yihan, four sets to one (11-6,11-5,12-10,9-11,13-11). (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA deputy administrator for business and tourism Ruel John Kabigting (right) awards trophy and check to Ho Kwan Kit of Hong Kong, who topped the men’s singles category of the GAC 2014 International Table Tennis Tour Challenge - Philippine Open held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center over the weekend. Looking on is runner-up Zhan Jian of Singapore.

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New shuttle service to ship boxes from Manila to Subic

A NEW service that will ship containers from Manila to Subic and vice versa could start operating in June.

The Subic Super Shuttle service will act as a common feeder for shipping lines serving locators and shippers in and around Northern Luzon.

“Since we cannot get [liner] connections directly from Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia, the Subic Super Shuttle will get cargoes from Manila and bring them to Subic,” Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) General Manager Reimond Silvestre told PortCalls at the sidelines of the Transport Summit 2014. The summit was organized by the Philippine International Seafreight Forwarders Association and PortCalls.

“The Subic Super Shuttle is just a catalyst so that feeder vessels calling Manila will look at the Subic Port and see that they can do a direct call to Subic instead of discharging their cargoes in Manila,” he said, noting that as a catalyst service it may run for two years at the longest.

By then, shipping lines and shippers would have established the volume coming in and out of the area, possibly justifying the introduction of additional direct international liner services to and from Subic.

“The cargo is there. We’re just waiting for everybody in Northern Luzon to understand that they can use the Port of Subic,” he said.

While there seems to be a growing momentum to seriously consider Subic and also Batangas as alternative ports to Manila because of the effects of the Manila truck ban, the constant issue among shippers is the lack of shipping lines directly calling the areas.

To date there are only three international carriers directly calling Subic-NYK, APL and Swire Shipping.

Silvestre said the proposed shuttle service will use a 190 twenty-foot equivalent unit vessel which will call the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT)-Subic route three times a week.

MICT is operated by International Container Terminal Services Inc., the mother company of SBITC.

The shuttle service, Silvestre said, is a joint venture between Subic Super Shuttle Inc. and “a few companies” that SBITC supports, and is still subject to regulatory requirements from the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Ports Authority and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Asked if there are potential clients for the service, the SBITC executive replied, “When we started discussing this with a few key potential clients in Clark and Subic, we were only looking at big industrial players and big container generators in Northern Luzon.”

Nestlé is “committing their volume, Yokohama as well together with the Japanese accounts in Northern Luzon.

“In terms of costs, it will be competitive for them to realize that Subic can be their final destination point instead of Manila.”

As for other shipping lines, Silvestre said, “There are several interested but their issue is container imbalance”, which is why there is a “need for a common vessel service to solve that issue.”

There are also plans to put up an inland container depot somewhere in Bulacan to address the problem of where to store empty containers.

Silvestre noted there has been a 21-percent increase in volume at Subic Port this year.

Yokohama has increased its boxes out of Subic and so has Phillip Morris, he said. (www.portcalls.com)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/32286-new-shuttle-service-to-ship-boxes-from-manila-to-subic

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Espinosa, Salamat lead bike winners

VETERAN Cebuano rider Ramonito Espinosa dominated the first two stages to boost his drive for the overall individual title in Category 2 in the Bike United Tour of Subic 2014 that stated last Saturday at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Defending women’s champion Marella Vania Salamat of Franzia seems headed for a run-away victory in the distaff side even as Fitness First is in the lead in the Team classification in this two-day bikefest organized by Bike King headed by Raul Cuevas.

The event is supported by Unilab Active Health, Aboitiz, Subic Holiday Villas, AbotizPower, Orbea, Pocari Sweat, Crystal Clear Purified Water, Shimano, OtterBox, Maxxis Tires and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority-Tourism Department.

A total of 250 cyclists, including 37 females, are taking part this year with the 36-year-old Espinosa showing his impressive form by topping the 20-k Individual Time Trial and the 60-k road race.

Action opened early Saturday morning with Espinosa negotiating the ITT race in 28 minutes and 56 seconds to spoil the challenge posted by three Fitness First riders Jeremy Ponting (28:58), Mark Ellis (29:19) and Luis Gabino Urrutia (29:20) who settled the next three spots.

Stage 2 was disputed late afternoon of the same day and Espinosa showed legs of steel as he managed to keep pace with three other riders, that included Joey De Los Reyes of Bike King, that went on to finish the race with identical clocking of 2:00:39. (Manila Standard Today)

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/05/19/espinosa-salamat-lead-bike-winners/

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Philippine team battles foreign competition in Subic table tennis open

Fresh from their successful campaign in the 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Tokyo, Japan, five male and four female players from the country’s national team are battling it out in the ongoing GAC-ITTF Philippine Open Challenge at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Among the talents in the Philippine Team’s roster is Richard Gonzales, who won a bronze medal in the last Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine Team coach Noel Gonzales said the tournament provides great exposure to the players as they are set against better-skilled players from 14 different countries.

“Coming in from another international tournament is an advantage. Plus, since our previous tournament is also sanctioned by the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation), I think what we earned in Japan will have a bearing here,” he said.

He proudly shared that the women’s team swept its group and won the championship during their competition in Japan.

Gonzales added that the Philippines is making history with the hosting of an ITTF tournament here in Subic, which he described as “the most suitable venue” in the country.

“This is the biggest international table tennis tournament to be held here in the Philippines, the first of its kind, so it gives people the impression that we can host this kind of events,” he said.

“I’ve been to many places in Europe and Asia for tournaments, and I must say that the SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) provided us with a world-class venue,” Gonzales said.

“We have heard from people who also do sporting events here, and all we hear are nothing but praises about Subic,” he added.

Atty. Ruel John Kabigting, SBMA deputy administrator for business and tourism, said that hosting the GAC-ITTF Philippine Open Challenge Series right after hosting the Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014 has been a welcome challenge for the agency.

“Being able to host two big events just days in between really makes the Subic Freeport a top venue choice, whether for sports or conferences,” Kabigting said. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Sendrina Balatbat of the Philippines outwits Riri Audyra of Indonesia to win a match in the women’s individual category in the ongoing GAC-ITTF Philippine Open Challenge hosted by the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (Tatap) at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

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240 cyclists vie in tour of Subic

A huge field of 240 cyclists and sports club members from around the nation braces for a full weekend of cycling action and scenic views as the Bike United Tour of Subic fires tomorrow at 7 a.m. at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Participants will be classified into three categories with category 2 comprising advanced riders who performed well in previous Bike King races. Intermediate participants who have been active during the past 1-2 years fall under category 3 while the novice riders are grouped in category 4. Female riders will have a separate category.

Organized by Bike King, headed by Raul Cuevas, the first day action will have Stage 1, a 20-kilometer individual time trial (ITT), which starts at 7 a.m., along the Argonaut Highway with turnaround points near the New Container Terminal and near Zambales Highway before concluding at 9 a.m. At 2 p.m., Stage 2 will fire off participants of the 60 km road race and will go around farther the Freeport (Zambales Highway and Appari Road included) and finish at 4 p.m.

The final day of the race at 6 a.m. covers the Freeport and portions of Bataan through Morong past the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

Gift items and specially designed trophies-medals await the top three winners of each category as well as winners of the individual general classification (stages 1, 2 and 3) for categories 2 and 3 and female and the team general classification category. The awarding ceremony will be held at the Subic Holiday Villas on Sunday, at 11 a.m.

The event is sponsored by Unilab Active Health, Aboitiz, Subic Holiday Villas, AboitizPower, Orbea, Pocari Sweat, Crystal Clear Purified Water, Shimano, OtterBox, Maxxis Tires and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2014/05/16/1323765/240-cyclists-vie-tour-subic

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Trans-Asia acquires Subic power plant

MANILA, Philippines - Trans-Asia Power Generation Corp. (TAPGC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. of the Phinma Group, has acquired One Subic Power Generation Corp., a power generation company that operates a diesel power plant in Subic Bay.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Trans-Asia said it has bought the entire outstanding stock of One Subic from Udenna Energy Corp.

“The acquisition of One Subic adds to Trans Asia’s growing generation portfolio, which already includes Trans-Asia’s diesel power plants in Norzagaray, Bulacan, Bacnotan, La Union and Guimaras; the Maibarara Geothermal plant, a portion of the Sem-Calaca power plant, and a 40-megawatt capacity from the Unified Leyte geothermal facilities,” Trans-Asia said.

In all, Trans-Asia Power will acquire a total of 200 million shares at P2.45 per share for a total cost of P490 million.

Trans-Asia is also constructing a 52-MW wind farm in San Lorenzo, Guimaras and a 135-MW coal power plant in Calaca, Batangas through South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp., a 50-50 joint venture with AC Energy Holdings, Inc., the energy subsidiary of Ayala Corp.

One Subic is the lessee and operator of the 116-MW diesel power plant located at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Moving forward, Trans-Asia said it intends to double its power capacity to 400 MW in the next few years.

Trans-Asia has various investments in the energy sector. The company has power generation businesses by itself and through South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp., Trans-Asia Power Generation Corp. and CIP II Power Corp.

Trans-Asia is also involved in renewable energy development via, Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corp. and Maibarara Geothermal Inc., as well as in electricity supply as a licensed retail electricity supplier and a licensed wholesale Aggregator.

The company said it is aiming to double its power capacity to 400 MW in the next few years upon completion of a new 135-MW clean coal power plant in Calaca, Batangas in partnership with the Ayala Group, an integrated 20-MW geothermal project in Sto. Tomas, Batangas with the Yuchengco Group and the Philippine National Oil Co., and the 54-MW Guimaras wind farm. (Iris C. Gonzales, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/business/2014/05/14/1322723/trans-asia-acquires-subic-power-plant

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Abdul, Fule secure Asian Cup slots

Former national standout John Abdul put on an impressive performance in the recent K-Swiss ITU Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) to earn entry to the Asian Cup triathlon this October.

Abdul, who did not register as an elite competitor in any race over the last 12 months, topped the crowded 35-39 age-group in Subic with a time of 2 hours, 11 to secure an all-expense paid trip to the ITU Hong Kong International Triathlon.

Keshia Fule topped the female 25-29 age-group of the event sponsored by K-Swiss, Century Tuna, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Harbor Point, Ayala Malls, Canon, Traveler’s Hotel, Blackbeard’s Seafood Island, Asian Center for Insulation Philippines (ACIP) , Gatorade, SPEEDO, Standard Insurance, and Green Triathlon to likewise obtain the same privilege.

Based on tournament rules, only non-pro, non-elite participants are qualified to win the age-grouper award and the Asian Cup triathlon trip. For this year, professionals and elite triathletes who engage in age-group competition are qualified for other age-group awards.

Other age-group winners during the tournament were (18-24), Chao Kit (18-19), Samir Hajazi (20-24), Kok Wai (male 25-29), Maris Balatibat and Chong Seak (30-34), Ani De Leon-Brown (female 35-39), Doray Ellis and Hiroshi Takei (40-44), Celma Hitalia and Mark Ellis (45-49), Elma Gabriana and Frank Lacson (50-54), Thomas Khune and Sandra Reid (55-59), and Kilhak Kunimoto (60-above). (Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/abdul-fule-secure-asian-cup-slots/

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Subic community welcomes ad industry delegates

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia on Thursday warmly welcomed delegates to Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014, as the country’s biggest advertising and marketing congress formally opened at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) here.

Over 2,000 advertising and marketing practitioners arrived in Subic to attend the four-day convention organized by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines (4As) with the theme “Age of Enlightenment.”

“This is the first of many Ad Summits to be held in Subic,” Garcia said to the cheers of the delegates. He said the SBMA would be more than willing to host the convention each time the event is held.

Garcia also enjoined the delegates to explore the Subic Bay Freeport, citing the many reasons why Subic is considered the most beautiful free port in the country.

“Subic does not only boast of having some of the cleanest beaches in the country today, but it also has a well-laid out security plan that I’m sure visitors to the Subic Bay Freeport would really appreciate,” he added.

The SBMA chair also stressed that the holding of the Ad Summit here validates the Department of Tourism’s inclusion of the Subic Bay Freeport among the top 10 tourist destinations in the country for 2013, as well as the top destination for meetings, incentives, convention and exhibitions (MICE) tourism in Central Luzon.

“Tourism is one of the very important industries of the Freeport and with the big delegation that the Ad Summit has brought today and in the next years, hopefully, Subic will always be in the tourism map,” Garcia added.

Meanwhile, congress organizers said the Ad Summit is expected to bring about changes not only in the advertising industry, but also in terms of national development.

“We assure you that the Ad Summit won’t be a typical four-day event,” said Ad Summit chair Matec Villanueva. “We will work together to empower each and every advertising and marketing professional to play a more valuable role in the society today.”

4As Phils. chairman Alex Syfu, meanwhile, said that the Ad Summit demonstrates the 4As’ desire to be the prime mover in the advertising industry and expressed hope that the delegates would be empowered and enlightened by the gathering.
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The first day of the convention was jam-packed with speakers who are considered masters in the world of advertising. These included Louie Morales, chairman of Image Dimensions Inc.; Marcus Rebeschini of Y&R Asia Pacific; Sandipan Roy of ISOBAR Asia Pacific; Boy Abunda, TV host at ABS-CBN; and Dick Van Motman, chairman of Dentsu Aegis Networks/SEA.

One of the speakers, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes, inspired the delegates by relating his coaching style in the hard court to the practice of advertising and marketing.

Reyes cited the importance of trust, effort and accountability in the execution, efforts and responsibility of every player in the company, adding that great teams work with trust, as it serves as the bedrock in gaining the confidence of the people and the client. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)


PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia welcomes delegates to the Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014, as the four-day event unfolded at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on Thursday.

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US nuke sub arrives in Subic Bay

A nuclear-powered submarine of the United States Navy arrived here on Friday morning for what was described by the US Embassy in Manila as a “routine port call.”

The USS Chicago (SSN 721), a Los Angeles-type fast-attack submarine, docked at the Alava Wharf here, alongside the submarine tender USNS Emory Land, which came to port days earlier.

The US Embassy said Chicago’s visit will “allow the ship to replenish supplies, as well as give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation.”

The ship is said to carry a complement of 135 officers and ratings.

The port call also “highlights the strong historic, community and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines,” the Embassy statement said.

USS Chicago is part of the US Pacific Fleet’s Submarine Squadron 15 home-ported in Guam. It belongs to the 41-strong class of fast-attack submarines that form the backbone of the US Navy’s submarine force.

The ship is more than 360 feet long, displaces more than 7,000 tons when submerged, and attains an underwater speed of more than 20 knots.

Chicago, which carries Tomahawk land-attack missiles, Harpoon anti-surface ship missiles, as well as torpedoes and mines, can support “a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, and intelligence surveillance, and reconnaissance,” the embassy said.

Chicago’s visit came amid this year’s staging of the Philippines-US exercise Balikatan and just 45 days after another American underwater craft, the nuclear-powered missile-guided submarine USS Michigan (SSGN-727), docked here also for re-supply and crew “liberty.”

The Michigan surfaced here on March 25 amid rising tension at the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) following the attempted blockade by Chinese coast guard ships of a Philippines resupply vessel off Ayungin Shoal, but official US statements did not correlate the two events.

Instead, the embassy said the ship’s crew visited a local school for persons with disabilities in Olongapo City, as well as a local museum “to learn more about Filipino culture and history.” (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

PHOTO:
Crewmen of the nuclear submarine USS Chicago stand on deck, as the vessel is positioned by a tugboat alongside a submarine tender at the Alava Wharf in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday. (Henry Empeño)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/nation/31835-us-nuke-sub-arrives-in-subic-bay

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Subic pushing for more shipping trade

The port of Subic is aiming to take in more containerized- and bulk-cargo shipments to help relieve congestion in Manila ports and is now offering better terms for port users in Central and Northern Luzon.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said on Monday that both the government and the business community have to consider using the Subic Bay Freeport as an alternative to Manila because it provides a decidedly comparative advantage.

“Subic is 30-percent cheaper than Manila in terms of overall costs and offers a better turnaround time so it’s more advantageous, all-in,” he said. Garcia added that the Subic advantage is more apparent now that the daytime truck ban in the city has resulted to some problems in the transportation of goods to and from Manila piers.

“From a national point of view, we really have to utilize the ports of Subic and Batangas to help decongest Manila. Inefficient transportation translates to increased costs, and these are eventually passed on to consumers,” Garcia said.

The SBMA official said a study made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) had shown that of the 2.8 million containers arriving in the Port of Manila annually, some 450,000 of these go to various destinations in Central and Northern Luzon.

“So why do these shipments have to pass through Manila when Subic is nearer?” he asked.

Garcia said Subic has a total of 14 piers and wharves that can accommodate containerized and bulk shipments, including grains and petroleum products. The port also has warehouses and related logistics facilities.

He said the shipping firm Delgado Brothers is proposing to put up a “super shuttle” barge system that would bring shipments bound for Manila to Subic where they would be off-loaded, sorted and properly taxed.

This pass-through scheme, Garcia said, would enable shippers to off-load cargoes faster since the barging from Manila to Subic would just take four hours.

As of now, Garcia said a lot of big players, especially exporters with shipping deadlines, are looking at Subic to see how they can ship their cargoes here.

Among those recently shifting shipment through the Subic Freeport is Yokohama Tires Philippines Inc., an export-manufacturer based in nearby Clark Freeport.

Aside from the SBMA, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), a government agency overseeing the development of former military bases in the country, and the private sector-led Export Development Council (EDC), have been pushing for the diversion of cargo traffic to Subic and the Port of Batangas.

In March EDC Vice Chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the Port of Manila is “operating beyond its capacity” and called for the diversion of foreign cargo to ports outside Manila.

In December 2012 the BCDA also endorsed JICA’s policy mix to decongest port and road traffic in Manila by diverting some shipment to the underutilized Subic and Batangas ports. ( Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/31781-subic-pushing-for-more-shipping-trade

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Ad Summit Pilipinas gets underway in Subic Freeport

Ad Summit Pilipinas, the advertising industry’s biggest event in the country this year, officially kicked off here on Wednesday with a trade exhibit at Central Luzon’s grandest event venue, the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia, Ad Summit chairman Matec Villanueva, and Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies-Philippines (4As-P) chairman Alex Syfu led the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the trade exhibit.

Garcia welcomed Ad Summit guests and participants during the opening program, and said that the SBMA team worked very hard to ensure the success of the event.

Villanueva, on the other hand, complimented the SBMA and added that choosing Subic as the venue for the first Ad Summit was only fitting for the advertising industry. “We have chosen the most beautiful free port in the Philippines as the location for an event by the most beautiful industry in the country,” she said.

Villanueva also said that the Ad Summit is the culmination of their months-long preparation and that they are very happy that it is finally happening.

“We assure you that the Ad Summit won’t be a typical four-day event. We will all work together to empower each and every advertising and marketing professional to play a more valuable role in the society today,” she added.

Ad Summit Pilipinas, which is scheduled to begin plenary sessions on May 8, is expected to draw over 2,000 advertising and marketing practitioners who are set to gain insights on the ever-changing landscape of the local and global creative scene.

The Summit will also hold the Kidlat Awards on May 10 to recognize the best creative advertising work during the past year. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia welcomes delegates to the Ad Summit Pilipinas by turning over a symbolic key to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to Ad Summit chairperson Matec Villanueva. The four-day convention is touted to be the biggest event this year in the country’s advertising industry.

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USS Chicago to arrive in Subic Bay

THE USS Chicago (SSN-721), a Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine, will be arriving at Subic Bay, Zambales on Friday, May 9, for a routine port call that 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 Chicago is part of the US Pacific Fleet and is homeported in Guam.

The USS Chicago is commanded by Cmdr. Lance Thompson and crewed by approximately 135 sailors.

Measuring more than 360-feet long and weighing more than 7,000 tons when submerged, the USS Chicago is capable of supporting a multitude of missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (US Embassy Public Affairs, Manila)

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DOLE slaps Hanjin subcontractor with cease and desist order

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, May 7 (PIA) -- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office III issued Tuesday a cease and desist order (CDO) to Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation Philippines (HHIC-Phils) subcontractor Finback Corporation following an accident last week that claimed the life of one employee.

“29-year old Ryan Gacus obtained second degree burn from an explosion of a gas-hose of oxy-ethylene used while he was conducting cutting and fit-up work. He was rushed to the nearest hospital and sadly died hours later,” DOLE Regional Director Raymundo Agravante said.

“Based on our investigation, the probable cause of the incident is due to existence of a pinhole at the middle portion of the gas-hose used in cutting works. This might have been resulted from set-up or pulling of the hose inside the work area. With such small leak from the pinhole, workers could not detect the gas leak from the tools used. In the event that he relocated/ re-positioned the tools for a more comfortable condition in finishing the task, the damage portion might have been placed near the victim. Thus upon igniting the cutting torch the hose instantly exploded at the victim resulting to burn injuries,” Agravante explained.

In a meeting with representatives of HHIC and Finback, DOLE urged them to comply with a number of requirements.

This include conduct of Basic Safety Awareness Training to 10% of the skilled workers of Finback and submission of Employer’s accident-illness report; accident/incident report with photos attached; police report; medical abstract; employment record/contract; work methodology/procedure; employee’s profile; employee safety orientation; proof of document for acknowledgement receipt of social welfare benefits, and proof of documents for salary payments and remittance for Social Security System, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG.

Meanwhile, DOLE is also working closely with the two companies for the provision of financial assistance and other benefits to the family of the victim. (CLJD-PIA 3)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=561399394106

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TRADEX Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014

Ad Summit Pilipinas kicks things off with the opening of the Ad Summit Trade Expo. Showcasing the latest practices and technologies in advertising, the expo features booths by PLDT Home and Smart Communications, the latter displaying a new collaboration between the telecom company and broadcasting company TV5.

The opening ceremonies were attended by board members of organizer 4As, along with SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, and committee members of the Advertising Suppliers Association of the Philippines.

For more behind the scene photos, follow our Official Instagram account here: www.instagram.com/AdSummitPilipinas

https://www.facebook.com/AdSummitPH

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SBMA approves military bases inside Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has approved a resolution allowing the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Navy (PN) to set-up partial military bases inside the Freeport, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia announced on Monday.

PAF is planning to house about 25 fighter jets from South Korea in the Fedex area adjacent to the Subic Bay International Airport while the Philippine Navy is asking for the area encompassing the Alava Pier and the Juliet and Rivera wharfs where two naval cutter will be home ported.

With the ongoing Balikatan exercises between United States and Filipino forces and the newly-approved Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the planned air and naval bases inside the Subic Freeport zone will naturally also be used by American troops.

“We have to stress here that these are Philippine bases not American bases,” Garcia pointed out.

With regards to EDCA, the Garcia said that this is still being worked out. “Materials and supplies pwede siguro dito,” he said.

Garcia said the SBMA board has approved in principle the setting-up of the two bases for the PAF and PN “in the interest of national security.”

“But I have requested that locators be allowed to continue with their operation,” he said.

Two US C-130 planes were spotted at the Subic Bay International Airport while some American sea vessels were seen at the Alava Pier and near the Rivera and Juliet wharfs of the former American naval base.

Garcia said that the airplanes are part of the Balikatan. (Ernie B. Esconde, Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/sbma-approves-military-bases-inside-freeport/94476/

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SBMA revamped after key officials’ ouster

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has reshuffled several of its key managers after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of three agency officials in connection with a flawed port contract.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the SBMA board held a special meeting last Friday and approved the appointment of Joy Alvarado, officer in charge of the SBMA Regulatory Group, as OIC senior deputy administrator (SDA) for the SBMA Business Group; and Marco Estabillo, manager of the SBMA Engineering Department, as OIC SDA for operations and concurrent OIC deputy administrator for public works.

The SBMA board also appointed OIC Deputy Administrator (DA) for Business Reuel John Kabigting as OIC for regulatory; Ronnie Yambao as OIC DA for business development; Anna Joy Quinto as OIC for business accreditation; and Gary Fernandez as OIC for engineering department.

The appointments took effect on Monday.

Garcia said Alvarado replaced Stefani Saño as SDA for business, while Estabillo took over the post of Marcelino Sanqui.

Saño and Sanqui, along with SDA for support services Ramon Agregado, are the only sitting officials among the 18 SBMA officials indicted by the Ombudsman last month for allegedly rigging a joint-venture agreement (JVA) in 2010 for the development, operation and management of the Naval Supply Depot logistics area here and the ports of Boton, Alava, Rivera and Bravo.

Those indicted included former SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga; former Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Armand Arreza; ex-Senior Deputy Administrator Ferdinand Hernandez; ex-Deputy Administrator Ma. Cristina Millan; and ex-Board Members Edralino Cajudo, Antonio Rex Chan, Ricardo Coscolluela, Angelita Cruz, Teodoro del Rosario, Jorge Estanislao, Ma. Angela Garcia, James Lorenzana, Ma. Victoria Pineda, Saño, Jennifer Khonghun-Ting and Eddie Tamondong.

Businessman Reghis Romero and Michael Romero, chairman and chief executive, respectively, of Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. (HCPTI), which got the contract, were also charged as co-respondents.

The Ombudsman said the SBMA officials “displayed manifest partiality and evident bad faith in the performance of their functions,” and said the agency resorted to procedural shortcuts in awarding the contract to HCPTI.

The anti-graft body also noted the SBMA had lowered the cost of the contract to only P763 million to allow HCPTI to post a lower bid security of P15.26 million. However, the JVA originally cost P5.537 billion, which should have required the HCPTI to post a bid security of P100 million.

Garcia said the SBMA, under his helm, did not implement the JVA with HCPTI.

He said that upon taking over as chairman in 2010, he asked around and became wary of the contract upon learning that the National Economic and Development Authority had withdrawn from the project.

“So we didn’t take action [on the JVA]. We simply followed the court order declaring the JVA null and void,” Garcia said.

Pending the resolution of the case against the HCPTI contract, the status quo remains and the SBMA continues to operate all the 14 wharves and piers in the Freeport, Garcia said.

The newly appointed OICs will be serving in a temporary capacity, and without additional pay, until the graft case has been finally resolved, he said. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/top-news/31631-sbma-revamped-after-key-officials-ouster

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Subic celebrates Labor Day with job fair, fun games

Investors and workers in this freeport zone, along with their families, joined hands in the annual celebration of Labor Day here with a labor-recruitment activity and fun games to strengthen goodwill and camaraderie.

“While most of the labor organizations in the country join street protests and rallies, workers in the Subic Bay Freeport take part in what they believe is a more productive way to celebrate this global holiday,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said.

“The workers of Subic are going beyond mere display of flags and streamers during Labor Day. Here, we celebrate by building on the positive, by strengthening the workers and creating more opportunities for them,” Garcia said.

Organized by the SBMA Labor Department in collaboration with the Subic Bay Workers Development Foundation, Inc. and Harbor Point (Ayala Malls), the celebration started as early as 6:00 a.m. with a three-kilometer fun run participated in by company managers, workers and some family members.

After that, a talent competition was held at the Harbor Point Activity Center to see who were the best dancers, singers and muses among workers from various companies.

At the same time, 25 business locators in the Freeport organized a job fair at the Harbor Point Promenade.

SBMA labor manager Severo Pastor Jr. said the Labor Day job fair in Subic was the biggest in Central Luzon as more than 4,000 jobs were offered by the participating firms.

The labor official attributed the significant increase in the number of job openings here to the continuing effort of the SBMA management to attract more investors in the Freeport.

Pastor also lauded the workers in the Subic Bay Freeport, saying that the local workforce had helped make Subic a globally-competitive business center.

He added that quality performance by Subic workers is the result of not only good salary or company prestige, but also how workers feel about their employers or managers, as well as how investors feel about the SBMA and vice versa.

“We are different here in Subic. This is because Freeport workers and their managers choose to relax side by side, and also have friendly competition with other personnel from other companies. This makes for good camaraderie and goodwill, and ultimately good performance and good business,” Pastor said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Young jobseekers, most of them fresh from college, scan company announcements during a Labor Day job fair at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall in the hope of landing a full-time job at the Subic Bay Freeport.

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Worker dies in Subic shipyard accident

SUBIC, Zambales , Philippines– A worker died from burns in the latest accident that occurred at the Hanjin shipyard here, hospital sources said yesterday.

Randy Gacos, 29, a welder of Finback Corp., a subcontractor of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines Inc., suffered severe burns while working Wednesday. He was rushed to the Unihealth-Baypointe Hospital and Medical Center at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone but doctors failed to save him.

Sources said Gacos’ welding hose caught fire and the flames spread over his body.

Data showed Gacos is the 37th worker to have died while working at the shipyard.

Meanwhile, a labor group challenged President Aquino to uphold and protect the rights of the workers at the Hanjin shipyard.

Partidong Manggagawa chairman Renato Magtubo said the death of Gacos would serve as a test for Aquino who once thanked Hanjin for its P24-billion investment in the country.

“The Hanjin shipyard is a graveyard of workers. While capitalists are scrimping on protection for its work force and the government is sleeping on its job of enforcement, workers are dying in the workplace,” Magtubo said.

The group estimated that there are at least 21,000 workers at the shipyard but only a few hundreds are employed directly while the rest were hired through the subcontractors. (Bebot Sison, Sheila Crisostomo, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/05/04/1319113/worker-dies-subic-shipyard-accident

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