USS Peleliu and Germantown in Subic Bay for Amphibious Landing Exercise 15

The USS Peleliu (LHA 5), an amphibious assault ship, and the USS Germantown (LSD 42), an amphibious dock landing ship of the U.S. 7th Fleet, arrived in Subic Bay Freeport today (Sept. 27) to participate in this year’s Amphibious Landing Exercise 15.

PHIBLEX 15, a bilateral annual military exercise, will take place throughout Luzon and Palawan from September 29 to October 10. During the exercise, the Peleliu and Germantown will support Philippine and U.S. troops in amphibious-operations training designed to strengthen military responses to regional issues, humanitarian disasters, and maritime-security needs within the Asia-Pacific region.

The USS Peleliu, commanded by Capt. Paul Spedero, is manned by more than 1,100 sailors. The USS Germantown, commanded by Capt. Marvin Thompson, is manned by more than 350 sailors. Both ships have elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is commanded by Col. Romin Dasmalchi and based out of Okinawa, Japan, and can have up to 2,200 Marines. (US Embassy Public Affairs)




PHOTOS:
[1] The primary mission of the USS Peleliu is to embark and deploy combat-ready Marines, along with their equipment and supplies needed to conduct a variety of missions including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, and land them ashore by rotary-wing aircraft and amphibious craft. The USS Peleliu is named after the island in the Pacific where the historic World War II battle took place. The Battle of Peleliu was one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific with eight Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients.

[2] An MH-60S Seahawk approaches the flight deck of the dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42). The USS Germantown is the second ship to bear the name of the historical Pennsylvania district of Germantown, famous for being the site of an important battle of the American Revolution. The amphibious assault ship's mission is to project power ashore by transporting and launching amphibious craft and vehicles loaded with embarked Marines in support of amphibious operations.

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USS Frank Cable in Subic Bay

USS Frank Cable (AS 40), a ship that provides repairs and support to submarines, is now in Subic Bay. The routine port call highlights the strong partnerships between the Philippines and the United States.

This visit will allow the ship to replenish supplies and give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation. While in Subic Bay, the sailors of USS Frank Cable are eager to enjoy Olongapo City and strengthen their understanding of a country with deep historical ties to the United States and the U.S. Navy.

The USS Frank Cable, named after Frank Taylor Cable (1863-1945), an early pioneer in submarine development for the U.S. Navy, is part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and is homeported in Apra Harbor, Guam. It is commanded by Capt. Mark B. Benjamin and crewed by approximately 500 sailors, 40 of whom are Filipino-American.

For more information about the USS Frank Cable, visit the ship’s webpage at http://www.cable.navy.mil/index.htm.

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RDC moves to implement vital projects in Central Luzon

The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Central Luzon has paved the way for the implementation of at least five priority projects expected to stimulate economic progress in the region.

In a council meeting in San Jose, Palayan City in Nueva Ecija, officials and representatives from Aurora, Baler, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales approved resolutions that would prime up the region for more commerce and industry by providing alternative ports and additional mass transit from Metro Manila.

The approved resolutions included the fast-tracking of the implementation of Phase 1 of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR); the reconsideration of Clark as the location of a new NAIA terminal and to provide national government subsidy for the Budget Terminal Expansion and Facility Modernization of Clark International Airport; and urging the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) to intensify its promotion and marketing development activities.

The RDC likewise endorsed Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) request to encourage importers and exporters of Region III to utilize the Port of Subic which has recently been declared as an extension of the Port of Manila.

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said the council also endorsed the appointment of Renato G. Romero, private sector representative for Trade and Industry as co-chairman of the Sectoral Committee on Economic Development (SCED) of the 14th RDC.

Moreover, Pampanga Gov. Lilia G. Pineda, chair of social development committee, called on the
National Housing Authority (NHA), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to work together in the identification of unoccupied hectares of publicly-owned land so that the government could use these for its housing and other infrastructure needs.

She said the local government units are “in need of vacant lots, new facilities for the homeless and the sick, especially now that we are experiencing climate change.’’

Pineda said line agencies must also work and coordinate among each other to rehabilitate and maximize the use of many abandoned day care centers and health clinics.

“Instead of asking the national government for more funds for the construction of facilities like day care centers and health centers, the local government units can just renovate the abandoned buildings with minimal expense,’’ she said. (Franco C. Regala and Freddie Velez, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/rdc-moves-to-implement-vital-projects-in-central-luzon/

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Cap on Manila ports expansion pushed

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has proposed to the government to place a cap on the Manila ports’ expansion and facilitate diversion of cargo volume to Batangas and Subic ports to decongest roads to Manila.

JICA cited the need to “shift cargo-handling function of Metro Manila to Subic and Batangas through controlling of future expansion of Manila ports and providing incentives to use Subic and Batangas ports,” in its study on the Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surrounding Areas.

Based on the JICA proposed short-term program for 2014 to 2016, there are over P12 billion expansion and modernization projects in the Manila port, which include P6 billion for North Harbor, P1 billion for South Harbor and P4 billion for Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

Also, there is the proposed feasibility study for North Harbor redevelopment worth P75 million and for other port expansion and modernization worth P1 billion.

“The planned expansion projects for Manila ports recommended for rescheduling to promote diversion of cargo to Batangas and Subic ports as well as decongest road to Manila,” JICA said in the study conducted in March 2013 to March 2014.

JICA’s “proposed concept for gateway port development” is to “maximize capacities and development opportunities of (the) three ports.”

As part of the initiatives to decongest the Manila port, President Aquino declared the ports of Batangas and Subic as extensions of the Port of Manila in response to the present port congestion problem.

Last month, the Office of the President also approved the reduction of port charges and other vessel-handling related fees at the Port of Batangas and that paid by port operator International Container Terminals Services, Inc. (ICTSI).

The move is to attract more direct callers and port users to the Batangas Port while incentivizing MICT operator ICTSI for its share in de-clogging the Ports of Manila.

Direct callers at Batangas get 90 percent discount on port dues from the existing fee of $0.081 per gross revenue ton (GRT) per day to only $0.008 per GRT per day, as well as a 90 percent cut in dockage-at-berth from $0.039 per GRT to only $0.004 per GRT per day.

The new rates, however, will be applicable only for six months. The discount for the succeeding six months will be reduced to 50 percent for both, or from $0.081 GRT per day to $0.040 per GRT per day and from $0.039 per GRT to $0.020 per GRT per day. (Malaya Business Insight)

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/cap-manila-ports-expansion-pushed

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Subic cuts container-port fees by more than 80%

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has announced the reduction of port charges at the New Container Terminal (NCT) here by more than 80 percent effective on October 1.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said in a news conference on Friday that the agency will reduce the harbor fee at both NCT-1 and NCT-2 from the current $0.046 per gross register tonnage (GRT) to $0.008, and the berthing fee from $0.0345 per GRT per day to only $0.004.

Garcia said Subic’s container terminals and the extension port in Batangas will impose the new unified rates to attract more shipping lines, as well as to support President Aquino’s initiative to ease port congestion in Manila.

Before the implementation of the new rates, the Port of Batangas charged a harbor fee of $0.0810 per GRT and a berthing fee of $0.0390 per GRT per day.

“In the case of Subic, the new harbor fee is 83 percent lower than the regular rates here, while the new berthing fee is 88 percent lower,” Garcia pointed out in Friday’s briefing.

“However, the reduced rates will be applicable only at the NCT-1 and NCT-2, and not at the other ports in Subic,” Garcia added.

The NCT-1 is currently being used by regular shippers like Yokohama Tires and HLD Pipes, while NCT-2 has recently been declared, along with the Port of Batangas, as an extension of the Port of Manila under Executive Order 172.

Garcia also clarified that the reduced rates at NCT will be effective for the next six months from October 1. “After that, the rates will increase a little for the next six months, but will still be lower than the regular rates today,” he added, ticking off the second phase of unified Subic-Batangas extension port rates at $0.0410 for harbor fees and $0.0200 for berthing fees.

Garcia said that, in reducing port fees at the NCT, the SBMA expects to lose as much as $10 million to $15 million.

“But we hope to recoup the losses in the long run, as we’re also doing this to encourage new lines to come over, as well as to show our appreciation to existing shipping lines that had stuck with Subic in all its lean years,” he added.

In the same occasion, Garcia unveiled a proactive market positioning program for the Port of Subic to further attract both shippers and shipping lines to the Subic Bay Freeport.

This includes continuous communication with stakeholders like shipping lines, locators and port users; establishment of a simplified accreditation process for port-related services like trucking, freight-forwarding and customs brokerage; systems integration for real-time monitoring and management of container inventory bound for NCT-1; and enactment of domestic tariff for local shipping lines for companies that ship from Subic to other domestic ports.

He also bared other plans to further develop Subic as a center for maritime trade. These include the development of a P2.1-billion bypass road to be used exclusively for the transport of container vans here; the establishment of a one-stop shop to facilitate release of shipments and minimize corruption; installation of fiber-optic system dedicated for the Subic seaport; the expansion of a gatepass management system; and the implementation of the Subic Bay Greenport Program.

Garcia said Subic’s NCT has lately experienced a spike in container traffic, with projections of 70,000 containers this year compared to 38,000 last year, ever since overstaying containers in Manila ports were moved to Subic for temporary storage. (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/39058-subic-cuts-container-port-fees-by-more-than-80

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Subic Freeport to undergo facelift to attract more visitors

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced a major initiative to improve facilities and enhance the natural beauty of this free port with the end in view of boosting the tourism industry here.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the agency’s “Operation Facelift” is designed to bring Subic at par with other tourist attractions in like Singapore and Guam.

Garcia noted that the Subic Bay Freeport is known for its natural assets like the lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and native wildlife that lure tourists into the area.

“However, as years went by, some of the structures and spaces seem to have been neglected or left unattended and havebecome eyesores,” he said.

Garcia noted that the American military, which previously occupied the Subic Naval Base, had kept the area as a beautiful and comfortable place to relaxation.

“Even after the Americans had left, people from all over the country came to see and enjoy Subic, especially when investors came and built theme parks, hotels and restaurants, and duty-free stores and malls,” he said.

Garcia added that for its natural and man-made attractions, Subic has been named by the Department of Tourism (DoT) in October 2012 as its unequivocal choice as the “Premier Convention Capital of Central Luzon.”

In December 2012, Subic was also identified by the DoT “as one of the Top Destinations in the Country” due to its wide array of quality tourist facilities and the high level of visitation it generated.

Garcia said that “Operation Facelift” would bring back the natural beauty of Subic that tourists and local residents have come to love and be proud of.

He said the tourism development program will also inject technology into the system, like replacing grasses with the low-maintenance “frog grass” variety and planting selected species of trees that need little maintenance.

“Honestly, SBMA cannot do this alone; that is why we welcome everyone who would volunteer to help in this endeavor,” Garcia said.

“We hope that volunteers from companies, civic organizations and schools, as well as residents, would help us in painting street curbs, planting trees and flowering plants, repainting building walls, and cleaning the streets,” he added.

Garcia also enjoined business locators and residents in the Freeport to support the beautification drive by keeping their areas orderly and clean.

“These little tasks mean a lot because, taken together, they would make for a cleaner, more beautiful, more attractive and more marketable Subic,” Garcia added. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Goodbye Tonka - Subic marine park’s last false killer whale dies

SUBIC BAY FREE PORT—The last of the highly trained false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) that have become star attractions at the Ocean Adventure Marine Park here died on Saturday, park officials announced on Thursday.

Tonka, who was 18 years old, succumbed to an inoperable bowel disorder, “despite the best medical efforts and 24-hour care,” said Gail Laule, executive vice president of Ocean Adventure. The disorder that killed Tonka was “common to false killer whales in the wild and those in human care,” Laule added.

Tonka was reportedly the last of six false killer whales that Ocean Adventure had imported in 2001 for display at its open-water park here.

Ocean Adventure had four species of cetaceans: false killer whale, bottlenose dolphin, rough-toothed dolphin and spotted dolphin.

Laule said Tonka was rescued in 1996 from the Japanese drive fishery, which she described as a tightly regulated program to control wild populations of whales and dolphins to protect Japanese coastal fish stocks.

For the next 18 years, Tonka reportedly lived with other cetaceans in Ocean Adventure’s natural open-water lagoons where he could dive deep, swim fast and catch live fish, Laule said.

The park official added Tonka and the other marine mammals at Ocean Adventure were at the core of a strong educational and conservation agenda.

“Tonka won the hearts of millions of visitors and schoolchildren and helped educate and motivate them to protect the oceans and the animals that inhabit them,” Laule also said.

The death of Tonka, however, revived calls by animal-rights groups like the Earth Island Institute (EII) and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) to shut down the marine park here.

On Tuesday EII announced that it will conduct a picket in front of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry in Quezon City to protest Ocean Adventure operations in the wake of Tonka’s death.

However, Timothy Desmond, chairman and chief executive officer of Ocean Adventure, said in a separate statement that Tonka’s death is now being exploited by animal-rights groups “to get attention for themselves so they can make profit.”

“Groups like EII and PAWS, who do nothing directly beneficial for the cause of animal welfare, should stop using the natural death of a false killer whale for their fund-raising activities by seeking publicity,” Desmond said.

He added that, for many years, EII and PAWS have engaged in a campaign attacking the reputation of Ocean Adventure “by deliberately making false claims and generating negative publicity against the company.”

“The truth is, these groups know next to nothing about these animals. All they know, and what they are good at is making noise to damage us economically.” (Henry Empeño, BusinessMirror)

PHOTO:
Tonka, a 10-year-old false killer whale at Ocean Adventure. Photo courtesy of the Free Tonka Facebook page

http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/38952-subic-marine-park-s-last-false-killer-whale-dies

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Subic, Batangas named extensions of Manila port

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has signed Executive Order 172 declaring the ports of Subic and Batangas as extensions of the Port of Manila during congestion and other emergency situations, such as strikes, lockouts and natural calamities, a Palace official said yesterday.

Under the EO, foreign vessels with the Port of Manila as their destination or origin may be directed to Batangas port or Subic Bay Freeport. Even if these vessels use these alternate ports, the Port of Manila will still be considered their berthing point.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said berthing and other port fees in Subic and Batangas will be applied to foreign vessels if they are directed to these alternate ports.

She said the EO was signed on Sept. 13 to give the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) the power to designate alternate piers for shipments to the Manila port.

“It is no secret that port congestion in Manila is one of the major factors that hinders the free flow of goods passing through the ports,” Valte said.

“We have seen the effects on the demand-supply chain, and on economic growth. The EO seeks to alleviate these problems,” she added.

The SBMA welcomed the President’s signing of EO 172 as it would stir business activities in Subic port.

Subic Bay Freeport’s New Container Terminal-2 has been assigned as an extension of the Port of Manila.

SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia said there are 4,000 shipping containers “overstaying” at the Port of Manila.

To address port congestion, he said the SBMA and PPA have agreed to ship the overstaying containers from Manila to Subic twice a week.

Garcia said the SBMA is considering reducing its current port fees to be competitive with fees in other ports so that more shippers would use Subic.

Biz groups back EO 172

Business groups support President Aquino’s declaration of Batangas and Subic ports as extension of the Manila port to address congestion.

Management Association of the Philippines president Gregorio Navarro said yesterday the issuance by Malacañang of EO 172 is a welcome development.

“This is a good move… I would assume that all the port fees would also be harmonized,” Navarro said.

For his part, Makati Business Club (MBC) executive director Peter Perfecto said “the EO will be more useful in the context of a comprehensive and long term logistics and transport plan for the country.”

With port congestion affecting the country’s competitiveness rankings, the MBC sees the need for such to be addressed urgently.

Sergio Ortiz Luis Jr., president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., said they support Malacañang’s move to solve port congestion.

He said the EO will help encourage greater utilization of the Batangas and Subic ports.

For his part, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines senior advisor John Forbes said they are hopeful utilization of Batangas and Subic ports will remain high.

“We would like to see two added cranes installed in Batangas port within the year to double its capacity,” he said.

The truck ban imposed by the city government of Manila in February has resulted in the pileup of cargo at Manila’s ports.

Last Saturday, Mayor Joseph Estrada lifted the truck ban. (Delon Porcalla, with Louella Desiderio, Bebot Sison Jr., Philippine Star)

PHOTO: The New Container Terminal (NCT) at the Port of Subic

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/09/17/1369962/subic-batangas-named-extensions-manila-port

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US Coast Guard lauds Subic Bay port security plan

A ranking officer of the United States Coast Guard praised the port security plan being implemented by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and pier operators here, saying it is one of the best there is today.

US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Justin Moyer made the evaluation during a tabletop exercise and drill on SBMA’s port security held Wednesday at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC).

The event, which gathered participants from the SBMA and Subic Freeport pier operators, as well as representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard and the maritime police, was organized by the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) of the Department of Transportation & Communications (DOTC), in collaboration with the US Coast Guard.

“We were surprised by how well everybody responded to scenarios,” Moyer said after the exercises.

“We’ve travelled to a lot of countries and I can say this is unequivocally the best capacity-building exercise that we’ve seen,” Moyer added.

Moyer also encouraged the participants to continue the training exercises and expand the umbrella port-wide plan.

He recommended the utilization of the APEC Manual of Maritime Security Drills as reference in enabling further inter-operability of the plan in response to issues, threats, and risks not only from a facility and port-wide perspective, but from a regional perspective as well.

SBMA Seaport manager Jerome Martinez said the exercises have proven the effectiveness and proficient inter-operability of Subic Bay’s port-wide security plan, which is in compliance with the International Ships and Port Security (ISPS) code, requiring all international ports to develop and maintain security procedures.

The OTS-DOTC has recently issued anew a certificate of compliance to SBMA for its port security manual, detailing security measures and controls in times of threats and other emergencies that may occur in any of the berths and wharves of the Freeport zone.

“Our lookouts are security threats that are prevalent such as smuggling of illegal goods, human trafficking, pilferage, and theft. Then again, we are also prepared for regional threats such as piracy and terrorism,” Martinez said.

The US Coast Guard participated as a first-time facilitator of the exercises in the Philippines, together with the OTS-DOTC.

Participating in the tabletop port security drills were SBMA’s first responders; namely its Seaport, Law Enforcement, Fire, and Public Health and Safety Departments.

On the other hand, SBF pier operators that joined the drills were Boton Pier operator Seaport Terminal, Inc. (STI); New Container Terminal (NCT) 1 and 2 operator Subic Bay International Container Terminal (SBICT); POL pier operator Coastal Petroleum; SRF operator Global Terminals and Development Inc.; Subic Bay Yacht Club; and Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation (HHIC) Philippines. (RBB/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Justin Moyer shares his views on ports security during an exercise attended by various port users and locators, as well as SBMA security personnel and emergency responders to ensure port safety and security in the Subic Bay Freeport.

[2] US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Justin Moyer shows an APEC Manual of Maritime Security Drills as a handy manual during the Ports Security Drills and Exercises at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. The table-top exercise was attended by various port users and locators, as well as SBMA security personnel and emergency responders in the Subic Bay Freeport.

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Subic hikes port fees on unclaimed shipment

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said it will increase the daily port fees by 500 percent to P5,000 from P1,000 for every unclaimed container starting next month to force consignees to collect their cargoes and prevent congestion inside the Freeport.

“After the Bureau of Customs has inspected, cleared, and issued release documents for the container, the consignee should immediately remove it from NCT-2 [New Container Terminal 2], otherwise a penalty of P5,000 a day will be charged against him,” said SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia.

NCT-2 and NCT-1, which is being used by existing port users in Subic, have a combined capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units.

The agency retained the right to collect fees from the ships and containerized cargoes, after an agreement was signed to annex Subic Port as an extension of the Port of Manila to help solve the dense cargo traffic in Manila.

SBMA also maintained its right to reject any cargo or ship that might pose risks to the health, environment and security of inhabitants and stakeholders of the Subic Freeport.

Garcia said to help solve the problem, it was agreed upon that a ferry would start shipping the remaining 4,000 overstaying containers from Manila to Subic twice a week, or more frequently as needed.

He also assured the public that the agency would maintain orderliness at NCT-2, one of the two container terminals in Subic Port, and considered measures to prevent traffic congestion due to the expected rise in the number of trucks hauling containerized cargoes in and out of the Freeport. (Othel V. Campos, Manila Standard)

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/09/12/subic-hikes-port-fees-on-unclaimed-shipment/

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Overstaying containers will still be moved to Subic

THE PHILIPPINES will continue moving twenty-foot metal containers to a facility outside Manila and charging storage fees for overstaying boxes to decongest its premier port.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and two harbor operators -- the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) and the Asian Terminals Inc. -- made this announcement on Sunday, a day after a truck ban was lifted in Manila which was blamed for the port congestion.

“The lifting of the truck ban has given us the chance to decongest the port and get back to our normal way of life sooner than anticipated,” Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager Juan C. Sta. Ana said in a statement.

Starting Oct. 1, the two port operators will be charging P5,000 per container if these remain parked at their facilities after the 5-day free storage period offered by the PPA, the statement said.

The move intends to discourage cargo owners from using terminals as their virtual warehouses, the statement said.

“However, instead of imposing the fine on the sixth day, the operators will impose the fee on the 11th day after getting clearance from the BoC (Bureau of Customs), effectively allowing cargo owners at least 10 days to get their cargoes out of the Manila ports,” the statement said.

On Friday, ICTSI and ATI transported 135 overstaying containers to the Subic port onboard the MV West Ocean 3, a vessel run by Super Shuttler Service of the ICTSI.

The vessel is again set to sail Tuesday to carry another 135 overstaying Customs-cleared containers and every Friday and Tuesday, thereafter, the statement said.

One thousand trucks have also been rented to carry some 2,000 overstaying Customs-cleared containers from Manila to a four-hectare facility in Cabuyao, Laguna, that started early Sunday morning, Sept. 14. They are expected to complete the transfer at noon Monday. This decongestion effort will be repeated for four Sundays by the terminal operators.

The operators are trying to remove about 5,000 TEUs of overstaying Customs-cleared ready-to-go containers at the Manila International Container Terminal and the Manila South Harbor to provide enough space for incoming cargoes. (BusinessWorld)

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=overstaying-containers-will-still-be-moved-to-subic&id=94472

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DFA launches radio forum on sea row

Being on the frontlines on the issue of China’s illegal occupation of the Philippines’ Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has launched its first-ever Special Kapihan ng Mamamayan on the West Philippine Sea Issue in Olongapo City, Zambales.

Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal, which is a part of the municipality of Masinloc, has become one of the hotly contested areas in the West Philippine Sea since the standoff between the Philippines and China in April 2012.

DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Charles Jose was the guest speaker at the forum on Friday at Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo City.

The Special Kapihan was jointly organized by the DFA and the Philippine Information Agency.

The DFA said a series of Special Kapihans will be held throughout the year until 2015 as part of the the department’s nationwide campaign to bring the West Philippine Sea issue to the grassroots of Philippine society.

Conducted largely in the vernacular language, the forum aims to explain the West Philippine Sea issue to ordinary Filipinos and gain their support for the steps being undertaken by the government to address the problem.

“The situation in the West Philippine Sea is an issue that has implications in the country’s security and economy,” Jose said.

Participants in the kapihan included local media representatives and local government officials.

While in Olongapo City, Jose also talked about the West Philippine Sea on radio programs, including the Mayor’s Report hosted by Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino.

The next forum will be held in Palawan, another frontline province in the maritime disputes.

The Philippines protested in February the firing of water cannons at Filipino fishermen in Panatag Shoal and harassment incidents reportedly committed by Chinese authorities.

China prohibits Filipinos from undertaking fishing activities in Panatag Shoal. It rejected the Philippine protest, insisting it has indisputable sovereignty over South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters.

Bajo de Masinloc, 124 nautical miles from Zambales and nearly 500 nautical miles from the nearest coast of China, is part of Masinloc municipality.

The Philippines exercises effective jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc and historical maps show that it is within its territory since the Spanish period. A Philippine flag has been hoisted in the shoal.

In the 1960s, the Philippines even built and operated a lighthouse there.

The area was also used as a target range by naval and air forces of the Philippines and the United States.

New radio station

Local and foreign radio enthusiasts are setting up a radio station in Kalayaan town on Pag-Asa island in the hotly-contested Spratlys archipelago, not only to guide mariners but also to promote awareness of the prevailing Philippine maritime dispute with China.

An air-conditioned building behind the town’s municipal hall is nearing completion to house the station’s broadcast center and other communication facilities, Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon Jr. said. (Pia Lee Brago, Jaime Laude, Philippine Star)

PHOTO:
DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Charles Jose interacts with listeners in Zambales in a radio interview over SBMA-PBS radio station DWSB 89.5 FM Subic Bay Radio. (AED)

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/09/14/1368926/dfa-launches-radio-forum-sea-row

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Environment Summit in Subic Bay - Prelude to the International Coastal Clean-Up

[1] SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia delivers his message to participants of an Environment Summit held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. The two-day summit is a prelude to the upcoming International Coastal Clean-up slated on September 20 for which the province of Zambales, including the Subic Bay Freeport community, is eyeing to muster around 40,000 participants.

[2] SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (left) confers with Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon G. Lacbain III, Board Member Romelito Gojo, and Philippine Army 24th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Monib Mamao during the opening of an Environment Summit held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. The two-day summit is a prelude to the upcoming International Coastal Clean-up slated on September 20 for which the province of Zambales, including the Subic Bay Freeport community, is eyeing to muster around 40,000 participants.

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Subic’s NCT-2 now Manila’s extension port

Subic Bay Freeport’s New Container Terminal-2 (NCT-2) has been formally assigned as an extension of the Port of Manila as part of government efforts to solve cargo congestion in Manila.

This developed as executives of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would take effect on Friday (Sept.12).

The MOA was signed by SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia and PPA General Manager Juan Sta. Ana.

Under the agreement, NCT-2 will be known as “Subic Bay Freeport-Manila Port Extension” and will be used to load, unload or transship containerized cargoes with Manila as port of destination, origin, or transshipment, but which cannot be accommodated in either the Manila International Container Port (MICP) or the South Harbor.

Garcia said the SBMA will retain the right to collect fees from the ships and containerized cargoes under this agreement, as well as to reject any cargo or ship that may pose risks to the health, environment, and security of inhabitants and stakeholders of the Subic Freeport.

In a briefing held here on Wednesday, Garcia also told reporters that the Port of Manila presently has about 4,000 container vans declared as overstaying, thereby exacerbating congestion in the country’s major port.

Garcia said that to help solve the problem, it was agreed upon that a ferry will start shipping the overstaying containers from Manila to Subic twice a week, or more frequently as needed.

For this, SBMA will charge the consignees P1,000 per twenty-footer container a day. However, starting October, the fee will be raised to P5,000 a day to force consignees to pick up their cargoes and to bring them out of Subic, the SBMA official explained.

“After the Bureau of Customs has inspected, cleared, and issued release documents for the container, the consignee should immediately remove it from NCT-2, otherwise a penalty of P5,000 a day will be charged against him,” said Garcia.

Garcia also assured the public that the SBMA is doing everything to maintain orderliness at NCT-2, and has considered measures to prevent traffic congestion due to the expected increase in the number of trucks hauling containerized cargoes in and out of the Freeport.

He said that the SBMA has consulted the management of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), which assigned Lane Number 3 on both sides of the toll road exclusively for cargo trucks.

Garcia added that the SBMA is also proposing to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fund the construction of a new road that will directly link Subic’s New Container Terminal to the SCTEx. This project is estimated to cost more than P2 billion.

The SBMA chairman also noted that the Subic agency is considering reducing its current port charges to make them competitive with fees in other ports so that more shippers would use Subic.

“While the Manila extension is a done deal, we make sure that everything is already in place before more container vans are shipped here in Subic. At the same time, we are still finding ways to make Subic more competitive than its neighboring ports,” Garcia said.

The NCT-2 and NCT-1, which is being used by existing port users in Subic, have a total capacity of 600,000 TEUs. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Container ship docked at NCT2 in Subic Bay

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​Pag-IBIG now nearer to Subic Freeport workers​

Some 100,000 Pag-IBIG member​s will now have easier access to national savings program and affordable shelter financing as the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), more popularly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, made this premier Freeport its new home.

The new office is located along Manila Avenue, just a block away from the Subic Freeport’s Rizal Gate.

According to Branch Manager Roman G. Infante, the Subic office is ready to accommodate Pag-IBIG members working in Subic Freeport ​, as well those​ in ​Olongapo City and ​the province of Zambales.

He added that the need to put up an office here is great that the current workload has increased by almost 50 percent.

Infante said that the number of members coming to their office in Dinalupihan, Bataan was around 250 per day. However, ever since the Pag-IBIG office started to operate in the Subic Freeport on September 1, they have been getting more than 300 members every day.

With a total of 90,425 employees working inside this Freeport, a need to update their membership is necessary.

Infante said that his office is coordinating with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to ensure that all the members here are accounted for.

“We have already talked to Attorney Severo Pastor of the Labor Department of SBMA, and he is willing to help us out in that endeavor,” Infante said.

The SBMA’s response, according to Infante, ​was more than friendly as Chairman Roberto Garcia himself welcomed the creation of the office here.

“The biggest hurdle is the transition of our workers, since most of our workers come from Bataan. I, myself, am a resident of Pampanga. Usually it takes me 45 minutes to get home; now it takes almost an hour and a half,” Infante said.

But Infante assured that their work comes first, as he and his staff are willing to sacrifice for the sake of the Freeport workers.

The HDMF was established to provide a national savings program and affordable shelter financing for the Filipino worker. The Fund offers short-term loans and access to housing programs.

It is mandatory for all SSS- and GSIS-covered employees, uniformed members of the AFP, BFP, BJMP and PNP, as well as Filipinos employed by foreign-based employers.

Housing programs such as the Fiesta Communities and the Hanjin Employee Housing program are but some that have made houses affordable to the common working Filipino here. (JR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] Pag-IBIG members from Olongapo City and Zambales transact business at the new Pag-IBIG office in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone

[4] The Formosa Tower along Manila Avenue houses the new Pag-IBIG office at the Subic Bay Freeport.

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Joint Phl-US war games set in Palawan, Zambales

MANILA, Philippines - This year’s joint Philippine Bilateral Exercise (Phiblex) with the United States will be a bigger military exercise, and will be held in Palawan and Zambales, a military official said yesterday.

“Tentatively, it is scheduled on Sept. 29 to Oct. 10 with 700 Philippine Navy and more or less 2,000 from the US,” said Navy public affairs office chief, Lt. Cmdr. Marideth Domingo.

She said two US Navy ships will also be deployed in the yearly naval event.

Domingo said a series of exercises, including amphibious operations, tactical warfare simulation and maritime security planning will be held in Palawan; San Antonio, Zambales; Subic Bay in Olongapo City, and at the Marine base in Ternate, Cavite.

Troops from the Army and Air Force will train with their US counterparts at Crow Valley in Tarlac and Clark Air Field in Pampanga.

Domingo said Phiblex is a continuation of joint war games with the US similar to the Balikatan exercises and the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training.

She said the war games have nothing to do with the maritime row in the West Philippine Sea.

“This is just for training purposes,” she said. “The general objective of Phiblex, like in any other exercises in the Navy, is to improve inter-operability and combat readiness of the participating forces as well as enhance security cooperation in the region.” (Jaime Laude, Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/09/11/1367588/joint-phl-us-war-games-set-palawan-zambales

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Is Subic prepared for port congestion?

While government think tanks take a long, hard look at Subic Bay as, perhaps, the solution to the worsening congestion at Manila ports, the question now looms: “Is Subic Freeport ready to take on the challenge?”

Valenzuela City Representative Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a resolution for the house panel to conduct an inquiry into the viability of Subic Freeport in sharing the load of processing containers in order to decongest port operations in Manila.

If Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Robert Garcia were to answer the question, he would have no hesitation in saying that Subic is ready to take the challenge.

“Subic Freeport’s New Container Terminals (NCTs) are more than capable of handling its fair share of container vans,” said Garcia.

He said that the NCTs can handle 300,000 container vans each and that the current volume of Twenty-footer Equivalent Units (TEUs) is only six percent of what Subic Freeport can handle.

Rest assured, he said, that it is business as usual for cargo handling in Subic as the agency is segregating the Subic shipment from the TEUs being transferred from Manila.

“Operations in Subic Freeport would still be the same as their work won’t be hampered by the proposed transfer of cargoes in Manila. Subic locators would still have their own space for their shipments,” Garcia said.

Aside from cargo handling operations, Garcia is also eyeing a road that will connect the NCTs to the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) that will not affect Subic Freeport road users. The proposed road would cost P2 billion and would cut through a path behind the Subic Techno Park to avoid taking the usual roads in Subic, shortening the travel time for cargo handlers.

But the proposed road would still have to wait since the agency does not have enough funds to finance the construction. Garcia hopes that the national government would fund the proposed road. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/is-subic-prepared-for-port-congestion/

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Recyclable boats set sail in Subic

Boats made out of recycled materials set sail in the waters of Subic Bay last Saturday at the Lighthouse Marina Resort for the International Coastal Cleanup Zambales Recyclable Regatta challenge.

Teams from different companies, local government units and non-government organizations built their own boats made out of 80 percent recycled materials and raced 100 meters to shore to prove that even trash can be used wisely.

Argee Gomez, Marketing Manager of Harbor Point Mall said that “The purpose of this event is to heighten awareness about plastic pollution and integrate creative outlets that will further educate the public that we can turn our trash as useful tools.”

Most of the boats were made out of plastic bottles, gallons, used styrofoam and wood or bamboo. Makeshift paddles were also made to stir the boats while racing.

Teams braved the waves and strong winds with their make shift boats as the fastest tandem finished the 100-meter course in just under seven minutes, and the last came in 15 minutes later.

“The hardest part of the race is going up to the mark because of the waves and strong winds. After that it was fairly easy because we were just riding the waves back to the shore like surfers,” said Jeric Ejanda from Team Lighthouse.

The team of Ejercito Estrada and Jeric Ejanda from Lighthouse Marina Resort finished first, followed by Brothers Anthony and David Bayarong of Batang Gapo News TV and on third was Marion Baldueza and Michelle Rillon of Red Cross Olongapo.

All teams were winners, since the top three finishers were given major prizes courtesy of Harbor Point Mall, while all other participants went home with consolation prizes provided by Lighthouse Marina Resort Legacy Foundation.

This event is in line with the International Coastal Cleanup-Zambales (ICCZ) on September 20, 2014. The data collected during the cleanup are used for science-based solutions to tackle challenges like ocean trash, and according to cleanup data, plastic items are in the top 10 pollutants which mostly end up in our waterways.

By applying the principles of “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle”, all can make a difference in protecting the environment, the organizers said. (David Bayarong, Sun Star Pampanga)

PHOTO: (courtesy of Lighthouse Marina)

[1] The SBMA Fire Department team rows for the homestretch with their boat made out of recycled materials

[2] Watercrafts made out of recycled materials all lined up at the waterfront beach of Subic Bay Freeport


http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2014/09/09/recyclable-boats-set-sail-subic-364437

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Subic, Batangas to be designated extension ports

MANILA, Philippines - The government is set to designate Subic and Batangas as extension ports to help decongest the ports in Manila in time for the surge in cargo shipments for the Christmas season, a Cabinet official said.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is set to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority designating a few berths in the former US military base as extension of the ports of Manila.

“So if your bill of lading specifies Manila, it could be dropped off in Subic,” Abaya said.

Likewise, he added that the same arrangement is being considered for the port of Batangas.

He said shipping lines could call on two ports so it could offload either in Batangas or Subic and load shipments in the ports of Manila.

“Most of the cargo being offloaded in Manila are bound for Batangas or Southern Luzon. So I think we could make arrangements that these shipments could be offloaded in Batangas, in the same way, those who are northbound could be offloaded in Subic,” he said.

The PPA has given importers and brokers until today to remove overstaying customs-cleared cargoes inside the congested ports of Manila, otherwise these containers would be shipped immediately to Subic and Batangas.

At present, importers, exporters and brokers have a five-day grace period after Customs clearance to remove their containers. The cargo would be seized in favor of the government after 15 days.

“We are giving them five days to ship out their goods effective Sept. 8. If they don’t we’ll ship them out to Subic. They are using the ports as their warehouse instead of investing in their own warehouse so we are removing them,” he said.

Starting Oct. 1, Abaya said the government would impose a 10-fold increase in storage fees to decongest the ports of Manila.

Fees for unclaimed cargo would increase to P5,000 from the current P500 for each 20-foot container; to P8,750 from P842 for 35-foot containers; P10,000 from P962.6 for 40-foot containers; and to P11,250 from P1,082.90 for 45-footers.

Congestion at the Manila International Container Terminal of International Container Terminal Services Inc. and South Harbor of Asian Terminals Inc. has caused massive traffic jams in major streets in Metro Manila, extending up to the North Luzon Expressway as trucks trying to get inside the ports clogged major thoroughfares.

Utilization rate at the ports of Manila is expected to improve to 88 percent towards the end of the week after climbing to 90 percent due to the long weekend as containers being released at ports continue to climb to 4,400 per day from 4,200.

As of end June, the number of laden containers piled up at the Manila ports totaled 85,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which occupied about 104 percent of the port yard, while total empty containers also reached a high of 22,000 TEUs.

The congestion was caused mainly by the daytime truck ban imposed by the Manila city government from Feb. 24 to end May that practically limited the movement of cargo in and out of port to nighttime only.

House probe

Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian filed a resolution urging the House committee on transportation to conduct an inquiry into the immediate use of the Subic and Batangas City ports as part of a long-term solution to the problem of congestion at the Manila ports.

Gatchalian filed the resolution last week to allow Subic and Batangas City ports to “share the load of processing containers” and will greatly help in decongesting the ports in Manila.

Both facilities have a combined capacity of 600,000 TEUs and are strategically located near Metro Manila, which means Subic and Batangas ports can substantially ease port congestion in Manila.

“Goods heading to Northern and Southern Luzon may instead be assigned to the Subic and Batangas ports, thereby easing the congestion in Manila ports. Those ports have a huge potential in contributing to the economy. They just have to be fully utilized,” he said.

Gatchalian is a senior vice chairman for the House committee on Metro Manila development and a majority member of the committee on trade and industry.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo urged the PPA to hire container vessels, not trucks, to transfer the empty containers to Subic to decongest the Port of Manila.

Castelo, chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila development, said the use of ferries would spare the streets of all the trucks that cause monstrous traffic, slowing down economic activity. (Lawrence Agcaoili, with Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero, Philippine Star)

PHOTO:
Vessel hired by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) loading empty containers bound for Subic and Batangas ports

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/09/08/1366602/subic-batangas-be-designated-extension-ports

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Solon files resolution to tap Subic and Batangas ports

A senior administration congressman called on the House Committee on Transportation to inquire into the possibility of immediately tapping Subic and Batangas City ports as a long-term solution to the worsening congestion of Manila ports.

In a resolution, Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said the House panel should conduct the inquiry in order that legislative measures may be pursued to support the planned decongestion of the Manila port.

Gatchalian, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, said the Subic and Batangas City ports, which have a combined capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and are strategically located near Metro Manila, can share the load of processing containers and will greatly help in decongesting the ports in Manila.

“Goods heading to Northern and Southern Luzon may instead be assigned to the Subic and Batangas City ports respectively, thereby easing the congestion in Manila ports. Those ports have a huge potential in contributing to the economy,” said Gatchalian.

The Valenzuela solon called for congressional action to swiftly respond to the alarming overcrowding of the Port of Manila mainly triggered by the Manila City government’s daytime truck ban ordinance.

Gatchalian filed the resolution in response to the alarming bottleneck in the Port of Manila caused mainly by Manila City government’s daytime truck ban ordinance. (Ben Rosario, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/solon-files-resolution-to-tap-subic-and-batangas-ports/

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SBMA sends “contaminated” containers back to Manila port

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) sends back to Manila port 16 containers carrying undetermined materials that were found to be leaking and emitting a foul smell.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the containers were among the 721 containers that arrived at the New Container Terminal 2 in the Subic Freeport on board M/V Asterix from the Port of Manila on Friday morning.

“After receiving reports that some of the containers are emitting a foul smell and are already leaking, we ordered them to be segregated from the other containers and be returned to Manila today (Monday),” Garcia said in a press conference here.

Garcia said that Subic has agreed to store the containers in order to assist the national government in addressing the congestion in Manila ports.

“But that’s as long as they conform to the SBMA’s environmental laws and policies,” Garcia stressed.

“This should not happen again, that is why we will now ask for a full summary of each container van entering the Port of Subic from Manila,” he added.

The SBMA is expecting more than 3,000 containers to be delivered in Subic. These are all either declared seized by the Bureau of Customs (BoC), or unclaimed and overstaying at the Manila International Container Port.

Garcia explained that the economic loss due to delays of unloading the containers from ships was enormous.

“There is already no space in the ports of Manila for incoming containers, and Subic is the answer,” he added.

Garcia also announced during the media conference that there is a big possibility that NCT-2 may be declared as extension of the Port of Manila and may be designated as “Berth No. 7.”

He added that the SBMA has been conferring with other agencies on plans for this possible development. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
The M/V Asterix is seen here docked at the New Container Terminal in the Subic Bay Freeport to unload container vans from the Port of Manila and help ease port congestion. The SBMA on Monday ordered the return of 16 of these container vans back to Manila port after it was found that they were leaking and emitting foul odor.

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CL growth seen as PNoy puts RDCs to task

The engines of growth has shifted to high gear as President Aquino swore in and took to task the Regional Development Council (RDC) heads of the country in a ceremony held at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang the other day.

Under the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the new RDC chairpersons are Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado for Region III; Albay Gov. Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” Salceda for Region 5; Bohol Gov. Edgardo Chatto for Region 7; and Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas for Mindanao.

In Central Luzon, Gov. Alvarado said that the RDC 3 is focusing on boosting the two special economic zones in the region – the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and the Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales.

He said that plans are under way for the construction of a fast mass transport system that will link the Clark International Airport to Metro Manila.

“We already have the facilities and we just need to maximize its use in order to further spur more growth in the Central Luzon,” said Alvarado, with his wife Bulacan 1st District Rep. Ma Victoria M. Sy-Alvarado by his side.

He said the President is very serious in expediting various socio-economic development programs in the different parts of the country.

The governor said that the interlinking of the Clark area via a fast mass transport system like the “Bullet Train” of Japan to Metro Manila will create a new booming region. (Freddie C. Velez, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
GROWTH TALKS — President Aquino seems to be telling Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado to start rolling up his sleeves in fast-tracking the development programs in Region 3, shortly after being sworn-in as the chairman of the Regional Development Council in Central Luzon the other day at Malacañang. Also in photo are Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Gov. Alvarado’s wife, Bulacan 1st District Rep. Ma Victoria R. Sy-Alvarado.

http://www.mb.com.ph/cl-growth-seen-as-pnoy-puts-rdcs-to-task/

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Cabinet cluster agree on measures to decongest Port of Manila

Members of the Cabinet cluster for port decongestion, during a meeting on Tuesday morning, agreed on measures for the immediate decongestion of the Port of Manila, a Palace official has said.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the President prioritizes the immediate resolution of the problem of congestion in the Port of Manila.

The cluster meeting agreed that effective September 8, all cargoes cleared by the Philippine Ports Authority and Bureau of Customs will be given five days to pull out of the Manila ports or they will be shipped out by the government to the Subic and/or Batangas ports.

It also agreed that effective October 1, all cargoes that have been cleared by port authorities but have failed to pull out within the prescribed five-day period will be charged a fine of P5,000 a day.

Coloma further said that the meeting reached a resolution on the implementation of a 24-hour last-mile truck routes for two weeks.

"Ang isang susi dito kasi ang pag-operate ng mga truckers kapag araw ng Linggo at Lunes ng umaga, so they can maximize the utilization of the 24-hour last-mile truck routes," he said, adding that the government will give incentives to truckers who will operate on Sundays.

These truckers will be tagged by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) so they can use the 24-hour last-mile truck routes, he said, explaining that with the last-mile routes, truckers can complete their trip, even during the truck ban.

Truck routes that will be open 24/7 include the Roxas Boulevard and Quirino Avenue truck lanes going to the south and the A. Bonifacio C3 to NLEX truck lanes going to the north.

The Cabinet cluster for port decongestion is composed of the respective heads of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, the National Economic and Development Authority, and the MMDA.

Joining them during Tuesday’s meeting were the respective heads of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Bureau of Customs. (PCOO/PND)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1751409661526

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Stinky containers sent back

Subic Bay Freeport — Some 16 containers will have a return trip to Manila as authorities here discovered that these were emitting a stench while two of them are leaking.

This was the statement made by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia during a press conference yesterday on the progress of the transfer of containers from Manila port to Subic Freeport.

Garcia said that the 16 containers were part of the 721 containers that arrived at the New Container Terminal-2 here which were shipped via the MV Asterix on Friday morning.

The transfer to Subic was SBMA’s thrust to help ease the port congestion in Manila. “But that’s as long as they conform to the SBMA’s environmental laws and policies,” Garcia stressed. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/luzon-newsbits-for-september-2-2014/

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Sept 8 deadline set to clear Manila ports

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) announced that importers and brokers have until September 8 to remove their overstaying customs-cleared cargoes from Manila ports.

Containers that will be left unclaimed after the cited date will be transferred to the ports in Subic and Batangas or any other location designated by the Cabinet Cluster on Port Congestion (CCPC). Cargo owners will shoulder all costs related to the transfer of their containers upon their release.

PPA General Manager Juan Sta. Ana in a statement said that the measure is aimed at further decongesting two Manila ports. He noted that erring importers seem to use the ports as virtual warehouses for their customs-cleared cargoes.

“This will serve as notice to all importers and brokers to withdraw their customs-cleared cargoes from the ports, otherwise, we will immediately transfer these cargoes to any of the said destinations at their own expense,” Sta. Ana said.

He added that the PPA issued notices of the cited measure and published these in different newspapers of general circulation.

“We already identified and reasonably informed the owners of these containers, which varies from big-time to small-time, and we will no longer notify them if they fail to meet the September 8 deadline,” Sta. Ana stressed.

According to the PPA’s inventory, many customs-cleared cargoes and container boxes that are customs-cleared with gate passes are still piled in Manila’s ports.

Customs-cleared containers are boxes that already paid the proper duties and taxes to the Bureau of Customs but have yet to pay the cargo-handling fees. Customs-cleared cargoes with gate passes, meanwhile, are boxes that already paid customs duties and cargo-handling fees but remain stored at the ports.

“Please understand that this is not to punish our importers but only to clear as much space as possible in preparation for the influx of cargoes due to the peak season and reduce pressure on inflation,” Sta. Ana told importers and brokers.

At present, yard utilization at the two Manila ports has jumped back to 90 percent after a long weekend in mid-August.

Productivity at the Manila International Container Terminal is still tallied at 20 moves per hour – a significant improvement from 10 to 12 moves per hour seen two months ago. Meanwhile, productivity at the Manila South Harbor soared to 15 moves per hour from only eight moves per hour two months ago.

The PPA and port operators are also trying to maintain the number of container empties inside the ports to gradually accommodate 20,000 held-up containers in foreign ports.

As of the end of June, the number of laden containers piled at Manila ports numbered 85,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) which occupied about 104 percent of the yards of the ports while empty containers reached a high of 22,000 TEUs.

Importers and other stakeholders blamed the daytime truck ban imposed in Manila from February 24 to the end of May for the congestion of containers in Manila ports.

Meanwhile, the CCPC also continues to appeal to the importers and brokers to take advantage of weekends and holidays in transporting cargo on account of light traffic and looser restrictions.

Last week, the government has shipped out some 1,154 TEUs out of the identified 3,000-TEU customs-problematic containers to the Subic ports and expects to complete the transfer this coming weekend. (Rosalie C. Periabras, Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/sept-8-deadline-set-clear-manila-ports/123037/

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P14B earmarked for LGUs’ 2015 climate change mitigation programs

The national government has earmarked P14 billion for 2015 to help beef up various climate change mitigation campaigns and programs of local government units (LGUs).

The amount was disclosed by Philippine Climate Change Commissioner Undersecretary Naderev Saño in an interview with the press during the “Hazards and Communicating Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Measures” conference held at Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales recently.

The budget allocation was made under Republic Act 10174, also known as People’s Survival Fund (PSF) Act of 2012, which states that the fund will be sourced from the national treasury to provide assistance to various sectors such as farmers, fishermen, nutrition, infrastructures and those that help in maintaining ecological balance, such as programs to promote disaster-resilient communities, river dredging and rehabilitation, and the construction of bicycle lanes.

Saño, however, said that the Department of Finance (DOF) is currently studying how to obtain funds for the local government, since the budget for survival fund is different from the calamity fund.

“Calamity fund is used after the disaster while the survival fund is a pre-emptive budget intended for climate change mitigation and adaptation,’’ said Saño.

He also said that a PSF board was formed to monitor and supervise LGUs on how or where their funds should be spent.

He added that the board will also ensure that the projects being proposed by the LGUs are important enough to merit the funds.

Organized by the Philippine Information Agency in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Luzon-wide confab saw participation from LGUs in Regions 1, 2, and 3; the Cordillera Administrative Region; and the National Capital Region. (Franco G. Regala, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/p14b-earmarked-for-lgus-2015-climate-change-mitigation-programs/

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Govt moves to decongest Manila ports as peak season starts

PORT authorities have started to ship out overstaying containers to Subic to partly decongest the ports in Manila in anticipation of the start of the pre-Christmas peak season that is expected to start next week.

The chartered vessel, MV Asterix, left the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) on Thursday en route to Subic carrying 1,154 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The vessel is expected to be back in Manila over the weekend to carry the remaining overstaying containers.

The government, through the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and port operators International Container Terminal Services Inc. and Asian Terminals Inc., has identified about 3,000 TEUs that can be relocated and is in the process of identifying several more to be moved out of Manila.

“The shipping out of these overstaying containers is only one of the few measures aimed at unclogging the ports before the start of the peak season,” PPA General Manager Juan C. Sta. Ana said. “This will be complemented by the increase in storage fees that will encourage shippers to get their cargoes immediately instead of leaving them inside and use the ports as virtual warehouses.”

“This will enable the port of Manila to have sufficient port space to take in the influx of cargoes needed for the Christmas season, which is expected to come in toward the end of next month,” he added.

The port chief noted that, while the ports will remain a bit congested in terms of yard capacity, the productivity and efficiency of the two Manila ports are slowly returning back to normal in time for the expected spike in cargo volume.

The MICT, the country’s top international gateway, has an annual capacity of 2.5 million TEUs. It has a surplus capacity of more than 1 million TEUs for the year, as it only handled about 1.1 million TEUs thus far.

The Manila South Harbor, operated by Asian Terminals Inc., has an annual capacity of 1.3 million TEUs. It has so far handled 800,000 TEUs and has an excess capacity of about 500,000 TEUs more.

“While it seems that we have a shortage in yard space, it doesn’t mean we don’t have enough capacity. We have the capacity, we just have to work at a slower pace compared to last year,” Sta. Ana explained.

As of the moment, yard utilization at the two Manila ports has returned to 90 percent, brought about by the long weekend. Nonetheless, utilization is expected to go back down to 88 percent at week’s end, after containers being released at the ports continue to climb from 4,200 a day to about 4,400 a day.

Productivity and efficiency at MICT, on the other hand, has already reached 20 moves an hour, a significant improvement from the 10 to 12 moves an hour two months ago, while MSH productivity has jumped to 15 moves an hour from only eight moves an hour during the same period.

The PPA, along with the port operators, meanwhile, is trying to maintain the number of empties inside the ports at 12,000 TEUs as it also slowly takes in the 20,000 containers at foreign ports.

As of end-June, the number of laden containers piled up at the Manila ports totaled 85,000 TEUs, which occupied about 104 percent of the yard of the ports, while the total of empty containers also reached a high of 22,000 TEUs.

The congestion was caused mainly by the daytime truck ban imposed by the city government of Manila from February 24 to end- May of this year, which practically limited the movement of cargoes in and out of the ports during nighttime only. (Lorenz S. Marasigan, BusinessMirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/economy/37889-govt-moves-to-decongest-manila-ports-as-peak-season-starts

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Subic Super Shuttle starts box barging service

The Subic Super Shuttle (S3) service recently began its maiden voyage from Manila to Subic using the MV West Ocean 3.

The vessel, with a 2,749 gross tonnage, discharged 18 containers from the Manila International Container Terminal, all part of Yokohama imports, to Subic Bay’s New Container Terminal 1. Yokohoma’s manufacturing hub is at the nearby Clark freeport zone.

“The concept of the Subic Super Shuttle Service is to provide an immediate alternative in response to the current problems being experienced by everyone at the Manila ports,” Bennedict Navalta, general manager of the PTC Agency and Transport, Inc. (PTCAT), earlier told PortCalls.

PTCAT is the agent of S3’s owner, Subic Super Shuttle Marine Services, Inc.

Navalta described the service as “viable, cost efficient and (an) immediate solution” to issues triggered by the Manila truck ban.

The vessel used for the service can ship 138 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) between MICT and Subic Bay, and will act as a common feeder for shipping lines serving locators and shippers in and around Northern Luzon.

Navalta said S3 is also looking to alleviate the backlog of empties in container depots within Metro Manila by assisting with their repositioning.

“Carriers can choose to direct empty returns to Subic, utilizing the S3, and then connect the empties to their respective feeders out of Manila,” Navalta said. “The empty return into MICT is with certainty versus the hit-or-miss arrangements with the depots.”

Rates for the service are P20,000 per 20-footer laden and P25,000 per 40-footer laden. For empty boxes, rates are P14,000 per 20-footer and P17,500 per 40-footer.

Manila to Subic calls are scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays, with the estimated time of arrival in Manila at 12 pm, while the Subic to Manila service is offered Wednesdays and Saturdays with ETA at Subic at 10 am. (PortCalls)

http://www.portcalls.com/subic-super-shuttle-starts-box-barging-service/

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1,800 Manila containers now in Subic

To help ease the growing burden of traffic, this premier Freeport has received some 1,800 shipping containers that were overstaying in the Port of Manila.

Another shipment of containers today from Manila will be delivered by a containerized cargo ship owned by Hanjin Shipping.

The operation, which started last Wednesday, is chartered by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and the Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI).

These two companies will be transporting these containers that have already been cleared by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and are overstaying for more than 60 days at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and the Port of Manila (POM) to Subic Bay Freeport.

MICP and POM, owned by ICTSI and ATI respectively, shouldered the P14 million transport of these containers to Subic Bay Freeport.

The 15-day operation for the Hanjin vessel will complete three trips from Manila to Subic to transport a total of 3,000 containers. (Jonas Reyes, Tempo)

PHOTO:
BUSY PORT - Hauling trucks deliver some of the containers at the New Container Terminal-1 in Subic Bay Freeport. The Manila Port has transferred most of its overstaying cargoes to Subic to help ease the congestion in Manila. (Photo by Jun Dumaguing)

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SBMA projects P1.17 billion in net earnings for 2014

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) projects net earnings of P1.017 billion by year end, having reached the level of P737.89 million in June 2014 compared to the P992 million total in 2013.

This, as SBMA has again notched impressive financial performance in the first semester of 2014, surpassing even its record-breaking first half performance last year when it turned in a net profit of P1.2 billion, the agency’s highest in its entire 21-year history.

According to the SBMA’s midyear accomplishment report, the state-owned corporation obtained positive results in the first six months of 2014 in all the key results areas like investment generation, customs duties and tax collections, export production, as well as job creation.

In terms of committed investments, the SBMA amassed $267 million in the first six months of 2014, a 400 percent improvement over the $53 million record in the same period the previous year.

Meanwhile, freight-on-board exports rose by 173 percent, with $185,088 million in the first semester 2014 compared to $67,476 million last year; while employment generation managed a 1 percent growth, from 89,436 in 2013 to 90,425 in 2014.

Likewise, cash collections by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) here grew by 44 percent, from P4.945 billion in the first half of 2013 to P7.099 billion in 2014; while taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) rose by 25 percent, from P737 million in the first half of 2013 to P919 million in the same period this year.

SBMA officials said the continuing improvement in the agency’s financial performance stemmed from prudent fiscal management over the past few years under the helm of Chairman Roberto Garcia, which successfully implemented various measures to balance the budget and promote a healthier financial condition for the organization.

Records from the SBMA Finance Group indicated that, in particular, port revenues showed an increase of 52 percent in the first half of 2014 to cement a positive financial performance for the Subic Bay Freeport. The port revenues totalled P457.29 million, compared to P300.94 million in the same period last year.

Tourism revenues also grew by 20 percent, from P6.9 million last year to P8.29 million this year, resulting to a 27 percent increase in the SBMA’s total operating revenues that increased from P946.01 million in first half 2013 to 1.198 billion this year.

The agency also posted a 62 percent increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), from P454.10 million to P737.89 million. The increased earnings, officials said, would allow the agency to recoup by the yearend despite a midyear slowdown in net income before tax from P767.27 million in January-June 2013 to P337.26 million this year.

In view of SBMA’s improved fiscal performance, the agency was able to remit P243 million in dividends this year to the National Treasury, the first time it did in more than a decade.

It also released P93.7 million in revenue shares early this month to local government units contiguous to the Subic Bay Freeport, and P14.8 million in rental fees to the Ayta Ambala tribe for the use of parts of their ancestral domain in the Subic Bay Freeport. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

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