White tigers born in Subic theme park

Two tiger cubs are now the stars of the show in an animal theme park here: the first white tigers to be born in captivity at Zoobic Safari, one of the most popular tourist attractions in this premier free port.

According to Veterinary Doctor Cherique Favor-Smith, Titan and Apollo, both males, were born on March 16 at Zoobic Safari’s veterinary clinic and are currently in good health.

(Clockwise from left) [1] Titan, one of two white tigers born in Subic last month, is carried by an animal

caretaker at the Zoobic Safari in Subic Bay Freeport. [2] Apollo and Titan, two white tigers cubs born in
captivity last month, are now the stars of the show of the theme park. [3] Apollo sleeps peacefully under the
watch of veterinarian Dr. Cherique Favor-Smith.

The newly-born white tigers are part of a pack that consists of only three other adult white tigers. Currently, there are more than 40 Bengal tigers inside Zoobic Safari, and only five are white.

According to Smith, white tigers are usually born in captivity and the color of their fur is not an abnormality.

Both Titan and Apollo, she added, are products of inbreeding, with parents Icy and Snowy, female and male, respectively. The result was the two cute balls of fur.

The other white tiger in the pack is Mate, who was also donated by a prince from the United Arab Emirates.

The so-called white tiger is a pigmentation variant of the Bengal tiger, which is reported in the wild from time to time in the Indian states of Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Sunderbans, and especially in the former State of Rewa.

The white Bengal tigers are distinctive due to the color of their fur, which is caused by the lack of the pigment pheomelanin, which gives the orange fur color of the Bengal tigers.

Compared to the ordinary Bengal tigers, the white Bengals tend be somewhat bigger at birth and as fully grown adults, grow faster and heavier.

Animal experts consider white Bengal tigers to be fully grown when they are two to three years of age. White male tigers reach weights of 200 to 230 kilograms and can grow up to three meters long.

As with all tigers, the white Bengal tiger’s stripes are like fingerprints, with no two tigers having the same pattern. The stripes of the tiger are a pigmentation of the skin; if an individual were to be shaved, its distinctive coat pattern would still be visible. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City host the 8th National ALCU games

This Freeport and Olongapo City will play host to the 8th National ALCU games on April 9-16 participated in by students of colleges and universities from all over the country.

Organized by Gordon College Olongapo, the games will be held in various locations in Subic Freeport and Olongapo City. The Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU) is composed of thirty-three (33) local colleges and universities in the Philippines.

The games will open with a motorcade and a parade of athletes in Olongapo City on April 10. Below is the schedule of sporting events and venues for each activity.

8th National ALCU games schedule of activities 

ACLU was created in the latter part of 2003 by the Commission on Accreditation, Inc., which is working closely with the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, Inc. (AACCUP).

Its primary thrust is to improve the quality of instruction, research, and extension of its member schools and to provide value public tertiary education, especially to the poor and disadvantaged youth. (RBB/MPD-SBMA)

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LOOK: SBMA fire and rescue team at Mount Apo

Members of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) Fire and Rescue Team help other volunteers in making fire breaks to prevent wildfire from further spreading at Mount Apo in Sitio Kapatagan, Digos, Davao del Sur.

The wildfire that started on Black Saturday has already ruined more than 400 hectares of habitat, mostly grasslands, at the Mount Apo National Park.

Members of the SBMA Fire & Rescue Team check their equipment on Saturday, April 2, before starting the trek towards the base camp to join other volunteers in putting out the raging forest fire at Mount Apo.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia ordered the team to proceed to the area, after the Office of the Civil Defense Region 12 sought assistance to augment volunteer fire brigades that are now in Mount Apo. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

(All photos c/o Ranny Magno, SBMA Fire Department Chief)

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2016 Subic Bay Auto Show all set for April 16

The Harbor Point Ayala Mall will once again be filled with tricked out rides and hot models as the 2016 Subic Bay Auto Show is all set to begin on April 16.

A feast for both the eyes and ears, the 7th Subic Bay Auto Show will host a myriad of souped-up cars, along with good music and eye-candy courtesy of the car show babes.

Returning for this year's edition of Subic Bay Auto Show is the Kicker AudioSound Off competition and the Tire Change challenge.

On the other hand, those that always have the need to beat their R/C lap times will be able to do just that in the Tamiya Time Attack.

Categories that can be won in this year's Subic Bay Auto Show include: Best Vintage Car, Best European Car, Best Bodykits, Loudest Car, Subic's Finest Car, Best SUV and Best Interior as such.

http://www.autoindustriya.com/auto-industry-news/2016-subic-bay-auto-show-all-set-for-april-16.html

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Filipino soldier dies in Balikatan accident

A Philippine air force paratrooper who parachuted from a C130 plane in an exercise with U.S. forces died Thursday, April 7. after a wind gust blew him out to sea instead of an airport drop zone, officials said.

The Filipino paratrooper from a special air force operations unit was rescued 15 minutes after the accident at the Subic Bay free port in Zambales, but he died later in a hospital, Philippine army spokesman Capt. Celeste Frank Sayson said.

Heavy machinery and military vehicles are parked at the Subic Bay International Airport after arriving
from the United States, April 4. The equipment will be used for Balikatan 2016, an inter-operability
exercise between the Philippines and US, that will be held on April 4-15. (Jonas Reyes)

About 3,500 Filipino troops and 5,000 American military personnel are participating in the Balikatan or shoulder-to-shoulder combat exercises that started Monday, April 4. The 11-day maneuvers aim to prepare U.S. and Philippine troops to quickly respond to a range of potential crises, including in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter will fly to the Philippines next week to witness some of the maneuvers, underscoring the importance Washington puts on the joint combat drills that have been staged 32 times by the treaty allies.

Accident prevention is part of the meticulous planning for the joint exercises by both militaries, but mishaps have happened. In 2000, a Filipino marine was ran over by an amphibious vehicle and died during a beach landing exercise in Cavite province south of Manila. (AP)

http://www.mb.com.ph/filipino-soldier-dies-in-balikatan-accident-in-subic/

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NLEX-SCTEX integration speed up traffic during the Holy Week

The recent integration of the NLEX and SCTEX greatly helped in managing the surge in traffic volume at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) at the just concluded Holy Week exodus to Central and North Luzon.

The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) reported that motorists experienced light-to -moderate traffic flow through in the whole stretch of NLEX-SCTEX, except at the peak of the Lenten Season, last March 24 and 27 when traffic hit 275,000 and 260,000, respectively, when traffic became really heavy.

SCTEX portion going to Subic Bay Freeport (file photo)

MNTC traffic data indicated vehicle entries rose to 275,000 from 263,000 in 2015. “Without integration, this kind of vehicle volume could have created a worse traffic situation on the country’s two premier expressways.

“Travel to the North Luzon was a breeze this year with the integration of NLEX and SCTEX into one seamless road network. The decreased number of toll plaza stops to two made travel to the north faster and more convenient for motorists,” said MNTC president Rodrigo Franco.

The NLEX-SCTEX Integration unified the NLEX and SCTEX toll collection systems into a single system, reducing toll collection stops to two instead of five from Balintawak to Subic and back, instead of four from Balintawak to Tarlac and back.

The integration also introduced other payment option at SCTEX since it now features electronic toll collection through Easytrip.

“This was the first Holy Week that we had the NLEX and SCTEX integrated, more system improvements are on the way to further provide comfort and convenience to motorists,” said Franco.

Aside from the integration of the two expressways, MNTC also attributed the manageable traffic flow to the efficient traffic schemes.

“On Maundy Thursday, we implemented counter-flow in San Simon to address the traffic build-up caused by high volume of vehicles going to the provinces,” explained Franco, adding that “additional toll collection points at Bocaue Toll Plaza were in placed on Black Saturday and Easter Sunday to accommodate motorists returning to Manila.” (Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/nlex-sctex-integration-speed-up-traffic-during-the-holy-week/

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Military Sealift Command ships arrive in Subic Bay, kicks-off Exercise Balikatan 16

Military Sealift Command's (MSC) maritime prepositioning force (MPF) ship USNS 1ST LT Jack Lummus (T-AK 3011) offloaded her cargo to 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Marines, March 26-29, at Subic Bay, in preparation for exercise Balikatan 16 (BK16).

BK16, in its 32nd iteration, is scheduled to take place on the Philippine islands of Luzon, Palawan, and Panay and is an annual bilateral exercise that involves U.S. military and Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel and subject matter experts from Philippine Civil Defense agencies.

Military Sealift Command's maritime prepositioning force ship USNS 1ST LT Jack Lummus (T-AK 3011)
arrives at Subic Bay in preparation for exercise Balikatan 16.

At the end of the two-day offload, the Lummus discharged more than 100 personnel, 157 vehicles and 12 shipping containers of equipment.

The Lummus is part of Maritime Prepositioning Ships Squadrom Three (MPSRON-3), which carries heavy equipment and supplies for the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force supporting contingencies and operations in the Pacific. The equipment off the Lummus was afloat prepositioned gear for the Marine Corps and summoned to equip the Marines for BK16.

“This equipment coming off the (Lummus) is designed to supplement or provide by table-of-equipment a conceptualized Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), which is our second largest Marine air-ground task force in the Marine Corps,” said Marine Capt. Mitchell Borley, technical advisory and assistance team officer-in-charge, Blount Island Command, out of Jacksonville, Fla. “The MPF provides a maneuver capability for such a large, strategic amount of equipment—and employ it forward, anywhere there’s a port, or just a beach.”

Unlike other offload operations that use the services of stevedore, Marines offloaded all the equipment as part of their exercise to maintain proficiency in discharge operations. In the event of a real-world crisis, and an MPF ship is called upon, Marines would merry up with the ship to discharge her cargo.

In addition to the Lummus, the expeditionary fast transport Millinocket (T-EPF 3) also offload her gear in support of the Marines from Okinawa, Japan. The Millinocket delivered about 32 military vehicles and 50 pallets of equipment to support the Marines in CG16.

The Millinocket is one the MSC’s newest class of ships and is designed to provide fast, intra-theater transport of troops, military vehicles, and equipment. A logistics workhorse, the Millinocket functions as a delivery vehicle for cargo, personnel and modular/tailored forces in response to a wide range of mission demands.

Her unique capabilities make the Millinocket a platform that is in high demand. She can provide a persistent regional presence in the Pacific, which increases regional maritime security.

EPFs are capable of transporting 600 tons of military troops, vehicles, supplies and equipment 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. Her aviation flight deck can support day and night flight operations for a wide variety of aircraft.

CG16 is the Millinocket’s second mission since her delivery to MSC. She also participated in Pacific Partnership 15.

A third MSC ship, surge sealift, roll-on/roll-off ship USNS MAJ Stephen W. Pless (T-AK 3007), offloaded her cargo April 1-2.

Concurrently, the USNS Pless is on mission supporting U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) Pacific Pathway 16-1 (PP 16-1), a transportation operation supporting three exercises. The Pless offloaded more than 616 pieces between the Army, Marines and Navy, according to U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Lorena C. Peck, senior mobility officer, USARPAC out of Ft. Shafter, Hawaii.

The Pless started the PP 16-1 mission at Joint Base Lewis–McChord (JBLM) in Tacoma, Wash. When she embarked a joint task force of ship riders to execute the mission. BK16 is the final leg of Pacific Pathway 16-1.

“We take a single vessel and a single task force and take it to numerous exercises. It saves money, cuts legs off transportation and allows us to bring a bigger force with more capability to the exercises.”

The Pless offloaded her cargo in early February in support of Cobra Gold 16 (CG16) in Thailand. The Pless then backloaded the ship at the end of February, and then rolled over to South Korea to offload the Army equipment for Exercise Foal Eagle. She then returned to Okinawa to offload Marine Corps equipment from CG16, and uploaded the new Marine gear for Exercise BK16.

The ship returned to South Korea to pick up the Army force, and moved to the Philippines to offload for BK16. Finally, she will reverse sequence back to JBLM to drop off the remainder of the joint task force.

“PP 16-1 consolidates a force on a vessel and keeps it out so it does multiple iterations of loading and offloading a vessel,” said Peck. “This is a five-and-a-half-month mini deployment to three different countries, which we would have loaded the ship at least five times.”

MSC operates approximately 115 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners. (Grady Fontana, PACOM News)

http://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/tabid/5693/Article/713834/military-sealift-command-ships-arrive-at-subic-bay-kicks-off-exercise-balikatan.aspx

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Interflour bags P998M loan to fund flour mill in Subic

Singaporean-owned Mabuhay Interflour Mill, Inc. (MIMI) has entered into a P998-million, seven-year loan deal with BDO Unibank, Inc. to partly finance the construction of its flour mill within a 5.2-hectare property in Subic Bay Gateway Park Phase II.

MIMI is the Philippine subsidiary of Interflour Group Pte Ltd. of Singapore, one of the largest flour millers in Asia.

The project, which is expected to be completed early 2017, involves the milling of wheat into food flour for direct sale to consumers, distributors and retailers in the country, as well as for the export market. The flour mill has a capacity to produce 500 metric tons of flour per day, which may be doubled to 1,000 metric tons by 2019.

With an estimated 25,000 bakeshops operating in the country, Interflour considers the Philippines an important market in the region.

At present, Interflour is operating nine flour mills – eight in Southeast Asia and one in Turkey – and has a wheat milling capacity of 6,500 tons per day. In June 2014, itsigned a 50-year lease agreement with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, establishing its entry in the Philippines.

“The investment of Interflour in the Philippines is a welcome development. BDO supports initiatives by conglomerates that generate employment opportunities in fast-growing business districts like Subic,” said Edward Wenceslao, BDO senior vice president and head of international desks.

“We welcome the support of BDO and thank them for the cooperation in working with us to develop local employment and more affordable flour for the Philippine community in general,” said Greg Harvey, Interflour chief executive. (Malaya Business Insight)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (extreme right) and Greg Harvey (4th from right), Managing Director and Chief Executive of Interflour Group, with other officials during the ceremonial ground-breaking of Interflour’s milling facility project in the Subic Bay Freeport in November, 2015. (AMD,EVS/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/interflour-bags-p998m-loan-fund-flour-mill-subic

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World-ranked triathletes in Subic for SuBIT 2016

Several world-ranked triathletes led by former World Junior Champion and former ITU number one Felicity Abram and Melinda Vernon of Australia will test their mettle in the elite competition (2nd day) of the two-day NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon 2016 which will commence on April 16 at the ACEA Subic Bay.

The elite competition (Standard Distance 1.5 Km swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run) offers ITU qualifying points for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic triathlon event and has already attracted the participation of Mohamad Alsabbagh (Syria), James Chronis (Greece), Chris George (Australia), Shen-Yen Hsieh (Chinese Taipei), Rikigoro Shinozuka (Malaysia), Jiayu Tan (Singapore), James Thorp (Australia), Joel Tobin White (Australia), Chun Yin Tse (Hong Kong), Yuki Umeda (Japan) and national triathletes John Chicano, Mark Hosana, Jonard Saim and Deo Timbol.

In the distaff side, 2015 SEA Games gold medalist Claire Adorna and teammate Kim Kilgroe will lead the Philippines in facing off with Chi Wen Chang (Chinese Taipei), Shuwen Chang (Singapore), Ting-Ting Chang (Chinese Taipei), Irene See Win Chiong (Malaysia) and Kate Rutherford (Hong Kong).

Organized by TRAP in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon 2016 is presented by SBMA Tourism Department. (Tempo)

Five-in-one Subic international triathlon

The two-day NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon 2016 is a five-in-one affair comprising a leg of the Asia Cup Series, National Age-Group Championships, Inter-Club Competition, national tryouts and Age Group Select Men, a new feature in the local triathlon scene.

On tap on the first day are sprint distance for Elite Junior, Age-Group Junior and Age-Group Adult and mini sprint distance for men and women. All races will start and finish at ACEA Subic Bay.

Elite Open, Elite U23, age groupers and club members see action over the standard distance (1.5K swim-40K bike-10K run) on April 17 from 5:30 a.m. also with the finish line located at Remy Field.

Tom Carrasco, Triathlon Association of the Philippines president, said, “SuBIT is the first beneficiary of the Nippon Telephone and Telecommunications sponsorship of the Asia Cup Series under the patronage of the Asian Triathlon Confederation and sanction of the International Triathlon Union.”

Organized by TRAP in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), SuBIT is presented by SBMA Tourism Department and supported by Century Tuna, Standard Insurance, Gatorade, Asian Center for Insulation, Subic Holiday Villas, ACEA Subic Bay, Biker’s Café, Blackbeard’s Seafood Island, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Enervon Active, AH Cabgel, AH Enervon HP, Athena, Pure & Feminine Wash, RaceDay, SBR.ph, Multisport, Kikay Runner and Pinoy Fitness.com.

Top finishers in the elite division of the Asia Cup 2016 series earn ITU points for Asian and world rankings and qualification to major international competitions.

TRAP sponsors the standard distance age-group men and women champions’ stints in an Asia Cup 2016 Series event.

Age groups to be contested include 18-24 years, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50 and over for women and 18-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59 and 60 and over for men.

Excellent and promising Junior, U23 and Elite Open performers have a shot at a slot in the national pool. (The Philippine Star)

http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2016/04/04/sports/world-ranked-triathletes-in-subic/

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2016/03/28/1566898/five-one-subic-internationall-triathlon-set-april-16

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Japanese warships visit Subic Bay

Japanese submarine JS Oyashio (SS-511), along with two destroyer ships JS Ariake (DD-109) and JS Setogiri (DD-156), docked here in Subic Bay this morning (April 3) for a goodwill visit to the Philippines that will conclude on April 6.

JS Oyashio, skippered by Cdr. Nishioka Tetsuo, represents the Training Submarine Division 1 of the Japan Maritime self Defense Force (JMSDF). JMSDF Division 1 is headed by Capt. Hiroaki Yoshino.

Crewmembers of the Japanese submarine JS Oyashio (SS-511) stand on deck as their vessel approaches the
Alava Pier of the Subic Bay Freeport on Sunday. The Oyashio, escorted by the destroyer ships JS Ariake
(DD-109) and JS Setogiri (DD-156), arrived here for a goodwill visit to the Philippines. (AMD.MPD-SBMA) 

On the other hand, JS Ariake and JS Setogiri, skippered by Cdr. Yoichi Kuruzoe and Cdr. Fumihito Takeshita respectively, compose the JMSDF's Destroyer Escort Division 15 headed by Capt. Hurihiko Morisita.

Capt. Samuel Z. Felix, Philippine Navy deputy commander of Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), representing the Flag Officer in Command, led the country's delegation who welcomed the visiting Japanese forces at the Alava Pier in Subic Bay Freeport.

A Philippine Navy marching band welcomes the Japanese destroyer ship JS Ariake (DD-109) as it docks at the
Alava pier of the Subic Bay Freeport on Sunday, March 3. The Ariake, along with another destroyer, the
JS Setogiri (DD-156), served as escorts to the Japanese submarine JS Oyashio (SS-511). (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

In a press statement, Capt. Lued Lincuna of the Naval Public Affairs office said the visit is expected to enhance the already strong relationship between the Philippine and Japanese navies.

At the same time, it fosters committed cooperation between the two nations which benefits regional peace and stability, Lincuna said.

A series of confidence-building activities between the visiting navy and their Filipino counterparts, particularly Philippine Navy personnel assigned at NETC in Zambales, will be conducted.

These activities range from shipboard tour of the Japanese ships, to goodwill games of football and basketball. (RBB/MPD-SBMA)

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Aetas, SBMA ratify green energy project

The Aetas of Pastolan in Subic Bay Freeport has ratified the expansion of  wind and solar energy projects in its ancestral land as part of their commitment to sustainable development.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), through Emerging Power Inc. (EPI), a renewable energy (RE) firm, will allocate US$200M to its renewable energy project which will cover 800 hectares of Mount Santa Rita, a Pastolan ancestral land, in observance of a Joint Management Agreement (JMA).

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia signed on October, 2013 a joint management agreement covering partsof the Ayta ancestral domain in the Subic Bay Freeport with Pastolan Ayta chieftain Conrado Frenilla (right)and NCIP Region 3 director Ronaldo Daquioag. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

“We are proud that the Pastolan Aetas have been very supportive in this milestone. This partnership is a witness that preservation of heritage and sustainable development can work together without being compromised,” SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said.

“We are helping each other by moving forward with our plans for the preservation of our future generation,” Garcia added.

The JMA was signed and witnessed on October 10, 2013 by SBMA, The Aetas, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). The said project will generate a total of 150-megawatts of RE.

The agreement was forged to protect and preserve the rights of the Aetas along with the implementation of socio-economic and cultural development programs by SBMA.

The groundbreaking of wind and solar power farm, which happened on October 2015, was the first wave of its expansion.

Chairman Garcia assures that the Pastolan Aetas will benefit from this expansion, same with the turnover of P14.8M cheque to the Aetas as payment for lease rentals by the locators within the ancestral domain.

“We are giving a priority job hiring to the Aetas for the construction of more solar and wind power plants. The welfare of our brothers and country will always be important to us,” Garcia said.

The expansion is a collaborative action of SBMA and Indigenous Peoples to uphold RA 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act in 2008 to invest on RE projects. This also serves as their support in the global commitment of Philippines to reduce greenhouse gas emission at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21).

“As the first military base to be successfully converted into a Freeport zone, we are reaching greater heights by playing a vital role in the preservation of both cultural heritage and environment with the installation of a major clean energy project in partnership with Indigenous Peoples,” Garcia said.

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Taiwan firm fined P13M for environment damage (INQ Report)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT— For inflicting “massive” damage to the environment on a lot it has been leasing inside the free port, a Taiwanese warehousing firm was ordered to pay a fine of P13 million, according to an official of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

MSK Group Work Inc., which is engaged in building construction and civil engineering, was served a new notice of violation (NOV) with fines and penalties for its “unauthorized tree cutting, earth moving and land development activities,” said lawyer Ruel John Kabigting, acting head of the SBMA Ecology Center.

Photo shows Taiwanese firm MSK Group Work Inc. at the Subic Bay Gateway Park engaging in construction 
and civil engineering without the proper environmental clearances. (Allan Macatuno / Inquirer Central Luzon)

The company had failed to secure environmental clearances when it cut 60 large trees and about 7,000 smaller trees in a 1,200-square-meter leased area at the Subic Bay Gateway Park, Kabigting said.

MSK had been clearing the area to build a warehouse, but it had not obtained the necessary permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), SBMA Chair Roberto Garcia said in an earlier interview.

Garcia said the development activities weakened a slope.

On March 11, Kabigting directed the company to stop its work following a hazard call inspection concerning its lot. He issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) addressed to Kelly Uy, MSK general manager, which also required the firm to replace the fallen trees with 1,752 saplings worth P86,250. (Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/777265/taiwan-firm-fined-p13m-for-environment-damage

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Subic Bay to host US, Japanese navy ships

Subic Bay will be host to around ten navy ships from the United States and Japan when they make their port calls here from April 1-3.

Expected to arrive today (April 1) at the Port of Subic are the landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) and dry cargo ship USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE-9). Arriving tomorrow (April 2) are supply ship USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE-2), dry cargo ship USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless (T-AK-3007), oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193).

Also arriving tomorrow is the Arleigh Burke-Class destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DGG-62). These US Navy ships will be in Subic Bay as logistics support to the on-going Balikatan exercises.

Meanwhile, a Japanese submarine and two vessels will be arriving this Sunday in the Freeport for a goodwill visit to the Philippines. This will be the first time in 15 years that a Japanese submarine visits the country.

In a statement, Capt. Lued Lincuna, spokesman for the Philippine Navy, said that the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) is sending its Destroyer Escort Division 15 and Training Submarine Division 1 to Subic Bay for a goodwill visit and port call.

Composed of two JMSDF vessels, namely, JS Ariake (DD-109) and JS Setogiri (DD-156), the Destroyer Escort Division 15 is headed by Capt. Haruhiko Morisita.

On the other hand, the JMSDF submarine JS Oyashio (SS-511) is led by Capt. Hiroaki Yoshino.

The three JMSDF seacraft are expected to arrive at the Alava Pier in Subic Bay at around 9 a.m. They will be staying in Subic Bay until April 6.

The visit of JMSDF assets came amid the tension in the disputed East and South China Seas. Japan is engaged in a dispute with China over Senkaku Island in East China Sea.

On the other hand, the Philippines is tangled in a tense dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea. (RBB, AMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Port of Subic (file photo)

Related article: First visit to PH after 15 years: Japanese submarine to make port call in Subic Bay

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SBMA sends fire and rescue team to Mount Apo

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is sending its fire and rescue team to assist in fighting a massive forest fire that hit Mt. Apo in North Cotabato.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia gave the go this morning for the agency's award-winning fire and rescue team to proceed to the area, after the Office of the Civil Defense Region 12 sought assistance to augment volunteer fire brigades that are now in Mt. Apo.

The SBMA fire and rescue team prepared their gears to assist volunteers currently fighting a massive wildfire 
in Mt. Apo.(photo courtesy of the SBMA Fire Department)

SBMA Fire Department Chief Ranny Magno will lead the eight-man team for a five-day mission to the disaster area.

Meanwhile, in a statement to media, the Information Office of Davao City said the wildfire that has been ruining the habitat at the Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) escalated early morning on Thursday, March 31.

Chief Information Officer Leo Villareal said as of 4:19 a.m. on Thursday the wildfire has already escalated, forcing the volunteers and responders on the scene to abandon their positions for safety.

Villareal said that members of the Incident Management Team (IMT) who are still stationed in Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao del Sur are still assessing the latest situation.

He added that with the recent development, there is a possibility that the situation at MANP will be raised to a higher level.

Members of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) are also coordinating with IMT to review their strategies and possibly adjust to the latest situation in the area.

Villareal described the current efforts to quell the continuing wildfires in Mt.Apo as “an uphill battle.”

The wildfire that started on Black Saturday last week has already ruined more than 400 hectares of habitat in MANP mostly on its grasslands.

read more: http://www.mb.com.ph/mt-apo-forest-fire-escalates-thursday/

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Challenging Salomon XTrail Pilipinas 2016 set in Subic Bay

Salomon Pilipinas, the brand notable for its pioneering technology and innovation in the sports of trail running and adventure hiking, brings to outdoors enthusiasts the 2016 edition of its famed Salomon Xtrail on April 9 in Subic Bay Freeport.

On its 6th year, this event is part of the Salomon Xtrail Series in the Asia-Pacific Region– in Malaysia, Singapore, HongKong, Taiwan & the Philippines.

Salomon Xtrail is considered one of the most toughest trail runs in the country, challenging participants to “run the path of most resistance” with two major events: a grueling mountain run and a road-to-trail run.

New trail routes will be created exclusively for this event, to steer away from the usual trail running events, with usual routes. Also to attract more trail running enthusiasts, this year’s race distances are– 6km and 12km Road to Trail, and the toughest categories, the 24km and 32km Mountain Run.

The 32km version will challenge experienced trail runners and mountaineers to compete over some of the most toughest terrain Zambales has to offer.

The route is much more than lush vegetation and exposed trails; there’s a sense of time too as runners and racers venture into historical locales and wartime landmarks. With over a full kilometer of elevation gain, this event is one for the strongest runners out there.

The shorter version, at 24km, is highly challenging though recommended for experienced trail runners and for adventure hikers seeking a more physically-demanding trial. This version reaches a peak elevation of 372m, and gains about half a mile throughout the entirety of the race course.

Both the 24km and 32km mountain runs will challenge runners in a different way, as there is guaranteed to be wet sections during river crossing portions.

The Salomon Xtrail Pilipinas 2016 Race is a GREEN RUN. No disposables will be provided at the hydration stations. All participants MUST bring their own provisions. For the Mountain Run Categories, there will be a Mandatory gear check prior to race start. Mandatory gears include: Hydration pack/belt, headlamp, whistle.

For registration details, click here: http://www.salomonxtrailpilipinas.com/

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Commodores’ Cup kicks off in Subic Bay, the Philippine home of sailing

Coming off the back of a bruising Rolex China Sea Race, Subic Sailing have invited competitors to join in the action at the Commodore's Cup this week. Local racing teams preformed with distinction at the Subic to Boracay Race and Cup earlier this month and enjoy pitting their skills against the visiting teams.

Subic Bay is quickly becoming known as the Home of Sailing in the Philippines, as two keelboat classes swing into action, in conjunction with the Philippine Sailing Association, Streaker and Optimist classes, begin their assault for individual glory, sharing the same waters as the main bout.

The local yachts are led by Ernesto Echauz's TP 52 Standard Insurance Centennial III, that won Racing Class 1 in Boracay and Martin Tanco's Sydney 46 Centennial II, won two races on the final day in Boracay, to snatch 2nd place in Racing Class 2. The low entry list, sees them bundled together in Racing Class 1.

The formidable line up of visiting teams are all from Hong Kong. Geoff Hill's Smith 72 Custom Antipodes leads the charge in sheer size, recent victories on the Rolex China Sea Race, Boracay Cup and present leader on the AsianYachting Grand Prix (AYGP), makes Steve Manning and Anthony Root's Ker 42 Black Baza, hands on favourite, if the conditions suit them.

The Commodore's Cup is honoured to be the 10th regatta on the AsianYachting Grand Prix (AYGP) and an excellent chance for Philippine and Hong Kong skippers to improve their ranking, in the race for the 2015-16 AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year.

The 9th Commodore’s Cup is organized by Subic Sailing and Philippine Sailing Association, in cooperation with The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Watercraft Ventures and The Boatyard Inn

The regatta is made possible by the supported of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Subic Bay Hotels, Attractions and Tourism Stakeholders Visitors Board, Department of Tourism, Philippines Coast Guard and 1Subicbay. (AY MultiMedia)

PHOTO:
The Centennial III (subicsailing.com)

http://asianyachting.com/news/CC16/Commodores_Cup_2016_AY_Pre-Regatta_Report.htm?utm_source=SubicSailing&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=CCR2016&utm_content=pre-race-report

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DMCI trims stake in Subic Water

DMCI Project Developers, the property arm of DMCI Holdings has trimmed its stake in Subic Water and Sewerage Co., a public-private partnership arrangement that operates the water service facilities in the Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), the Consunji-owned holding firm said DMCI Project Developers sold 915,580 of its shares in Subic Water to the City of Olongapo for a total consideration of P210.6 million.

The shares represent 10 percent of the outstanding capital stock of Subic Water.

“DMCI Project Developers still owns a total of 30 percent of Subic Water’s outstanding capital stock after the sale,” the company said in its disclosure.

Subic Water is a pioneer company formed in 1997, which introduced the first public-private partnership, build-operate-transfer model in the water and wastewater services industry.

It was formed in light of the impending water crisis in Olongapo City during the 90s, and the growing commercial water requirements of the booming Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Other members of the consortium are Sembcorp Industries Ltd., (sembcorp) a Singaporean water utility specialist; Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the agency that administers Subic Bay Freeport; and Maynilad Water Services Inc.

The company was granted the exclusive right and privilege to operate, maintain, and improve the water and sewerage systems of Olongapo City and Subic Bay Freeport under a 30-year franchise term.

DMCI Holdings reported a consolidated net income of P9.9 billion in the nine-months to September last year, up 31 percent from P7.5 billion the previous year. (Iris Gonzales, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/03/29/1566993/dmci-trims-stake-subic-water

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US military vehicles arrive in Subic

Heavy machineries and military vehicles are parked at a portion of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) as the Philippines and the United States gear up for the start of the Balikatan exercise 2016.

Balikatan 2016, an interoperability exercise between the Philippines and the US, is major event that highlights the longstanding alliance of the two countries and will be held from April 4 to 15.

The 32nd iteration of the annual US-PH Balikatan exercise (BK 16) will be held in Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, Panay, and Palawan.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had said militaries from 11 other countries - Japan, India, South Korea, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste have been invited to observe this year’s Balikatan exercises. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)


PHOTOS:
US military vehicles arrived in Subic. (Jonas Reyes)

http://www.mb.com.ph/photos-us-military-vehicles-arrive-in-subic/

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SBMA rejoices over PNoy’s approval of salary increase

“This is a day of celebration.”

This was the statement of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia and the reaction of the rest of the SBMA employees as they received the news of Garcia’s meeting with President Aquino last week.

Chairman Garcia announced here Wednesday that President Aquino has approved the proposed fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL 3) for the SBMA on Tuesday after getting assurance from the SBMA that the salary increase can be sustained without subsidy from the national government.

“It was a long process for us, but we are still fortunate because we were able to get SSL 3, Tranche 4 in just one year,” Garcia told the employees on Wednesday.

He added that SBMA employees, due to the long delay since their last increase in 2008, will get a 30 percent increase, with the lowest rate of increase pegged at 18 percent.

Garcia also thanked the officials who helped the SBMA in urging Malacañang to approve the salary increase. These include former DILG Sec. Mar Roxas, who personally endorsed the SBMA letter of request to the President; DBM Sec. Florencio Abad, Executive Sec. Paquito Ochoa, Zambales 1st District Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun, and Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino.

Meanwhile, SBMA Employees Association (SEA) president Elmer Libo congratulated Chairman Garcia and thanked him for exerting all efforts to have the request for salary adjustment through SSL 3, Tranche 4 approved by the President before the election ban took effect.

“We are happy and would like to thank President Aquino for finally approving the SSL 3, tranche 4 for SBMA employees. This will not only boost the morale of the employees and inspire them to become more productive, but will also directly improve the lives of our families,” Libo said.

Earlier, the DBM told the SBMA that it can implement salary adjustment provided that it can comply with the reorganization requirements of the Office of the President; that it can freely support the same; and that in no case shall subsidy be granted by the National Government to SBMA to cover the funding requirement for the salary adjustment.

Chairman Garcia said that since SBMA is self-sustaining, it has not received a single peso of subsidy from the national government.

On the other hand, “The SBMA contributed P19 billion to the national government in 2015 consisting of BOC, BIR collections, the LGU shares and dividends,” Garcia said. (RAV,RVG/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA employees break into smiles, as Chairman Roberto V. Garcia announces the approval by President Aquino of a salary adjustment for workers at the Subic agency. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Tourism officer bags 2015 SBMA Employee of the Year award

An events coordinator from the Tourism Department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) was named the agency’s 2015 Employee of the Year (EOY) for his notable contribution in increasing the number of tourist arrivals here last year.

Antonio Dela Cruz emerged the most outstanding among the six finalists in the annual EOY search held on March 18 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC).

“What makes these employees whom we honor today different from everybody else? There are only three things that I look for in an employee: One is competence, two is integrity, and three is malasakit or, for me, going the extra mile,” said SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia during his inspirational message.

“And the six employees we have today have exemplified that. They are not only competent at their jobs; they have integrity. And most of all, what distinguishes them from many of us, is that they have gone the extra mile. They have malasakit,” he added.

Dela Cruz was nominated for his efforts in increasing Subic Bay Freeport's tourist arrivals from 1.1 million in 2014 to 1.4 million in 2015.

According to SBMA tourism records, total visitor arrivals at Subic Bay Freeport increased from 6.4 million in 2014 to 7.3 million in 2015, while hotel occupancy grew from 64 percent in 2014 to 70 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, special event revenues reached almost P955,000 in 2015, while media value from various events increased from P260 million in 2014 to P318 million in 2015.

Media value is the amount equivalent to advertisements and other promotional services that the agency has saved by holding big-ticket local and international events in the Freeport.

Dela Cruz represented the Business and Investment Group in the EOY competition. The same strategic business unit of the agency had earlier selected him as the group’s employee of the year.

The other five finalists were Carlos Andres of the Chairman and Administrator’s Group; Yolando Dimen of the Public Services Group; Bello Mabato of the Regulatory Group; Vivian Perdigon of the Support Services Group; and Ernielita Rosas of the Port Operations Group.

Andres, an Information Officer II at the Public Relations Department, was cited for the assistance he extended to the Magbukon Aeta tribe at Sitio Kanawan in Morong, Bataan, in their bid to acquire their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).

On the other hand, Dimen, an Executive Assistant to the SBMA Deputy Administrator for Public Works and Technical Services, was noted for his major task of preparing on-time the project status report of all projects being implemented by all the departments under the Public Works Group.

Mabato, a Community Development Officer I, used his background in agriculture to establish the “Gulayan sa Kagubatan” and the “Pastolan Village Forest Nursery” projects, which benefited residents of the upland Pastolan village in Subic Bay Freeport.

Perdigon, a Senior Communications Development Officer I, was recognized for her excellence in undertaking multiple functions with minimum supervision that included working on records and archives, collating performance records of the agency, as well as delivering mails.

Rosas, a Document Examiner II, was honored for her crucial work of ensuring that any regulated and monitored goods to be admitted inside the Freeport are well documented and properly liquidated, and for strictly implementing the process on a “first-come, first-served” basis.

During the awarding ceremony, Chairman Garcia also challenged all other employees to work equally hard to be model employees in their own right.

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

PHOTOS:

[1] SBMA 2015 Employee of the Year Antonio Dela Cruz of the SBMA Tourism Department proudly carries the symbolic torch passed on to him by the previous year's winner during the awarding ceremony on March 18 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] JUBILANT. Antonio Dela Cruz raises his trophy after being proclaimed the SBMA Employee of the Year for 2015. Chairman Roberto Garcia (2nd from left) presented the award along with Tourism Department OIC Jem Camba and Senior Deputy Administrator Ramon Agregado. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Coast Guard releases North Korea ship

After almost three weeks of being detained at the Port of Subic, the Philippine Coast Guard released the North Korean cargo ship M/V Jin Teng and its 21 crewmen last Holy Thursday.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said that there was no deliberate intention to set the vessel and its crew free during the Holy Week when almost everyone was preoccupied with vacation and Lenten activities.

Philippines Coast Guard officials inspect North Korean freighter Jin Teng in Subic Bay in this handout photo from the coast guard on March 3, 2016. (Reuters/ PCG handout via Reuters)

“It just so happened that we received the order to release the ship M/V Jin Teng so we implemented (it),” Balilo said.

Transportation and Communications Undersecretary for Operations Edwin Lopez signed the release order, he added.

The vessel and its crew were detained on March 3 while unloading palm kernel and other agricultural products. Although the inspectors found nothing illegal when it was first checked on March 3, it was held at port following an order from the United Nations.

Inspectors who checked the ship noted that some of the fire hose boxes were empty and not ready for immediate use, a few emergency light bulbs were either busted or not working, the ballast air vent heads at the main deck were corroded and some electrical switches in the sub panel board at the engine room with 440 volts were without insulation materials.

Balilo said the defects have been remedied and the foreign ship was given clearance by the Coast Guard’s Port State Control before they were allowed to leave.

The North Korean ship’s release was in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The 4,355 gross ton M/V Jin Teng was flying a Sierra Leone flag registry and was one of 31 vessels owned by North Korean shipping firm Ocean Maritime Management Company (OMM) that was ordered blacklisted by the United Nations on suspicion that it was used in smuggling weapons of mass destruction.

Throughout its stay at the Port of Subic, the Bureau of Immigration did not issue shore passes to the 21 North Korean crewmembers.

The ship’s next port of destination is Shindao, China. (Evelyn Macairan, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/03/27/1566570/coast-guard-releases-north-korea-ship

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Rolex China Sea Race 2016: Black Baza takes IRC Overall

Anthony Root and Steve Manning's Ker42 Black Baza triumphs in the grueling 565 nautical mile race to Subic Bay at the 2016 Rolex China Sea Race, lifting the trophy for corrected time on IRC handicap, with Alive posting a second overall to go with her record of breaking Line Honours effort.

William Liu’s A40RC Seawolf has just finished and sits in 3rd Overall as well as 1st in IRC Racer 2, which means that their stated aim to “do better than last time (2014)” has well and truly been achieved.

Black Baza finished in the early hours of Saturday morning after just over 60 hours of racing, with crew member Wade Morgan enthusing about the previous 24 hours of racing, saying “we were coming in hot all the way, which was unexpected … we probably played the middle a little bit to the south and then we had good breeze so we managed to come straight in to the coast without having to do too much fancy work.”

Asked if the crew were happy if they had caught Alive on corrected time, Jono Rankine confirmed “Absolutely! We weren’t expecting that at all..” and adding that the high point of the race for the crew was surfing in to the coast at 20kts.

Jono Mahony of Zanzibar also enjoyed sailing down the Luzon coast at 18-20kts, noting that “we finished 8 hours quicker than when we won (IRC Overall) in 2012 even though we hit a sticky patch at the finish which allowed EFG Mandrake to sneak past us – but they do that all the time!”

All the finishers have noted their surprise at the excellent conditions once on open water, although Li Li revealed that Swan 82 UBOX considered retiring 180nm into the race as they had suffered damage to the head of the mainsail which seemed unfixable.

“The crew managed to come up with a solution …. to lash the head and stay in the race, although it limited the load they could put on it. The first night a problem with the foot of the number one cost a lot of time in really tough weather. It was a tough first day, half of the crew were sea sick and had been working hard on the boat leading into the race, so possibly had not had enough sleep.

On the positive side, UBOX finished the race and all the crew have taken it as a positive experience, as this race is practice for the team. The ultimate goal is the Rolex Sydney Hobart and, being realistic, we still have a lot of prep to do. It’s good and although we talk about all this damage, it has been a very positive experience for everybody.” (http://bit.ly/1TcgTV5)

PHOTOS:
Clockwise from upper left: Ker42 Black Baza; EFG Bank Mandrake; UBOX; Zanzibar; Standard Insurance Centennial; FreeFire. (Rolex-Daniel Forster, Rolex China Sea Race FB)

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PH’s Diwata–1 satellite launched into space

The Philippines yesterday took the penultimate step to launching an observation satellite in space as Diwata-1 soared to the International Space Station (ISS).

At around 11:05 a.m., an American supply spacecraft blasted off from Cape Canaveral, carrying 20 nano satellites, the Filipino-made 50-kg Diwata-1 microsatellite, and other payload.

Officials of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the University of the Philippines, and members of the media waited as the Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft pierced the Earth’s atmosphere.

Dr. Carlos Primo David, executive director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), said the flight takes about six hours from the ground station to the ISS.

“This is a momentous event,” he exclaimed after the Cygnus, the last stage of the spacecraft that will reach the ISS, separated from its carrier and slowly disappeared in the darkness of space for a rendezvous with the ISS.

He said the final step in the Philippines’ journey to space pertains to the deployment or release of Diwata-1 from the Japan Experimental Module (JEM), nicknamed Kibo (Hope) on April 20, or later.

Kibo has a lock and robotic arm to be used in Diwata-1’s deployment at an altitude about 400 kms from Earth’s ground surface.

University of the Philippines Associate Professor Gay Jane Perez of the Institute of Environmental Science and Metrology, and project leader of PHL-Microsat Project 5, said that, among others, the microsatellite’s images once it starts beaming back to Earth (ground station in Subic Bay Freeport), can be sources for information for farmers, for weather pattern.

She said Diwata-1 will look at crop areas, status and health of crops of various crops like rice and corn.

“So, it can be used in monitoring areas and it can provide information to farmers and also to government agencies,” said Perez. (Edd K. Usman, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
The first Philippine-assembled satellite."The potential uses of DIWATA include: improved weather detection and forecasts; disaster risk management; detecting agricultural growth patterns; and the monitoring of forest cover, mining, protection of cultural and historical sites, and the territorial borders of the Philippines. (DIWATA) has been launched into space (Screenshots courtesy of NASA)

http://www.mb.com.ph/phs-diwata-1-satellite-launched-into-space/

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Off to Subic Bay: Centennial sets pace early in Rolex China Sea Race

HONG KONG – Thirty-three yachts, from small boats manned by couples to bigger catamarans navigated by as many as 22 sailed into the open seas yesterday in a misty, drizzling afternoon at the start of the 565 nautical mile Rolex China Sea Race to the imaginary finish line off the shores of Subic Bay.

The boats, 26 of them from Hong Kong and seven from other nationalities, including Filipino-owned Standard Insurance-Centennial, went to the Hong Kong Harbor at 12 noon to take their positions for the 1 p.m. starting gun, but the race was delayed several times as they waited for the winds.

When the winds finally blew outward, Standard Insurance-Centennial got the headstart, its decision to take the shoreline path giving it an initial lead of at least one kilometer heading to the open seas.

The race for line honors becomes anybody’s game, at least for the bigger yachts, as they head for the turbulent waters off Hong Kong. They were to navigate throughout the night and day on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

The race would be more technical and tactical as computer-equipped boats veer from the straight path from Hong Kong to Subic by heading to the upward wind several miles ahead to gather speed heading to the finish line.

The boats are expected to encounter rough sailing as they enter Philippine territory by Good Friday and Black Saturday but the bigger multi-hulls and catamarans manned by a maximum crew of 22 gunning for line honors are expected to gain the advantage and hit land ahead of the smaller ones by early Black Saturday morning.

The fastest regardless of the boat category wins the Rolex CSR line honors.

The smaller, lighter boats, with lighter masts and fewer crew members, will be gunning for top honors in the equally prestigious Rolex CSR handicap race category based on their corrected time.

Each boat is assigned a handicap based on its size and other factors, which will be used to determine the corrected time.

Jude Echauz, a former car rally driver who has been competing in the CSR for 20 years, is owner and skipper of Standard Insurance-Centennial, which won the 1998 Rolex CSR handicap race as Subic Centennial and the 2008 race under its new name as Standard Insurance-Centennial.

Echauz is again at the helm of the Standard Insurance-Centennial with a 17-man all-Filipino crew, majority of them members of the national team.

For over 10 years, the 52-footer has been the only Filipino entry in the Rolex CSR, which is traditionally dominated by entries from the Royal Hong Kong Club and its three other clubs in the former Crown Colony.

Foreign teams in this year’s race include those from Japan, Australia, Russia, China and Singapore.

A member club from China, which has two entries this year, had indicated that boat construction is going at a fast pace in the Mainland and would expect more than half of the entries of the Rolex China Sea Race in the future to come from China.

Executives from Rolex, which has been the sponsor of Asia’s longest sea race since 1972, will be on hand to meet the winners and participants of the race on Saturday and Sunday. (Gerry Carpio, The Philippine Star)

PHOTOS:
[1] Thirty-three yachts sail off into the open seas in a misty, drizzling afternoon at the start of the 565 nautical mile Rolex China Sea Race to Subic Bay.

[2] Philippine bet Standard Insurance Centennial, with Jun Echaus at the helm, ahead of the pack.

[3] A Lion Dance for good luck was performed at the pontoon of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club before the race began.

(all photos from the Rolex China Sea Race Facebook page)

http://www.philstar.com:8080/sports/2016/03/24/1566214/centennial-sets-pace-early-rolex-csr

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UN lifts sanctions on 4 ships once linked to North Korea

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council has decided to lift sanctions on four ships originally linked to a North Korean shipping company after determining that there were no ties to the company as China claimed.

Two U.N. diplomats confirmed Tuesday that the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against North Korea has taken the ships off the U.N. blacklist. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also confirmed the move in a statement provided by a spokesman from China's U.N. Mission.

One of the ships that had sanctions lifted is the Jin Teng, which was on the list of 31 ships linked to North Korea's Ocean Maritime Management company whose vessels have carried arms and illegal goods to the country.

It was inspected and detained in Subic Bay, a former U.S.-run naval base in The Philippines, soon after the Security Council imposed its toughest-ever sanctions on North Korea on March 2.

The Philippines Coast Guard said it was coming from Indonesia and loaded with palm kernel expeller, which is a byproduct of palm oil production that has several uses, including as feed for farm animals. It said the ship's documents showed the cargo was for consignees in the Philippines and no new cargo would be loaded at Subic Bay.

China asked the sanctions committee to remove the four ships from the list after discovering that they were not part of Ocean Maritime Management's fleet.

The United States and China, North Korea's traditional ally, spent seven weeks negotiating new sanctions in response to the North's fourth nuclear test in January and rocket launch in February.

They include, among other things, mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by sea or air.

PHOTO:
The Jin Teng, docked at the Port of Subic

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a1c266e9cb16484e931a1735caf8af4b/un-lifts-sanctions-4-ships-once-linked-north-korea

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Guided-missile submarine USS Ohio arrives in Subic Bay

The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN-726) has arrived in Subic Bay March 22 for the conclusion of its Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment.

Measuring more than 560 feet long and weighing more than 16,000 tons when submerged, Ohio is one of the largest submarines in the world.

This submarine is capable of supporting a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, naval special warfare involving special operations forces, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare.

The USS Ohio underwent an extensive conversion beginning in 2002 and became the nation’s first guided-missile and special warfare submarine in 2006. It is capable of launching tomahawk missiles as well as inserting special operations forces into clandestine environments.

“Our presence in the region provides a stabilizing force and through engagements with our partners, such as this port visit to Subic Bay, we aid in maintaining that stability,” said Capt. Michael Lewis, commanding officer.

"Many have never been to the Philippines and are looking forward to experiencing the local culture. As a crew we are happy to be here. Ohio crew members have worked very hard during deployment and it’s time to enjoy some well-deserved liberty.” said Master Chief Machinist’s Mate William Catron, chief of the boat.

The USS Ohio was the first Trident-class nuclear powered fleet ballistic submarine and the fourth United States vessel to bear the name of Ohio. The ship was converted to a guided-missile submarine in 2006 and is forward-deployed to Guam with the crews based in Bangor, Washington.

Due to its sheer size, Ohio is capable of berthing more than 250 personnel and loading out for an extended period of time makes it a good choice as a special forces operations platform. With a payload of more than 100 Tomahawk missiles the USS Ohio is also ideal for strike operations.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 7, visit www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/


PHOTO:

Sailors assigned to the guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) moor the submarine in preparation for its voyage repair and crew swap period. Ohio is assigned to Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 15 and is the U.S Navy's only forward deployed submarine squadron, providing maintenance, training, logistics and administration support for the submarines assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class William Tonacchio/Released)

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Experts urge Subic Freeport stakeholders to use renewable energy

Experts invited by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Thursday urged business locaters and residents in Subic Bay Freeport area to start using renewable energy to help minimize ecological damage and slow down climate change.

In the forum “Climate Change Management and Green Energy: Making Business Green Through Renewable Energy,” speakers led by Climate Change Commissioner Heherson Alvarez explained that the continuing emission of carbon into the atmosphere would create serious consequences like global warming and a drop in global food production.

The forum, which was organized by the SBMA Ecology Center, convened residents, investors, workers, and other stakeholders of the Freeport. The speakers included Alvarez, Dean Felino Lansigan of the College of Arts and Sciences in the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), and Forester Rex Victor Cruz, who is also the Chancellor of UPLB.

In the forum, Alvarez and the other speakers warned of the dire effects of environmental destruction from the use of carbon-based energy sources and encouraged the tapping of energy from wind, sun, and water.

“Even a temperature increase of just 1.5 degrees Celsius will drive the fish to go deeper and farther into the open seas, as temperature increase may kill all the fish near the coast due to overheating,” Alvarez said.

The increase in global temperature, he said, is caused by over-emission of carbon into the atmosphere from millions of gas-fed vehicles, factories, machines, and power generators.

Alvarez pointed that the Aquino administration has officially committed an Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) target of 70 percent greenhouse gas reduction below business-as-usual levels by 2030. This primarily covers the energy, transport, forestry, waste, and industry sectors.

“That’s why we have to invest in our future and build renewable energy sources, while every Filipino should cut the usual emission of carbon,” Alvarez said.

“Let us mobilize every heart [person] to cut the use of carbon. Remember that we are on the edge of human extinction,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lansigan talked about the effects of climate change on food security and sustainable development, and pointed out that a one-degree increase in temperature would mean a 14.12 percent drop in corn and rice production and that from 20 to 30 percent of crop species would be at risk of extinction.

“Maraming lupa ang lulubog, maraming pananim at hayop ang masisira kung hindi man mawala na, kung hindi natin mapaghahandaan ang climate change,” he said.

Cruz, for his part, explained that while there may be downsides in the use of renewable energy, “cutting the use of carbon will save mankind from extinction.”

Atty. Ruel John Kabigting, who is officer in charge of the SBMA Ecology Center, assured the speakers and stakeholders in Subic Bay Freeport of the agency’s support and participation in various actions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

He also pointed out that because the SBMA strictly enforces laws and policies on environmental protection, the Subic Freeport remains to be the home of many species of plants and animals.

The participants in the forum also all agreed that the government and private groups should start developing and using renewable energy technologies, which are considered healthier to both man and his environment. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Climate Change Commissioner Alvarez talks about the dire consequences of the use of carbon-based fuels while at the same time pushes for increased utilization of renewal energy at the Climate Change Management & Green Energy Forum in Subic Bay Freeport. (photo by Forester Patrick Escusa)

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SBMA: 2015 4th successive record year

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has recorded another chart-busting performance in 2015, as the Subic agency continued with its unparalleled growth since 2012.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, in his 4th State of the Freeport Address (SOFA) here on Wednesday, said the authority managing the country’s premier free port had successfully implemented new revenue initiatives last year, resulting in the biggest revenue and operating income since 1992.

The growth in various key areas, Garcia said, helped the SBMA shatter its own financial charts last year with the gross revenue of P2.75 billion and operating income of P1.48 billion the highest in the 23-year history of SBMA. Adjusted for unrealized foreign exchange losses, net income of the Agency increased by 26 percent.

The impressive financial performance by the SBMA included a 21 percent increase in revenue by the authority’s maritime and logistics business unit, which pulled out a P1.58-billion income last year; a 23-percent increase in committed investments, which grew to P22.8 billion in 2015; and a steady growth in exports, which reached $2.5 billion last year.

Garcia said that some of the major business developments in Subic last year were the launching of a $30-million mill project by the Singapore-based Interflour Group; the start-up of the 150-megawatt solar and wind energy project by Jobin Inc.; and the approval of a $10-million project by Datian Subic Shoes, Inc. for the manufacture of footwear, among others.

Meanwhile, employers in the Subic Bay Freeport generated 4,693 new jobs in 2015, increasing the local workforce to a total of 101,651 at the end of the year. SBMA’s contribution to the National government consisting of BOC, BIR collections and dividends of P19.3 grew by 8 percent over 2014.

Tourism also continued to grow, posting a 14 percent growth in 2015 and registering a total of 7.7 million in visitor arrivals.

With these developments, Garcia said the SBMA will aim this year to create new industrial parks, establish linkages with other global ports to further boost port utilization, increase revenue collections and capital expenditure program, and continue with its good governance initiatives.

“We must leave a legacy, and continue to take advantage of the present favorable economic environment,” Garcia told SBMA employees and members of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the forum.

“The Philippines is projected to become one of the world’s 16 largest economies within the next 35 years — it is now at Number 39 — so the time for the Philippines is now; the opportunity for Subic is now,” Garcia also said. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia reaffirms the commitment of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to pursue the sustainable development of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone during his 2015 State of the Freeport Address (SOFA) on March 16 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. The SOFA is an annual event organized by the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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