Lawmakers push Subic modernization

LAWMAKERS are urging the Duterte administration to prioritize the modernization project of the Subic Container Port to decongest Metro Manila and ease the traffic jams in the capital which have caused productivity losses of at least P2.4 million a day.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said Saturday goods and commodities intended for Central and Northern Luzon no longer need to pass through Metro Manila if Subic’s operations are optimized.

“It is indeed a great idea. It is about time we discussed the Subic Port modernization project,” Albano said.

Albano’s statement followed a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency which showed that Subic, given its strategic assets, is equipped to acquire a higher share of the country’s growing container cargo volume.

Subic’s location will also ensure a shorter point of entry for cargoes arriving from or going to Singapore.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone also said prioritizing the Subic port modernization project in the government’s menu of solutions to the traffic woes in Metro Manila will also spur economic growth across Central and North Luzon.

“I fully support such proposal. It will greatly help decongest Manila,” he said.

“Anything that will lessen the movement of people and vehicles in Metro Manila is a welcome development,” Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting himself added.

The Subic Container Port is a significant component of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) strategy, which includes the construction of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTex), and the Clark International Airport to form a global logistics hub and international gateway for Central Luzon.

However, the port, which can easily absorb northbound cargoes, has remained underutilized.

The Jica study showed there is a capacity shortage of 14 million 20-foot equivalent units or TEUs (the capacity unit of container ships) for the Pacific Region, with Singapore already reaching its limit and Hong Kong remaining severely silted.

Subic Container Port has a capacity of 600,000 TEUs, but by 2012, the volume remained at less than 40,000 TEUs.

Albano stressed that a fully modernized port in Subic means that there is a sufficient volume at Subic Port that is worth marketing to vessel lines.

There is also cost advantage ranging from $100 to $200 per TEU for shippers from Pampanga and Zambales to ship through Subic rather than from the traffic congested Manila ports, he said.

A 2014 Jica study has warned that productivity losses could reach P6 billion a day in 2030 if the traffic mess is not solved.

Lawmakers have cited this as basis for proposals to grant President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address the traffic problem in Metro Manila. (Maricel Cruz, Manila Standard)

PHOTO:
Overview of Subic Bay's port facilities- a legacy of the former US Naval Base, with the New Container Terminals 1&2 developed recently by the SBMA through JICA.

http://thestandard.com.ph/news/-main-stories/top-stories/215819/lawmakers-push-subic-modernization.html

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Subic bible park hosts mass baptism for Ayta tribesmen

At least 25 Ayta tribesmen in Subic Bay Freeport converted to Christianity on Saturday during a mass baptism held at the Holy Land Subic Sanctuary and Biblical Theme Park.

The natives, who belonged to the Pastolan Ayta community, received the sacrament at the “Jordan River” of the Holy Land theme park here, where the likeness of Jesus Christ being consecrated by John the Baptist could be seen.

The natives were baptized by Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga, Bataan, on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the “Mahal Ka Ng Dios” Outreach Ministry of the Bethesda Springs of Hope Healing Foundation, Inc.

The event coincided with the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Joint Management Agreement (JMA) between the Pastolan Ayta tribe and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which covered the development of the Ayta ancestral lands in Subic Bay Freeport.

It also marked the 63rd birthday of Mrs. Maribi Garcia, wife of SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, and leading light of the Bethesda Springs of Hope ministry.

The day-long event was also highlighted by the distribution of scholarship grants for deserving Aeta students, as well as gifts from Bethesda Ministry sponsors.

“This is the best birthday gift for me,” Mrs. Garcia said, as she presented the Pastolan natives who have come for the sacrament of baptism.

Those baptized included toddlers, as well as teenagers and young adults. Among them was Neneng Pelayo, a Pastolan housewife who said she was miraculously cured of her kidney ailment after Bethesda members prayed over her last year.

The Holy Land Holy Land Subic Sanctuary and Biblical Theme Park is a unique attraction in this free port, which is otherwise known for nature-themed parks featuring exotic animals like tigers and false killer whales.

The biblical park is popular among Christian pilgrims because of its life-sized statues depicting the Way of the Cross, as well as other events in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Holy Land Subic straddles foothills and forest areas that form part of the more than 4,000-hectare ancestral domain awarded to the Ambala Ayta tribe in Subic Bay Freeport. The Ayta land also covers part of housing areas, industrial parks and tourism attractions here. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Members of the indigenous Pastolan Ayta tribe line up to receive the sacrament during a mass baptism held on Saturday at the Holy Land Sanctuary and Biblical Theme Park in the Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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No need to worry, Garcia assures Hanjin-Subic workers

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia has assured workers of Subic shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) that their company is not affected by the problem besetting Hanjin Shipping Corporation.

“I think that the Hanjin workers in Subic have nothing to worry about because the financial woes affecting Hanjin Shipping has no impact on Subic,” Garcia said.

The Hanjin shipbuilding facility at the Subic Bay Freeport (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

“They can rest assured that the Hanjin company in Subic is a separate entity and the one here is very stable,” Garcia added.

The Subic official issued the statement following inquiries from workers at HHIC-Phil’s Redondo Peninsula shipyard in this free port after Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd., reputedly the world’s seventh largest shipping line, filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States last Friday.

Accordingly, the Korean shipping line was left bankrupt when creditor-banks rejected its debt-restructuring plan. Lately, Hanjin Group, which is its parent company, has announced it will out up $90 million to bail out the shipping line.

Garcia pointed out that the shipbuilding firm Hanjin in Subic Freeport and the bankrupt company Hanjin Shipping are two separate entities.

“HHIC-Phil is not related to Hanjin Shipping, so there is no need to worry,” he said, pointing out that the Subic shipbuilder has separated from the Hanjin Group in 2005.

Earlier, HHIC-Phil Managing Director for External Trade Yoo Hoan Jo also said that the Subic shipbuilding firm remains financially healthy and stable.

“Despite what is happening in the shipping industry, orders for container ships are still coming,” Jo said in a statement. He said the new orders include three Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) that will have the capacity to carry 20,600 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers in one hauling.

The HHIC-Phil official added that the new projects “would likely mean additional workers for the completion of these three ULCVs.”

Jo said that “the tried and tested Filipino workers at the Subic shipyard” has helped Hanjin deliver 91 vessels since it started full operation at the Redondo Peninsula in 2008.

He added that the company has delivered 16 vessels last year and has numerous orders this year, including the three ULCVs.

Jo also said that the Subic shipbuilder now has 35,000 direct and indirect employees working on various operations at HHIC-Phil’s Subic facility. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

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ICTSI offers Subic port to ease Port of Manila congestion

THE International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), operator of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), is renewing its proposal of an infrastructure “master plan” to the Duterte administration to improve the flow of trade in the country’s key port.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the Management Association of the Philippines’ (MAP) 14th International CEO Conference, ICTSI Senior Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific Operations Christian Gonzalez suggested a holistic approach to facilitate goods inflow into the country.

Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI Senior Vice President and Asia Pacific Region Head

“We all need roads, we know how many cars there are in the streets and public transportation needs to be improved. What we’ve heard from the current government is positive because they intend to build more roads, but they need to fast-track it. The critical one is really the roads,” Gonzalez said.

The establishment of a proper logistics network should be looked at outside of Metro Manila, such as in Subic port, where ICTSI operates Terminals 1 and 2 through its subsidiaries.

Aside from road infrastructure, creation of inland facilties, such as warehouses, can incentivize more businesses to use the Subic port instead of the crowded Manila port. These initiatives can encourage the shift of more cargo from the Port of Manila to Subic.

Last year ICTSI moved 100,0000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) of cargo previously accommodated in Manila, to Subic. The Subic port’s installed capacity is at 600,000 TEUs.

The port operator is constrained from moving more because of the disjointed infrastructure network in the area.

Creating alternative modes to deliver cargo, such as water transport, and a dedicated railway track for cargo to connect Subic and Bataan, is also a welcome move, he said.

“If the government wants to talk about this, we are open to it,” Gonzalez said. (Catherine Pillas, BusinessMirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/2016/09/06/ictsi-offers-subic-port-to-ease-port-of-manila-congestion/

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Revival of Subic Airport eyed

The government is looking to revive the Subic Airport to ease congestion in the country’s main international gateway.

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said the government would want to study if the Subic Airport can be restored into a fully functioning airport.

“It is a good airport but the equipment is no longer there. Maybe we can revive it,” he said.

In 2010, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority planned to convert the airport after the Federal Express transferred its Asia Pacific hub from Subic to Guangzhou in China.

The revival of the airport is seen to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

At present, 87 percent of the country’s air traffic goes through Manila.

Last year, NAIA’s terminals served over 36 million passengers, higher than its annual maximum capacity of 35 million.

To help decongest the NAIA, the government wants to use Clark International Airport.

Tugade said earlier that the government is looking to upgrade Clark International Airport through public-private partnership program.

He said the private sector is competent in building and operating airports.

“Clark Airport has to be addressed by improving the facilities. There are programs to put up additional equipment. Some (pieces of) equipment there are no longer operable,” he said. (Louella Desiderio, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/09/05/1620537/revival-subic-airport-eyed

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Aquathlon championships set in Subic

The Triathlon Association of the Philippines will stage two races for the derivatives of triathlon in September a week apart in separate traditional venues.

The Philippine Aquathlon Championships 2016, held in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, unwraps at Camayan Beach Resort and Ocean Adventure in Subic Freeport on Sept. 11.

Kick-off event of the Philippine Youth Olympic Games Qualifying Series for those born in 2001-02, the aquathlon is also the national championships for junior high school and collegiate levels, youth and junior not representing any school, para athletes and open category.

The race course of the standard aquathlon is 2.5K run-1K swim-2.5K run; sprint is 1K run-600m swim-1K run.

Philippine Sports Commission and SBMA Tourism Department co-present the aquathlon tilt with Camayan Hotel, Subic Holiday Villas and The Lighthouse Marina Resort as partner hotels.

Green Triathlon, Blueseventy, Singphil, Gatorade, Standard Insurance, Asian for Center and Insulation, Bert Lozada Swim School, Subic Holiday Villas, Lighthouse Marina Resort, Century Tuna, Vita Coco, C-lium and Statmed are the sponsors; and Raceday Triathlon, SBR.ph, Swim Magazine, Trilife Magazine, Kikay Runner, Multisport, Endurance Sports Magazine and Sports Radio the media partners.

In the meantime, The National Duathlon Championships 2016 “Race for the Iloilo River” rolls off in partnership with the City Government of Iloilo, headed by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, at the Esplanade 1 in Iloilo City on Sept. 18.

Veteran internationalists Mirasol Abad, Miscele Gilbuena, Bigboy Estevez and John Chicano, the country’s top duathletes banner the tough field in the PSC-supported duathlon which aims to support efforts to clean and re-develop the Iloilo River, according to Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa.

Elite and age group duathletes cover the 8.5K run- 40K bike-6K run course with the latter not allowed draft in the bike leg.

The sprint distance in duathlon is 1.6K run, 20K bike and 2.6K run. Run 1.6k, Bike: 20K, Run2:6k.

Deadline for registration in the run-swim-run event is Sept. 7. Entry fee is P 1,500 for youth, P2,000 for junior, P2,000 for individual age groupers and P3,000 for the two-man relay.

Inquiries: email trap.aquathlon@gmail.com or call TRAP 710-8259 or 399- 6598.

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Subic operations not affected by Hanjin woes

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) yesterday said that shipbuilding operations of Hanjin Heavy Industries Subic Bay Shipyard is not affected by the filing for bankruptcy of a member of the Korean conglomerate, Hanjin Group.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said that after checking with the accountant of Hanjin Heavy which is registered with the Board of Investments, “there is no relationship between the two companies”. Hanjin Shipping which filed for bankruptcy is a different entity, he added.

Hanjin's shipyard at the Redondo Peninsula in Subic Bay Freeport

Hanjin Heavy separated from the Hanjin Group in 2005 and currently has no business transaction including ship building orders with the Hanjin Group.

Roberto Garcia, SBMA chairman said the ship building in Subic is owned by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Ltd. which provides shipbuilding, construction, and plant services in South Korea.

“There is no impact on Subic,” said Garcia in a text message.

Hanjin is the biggest employer in Subic with 28,000 workers.

Current energy secretary and former Philippine Ports Authority general manager Alfonso Cusi said that the Subic shipyard is separate from the shipping line.

Cusi in a text message also said that the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping won’t have much effect on the Philippine-Korea cargo traffic. He said other shipping lines will easily take the vacuum.

The Subic shipyard is the fourth largest shipyard in the world. It is the largest shipyard in the Philippines. (Malaya Business Insight)

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/shipyard-safe

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Subic Bay now 4th leading Philippine destination - DOT

Subic Bay is now the fourth most popular tourism destination in the Philippines.

Department of Tourism Region III Director Ronaldo P. Tiotuico announced in a press statement that the Subic Bay Freeport and the rest of Zambales soared to the fourth slot among the top ten destinations throughout the country, bested only by Cebu, Davao and Camarines Sur.

Tiotuico said the Subic Bay Freeport made big strides by hosting some 1.67 million domestic and foreign visitors in 2015, thus marking a 28-percent increase in the number of visitors from 1.265 million in 2014.

The DOT official also cited the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) as instrumental in developing Subic as a major tourist destination in Central Luzon.

“Such a success is attributed to the collective determination of the entire manpower complement of the SBMA under the leadership of Chairman Roberto Garcia,” Tiotuico said.

SBMA Chairman Garcia welcomed the development, pointing out that Subic gained significant attention after it was first recognized by the DOT as the number one tourist destination in Central Luzon in 2013.

“This only validates Subic’s attractiveness not only as top tourist destination, but also as the convention capital of Central Luzon – titles bestowed upon Subic by the DOT,” Garcia said.

Mary Jamelle Camba, SBMA Tourism Department manager, said Subic has become a favorite location for watersports tourism and nature-related activities.

She also said the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) has become a prominent venue for international events and conferences as it has a capacity of 10,000 seats.

Camba added that the Subic Bay Freeport can now accommodate a bigger number of visitors, as it currently boasts of 44 hotels with a total of 3,244 rooms.

The SBMA Tourism Department recently participated in the Asia Cruise Destination Forum in Jeju, South Korea to promote Subic Bay to the world tourism community as an emerging pivotal hub for international cruise tourism.

In the same statement, Tiotuico made a fearless forecast that Subic may just become the number one destination in the future, as the full transformation of Clark International Airport as a major hub for both international and domestic airlines may also benefit Subic tourism.

“Subic is just a 45-minute drive from Clark. DOT Region III has always recommended the partnering of Clark and Subic as one great holistic destination, the two being connected by a world-class seamless freeway called SCTEx,” Tiotuico explained.

Tiotuico also described Subic Bay as a well-preserved eco-tourism destination, with triple-canopied rainforests and mangroves, mountain trails and indigenous culture, nature-based theme parks and bird-watching sites.

Among the rest of the top ten destinations in 2015 were Boracay, Albay/Legazpi City, Metro Manila, Clark/Pampanga, Laguna and Benguet/Baguio City. (RBB/MPD-SBMA)

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Bataan town gearing up for Subic investments expansion

Hermosa, Bataan – To accommodate the growing needs of investors at the Subic Bay Freeport, local officials led by Mayor Jopet Inton are planning to develop industrial zones in parts of the fast growing municipality.

“We need conversion immediately so we can accommodate the growing number of investors including those who are coming in,” Inton told the members of the municipal council during a recent session.

The municipal hall of Hermosa, Bataan

The council, headed by Vice Mayor Chris Vitug and opposition councilor Danilo Blade vowed to support the mayor’s economic program.

According to Inton, a major investor is now working on its Philippine Economic Zone Authority accreditation before setting up shop in Hermosa.

Inton said that a possible site for the industrial zone is a 200-hectare tract of land in Sitio Mabiga in Barangay Tipo in the western part of town.

The area is just a 10-minute drive away from Subic Freeport and 25 minutes away from Clark Freeport.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officials earlier said they are planning to expand the Freeport’s industrial area to Hermosa.

A large part of Subic Freeport is actually under the political jurisdiction of Hermosa, which has been receiving a part of the SBMA’s annual income. (Mar T. Supnad, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/bataan-town-gearing-up-for-subic-investments-expansion/

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Subic equipped for huge cargo influx - SBMA

CARGO moving through the Subic Bay International Terminal Container (SBITC) is expected to surge over the next five years as a rising number of shippers will start using the port, according to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

In a statement issued on Friday, SBMA said it was ready to handle the surge.

As of end 2015, containerized cargos that went to Subic jumped to 123,510 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent containers), a 60-percent expansion, from 77,177 TEUs the year before.

For non-containerized cargos, about 7.5 million metric tons of goods were shipped through the port, 24 percent higher from the 6.1 million mark the year before.

“SBITC can safely handle about 20 to 30 percent more cargos year-on-year in the next few years,” said SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia.

SBITC has a rated capacity of 600,000 TEUs. And because of the upgrades installed by the port operators, the port can now also handle forty-foot equivalent containers (FEUs). Garcia also pointed out that the number of shipping lines calling at SBITC regularly has increased since 2014.

“People think that we can’t carry FEUs in Subic. This is wrong. We have the equipment to handle these big boxes from all over the world,” he said adding that brokers and truckers will not experience delay in releasing cargos from the port.

“Some think that it is difficult to get accreditation from us. It is not; it only takes half day. And if the broker and the trucker still cannot finish the paper work within the day, we will still release the cargo. They only have to show proof that they have started the paperwork to be accredited,” he said.

Garcia said with all the upgrades and the infrastructure in place, Subic is the best option for businesses that carry goods to and from the Northern part of Luzon. (Raadee S. Sausa, The Manila Times)

PHOTO:
A container ship docked at the NCT1 of the port of Subic.

http://www.manilatimes.net/subic-equipped-for-huge-cargo-influx-sbma/282324/

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Subic Freeport gears up for tourism month

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is enjoining the public to visit the Subic Bay Freeport in September to enjoy a month-long celebration that features the unique sounds and colors of Subic Bay.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the Subic agency has lined up various activities showcasing the best of the region’s most visited tourism destination in line with this year’s theme, “Tourism for All, Promoting Universal Accessibility” of the National Tourism Month.

Garcia said that next month’s celebration will highlight the sound of entertainment and excitement unique to Subic, as well as the colors that invigorate the sights and adventures that visitors and locals enjoy in the Freeport.

“This will not be another ordinary month in Subic. We have prepared various tourism-related competitions, which will give you a chance to win prizes, or you can simply enjoy your stay in the Freeport as spectators,” he continued.

SBMA Tourism Department head Mary Jamelle Camba added that the month-long tourism celebration here will officially kick off on September 5 with a motorcade, followed by a trade and photo exhibit, and a job fair.

The month-long trade and photo exhibits, which will be held at the Harbor Point Mall, will feature photographs taken from favorite tourist destinations in Subic, as well as various produce from Zambales and Bataan.

Meanwhile, the two-day job fair to be organized by the SBMA Labor Department will make available at least a thousand jobs to applicants. This will be held at the Subic Gym on September 5 and 6.

The celebration will also feature youth and sports-oriented events like the TRAP Aquathlon Championships at the Remy Field and the Subic Bay Ultimate Community Frisbee Tournament at the Remy Field on September 4; the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) Basketball Tournament at the Subic Gym on September 8 and 17; and the SBMA Body Painting Contest on September 30.

The Subic celebration will also include exciting competitions like the Central Luzon-wide Professionals Flair-tending/Bartending Competitions on September 13; the Tourism Quiz Challenge in the Subic Got Talent- School Category on September 15; and the Subic Got Talent- Open Category on September 22, all at the Harbor Point Activity Center here.

The SBMA has also scheduled the Subic Bay Freeport Familiarization Tour, a free rolling tour around selected tourist attractions and parks for SBMA employees and students on September 7, 14, and 21; and for persons with disability on September 28.

SBMA officials are also inviting the public to take a glimpse of unique offerings from other provinces in the region through a special Central Luzon Province Show and the launching of the Festival of Festivals,which will cap the Subic celebration on September 9 and 30, respectively, at Harbor Point.

The Department of Tourism (DoT) regional office has named Subic Bay Freeport as the most visited tourist destination in Central Luzon since 2013, based on reports submitted by accommodation establishments in all the seven provinces and three economic zones in the region.

Subic was also named “Number 1 Tourist Destination in Region III” for two consecutive years and continues to live up to its title as “Premier Convention Capital of Central Luzon,” which the DoT bestowed in 2012.

“Subic has everything,” Chairman Garcia said. “We have the facilities and the access by land, by water,and by air. And of course, we have year-round activities to make your stay in Subic memorable.”

“We invite you now to see the upcoming Tourism Month activities here and experience for yourself why people say that ‘It’s more fun-tastic in Subic’,” Garcia added. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
Some of the popular tourism attractions in the Subic Bay Freeport:
[1] Magaul Bird Park
[2] Malawaan Fishing and Picnic Area
[3] El Kabayo Riding Stables
(AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Gov't to pursue use of Subic, Batangas ports to decongest Manila roads

The Duterte administration will push for the use of the ports of Subic and Batangas to ease bottlenecks at Manila ports.

This scheme is one of five infrastructure projects expected to decongest Metro Manila road traffic. The other projects are: The North-South Railway Project (NSRP)-South Line; the Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)-EDSA project; Bonifacio Global City (BGC)-Ortigas link bridge; and, a common station for MRT 3, LRT 1, and MRT 7.

Container truck traffic at the port of Manila

The Infrastructure Committee has specified measures to urgently address Metro Manila’s traffic crisis and decongest the city, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a press conference in Malacañang on Tuesday.

The projects will be carried out in partnership with private sector.

Road traffic congestion in Metro Manila cost the country at least P3 billion a day, according to a study that Japan International Cooperation agency conducted in 2012.

Two of the projects—NSRP South Lane and BRT-EDSA—alone will cost P238.96 billion. Costing of others is yet to be finalized.

According to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center website, the NSRP, which has an indicative cost of P170.7 billion, aims to revive the railway to provide improved transport and logistics services to currently underserved areas and encourage more productive activities.

The proposed NSRP South Line PPP covers Metro Manila to Legazpi City, Albay, plus a number of existing and proposed branch lines totaling 653 kilometers.

It consists of commuter railway operations between Tutuban and Calamba and long haul railway operations between Tutuban and Legazpi, including extended long haul rail operations on the branch line between Calamba and Batangas and extension between Legazpi and Matnog.

The railway between the existing Tutuban station and the city of Calamba, in the Laguna province is a 56km section of the NSRP and is proposed to have commuter rail operations in addition to long haul rail operations of NSRP.

This section represents an existing Philippines National Railway (PNR) right-of-way (ROW) which runs through
Metro Manila. Currently, the NSRP has a narrow gauge railway.

However, the PPP Center said extensive rehabilitation and reconstruction is needed to bridges and road crossings to bring it to safe operating condition.

Meanwhile, the Metro Manila BRT-EDSA, is a rapid transit infrastructure of 48.6km through EDSA, Ayala Avenue, Ortigas-BGC, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport with 63 stations. It will add accessibility infrastructure like greenways, pedestrian walkways, and bikeways. The total project cost is estimated at P68.26 billion, of which public sector component is P37.76 billion, with an implementation schedule of 2017 to 2019.

The bridge that will link Bonifacio Gobal City (BGC) in Taguig City and Ortigas Center in Pasig City will include vehicular underpasses below the Makati Business District.

“The immediate implementation of the Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas link bridge… is expected to divert 25 percent of the EDSA traffic,” said Pernia.

The link bridge will add up to C5, which is located on the east side of Metro Manila.

“So we need another one there to add road space for those traveling between the two parts of Metro Manila that is cut by the Pasig River,” he explained.

Another, Pernia said, is the early resolution of the Common Station for MRT 3, LRT 1, and MRT 7.

“The Department of Public Works and Highways will hand the final configuration of the station to the Department of Transportation,” he said. (Mayvelin U. Caraballo, Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/govt-picks-5-schemes-to-decongest-mm/281709/

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Subic investments reach a record PHP111.5 billion in Jan.-Aug. 2016

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority recently announced the inflow of PHP111.5 billion into this Freeport in the form of newly approved investment projects in just the first seven months of 2016.

This represents the highest approved investments ever for the same span of time since the Subic Freeport’s establishment in 1992. The record-breaking performance also surpasses the Freeport’s total new investments of PHP18.5 billion in 2015 by more than 500 percent, and its 2012-2015’s total of PHP 47.9 billion by 132.77 percent.

So far, the biggest investment in Subic this year came from Australasia Cold Storage Logistics and AIA Airways Company, Inc. with a committed investment of PHP70.5 billion.

The logistics investment project will involve transporting agricultural products from Australia, mostly meat and seafood; repacking them in Subic; and then flying or shipping them out to customers worldwide. Also included in the project are the putting up an intermodal cargo terminal and the use of both airport and seaport with an expected turnout of around 60 containers a month for the Subic Port.

Another significant new investment is the solar and industrial estate project of Dynamic Konstruk Enterprises with an investment pledge of PHP34 billion and a projected employment of 40,000-50,000. The proposed industrial estate project will include the development of a 200-megawatt solar plant, the construction of warehouses and logistics facilities, and the establishment of factories in a 400-hectare area in the Redondo Peninsula near the site of the Hanjin shipyard.

Once on stream, the two new projects and other approved new investments are expected to generate a total of 54,973 new jobs in the Freeport, which traditionally sources the manpower requirements of its locators from Olongapo, Bataan, and Zambales; as well as from Pampanga, Tarlac, NCR, and other areas. (AMF/CorCom-SBMA)

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Subic-Clark rail, phase-out of old ships in DOTr plan

SPEAKING at a joint meeting of the Philippine International Seafreight Forwarders Association (PISFA) and the Aircargo Forwarders Association of the Philippines on August 11, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade outlined his development plan for the maritime sector over the next six years.

The plan include projects to ease reliance on the Port of Manila, maximize the use of Subic, and to phase out the commercial use of old and wooden-hulled ships. The long-term objective, he said, was to develop a 30-year transportation plan for the country.

Much of the plan focused on relieving Metro Manila traffic congestion and improving public transportation infrastructure, but Tugade did offer several key initiatives for the shipping sector.

To relieve reliance on Manila and South Luzon ports—particularly Batangas, which is increasingly being used by locators in the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas industrial zones south of Metro Manila—Tugade encouraged shippers to use rail links, barges, and roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) networks to distribute shipments to other terminals.

Currently, a project to upgrade ro-ro ports along a route stretching from Batangas to Cagayan de Oro, called the Central Spine Roll-on/Roll-off project, is under preliminary study and development by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center.

Another significant initiative Tugade said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is studying is connecting the Subic port with the airport at Clark with a rail link. “The advantage of Subic as a seaport will be the advantage of Clark as an airport, and the advantage of Clark as an airport will be the advantage of Subic as a seaport,” Tugade said expansively, pointing out that the linkage would give freight forwarders in either location increased flexibility.

In order to improve maritime safety, Tugade also said the DOTr plans to phase out wood-hulled commercial ships and vessels more than 35 years old. He stressed, however, that the government would not do so without offering assistance, such as in the form of low-cost financing, to businesses that would be affected by the move. (Ben Kritz, Manila Times)

PHOTO:
The port of Subic (left) and Clark International Airport (right)

http://www.manilatimes.net/subic-clark-rail-phase-out-of-old-ships-in-dotr-plan/280836/

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Subic port issues rules for shipping

THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is introducing a new rule requiring all shippers or their designated third parties to weigh packed containers or its contents under either of two allowed methods, using equipment that meets national certification and calibration requirements.

SBMA has its own rules implementing the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) on verified gross mass (VGM) and weight estimation of container’s contents is hereafter prohibited.

Under the SOLAS VGM, no container will be loaded onto a vessel if it does not have a VGM starting July 1.

Under the new policy, the shipper may weigh the packed and sealed container with calibrated and certified equipment or weigh each item—including the mass of pallets, dunnage, and other packing and securing materials— to be packed in the container-and adding the tare mass of the container to the total weight of its contents. The latter method needs to be certified and approved by the National Metrology Laboratory of the Philippines (NLMP).

To implement the SOLAS VGM requirement and ensure the efficient and smooth flow of commerce, the Freeport authority advises parties in the supply chain “to make arrangements for the timely transmission and exchange of VGM information.”

Carriers should give shippers cut-off times to provide them the required container weight verification so they can prepare a ship stowage plan. These cut-off times, SBMA noted, may vary depending on the carrier as well as the operational procedures or requirements of different terminal operators.

Moreover, the weighing of a loaded container for export is to be verified by the port terminal operator through its calibrated and certified weighbridge that meets the accuracy standards and requirements of SOLAS VGM and has been approved, certified, and calibrated by the NLMP for non-automatic weighing instruments.

SBMA also requires that a packed container should not exceed the maximum gross mass indicated on the Safety Approval Plate under the IMO’s Convention for Safe Containers, as amended.

A container with a gross mass that exceeds the maximum permitted weight will not be allowed aboard a ship and will also incur shut-out charges, SBMA noted. (Raadee S. Sausa, The Manila Times)

PHOTO:
The SBMA's Seaport Department is in charge of managing the Port of Subic Bay, which has been an ISO 9001-2000 certified port in 2003 and 2004.

http://www.manilatimes.net/subic-port-issues-rules-for-shipping/280118/

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Subic is cost-effective for businesses – SBMA

THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said coursing cargo and shipments through the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) is cost-effective.

“Subic is not expensive,” Roberto Garcia, SBMA chair said in a statement, explaining that transporting goods and shipments through the Subic port is cost-efficient due to the port’s strategic location.

Businesses will find themselves saving more because of the roads connecting to Subic, he added.

Garcia further explained that trucker costs are now more competitive in Subic as truck owners bank on the cargo volume that flows through the port.

“Travel time from the port to any point in Luzon has been cut in half because NLEX and SCTEX provide good roads. With that, truckers can complete two trips instead of one which means more business for truck owners in the region,” he explained.

Attesting to the port’s competitive and attractive rates, the costs incurred for trucking from Subic to nearby cities is about as much as the costs, if not cheaper, of transporting goods from other ports in Luzon. “Our advantage lies in our location,” Garcia emphasized.

“Travel time is one resource we cannot disregard, and by using the Subic port, the cargo owners are assured that their cargoes are transported in the most efficient way. Our location and road links will prove that,” he added.

“Cost is down by as much as one-third of the previous price, assuming you are traveling from Subic to Bulacan,” Garcia said.

According to Garcia, the decrease in trucking costs was made possible by the surge of cargos directed to the growing next wave cities in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga.

The Subic terminal has recently established port efficiencies such as the creation of a one-stop-shop for brokers and forwarders and investing in new equipment to ensure that the terminal delivers world-class service to its clients, the SBMA pointed out. (Raadee S. Sausa, Manila Times)

PHOTO:
Container ships docking at  NCT-1 of the Port of Subic (photo c/o SBITC)

http://www.manilatimes.net/subic-is-cost-effective-for-businesses-sbma/279520/

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Australian submarine now in Subic Bay

HER Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Sheean (SSG 77), a Collins-class submarine operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), arrived in Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Friday (Aug. 12) morning.

 A statement by the Naval Public Affairs Office of the Philippine Navy said  the vessel’s port visit to the Philippines will conclude on Aug. 27.

The visiting ship’s commanding officer, Cdr. Jason Cupples, was welcomed on Friday by Cdr. Redentor R. Cortezano of the Naval Education and Training Command.

This was followed by a port briefing on health and security aboard HMAS Sheean.

Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said the officers and crew of the Australian submarine are set to conduct subject matter expert exchanges and workshop training with PN personnel.

The visit of the RAN submarine and the personnel interaction with their Filipino counterparts are in accordance with the Philippines-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, which provides a comprehensive legal framework to support defense personnel who are engaged in joint training and other related activities conducted in the Philippines or in Australia.

The visit is expected to strengthen the longstanding partnership of the two nations which paves way for an enhanced cooperation in capacity-building and interoperability to undertake humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

Named for Australian seaman Edward Sheean -- the only submarine of the class to be named for an enlisted sailor -- the ship was laid down in 1994 and launched in 1999.

PHOTO:
The HMAS Sheean (SSG 77) surfaces as it approaches Alava Pier at Subic Bay.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=australian-submarine-in-phl&id=131859

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/08/12/1612779/royal-australian-navy-sub-visits-subic

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Japanese firm sets $30-M to develop Subic Bay golf course

A Japanese company will be developing the Subic Bay golf course into a world-class venue for tournaments, coupled with a facility that will offer housing complexes and fulfilling lifestyle choices for retirees.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said the Subic agency had awarded the golf course development project to a firm headed by Japanese businessman Masafumi Miyamoto, founder of the Smart Community Co., Ltd., the first and largest continuing-care retirement community in Japan.

The Subic Bay golf course clubhouse

“This project is a game-changer for Subic,” Garcia said, noting that it will transform Subic’s existing fairways that had been left rotting in the past few years into a major year-round tourist attraction.

He added that the visiting friends and relatives of those who would reside in the retirement village would likewise generate more economic activities in transportation, shopping malls, medical facilities, hotels, tourist attractions, banks, restaurants, and other businesses.

The project would cost a total of $30 million, excluding a fixed annual rental fee of $350,000 and a five-percent gross revenue share payable to the SBMA for the entire 50-year lease period.

Garcia said that in awarding the lease development contract to Miyamoto, the SBMA considered the overall concept of the project, the proponent’s financial capability, market availability, and business plan presented to agency officials in December last year.

“This s a two-pronged development project that considered the best potentials for what could be considered a major asset in the Subic Freeport,” Garcia said.

Accordingly, the first component, at the cost of $3 million, would involve the renovation and re-development of the whole golf course within two years, from June 2016 to June 2018. This will cover clubhouse renovation, installation of sprinkler systems and repair of ponds, improvement of the golf course, and upgrade of machinery and equipment, golf carts, and service vehicles.

Garcia said the project proponent had promised that the golf course would remain operational throughout the renovation period through a rotational renovation plan that would keep a minimum of nine holes open at a given time.

The second component is the $27-million development of all allowable open areas for the Subic Smart Community within a six-year period. This would consist of the construction and development of an initial 200 condominium units from 2016 to 2018. Next would be the completion of about 1,800 condominium units with various amenities like gym, sports center, arts and crafts studios, karaoke or music rooms, function rooms, library, and bars and restaurants, among others.

Garcia said that Miyamoto’s proposal was based on a market study that showed Japan’s aging society as becoming a financial burden to both the Japanese people and government. This situation had reportedly led to the emergence of elderly care businesses that had rapidly grown to a $252-billion industry just in 2015.

“Subic Bay has been chosen particularly because of its relatively constant weather patterns conducive for year-round golf play and because of its untapped areas that have great potential for a retirement complex,” Garcia noted.

Aside from starting the Smart Community in 2004, Miyamoto founded in 1986 the Square Enix Co., Ltd., which is engaged in publishing, distribution, and licensing of digital entertainment content worldwide, including the highly successful Tomb Raider Final Fantasy.

Miyamoto also founded the Sunpia Golf Club, in Japan’s Tokushima City, which has a total of 100 hectares, with three helipads, 300 parking slots, and driveways lined with cherry blossom trees. (NBM/MPD-SBMA)

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US missile destroyer now in Subic Bay

The U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) arrived in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines August 8 as part of a U.S. 3rd Fleet Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG).

The port call marked Momsen’s midway point as part of the group.

Under the operational control of U.S. 3rd Fleet, the PAC SAG, which consists of the guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111), USS Decatur (DDG 73) and Momsen, with embarked Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 31 – is conducting routine patrols, maritime security operations and theater cooperation activities to enhance regional security and stability.

“Momsen’s presence here sends a powerful message to the world about our commitment to the stability of the region,” said Cmdr. Elaine Brunelle, Momsen’s executive officer. “We are skilled professionals committed to enhancing maritime security through bilateral cooperation with our partners throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific.”

While in port, Momsen will complete a voyage repair period and her crew will participate in community outreach events and take advantage of various tours offered by Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

Momsen Sailors participated in four community outreach activities during previous port calls in Busan, Korea, Sasebo, Japan, Singapore and Darwin, Australia. The projects ran the gamut of cultural interactions with senior citizens, children, disabled citizens and beautification efforts.

The crew aboard Momsen will also focus on mission essential maintenance during the voyage repair.

“Sometimes there is special equipment required that the ship does not have on board to calibrate gauges, valves, tools and so on,” said Chief Interior Communications Electrician Justin Hohlbein, Momsen’s maintenance manager. “Pulling into a port like Subic Bay offers us the chance to have these types of jobs completed and the accomplishment of corrective maintenance of mission essential items is necessary for a ship to deploy or to continue on its deployment.”

Spruance also completed its portion of the deployment participating in the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI). OMSI is a secretary of defense program leveraging Department of Defense assets transiting the region to increase the Coast Guard’s maritime domain awareness, ultimately supporting its maritime law enforcement operations in Oceania.

PHOTO:
An MH-60R Seahawk lands on the flight deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) in the South China Sea on July 29, 2016. (photo by US Navy)

https://navaltoday.com/2016/08/08/uss-momsen-visits-subic-bay-philippines/

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USS Greeneville sub arrives in Subic Bay

The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Greeneville (SSN 772) arrived at Subic Bay Aug. 5 for a port visit as part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment.

“I have been looking forward to this visit for some time,” said Cmdr. Gabriel Anseeuw, commanding officer. “Our Filipino partners are very important to us. I wish we could spend more time here, but our work remains at sea.”

Greeneville’s Filipino-American Sailors were anxious to visit and interact with their heritage.

Fire Controlman 3rd Class Marvin Pascua, a Subic Bay native, looks forward to visiting his family in Subic Bay. Pascua left the Philippines four years ago to join the Navy. Pascua said that he misses the Philippines and eating sisig and turon.

Greeneville measures more than 360 feet long and weighs more than 6,900 tons when submerged. It was christened Sept. 17, 1994 and commissioned on Feb. 16, 1996 at Naval Station Norfolk. The Greeneville arrived at its current homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in March 1997.

PHOTO:
The USS Greeneville (SSN-772), a Los Angeles class submarine of the US Navy, prepares to dock in Subic Bay Freeport for a routine port call Friday (Aug. 05) morning. (Photos by Jun Dumaguing, MPD-SBMA)

http://manila.usembassy.gov/press-photo-releases-2016/greeneville-visits-subic-bay-indo-asia-pacific-deployment.html

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SBMA releases P141.4-M to neighboring LGUs

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently released a total of P141.4 million to eight local government units (LGUs) adjacent to the Subic Bay Freeport.

The releases represented LGU revenue shares for the first half of this year.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia handed over individual cheques to mayors and other LGU representatives and announced that the latest of the semi-annual releases is 18.5 percent higher than the P115.23 million distributed for the second semester of 2015.

“We are proud to turn over to you the result of the hard work of our SBMA workers who made everything possible for the agency. They serve fastidiously as we continuously improve our performance for four straight years,” Garcia told the mayors.

Among the town executives who arrived for the turnover held at SBMA Boardroom were Mayor Rolen Paulino of Olongapo City; Bataan mayors Cynthia Estanislao (Morong) and Joseph Inton (Hermosa); and Zambales mayors Jefferson Khonghun (Subic) and Dr. Estela Antipolo (San Antonio).

Mayors Jose Dominguez (Castillejos) and Elvis Soria (San Marcelino) of Zambales, and Mayor Gila Garcia of Dinalupihan, Bataan were represented by their respective municipal treasurers.

The shares released to the LGUs were derived from the five-percent gross revenue taxes (GRT) paid to the SBMA by business locators and investors operating inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

From the five-percent GRT, three percent goes to the national treasury, while two per cent is distributed by the SBMA among the eight LGUs.

The LGU shares are computed based on the following criteria: population, 50%; land area, 25%; and equal sharing, 25%.

The revenue shares are to be used for community development projects, including those for health, education, peace and order, and livelihood programs to enable communities near the Subic Bay Freeport to keep pace with developments in the special economic zone.

The LGU recipients thanked Garcia for the continuous support given by the Subic agency to the neighboring LGUs through the revenue shares, as well as for its effort to generate employment opportunities for residents, and for assistance in various community projects. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Local government officials show the cheques they received from SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (fourth from right) during the turnover of LGU shares for the first half of 2016. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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P60-B project to boost Subic Freeport as logistics hub

A P60-billion investment project to be implemented by an Australian firm here is expected to push this premier free port into the ranks of top global logistics centers today.

This was announced by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Robert Garcia yesterday at a press briefing here, wherein he also cited other new investment projects that had been approved by the SBMA board of directors.

According to the SBMA official, Asian Institute of Aviation (AIA) will occupy seven hectares of land near the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) and will build hangars and food processing stations for its intermodal logistics business.

Garcia said that AIA will be joined by an Australian firm, which will buy into the company for the new operations.

“The business model of the company is to export from Australia to China, Japan, and other Asian countries, via airplanes,” Garcia said. “The company will import meat, sea food, and other agricultural products from Australia by plane or by ship to Subic Bay, and will process and package these products according to customer orders and then deliver them to customers.”

Garcia explained that the Australian partner has been doing the processing already in Australia, but because the processing in Australia entails higher labor cost, it has decided to do the processing in Subic.

The operation, Garcia said, will become intermodal. “They will ship out by air since they have seven jets; they will also ship out via seaport, and their volume for the seaport is 60 containers per month,” Garcia said.

Aside from the P60-billion investment, the project will generate 800 jobs, aside from those during the construction of facilities, and the company “has also shown interest in providing new equipment for the tower at the Subic airport,” Garcia said.

The new investor also plans to build hangars for maintenance and repair operations (MRO) that will cater to jets in Hong Kong. “Mahal magparada ng jet dun. You pay $3,000 just to park it outside without a hangar,” Garcia added.

The new investment has been approved in principle by the SBMA board after the proponents showed proof of funds, Garcia said, adding that the construction of proposed facilities will still be subject to detailed engineering design.

“This is a good project for us,” Garcia said. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA bats for free wi-fi in Subic Freeport tourist areas

With the Philippines in No. 13 among countries with the highest number of Internet users and sixth in the most number of people on Facebook, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is working on a plan to have more public wi-fi areas here where visitors can stay “connected” for free.

According to SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, the Subic agency is discussing with local Internet provider PLDT-Subictel the possibility of putting up free wi-fi connection for the whole Central Business District (CBD) in the Subic Bay Freeport, an area most frequented by tourists and visitors.

Garcia said that a meeting with PLDT-Subictel president Renato Castaneda has already yielded positive results: the provision of free wi-fi at Remy Field, a favorite spot for residents and practicing athletes because of its track oval and other sports facilities.

“Now I’m trying to convince them to turn the whole CBD into a free wi-fi area, just like what they are doing to airports, seaports, and other places where a lot of people go,” Garcia said.

The SBMA chairman added that he has also identified alternative spots in the Subic Freeport for possible free wi-fi connection. These are the Boardwalk Park, Malawaan Fishing Area, the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, and the Harbor Point mall.

“Aside from Remy Field, those are the major points where visitors would benefit the most from a public wi-fi system,” Garcia added.

Meanwhile, Garcia also announced that the SBMA board of directors is now studying a proposal to operate the Internet-based Uber taxi franchise in the Subic Freeport.

The transport system, which is franchised by the American multinational online transportation network company Uber Technologies Inc., operates through a mobile application that allows customers with smartphones to book trips online.

“Uber is very much interested to put up its business here, maybe because we have a different regulatory framework here. So, we’re working out the details like the requirement for professional drivers and third party liability insurance,” Garcia said.

“We have spoken with the Uber general manager, and they are very interested because they want to make Subic an example of their operations,” he added.

Garcia said that he sees much benefit from Uber operation in Subic: “Number one is it will provide additional jobs; and number two, it will force local taxis in the Freeport to lower their fares, which are really excessive.”

Garcia said the high cost of transportation inside the Freeport works against efforts by the SBMA to promote local tourism. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (right) and PLDT-Subictel president Renato Castañeda discuss the provision of free public wi-fi in the Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Fendercare Marine to start Subic Bay operations

Fendercare Marine, one of the world’s biggest ship-to-ship (STS) cargo transfer service providers, is opening its services in Southeast Asia by bringing its operation to Subic Bay.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said that among the investment projects approved by the SBMA board of directors recently was Fendercare’s proposal for ship-to-ship transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

A world leader in ship-to-ship transfers, Fendercare operates from a global network of over 50 bases

The operations, Garcia said, will generate a minimum of P50 million a year in terms of port use only. This does not include indirect fees like payment for tugboats, chandlers, bunkering, and food supplies, Garcia added.

Jerome Martinez, manager of the SBMA Seaport Department, said the company is planning to start its operation in Subic Bay in the last week of September this year.

In connection with this, he said that Fendercare Marine business development manager William Barker and the company's Asia Pacific commercial manager Capt. George Mills recently conducted an orientation for Subic stakeholders to answer queries and concerns related to the their operations in Subic Bay.

“It is because of the location, the logistics available, and the assistance that the company is receiving from SBMA that Fendercare Marine has chosen Subic as the location for its operation in Asia,” Barker said during the briefings.

Barker noted that the operation would initially involve two ships: MV LNG Excel, a mother ship anchored at Subic Bay and loaded with LNG from Australia, which it would feed to MV LNG Lerici, a daughter ship, which in turn would deliver the cargo to Asian destinations, especially China.

The same officials also briefed fisherfolk in the coastal communities of Subic, Zambales, and Olongapo City on the project.

In the said briefings, Fendercare representatives also allayed fears of adverse environmental impact, saying that LNG is a very safe form of fuel that is why it is widely used in Japan where one shipload of LNG is said to be unloaded every 20 hours.

“It burns slowly, evaporates rapidly, and does not mix with water or kill fish or any other marine life. LNG is very environmental-friendly,” company officials said.

Fendercare Marine, which is a part of James Fisher and Sons plc, has been awarded a certificate of excellence for STS operations throughout 2015 for its exemplary safety record without any environmental accident since it began STS services in 2013, involving LNG transfer.

The company has provided ship-to-ship services to the oil and shipping industries globally since 1995. Today these services are provided from a global network of 50 bases, currently handling in excess of 2,800 transfers a year, the company website said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic attracts P100-B new investments in first 7 months

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has generated new investments of about P100 billion in just the first seven months of 2016, recording one of the biggest half-year investment turnouts for this free port since its establishment in 1992.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said in a media briefing here on Monday that several big-ticket projects were approved by the SBMA board of directors in the first half of 2016, compared to the previous four years when the SBMA attracted only P42-billion worth of new investment projects.

SBMA Chairman & Administrator Roberto V. Garcia

Garcia said the biggest of the new projects is the P60-billon joint venture by an Australian firm with Asian Institute of Aviation, an existing locator at the Subic Bay airport.

“They would transport agricultural products from Australia, mostly meat and seafood, repack them here, and then fly or ship them out to customers worldwide,” Garcia explained.

He added that the partners would put up an intermodal cargo terminal, use both airport and seaport, and expect to turn out around 60 containers per month for the Subic seaport.

“So that is going to be a big help,” Garcia said. “Their investment is going to be P60 billion for this project alone, and it will generate 800 jobs, not counting those for the construction work.”

Garcia said the project would also involve building new hangars, as the investors would bring in seven jets for their operations and offer maintenance and repair operations for jets, mostly from Hong Kong.

Garcia clarified that this commercial operation, which would occupy the northeast corner of the Subic airport, would not affect the proposed use by the Philippine Air Force of the southwest portion of the Subic airport for military training and logistics under the Expanded Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca).

The SBMA board, Garcia added, has also approved an industrial estate project worth P34 billion in a 400-hectare area in the Redondo Peninsula, near the site of the Hanjin shipyard.

The proposed industrial estate project will include the development of a 200-megawatt solar plant and the construction of warehouses and logistics facilities, and the establishment of factories, and generate around 53,000 jobs.

Garcia also mentioned that Korean shipbuilder Hanjin has received the green light from the SBMA to put up its own 12-megawatt solar power plant at Redondo.

Another big project that was recently approved by the SBMA board of directors was the ship-to-ship transfer operation for liquefied natural gas, which will be worth another P5 billion.

“Things are looking good,” Garcia said, pointing out that aside from the big-ticket investments, the Subic agency has approved “a lot of smaller projects.”

“So as far as I’m concerned, we have a lot of activity in the pipeline for the next three to five years,” Garcia added. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic expects bigger cargo volume in 2016

WITH all the reforms that the seaport in Subic has implemented over the last few years, the volume of goods flowing in and out of the facility, deemed as the top international cargo shipping hub in Northern Luzon, should increase this year.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said the Port of Subic has shown “great potential, as more businesses utilize Subic as their entry point to the Philippines.”

Cargo unloading at the Port of Subic

“We anticipate a growth in volume as more and more companies capitalize on the services and facilities here and the much greater access and efficient transportation of goods the area provides,” he said.

Together with the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), the SBMA has opened a one-stop shop (OSS) in its new container terminal (NCT) 1, significantly reducing port document processing time from one day to a mere four hours.

Roberto R. Locsin, general manager and president of SBITC, said that, with the recent upgrades, the port would be more efficient in handling the expected surge in cargo volume.

“The upgrades will ensure that our clients, both local and international, will receive world-class port service at the shortest turnaround time,” Locsin said.

The OSS also provides a designated lounge where brokers are given access to Wi-Fi and workstations. The company also recently acquired from Finland Generation G reach stackers that have a 45-ton lift capacity.

To date, the port offers cargo-handling services for both 20- and 40-foot containers, as well as the bigger 45-foot boxes for a full container load (FCL) and especially-handled cargo. The terminal also allows 10-day free storage for cargo exports and imports.

In 2015 SBMA introduced lower harbor and berthing fees resulting in a 75-percent increase in regular port calls from shipping companies that have been doing business in the area for years and new ones ready to take advantage of the latest opportunities.

With strategic business partnerships, trucker costs are now more competitive amounting to almost only a third of the previous price.

“Our seamless and cost-effective transfer of goods allows port users to maximize their business operations,” Locsin said.

With an annual capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the terminal is projected to exceed last year’s 120,000-TEU cargo volume, now that more business enterprises from nearby Bataan and Clark Field in Pampanga course their cargo through Subic.

Garcia said his group believes that Subic is the best option for businesses that carry imported and exported goods to and from North and Central Luzon.

Garcia also noted that the SBMA has adopted a preadvise system for trucks to improve traffic flow in and out of the free-port zone. This system was first implemented in the Port of Manila and has already made significant improvements in minimizing the dwell times in the port. This is the same efficiency expected to benefit the companies in the Subic port.

“All of these developments in NCT-1 and 2 manifest our readiness to accept the much greater volume of cargo in the port,” Garcia said. “We continue to strive to deliver world-class service and management in our operations as part of our mandate and continued commitment to help drive economic growth in the country. The much greater volume will pose a completely new set of challenges.”

Subic has been making head-way in terms of transshipment and maritime logistics services, overshooting its 2014 port revenue of P908.6 million by 25 percent, with a P1.16-billion collection last year. The port has significantly grown in 2015, as it recorded a 123,558-TEU cargo volume, from just 77,618 TEUs in 2014. (Lorenz S. Marasigan, BusinessMirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/2016/07/30/subic-expects-bigger-cargo-volume-in-2016/

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SBMA, Globe Telecom hold WASAR training in Subic

Members of the SBMA Fire and Rescue Team and the Globe Telecommunication-Emergency Response Team (Globe-ERT) conducted a collaborative water search and rescue (WASAR) exercise at the Subic Bay Freeport waterfront area Thursday morning (July 28) to further enhance joint sea disaster and flooding rescue operations.

Around 30 personnel from the said company trained alongside SBMA rescuers.

Globe Telecom also pledged to donate an inflatable rubber boat with outboard motor to the SBMA Fire and Rescue Team for use in search and rescue operations. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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BoI approves Subic power plant

Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc., led by Meralco PowerGen Corp., received a certificate of registration from the Board of Investments for its 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Subic, Zambales costing P63 billion.

“The registration entitles RPE to duty-free importation of equipment, materials and spares used for the power plant for a period of five years from date of registration. Also income tax holiday for four years from commercial operation,” RP Energy project development manager Joselito Lantin said Friday.

Lantin said RP Energy would build the project in phases. The company is currently negotiating for the engineering, procurement and construction contract covering the first 300-MW phase of the project.

He said the EPC contract would include an option for a second 300-MW unit.

“Targeted to start construction for phase one is fourth quarter 2016. Expected commercial operation is late 2019/early 2020,” Lantin said in a recent briefing.

Electricity generated by the project is covered under a separate power supply agreement with Manila Electric Co. accounting for 225 MW and Aboitiz Energy Solutions contracting 75 MW.

The company signed an amendment to the power plant site lease and transmission line right-of-way lease agreements with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in February.

“We will do 300 MW and then [expand to] 600 MW, depending on our capability to interconnect with NGCP [National Grid Corporation of the Philippines]. It just takes a few months before you can start the phase two,” Meralco PowerGen chairman Manuel Pangilinan said earlier.

Meralco PowerGen is the power generation arm of Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor, and owns a majority stake in RP Energy. (Alena Mae S. Flores, Manila Standard)

Full story: http://thestandard.com.ph/business/211878/boi-approves-subic-coal-plant.html

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Asian tourists love Subic, Clark

Koreans and Taiwanese composed the majority of the 1.4 million foreign and local tourists who visited Subic and the 900,000 who trooped to Clark in 2015, according to Ronaldo Tiotuico, the regional director of the Department of Tourism in Central Luzon.

The tourists come to the Philippines for weekend casinos and golf courses, Tiotuico said. Subic attracts more tourists than Clark because it is a seaport with natural wonders, theme parks, white beaches and convention facilities that can accommodate up to 9,000 participants, he added.

Clark, a former air force base, also offers casinos and two golf courses and a convention center that can hold 1,000 persons. Outside the base, Angeles City offers culture, heritage houses and food tourism.

Clark will host a bicycle race on July 30 with 600 participants. The cyclists will visit tourists spots inside the base, which is being promoted as a biking hub. There will also be a two-day trade exhibit by bicycle producers and traders at the mall inside the base, Tiotuico said

Other tourist spots near Clark, Tiotuico said, are the Lahar 4x4 trail, the Mt.Pinatubo crater and the Sta. Juliana native village, which attracts 300 tourists a week.

Tourism authorities are anticipating the conversion of Clark International Airport into a dual airport, but the lack of infrastructure and traffic dampens their enthusiasm.

According to Tiotuico, the tourism gains of a dual airport system will spill over to Regions 1 and 2, including the Cordillera.

However, some sectors urged Tiotuico to first develop the rich tourism potential of Central Luzon to serve the expected increase in arrivals.

Some of these potential tourist magnets are the Death March trail dating back to the World War II, beaches, the Mango Festival of Zambales and Aurora, the planting season of Nueva Ecija and its Science City, the war memorial of Bataan, and the Giant Lantern Festival and the Via Crucis of Pampanga.

Lack of tourism information prevents foreign and local tourists from fully experiencing the treasures of these destinations, they said. (Romeo Dizon, The Standard)

PHOTOS: 
Fun-tastic activities in Subic Bay that attracted 1.4 million foreign and local tourists in 2015 (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://thestandard.com.ph/news/-provinces/211499/asian-tourists-love-subic-clark.html

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Olongapo City officials undergo drug tests in support of anti-illegal drug campaign

OLONGAPO CITY - Local officials in this city led by Mayor Rolen Paulino submitted themselves to drug tests Wednesday as part their support to the national government's campaign against illegal drugs.

There was no special treatment for the local executives led by Paulino. They underwent all procedures-- from filling out forms and physical examination, to submission of urine samples.

“Ginawa naming ito para ipakita at maging ihemplo para sa mga taga Olongapo, kung yung iba nating mga kababayan ay umamin na user or pusher, ito naman ang paraan naming para ipaalam sa taong bayan na malinis at hindi involve sa drugs ang mga namumuno sa kanila,” Paulino said.

Among those who underwent drug testing are Vice Mayor Jong Cortez and city councilors led by Lugie Lipumano, Bj Cajudo, Noel Atienza, Ed Guerrero, Winnie Ortiz, Edna Elane, Linus Bacay, Bas Palo and Jerome Bacay.

“It was a surprise drug test, I told vice mayor Cortez and the city council to meet me in a restaurant and then I led them to the drug testing center,” Paulino said.

All tested negative both for marijuana and Methamphetamine Hydrochloride locally known as shabu.

Last week, around 400 drug dependents, or what the Philippine National Police called reformists, surrendered to Mayor Paulino and the local police and pledged not go back using or dealing illegal drugs.

According to Paulino, the city will be providing them livelihood options like as casket-making, as well as making eco-bags since the city is now implementing the no-plastic policy and making caskets.

Paulino explained that the city will be providing free caskets to indigent residents who can not afford it. “It will save us a lot of money, instead of buying from private funeral homes plus it will provide livelihood to others,” Paulino explained. (SNL)

PHOTOS:

Left: Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino is assisted by a nurse at the drug testing center. Local official led by Paulino underwent a drug test Wednesday, with results yielding negative for illegal drugs.

Right: Olongapo City Vice Mayor pose for a picture before submitting his urine sample at the drug testing center Wednesday. 

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