Meralco says Subic plant running by ’15

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest power distributor, said it is on track to finish its 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the Subic Bay freeport zone by 2015 despite various challenges. “The Subic project is moving, we recently filed for our Board of Investment (BOI) registration with the proper endorsement from the Department of Energy,” said Oscar Reyes, president and chief executive officer of Meralco. Reyes said the biggest challenge, the transmission line, has been tabled for discussion with the National Grid of...

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Puregold to set up Subic unit

LISTED Puregold Price Club Inc., the country’s second-biggest supermarket chain, is setting up a subsidiary to handle stores in the Subic Bay Economic Zone in Olongapo City. In a filing to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Puregold said its board approved the incorporation of PPCI Subic Inc., which is wholly owned subsidiary. The company has been widening its footprint outside Metro Manila, where the bulk of its stores are situated. Earlier this week, Puregold acquired the 19-store Parco supermarket chain with 12 Metro Manila-based...

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Redeveloped Subic airport to raise P150B investments

Redeveloping the Subic Airport site into a family-oriented tourism facility will raise investments of over P150 billion, according to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Moe Villamor, chief of staff of SBMA administrator Robert Garcia, in a presentation before government agencies about the Philippine Investment Promotion Plan, said the SBMA is pushing for the redevelopment of the 200-hectare property which had been largely unused after the pullout of Federal Express in February 2009. SBMA wants the airport redeveloped since Clark, just 30 minutes...

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Brazil’s Vale invests to get around Chinese megaship ban

Brazilian diversified mining major Vale, the world’s number two mining group in terms of market capitalisation, has announced that it is to establish a second floating iron-ore transfer station, in Subic Bay, in the Philippines. This station will transfer iron-ore from the miner’s giant Valemax bulk carriers to smaller Capesize and Panamax ore carriers, which will then convey the ore to ports in China. The first of these floating transfer stations, also in Subic Bay, started operations in February and cost the Brazilian group $52-million. The...

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SBMA, LGUs take part in open space technology workshop

Taking up the challenge of President Aquino in forging a social contract with the local community, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) met with neighboring local government units (LGUs) in an Open Space Technology Workshop held on May 19-20 at the Subic Bay International Hotel. The workshop was an open-type of seminar wherein the participants themselves determined the agenda that would be up for discussion the following day. It was facilitated...

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Garcia bares Subic tourism masterplan

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is aiming to model the Subic Freeport after Singapore’s Sentosa Island in order to make it a truly viable world-class tourist destination. SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia said during the Third Planning and Development Conference on Rural Tourism held here recently that the SBMA is conducting feasibility studies on the conversion of the Subic Bay International Airport into an integrated family resort similar to Sentosa. “This is the centerpiece of our tourism program,” he said, pointing...

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Hanjin Plans $700-M New Investments

MANILA - Hanjin, world’s leading ship manufacturer, is expanding its existing shipyard facility in Subic Freeport cementing the Philippines rank as the world’s fourth largest shipbuilder and construct a 200-megawatt power plant for estimated new investments of up to $700 million. Trade and Industry Undersecretary for International Trade and Investment Promotion Cristino L. Panlilio revealed the Korean firm’s additional investment forays in the country after attending the recent investment promotion conference in Seoul organized by the ASEA-Korean...

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US submarine docks at Subic Bay

A United States attack submarine, the USS North Carolina, docked at Subic Bay on Sunday, the US Pacific Command (Pacom) said in a report. According to Pacom , the Virginia class fast attack submarine’s Philippine visit was part of the vessel’s Western Pacific deployment. In a text message on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Asec. Raul Hernandez confirmed the sub’s Philippine presence. “USS North Carolina… [is] in Subic Bay, on routine ship...

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Hanjin to employ more workers

Helping boost the Philippine economy even through a slump in the world market, Korean shipbuilding industry leader Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines Inc. is set to aim higher and employ thousands of additional workers in its shipyard here this year. Since its first vessel delivery in 2008, Hanjin had posted P125 billion in annual export sales as of end-2011, making it the consistent top exporter in this premier freeport. It has also made the Philippines into a shipbuilding nation in the process. Jin Kyu Ahn, president of the...

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PLDT data center to drive Subic BPO development

MANILA - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.’s newly launched VITRO Data Center in Subic has been cited as a boost the development of the area’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. “We see BPOs sprouting all over the Philippines but it still remains very underdeveloped here. We aim to increase our BPO seats here as we pursue a major program for this industry,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Bobby Garcia said during the launch of PLDT’s VITRO Data Center at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. “We hope we can make use of...

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Herbalife triathletes finally top team event

HARD work and team pride paid off for Herbalife Formula 1 as it ended Fitness First Body Comba’t four-year reign of the Team Competition in the recently held K-SWISS ITU Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) presented by Century Tuna. Composed of triathletes Monica Torres, Hiroshi Takei, Dante Macalintal, John Omar Paredes and Julian Valencia, Herbalife Formula 1 won the grueling 1.5 Km swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run event’s team competition at last with a combined time of ten hours, twenty-two minutes and fifty-four seconds. Fitness First...

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Subic Hosts Eco-Regatta As Run Up To Recycling Talks

A regatta, showcasing boats made from recyclable materials, will be held here to promote ecological awareness among different schools and organizations competing in the event on Sunday. Dubbed the Columbia Recyclable Regatta, the eco-regatta is organized as a kick-off event to Columbia’s “Recycling Talks” for schools and organizations. Organizers said the main requirement for those participating in the recyclable regatta is for all boats to be 80 percent made up of recycled materials. The participants are encouraged to find an innovative and...

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Catiil shines in Subic age group triathlon

Neil Catiil uncorked the form that made him the toss of Philippine triathlon the past years to rule yesterday’s 2012 K-Swiss Subic Bay International Triathlon Age Group Championships presented by Century Tuna at the Subic Bay Freeport. The 25-year old Catiil displayed a balanced attack to spoil the challenge of national duathlon member August Benedicto in the race organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines. Former top female duathlete Monica Torres relied on her strong performance in the bike and run leg to dominate the distaff...

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Chinese, Japanese top Subic triathlon

ASIAN triathlon powerhouse countries China and Japan shared the limelight in last Saturday’s first day of action at the K-Swiss Subic International Triathlon. China’s Bai Faquan and Japanese Kawashima Eri ruled their respective divisions on a hot and humid day inside the Subic Bay Freeport. The 26-year-old Faquan, China’s top-ranked triathlete and no. 2 in Asia, shadowed the lead group in the 20K bike leg after finishing behind in the 1.5K swim...

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ERC okays Subic firm, SMEC supply deal

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said it has provisionally approved the extension of the interim supply agreement between Subic EnerZone Corp. (SEZ) and San Miguel Energy Corp.(SMEC). In ERC Case 2011-167 RC, the commission said the final generation cost that can be recovered will be determined when it makes the final decision. ERC made it clear that when the rates provisionally approved are found to be higher than the final rates, the amount corresponding to the excess shall be refunded by SEZ to its customers by crediting the same in...

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SBMA cited for job generation program

Educators in the field of Industrial Technology lauded the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for its continuing efforts to generate jobs for Filipinos, especially skilled workers. This message was conveyed to SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia during the recent opening here of the 10th National Conference of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities of Industrial Technology (PACUIT), which was attended by about 250 senior officers,...

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Subic’s Ayala mall opens doors to indigenous communities

As part of Ayala Malls' corporate social responsibility program, Harbor Point, Subic’s newest shopping destination, is opening its doors to indigenous groups in communities surrounding the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The mall, which formally opened on April 26, envisions itself as a home for the different community groups in the Zambales and Bataan area, said Bobby Dy, Ayala Land’s senior vice president. “We welcome all these groups, and we will...

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Hanjin, Huntington ink US Navy service deal

HHIC Philippines Inc. (HHIC-Phil), a unit of South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Ltd., is partnering Amsec Llc of the United States to provide maintenance, repair, and logistics services to the US Navy and other customers in the Western Pacific region. HHIC-Phil signed recently with Amsec, a subsidiary of the largest US naval shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls Industries, an agreement that will enable Hanjin’s subsidiary to diversify its operations at Subic Bay leveraging on its investment and increasing long-term...

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Ayala Land keen to increase presence in central Luzon

Ayala Land, Inc. yesterday bared plans to further expand its presence in central Luzon by adding residential or office projects in the area after launching the Harbor Point mall here. “We are definitely expanding our national presence. We have identified the Pampanga-Bataan-Zambales corridor as a key growth area, and with the opening of Harbor Point, you can say we have already deepened our presence in those areas,” Bernard Vincent O. Dy, Ayala Land executive vice-president, said in a press briefing. Aside from Harbor Point, Ayala Land’s other...

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Holy Week proved Subic’s drawing power

As expected, the Holy Week again spiked up tourist arrivals in this free port, as visitors from Manila and nearby areas took advantage of a long weekend to enjoy some days of vacation in this eco-tourism site. According to the data provided by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), around 50,500 vehicles visited the Subic Bay Freeport on April 1-9, as compared to a record of 30,480 in the same period last year. Using a standard...

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Hanjin set to deliver newly-built crude oil tanker and bulk carrier

Relentless in its effort to achieve greater heights in its core business, shipbuilding industry leader Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction - Philippines, Inc. (HHIC-Phil, Inc.) is set to deliver two newly built vessels before the end of April, 2012 namely: M/T Brightway, a DWT 160,000 Crude Oil Tanker ordered by a Liberian company Modmal Shipping Limited and M/V FMG MATILDA, a DWT 205,000 MT Bulk Carrier owned by Bocimar Hong Kong Ltd. based...

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Balikatan exercises held in Subic

The Hawaii National Guard, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) fire department, conducted a search and rescue exercise here on April 20 as part of the 28th Balikatan exercises between the military forces of the United States and the Philippines. The exercise was held at the Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue Training Facility in this free port. The facility is designed to simulate...

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Subic Bay is now a Wi-Fi zone

PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) has added Subic Bay Freeport to its list of Wi-Fi Zones, enabling subscribers to connect to the Internet when they visit popular destinations. The phone giant, in a statement, said it will provide free Wi-Fi service until May 5 at the free port zone areas such as the Zoobic Safari, Subic Yacht Club Hotel, Pier One, Royal Subic, Times Square Cinema and the Meat Plus/Freeport Exchange. “We are glad to bring the Wi-Fi zone to Subic Bay visitors so that they will be able to share in real time photos or...

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Subic Bay triathlon lures foreign bets

OVER 40 elite male and female triathletes from Australia and 10 other countries will compete in the 19th edition of the K-SWISS ITU Subic Bay International Triathlon on May 5-6 at the Subic Bay Freeport where Olympic qualifying points are up for grabs. Aside from Australia, other countries represented in the event presented by Century Tuna are China, Ireland, Jordan, Japan, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Chinese Taipei, Macau, New Zealand and Morocco. Local triathletes, meanwhile, will face entries from Malaysia, Thailand and China. In the Mini-Sprint 13-15...

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Unique course brings Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon Philippines to Subic

This former military base where the best American soldiers were trained to win a war is now officially the home of Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon Philippines, a distance competition where some of the world’s best triathletes are expected to compete. The good news was announced as Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia and Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) president and CEO Fred Uytengsu signed a memorandum of agreement making the Subic Bay Freeport the venue for the 5i50 Triathlon this year until 2014. Garcia said the agreement...

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Q1 2012 tax collection in Subic Freeport hits record P1.79-B

Tax collections by revenue and customs offices here in the first quarter of the year again surpassed previous records, leading to combined remittances of P1.79 billion in just the first three months of 2012. The P1.79-billion collection total remitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) represented an increase rate of 10.83 per cent, or P174.8 million, over the P1.61-billion aggregate collection for the same period last year, records from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) showed. SBMA chairman Roberto...

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Subicwater activates P50-M filtration facility

Private water-utility firm Subic Water and Sewerage Co. Inc. (Subicwater) activated on Wednesday a new filtration facility for its water-distribution system in Olongapo City with a capital expenditure of P50 million. Subicwater Chairman Herbert Consunji, who led the inauguration ceremonies at the Mabayuan Water Treatment Plant (MWTP) in Olongapo, said the project will boost the water-treatment capacity of the Mabayuan plant by 36 percent, or about 10 million liters per day (MLD). The plant, which supplies water to more than 18,200 water concessionaires...

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Century Tuna triathlon unfolds in Subic

MANILA, Philippines - The Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon Series Philippines is set on June 24 at scenic Subic Bay. Fred Uytengsu, president and CEO of Alaska Milk Corp., said it’s going to be the “biggest triathlon event in the country.” Those present in yesterday’s press launch at Dusit Hotel couldn’t disagree with the young-looking CEO, a certified triathlete. It’s the first 5i50 distance marathon (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run) sanctioned by...

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SBMA sets to develop techno hub, eyes 20,000 new jobs in 5 years

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has bared a plan to develop a technology center patterned after the Ayala Techno Hub in Metro Manila, hoping to cash in on the growing proficiency of local workers in information and communication technology. SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the agency is all ready to convert an area inside this premier free port into a business process outsourcing (BPO) center. “The SBMA is already developing what we call the Subic BPO City, which will be similar to the Ayala Techno Hub. We believe can already provide...

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SBMA chair urges youth leaders to contribute to economic dev’t

Chairman and Administrator Roberto Garcia of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) encouraged youth leaders to do their part in the economic development of the country by helping promote investor confidence in the local economy. Speaking before an assembly of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chapters in Central Luzon here on Tuesday, Garcia said that Filipinos, especially the youth, must do their best to take advantage of the present economic upswing. Garcia also commented on the summit’s theme, “Braving the Challenges of Unending Youth Empowerment,...

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