Meralco acquires 2 Subic plants

MANILA — Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is acquiring a majority stake in an Aboitiz Power Corporation joint venture that is building two 300-megawatt independent coal-fired power plants in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

In separate disclosures to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the two firms said Meralco’s wholly-owned unit Meralco PowerGen Corporation will invest in Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc. (RP Energy).

RP Energy is a 50-50 joint venture company formed by AboitizPower’s wholly owned subsidiary Therma Power, Inc. (TPI) and Taiwan Cogeneration International Corporation (TCIC) for the construction and operation of the proposed Subic Bay coal-fired power plant.

MPGC is expected to take a controlling interest in RP Energy, with TPI and TCIC will be diluted and end up equally owning the remaining stake of less than 50 percent.

Commercial operation of the proposed Subic Bay coal-fired power plant is projected to start in 2014. The plant is expected to augment the power supply of the Luzon Grid.

Meralco earlier said that its entry into power generation is part of its over-all strategy to assist in ensuring efficient, adequate and reliable electricity at cost-competitive rates.

The utility said that the potential partnership with TCIC and TPI will add to Meralco’s competitive electricity supply portfolio sourced from existing generating plants and from new highly efficient baseload, midmerit and peaking power plants, which MPG is putting up to meet customer requirements.

Meralco reiterated its commitment to existing long time and new customers in offering a wide range of valued products and services as a total energy solutions provider.

Meanwhile, in a separate disclosure, Meralco said it has priced P5 billion 7-year and 10-year fixed rate notes with a group of primary institutional lenders with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited acting as the sole lead manager and bookrunner.

The notes will be issued on June 29, 2011 with the proceeds from the facilities to be used to finance Meralco’s capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.

The 7-year and 10-year notes were fixed at a yield of 6.2692 percent and 6.8900 percent respectively.

The notes fetched a credit spread of 20 and 21.12 basis points over the relevant respective 7-year and 10-year benchmark rates, the lowest priced by the investor market for a peso capital market transaction by a corporate issuer in recent history.

The notes issue was 2.35 times oversubscribed from the original announced issue size of P3 billion with books reaching P7.05 billion in orders, thus allowing Meralco to exercise its oversubscription option of P2 billion. (James A Loyola, Manila Bulletin)

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PLDT-Subictel employees plant fruit trees under CSR program

Despite the rainy weather and muddy mountain pathways, employees of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Corp. – Subic Telephone Corp. (PLDT-Subictel) marched their way up Mount Sta. Rita here for their tree-planting activity last Saturday.

They were joined by employees of other subsidiaries and affiliates of the PLDT Group, such as Smart Telecommunications and Manila North Tollways Corporation.

The group planted about 50 fruit-bearing trees during the activity, said workers from the Ecology Center of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), who assisted in the project.

PLDT-Subictel president Dennis Magbatoc said that through this activity, PLDT-Subictel aimed to demonstrate their commitment in creating social and economic benefits in the Freeport, as well as contributing to greater environmental sustainability within the zone.

Magbatoc said that this was the first time for their company to undertake a tree-planting project here, although it was just one of their activities under their company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.

“When I started managing PLDT-Subictel, it became one of my mandates for our firm to participate in CSR activities specific to Subic,” Magbatoc said.

He also noted that PLDT-Subictel has been always involved in community-based projects, including outreach programs in Aeta communities.

Magbatoc said that the firm also donated some items to Aetas last year, and plans to carry out another assistance project for the indigenous tribe by the third or fourth quarter of this year.

The SBMA has been encouraging business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport to participate in the agency’s reforestation program, which was launched in 1996.

Employees and officials of the agency’s 29 departments participate in at least two tree-planting projects each year, joined by students and members of various community organizations.

The SBMA Ecology Center also conducts seminars on reforestation and proper handling and care of seedlings to help raise the awareness of groups and residents in the Subic Bay area, as well as to motivate them to participate in environmental protection projects. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

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SBMA, volunteer divers seed Subic Bay with giant clams

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) joined the global celebration of World Oceans Day on Wednesday by seeding an endangered species of giant clam at the Ilanin Bay marine sanctuary in this free port.

The SBMA Ecology Center, along with 12 volunteer divers from various dive shops in the Subic Bay area, “planted” 72 giant clams (tridacna gigas) species to help enhance marine biodiversity in Subic Bay.

The volunteer divers were from Boardwalk Dive Center, Johan’s Scuba Dive, Ocean Adventure, PNP Maritime Command, SBMA Harbor Patrol, SBMA Intelligence Office, and SBMA Ecology Center.

Ilanin Bay was chosen for seeding of giant clams after an examination by volunteer biologists showed the presence of giant clams in the area, which also passed the physical and biological criteria for a seeding bed, said Ecology Center manager Amethya Koval.

The visibility of the seeding area from the shore would also make it easy for authorities to guard it against illegal poachers, Koval added.

The giant clam “seeds”, which measured 15 centimeters in diameter, can actually grow up to 1.54 meters in diameter and weigh up to 258.55 kilos, biologists said.

The clam seeds were purchased from the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines in Bolinao, Pangasinan with money raised from the “Takbo para sa Taklobo” fun run that was organized by the SBMA Ecology Center last year.

“We raised some P54,000 from registration fees in the fun run, and that’s what we used to buy giant clam seeds, as well as for other incidental expenses like food for volunteers during the seeding process,” Koval said.

“If the seeding project turns out to be a success, the Ecology Center will organize more ‘Takbo para sa Taklobo’ fun runs to help fast track our mission of saving these beautiful creatures from extinction,” she added.

Meanwhile, SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said the project is part of the agency’s vision of making the Subic Bay Freeport an eco-urban center that effectively blends industrial development with ecological tourism.
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“Eco-tourism is one of our biggest industries here, and Subic Bay is among the dive sites that are frequented by tourists because of its historical shipwrecks and ecological biodiversity,” Arreza said.

“While we have these natural attractions as assets, we recognize the need to also help in protecting and propagating marine species like the endangered giant clams,” he added. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
Volunteer divers from the SBMA Ecology Center and different dive shops in the Subic Bay area seed the Ilanin Bay marine sanctuary in the Subic Bay Freeport with giant clams in an effort to enhance marine biodiversity.

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Big waves capsize boat in Subic; 1 dead

One fisherman died while three others survived after their motorized fishing boat capsized near Sitio Naglatore in Redondo Peninsula at the mouth of Subic Bay at the height of tropical depression Dodong.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Seaport Manager Captain Perfecto Pascual identified the rescued fishermen as Adonis Igmao, Melchor Nakar, and Ruperto Miranda, all of Barangay Calapacuan, Subic, Zambales.

The lone fatality was identified as Felix Datoon, 50, also a resident of Calapacuan.

Reports said that at around 10:40 in the morning, Thursday (June 9), M/V “Majelyn-1” was anchored at sea at about two kilometers from Sitio Naglatore with the four fishermen on board.

However, strong winds and big waves pummelled the boat, causing the anchor ropes to detach and making the boat unstable.

All passengers then decided to abandon the boat. Using empty plastic containers as floating devices, the fishermen swam towards the shoreline of Sitio Naglatore.

However, Datoon lost his plastic container due to strong and high waves, causing him to drown. The other three fishermen were able to swim to safety.

The initial report received by the SBMA Seaport Department said that workers of First Balfour Inc. were the first to respond and provide assistance to the three fishermen and to retrieve the body of Datoon.

First Balfour is a contractor of RP Energy Inc., the company that is building a power plant at the Redondo Peninsula.

According to Miranda, they went fishing at Sabang, Morong Bataan in the afternoon of June 8, but decided to return early morning of June 9 due to bad weather.

On their way back, they encountered strong waves that prompted them to anchor their boat in the waters off Sitio Naglatore, Miranda added.

Personnel of the SBMA Seaport and Law Enforcement Departments were dispatched to bring the victims to SBMA for medical attention. However, due to strong waves, the SBMA vessel M/V Redondo could not immediately get near Redondo Peninsula's shoreline.

It was not until 5:30 PM that the SBMA team was able to pick up the three fishermen and the body of Datoon.

The survivors were brought to the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital for further treatment while the body of Datoon was brought to the Subic Homes Memorial Service and was claimed by his family. (Henry Empeño, Corporate Communications)

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Chess: Laylo captures Pichay Cup title in Subic

SUBIC, June 9 (PNA) -- Mission accomplished for Filipino Grandmaster Darwin Laylo.

Laylo settled for a quick grandmaster’s draw with GM Wen Yan of China to capture the title in the 2011 Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Cup international chess championships at the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel here Wednesday.

The draw with the white-playing but overly-cautious Wen came after only 31 moves of the Slav and less than two hours of play, but it was more than enough to clinch the title for Laylo.

The 31-year-old campaigner from Lipa City actually finished in a three-way tie for first place with Wen and GM Li Shilong of China with similar scores of 7.5 points in this prestigious 10-round competition organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Laylo, however, clinched the title by virtue of a higher tiebreak score over the two Chinese players.

The three pocketed US$ 4,333 each out of the guaranteed cash prize of US$ 30,000 put up by Pichay.

“Thank God. Masayang-masaya ako dahil nanalo na din ako at nakabawi na sa masamang nangyari sa akin nung Asian Zonals sa Tagaytay,” said Laylo, referring to his monumental collapse in the Asian Zone 3.3 championships held in Tagaytay City last May 24 to 31.

Actually, Laylo flirted with disaster anew when he lost to Li in their ninth and penultimate round encounter and yielded the solo lead late Tuesday.

After drawing with Wen in the final round, Laylo agonized for nearly two hours waiting for the outcome of the match between Li and GM David Arutinian of Georgia on second board.

But Li failed to translate a slim endgame advantage in a must-win game against the higher-rated and more-experienced Arutinian and halved the point to tie for first place with Laylo and Wen.

Laylo’s smashing triumph enabled him to become only the second Filipino player to win a major international chess championship in Subic after GM Jayson Gonzales achieved the feat in 2008.

Gonzales, who now serves as tournament director, made history by ruling the Subic Open chess championship in May 2008.

GM John Paul Gomez battled Lu Shanglei of China to another draw in 34 moves of the Dutch opening to finish in a tie for fourth to 10th places with six other foreign players with seven points.

Gomez, who moved into contention by beating Asian Youth gold medalist Jan Emmanuel Garcia in the ninth round, earned US$ 1,214 for his effort.

Tied with Gomez are Lu, Arutinian, Ma Qun of China, GM XuJun of China, GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia and Xie Deshum of China.

Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre outclassed IM Yves Ranola to join GM Mark Paragua, IM Olilver Barbosa and IM Rolando Nolte in a tie for 11th to 18th places with 6.5 points.

Paragua and Barbosa also fought to a draw, while Nolte split the point with top seed GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia.

IM Chito Garma humbled GM Cerdas Barus of Indonesia in 54 moves of the Scotch, IM Oliver Dimakiling outlasted Guo Qi of China and IM Richard Bitoon bested IM Kim Steven Yap in an all-Filipino showdown to lead a big group of players with six points.

WFM Zhansaya Abdumalik of Kazakhstan, one of the youngest participants here at age 11, outlasted NM Efren Bagamasbad in 88 moves of the Philidor’s opening in one of the most keenly-watched games in the tournament.

Garcia, who vaulted into prominence by earning his IM title outright during the Asian Zonals, dropped his second straight game to Yu Ruiyuan of China and plummeted into a tie for 27th to 33rd places with only 5.5 points.

In other notable final-round results, Alex Milagrosa crushed Ben Polao; reigning national junior champion Mari Joseph Turqueza halved the point with FM Haridas Pascua, Paulo Bersamina split the point with Roger Sarip, Emmanuel Emperado drew with Randy Segarra, Leo Alidani downed Felica Trenseco, Kristine Mae Mariano beat Ferdinan Tesman of Indonesia, and Danrev Garcia subdued Daniel John Lemi.

IA Gene Poliarco served as the chief arbiter. (PNA)

Final standings: (Filipinos unless stated)

7.5 points – D. Laylo, Y. Wen (China), S. Li (China)

7 -- S. Lu (China), D. Arutinian (Georgia), Q. Ma (China), J. Xu (China), J. Gomez, S. Megaranto (Indonesia), D. Xiu (China)

6.5 -- Z. Zhang (Singapore), M. Gagunashvili (Georgia), M. Paragua, E. Torre, C. Wang (China), O. Barbosa, R. Nolte, R. Yu (China)

6 – R. Bitoon, O. Dimakiling, C. Zeng (China), A. Datu, A. Novitas (Indonesia), T. Purnama (Indonesia), C. Garma, J. Wang (China).

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SBMA, JobStreet.com tie-up now serving jobseekers worldwide

People looking for work in this free port can now easily land a job here without having to spend a single peso in the application process.

The cost-free convenience is made possible through a tie-up between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and JobStreet.com , the Malaysia-based job portal which is now the biggest online employment company in Southeast Asia.

The SBMA-JobStreet tie-up unveiled early this year an online career portal and joint recruitment process, which provides a faster, easier and more cost-effective venue for both employers and jobseekers.

“With this program, we hope to provide our investors and business locators with qualified workers, while helping jobseekers with information on available jobs within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” said outgoing SBMA administrator Armand Arreza.

“And because this portal has a global reach, we can also extend our recruitment efforts worldwide,” Arreza added.

SBMA labor manager Severo Pastor, Jr. meanwhile cited the ease with which the system draws applicants even from outside the Central Luzon region.

He further said that while the SBMA’s recruitment policy prioritizes applicants from areas “in and around the zone,” workers from outside the zone can also be accommodated through for jobs that require specialized skills.

Glenn de Guzman, JobStreet.com territory manager, meanwhile explained that the SBMA-JobStreet project is a “shared advocacy program” intended to automate the recruitment services that the SBMA provides to Subic investors and business locators.

“This is absolutely free for jobseekers. They do not have to pay any company nor the SBMA to access this facility,” De Guzman stressed.

De Guzman said that jobseekers could easily access the career portal by opening the SBMA official website, which is www.sbma.com, then clicking on the “Job Opportunities” link at the upper left side of the home page to view the job postings.

He added that the portal also provides convenience to jobseekers, who won’t have to spend money for photocopying several sets of application papers even if they would apply for jobs in several companies.

“What they have to do is create an online resume and submit it to as many companies as they want for positions they are qualified for. It’s that simple. And that’s what makes it cost-efficient for jobseekers,” De Guzman said.

According to senior customer care supervisor Voltaire Jose, when a jobseeker submits his or her resume, the system will match job requirements with the applicant’s qualifications. Once the system finds a match, qualified applicants will be notified through e-mail.

He added that In the event that an applicant does not qualify for a position, the system sends the resume to the SBMA labor department’s database, so that when a locator posts a position that matches the applicant’s qualifications, the applicant will be notified as well.

De Guzman said that JobStreet.com provides the service at no cost to the SBMA, but employers availing of the service pay a one-time a year fee of P5,000. The membership fee allows them unlimited posting for the year.

“Without this SBMA-JobStreet partnership, companies wanting to post job vacancies would have to P5,000 per position,” he added.

JobStreet.com, which was founded in 1997 in Malaysia, is now the number one job portal in the country and the Asia-Pacific. It now operates in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Japan, HongKong, and the Philippines. (SBMA Corporate Communications)


PHOTO:
Two fresh college graduates browse the JobStreet.com website for job opportunities at the Subic Bay Freeport.

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SBMA to open Kalaklan Bridge on July 5

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced on Thursday that the new Kalaklan-Lighthouse Bridge, which has been under construction since June last year, will be opened to motorists and pedestrians starting July 5.

Lawyer Ramon Agregado, SBMA senior deputy administrator for support services, said the completion of the bridge project will give commuters and pedestrians a big relief.

The P200-million project involved the construction of a new two-lane bridge to replace the 50-year old span built by the US Navy, and the establishment of a security plaza, which will also house a Customs field office.

The Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge, which is the free port’s gateway to the province of Zambales, is one of the four bridges connecting the free port zone to Olongapo City.

This bridge, along with the Magsaysay (Main Gate) Bridge which leads to Magsaysay Drive, the entertainment and business district of Olongapo, was built by the U.S. Navy in the early 60’s.

The old bridges used to carry even heavy trucks and buses going in and out of the Subic free port, but inspections made in recent years showed they already have some severe structural defects due to strain over the years. Early last year, the SBMA resolved to replace the Kalaklan Bridge with a new one and also closed the Magsaysay Bridge to vehicular traffic.

The SBMA said that an average of 2,500 light vehicles and some 300 pedestrians passed through the Kalaklan Bridge every day until it was closed to the public in February 2010 to pave way for the speedy construction of its replacement.

The closure, however, necessitated a rerouting of traffic through the Olongapo City proper, thereby causing heavy traffic in the area, especially during the morning and afternoon rush hours. Moreover, travel time from the free port to Subic, the first town in Zambales, took longer by about 30 minutes.

“Starting July 5, however, the Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge will help ease the traffic going to Zambales,” said Agregado.

He added that aside from the two-lane bridge with covered walkway, the Kalaklan Bridge project also includes a security plaza, spacious parking area for all types of vehicles, and an administration building that will accommodate SBMA offices for its Treasury Department, Law Enforcement Department, Seaport Department, as well as the Bureau of Customs.

The Kalaklan Bridge construction project is part of SBMA’s efforts to build vital infrastructure for the planned expansion of the Subic Freeport into nearby areas, such as Olongapo City and the towns of Zambales, Agregado also said. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

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Garcia wins Phl's lone gold in Asian youth

Subic, Philippines - FIDE Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia provided the lone bright spot for host Philippines, winning the country’s lone gold medal in what turned out to be an all-Indian show in the 2011 Asian Youth chess championships at the Subic Bay Traveler’s Hotel here Saturday.

Garcia, one of the country’s brightest young stars, outwitted Amiralar Javidfar of Iran in their keenly-watched ninth and final round showdown to finish with seven points on five wins and four draws in the boys 16 years old and under category in this prestigious tournament which attracted 287 players from 20 countries.

An incoming fourth year high school student at Ateneo de Manila, Garcia finished half-a-point ahead of Nima Jabanbakht of Iran and a full point ahead of Ranjan Sahoo of India, compatriot Dominique Lagula and Ali Valizadeh of India.

“I’m very happy to win the gold medal here. It was a tough tournament,” said Garcia, a mainstay of the famed V. Luna Chess Club under Greg Rellorosa.

Overall, the Philippines bagged one gold, two silvers and two bronzes in the week-long competition dominated by Asian heavyweight India.

India capped another dominating year in chess by wining 10 golds, four silvers and four bronzes.

The Indians finished with a 4-3-2 haul in the boys division and 6-1-2 in the girls category.

Aside from the Philippines, the only other country to break India’s dominance was Iran, which won the gold medal in the boys 12 under courtesy of Shahin Lorpanizangeneh.



Dennis Gutierrez III bagged the silver medal in the boys 8 years old and under to join Garcia in the podium.

In the girls division, World Youth campaigner Jan Jodilyn Fronda clinched the silver medal in the girls 18 years old and under.

Fronda, a member of the De La Salle University chess team, defeated Bayar Anu of Mongolia to finish second behind eventual champion Rucha Pujari of India.

Fronda, who nearly did not make it to the tournament proper, finished with seven points on seven wins and two losses.

Actually, Fronda dropped her first two assignments but came back strong by winning the next seven matches.

The only other silver medal came from Samantha Glo Revita, who finished second behind two-time world under-8 championIvana Maria Furtado of India. (Philippine Star)

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Filipina lass grabs lead in Asian Youth chess tilt

PROMISING chess master Marie Antoinette San Diego shocked third seed Sagar Tejaswini of India to stay on top in the girls 12-years-old-and-under category after six rounds in the 2011 Asian Youth chess championships in Subic.

Diego, a gold medalist in the Asean Primary Schools Sports Olympiad, notched her fifth win to improve her score to 5.5 points.

She is half a point ahead of two-time world under-8 champion Maria Ivana Furtado of India with still three rounds left.

Samantha Glo Revita, on the other hand, split the point with Nilufar Yagubbayeva of Uzbekistan to share the third to seventh places with four points.

In the girls 18-under division, Mikee Charlene Suede, Cheradee Chardine Camacho, and Jan Jodilyn Fronda defeated their respective sixth-round foes to remain in hunt for the coveted crown.

Suede surprised top seed Nguyen Thi Mai Hung of Vietnam, Camacho blasted Liu Hongyan of China and Fronda clobbered Vo Thi Kim Pung of Vietnam. The three local bets have four points each.

They are behind frontrunners Rucha Pujari of India with 5.5 points and Hoang Thi Nu of Vietnam with 4.5.

In the boys 16-under, top seed Jan Emmanuel Garcia drew with Nima Javanbakht of India and fell to solo second place with five points, half a point behind leader Antonio Viani D’Cunha of India. (Emil C. Noguera, Manila Times)

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SCTEX helps boost economic dev't in Central & North Luzon

MANILA — With much-improved road networks and other strategic infrastructure projects in place, Central Luzon is now fast turning into a destination of choice for tourists and investors, domestic and foreign alike.

A regional official of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) made this observation, citing the entry into the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) of large business conglomerates, notably the Filipino-owned Ayala Group and the San Miguel food and beverage giant.

NEDA assistant director in Central Luzon Lynette Y. Bautista said some corporations engaged in business process outsourcing (BPO) were also coming in, further boosting the economic activities building up in the region.

Bautista was quick to point out however, that the heartening developments unfolding in Central Luzon were due in large part to the completion of the multibillion-peso Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) built by the state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

The 93.7-kilometer SCTEX traverses the great Central Luzon plains, interconnecting the three key growth areas of the region namely the Subic Freeport Zone, the CSEZ and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac.

A linkup between the SCTEX and the 84-kilometer North Luzon Expressway spanning Balintawak in Caloocan City and Sta. Ines in Mabalacat, Pampanga provides seamless travel between Central Luzon and Metro Manila and has remarkably reduced travel time to Zambales, Subic, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and towards the north such as Pangasinan, Baguio, La Union and Ilocos.

“SCTEX enhanced the complementary roles of Subic and Clark. Tourism drastically increased in the region due to significantly reduced travel time,” Bautista said.

The BCDA built the SCTEX as part of a larger picture being envisioned by the government to transform Central Luzon as a logistics and aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

From Subic to Clark for instance, travel time is only 40 minutes, while those coming from Manila would take an hour to reach Mabalacat, using Balintawak as the starting point.

NEDA supervising economic development specialist Greg Pineda indicated that judging from the heightened business activities now taking place in Central Luzon, it won’t be long for the government vision of dramatic social and economic growth to become a reality.

“Among the country’s regions, Central Luzon is now the third biggest contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” Pineda said.

He added that Clark and Subic registered hefty increases in visitor arrivals in over the past years following the SCTEX’s full commercial operations in mid-2008.

As a result, tourism-related business concerns in the region, including the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark were compelled to undertake expansion programs to cope with the growing demands of increasing tourist traffic.

The DMIA itself is expanding existing facilities to accommodate larger aircraft and unprecedented growths in tourist arrivals.

With all these developments, Pineda underscored the need for local and national government leaders to “respond positively” to preserve and enhance the gains being achieved.

Pineda also disclosed that the NEDA has its own multi-sectoral Regional Development Council (RDC) tasked to formulate the Regional Development Plan, 2011-2016 to attain the “Central Luzon 20/20 Vision for 2025”.

Chaired by San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, the RDC charts the development and identification of priority programs for the region.

One of the hallmarks of the development agenda for Central Luzon, according to Pineda, is embodied in the plan’s vision statement entitled “Central Luzon: A Sustainable and Caring Global Gateway through Public-Private-Partnerships and Growth for All,” predicated on the principle that improving the lives of the people requires concerted efforts among all stakeholders—the government, business sector, and civil society to harness the region’s potentials for economic growth.

Pineda explained that in line with the President’s “Social Contract with the People,” a “Caring and Global Gateway and Growth for All” means that the marginalized and vulnerable sector of society would be given wider access to adequate protection in an environment of borderless commerce arising from the world-class airport and seaport facilities in Clark and Subic, and the region’s greatly enhanced mobility of people and goods-owing largely to the advent of the SCTEX. (Manila Bulletin)

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Bulacan rescuers top 8th First Aid Olympics in Subic Freeport

The rescue team of Calumpit, Bulacan emerged as the overall champion in the recently-concluded 8th Regional First Aid and Basic Life Support Olympics held at the SBMA Gym here, besting some of the best rescue workers in Central Luzon who vied to be named the number one rescue unit in the region.

A total of 16 teams joined the regional Olympics organized by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-3) through the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine National Red Cross Region 3 (PNRC-3).

The activity sought to hone the skills of rescue and first aid teams in the region, and “provide opportunities for participants to develop leadership skills and a chance to see how they could improve their resources,” said OCD Region 3 director and RDRRMC-3 chairperson Neri Amparo.

Among the challenges participants faced in the Olympics were scenario-crisis management, scenario-accident management, rescuing trapped persons, and applying basic life support (BLS) and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

According to records provided by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Disaster Management Center (SBMA-DMC), which hosted the event, the Calumpit rescue team (RT) ended up as champion in the municipal level after outscoring the Sta. Maria (Bulacan) RT, which was named the first runner-up.

Meanwhile, Guagua (Pampanga) RT and Sta. Ignacia (Tarlac) RT trailed as second and third runners-up, respectively.

In the provincial level, the Nueva Ecija RT was declared champion, as it soared ahead of the respective rescue teams of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan who ended up in the first, second, and third runner-up positions.

The Malolos City rescue team, meanwhile, received the championship plaque for the city level, as newcomer Barangay Sta. Rita (Olongapo City) RT settled for the first runner-up spot. The San Jose Del Monte (Bulacan) RT and Palayan City RT landed as second and third runners-up, respectively.

Among the rescue teams in the non-government organization and private level, Trust International Paper Co. (TIPCO) of Pampanga, successfully defended its title, outpacing Star Force Security Group (Pampanga), and Rescue 117 (Bulacan), which were named first and second runners-up, respectively.

Hall of Famer Olongapo City RT did not join the Olympics and instead nominated Brgy. Sta Rita RT to represent the city.

Another Hall of Famer, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Disaster Management Council, on the other hand, decided not to compete and focused, instead, on hosting the event.

According to Undersecretary Benito Ramos, who is OCD administrator and executive director of the NDRRMC, the First Aid Olympics is the only competition in the country where rescuers display their techniques, as well as learn from other teams how they could improve their life-saving skills.

“The first line of defense against calamity and disaster is the awareness and knowledge of our people on what to do when disaster strikes,” Ramos told the participants and spectators.

According to Ramos, the most common cause of death during flashfloods and landslides is lack of awareness and knowledge in BLS and CPR.

On the other hand, well-equipped, well-trained first aiders and volunteers have done well in saving lives and reducing the effects of injury and trauma through the effective implementation of first aid measures, Ramos added. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO: Participants in the recent 8th Regional First Aid and Basic Life Support Olympics held at the SBMA Gym display their skills in rescue and first aid.

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Taiwan investors relocating to RP – MECO

MANILA – Following the resolution of the Taiwan diplomatic row with the Philippines, Taiwanese businessmen, who have been turned off by the stringent labor requirements in China, are seriously considering relocating here their manufacturing facilities from mainland China, the Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO) said.

MECO chairman Amadeo R. Perez Jr. told reporters Taiwanese businesses engaged in industrial plastics manufacturing with estimated investments of at least $120 million are considering of relocating their factories from China to Subic and Clark Freeport zones for their export-oriented investments.

Perez said that these Taiwanese firms have existing operations in China but engaged in industrial plastics manufacturing and one bed frame and mattresses manufacturer have existing plants in China but are eager to get out of there because of some stringent labor requirements.

Perez said that five four plastics products manufacturers have visited Subic and Clark earlier and one is coming over to visit Batangas and Clark. Another company engaged in bed frames and mattresses production has found a suitable warehouse in Clark that can be converted for his business.

“One project alone can command at least $20 million in investments,” Perez said. For the six projects that would translate to an estimated $120 million worth of prospective investments.

According to Perez, several Taiwanese investors in the mainland have been getting turned off by policy changes in the labor sector.

“Some of the Taiwanese have already gone to Vietnam and Indonesia as these countries are not very choosy because of their high unemployment situation,” he said.

The bed frame and mattresses manufacturer is exporting its products to the EU, Asia and the US while the plastics products manufacturers are producing industrial products for packaging applications and are exporting all over the world.

“They came here to see prospective site. Their requirement is proximity of their operation to international seaport and airport,” he said. Thus, MECO has suggested to the Taiwanese businessmen to consider Subic, Clark, Batangas and Cebu for these areas have access to international ports.

Following the successful resolution of the bilateral issue early this year, Perez said that MECO is implementing a major campaign to attract more Taiwanese investors into the country.

“Our only problem is our high cost of electricity,” Perez said noting that Vietnam and Indonesia could beat the Philippines on this single factor alone. (BCM, Manila Bulletin)

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Subic fisherfolk celebrate “Pamalakaya 2011” for bountiful harvest

Fishermen in the Subic Bay area gathered themselves together the other day in a lengthy fluvial parade around the bay to celebrate“Pamalakaya 2011: Araw ng Mangingisda,” a festival to thank Mother Nature for a year--round bountiful harvest.

The fluvial parade was part of the week-long festivities “Subic Ay!” that was organized by the municipal government with the theme, “Tuloy ang Pagsulong Tungo sa Subic City.”

The Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (SBI-FARMC) initiated the fluvial event. Delegations from the coastal barangays of Calapandayan, Calapacuan, Matain, Wawandue, Asinan and Baraka in this town joined the parade, which was led by a fishing boat carrying the image of Saint James (San Tiago), the patron saint of fishermen.

“The Pamalakaya is our way of thanking Mother Nature and our patron for providing us with a continuous source of livelihood and keeping us safe while catching fish offshore,” said SBIFARMCI chairman Laureano Artagame.

Aside from the fluvial parade, the Subic Ay! Festival also enlivened the streets around the poblacion area of Subic by the cheering songs of fishermen, as well as women and children who joined the karakol or street dancing.

The fluvial parade was followed by boat races in various categories: paddle-driven, motorized, and mini-banca, which used recycled materials.

The SBIFARMCI is among the sectors being assisted by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) through the Environmental Guarantee Fund, which was tapped for scholarship grants and various livelihood programs for fisherfolk in the Subic Bay area.

Members of SBIFARMCI include fishermen from Olongapo City, Morong in Bataan, and Subic and San Antonio in Zambales.

Last October 2010, SBIFARMCI received P2.3 million from the SBMA for the production of 60 artificial concrete reefs modules that were later installed in coastal areas in Morong, Subic Bay, and San Antonio in Zambales. In addition, the SBIFARMCI also purchased two new motorized bancas for use as monitoring, controlling and surveillance (MCS) patrol boats.

Outgoing SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga said during the turnover of the fund that the SBMA aims to implement a program that will benefit the marine environment from which Subic stakeholders derive their livelihood.

“It is a common endeavor of the stakeholders in the Subic Bay Area to promote higher marine biodiversity in Subic Bay and create better and healthier marine environment for fishing, recreation, tourism and related livelihoods,” Salonga also said. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO CAPTION:
Fishermen from Subic, Zambales paddle their boats against a backdrop of merchant vessels in a boat race held during the "Subic Ay!" festival held recently in thanksgiving for bountiful harvests.

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'No discussion on increased US military assistance in PHL'

MALACAÑANG said on Thursday there was no discussion on the increase of US military assistance in the country during the recent visit of two US senators.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that when they met with President Aquino, US Sens. Daniel Inouye and Thad Cochran did not discuss anything “political” with the Chief Executive.

“[There was] nothing political, they did not discuss Subic, so it’s really surprising that the issue of Subic or establishing a military base cropped up. There was no such discussion,” Lacierda said.

He said the senators also discussed with the President the Save Our Industries (SAVE) Act, which is being backed by Inouye.

“That’s what was it all about. Other than that, no more,” Lacierda said.

Asked about Malacañang’s position on increased military presence, Lacierda told reporters that the Visiting Forces Agreement is being reviewed.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III at the same time vowed to resist incipient attempts to bring back American military bases in the country, amid reports this was part of the “hush-hush” agenda of two ranking US officials who visited the country recently.

“Yes. I will oppose it,” Osmeña told reporters at the sidelines of the Kapihan sa Senado media forum yesterday.

Osmeña observed that the Philippines and the US have enjoyed “excellent relations” despite a 1992 Philippine Senate vote terminating the lease on American military facilities. “So, why do we need to host their bases here [again]?”

He added that the Philippines would not want to get caught in a conflict between the US and China. “We do not want to get involved in the fight between two giants. Uupakan lang tayo dalawang elepante diyan.”

He sought a reasonable justification for the Philippines to allow the return of American military presence. (B. Fernandez, K. Corro, Business Mirror)

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Images of Christ appear in old Acacia tree in Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Images of Christ wearing the Crown of Thorns, one of the instruments at the time of crucifixion, appeared in several branches of an old Acacia tree in a posh residential area, here.

The faithful started to flock offering flowers and prayers in the place which they now claimed as sacred.

About few weeks ago, 64 year-old house keeper Remedios Generalo started to see the

unusual formation of the Christ images in several branches of an old Acacia tree in a landscaped garden owned by businesswoman Geralda Villa of East Kalayaan Heights.

Generalo said that the cutting, pruning and trimming of several branches of the huge Acacia tree were done about two years ago but images were discovered only last March 28.

The images appeared in about four to five trimmed branches of the tree.

But days before that, Generalo recalled that for several occasions, she witnessed the swirling and powerful winds near the Acacia tree, lifting door maps and slippers off the grounds.

“Ang akala ko may darating na bagyo (I thought a typhoon is coming),” she said.

Generalo added that another unusual thing happened after she discoverd the images ofChrist on the branches of the Acacia tree.

“Each morning, I used to feed several crow birds in our garden which has become part of my daily routine but now the birds are all gone,” she said.

The images have caught the attention of Fr. Oddie Mozo, the parish priests of San Roque Chapel, who recently visited, blessed the tree and reportedly officiated a mass in the garden.The priest could not be contacted for comment.

Kalayaan resident Angie Samson said that neighbors are not bothered by the influx of faithfuls visiting the house but warned that the “miracle” should not in any way be used for commercial purposes.

“The place is blessed with the appearance of these sacred images. It should be treated with utmost respect. Hindi yung mag-isyuso lang,” Samson said.

The latest visitor in the area was former Senator Dick Gordon who was amazed to see the image of Christ.

“Miracles do happen these days,” says Freeport worker Elsie Muñoz-Cabral who went to see the Holy Face of Jesus on Holy Thursday in Kalayaan Housing with her children.

Some of the visitors claimed that there should a message that comes along with the images of ‘dying’ Jesus.

Olongapo resident Susan Miranda cited the Last Words of Jesus before He died on the cross.

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” the word of Christ which she believed that God has forgiven our sins and will never leave us.

“Clearly, the image of dying Christ tells us that people have to repent, turn away from sinful life and offer ourselves to the forgiveness of sins,” Miranda said.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has yet to investigate on this. (Rey Garcia, News Central)

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Ship parts assembler eyes Subic for Asian/European hub

Polarmarine, Inc., a household name in ship parts industry, is planning to transfer production facilities in Malmo, Sweden and Russia to this free port under an expansion program designed to capture the growing shipbuilding industry in Asia.

Carolina Agoo, Polarmarine administration and financial manager, said that the expansion will be undertaken for two reasons: first, because of the strategic location of the Subic Bay Freeport, which is closer to the firm’s Asian customers and suppliers; and second, because of the English-speaking skilled workers here.

Currently, Polarmarine has 86 workers, most of whom were former workers in the Subic Naval Base, who have been highly trained by the U.S. Navy, Agoo said.

“With this expansion plan, we aim to lower the cost of our products since we will be saving more from freight costs because we will import from our suppliers in Asia, and export products to customers in Asia,” Agoo added.

Outgoing Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Feliciano Salonga, who himself was an executive in a maritime company, expressed elation over Polarmarine’s long-term plan during a tour of the firm’s assembly plant in Subic last week.

“The SBMA welcomes this expansion project, and the agency is here to help in any way it can. That’s our role — to assist,” Salonga said.

Polarmarine, a Swedish firm which started operations here in 1996, is among the pioneer locators in the Subic Freeport.

Initially, Polarmarine produced “Polar Jet”, a programmable multi-nozzle tank cleaning equipment designed to clean difficult-to-reach parts of slop tanks, wing tanks and under-stringer platforms in conventional tankers.

Later on, Polarmarine ventured into assembly of sonic horns used in shipyards, for which it acquired recently a 484-sq.m. building to for additional assembly facility.

“This is in preparation for our plan to transfer production in Malmo, Sweden to Subic,” Agoo explained, adding that the company sees a 20 per cent increase in production and employment in the first year, and an additional 50 per cent in the succeeding years.

Agoo added that in 2010, the Polarmarine unit in Subic generated about $7 million in revenue. From this level, the company plans to increase production to $8.5 million and augment its workforce to a total of 103 in the first year.

Thereafter, the firm plans to hike production to $12.75 million and its workforce to 155.

Agoo added that company executives also plan to transfer to Subic the production of loadmaster, a loading computer that calculates and balances the load of ship, as well as shipmaster, which takes care of cargo and ballast automation in any type of ship. However, she said the company is set to strengthen its technical team, which includes naval architects, marine engineers, and data encoders, before it could undertake the assembly of loadmasters and shipmasters.

Agoo said that shipbuilding-related industries are now being concentrated in the Asian region, and more shipbuilding component assembly operations are now being transferred to Asia.

Because of this, Polarmarine started this month to closely coordinate with Subic-based Korean shipbuilding firm Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Phils. for an arrangement to directly supply sonic horns.

Polarmarine is a member of the Kockumation Group based in Malmo, Sweden. Aside from Polarmarine, the Kockumation Group also has Kockum Sonics and Texon Automation under its umbrella. The Kockumation Group also has production facilities in Sweden, Russia, Shanghai and Dalian in China, and Great Britain.

Last year, Polarmarine was number 24 among the 198 exporters in the Subic Bay Freeport, with freight-on-board value of $6.13 million; and number 47 among the 314 importers here, with its freight-on-board value of $4.11 million. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
Polarmarine administration and financial manager Carolina Agoo shows samples of the firm’s products to outgoing SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga (right) and SBMA Maritime Business Department head Ronnie Yambao.

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Festival bats for recognition of local fishers

MORONG, Bataan — Local fishermen called on the government to recognize the importance of the fishing industry in the Philippine economy and to place importance on the protection of marine resources during the recent “Araw ng Mangingisda” celebration held at Barangay Sabang in this town.

The event featured activities like fun run, coastal clean-up, fluvial parade, galunggong cooking contest, and parlor games that were lined up for residents and visitors alike in the two-day program held on April 14-15.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which manages part of Morong town under the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, gave its full support to the Sabang festival. SBMA public relations manager Armie Llamas served as a judge in the cooking contest, while the SBMA brass band rendered musical entertainment during the fluvial parade.

Sabang, which is located along the coast of this town, relies on fishing as its major source of income. The major product of resident-fishers is the “galunggong” or mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus), which is a common food fish in local markets.

Restituto del Rosario, chairman of the Morong Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (FARMC) and 2008 Gawad Saka awardee for fish capture, said the local galunggong season usually starts in February and continues throughout March and April.

But he lamented that the fishing industry is not being recognized as an important part of the economy and is not regarded as a major industry.

“Kailangang makilala ang pangingisda bilang isang malaking industriya,” Del Rosario said.

Apart from batting for recognition of fisher folk, Del Rosario also wants the people to be aware of their responsibilities in taking care of the environment, particularly the sea.

Del Rosario said that changes in the climate is affecting the fishing season. He said that the “amihan” or the northeast wind, which is supposed to end by mid-February, has just ended in April, thus delaying the fishing season by more than a month. This delay reduced their fish catch by almost half, he said.

Normally, the average galunggong haul that local fishers make reaches one to two tons per day during the galunggong season.

At the same time, Del Rosario recognized the SBMA as one of the agencies, which provide assistance to the Sabang fishing village. He said that SBMA gave a P4-million grant recently to rehabilitate the coastal area and to provide aid for fishermen.

“SBMA has always been supportive of our programs here,” Del Rosario said.

He added that they have recently asked the SBMA Ecology Center for technical assistance in conducting studies for the marine protected area project that they are now undertaking.

Meanwhile, Morong vice mayor Bienvenido Vicedo Jr. said the festival is also a good avenue for promoting the products of Morong, particularly galunggong.

Vicedo also said that the local government of Morong had tied up with the Department of Labor and Employment to provide assistance to fishermen, setting up the “Sapaw” group and giving them P1-million worth of boats and equipment to help them in their trade. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
Fishermen get ready for the fluvial parade during the “Araw ng Mangingisda” celebration in Sabang, Morong, Bataan.

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Aytas celebrate ‘Apu Buk-Kot’ festival in Freeport forest (feature)

Far from the busy highways and factories of this free port, inside the thick forest where flora and fauna still exist almost undisturbed, is an open space considered sacred to all Ayta people of Central Luzon.

Every Holy Week, different Ayta tribes from Central Luzon gather at this sacred land which the Aytas believe to be where their most holy ancestor Apu Buk-Kot turned himself into spirit and joined his creator in Heaven.

The place is inside the Boton Forest Area at the back side of the Subic Technology Park, more than two kilometers from ArgonautHighway in the Subic Bay Freeport.

This Holy Week, about 20 Ayta families left their homes in the foothills of Bataan and Olongapo City to visit this place in Boton forest to pay respect to their ancestors, especially Apu Buk-Kot, the holy one.

Bonifacio Florentino, former tribal chieftain of the Pastolan Ayta tribe in this free port and member of the festival organizing committee, said that Aytas celebrate Apu Buk-Kot’s spiritual journey to connect them with the past.

“Ginaganap namin ito tuwing Mahal na Araw bilang pag-alaala kay Apu Buk-Kot, na hindi namatay kundi naglahong parang bula sa lugar na ito. Kaya sa ganitong panahon din siya nagpaparamdam sa amin,” Florentino said.

He added that through this festival, young Aytas and the lowlanders who married Aytas were taught about the origin, culture, practices and traditions of the Ayta.

In the opening ceremony, Florentino urged young tribal members to continue this kind of gathering, stressing that Apu Buk-Kot wanted to see members of the Ayta tribes happily bonding together and sharing food, as well as preserving their rich culture and history.

Joy Reyes, cluster head of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in Central Luzon, said that as part of the three-day festival, Ayta elders also teach new members of the tribe and children aged four and above, how to live in the forest with only a bolo for making shelter and gathering food.

She said the children must know how to catch shrimps and crabs in the creek using their bare hands, and identify edible root crops and fruits, as well as sources of water.

They are also taught how to pray in the native dialect, and dance the way their fathers and mothers did.

Reyes added that on May 2 and 3, the festival will move on to Limay, Bataan where the Aytas will be trained in planting, nurturing and harvesting various crops. A tribal wedding ceremony will also be held for those who wish to get married during the festival.

“We hope that the coming generations will continue practicing our rich culture and tradition, and pass them on to their children so that the Ayta heritage will continue to exist through the years,” Reyes also said. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
Ayta elder Bonifacio Florentino shares with youngsters the beliefs and practices of the Ayta tribe at the Subic Bay Freeport

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PHL masters ready for chess championship

TWENTY-FOUR young chess masters will represent the country in the prestigious 2011 Asian Youth Chess Championships scheduled from May 14 to 22 in Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo City.

According to National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) grassroots development program Director Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, the players were selected based on their impressive finishes in the recently concluded 2011 Pangasinan National Age Group Chess Championship.

FIDE Master (FM) Emmanuel Garcia and Paul Robert Evangelista will spearhead the team’s campaign in the boys’ division as they participate in the 16-under event along with National Master Alcon John Datu and FM Haridas Pascua who will vie in the 18-under class.

Also seeing action in the boys’ category are Khulene Lord dela Cruz and Dennis Gutierrez III (8-under); Julius Gonzales and Istraelito Rilloraza (10-under); Daryl Unix Samantila and Haince Patrick de Leon (12-under); and Giovanni Mejia and Jerad Docena (14-under).

Leading the girls squad are veteran campaigner Woman FM (WFM) Chardine Cheradee Camacho and Christine Joyce Laz (18-under) along with Jerlyn Mae San Diego and Rheam Arah de Guzman (8-under); Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem and Regyne Palamig (10- under); Marie Antoinette San Diego and Samantha Glo Revita (12-under); Mary Joyce Fuerte and Merlene Membrere (14-under); and WFM Cherry Ann Mejia and Janelle Mae Frayna (16-under).

“The top two players in each division will have the chance to compete in the Asian Youth. These athletes are no pushovers. They will be fighting for medals,” said Gonzales. (Emil C. Noguera, Manila Times)

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Subic kids paint for Japan disaster victims

Grade school students in this free port had pooled their paintings together in an arts exhibit here in an effort to raise funds for victims of earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza said that students of the Casa Kalayaan International School (CKIS) in Subic had taken the initiative to raise funds in their own way.

“They put up their own first exhibit, not to profit from the sale of their artworks, but to help in their own little way the victims of disasters in Japan,” Arreza said.

“Their parents should be proud of them, like how I am proud of these kids,” he added. Arreza’s children, fifth grader Lorenzo Gabriel and fourth grader Danielle Bianca, both students of CKIS, participated in the exhibit.

CKIS principal Joanne Prieto said that the arts exhibit was conceptualized a couple of months ago after seeing several beautiful art works the students had made at the Subic Lighthouse Marina, and she thought the paintings should be put on exhibit for a wider audience.

Prieto then made arrangements with Lighthouse manager Argee Gomez, a noted supporter of environmental advocacy, who excitedly agreed on the proposal and named the project “Towers,” an art exhibit at the Lighthouse to save life in Japan.

“The destructive earthquake and devastating tsunami had inspired several students to make posters on Japan, representing hope for their recovery,” CKIS Student Council president Michelle Prieto said.

“The Casa Kalayaan International School Student Council was so moved by these efforts and wanted to organize a fundraiser for this country (Japan) in its time of need,” Michelle said.

The young artist said that there are about 20 paintings exhibited, each selling between P2,500 and P8,000. “Fifty percent of the sales will go towards helping Japan,” Michelle added.

Aside from the fundraising efforts of CKIS students, the Subic Freeport community also responded to a relief drive initiated by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake disaster.

The SBMA also sent its fire and rescue team to Japan to help in recovery operations, and expressed its sympathy and support to the Japanese community in this free port through a resolution passed by the SBMA board of directors.

SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga said the SBMA resolution expressed solidarity with the Japanese community “in this time of trial and adversity” and offered its deepest sympathy and condolences to all Japanese locators and residents in Subic, especially those who may have lost loved ones and friends in the recent disasters.

The Subic Bay Freeport Zone is home to more than 40 Japanese locator-companies, some of whom were pioneering enterprises that helped develop this free port in its early years. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO: SBMA administrator Armand Arreza (right) and wife Maria Paz, together with Casa Kalayaan International School (CKIS) principal Joanne Prieto (second from left) and Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce official Susan Dudley, opens an exhibit of paintings by CKIS students. The students are selling their paintings to help raise funds for victims of earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

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Aquino affirms partymate Payumo’s BCDA posting

Malacañang yesterday confirmed reports that President Aquino appointed another fellow Liberal Party (LP) member and former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Felicito Payumo as the new chairman of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte made the confirmation through a text message following Payumo’s admission to Subic-based correspondents that he was indeed appointed by the President to lead BCDA.

“I confirm the appointment of (Felicito) Payumo to BCDA,” Valte said.

The Office of the Executive Secretary claimed Payumo’s appointment papers were signed by Aquino last April 7.

BCDA was established under Republic Act (RA) 7227 whose primary function is to convert former military bases of the United States and military camps in Metro Manila into special economic zones that are expected to generate job and business opportunities for the locals.

Payumo will replace Aloysius Santos who held the BCDA’s reins for about five years. He called the shots for the SBMA from 1998 to 2004 during the Estrada administration. He also had quite a long career as a member of the House of Representatives serving the first district of Bataan from 1985 to 1998.

Wikipedia’s account says Payumo worked in the private sector for more than 20 years, including stints at Procter and Gamble Philippines, Mobil Corp. in New York and Engineering Equipment Inc. where he served as president before venturing into politics.

Payumo’s page at the same database also said he was the principal author for the act creating BCDA along with the Build Operate and Transfer Law and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority during his career as a legislator. (Aytch S. de la Cruz, The Daily Tribune)

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Belmonte cites lawyers’ role in nation-building

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte cited the role of lawyers in nation-building, as he graced the closing ceremonies of the 13th national convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in this free port over the weekend.

Lawyers, he said, “are the most responsible in making our democracy work through their guidance and leadership.”

Belmonte also reminded lawyers that they are the social architects and engineers who design and build the society, and that they have extensive influence in the formation of a nation.

He likewise recognized the challenges faced by lawyers in solving novel and complex legal problems. “This is why the study of law requires mental discipline, logical thinking and organization of ideas,” Belmonte said.

Some 2,000 lawyers from different chapters of the IBP attended the three-day convention at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on April 7-9, the biggest convention turnout so far in the organization’s history.

Notable lawyers such as Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Francis Escudero, Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta graced the affair.

At the same time, Belmonte cited the gains made by the House of Representatives under his helm, pointing out that it has achieved the highest approval rating in post-Martial Law years due to the integrity and competency of current House members.

“Leadership by example is one of the deterrents against corruption,” Belmonte stressed in his speech.

Belmonte also mentioned that the budget for this year was approved by both houses of the Senate and by President Aquino before the year 2010 ended.

He added that another accomplishment eyed by the House is the passage of House Bill No. 4067, or the GOCC (government-owned or controlled corporation) governance bill that both Houses have already approved.

He said that they are just waiting for the bill to be signed into law. If the GOCC governance bill is signed, it would be the first law to be passed this year, he added.

House Bill No. 4067, which is principally authored by Belmonte, recognizes the potentials of GOCC’s as significant tools for economic development, and ensures that their operations are consistent with national development policies and programs. The bill covers all GOCC’s, including all government instrumentalities with corporate powers and government corporate entities. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

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New luxury hotel opens in Subic free port

Global Hotel and Leisure Properties, Inc. (GHLPI) has opened its P70-million Segara Suites development late last week to complement its passenger terminal business and another existing hotel, officials said late last week.

Segara Suites managing director Dave Baldeo said the 18-room luxury hotel has been added to the 10 units of the Segara Villas.

The completed investment adds to the existing 1,662 rooms and 1,876 housing units in the free port and thus increases the area’s tourism potential, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand C. Arreza said.

The project of GHLPI, also the operator of a passenger terminal, will also bolster the free port’s plan to develop a cruise market here as more cruise liners set their sights in Asia, Mr. Arreza said.

Already, the SBMA has recorded a total of $1.02 billion in committed investments for tourism-related projects here, Mr. Arreza said.

Total investment commitments across all sectors meanwhile totaled $1.2 billion for 115 projects, a value nearly six times the $206.5 million recorded for 201 projects in 2009.

Of the 115 investment projects approved by the SBMA in 2010, the bulk was made up by the proposal of South Korean firm MCastle Philippines to spend about $1 billion to develop a resort in Morong, Bataan.

“The Segara resort complex now has the capabilities and facilities to serve visiting cruise ships,” Mr. Arreza said.

“Our plan to increase the number of high-quality rooms is imperative because of the increasing number of tourists coming to Subic,” he added.

The Segara Suites is said to cater to the high-end market which includes business executives as well as celebrities.

“Many are willing to spend for as long as they get their money’s worth,” Mr. Baldeo said.

He added that the new hotel is part of the expansion program of GHLPI that includes the on-going construction of Segara Residences -- a condominium project located near Subic’s Alava Pier -- and the Segara Promenade Commercial Building.

“This is the continuation of the development and expansion phases of Segara,” Mr. Baldeo said.

The company is also seeking to serve visiting cruise ships with the construction of a passenger terminal of its mother-company, the Global Terminals and Development, Inc., according to earlier reports.

The latest development comes as the SBMA had earlier sought to increase the number of shipping firms that use the economic zone’s ports.

Efforts had reportedly been under way to consolidate shipping needs of nearby manufacturers to lure carriers into serving the port, SBMA senior deputy administrator Redentor S. Tuazon had said.

The unnamed shipping firm being targeted, if it signs on, would increase the thrice weekly port calls seen by the Subic ports to daily calls.

Locators at the free port exported $1.345 billion worth of goods in 2010, an increase of 24.6% from the previous year, data from the SBMA Web site showed. But seaport revenues fell 12.33% that year to P414.538 million.

The Subic port covers 41 hectares and consists of 15 piers. (BusinessWorld)

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Subic Freeport hosts biggest IBP convention

Some 2,000 lawyers from different chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) across the country attended the organization’s three-day 13th national convention here, the biggest turnout so far in the history of the IBP.

The convention opened on Thursday at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), with guests of honor that included Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Francis Escudero, former Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila president Adel Tamano, and Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza, Zambales governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., Zambales 1st District representative Mitos Magsaysay, and Olongapo City mayor James Gordon, Jr. welcomed the convention-goers, with Ebdane and Gordon turning over symbolic keys to Zambales and Olongapo City to IBP officials.

In his welcome remarks, Arreza noted that in all of the conferences and conventions that Subic has hosted, this convention had the most distinguished attendees. He also invited everyone to take the opportunity to enjoy the sights that Olongapo, Zambales and the Freeport has to offer.

Meanwhile, Binay, who is concurrent presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Affairs and chairman of the inter-agency campaign against human trafficking, urged lawyers to be in the frontline of the war against illegal recruiters, stressing that if the evidence points to their guilt, the illegal recruiters should rot in jail.

“We can nip in the bud illegal recruitment and human trafficking by making laws that make them answer before the law,” Binay stressed.

He emphasized that illegal recruiters should not be let off the hook, and that the full force of law should be imposed on international drug traffickers.

Apart from calling on lawyers to fight illegal recruitment, Binay, who was recently sent to China to plead the case of three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking, also urged lawyers to contribute their own share in the realization of the objectives of good governance.

For his part, Escudero reminded lawyers of the importance of their title. He said that lawyers are seen in society as respected individuals and that their every move is being watched.

He therefore urged lawyers to maintain the level of respect that they are being accorded with.

“Sana, sa inyong mga lugar at komunidad, gampanan natin ang papel na dapat gampanan natin, papel na dapat gampanan hindi lamang bilang Pilipino, hindi lamang bilang abogado, kundi ng isang Pilipinong abogado na nagmamahal sa kanyang bayan, sa pamamagitan ng kanyang salita at gawa (I hope that, in your communities, you do your role not just as a Filipino, not just as a lawyer, but as a Filipino lawyer who loves his country in words and action),” Escudero said.

He also challenged lawyers to help eradicate recurring social problems, such as corruption and human rights violation. Escudero is chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez officiated the oath-taking of new chapter directors and officers during an induction ceremony held later that evening. (SBMA Corporate Communications)
PHOTO: Vice President Jejomar Binay (2nd from left) hands over to SBMA administrator Armand Arreza a statuette of the Lady of Justice in recognition of the agency’s support in the holding of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines 13th Convention held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Also in photo are Roan Libarios(left), executive vice president and governor of the IBP, and retired Justice Santiago Kapunan, IBP officer in charge.

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Subic rescue chief: Disaster awareness a must for Filipinos

With earthquake experts warning of the possibility of a “big one,” there is more reason for Filipinos to be more prepared and properly trained to face calamities, according to Rannie Magno, chief of the fire and rescue group of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Magno, a member of a Philippine team sent to the tsunami-struck city of Sendai in Japan to conduct Oplan Bayanihan last March 18, noted that while Filipinos may have some training in disaster preparedness, they still need to develop a culture of disaster awareness.

“Filipinos must be ready, since the threat of a strong earthquake is highly possible,” Magno said.

In particular, members of disaster response teams should be properly briefed on what to do before and after earthquakes, he said. They must also have the proper tools and equipment in handling rescue operations, he added.

The Philippines, which is located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, is susceptible to strong earthquakes, Magno noted.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the Marikina West Valley fault line, one of the active faults in the country, can cause a 7.2-magnitude earthquake at its full movement. The fault line runs through Metro Manila, particularly through the cities of Marikina, Pasig and Muntinlupa.

PHIVOLCS also noted that the Manila Trench, located 50 kilometers off the island of Corregidor, could generate an 8.5-magnitude earthquake, which can produce a tsunami in the Manila Bay.

While in Japan, Magno said he also observed the way the Japanese people dealt with the disaster and noted that while Japan was very well-prepared, the system of notifying residents still needed to be enhanced.

He said that Filipinos who were evacuated from Sendai recounted that not everyone responded promptly after the tsunami warning was issued.

Japan suffered a magnitude-8.9 earthquake on March 11, which caused tsunami waves of up to 37 meters high. The tsunami caused extensive damage in Miyagi Prefecture, particularly in the cities of Sendai and Fukushima, where the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant exploded and leaked some radiation in the aftermath of the tsunami.

Magno stressed that if a tsunami warning has been issued, people should seek higher ground within fifteen minutes.

When asked if he felt any fear during the recovery mission in Japan, Magno said that there was no reason to be scared since his team was well prepared. He also added that he had prior chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training in the United States.

Magno is also a member of the core group of trainers/lecturers who conduct training for local and corporate executives on Incident Command System, which deals with all types of emergencies at all levels. This system, which was patterned after that in the United States, is to be adopted in ASEAN-member countries.

As of now, Magno is promoting disaster awareness activities in Subic and conducting earthquake awareness seminars and earthquake drills.

Magno, who recently received the Civil Service Commission’s Pag-asa award for his work as SBMA fire and rescue chief, said that he is always guided in his undertakings by the core values of the agency.

“Dala natin ang core values ng SBMA. Iba ang values natin,” Magno said. “Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga tao natin na dapat dala natin ito kahit saan tayo mapunta, para mas dumami pa ang maniwala sa ganitong values. Whatever I do, wherever I go, I look at myself as an ambassador of the SBMA,” he added. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
SBMA Fire Chief Ranny Magno, in hazmat suit, checks radioactivity level at the premises of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, which was found to be within normal limits. Magno, a member of the Philippine government’s “Oplan Bayanihan” emergency mission, has called for intensified efforts to increase the level of disaster preparedness in the country.

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Subic’s Lighthouse Resort goes green with beach clean up, Eco-Art

Hundreds of residents and stakeholders in this free port joined hands to protect the environment during the Annual Summer Beach Clean-up organized here by The Lighthouse Marina Resort and the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR).

The clean-up, held during the early hours of March 25 at the beach front area of the Moonbay Marina Complex, was joined mostly by students from local schools like the Mondriaan Aura College, St. Joseph’s College, and Olongapo City National High School.

Representatives from civic groups, locator companies, and tourism-related establishments also took time to help clean up the beach area.

The activity was followed by a junk art workshop conducted by environmental artists from Baguio City known as the “Junk Artists”, who coached student-participants in creating art works from junk.

The participants used trash collected during the clean-up as materials for their junk art. The artworks will be judged by a panel composed of IYFR leaders.

According to Jun Avecilla, CEO of The Lighthouse Marina Resort, organizers of the cleanup want to spread the mission of taking care of the environment.

Avecilla said that the Lighthouse group and the IYFR are committed to preserving the environment and have conducted tree planting activities across the Philippines, including about 1,000 trees at the Angat watershed and the La Mesa Ecopark.

During the Subic activity, the group also planted coconut trees along the beach front area near the Lighthouse Resort.

A day before the clean-up, the organizers also opened the Eco-Art Exhibit, which featured Nature paintings, including artworks by Filipino watercolorist Adriano "Boy" Valino. The activities were held in a run-up to the Earth Hour, which was held the following day, March 26.

Ameth Dela Llana-Koval, manager of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Ecology Center, said in a message delivered during the Eco-Art Exhibit launch that people “should take baby steps to stop climate change.”

She also noted that activities such as planting trees and participating in the Earth Hour by turning off electrical appliances maybe considered small steps, but these would make a big impact if people would do it together.

The Subic Bay beach clean-up was made possible in cooperation with the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, various RotaryClubs, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
Stakeholders help clean up Subic’s waterfront during the annual summer beach cleanup organized by The Lighthouse Marina Resort in the Subic Bay Freeport.

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Subic traders want review of Japan truck-import

Importers of used vehicles in this free port are urging the government to reconsider the admission here of right-hand drive vehicles from Japan under Executive Order (EO) 887-A, which bans the entry into the country of imported used cars but allows the importation of used trucks, buses and special-purpose vehicles.

According to Ben Perez, managing director of Subic-based vehicle importer Ichiban Import-Export Corp., used-vehicle traders in Subic are requesting the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to amend the proposed implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of EO 877-A, or the Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Development Program.

He said the DTI should go easy on used-vehicle imports, particularly those from Japan, as they constitute the bulk of used-motor vehicles that are now used in local industries as well as infrastructure-development projects in the country.

 “Both left-hand drive and right-hand drive trucks should be allowed to be imported through the Subic Bay Freeport since 90 percent of all [right-hand-drive] trucks arriving here are from Japan,” Perez said in a statement on Tuesday.

 “Vehicle importers here are all willing to accept EO 877-A, but [there should not be] additional requirements such as release certificate (RC) since documentary safeguards required by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) Seaport Department and the Bureau of Customs are already in place,” Perez added.

Perez said that in particular, Section 3.C of the IRR, which allowed the importation of left-hand trucks, buses and special-purpose vehicles, should also allow the entry of right-hand drives from Japan, as recommended by Committee Report 2157 of the 12th Congress on June 12, 2004.

Section 4.A.2 of the IRR, which requires imported vehicles to have roadworthiness and emission-compliance certificate from the country of origin, to be duly authenticated by the Philippine embassy or consulate, must be stricken out because the Japanese government would not issue such a certificate, he added.

Perez pointed out that the required roadworthiness and emission certificate only becomes a duplication because the SBMA already requires a comprehensive test on all imported trucks entering Subic prior to their registration with the Land Transportation Office. As of now, three motor vehicle-inspection centers are operating here: the Vehicle Inspection and Testing Corp., the Subic Bay Motor Vehicle Inspection (SBMI), and the Automotive Testing Emission Center Inc.

Perez contested Section 4.A.5 of the IRR, which calls for a release certificate (RC) to be given by a representative from the DTI’s Bureau of Import Services (BIS).

“The release certificate should not be issued by the DTI-BIS representative alone, as this could easily be a source of corruption. Instead, the RC should be issued after an ocular inspection by the Interagency Committee of Used Trucks and Engines Technical Working Group, together with the SBMA Seaport Department,” Perez said.

Subic traders are also suggesting that the Board of Investments (BOI) should come up with a schedule of fees that would be valid for from three to five years, with proportionate increases over the years.

Local importers are also requesting Trade Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio, who is also manager of the BOI, to conduct another public consultation at the Subic Freeport so that local stakeholders could air their opinion on the matter before the IRR becomes effective, Perez added.

 EO 887-A, which was signed by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in June 2010, allowed the importation of used-motor vehicles with gross vehicle weight of from 2.5 tons to 6 tons and above, as well as special-purpose vehicles like firetrucks and ambulances.

However, the EO required that the used vehicles as well as used engines, parts and components should have a Certificate of Authority to Import (CAI) and RC from the DTI-BIS.

The CAI is issued only if the vehicle import has a roadworthiness and emission-compliance certificate from the country of origin which must also show compliance with Philippine roadworthiness and emission standards. The CAI is valid only for a period of 60 days under a letter of credit.

The RC from the DTI-BIS is required for the vehicle to be released from the Bureau of Customs and be registered with the Land Transportation Office. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

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Flying V to put up solar-powered stations in Clark, Subic

CLARK FREEPORT — Leading independent player Flying V is set to pioneer a new innovation in the petrol industry as it plans to establish solar-powered gasoline stations.

Ramiro Villavicencio, project proponent director of the solar-powered gas station, said pilot areas will be this Freeport and Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales by mid-second quarter of this year.

“Nearly everything we do in our modern society requires energy that is generated by burning fossil fuels, contributing to the carbon footprint which effectively harms our environment,” Villavicencio said.

“This move by Flying V won’t solve the environment and energy problems the world is experiencing; however this is part of our corporate social responsibility and we are doing our part to address such problems,” said Villavicencio.

He added that the advocacy is in support of clean and alternative energy, which is in line with the government’s Clean Air Act.

Villavicencio explained that the said solar-powered gas station will be equipped with solar panels that will energize approximately 25 percent of the facility's electric consumption, effectively minimizing carbon footprints.

He also said that the pilot stations will have self-service pumps, which are targeted to give consumers cheaper fuel.

The proposed solar-powered gas station is also one way of trying to change the mind-set of the Filipino people on how to be more conscious about our environment, he added.

Fling V has been actively supporting and promoting the use of alternative fuels, pioneering the sale of bio-diesel in the country.

The company has also been given due recognition by the national government for its active participation in its programs. (Reynaldo G. Navales, Sun Star Pampanga)

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SCAD to harmonize policies with Subic, Clark freeports

The Subic- Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) is set to speed up harmonization of policies and regulations between the Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) and Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ).

SCAD chairman Nestor S. Mangio said this came on the heels of a recent meeting of the Central Luzon Regional Development Council (RDC-III), where a draft of the Central Luzon Medium Term Regional Development Plan 2011-2016 (MTRDP) was presented.

The plan, he said, underscored, among others, the need for integrated land, air and sea transport modes. SCAD has been a member of RDC-III since 2006.

In a statement, Mangio said the need for a transport mode interconnecting the two freeport zones was one of the strategies identified and included in the MTRDP draft, to ensure sustainable growth that would effectively reduce poverty in Central Luzon.

“In the past we have coordinated the completion of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, SCTex Pampanga Interchanges and Access Roads, New Container Terminals in the Port of Subic Bay, and the Passenger Terminal of Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark.

“These infrastructures have been serving the locators and the general public. This year, we will be coordinating more with growth partners and the private sector with regard to policy structures to find ways to further harmonize policies and regulations between the two freeports to attract more investments,” Mangio said.

Under the draft, SCAD is in charge of developing a “Global Gateway Program” aimed at strengthening the linkages between Subic, Clark and Tarlac’s industrial estate.

SCADC is a government office mandated to rationalize resources and harmonize policies and strategies that shall ensure an integrated and coordinated approach to the development of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Corridor as a world-class mega logistics hub and global gateway to the Asia-Pacific Region.

It is composed of the Department of Trade and Industry, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Clark Development Corporation, North Luzon Railways Corporation, and Clark International Airport Corporation.

Covering five kilometers on each side of SCTEx, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Corridor is a vast expanse of 98,000 hectares straddling between and across 10 municipalities of Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac, and the cities of Olongapo, Angeles, and Tarlac. (U.S. News Agency / Asian)

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Aboitiz Power Expansion

Aboitiz Power Corp. will invest around $1.5 billion to expand the output of two planned coal power plants in Subic and Davao City to a combined 900 megawatts.

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