1,800 triathletes troop to Subic for 5i50 triathlon

Over 1,800 triathletes arrived in this free port for the 2014 Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon on Sunday, marking the biggest number of participants in any Olympic-distance race to be held in the country.

In the third straight year that Subic has hosted the race, participating athletes again pitted themselves against a challenging course set against the picturesque locale and well-preserved environment of this former military base.

Among last Sunday’s racers, Australian Casey Munro topped the men’s pro elite division after completing the course which involved a 1.5-kilometer swim leg, 40-kilometer bike leg, and 10-kilometer run course.

Munro, who placed fifth in the Ironman 70.3 Busselton and Geelong competitions, finished the race in 2 hours, 7 minutes and 22 seconds.

Coming in at second was fellow Australian and last year’s third placer Michael Murphy, who clocked in at 2:08:26, while 2008 Olympian Simon Agoston placed third with 2:09:13.

Caroline Steffen, who won this year’s Ironman Australia Asia-Pacific tourney, led the women’s pro elite division with 2:15:32, followed by Australian Belinda Granger with 2:25:05, and Monica Torres of the
Philippines with 2:28:20.

Jonard Saim led the local triathletes by topping the Filipino men’s elite with 2:13:45, followed by Banjo Norte with 2:14:46, and last year’s winner John Leerams Chicano with 2:15:20.

The Subic Bay Freeport has been earning raves as the triathlon capital of the Philippines after playing host to several major triathlon events like the Subic International Triathlon and the 2014 Family Challenge Philippines.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Roberto Garcia said the agency has been maintaining the beauty of the free port and building better facilities and accommodations to further develop Subic as a premier sporting and tourist destination. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
"Mermaids" and “Ironman” on flyboard provide entertainment for spectators and triathletes at the start of the 2014 Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon held at the Subic Bay Freeport on June 29.

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Swiss, Aussie rule Century Tuna 5150 triathlon

Subic Bay, Philippines — Debuting Caroline Steffen of Switzerland and Casey Munro of Australia wasted little time making their marks in the Century Tuna 5150 Triathlon, dominating the premiere pro division races right on their first tries here yesterday.

A champion in Ironman 70.3 competitions but vying in the 5150 Olympic distance triathlon race for the very first time, Steffen blitzed the opposition and wrested the women’s pro diadem from three-peat-seeking Australian Belinda Granger with so much to spare.

Steffen, nicknamed “Xena” after the TV heroine, finished the 1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run race inside the SBMA in 2:15:32, blowing past Granger who checked in much later at 2:25:05.

Local ace Monica Torres hoisted the Phl flag as she came in third with her 2:28:20 effort.

Steffen’s training buddy Munro made an equally impressive romp in the men’s pro category of the Century Tuna-sponsored event that drew 1,285 participants.

A former pro cyclist, Munro banked on his riding skills to lay the foundation for a victorious campaign in 2:07:22, beating compatriot Michael Murphy (2:08:26) and Simon Agoston (2:09:13) for the title.

Jonard Saim ruled the men’s Filipino elite category, clocking 2:13:45 against Banjo Norte’s 2:14:46 and John Chicano’s 2:15:20.

Ma. Claire Adorna topped the distaff side, submitting 2:32:45 against Jenny Rose Guerrero’s 2:42:28 and Lea Coline Langit’s 2:46:26. (Manila Standard Today)

PHOTO:
Swiss Caroline Steffen (left) and Casey Munro of Australia raise the finish line banner as they dominate their respective divisions in the Century Tuna 5150 Triathlon in Subic yesterday.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/06/30/swiss-aussie-rule-century-tuna-5150-triathlon/

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20th Annual CARAT Philippines Exercise Begins in Subic Bay

SUBIC Bay, Philippines - A U.S. Navy task group comprised of ships, aircraft, Sailors and Marines arrived in the Philippines to commence the 20th annual exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), June 26.

The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) and the dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) arrived in Subic Bay, while the diving and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) arrived in Sangley Point. An opening ceremony was held on board the Philippine navy ship, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF 16), one of two former Hamilton-class Coast Guard Cutters transferred to the Philippines navy in recent years.

CARAT Philippines is part of a broader bilateral exercise series the U.S. Navy conducts with nine partner navies in South and Southeast Asia to address shared maritime security priorities, strengthen maritime partnerships and enhance interoperability among participating forces. The Philippines has participated since the series began in 1995, and the past two decades CARAT are a clear example of the longstanding and close U.S.-Philippines navy-to-navy relationship.

"It's safe to say that after two decades, many of the senior officers and enlisted here today probably participated in a past CARAT Philippines, and this coming week, more than 1,000 U.S. Navy Sailors and Marines will join the ranks of CARAT alumni," said Rear Adm. Stuart Munsch, commander of Task Force 74 and 7th Fleet's Executive Agent for CARAT Philippines.

Munch noted that CARAT was part of a broader series of U.S.-Philippines navy-to-navy exercises, exchanges and staff talks that occurred throughout the year.

"These engagements share a common theme, that our security cooperation not only supports mutual interests, it contributes to regional stability and prosperity - a formula that is truly positive sum," said Munsch.

The CARAT series promotes regional maritime cooperation with many participating navies. Planning for each phase of CARAT begins a year in advance and exercise phases take place during the same general timeframe each year. CARAT 2014 began in late May and recently completed phases with Malaysia and Indonesia. Additional phases will continue through end of year with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore and Timor-Leste.

Continuing through July 1, this year's CARAT Philippines will focus on combined operations at sea, amphibious landings, diving and salvage, and maritime patrol and reconnaissance flights. Sailors and Marines will train with their Philippine Armed Forces counterparts during multiple drills, professional exchanges and seminars ashore. Civil action projects, community service events and band concerts will facilitate interaction with the local community.

2014 Exercise events will occur in several locations ashore and at sea including Subic Bay, San Antonio in Zambales, Sangley Point in Cavite City, and Ternate. Previous CARAT exercises were held in Mindanao (2012), Palawan (2011), Subic Bay (2010 and 2013), Cebu (2009) and other locations. As in years past, the sea phase will take place in international waters west of Subic Bay.

"We're very much looking forward to getting underway for the at-sea phase of CARAT," said Capt. Paul Schlise, commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 embarked on McCain. "These training opportunities are critical to enhancing our interoperability, safeguarding freedom of the seas and ensuring we're ready to respond in partnership with the Philippines in case of an HADR scenario or other crisis."

More than 1,000 Sailors and Marines are participating in CARAT Philippines 2014. Participating units include McCain, Ashland with embarked Marines from 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Safeguard with embarked Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 and a P-3C maritime patrol aircraft. Also participating are Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1, a platoon from Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1, a platoon from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, staff from Commander, Task Force 73 (CTF 73) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, and the 7th Fleet Band Orient Express. (Task Force 73 Public Affairs)

PHOTO:
U.S. Marines aboard Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) exhibit amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs) to embarked Philippine marines. Ashland is participating in exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2014, a bilateral maritime exercise series between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Raymond D. Diaz III/Released)

http://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/030433

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20th Annual CARAT Philippines 2014 starts, US ships to dock in Subic Bay

A U.S. Navy task group comprised of ships, aircraft, Sailors and Marines will commence today (June 26) the 20th annual exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2014.

Five warships, including a U.S. guided-missile destroyer, and about 1,000 troops will take part in week-long CARAT exercises. Exercises will occur in several locations ashore and at sea including Subic Bay, San Antonio in Zambales, Sangley Point in Cavite City, and Ternate. The sea phase will take place in international waters west of Subic Bay.

The USS Halsey, an Arleigh Burke-class missile-guided destroyer, will dock in Subic Bay Freeport for the exercises. It will be joined by the USNS Safeguard and the USS Ashland.

BRP Ramon Alcaraz, a former US coastguard cutter, and the BRP Emilio Jacinto, a former British Royal Navy Peacock-class ship, will likewise join for the drills, along with Polish-made helicopters.

CARAT Philippines is part of a broader bilateral exercise series the U.S. Navy conducts with nine partner navies in South and Southeast Asia to address shared maritime security priorities, strengthen maritime partnerships and enhance interoperability among participating navies. The Philippines has participated since the series began in 1995, and CARAT exercises over the past two decades are clear examples of the longstanding and close U.S.-Philippines navy-to-navy relationship.

As a long-standing exercise, CARAT promotes regional maritime cooperation with many participating navies; it is not in response to current events. The 2014 CARAT series began in late May, is taking place in Malaysia now, and continues through end of year with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore and Timor-Leste. Joint planning for each phase of CARAT begins a year in advance and exercise phases take place during the same general timeframe each year.

This year’s CARAT Philippines focuses on combined operations at sea, amphibious landings, diving and salvage, and maritime patrol and reconnaissance flights. Sailors and Marines will exchange best practices and share information with their Philippine Armed Forces counterparts during multiple professional exchanges and seminars ashore. Civil action projects, community service events and band concerts will facilitate interaction with the local community. (SNL/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Photo File of USS Halsey, expected to dock today in Subic Bay Freeport.

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PH becoming Asia’s shipbuilding, repair hub

The government has been preparing to become a hub for shipbuilding and ship repair in the Asian region.

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) deputy administrator for operations Atty. Gloria Victoria-Bañas told exhbitors of the first international shipbuilding and offshore equipment and technology exhibit at SMX Convention Center that MARINA is preparing the country to become a major center for ship building and ship repair.

Bañas noted that there has been an increase in foreign investments on shipbuilding and ship repair in the country.

“In 2013, the Philippines was ranked as the fifth world’s largest shipbuilding country after China, Japan, Korea and Brazil, as more local shipyards are building more ships of larger tonnage capabilities like bulk carriers, container ships and passenger ferries, particularly Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, Inc. (THICI), Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation Philippines and Keppel Philippines Marine, Inc., which cater to the export market,” said Bañas.

Bañas said that while the local shipyards is focused primarily on the ship repair of the country’s domestic fleet, ship building projects are limited to small ships and motor bancas.

There are 121 licensed shipyards, eight facilities for the construction and repair of big ships and 14 other shipyards for medium-sized ships and 99 yards to service smaller ships.

Banas noted that before the emergence of Japanese and Korean shipyards in the country, European yards dominated the world’s shipbuilding industry.

“While shipbuilding still exists in Europe, they are now focusing more on specialized ships. European yards had conceded that they could not compete with the low labor, materials and land costs of Asian countries,” Banas said.

“As a result, the shipbuilding industry of developing countries such as the Philippines benefitted with such development,” said Banas.

To encourage more local and foreign investors, MARINA offers incentives for shipbuilding and ship repair projects under Republic Act 9295.

These incentives include exemption from value-added tax on the importation of capital equipment, machinery, spare parts, life-saving and navigational equipment and steel plates; net operating loss carry-over and accelerated depreciation.

Under the government’s Investment Priority Plan (IPP), investors in shipbuilding and ship repair are exempted from the payment of imported duties and taxes for the importation of equipment and parts needed for their operations and modernization and income tax holidays for shipyard operators.

Banas said there are other incentive schemes that investors can avail from the economic zones and free port zones such as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Cagayan Export Processing Zone Authority, Aurora Pacific Ecozone, Zamboanga City Special Economic Authority and the Maritime Industrial Park at PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental.

“I am confident that the needed speed and momentum can be created to further propel the shipbuilding and ship repair industry way beyond global competitiveness,” Banas added.

She also commended the shipbuilding industry exhibit organizer, Fireworks Philippines of the Fireworks Trade Media Group for holding the event which showcased the latest trends and developments in the maritime, offshore and shipbuilding industry and its ancillary industry that serves as a meeting place for international maritime, offshore and shipbuilding companies and association here in Manila.

“It is remarkable to know that the exhibition does not only show the latest products and techniques but it also serves as a venue for the exchange of ideas to improve the current shipbuilding technology and equipment and help maintain the Philippine current status as the world’s fifth largest shipbuilding industry in terms of order book by country,” said Banas. (Edu Lopez, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO FILE: Hanjin Shipyard in Subic Bay Freeport

http://www.mb.com.ph/ph-becoming-asias-shipbuilding-repair-hub/

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Subic feeder to provide better service to Central Luzon shippers

A faster, cheaper transport system will soon be available to cargo shippers in Central and Northern Luzon when a new feeder service that will ship containers from Manila to Subic begins its operation next month.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced last Friday that a Manila-Subic shuttle service operated by the PTC Agency & Transport, Inc. will serve as a common feeder for shipping lines serving locators and shippers in and around Northern Luzon.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, who welcomed the shuttle project as a new gain for the Subic Bay Freeport, pointed out that it would make shipping more efficient and also help address difficulties that shipping lines and truckers face because of the truck ban imposed by the Manila city government.

Garcia also said that the Subic Bay Freeport would generate additional income from the feeder service, as it would increase ship calls in this free port.

“The common complaint of shippers in Manila is that we have very few ship calls here. But once the feeder service is established, eventually there will be an increase in container volume, thus attracting major shipping lines to make their calls here,” Garcia said.

Garcia added that because of this new development the SBMA is looking at doubling the current volume of cargo unloaded at Subic’s container terminal.

The SBMA official also pointed out that Subic is a better alternative to shipping via Manila, as it would be cheaper and more convenient for shippers, especially those in Central and Northern Luzon, to load and unload their cargo here.

“Out of the 2.8 million containers that are shipped through the port of Manila every year, 450,000 of these go to Central Luzon. So it is definitely cheaper and more convenient if they ship and deliver from here,” he said.

Garcia also said that the SBMA would coordinate closely with Manila North Tollways Corp. regarding the maintenance of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway in order to accommodate trucks that will be coming in and out of Subic. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (right) looks on as PTC Agency & Transport, Inc. President Edgar Milla discusses the schedule of the Manila-Subic shuttle service that will open early next month.

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Subic Bay tops freeports and eco-zones with P185-million dividends remittance

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) emerged as the highest dividends contributor among agencies of special economic zones in the country during the recent Dividends Day in Malacañang, an annual event recognizing government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) with the highest remittances.

According to SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, the SBMA remitted a total of P185 million to the National Treasury this year, the first time for the Subic agency after more than a decade.

“Overall, SBMA placed number 10 among the 50 GOCCs that remitted dividends out of the total 114 GOCCs in the country today,” Garcia said.

“Meanwhile, we ranked number one and surpassed eight other free ports and special economic zones, including Clark which remitted P110 million,” Garcia added.

Under RA 7656, GOCCs are required to declare and remit half or 50 per cent of their net income to the National Treasury as dividends. The remittances are used mainly by the government for its social services programs.

According to Department of Finance reports, this year’s top contributors were the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) which had the highest total remittances at P9.791 billion, and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) which had the highest dividends remitted at P6.298 billion.

Other GOCC contributors were Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), with P3.616 billion; Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), P2.5 billion; Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), P2.107 billion; Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), P1.577 billion; Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC), P1.5 billion; Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), P1.422 billion; and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), P1.05 billion.

Meanwhile, next to the SBMA in the free port/special ecozone category were Clark Development Corporation (CDC), with P110 million; Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), P100 million; and Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), P4.56 million.

In his Independence Day message, President Benigno Aquino III said that GOCCs have remitted a total of P95.38 billion in just the three and a half years of his administration, compared to the P81.54 million that the corporations remitted in eight years of the Arroyo government from 2002 to 2010.

Garcia explained that since 2004 until 2013, the SBMA failed to remit dividends after the agency suffered financial losses. However, with major financial and operational restructuring in the last three years, the SBMA has managed to recover and turn financial statistics upward.

Records indicated that the SBMA first complied with the dividends requirement by remitting P5.23 million from its net earnings in 1993. Then in 2003, the SBMA remitted P75.6 million from its net earnings from 2000 to 2003 as a result of the adjustment of the required dividends from 50 percent to only 10 percent for GOCCs with very low net earnings.

The GOCC Dividends Day started in 2011 as an annual ceremony spearheaded by the Department of Finance and later on by the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), to recognize complying GOCCs and to raise support for the government’s “unprogrammed fund.”

A total of P32.3 billion was raised by the national government during the GOCC Dividends Day recently.

Garcia said that while the SBMA could use the amount it had just remitted as dividends for its various capital expenditure projects, the Subic agency is happy to comply with the law.

“For one thing, we are able to help the President with his developmental programs. That’s one significant contribution by Subic to national development,” Garcia said. (RFD/RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia hands over to President Benigno Aquino III a check worth P185 million, representing the Subic authority’s dividend remittance to the national government, during the GOCC Dividends Day at Malacañang Palace. Looking on are Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) and SBMA Director Joven Reyes.

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Philippines, U.S. to hold naval drills near disputed shoal in S.China Sea

(Reuters) - Philippine and American troops are set to hold naval exercises this month near a disputed shoal, which will almost certainly anger China with tension already high in the South China Sea.

China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, potentially rich in oil and gas and fisheries.

The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan also claim parts of the waters, and China has viewed with suspicion what it sees as U.S. moves to "provoke" tension by supporting its regional allies, notably Vietnam and the Philippines.

Five warships, including a U.S. guided-missile destroyer, and about 1,000 troops will take part in week-long Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises, which include live-fire drills 40 miles (64 km) off Zambales, on the western shores of the Philippine island of Luzon.

The drills are to be held about 80 nautical miles distant from two or three ships of the Chinese coast guard are stationed on patrol off the disputed Scarborough Shoal, control of which China seized from the Philippines in 2012.

In January 2013, the Philippines went to the arbitration court in The Hague to question China's "excessive" policy in the South China Sea, hoping the court would order China to pull its ships away from the rocky outcrop.

The exercises are aimed at strengthening the capabilities of both sides in amphibious operations, special operations and surface warfare, besides enhancing information-sharing, navy spokesman Lieutenant Rommel Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the drills were a regular annual event.

"They'll have targets at sea, called 'killer tomatoes'," he said, referring to the live-fire exercise. "All ships will aim at the hostile objects. Then they will take turns to fire their guns."

The USS Halsey, an Arleigh Burke-class missile-guided destroyer, will dock in the Philippine base Subic Bay on June 26 for the exercises. It will be joined by the USNS Safeguard and the USS Ashland.

Manila will send the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, a former US coastguard cutter, and the BRP Emilio Jacinto, a former British Royal Navy Peacock-class ship, for the drills, along with Polish-made helicopters. (Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/06/19/philippines-usa-drills-idINKBN0EU0US20140619

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Ad execs cite Subic for ‘excellent job’

Top executives in the advertising industry have commended the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and other tourism stakeholders in this free port for the successful hosting here of Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014 last month.

In a joint letter, Alex Syfu and Norman Agatep, chairman and president, respectively, of the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines (4As), praised Subic over the outcome of this year’s advertising conference held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC).

“On behalf of the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines (4As) and the Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014 management committee, we would like to thank you all for an excellent job during our mega event,” they said.

“It is a joy working with people who understand thoroughly the purpose behind our activities and the quality standards that we uphold. Your attention to detail, commitment to the job, and quick response all contributed to the success of the first ever Ad Summit Pilipinas 2014. Kudos to you,” they added.

With the theme “Age of Enlightenment”, the four-day summit drew over 2,000 advertising and marketing practitioners from all over the country, as well as acknowledged masters in the industry like CCI-Asia Chairman Emily Abrera, Omnicom Media Group CEO Cheuk Chiang, APAC CEO of JWT Tom Doctoroff, and Dentsu Aegis Network Chairman Dick Van Moltman.

The advertising summit set out to challenge industry practitioners to make the world a better place, and provide hope and relevance in the brands and messages that they create.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia said the SBMA, as well as other groups and establishments involved in hosting the event, “gave their 101% to make the summit successful.”

He noted that the Subic Bay Freeport has been hosting similar conventions in the past several years after the agency established the SBECC as the cornerstone of Subic’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) program.

Because of Subic’s excellent conference facilities, the Department of Tourism in Region 3 (DoT-3)named Subic as the “Premier Convention Capital of Central Luzon,” having been chosen as venue for 293 MICE events in 2012, and in the process accommodating more than 130,000 guests.

Complementing the honor, the DoT3 also named the Subic Bay Freeport “as one of the Top Destinations in the Country” last December 2012 for its wide array of quality tourist facilities and the number of visitors it generated.

“Most of the event organizers prefer Subic because it is already a complete package for MICE events,” Garcia also said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Olongapo gets P54.3-M water system upgrade

OLONGAPO CITY— Two upland communities in this city which have been without piped water since time immemorial broke into celebration after private utility firm Subic Water and Sewerage Co., Inc. (SUBICWATER) activated its three water supply expansion projects worth P54.3 million on Monday.

Residents of Nagbaculao and Sibul areas of this city in their joy took a surprise shower as Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino and SUBICWATER Chairman Herbert Consunji led the ceremonial opening of water valves which, they say, signifies ‘the rush of developments’ coming to the 1,000 families who rely on spring water.

Included in this water infrastructure development are three concrete reservoirs with a total capacity of 5.6 million liters, a pump station, and some 7.2 kilometers of new pipelines, according to Consunji.

“These completed projects, aside from bringing piped water service to these two areas, will also increase water pressure in barangays Asinan, Pag-asa, New Kalalake, East Tapinac, and East Bajac-bajac,” said Consunji.

Consunji explained that SUBICWATER inherited a dilapidated water system in 1997 and thus, had to concentrate first on the low-lying areas of the city, where water pressure was ‘so weak that it can’t even reach the second floor of a structure’.

“So far, SUBICWATER has spent a total of P1.5 billion to revolutionize our water system— from catchment, treatment, distribution, and even sewage treatment in the Freeport,” he added.

“Now that we have successfully boosted our raw water supply and increased our treatment and distribution capacities, SUBICWATER is resolved to bring treated water to the communities sitting along and atop the high ridges surrounding Olongapo City,” the SUBICWATER chairman said.

Mayor Paulino, on the other hand, congratulated SUBICWATER for ‘another successful project finished’.

“We must thank SUBICWATER for going the extra mile to bring water to this area, which I recall to have been without water even during the US Navy times,” said Paulino to some 300 residents gathered at Nagbaculao.

“Instead of spending hours lining up for water, you can now devote more time to your families, yourselves, and most importantly, to your livelihoods,” Paulino said.

Having learned that it takes an average of P1,500 per month to hire someone to fetch water, Paulino urged the residents to immediately apply for a water service connection as the average water bill of those consuming around 10,000 liters a month is about P263 only.

In light of those who will lose their jobs fetching water, Paulino gave assurance that his administration has enough jobs in store for them.

“The Americans are starting to go to Subic Bay. Please visit our city hall as we have numerous job opportunities in store for you; don’t be contented fetching water for your neighbors for the rest of your lives,” said Paulino.

SUBICWATER implemented the first built-operate-and-transfer (BOT) scheme for a water and sewerage system in Asia when it took over the water supply and sewerage system of the Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City in April 1997.

The firm, which was formed by a joint-venture agreement in 1996, is owned by Filipino construction firm DM Consunji Inc. (DMCI), Singaporean water specialist Sembcorp Industries Ltd. (Sembcorp), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Hernan Habacon)

PHOTO
SHOWER OF BLESSINGS: A resident of Nagbaculao, Barangay Kalaklan gets sprayed with water as Olongapo City Mayor Rolen C. Paulino (leftmost) leads the inauguration rites of Subic Water and Sewerage Co., Inc.'s (SUBICWATER) recently-completed water supply expansion project— one of the three projects worth P54.3 that were activated on Monday. SUBICWATER Chairman Herbert Consunji (fourth from left) and company CEO Apollo C. Tiglao (in blue shirt), Barangay Kalaklan head Willie Umali (second from left) and other city officials joined the community’s celebration.

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Chinese firm pledges P9-billion investment at Subic Freeport

A Chinese steel manufacturer has pledged P9 billion for an export-oriented business project here in the Subic Bay Freeport.

The Panhua Group Co. Ltd. will engage in the pre-painting of steel coils and metal sheets for export and domestic trade and other allied industries.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said the SBMA board of directors approved Panhua’s proposal on its 258th board meeting in February 2014.

The Chinese firm is also engaged in shipping, real estate, mining, steel manufacturing and logistics business in China.

Garcia said the entry of Panhua in Subic attests to the growing attractiveness of the country to foreign investments.

“The Philippines is currently enjoying a BBB rating from Standard and Poor’s, which means that the country has adequate capacity to meet financial commitments,” Garcia noted.

He added that more foreign direct investments (FDIs) are pouring into the Philippines because it has earned the trust of investors after it received investment upgrades from different rating firms.

The Panhua Group is a large-scale conglomerate, manufacturer, exporter, and wholesale supplier of cold-rolled steel coil, cold-rolled steel sheet, galvanized steel coil, galvanized steel sheet, pre-painted galvanized steel coil, and pre-painted galvanized steel coil sheet.

With an annual steel production capacity of 1.5 metric tons, Panhua Group Co. Ltd. is listed among the 500 top private enterprises in China.

The firm’s main manufacturing bases, which have a registered capital of $100 million, are located in Zhangjiagang City and Fuling District, as well as Chongqing City in mainland China.

Company officials said its proposed Subic Bay Freeport operations are expected to augment its production, as it has pegged its export target at 42,000 metric tons per month to begin in the first quarter of 2016.

Panhua’s newly-approved project in Subic will be located at Subic Bay Gateway Park Phase 2 and will initially be manned by 100 employees. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic eyed as premier airsoft gaming destination

Subic is being eyed by an international publication to become Asia’s premier airsoft gaming destination.

Popular Airsoft, an online airsoft publication based in the United Kingdom, is looking at Subic to be the venue of the First Philippine International Airsoft Fiesta, an event envisioned to put the Philippines, particularly Subic, at a premier place in the international airsoft community.

The Airsoft Fiesta, which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2015, is also seen to complement the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival held annually in the nearby Pampanga province.

Airsoft is a modern combat sport similar to paintball but gives players a more realistic war gaming experience.

Victor Serafica, publisher and editor of Popular Airsoft, said that they have been in talks with the Subic Clark Development Council since 2010 regarding the possibility of developing airsoft tourism in the country.

“We intend to attract hundreds of enthusiasts to take part in this event, with players coming in from Asia, Middle East, Europe and the Americas,” he said.

Some of the proposed events for the Airsoft Fiesta are military simulation, team and individual competitions, airsoft trade show, and static display of weapons from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Locations within the Subic Bay Freeport such as JEST Camp, Grande Island, Naval Magazine bunkers and the jungle area are being eyed as possible venues for the Airsoft Fiesta activities.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia said that the Subic agency welcomes this opportunity and that the locations preferred by the organizers are available for such activities.

SBMA has long been promoting Subic as a sports destination and has hosted several international sporting events. Subic has always been a top choice for sports tourism due to its well-preserved natural environment and world-class facilities. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Hanjin christens five new vessels in Subic

Five new vessels were christened on Wednesday by Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) at their shipbuilding facility here – a historic feat and testament to the country’s growing capability in shipbuilding.

The five newly built 5,400 TEU (20-foot equivalent units) container carrier ships were ordered by Oaktree Capital Management, LP, a global asset management firm specializing in alternative investment strategies.

The five container carriers were named MV Wide Alpha, MV Wide Bravo, MV Wide Charlie, MV Wide Delta, and MV Wide Echo, respectively. Each has an overall length of 255m, breadth of 37.3m, depth of 22m, design draft of 12m, deadweight of 65,347M/T, guaranteed speed of 21.5 knots and main engine MAN-B&W 6G80ME-C9.2.

Among those present at the unveiling ceremony were Hanjin-Phil senior officials led by President Jin Kyu Ahn, Oaktree Senior Vice President Andreas Kraemer, Starboard Ventures Limited CEO Roger Iliffe, investors, high-ranking officials of multinational banks, and representatives from classification society DNVGL.

Ahn said Hanjin-Phil was extremely happy to collaborate with a professional and respected organization like Oaktree and hopes to continue the mutually beneficial relationship for future projects.

“We do turn great challenges into positive opportunities to improve our products even better to meet our clients’ increasing demands for high technology yet cost-efficient vessels. Hanjin-Phil Inc. never rested on its laurels as we continue to explore ways and means to further maximize and advance our shipbuilding capability for our clients’ full satisfaction,” Ahn added.

Hanjin has invested US$1.7 billion worth of foreign direct investments in the Philippines to establish a shipyard in Subic Bay Freeport. Being an export oriented enterprise for new vessels since 2009, Hanjin has consistently topped the list of exporters in the country, boosting the Philippines’ export sales portfolio year-on-year.

Hanjin Subic shipyard employs more than 20,000 Filipino workers. With the shipyard’s capital and labor-intensive operations, livelihood and job opportunities abound for many local companies, start-up enterprises, public establishments and local residents in the surrounding communities.

Hanjin Subic shipyard continues to be a reliable driver of inclusive economic growth and development in the countryside as the backbone of the Philippine economy.

The Philippines ranks fourth among the largest shipbuilding nations, while Hanjin-Phil Inc. is number 10 of less than a hundred shipbuilding companies across the globe, according to the May 2014 shipping journal. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
PROUDLY PHILIPPINE-MADE — ‘M/V Wide Alpha’ (foreground), ‘M/V Wide Echo,’ and ‘M/V Wide Charlie’ are seen here at the quaywall of the Hanjin Shipbuilding facility in Redondo Peninsula, Subic Bay Freeport on Wednesday. The three are part of the five newly-christened 5,400 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) container vessels made in the Philippines by shipbuilder, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines. (Jonas Reyes)

http://www.mb.com.ph/hanjin-christens-five-new-vessels-in-subic/

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Meralco pushes forward reparations at Subic plant site

The Subic freeport zone is likely the final plant site for the planned 600-megawatt coal fired power facility being lead-developed by the power generation arm of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) – primarily when a pending court case on the project eventually clears up.

A document from Meralco has hinted that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is set to ratify the Lease and Development Agreement (LDA) for the proposed plant site “to reflect additional terms.” No further details were provided.

It must be culled that the original LDA was declared invalid by the Court of Appeals (CA), alongside its ruling on a Writ of Kalikasan filed by groups opposing the project.

The petition was filed before the Supreme Court, but it was subsequently remanded to the CA for hearing on the merits of the case.

The proposed 600-megawatt power facility was initially targeted for commercial operation by 2015, and it could have placed Luzon grid on ‘safe ground’ versus the feared power interruptions especially during the high-demand months of summer.

The project is to be undertaken under corporate vehicle RP Energy. Meralco PowerGen is the majority equity holder, while its partners are Therma Power, Inc. of the Aboitiz group and Taiwan Cogeneration International Corporation.

On pre-construction activities, the Meralco document indicated that “RP Energy is proceeding with certain development activities that are not hampered by the SC proceedings.”

As of March this year, it was emphasized that “site preparation work is almost complete and RP Energy has commissioned its contractor to conduct preliminary engineering works on the power plant in order to reduce the overall construction period.”

An environmental compliance certificate (ECC) was already issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the two blocks of 300-megawatt electricity generating units designed for the facility.

Full implementation, however, could not move forward until the legal hurdle of the pending Writ of Kalikasan is resolved by the courts.

While the appellate court has initially denied the Writ of Kalikasan petition, it conversely noted “certain deficiencies in the process of the DENR in its issuance of the original ECC for the 300MW coal-fired plant” which has also affected the LDA for the project site. (Myrna Velasco, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/meralco-pushes-forward-reparations-at-subic-plant-site/

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Subic Port container throughput rises 21% from January to ­April

CONTAINER traffic at Subic Port grew 20.87% in the first four months of the year with the gateway handling 13,529.25 twenty­foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared with 11,193.25 TEUs in the same period a year ago.

Figures provided to PortCalls by terminal operator Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation showed that containerized volume at New Container Terminal 1 increased starting February.

For April alone, NCT 1 handled 4,072.25 TEUs, or 699.25 TEUs more than the 3,373.00 TEUs registered in April 2013.NCT l's average monthly container throughput is 1,197.65 TEUs.

For the whole of last year, the terminal handled 34,847 TEUs. (PortCalls)

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Garcia: Subic Freeport ready for more investments

The Subic Bay Freeport Zone is ready to take on more investments that may come into the country following the recent turmoil in neighboring Vietnam and Thailand.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia revealed this during a briefing last week at the Subic Bay Yacht Club for members of a trade delegation from Virginia Beach, an independent city in the state of Virginia, which recently forged a sisterhood pact with neighboring Olongapo City.

Garcia shared with the delegates that because of Vietnam’s row with China and the coup d’état in Thailand, many foreign investors are looking into relocating their companies in the country.

He said that the Philippines has earned the trust of investors after it received investment upgrades from different rating firms.

He noted that the Philippines is currently enjoying a BBB rating from Standard and Poor’s, which means that the country has adequate capacity to meet financial commitments, but more subject to adverse economic conditions.

“President Aquino’s program of good governance has generated a lot of trust, and this trust has translated into foreign investments coming into the Philippines,” Garcia told the Virginia trade mission.

“They see that the present economic climate is very different from before,” Garcia added.

The SBMA official also said that the Subic Bay Freeport welcomes this development, since it could mean more investments, as well as jobs that could be generated here.

Virginia Beach councilor James Wood said that he is very impressed with the improvements in the country’s economic standing.

He also noted that Subic and Virginia Beach have a lot of similarities, and a possible collaboration is in the horizon.

“I think there are a lot of possibilities since we are near the Port of Virginia (which is) next to our city and we have a number of container ships similar with what you have here. It is possible,” Wood said.

He added that the new defense agreement between the United States and the Philippines can have a positive effect on the possible partnership between the two ports.

“I think also that because we have a large Navy presence in our place and with the change in our defense treaty, we see a lot of ships arriving,” he added.

The SBMA under Garcia’s helm has boosted its thrust to improve its fiscal situation, approving last year a total of P27 billion in investment pledges and posting a net profit of P1.079 billion, its highest in the agency's entire 21-year history.

Garcia said that the SBMA is looking forward this year to more investments, especially those coming from other Asian economies. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (left) briefs delegates from Virginia Beach on the recent developments in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The visitors, headed by Councilor James Wood (near Garcia) and Warren Harris, Virginia Beach director for economic development, arrived under a sisterhood agreement with neighboring Olongapo City.

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BSP conducts Conference on Gearing Up for External Competitiveness in Subic

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently held a Conference on Gearing Up for External Competitiveness in Subic Bay in a bid to prepare the business sector inside and within the peripheries of the Freeport for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic integration come 2015.

Among the topics discussed include key global economic developments and their impact to global growth and Philippine exports; trends, issues and policies concerning foreign exchange rate; strategies for managing foreign exchange risks; BSP regulations on hedging and measures to improve the competitiveness of Filipino exporters; and strengths of selected countries in achieving external competitiveness.

“The upcoming ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 highlights further the need to take serious measures in implementing reforms. The ASEAN markets could provide domestic firms with market opportunities for greater trade and investment,” BSP Deputy Director Tomas Cariño Jr. said.

Carino added that the discussions would help build a stronger macroeconomic and institutional environment, which is crucial in elevating competitiveness in a larger playing field. (CLJD/MJLS-PIA 3)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2661401670693

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Subic underscores importance of giant clams

At four o’clock in the morning, the sound of a motorized banca breaks the silence as personnel from various agencies start to move huge cases containing giant clams – for transfer from Barangay Calapacuan to Snake Island in Subic town.

At least 40 true giant clams wrapped in watertight plastic bags were planted on Snake Island after being harvested from Bolinao in Pangasinan on Tuesday.

The seeding of these giant clams is part of the “Launching and Seeding of Giant Clams” project of the Subic Marine Protected Area Management Council.

The council is composed of officials from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Subic, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Subic Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council, Philippine National Police, Provincial Maritime, Philippine Coast Guard, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and the local government unit of Subic under the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Program.

According to SBMA representative Marilou Dungog, the seeding program is expected to spur the growth of organism in the reef.

She added that these giant clams are an integral part of the reef, serving as nurseries for a host of fish and invertebrate species, including damsels, gobies, and tiny commensal crustaceans such as shrimp.

She added that sedentary organisms like sponges, tunicates, corals, and algae find giant clam shells perfect substrates for attachment.

Giant clams also act as filter feeders, sifting planktonic debris from the water for food, thereby improving overall water quality. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/subic-underscores-importance-of-giant-clams/

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Keeping pride alive (feature)

Subic Bay Freeport – In the Aeta villages of Pastolan and Kanawan in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, children are learning to merge the ways of the old and new.

Take, for instance, Francine Calubhay, who graduated valedictorian last year from Pastolan Elementary school. She went through the usual rigamarole of students all over the country—waking up at 5 a.m. to do her chores, while her mother prepared breakfast and readied her uniform. After the morning ritual, she would fix her hair, pick up her bag, and head for school.

This year, Francine is off to high school at the Olongapo City National High School.

But that doesn’t mean she will stop helping her elders and community catch fish, hunt game and fowl, gather produce in the forest, and attend to filial duties. She also will not cease nor forget how to perform traditional dances and display jungle survival skills to tourists, in the way her elders taught her.

Francine is her village’s pride. This year, 230 more Aeta kids might just make their families equally proud as they troop off to attend the elementary school inside the Pastolan Aeta Village found in Subic Bay Freeport. More than 20 of them will be graduating this school year and will subsequently take their secondary education at the OCNHS.

Aeta elders believe that educational advancement and development should not clash with the Aeta culture. The youth are reminded to hold on to their identity and be proud of their heritage.

Mizpah Diago, Pastolan Elementary School’s first Aeta teacher, is an inspiration to Francine, who also aims to help develop the education in the village. Like her, Diago started as just a student of the village, gaining honors during her elementary years. But, just like this new batch of graduates, she had to take her secondary education in Olongapo.

Francine’s and Diago’s advancement would not be possible without the help from the government and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). The SBMA is the benefactor of all indigenous communities within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. A part of the income generated inside the zone is allocated to the indigenous people here, as stated in the Joint Management Agreement (JMA) signed between the village captains and officials of the SBMA.

One of the SBMA’s plans for Pastolan Elementary School is to add a high school department so that its graduates don’t have to transfer to OCNHS.

It’s already achieved that for the fishing village of Kanawan, whose school now has a high school department. Just like Pastolan, Kanawan only had an elementary school last year.

Kanawan, which had around 150 students last year, produced 17 elementary graduates.

Stereotypically cast as nomadic vendors selling knickknacks to tourists in the Subic, it looks like Aeta kids are out to change that impression.

Next time an Aeta comes up to you in Subic, take a good look–he or she may just be one of the most hardworking students in the province, and the hope of his village. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/keeping-pride-alive/

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Hanjin Subic enters world’s top 10 shipyards

According to Clarkson Research Studies in the U.K., the world’s leading shipping services provider, HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard ranked 10th in the world for the first time in terms of Compensated Gross Tonnage (CGT) with 1,757,000. This landmark was hit in five years since it was launched in April 2009, the company said in its press release.

It has no doubt that HHIC has been a pioneer in domestic shipbuilding industry, building Korea’s first steel vessel, oil rig, Asia’s first membrane LNG carrier, air cushion vehicle, cable ship and icebreaker. Because of economic crisis in 2008, emergence of Chinese shipbuilders and competitive competition, however, it felt behind.

Thanks to the completion of HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard, the Korean shipbuilder was finally able to overcome its limitation in building high value-added vessels. Empowered by the improvement of mid- and long-term competitiveness, HHIC has established its ground to develop into the world’s leading shipbuilder.

Last month, HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard won the bid to build the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) for the first time. In the past, HHIC didn’t even attempt to participate in this kind of bid due to its narrow shipyard in Yeongdo.

Entering this year, in particular, HHIC has been successful in several bids including 300,000DWT VLCCs and over 10,000TEU VCLSs. So far, the company has book advance orders (nearly US 3.2 billion dollars, 50 ships in total) for three (3) years. Now, HHIC is treated as one of the world’s leading global shipbuilders.

HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard is a global shipyard (900,000 pyeong) situated in Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). It features all kinds of state-of-the-art facilities including two huge docks, 4km-long quay, four ultra-large gantry cranes and 1km-long automated assembly lines. In particular, the world’s largest dock (Dock 6, 550m in length, 135m in width, 13.5m in depth) is capable of building six container carriers at the same time.

An official from HHIC said, “We believe that we would be able to move higher with the Subic Shipyard.” He added, “We are going to develop HHIC-Phil’s Subic Shipyard into a global hub for shipbuilding and make Yeongdo Shipyard concentrate on passenger & cargo carriers and special-purpose vessels to evolve into a global shipbuilder.” (PortNews)

http://en.portnews.ru/news/181257/

Photo: http://www.hhic-phil.com/aboutus/shipyard1.aspx

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Slowest in ASEAN: Faster internet speed pressed

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto is urging government to also mandate internet service providers (ISPs) and telecom companies to increase the minimum speed of their internet service to 10 Mbps (megabits per second) from the current internet speed of 3.4 Mbps.

Recto said with 3.4 Mbps, the country has the slowest internet speed in South East Asia followed by Indonesia with 4.1 Mbps, Malaysia at 5.5 Mbps, with Singapore as being the fastest in the ASEAN region with a lightning internet speed of 61.0 Mbps.

The global internet speed to download information and pictures from the worldwide web is 18.4 Mpbs.

“Unfortunately, the Philippines ranks at the tail-end of world broadband speed rankings and is also tagged as one of the most expensive,” Recto said.

The Senate leader added: “The national march towards a broader internet or Wi-Fi access should be in cadence with a decent internet speed. Aanhin mo ang Wi-Fi kung puro ka naman antay?”

Recto said Filipino internet users are also paying more than their ASEAN counterparts with a monthly average of $24.92 or roughly P1,120 compared to the fraction spent by other nationalities.

He said his Senate Bill (SB) 2238 dubbed “Bilis Konek Act of 2014” would empower the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to require a minimum internet speed for all ISPs and telcos offering internet service of 10 Mbps for mobile broadband/internet access.

The speed should be faster at 20 Mbps when it comes to fixed and fixed wireless broadband/internet access or those installed at home. The transition to a faster internet speed would be two years after the enactment of the law.

“This bill recognizes the importance of high-speed internet connections in increasing productivity and the growing demands for connectivity,” he said, noting that faster internet has correlation to economic growth according to a foreign report.

Recto stressed mandating a minimum internet speed makes sense since the country aside from being the "Texting Capital of the World" was also named by the Global Web Index as having the Fastest Growing Internet Population with a 531% growth in the last five years.

“If the Human Rights Council of the United Nations General Assembly declares internet access as a basic human right, internet users should also have the right to faster internet -- call it internet on steroids,” he said.

Recto has also filed SB 2232, which seeks the roll out of free Wi-Fi access to all public places in the National Capital Region (NCR) as a companion measure to his "Bilis Konek Act."

Recto said an NCR-wide free internet access would provide equal opportunity to all, especially the marginalized members of society and promote efficiency and productivity in businesses.

“Providing free internet access to public buildings and facilities in the national capital will also ensure that our growing labor force will be updated with employment opportunities,” Recto said in filing SB 2232.

He said a free internet access to the public would “mean providing access to the underserved in our society, including getting low-income people online.”

A free Wi-Fi service, according to him, would also give access to vital information available online such as school information for students; traffic reports and alternative routes for motorists; latest weather bulletins, basic goods prices such as oil and gas; and, updates on government services.

Recto said his proposed bill, if enacted into law, would mandate free internet use to the following public areas in the entire NCR:

· All national and local government offices
· Public health services and hospitals
· Public elementary and high schools, and state colleges and universities
· Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Terminals I, II, III and IV)
· Public libraries
· Tollways and expressways
· Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and other national roads
· Public transport terminals
· Port of Manila; and
· Rail transit stations (LRT Line 1, MRT Line 2, MRT Line 3, and PNR south rail).


He assured that once seamlessly in place in Metro Manila, other major cities in the country should be also accorded with free Wi-Fi service.

The Recto bill mandates the Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as the lead agency. (RBB/SNL)

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OPM Hitmen in Subic

OPM crooners Richard Reynoso, Chad Borja (front), Renz Verano, and Rannie Raymundo (back) motorcade around Subic Bay Freeport as part of their concert-for-a-cause, "An Evening With The OPM Hitmen sa Subic," staged at the Subic Bay Exhibition & Convention Center on Sunday, May 24. Proceeds went to the volunteer sweepers of the freeport and the Philippine Red Cross.

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SBMA task force recovers stolen marine artifact

A Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) task force formed recently to recover items stolen from some shipwrecks in Subic Bay has retrieved an anchor believed to be part of a stash hidden by looters.

According to a report from the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (SBMA-LED), Subic authorities mounted operation “Oplan Bawi Bakal” to recover artifacts and other items stolen from various shipwrecks in Subic Bay.

The operation was undertaken after an unnamed informant reported that scrap metals, including marine anchors, were stashed in the waters some 200 meters away from the shoreline off Barangay Mabayo in Morong, Bataan.

On May 14, the team composed of elements of the SBMA-LED, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Olongapo City, Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Maritime Unit-3, PNP-Special Action Force, and Morong PNP aboard two SBMA Harbor Patrol boats, the M/T Redondo and a vessel from the Boardwalk Dive Shop proceeded to the area identified by the informant.

After coordinating with the officials of Barangay Mabayo, SBMA-LED divers recovered an old common anchor full of barnacles, measuring approximately seven feet high, and three feet and five inches across.

The SBMA-LED stated that no other artifact was recovered from the area, as residents said the other items in the loot “were hidden away hastily the night before the operation was conducted.”

The recovered anchor is currently in the possession of the SBMA-LED for safekeeping.

SBMA officials said the Philippine Artifacts Commission will be notified for proper identification of the recovered common anchor.

Meanwhile, the NBI-Olongapo has assumed jurisdiction over the case and is set to conduct a follow-up operation for possible recovery of other stolen artifacts and for the arrest and filing of appropriate charges against the looters.

Last March, five suspects from Morong, Bataan, were apprehended in connection with the looting of the San Quentin, a Spanish-era shipwreck that is a favorite dive site in Subic Bay.

All were subsequently released, however, due to lack of evidence.

Among other shipwrecks within the Subic Bay waters are the El Capitan, USS New York, the hell ship Oryoku Maru, Seian Maru, and a Tank Landing Ship (LST). (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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Power supply a challenge to investors

Power outages across the Philippines amid shutdowns at electricity plants and increasing summer demand are raising concern the country’s stunted generation capacity will stifle investment and economic growth.

Two of the Philippines’ three main islands are on “Red Alert” after supply fell below peak demand this week as aging facilities shut for repairs and temperatures rise to near 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Delays in building new plants may slow the expansion of Asia’s second-fastest growing economy, according to Erramon Aboitiz, president of Aboitiz Power Corp., the nation’s second-largest utility.

“It’s time to worry,” Aboitiz said in an interview at the ASEAN Finance Ministers investor seminar in Manila on May 20. “Investors are always forward-looking and when they see projections of a potential power problem, they’ll decide to put their investments somewhere else.”

The strain this summer on power plants highlights how the Philippines’ under-performing electricity sector threatens the country’s economic growth, which is second only to China in the Asia-Pacific. Gross domestic product rose 7.2 percent in 2013 and is poised to remain among the world’s five fastest-expanding until 2016, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

As the economy expands, so has the country’s demand for electricity. Consumption jumped 50 percent in the 10 years to 2012, more than three times the 16 percent growth rate over that same period for the nation’s generating capacity, according to government data.

Some new projects are being delayed because of environmental concerns, such as Aboitiz Power and Manila Electric Co.’s 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant at the Subic Freeport zone north of the capital, which was blocked by a court order. The companies in July 2011 said the first 300 megawatts of the plant will be available by 2014.

“The power crisis is going to be costly,” Ronald Mendoza, executive director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center in Manila, said in a telephone interview yesterday. “It will affect manufacturing and services, so there will be implications on production. Investors may scale back or delay investments.”

With peak power demand forecast to grow about 4 percent annually until 2030, the country will need more than 13,000 megawatts of additional capacity, or 80 percent more than what’s installed, according to Department of Energy data. The government estimates that will require 2.8 trillion pesos ($64 billion) of investment. About 1,800 megawatts of new generation has been committed so far.

The central Visayas region, home to the famous beaches of Boracay island, had zero power reserves yesterday. The southern Mindanao region is on a reserve deficit of nearly 100 megawatts, according to data from National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, a transmission company. Mindanao has suffered from outages for years as a third of supply comes from hydroelectric plants that are unreliable during dry season and subsidized electricity prices discourage constructing new plants. Summer temperatures are driving higher air-conditioning use.

The “Red Alert” warning means outages are to be expected in the two regions. On May 16, the Philippine capital Manila and nearby provinces under Manila Electric’s franchise experienced an hour of rotating power outages.

Aboitiz Power may spend about $5 billion building 2,000 megawatts of new capacity in the next five years, adding to its current portfolio of 2,300 megawatts, Aboitiz said in the interview. Profit in the three months ended March fell for the fifth straight quarter, down 9 percent to 4.2 billion pesos after revaluing its dollar loans and power sales declined. (BLOOMBERG)

http://www.mb.com.ph/power-supply-a-challenge-to-investors/

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1st bird park in Luzon seen to boost tourism in Subic

Touted as the country’s premier survival course provider, JEST Camp opened its doors this month to bird lovers and enthusiasts all over the country with the launching of the Magaul Bird Park, the first bird park in Luzon, which is expected to boost tourism in this freeport.

Along with the introduction of the bird park was the launch of a bird show that showcased a hundred birds of different species, some of which belong to the endangered list.

Katrina Lacap, JEST Camp general manager said the bird park hopes to be recognized globally which also runs parallel with Subic’s aim of making it a world-class eco-urban center.

“JEST Camp is one with the local government in promoting both local and international tourism for Subic Freeport Zone while preserving the forest environment that is unique to the area. Companies in Subic including those involved in animal preservation are not competing among each other but rather working together to help promote Subic,” she said.

“Here (in Subic), we already have land (Zoobic Safari), marine/water (Ocean Adventure), and this time, we giving them Air (Bird Park). So kumpleto na kami dito. We want people to know that we’re promoting the province and not the individual businesses,” she added.

To achieve this goal, she said JEST Camp must become a center for sustainable living technologies and must create a haven for city dwellers inside a forest, a destination for nature lovers who want to learn about eco-friendly living.

Apart from the being the only bird park in Luzon, Lacap said it offers 10 other attractions, with three talk-and-feeding and two amazing shows. (Franco G. Regala, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
A bird park trainer shows off how a red-vented cockatoo follows orders from her using hand signals and a whistle at the JEST Camp inside Subic Freeport. 

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APO to operate ecozone in Subic

ANGLO Philippine Holdings Corp. (APO) will operate an economic zone from its property inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Bataan.

Adrian Arias, Anglo Philippine executive vice president, said necessary paperwork and representations have already been made with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to accredit the property, with a size of about 300 hectares. When completed, the development will be the country’s newest ecozone.

He said the company expects to secure the necessary approvals within the year. Arias said APO acquired the said property, situated in Tipo Valley in Bataan, from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority for about P250 million to P290 million. The company may spend the same amount to develop the area.

The said project is expected to attract locators from the Subic Bay Freeport, which is a favored destination of logistics and manufacturing companies as the area has a sea and air gateways, and direct access to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

Arias said many locators in Subic wanted to expand operations, while many more want to come in but the free port’s developed area is already full. “All of the available spaces in Subic are already [parceled in] smaller cuts. So we thought, why not develop since the land is already there,” Arias said.

“If we ever get into it, we will probably [develop the property in] phases,” Arias said, adding that it may take 10 to 15 years before the company will realize gains from the said project.

APO has a huge stack of cash in its coffers after the private placement of majority shareholder, the Ramos family’s Alakor Corp., resulted in about P4.2 billion in fresh funds.

The bulk of this amount—or about P1.6 billion—will be spent to buy additional shares in The Philodrill Corp. to increase shareholding to 34.3 percent from 11.8 percent.

The remaining cash will be used to pay maturing debts, acquire more dividend-yielding asset and boost other assets, such as APO’s economic interest in the TriNoma shopping mall in Quezon City.

The company has investments in United Paragon Mining Corp., Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp., Philodrill, North Triangle Depot Commercial Corp., MRT Development Corp., MRT Holdings Inc., Brightnote Asset Corp. and Filipinas Energy Corp. (VG Cabuag, Business Mirror)

http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/business/companies/32495-apo-to-operate-ecozone-in-subic

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Delos Reyes claims Subic bike fest title

Bike King’s Joey Delos Reyes showed his might in the road race as he topped the punishing 90-kilometer Stage three to also steal the overall individual title in Category 2 at the close of the Bike United Tour of Subic 2014 last Sunday at the Subic Bay Freeport.

The 26-year-old bike mechanic and Unilab Active Health’s Ben Rana pulled away from the peloton right after the first 25-kilometers before the two engaged in an exciting sprint finish won by Delos Reyes.

“Mas gusto ko ang ahon kesa sa flat kaya talagang plano ko na umatake agad,” said Delos Reyes who negotiated the race that saw stiff uphill climbs in two hours 38 minutes and 46 seconds.

Fresh from a second place finish in the 60-kilometer road race Stage two, Delos Reyes accumulated a total time of 5:08:58 to win the individual title in this two-day bikefest organized by Bike King headed by Raul Cuevas and presented by Unilab Active Health.

Cebuano rider Ramonito Espinosa who seemed headed for the title after topping the first two stages, suffered a mechanical problem in the middle part of the race and arrived 14 minutes behind Delos Reyes (2:52:56).

“Naputulan ako ng kadena at ilang minuto rin ako nahinto dahil nilagyan ko pa ng clip. Sayang, kungdi nangyari ito, makakasabay ako sa kanila,” said a dejected Espinosa who settled for seventh spot over with 5:22:31 time.

Rana, who was a second behind in stage three (2:38:47), finished second overall with 5:11:22 while Mervin Santiago of Sante Barley, who came in third in the final race (2:43:00), bagged the third overall with 5:13:44.

Franzia’s lady rider Marella Vania Salamat topped the race to complete a sweep of the three stage event also supported by Aboitiz, Subic Holiday Villas, AboitizPower, Orbea, Pocari Sweat, Crystal Clear Purified Water, Shimano, OtterBox, Maxxis Tires and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)-Tourism Department. (Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/delos-reyes-claims-subic-bike-fest-title/

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Delos Reyes edges Rana, rules Bike United Tour

Bike King’s Joey Delos Reyes dominated the road race as he topped the 90-km Stage three to likewise steal the overall individual crown in Category 2 at the close of the Bike United Tour of Subic at the Subic Bay Freeport last Sunday.

The 26-year-old bike mechanic and Unilab Active Health’s Ben Rana pulled away from the main pack right after the first 25kms before Delos Reyes outsprinted Rana in a thrilling finish.

“Mas gusto ko ang ahon kesa sa flat kaya talagang plano ko na umatake agad,” said Delos Reyes who negotiated the race that had stiff uphill climbs in two hours, 38 minutes, 46 seconds.

Fresh from a runner-up finish in the 60km road race Stage two, Delos Reyes posted a total time of 5:08:58 to win the individual title in the two-day bikefest organized by Bike King headed by Raul Cuevas and presented by Unilab Active Health.

Cebuano rider Ramonito Espinosa, who topped the first two stages, suffered a mechanical problem midway through the race and arrived 14 minutes behind Delos Reyes (2:52:56).

“Naputulan ako ng kadena at ilang minuto rin ako nahinto dahil nilagyan ko pa ng clip. Sayang, kungdi nangyari ito, makakasabay ako sa kanila,” rued Espinosa, who settled for seventh spot in 5:22:31 time.

Rana, second behind in Stage three (2:38:47), finished second overall in 5:11:22 while Mervin Santiago of Sante Barley, who came in third in the final race (2:43:00), bagged the third overall with a 5:13:44 clocking.

Franzia’s lady rider Marella Vania Salamat topped the race to complete a sweep of the three-stage event also supported by Aboitiz, Subic Holiday Villas,AboitizPower, Orbea, Pocari Sweat, Crystal Clear Purified Water, Shimano,OtterBox, Maxxis Tires and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)-Tourism Department.

The 20-year-old UE student taking up dentistry timed at 3:00:45 for an impressive total time of 5:36:06.

“My goal was to really go hard on the hills to determine who my rivals would be. I’m happy to have defended my title,” said Salamat.

Veteran cyclists Doray Ellis and LC Langit of Boys Get Chicked settled for a far second and third overall at 6:07:37 and 6:13:29, respectively, even as Jerard Estilo of ASG Quickspeed Philippines emerged champion in the men’s Category 3 in 5:16:17, edging Christopher Lobanon of Shell V-Power Nitro+ (5:17:12)and teammate Agustin Querimit (5:20:42).

Fitness First Cycling Team ruled the Team Competition event in 15:53:00 while Sante Barley Cycling Team took second place in 16:03:58 with Unilab Active Health Elite team finishing third at 16:21:36. (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2014/05/21/1325562/delos-reyes-edges-rana-rules-bike-united-tour

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SBMA eyes rehabilitation of Olongapo river

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is now eyeing the rehabilitation of the Kalalake River, which borders this free port and the neighboring city of Olongapo.

Atty. Severo Pastor, manager of the SBMA Labor Department, disclosed this on Saturday as the Subic authority spearheaded this month’s river clean-up project along the river from the free port’s 14th Street Gate to the Kalaklan Gate.

“Now that we have cleared the area, we are now planning to plant ornamental trees there, especially in those areas near the Harbor Point Mall and the Volunteers Park, since these places are being frequented by visitors,” Pastor said.

“We hope that by planting trees along riverbanks, we could help rehabilitate the river, which used to be the lifeblood of the fishing community that once thrived in Olongapo,” Pastor said.

As part of the continuing river clean-up program, the SBMA is planning to build floating platforms in the river that community volunteers can use during clean-up activities.

Pastor said that his office has already coordinated with the five barangays located along the winding Kalalake River for the proposed clean-up platforms.

Beginning November last year, the SBMA Labor Department has conducted monthly river clean-ups with the help of volunteers from Freeport locator-companies, schools and barangays in Olongapo City, as well as with various SBMA departments.

“In exchange for their help, the SBMA is providing livelihood projects for Olongapo residents, as well as scholarships for dual training in computer hardware and electronics for their children,” Pastor shared.

The SBMA official said they wanted the Subic Bay Freeport “to look good not just inside the fenced-in area, but also outside it.”

Pastor added that under the administration of Chairman Roberto Garcia, the SBMA has intensified its program to protect and conserve the local environment and encouraged neighboring communities to join eco-tourism projects.

“We wanted to give visitors a good first impression of Subic Bay and Olongapo City,” Pastor stressed. “These two neighboring areas, anyway, have shared the same aspirations and the same desire for progress all through the years.” (FMD-MPD/SBMA)


PHOTOS:
Volunteers from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, locator-companies in the Subic Bay Freeport, and barangays and schools in Olongapo City scour the riverside for garbage during a clean-up project last Saturday.

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Hong Kong, Singapore top int’l table tennis open in Subic

Hong Kong and Singapore emerged as victors in the men’s and women’s singles events in the recently concluded GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Philippine Open held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit defeated Singapore’s top- seeded Zhan Jian four sets to two (9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10) after overcoming third-seed Yang Zi, also from Singapore in the semi-finals.

Ho became the second player from Hong Kong to win an ITTF World Tour men’s singles title after Jiang Tianyi, who won the 2008 men’s singles title at the Brazilian Open in Belo Horizonte.

The 17-year old surprised everyone since Ho did not even place in the main draw, and was previously defeated by India’s Harmeet Desai during the qualification proceedings in Spain earlier this year.

"This competition was very tough. I did not have any expectations or baggage coming into the event, which helped; I had a lot of luck to win,” said Ho.

“At the beginning of the competition, it did not even go through my head that I could win the event. My plan was just to try my best in each match and see what happened,” he added.

In the women’s singles event, Singapore’s Feng Tianwei beat third-seed Elizabeta Samara from Romania, four sets to one (11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3, 13-11).

Feng, a bronze medalist in the 2012 London Olympics, outplayed Riyo Nemoto during the semi-finals.

Winning her first World Tour title since 2011, Feng said that her journey to the top was not that easy.

“It was a tough finals. I felt tired as I have been playing quite a fair bit of matches, including during the World Championships in Tokyo. Also, my knee is slightly injured,” Feng said, adding that she is hoping to win her next challenge in Australia next week.

In the Under 21 events, Singapore dominated the finals as Chen Feng defeated Wu Shikang in the boys’ singles event, four sets to two (11-7,11-4,13-11,11-13,3-11,11-9) while Lin Ye outclassed Zhou Yihan, four sets to one (11-6,11-5,12-10,9-11,13-11). (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA deputy administrator for business and tourism Ruel John Kabigting (right) awards trophy and check to Ho Kwan Kit of Hong Kong, who topped the men’s singles category of the GAC 2014 International Table Tennis Tour Challenge - Philippine Open held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center over the weekend. Looking on is runner-up Zhan Jian of Singapore.

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