SBMA eyes Zambales coves for cruise-ship holidays

The growing number of international cruise ships arriving in this premier Freeport is now spurring the growth of the local economy and opening up opportunities for other communities.

On Tuesday, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma met with Mayor Estela Antipolo and other officials of San Antonio, Zambales to discuss plans to utilize certain coastal areas of the municipality as high-end cruise-ship holiday destinations.

“Our plan is to make the area the next Amalfi or the next Turks and Caicos,” Eisma said, referring to the popular coastal destinations in Italy and the Bahamas.

“The project would make the area accessible to cruise ships, attract passengers who would spend a day or two in local resorts, and hence would provide viable economic opportunities to local communities and residents,” Eisma told the municipal officials.

Eisma said the SBMA is now talking with several private investors who are considering the development of the area, particularly the Nagsasa and Silanguin coves, which are located southwest of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

According to the development plan formulated by the SBMA, what are now essentially the fishing villages of Nagsasa and Silanguin will both become port destinations with world-class resort attractions that can cater to passengers of cruise liners.

Meanwhile, a coastal road will be built to connect the coves of San Antonio without having to cut through the hills in the area.

“The winding coastal road will have a great view of the coves, just like that at the Amalfi Coast along Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula,” Eisma said.

The Amalfi Coast is a popular holiday destination with sheer cliffs and a rugged shoreline dotted with small beaches and pastel-colored fishing villages, grand villas, terraced vineyards and cliff-side lemon groves.

Eisma said the rugged coastline of San Antonio could be developed into a similar attraction that would complement its clear, aquamarine water.

At least 20 cruise ship arrivals have been scheduled in the Subic Bay Freeport this year, with bigger vessels like the MS Ovation of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship in operation in the whole of Asia, promising more port calls. More are coming in 2019, Eisma said.

She added that cruise ship passengers have already visited local attractions to as far as the heritage site of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan. “So we are really in need of more attractions to sustain the demand,” Eisma explained.

Town officials of San Antonio have reportedly welcomed the proposal for the development of the local coves into high-end tourist destinations. Prior to this, the local government of San Antonio passed a resolution setting aside some 9,000 hectares of land in the municipality for development under the SBMA’s expansion program.

Other communities nearby have also allotted areas for the expansion of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. These include the towns of Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino and Olongapo City in Zambales, and Hermosa in Bataan. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Tourists marvel at the beauty of mountain and sea at a cove in San Antonio, Zambales

[2] SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma presents the development plan for the Nagsasa and Silanguin coves in San Antonio, Zambales

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Subic airport may be operational again by Q2 2019 - Tugade

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation on Wednesday floated again its plan to revive the Subic Bay International Airport, which could be operational before the first or second quarter of 2019.

Speaking to reporters, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said “serious talks” are ongoing on the proposed revival of Subic airport. He declined to give an estimate for the cost of the project.

Bird's eye view of the Subic International Airport

To “give life” to the airport, Tugade explained that Subic airport’s aviation instruments must be upgraded to ensure safe landings. There are no problems with the airport’s structures, he added.

“I think the airport will be operational in due time,” the Transportation chief said. “Perhaps it will be operational before the first... second quarter next year.”

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

Tugade first mentioned the DOTR’s plan to restore the Subic airport in 2016. The proposal aims to decongest the overstretched Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Seeing the deterioration of the Manila airport, Tugade earlier said the government is “entertaining” proposals to build airports outside the capital. (Ian Nicholas Cigaral, Philippine Star)


https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/07/04/1830502/tugade-subic-airport-may-be-operational-again-q2-2019

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State-of-the-art CCTV system up in Subic Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has installed a state-of-the-art monitoring system that provides a live feed of images from remote surveillance areas all around the Subic Freeport to boost security operations and public safety here.

The system consisted of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in various areas of the Freeport that are viewed from a bank of monitors and a LED (light-emitting diode) wall at the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED) command center.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma inspected the new monitoring system on Sunday, along with SBMA Deputy Administrator Rani Cruz, LED Manager Vicente Tolentino, and LED Operations Chief Gerardo Johnson, and observed how the system is operated remotely.

Aside from watching the live streaming of videos taken from some of the busiest areas in the Freeport, Eisma also tried the public address system hook-up installed in areas like the Boardwalk Activity Center and the Malawaan Park, and reminded visitors to pick up their trash before leaving the area.

The system allows the simultaneous viewing of live images from 96 different camera angles.

“It’s quite impressive,” SBMA chief described the system. “And I hope that this will be something really effective not only in crime prevention, but also in promoting public safety and environmental protection in the Freeport,” she added.

Eisma also pointed out that the SBMA’s modern monitoring system was made possible with funding from Common Use Service Area (CUSA) fees collected by the Subic agency from business locators, residents, as well as tourists entering the Freeport.

“Now that we have this state-of-the-art monitoring system, violators can easily be detected and apprehended. Subic is known for its strict enforcement of traffic rules, as well as for its high level of security, and this system brings us to a higher level of police work,” she added.

According to SBMA police chief Vicente Tolentino, most of the tourist sites in the Freeport are now covered by the CCTV system that was recently installed by Wireless Link Technologies, Inc., a leading wireless technology provider based in Manila.

Aside from these, PLDT Subictel has also installed CCTVs at the sentry posts of three housing areas in Subic: Binictican, Kalayaan, and Cubi.

The SBMA will be paying for the system installation contracted out to Wireless Link Technologies, but the cameras provided by PLDT Subictel were for free, Eisma said.

All these CCTVs are monitored 24/7 by LED officers inside the command center, Tolentino said, adding that the system will allow police officers to closely monitor areas for any illegal activity and give them faster reaction time to apprehend suspects.

“We want people to know that the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is one of the safest places in the country, where they could relax without fear of being accosted by criminal elements. At the same time, we want criminal elements to know that we are ready for them and that we can monitor their every move here,” Tolentino said.

The SBMA police head added that the more security monitoring systems will be put in place in other areas of the Freeport under the second phase of the agency’s CCTV program. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma, along with other SBMA officials, views images fed live through a CCTV system at the SBMA Law Enforcement Department’s control room on Sunday.

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Subic Freeport gets new areas to host more investors

Subic Bay Freeport is getting additional 24,725 hectares, majority of which come from neighboring towns, to expand the former American naval base which has been running out of space it can offer to new investors and expanding existing locators.

Of this expansion area, five neighboring towns have initially allotted a total of 21,495 hectares of land to the Subic Bay Freeport, which has been running out of property to lease to more investors in the former American naval base.

Bird's eye view of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Data showed that six local government units have initially allotted these properties for Subic expansion. The biggest lot contributor is San Marcelino with 10,000-hectare allocation followed by San Antonio with 9,000, Olongapo with 900 hectares, Subic with 500-600 hectares, Hermosa 505 hectares, and Catillejos with 500 hectares.

Usually, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) leases out properties to investors at certain rates. Under the plan, the San Marcelino lot would be used for mining, quarry and agriculture projects while San Antonio has been reserved for resort development and leisure industry.

The Olongapo LGU allocation would be used for housing, light industry and tourism projects while the 500-600 hectares in Subic could be offered for factories, agriculture and energy facilities.

Hermosa may be developed to house light to heavy industry, renewable energy, metal industry and staging of trucks auctions. The Castillejos land allocation can also be used for light to medium industry warehousing.

The remaining properties would come from the Redondo Peninsula with 3,000 hectares; infill development of 150 hectares and reclamation of 20 hectares. (Bernie Cahiles -Magkilat, Manila Bulletin)

Read more --> https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/07/02/subic-freeport-gets-new-areas-to-host-more-investors/

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SBMA eyes collection of P144.8-M past-due accounts

Efforts by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to collect overdue rentals and other fees from business locators here are now paying off, with the agency expecting to collect some P144.8 million either through upfront settlement or payment scheme in the next five years.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, more than 30 investor-companies here have cooperated with the current administration to settle their long-due obligations and negotiated for payment arrangements that were approved by the SBMA Board.

“We’re gaining much headway in our collection program because our investors understand that we are serious in managing Subic with transparency, impartiality, and consistency,” Eisma said.

“They can see for themselves that we are applying rules uniformly in keeping with the thrust of President Duterte to fully utilize government assets and maximize their benefits,” she added.

Eisma pointed out that the current SBMA Board had approved staggered payment of accounts in order to collect debts that accumulated but remained unacted upon by previous administrations.

“We simply inherited these problems, but it is now incumbent upon us to set things right and prevent more losses to the government,” she said.

She added that the payment schemes approved by the Board of Directors since January 2017 had so far accounted for P102.45 million in peso accounts and $847,203 in dollar accounts, or a total of P144.8 million in principal alone.

These amounts cover payments for arrears in mostly land rentals and leases of facilities, as well as unpaid common use service area (CUSA) fees, deposits, performance bonds, and other charges.

The payment schemes will also yield more than P5.6 million and $53,000 in future interests, Eisma added.

Among the companies with approved payment schemes are Lyceum of Subic Bay, with P31.58 million in arrears, deposits, and other fees; Global Daeil Subic, Inc., P16.68 million; Subic Bay Yacht Club, P10 million; and Speed Subic Corporation, P6.77 million.

The latest firm to avail of a payment scheme was Japanese pioneer company Koryo Subic, Inc. According to the payment scheme approved by the SBMA Board, Koryo would pay $219,688 for lease rental of its three expansion areas, as well as CUSA fee amounting to P394,491.

The Board also called for upfront payments of $43,937 in rent and P78,893 in CUSA fee, as well as escalation rates for the computation of its back lease rentals.

Eisma said that alongside the SBMA’s program to collect overdue debts, the agency is also vigorously pursuing the recovery of unused assets that were previously contracted out for management by Subic-registered companies.

“We have, in fact, repossessed some SBMA facilities that have been left idle or unimproved by lessee- companies, and we have also revoked the contract of investors who failed to meet their contractual obligations,” the SBMA chief said.

“We have to do this because the SBMA and the government are losing money every single minute that these prime assets remain unproductive,” Eisma explained.

“Land, and the buildings and facilities on it, is a very precious commodity in the Subic Bay Freeport because of the limited space here, so we have to be diligent in optimizing these assets for productive economic activities,” she said.

Eisma added that an audit initiated by her administration in December last year had resulted in gross revenue billings amounting to more than P18 million from 13 companies in the Freeport.

“These are all part of our transparency drive, which in the long run would redound to a better business climate in the Subic Freeport,” Eisma said. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

The SBMA retakes possession of a facility left unimproved by a lessee-company in the Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA, DOLE, DepEd, investors unite to close labor gaps

Government agencies here are now working closely with the education sector and local business locators to harmonize efforts at closing the mismatch between available jobs and available manpower in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and nearby communities.

Some 1,200 officials from government and private sectors, as well as educators and students, gathered at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) here last week for the Annual Labor Congress organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to tackle the issue of labor gaps.

Among the attendees were representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE),
Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and local government units (LGUs).

SBMA Labor Department manager Severo Pastor Jr. explained that the one-day congress serves as venue to address employment issues, help students choose the right academic or technical course to take in college, and assist the education sector to determine what relevant courses or skills training they should offer.

“Most often, students enrolled in courses that are not suitable for jobs offered by investors in the Freeport, or that courses that would likely get more employment offers were not offered in schools,” Pastor noted.

As both these case result in employment gaps, Pastor said the academe should take necessary actions to address the skills-employment mismatch by offering courses relevant to the skills needed in the locality, particularly by Subic investor-companies.

“There should be a continuous flow of skilled or professional workers needed by investors in the Subic Freeport, so that we can sustain the local economy,” he also said.

SBMA records indicate that there are now a total of 1,587 business locators in the Subic Freeport, with more than 134,000 workers employed.

Meanwhile, Dir. Ben-Hur Baniqued Jr., head of TESDA- Zambales, revealed that as of October 2017, there are 7.8 million workers available in Region III. However, unemployment in the region is at 76%, which is way higher than the national average, he added.

“Underemployment (in the region) is tremendous,” Baniqued remarked. He said that while the government is considering Central Luzon as an alternative hub to decongesting Metro Manila, the industries, especially investors in the Subic Freeport, must help the academic sector by providing free training to students through on-the-job programs to further develop the local workforce.

At present, Baniqued said, there are about 430 private institutions in Region III that provide more than 2,000 Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs for aspiring job applicants.

In the same forum, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Kenneth Rementilla painted a rosy picture for job generation in the Subic Bay Freeport, pointing out that the SBMA has been actively promoting business in Subic through investment missions abroad.

He added that the Subic agency has been hugely successful in drawing new investments, mostly in manufacturing, as well as leisure and tourism sectors.

Rementilla also said that because the Subic Bay Freeport is largely located within the fenced-in portion of the former US military facility here, the SBMA is now looking into expansion schemes to address the shortage of land area for further business development and to create more jobs for local workers. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)


PHOTOS:

[1] Business locators, students and teachers, as well as concerned government agencies attend the Labor Congress organized by the SBMA on June 28 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Kenneth Rementilla (center) and PMAP-Subic President Edith Geniza hand over a certificate of appreciation to TESDA Provincial Director Ben-Hur Baniqued Jr. after he addressed the Labor Congress held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on June 28. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Chinese cruise port to connect with Subic Bay

Plans are afoot to connect the Subic Bay Freeport, an emerging cruise ship destination in Southeast Asia, to the Zhoushan International Cruise Port (ZICP), which is one of the five major cruise ports in China today.

According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, Zhoushan port authorities, cruise line executives, travel agents, and representatives from China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism visited here on Monday to look into prospects of connecting ZICP with Subic, along with Clark International Airport.

“ZICP targets more than 200 international cruises every year after opening their cruise port in 2014,” Eisma said. “Now they are looking at Subic Bay as their next target.”

She added that it would be logical for ZICP to connect with the Port of Subic “because the Subic Bay area is getting to be a popular cruise ship destination for Chinese tourists.”

Zhoushan, which is located in China’s Zhejiang province, is the only archipelago city in China and is considered the gateway to East China Sea.

Since its opening in October 2014, the ZICP became a departure point for cruises to Taiwan and other Asian destinations. Phase 1 of the ZICP development involved reclaiming land from the sea and building a berth for megaships. Total investment to date is reported at around $74 million.

Eisma said Subic could gain much from the proposed connection, as the Chinese cruise industry is expected to become bigger in the years to come.

“The link between Zhoushan and Subic would be mutually beneficial, since both areas have great offerings for cruise ship passengers and the potential to serve as jump-off points for other destinations in the region,” Eisma said.

“This could be the start of our version of a maritime silk road here,” she added.

At least 20 cruise ship arrivals have been calendared in Subic for this year, and some bookings have been made for 2019 and 2020. These include three arrivals each for the month of June, July and August this year.

Eisma said that another giant Royal Caribbean vessel, the Voyager of the Seas, has been scheduled to arrive here in August. Its sister ship, the Ovation of the Seas, which is the biggest cruise ship in operation in Asia, has called at the Port of Subic last June 8. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Delegates from the Zhoushan International Cruise Port and the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as officials of cruise lines and travel agencies, pose with SBMA officials during a courtesy call at the SBMA office on Monday. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Japanese firm to build robotic parts in Subic Freeport

A Japanese company known as the leading supplier of precision gearing solutions to the industrial automation marketplace is planning to set up operations here to manufacture key components for industrial robots.

Nidec-Shimpo Corporation (Japan), a wholly-owned company of Japan’s Nidec Corporation and sister-company of Nidec Subic Philippine Corporation, will build reduction gears which are considered vital in controlling the speed and traction of electronic equipment.

Nidec-Shimpo Corporate Planning Manager Tadahiro Togami, Corporate Planning Chief Manager Otoharu Tomita, and Vice President for Administration Tetsuya Nakao recently called on Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma to present their proposal.

They said that the proposed Subic operation will initially hire 100 workers, and eventually up to 1,000 workers.

Eisma said the proposed project will fortify the presence of Japanese companies here at the Subic Technology Park (STEP), which now hosts some of the leading innovators and manufacturers in the field of technology.

“Aside from proving the continuing investor confidence in this premier free port and economic zone, the entry of Nidec-Shimpo will further elevate Subic’s place in high-end manufacturing and increase the stature of local workers in the areas of precision engineering and technology,” she added.

The reduction gears that Nidec-Shimpo will produce in Subic will be intended for export to Europe, Eisma also noted.

The company, which has affiliated companies worldwide, is engaged in the manufacture and sales of variable speed drive and speed reducers, factory automation systems, ceramic equipment, electronic instruments, DC brushless motors, press machines and fee attachments, dies, and other machinery and tools.

Currently, Nidec-Shimpo has plants and marketing offices in the United States, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, India, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

According to SBMA Business and Investment Department for Manufacturing and Maritime (BID-MM) head Karen Magno, Nidec-Shimpo’s sister firm in Subic is now the world’s top manufacturer of small precision motors.

She added that Nidec Subic Philippines currently holds the largest market share in the world for spindle motors, which rotate disks and are at the heart of hard disk drives used in personal computers. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

[1] Nidec-Shimpo officials present their proposal to manufacture reduction gears for industrial robots in the Subic Bay Freeport to SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] Nidec Subic Phils Corp at the Techno-Park.

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Subic hosts Bike King TRI 2 on July 1

Over 500 triathletes brace for an unconventional long-distance multisport competition in the Bike King TRI 2 set on July 1 at Subic Bay.

After the 2km swim at ACEA Subic Bay, participants vie in the bike leg on the rolling 60km route of SCTEX until Dinalupihan before returning to Subic.

The final test of endurance is the 15-km run which includes the hills of Cubi Point.

The team competition will see large contingents from Century Tri Hard, FIT Phl, Herbalife, Pampanga’s Best Tri Clark, Sante Barley and Trimac vying for top honors.

Specially designed trophies will be awarded to the individual and team winners of the event supported by TAG Heuer, Biogenic Alcohol, NLEX-SCTEX, Standard Insurance, Vittoria, Smart, Gatorade, Nescafé Dolce Gusto, Saucony, Gardenia, Prohealth Sports and Spinal, ACEA Subic Bay, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Court Meridian Hotel & Suites, and Subic Holiday Villas.

Other events lined up by Bike King are the Bike King Duathlon presented by Clark Global City (Sept. 9), the Sun Life Aquathlon Series Championship (Oct. 14), and the MediCard Sprint Triathlon (Nov. 25). (Philippine Star)


https://www.philstar.com/sports/2018/06/25/1827722/bike-king-tri-2-slated-subic-july-1

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Grab eyeing Subic Freeport franchise; gets positive response

Southeast Asia’s leading internet-based ride-hailing and booking company is receiving positive feedback for its plan to expand operations into this premier free port.

Grab Philippines head for expansion Carlo Cu Unjieng recently outlined the firm’s proposal for a Subic franchise to key Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officials and asked for feedback on what riding platform would be appropriate here and benefit residents the most.

Cu Unjieng said the firm could position either a GrabTaxi or a GrabCar, or even a GrabBike operation in Subic, depending on the needs of the local riding public.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the proposal is welcome, as it would result in better transport services within Subic Freeport, especially now that a lot of foreign tourists are arriving via cruise ships.

“I am all for this, because it is an alternative platform for the riding public who would want ease and convenience, as well as competitive rates,” Eisma said.

“Of course this may pose a challenge to existing transport operators in and around the Freeport, but I happen to see it as an opportunity for everybody to step up and improve their services,” she added.

Eisma also advised the Grab official to talk to local government units around the Freeport, pointing out that the neighboring communities would constitute a huge sector of the potential customers.

She added that residents of Zambales and Bataan who work or do business in the Subic Bay Freeport would principally benefit should Grab gain a foothold into Subic and neighboring areas.

Based on responses to an informal survey conducted last week by a local-based social media account, most residents are in favor of the proposal to introduce Grab services in the Subic area.

The commenters said they have been waiting for an improved transport system that charges reasonable fare and provides fast, reliable service.

While some respondents worried that the move might cause more traffic in the Freeport, not a few suggested that the taxi service operating here be converted to Grab units.

Other respondents also expressed hope that Grab operations would be extended into Olongapo City and Subic, Zambales.

Grab, formerly MyTeksi, originated in Singapore, and is now present in seven countries—Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

In the country, Grab is operational in major urban centers line Manila, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Angeles City, and Balanga, Bataan.

Eisma said Grab is primarily need in the Subic Freeport to modernize the local transportation system and revolutionize how Subic business locators, workers, and visitors are being ferried in and around this growing business and industrial center. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

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Ayta tribe gets title over ancestral land in Subic Freeport

After 14 years of bargaining, and hoping and praying, the Magbukun Ayta tribe of Sitio Kanawan in Morong, Bataan finally got approval on their claim for ancestral domain over some 12,000 hectares of land straddling parts of Morong town and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

During the third and final hearing on the Magbukun tribe’s petition at the Subic Park Hotel here on June 18, the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) en banc found their claim valid and passed approval of the same.

The application was approved by the seven NCIP commissioners: Chairperson Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo, Basilio Wandag, Norberto Navarro, Ramcy Astoveza, Dominador Gomez, Boi Era España, and Roy Dabuit.

The NCIP officials met with the Magbukun tribal council here to deliberate on the latter’s long-standing application for a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), which would formally recognize the rights of the indigenous community over their ancestral land.

According to Rodelio Tamundog, tribal chieftain of the Magbukuns, they started applying for a CADT way back in 2004.

“It feels good,” an elated Tamundog said. “Now we have the freedom to decide on the land that we inherited from our forefathers and determine our own future.”

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma, whose agency has operational control over a good part of the Magbukun territory, described the approval as a historic occasion for Subic Bay.

“It was also in June, 27 years ago, that most of the Ayta tribes in Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga, were displaced and dispossessed by the disastrous eruption of Mt. Pinatubo,” Eisma noted.

“But despite their sad plight, they were with us in protecting and preserving Subic when the Americans pulled out of this former US Naval Base,” she added.

Eisma also called for further assistance from the NCIP in the processing of a similar title for the Ayta tribesmen of Barangay Cawag in Subic, Zambales, whose land also form part of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The Magbukuns of Kanawan now has ownership of a total of 12,301.354 hectares. Of this, 11,769.054 hectares consist of hills and forests, while the remaining 532.300 hectares are water bodies.

NCIP officer-in-charge for Bataan Michael Baldonado said that a lot of hard work went into the Magbukun CADT. He recalled the years spent on preparing the claim, presenting proofs, producing evidences, as well as researching the tribe’s genealogies and checking available historical archives.

Betty Fielder, who heads the Subic Indigenous People Assistance Group (SIPAG) which is assisting the Kanawan Aytas, said she foresees better prospects for the tribe now that the NCIP has recognized their right over ancestral lands.

SIPAG, Fielder added, will be helping the Magbukuns in formulating a joint management agreement with the SBMA for the development of Ayta lands covered by the Subic Freeport.

The SBMA has entered into a similar agreement with the Pastolan Ayta tribe in Hermosa, Bataan, which was the first indigenous community within the confines of the Subic Freeport to be given a CADT.

The Pastolan tribe is now earning revenue for the use of their land by Subic Bay Freeport investors through remittances from the SBMA. (CAE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Members of the Kanawan Ayta tribe of Morong, Bataan celebrate with SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma following the approval of their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic training more tour guides to keep up with cruise ship arrivals

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has started training employees to help in guiding the growing number of tourists from large cruise ships that now frequently call in this free port.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said that the agency, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, rolled out a Basic Tourist Reception and Guiding Program to keep up with the rising demand for more tour guides.

“So far, the SBMA had trained three batches of new tour guides since February this year when cruise ships began regularly plying the Subic Bay Freeport route,” Eisma said.

“With each cruise ship bringing in from 2,000 to 5,000 tourists at each port call, and with about 20 cruise ship arrivals scheduled this year, we really need all the help we can get to manage this unprecedented influx of visitors,” she also said.

The employee-tour guides will be on-call for the part-time work. “They won’t be earning huge amounts of money, as they are doing it out of ‘malasakit’ for the SBMA,” Eisma explained.

The SBMA tour guides are picked from various departments that serve as frontline customer-service units and are asked to undergo a two-day training program to enhance their oral communication skills.

The training includes delivery of spiel and a mock tour where trainees are given situations that required fast thinking and effective delivery, said SBMA tourism head Jem Camba.

Camba said that with each cruise ship arrival, a minimum of 20 tour guides are called on for duty. Bigger cruise ships like the MS Ovation of the Seas, the biggest in operation in Asia, require around 45 tour guides who would accompany Mandarin-speaking interpreters assigned to tour buses.

The SBMA tour guides, who are well-versed on Subic Bay and its environs, are tasked to provide precise information about local tourism destinations that will be passed on by interpreters to the mostly Chinese passengers of cruise ships arriving here.

Thompson Gatdula, an SBMA employee-tour guide, described the work as fun and educational.

“I get to know more about other people and their culture, as they get to know more about the Subic Bay Freeport and other local communities,” said Gatdula, who had accompanied tourists to as far as the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, an open-air museum and heritage site in Bagac, Bataan.

“We’re doing this out of ‘malasakit’ for the SBMA and the country. Whatever we do here would reflect on us as Filipinos, so we have to be our best each time we interact with cruise ship visitors,” he added.

Like Gatdula, the on-call tour guides get a message each time their services are needed. This gives the full itinerary for the day and identifies the areas that the tourists are scheduled to visit.

“The job usually entails working and being on the road the whole day, but believe me, it is worth it,” said Gatdula. “When you make visitors smile, when you make them fall in love with the Subic Bay Freeport, that gives you a deep sense of accomplishment.”

A total of 13 cruise ship arrivals have been recorded in Subic Bay since February this year, and seven more arrivals are scheduled until October 2018. Eisma said that by then, an army of SBMA tour guides would be ready to make international cruise ship passengers appreciate Subic Bay Freeport and the Philippines more. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] An SBMA tour guide snaps pictures of disembarked tourists from the MS Ovation of the Seas cruise ship. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] An SBMA tour guide shepherds newly-arrived cruise ship passengers during a tour of the Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[3] Tourists listen to an SBMA tour guide’s spiel on local culture during a visit at the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar museum and heritage site in Bagac, Bataan. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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NFA starts unloading imported rice in Subic

The National Food Authority (NFA) started unloading imported rice from Thailand and Vietnam via the Subic Bay Freeport to reach intended destinations in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley.

NFA Administrator Jason Aquino said in meeting here with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Wilma T. Eisma that a total of 340,000 bags of premium rice arrived at the Port of Subic on board the cargo ship MV Tay Son 2 on June 5, but that unloading was delayed due to foul weather.

Another shipment consisting of 160,000 bags is expected to arrive here next week to complete the 500,000 bags or 250,000 metric tons scheduled for unloading via Subic Freeport.

Aquino said that 100,000 bags will be distributed in Cagayan Valley, while 400,000 bags will be distributed in Central Luzon. He added that with the arrival of the long-awaited rice shipments, the NFA is expecting a drop of from P1 to P2 in the price of commercial rice

However, the official clarified that only marginalized sectors, indigenous people, and NFA-accredited retailers endorsed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) can avail of the imported rice at P27 per kilo.

Aquino also said that the rice importation was coursed through the government to government (G2G) procurement scheme in line with the call of President Duterte to fast-track the importation of rice to maintain food security in the country.

He noted that more than one million bags of imported rice intended for Metro Manila has already arrived, but could not be unloaded because of over-crowding at the Port of Manila.

SBMA Chairman Eisma, meanwhile, urged the NFA to use the Port of Subic more often, pointing out that that there is hardly any cargo traffic here, and that the Freeport is strategically positioned to serve as unloading point for goods destined to various point sin Luzon.

She also expressed appreciation to NFA officials for making Subic an NFA discharge port for its rice importation program.

NFA Administrator Aquino, accompanied by NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez and other NFA Zambales provincial officials, called on Eisma at the SBMA office on Wednesday morning before proceeding to inspect the rice shipment at Subic’s NSD Pier. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Workers unload imported rice at a warehouse in the Subic Bay Freeport on Wednesday, as the NFA started distributing imported rice to Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] NFA Administrator Jason Aquino and NFA Spokesperson Rex Estoperez confer with SBMA Chairman Wilma Eisma on the unloading of imported rice at the Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Bay community deals with storm debris the ‘bayanihan’ way

Stakeholders in the Subic Bay area gathered by the hundreds here on Monday to help the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) clean up a shoreline littered with tons of debris brought about by the storm last week.

Heeding a call for “bayanihan” from SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, agency employees, company workers, and students trooped to four cleanup stations at the waterfront, armed with nothing else but rakes, shovels, brooms, and a strong sense of community.

A delegation from Olongapo City headed by Mayor Rolen Paulino and Vice Mayor Jong Cortez also arrived to boost both spirit and manpower during the clean-up, bringing with them two pay-loaders to help speed up the hauling of mostly tree branches, plastic materials and other solid wastes.

Meanwhile, Subic Grain Pro, a company based in the Freeport, donated gloves, broomsticks, garbage bags and empty sacks, as well as bread and sandwiches, water and noodles for use by the volunteers.

An automotive seller, the Subic Truck Boy, also lent a pay-loader and a dump truck to augment SBMA equipment used in digging, collecting and hauling trash from the beach.

SBMA Chairman Eisma made the call for beach cleanup and waste segregation over the weekend, as various trash washed up on the shores of this tourism center following a week of incessant heavy rains.

“We had to remove the debris that piled up, and then segregate and dispose of them, and that was a huge job,” Eisma noted. “It is really heartwarming to see the whole community responding to our call for assistance, for them to show their ‘malasakit’ for the Subic Freeport.”

Vice Mayor Cortez said the instantaneous collaboration between the SBMA and the city government “showed that the two government institutions can come together swiftly as one for the love of the community and concern for environment.”

“The residents of Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan have a deep sense of community, especially in matters of the environment. After all the sea, forest, air and water are resources that are common to all,” he added.

Eisma said the pile-up of storm debris is a constant problem during the rainy season for the SBMA, which has been promoting Subic not only as a business enclave, but also as a tourism center.

At least seven major rivers empty into the bay of Subic, which straddles a good part of the 67,000-hectare area of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. These are the Pamulaklakin and Boton rivers in the Subic Bay Freeport; Kalalake, Sta. Rita-Kalaklan, and Maquinaya rivers in Olongapo; and Matain and Calapandayan rivers in Subic, Zambales.

Subic Bay, which forms the communal waters of Olongapo, and Zambales and Bataan, had been described as a threatened resource largely due to trash inflows from its tributaries.

Eisma said this is an environmental problem that transcends the geographical boundaries of communities near the Subic Bay.

“We’re all affected by this problem, and that is why we—the Subic Freeport, Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan—should work together to deal with it and come up with effective solutions,” she said.

Eisma said that another clean-up has been scheduled this week to cover the rest of the two-kilometer waterfront at the Freeport’s Central Business District, and that she hopes again to muster support from various Subic stakeholder groups.

“We’re getting better at this bayanihan projects because we have ingrained upon our stakeholders the value of malasakit,” Eisma said. “Everybody helps, and everybody wins.” (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Volunteers troop to the waterfront in the Subic Bay Freeport to help clean up debris washed on the shore during Typhoon Domeng. (FLP/MPD-SBMA)

[2] SBMA Chairman Amy T. Eisma (in cap and eyeglasses) directs the clean-up project along the waterfront in the Subic Bay Freeport after Typhoon Domeng. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[3] Volunteers pass around debris to be hauled away by trucks during a shoreline clean-up project in the Subic Bay Freeport after Typhoon Domeng. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Freeport business permits now valid for 3 years

To further promote the business-friendly atmosphere in this free port and boost government efforts on transparency, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) extended the validity of business registrations here from one to three years.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma recently released the first batch of Certificate of Registration and Tax Exemption (CRTE) that are valid for three years, and cited the agency’s streamlining of business processes to better serve the needs of business locators.

“This has long been overdue. The previous board under Chairman Garcia promised this to locators, but nothing happened. So we made it a priority project for our 2018 program and we’re proud that after all the hard work, it finally materialized now,” Eisma said.

Eisma added that her administration’s drive for a more investor-friendly climate in Subic is in keeping with President Duterte’s orders for transparency and good governance.

“We want to make life easy for our investors, and the SBMA will continuously work towards improving its system,” she pointed out.

The three-year CRTE was approved by the SBMA Board of Directors on January 26 this year. Then a public hearing to gain acceptance by stakeholders was successfully held on February 28. The announcement of the approved measure was subsequently published on May 9.

Eisma’s office had also taken over the approval and release of CRTEs to further speed up the issuance of this important business document.

According to Kenneth Rementilla, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business and Investments, business locators were previously required to renew their CRTE annually. But under the new system, businesses with lease terms of more than three years can avail of a three-year registration, or opt for an annual renewal.

Rementilla added that CRTE-holders in the Subic Bay Freeport can enjoy waived value-added tax (VAT), ad valorem and excise tax on internal revenue taxes, customs and import duties, and national revenue taxes, among others.

However, the business locators would have to pay a final tax of 5 percent of the gross income earned (GIE), as required by law. Of the 5 percent final tax, 2 percent is allocated for revenue shares to local government units, while 3 percent goes to the national treasury.

Among those who received the three-year CRTEs from the SBMA are Dongyang Food Machinery Philippines Corp.; Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning Philippines Inc.; Juken Sangyo (Phils.) Corp.; and UPower Building Corporation. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma joins representatives of Subic-registered companies that received their 3-year CRTE from the Subic agency. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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