Subic Bay port project comes in for criticism

Dredging News On-Line

Plans to speed up the Subic Bay Port Development Project, a $215-million venture funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), have been "temporarily called off" after what was described by local news media as objections to the project from "multi-sector groups" and some investors opposed to its implementation of the project, who cited "economic and environmental concerns."

Fishermen from Morong, Olongapo and Subic town claim that reclaiming some 29 hectares of land for the port will have adverse environmental consequences and render them jobless.

A spokesperson for the Subic Resort Owners Association claimed that the dredging that would be required for the reclamation work would affect local beaches and "kill their businesses."

U.S. TROOP ARRIVED FOR WAR GAMES

Some 1,500 United States marines arrived yesterday in this former American naval base for week-long training exercises with their local counterparts.
The US troops are part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Okinawa, Japan and would be engaged in bilateral exercises aimed at enhancing the "inter-operability" of both forces, the Filipino military said.

The exercises take place a month before US President George W. Bush visits Manila to discuss anti-terrorism cooperation with President Arroyo.
The Americans arrived on board three surface battleships at the Alava pier here for their amphibious exercises and civic works projects dubbed Amphibious Ready Group Exercises (AGREX 03).
The Sept. 14-21 joint training is a follow-up to a regular training maneuver earlier this year, marine 2nd Lt. Tryiokasus Brown said Saturday.
"We are always trying to improve our inter-operability with our allies here in the Philippines, and because of the success of the exercise earlier this year we are doing another," he said.
The exercises would include live-fire training, air support operations and ship-to-shore landings as well as civic actions including medical, dental and engineering activities in surrounding communities.
Subic Bay Metroplitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Felicito Payumo welcomed the American troops led by US navy Commodore Richard Landolt, US marine Col. Roy Arnold, and US navy attaché to the Philippines Capt. Timothy Keating.
Payumo expressed hope that the visit would be safe, fruitful and educational.
"We are hoping that they will enjoy their visit and we expect that they will appreciate the warm welcome and the signs of progress that have been happening in the freeport since it was turned over to the Philippine government," Payumo told The STAR.
The US Naval battleships docked at Alava Pier in Subic Freeport are helicopter carrier USS Essex (1LHD-2), USS Harpes Ferry (LSD-49) and USS Fort McHenry