OLONGAPO PINAGHAHANDA SA SUBIK-SUBIK FESTIVAL AT AD CONGRESS!!

Dalawang malalaking events ang pinaghahandaan ngayon nang Lungsod ng Olongapo - ang Subik-Subik Festival at ang 20th Ad Congress na magkasunod na isasagawa sa darating na buwan ng Oktubre at Nobyembre 2007.

Kaakibat nito ay pinaghanda na ni City Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr. ang mga departamentong tututok sa mga darating na events. Partikular na inatasan ng punonglungsod ang City Tourism Office na siyang makikipag-ugnayan sa mga organizers nito.

Ang Subik-Subik Festival na unang nasilayan ang makulay at masayang palabas nito noong 2006 ay masusundan ng higit pang mas grandiosong pagtatanghal ngayong 2007.

Sa pangunguna ng Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB) at Media Trade Exchange (MTE) kaakibat ang tatlong (3) Local Government Units (LGU) kabilang na ang Olongapo, Bataan, Zambales at ang Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ).

Highlight ng festival ang cultural and sports activities, Miss Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB) 2007 beauty pageant at ang inaantabayang trade fair na magpapakita sa ipinagmamalaki at kakaibang produkto ng apat na kalahok na lugar.

Samantala, matapos pumasa sa masusing panlasa ng Advertising Board of the Philippines (AdBoard) ay pormal nang itinalaga ang Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) na pagdarausan ng 20th Philippine Advertising Congress (Ad Congress) sa ika-21 ng Nobyembre 2007.

Sa pamamagitan ng AdBoard, na siyang umbrella organization ng Philippine Advertising industry ay nakaabang na ang mahigit limanglibong (5,000) opisyales, miembro, kliyente at bisita ng ibat-ibang participating agencies.

Layon ng Ad Congress na mailapit ang Advertising Industry sa publiko upang maunawaan ang kahalagahan ng industriya sa pang-araw-araw na kabuhayan ng tao.

‘’Malaki ang positibong epekto ng Subik-Subik Festival at Ad Congress sa lungsod. Turismo, trabaho at negosyo ang direktang makikinabang dito na may malaki at tuloy-tuloy na benipisyo sa Olongapo kaya kailangan na samantalahin natin ito,’’ wika ni Mayor Bong Gordon.

3 investors groups eyeing Subic port

Three foreign groups have expressed interest to bid for the 30-year contract to operate the new container terminal in Subic Bay Freeport.

“We can’t disclose [the identities of the companies] yet. All are foreign groups. [We will accept] bids by end-June,” said Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator Armand Arreza in a text message yesterday, adding the groups came from Asia and Europe.

The three companies will face a Swiss challenge from Subic Bay International Terminal Holdings Corp., which holds the right of first refusal on the operations and management of the new terminal.

Subic Bay International, a joint venture between the agency (15 percent share) and Subic Bay International Terminal Holdings Inc. (85 percent), operates the existing container terminal in the Freeport under a concession agreement granted by the agency in 2000.

The new port, located at the Cubi Point, covers 14 hectares and has a capacity of about 300,000 twenty equivalent units. It is expected to process up to 150,000 containers by the end of the year and 250,000 containers by 2008.

The agency has set the minimum bid at around $1.5 million, which covers the annual lease and concession. It also provides for a 10 percent to 14 percent revenue share of the agency per container processed.

Arreza said the new container port was seen to generate revenues of as much as P300 million, or about $6 million, every year.

The second container terminal, which is adjacent to the terminal that will be bid out next month, is also scheduled for completion next month. It will also have a capacity of 300,000 TEUs.

Arreza also said that the annual inflow from the container terminal should be $45 million, including the escalation costs as stipulated in the terms of reference.

The revenues will ensure the agency it has enough funds to cover payment for its loan with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Proceeds of the loan were used to partially construct container terminals 1 and 2.

He said the agency invested about $60 million in the new terminals. Both terminals cost around $120 million to construct. Each container terminal has an area of 14 hectares. By Elaine Ruzul S. Ramos - Manila Standard Today

NEWS ARCHIVE May 2007

OLONGAPO PINAGHAHANDA SA SUBIK-SUBIK FESTIVAL AT A...
3 investors groups eyeing Subic port
CALVARY CHAPEL U-TURN FOR CHRIST DARATING SA ‘GAPO...
Winner in mayoral race faces term limit violation ...
‘’IPIT GANG’’ BAGSAK SA KAMAY NG OTORIDAD
Hanjin clinches orders for at least 9 ships
Clark Open Skies order pushed again
$3-M condo by Korean firm to rise in Subic Freepor...
Printer ink refiller expands Subic plant
Hanjin Receives $2.2 Billion in Orders
Bataan lawmaker, wife swap roles
Hanjin Philippines wins order for four 12,800 TEU ...
‘’SALAMAT OLONGAPO’’
Delay of ‘open skies’ in Subic, Clark angers Neri
BCDA asks contractor to explain delay in P21-B exp...
NSC chief slams Bataan cops for daughter’s loss
SUBIC CITYHOOD FOOLS THE PEOPLE
OLONGAPO TOPNOTCHER SA POC
Guangxi, Subic Bay to talk on sisterhood to boost ...
Philippines To Build Maritime Park For Local Shipb...
Bataan elects its first congresswoman in 40 years
PLDT expands fiber-optic network in Subic
Discrepancies noted in Zambales COC
Trader couple gunned down in Olongapo City
Post Election Open Letter to the People of Zambale...
New era as shipbuilding production begins in the P...
2007 Palarong Pambansa, Matagumpay!
South Korea's modern maritime training ships dock ...
20th Ad Congress launched in Subic
GORDON HOSPITAL, PINAPURIHAN
MVPMAP urges tightening of vehicle import controls...
25 Customs cops sacked for smuggling
Subic Bay soon to launch tree top adventure
Hanjin starts ship production in Subic South Korea...

CALVARY CHAPEL U-TURN FOR CHRIST DARATING SA ‘GAPO

Magsasagawa ng dalawang (2) araw na Outreach Program at Evangelical Work sa Olongapo ang Calvary Chapel U-Turn for Christ.

Napili ng evangelical group sa pangunguna ni Missionary Pastor Ron Brown ang Rizal Triangle Multi-Purpose Center at East Tapinac Oval Track bilang mga venue sa ika-3 at 4 ng Agusto 2007 para sa inaasahang aabot sa limangdaang (500) miembro nito na darating.

Agad namang inatasan ni City Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr. ang ibat-ibang departamento at tanggapan partikular na ang Parks and Plaza at ang Environmental Sanitation and Management Office (ESMO) at PNP para sa agapay sa kalinisan at Peace and Order.

Bukas rin para sa non-members ang programang sasamahan rin ng ibat-ibang aktibidad tulad ng pa-raffle ng appliances at scholarships para sa mga qualified students na nais na makapag-aral.

Ang Calvary Chapel U-Turn for Christ ay binubuo ng mga Christian Discipleship na nagsasagawa ng mga volunteer work sa ibat-ibang panig ng bansa na may layuning tulungan ang mga indibidwal na nalululong sa ipinagbabawal na gamot at alcoholism at ilayo ang mga kabataan sa mapanirang bisyo.

Winner in mayoral race faces term limit violation charges

SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES—For allegedly exceeding his term as mayor, newly proclaimed Mayor Romeo Lonzanida was charged by his closest rival with violating the rules on term limits.

In a complaint filed with the regional trial court in Iba town, losing mayoral candidate, Dr. Estela Antipolo, said Lonzanida has exceeded his term of office as mayor of San Antonio.

Antipolo said Lonzanida was mayor in 1988, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004 and now 2007.

Three other residents also filed a complaint seeking the disqualification of Lonzanida for exceeding his term.

Ernie del Rosario, Corazon Canonizado and Zoraida Fonseca asked the court to stop Lonzanida from assuming his post as they claimed that it would be his sixth term as mayor.

“This case is a clear and outright violation of Section 43 of the Local Government Code (Republic Act No. 7160) stating that ‘no local elective official shall serve for more than three consecutive terms in the same position,” they said.

In her complaint, Antipolo said: “Ironically, this is a fact in our town where the seemingly endless cycle of doubtful events continues to prevail in our place even at this time.”

“I stand by my townmates’ prayers and resoluteness for me to pursue truth, justice and freedom in our place,” she said.

The Inquirer could not reach Lonzanida for comment. But his staff said they would answer the charges in the proper forum.

Lonzanida got 7,687 votes in the May 14 elections while Antipolo received 4,615 votes.

Inquirer

‘’IPIT GANG’’ BAGSAK SA KAMAY NG OTORIDAD

Tiklo ng Olongapo City Police Office (OCPO) ang dalawang (2) miembro ng ‘’Ipit Gang’’ matapos tinangkang biktimahin ang isang animnaput-limang (65) taong gulang na lolo nitong ika-28 ng Mayo 2007.

Huli ang mga dayong suspects na sina Enrico Buenaventura, 35 years old at Fernando Hular, 28 years old na parehong residente ng Pampanga matapos tinangkang dukutan si Germinio Reyes ng Brgy. West Bajac-Bajac.

Ayon sa salaysay ng biktima, habang siya ay lulan ng pampasaherong jeepney na biyaheng Sta Rita-Main Gate ay tumabi sa kanyang kanan at kaliwang bahagi ang mga suspects na nag-resulta sa kanyang pagkaka-ipit sa upuan.

Hanggang sa makaramdam ang biktima nang gumagapang na kamay buhat sa kanang bahagi ng kaniyang bulsa na animo’y may kinukuha. Dahil sa pangyayari ay umagaw ng atensyon sa driver at ilan pang kasamang pasahero ang pagtatalo ng biktima at suspects.

Nag-resulta ang komosyon sa loob ng sasakyan na nakatawag rin ng pansin sa mga naka-antabay na kinatawan ng Disaster Management Office (DMO) sa harap ng Marikit Park na nagbunga ng pagkaka-aresto ng mga suspects.

Sa ngayon, ang mga suspects ay pansamantalang naka-ditine sa Police Station-3 habang inaantay ang isasampang kaso laban sa kanila.

Pina-alalahanan ni City Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr. ang mga residente ng lungsod na maging alerto sa lahat ng panahon at makipag-ugnayan sa City Police Office o kaya’y sa Mayor’s office kung may mga nalalamang kahalintulad na insidente upang tuluyang masawata ang mga illegal na gawain.

Hanjin clinches orders for at least 9 ships

SOUTH Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. has received orders for at least nine container ships which would be built in the company's shipyard in Subic.

These orders, worth about $950 million, came only about a month after the Hanjin's Subic facility opened.

According to one of the firm's clients, NSC Schifffahrtsgesellschaft mbH und Cie KG of Germany, its order of four vessels worth $650 million would be delivered starting 2010.

Danaos Corp. of Greece, which ordered five vessels at a cost "within the region of $300 million," said it was expecting its ships to be delivered between November 2009 and June of 2010.

Further, Korean media quoted a Hanjin spokesperson as saying that the company won contracts worth $2.2 billion covering 21 container and bulk ships for delivery within two and a half years.

These orders came from clients in France, Turkey and India, and all of the ships geared to these markets will be built in Subic.

In a statement, German shipping fund specialist Lloyds Fond AG--which is handling NSC's order--said the deal was signed last week for four 12,825-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) ships with an option for an additional four of the same.

These 365.6-meter long 48.4-meter wide vessels, which can accommodate up to 1,000 containers have been designed to fit the Panama Canal after its planned enlargement.

This is the second batch of order from Hamburg-based NSC, whose first order covers six 4,300-TEU ships that are already queued in one of the Subic shipyard's production line.

In a separate statement, Athens-based Danaos announced it had signed up for five 3,400-TEU vessels, which was also an additional batch of order for five ships from Hanjin.

"Danaos will take delivery of these vessels at a time when building berths for large containerships around the world are becoming increasingly hard to find," the firm said in a statement. "We have also arranged for 10-year charters for all of these vessels at accretive rates with a major liner company."

The vessels would be powered by Korean-built electronic engines providing improved efficiency, lower emissions and with a design speed of 23 knots, it added.

HHIC-Philippines Inc. switched on the still plate cutting machine in Subic last April 19, signaling the start of production at the Redondo Peninsula.

HHIC-PI built the shipyard complex on a 480-hectare land in the peninsula with a committed investment of $1 billion. The project is expected to create job opportunities for some 30,000 direct and indirect employees.

The switch-on happened in less than 14 months after signing the memorandum of agreement for the construction of the shipyard.

Some 4,000 people have already been employed during the pre-operation and construction phase.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry, the facility is expected to bring in up to $3.5 billion worth of investments in export industries.

By Ronnel Domingo - Inquirer

Clark Open Skies order pushed again

CLARK FREE PORT—Subic Clark Alliance for Development Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan yesterday urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to sign Executive Order 500-B which would effectively implement an ‘‘open skies’’ policy over the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport here.

In a memorandum for the President dated May 9, Pamintuan urged the Chief Executive to “approve, sign and issue the proposed EO 500-B so that we can finally proceed with our plans toward the full development of DMIA as a premier international gateway.”

Pamintuan said the Philippines is lagging behind neighboring countries, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia, in tourist arrivals due to the delays in the approval of the order which would allow more foreign airlines to operate in the airport.

Pamintuan cited Cambodia which declared a unilateral open skies policy in 1999 effectively increased tourist arrivals from 24,000 in 1999 to 1.5 million in 2006. A total of 170 intra-Asian flights now serve the Siem Reap International Airport.

Pamintuan also said that the equally war-ravaged Vietnam is now attracting 3.5 million visitors per year while both Thailand and Singapore are attracting 10 million visitors per year.

The airport posted 7,880 passengers only in 2003 and the number increased to 49,500 passenger in 2004 after the entry of Asiana Airlines of South Korea. In 2005, the airport posted 225,000 passengers and in 2006 the number rose to 471,000 international passengers.

In 2006, the airport was averaging 39,000 passengers per month but for the current year, the airport was already posting 45,000 passengers per month. It is expected that over half a million international passengers will pass through the airport in 2007.

Other countries that have declared unilateral open skies policies include Bahrain, Chile, China, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. Japan, which has a strict air policy, will also undertake the most radical liberalization of its highly regulated skies with Asian Gateway Plan. Local carriers of these mentioned countries prospered after undertaking air liberalization.

“May I now urge the President to decisively and positively act on the matter,” Pamintuan said in his memorandum. “The issue of reciprocity has already been defined by your administration as one that is, in essence, beyond the mere interests of the carriers, but to cover national interest.”

“The benefits of a liberalized and competitive regime have already been proven in many industrial and economic sectors. Our local airline industry is an example. It thrived when it opened up to competition,” he said.

Pamintuan further said that the “issue of security and safety, as propounded by the Department of Transportations and Communications and the Civil Aeronautics Board, is totally unrelated to the liberalization of the air traffic and entry of more players.”

Local groups that have supported Pamintuan’s position are the Clark Investors and Locators Association, Makati Business Club, American Chamber of Commerce, Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Bataan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Angeles Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Philippine Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., San Fernando Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon, North Luzon Chambers, Chamber of Real Estate and Builder’s Association, Task Force on Transport and Logistics Export Development Council, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association and the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement.

EO 500-B was drafted by local leaders after the President signed EO 500-A in August 2006 which practically rescinded the ‘‘open skies’’ policy set out by the original EO 500 issued early last year.

EO 500-B makes the entry of foreign airlines, particularly low-cost carriers, into Clark and Subic easier and will supercede EO 500-A. Most of the provisions contained in EO 500-A are practically the opposite of what have been spelled out in the original EO 500.

EO 500 allowed foreign carriers to fly to the airport without limits to traffic rights, capacity and air freedom rights, except for cabotage or the right to fly or operate within the domestic boarders of another country.

By Rendy Isip - Manila Standard Today

$3-M condo by Korean firm to rise in Subic Freeport

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - A 17-story condominium, the first high-rise building ever to be built in this premier Freeport, will soon be constructed by a Korean developer infusing a committed investment worth $3 million.

KT Global Subic Inc. is a company that will engage in the development, management and operation of real estate such as a 17-story condominium and hotel complex called the Subic Ampelos Tower.

“KT Global Subic Inc. is the tenth biggest committed investment among the approved projects in 2006. It will be the first high-rise building, which is 17 stories high, that we will ever have in the Subic Bay Freeport,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza said.

With its main office based in Korea, KT Construction Co., Ltd., which was named after its founder Kim Tae-Kyung, is engaged in real estate development and operation of condominiums, hotels and other related activities.

According to KT Global Subic Inc. president Hong Shik Kim, because of the company’s potential of expanding its horizons, it has eyed the Subic Bay Freeport to become its partner in the construction of high-rise buildings carrying the philosophy of customer satisfaction by providing high-quality, comfortable units and offer state-of-the-art living conditions.

The projectm, he said, is reflective of the rapid advancements in technology and a growing need for quality housing, hotel rooms and other amenities that will meet unmatched levels of customer satisfaction.

The Ampelos Tower will offer attractive and inviting amenities such as conference rooms that are ideal for formal and non-formal gatherings and gift shops. There will also be a recreation place with spas, massage clinics, swimming pools and sports facilities.

The rest of the building, will be the apartelle itself offering 36 high quality, comfortable household units on each floor. Each unit will offer balance safety, cutting edge features, positive atmosphere and state-of-the-art living conditions.

Hong said that the company is aiming to complete the first two condominium buildings within the next three to four years to be constructed in a 14,000-sq.m. lot inside the Subic Commercial Light and Industrial Park. Another four condominium buildings will be completed within the next six to ten years.

“Our company is dedicated to providing a hassle-free living environment where in our clients can enjoy all of the benefits of our safe, attractive, and inviting facilities. Unlike many other realty companies that are solely concerned with profit generation, our primary objective is to maintain the highest achievable level of customer satisfaction,” Hong assured.

The Ampelos Tower project will need 100 employees in its initial operations, and will augment workforce to 200 in five years’ time.

Printer ink refiller expands Subic plant

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT– Cresc Inc., a leading consumable printer manufacturer based in Japan, will establish its expansion plant here with a committed investment of $600,000 (P27.7 million).

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) board has approved the project, which will be engaged in re-manufacturing empty inkjet cartridges for computer printers, as well as in manufacturing do-it-yourself (DM) home refilling kits.

"What makes Cresc significant is the fact that 100 percent of their finished products are going to be exported to Japan for distribution," SBMA administrator and chief executive officer Armand C. Arreza said.

DIY instant refilling is fast becoming popular among students, professionals and entrepreneurs worldwide who prefer cheaper but with quality equal to brand new cartridges for their computer printers.

"The do-it-yourself home refilling kits eliminates the burden of stopping in the middle of your print jobs just to have your empty cartridge refilled, which wastes much of the time that could have been used for more important matters," Arreza said.

A DIY refilling kit can be stored until one needs it. One can do it anytime with ease and takes only a few seconds, as buying a brand new ink cartridge is expensive and that means throwing away empty ones.

According to Arreza, Cresc will be subleasing inside the Subic Bay Industrial Park (SBIP) and will open 152 job opportunities.

Cresc is the second company in the Subic Freeport in the refilling trade. Also operating in the Subic Bay Freeport is a German/American-owned company, Printing Images CtC Inc., an independent manufacturer of OEM compatible inks for inkjet printers and plotters and re-manufacturer of toner cartridges for laser printers.

Like Cresc, Printing Images provides major distributors, exporters, and other imaging manufacturers with bulk and packaged products such as remanufactured toner cartridges for use in Hewlett-Packard and related machines. By BEBOT SISON JR. - The Philippine Star

Hanjin Receives $2.2 Billion in Orders

South Korea's Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. said Friday it has received US$2.2 billion (euro1.64 billion) in orders for container and bulk ships for delivery in two-and-a-half years. All the ships will be built at Hanjin Heavy's shipyard at Subic Bay in the Philippines, and are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2010,

Germany's NSC Schiffartsgeselhaft has ordered eight container ships with a capacity of 12,800 twenty-foot equivalent units for US$1.27 billion, and France's CMA CGM SA has ordered ten container ships with a capacity of 3,600 twenty-foot equivalent units for US$690 million.

Hanjin will also build a 175,000 dead weight ton bulk ship for Turkey's Eregli, and two other 175,000 dead weight ton bulk ships for India's Adani Group. The three bulk ship orders are worth US$240 million.

All the ships will be built at Hanjin Heavy's shipyard at Subic Bay in the Philippines, and are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2010, a company spokesman said.

Earlier this week, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., said it had received orders to build 12 container ships for US$1.1 billion, with orders for the year so far totaling US$6.04 billion.

South Korean shipbuilders are expected to increase their export 18 percent this year to US$26 billion, the Yonhap News Agency reported Monday.

Bataan lawmaker, wife swap roles

A newly elected member of Congress in Bataan said on Friday that she is turning over her duties and responsibilities as a member of the Congressional Spouses to her husband, who will participate in the organization’s activities of helping battered women and attending ribbon-cutting activities.

Herminia Roman will assume outgoing Bataan Rep. Antonino Roman’s old post when Congress begins session in July.

At the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt hotel forum in Quezon City, Mrs. Roman said that her husband will become a congressional spouse when she officially sits as member of the 14th Congress.

"The only request of my husband is that he will not wear ladies clothes," she jokingly told reporters covering the news forum.

Herminia, who ran under the Lakas-CMD banner in the first district of Bataan, defeated former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Felicito Payumo by more than 9,000 votes.

She said the secret behind her victory is the "continuing livelihood assistance" she has extended to the residents of her district even before the campaign period began.

"We see to it that our door is open 24 hours a day to help meet the needs of the poor," she said.

Herminia also said she will continue her crusade to help the poor through livelihood assistance projects in her district.

Because her husband had completed his third and final term as congressman, Herminia decided to fill the political vacuum in her district by seeking the post herself.

This early, she is drafting her legislative action plan for the next three years, which will focus on livelihood assistance projects.

Herminia, who is new to lawmaking duties, said she will see to it that her husband will be available for consultation.

When there is no urgent legislative work to be done, Herminia said, her husband will also fill her vacant post among the Congressional Spouses headed by Gina de Venecia, wife of Speaker Jose de Venecia. Perseus Echeminada - The Philippine Star

Hanjin Philippines wins order for four 12,800 TEU containerships

Shipping fund specialist Lloyd Fonds AG and shipowner NSC Schifffahrtsgesellschaft mbH und Cie. KG, both of Hamburg, have ordered four 12,800 TEU containerships (plus four options) that will be built at Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction's HHIC-Phil yard, Subic Bay, Philippines. Deliveries will start in 2010.

LLoyd Fonds says the newbuildings belong to a new generation of containerships, whose dimensions are already designed for the forthcoming enlargement of the Panama Canal.

They will have a capacity of 1,000 FEU reefer containers.

The ships will be built to Germanischer Lloyd class and will have a length of 365.6 m, a breadth of 48.4 m and a main machinery output of 68.520 kW (93,120 hp).

How do their dimensions stack up against the world's largest containership. Emma Maersk? Though the Lloyd's Fonds ships have a larger stated TEU capacity, 12,800 TEU, against the Emma's 11,000 TEU, they will actually be somewhat under the Emma's 397 m length and 56 m beam and will have less power than the Maersk ship's 80,800 kW.

In other words, Emma Maersk and its sisters still hold the the "world's largest" crown (and would have a TEU capacity of upwards of 13,500 if Maersk calculated capacity the way everyone else does).

‘’SALAMAT OLONGAPO’’

Pinangunahan nina City Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr. at bagong Vice-Mayor Cynthia Cajudo kasama ang mga bagong halal na kagawad ng lungsod ang pasasalamat sa mga opisyales at kawani ng Olongapo na nagbigay suporta at pagtitiwala sa Gordon Ticket.

‘’Saludo ako sa lahat ng Olongapeñong nakiisa sa katatapos na halalan at nakibahagi sa mahalagang araw. Ang eleksyon ay isang araw lamang, simulan na natin ang higit pang pagta-trabaho para sa Olongapo,’’ mensahe ni Mayor Bong Gordon nitong ika-21 ng Mayo 2007 kaalinsabay sa Flag Raising Ceremony sa Rizal Triangle Multi-Purpose Center.

Naging emosyonal rin ang pasasalamat ni Kagawad Cynthia Cajudo na nahalal bilang Vice-Mayor, ‘’Asahan ninyo na ako ay higit pang magiging mabuti at tapat na public servant. Salamat sa inyong tiwala!.’’

Isa-isa ring ipinakilala ni Mayor Gordon ang walo (8) sa sampung (10) kagawad ng lungsod na dumating sa programa kabilang na ang mga re-electionist na sina Kagawad Gina Perez, Kagawad JC Gordon delos Reyes, Kagawad Marey Beth Marzan, Kagawad Edwin Piano at Kagawad Elmo Aquino.

Ipinakilala rin ang mga bagong uupong miembro ng konseho na sina Gie Baloy at Ellen Dabu. Bagamat hindi nakarating sa programa si Jong Cortez ay nagpa-abot rin ito ng taos-pusong pasasalamat sa lahat ng nagbigay suporta sa kanyang kandidatura.

Opisyal na magsisimulang manungkulan ang mga bagong opisyal sa ika-1 ng Hulyo 2007 matapos ang isasagawang ‘’Oath Taking Ceremony’’ sa buwan ng Hunyo.

Isa-isang ipinakilala ni Mayor Bong Gordon ang mga bagong miembro ng konseho na sina: (From R-L) Ellen Dabu, Gie Baloy, Rodel Cerezo, JC Gordon delos Reyes, Gina Perez, Edwin Piano, Elmo Aquino at Marey Beth Marzan. INSET: Si Mayor Bong Gordon at Vice-Mayor Cynthia Cajudo habang nagbibigay pasasalamat sa mga opisyales at kawani ng Lokal na Pamahalaan nitong ika-21 ng Mayo 2007 sa Rizal Triangle Multi-Purpose Center.

Delay of ‘open skies’ in Subic, Clark angers Neri

Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri expressed his anger on the managers of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) and the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) for delaying the open sky policy that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered for the two airports.


He told representatives of the two airports not to make their own interpretation of the word reciprocity in questioning whether foreign airlines that offer to ferry passengers and cargo in and out of the two special economic zones are qualified.

"Reciprocity," he said, "does not mean that if a Korean Airline has regular trips between Seoul and Clark, it does not follow that the Philippine Airlines will also be allowed to fly the same route, he told the airport managers."

The reciprocity comes in the form of bigger tourism traffic, and more investors going to Central Luzon that will boost tourism and investments in the area.

The action team had notified the National Competitiveness Council that mis-interpretation by airport officials of the presidential order to develop Clark as the new logistics hub in Asia, has delayed the increase of no-frills budget airlines into starting regular international flights to and from Clark.

The NCC explained that reciprocity would come in the impact of the open sky policy in the two airports on users and businesses and the employment and income opportunities by the bigger air traffic in Central Luzon.

Neri told airport officials that a boom in tourism and more frequent trips of OFWs using the two airports as a result of the open sky policy, will be more than enough to constitute reciprocity.

At the same time, the NCC decided to push for the lighting of four domestic airports in different parts of the country.

When consulted on the matter, the Air Transportation Office estimated that on the average, lighting a domestic airport to allow the landing and take-off of planes at night would cost about P150 million.

They were told that the airlines are willing to do the job if the government allows the investments to be later charged against their landing fees. Asked to identify the top priority airport, airport officials identified the Caticlan Port in Aklan which, if lighted, can increase overnight the tourist arrivals in Boracay.
By EDU LOPEZ - MB

BCDA asks contractor to explain delay in P21-B expressway project

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) took to task yesterday a major contractor of the R21-billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) for further slowing down the construction instead of catching up with work schedule to finish the project on time.

During a recent board meeting, BCDA Chairman Aloysius Santos, after noting the project engineer’s report, urged the Kajima-Obayashi-JFE Engineering-Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (KOJM) joint venture in charge of constructing the 50.5-kilometer Subic-Clark section of the 93.7-kilometer SCTEx to explain the reasons for the slippage or delay that reached the 14.38-percent mark as of May 21, 2007.

A 15-percent delay could be basis for the revocation or pre-termination of its work contract, he said.

Santos noted that in spite of the favorable weather that prevailed over the past two months (March and April), KOJM still incurred more than five percent increase in the slippage from nine percent as of February 28, 2007 to almost 15 percent as of the end of last April. He said that none of the reasons cited by KOJM, including right-of-way (ROW) issues, was attributable to the delay during the two-month period.

The project engineer — Pacific Consultants International-Katahira & Engineers International-Nippon Koei Co. Ltd.(PCI-KEI-NK) consortium — reported to the BCDA board that the KOJM, which is undertaking the 50.5kilometer Package 1 (Subic-to Clark) portion of the SCTEx, repeatedly refused to submit its catch-up plan despite the slippage.

The project engineer brushed aside as irrelevant the "so-called major issues" cited by KOJM as reasons for the delay.

It said that the delay was mainly caused by KOJM’s mismanagement, as well as its failure to deploy efficient field workers and brand-new, Japanmade equipment required by its contract with BCDA.

Earlier this month, in a high-level meeting in Malacanang, Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan, chief of the Subic-Clark Alliance Development Council, also told KOJM to submit its catchup plans.

NSC chief slams Bataan cops for daughter’s loss

MANILA, Philippines -- The National Security Adviser is appalled that not even he or his daughter, a congressional candidate in the second district of Bataan province, can count on its police force.

“I feel very sad,” Norberto Gonzales said Thursday. “I’m the national security adviser and then suddenly [I] don’t get the protection of the police. The police are involved [in vote-buying]. Hindi ko naisip na lolokohin ako ng pulis (I never thought they’d deceive me).”

Gonzales is accusing the Bataan police of “not securing” the votes of his eldest child, Maria Aurora.

He said he would file an election protest at the Commission on Elections on Monday, and promised it would be backed by evidence such as candidates’ stickers and cash stapled together to buy votes.

Gonzales said their camp’s own count had shown Maria Aurora winning by about 1,000 votes but she began losing to reelectionist Rep. Alberto Garcia in the middle of the official tally, causing their lawyers to walk out.

He said Garcia won by around 10,000 votes in the final results.

Sophisticated science

Gonzales said vote-buying had become a “sophisticated science.”

He said he had learned that in Bataan’s second district, voters were given P1,500 on the eve of the elections, and another P500 if they voted before 10 a.m. of May 14.

“I told my daughter, ‘Our mission here is not to win. It is important that we highlight this issue,’” he said. “Vote-buying has never been established as a ground for disqualifying a candidate. It’s premeditated.”

According to Gonzales, local policemen protected the goons who engaged in vote-buying, and poll watchers who wanted to complain had “nobody to run to.”

He said he tried to seek the military’s help, but that ironically, “the Armed Forces can only go there if they are called by the police. So they just roamed around; they could not do anything.”

The Philippine National Police is the sole agency deputized by the Comelec to help ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections.

“We have to create national [awareness] of vote-buying,” Gonzales stressed. “It’s something we have to expose. We have to say it doesn’t work to [the people’s] good.”

Fearing the police

Gonzales said he had informed PNP Director General Oscar Calderon and Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos in writing of the purported vote-buying in Bataan, which supposedly involved the province’s police director and the deputy intelligence chief, a certain “Gumacao.”

“You have a province that has started fearing its police. It’s true that there’s a relationship between police and goons -- at least in my district,” he said.

He added, however, that “dozens of policemen” were “willing to testify that they were used.”

Gonzales, who is among those who have called for the automation of elections, said Bataan was “not used to large-scale fraud and violence.”

He said he could not fault the voters for accepting money: “The people are going hungry in Bataan. I can’t blame them.”

He also said P300 million was spent in Bataan on Election Day alone, “while my daughter spent only P7 million for her campaign.”

“I told Bishop Soc (Socrates Villegas) to watch out for ‘jueteng’ operations, and infrastructure. All that money spent will have to be re-earned,” Gonzales said.

Villegas had earlier described the May 14 elections as the “dirtiest” ever in Bataan.

Bias

Gonzales said he had not mentioned the issue of election fraud in Bataan to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo because he was “biased.”

“I want others to speak,” he said. “Thousands are volunteering to be witnesses in the case against cheating.”

He said former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chair Felicito “Tong” Payumo, who ran and lost in Bataan’s first district, also planned to lodge an election protest.

Gonzales said he was to have run for the congressional seat that his daughter sought. He said he would not push through with his planned candidacy in 2010 if vote-buying would persist.

He expressed sadness for his province, which, he said, could be developed as a prime tourist destination.

“From Mariveles to Subic, it’s better than Boracay, and nearer, too. We only need to pave the roads that will make it accessible,” he said.

By Allison Lopez - Inquirer

SUBIC CITYHOOD FOOLS THE PEOPLE

Subic, Zambales. This southernmost town of the province, contrary to the hype being peddled by its municipal mayor and the provincial governor, is not yet qualified to become a city, lacking the required minimum locally generated average annual income to support its conversion, Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain II revealed recently.

Lacbain, who hails from Subic town and who just recently lost the race for a congressional seat of the province's first district, said the Department of Finance, through Bureau of Local Government Finance executive director Ma. Presentacion Montesa, has advised Subic Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun in a letter dated January 30, 2007 the town did not earn enough revenues pegged at a minimum of P100 million a year to support its conversion into a component city of the province.

The town mayor had earlier requested the bureau of local government finance for a certification on the average annual income of Subic in connection with the proposal to convert the town into a component city.

"The locally generated average annual regular income of Subic, Zambales for calendar years 2005 and 2006 based on 200 constant prices and exclusive of special funds, transfers and non recurring income amounted to only Twenty-Three Million Three Hundred Seventy Thousand Three Hundred Thirty Pesos & 98 (P23,370, 330.98).

Hence the municipality does not meet the minimum income requirement of P100 million pursuant to RA 9009 amending Section 450 of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, to support its conversion into a city," Montesa' s letter to Khonghun stated.

Lacbain said he became interested to know more about the proposal to convert his town into a city and had even requested the House of Representatives for a copy of the bill supposedly filed by First District Representative Mitos Magsaysay.

"The Subic Cityhood Project is already much talked-about by my townmates so I decided to get a copy of the bill so that a more thorough study could be done by everyone concerned," Lacbain said.

Lacbain, however, lamented that despite a resolution made by the Sangguning Panlalawigan on December 19, 2005 requesting the incumbent congresswoman of the first district to file a bill in Congress for the conversion of Subic into a component city of Zambales, he learned on May 22, 2006 in a letter from the House of Representatives Secretary General Roberto Nazareno there was no such bill filed in Congress yet.

Lacbain said all the hype by the town and provincial officials actively pursuing the cityhood project appear to be an attempt only to make them look good in the eyes of Subic residents.
Lacbain added in relation to this that he has asked the Commission on Audit to look if there is also a basis on the part of the town officials to allocate a P5 million fund for the project when there was not even a bill filed yet.

by R Lacbain

OLONGAPO TOPNOTCHER SA POC

‘’Nasungkit ng Lungsod ng Olongapo ang ikalawang pwesto (2nd place) ng 2005-2006 Best Peace and Order Council (POC) for Highly Urbanized City,’’ iyan ang magandang balitang ipinarating ni City Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr. nitong ika-21 ng Mayo 2007 sa Rizal Triangle Multi-Purpose Center.

Ang ‘’Good News’’ na muli na namang kinilala ang galing ng Olongapo sa National Arena ay ipinarating ni Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Eliseo de Guzman kay Mayor Bong Gordon kamakailan lamang.

‘’Ang pagkakapanalo ng lungsod sa prestiyosong Peace and Order Council ay hindi lamang tagumpay ng City Government at Olongapo City Police Office (OCPO) kundi ito ay tagumpay ng lahat partikular na ng mga residente ng Olongapo,’’ mensahe pa ng punonglungsod.

Matatandaan na unang pinarangalan ang Olongapo ng Palasyo ng Malacañang sa pamamagitan ng DILG bilang ikalima (5th place) na may pinaka-konkreto at maayos na programa sa Peace and Order sa bansa para sa 2004-2005

National Peace and Order Council-Highly Urbanized City Category.

Bagamat nasa ikalawang taon pa lamang na kabilang ang Olongapo sa kompetisyon ay nagpakita na ito ng edge o kalamangan sa mga malalaking siyudad na kabangga katulad ng Bacolod, Davao at Naga. Nakopo ng Makati ang No. 1 spot sa 2005-2006 National Peace and Order Council-Highly Urbanized City.

Guangxi, Subic Bay to talk on sisterhood to boost tourism, ports industry

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A 36-man economic delegation from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China (PROC) visited here as part of its apparent gesture of strengthening mutual cooperation and friendship between the PROC and the Republic of the Philippines.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Feliciano G. Salonga welcomed the delegation led by Secretary Liu Qibao of Communist Party of China (CPC)-Guangxi Committee, and currently Chairman of Standing Committee of Guangxi People’s Congress.

Salonga, who gave the delegates a briefing on the present tourism and industrial developments in the Subic Freeport said, “The Subic Freeport today is now pushing towards achieving its goal of becoming a tourist haven and, at the same time, a maritime hub.”

Salonga noted that because of the influx of investors to the Subic Bay Freeport, a third industrial park with a land space of 100 hectares is set to be developed near the Gateway Area beside the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Toll Plaza; and another vast forest area will also be converted into an eco-tourism park.

Among the members of the Liu’s party were CPC Guangxi Committee Deputy Director-General Su Haitang, Department of Finance Director-General Su Daoyan, Foreign Affairs Office Director-General Huang Yongqiang, China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat Secretary-General Zhang Xiaoqin, Agricultural Department Director-General Zhang Mingpei, and State Farms Bureau Director-General Liu Zhiyong.

Liu disclosed that their visit was aimed at promoting cooperation between Guangxi and Subic Bay, as well as seek the possibility of creating a sisterhood pact between the two port areas.

“Primarily, our objective is to promote cooperation, like what we intend to do in other countries around South China Sea,” said Sec. Liu.

According to Liu, Guangxi’s important crops include rice, maize, sweet potatoes, and wheat, while cash crops include sugar cane, peanuts, tobacco, and kenaf. It has also more tin, manganese, and indium deposits than any other province in China.

“The Subic Port is one of the major and most important ports in Southeast Asia, with very tolerable clearances of water depth, and infrastructures express impressive developments. There Subic Freeport has a great potential to become competitive in international shipping industry,” he said.

He added that Guangxi relies heavily on ports for low transportation cost to bring its produce in the world market, and Subic is an ideal place to put up a transshipment hub for their crops and other products, including heavy equipment and farm machines.

Liu also revealed Guangxi’s plan to promote tourism in the area by promoting its passenger airliners across South China Sea. He also invited Salonga to visit Guangxi’s Nanning City in October for the third China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo where Chinese leaders and leaders of the ten ASEAN members will participate.

Meanwhile, Salonga expressed his gratitude to the visiting delegates saying that the idea to make Subic Port as distribution hub for goods, especially cassava, from Guangxi, will not only ensure the steady supply of farm goods but will also help in the promotion of bio-diesel in the country which the Philippine government is currently promoting.

Philippines To Build Maritime Park For Local Shipbuilders

Manila, Philippines (AHN) - The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in the Philippines has unveiled plans to create a 124-acre maritime park that offers tax incentives to local shipbuilders. The facility is aimed at boosting the country's local shipbuilding industry it was said.

SBMA Chairman Feliciano G. Salonga said the incentives include affordable rental schemes, tax and duty-free importation bundled with a 5 percent corporate tax on gross income, unrestricted entry of foreign investments, no foreign exchange control and four-to-five-year income tax holidays for investors.

He said the 124-acre center would form part of a much larger Subic Bay Maritime Industrial Park. The SBMA is currently undertaking a feasibility study to determine the extent of the project's cost.

Aside from the maritime park, locators can also use the SBMA's existing logistic facilities and systems for storage, loading and unloading, packaging, processing and information and transportation.

SBMA will also make use of the so-called Synchrolift system that will allow the raising and lowering of vessels in and out of the water for dry-docking. Use of the existing system will be offered for short- and long-term rental with low-cost terms.

Komfie Manalo - AHN Correspondent

Bataan elects its first congresswoman in 40 years

The provincial Board of Canvassers officially proclaimed Friday noon Herminia Roman as winner in the congressional race in Bataan's First District, beating former chairman Felicito "Tong" Payumo of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority by more than 11,000 votes.

The newly-elected congresswoman, wife of three-termer Rep. Tony Roman, got more votes than Payumo in five out of six towns. Even in Payumo's hometown, Dinalupihan, Mrs. Roman out-voted him by 600 votes. The former undefeated three-term congressman won only in Morong town.

She became the first woman solon in Bataan for the last 40 years. Medina Lacson de Leon was congresswoman of the province 50 years ago.

Roman said she has not resorted to vote-buying as claimed by her rival. "Hindi galing sa amin ang vote-buying kundi sa kabila sapagka't maraming tao na kakampi namin ang binigyan nila ng pera," she said.

Bishop Socrates Villegas and 43 priests in the dioceses of Balanga City in a pastoral letter has described the recent polls as the dirtiest in the political history of Bataan. They blamed both the winners and the losers as resorting to massive vote-buying.

"Dapat tanggapin na ang hatol ng bayan and let us cooperate with one another because I know that all of us are thinking of what is good for our province," she appealed to her opponent Tong Payumo.

She said she will focus on livelihood, health and scholarship programs in her district composed of Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay and Morong towns.

Partial official results of canvassing for governor showed that incumbent Gov. Enrique Garcia is leading by 29,300 votes over his opponent former governor Leonardo Roman.

Garcia garnered 111,453 votes as against Roman's 82,153 votes in 10 out of 11 towns and one city. Balanga City and Mariveles, two most vote-rich areas in Bataan with combined registered voters of more than 100,000, have not yet submitted their canvass.

For congressman in the Second District, lawyer Marie Gonzales is leading reelectionist Rep. Albert Garcia by 5,297 votes. Per partial official results of canvassing Gonzales got 40,822 votes while the young Garcia has 35,525 votes. Still being awaited are the outcome of the municipal canvass in Balanga City and Mariveles.

Marie is 29-year old daughter of national security adviser Norberto Gonzales while Albert is 37-year old son of Governor Garcia.

The Second District, aside from Balanga and Mariveles, is composed of the towns of Pilar, Orion, Limay and Bagac. (PNA)

PLDT expands fiber-optic network in Subic

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), through its subsidiary Subic Telecommunications Company Inc. (SubicTel), is extending its nationwide fiber-optic network in Subic Freeport.

PLDT said in a statement that SubicTel will soon be part of the telecom giant's Domestic Fiber Optic Network or DFON, billed as the country's most extensive fiber optic network.

The massive P212-million project is expected to be completed by the end of the year, and connects major cities that target investments in the IT, telecom and BPO sectors.

SubicTel expects to increase its Internet bandwidth capacity that allows companies to offer services that integrate voice, data and video.

Its network will cover 285 kilometers of fiber optic cables that will form several redundant loops covering Angeles, Clark, Porac, San Fernando , Guagua, Lubao and Floridablanca in Pampanga, and Dinalupihan in Bataan, Subic Town in Zambales and Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo.

Earlier this year, SubicTel connected another 45-Mbps bandwidth pipe from PLDT, doubling its bandwidth capacity from last year.

With the installation of the fiber optic network, this will further increase bandwidth capacity to 2.5 Gigabits per second, enough for more than 30,000 simultaneous voice calls.

SubicTel has tapped local systems integrator Fujitsu Philippines to maintain its facilities.

Discrepancies noted in Zambales COC

Discrepancies between the summary statement of votes (SOV) and the provincial certificate of canvass (COC) from Zambales province showed Genuine Opposition senatorial candidates Francis Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano losing 100,000 votes each.

The Commission on Elections en banc discovered the discrepancy Friday while tabulating results from six provinces and eight Overseas Absentee Voting posts.

In the SOV, Escudero had 185,923 votes but the COC only reflected 85,923 votes. Cayetano was credited with 129,198 votes in the SOV but the COC only showed 29,198 votes.

COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos said the poll body will resolve the discrepancies by checking the statements of votes of every municipality and city in Zambales.

Zambales has one city, Olongapo, and 13 municipalities including Botolan, Cabangan, Candelaria, Castillejos, Iba, Masinloc, Palauig, San Antonio, San Felipe, San Marcelino, San Narciso, Sta. Cruz and Subic.

Despite the discrepancy, Go candidates still dominated the count in the province.

Team Unity's Vic Magsaysay, who is the outgoing governor of the province, failed to top the senatorial race in Zambales. He got 109,760 while GO's Antonio Trillanes IV got 130,663 votes.

ABS-CBN correspondent Lynda Jumilla said GO candidates also dominated the tallies in Quirino, Marinduque and Aurora provinces.

COMELEC's official count as of 7 p.m. Thursday showed four GO bets in the top five. Loren Legarda led the race followed by Escudero, Manuel Villar III, Panfilo Lacson and independent candidate Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan.

In sixth to 12th places were GO's Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, Cayetano and Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III; TU's Joker Arroyo, Edgardo Angara and Ralph Recto; and GO's Trillanes.

Trader couple gunned down in Olongapo City

A couple engaged in trading and lending businesses was ambushed by two still unidentified motorcycle-riders while traversing the national highway in Purok 6, Barangay Cabalan, this city, Tuesday night.

Sr. Supt. Angelito Pacia, Olongapo City police director, identified the victims as reserve Army officer 1st Lt. Fernando Timbang, 52, and wife Maria Luzette, 50, incumbent chairman of the 350,000-member Subic Bay Multi-Purpose Cooperative, vice president for administration of the Subic Montessori and owner of Bonzette Pawn Shop and chains of general merchandise stores all located in this city.

Pacia said around 7 p.m., while the victims were on their way home to Barangay Culis, Hermosa, Bataan on board their Honda CRV (WCV-179), two armed men riding a single motorcycle tailed them and at close range, riddled them with bullets.

The couple suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the different parts of their body from a caliber 45 pistol.

They were rushed to the James Gordon Memorial Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival by attending physician Dr. Al Ganaca.

Recovered from the crime scene were six empty shells from a caliber .45 pistol.

Police initial investigation indicated no signs of robbery because the personal belongings of the victim were intact inside their vehicle.

The city police were still conducting a follow-up operation as to the motive of the killings and possible identity of the suspects. (PNA)

Post Election Open Letter to the People of Zambales

Press release from Ramon Lacbain II

Dear Fellow Zambalenos,

I am overwhelmed by the many greetings of congratulations both on-line and through mobile phone that I am receiving from many people believing that I am elected as Congressman of the 1st District of Zambales. These many greetings make me want to believe that I won but the official record of COMELEC say otherwise. Here’s the record of the COMELEC from the three towns of the 1st District of Zambales -

FINAL COMELEC COUNT Subic Castillejos San Marcelino Total MAGSAYSAY 11,392 7,935 7,365 26,692 LACBAIN 12,028 5,767 2,847 20,642 DIFFERENCE 6,050

The partial PPCRV QUICK COUNT in Olongapo City basing from 530 precincts ­ LACBAIN is 30,749 while MITOS is 37,128 or a difference of 6,379 as 1:30 p.m.

With this trend, I have to accept my defeat and believe that this is the will of our Almighty Lord. I am accepting the Lord’s will with all my heart, my soul and mind.

I lost heavily in the towns of Castillejos (2,100 lead of Mitos) and in San Marcelino (4,500 lead of Mitos) because of the lack of financial resources to mobilize my own watchers both at the precinct and canvassing level as well as to mobilize Barangay Coordinators in these towns to help me in the campaign.

I just relied on my two 5-member teams to do their respective house-to-house activity to distribute my leaflets to the houses in all barangays in the towns of Castillejos and San Marcelino. Thank you to Engr. Gener Ligsay for taking charge of San Marcelino. Thank you to Mayor Wilma Billman who is our (winning) candidate for Mayor in Castillejos for endorsing my candidacy in their day-to-day/night activities.

In Subic, I won by a very small lead over Mitos of 639 votes only. This is unbelievable. During the past three elections that I run for vice governor, I always get 19,000 votes and a lead of 9,000 over my closest opponent. I only got 11,000 votes for this time.

You may have an idea of why this happened in my own town of Subic with Vic Magsaysay, JV Magsaysay, Mitos Mgsaysay and our uncontested Mayor Khonghun doing everything within their powers and money to make sure that I will loss in my own town but thank God at least I won in Subic even with 639 votes lead.

The lack of financial resources prevented me from mobilizing supporters and implementing all my campaign plans and strategies to win this election. I know how I can win this election basing from my 22 years of experience in the provincial government and my 5-time experience of winning elections in Zambales as board member and vice governor.

I never talked to any Barangay Captain or to any Barangay Official in the 3 towns of Zambales because I know their support is for the Magsaysay candidates for obvious reason and I know I don't have the resources to get their support. I just relied on my strong faith in the ability of Zambalenos to make the right choice.

But my 22 years of experience in the provincial government, my clean, honest, dedicated and good track record, my clear vision and program of government are not enough to win this election for congressman. You need political machinery and the financial resources to operate it. (Although I would have won if only I got the support of the Iglesia Ni Kristo).

But honestly I have no ill feelings despite this defeat because I am putting my strong faith in God. My life came from Him and so wherever He wants me to serve Him I shall obey.

“In choosing our vocation (which is to serve), what matter is not what we want, but rather what God wants for us” as this saying goes. “The Lord God does not ask us to be successful, the Lord God asks us to be faithful”, as another saying goes.

I have served Zambales during the last 22 years (more than half) of my life with all honesty and integrity even when I have to sacrifice my own personal needs as well as the needs of my family. I shall retire from Zambales politics with a happy heart and contended mind that I am leaving the provincial government with Governor Amor Deloso and Vice Governor Anne Gordon at the helm. I just wish that they will do everything within their power and resources to change the lives of many poor Zambalenos.

Congratulations to Governor Amor Deloso, Vice Governor Anne Gordon, Congresswoman Mitos Magsaysay and to Congressman Antonio Diaz, may you serve Zambales well and I will just be here watching for now and also serving in my own little way.

Thank you to all the people who have supported me in this fight for congressional seat ­ to Sen. Dick and former Mayor Kate Gordon, to Mayor Bong Gordon and the whole Gordon Team, to my fellow candidates from Subic, my wife Mae and children Maera and Laura, my relatives and friends, to all those who contributed both money, time and other resources for my candidacy, to all those who gave me their trust through their ballots and to our Almighty Lord for this chance to offer myself as candidate for congressman - thank you so much.

Very truly yours,

RAMON G. LACBAIN II

New era as shipbuilding production begins in the Philippines

Hopes high for new shipbuilding hub

South Korea's shipbuilding giant Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. - Philippines Inc. (HHIC-PI) has started production in Subic Bay of the 20 ships ordered from them by Germany and Greece..

The company, one of the world's largest shipyards, marked the start of its production two weeks ago with the switching-on of the steel cutting machine led by Hanjin Chairman Cho Nam Ho .

"It is our pleasure to host the first steel cutting ceremony for the construction of new 4,300 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) container ships here in Subic Bay. It is really a historic moment for our Subic shipyard," said Hanjin Philippines President and Regional Director Jeong Sup Shim.

Also present during the facility's ceremonial opening were the Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila, Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) Head Ed Pamintuan, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) top officials, and representatives of different international shipping companies.

"I find it a privilege to be part of this special occasion to signal the grand start of the fabrication of your first ship by having the honor, on behalf of the President, of pushing the button of the maiden cutting of steel," Favila said.

He added that the construction of the new ships is momentous not only for Hanjin but also for the country as the project will boost the local economy.

Lined up for the first production are six 4,300 TEU capacity container ships that will be delivered to Diorxy Maritime Corp. in Greece in 2009.

Another six ships will be built on its second production round which will be delivered to NSC Schiffartsgeselhaft of Germany.

Hanjin expects to generate job opportunities for approximately 30,000 direct and indirect workers.

To date, 6,900 workers are already employed, 4,000 of whom were skilled workers hired during the pre-operation and construction stages.

It is also expected to bring the export industries' growth close to $2-3.5 billion.

"I strongly believe that with the training programs conducted by HHIC-PI for Filipinos, the vast experience and stature of Hanjin shipbuilding, and the competent Filipino technicians, this project will introduce the Philippines in the world map of large-scale shipbuilding as the new shipbuilding hub in Asia and the Pacific," Favila said.

2007 Palarong Pambansa, Matagumpay!

Binigyan parangal ni Mayor James “Bong” Gordon ang dedikasyon, disiplina at matinding pagsasanay ng mga Olongapeñong atleta na lumahok kamakailan sa 2007 Palarong Pambansa na ginanap Koronadal City, South Cotobato.

Ang Olongapo City Team ay kinabibilangan ng dalawampu’t siyam (29) na atleta, sampung (10) coaches/chaperons at limang (5) delegation officials na nagpamalas ng kanilang galing sa iba’t-ibang larangan ng palakasan at nakaani ng tagumpay. Sila ang mga sumusunod:

Gold Medalists

Mary Grace Rivero Lawn Tennis Sec Girls

Regina Santiago Lawn Tennis Sec Girls

Tricia Mae Vytiaco Lawn Tennis Sec Girls

Edward Morrison Taekwondo Sec Boys

Silver Medalists

Cristabelle Paulino Lawn Tennis Elem Girls

Crizzabelle Paulino Lawn Tennis Elem Girls

Yanna Marie Verzosa Lawn Tennis Elem Girls

Hilary Lee Swimming Elem Girls

Lorelie Lora Swimming Elem Girls

Bronze Medalists

Joetam David Boxing Sec Boys

Rommel Bakuteza Swimming Sec Boys

Randrei Ortiz Swimming Sec Boys

4th Place

Bernadine Booc Badminton Sec Girls

Jurence Zosimo Mendoza Lawn Tennis Elem Boys

Angelo Michael Rivero Lawn Tennis Elem Boys

Rich Keith Villanueva Lawn Tennis Elem Boys

Fernando de Viterbo Volleyball Elem Boys

5th Place

Dy Latinazo Swimming Elem Girls

Jesse Mae Nobles Swimming Elem Girls

Allison Blair Saliba Swimming Elem Girls

6th Place

Klaudine Legaspi Swimming Sec Girls

Jolina Protacio Swimming Sec Girls

Elice Santos Swimming Sec Girls

Ethel Santos Swimming Sec Girls

7th Place

Alejandro Estrella Boxing Sec Boys

Judith Pineda Chess Sec Girls

Nichole Kurashima Swimming Sec Girls

8th Place

John Paul Taopo Badminton Sec Boys

9th Place

Julius Bakuteza Swimming Elem Boys

“Tagumpay sa Palarong Pambansa ang hangad ng lahat ng aleta kaya’t hindi matatawaran ang galing at talento ng mga kabataan na ito. Sila ay tunay na bumubuhay sa Olongapo Slogan na “Fighting for Excellence”, ayon kay Mayor Bong Gordon.

South Korea's modern maritime training ships dock in Subic Freeport

About 250 midshipmen from South Korea aboard two modern international maritime training ships arrived here on Tuesday for a five-day port navigational exercise for marine engineering and transportation courses.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Feliciano G. Salonga welcomed the arrival of SAE NURI and SAE YUDAL, South Korea's most advanced training ships being operated by Mokpo National Maritime University (MNMU).

Salonga, a graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and holds a rank of Commodore in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), said Subic Freeport has started to lure international maritime academies for the conduct of its navigational training course here.

"Subic Freeport is on the verge of the biggest maritime industry boom in the country and South Korea is taking the lead by creating a synergy with the SBMA," Salonga said.

MNMU Marine Transportation System professor Captain Myung Ou Youn said, "Subic is a very good place for maritime industry offering good environment and deep seaport facilities."

Youn said the port visit here is also part of its campaign to promote international cooperation with universities offering maritime courses in the Asia-Pacific rim including the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in San Narciso, Zambales.

Youn also cited the presence of South Korea's Hanjin Heavy Industry and Construction (HHIC) with its $ 1-billion ship building center here to boost the Philippine maritime industry and joint economic cooperation between two nations.

PMMA president Rear Admiral Fidel Dinoso said three PMMA cadets have been selected as full scholars of MNMU and will be joining the Korean midshipmen on board SAE NURI ship for one-year ship voyage and training.

Dinoso added that apart from the scholarship grants to midshipmen, MNMU will be inviting PMMA professors to complete their two-year Masteral course on Maritime Science in South Korea.

The USMMA through its continuing education program provider, Global Maritime and Transportation School (GMATS), has expressed interest in setting up an international maritime school in this premier Freeport zone.

"Our efforts to aggressively develop maritime business will be useless if we do not have enough competent human resources to fill up the requirements of the industry," Salonga said. (PNA)

20th Ad Congress launched in Subic

The 20th Philippine Advertising Congress (Ad-Congress) was formally launched together with the unveiling of the official logo at the NBC Tent, Fort Bonifacio, Global City over the weekend signaling the start of a new challenge in the advertising industry.

Themed the “New Order,” the 20th Ad Congress, which will be hosted by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies-Philippines (4As), will be held on November 21 to 24, 2007.

“Twenty years ago, you cannot possibly launch a brand with only four people, 28 people a lot more likely. And that is the reason why we say the 20th Advertising Congress is all about a new order, a new order for a great new world,” Ad-Congress Executive Committee Over-all Chair Yolly Ong said.

Recently, representatives from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Advertising Board of the Philippines (Ad-Board), which is the umbrella organization of the Philippine advertising industry, signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the holding of the 20th Philippine Advertising Congress (AdCongress) in Subic Bay Freeport.

SBMA Chairman Feliciano G. Salonga, during the launching, expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the Executive Committee’s selection of Subic Bay as the official venue of the biggest and most awaited of all events in Philippine advertising.

“The 20th Ad Congress in Subic Bay Freeport will bring to fore another aspect of Subic Bay’s multi-faceted personality and, that is Subic Bay, as an exciting and self-contained convention destination,” Salonga said.

According to Salonga, Subic Bay, as an economic zone and Freeport and as an investment and tourist destination, is similarly faced with a “New Order” due to the effects of the forces of globalization.

“Also shaping the 'New Order' in Subic Bay Freeport are our current efforts at repositioning Subic Bay through a marketing and branding campaign that targets our various publics,” Salonga added.

Meanwhile, Salonga promised the advertisers it would be, not only their biggest, but the best Ad Congress ever.

The SBMA’s preparation for the biggest advertising event in November would entail the re-development of the GVC Building in the Subic Bay Industrial Park (SBIP) into a fully-air-conditioned, highly-equipped and well-designed convention center to house around 5,000 delegates of the Ad Congress.

The Ad Congress will coincide with Subic Bay Freeport’s own milestones ­ the 15th anniversary of the SBMA and the annual Karakoa Festival, which is a cultural celebration named after the first warship that prowled the southern seas. (PNA)

GORDON HOSPITAL, PINAPURIHAN

Nagpahayag ng lubos na pasasalamat sa James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital (JLGMH) ang mag-inang Agnes at Sophia Villanueva. Ang pasasalamat ay bunga nang ligtas at maayos na operasyon na pinag-daanan ng batang Villanueva bunga ng tatlong (3) tama ng saksak sa tiyan. Ang apat (4) na taong gulang na bata ay biktima ng pananaksak ng drug-addict na kapit-bahay noong ika-8 ng Abril 2007.

Unang pinasalamatan nang ginang ang bumubuo ng JLGMH partikular na ang Pamahalaang Lokal sa pangunguna ni City Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr. na pangunahing tumututok sa lahat ng mga pangangailangan ng pagamutan, kabilang na ang mga pinaka-bagong kagamitang medikal.

Pinasalamatan rin niya ang mga doktor na nagsagawa ng kritikal na operasyon, ‘’Bagamat alam ko na delikado ang kalagayan ng aking anak ng mga oras na iyon ay hindi pa rin ako nawalan ng pag-asa dahil malakas ang aking pananampalataya sa Panginoon at sa mga dalubhasang mga doctor ng JLGMH.’’

Maging ang hospital bill ng pasyente na umabot sa mahigit isandaang libong piso (P 100,000) ay hindi na naging malaking balakid dahil sa pamamagitan ni First Lady Anne Marie Gordon na ngayon ay tumatakbo bilang Vice-Governor ng Zambales ay nagbigay rin ng malaking diskwento.

Matatandaan na patuloy na nagdaragdag ang City Government ng mga latest equipment and apparatus sa pagamutan habang nasa tatlumpung por-siento (30%) na ang konstruksyon ng tatlong (3) gradong extension building para sa mga silid ng treatment, recovery, pharmacy at out-patient department (OPD) kasama na ang doctors’ offices.


Ang modernisasyon ng ospital ay bahagi nang P104 milyong Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Loan ng lungsod na maglalagay rin ng makabagong CTscan, computerization program, PABX system at pagbili ng surgical machines at equipment gayunrin ang konstruksyon ng Medical Arts Building (MAB).

Maliban sa pangunahing pagamutan ng mga residente ng Olongapo ay takbuhan rin ang JLGMH ng mga pasyenteng buhat pa sa karatig-lugar tulad ng Zambales, Bataan at Pampanga dahil sa maayos at magandang serbisyo ng pagamutan.

MVPMAP urges tightening of vehicle import controls

The Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (MVPMAP), an association of local auto parts makers, on Monday urged concerned government agencies to tighten their control in the importation of used vehicles.

The appeal was made especially in the implementation of the exhaust emission standards, vehicle safety standards and the exit clearance requirements at the Subic Bay Freeport.

MVPMAP is asking the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to strictly implement vehicle compliance to Euro 1 exhaust emission standards as a pre-requisite for both registration and renewal of registration of vehicles with the LTO, especially on used imported vehicles.

Since most of the imported used vehicles are equipped with old engines, they are not yet Euro 1 compliant and are smoke belchers.

Furthermore, this early, steps should already be taken to be able to impose strictly the more stringent Euro 2 exhaust emission standards by January 2008.

It is also requesting the LTO and the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) to strictly implement the vehicle safety standards since most of the used vehicles imported are subsequently converted from right-hand to left-hand drive.

Numerous vehicular accidents have been attributed to the poor worksmanship and quality of this conversion. Most failures have to do with detached weldings in the steering and front suspension systems, thus rendering said vehicles unsafe in the long run.

MVPMAP is also urging the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the LTO to adhere to a tripartite agreement they forged last month to require all vehicle importers to first secure a Value Reference Information System (VRIS) clearance from the Office of the Commissioner of the Subic BOC, then present a certificate of payment and a gate pass from the SBMA prior to vehicle registration by the LTO.

This move would ensure that imported used vehicles are not prematurely issued license plates by the LTO, which would subsequently permit them to move out of Subic.

The MVPMAP has been pushing for the implementation of a Philippine Utility Vehicle (PhUV) program.

The PhUV is an AUV-based brand-new vehicle assembled from completely-knocked down (CKD) kits thus, it will have a high level of local labor and value-added local parts.

Being brand new, it will therefore be compliant to Euro 1 exhaust emission standards, there will be no right-hand to left-hand drive conversion and the proper taxes are paid.

Furthermore, its price will be within the price range of an imported used vehicle.

The Board of Investments is now drafting a bill that provides for an incentive package not only for the assemblers but also for the local parts makers and buyers under the PhUV Program.

This is just awaiting the opening of the new Congress in July 2007 after the forthcoming May 14 elections. (PNA)

25 Customs cops sacked for smuggling

The District Commander of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in the Port of Subic and his 24 agents were relieved en masse on Monday in connection with a series of petty smuggling activities.

The relief of Captain Ramon Policarpio, which was presided over by Colonel Nestorio Gualberto, Director of Customs Police, was effected following the turnover rites at the BoC headquarter.

Policarpio was relieved for this command responsibility.

The new customs district commander here is Captain Mariano Biteng, Jr.

Under Customs Personnel Order (CPO) No. B-41-07, dated April, 2007, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales instructed Colonel Gualberto to relieve the entire customs police force assigned to Subic freeport.

It also mandated the reassignment of Policarpio as Deputy District Commander at the Port of Cebu, while his men were to be transfered to the different ports in the National Capital Region.

The relief order stemmed from an recent incident in March 2007, where a Customs policeman and an element of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Law Enforcement Division were caught escorting four vehicles loaded with an estimated P2 million worth of imported cigarettes and liquor.

It will be recalled that SA1 Jesus Swing of the ESS/Customs police, was nabbed by the AntiSmuggling Tsk Force with 6 other civilians, while escorting a load of highly taxable goods which tried to exit at the SBMA gate towards Morong, Bataan.

The smuggled goods consisted of 101 boxes of imported Champion cigarettes, each containing 500 reams; 300 bottles of Elysee sparkling wine; and 120 bottles of Jose Cuervo margarita mix. (PNA)

Subic Bay soon to launch tree top adventure

In its effort to strengthen its thrust in attracting more foreign and local tourists here, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will soon launch a new perspective in enjoying the wilderness with its newest attraction called Tree Top Adventure (TTA).

SBMA administrator Armand C. Arreza said their biggest tourism investment in Subic Bay is their rich biodiversity found inside the vast tropical forest areas.

"This serves as a habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna, and is what most local and foreign tourists enjoy while driving through the forest areas to different facilities within the Subic Bay Freeport," he said.

Arreza disclosed that through the Tree Top Adventure, tourists will be given a more breathtaking experience of walking from one treetop to another while marveling at the vast array of surrounding flora and fauna.

The TTA, which is gaining popularity worldwide, was patterned after the canopy tour or zip line tour developed in Costa Rica.

It was introduced in the Philippines by Tree Top Adventure Philippines, Inc. and is currently being established within the Extreme Adventure Park in JEST Camp, Cubi Point.

Tourists will experience the adventure of “virtually walking, flying and gliding” from one tree canopy to another at the height of 20 meters and above using cables of zip lines, suspension bridges and a motorized hoist for rappelling and platforms.

An observation post is also being built to monitor the safety and security of adventurists.

At the end of each zip line or after traversing each bridge, tourists can take a rest on the observation platforms and quench their thirst from drinking stations before continuing the tour.

Arreza added the Tree Top Adventure is expected to boost the eco-tourism industry of Subic Bay while promoting the importance of environmental conservation and protection.

“Tree Top will impart a discovery of mountain ecology that merges adventure and environmental education ­an opportunity to experience being one with nature and being part of it through the zip lines,” Tree Top Philippines President Mario Montejo said.

Montejo also boasted that the Tree Top Adventure will share fun, challenge and discovery with a beautiful feeling of being on top of the world and at the same time with the renewed feeling of caring for the environment.

Construction for Tree Top Adventure is currently underway.

More adventure tours will also be developed in other forest areas and these adventure tours will all be interlinked to form a web of extreme adventure parks in the Subic Bay Freeport. (PNA)

Hanjin starts ship production in Subic
South Korea's shipbuilding giant Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. - Philippines Inc. (HHIC-PI) has started production in Subic Bay of the 20 ships ordered from them by Germany and Greece.

The company, one of the world's largest shipyards, marked the start of its production with the switching-on of the steel cutting machine led by Hanjin Chairman Cho Nam Ho.


Secretary Peter B. Favila (center) graces Hanjin Philippines' steel cutting ceremony that signals the company's ships ordered and Greece. (DTI)

"It is our pleasure to host the first steel cutting ceremony for the construction of new 4,300 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) container ships here in Subic Bay. It is really a historic moment for our Subic shipyard," said Hanjin Philippines President and Regional Director Jeong Sup Shim.

Also present during the facility's ceremonial opening were Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila, Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) Head Ed Pamintuan, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) top officials, and representatives of different international shipping companies.

"I find it a privilege to be part of this special occasion to signal the grand start of the fabrication of your first ship by having the honor, on behalf of the President, of pushing the button of the maiden cutting of steel," Favila said.

He added that the construction of the new ships is momentous not only for Hanjin but also for the country as the project will boost the local economy.



Hanjin Philippines provides trainings to its prospective workers. (DTI)

Lined up for the first production are six 4,300 TEU capacity container ships that will be delivered to Diorxy Maritime Corp. in Greece in 2009.

Another six ships will be built on its second production round which will be delivered to NSC Schiffartsgeselhaft of Germany.

Hanjin expects to generate job opportunities for approximately 30,000 direct and indirect workers.

To date, 6,900 workers are already employed, 4,000 of whom were skilled workers hired during the pre-operation and construction stages.

It is also expected to bring the export industries' growth close to $2-3.5 billion.

"I strongly believe that with the training programs conducted by HHIC-PI for Filipinos, the vast experience and stature of Hanjin shipbuilding, and the competent Filipino technicians, this project will introduce the Philippines in the world map of large-scale shipbuilding as the new shipbuilding hub in Asia and the Pacific," Favila said. (DTI)