Posts by author
Henry Empeño
Ebdane urges fishers to organizeas govt dredging cuts incomes
SAN FELIPE, Zambales—After hearing complaints of dwindling catch in municipal waters along Zambales coast, Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. urged marginal fishermen here to form cooperatives and avail of funds from the provincial government for sustainable fishing methods and increased livelihood.
Stranded dolphin recovering in Subic Bay marine park
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A male rough-toothed dolphin that got stranded several times in Pangasinan province last week is now recuperating here at the Ocean Adventure theme park’s dolphin rehabilitation facility.
Bomb scare grips Metro, Central Luzon government offices, schools
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Monday to conduct a thorough investigation into the bomb threats sent through an unverified e-mail account to several government agencies and local government units.
Manila-Subic-Osaka shipping route eyed
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A trade route connecting the ports of Subic, Manila and Osaka in Japan might be in the offing following the visit here of Osaka Ports and Harbors Bureau officials and the increased focus by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on maritime-related business.
New SBMA chief Aliño vows business-friendly Subic climate
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT— Newly-appointed Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño started his first day as head of the Subic agency on Monday by assuring stakeholders that his administration will put in place a more conducive business environment in this free port.
New SBMA chief to bring biz savvy to Subic Freeport
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A new chairman and administrator has taken over the helm of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and his management experience and business acumen is expected to spur further growth and drive operational efficiency in this free port, now the home of close to 1,500 foreign and local companies and business establishments.
New SBMA chief Aliño brings biz savvy to Subic Freeport
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Newly appointed Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño is expected to use his business acumen to spur further growth and drive operational efficiency in the Subic Bay Freeport, the preferred location for close to 1,500 foreign and local companies and business establishments.
Rising from the rubble: A former mining community ponders its future with newfound tourism fame
MASINLOC, Zambales—Search the internet for Coto Kidz Pool and you’d get about 146,000 results in .42 seconds. That’s more than double the “hits” you’d get when you surf the net for Magalawa Island in nearby Palauig town, dubbed the mini-Boracay of Zambales, or, for that matter Isla de Potipot, a smaller yet equally Instagrammable island getaway in Candelaria town.
Foresters eye increased wood production
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Professional foresters in the country mapped out strategies to increase the production of forest products in the country and attain wood and non-timber self-sufficiency during a 5-day convention here that brought together some 3,000 members of the Society of Filipino Foresters Inc. (SFFI).
Subic port keeps tight watch for ‘hot’ agriculture products
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Authorities in this Freeport are keeping an eagle-eyed watch for attempts by unscrupulous traders to smuggle agricultural products through Subic, as imported vegetables begin flooding the local market in time for the Christmas season.
Subic agog over cruise ships’ comeback
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is looking forward to regular visits of the cruise ship Blue Dream Star, as the agency revved up its post-Covid 19 pandemic promotions to revitalize the local tourism industry.
Truck importers belie extortion claims vs SBMA’s seaport dept
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Truck importers based in this free port have come forward in defense of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and refuted allegations of extortion raised recently by some customs brokers and processors operating at the Port of Subic.In a letter clarifying its stand on the controversy, the Subic Bay Truck Importers Association (SBTIA) headed by its president Pietro V. Geroue expressed full support to the SBMA and refuted claims of corruption against the management of the agency’s seaport department.They also called out the “malicious allegations and false accusations” raised by brokers in a meeting with SBMA Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan and added that they “profoundly express full support” to the SBMA management.“As companies paying duties and taxes to the government, we adhere to the rules and regulations, policies and procedures being implemented by SBMA and other concerned agencies,” the SBTIA said in its October 2 letter.“We would like to replace these unscrupulous brokers/processors who are giving a bad name to the association,” it added.The letter was signed by Geroue, association vice-presidents Eva Tadus and Shahzad Ahmad, and other members of the board. Officers of 31 truck trading companies operating in Subic also signed the manifesto.Brokers, accompanied by Zambales First District Representative Jay Khonghun, complained of extortion against certain officers at the SBMA Seaport Department in a meeting with Chairman Tan at the SBMA boardroom on September 29.Right there and then, Tan immediately ordered an investigation into the allegations against SBMA Seaport Department manager Jerome Martinez and consultant Rico Reyes.Tan also assured the brokers that he would conduct a thorough investigation of their complaints and come up with a swift decision concerning the two officials.The SBMA chief also told customs brokers and port users in a recent meeting that SBMA would not tolerate corruption in the freeport, especially if this involved SBMA officials.As for the importers and other port users, “They don’t have to bribe someone for their shipments if they pay the right taxes,” Tan added.Tan, a former town mayor in Antique, assumed office as SBMA chairman just last May. The SBMA said he has been working with an “open door policy” since then and has warmly welcomed locators with various concerns.
Coast Guard names–then unnames–cargo ship in fatal collision off Bajo de Masinloc
SUBIC, Zambales—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday identified the crude oil tanker Pacific Anna as the vessel that could have rammed a fishing boat off Bajo de Masinloc, resulting in the death of the boat captain and two other crew who all hail from this town, but soon withdrew the information pending further investigation.
Shifting sands, changing lives
Canadian frigate docks at Subic Bay Freeport for goodwill visit
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate steamed into Subic Bay here on Thursday, days after it was reportedly shadowed by Chinese warships while transiting the Taiwan Strait north of the Philippines in a joint maneuver with a United States Navy destroyer.
PHL Camera Club to mount photo exhibit in Greece
The Camera Club of the Philippines, the oldest photographic society in the country, will put up a photo exhibit at the House of Lucie in Athens, Greece in celebration of its 95th founding anniversary.
Nidec to expand Subic operations
Subic Bay Freeport—Nidec Subic Philippines Corp., a manufacturer of small high-precision motors and electronic and optical components, will be implementing a P4.2-billion expansion project here to produce high-accuracy “Kinematix” gearboxes for industrial robots.
Wanna buy your own sea vessel? Masinloc LGU sets auction off two abandoned ships
MASINLOC, Zambales—The municipal government of Masinloc, Zambales has put two ships long-docked at a barangay port here for public auction, inviting interested parties to submit bids for the sale of the vessels that were forfeited in favor of the government.
SBMA releases P203M to neighboring LGUs
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced last Thursday it issued revenue shares to neighboring local government units (LGUs) in the amount of P203 million, reflecting growing corporate taxes paid by Subic-registered investors that reached P207.65 million in the first half of this year.
HK firm pays Zambales fishers after cargo ship runs over their ‘payao’
MASINLOC, Zambales—After a protracted legal battle framed as a David versus Goliath fight, local fishermen from this town finally received compensation for their payao, a fish aggregating device that was lost when a cargo ship ran it over on January 17.
598 Zambales families evacuated as ‘Falcon’ destroys P18.5 million worth of rice crop
IBA, Zambales—Heavy rains spawned by typhoon “Falcon” damaged more than P18.5 million in rice crops and other agricultural products, destroyed portions of dikes and triggered landslides, and forced 598 families to evacuate their homes amid rising floodwaters in Zambales since Friday.
SBMA highly confident of Subic tourism recovery post-Covid-19
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—With the scheduled return of cruise ships early next year and the planned rebranding of Subic Bay to expand its tourism market, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is expecting to revive the tourism industry here and regain Subic’s stature as one of the top attractions in the country.
₧6.99-B development funds allocated for 2nd District of Zambales
BOTOLAN, Zambales—A total of P6.99 billion in development funds have been allocated in the past year alone for crucial infrastructure projects like flood-control dikes and roads in the Second Legislative District of Zambales.
BIR cancels permit of 2 cigarette makers in Subic
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) canceled the license of two cigarette manufacturers in this free port following findings they engaged in unregistered activities, including illegal sales of cigarettes and printing of packs of unregistered foreign brands of cigarettes without prior permit.
Good as gold
EV charging stations open in Subic
Subic Bay Freeport—This premier economic zone and popular tourist destination is gearing up for the growing number of owners of electric cars and other environment-friendly vehicles visiting the pristine beaches, forests and other natural attractions here.
Ex-SBMA chair Eisma gets leadership award again
OLONGAPO CITY—Former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma received yet another recognition for leadership after being cited two months ago for steering the Subic Bay Freeport out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Masinloc fishers get ₧900Kfund for ‘payao’ operations
BOTOLAN, Zambales—Yet another windfall will benefit fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales who lost their livelihood early this year when a cargo ship destroyed their fish aggregating device (FAD) or “payao.”