The Japanese Akizuki-class Destroyer arrived in Subic Bay on Friday for a three-day goodwill visit in the country with about 200 officers and crew, among them Japan’s first-ever female commander of a warship squadron.

By Francis Wakefield and Jonas Reyes

JAPANESE WARSHIP – The ‘JS Akizuki,’ a guided missile destroyer of Japan, docks at the Alava Wharf, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City yesterday. Inset, Philippine Navy Commander Jonathan Zata (left) chats with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Escort Division One Commander Ryoko Azuma, Japan’s first female warship squadron commander. (Jonas Reyes)

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessel “JS Akizuki” (DD-115), a guided missile destroyer with one SH-60J helicopter, docked at the Alava Wharf – making it the second visit of a JMSDF ship in the country this year after “JS Amagiri” in Manila last February.

Captain Lued L. Lincuna, Philippine Naval Public Affairs director, said the “BRP Emilio Jacinto” (PS-35) rendered customary meeting procedures in the vicinity of Morong, Bataan and escorted the vessels to its designated anchorage area.

Philippine Navy delegates headed by the representative of the Flag-Officer-in-, Captain Francis Alexandrer R. Jose, accorded the visiting navy a welcome ceremony upon arrival followed by a port briefing related to health and security aboard JS Akizuki.

Many eyes were on Captain Ryoko Azuma, commander of JMSDF’s Escort Division One and the first female to command a warship squadron.

Azuma, along with Commander Kazunori Ishii, commanding officer of JS Akizuki, will call on the Commander of the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), Rear Admiral Allan Ferdinand V. Cusi in San Antonio, Zambales.

Since her appointment Mar. 8, 2018, Azuma will command four ships and a combined crew of 1,000 which make up the First Escort Service in JMSDF, the naval branch of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF).
Azuma said that Japanese Navy will engage in a series of confidence building activities with their Philippine Navy (PN) counterparts such as goodwill games followed by a boodle fight.

She said that the visit aims to strengthen the relationship between the two navies.

The 44-year-old Japanese female naval chief said that during the time she joined the JMSDF in 1996, women were forbidden to serve on warships. Azuma said that this rule was abolished ten years ago, with the exception of Japanese submarines were only men are allowed to serve.
source:news.mb.com.ph

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April 24 – Activity Center, Harbor Point Mall. 9:00 A.M. onwards with Lyceum of Subic Bay.

May 1 – Fashion Hallway, Harbor Point Mall 9:00 A.M. onwards.

Reminder:
PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

** Applicants are expected to dress properly.

Source: Labor Msd

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The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) yesterday extended its free accreditation for container-port related businesses from April 13 to December 31, 2018 to encourage more enterprises to use Subic’s container terminals and decongest Manila’s ports.

By Emmie V. Abadilla

photo by: harrythehorse.asia

The $200 accreditation fee waiver applies to the first 80 new business entrants and the first 20 accredited entities due for renewal of their accreditation certificate.

The waiver covers ship agents, freight forwarders, brokerage firms and trucking services.

Firms with an accreditation certificate should guarantee to bring at least one container within one month from filing or renewal of accreditation certification to be entitled to the waiver.

“The free accreditation initiative received positive feedback, that’s why we are bringing it back this year,” SBMA chairperson and administrator Wilma T. Eisma acknowledged.

It’s definitely an opportunity for more firms to invest in Subic and promote the Freeport, according to Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation (SBITC) president Roberto Locsin.

SBITC, the operator of the Subic Bay Freeport, pledged to ensure support and quality service to clients using its container freight station and container terminals.

Furthermore, the initiative will decongest the Ports of Manila, broaden industry awareness of the use of the Port of Subic Bay’s Container Terminal and increase container port traffic and utilization rate.

It can also accommodate more Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The Port of Subic has two modern container terminals, New Container Terminals 1 and 2, which provide on and off-dock marine port cargo as well container handling services.

source:business.mb.com.ph

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Subic Bay Sub 2:30 Resbak is a run that will challenge your speed as participants need to finish the 21K race category under 2 hours 30 minutes for them to qualify for a Finisher Medal.

There will also be an 11K Category where the cut off time is 1 hour and 10 minutes. The 5K and 3K categories will have no cut-off time.

The first 100 registrants will receive a trucker cap

Subic Bay Sub 2:30 Resbak

April 15, 2018
Remy Field Subic Bay Freeport Zone
3K|5K|11K|21K
Organizer: Jrun Events Management

Registration Fees:
21?K – P1000
11K – P800
5K – P550
3K – P450
– Inclusive of Singlet, Race bib, and Refreshments
– 11K participants will get a Medal
– 21K participants will get a Medal and a Finisher Shirt

Registration Venues:
1. On-site:
– Subic bay Peninsular Hotel
– WorkOut Worx

For More Information:
Joel Joseph Montilla – 09088977545
joeljosephmontilla2015@gmail.com

Source: www.pinoyfitness.com

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Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Nestor Espenilla Jr. said the launch of the national ID system supports the central bank’s aspiration for a more digital economy. Infographics, John Nicole Villamayor

MANILA, Philippines — The government is hoping to roll out the national ID system using biometrics of all citizens and resident aliens in the Philippines as early as next month.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Nestor Espenilla Jr. said the launch of the national ID system supports the central bank’s aspiration for a more digital economy.

“Our great expectation is that we will have finally a proper national ID law as early as next month,” he said.

Espenilla pointed out the BSP has been a major partner in promoting the adoption of “what we call a foundational biometric ID system.”

The Senate approved on third and final reading the bill, “An Act establishing the Philippine Identification System” last month. The House of Representatives approved the same measure in September last year.

“There’s a meeting of the minds between the two houses. And we expect the bicameral conference committee to happen next month. The bill has also been certified as urgent,” he added.

To significantly catalyze a digital ecosystem, the BSP believes there must be a reliable national digital identification system to address persistent customer on-boarding issues due to lack of acceptable IDs and the highly inefficient paper-based KYC (know your customer) processes.

The envisioned national ID system is designed to ensure universal coverage, data integrity and security, and optimum utility and would serve as an enabling platform for the efficient delivery of a whole range of government and private sector services for all Filipinos.

The single national ID dubbed PhlSys would contain the full name, date of birth, address and some fingerprint information of an individual.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P2 billion for the national ID system under the 2018 national budget.

“We have great expectations in the BSP and we can assure you that we are ready to move forward quickly with this foundational biometric ID system. I hope it doesn’t get any political derails. We really need it,” Espenilla said.

He said the Philippines is the only member country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that does not have a national ID system.

The BSP chief said the BSP is ready to recognize the national ID once it is put in place to replace all other IDs currently required from bank customers.

There are various ID cards issued to state workers including the Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) issued to members of the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and the home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund).

“It will solve or it will address many issues such as money laundering compliance. It will also facilitate the acquisition of customers from a distance,” he said.

Source: www.philstar.com

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