AN ALLY of President Rodrigo Duterte pushed for the establishment of a free port zone in Negros Occidental. Martin Diño, former chairman of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), said during his visit to Bacolod City on Monday that Negros Occidental has a big potential to have a free port zone.

By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

photo by: commons.wikimedia.org

“All the ingredients or quality of a free port zone is already here in Negros Occidental,” he said. Diño said building a free port zone in the province like the one in Subic Bay in Zambales will generate thousands of jobs for Negrenses. He noted that Negros Occidental has beautiful sea ports, adding that the free port zone should have an area of at least 5,000 to 10,000 hectares for the construction of the factory. “We will push this with the help of the local and national leaders,” Diño said.

Meanwhile, Diño said their group is holding meetings in Negros Occidental to campaign for a federalism form of government. He said that through federalism, major improvements especially in Negros Island can happen. “Hopefully, we can bring back the Region 18 to be a state,” Diño added.*

Source: sunstar.com.ph

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Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City – President Duterte has appointed Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Deputy Administrator Randy B. Escolango as deputy commissioner of the Insurance Commission, Department of Finance.

The Insurance Commission is mandated to regulate and supervise the insurance, pre-need, and HMO industries in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Code, as amended, and Pre-Need Code of the Philippines, among others.

Asked to comment on his new assignment, Escolango said: “I am overwhelmed by the trust and confidence of President Duterte.”

He said he will likely officially assume his new post on the second week of September and may take his oath before Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez.

Escolango’s appointment was signed by the President as early as August 23 but was only made known on August 29, along with other presidential appointees.

A native of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, he started in the government service as Clerk III (civil case in-charge) at the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 4, Manila (1999-2002). After passing the Bar examinations in 2002, he established his own law office, and began his professional career as a private practitioner specializing as corporate and litigation lawyer.

He is also an officer of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) with a rank of commodore. He is now the director for Support Group and Volunteer Services of the PCGA. He was awarded the Coast Guard Outstanding Achievement, Medal and Ribbon by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on February 5, 2015. He was the former PCGA director of the Auxiliary Squadron of the 111th Squadron. During his stint, the Squadron was adjudged as the Best Auxiliary Squadron for 2016 (District and National Level).

He also taught law subjects at Gordon College in Olongapo City.

On May 4, 2010, he was appointed SBMA’s Deputy Administrator for Legal Affairs and on October 19, 2016, was designated by Duterte as officer-in-charge Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the SBMA.

Escolango earned his Bachelor of Arts, Major in Political Science Degree from the New Era University and Bachelor of Laws at Far Eastern University (FEU).

In 2010, he completed his Masters in Public Management, and in 2014, was conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Administration.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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A “Small Engine Repair Training” program was launched at the Sentrong Sanayang Teknikal ng Kabataaan West Bajac Bajac (SSTH WBB) recently with no less than the president of Yamaha Motor Philippines, Toru Osugi in attendance.

Author: Percy

Yamaha Motors Philippines was a major sponsor of the project, which was made possible through the efforts of Studer Trust, Social Ventures Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SVMPC), and PlayAsia.com. The technical training center is the only such center in Olongapo and Zambales yet.

Osugi earlier presided over the ribbon cutting ceremony to formally open the project, and signed a Memorandum of Agreement with SVMPC, represented by chairman Edgar Luis Sevilla; and Barangay East Bajac Bajac, represented by barangay captain Anthony C. Deldio; and turned over Yamaha motorcycle units, tools and equipment to the barangay.

A first batch of over 50 trainees have already signed up for the project, which will be open not only to the residents of the barangay but also the rest of Olongapo, Zambales, and Bataan.

Source: subicsun.com

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OLONGAPO CITY — Thirteen Bataan fishermen were rescued and returned home on Sunday night (Oct. 15) after their boat capsized near Scarborough Shoal as Tropical Storm “Odette” exited the country through the West Philippines Sea on Oct. 14.

By: Allan Macatuno

The FB Justin Lloyd sank some 40 kilometers from Scarborough Shoal (in red marker). (Image from Google Maps)

Strong winds and big waves sank FB Justin Lloyd some 40 kilometers from the shoal, said Martin Datingginoo, boat captain and owner of the ship.

Justin Lloyd was the same vessel carrying the three fishermen who were arrested and allegedly assaulted by the Malaysian Navy for encroaching into their territorial waters in May last year.

Datingginoo and his crew – all of them with injuries – arrived safely in Mariveles town, after being rescued by a passing boat.

“We have been out at sea for a week when the typhoon passed directly over the West Philippine Sea,” Datingginoo told the Inquirer in a telephone interview.

He said they kept themselves afloat for at least seven hours by clinging to their boat’s hull before it sank.

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net/

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MANILA, Philippines — With the strong prospect of duathlon being included in the 2019 Manila Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), the triathlon association has embarked on a long selection process for the national team starting with the National Duathlon set Nov. 12 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Photo by: rappler.com/Joel Nito/AFP

Organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the race will have a Standard Distance course of 10K run-40K bike-5K run for the Elite and age-groupers. The Sprint Distance (5K run-20K bike-2.5 K run) is open to 16-19 and 20-above. Remy Field will serve as main venue while the bike legs will cover stretches of Rizal Ave., Argonaut Highway and the National Container Terminal road.

At stake in the event sponsored by SBMA Tourism Department, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Standard Insurance, Gatorade and Asian Center for Insulation are medals as well as gift packs for the Top 3 male and female age-group winners and Top 3 male and female winners for Sprint 16-19 and 20-above categories. Also at stake are qualifying slots in the developmental pool of the Philippine Team for new and upcoming talents.

Fancied to contend in this year’s edition are Jarwyn Banatao, Emmanuel Comendador, 2017 SEA Games triathlon silver medalist John Chicano, Joey delos Reyes and Carlo Pedregosa. For the women, two Philippine Air Force WACs Mirasol Abad and Miscelle Gilbuena are major contenders.

Banatao is the NDC defending champion while Comendador is the 2017 ASTC Asian Middle Distance Duathlon champion. Gilbuena ruled the women’s elite in the recently held Powerman Pilipinas, while sprint distance champion Jelsie Sabado aims to defend her title.

Registration is ongoing until Oct. 31 with entry fees of P2,500 for Standard Distance and P2,000 for Sprint Distance.

Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

TRAP-registered athletes are entitled to 10 percent discount while students and senior citizens with valid IDs can avail of 20 percent discount. Participants registering online can pay their entry fees via TRAP’s PNB (C/A No. 1002-3310-0013) and Bank of Commerce (C/A No. 066-000011755) bank accounts.

Participants are advised to be at the Subic Holiday Villas on Nov. 11 for the release of their race packets and timing chips (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), bike check and uniform check for Elite participants (2:30-4 p.m.), Elite race briefing (4:30 p.m.) and age-group race briefing (5-5:30 p.m.).

Source: philstar.com

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