Some warships of the Philippines’ traditional allies – US, Japan, and Australia – are set to dock in the Philippines this week for port visits amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

By: Frances Mangosing

In this photo, taken Saturday, April 7, 2018, an F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), somewhere in the South China Sea as headed for a regularly scheduled deployment in the US 7th Fleet area of operations. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class ANDREW LANGHOLF / US Navy via Facebook)

The USS Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Manila on Wednesday for a port visit, the US Embassy announced.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is on a Western Pacific deployment. It sailed the disputed South China Sea before it arrived in Manila.

“The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group will continue on their regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment after departing Manila, conducting a variety of operations, including addressing shared maritime security concerns, building relationships with partner navies and enhancing interoperability and communication with partners and allies throughout the area of operations through exercises and visits,” the warship’s public affairs said in a statement.

The US, which claims it will continue to allow vessels to sail wherever international law allows, has three aircraft carrier strike groups currently within or around the South China Sea.

Royal Australian Navy vessels Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Anzac (FFH 150) and logistics vessel HMAS Success (OR 304) are scheduled to arrive on Thursday at Alava Wharf in Subic for a four-day goodwill visit, the Philippine Navy said in a media advisory.

Japanese destroyer JS Akizuki (DD-15) with one SH-60J patrol helicopter from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will arrive on Friday at Alava Wharf. It will stay there until Monday.

The port visits come as superpowers US and China demonstrate their power in the hotly contested waterway.

The USS Carl Vinson has been sailing the South China Sea in the past few weeks. Last month, it made a historic port visit to Vietnam, the most vocal among the claimant countries. It was the first US warship to do so after the Vietnam War in 1970s.

Analysts say that the visit and the bolstered military ties of the two countries were aimed at sending a message to China as it continued to assert its influence in the disputed waterway.

The US later sent its guided missile destroyer USS Mustin for a freedom of navigation operation within 12 naitical miles of Mischief Reef, one of China-controlled islands in the Spratly archipelago.

ADVERTISEMENT
It’s the largest of China’s seven outposts in the Spratlys, located within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that this reef belongs entirely to the Philippines and it has sovereign rights over the area.

China condemned the US operations, accusing it of “serious provocation.”

In response to the US, the Asian giant displayed its naval might recently by holding its largest naval exercises to date in the disputed seas. It sent dozens of warships and its first and only operational aircraft carrier, as seen in satellite images.

China claims the drills were “routine” and not aimed towards any country.

China continue to claim most of the South China Sea, despite the PCA ruling invalidating its aggressive claims.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also have their claims on the disputed seas. /atm

source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Continue Reading

Car enthusiasts from Central Luzon are all excited for the 9th Subic Bay Auto Show which happens this April 14, 2018 at the Harbor Point Mall, Subic Bay Freeport Zone as shops and tuners vie for the Best of Show award and numerous recognitions in their respective categories.

9th Subic Bay Auto Show slated for April 14 at Harbor Point Mall

With a history of being the most-awaited summer events in Subic Bay since 2010, the 9th Subic Bay Auto Show continues the excitement with super cars, sports cars, tuned cars, 4x4s, SUVs, rolling sound machines, and even monster trucks.

Aftermarket dealers are expected to show off their latest products to the market as well as their show exclusive promos and offers.

Engines will not be the only source of heat, models Shane Ramos, Patricia Reyes, the Banana Sundae Dancers and some of Olongapo’s hottest babes will surely get your revs up as well.

9th Subic Bay Auto Show slated for April 14 at Harbor Point Mall

For those planning to join the car show, entry fee is PhP 1,500; car show participants will get a free Perfect Finish Offroad Garage sunvisor.

Entry fee for spectators is at PhP 100.

9th Subic Bay Auto Show slated for April 14 at Harbor Point Mall

The 9th Subic Bay Auto Show is brought to you by Harbor Point Mall, SBMA, Lighthouse Marina Resort, Perfect Finish Off-road Garage, Globe Telecom, Kurin, Motul, R33, Dubshop, Standard Insurance, Sonax, Darfsman Autohaus, Cars and Coffee Philippines, Amaron, Decal Republic, Block 8, JC Paintlab, Servant, J-turn, Carbonzone, Pertua, Auto Centro, Ridemax, Subic Bay Travelers Hotel & Event Center, The Reef Hotel and Residences, Forest View Residences, Subic Grand Harbor Hotel, By the Sea Resort, Cherry Midtown Hotel, Camaya Coast, Ford Subic, Carworld Subic, and AutoIndustriya.com.

Source: www.autoindustriya.com

Continue Reading

MANILA, Philippines — Summer is officially here.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday officially declared the start of the dry or summer season, noting the change in wind pattern from the cool northeasterlies to the warm and moist easterlies.

Heavy rains due to localized thunderstorms hit several areas in Metro Manila yesterday afternoon, shortly after PAGASA announced the official start of the dry season.

PAGASA said recent observations showed a gradual increase in daily temperature in most parts of the country.

It said the prevailing wind has shifted from northeasterly to easterly, signifying the termination of the northeast monsoon or the cold or dry air from China and Siberia.

PAGASA also noted the weakening of Siberian high-pressure area and the establishment of the North Western Pacific high-pressure area during the week. The high-pressure area is generally associated with good weather.

“With this development, (the) expected day-to-day weather will become warmer and drier in most parts of the country due to the dominance of the ridge of high pressure area and the easterlies,” it said.

However, the weather bureau said some isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms may also be expected, mostly in the afternoon or evening.

“The general public is advised to take precautionary measures to minimize heat stress and to take note of the need to optimize the daily use of water for personal and domestic consumption,” it said.

Source: www.philstar.com

Continue Reading

Port revenues in Subic Freeport improved by 6 percent in 2017 driven by substantial increase in transshipment operations and higher calls by foreign ships as the government seeks to divert cargoes from the congested Manila ports.

Data from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) showed port revenues in 2017 reached P1.207 billion from P1.137 billion in 2016.

SBMA also registered there were a total of 2,778 ship calls in 2017 or 10.4 percent lower than the 3,069 ships that sailed in 2016. Of this total, foreign ship calls improved by 12 percent to 1526 from 1,365 while domestic ships declined by 27 percent to 1,252 from 1,704 in 2016.

Containerized cargo volume also went up by 13 percent to 140,938 TEUs (twenty-footer equivalent) from 124,707 TEUs the previous year. However, the non-containerized cargo volume decreased by 6 percent to 6,633,189 metric tons from 7,071,444 MT the previous year. Notably, transshipment registered a dramatic rise of 468 percent to 2,084 from only 368 in 2016.

SBMA also reported that their export trade value in 2017 also rose by 38 percent to $2.332 billion from $1.69 billion in 2016. Import trade value also rose by 11 percent to $1.771 billion from $1.601 in 2016.

SBMA is being developed as the country’s alternative seaport in Luzon to decongest the Manila port.

Already, the BCDA is implementing a cargo rail that will link the two freeports Subic and Clark. This 70-kilometer cargo railway will run parallel with the existing Subic Clark expressway has a project cost of R50 billion.

SBMA Senior Vice-President Joshua Bingcang said this 70-kilometer railway is part and parcel of the Luzon railway system of the government which connects from Ilocos to the western side of Tuguegarao and meet in Tarlac up to Bicol with branches in Clark and Batangas.

“This will decongest Manila by enhancing the viability of Subic and Batangas ports,” he said. In the future, the Subic-Clark railway will have a passenger service. Bingcang sees companies shifting to Subic instead of Manila ports because the cost of moving goods using a railway is just one half of the cost of using the regular truckers.

By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat

Source: ship.mysubicbay.com.ph

Continue Reading

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently approved a total of P750 million in lease and revenue shares for One Subic Power Generation Corporation, which operates the 116-megawatt diesel generator plant here for a lease extension agreement of 10 years.

The power firm, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Phinma Energy Corporation, initially committed $3.2 million worth of investments and five per cent variable gross revenue shares (GRS) when it took over the diesel plant in 2011.

The firm’s original contract was effective until 2020, but the amended agreement granted the firm a ten-year extension of its operations until 2030.

Wilma Eisma, SBMA chairman and administrator, signed the new contract with Phinma president and CEO Francisco Viray, and One Subic Power president Rizalino Santos.

During the signing, Eisma thanked the company for being a valued partner of the SBMA and for sharing the commitment for a better Subic community.

“I do appreciate the malasakit that you put in in your business here in Subic and the way you take care of your people. That kind of behavior is important for the future of Subic because your people are also my people,” Eisma told the company officials.

According to the SBMA Business and Investment Department (BID), One Subic Power is one of the biggest revenue sources for the SBMA, having turned in a total of $7.2 million in fixed lease rate, P81 million in gross revenue shares, and P4.4 million in common user service area (CUSA) fees since it started operations in 2011 until 2017.

Meanwhile, the 10-year extension of the firm’s contract would also provide an additional five percent increase in current lease rate for the first five years, and another five percent increase for the remaining five years, for a total of P630 million in lease rates alone.

In addition, the company’s annual gross revenue share (GRS) of P12 million would translate to a total of P120 million over the 10-year extension period, an amount that will be part of the revenue shares given out by the SBMA to neighboring local government units.

Source: www.sunstar.com.ph

Continue Reading