By: Maricel Cruz

Photo Credit: aviationnewsphilippines.wordpress.com

A panel in the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved two measures renaming Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in honor of the late President Diosdado Macapagal.

In 2001, the Board of Directors of the Clark International Airport Corp. named the airport after Macapagal.

But 10 years later, the same corporation adopted a resolution reverting the name of the airport to Clark International Airport in 2011.

The House committee on transportation, chaired by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, approved House Bills 2274 and 8289, authored by Representatives Aurelio Gonzales of Pampanga and Rodante Marcoleta of SAGIP party-list, respectively.

The two bills noted that CIA should be named after Macapagal, the ninth President of the Philippines, known as “the poor boy from Lubao,” given the vital role of the airport in aviation and transportation. The late President Macapagal is the father of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“[Macapagal] is a Filipino with sterling legacy and incomparable distinction as a respected leader, champion of the poor, true statesman, and a nationalist of unquestionable integrity,” HB 8289 said.

In 2001, the Board of Directors of the Clark International Airport Corp. named the airport after Macapagal.

But 10 years later, the same corporation adopted a resolution reverting the name of the airport to Clark International Airport in 2011.

Earlier bills filed in the past Congresses noted it was the Americans who renamed Clark Air Base in honor of a foreign aviation pioneer Major Harold Clark of the US Army Signal Corps who died in a seaplane crash in Panama Canal in 1919.

Other installations named after Americans have been changed in honor of Filipinos.

Republic Act 9400, also known as “An Act Amending Republic Act No. 7227, As Amended, Otherwise Known As The Bases Conversion And Development Act Of 1992, And For Other Purposes,” this officially recognized the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

“Under this law, Clark was turned into a Freeport [Section 15] with the same investment incentives enjoyed by investors at the Subic Bay Freeport, with Clark Development Corp. as administrator of the Clark Freeport and its subsidiary, Clark International Airport Corp. [CIAC] which is running the DMIA by virtue of Executive Order 193, series of 2003,” the House transportation committee said.

source: manilastandard.net

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By Jonas Reyes

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Five Filipino fishermen were rescued by the non-commissioned dry cargo ship Wally Schirra while conducting a routine mission in the South China Sea on Monday after the crew spotted a makeshift vessel.

A makeshift boat filled with minimal supplies is adrift in the South China Sea, Monday, Oct. 8, 2018. Five Philippine fishermen survived for five days aboard the craft after their boat sank at sea. They were rescued by the crew of USNS Wally Schirra. (Photo courtesy of US Navy)

The crew of the USNS Wally Schirra saw five men waving their arms and flashing lights when the ship passed by a makeshift vessel. According to the USNS Wally Schirra Captain Keith Sauls, the Filipino fishermen’s boat sank seven days before they were rescued after a blue marlin punctured their hull.

“The fishermen salvaged what they could from the rapidly sinking boat, removing the outriggers and planks to turn it into a raft with floats and barrels underneath for flotation,” civilian mariner Leon Hadley, the Wally Schirra’s chief mate, said in the statement.

Search-and-rescue team of the USNS Wally Schirra used an inflatable boat to pull the fishermen to safety. “We’re lucky we found them when we did,” said Hadley, who added that the men had no water.

The Wally Schirra later transferred the fishermen to the Philippine Coast Guard in Subic Bay, Philippines, Sauls said in the statement.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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By Jonas Reyes

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — A former local newspaper publisher was found murdered inside a housing area here on Monday. Zambales Todays News publisher and US Navy retiree Sonny Almazan was found dead inside his home in Binictican on Monday Morning by his driver Renato Barbadillo

According to the Investigation Division of the Law Enforcement Department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA-LED), two women were identified as the suspects in the murder of Almazan. The two women were believed to be the companions of the victim the night when he was killed.

Barbadillo told investigators that the two females were the same persons whom the 69-year-old Almazan asked to fetch from Kalaklan Gate at about 9:00 pm Sunday night. Barbadillo disclosed that he transported the two women to Almazan, who was waiting at the Breadtime bakery near Ayala Mall.

He also said that after taking the two to Almazan, the victim told the driver to leave them as Almazan drove the Toyota Fortuner SUV back to his home in Binictican. When the driver reported for work on Monday, he saw that the front door of the house was unlocked. Barbadillo reported that there were bloodstains on the floor leading to the victim’s bedroom, prompting him to call law enforcers.

Responding officers found the victim’s body slumped in a sitting position, soaked in blood. The officers stated that the victim sustained head injuries caused by a blunt instrument. They also noticed bloody footprints on the bedroom floor, a golf club and a metal cane with bloodstains, and broken liquor bottles. They added that there were no forced entries in the house.

Almazan’s cellular phone and a sling bag believed to contain cash were reportedly missing.

During investigation, Barbadillo confirmed that the two females caught on CCTV footages at Kalaklan Gate at about 9:25 pm were the same persons that he had fetched at the instruction of the victim. He further told the police that one of the females who visited Almazan, the one with a tattoo on her right thigh, had been in the company of his employer for about three or four times previously.

Meanwhile, CCTV footages also revealed that Almazan’s Toyota vehicle entered Binictican housing at 9:47 pm. This tallied with the account of a witness that Almazan arrived in his quarters with two female companions at 10:00 pm that Sunday night. The SBMA-LED said the investigation of Almazan’s death has been assumed by the Philippine National Police office in Morong, Bataan, which has territorial jurisdiction over the Binictican area.

SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma said, “In light of this, we condole with the family of the victim and commit the assistance of the SBMA Law Enforcement Department to help in the investigation by the Morong Police Office so that the perpetrators of this crime might be arrested and put to justice.”

source: Zambales Herald Newsweekly FB Page

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Photo Credit: AES Corp

CANDELARIA, Zambales: The clamor to stop the planned construction of a P200-million ferronickel plant here is gaining more ground as residents from neighboring towns have also come out to express support to efforts to prevent what they call a looming environmental destruction of Zambales.

Residents in the northernmost town of Santa Cruz and Masinloc south of Candelaria, as well as those from other towns and even those residing abroad have signified their intention to join the petition to stop the joint venture among Westchinamin Corp., Easternreach Mining Group, Inc. and Fujian Hengrun Investment Co. Ltd. from China to build the ferronickel plant in Candelaria.

Angry Zambaleños expressing strong opposition to the project cite the experience of Santa Cruz town where vast tracts of farmlands and fishponds as well as creeks, rivers and other waterways were rendered unproductive by nickel siltation caused by mining activities.

Residents of Masinloc, in their petition, said they are worried that Lauis River may be destroyed by the ferronickel plant which reportedly has the blessing of President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to the newly-formed alliance of non-governmental organization, Zambales Lingap Kalikasan (Zalika), which spearheads the gathering of signatures for the petition, the town of Masinloc recently passed a resolution opposing the ferronickel plant project.

Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz (CCOS) Chairman Benito Molino, who has long advocated for a stop in mining activities in Zambales, is leading the residents in calling for a mass movement to abort the planned project.

Zalika believes the proposed ferronickel plant will only aggravate forest denudation and watershed degradation, as well as worsen erosion and siltation, water pollution, and destruction of traditional livelihood like farming, fishing and tourism.

“The experience of Santa Cruz where indiscriminate mining operations continue to wreak environmental havoc on the well-being of the residents as well as on their livelihood should be a lesson Candelaria must learn from,” the group said.

An estimated P250 million in livelihood annually by farmers and fisherfolk is reportedly lost because of destructive mining in Santa Cruz.

“We do not want a repeat of what happened to Santa Cruz and we want to preserve the beauty of Candelaria and promote livelihood activities that care for our environment,” Zalika’s petition said.

Candelaria Mayor Napoleon Edquid earlier sought to allay fears of environmental degradation for the town because of mining.

In a recent public hearing, Edquid said the project would be the first of its kind in the country and would be using the most modern technology from China to be introduced by Hengrun.

Westchinamin, which already operated mining activities here, said it intends to mine nine barangay (villages) in the town for nickel laterite within a 2,000-hectare area in the mountains.

Candelaria residents, however, are determined in seeking a stop to the project and appeal to their local officials to make a stand against the ferronickel plant project.

source: manilatimes.net

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SUBIC FREEPORT – The Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic, led the destruction of more or less P950,000 worth of used tires, used household and personal effects in Guiguinto, Bulacan last Wednesday.

Aside from the representatives from the Commission on Audit (COA), the destruction was also witnessed by the representatives from the local government of Guiguinto as well as members of the media.

Used tires, although not abandoned, are prohibited from being brought into the country as provided for in the Letter of Instruction No. 1086, Series of 1980.

Meanwhile, the used household and personal effects had been abandoned by the consignee and subsequently forfeited in favor of the government.

The items were shredded and disposed of in the facility of EPY-ECO Auction and Waste Disposal Services, the accredited service provider of the Port of Subic for the condemnation of contrabands and abandoned goods.

Condemnation of abandoned and other seized contrabands have been made public as ordered by Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña for transparency.

The destruction of the abandoned and forfeited goods was led by lawyer Enrico Turingan, Deputy Collector for Operations of the Port of Subic.

source:
mb.com.ph

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